United States Eventing Association

Allentown, NJ - May 14, 2016 - Ryan Wood (AUS) held onto the lead in the CCI*** following cross country despite incurring 2.4 time faults on Powell for a two day score of 46.0 penalties at the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event (JFI), presented by BW Furlong & Associates on Saturday.

"He was awesome. He saved me in a couple spots around the course. He's a big horse and he's got a massive stride. He was quite good on his minutes," said Wood of Powell on his first CCI*** cross country course.

Riding in reverse order of merit in the final phase, Wood will be the last to go. "I've never been in this position before. I'm pretty happy to be going for the win and I'll just do my best and see what happens."

Tied for second place are two US Olympic veterans; Boyd Martin (USA) riding Welcome Shadow and Phillip Dutton (USA) with Indian Mill. Both jumped clear and within the optimum time to stand on their dressage scores of 46.3 penalties going into show jumping, the final phase of the competition.

Jessica Phoenix (CAN), also went double clear cross country and is now just a rail away from the top three moving up from her ninth place dressage score on Bentleys Best for a two day score of 49.2 penalties. Kim Severson (USA) went from 13th to 5th on Fernhill Fearless also going double clear with 50.9 penalties and Lauren Keiffer (USA) went from 15th to 6th on Meadowbrook's Scarlett to enter show jumping on her dressage score of 51.3.

In the CCI**, Frankie Thieriot-Stutes (USA) maintained the lead on Chatwin going double clear cross country to enter the final phase on their dressage score of 44.5 penalties. Local rider Holly Payne Caravella and Bruisyard Hall are second, also going double clear with 46.3 penalties. Tamra Smith (USA) and Lagos Star are third on their dressage score of 47.1 penalties. Eight out of the top nine went double clear.

Kylie Lyman Wins CIC***

The CIC divisions concluded on Saturday with the show jumping phase taking place in the morning and the cross country occurring in the afternoon. Kylie Lyman (USA) won the CIC*** on Sacramento with a faultless show jumping phase and 3.6 time faults on the cross country course to finish on an overall score of 55.9 penalties.

"We are thrilled with him," said Lyman of the Irish Sport Horse. "He's just gotten better and better as he went. It's been really exciting to have him and to get to continue on with our partnership."

The 1.2 time faults that Olympian Joe Meyer (NZL) incurred going cross country left him in second place on Southpaw for a final score of 56.0 and third went to Matthew Brown and Talking Point BCF with 57.6 penalties.

Kurt Martin Takes CIC**

Kurt Martin had an almost flawless performance on DA Calimero to win the CIC**. The pair entered show jumping in 14th place, but after going clear they moved up to 9th going into cross country. They just missed a double clear incurring 0.8 faults for going just two seconds over the optimum time on the cross country course to finish with an overall score of 52.4 penalties.

"I thought he was really great and he really listened the whole way," said Martin. "He went really well and flew around and didn't have a bad fence. It was a great ride."

The USEA and USEF are also sad to report that Inoui Van Bost, an eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding competing in the CCI2* with rider and owner Skyler Decker of the United States, was seriously injured in a fall at fence 19. The horse was transported to the New Jersey Equine Clinic in Millstone, N.J., where the decision was made that he be humanely euthanized. Decker did not sustain any injuries in the fall.

We wish to extend the deepest sympathy, on behalf of the entire sport, to Skyler Decker, and all who knew Inoui Van Bost.