Edited Press Release
This weekend kicked off the CCI4*-S division at TerraNova, a qualifier for the US Equestrian Open of Eventing Finals next year at Morven Park in Virginia. Phillip Dutton was first down the centerline riding Quasi Cool, a 13-year-old bay Holsteiner gelding owned by Caroline Moran. One of America’s most accomplished event riders, Dutton rode a technically correct test that placed him third with 32.0 after dressage.
Robin Walker and SBT Barolo, a big, handsome 14-year-old, bay Irish Sport Horse gelding took the lead in the Insurance Offices of America CCI4*-S with a 30.8. SBT Barolo looked fit and well-conditioned and Walker didn’t leave any points on the table with a forward, fluid and accurate test.
Swedish rider Jennie Jarnstrom-Denis and Flower Girl stood second after dressage in the CCI4*-S. Jarnstrom-Denis wore a striking, royal blue shadbelly jacket with yellow piping and rode an elegant test with the 12-year-old Hanoverian mare.
The CCI4*-S division show jumped in the afternoon, and the brightly colored course with flags fluttering in the breeze and spectators watching from the Pavilion created an electric atmosphere that shuffled the standings.
Dressage leader Robin Walker’s STF Barolo jumped around clear, but added 2.8 time faults for a total of 33.6 penalties. Phillip Dutton and Quasi Cool, first to enter the arena, had a slightly conservative round but were just a little faster, with 1.2 time faults, and took the lead with a 33.2. Jennie Jarnstrom had a rail and then a refusal at the triple bar with Flower Girl, dropping to 5th place (44.0). Dutton and Azure jumped clear and in the time to tie for second (33.6). Jarnstrom and Splash Dance jumped clear and in the time to move up from 7th place to fourth (42.8).
Walker bought SBT Barolo as a young horse from the Go for Gold sale in Ireland, and has competed him through the CCI4*-L level. “He went to Kentucky a couple of springs ago and then I had to give him some time off because he wasn’t quite right,” said Walker. “He’d done a lot by then, but coming here is just getting him going again because he’s had a lot of time off. I didn’t know what would happen really, he’s seen tracks like that, but not for a long time. There’s a lot of atmosphere and not a lot of time to make decisions, but I’m thrilled with him, I couldn’t be happier. He just jumped great.”
Dutton said, “Obviously it’s the last event of the year and it wasn’t necessarily a requirement to come here, but we had the little bobble at Boekelo [in the Netherlands, where he competed on the US Nations Cup Team] and it’s such an incredible venue. Quasi Cool is a very talented horse; I thought he did a good test and show jumped well. The cross-country course has ramped up a lot since the last time I was here and I think it looks like a good course, they’re a little limited with flat terrain here but they’ve been thoughtful and put in some interesting lines.”
He added that he was happy with Azure, who has settled a bit as she has gained experience this year. “I was able to ride her more in the dressage test, a lot of time I’m sitting there on a time bomb and today was not like that.”
While Dutton didn’t come to TerraNova specifically to compete in the qualifier for the inaugural US Equestrian Open of Eventing, he said, “I think all the riders are very excited about the Open – any time you bring money and a bit of prestige to the sport, it’s good. I didn’t come here specifically for that, but it’s great if I do well and get some points toward qualifying.”
Finally, he said, “I couldn’t be more proud of Olivia and Sea of Clouds, it’s not easy for those high strung Thoroughbreds to stay calm and relaxed, and it’s a credit to Olivia that ‘Socks’ went so well and had a mistake-free test.”
This year’s three and four-star courses are designed by Alec Lochore, who took over as designer from Captain Mark Phillips. The courses are built by ETB Equine Construction. Lochore said, “We’ve changed quite a lot; we’ve added two or three new features – the Ditch and Rails, or ‘coffin’, is a new feature, and the mound, known as ‘Mount Myakka,’ is going to give us lots of fun for many years because there are so many options there now. I’ve tried to straighten the course out and provide more gallops, so we come around and use the arenas in both directions, and we’ve never done that before, and we’ve looped into the main arena. The riders, when they get here, will see quite a difference in their routes and I’m sure they are going to give me the benefit of their wisdom shortly.”
The general vicinity was heavily affected by recent hurricanes Helene and Milton, but Lochore said that TerraNova was lucky overall – quite a few trees came down on the property, but the cross-country course was mainly unaffected. “Given that the area was pretty badly affected, we were very lucky,” he said. “There were lots of branches down and the team here has been amazing.”
Lochore was the Technical Delegate of the event for several years before becoming the course designer and said that he’s seen great improvement to the footing on the cross-country course over the years. “I can confidently say that the ground has improved so much – they have a really good irrigation system and all sorts of equipment to use to spike and Aerovate the footing. We’ve tested the firmness of the footing and we’re making improvements both for the short-term and the long-term.”
Schedule of Events
Saturday, November 16
9:40am – CCI3*-L Cross-Country
11:00am – Empty Bowls fundraiser begins
11:10am – CCI4*-L Cross-Country
12:45pm – CCI4*-S Cross-Country
1:55pm – CCI2*-L Cross-Country
3:55pm – CCI1*-L Cross-Country
Pavilion restricted to Empty Bowls ticket holders
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Sunday, November 17
7:00am – Sunrise Service with Pastor Lynn Howell (Pavilion)
8:00am – Trot Up, all FEI horses
10:00am – CCI3*-L Show Jumping (Lakeside Arena)
10:30am – VIP Brunch begins
11:30am – CCI4*-L Show Jumping (Lakeside Arena)
12:45pm – CCI2*-L Show Jumping (Lakeside Arena)
2:40pm – CCI1*-L Show Jumping (Lakeside Arena)
Pavilion restricted to VIP table holders after Sunrise Service
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