The 20th anniversary celebration of the Maryland International CCI & H.T. got underway on Friday with an action-packed day of competition. Early leaders were established in both the FEI divisions and the Open Intermediate National division, as well as the USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships running across CCI1*-S through CCI3*-S levels. For spectators and attendees alike, Friday featured a full Highland Club as well as a rocking Friday Fiesta party, supported generously by Davis Equine.
Meg Pellegrini and Falcon Crown Z Lead CCI4*-S
The Triple Crown Feed CCI4*-S, serving as a qualifier for the US Equestrian Open of Eventing Final at Morven Park in October, was the first to see on Friday morning, with Virginia-based Meg Pellegrini setting the tone as the leader following both dressage and show jumping with her own Falcon Crown Z. After earning a 29.0 in the dressage in front of Ground Jury members Valerie Pride (USA), Debbie Adams (USA) and Helen Brettell (GBR), Pellegrini was able to maintain her position despite adding 2.8 time penalties around Chris Barnard’s (GBR) testing show jumping course.
Comparing the CCI4*-S dressage test used today to the shortened CCI5* Olympic test, Pellegrini said the morning’s efforts were a sign of significant improvement and strength on the part of the 13-year-old Falcon Crown Z. “It wouldn’t be the easiest test for him,” she described. “He’s a little bit of a [wiggle worm] and everything he does requires a lot of straightness. So doing a flying lead change on centerline in front of the judge wouldn’t necessarily be his forte, but it was all still really good. He’s a funny horse – we kind of treat him like a pony, because he is one who can be really on side with you or just decide that it’s not the day today.”
While kicking herself for picking up time penalties on a show jumping track that yielded just two double clears (both earned by New Zealand World Championships rider Monica Spencer, with Valkyrie (6th – 37.5) and Aviator (10th – 40.4) respectively), “there are still some things we’re working on.” Pellegrini aimed to go for the time allowed, but she knew she was still working on fine-tuning some things with the Zanghersheide gelding. “Honestly, it goes back to the way his body operates – he can be a little bit difficult to put together and keep together. If you do it correctly, he’s got so much scope he’ll jump out of anything and it’s just a really fine line of how to ride him properly and give him confidence.”
That mentality will carry over to Pellegrini’s game plan as she looks ahead to tackling Andrew Heffernan’s (NED) cross-country on Saturday. She’d love to come home with another win – the pair are coming off a win in the CCI3*-S at Tryon International in May – but gaining experience and information will be her top priority.
“I know that we’re in a good position, but it doesn’t really feel like that’s what’s important right now,” she said. “It’s really awesome to be leading – it’s so cool, and what a great horse to be able to be in that spot – but I just need miles at this level, and I know that he can give me those miles, so tomorrow will just kind of be about that. I know that I’ll be able to take whatever information and feedback I get there into the rest of the summer.”
Arielle Aharoni and Notorious Take Command of Finish Line Horse Products CCI3*-S
Arielle Aharoni and Notorious. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.
Coming into the weekend off of a top-10 finish in the CCI3*-L at Tryon International in May, Arielle Aharoni piloted Christina Aharoni’s Notorious to the two-phase lead in the Finish Line Horse Products CCI3*-S, securing a 32.0 in the dressage and setting the standard with a coveted double clear show jumping round in the afternoon on Friday. The clear show jump round allowed Aharoni to move from fourth into the lead overnight.
Aharoni, who bases in Florida full-time and splits her time between eventing and show jumping, aimed the 8-year-old KWPN gelding for Maryland International with the intent of gaining some additional practice before an anticipated Advanced move up – and a bit of big picture strategy thrown in for good measure.
“I know that [US Equestrian] will sometimes do a selection trial here, so [I wanted to come here] in hopes of one day being selected for a team,” she shared. Loch Moy Farm served as a final outing venue for the 2023 Pan American Games squad heading to Chile, as one recent example. While Notorious, who’s been practicing some Advanced dressage movements, wanted to throw in a few bonus point moves in today’s test, Aharoni was pleased and felt the gelding was showing his strength as he continues to develop both physically and mentally.
“He’s getting stronger and stronger, and his gaits are getting better,” she said. “When he was younger, he would get more tense or rigid, and now he’s able to hold the correct positioning and keep it there for a little bit, which is exciting. And the jumping is solid – I feel like I can go in the ring and really work on myself versus just working on him. He’s very reliable.” She describes “Noodle” as a naturally fast horse on cross-country, and while she plans to take her time at some of the key combinations, she’s feeling confident she’ll be able to flow through the course as a whole. “I’ll just be kind of on a loose rein, letting him do his thing. The goal is [to be competitive], I would like him to have another win under his belt.”
Hannah Hawkins Leads the Way in Stubben NA CCI2*-S
Hannah Hawkins and DHI Kickodieza. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.
Hannah Hawkins, who bases in Virginia and trains with U.S. World Championships rider Lynn Symansky, piloted her own Dutch Warmblood gelding, DHI Kickodieza, to the early lead after two phases in the Stubben NA CCI2*-S, adding just two seconds of time to her starting score in the show jumping for a score of 29.0 ahead of cross-country. Hawkins and DHI Kickodieza have been partners for five years and counting, taking the pressure off at times while Hawkins balanced motherhood with riding and life in general.
“He was fabulous,” Hawkins said of her horse today. “He’s such a delight to ride every day, and so he really stayed with me today, and I thought he put in some really good work. We’ve been trying to get him a little quicker behind, and I think it’s starting to work.”
Maxine Preston Leads Virginia Maryland Tractor CCI1*-S with Wants To Be Cooley
Maxine Preston and Wants To Be Cooley. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.
This weekend represents a building of confidence for the 12-year-old Wants To Be Cooley, a Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Jerry Barnette and ridden by Maxine Preston. The pair set sail in the Virginia Maryland Tractor CCI1*-S and didn’t look back, securing a double clear in the show jumping to remain on their dressage score of 24.9 ahead of Saturday’s cross-country.
“He’s coming back from a little bout of unconfidence,” Preston shared. The pair had competed up to the CCI3* level previously, but this weekend Preston is prioritizing a step back for the benefit of the bigger picture, and so far things have gone to plan. “I’m sort of using this show and this level as a confidence-booster for him, for setting up for the future. I chose the one-star over the Modified is because of the standard it’s set to – it’s an FEI, so I know there is going to be a standard.”
Today’s dressage and show jumping practice was good for both Preston and her horse, setting them up to go out and “be bold” on Saturday. “He’s just become strong enough behind to really be able to sit and have the trot the judges are looking for,” she explained. “And I can get really handsy in the show jumping – not so much on cross-country – because I like to control everything, and so I really enjoy Chris [Barnard’s] courses. I feel that if you get into a rhythm and then ride the lines to plan, you don’t have to touch them, they should balance themselves. He made it feel easy.”
Dressage In the Books for USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships
Kelsey Seidel and Chico’s Man VDF Z. Photo by Zenya Lepper for Erin Gilmore Photography.
After kicking off their weekend in festive fashion with an Opening Ceremony golf cart parade and games on Thursday evening, the USEF Eventing Young Rider Championship divisions got underway on Friday. This Championship will run as a three-day, meaning riders today had just dressage on their plates.
After dressage, the team standings are as follows:
CCIJ1*-S
Area 3 lead the competition with a team score of 89.6 from team members Kennedy Langmo and Knock Out (24.0), Kaitlyn Cobey and Redfield Need for Speed (31.2), Nicole Nair and Cooley Vita (34.4) and Molly McLaughlin and Fly Boy (39.0).
CCIJ1*-S individual leader Kennedy Langmo said:
“We started out the test, and he normally will get a little bit tense, a little bit nervous or anxious, going into the ring. And then after the first two or three movements he calmed back down, so that was definitely the highlight of my test – him coming back down, because that hasn’t always been what’s happened. We’ve been working really hard to get him relaxed through the test and not tense or tight in the neck.”
CCIYR2*-S
Lauren Crabtree and Derroon Diamond. Photo by Zenya Lepper for Erin Gilmore Photography.
A scramble team combining Areas 1 and 6 lead the way with a team score of 85.0 from Lauren Crabtree and Derroon Diamon (26.1), Eleanor Winter and Mosstown Rebel (27.0), Lyman Ordway and Exces de Folie (31.9) and Victoria McCallum with Maurice (34.2).
CCIYR2*-S individual leader Lauren Crabtree said:
“My horse is younger, so I think that going into today I just wanted to have a really confident ride. This is actually my last show before I go to college, so I just really wanted to put it all out there, and if it goes well, it goes well, and if it doesn’t, then at least we put it all out there. I think that he was really good. He was actually a lot better than he’s been at some of the shows out east. He’s young, so his confidence is not quite there, but this show I’m feeling really good.”
CCIU253*-S
The scramble team combining Area 3 and 5 is in the driver’s seat on a combined score of 92.2 from Kelsey Seidel and Chico’s Man VDF Z (26.5), Sterling Pollard and Tinto (30.7), Katelyn Smith and HSH Henry (35.0) and Liesel Fazekas with Fernhill Final Cavalier (36.8).
CCIU253*-S leader Kelsey Seidel said:
“This year, or this weekend, actually marks two years of him and I being partnered together, and in the last few months, I do think we’ve really solidified our partnership. I think a huge part of it is just time and hours spent in the saddle getting to know him and how he prefers to go, and because Lexi [Scovil, who still owns the horse and competed him to the CCI5* level) obviously did an incredible job producing him. He goes in the way he likes to go, and it’s just been me figuring out how to ride that.”
Competitors and supporters enjoyed a Friday Fiesta supported by Davis Equine. Photo by Samantha Haynie for Erin Gilmore Photography.
Competition concludes for the FEI divisions and Open Intermediate on Saturday with cross-country, which begins with the Triple Crown Feed CCI4*-S at 8:30 am. The USEF Young Rider Championship divisions will contest cross-country on Saturday and participate in an evening of Young Rider Games & Party, sponsored by Edward Jones, before concluding competition on Sunday with show jumping.
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