Boekelo, the Netherlands – Oct. 12  

The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team experienced mixed fortunes on Sue Benson’s cross country course at the Military Boekelo CCI***. As is customary at Boekelo, the Dutch weather and deep going proved extremely influential as the leaderboard saw an utter shake-up.

Following the conclusion of the second phase, Boyd Martin and Trading Aces lead the way for the United States.

Martin, of Cochranville, Pa., and Trading Aces LLC’s 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding produced a steady clear round on cross-country. As the third-to-last combination to set out on the testing track, the Richland Park CIC*** (Mich.) winners encountered extremely deteriorated footing and therefore collected 18 time faults. The pair heads into the final show jumping phase on a score of 64.0 in 35th place.

The first U.S. combination out on course was Elizabeth Halliday-Sharp, who is base in East Sussex, England, and her own Fernhill By Night. The 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding was enjoying a successful trip in his first CCI*** but a late run-out at 21C meant the combination would collect 20 jumping penalties and 15.6 time faults. They stand on an overnight total of 87.4 in 54th place.

Lauren Kieffer of Middleburg, Va., and Team Rebecca LLC’s 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Veronica were also representing the U.S. in team competition at Boekelo. The pair were enjoying a nearly foot-perfect round until they also ran into trouble at 21, resulting in a fall at the A element and elimination for Kieffer.

The U.S. stands in ninth place in the team standings following the cross country on a score of 1151.4. Germany maintained the lead and head into the show jumping on a score of 124.6.

Kieffer and Halliday-Sharo certainly weren’t the only riders to run into trouble on the rain-soaked course. The dressage leaders Niklas Lindbäck and Cedrillion tok a hard fall on course to let New Zealand’s Lizzie Brown and Henton Attorney General move up to the lead in the individual standings on a score of 35.8. Brown incurred only 2.4 time penalties to move from second after dressage into the lead, though less than a rail stands between her and second place.

There were 24 eliminations and nine riders retired on course. Only four riders came home clean within the time allowed. Superstar Michael Jung of Germany was one of those, riding fischerRocana FST to a clean and quick trip in the mud to take over second place. Fellow German Ingrid Klimke was another of the faultless rounds, guiding Hale Bob 3 from ninth after dressage into third.

Check out the full Boekelo CCI*** results.