Poplar Place

Poplar Place Farm, which runs multiple recognized horse trials and CICs in Hamilton, Ga., has added an early season CIC*** to the Feb. 4-5 event. The decision came after a contingent of U.S.-based foreign riders asked show organizer Donna Stegman to consider running one.

“These riders who were trying to qualify for the Olympics as an individual had to get their points in by February,” Stegman said. “We felt that it was right to help the riders who frequent our shows and bring us revenue by putting this on.”

Even a quick glance at the results from Poplar Place Farm March and Southern Pines II Horse Trials from this weekend, March 25-27, could send eyebrows skyward—the numbers of cross-country eliminations and retirements alone in Hamilton, Ga., and Raeford, N.C., respectively, were shocking.

Despite a stomach full of butterflies, Danica Moore piloted Dunlavin’s Token to a double-clear show jumping round on Sunday, Nov. 15 in the Poplar Place CCI**. They finished the weekend with a blue ribbon for their efforts and posted a  final penalty mark of 56.4.

“I was very nervous going in there,” said Moore, Middleburg, Va. “It definitely showed in a couple jumps where I got too close, but he jumped over it and didn’t touch anything. I was holding my breath!”

Immediately after winning the Poplar Place CCI*, Maren Foster called her mom.

“My mom is really sick, and I was sad she couldn’t be here,” said Foster. “She’s always been a big supporter of mine, so I called her right after, and she was really happy.”

Foster and Walter Welser had a rail in-hand going into the show jumping on Sunday, Nov. 15, but they posted a clean round to seal the blue ribbon, ending their weekend on 40.0 penalties.

After the Poplar Place CCI** jog on Sunday, Nov. 15, three horses were pulled by the ground jury, reducing the field to 22. King Billy, Hot Night and Llewellyn all re-presented, but they were not accepted.

Additionally, Axel Rose, Hugo Fast, Quintus 54, Detail Specialist and Tucker were all held for re-inspection in the CCI** jog but passed after being re-presented.

In the CCI*, all 12 horses were accepted. Millenium Kiwi was held but passed upon re-inspection.

Tremaine Cooper’s cross-country track shook up the leader board today, Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Poplar Place CCI**. After the final rider crossed through the finish flags, two new leaders emerged from the pack.

Danica Moore and Dunlavin’s Token moved from seventh to first (56.4) after a clean jumping effort with only minimal time penalties.

Maren Foster was a little worried about Walter Welser’s fitness in his first attempt at a CCI* track, but her 7-year-old Hanoverian-Thoroughbred gelding ate up the meters and posted a double-clear cross-country round on Saturday, Nov. 14, to remain in the lead with 40.0 penalties.

“He made the time, which I was really excited about,” said Foster, Geneva, Fla. “The course was a lot longer than anything he’s done, but he was great, and he actually got better as the course went on.”