Richland, Mich.—Aug. 27  

Three-star rookie Whitney Mahloch remained atop the Adequan Gold Cup CIC*** division at Richland Park after the cross-country, putting in a clean round aboard Military Mind and being the only rider in the division to get within the time.

Whitney Mahloch on Military Mind. Photo by USEA/Shelby Allen

Rain fell steadily on the morning competitors as scattered thunderstorms stayed in the area long enough to cause two rain delays.

Mahloch admitted that as she headed to the warm-up, her heart was racing as she anticipated one of this biggest cross-country tests that she and her 10-year-old off-the-track Thoroughbred, Military Mind (Military—Smart Balance), had ever come across. In their first CIC***, not only did they pull off a personal best in the dressage, but they also found themselves in the lead after cross-country as well.  

“I couldn’t sleep last night,” she admitted and added that rain delays didn’t help ease her nerves. Despite this, she continued to repeat her personal mantra: “If your mind can dream it. If your heart can believe it, then you can achieve it.”

She tore around Richland Park’s picturesque track with a permanent grin on her face, but she knows it’s not over until the last fence is cleared, and now has her energies focused on show jumping. “I feel like I’ve done my homework. I feel good, but I want to make sure I do it right tomorrow too.” Mahloch has one rail in hand to hold her lead.

Will Coleman and the Conair Syndicate’s Tight Lines (Turgeon—Merindole) only accumulated 3.6 time penalties despite pulling two shoes on course.  “That was kind of nerving. I lost them early too, but he didn’t really notice that much,” Coleman explained.

This is only the 9-year-old Thoroughbred’s second competition at this level, and he is certainly showing his potential as a top level horse. “I thought it was a stiff test, but he runs like a bat out of hell. I was really pleased,” Coleman said.

Caroline Martin and Spring Easy (Garrison Royal—Castlerogan Clare), a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse owned by Sherri Martin, also jumped clear and only 3 seconds over time for the third place spot.

And in the Philippa Humphreys advanced division, the dressage leader also held onto the top spot. Katie Ruppel and her 12-year-old Thoroughbred, Houdini (Hot Rock—Nancys Star), cruised to a clear round, adding 3.2 time penalties to Thursday’s dressage score.

Katie Ruppel on Houdini. Photo by USEA/Shelby Allen

“The footing made the conditions a little bit tougher. You had to be a little more creative in the galloping lanes. He struggles with mud sometimes, but he felt good today,” Ruppel said.

This event is the pair’s first outing since the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** in April, and she said the round was a perfect track for their return to competition, but she went carefully after the downpour earlier today. “I went as fast as I felt safe doing without sacrificing his shape or jumping technique, and he went even better than expected,” Ruppel said. “It was challenging enough, but it wasn’t overly demanding. I think that was a good thing considering how much rain we had today because that was a challenge enough.”

Finishing the day in second place in the advanced is Joe Meyer and South Paw (Sir Caletto—Rodozoom), a 9-year-old Hanoverian/Thoroughbred stallion owned by the rider, his wife and Nora McDonald Yaney. They jumped up from sixth place with 12 time penalties tacked onto their dressage score.

Lauren Kieffer and D.A. Duras round out the top three for the advanced division. “Duras” is an 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood owned by Debbie Adams and Jacqueline Mars. This event was the 2015 Young Event Horse Holekamp/Turner Le Lion d’Angers grant recipient’s second advanced, and Kieffer piloted him to a very confident finish.

The advanced division this year was named in honor of Philippa Humphreys, who died competing earlier at the Jersey Fresh CCI*** (N.J.) in May. After relocating to the United States from her Native England, Humphreys touched down in Michigan, and she was a familiar face at the Richland Park Horse Trials each year. The highest placing women in the advanced division will be honored with a special award in Humphreys’ name.

See full results from the Richland Park CIC and Horse Trials.