Mara Dean leads a 50-horse field in the CCI*** after Thursday’s dressage phase, where she scored a 42.9 aboard Nicki Henley.
“Dressage comes pretty naturally for him,” said Dean of the 12-year-old gelding, who laid low for several months after fracturing a splint bone in the pasture, but has been back in work since February. “I tried to run him at Kentucky [CCI****] last season, and he’s very talented but was very green, so we took this season to regroup. With the break it became clear that this was where we were meant to come.”
Will Coleman put in a strong test aboard Nathalie Pollard’s Icarus to finish the day in second with a 44.2. He took over the ride three weeks ago as a favor to Nathalie and her husband, Michael Pollard, who are currently starting a new business.
“The time commitments for that venture are pretty intense,” said Coleman, who was more than happy to commandeer the horse. “They didn’t feel like they could give the horses enough time, so it gave him a chance to finish the season.”
Bonnie Mosser and Merloch sit third with a 46.3, followed closely by Stephen Bradley with From and Kristen Bond with Three Wishes II, tied for fourth on a 46.5.
Mosser said tomorrow’s CCI*** cross-country will be a challenge, especially considering the current Mid-Atlantic heatwave. “I think it’s a more technical course than in the past. At the beginning you’re going to find out if they’re on their game and listening to you,” she explained.
In the CCI** division, Coleman found success again, this time aboard Ret Mercury, who sits in first on a 46.4. “They’re both new to the level; it’s their first event at this level,” he said of the two mounts. “But they’re lovely and well-produced. I couldn’t have been given nicer horses.”
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Stuart Black and Fleeceworks Mystere du Val (47.2) and Clark Montgomery and Up Spirit (47.6) placed second and third, respectively. Looking ahead to tomorrow, Black said that staying focused will be the biggest challenge.
“I think that John [Williams, the Jersey Fresh course designer] is quite crafty in a way. The fences are so spread out, then he suddenly hits you with a pretty tricky combination. Since I’m on two young ones, I will need to help them out,” he said of Fleeceworks and his other mount, Leader des Bieffes, who is currently tied for 15th place.
East Coast riders and several Canadians are contesting the advanced horse trial division, which serves as a mandatory outing for Pan Am Games team selection. Darren Chiacchia leads the division aboard Better I Do It, with a score of 32.5. The pair is coming off a win at the CIC** at last weekend’s Virginia Three-Day Event.
“It’s a relatively young partnership; I’ve had him about a year now,” explained Chiacchia of the horse, formerly piloted by Adrienne Iorio. “It’s tough to know what to do. Do you put the extra mileage on him, or do you get out here in a selection situation and be rusty? We wanted to make some equipment adjustments and figured this also isn’t the time to practice that.”
Less than a point behind Chiacchia is New Jersey Young Rider Emilee Libby, who scored a 33.1 with Cahir. Penny Rowland, the highest-placed Canadian, sits third with Windswept on a 33.9. With the dressage behind her, Rowland said she is already focusing on tomorrow’s cross-country course.
“With the heat, it’s going to be especially hard to keep them physically and mentally on it,” she said.
