Reddick, Fla.—Nov. 15

The Ocala Jockey Club International kicked off today with three divisions of dressage. A small but mighty group of 14 in the CIC*** completed their tests, and Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night took the lead on 27.2.

Phillip Dutton, partnered up with his 2015 Pan American Games (Canada) mount Fernhill Fugitive, slotted into second (29.9). The gelding, who’d been spending time at the intermediate level with Caitlin Tierney, was recently sold, and Dutton will campaign him one last time this weekend.

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night. Lindsay Berreth photo

Switzerland’s Felix Vogg and his 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games (North Carolina) mount Colero are in third (30.8.)

Halliday-Sharp recently arrived in Ocala from her British base. “Blackie,” a 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Radolin—Argentina XII, Argentinus) has been focusing on CIC***s over the last year. He’s competed in three Event Rider Masters classes and most recently finished fifth at the Millstreet CICO*** (Ireland) in August.

Halliday-Sharp is taking a “less is more” approach with him. “We’re lucky to have such a great cross-country course at our place, so he’s had a bit of a tune up over there,” she said. “He’s not run since Millstreet. We’ve sort of preserved his runs as he’s getting a bit older, but that makes him fresh when he comes to the party.”

Blackie’s dressage warm-up tends to be minimal to make him as hot as possible.

“He did drop me a little bit in the ring and was very lazy like he can be, but it was still a fairly tidy test,” said Halliday-Sharp. “I think they’re judging pretty tough today. But he did go in a try, and he’s feeling really well and really excited to be at the party, and that’s where we want him whenever we’re at a show like this.”

Full Results/COTH Coverage/Live Stream/Start Times

We’re on site at the Ocala Jockey Club all weekend to bring you news, photos and results from the final FEI event of the year in the U.S. Check back all weekend for more, and if you know of a good story, email lberreth@coth.com!

Check out the Dec. 10 print edition of The Chronicle for much more.