Parker, Colo.—Aug. 31

Three years ago, Darkwatch was at Jennie Brannigan’s stable after a career running flat and jump races. The 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Royal Academy—Without, Unbridled) adapted quickly to life off the track and Erin Hofmann, Park City, Utah, bought him. The two moved gradually up the levels and currently stand atop the preliminary amateur division, improving on their fifth-place finish in dressage on Thursday. They were the last combination allowed to ride before encroaching storms forced a rain delay.

Erin Hofmann and former race horse Darkwatch sped home in the preliminary amateur division. Kieran Paulsen photo.

“It was really good, I was a little nervous at the beginning, but my horse is really bold and likes a good galloping course so [this course] was a good fit for him,” Hofmann said. She and Darkwatch were one of only two pairs to go without jump or time penalties on cross-country and now sit on their dressage score of 32.4 going into show jumping.

“I was at the very first [American Eventing Championships] as a volunteer, but this is my first AEC as a competitor,” Hofman said. “It’s so nice to be here, and to have this in our home court is a dream.”

Tamra Smith, Murrieta, California, and Fleeceworks Ghost (Dhannondale Sarco—Riverlon Mist) beat a competitive field in the preliminary horse division as one of only three pairs to go clear. Fleeceworks Ghost, a 6-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare, has been with Smith since she was a 3-year-old, but Smith hasn’t been the one in the saddle.

“My daughter has been producing her. I rode her this weekend because Kaylawna needed to stay home and keep the business running. She had some horses in training that she needed to ride, so I just said “I’ll ride [Fleeceworks Ghost]!” I’m kind of riding on her glory, because she’s done all of the work.”

Tamra Smith and Fleeceworks Ghost lead the preliminary horse division. Kieran Paulsen photo.

Ten horse and rider pairs failed to finish the course: Christi Payne and Melissa Thorson earned mandatory retirment for falls (but horses and riders were uninjured), four pairs retired, three pairs were eliminated, and Martha McDowell withdrew.

Smith agreed the course ran tougher than she anticipated. She and Fleeceworks Ghost will carry a score of 29 into show jumping, only a point ahead of Gina Economou and Syntax.

“I wasn’t sure how the time was going to run,” she said. “We metered it and it was pretty right on, so I figured that the time wouldn’t be super hard to make, but I was going and I was a couple seconds down on my first two minutes, which is normal, but I kept going along and I wasn’t making it up, so I started to think, where can I cut turns to be more efficient. All the questions were fair. I thought it presented itself very well and it’s a championship so it should be at the top of the level. I thought [course designer Tremaine Cooper] did a great job with the design.”

Madelyn Floyd and Clementine are currently in first place in the junior preliminary division, by rising from fourth on a double-clear cross-country round and a score of 29.5.

“The course rode great, my mare was super good and I was really happy with the overall performance,” said Floyd, 15, Duvall, Washington. “This is our first year doing the full preliminary level, so I have been really proud of her. She was super bold and confident to everything.”

Madelyn Floyd and Clementine jumped to the lead in the junior preliminary division. Kieran Paulsen photo.

Clementine, a 9-year-old Hanoverian mare (Carrico—La Belle), has been competing with Floyd since last year. This is their first time competing at the AEC and their first visit to the Colorado Horse Park. Floyd admitted to feeling the pressure of first place, but she is keeping the experience in perspective.

“My plan going into tomorrow is to just put in a consistent and clear round,” Floyd said. “There is obviously a lot of pressure, especially going in first. I’m still young so I don’t have a ton of ring experience, but [Clementine is] a great jumper and I’m just going to give her the best ride I can.”

A Change Of Plans

The preliminary rider division was originally delayed due to weather, but as more aggressive storms moved in it was decided that canceling the rest of the day’s competition was necessary for the safety of exhibitors, spectators, and staff.

The preliminary rider, intermediate, and advanced divisions will complete their cross-country tomorrow starting at 8 a.m. (local time). Novice and beginner novice will still run cross-country on Saturday, but will begin at 10:20 a.m. instead of the scheduled 8 a.m start.

The training and preliminary divisions will show jump on Saturday on a later start time. The intermediate and advanced divisions will not show jump until Sunday morning in the International Arena. Novice and beginner novice will show jump on Sunday morning in the Olson Family Arena concurrent with the intermediate and advanced divisions.

The fully revised schedule can be found here.

Updated ride times may be found here.

 Read all of the Chronicle’s #AEC2018 coverage here.

Click here to watch Live Streaming of the 2018 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds.

We’ll have full analysis of the competition in the Sept. 24 print edition of The Chronicle of The Horse. Subscribe today.