Mill Spring, N.C.—Aug. 31

Training riders had to contend with the worst of the rain today at the U.S. Eventing Association American Eventing Championships, but spirits were high and horses were happy as they crossed through the finish line.

Carolyn Johnson and Black Label currently lead the Professional’s Choice training amateur division.

“I think the course is great, there were definitely some trickier moments out there,” said Johnson. “I think it’s a lot for a young horse to take in, so it’s been quite the experience for him to take in this year. I thought the jumps were very nice, and it was the stuff around the fences that caught his eye. I thought that he was super honest and quite good to the fences and did his job.”

Johnson hopes to stay relaxed tomorrow during the show jumping to give Black Label a positive experience.

“I came down here to get him some experience so that has been my goal the whole time. It’s icing on the cake that he’s doing so well,” she said. 

Carolyn Johnson and Black Label. Photo by Lindsay Berreth.

Jordan Good made the long trek from Menlo, Calif., worth it, leading the training rider division on a 28.0 aboard Danito.

The pair had steering issues at their last event at Woodside (Calif.) and retired on course, so to make it through double-clear today was icing on the cake.

“Everything pretty much rode according to plan,” she said. “He was super sure-footed going down hills, and he picked his spots and was awesome. Previously we’ve had a little bit of brake issue, but he was really listening today, and he was bold to the fences. Everything rode wonderfully.”

Good is hoping for a confident ride tomorrow in show jumping. “I think it’s really important for us to stay patient to everything. He’s a really forward moving horse, so I need to stay patient, and it should all go according to plan hopefully,” she said.

Madeline Hartsock and Prinz S.W. Photo by Kieran Paulsen.

Madeline Hartsock and Prinz S.W. held their dressage lead in the Professional’s Choice junior training division.”Out of the box he got a little sassy, but he went right out and stayed forward and didn’t even think about stopping. At the water he jumped right in, because he is such a perfect pony,” she said. “He was really consistent and didn’t feel tired, and he gave it his whole heart. Good pony!”

Megan Sykes and Classic’s Mojah also held onto their lead in the Professional’s Choice training horse division.

Sykes got Classic’s Mojah about a year and a half ago after he’d been a dressage horse.

“Today my game plan was to go fast,” she said. “I thought that was going to be the hardest factor. He’s kind of a lazy horse, but the cooler weather and the rain really helped us because it kept him a little fresh, so we were able to go out there really going for that time,” she said. “It was a good challenge, and it was fun. It had lots of turning and different-looking jumps than we’re used to, and it rode really nice.”

Important links:  All the COTH coverage of the 2017 AEC  |  full results  |  live streaming