United States Eventing Association

Yelm, Washington —June 15— In the golden hour of a sunny evening at Aspen Farms Horse Trials in Yelm, WA, Tommy Greengard and Joshuay MBF delivered a flawless show jumping round to maintain their overnight lead in the CCI4*-S at Aspen Farms Horse Trials in Yelm, WA–this year a qualifier for the new US Equestrian Open of Eventing Series.

“He’s just the best ever,” said Greengard, reflecting on Joshuay’s performance in the Tack Room Too Arena. “Any time I get to ride him, I feel so lucky. He has yet to have a rail at the Advanced level. Andrea and I have had so much fun producing him to this point. It’s always a privilege to compete him. This was a good day.

Their clear jumping effort was cheered on by a packed house of spectators, sponsors, and fellow competitors enjoying an Evening Reception with complementary drinks and hors d’oeuvres overlooking the show jumping course designed by Chris Barnard.

“I think it’s always exciting to fill up the hillside and have people out to watch and enjoy the show,” shared Jonathan Elliott, Owner and Show Organizer of Aspen Farms, after the Evening Reception crowds dispersed. “It’s great when we have a super sponsor like Southern California Equestrian Sports to help us with it and get the crowd excited. It was fun to see the hillside packed and ‘The Wave’ going on in the crowd as the camera was running through the ring below… It means a lot to see how celebrated this 4* event is by everyone.

There were no changes to rankings on the overnight Leaderboard after show jumping in the CCI4*-S. Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14, owned by Annika Aslinga, also jumped double clear in the division. They will enter the last day of competition on their dressage score of 28, just 1.1 points behind Greengard.

“Both of my CCI horses are very strong on cross-country,” shared Greengard. “Karen O’Neal is right behind me, so it’s going to be ‘pedal on’ tomorrow on the cross-country course. We’re going to have a crack at it, within reason.”

Representing Canada, Renee Kalkman and Flame Eternal are third in the CCI4*-S, and Cristina Rennie and Flight of the Arabesque are fourth, both combinations having picked up show jumping faults.

In the CCI3*-S, Greengard and Balladeer Kilbrickens Lad, who goes by “Jerry” and is owned by Patricia Culleton, delivered a double clear round to secure their overnight lead on a score of 26.

“He jumped the most brilliant, beautiful round,” Greengard said after Jerry’s show jumping effort. “He’s an out-an-out-jumper, but it’s always nice when they give you a round like he did today.”

Kendra Mitchell and Calcourt Legend are second in the CCI3*-S on 28.2, and Stephanie Goodman and Elwenda DP are third on 28.4. Goodman and Elwenda caught the crowds’ attention by taking some inside lines on course in order to make it under the time limit, which they did.

“I didn’t give her a great ride at the beginning,” shared Goodman. “I was a little too slow, so I had to make it up later without using speed… She had to do a couple of tight turns! She’s just the best little partner. Chris [Barnard] did a great course, and it flowed nicely.”

In the CCI2*-S, Hanni Sreenan and Ebenholtz, owned by Amy Haugen, added just .8 time faults to their dressage score after show jumping, to maintain the overnight lead with a score of 26.3. Paige Beauchamp Crandon and Fyfin Ramiro, owned by Melissa Beauchamp, are second with 29, and Brooke Phillips and Dartagnon are third with 31.

“It was a good round, but I could have been a tad bit more forward,” Sreenan shared after her show jumping performance. “He’s a good boy, and I rode what I had. Sometimes we have to add strides if I don’t get him forward enough from the get-go, which is what we did today. I’m excited for cross-country. I’ve been on the East Coast all winter, and I’m super excited to run a cross-country course on the West Coast with some more terrain.”

In Open Intermediate, Mickayla Howard and her Irish Sporthorse gelding, HH Ontario, confirmed their place at the top of the overnight Leaderboard thanks to a clear show jumping effort.

“I went over the course about ten different times,” shared Howard. “I felt like it walked a bit open, and I have a horse with a really big step so that suits him, and it went to plan! I was really happy with the round.”

Looking ahead to Sunday’s cross-country test, Howard shared: “The cross-country looks like a good track. For sure there’s some tough pieces, but I’m going to try to go fast. I love Aspen, so I’ve been saving him for this show to see if we can go out there on course and push a little bit, while still making the right choices.”

Emily Pestl-Dimmitt and Aventinus, owned by Louise LaRue, also jumped double clear to move from fourth to second in Open Intermediate. Tommy Greengard and the 8-year-old gelding, That’s Me Z, owned by Andrea Pfeiffer, had one rail, which dropped them from first after dressage to third.

The Novice and Beginner Novice divisions enjoyed a beautiful day of weather and good footing to take on the cross-country courses designed by Morgan Rowsell.

The final day of competition at Aspen Farms Horse Trials will begin Sunday at 8 a.m. (show jumping) and 8:30 a.m. (cross-country jumping). Thanks to the generous support of sponsors, Aspen Farms is poised to award over $35,000 worth of prizes to the top finishers. Prizes will be distributed at the Show Office, and competitors are encouraged to get their photography taken at the Awards Backdrop.

See up-to-date scores from Aspen Farms Horse Trials online at Show Connect, here. Follow along with show coverage on Aspen Farms Horse Trials Facebook Page, or on Instagram @AspenFarmsHorseTrials. Or join in the spirit of competition in person this weekend at Aspen Farms–spectators are welcome!

Photos by Ashley Kemp Photography.