Thomas 2nd After Cross-Country at Fair Hill

Boyd and Cold Harbor
Photo copyright Amber Heintzberger

The weather turned it on for a fantastic Fair Hill International three-day event cross-country day. First out was Manny and Dana Diemer’s Cold Harbor; he struggled with the heavy footing early in the course but showed plenty of heart and fitness to finish well. He jumped around the course showing style and class and finished one second outside the time to move up to 11th place going in to the show jumping. I’m very encouraged by Bo’s jumping ability and I’m confident that this horse will find his stride at the three-star level next year.

Boyd and Ying Yang Yo
Photo Copyright Amber Heintzberger

My old sparring partner Thomas in enjoying his time back in the limelight; I set out a little bit conservatively on the course, not quite knowing what to expect from Thomas. We were both a little bit rusty at this level and it was the first time he stretched his lungs in two years. He finished strongly and jumped well towards the end of the course but unfortunately was a bit off the time and slipped to second place, which is going to make tomorrow a very exciting day of show jumping. It was enjoyable seeing Thomas’s part-owner Faye Woolf happy and emotional after watching Thomas cross the finish line since she has played a huge part in his illustrious comeback.

Hats off to Jan Byyny, who took the lead in the three-star. Jan has gone through a very lengthy recovery to make this comeback from her accident at Pine Top Horse Trials two years ago. It’s inspiring watching Jan’s determination and I was impressed with her no-quit attitude in getting back to this level.

Both Thomas and Bo look like they’ve come out of the cross-country well, so fingers crossed for the show jumping tomorrow.

Boyd

Thomas Takes the Lead at Fair Hill International CCI3*

We've had a great start to the Dansko Fair Hill International Three-Day Event in Elkton, Maryland. In the CCI2* yesterday Cold Harbor put in one of his best dressage tests to date on a 58. This is his toughest phase and has been a work in progress all year and I was pleased with the way he went. The two-star cross-country looks tough and technical, and with the heavy ground it will make sure this competition is not a dressage show. I’m expecting Manny and Dana Diemer’s horse to get out there and tackle it well.

The highlight of today was riding my old partner Ying Yang Yo, now owned by Faye and Eliza Woolf, who put in a smoking dressage test in the CCI3*. It’s been a few years since I rode Thomas at the international level and it felt like I was riding my old bike. Tomorrow’s course looks relentless, especially with all the rain they’ve had this week. I feel like I’ve got Thomas very fit but I’ll play it smart and start out slow and see how much horse I’ve got; if he feels good I’ll go for the time but if it feels like he's not at his best then I’ll give him a nice easy run.

-Boyd

EventingNation.com posted a video on YouTube:

Also see the USEF Press Release

Live Scores

At some point the Fair Hill website will have the cross-country times posted.

Thank You SmartPak

A great big thanks to SmartPak Equine for their fantastic sponsorship! Also thanks to jump builder Eric Bull, who constructed this beautiful fence which will be added to the course at our new farm following the Dansko Fair Hill International Three-Day Event!

Trot-up at Fair Hill

Boyd and Cold Harbor

Boyd will be competing to horses at the Fair Hill International CCI*** and USEF Fall Eventing Championship: his old partner Ying Yang Yo, ("Thomas"), owned by Faye and Eliza Woolf is in the 3* and and Manny and Dana Diemer's Cold Harbor, ("Bo"), who is a reserve horse for the US Team heading to the Pan-American Games, will compete in the CCI2*. Once again Boyd donned his dapper trot-up outfit sponsored by Bill's Khakis to show his horses off to the Ground Jury.

Cold Harbor at the First Veterinary Inspection

Ying Yang Yo at the First Veterinary Inspection

Video of Otis and Boyd at Boekelo CCI3* in the Netherlands

Boyd Clinic Featured on HorseJunkiesUnited.com

Check out this fun blog post from our friends at the Horse Junkies United blog, sponsored by Ecogold, Charles Owen and Five Star Tack. This edition is an account of Emily Oakes' experience riding in Boyd's clinic in Texas shortly after the Burghley three-day event and includes photos and video. Thanks Emily!

Boekelo Final Day with Photos

The Boekelo CCI three-star in the Netherlands wrapped up with show jumping today and Remington XXV, owned by Ron and Densey Juvonen, had two rails down to finish in 35th. It was a somehwat disappointing finish after he started out in 8th place after dressage, but the wet and heavy going on cross-country did not agree with him. Otis Barbotiere had a fantastic, clear show jumping round and moved all the way up to finish in 14th. He was in 55th after the dressage and moved up 39 places from Friday to Sunday by adding only 4.4 cross-country time penalties to his dressage score. With 110 entries it was a really tough field and challenging weather and footing conditions and Otis truly proved his mettle.

Remington traveled to Boekelo on a Land Rover High Performance grant and now has two international trips under his belt after finishing 7th at Pau in France last year. This may not have been his personal best weekend but he is truly a seasoned International horse now. Otis traveled to Boekelo on a USEF Developing Grant and showed that he has a great future ahead of him. Many thanks to the support from Land Rover and the USEF, and to Ron and Densey Juvonen and the other members of the Otis Syndicate.

Otis Barbotiere Syndicate Members

Chatting with Mike Huber after Show Jumping

Big Smiles

Victory Gallop