Crackerjack Leads the Pack at Jersey Fresh

Crackerjack

It was a fantastic afternoon for eventing at the Horse Park of New Jersey today for the Jersey Fresh three-day event.  After a rocky beginning to their first season at intermediate, both Crackerjack and Merging have matured into genuine two-star horses. 

Merging

With double clear rounds on both horses today, Crackerjack maintained the lead in the CCI2* and Merging moved up from 6th to 4th place. Boyd said both horses felt like seasoned campaigners over their toughest test to date.

Trading Aces

 It was Trading Aces' first advanced with Boyd - he had competed at this level once with another rider - and he said that they are still getting to know each other. "I think that he's a very exciting horse and once we're really on the same page, he will be one of the best in the country," said Boyd.

Caitlin and Hoku

Caitlin and Hoku breezed around their first CIC three-star course to stand in tenth place. This was a big step for both of them and now they are qualified to run around the CCI*** at Bromont next month. It was a very exciting day for this pair that also has had a dramatic and successful comeback after the fire at True Prospect Farm nearly one year ago.


Because the Olympic selectors felt that Neville didn't have anything to prove by running cross-country today, he will just do the show jumping tomorrow. His next run will also be at Bromont. "We're trying some different things right now in his dressage warm up; obviously yesterday's plan didn't work, but this morning we changed things around and went through the four-star test again and it felt good."

-AMH

For live results click here.

Also be sure to show your support at http://www.facebook.com/BoydMartinEventing

Take a virtual walk around the course thanks to EventingNation.com

Photos copyright Amber Heintzberger and are not to be copied or reproduced.

Neville Getting Ready for Action at Jersey Fresh

Lindsey is getting Neville beautified for his 10:35 dressage ride. Trading Aces is on at 12:16. We are off to a good start: after yesterday's dressage, Crackerjack leads the CCI** and Merging is tied for 6th place.

-Boyd

Click here for times

Extra Footage from NBC

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Here are the web extras that include Capt. Mark Phillips talking about Boyd’s chances of making the Olympic team and Boyd talking about how to train an eventing horse.  Compliments of Jenny Dubin, Producer for NBC.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/47295185#47295185

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/47295185#47295160

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/47295209#47295209

Missed Nev and Boyd on NBC's Rock Center with Brian Williams? Follow the link to the program here

We hope that everyone had the opportunity to watch Harry Smith's feature about Boyd and Neville on NBC's Rock Center with Brian Williams last night. This project has taken several months of organizing, filming and editing, and the folks at NBC did a great job telling this story sensitively and without overdoing the drama. Boyd was a natural in front of the camera and of course Neville enjoyed all the extra attention and carrots, but don't worry folks, Boyd and Neville won't be running off to Hollywood to change careers any time soon, they've still got their work cut out for them in eventing.

-AMH

View the entire broadcast here

Link for Smart Phone users: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/47364509#47364509

Welcome to Jersey

Emily van Gemeren's Berkley (foreground) and Caitlin Silliman's Catch a Star ("Hoku") (background) at Jersey Fresh

Yesterday we arrived at the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event, two hours later than planned after we got lost on our way there. Thursday's dressage rides include Boyd on Crackerjack and Merging in the CCI** and me and my horse Berkley in the CIC**. This is both Crackers and Merging's first CCI**, and both look fit, beautiful, and more than ready for this weekend's event. Berkley and I had some trouble at a corner in the Advanced at Fair Hill a few weeks ago, so we are running the CIC** to have a good go cross-country.

Friday's dressage will bring Boyd on his longtime champion Neville Bardos and his brand new ride Trading Aces in the CIC***, as well as Caitlin and Hoku in their CIC*** debut! We were able to ride in the dressage arena today to get the horses used to the atmosphere in the ring, and Thursday's weather is supposed to be beautiful, so we're excited for the start of a good weekend!

-Emily van Gemeren

Jersey Fresh Dressage Times

Jersey Fresh Times:

Merging: 1:00pm Thursday
Crackerjack: 3:36pm Thursday

Neville: 10:27 Friday

Trading Aces: 12:24 Friday

Morven Park Dressage Update from Silva

Rosa Cha and Silva Martin, photo courtesy Mike McNally

We had a great time at Morven Park this past weekend. It was nice to be showing my horses again since we have not shown since we came back to Pennsylvania.

 

Showing at Morven Park is always a great weekend because Melinda Walton and Larry Smith have all of us stay with them at their beautiful breeding farm in Purceville . We had so much fun. Sara Reese (part owner in Rosa) and Sara Sanz ( owner of Ballatale) also stayed at Melinda and Larry's. I loved having Sara and Sara with us this weekend. Melinda and Larry cook the best dinners and look after us amazingly I can not thank both of them enough for making all of us feel so welcome!

Kymmy, Scout and I took 6 horses this weekend. I rode Rosa Cha, Elite Pharis, Benefactor RRS and Duvent. Kymmy rode her new young horse Hot Date and Scout rode her mare Fancy.

Elite Pharis is a new horse for me and it was so nice to meet his owner Liz Marenakos this weekend. Liz lives in SC and came to Morven Park to watch Pharis show. I was very impressed with Pharis this weekend: we showed in first level test 2 and 3 and we won both classes with 72,5% and 74,6%. Pharis is with me to be sold and I know that he will be an amazing horse for somebody that is looking for a fancy and honest horse to take up the levels.

 

Benny with Melinda Walten and Pam Murphy. Pam also stayed with us at Melinda and Larry's. Pam is a long time friend of Melinda and Larry's and lives in Kennett Square. She has become a very good friend and supporter of ours.

 

Benefactor RRS is owned and bred by Melinda and Larry. Benny really really impressed me this weekend. This was his first show ever and he is four years old but he acted like his has done this for 15 years. Nothing bothered him at all. We showed in the materiale class on Saturday in the outdoor ring and he was amazing. We won the class with 81%. On Sunday we did our first 4 year old test and we won that class with 79%. I am so exited about riding Benny in the Markel 4-year-old qualifiers and at the east coast selection trail in June.

Duvent, who is also owned and bred by Melinda and Larry, cleaned up as well. We won both fourth levels with 72% and 68%. Duvent is really growing up and I believe he is going to be a fantastic horse.

 

Rosa with part owner Sara Reese and Ballatale's owner Sara Sanz

Rosa Cha is still unbeaten in 2012. She has not come second once yet. We showed fourth level test 3 for the first time on Saturday and won with 73% and fourth level test 2 on Sunday and won with 69%. Rosa is a very special horse and she is one of the best competitorsI ever had. She will be a big-time horse!

Kymmy's new 4-year-old Hayden also impressed us a lot. He was amazingly calm and super rideable. They finished second in the materiale class and scored 71% in the four year old test on Sun. Hayden is going to be a very nice horse!!

Scout rode her mare Fancy in first level and finished third and fourth. Scout has an amazing young mare that we will start up again soon. The mare is three  and a half now and we are planning on getting her ready for the materiale class at Dressage at Devon and the four year old classes next year.

Jacky Gilbertson who owns part of Rosa also came on Sunday to watch us go. It was so nice to see Jacky!!

Silva