Boyd Martin is continuing his year of international travel in 2023 by competing this week at the Sweden International Horse Show.
The current World Number 3, Boyd has made the journey from the USA to ride Caruccio Paradise, the horse he competed here last year for fifth place and they have successfully started the two-phase competition of the Agria Top 10 Indoor Eventing by winning the first leg on Thursday evening.
Ten riders from seven nations are invited to start in the Agria Top 10 Indoor Eventing with the competition decided by a qualifier on Thursday evening and a final on Sunday evening. The result in the qualifier determines the starting order in the final, where the winner of the qualifier goes out as the last starter.
Boyd won the first phase with a clear round in the fastest time of 34.2 while last year’s winner Maxime Livio (FRA) riding Boleybawn Prince took third place and UK-based Swedish rider Sofia Sjöborg riding Eastbourne was hot on Boyd’s heels in second place.
“What a fantastic, fantastic horse” said Boyd of the eight-year-old Caruccio Paradise “This horse is a champion. He got in there and we had a couple of lucky moments and he really fought for me. He’s a fantastic jumper and I’m very, very lucky to be riding him here in Sweden” adding “He feels stronger and faster and bolder and brighter than last year.”
The fast and furious Christmas-themed course included a challenging water jump that brought Britain’s David Doel, the runner-up at Burghley this year, undone. The first rider out on board Captain Tiger Lily, they were flying around the course until the grey mare balked at the water, then paddled in it on re-presenting and finally jumped it clear the third time, with a wry smile from David!
The riders now get a couple of days off to enjoy the big Swedish show and return to the Friends Arena in Stockholm for the big finale on Sunday night
