Tamie Smith and Mai Baum All photos courtesy Shannon Brinkman Photography
Tamie Smith (USA) and Mai Baum, the 2006 German Sport Horse gelding (Loredano x Rike) owned by Alexandra Ahearn, Ellen Ahearn and Eric Markell, laid down an impressive 20.4 in Dressage and finished Show Jumping on a score of 21.2 for a comfortable lead in the ProElite® CCI 4*-S Division at The Fork at TIEC presented by Nutrena®.
In reserve heading into the Cross-Country test, Boyd Martin (USA) and Tsetserleg, the 2007 Trakehner gelding (Windfall *PG* x Buddenbrock) owned by Christine, Thomas IV and Tommie Turner, carry a score of 23.7 after their clear jumping round under the lights in Tryon Stadium.
Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg
Rounding out the podium after two phases and improving from fourth, Doug Payne (USA) and Vandiver, the 2004 Trakehner gelding (Windfall 2 x Mystic Replica XX) owned by Debi Crowley and Doug and Jessica Payne, will contest Cross-Country on a score of 25.7.
About her noteworthy dressage score, Smith mused that while “like any competitor, you can always find places where you can improve, but he’s just super consistent. The things we’re improving are very miniscule, really. I was really pleased with him. He’s such a professional in the sandbox.”
While Smith herself has competed at TIEC before, Mai Baum is a Tryon first-timer, but wasn’t phased by the atmosphere in Tryon Stadium, she reported. “I wouldn’t have been in a stadium like that with him before, and he’s never been here to Tryon. The atmosphere in the stadium is quite electric, and he’s a careful horse, so sometimes that can work against you, but he was super confident and felt great.”
A confident ride in a new, exciting environment was exactly what Smith was hoping to get from her experience before heading to contest the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, she revealed. “I thought that it would be a good idea to come to Tryon to get the electric, big arena atmosphere, because that’s how Kentucky is going to be. I wanted to get a read on the horses leading up to Kentucky, so I’m just really pleased with how he handled it, and he’s super rideable and confident,” Smith detailed.
Doug Payne and Vandiver
Will Faudree and Boyd Martin Top Advanced Divisions Heading into Cross-Country
Will Faudree (Southern Pines, NC) and Mama’s Magic Way, the 2011 Hanoverian gelding (Mighty Magic x Straightaway) owned by Jennifer Mosing and Sterling Silver Stables, kept their lead over two phases in the Advanced – Test A Division, leading with a 35.8.
Sarah Kuhn (Aiken, SC) and Mr. Cash van de Start, Deborah Kuhn’s 2012 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Deauville de la Vie x Ishtar van de Start), earned a score of 39.5 to sit in second place, while Caroline Martin (Miami Beach, FL) holds third aboard Islandwood Captain Jack, the 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Jack of Diamonds x Suir Touch) owned in partnership with Sherrie Martin, on a score of 40.1.
Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way
Boyd Martin also held tight to both first and second place across two phases in the Advanced – Test B Division, in first with Luke 140 (28.3), the 2011 Holsteiner gelding (Landos x Omega VI) owned by the Luke 140 Syndicate, and second with Long Island T (30.2), the 2006 Oldenburg/Thoroughbred gelding (Ludwig von Bayern x Highlight) owned by the Long Island T Syndicate.
Third place currently belongs to Daniela Moguel (Shelby, NC) and Cecelia, the 2003 Thoroughbred mare (Connecticut x Penny Stock) owned by Jorge Martinez and Paloma Garcia, on a score of 34.9.
Martin slated his syndicate horses for the Advanced – Test B Division, taking top honors with both after “spot on” performances from both, he recapped: “They’re both fantastic movers and great jumpers. As we are getting close to Kentucky, I think it’s important to try and do a bit of a dress rehearsal here at The Fork. I got here a day early, and really tried to make sure that the horses were primed up for a good run here.”
Aiming for a competitive trip around the White Oak Cross-Country Course, Martin said he planned to run at about 80%, he estimated. “They need to run – they haven’t run much this year. I am going to make sure that they are confident and riding well, but they also get used to jumping big fences at high speeds again. I think I will run them at about 80%. It’s such an amazing venue here at Tryon,” he emphasized. “Absolutely world-class, and it is a real privilege to compete here.”
Though a familiar face at TIEC and especially in the winner’s circle, Martin did note that Saturday’s competition did hold a “first” for him at the venue: jumping under the lights in Tryon Stadium, where he typically competes in daylight hours.
“I tried to split my horses up [between divisions] this weekend, just to give myself physically a bit of a break between rides. He [Tseterleg] came out and jumped really well under the lights tonight. It was the first time that I had jumped these horses at night. I think it’s a great experience getting out there and dealing with the shadows from the bright lights.”
The cross country courses to be tackled tomorrow have been crafted by Captain Mark Phillips (GBR), while Michel Vaillancourt (CAN) created the Show Jumping courses testing competitors in Tryon Stadium.
The Fork at TIEC presented by Nutrena® continues tomorrow, Sunday April 4th. No spectators are permitted per USEF policies for COVID-19
Boyd Martin and Luke 140
