United States Eventing Association

Lexington, Va.—Nov. 2—The CCI2*-L was the last FEI division to crown a winner at VHC Eventing, presented by Capital Square, on Sunday, and after a breathtakingly competitive show jumping phase, Autumn Leaves remained on top. As Phillip Dutton and “Lenni,” owned by the Autumn Leaves’ Group, galloped around the Stave Mill Arena with blue ribbons streaming in the air, it was fitting that the fall leaves in the background had turned the Blue Ridge Mountains into bright jewel tones. It was the last event of the season for the big grey mare and, for Dutton, her performance set the tone for a bright future.

“I was really proud of her,” Dutton said. “I thought it wasn't the biggest course, but it's always hard after you've gone fast the day before to get the horses to be adjustable and stay careful. I thought she handled it really well.”

While the fences were not huge, apparently someone forgot to tell Autumn Leaves’ that. “She jumps big,” Dutton said. “Actually, when we first got her, it caused a bit of trouble because she'd go so high and then scare herself, especially on the cross country. Now she's starting to level out and use that scope in the right way.”

Based on her scope over the fences and stellar performance over the weekend, Dutton hopes that, with some luck, 2026 will be her first season at the three-star level. A frequent flyer at the Virginia Horse Center, Dutton says he keeps coming back to the venue colloquially called “Little Bromont” because of the lessons horses—and riders—can learn.

“It's a good education for the horses,” he said. “I thought it was a really rider-friendly run this year. The terrain plays a part on the cross-country, and it's important for riders and horses to experience that. You can't just protect yourself from having ideal or flat ground or whatever. It's good to get out and do it. The arenas here add an element of atmosphere and excitement, so it's a good experience.”

The seven-time Olympian galloped to victory followed by Olympian Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Olive in second place, and Pamukcu and HSH Talbots Hill in third. Behind the Olympic riders galloped Lizzie Hoff and Rylie Nelson. Hoff won first place among the young riders in the CCI2*-L division aboard Cascadella 8, while Rylie Nelson and Galloway Sunrise took second.

Sponsored by Hyperion Stud, the Young Rider Award brings awareness to the importance of nurturing the up-and-coming riders who make up the future of eventing. Based on Hoff and Nelson’s performances at a tough venue this weekend, the future is bright.

While many riders cite the cross-country track at the Virginia Horse Center as a difficult fitness test, Hoff says it was a breeze for Cascadella 8. “The highlight was definitely my double-clear cross-country,” she said. “My mare was just so on it the whole time. I really didn't have to do much. It was just an easy, smooth round. She really worked super hard for me, especially up that big hill. So it's a super nice feeling.”

Hoff has been an avid participant in Young Rider programs, including USEA's Emerging Athletes Under 21 (EA21) program. She’s also a member of the USEF Under 25 Developing Team. But after having to divert away from her goal of competing at the Young Rider Championships, she said being recognized by the Hyperion Stud Young Rider Award this weekend was a nice surprise.

“So it was really fun to have this, because we have for the last like three years gone to Young Rider Championships, and since we didn't get to go to one this year, this is a really nice way to add that into our season,” Hoff said. “I was really excited. It was nice to get the recognition and good. And for my horses, too—it was just nice to have that added on to a good weekend with the horses.”

Hoff has big dreams that she says have been supported by a variety of young rider programs early on in her career. “I'm hoping that I'll have a good string of horses over the coming years to hopefully breach the goal of being a professional and doing some team stuff for the U.S. That's the goal,” she said.

Nelson, who hopes to have a career in business as well as dabble in professional horse sports, was also excited to be recognized by the Hyperion Stud Young Rider Awards. After finishing with a score of 31.0 aboard Fylicia Barr’s former five-star horse, Galloway Sunrise, Nelson said finishing second in the Young Rider Awards was a great comeback after struggling in the spring.

“I think having a double-clear cross-country round was definitely the highlight [of my weekend],” Nelson said. “I tried to do the CCI2*-L here in the spring and just didn't quite get around. So really, having a good, confident cross country round was just such a good feeling.”

Known as “Sunny” at the barn, Nelson said that her partner Galloway Sunrise has taken on the professor role with the young rider. “I did my first Modified on her, and I just did my first Intermediate on her,” she said. “She's really taught me a lot. I've ridden with Fylicia for years. So it's a really special partnership and opportunity.”

Nelson was a team member for her area’s Young Rider team in both 2024 and 2025. She said the young rider program has helped her make connections that she wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. “It's such a great experience,” she said. “It really is just like a teaching moment for young riders. It keeps bringing people into the sport and it’s a good experience to be on a team and feel the different pressures of that and understand how that works, and also just to meet other young riders. It's definitely a nice way to make new friends.”

As the coach for the Area II Young Riders’ program, Susie Beale is an advocate for the Virginia Horse Center as providing a community gathering place and furthering the education of many young riders in the area.

“[Virginia Horse Center] is so supportive of our young rider program here in Area II,” Beale said. “The young rider program is the foundation of our sport, and hopefully these young riders are going to be our Olympians one day. Area II is doing its best to support them.”

According to Beale, young riders don’t just come to the Virginia for the challenging course and big atmosphere; they can also benefit from the connections they make back at the barns.

“Virginia gives the feeling of pomp and circumstance, and it’s a beautifully run event,” she said. “It has FEI classes, so it gives the young riders a feeling of competing in the big time, which is a great experience. They're stabled next to people like Ema [Klugman] or Phillip [Dutton]. They get to warm up shoulder-to-shoulder with these amazing riders that are here at this competition. It's a fantastic place to learn to ride up and down these hills. It's a true test.

“When they come to Virginia and they're successful at a competition like this, it just gives you an enormous sense of accomplishment,” Beale continued. “You feel proud of yourself and your horse at the end of the season. A lot of people work towards this competition all year. It's their ultimate goal to come to Virginia and compete here at their fall horse trials.”

Klugman and Bronte Beach Z Take CCI3*-S Win

Bronte Beach Z and Ema Klugman have done it again at VHC Eventing; together, the long-time partners have been crowned winners of the CCI3*-S division with a score of 24.7. This is the second time Klugman and "Bronte" have topped the podium in the CCI3*-S at VHC Eventing, previously winning the division in 2020.

In the five years since then, “Bronte” has competed at three five-star events, including the Maryland 5 Star and the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. According to Klugman, that experience and her own familiarity with the venue gave them a competitive edge.

“Not much phases that horse,” Klugman said. “I've done [the course] quite a few times over the years, so I know how it feels, going down that hill. You don't really want to go too fast, just because it can be a little jarring for them. There are places in the course where you have to slow down a bit, but then you can rocket up the hill. You just have to make sure you have enough horse for the loop at the top after you go up that steep hill.”

Klugman’s goal for the day wasn’t just to win, but to come in with no time faults. “It was a good day. My goal was to try to make the time, and I think I was 3 seconds under, so I was happy with that. Give myself a bit of a challenge,” she said. “I knew that she could do that. I just have to be organized and smooth and try not to waste time.”

Striking the right balance between protecting a horse’s confidence and pushing both rider and horse to grow requires a delicate touch. According to Klugman, VHC Eventing was the perfect time and place to push her own limits and help Bronte prepare for the CCI4*-L at Terranova (Myakka City, Florida) later this month.

“She felt super fit, which is great, and very game,” she said. “I think it's good for me to practice riding at speed. It's a delicate balance of protecting the horses and making sure they're confident, so maybe not always going really fast. But also, you know, as a rider, it's a skill to be able to compete under pressure. I was in the lead, so it was mine to lose.”

The Virginia Horse Center has played a role in Bronte’s education up the levels, from winning her first FEI event to solidifying the Zangersheide mare’s fitness for tougher tracks. Klugman says that if she had any advice for up-and-coming riders who were thinking about tackling the Lexington, Virginia cross-country course, it would be to take advantage of the big atmosphere for all levels.

“I think what's really nice about [VHC Eventing] is even the Beginner Novice and Starter folks are jumping in the same stadium that the three-star horses are jumping in,” Klugman said. “It's kind of like a three-day event feel, even if you're doing a horse trial. I think it's a great show. I would say to make sure you have your horse really fit, because there's a lot of terrain, and it's very hilly here. Try to have good preparation events where you expose your horse to different environments. But I think the horses learned a ton coming here. It's a place we love coming back to.”

Klugman also notes that winning with Bronte isn’t just a victory for herself—but also for the Bronte Beach Syndicate.

“There’s a big syndicate behind Bronte Beach who have been super loyal and gotten behind me and her for the last five or six years,” she said. “We have ups and downs and, obviously like with any work, we’re really trying to do well all the time. But I feel like I've made some mistakes over the course of her career, and it doesn't always go to plan, so it's really nice to give them a good win. I really wouldn't have the horse if it weren’t for them; I wouldn't have been able to keep her. It's really rewarding to have their support, and it's an honor to ride for them.”

Bourke and DHU Kevin G Win CCI2*-S By a Landslide

Season five-star rider Tim Bourke and DHI Kevin G won the CCI2*-S division by a landslide with a score of 27.9, more than 10 points ahead of second-placed Stella Sunstein and Romans Mr. Kane. Owned by Lucia Strini, “Kevin” is new to Bourke Equestrian and is on trial through the fall season. But based on their performance at VHC Eventing, the future is looking bright for this new pair.

Bourke cites the work Strini has put into Kevin as a large reason for their success this weekend. “He was great today,” he said. “It's pretty nice leaving the start box on a seasoned veteran that's done it all. He is a reliable, good horse so you know it was really nice. I'm really happy with him.”

Like the winning pairs in all other divisions, Bourke also said time and fitness were the two most significant factors on the course on Saturday. “The time was tough,” he said. “It was a pretty big fitness test, as you’d imagine, coming up that mountain there at the end. He whizzed on up there.”

VHC Eventing was a preparatory run for Kevin and Bourke, who are planning on competing in the Intermediate at TerraNova Equestrian Center next month. “[This weekend] was a really good start to our partnership together,” Bourke said. “We won the Preliminary the other weekend and then to come here and the two short—yeah, it’s good.”

Hirananga Tops CCI1*-L in His First Trip to Virginia

Kenta Hiranaga’s first time at the Virginia Horse Center may be a tough performance to beat. Hiranaga and Promised Land TH won the division CCI1*-L with a score of 24.9.

“[I feel] so amazing. Horses are also very happy,” Hiranaga said. “But today in the stadium, the horses gave their best performances, but I was too focused on the time, and I didn't give them the best approaches.”

Despite some room for improvement, Hiranaga and Promised Land TH pulled off a double clear show jumping round and was one of only two riders to go double clear in both cross-country and show jumping.

With help from his trainer, Olympian Boyd Martin, Hiranaga, who rides for Japan, says he and “Django” are aiming to do their first CCI2* in the spring. From there, the sky’s the limit. “[I’m aiming for] LA 2028,” Hiranaga said. “With more experience, I hope [she’s a] five-star horse. Maybe [we’ll be at the] LA Olympics or the Brisbane Olympics.”

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