United States Eventing Association

Bromont, Quebec, Canada—June 5—Lauren Nicholson first brought Jacqueline Mars’ Larcot Z to MARS Bromont two years ago when her partnership with the 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding was nearly brand new. Now, she’s here again to contest the CCI4*-L division and has kicked off her weekend in high spirits thanks to a leading dressage score of 27.1.

“I just love Bromont—it’s always a great event,” Nicholson commented. “The courses are great. They’re challenging enough that you know you’re on par with going somewhere else in the world, as well. It’s always a great [cross-country] track and a lovely area. I’m looking forward to having a crack around it on him.”

Nicholson acquired the ride on Larcot Z after the horse was previously produced by Reagan Lafleur and Will Coleman, noting that forming a new partnership is always a process that requires patience.

“I always say when you get a new horse—even if you get on really well—it really takes about two years to solidify the partnership,” she said. “This year, he’s come out, and we feel like we really know each other. I’m hoping that he cracks around this pretty easily and has a good run.”

Nicholson is followed in the rankings by Australian rider Ema Klugman, who sits second and third on the Chriaz Syndicate’s Chiraz (30.0) and Team Fern’s RF Redfern (30.6). Three-time Canadian Olympian Jessica Phoenix is in fourth with Sarah Irving’s Aeronautics (32.3).

It was also time for the MARS Bromont Rising participants to get their competition underway, with competitors in both the U25 CCI2*-L and CCI3*-L on Thursday. The participants had the opportunity to have dressage lessons and assistance in warm-up with German Olympian Bettina Hoy. On Thursday afternoon, they walked the cross-country course with Hoy, and on Friday they will have the chance to meet with course designer Derek di Grazia for additional insights on Saturday's course.

“I have to say, they all tried really hard,” Hoy commented. “A lot of them were able to put into place the things we did yesterday—you know, little tips I gave them. When you come in at the last minute, it’s very difficult to say something because you don’t want to upset the system. Sometimes it works and you can make a big difference in the right direction, and other times, it can easily go the wrong way. So as a coach coming in last minute, you have to be very careful with how much you get in and say, ‘Do this, do that.’ ”

Making good on her preparation and the extra help from Hoy were Kelsey Seidel and Chico’s Man VDF Z, who will be the U25 CCI2*L leaders ahead of cross-country. Seidel trains with five-star rider Sara Kozumplik and credits both Kozumplik and Hoy with helping her earn a competitive score of 29.2 today.

“‘Sprout’ went into the ring and really did a good job,” Seidel said. “He loves his job, and it’s pretty clear. He did have one little moment in our left lead medium canter, with a little play, a little buck, but that’s just who he is, and I wouldn’t want him any other way. It’s clear that he loves his job and he comes to play.”

Speaking to the MARS Bromont Rising experience, Seidel commented: “Last year, I came up with Sara Kozumplik for the Petit Bromont [which is here next week] to get a lay of the land and have the horses run across the ground and see what it was all about. While I was here, I learned about the Bromont Rising Program, and that absolutely became a goal for this year. We put Bromont on the calendar very early and set our season up so that this would be a really great run ahead of the Young Rider Championships at the end of the month.”

Leading the U25 CCI3*-L after dressage are Ivie Cullen-Dean and Michael Dean’s Fernhill Cardavega, earning a 34.6 from the judges. Cullen-Dean, while not a MARS Bromont Rising grant recipient this year, was nonetheless invited to participate in the activities throughout the week.

“I was definitely a little surprised,” Cullen-Dean commented on her test. “He was probably the best he’s ever been. He’s a bit of a keen, spooky horse, so for him to go in there and lay down what I would call error-free—no spooks—he was fantastic. He was a little bit up; he’s obviously fit to be here, but honestly, he was the best he could have been for where he’s at in his training, and I’m just super happy with him.”

World no. 5 rider Boyd Martin is the current leader of the CCI3*-L with the Fetiche Des Rouges Syndicate’s Fetiche Des Rouges, a French horse that’s slightly newer to his program. Martin scored a 29.9 to lead the field with more pairs left to compete on Friday.

“He did really well,” Martin commented. “He’s a new horse to me. I’ve got a large group of people behind him. [British Olympic medalist] Laura Collett already competed him at this level, so I’ve spent the last year getting to know him, and now we’re sort of back at the level.”

“Number one, it’s just an awesome place to be,” Martin continued about his decision to come to MARS Bromont year after year. "It’s a great town, we’ve got good friends up here, and obviously the facilities are fantastic. The rings here—the dressage ring and the show jumping rings—are world-class. And most importantly, the cross-country is just big, big jumps, a long distance, and challenging terrain.

“It’s probably the harder long format, along with Morven Park [Leesburg, Virginia], they’re the most difficult ones in North America,” he continued. “You want to bring the right horse here, but it really beefs them up and produces them for the five-star level. Sometimes it’s easier going to the easier longs, but if you’re brave enough to come here and you get through it, then you’ve really got a horse for the future."

With more competitors yet to see on Friday, Alexandra Knowles leads the CCI2*-L with Katherine O’Brien’s September Venture, scoring a 28.0 for the lead.

Competition continues on Friday with the conclusion of CCI2*-L and CCI3*-L dressage, along with the full field of CCI4*-S competitors in the afternoon.

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