LEESBURG, Va.--Will Coleman on Off The Record moved up from seventh after dressage to lead after cross country in the US Equestrian Open Eventing Final CCI4*-L on Saturday, Oct. 11.
Will Coleman on Off The Record (Photo by US Equestrian)The cross-country delivered a major shake-up of the leaderboard after 33 competed over Derek di Grazia’s challenging 5,783-meter track at Morven Park International Equestrian Center
Coleman of Ocala, Fla., in cross country stopped the clock in 10:01, inside the optimum time of 10:09, to take over the lead on his dressage score of 28.6 penalties.
Isabelle Bosley of Cochranville, Pa., on Conner moved from ninth to second after also going clean with no time penalties to finish on her dressage score of 28.9, and Sharon White of Summit Point, W.V., on Claus 63, who had a clear jump round, but with 4.8 time penalties, dropped from second after dressage to third on a score of 30.8 ahead of the jumping phase.
“I felt pretty comfortable once I got out there," said Colemanof the cross country coure.. "We know each other so well. We got into a decent rhythm at the start, and I felt like he kind of knew the track. It’s pretty similar to last year, so he was reading the questions well.”
Coleman, who calls the gelding “Timmy” at home, credits a carefully tuned conditioning program for his long-time partner’s performance.
“HE'S NOT the most gifted galloper, but I think we have his conditioning pretty pinpointed,” Coleman said. “That’s thanks to a lot of people -- my vet, Dr. Tim Ober, and the team at New Bolton. They’ve been an incredible resource for us.”
Coleman shared the credit with his team, beginning with his wife, Katie Coleman.
“Katie is the foundation of everything we do,” he said. “She’s an amazing horsewoman, and she’s helped out a lot by our head girl, Erin Jarboe, who has done an incredible job with all of our horses, Timmy included. It takes a village to do this: owners, coaches, staff, vets, farriers. I feel like I’m surrounded by the best people, and my success is as much a statement about their expertise.”
The biggest shift of the day for the leaderboard was Mary Bess Davis of Mansfield, Ga.,on Imperio Magic
She had a clear round over the CCI4*-L track and added only 1.6 time penalties to her dressage score for an overnight score of 39.5 penalties, which moved them into overnight fourth place from 32nd after dressage.
