FAIR HILL, Md.--First time Maryland 5 Star competitor, Cosby Green, 23, on Highly Suspicious leads following the first day of dressage in the Maryland 5 Star.
Cosby Green on Highly Suspicious (Photo by Allen MacMillan)Green is an American based in Dorset, England wiith New Zealand’s top eventing couple Tim Price and Jonelle Price.
She scored 28.0, just .5 in front of Boyd Martin on Commando 3, with Lindsay Traisnel of Canada on Bacyrouge third on 30.7 and Harry Meade of Great Britain on Away Cruising fourth on 31.2.
Making her Maryland 5* debut, Green matched her personal best in dressage.
She completed Pau Horse Trials, Badminton Horse Trials and Burghley Horse Trials over the past year with her five-star veteran Copper Beech and was 16th at Burghley last month.
“Overall, I thought it was some of his best work in the ring so far,” said Green, whose only error in her test came when the horse jogged in the walk section, which resulted in them scoring a four, a three and a two for that movement. “It's hard not to be frustrated with the walk and we know that’s his weakness, but he went in there and I just thought he did a great demonstration of all the work we have been putting in and that doesn’t always happen in such a big atmosphere, so I really am thrilled with him.”
“I’M PLEASED," said Green. "I’m a bit hard on myself, so it’s what I expected, but I’m happy to have it done with and be ready to get on with the jumping as that’s what he loves to do.”
Cosby said that it means a lot to her to return to home soil and compete here, saying: “I came to the first Maryland 5 Star, so I’ve always had my eyes on it and now I’ve been in a program that’s meant it’s able to become a reality. I have the support of my family and it means the world for them to be here.”
The 14-year-old Highly Suspicious is making his five-star debut after two second places at four-star this year.
Martin of Cochranville, Pa. is currently second on Commando 3, but he has two more to ride in dressage on Friday.
“I’m very pleased with him," said Martin. "He has amazing quality, but he’s such a big mover it’s hard to keep him balanced. But he went in there and did all the tricks really well and I think he’s going to get better and better,” said Boyd.
Kiersten Miller leads the CCI3*-L with a score of 28.4 on Mama Mia.
Sara Schulman on Cooley Chromatic is second, just behind the leader at 28.6, while Allison Springer on Castle Howard Romeo is third with a 28.7.
“She has always been pretty 0 to 100, that’s my best way of describing her, so you never really know what’s going to upset her on any given day,” said Miller. “I think the key to riding her is letting her think that she is doing things on her terms and she’s making all the decisions . So I always finesse with her. I figure out places where I can give and where I can take again and put the pressure on and take it off so I can get through the tests successfully without any blowups, but it seems like we are sort of in the clear now.”
There are a number of top horses still to compete in the 5* dressage.
According to Equiratings, Bubby Upton of Great Britain rides Cola, whose best five-star test was a 27.3 at Badminton this year.
Tamie Smith will ride Mai Baum, who at 18-years old is competing in his last five-star event.
In 2023, this pair ended the USA’s 15-year wait for a Kentucky five-star win.
Oliver Townend of Great Britain has Ballaghmor Class, who had his best run of 20.8 at Badminton in 2018 and has been other-worldly, completing all 11 of his five star competitions, winning three and placing top five in all but one.
Tim Price of New Zealand rides Falco, who’s best five-star test was a 22.1 at Pau in 2021, which Falco won, and finally Maryland 5 Star 2021
winner Martin has Tsetserleg TSF, who had his best five-star test of 25.4 at Kentucky in 2021.
Madison Temkin on Prime Star won the USEA YEH 4-Year-Old East Coast Champions, scoring 17.26 in Dressage, 9.00 in Conformation, 12.60 in Show Jumping efforts, 27.00 in Cross-Country efforts, 13.90 in overall jump evaluation, and a 9.00 in general impression.
Chris Talley on HM Belterra was second nd Caroline pamukcu pm HSH Hercules was third.