MYAKKA CITY, Fla.--Britain's Lucienne Bellissimo, who lives in Campobello, S.C., leads after the dressage phase on Friday, Nov. 17 in The Event at TerraNova.

Britain's Lucienne Bellissimo on Tremanton (Photo by Shannon Brinkman)With a score of 31.5 on Tremanton, Bellissimo finished over Will Coleman of Gordonsville, Va., who had held the lead since his ride on Thursday, when he scored 34.0 on Diabolo.

Tied for third with 34.9 were Buck Davidson of Unionville, Pa., on Erroll Gobey and Jenny Caras of Cartersville, Ga., on Trendy Fernhill.

This was Tremantons’s first 4*-L.

“She seems to like this venue. She performs well and actually breathes in the ring,” said Bellissimo. "She is quite high in thoroughbred blood on the dam side. Although she’s a naturally moving nice horse, she can almost become a little too tense in her test.”

Bellissimo said she plans to do more 4*-Ls in the spring and “would like to have a crack at a 5* later in the season.”

 

COLEMAN said his horse feels good going into Saturday’s cross country,

“He’s up to it," said Coleman. "Some people think it’s easier on a flat course like we have here, but for the horse, it can actually be more tiring.”

After walking the cross-country course several times, Coleman said he’s confident about it but that there are “some sneaky places where you could get caught on runoffs.”

Davidson said he was very happy with his ride, adding that his horse “doesn’t always find dressage that easy.”

He described him as complicated.

“There are never two days that are the same," said Davidson. "This is the first time in my career that I’ve felt confident of him in all three phases.”

Davidson said the pair always crave the win, a trait that can be an advantage and a disadvantage.

“One of us has to chill out and not want the win so intensely,"he said.

Caras said that she can always count on Trendy Fernhill.

“He’s a good boy, but he can be spooky and reactive,” she said.

She has had the horse since he was 4 years old.

“He can be a little sharp, but we know each other so well that we can anticipate each other,” said Caras.

The cross country course was designed by Capt. Mark Phillips and includes many obstacles inspired by area wildlife and landmarks.