Liz Halliday-Sharp Finishes First, Second in VHT Worldwide CCI2*-L

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Be Cool, winners of the CCI2*-L. Picture by Brant Gamma Images.
CCI2*-S victor Liz Halliday-Sharp capped off a successful week at Virginia Horse Trials (VHT) Worldwide with a primary and second place end within the CCI2*-L.
Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Be Cool, owned by The Monster Partnership and Ocala Horse Properties, led from begin to end, finally including 0.four time penalties in present leaping to win on 25.1.
“They each got here out actually good this morning. They regarded nice after working yesterday of their first lengthy format,” Halliday-Sharp mentioned of the 2 7-year-old Irish Sport Horses. “I purposely went quiet [in show jumping with Cooley Be Cool] as a result of I knew he had loads in hand. I wished to maintain him settled as he can get steamed up within the ring.”
Cooley Searching for Fortune, owned by Ocala Horse Properties, sat second behind his half-brother via all three phases. One rail added in immediately’s ultimate section gave them a ending rating of 32.6.
“He warmed up superb. He’s actually a jumper however he could be a little troublesome at smaller heights. He’s higher at 1.20 meters than 1.10 meters,” Halliday-Sharp mentioned. “He had one rail simply being a bit sleepy however he jumped the remainder very well. It’s only a matter of getting him stronger and extra grown up.”
This was Halliday-Sharp’s first go to to VHT and he or she was happy with extra than simply her wins. “I believed they did job on the course and the bottom. [The footing] was good even earlier than all of the rain as a result of they aerated it a lot. The hills in fact are take a look at of health. The horses have been good, they ran nicely. I’d positively like to return again.”
Alexandra Inexperienced Kerby and Fernhill Leitrim Lass have been the one pair within the CCI2*-L to complete on their dressage rating, rounding out the highest three with a 39.1.
Andrew McConnon and D’Luxe Metal. Picture by Brant Gamma Images.
Andrew McConnon and Jeanne Shigo’s D’Luxe Metal took an early lead within the CCI1*-L. At this time they lowered one rail to win the 6-year-old Dutch Warmblood’s first worldwide occasion on a 33.6. Joanie Morris and Betterthanexpected completed second with a ultimate rating of 38.1.
D’Luxe Metal spent most of final yr targeted on transferring as much as Coaching degree and competing within the USEA Younger Occasion Horse Collection. McConnon feels the following logical step in a younger horse’s development is the Modified division and a world debut within the CCI1*. He lamented that extra riders ought to reap the benefits of this degree.
“Personally, any 6-year-old of mine isn’t going to do a CCI2*-L,” McConnon mentioned. “However having the chance to go to a CCI1*-L and train them to trot up and be there 4 or 5 days — I discovered extra about him this week than I might have simply coming and competing. It’s an awesome expertise; they develop up fairly a bit.”
McConnon appreciated the alternatives afforded by VHT’s midweek occasion, to realize each {qualifications} and training for his horses. He additionally completed fourth within the CCI3*-S driving Ferrie’s Cello and fourth within the CCI2*-L driving Wakita 54.
“I perceive [a midweek competition] isn’t a actuality for everybody, however to have the ability to deliver some horses in the course of the week and probably compete some others over the weekend is nice,” McConnon mentioned. “VHT all the time does an awesome job. I like to go there. This week specifically working midweek and the added challenges with the virus, they did nice making it skilled and relaxed.”
Thus concludes one other profitable week on the Virginia Horse Trials. Organizer Andy Bowles commented, “Thanks everybody for week. We have been taking an opportunity rescheduling to midweek in July, and we had added challenges related to COVID-19 — even the climate gave us a run for our cash. All of it got here collectively and I’m grateful to my crew and to everybody who participated or supported us in different methods.”
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[Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp Finishes First, Second in VHT International CCI2*-L]

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