Mill Spring, North Carolina – Day 3 of competition at the Yanmar America Tryon International Spring Three-Day Event presented by Tow & Collect showcased Clayton Frederick’s course design at the picturesque White Oak Cross-country course at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (Tryon International). The leaderboard of the CCI4*-L division saw a shakeup after two phases of competition.

Boyd Martin and Cooley Nutcracker cleared the course 10 seconds under time to take over the lead and carry a score of 32.7 into Sunday’s show jumping competition. Phillip Dutton and Jewelent (Valent x Roselier), a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by the Jewelent Group, also improved their ranking with a double-clear performance, with a 34.8. Buck Davison and Cooley Candyman (Sligo Candy Boy x Flame Hill), a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned in partnership with Cassandra Segal, collected eight time faults to claim third place on a score of 41.2 points.

Martin piloted two rides in the CCI4*-L division, in the irons for Paris 2024 teammate Liz Halliday-Sharp while she recovers from an injury. The 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Tolan R x Cobra) owned by the Nutcracker Syndicate was “unbelievable,” Martin reported. “He was fantastic and just whizzed around. It was the first time I sort of opened him up, and that horse has got amazing scope and speed. He’s brave as a lion, and I was just thrilled with him.

“It’s just a huge honor and privilege to be riding Liz’s horses, obviously,” he continued. “And Cooley Nutcracker was a teammate of mine when I rode [Fedarman B] at the Olympics, and it’s been a humbling experience. I thought I’d hop on Cooley Nutcracker and get him going just as well as Liz had him going,” Martin admitted. “I didn’t fully appreciate the partnership Liz and her horse had, and it’s been a work in progress, but I feel like we’re slowly getting back to the form that she had them going in last year.”

Find the entire story by USEA here.