FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Coleman Wins First CIC*** at Plantation Field
By Amber Heintzberger

Unionville, Pennsylvania - William Coleman and Twizzel jumped a flawless stadium round to win the CIC*** at the inaugural Plantation Field International CIC and Horse Trials, September 19-21, 2008 on the property of Mr. and Mrs. Cuyler Walker.

Coleman, 25, Charlottesville, Virginia explained that Tivoli Farms purchased the warmblood gelding in Germany two years ago for him to ride. “We looked at the horse for a couple years before she agreed to sell it – she had a bad fall from another horse and agreed to sell him, so we jumped at the chance. He was still quite green at the advanced level, and then he had an interruption in his training, but he’s a super horse.”

This was Coleman’s first three-star win since he won the under-25 division at Bramham, England in 2003.

Will Coleman and Twizzel receive their award from Mrs. Annie Jones. Photo copyright Amber Heintzberger 2008

Last year Twizzel was plagued by unsoundness. Veterinarians eventually discovered a cyst in his shoulder and Dr. Dean Richardson, New Bolton Center veterinarian of Barbaro fame, performed an operation that involved drilling through the scapula and injecting the cyst to shrink it. Twizzel has only been back in action for a few months; but, the surgery seems to have made a huge difference.

Local Olympian Phillip Dutton, West Grove, Pennsylvania and his assistant trainer Boyd Martin were tied for second place going into the final phase of the CIC***. Dutton and Acorn Hill Farm’s Bailey Wick had a double clear round to finish on 54.4 which put the pressure on Martin, who riding Kate Dichey’s Belmont II had rails at the second and last fences, dropping him to fourth place on 62.4 behind Dutton on Nina Gardner’s Loose ‘N Cool (61.5).

CIC**

Molly Rosin and her 10-year-old Hungarian Warmblood gelding Havarah’s Charlie claimed the CIC** (51.8) with a double clear round after Boyd Martin and Bellaney’s Destiny added four faults to drop into second place (54.0). It was a very competitive division with 27 starters.

Adding a yellow ribbon to his blue tricolor, Will Coleman placed third on Nevada Bay, (54.4), a horse that Nanki Doubleday purchased for him a couple of years ago from Ollie Townend in England. “I personally love this horse,” said Coleman. “He’s got everything we’re looking for in an event horse. I think he’ll be a nice four-star animal. We’re taking it slowly and making sure all our ducks are in a row before he moves up to advanced.”

A California native, Rosin has been based at Sarah and Luke Allen’s Waterford Farm in Oxford, Pennsylvania for the past couple of years. She and the Minyan Syndicate, which now includes 11 owners, have owned Havarah Charlie for four years now. His first two-star was at Stuart Horse Trials and this is his first win at this level.

Rosin was very pleased with the weekend. “They did a good job of making a nice, flowing cross-country course with good questions that still allowed the horses to get in a rhythm,” she said.

“The dressage went great, it’s been a big thing and we’ve been working a lot on rideability. I was lucky enough to come in contact with Boyd and Silva Martin and Silva has really helped make him more trained and rideable in dressage. She got on him right off the bat to figure out what he’s like and really liked him; but, could tell that he’s strong and needs to work.”

Rosin continued, “Boyd has also helped me a lot with the jumping – we realized right away the horse wants to jump and is very careful; but, he wants to go off and doing it all on his own so we’ve been working on making him more rideable there too.”

CIC*

Lillian Heard, 22, riding Share Option won the CIC* on 47.9, even with one rail down. She and Hans Gerling had been tied for first after dressage; but, Gerling and Clifton Jackaroo had added 6.4 time faults on cross-country and finished second overall. Nikki Smith placed third riding Suzie Q (52.5).

Heard grew up in Potomac, Maryland and is now a full-time employee at Jan Byyny’s Sure Fire Eventing in Hamilton, Virginia. She also trains in dressage with Silva Martin. Heard recently graduated from the University of Virginia where she studied English and Politics. “Right now I’m concentrating on horses, and I’ll just see where its takes me, see over the next couple of years what my life is going to be like,” she said.

This was Heard’s first one-star win. She said, “I’ve been close; but, never sealed the deal with a win, and this is my horse’s first one-star. It’s something like his sixth prelim; I’ve competed through the two-star level on Anything But Ordinary.”

“My dressage here was great, I felt like I was on a whole new level with this horse, he was much brighter. It was also the first time I’ve ridden in a large arena and it was so much easier! He’s a little bit spooky but cross-country was great, I went out to make the time and it was hard work but we got it done.”

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Coleman Maintains Lead in CIC*** after Cross-Country at Plantation Field