![Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Cubalawn (Libby Law Photography)](http://www.usefnetwork.com/images/articles/6621/web-14-blen-usa-dutton-0027.jpg)
Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Cubalawn (Libby Law Photography)
Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) began riding the 11-year-old Holsteiner, owned by Tom Tierney and Simon Roosevelt, this summer and has quickly begun to form a partnership with the horse. The Olympic and Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games veteran believes that there is a bright future ahead for Fernhill Cubalawn.
“I'm very pleased with him; he's such a workman. He goes in and is the same in the warmup as he is in the main arena, which means I can start to trust him a bit more,” commented Dutton after his test.
On Friday, Dutton rode Tom Tierney and Ann Jones’ nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, Fernhill Fugitive, to a score of 53.0 to stand 40th after the dressage.
Dutton is joined in Blenheim’s CCI3* competition by compatriots Jacob Fletcher and Katherine Coleman. Fletcher (North Little Rock, Ark.) and his own, Frank Fletcher, and Fletcher Farms’ nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, Atlantic Domino, stand in 45th place after the dressage with a score of 54.2, while Coleman (New Orleans, La.) lies 70th after scoring 63.0 with her own 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare, Courage Under Fire.
Australia’s Andrew Hoy and Cheeky Calimbo lead the field heading into cross country on a score of 34.0.
Learn more about the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials here.
Follow the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team here.