Boekelo, The Netherlands – The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team had strong performances in the dressage phase at the Military Boekelo-Enschede CCIO3*. The U.S. Nations Cup team of Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF, Buck Davidson and Copper Beach, Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp and HHS Cooley, and Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous are currently in fourth place out of 10 nations with a score of 137.70 following the first phase. Little and RF Scandalous lead the way individually for the U.S. in 20th place, followed by three other American combinations in the top 25.

Little (Frederick, Md.) and RF Scandalous performed a flashy dressage test on Thursday in front of the Ground Jury of Jane Holderness-Roddam (GBR), Polly Ann Huntington (AUS), and Alain James (FRA). She and Robin Parsky, Jacqueline B. Mars, and Michael and Phoebe Manders' 2005 Oldenburg mare were rewarded with a score of 45.50.

“This is RF Scandalous’ first CCI3*, and I am thrilled to be here with her,” Little said. “She produced a relaxed, obedient test amidst the busy atmosphere, and I look forward to continuing to develop our dressage phase at this level over the next season.”

Halliday-Sharp (East Sussex, England) and HHS Cooley had a smooth, fluid test to put them in 24th place. She and Deborah Halliday's 2004 Irish Sport Horse gelding displayed beautiful trot and canter work to receive a score of 45.80.

Brown (Petaluma, Calif.) got every point out of Super Socks BCF, Blossom Creek Foundation's 2006 Irish Sport Horse gelding, in their European and Nations Cup debut at Boekelo. The recipients of a Jacqueline B. Mars Competition Grant through the USET Foundation scored 46.40 and sit in 28th place.

Davidson (Ocala, Fla.) and Copper Beach had a solid lead-off effort for the team on Thursday. Davidson gave Sherrie Martin and Carl Segal's 2006 Irish Sport Horse gelding a great ride to receive a score of 51.40. The USEF Land Rover Competition Grant recipients sit in 59th place at the end of the first phase.

Davidson and Carlevo lead the U.S. combinations competing solely as individuals at Boekelo. Having just started competing with the talented 2007 Holsteiner gelding, owned by Carlevo LLC, earlier this year, the duo shows much promise, laying down an excellent test to earn a score of 45.70 to put them in 23rd place. Jon Holling (Ocala, Fla.) and Downtown Harrison are off to a notable start in their second appearance at Boekelo. Holling and Constance Holling's 2004 Trakehner/Thoroughbred gelding performed lovely test to score 46.20 and sit in 25th place.

Lauren Kieffer (Middleburg, Va.) and Landmark's Monte Carlo, Jacqueline B. Mars’ 2006 Irish Thoroughbred Cross gelding, had a great test to collect a score of 48.60 to put them in 46th place. Kieffer and her other mount, Vermiculus, had a nice test on Thursday aside from a bit of misbehaving during a canter transition. She and Jacqueline B. Mars' 2007 Anglo-Arabian gelding are in 71st place with a score of 55.50. Little’s second mount, RF Quarterman, was somewhat overwhelmed by the atmosphere of the main arena, but Raylyn Farms, Inc.'s 2008 Oldenburg gelding gained valuable experience on the international stage. The USEF Land Rover Competition Grant recipients are in 78th place with a score of 58.40. Katherine Coleman (Baydon, England) is continuing to develop her partnership with Longwood, her own 2002 Irish Sport Horse gelding. The pair laid down a workman-like dressage test on Thursday in its first CCI3* together to sit in 41st place with a score of 58.70.

Australia currently leads the Nations Cup competition with a score of 123.40 followed by New Zealand in second with a score of 124.70. France is in third place on a score of 135.00. Jonelle Price (NZL) and Cloud Dancer are at the top of the leaderboard with a score of 34.10, with Bettina Hoy (GER) and Seigneur Medicott in second place on a score of 37.60, and Pippa Funnell (GBR) and Billy the Biz in third place with a score of 38.90. With the slimmest of margins separating the top competitors, tomorrow’s cross-country phase will be intense.

“Boekelo is well known to be anything but a dressage competition, and judging from the cross-country course, this year is no exception,” Little explained. “I’m looking forward to getting out there.”

Cross-country begins at 10:00 a.m. CEST, with Davidson and Copper Beach as the first U.S. combination out of the start box at 10:16 a.m. CEST.

Find out more about the Military Boekelo-Enschede CCIO3*, view the results, and watch the live stream.

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