Frankie Thieriot-Stutes and Chatwin (Shannon Brinkman)

Allentown, N.J. - Frankie Thieriot-Stutes of Occidental, Calif. leads the CCI** following dressage scoring 44.5 penalties on Chatwin in the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event (JFI), presented by BW Furlong & Associates.  Local rider Holly Payne Caravella and Bruisyard Hall are second with 46.3. Tied for third with 47.1 penalties are Mara DePuy (USA) riding Congo Brazzaville C and Tamra Smith (USA) on Lagos Star. A record number of competitors are entered in the JFI which necessitated a schedule change and for the first time all of the competitors in the CCI** and six riders in the CCI***competed on Wednesday afternoon at the Horse Park of New Jersey.

Thieriot-Stutes needed to notch a CCI** with Chatwin and believes that the level of competition at JFI will help them gain more exposure.  "I haven't competed out here since 2013 so it was a last minute decision to come, but I am super glad that we did and I think it is what both Chatwin and I need," said Thieriot-Stutes. "Yesterday he felt quite stuck and he usually doesn't the day before. He is usually quite good but we were able to work through that today. I feel so lucky every time I get on him. He's such a fun horse to get to ride and he's a really good competitor. Part of my goal for coming out here was to see where we stack up. The level of competition here is higher and I wanted to see if we stack up against that. I wasn't particularly thrilled with my score today because I know we can do better but I was happy with the way he was."

Earlier in the day, a total of sixty-seven horses in the CCI divisions passed the first horse inspection to move forward to the dressage phase. In the CCI** 29 horses from four countries were presented to the ground jury consisting of Harry Payne (GBR), Gretchen Butts (USA) and Janis Linnan (USA) and 28 were accepted. Out of the 40 horses from six countries presented for the CCI*** 39 were accepted.

The remaining riders in the CCI*** will compete on Thursday and the dressage competition for the CIC horses will take place on Friday. The exciting cross country phase takes place on Saturday and the JFI culminates on Sunday with the CCI show jumping. 

Admission to JFI and the Horse Park of New Jersey is free on Thursday, May 12 (Dressage phase); and Friday, May 13 (Dressage phase). General admission tickets for Saturday, May 14, and Sunday, May 15, are available at the gate for $10 per person; Children under 12 years old will be admitted free of charge, as will 4-H and FFA members (with ID), Pony Club members (with pin), and military members and their dependents (with ID). Seniors 65 years and older will be admitted at a discount of $5 per person. General Admission does not include admission to VIP/pre-reserved tents or pre-reserved tailgating spots. More information about tailgating and VIP/JFI Member packages is available online.

The Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event/Horse Park of New Jersey is a 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit, Charitable and Educational organization that relies on sponsors, volunteers and members to sustain operations. Further information about JFI is available at www.jfi3d.com. Further information about the Horse Park is available at www.horseparkofnewjersey.com.