Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Be Cool Clinch the Win in The Estates at TerraNova CCI4*-S

Myakka City, Fla. – April 1, 2023 – Liz Halliday-Sharp (USA) and Cooley Be Cool graced the top of the star-studded The Estates at TerraNova CCI4*-S after their cross-country ride across the sprawling grounds of TerraNova Equestrian Center. The pair was in second after dressage on 26.6 and they held that spot after their double clear show jumping trip on Friday evening. 

Captain Mark Phillips’ The Estates at TerraNova CCI4*-S course had 35 jumping efforts and looped through several fields, past the stabling and the show jumping ring and covered a distance of 3,421 meters. A few jump highlights included the picturesque Siesta Key lifeguard stands at the water complex in front of the VIP tent and Sarasota’s Ringling Bridge, complete with cars and sailboats. More Florida-themed cross-country fences will be added to the course for the fall Event at TerraNova. Several mounds were built to introduce more varied terrain to the property. One of the tougher combinations was a triple combination with a frangible post and rails at fence A placed at the top of a hill, followed by four strides down the hill to a left-handed corner at B to a skinny brush wedge at C. All levels jumped the ramped TerraNova frame fence as the final obstacle on the course. 

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Be Cool over the Siesta Key lifeguard stand. Photo by Al Green Photo for Shannon Brinkman Photo.

With optimum time set at six minutes flat, Halliday-Sharp was one of two riders to come close to that with 6:10 on the clock. “I’m really excited to have taken the win today on Cooley Be Cool, also known as ‘Dave’ to his friends, he’s a pretty cool dude,” Halliday-Sharp said. “He’s a horse I really believe in and he totally deserves this win today.” Cooley Be Cool (Heritage Fortunus x HHS Carlotta/Cavalier Royale) is a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse owned by Ocala Horse Properties LLC and The Monster Partnership. 

Halliday-Sharp also brought two younger, less experienced four-star horses. “I thought (the course) was great for that,” she said. “It was a great experience, gave them a really good, confident first four-star of the year. Everything went to plan. I commend TerraNova on their hard work on the ground, it was fantastic. Good courses all around, I really enjoyed myself.

“I’ve never been here before and this is the most spectacular venue and unbelievable footing. I will definitely be coming back!” Halliday-Sharp said of her experience at TerraNova. 

Dan Kreitl and Carmango. Photo by Al Green Photo for Shannon Brinkman Photo

Dan Kreitl (USA) and Carmango (Chirivell x Taramanga/Templer GL XX), a 2013 bay Westphalian gelding owned by Kay Dixon, left the start box on 28.3 and garnered just four time faults on cross-country to end their weekend on 32.3. Kreitl is based in Muncie, Indiana, and is a well-respected amateur rider. 

“He was great!” Kreitl said of his partner. “He started off well in the dressage, one of his better tests for sure. Show jumping has been my weakness, so I was thrilled. That was probably the highlight of the year for me, was getting a double clear show jumping round. On cross-country, he was foot-perfect, right there with me, and kept a nice open gallop over a lot of the course. It was a lot of fun, really enjoyed it!”

This was Kreitl’s first time experiencing TerraNova and he raved about the wonderful facilities. “First class through and through,” he said. “The footing everywhere is spectacular and the atmosphere for the show jumping and dressage is great. I feel like our horses need that. We don’t get that kind of exposure, so it’s great to have an environment with a bit of a crowd and music going. (It’s a) first-class place. I love it.”

Caroline Martin and HSH Blake. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photo

Ending the weekend in third place on 36.1 was Caroline Martin (USA) on the 8-year-old Irish Sporthorse HSH Blake (Tolan R. x Doughiska Lass/Kannan), owned by Martin, Sherrie Martin and Mollie Hoff. Martin brought four young horses to the event and competed two in The Estates at TerraNova CCI4*-S, one in the CCI3*-S and one in training. 

“I was over the moon coming here,” Martin shared. “Seeing this venue and how much detail they take care of is unbelievable. It’s a great place for owners, it’s a great place to bring young horses. We’re so lucky to have this on the calendar. It’s only going to make America eventing even greater. It’s an incredible venue.”

Will Coleman, the leader of The Estates at TerraNova CCI4*-S through dressage and show jumping, elected to withdraw Chin Tonic HS before the cross-country, perhaps due to the horse being entered for Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event at the end of April. 

Lea Adams-Blackmore and Frostbite. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photo

Over 60 entries in the CCI3*-S division contested Captain Mark Phillips’ track of 33 efforts over 3086 meters with optimum time set at 5:37. The horse-and-rider combinations galloped twice through the water complex in front of the VIP tent, providing spectators and sponsors with an excellent view during brunch.

Lea Adams-Blackmore and her own Frostbite (VDL Zirocco Blue x Corland), a coming 10-year-old gray Dutch Warmblood gelding, won the CCI3*-S. The pair flew around the course and crossed the finish flags two seconds under optimum, the only rider to come in under the time in the giant division. 

She has owned “Frosty” since he was 4 years old. “We’ve been chugging along up the levels and he was unreal this weekend,” said Adams-Blackmore. “(He) showed up for every single phase. He was so good in the jumping phases, he’s such a quick cross-country horse. The course rode fantastic, he was so in tune to everything.”

Joe Meyer and Harbin. Photo by Al Green Photo for Shannon Brinkman Photo

Second place in the CCI3*-S went to Joe Meyer (NZL) aboard Harbin (Verglas x Rainbow City/Rainbow Quest). Meyer and the 13-year-old Irish Thoroughbred owned by Meyer, Ruth Meyer, Gay Meyer, John Meyer and Theresa Foote skipped around the course finishing just one second over the optimum time to end with 34.4. 

Melissa Boutin and Obeah Dancer GS. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photo

Rounding out the top three was Melissa Boutin (CAN) and Obeah Dancer GS (Humble GS x Claudia Cardinale/Buddenbrock) on 37.2. “It was amazing from start to finish. First of all, just the facility is amazing, I’ve never seen anything like it. It was my first time here and i’m sure we’ll come back!” Boutin shared. “Couldn’t ask for anything better for the horses.”

While competition wrapped today for The Estates at TerraNova CCI4*-S, CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S, the CCI1*-S and The Event at TerraNova horse trials will head out of the start box on cross-country on Sunday. 

CCI2*-S- Final Results
Winner- Liz Halliday-Sharp (USA) and Maybach- 15.5
2nd- Kelly Prather (USA) and Catch Me Cooley- 25.0
3rd- Kalli Core (USA) and Mastermind- 27.5

Open Training- Final Results
1st- Dan Kreitl (USA) and Horales- 26.2
2nd- Benjamin Noonan (USA) and Kay-O- 26.4
3rd- Caroline Martin (USA) and Billy Be Jolly- 28.3

Training Rider- Final Results
1st- Abigail Mazzatta (USA) and DCE Pandora’s Dream- 26.7
2nd- Sylvia Byars (USA) and CSF Dassett Decoy- 27.7
3rd- Kyla Tovar (USA) and Kilcoltrim Jacko- 32.8

Hear from the top three in The Estates at TerraNova CCI4*-S!

Photos courtesy of Shannon Brinkman Photography and team, the official photographers for The Event at TerraNova Spring 2023.