Cosby Green (USA) and 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Highly Suspicious were the surprise leaders after the first day of CCI5* dressage competition at the 2024 MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill with a top score of 28. But the 23-year-old admits that getting to this year’s Maryland 5 Star—her first U.S. five-star competition—was anything but a smooth journey.

“Overall, I thought today was some of his best work in the ring so far. It’s something I’ve been striving for but wasn’t expecting to happen. It’s hard to not be frustrated with the walk. But we know that’s his weakness,” Green said of a walk-transition bobble during her test today. “He went in there and did a great demonstration of all the work we’ve been putting in. And that doesn’t always happen in such a big atmosphere. I’m really thrilled with him.”

Green noted that “Puff” is one of the most difficult horses she’s ever ridden and has a tendency to be overly anxious, especially at big competition venues.

“He can be quite insecure in his abilities, even though he has limitless ability. So, I always try to make him feel confident,” she said. “We created our own communication to get past his insecurities because he doesn’t like pressure. He’s very specific, so I always have to find the best way to communicate with him.”

Crosby, who grew up riding at an eventing barn in Lexington, Kentucky, moved to the U.K. in March of 2023 to work with Tim and Jonelle Price. She first partnered with Puff about seven years ago—and despite being a difficult ride, the pair started scoring consistently in competitions. In the U.K., the Prices helped her get the gelding’s body and mind in peak condition to be able to perform their best—and be consistent at it.

“When I first got Puff, I couldn’t ride one side of him. But everyone kept telling me to stick with it because he’s so phenomenal,” she said. “We’ve really found a program that works for both of us, and the progression is clear. It’s hasn’t always been a smooth road, but a day like today makes it worth it.”

Green said the Prices, especially Jonelle, helped change her perspective on the sport by encouraging her to re-evaluate the way she looks at success and learning opportunities. They also helped the young eventer learn that less is often more in eventing.

“We focus a lot on the day-to-day care and emphasize keeping Puff healthy and happy. And to just let him be a horse,” she said. “He loves to go out in the fields. So we provide him with plenty of turnout time and hacks outside the ring. We make sure to keep his stomach happy and give him rest when he needs it. I think we’ve flourished by changing up our program.”

Boyd Martin and Commando 3 in Second after Dressage Day 1

Four-time Olympian Boyd Martin (USA) and Holsteiner gelding Commando 3—who was Martin’s direct reserve mount at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games—came in second on the leaderboard after day one of dressage competition at Maryland. He attributed the gelding’s success today to his wife, dressage rider Silva Martin, who helped Commando 3 cool his engines in the dressage ring.

“I was thrilled with my guy. He’s an extravagant horse but can get a little bit spooky and nervous in a big atmosphere,” he noted. “I was very lucky that my wife took him to a number of dressage shows in the lead up, including at Devon. For him to do dressage for four days at Devon and be around all that chaos was pretty unbelievable, especially competing at the Fourth level, which requires tempi changes. I struggle with doing one tempi change and Silva did about seven of them in one test. It was a huge benefit for him to go through an experience like that.”

Martin said Commando’s intensive year of training to prepare for the Paris Olympics this past summer helped keep the gelding in peak shape for this year’s Maryland 5 Star, but he also noted that Saturday’s cross-country course is going to be “one hell of a test.”

“With the distance, size of the jumps and the technicality, this is almost like a five-and-a-half-star course. And it will definitely test fitness, stamina and bravery,” he said. “And it’s competing against an amazing field of horses and riders. It’s an unbelievable quality field. So finishing in the top five would be a huge accomplishment just because of the people you’re up against.”

Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge in Third

Today’s dressage competition at Maryland marked a near personal-best score for Lindsay Traisnel (CAN) and 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding Bacyrouge with a score of 30.7. The pair landed in third today after the first day of dressage competition and the gelding’s first CCI5* test.

Traisnel didn’t anticipate that Bacyrouge would go on to be one of her top eventing horses. He was originally purchased as a resale project. After proving his talent for the sport, however, she decided to to pursue five-star success with gelding.

“He’s been qualified for five-star competition since last spring, but I wanted to make sure he was ready,” she noted. “The four-stars started feeling easy for him. And even though we didn’t have perfect rides all the time, he felt really confident.”

Traisnel attributed their success to improving Bacyrouge’s fitness and helping him feeling well in his body. “My team at home has been doing a great job. I think he’s really, really strong in his body. He’s more confident in his changes, that he used to get a bit nervous about,” she said. “So, it’s just about putting it all together. He’s awesome to ride every day and always wants to work. We decided he doesn’t really have any adjectives to describe him; he’s just dreamy. He’s his own adjective. He’s like part-racehorse, part-Shetland and is just awesome.”

More MD5* Dressage Day 1 Photos

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Thanks to Mane ‘n Tail Equine for our coverage of the 2024 Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, including rider interviews, competition reports, horse spotlights, photos, videos and more!