Faudree and Little In Top Ten at Saumur CCI3-Star Three Day Event

Will Faudree is the highest placed U.S. rider at the Saumur CCI 3*, finishing in fourth place. Marilyn Little finishes in eighth place.

May 26, 2013 — Clear rounds were at a premium Sunday at the Saumur CCI3* as 34 combinations went forward into the show jumping. Only three competitors, including winner Bill Levett, were able to produce faultless trips over Pierre Michelet’s demanding track. The U.S. entries of Will Faudree, Marilyn Little and Hannah Sue Burnett each incurred eight faults over the course, as all three Land Rover Competition Grant recipients dislodged two rails.

Faudree (Hoffman, N.C.) and Jennifer Mosing’s Andromaque entered the final phase in fourth place following a spectacular trip around the cross country on Saturday. In the show jumping, the 12-year-old Irish Thoroughbred mare faulted at fences six and 10A to move down one place. The talented pair finished in fifth on a score of 55.8.

Will Faudree and Andromaque | ? 2013 Shannon Brinkman

“She tried very hard and looked great this morning. She’s naturally a very careful horse, so I’m not too concerned about it in the future,” said the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games veteran of Andromaque’s performance on Sunday. “I just need to apply what I learned this weekend going forward.”

Faudree also realizes the importance of competing in Europe and facing different challenges as the U.S. prepares for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games next year in Normandy.

“The rails are quite light and spindly over here; you can’t even breathe on them. We need to be prepared for that in the future.”

Little (Frederick, Md.) and Raylyn Farms Inc. and Phoebe and Michael Manders’ eight-year-old Wurttemburger gelding RF Smoke on the Water were able to maintain their eighth place position despite incurring eight faults. The 2012 USEF National CCI3* Eventing Reserve Champions lowered the heights of fences eight and 11 to finish on a total of 60.

First to jump for the U.S. on Sunday were Burnett (The Plains, Va.) and Jacqueline Mars’ 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Harbour Pilot. The 2011 Pan American Games Team Gold and Individual Silver medalists finished in 26th place on a score of 91.4 after rolling poles at the second and eighth fences.

Buck Davidson (Ocala, Fla.) and Sherrie Martin’s The Apprentice were also competing at the Saumur CCI3* on a Land Rover Competition Grant but were eliminated on Saturday’s cross country for not properly jumping fence 18B before continuing on course.

Australia’s Levett claimed victory at the prestigious French competition finishing on his dressage of 42.6 with Shannondale Titan.

To learn more about the Saumur CCI3* visit; http://www.saumur.org/cci/accueil-gb.html

Follow the 2013 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team here.

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