At the end of a busy day wrapping up the dressage phase of The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International Three-Day (FHI), two new riders took over the top of the leaderboards. Mara DePuy and Congo Brazzaville Z moved into first in The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI4*-L Eventing National Championship with their 28.6, while Alexa Gartenberg and Louis M claimed the pinnacle position in The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI3*-L Eventing National Championship on a 25.9.
“We both know each other pretty well,” said DePuy of the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. The pair have picked up several top-10 placings this year, and though DePuy is well-known for her flatwork skills, she’s been working closely with renowned dressage trainer James Burtwell. “We’re just starting to get better, but it takes awhile.”
DePuy, who resides in Round Hill, Virginia, represented the U.S. team at the 1996 Olympic Games and the 2007 Pan American Games, and sees true potential with Congo, whom she’s partnered with since he was a 6-year-old. “He’s a horse that’s brought me back to the top level again. I thought I was ready to give up at the top level and Congo is a pretty special horse and fun to ride, so we’re going to keep going.”