Erin Sylvester and Paddy the Caddy leaped into the lead today with a double clear show jumping at the Plantation Field International CCI4*-S. Overnight leader Colleen Rutledge and her 11-year-old Thoroughbred/Draft cross Covert Rights had one rail down on course (30.1), dropping them to third. Going into the ring Boyd Martin and Bonito, owned by Stephen Blauner, had the opportunity to claim the lead as their 28.2 could have bested Sylvester’s 29.5, but Martin watched it fly away as the gelding knocked two rails out of the cups and he plummeted to 15th place. Caroline Martin and her 11-year-old Danger Mouse climbed from fourth into second place (30.1). Boyd Martin had clear rounds with his other two entries and moved up to fourth riding The Z Partnership’s Z, and 7th on Fernhill Singapore, owned by Tom Tierney.

“I was really happy with him today; he was jumping out of his skin and was very keen,” said Sylvester, who is based in Cochranville, PA. She said that he is such a good show jumper that she does very little show jumping training during the competition season, instead saving his legs for cross country schooling. “I’ll do a couple jumper shows at the beginning of the season, and then I don’t jump between events,” she said. “I’ll do some cavaletti and exercises to make him rideable.”

Sylvester had a fall on cross country with her CCI3*-S entry Morning Glory, and said that she was feeling bruised and not sure if she would ride cross country with Paddy the Caddy tomorrow.

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