Cartersville's Jenny Caras wins TerraNova 4 Star
November 21, 2023 Story courtesy: https://www.thehorseofdelawarevalley.com/competitions

MYAKKA CITY, Fla.--In an incredibly tight finish, Jenny Caras of Cartersville, Georgia, who was second by .02 seconds going into stadium jumping, won the CCI 4*-L, on Trendy Fernhill.
Britain's Lucienne Bellissimo, now living in Campobello, S.C., placed second on Tremanton, who was competing in his first 4*-L.
The two riders chased each other all weekend for the win, which was decided in the nail-biting stadium jumping round.
After Saturday's cross-country, they were 0.2 seconds apart, with Bellissimo holding the lead.
The margin didn't change Sunday, but the placings did, as both had time faults, but Bellissimo had .04 more time faults than Caras to finish second with a score of 35.5 to Caras' 35.3.
Both Caras and Bellissimo had busy weekends, each with several horses entered.
Caras was also fourth in the 4*-L with her up-and-coming horse, Sommersby in only Sommersby's third advanced competition, and Bellissimo won the CCI1*-L division with Duke's Jory.
"Because he's such a big boy, at least 17 hands, the doubles, and combinations are hard for Joey (Trendy Fernhill's nickname)," said Caras. "I definitely thought the triple bar, the two verticals and the triple at the end of the course were going to be hard for him. But I know what to expect, so I know how to ride him there and help him as best as I can, and he runs as hard as he can. He gives 125 percent, and to have produced him myself is just extra special."
Bellissimo was beaming about Tremanton's performance.
"She hadn't yet jumped clear in show jumping at 4*, so today was a real pivotal moment to feel her try that hard in the ring, especially after being such a brave and good girl yesterday on cross-country," she said.
Olympian Will Coleman of Gordonsville Va., placed third on Diabolo.
Coleman came out strong early in the competition, standing second in dressage on Friday.
"Dab," as he calls the horse, was revved up for his stadium course, prancing when he entered the arena and jumping big through the course.
"Dab was feeling very fresh," said Coleman. "I think he's excited to be at this amazing facility."
Coleman complimented course designer Donovan, saying, "It was a great track, a typical Marc Donovan course. The beginning allowed you to get into a good rhythm and then built in technicality."
This was Donovan's first time at TerraNova, which he called a "magnificent facility." He said it allowed him to design the kind of course he felt would be a good test for the horses.
"There are some trickier lines," said Donovan. "Some of the bending lines are a little more difficult than I normally am comfortable doing. But I think at this level the horses will be able to handle it. The jumps are beautiful, but they are pretty colorful. The triple combination has a lot of red and white, so at first glance when you come around the turn, there it is, and it's a lot to look at. The line between the liverpool and two verticals is a precise, exacting line, and the horses will have to be on their step."
Alyssa Phillips of Fort Worth, Texas, on Cornelius Bo, held her lead from dressage and cross-country to show jumping to win The Estates at TerraNova CCI3*-L with a score of 28.0.
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