October 16, 2022 
“I was a little bit nervous and wondered if it was the right thing to bring a newer horse all the way across the world,” Tim Price (NZL) admitted.
New Zealand is a far off land from many vantage points, but the United States is most considerably the “opposite side” of the globe. As the world’s top eventers headed over to Fair Hill for the MARS Maryland 5 Star, Price opted to go with his heart on his relatively untested partnership with the 10-year-old Selle Français stallion Coup De Coeur Dudevin.
On Saturday, the world number one ranked rider galloped into the lead after finishing Ian Stark’s dynamic cross-country course on his dressage score of 27.4.
“There’s a lot on the line, from the owner’s investments to the work we put in ourselves. But I always believed in the horse, and today was the perfect experience for him. We had good conditions, a great course, and something I could just try to give him a good education over,” said Price.
Friday’s leader after dressage phase, Woods Baughman, accrued 20 penalty points on course and dropped down to 19th place.
Price took over the ride on Coup De Coeur Dudevin from his wife, world number two Jonelle Price. In June, they competed in their first CCI4*-L at Millstreet in Ireland, placing second. The MARS Maryland Five Star cross-country track, featuring 45 elements in an 11.5-minute optimum time, was the stallion’s first 5*.
“I was just riding that balance the whole way. He jumped beautifully, took his own initiative through the crab water and made a better decision than me, and that’s what makes this a mark for the top. Nine minutes in, he was still able to have the presence of mind to make a good decision and to keep thinking forward. I’m very proud of him.”
Depending on the context, the French expression coup de cœur means love at first sight, an impulse of the heart, or even a crush. So the Coup De Coeur Dudevin’s ability to trust his instinct is quite truthfully in his namesake.
Tamra Smith (USA) and 13-year-old gelding Danito are saddled into second position on a 29.4 point score. Though at one point, they too were unsure if MARS Maryland was in the cards.
“He had a freak accident in the barn in January, so he really didn’t have a spring season. I was hoping to actually have him as a contender for the World Championships, but his first event back was in July. He was great for that event but not the fittest,” said Smith
“To have him go out today and step up was great. With these 5* horses, you just never know. He’s knocking on five percent of the blood, which can be a lot of work on the rider when the horse doesn’t have enough puff at the end, but he sure did. I’m super happy with him. He was a little bit green coming out, but everything on the course was right there.”
The 6,555-meter course was a trying task for both horse and rider, offering a variety of question, but the number of successful 5* debutants proves it was a healthy challenge. Oliver Townend (GBR), reigning world number three, also had a green horse in tow this week, 11-year-old As Is. The pair currently sits in third.
Partnered since 2019, the pair landed top ten in their first Bramham CCI4*-L in June. If Townend and As Is can hold onto their placing it will be their personal best.
“With all the distances, you had to make a decision and make it happen. I couldn’t have been happier with how my horse grew in confidence. When you’ve got hopefully a good jockey and a good horse, that’s what you should see with a first-time 5*,” said Townend.
“Mine definitely came out for the run and gained confidence as he went. By the end of it, he felt like a proper 5*. He’s a careful jumper, and I’ve been very happy with the whole thing.”
We have yet to see how careful, as the medal-deciding show jumping phase will conclude on Sunday afternoon.
