October 17, 2024 
The road to a five star is rarely a smooth one, but for USA’s Cosby Green (23) and now 14-year-old Highly Suspicious the journey was tumultuous.
“I probably had no business buying him when I did at 16,” she remarked of the Irish Sport Horse known as Puff.
“I couldn’t ride one side of him. We scored consistently in the 40s and had lots of 20s. He’s just really difficult. There’s been so many times I was doing anything I could to give him to someone else or sell him, and everyone just kept telling me to stick with it.”
After receiving the Wilton Fair Grant in 2023 and moving to England to base with top New Zealand eventers Tim and Jonelle Price at Cheddington Estate, a system developed to help solidify Green and Puff’s relationship.
“We’re quite similar really,” Green says of her and Puff.
“He lacks confidence and is quite anxious. [Belief in myself] is something I really struggle with and my horse is quite sensitive to that. [Jonelle Price] has just changed my entire perspective on the sport, how to look at success, and how to look at learning opportunities. Just having Jonelle believe in me and changing the program, we’ve just flourished.”
Indeed, Green and Puff were the first to break the 30s barrier for the Maryland 5* at Fair Hill, scoring a 28.0 to take the lead. Puff’s phenomenal athletic abilities shone under the gentle direction of Green in an electric arena.
Heavy hitters in the form of USA’s Tamie Smith with Mai Baum, GBR’s Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class, and NZL’s Tim Price and Falco come tomorrow but for now, Green is enjoying being on top.
“It’s something I was striving for, but I wasn’t expecting it to really happen!” she laughed in the press conference.
Equiratings Prediction Centre has Green on a 30% chance of a top 10 finish but only a 1% win chance after the first half of dressage. Green, however, is looking forward to giving the cross country a go.
“I thought it would be special to come back to the U.S. and get experience, because I’ve not done a U.S. five star. The track out there is big and bold and hilly, and he is one of the best jumpers I’ve ever sat on,” she said about the decision to bring him here.
“The last water, the Crab; you gallop up to the top of the hill and that’s a major scope and athleticism question. I’m actually quite excited to do that with him!”
It’s a debutante’s podium with USA’s Boyd Martin and Canada’s Lindsey Traisnel in second and third respectively on first timers Commando 3 and Bacyrouge.
“We bought him as a four-year-old to resell, and then decided that there was no way we could sell him.” Traisnel commented. “We’ve just brought him up the levels since then. My husband rode for a bit when I was pregnant, so it’s really been a family affair.”
She scored a 30.7 with Bacyrouge, ranking it among her personal bests across all international levels.
Commando 3, or Connor as he’s known in the barn, may be a 5* first timer but he has campaigned this year alongside Martin’s other ride Federman B for U.S. Olympic team selection.
“He’d be right up there with the most talented animal that I’ve ever sat on,” Martin remarked. “We’ve had a quick get to know each other partnership. I feel like we know each other now, and we’re a team.”
Five star dressage resumes tomorrow at 2pm EST.
