Ryan Wins Virginia CCI1* with Summit Sporthorses' Ruby

After returning from his 8th place finish at Pau CCI4* in France last weekend, Ryan wasted no time getting back into the competition ring. Thanks to Ryan's orthopedic surgeon Dr. Lyons, who got him back on track after breaking his hand at Pau on cross-country, Ryan was able to compete over the weekend at the Virginia Horse Trials with Summit Sporthorses' Ruby in the CCI1*-A division. Ruby is a nine-year-old Oldenburg mare (Royal Prince x Dinara), owned by Summit Sporthorses and bred by Ilona English. Ilona also bred Powell who won the same event a few years ago and is half-sister to Ruby. This is Ryan's 3rd time winning the one-star division at Virginia, he also won it with Woodstock Bennett several years back. 

Ryan and Ruby have been sitting at the top of the leaderboard at almost every event they have entered this year. In preparation for Ruby's first CCI, they recently finished 2nd at Plantation Field CIC1*, 6th at Bromont CIC1*, and won the $20,000 MARS Essex Preliminary Horse Trials. Ryan and Ruby were consistent throughout the competition and led the division from the very beginning. Ruby performed the best test of her career and their score of 22.6 had them sitting at the top of the leaderboard with a 6 point lead going into cross-country. Ruby dug deep and powered around the muddy cross-country track to come home with only 2.8 time penalties, which kept them solidly in the lead with a rail in hand going into show jumping. They added a single rail to their score on Sunday, and sealed their win in a field of over 45 horses on a final score of 29.4! Ruby is a serious talent for the future and Ryan cannot thank her owners enough for allowing him to ride this special mare. 

Also competing, Assistant Rider Cole Horn, rode Summit Sporthorses' Popstar to an 11th place finish in the Open Novice division. It was a great event to wrap up the year and Ryan and his team are looking forward to 2019!