For Immediate Release – March 19, 2026
Raeford, NC – Competitors and spectators alike were treated to a whole new look at the 2026 Setters Run’ Farm Carolina International CCI & H.T. at the Carolina Horse Park, as some updates have been made to the layout of this marquee spring event. Beginning this year, both CCI4*-S dressage as well as all FEI show jumping has been relocated to The Meadow, creating a centralized experience.
U.S. Olympian Will Coleman took great advantage of the day and rode to the lead in the CDP Eventing Stables CCI4*-S (also a US Equestrian Open of Eventing qualifier) with The Diabolo Group’s Diabolo (Diarado – Roulett M), scoring a 24.3 from judges Andrew Bennie (NZL) and Valerie Pride (USA).
Diabolo, a 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding, was acquired from Australia’s Gemma Tinney at the end of the 2022 season, and Coleman’s called on patience to form a partnership with the horse. Some of this work includes groundwork led by Coleman’s wife, Katie, which he says has lent itself to an ongoing improvement in relaxation.
“We tried to take advantage of the time off,” Coleman elaborated. Diabolo had sustained an injury later in the 2024 season, and with the timing it meant the horse missed most of the following season. But the Colemans took it in stride. “I think we learned more about how to help him, and I think he’s benefitted from it.”
“We’re just trying to improve across the board,” he continued. “He’s a wonderful horse. He’s a real trier, and sometimes that makes him get a little bit kind of anxious – he’s trying so hard to do the right thing. So a big part of our program with him is just trying to help him find a bit of relaxation in his work, teach him to sort of trust his balance a little bit. Just getting him to where he’s starting to walk in his tests – that was a big accomplishment, and the changes are getting more confirmed. I think just the level of trust and everything that we’re doing with him has improved, and I think his confidence is growing, and he seems fairly content. That means a lot to us.”
Second on the day are another U.S. Olympian, Boyd Martin, with Ocala Horse Properties’ Miks Master C on a score of 24.4. Miks Master C (Mighty Magic – Qui Lumba CBF) was Martin’s partner for the inaugural US Equestrian Open of Eventing Final, which the pair won at the end of 2025. Coming out of the success last year, Martin says he’s aiming at either Defender Kentucky or MARS Badminton this spring as a CCI5* goal.
“After going around that cross-country [at the US Open Final at Morven Park] and feeling the fifth gear he’s got at eight minutes – it was mind blowing,” Martin said. “I loved the horse forever when Liz [Halliday] was riding him, but to feel that athleticism, some horses drop off the bit and start huffing and puffing, this horse has got another gear. It was a pleasing win [in the US Open], but he’s a five-star horse. It’s his first proper competition for the year, and to be honest, [there are] still lots of improvement to be made in the test, but he’s such a flamboyant mover, so even if it’s not a perfect test, he’s still in there with a good score.”
One of our visitors from California this week is Tamie Smith, and the 2023 Defender Kentucky winner has made good on the latest stop on the trip, taking third after dressage in the CCI4*-S with Molly Duda’s Lillet 3 (Livello – Princess L) on a score of 24.5.
Lillet 3 is one of a string of rising stars for Smith, preparing for the CCI4*-S at Defender Kentucky next month with this competition. This winter, Smith noted, was all about building strength and partnership.
“I think it’s just time [forming] a partnership, and getting them strong enough,” she said. “She’s always been a real trier, and she just had to gain the strength. And I feel like I’m learning, every year, more and more about how to allow my horses to move and express themselves without trying to make it happen. And I think it’s just a culmination of her getting stronger and me allowing her to be who she really is.”
Lucienne Bellissimo Leads CCI3*-S and Other FEI Results
Lucienne Bellissimo is the latest addition to the U.S. squad of riders, having officially gotten her citizenship earlier this year and switching away from Great Britain. She’s enjoying her new designation, and she also enjoyed her day with Horse Scout Eventing’s Dyri (Diarado – La Calera), leading the Cordelia Family Foundation CCI3*-S on a score of 24.2.
Dyri is a horse who has competed at the CCI5* level, but Bellissimo experienced a knock to the 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding’s confidence as the 2025 season began. To address this, she took a few steps back and dropped Dyri all the way back down to the CCI2*-S level. It’s paid off in a big way: the pair enjoyed five consecutive FEI wins, including one at the CCI4*-S level, as they got back on track.
“I gave him a bit of an easier winter and was slower to get going, but I think it’s paid dividends to do a lot of hacking and do a lot of work at home,” Bellissimo said. “He’s just in a really good space, he’s carrying weight well, and he feels amazing. And if he needs me to do this [confidence boosting approach] again, we’ll start all over, because he’s worth it and I believe in him.”
Tamie Smith swooped into the Breezeway Sportshorse & DX Clinic/Friendship Veterinary Imaging Center CCI2*-S lead with Julianne Guariglia’s Solaguayre Cantata (Canturo – Solaguayre Clarita), an 8-year-old Argentinian Sport Horse mare. The pair earned a 24.6 to unseat fellow Californian Asia Vedder and Vedder Equine’s Litmanen Z.
Leading the Dechra Veterinary Products CCI1*-S are Gabby Dickerson and Rolan Millican’s Top Love (Conthargos – Ludwigsburg), a 7-year-old Hanoverian gelding. The pair scored a 24.7 and will be the ones to beat heading into Friday’s show jumping.
“I was very happy with [the test],” Dickerson commented. “It’s his first FEI, so he can be a little bit spooky and get a little bit interested in the atmosphere. So I thought he stayed with me really well.”
Top Love was originally intended to be sold when he was brought over from Germany, but he quickly showed his quality and class and wound up as a part of Dickerson’s growing string of horses. She’s well-coached by European Champion Nicola Wilson of Great Britain, who’s here helping this weekend.
“With [Top Love], we just had a really good plan of how to ride in and out of the leg yields in different parts of the test and the transitions, etc., and I felt like, for the most part, I was able to put that to use in the ring. It obviously paid off pretty well! We’ve had a good day all around with all the dressage, so it’s awesome to have [Nicola] here and have all the support and knowledge.”
Competition continues tomorrow with FEI show jumping in The Meadow. The jumping will begin with the CCI2*-S, then the CCI3*-S before the lunch break around noon. Taking place during the lunch break in The Meadow will be a special Western Dressage demonstration featuring 2025 USEF National Horse of the Year Athenian Lady and her rider, Amanda Delgado, as well as 2025 USEF International Equestrian of the Year Boyd Martin in the saddle (and the cowboy hat).
National divisions also commence competition tomorrow with dressage.
Live streaming of the FEI show jumping can be found on Horse & Country.
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