Molly Bull began eventing as a teenager in North Carolina, then attended college at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.  After college she began riding with Kim Severson and was hired as a groom for Kim in the spring of 2000.  In 2001 Molly purchased Kiltartan as a 5-year-old.  They quickly progressed through the levels and completed their first Advanced horse trials in 2003 at Over the Walls.  In 2004 they placed 9^th at their first CCI*** at Fair Hill and were then named to the 2005 Winter Training List.  Molly and Tartan went to their first 4star at Rolex Kentucky in 2006, where they jumped clean on cross country but were prevented from show jumping due to a minor injury.  Later that year they placed 10^th at the Jersey Fresh CCI*** and 13^th at Fair Hill before coming back in 2007 and finishing at Rolex in 25^th place.  Most recently Molly and Tartan scored their first win at the Advanced level at Morven Park.  They hope to return to Rolex in 2008 and improve on this yearÕs performance.

Molly's other mount is Hole in One, or Janie, who she purchased in 2004 as a young horse from Will Faudree.  Janie's name comes from a hole in her ear that is about the size of a quarter.  In 2007 Molly and Janie won a prelim division at Sporting Days and placed 3^rd in the Open Intermediate at Poplar Place and at Pine Top.  They also placed 5^th in the CIC** at Virginia Horse Trials and at Richland Park before going on to a 6^th place finish at Bromont CCI** in Canada.  Next year Molly hopes to move Janie up to Advanced.

Lucia Strini

Lucia began her eventing career on her pony Natty Bumppo after Kim Severson was hired by Plain Dealing Farm.  She competed up through training level with Natty before purchasing a gray mare named Stella from Courtney Cooper.  With Stella, Lucia successfully made the jump to Preliminary level and completed in her first CCI* in 5^th place.   She was then selected to represent Area II at the NAYRC at the 1* level, where she placed 4^th individually and her team placed 3^rd.  Stella also introduced Lucia to the Intermediate level before retiring. 

Lucia then purchased her next horse through Holly Hepp, a promising youngster named Pantalaimon.  Pan and Lucia won the CIC* at Southern Pines in 2007 and competed through the Intermediate level, but Pan is now being offered for sale.  He will be happier as a novice and training level packer than doing the upper levels.

Pandora, a bay mare, was Lucia's next horse.  With Pandora, she placed 2^nd in the Intermediate at Morven Park and won the Virginia CCI* in 2004 before reselling her.

Addis Abba, or Gabby, has been Lucia's most successful mount.  She brought him along herself, from the lower levels up to the 2-star level.  Along the way, they had numerous wins, including the CCI* at Morven Park in 2004.  They also placed 5^th at their first CCI** at Radnor in 2005, where they won awards for the highest placing young rider, highest placing young horse, and best-conditioned horse.   The same year they placed 6^th at the Virginia CCI**.  Lucia had hoped he would be her first Advanced horse but in their first attempt at that level Gabby unfortunately injured himself and has not yet returned to competition. 

Lucia's current top mount is Liste de Folie, or Leo, a chestnut Selle Francais gelding.  Her partnership with him began in the spring of 2005.  They spent that year competing at the training level and then moving up to preliminary.  In 2006 they placed 2^nd in the CIC* at Poplar Place and went on to place 2^nd in the CCI* at Morven Park.  This year Lucia and Leo have continued their success by moving on to Intermediate level, placing 2^nd in the OI at Seneca Valley and 4^th at Plantation.  Lucia hopes to compete at the Ocala CCI** later this fall.

In 2007 Lucia also purchased two outstanding young horses, Oudo, who competed through training level with Kelli Temple, and Futurama, a gray Sachsen-Anhaltiner gelding.  Both are winning at training level and will move up to prelim in the spring.

Benita Strini

Benita started eventing with her sister Lucia's pony Natty Bumppo.  Sadly, Natty had to be put down due to colic. Benita then purchased the gray Connemara gelding Elphin Odin, or Cody, who sparked her love for Connemara crosses. With Cody Benita competed up through training level, with numerous top-five placings and a win at Surefire Horse Trials in July 2005. 

Benita successfully competed the mare Crescent Moon, who had formerly evented at Plain Dealing with Kim Severson and was bred by Kim's mom.  After Kim sold Cressy she was competed by a number of different riders before being purchased for Benita and coming back to live at Plain Dealing.  Cressy has now retired from eventing but is in foal and is due in the spring of 2008.

Benita also owns Corona, a palomino Welsh Thoroughbred cross who is currently for sale.  With Corona, Benita won the beginner novice at Fancy Hill and Olney, and won the novice at Sporting Days and CDCTA.  Before beginning his partnership with Benita, Corona had successfully competed in dressage shows at 1^st Level, including the BLM Championships.  Benita is currently focusing on dressage with him and recently had several top-three placings in the Dressage at Lexington show.  She plans to move up to 2^nd Level with him at their next outing.

Cameron Creek was purchased for Benita last winter, and they began competing in the spring of 2007.  Cameron had previously competed up to the 1-star level with Lynn Partridge.  Cameron and Benita quickly formed a strong partnership, and she did her first preliminary with him at Fair Hill in April, placing 5^th.  They followed this up with a 2^nd at MCTA in May and wins at River Glen and Loudoun.  To complete their fall season, they placed 7^th at the Morven Park CCI*, Benita's first three-day, where they also won the award for Best Turned-Out.  Next year Benita hopes to move up to Intermediate and would love to compete in the NAYRC in Colorado.

Benita's final mount was just purchased after Morven from Karen Fox.  His name is Cavalier One-to-One, or Forrest, and he is a 6-year-old paint by the well-known eventing sire Cavalier.  Benita is very excited about competing him in 2008!