Elkton, Md. - Oct. 16

A year ago, Mai Baum was galloping around the Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International CCI** with his owner, young rider Alex Ahearn.

When she decided to go to college, she gave her coach, Tamra Smith the ride this February, and the pair have been steadily lowering their dressage scores and picking up plenty of blue ribbons along the way.

Today, they showed how solid their partnership has become in the CCI***, earning the top score, 38.5, to take the lead heading into tomorrow’s cross-country.