Claire Allen remembers when she was 11 years old, having just made the switch from the hunter/jumper ring to three-day eventing. She told her new eventing trainer that her goal was to one day compete in the United States Equestrian Federation’s Eventing Young Rider Championships.
Anyone who has had the pleasure of competing at The Event at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana, will likely tell you that it is one of the most picturesque and inviting eventing venues in the country. The Broussard family, owners and operators of Rebecca Farm, have tirelessly supported the sport of eventing for decades, and that support has extended to the USEA Classic Series since its inception.
The 2024 USEA Classic Series calendar kicked off this past weekend at the Indiana Eventing Association (IEA) H.T. which took place from May 31-June 2 in Edinburgh, Indiana. Three long-format divisions were offered at the Beginner Novice, Novice, and Training levels.
Will Faudree strutted down the jog strip at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event horse inspection in a hot pink suit and cowboy hat with a big grin on his face. Fans love this version of Faudree: the easygoing persona, the smile, the laughter, the obvious care he has for his horses, and his love of Broadway musicals. But once you get to know his story, you begin to appreciate just how amazing it is that he approaches the chaos of his day-to-day life with comedy and a positive attitude.
Chelsea Luedke’s eventing journey leading up to this point has been the result of a lot of hard work and a little bit of luck on her side. The equine veterinarian based in Thornton, Colorado, did not grow up in a horse-involved family. It was by happenstance that she would wind up at an eventing barn at the age of 13 and find her true passion.
Since the mid-’80s, lifelong horsewoman and professional artist Debra Sue Waters has devoted countless hours to the sport of eventing, and last year topped the rankings of the USEA Volunteer Incentive Program in Area V. Assisting behind the scenes at an event just comes naturally to the Millsap, Texas, resident.
Bec Braitling was 23 when she tackled her first four-star, now five-star, level competition at Adelaide in East Park Lands, Australia.
Kelly O’Brien has her eye on a prize. “Pretty much the rest of this season will be targeted towards getting fired up for the AEC,” says O’Brien, 54. She and B E Never Say Never, a 19-year-old Dutch Warmblood, have qualified for the 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds already, thanks to decisively winning all three of their 2024 outings thus far.
The United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) is gearing up for another exciting year of Classic Series competition, which means it is the perfect time to review the qualification requirements for participation in these nostalgic events. In 2023, the Classic Three-Day Event Task Force successfully updated the qualification requirements for competing in all levels of the Classic Series to allow more members to experience the thrill of the chase. Keep reading if you are interested in entering one of seven Classic Three-Days offered across the country this year!
Gretchen Butts grew up in the long-format era of eventing in the 1970s, completing the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2003 and 2004 and finishing one of the last long-format Burghley Horse Trials (England) in 2004 on her beloved Zydeco.
While many spousal partners may choose to keep business and family separate, such is not the case for the duo behind Alliston Equestrian. From riding and coaching to winning the American Eventing Championships, husband and wife James and Helen Alliston do everything together, every day.