United States Eventing Association

Kalispell, Mont.—July 19—What began as a big idea of Rebecca Broussard’s marked 25 years of having an even bigger impact on hundreds of riders, horses, and the American eventing community.

Broussard’s daughter and The Event’s organizer Sarah Broussard acknowledged that “I think we have fulfilled her vision” for a world class stage for eventing competition.

The sentiment was echoed by others all week – from famously gracious volunteers to competitors who came from throughout North America to test their horsemanship and be welcomed as “guests in our home,” as owner Jerome Broussard said when the first Event unfurled in 2002 and still says today.

“We’re always happy when people come to the Farm,” said Sarah at the close of this year’s competition today. “In celebrating 25 years, we just wanted everybody to take a look back on the part of your life you’ve spent at Rebecca Farm. We know that times are uncertain, and we are thrilled that everyone came. It’s great seeing old and new competitors and officials, and we’re looking forward to going into the future.”

Along with the many emotional reflections and tributes to The Event’s 25 years, debuting the Mai Baum award was a highlight this year, Sarah said. Donated by the Markell/Ahearn family, the award and its $500 check were created in honor of Tamie Smith’s unforgettable partner who retired from international competition with the CCI4*-S win here last year.

“We love this and are excited to present it for the next four years, too,” the organizer shared. This year’s CCI4*-S winner, Julie Wolfert, said that receiving the Mai Baum Award is meaningful beyond measure.

CCI4*-L – James Alliston and HMR Rolan Earn Title

California-based James Alliston claimed his fourth CCI4*-L championship at The Event at Rebecca Farm. He had two-plus rails in hand but didn’t need them with Anna Nicholas’ HMR Rolan. “He’s a really good show jumper, but he’s a big horse, and sometimes I feel like I need to go slowly," he said.

Starting with an inside turn between fences 2 and 3 on Chris Barnard’s colorful and challenging course in showcase Ring 1, Alliston kept the pedal down, made the time, and stayed clear to seal the deal.

“I’ve always known he’s a really nice, well-rounded horse,” Alliston said. Today’s high follows the confirmation that "Rolan" has ample speed and stamina for the long format, evidenced by having only 3.2 time penalties on cross-country yesterday.

“This has been a good venue for me,” Alliston understated. His “good mojo here” counterbalanced the constant pressure he puts on himself to be competitive, “especially with a horse like this,” he said of the Irish Sport horse originally purchased for his owner to ride. “I’m really excited about him.”

Florida-based Alyssa Phillips and Rockett 19 were clear with .8 time faults to finish second and accomplish the goal of confirming the 11-year-old Holsteiner’s potential as a Team USA horse.

Third-placed Gabby Dickerson, of Virginia, was thrilled with her first trip to The Event. She was one of many to receive some of the $58,000 awarded by the USEA Foundation in Rebecca Farm Travel Grants. Dickerson said the first benefit for her horse Casalto was the experience of long-distance travel. That was followed by exposure to the property’s uniquely wide-open spaces and high atmosphere spaces for all three phases of competition.

CCI4*-S – Julie Wolfert and SSH Playboy Earn Inaugural Mai Baum Trophy

“He was incredible – he jumped out of his skin,” said Julie Wolfert of SSH Playboy’s show jumping round. Coming back from a broken fetlock 18 months ago, the gelding returned to form at the perfect time. “It’s so neat to be in this atmosphere amid the 25^th anniversary, and I’m so proud to have done an amazing job for the audience with a clear round.”

She was also thrilled to be the first recipient of the Mai Baum Award, donated by the Ahearn/Markell family.

“I haven’t allowed myself to think past this show,” Wolfert admitted when asked what’s next for her and the gelding. Having done so well here, she hopes a five-star is in their future. And, for sure, “I’ll see you next year!”

The pair moved up from fourth after dressage and finished on a 47.9.

Erin Kellerhouse’s hunch that her two youngsters were ready for four-star was borne out by a reserve finish with Bon Vivant GWF and fourth for Ringwood Adios Amigo. Both are horses the California professional has brought along since they were 4, and Kellerhouse is thrilled with their courage and professionalism through all three phases.

Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14 slotted into third with a double-clear show jumping effort.

CCI3*-L - Sarah Ertl and Redwood Quality Shine in Solo Spotlight

Overnight leader Sarah Ertl didn’t change her plan when her one challenger was spun from the horse inspection this morning. “I put a lot of pressure on myself to be competitive here already and that didn’t change,” said the University of Kentucky student.

Her self-produced 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse Redwood Quality was fresh from this morning’s warm-up through to a wild victory gallop after their double-clear tour of the track. While Redwood Quality tends to be spooky, and there were plenty of colorful obstacles to spook at, Ertl kept him focused.

“He’s such a good jumper, if we ever had a rail it would be 100% on me.” After “riding the horse I had” there were no rails on the ground. Their experience, topped by the win on a 36.1 score, confirms Ertl’s plans to move onto Advanced soon.

From an original 9-horse start list, Ertl had the field finalê to herself. Saturday’s cross-country results had whittled the field to three. Then Renee Kalkman withdrew Flame Eternal, and one of James Alliston’s promising partners, Made By Leontine EB, did not pass during the final FEI horse inspection this morning.

Alliston was upset for “Leo” and his owner, Arnell Sporthorses, but respected the ground jury’s decision. The 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood had pulled a shoe in the warm-up for Saturday’s cross-country and tested positive for soreness in his toe, Alliston shared. Otherwise, he was thrilled with Leo’s performance and excited to get back to their promising pursuits.

CCI3*-S - Chris Talley and FE Marco Polo Keep Their Lead

Chris Talley admits “my show jumping nerves aren’t the best,” but that was not evident as he and FE Marco Polo completed their wire-to-wire win with double-clear show jumping. Good earlier rounds with other horses in his Virginia-based Home Track Farm program added to Talley’s confidence. Plus, he had a two-rail margin of error. “I knew I could take a bit more time in the turns to settle him down,” Talley explained. The pair competed in the CCI4*-L here last year, but stepped down after a light year following Talley’s back surgery in January. “I think we’ve both shown that we’re ready to move back up to the four-star,” he said.

James Alliston and Golly Martin’s Berry continued their ascent with double clear jumping to secure the second spot, up from 13^th after dressage. “I’ve been thrilled with him. He’s a small horse but also a very scopey, brave sort of chap,” James said. “I’d been wondering if he should be in the CCI2*-L, not the CCI3*-S, but once we started jumping, I knew he was in the right division.”

Alyssa Phillips and Centerfold dropped one rail and maintained their third-place standing.

CCI2*-L - Madyson Hsue and ISO Cambria Rise to the Win

Twenty-one year old Madyson Hsue’s return to Rebecca Farm exceeded her wildest dreams when she and her own ISO Cambria stayed on their 28.1 dressage score to win. She grew up in Washington, competed here several times, and determined that a return to her “favorite show” would be an ideal graduation gift after earning her degree from the University of Kentucky in May.

Tackling their first long format, "Cambria" provided the pleasant surprise of finishing 23 seconds under the time on cross-country. When the overnight leading horse failed the horse inspection, Hsue found herself the frontrunner and thinking "Oh jeez, now I have to ride even better.” Her coach Ali Knowles advised “don’t lean, sit still,” and that worked. “Cambria is good at organizing herself, and she’s such a trier,” Hsue said.

Rebecca Farm was Hsue’s main goal for the year, and she’s also planning to compete in the U.S. Eventing Associations’ American Eventing Championships next month. As the highest-placed young rider in the FEI divisions, Hsue earned the Guinness Perpetual Trophy, named in honor of organizer Sarah Broussard’s outstanding young rider horse.

Canada’s Sara Sellmer and Sportsfield Supernatural finished second on a 29.9, having moved up from sixth after dressage. Californian Jillian Mader and Coolrock Wacko Jacko were double clear to leap from 9^th to third, on a 32.2.

CCI1*-L – Madeline Backus and P.S. Sir Balinor Earn an Emotional Win

Colorado-based Madeline Backus and her 6-year-old homebred Trakehner P.S. Sir Balinor sealed a wire-to-wire win, taking down just one rail today for a 28.4 finish. “These are happy tears,” Backus said after the awards ceremony. It was one thing to get her first FEI win and quite another to do it on the son of her five-star mare P.S. Arianna. “He is such a cool horse,” the Colorado-based professional said. “He’s a machine on cross-country. I thought he might take a look at all the decorated jumps, but he really couldn’t care less, and he had fun galloping around.”

Show jumping is a relatively weak phase for the handsome gray gelding. “I lost a bit of rideability going into the first in-and-out, and we popped that rail,” Backus continued. “But he really tried in there. He always wants to do what’s best.” With a rail in hand, they won on a 28.4.

Sarah Kruger and Twain’s Fireflight finishing on their 30.4 for second place. Julie Wolfert and Xkux started in 9^th after dressage and finished third thanks to double-clears on cross-country and show jumping.

Complete results for all 14 divisions of The Event at Rebecca Farm can be found on ShowConnect.com.