United States Eventing Association

Not a cloud was in sight today at the sunny Galway Downs International Horse Trials in Temecula, California, which kicks off the first three-star of the West Coast this spring. Also serving as an Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series designated competition, Galway Downs marks the third event of the Series for the 2015 calendar year, which culminates at the Final in September, held at the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships in Tyler, Texas.

The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Champion receives one of the highest payouts in the sport of Eventing in the United States, second only to the prestigious Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. This weekend at the Galway Downs International Horse Trials, the majority of the horse and rider combinations in the CIC3* Adequan USEA Gold Cup division are using the event as their final preparation before heading to Kentucky next month.

Matt Brown and Blossom Creek Foundation’s Irish gelding Super Socks BCF stole the show in the dressage ring today, putting in a lovely test to top the leaderboard with a 46.9. Jennifer McFall also had a very consistent test aboard her own Holsteiner gelding High Times, receiving a 48.2 to grab the second place spot.

The CIC3* show jumping took place later this evening, and Sarah Dubost’s show jump course was no easy feat for riders, with the top three dressage leaders all taking rails down to alter the leaderboard.

James Alliston rose to the top of the leaderboard after his double-clear show jumping round aboard his Dutch Warmblood gelding, Tivoli.

“He was really good out there,” said Alliston. “I haven’t showed him a lot in recent years, so it was nice to know he could come out and do his job and jump everything that carefully.” The pair is preparing for the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event next month, and James noted that he’s going to use tomorrow’s cross country course as a serious practice run for himself as well as his horse, so they’ll be pressing for time and working on making quick decisions as the questions present themselves on course.

John Michael Durr put in a double-clear show jumping round, locking in the second place position aboard Ruth Bley’s Canadian Warmblood mare, Esprit De La Danse.

“The mare was super today!” exclaimed Durr. “Today was the biggest leap forward in rideablility I’ve ever had on her. This was probably our best day together so far off the cross-country course, and I’m really excited moving forward with her.” Durr is headed to Kentucky next month as well, and will use tomorrow’s cross country course as a solid, confidence-building practice run.

After taking one rail down, Matt Brown remains in third place with Mary McKee’s Holsteiner gelding Happenstance. “I myself had an off day show jumping wise, but my horses all really tried their hearts out today,” explained Brown. “We’ll use tomorrow as a confidence building practice run, and I look forward to it.”

Tomorrow, riders will navigate their horses around Ian Stark’s cross country course, which kicks off at 1:10PM (PT) for the CIC3* division.

To view full results, go here.

About the Adequan USEA Gold Cup and PRO Tour Series

Qualifying for the 2015 Adequan USEA Gold Cup began last fall with the Plantation Field CIC3* (PA) and the Woodside CIC3* (CA) and features 11 qualifying competitions throughout the United States at the Advanced Horse Trials and CIC3* levels. The final will take place at the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships September 2015 in Tyler, Texas. Riders who complete a qualifier earn the chance to vie for $40,000 in prize money in the Adequan Advanced Division and the title of Adequan USEA Gold Cup Champion.

The 2015 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of its many loyal sponsors: Adequan, Standlee Forage, Nunn Finer, Nutrena, Broadstone Equine Insurance Agency, Point Two, Dubarry, and FITS.

The PRO Tour Series consists of 13 premier destination events in the United States and Canada, featuring the best riders and most entertainment. Riders and Horses are awarded points on the PRO Tour Rider Leader Board and PRO Tour Horse Leader Board.

The Professional Riders Organization would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of the 2015 PRO Tour Series: KER Optimum Time, Tex Sutton, Triple Crown Nutrition, SSG Riding Gloves, and Midadlantic Ltd.