United States Eventing Association

The organizers of the last remaining five events offering CCI* with steeplechase anywhere in the world, have banded together to launch a new series, the Classic Three-Day Event Series, in hopes of saving this historic format. After a meeting in February between these organizers to discuss the future and legitimacy of the long-format one-star events, the general consensus was a strong belief to keep these events going strong and available to new generations of eventers.

The organizers consist of Brian and Penny Ross of Virginia Horse Trials (VA), Mary Fike of Hagyard Midsouth Three-Day Event (KY), Margaret Good of Morven Park Three-Day Event (VA), Rebecca Broussard & Sarah Kelly of Rebecca Farm (MT), and Robert Kellerhouse of Galway Downs (CA). Call them rebels, old-fashioned, or stuck in their beliefs…one thing is for certain – these organizers will do everything in their power to keep the classic-format alive and running in the U.S.!

"With the FEI no longer recognizing the long format and riders moving more toward the short format CCI's – it was time to regroup or lose phases A,B,C – Forever!" says Penny Ross

Why this sudden interest in promoting the long-format? Eventing legend and longtime supporter of the long-format event Jim Wofford explains: "There is a new demographic and target market in Eventing who have tried the Short Format and are not happy with it. This is why there has been an upswing of enthusiasm and a surprising number of participants around the country in the Training Three-Day."

The Training Three-Day Series has boomed in numbers over the past several years, and recently was officially endorsed under the USEF/USEA agreement and has since signed on SmartPak as title sponsor. Though the T3DE has had great success, as seen over the past years, there has been a slow drop in the number of competitors participating in the Preliminary long-format. Galway Downs actually saw an increase in 2008; however, Virginia did not, and Morven has stayed steady for two years.

"We must break the mindset that we are all doing the same sport--we are not doing the same sport," said Jim during February's meeting. "The classic rider is a rider doing a sport that includes a marathon aspect. That implies long and slow preparation and, a lot of time in the saddle. Not that the short format doesn't, but it is a lot of different time in the saddle. The stress argument is a whole different debate and that argument will play out overtime; riders will soon find out they traded one type of stress for another. The short format has not lessoned the stress level. We must forget about the professionals, qualifications and go back to where we were in 1959, which is not a bad place to be. The classic true believers can be back in control of the sport."

The USEA pledges to promote the Classic Three-Day and help the organizers with promotion, development, and future sponsorship. "The support that USEA is giving the classic long format is wonderful," said Mary Fike.

The Classic Three-Day committee has a lot of work ahead of them, and we ask our members these important questions: Is the classic format so old and no longer viable or of interest to the competitors? These organizers have made the commitment to continue running CCI * with steeplechase making a gradual change over in the coming months to a new National ( non-FEI) version of the Classic Three Day. IT is now up to the competitors to support this National level of three day competition or else the next generation of riders may only be able to read about the sport in old books and magazines.

Support the Classic Three-Day Events and get your entries in early! If you aren't planning to compete this year, then contact the organizers and find out how you can volunteer.