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Mar 07, 2012
Announcing the GMHA Festival of Eventing
Event riders tired of competing in stifling August temperatures on rock-hard ground might consider putting GMHA’s Festival of Eventing on their summer calendar. Plans for the inaugural three-competition Festival, to be held in South Woodstock, Vermont August 6-12 (opening date June 26), call for a Novice/Training long-format three-day Tuesday through Thursday, a Beginner Novice/Novice one-day horse trial on Friday, capped off by a two-day Beginner Novice through Intermediate horse trial over the weekend.
In addition to Eventing competition, a focus of Festival planning is to provide a fantastic, Vermont-themed competitor and spectator experience. Organizers have lined-up multiple fun activities and welcome amenities for the week including competitor parties, a trade fair featuring Vermont products as well as nationally-known equestrian and other vendors, and family entertainment. South Woodstock and the surrounding area also offer an incredible variety of things to do from sports (golfing, biking, hiking, climbing and of course, riding) to just relaxing, as well as terrific shopping and dining.
A partial list of Festival sponsors includes: Triple Crown Nutrition, Horseware Ireland, Alltech, Strafford Saddlery, Mountain Horse, Ariat and Lucky’s Trailers. Additional
sponsorship opportunities are available; e-mail Molly Hutchins at [email protected] for more information.
The courses at GMHA have undergone extensive renovation over the past year in anticipation of the Festival, with new jumps and complexes at all levels as well as improved footing and drainage throughout the 65-acre property. Course designer Tremaine Cooper, assisted by Janine McClain, has created up-to-level, educational tracts that fully utilize GMHA’s fields, hills and water crossings.
Festival organizers hope to attract riders from outside New England, including some U.S. Team members and Olympic hopefuls who might welcome cooler temperatures and softer footing. The re-introduction of the Intermediate level, coupled with a long-format three-day as well as one-day and two-day horse trials, $10,000 in prize money, a slate of entertainment options and proximity to complimentary venues such as Millbrook provide plenty of incentive for competitors to plan on attending the Festival. The same features will hopefully entice spectators to GMHA to learn more about the sport of Eventing and to have a fun, summer holiday.
Apr 26, 2025
Competitions
What Happened Where? 2025 Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S Cross-Country Rewind
In Derek di Grazia’s CCI4*-S cross-country course this morning at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, there were two obvious challenges: the time and the Mighty Moguls question early on in the course at fence 4.
Apr 26, 2025
Competitions
The 2025 K3DE Daily: Cross-Country Day
If you are wanting to get a good parking spot at the Kentucky Horse Park this morning, you better be on your way as early as possible! Cross-country day at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event is easily the busiest day the Kentucky Horse Park sees each year, so it's time to grab your coffee and go ensure you get the viewing spot you want for both the CCI4*-S and CCI5*-L divisions today.
Apr 25, 2025
Competitions
2025 K3DE Rider Talk: What Are They Saying About Cross-Country?
Riders in both the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S and the Defender Kentucky CCI5*-L are sharing similar sentiments about this year's cross-country courses: course designer Derek di Grazia didn't play around this year. Here is what some of the riders across both divisions had to say about the tracks they will aim to conquer on Saturday.
Apr 25, 2025
Competitions
Off the Record Breaks Records in Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S at Defender Kentucky
Off The Record decided not to let Michael Jung be the only record-breaking entry at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event this week and delivered a career-best score in the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S on Friday morning. He and Will Coleman delivered a test that received a score of 21.8, not only marking a personal best for the horse but also securing their position at the top of the leaderboard going into cross-country tomorrow.
