United States Eventing Association

The USEA Classic Series once again challenged riders to experience eventing in its traditional long-format during The Event at Rebecca Farm, which took place July 15-19, in Kalispell, Montana. Read on to learn more about the three Classic Series Champions from this spectacular event!

Novice Three-Day A Winners | Carly Atkinson & I'm a Littlebit Little | 29.5

The winner of the Novice Three-Day A division, Carly Atkinson (Lehi, Utah), has spent a lifetime in the saddle. After growing up buying, training, and reselling horses with her sister, she eventually found her way to eventing about 10 years ago. This year at Rebecca Farm, she partnered with her own 6-year-old Hanoverian gelding, I'm A Littlebit Little (I'm Special de Muze x Sanna Bianka), to the Classic victory.

The 6-year-old Hanoverian gelding is a relatively new addition to Atkinson's barn after being imported from Germany last fall. They didn't have the most conventional start to their partnership.

"I bought him off of a video from Germany in September while I was pregnant," said Atkinson. "He'd done some jumpers up to 1.15-meters. When he arrived, I was medically restricted from riding, although he was definitely quiet enough that I would have ridden him. I started riding him a couple of weeks after I had my baby. He had never evented, and in his first outings he would become a little barn sour, and I would be trapped in a spot on course. He's now done a handful of events and is really getting it."

Although Atkinson feels the young gelding is ready to move up to Training level, she chose the Novice Three-Day instead after encouragement from her coach, John Michael Durr, and her husband Travis, believing the Classic format would help build confidence before tackling Rebecca Farm at the next level.

"I think he's ready to move up to Training, but Rebecca is a lot of atmosphere to try a move up," she said. "I decided to do the Three-Day after our coach, John Michael Durr, and my husband, who events also, both suggested it. It was a really good opportunity to make sure the atmosphere wasn't too much and to help him gain some boldness out alone. I really feel like the long-format helps your horse find some confidence. My horse is a little careful, and I think especially the steeplechase helped him feel bold and find his own desire to take me to the jumps."

Like many first-time Classic competitors, Atkinson came away with a new appreciation for endurance day, naming the steeplechase as her favorite phase of the competition.

"I think it's so easy to get too obsessed with the perfect canter and the perfect distance," she said. "I think steeplechase really helped both my horse and me remember the vast acceptable range of canter and distance, and the less I mess with him, the better he can be."

For riders who have considered entering a Classic but haven't taken the leap, Atkinson hopes they'll give it a try.

"Just do it! It's so much simpler than I thought it was. The show venues offer so much free education that you'll be ready to do it. It's a really fun experience, and it's cool to see where eventing came from. I really think the format helps the horse and rider be more prepared for cross-country."

Novice Three-Day B Winners | Brynn Liberda & Rumor Has It | 30.4

Brynn Liberda and her Irish Sport Horse gelding Rumor Has It continued their success in the USEA Classic Series with a top finish in the Novice Three-Day B division. After earning reserve champion honors in the Novice Three-Day at the Kentucky Horse Park last year, Liberda said competing in another long-format event—this time at Rebecca Farm—fulfilled a longtime goal.

"I have always loved eventing as a kid," she said. "I grew up being the only 'horse girl' in my family and would take pony lessons weekly, where I learned my love for horses. I'm lucky to have such supportive parents that I've been able to fulfill my dreams of eventing when I got my horse, 'Rumor,' three years ago. It was a big learning curve getting into the sport not knowing much, but I'm lucky to be surrounded by such incredible people who encourage and help me every step of the way."

Liberda purchased Rumor Has It from Robin Walker a little more than three years ago, and the now 8-year-old mare has grown alongside her rider every step of the way.

"Before Rumor was with Robin, she was foxhunting and had never evented before, though she showed a lot of potential physically and mentally. The first year I owned Rumor was a major learning curve because we were both very green, and she is a typical opinionated mare who will always voice her thoughts. Once we figured each other out, our partnership has just blossomed. I'm thrilled for what the future has in store for us."

Having already experienced one Classic, Liberda knew she wanted to return to the format when the opportunity arose at Rebecca Farm.

"I competed in the Novice Three-Day at the Kentucky Horse Park last year and had an incredible time," she said. "It's been a longtime dream of mine to compete at Rebecca Farm, and I'm so thankful I had the opportunity to this year, especially getting to do another Three-Day."

Like many riders, Liberda felt the long-format gave her mare confidence, particularly after preparing for the steeplechase.

"Rumor absolutely benefited from this experience. We schooled our steeplechase with Madeline Backus, which was so encouraging and gave us both an extra boost of confidence to tackle the course," she said.

Her favorite phase? No surprise—the steeplechase.

"It's hard to pick just one favorite part of the competition, but if I had to narrow it down, I would say the steeplechase. Rumor was so game up to every fence. It is so wonderful to feel your horse having as much fun as you are!" she said.

For anyone considering entering a USEA Classic Series event, Liberda recommends taking advantage of every educational opportunity offered throughout the week.

"Attend as many educational sessions as you can at the event. You learn so much from the educators about long formats, and it is so rare that you're able to get opportunities like this at any other event."

Training Three-Day Winners | Taylor McFall & Diarocca DF | 30.7

Winning the Training Three-Day division aboard Diarocca DF, a 7-year-old Oldenburg mare (Diarado x Stone Bridge) owned by Ann Patton, was a particularly meaningful accomplishment for Taylor McFall. Having grown up attending Rebecca Farm with her parents, Earl and Jen McFall, both longtime horse trainers and eventers, McFall has been competing at the venue for much of her life.

"I've had a life filled with three-day eventing, wonderful horses, and many trips up to Rebecca Farm over the years, so it's always been a dream of mine to win a class here," Taylor shared.

Diarocca DF, affectionately known as "Didi," has been part of the McFall family from the very beginning. Bred through the DragonFire Farm breeding program, McFall helped start the mare under saddle before eventually taking over the ride last fall.

"Diarocca DF was born at my home in the DragonFire Farm breeding program seven years ago—one year younger than my other horse in the Training Three-Day division, Overkill DF," she said. "By the time she was ready, I had already been helping back completely green young horses for a couple of years and was the main person introducing her to being ridden and handled within my parents' training program. Once she was broke, she sold to a wonderful client at our barn, Ann Patton, and started her show career with my dad. Once I was nearing the end of college and had more time to dedicate to riding, I took over the ride on Didi, began showing her last fall, and moved her up to Training. We're both very daring and ambitious girls who absolutely love cross-country, so we make a great match. She's incredibly brave, so I get to be the voice of reason in the saddle and make sure everything goes well for her. She's a very talented and exciting young horse, and I feel very lucky to have this partnership."

Although McFall has competed in the Classic format before, she said the long-format has always held a special place in her heart.

"I decided to enter because it's always felt like the more exciting and challenging version of the sport," she explained. "The Three-Day format was previously the most important part of my year when I was a little Novice rider on my pony. I think it's so special that we have these more challenging versions of Novice and Training because it's always fun to have more goals to work toward. Sometimes it can feel like only the very top of the sport gets recognized, which makes it seem like it takes an impossible amount of effort to get to a level worth celebrating. These classes showcase just how much work you and your horse have put in. They give you such a great sense of accomplishment and recognition. Little me, sitting on a pony that was probably only ever going Novice or maybe Training, thought the Novice Three-Day was my FEI, my championship. Even today, it's still such a special and fun challenge."

This year's competition was especially memorable as McFall had the opportunity to compete in the Classic with two homebred mares she started herself.

"It was a treat to see everyone at my barn get to experience the format, see how much fun everyone in the class was having, and compete alongside both of my homebred mares that I backed and trained myself," she said. "I can't decide if my favorite part was seeing how much everyone else was enjoying themselves or seeing how much my two girls, Didi and Scarlett, were enjoying the steeplechase and absolutely crushing the cross-country. Or maybe it was finally getting to cross 'winning at Rebecca Farm' off my bucket list."

For riders considering entering a USEA Classic Series event, McFall encourages them to arrive prepared—and to enjoy every moment.

"I would say come over-prepared. Be very confident at the level, be slightly overfit, and slightly overpacked," she said. "Lots can happen, and you'd much rather feel like you've done too much than not enough. It helps to have friends there for you in the vet box and during the jogs to make sure everything goes smoothly. Bring an extra set of shoes for your horse in case they throw one, wear clothes and shoes that you can sprint in when presenting your horse, and most of all, while you're working hard taking care of your horse, don't forget to eat, rest, and take care of yourself. It's supposed to be fun, so take the time to enjoy it."

Beyond the blue ribbon, McFall believes the Classic format proved to be the perfect stepping stone as both mares prepare to move up the levels.

"Both mares were total stars in the Three-Day format. It was a perfect stepping stone in both of their careers as I consider moving them up to Modified," she said. "After getting them fit for roads and tracks, galloping the steeplechase, and tackling a really tough course with about half Modified and half Training fences, I know they're ready. It was a great chance to test their fitness and bravery, and it makes me feel much better about taking on the next level. I'm so very excited to score this result for my farm and my family, excited for my owner, excited for the progress Diarocca DF is making, and excited to have had the chance to share part of my eventing journey."

About the USEA Classic Series

The USEA Classic Series keeps the spirit of the classic long ­format three­-day events alive for Beginner Novice through the Preliminary levels. Competitors can experience the rush of endurance day, including roads and tracks, steeplechase, the vet box, and cross­-country, as well as participate in formal veterinary inspections and educational activities with experts on the ins and outs of competing in a long ­format three-­day event. Riders who compete in a USEA Classic Three-Day Event during the year will have the chance to win a variety of prizes at the events from USEA sponsors and earn leaderboard points. Click here to learn more about the USEA Classic Series.

The USEA would like to thank bronze sponsors D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis Saddles, Gallagher’s Water, PulseVet, and SmartEquine, contributing sponsors Bates Saddles and Schneiders Saddlery, and prize sponsor 100xEquine for supporting the USEA Classic Series.