Day one of the annual Stable View Oktoberfest is in the books. Today all FEI competitors completed the dressage portion of competition with the CCI4*-S and CCI3*-S divisions running in the Outdoor Arena and the CCI2*-s dressage in the Hunter Arena.
111 horses went down the centerline for the FEI divisions today, and Stable View's entries for the weekend total 369 across all divisions. According to Mark Weissbecker, Member of the CCI4*-S Ground Jury, "The overall quality of the horses was consistently excellent. The riders set a high standard and we were overall quite pleased. The scores are so close among the top of the leaderboard, so the jumping phases will be so important to the final outcome."
Here are the current standings going into the jumping phases tomorrow:
CCI4*-S
1st: Doug Payne & Vandiver (24.30)
2nd: Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp & Fernhill By Night (24.50)
3rd: Matthew Flynn & Wizzerd (25.90)
T-4th: Waylon Roberts & Lancaster (26.40)
T-4th: Sydney Elliott & QC Diamantaire (26.40)
6th: Doug Payne & Quantum Leap (26.80)
CCI3*-S
1st: Kurt Martin & D.A. Lifetime (27.00)
2nd: Alexander O'Neal & Miss MoneyPenny V (29.00)
3rd: Zoe Crawford & K.B.S Quick Strike (29.30)
4th: Boyd Martin & Fernhill Prezley (29.40)
5th: Boyd Martin & Penhill Celtic (29.60)
CCI2*-S
1st: Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp & Maryville Sir Henry (27.40)
2nd: Dana Cooke & FE Whole Lotta Rosie (28.40)
3rd: Kelly Prather & Catch Me Cooley (28.90)
4th: Jane Jennings & Kontessa (30.10)
5th: Leslie Law & Tout De Suite (30.50)
For full scores, click here. To view the event program, click here.
Eventers who are new to the sport may feel a little overwhelmed by the often-misunderstood world of saddle fitting. Riders are often bombarded with information from peers online or self-described experts, putting them at risk of following bad advice related to equipment that impacts horse welfare perhaps more than any other piece of tack. Finding a qualified expert to answer these questions is crucial. Who better to turn to than both a qualified Master Saddle Fitter and a fourth-generation saddle designer to answer some of these questions?
Did you know that the USEA Foundation awards over 150 grants each year to deserving individuals who are involved in the sport of eventing? With grants that assist riders with accomplishing their competition goals, grants geared toward licensed officials, grants that are specific to continuing education for coaches, grants that assist competitions with obtaining frangible technology, and so much more, there really is a grant opportunity available to almost anyone!
With the start of the New Year just days away, now is the time to consider how your actions can have a positive impact on the sport of eventing in 2025. Each and every member of the eventing community has an important role to play in ensuring the sport continues to grow and thrive. From fostering educational opportunities to supporting grassroots initiatives and participating at all levels of the sport, there are so many ways to get involved.
Ride iQ’s popular “Ask An Expert” series features professional advice and tips from all areas of the horse industry. One of the most-downloaded episodes is an expert session with Peter Gray, an accomplished dressage judge and Olympic eventer. He has recently judged at events like the five-star at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and he served on the ground jury at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Pratoni, Italy. His background as a competitor in the Olympic Games riding for Bermuda and as a coach and selector for the Canadian eventing team adds depth to his understanding of the sport.