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Fast Facts: 2018 Red Hills International

By Jessica Duffy - USEA Staff | March 8, 2018

The Red Hills International Horse Trials 20th anniversary event will kick off bright and early tomorrow morning at Elinor Klapp Phipps Park in Tallahassee, Florida. In addition to hosting the first Adequan USEA Gold Cup divisions of the year, Red Hills is also a qualifying event for the FEI World Equestrian Games that will be taking place later this year at the Tryon International Equestrian Center.

  • A total of 187 horses will compete at the 2018 Red Hills International in the Preliminary, Intermediate, and Advanced horse trial divisions as well as the CIC*, CIC2*, and CIC3*.
  • 35 horse-and-rider combinations are set to contest the first Adequan USEA Gold Cup CIC3* division of 2018.
  • 14 pairs will compete in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Advanced division.
  • Selena O’Hanlon and John and Judy Rumble’s 15-year-old Canadian Sport Horse gelding Foxwood High (Rio Bronco W x Evita II), winners of last year’s Advanced division, are contesting the CIC3* this year.
  • Phillip Dutton has won the Red Hills CIC3* six times (in 2016, 2013, 2012, 2006, 2005, 2003) and returns this year with Kristine and John Norton’s 14-year-old KWPN gelding, I’m Sew Ready (Lupicor x Jarda), who won the Carolina International CIC3* in 2015.
  • Boyd Martin won the Red Hills CIC3* in 2014 riding Trading Aces and is seeking his second win with Tsetserleg, Christine Turner’s 11-year-old Trakehner gelding (Windfall x Thabana).
  • Forrest el-Effendi is the only rider contesting her first CIC3*. She is riding her own 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Winter Colony.
  • Nilson Moreira da Silva has the most rides in the CIC3* with three horses: L&N Equestrian’s 12-year-old Thoroughbred mare Lady Colina (Wheelaway x Dos Ariba), his own and L&N Equestrian’s 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding Magnum’s Martini (Magnum x Momo’s Girl), and his own and The Phoenix Syndicate, LLC’s 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Muggle (Obadiah x Isn’t She Nice).
  • Matt Flynn and Jessica Pheonix both have two rides apiece in the Advanced division, making up almost 30% of the division. Flynn is riding Flynn Sport Horse’s 9-year-old KWPN gelding Wizzerd (Wizzerd x Amai) and 10-year-old KWPN gelding Get Lucky (Van Gogh x Ranna). Phoenix will compete aboard Dr. Sheldon Cooper (Marquetry x Poplar Capp), Deborah Davies and Jane Stephenson’s 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding and Bogue Sound (Crafty Shaw x Carolina Blue), Amara Hopper’s 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding.
  • Mike Etherington-Smith is the designer for the CIC3* and Advanced courses for the fourth year in a row while David O’Connor has designed the CIC*, CIC2*, Preliminary, and Intermediate courses.
  • Red Hills announced that riders and spectators alike will be in for a big change this year as all courses will run in the opposite direction as in previous years. Course walks for the international divisions are available via the CrossCountry App.
  • Chris Barnard will design the show jumping courses for all levels this year.
  • Single-day, two-day, and three-day passes will be available for purchase at the gate, and children 12 and under are free.
  • Tailgating spots are still available and include entry to the park for six as well as the best seats in the house for all the action on cross-country day. Click here for more information.
  • Red Hills’ Avenue of Shops and Saddler’s Row will this year feature numerous vendors and exhibits as well as a food court with options to satisfy every palate. Click here to view a full list.
  • For those interested in learning more about Elinor Klapp Phipps Park, which is owned and managed by the Northwest Florida Water Management District and the City of Tallahassee, the District land managers will be holding guided wagon tours on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. The tour will take participants through the various habitats of the Park and offer more information on land management activities underway to preserve Lake Jackson and the surrounding natural resources.

Competition Schedule

Friday

  • 8:00 a.m. – Dressage (All Divisions)

Saturday

  • 8:00 a.m. – Cross-Country (All Divisions)
  • 9:00 a.m. – Show Jumping (CIC3*)

Sunday

  • 8:00 a.m. – Veterinary Inspection (CIC* and CIC2*)
  • 8:30 a.m. – Show Jumping (Preliminary, Intermediate, Advanced, CIC*, CIC2*)

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About the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series

The 2018 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series features 11 qualifying competitions throughout the United States at the Advanced horse trials and CIC3* levels. The qualifying period begins August 2017 and continues through August 2018 with the final taking place at the 2018 USEA American Eventing Championships at the Colorado Horse Park in Parker, Colorado, August 29 – September 2, 2018. Riders who complete a qualifier earn the chance to vie for $40,000 in prize money and thousands of dollars in prizes and the title of Adequan USEA Gold Cup Champion in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Final Advanced Division.

The USEA would like to thank Adequan, Standlee Hay Company, Nutrena, Merck Animal Health, Parker Equine Insurance, and FITS for sponsoring the 2018 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series.