United States Eventing Association

Fast Facts: 2019 Galway Downs International Event

Galway Downs Horse Trials, now in its 21^st year, has been offering a CCI4*-L since 2010. The very first CCI3* (now CCI4*-L) in 2010 featured 19 competitors and Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda emerged as the winners. Galway Downs is the sole West Coast venue to offer a CCI4*-L during the year. Learn more about the history of the event and the venue in Galway Downs’ Events A-Z article.

• The Galway Downs International Event & Horse Trials offers Novice through Intermediate horse trials as well as CCI2*-L, CCI3*-L, CCI4*-L divisions, and a Hylofit USEA Classic Series Training Three-Day Event.
• There are 294 total entries to the event, including 46 in the CCI2*-L, 13 in the CCI3*-L, and six in the CCI4*-L.
• This is the smallest start field in the history of the CCI4*-L at Galway Downs. The largest field was 36 competitors in 2011. Last year Galway Downs did not offer a CCI4*-L due to lack of entries.
• None of the six entries in the CCI4*-L have completed an event at the level before.
• Five of the six horses competing are 10 years old or younger.
• Two of the horses, Vinetta M and La Paz, are graduates of the USEA Young Event Horse Program.
• The CCI4*-L competitor who traveled the furthest to compete at Galway Downs is Marc Grandia, who came from 1,200 miles away in Sultan, Washington. Tamra Smith, who is based just down the street from Galway, had the shortest distance to travel.
• Canadian Leah Breakey and her 10-year-old Canadian Warmblood Master Class (Cree x Night Destiny xx), a horse she has produced up the levels, moved up to the CCI4* level this spring and will be looking for their first CCI4*-L completion this weekend. They’re coming off a third-place finish in the CCI4*-S at Woodside earlier this month.
• Marc Grandia and Team Rebecca, LLC’s 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding Campari FFF (Camiros x Tanner) have not had a cross-country jump penalty this year and were winners in their first Advanced at Twin Rivers in April.
• Vinetta M (Caproni x Parodie M) has been produced by Marissa Nielsen from the Beginner Novice level. Nielsen and the 10-year-old Hanoverian mare most recently finished second in the Intermediate at Woodside.
• Sara Mittleider and La Paz (Tangelo Van De Suuthoeve x Dos Opera), the La Paz Group’s 9-year-old Hungarian Sport Horse gelding, have two Advanced level completions under their belt – a win at Aspen Farms and second place at Twin Rivers.
• Tamra Smith acquired the ride on En Vogue (Earl x Laurena) earlier this year, and together she and the 14-year-old Hanoverian mare have racked up a win and two second-place finishes during that time.
• Gina Economou has produced Exclusive (Marlon x Julia S), her 10-year-old KWPN gelding, from the Training level after importing him as a 6-year-old. They were fifth in the CCI4*-S at Twin Rivers in September.
• There are 18 horse-and-rider combinations competing in the Hylofit USEA Classic Series Training Three-Day Event at Galway Downs.
• Entrants include the recent USEA Young Event Horse West Coast 5-year-old Champion Mucho Me Gusto (Macho Uno x Ghostkeeper), a 5-year-old Thoroughbred gelding ridden by owner Allyson Hartenburg, Dr. Jennifer Miller and her own Bon Bon (Consul x Dark Promise), a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, who took home the win in the Training Three-Day at Coconino this summer, and last year's Galway Downs Training Three-Day Champion 7-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding Dassett Ricochet (Cabachon x Pillar)with new owner/rider Meg Pellegrini. Who will take home the title this year?
• After the competition has concluded on Sunday, competitors James Alliston and Helen Bouscaren will be heading out on the cross-country course to tie the knot in front of their family and friends.
• Jay Hambly (CAN) is designing the cross-country courses for the CCI4*-L and CCI3*-L, while Bert Wood (USA) designed the course for the CCI2*-L.
• Marc Donovan (USA) is the show jumping course designer
• Patricia Clifton (GBR) will serve as the Technical Delegate, assisted by Andrew Temkin (USA). Jane Hamlin (USA) is the President of the Ground Jury, assisted by Robert Stevenson (USA) with Helen Brettell (GBR) for the CCI4*-L and CCI2*-L and Bea di Grazia (USA) for the CCI3*-L.
• Ride On Video will be livestreaming cross-country on Saturday and show jumping on Sunday. Click here to watch and for additional information about the live stream schedule.
• Daily admission is free with a $10 weekend parking pass, which also gets you a program. You can buy VIP ringside access online through the Galway ticketing website.

Competition Schedule

Thursday, October 31

• 12:00 p.m. – First Horse Inspection (CCI3*-L, CCI4*-L, CCI2*-L, T3D)
• 2:00 p.m. – Dressage (CCI3*-L, CCI4*-L, T3D)

Friday, November 1

• 8:00 a.m. – Dressage (CCI2*-L, Intermediate, Preliminary, Training, Novice, Beginner Novice)
• 1:30 p.m. – Endurance (T3D)

Saturday, November 2

• 8:00 a.m. – Show Jumping (Preliminary, Training, Novice, Beginner Novice)
• 8:15 a.m. – Final Horse Inspection (T3D)
• 9:00 a.m. – Cross-Country (Intermediate, CCI3*-L, CCI4*-L, CCI2*-L, Preliminary)
• 4:30 p.m. - Show Jumping (T3D)

Sunday, November 3

• 8:00 a.m. – Final Horse Inspection (CCI3*-L, CCI4*-L, CCI2*-L)
• 8:00 a.m. – Cross-country (Training, Novice, Beginner Novice)
• 9:00 a.m. – Show Jumping (Intermediate, CCI3*-L, CCI4*-L, CCI2*-L)

Helpful Links

• Galway Downs Website
• USEA Prize List
• Entry List
• Ride Times
• Live Scores
• Livestream
• Digital Program
• Tickets

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