Mar 07, 2019

Fast Facts: 2019 Red Hills International Horse Trials

By Jessica Duffy - USEA Staff
Jenny Caras and Fernhill Full Throttle at the 2018 Red Hills International Horse Trials. Redbaystock.com Photo.

And just like that, the East Coast FEI season is upon us! The 21st Red Hills International Horse Trials kicks off tomorrow at Elinor Klapp Phipps Park in Tallahassee, Florida. Over the next three days, 26 combinations will be tackling the first ever CCI4*-S division to be offered in North America.

  • A total of 204 horses will compete across the six divisions offered at Red Hills: Preliminary, Intermediate, Advanced, CCI2*-S, CCI3*-S, and CCI4*-S.
  • Wondering why the highest level at Red Hills is now called CCI4*-S? Click here to read an explanation of the new FEI Star System.
  • The CCI4*-S will see 26 horses while the CCI3*-S will see 53 and the CCI2*-S will see 52.
  • Twenty-one combinations will compete in the Advanced division.
  • Jessica Phoenix has the most entries at Red Hills with a total of seven horses entered: one in the CCI4*-S, one in the Advanced, and five in the CCI3*-S.
  • Five riders have two entries each in the CCI4*-S: Katherine Coleman, Nilson Moreira da Silva, Jacob Fletcher, Clayton Fredericks, and Caroline Martin.
  • Boyd Martin has three entries in the Advanced: Christine Turner’s 12-year-old Canadian Sport Horse mare Kyra (Ulando x Wellesley) and 14-year-old Selle Francais mare On Cue (Cabri de Elle x On High) and the Long Island T Syndicate’s 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding Long Island T (Ludwig con Bayern x Highlight). Martin’s horses make up 14 percent of the Advanced division.
  • Jennie Brannigan is the only other riders with multiple entries in the Advanced. Both of Jennie Brannigan’s horses, Nina Gardner’s 9-year-old Thoroughbed gelding Twilightslastgleam (National Anthem x Royal Child) and 9-year-old German Sport Horse gelding FE Lifestyle (Leo von Faelz x Berina A), are making their debut at the Advanced level this weekend.
  • Neither winner of the 2018 Red Hills Advanced or CIC3* divisions will be returning to compete this year, leaving the way open for a new face at the top of the leaderboard. However, both second-place finishers – Kyra in the Advanced and Fletcher Farms’ Atlantic Domino (Dunlough Striker x Atlantic Amanda), the 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, in the CIC3* - are competing again this year.
  • Michael Etherington-Smith and David O’Connor are returning for the fourth year in a row this year as cross-country course designers. Etherington-Smith is responsible for the CCI4*-S and Advanced tracks while O’Connor designed the CCI3*-S, CCI2*-S, Intermediate, and Preliminary courses. Cross-country course walks are are available on the Cross-Country App.
  • Chris Barnard will design the show jumping course for the third year in a row.
  • Tickets for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are available for purchase for $15 each on the Red Hills International Horse Trials website. Save by purchasing a two day pass for $25 or a three day pass for $40. 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 details.
  • 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 appetite. Click here to view the vendor 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.
Jacob Fletcher and Atlantic Domino in the CIC3* division at the 2018 Red Hills International Horse Trials. USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

Competition Schedule

Friday

  • 8:00 a.m. – Dressage (All Levels)

Saturday

  • 8:00 a.m. – Cross-Country (All Levels)

Sunday

  • 8:00 a.m. – Horse Inspection (CCI2*-S, CCI3*-S, CCI4*-S)
  • 8:30 a.m. – Show Jumping (All Levels)

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