Plantation Field International celebrates its 14th year of competition this year with CCI4*-S, CCI3*-S, and CCI2*-S competition kicking off on Thursday, September 16, and running until Sunday, September 19. Tucked away amidst the hills of Unionville, Pennsylvania, the event is known for its stunning cross-country backdrops and the top field of riders the competition draws in.
The Field:
There are 53 entries set to contest this year’s CCI4*-S, the same exact number of entries as 2020.
Steady Eddie is the oldest horse set to compete at 18-years-old, while Bronte Beach and Cooley Candyman are the youngest horses of the field at just 8-years-old.
Most of the entries are seasoned at the CCI4* level, however, there are some four-star first-timers on the entry list. The 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse Gelding Sportsfield Enquiry (Darrara Achilles x Darrara Queen) owned by Laura O’Dwyer will make his four-star debut with Erin Risso in the irons. The 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse SBT Barolo (Loughehoe Guy x Tentore Flight) who rider Robin Walker co-owns with Alston Kerr is also making his debut at the level. Canadian rider Jamie Kellock and Jane Stephenson’s 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Summer Bay are both attempting their first four-stars.
Irish Sport Horse breeders will be pleased to see that the breed dominates the entry list with 20 of the 53 set to compete sitting atop a horse of Irish breeding!
Four riders are riding three horses apiece in the CCI4*-S. Bruce Davidson will be presenting Cooley Candyman, Errol Gobey, and Sorocaima to the judges over the course of the competition. Will Faudree is riding FRH Ramona, Mama's Magic Way, and PFun. Alexandra Knowles' entries are Business Class, Morswood, and Ms. Poppins. Jessica Phoenix has Bogue Sound, Wabbit, and Watson GS.
Boyd Martin will be competing Christine Turner’s 16-year-old Selle Francais mare On Cue (Cabri de Elle x On High) with whom he just won the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final at the 2021 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds.
20 pairs are using this as a prep run for the inaugural Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill.
Mark Weissbecker is the president of the ground jury for the CCI4*-S and will be joined by Valerie Pride.
Alec Lochore is the technical delegate and will be assisted by John Williams.
Derek di Grazia is the CCI4*-S cross-country course designer and Jeff Kibbie is designing the CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S.
Brody Robertson is the show jumping course designer.
General admission is free on Thursday and Friday. Saturday and Sunday it is $25/car in advance or $30 at the gate. Ticket information is available here.
The event is hosting a silent auction! Bid on some great items here.
Three years ago, Bucyrus, Kansas-based professional Julie Wolfert and her two good friends Renee Senter and Sheri Gurske, went to Ireland where they tried about 40 horses before they decided to go in together on the now 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding SSH Playboy (Cit Cat x Stomeyford Black Pearl).
Cross-country in the USEF/USEA Developing Horse Championships proved the age-old statement that "this is not a dressage show," as we saw the CCI3*YH-S whittled down, while the CCI2*YH-S had some shuffling in the top-10 standings.
Day 1 is a wrap at the 2024 USEF/USEA Developing Horse Championships at Morven Park International, and we saw a familiar face rise to the top in the CCI3*YH-S Championship, while the leading CCI2*YH-S competitor is making her international debut.
Coming off a CCI4*-S win at Stable View (Aiken, South Carolina) two weeks ago, Lucienne Bellissimo (GBR) is feeling confident with Dyri coming into the Morven Park CCI4*-L this weekend.
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