United States Eventing Association

Fast Facts: 2021 Twin Rivers Spring International

The Twin Rivers Spring International Three-Day Event in Paso Robles, California was awarded a CCI4*-L to join their already robust schedule of divisions in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced the delay of the new level until 2021. Five pairs will be contesting the inaugural CCI4*-L from April 8-11, 2021 looking for their chance to win the McKinlaigh Cup and their chunk of $5,000 in prize money.

The Field

• Twin Rivers started hosting events in 2004 and the first Spring horse trials ran in 2005 with FEI divisions added in 2006 with a CIC3* (now CCI4*-S) added in 2010.
• The inaugural CCI4*-S had just two competitors and was won by Alexandra Knowles and Last Call. The largest field was in 2014 when 10 pairs competed and Matthew Brown and BCF Belicoso took the win. Mackenna Shea is the only rider to have won the Twin Rivers CCI4*-S multiple times. She won in 2012, 2013, and 2017 all aboard her Bavarian Warmblood gelding Landioso.

• Like the inaugural event, this year the CCI4*-S has two pairs entered. Andrea Baxter, who won the division in 2015 aboard Indy 500 is competing with Indy 500’s 11-year-old son, Laguna Seca (Linaro x Indy 500). Laguna Seca just moved up to Advanced in February at Twin Rivers with an 11^th place finish. The other pair is Lauren LoPiccolo and her own 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Diego (Vingino x Twilight). Both LoPiccolo and Diego are making their CCI4*-S debuts.
• The Advanced division has just one entry, Whiskey Up, who is starting at the level for the first time with rider Kayleen Crowley. Whiskey Up is a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Worthy Opponent x Travita) owned by Patricia Crowley.

• Five of the six horses in the CCI4*-L are attempting their first go at the level. Caravaggio II, Cinzano, Stag Party, and Dr. Hart are all making their CCI4*-L debuts, while Campari FFF competed at the Galway Downs CCI4*-l in 2019, but was technically eliminated on cross-country, so doesn’t yet have a completion under his belt.

The Facts

• The FEI Technical Delegate is Mary Duenow and she will be assisted by Wendy Wergeles, who is also the technical delegate for the horse trials divisions.
• Robert Stevenson will be the president of the ground jury for the CCI4*-L, CCI4*-S, and CCI3*-L, and he will be joined by members Marilyn Payne and Peter Gray for the four-stars. Payne will be the president for the CCI3*-S with member Michelle Henry who will also judge the CCI2*-L. Henry will also be the president for the horse trials divisions and will be joined by judges: Barbi Breen-Gurley; Loris Henry; Anne Howard; Cee Cee Moss-Giovannetti; Joan Williams; and Vicky Stashuk-Matisi.
• Hugh Lochore designed the cross-country courses for the FEI levels, Advanced, Intermediate, and Preliminary and he was assisted by Adri Doyal. Marc Grandia designed the Training, Novice, and Beginner Novice courses.
• Marc Donovan will design all of the show jumping courses.
• Spectators will not be allowed at Twin Rivers in accordance with the USEF COVID-19 Action Plan guidelines and procedures. All those present on-site are asked to wear a mask at all times.
• Due to recent positive cases of EHV-1 and consultation with Twin Rivers’ treating veterinarians the event will be following extra protocols to keep the horses safe during the horse trials. All horses must have their vaccine records with them to enter show grounds. PER USEF GR845 horses must have been vaccinated for Equine Influenza Virus and Equine Herpes Virus within 6 months of entering show grounds! Each stall will have a temperature log that will need to be completed twice a day. Upon arrival please take your horse’s temperature and record it on the log. Any horse with a temperature of 101.5 F or higher will be immediately quarantined away from other horses. More information and biosecurity procedures are available here.
• All of the upper levels will be live streamed from Twin Rivers. Find the full schedule here. And tune in to the live stream here.
• The CCI4*-L, CCI4*-S, and Advanced divisions are qualifiers for the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final that will take place at the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds in August.

Competition Schedule

Thursday, April 8

• 12:00 p.m. – CCI4*-L, CCI3*-L, CCI2*-L First Horse Inspection
• 2:00 p.m. – CCI3*-S, CCI4*-S, Advanced, and Intermediate Dressage

Friday, April 9

• 8:00 a.m. – CCI2*-L, CCI3*-L, CCI4*-L, BN-Preliminary Dressage
• 1:15 p.m. – Novice Cross-Country
• 4:00 p.m. – CCI3*-S, Intermediate, CCI4*-S, and Advanced Show Jumping

Saturday, April 10

• 8:00 a.m. – Novice, Beginner Novice, and Training Show Jumping
• 10:00 a.m. – FEI, Advanced, Intermediate, and Preliminary Cross-Country

Sunday, April 11

• 7:30 a.m. – CCI4*-L, CCI3*-L, and CCI2*L Horse Inspection
• 8:15 a.m. – Training and Beginner Novice Cross-Country
• 9:00 a.m. – Preliminary, CCI4*-L, CCI3*-L, CCI2*-L Show Jumping

Full schedule available here

Helpful Links

• Twin Rivers Ranch Website
• USEA Prize List
• Entry Status/Ride Times
• Live Scores
• Live Stream
• Volunteer
• Event Coverage