The Ocala International Festival of Eventing (Ocala, Florida), set to take place Thursday, April 20 through Sunday, April 23, first ran in 2006, but the 2023 event is extra special as it will offer a CCI4*-S division for the first time ever. In addition, the event's venue, the Florida Horse Park, has made an extensive investment in cross-country irrigation practices that allow every inch of the course to be watered appropriately in preparation for the competition. Competitors are obviously excited about this year's competition, with 500 entries total, 157 of those taking place across the competition's four FEI levels being offered: the CCI4*-S, CCI3*-L, CCI2*-L, and CCI1*-L.
In anticipation of the weekend's event, organizer Emily Holmes shared: "I have the best team in the world. We run so many competitions together that we're a mostly well-oiled machine. The grounds crew at the Florida Horse Park is amazing, and they've been busting their tails for the past few weeks making sure the courses are watered, aerated, and ready to go. And Rick Dunkerton is quite often my voice of reason when dealing with all of the additional FEI stuff that I need to get lined up."
Get to know a bit more about the CCI4*-S competition that will take place this weekend in Ocala in this week's addition of the USEA's Fast Facts.
The CCI4*-S Field
The Facts
Competition Schedule
Thursday, April 20
Friday, April 21
Saturday, April 23
Sunday, April 24
Helpful Links
Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered! Check out the USEA’s Weekend Quick Links for links to information including the prize list, ride times, live scores, and more for all the events running this weekend.
After not running in 2020 and 2021, the MARS Bromont CCI Three-Day Event returned to the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Center in Quebec, Canada, in 2022. America's Jennie Saville (née Brannigan) and Twilightslastgleam won the CCI4*-L, as the chestnut Thoroughbred gelding (National Anthem x Royal Child) bred and owned by Nina Gardner moved up from eighth after dressage into the lead after cross-country with the fastest round on wet ground over the tracks designed by Derek di Grazia. Canada's Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge, a bay Selle Français gelding (Mylord Carthago x Lelia) owned by Patricia Pearce, finished second, and they are among four from the top-10 in the CCI4*-L in 2022 that return in 2023.
Hannah Sue Hollberg of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, was on a winning streak at the Essex Horse Trials on Sunday, claiming victory in both the $10,000 Open Intermediate and Open Preliminary divisions with two horses that are fairly new to her. Some difficulty on cross-country did not stop her mount Hachi from claiming victory in the Open Intermediate with a score of 101.6, while Open Preliminary partner Rockster finished on his dressage score of 27.3.
The great football coach Vince Lombardi said, “We win our games in practice.” With the goal of having the most effective practices possible for horses, their riders, and their coaches, Cathy Wieschhoff explains some signs that can indicate when horse and rider should repeat an exercise, switch it up, or be done with that activity. Wieschhoff brings perspective as a five-star rider that has competed at the Kentucky Three-Day Event and Burghley Horse Trials, a USEF “R” Course Designer for eventing cross-country and show jumping, a former Area VIII chair and member of the USEA Board of Governors, and a Level V USEA ECP Certified Coach based out of Carriage Station Farm in Lexington, Kentucky.