Mar 12, 2025

Fast Facts: Carolina International CCI4*-S

By Meagan DeLisle - USEA Staff

The USEA Media Team is excited to be on-site this year at the Setters' Run Farm Carolina International CCI and Horse Trial to provide coverage of the uber exciting CCI4*-S division, which many U.S.-based competitors use as a trial run in the lead up to the feature event of the spring calendar, the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5* (Lexington, Kentucky). This year there are 37 entries in the four-star division, which is a slight increase from the 35 we saw compete in this division last year. Here's a break down of some interesting facts and statistics you might want to know leading into this year's competition!

The CCI4*-S Field

  • In terms of entries, the CCI2*-S and CCI3*-S are tied for the most entries in this year's FEI divisions with 45 entered pairs. The CCI4*-S has a slight uptick from last year at 37 pairs.
  • Of those 37 pairs, seven riders have multiple entries in this year's four-star: Boyd Martin (2), Arden Wildasin (2), Ema Klugman (2), Katherine Coleman (3), Will Faudree (2), Caroline Pamukcu (2), and Allison Springer (2).
  • While Coleman has the most entries in the CCI4*-S, Pamukcu snags the title for busiest four-star competitor of the weekend with two entries in the CCI4*-S, two in the CCI3*-S, one in the CCI2*-S, and one in a Training division. Not a bad way to come back after just having her first baby earlier this year!
  • Quite a few members of this year's four-star field had a successful outing at the Pine Top Advanced (Thomson, Georgia) last month:
    • Will Faudree and Mama's Magic Way, the 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Mighty Magic x Hauptstutbuch Straightaway) owned by Jennifer Mosing and Sterling Silver Stables, won one of the Advanced divisions
    • Alexandra Knowles piloted Katherine O'Brein's 17-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Morswood (Richardo Z x Princess In Arms) to a win in the Intermediate division
    • The 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare OKE Ruby R (Namelus R x B Termie R 6), owned by John and Michelle Koppin and ridden by Canada's Waylon Roberts, topped the Advanced/Intermediate division
    • and Arden Wildasin rode her mother Sarah Wildasin's 18-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Sunday Times (Cult Hero x Lackagher Crest) to the win in the second Advanced division offered at the event
  • The field is made up by horses of all ages, but the most popular age of entries is 12, with nine of this year's field having turned 12 in January.
  • The oldest horse we will see competing is Lisa Marie Fergusson's long-time partner, the 19-year-old Welsh/Thoroughbred cross gelding Honor Me (Brenarian Brenin ap Maldwyn x Dream Contessa).
  • Meanwhile, on the other end of the spectrum, the youngest horse in the field this year is Donna Biggs' 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Lissavorra Quality (O.B.O.S. Quality x Soolmoy Lucy) ridden by Elisa Wallace. This will be the horse's four-star debut.
  • The Irish Sport Horse reigns supreme as the most popular breed on the entry roster.
  • While the majority of the riders are representing the U.S., we will see Monica Spencer and Hayley Frielick riding for New Zealand, Lindsay Traisnel, Fergusson, and Roberts competing for Canada, and Klugman representing Australia.

The Facts:

  • Andrew Temkin is the technical delegate for the four-star and three-star divisions with Tim Murray (USA) assisting. Martyn Johnson (GBR) will serve as TD for the two-star and one-star divisions. Murray will also serve as the TD for all of the national levels
  • Sandy Phillips (GBR) is the president of the ground jury of the four-star and one-star with Bea DiGrazia (USA) assisting. Kiki Klingspor (SWE) will be the president of the three-star, assisted by Robert Stevenson (USA), and Amanda Miller (USA) will head up the ground jury in the two-star with the assistance of Heather Gillette (USA). Gillette also has the honor of serving as the president of the national levels taking place this weekend.
  • Derek DiGrazia (USA) has taken over for the first year as the cross-country course designer for the four-star, as well as the three-star and Advanced, following Ian Stark's retirement last year. Beth Perkins (USA) is the course designer for the remaining divisions.
  • Brody Robertson (USA) is the show jumping course designer.
  • The CCI4*-S serves as a qualifier for the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final that will take place at the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds.

The Competition Schedule:

Thursday, March 13

  • 8:00 a.m. | Dressage | CCI4*-S, CCI3*-S, CCI2*-S, and CCI1*-S

Friday, March 14

  • 8:00 a.m. | Dressage | Advanced, Intermediate, Preliminary, Modified
  • 9:00 a.m. | Show Jumping | CCI2*-S, CCI3*-S, CCI4*-S, and CCI1*-S
  • 6:00 p.m. | USEA Grooms Group Education Night

Saturday, March 15

  • 8:00 a.m. | Dressage | Training and Novice
  • 8:00 a.m. | Cross-Country | CCI1*-S, CCI2*-S, CCI4*-S, Advanced, CCI3*-S
  • 8:30 a.m. | Show Jumping | Open Intermediate, Preliminary, Modified, Training, and Novice

Sunday, March 16

  • 8:00 a.m. | Cross-Country | Open Intermediate, Preliminary, Modified, Training, and Novice
  • 8:00 a.m. | Cross-Country | Advanced

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