United States Eventing Association

Fast Facts: Morven Park International

Yesterday we filled you in on everything you needed to know about the USEF/USEA Developing Horse Championships that take place during the Morven Park International, but today we are helping you better understand the field of 16 who are contesting the CCI4*-L division at Morven Park in Leesburg, Virginia.

The Field:

• Of the 16 entries, two are representing Canada, one will represent Great Britain, one will represent Ireland, and the rest are riding for the U.S.
• The Irish Sport Horse is the most popular breed on the entry list with six horses of Irish descent.
• The youngest horse in the field is Nelson Warnell’s 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding Cash Point (Cashandcarry x Up to Date 15), ridden by Savannah “Woodge” Fulton.
• On the opposite end of the spectrum, Sarah Wildasin’s Irish Sport Horse gelding Sunday Times (Cult Hero x Lackagher Crest) is the oldest at 17. You can see him being competed by Arden Wildasin. The pair finished fourth in the CCI4*-L at Bromont (Quebeca, Canada) earlier this summer, and they were the top-placed amateur pair in the $60,00 Adequan USEA Advanced Final during the 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds (Lexington, Kentucky).

• Keep an eye out for Great Britain’s Lucienne Bellissimo and Horse Scout Eventing, LLC’s 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding Dyri (Diarado x La Calera). They recently won the CCI4*-S at Stable View Oktoberfest (Aiken, South Carolina).
• Sarah Irving’s 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Aeronautics, ridden by Jessica Phoenix, recently had a third place finish in the CCI4*-S at the Maryland International.
• Also coming in off of a recent top-placing is Alderwood (Flex A Bill x Calandra Z), the 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Shelley Onderdonk D.V.M and ridden by Matthew Brown. The duo placed second in the Advanced division at Fair Hill (Elkton, Maryland) in May.
• Ariel Grald and Annie Eldridge’s 10-year-old Holsteiner mare Isla de Coco (Cascadello II x U-Lotti) had a successful outing at Plantation Field (Unionville, Pennsylvania), finishing second in the CCI4*-S division.

The Facts:

• In addition to the 6- and 7-year-old Developing Horse Championships, the Morven Park International is also offering international competition at the CCI4*-L, CCI4*-S, CCI3*-S, CCI2*-S, Preliminary, Training, and Novice levels.
• The FEI Technical Delegates are as follows: Andrew Temkin (USA), TD for the CCI4*-S; Tim Murray (USA), Assistant TD for the CCI4*S and TD for the CCI3* and CCI2*; Katelyn Domino (USA), TD for the national levels.
• The CCI4* President of the Ground Jury is Christina Klingspor (SWE) and will be assisted by Richard Baldwin (GBR) and Gretchen Butts (USA). The CCI3* President of the Ground Jury is Bea di Grazia (USA) and will be assisted by Helen Brettell (GBR). The CCI2* President of the Ground Jury is Sara Miller Leary (USA) and will be assisted by Janice Conlon (USA). The President of the Ground Jury for the national levels is Amelia Pantaze (USA).
• The cross-country course designer for the CCI4* is Derek di Grazia (USA). He was assisted by Jeff Kibbie (USA), who designed the other levels.
• Chris Barnard (USA) is the show jumping course designer.

The Schedule:

Thursday, October 10:

• 3:00 p.m. | First Horse Inspection

Friday, October 11:

• 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | FEI Dressage

Saturday, October 12:

• 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. | National Dressage
• 8:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. | CCI2*-S Show Jumping
• 9:40 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | National Show Jumping
• 9:00 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. | CCI3*-YH, CCI3*-S, CCI4*-S, CCI4*-L, CCI2*-S, CCI2*-YH Cross-Country

Sunday, October 13:

• 8:00 a.m. | Second Horse Inspection
• 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | National Cross-Country
• 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. | FEI Show Jumping

​​Helpful Links

• Morven Park Website
• USEA Prize List
• Schedule of Events
• USEA’s Coverage
• Results

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