The second of two CCI4*-S competitions being offered this weekend, Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California is hosting the Twin Rivers Fall International which includes the CCI4*-S, in addition to both CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S international divisions, USEA Future Event Horse (FEH) and Young Event Horse (YEH) classes, as well as Introductory through Advanced horse trials. It’s going to be a busy weekend at Twin Rivers Ranch and we have broken down some fast facts for you to refer to before the competition kicks off.
The Field:
There are over 300 entries across all divisions offered this weekend. The CCI4*-S has five entries, the CCI3*-S has 11 entries, and the CCI2*-S has eight entries. The individual division with the largest field is the Open Preliminary division with 29 entries on the roster.
Of the five four-star mounts, Andrea Baxter and Tamie Smith both have the ride on two each. James Alliston makes up the fifth entry in the division.
Smith currently sits in second place on the 2021 World Equestrian Brands USEA Rider of the Year Leaderboard with 239 points. Alliston isn’t far behind her in seventh on 202 points.
Baxter’s family owns Twin Rivers Ranch and her two four-star entries are mother and son – making it a serious family competition for her!
The most experienced horse in the CCI4*-S field is Baxter’s 16-year-old Thoroughbred Indy 500 (Cromwell x Tens of Thousands). Together, they have three finishes in the Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5* (31st in 2017, 31st in 2018, and 18th in 2019) and two finishes at the CCI5* at Burghley (36th in 2018 and 12th in 2019).
Baxter’s 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding Laguna Seca (Linaro x Indy 500) brought home the win in the CCI4*-S at the Twin Rivers Spring International in April of this year.
Smith was the victor in the 2020 Twin Rivers Fall International CCI4*-S with Passepartout, but this year she will be riding Judith McSwain’s 12-year-old Holsteiner mare Fleeceworks Royal (Riverman x Marisol) and Luisa Southworth’s 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Elliot-V (Zavall VDL x Vera-R) to the judges. While Fleeceworks Royal is no stranger to the four-star level, this will be Elliot-V’s four-star debut.
Alliston will also be introducing a new horse to the four-star scene. He has the ride on the Alliston Equestrian owned 11-year-old Warmblood gelding Czechers.
All three four-star riders are going to be exceptionally busy this weekend. Alliston has seven horses entered: one in the CCI4*-S, one in the Intermediate, four in the Open Preliminary, and one in the Open Training. Smith has six horses entered: one in the CCI4*-S, one in the CCI3*-S, three in the Open Training, and one in the YEH 5-Year-Old division. Baxter also has six horses entered: one in the CCI4*-S, one in the Intermediate, one in the Open Training, one in the Novice Horse, and one in the Open Beginner Novice.
New on the agenda is the 2021 Adequan/USEF Eventing Youth Team Challenge Paso Robles. The 2021 Adequan/USEF Eventing Youth Team Challenge evolved from the eventing division of the North American Youth Championships. The Challenge offers opportunities for eventing athletes 14-25 to gain valuable experience in a team competition environment representing USEA Areas at the FEI CCI 1/2/3* levels nationally and at the 2/3* levels at Twin Rivers. Young riders from throughout the region will face-off in this final leg of the West Coast before the region's championship at Galway Downs International in November.
The Facts:
Mary Duenow (USA) is the technical delegate with Sarah Berry (USA) assisting.
Wayne Quarles (USA) is the president of the ground jury and will be assisted by Helen Brettell (GBR)
Hugh Lochore (GBR) is the cross-country course designer for the CCI4*-S and Advanced while Adri Doyle (MEX) designed the CCI3*-S, CCI2*-S, and all national-level courses.
William Robertson (USA) is the show jumping course designer.
All CCI divisions will be offering $2,000 in prize money per division.
Sixteen-year-old Izzy Lenk (Clarksburg, Maryland) loves eventing and absorbs any opportunity she can that allows her to be further involved in the sport. She recently just wrapped up a month-long working student stint with her trainer Woods Baughman in Lexington, Kentucky, and participated in the Young Rider Mentorship Program at the Young Rider Eventing Championships. She is especially proud, however, of her ongoing efforts of supporting the USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) Club that she founded, the East Coast Eventers.
The United States Eventing Association (USEA) American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds (AEC) is the annual national championship for every level of the Olympic equestrian sport of eventing. The USEA is officially accepting bids for the following service providers at the 2025 USEA AEC which takes place Aug. 26-31, at Galway Downs in Temecula, California.
The MARS Maryland 5 Star entries have been revealed, and as of Oct. 2, 23 pairs will contest the featured division at the event, held Oct. 16-20 in Elkton, Maryland. Inaugural Maryland winner Boyd Martin will bring forward three horses; veteran five-star rides On Cue and Tsetserleg TSF, and five-star first-timer Commando 3.
Searching for a new restaurant to try, catching up on the news, or watching funny cat videos? The internet’s where it’s at. But buying a horse, sight unseen, from the web? “I don’t recommend it,” said Jesse Kirchhoff, 43, with a chuckle, remembering how she came to own Wings of a Dove (HB II x Vorbuch 2), a 22-year-old Zweibrücker mare.
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