United States Eventing Association

Gold Cup Fast Facts: 2018 Chattahoochee Hills

The 2018 Chattahoochee Hills International Horse Trials in Fairburn, Georgia is one of two CIC3*s being offered this weekend. The Fork Horse Trials is also running this weekend in Mill Spring, N.C., and will serve as the test event for the 2018 World Equestrian Games taking place in September. The Adequan USEA Gold Cup CIC3* at Chattahoochee Hills will see 24 entries and the Advanced division will see an additional 10 pairs. Learn more about the history of Chattahoochee Hills by reading their Events A-Z article.

• A total of 257 horse-and-rider combinations are set to compete at the Chattahoochee Hills International this weekend.
• This is the fifth year that Chattahoochee Hills will offer a CIC3* division at their spring horse trials.
• Buck Davidson has five rides between the CIC3* and Advanced divisions, including the 2017 winner of the CIC3*, Sherrie Martin and Carl Segal’s 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, Copper Beach (Radolin x Cloverballen), who will this year contest the Advanced divisions. Approved Power will also compete in the Advanced division, while Carlevo, Archie Rocks, and Erroll Gobey run in the CIC3*.
• Jacob Fletcher also has three rides in the CIC3*: Van Gough, Atlantic Domino, and Bacardi W. Atlantic Domino (Dunlough Striker x Atlantic Amanda), Fletcher Farms’ 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, is fresh off a second-place finish in the Red Hills International CIC3*.
• Sydney Conley Elliott, Ema Klugman, and Nilson Moreira da Silva are the only other riders between the CIC3* and Advanced divisions competing on multiple horses. Conley Elliott and Moreira da Silva each have two rides apiece in the CIC3*, while Klugman has one ride each in the Advanced and CIC3*.
• West Coast riders Hawley Bennett-Awad and Jennifer McFall made the trip from California to the East Coast last month with their eyes on competing at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. Both riders will compete this weekend in the CIC3*, Bennett-Awad with her own 14-year-old British Sport Horse mare Jollybo (Jumbo x Polly Coldunnel) and McFall aboard The High Times Syndicate's High Times (Hunter x Gerda I), a 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding.
• Four pairs are new to the CIC3* level: Kelsey Briggs and The Gentleman Pirate, Alexa Ehlers and Amistoso, Kerry Torrey and Zumba, and Ema Klugman and Bendigo. Additionally, QC Diamantaire, ridden by Sydney Elliott, Erroll Gobey, ridden by Buck Davidson, and Bacardi W, ridden by Jacob Fletcher, will all be making the horse’s first attempt at the level.
• Ninteen-year-old Lily Geelan and her own and Mary Beth Geelan's Luksor (Efez x Lektura), a 16-year-old Polish Warmblood gelding, will be making their debut at the Advanced level.
• Two horses will be looking for their first successful completion at the Advanced level: Sportsfield Two Doors Down, ridden by Jon Holling, and Galactic, ridden by Laura Welsh.
• Eight horses between the CIC3* and Advanced divisions have completed the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4*: Jollybo, Cisko A, Sir Oberon, More Inspiration, High Times, Sound Prospect, RF Eloquence, and Copper Beach.
• Hugh Lochore, who is the organizer of the Chattahoochee Hills International Horse Trials, is also the course designer for the international divisions and the Preliminary through Advanced level horse trials. Rob Mobley is the course designer for Beginner Novice through Training level.
• Marc Donovan is the show jumping course designer for all levels.
• Peter Shaw (AUS) will serve as President of the Ground Jury for the CIC3* along with ground jury members Peter Gray (CAN) and Susan Graham White (USA). Valerie Crail (USA) will judge the Advanced division.

Competition Schedule

Saturday, April 7

• 8:00 a.m. – Dressage (All Levels)
• 1:15 p.m. – Cross-Country (Beginner Novice – Training)
• 1:30 p.m. – Show Jumping (CIC*, CIC2*, CIC3*, Preliminary – Advanced)

Sunday, April 8

• 8:30 a.m. – Cross-Country (CIC*, CIC2*, CIC3*, Preliminary – Advanced)
• 9:00 a.m. – Show Jumping (Beginner Novice – Training)

Helpful Links

• Chattahoochee Hills Website
• Omnibus Listing
• Entry Status
• Ride Times
• Live Scores

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About the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series

The 2018 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series features 11 qualifying competitions throughout the United States at the Advanced horse trials and CIC3* levels. The qualifying period begins August 2017 and continues through August 2018 with the final taking place at the 2018 USEA American Eventing Championships at the Colorado Horse Park in Parker, Colorado, August 29 – September 2, 2018. Riders who complete a qualifier earn the chance to vie for $40,000 in prize money and thousands of dollars in prizes and the title of Adequan USEA Gold Cup Champion in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Final Advanced Division.

The USEA would like to thank Adequan, Standlee Hay Company, Nutrena, Merck Animal Health, Parker Equine Insurance, and FITS for sponsoring the 2018 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series.