Prophet posing with the “look of eagles” and completely ignoring my lovin’.
In this series, Cassidy Sitton chronicles her experiences as she and her OTTB, Subway Prophet, prepare for the FENCE SmartPak Equine USEA Training 3-Day in the beginning of April.
We’ve arrived!
All the midnight trot sets, sandbox lessons, jumper shows and time spent with my pony are now culminating with this weekend. What a whirlwind to get to a spring three-day by the first weekend of April — especially with not making a trip down South — but P and I made it, amongst engagements and employment and all that good stuff that comes with life.
Checking out the stickiness of my sticky spray before doing the steeplechase clinic. Luckily, with just one horse going here, so far things have been like a vacation. P and I made the quick five hour trip, only to find out we were the first to arrive on grounds! We had a lovely solo hack around the property, where we marveled at the beautiful landscape. Having never been to FENCE before, I’m quite amazing at the gorgeousness of the facility–what a treat doing steeplechase around the course is going to be on Saturday!
Prophet gives the landing of the jump plenty of room–can never be sure what’s on the other side of that scary brush!
The great thing about the long-format program that the USEA has going on is the wonderful educational aspect tied into the event. Today we had the in-barn process, followed by a steeplechase clinic, and then jog-up demo. Even for those of us who have competed and groomed at several of these “little long-format things,” there is always something to learn!
Auditors at the steeplechase clinic.
P made quick work of the pace exercise that the steeplechase clinician, Beth Perkins, put us through, and then quickly jumped the entire brush on the fence she had us schooling over. It only took him one sailing adventure though to realize that he could ‘brush’ through. Everyone’s horses did quite well and we are all enjoying learning about each other’s horses and their personalities. There are also several very cool canine companions in the barn area… and they are sure to make sure everyone is greeted accordingly!
Fellow Raleigh-ite and eventer, Amanda Miller and I wait for the start of the clinic (our boys are best friends already!)
Tomorrow morning we start off with a 10am jog, and dressage at 1pm. For those of you who may be concerned, I have yet to decide what I’ll be wearing for jogs. After doing more shopping over the weekend than I have in the last five years (which totaled about 35 minutes between teaching lessons), I promptly returned everything I bought (except for a pair of skinny jeans – which last time I went clothes shopping, those weren’t even in style!), and therefore I’m at a loss. I pretty much packed my entire closet so although it was a pain to lug my suitcase up the hotel steps, I should at least be able to be outfitted appropriately in the morning.
Teddy, one of our cool canine neighbors.
Ciao, ciao for now!
Cassidy Sitton, 25, bases her C-Horse Eventing business out of Raleigh, North Carolina where she enjoys teaching and training, and is also a marketing professional for an equine-related business.
[Editor’s note – when Cassidy says “amongst engagements,” she means literally…she was recently engaged to her long-time boyfriend John! Congratulations!]
The countdown to the 2024 United States Eventing Association (USEA) American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds is getting shorter and the tentative schedule is officially set! For the second year in a row, the AEC returns to the iconic Kentucky Horse Park from August 27 through September 1 and will offer 26 divisions, including brand new Starter divisions and all levels of recognized evening up through the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final.
What’s a Hunter Pace? The Sherwood Forest Equestrian Center's Hunter Pace is a cross-country-style course around Sherwood Forest over various natural obstacles/terrain. The course ends with a final treat for riders to take in stunning views of Mt. Hood with a loop through the old Far Hill Farms field. The beginning of the course will first start with a warm-up loop around show jumping obstacles in the outdoor ring at Sherwood Forest and then riders will continue directly onto the course. Sign up as a solo rider, pair, or team.
Claire Allen remembers when she was 11 years old, having just made the switch from the hunter/jumper ring to three-day eventing. She told her new eventing trainer that her goal was to one day compete in the United States Equestrian Federation’s Eventing Young Rider Championships.
As he was finishing tacking up his horse in preparation to navigate the cross-country course at the 2024 Twin Rivers Summer Horse Trials, James Alliston expressed concern about navigating the 101 Freeway. That’s because as soon as he crossed the finish line aboard Intermediate level winner Addyson (Ampere x Nickerbocker) at 10:38 a.m. on Saturday—his fifth cross-country round of the morning with three at Preliminary and two at Intermediate—the West Coast-based five-star rider had to drive 185 miles on the 101 Freeway from Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California, to San Francisco International Airport to catch a 4:35 p.m. flight to Frankfurt, Germany.
Official Corporate Sponsors of the USEA
Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA
Official Feed of the USEA
Official Saddle of the USEA
Official Equine Insurance of the USEA
Official Forage of the USEA
Official Supplement Feeding System of the USEA
Official Competition & Training Apparel of the USEA
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