Kate Berta and Vince Berta's Thoroughbred gelding Bourbon trotted into the lead today in the 40-rider Training Three Day division of the Hagyard Midsouth Three Day Event and Team Challenge. Their fluid and focused test earned the pair a 32.9, putting them 2.5 points ahead of the next-placed Jonathan Ketzler on Sal.
Lara Borson-Knight leads the Preliminary Three Day on Shooby Do with a 34.1, and Canada's Penny Rowland won the dressage in the CCI* on Northwinds Breeze with a 41.3.
The "Brownsboro Babes"—Irene Lampton on Daisy, Anna Kjellstrom on AEC Champion Blue Stocking, Trudy Atrens on Charley Farley, and Millie Forrest on It's Friday—took over the lead in the Preliminary Team Challenge competition after dressage and showjumping. They will return to defend their top position tomorrow afternoon in the cross country.
The Training and Preliminary Classic Three-Day riders also enjoyed expert tutorials on riding the steeplechase phase from clinician Cathy Wieschhoff. Part of the Smartpak Equine/USEA Classic Three-Day Event Series, the T3D and P3D will ride a full-format endurance day tomorrow, which includes two phases of Roads and Tracks, a steeplechase, and challenging cross country tracks.
Cross country starts at 8 AM tomorrow. For full results and information, visit www.kyevents.net.
Eventers who are new to the sport may feel a little overwhelmed by the often-misunderstood world of saddle fitting. Riders are often bombarded with information from peers online or self-described experts, putting them at risk of following bad advice related to equipment that impacts horse welfare perhaps more than any other piece of tack. Finding a qualified expert to answer these questions is crucial. Who better to turn to than both a qualified Master Saddle Fitter and a fourth-generation saddle designer to answer some of these questions?
Did you know that the USEA Foundation awards over 150 grants each year to deserving individuals who are involved in the sport of eventing? With grants that assist riders with accomplishing their competition goals, grants geared toward licensed officials, grants that are specific to continuing education for coaches, grants that assist competitions with obtaining frangible technology, and so much more, there really is a grant opportunity available to almost anyone!
With the start of the New Year just days away, now is the time to consider how your actions can have a positive impact on the sport of eventing in 2025. Each and every member of the eventing community has an important role to play in ensuring the sport continues to grow and thrive. From fostering educational opportunities to supporting grassroots initiatives and participating at all levels of the sport, there are so many ways to get involved.
Ride iQ’s popular “Ask An Expert” series features professional advice and tips from all areas of the horse industry. One of the most-downloaded episodes is an expert session with Peter Gray, an accomplished dressage judge and Olympic eventer. He has recently judged at events like the five-star at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and he served on the ground jury at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Pratoni, Italy. His background as a competitor in the Olympic Games riding for Bermuda and as a coach and selector for the Canadian eventing team adds depth to his understanding of the sport.