United States Eventing Association

The world-renowned Event at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana is well under way this weekend, with just under fifteen horses competing in the CIC3*-W. This prestigious event is the only World Cup Qualifier in the United States, and offers four FEI divisions (CIC1*, CCI1*, CCI2*, and CIC3*-W). It also plays host to one of the four remaining classic Preliminary Three-Day Events in the world.

The CIC3*-W division also serves as part of the $10,000 Adequan/USEA Gold Cup Series, where horses and riders across the nation compete for points, cash, prizes, and the chance to be crowned the Gold Cup champion.

During yesterday's first horse inspection, only two horses in all of the FEI divisions were held for re-inspection, and sadly, Hawley Bennett-Awad's longtime partner Livingstone was spun. Unfortunately, Hawley's had a bit of bad luck this weekend as she had to withdraw her talented mare Gin N' Juice from the CIC3*-W division after the mare had a minor injury from kicking the stall wall.

Ballinakill Glory Makes Prather Proud

It was Kelly Prather and Andrea Pfeiffer's Irish Sport Horse mare Ballinakill Glory who rose to the challenge and took the lead in the CIC3*-W division after the first day of competition, trotting into first place with a commendable 45.6.

Prather, 25, of Bodega, California, has partnered with the 10-year-old mare for the past seven years. "She felt like she had a lot more energy today and a lot more strength to carry herself through the whole test," said Prather. "We've been working all winter and this half of the year to get that extra "oomph" in the arena, and today she gave it to me and I was delighted.

"I've been working on her medium and extended trot for years now," she continued. "I finally got eights on my extended trots today! That was huge for me. Also, just carrying that amount of carriage and self-motivated energy and push from behind throughout from the start to the finish. She didn't just get in there and wait a little for me, she just powered through. I couldn't be happier."

rather found the young mare as a three-year-old in Ireland--the young filly had only been sat on three times when Prather saw her. "I came back in two weeks and she was jumping a fence. So then we bought her in November of 2002."

The pair has started off slowly this year with an Intermediate horse trial at Three-Day Ranch (CA) and a jumper show, but really fired up their season at Galway Downs CIC3* (CA), taking second in the division. Last year, the pair ended their season with a big win at the competitive Fair Hill CCI2* (MD).

"She was fantastic [at Galway] and that was our first time back up to the three-star level, since we dropped back down last year. She was right on form and that just gave us the indication that we were coming here and let us make plans for the rest of the year. If all goes well, we're hoping to go to Fair Hill in October."

"I love the course, and she loves the course here which makes me love it," she said with a laugh. "She loves the footing, and she runs great on it. I think the course gives the horses a great tatste in their mouth--everything is very inviting to them. It's enough of a challenge that it gives the riders something that they have to ride at, and it's nothing giveaway, but I think it's there for the horse to jump."

"I'm just so thrilled that we get to show here and I'm so thankful that we have this and everyone is supporting it so much." The pair won the CIC3*-W back in 2007, and if all goes well, they'll be awarded winners once again this year!

Coudray and Ringwood Magister Close Behind

Only a little more than a point behind Prather and her mare is Tiana Coudray and her striking Irish Sport Horse gelding Ringwood Magister, who's nipping at their heels with a 47.0.

Coudray, 20, of Ojai, California wasn't sure how her test was going to pan out today after a less-than-stellar warm-up. "He came out and was not terribly good in the beginning of our warm-up, so I wasn't too encouraged," laughed Coudray. "But he came around and by the time he got in the ring, he was just fabulous. He felt very strong in his work and the quality, I think, was there. We had a few minor little mistakes--he had an itchy nose and he tried to paw while he was halted, and a few things like that, but other than that, I think the quality was really good.

"I think his canterwork was very balanced and very strong and his changes were fabulous. I felt like his medium trot and his extended trot were much stronger than they have been in the past."

Coudray is looking forward to heading out on the rolling cross-country course, which was designed by Capt. Mark Phillips. "I think it's just a really lovely course. I think there's enough galloping on and very straight-forward things to get him in a good way of going and there's definitely enough out there to test you and make sure you're really on your game. I think it'll be a great course for him to get the experience and have to step it up a notch again and just grow up a bit more."

So far the pair have had a great summer, heading east from their native California home to run at Jersey Fresh this year, taking third in the CIC3*. "We also ran part of Bromont, but we pulled him out for a little veterinary thing we were being cautious about. So this will be his first run since Jersey Fresh."

Coudray and the eight-year-old gelding were named to the USEF Developing Riders list this year. "I've had the benefit of working with Capt. Mark Phillips at some of the bigger events and that's been hugely helpful."

Coudray bought the young gelding in Ireland as a three-year-old, hoping he was special enough to one day prove to be her future upper-level partner. "He just was a lovely type. He's really light on his feet and really well put together, and he's just very atheletic. I think he's really started to mature physically and mentally this year and it seems to all be falling into place."

The pair is qualified for Fair Hill and it is their goal for the year. "Hopefully if everything is still going well with him, that's where we will be, and from that point on I have no idea what we will do and it'll depend on how Fair Hill goes."

Rounding out the top three is Jennifer Wooten-Dafoe aboard the four-star mare The Good Witch, who earned a 51.4. Check out complete results on the live scoring website!

Adequan USEA Gold Cup Sponsorship & Prizes

Winners of the designated Gold Cup divisions receive an Adequan USEA Gold Cup Trophy, $500 in prize money, 7-dose box of Adequan, a three-month supply of SUCCEED, an E.A. Mattes Couture Pad, and a pair of Nunn Finer American Style open front boots. Second place finishers take home a Nutrena feed gift certificate and a pair of Nunn Finer American Style open front boots, and third place receives a pair of the Nunn Finer boots as well.

The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of its many sponsors: Title: Adequan; Legacy: Nunn Finer, Nutrena, and World Equestrian Brands; Contributing: Cover-All; and Patron: Back on Track, Broadstone Equine Insurance Agency, Mountain Horse, and Succeed.

Adequan is proud to be the official joint therapy treatment of the USEA.
Interested in sponsoring the Adequan/USEA Gold Cup series or another USEA program? Contact us at the USEA! [email protected] or call 703-779-0440.