United States Eventing Association

Looking Back at the 2023 USEA Classic Series

The USEA is incredibly proud to allow the thrill of the 'chase to live on for those who want to experience the unforgettable rush of the classic long format three-day event through our USEA Classic Series events. Long-format events from the Beginner Novice to Preliminary levels are still a reality with the USEA Classic Series and include roads and tracks, steeplechase, and cross-country on "endurance day," as well as horse inspections. In addition, educational activities are offered at the USEA Classic Series Events to help prepare competitors, especially those who are contesting their first-ever long format event.

Over the course of the 2023 season, there were seven horse trials that hosted USEA Classic Series divisions all over the country. In total, 20 long-format divisions were made available to USEA members at the Beginner Novice, Novice, Training, Modified, and Preliminary levels. Completing a USEA Classic Series event is no easy feat. Competitors should put in months of preparation to ensure the fitness levels of both themselves and their horses are in check prior to the event. The USEA congratulates all of the riders who participated in a USEA Classic Series event this year, especially the 2023 Champions listed below.

IEA Horse Trial | June 2-4, 2023 | Edinburgh, Indiana

The Training Three-Day winner at IEA was Anna Banks and Primrose BMD (C-Galaxy x Anna), a 10-year-old Dutch Harness Horse-Andalusian mare (left).

The Novice Three-Day winner was April Hays with her own 6-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Adagio de Talm x Celavie) Anteros HSH (center).

In the Beginner Novice Three-Day, Halley Widlak and Starscream, a 7-year-old Connemara pony mare (Woodchuck Kirby Brown x Renny), took home top honors (right).

Summer Coconino Horse Trials | July 7-9, 2023 | Flagstaff, Arizona

Brittney Caflisch rode Balance Due, a 7-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Redding Colliery x Stage Five Clinger), to the win in the Training Three-Day, a year after winning the Novice Three-Day (left).

In a repeat of 2022, Caflisch’s student Jaeli Uselding took home a win in the Beginner Novice Three-Day division with Caflisch’s Benmore Westonhouse Boy, an 11-year-old Connemara gelding (Westonhouse Straboe x Benmore Betty) (center).

Taylor Timmerman and her own 6-year-old Westphalian mare (Windeco x Tango) Windanu topped the Novice Three-Day (right).

The Event at Rebecca Farm | July 19-23, 2023 | Kalispell, Montana

Professional Marc Grandia (left) brought home the win in the Training Three-Day aboard the Full Gallop Syndicate, LLC’s 6-year-old Holsteiner gelding Levino (Lint x R-Cora II).

The win in the Novice Three-Day (right) went to another professional, Patience O’Neal, riding Elizabeth Linde’s 8-year-old Anglo-Arab gelding High Khaliber Angel (CJA High Kailber x Believe in Angels).

Spokane Sport Horse Farm Horse Trials | September 28-October 1, 2023 | Spokane, Washington

In the Training Three-Day, Katie Bystrom piloted her 17-year-old Oldenburg gelding Rigby (Cairo x Tayler’s Princess) to the win (left).

In the Novice Three-Day, it was Whitney Spicer who rode her own Irish Sport Horse gelding Excel Star High Jinx (Imperial Heights x Euro Cash) to the win (center).

In the Beginner Novice Three-Day, Elizabeth Hoffman and her own 9-year-old Azteca mare Emma who sailed to the top of the class (right).

Hagyard Midsouth Three-Day Event & Team Challenge | October 18-22, 2023 | Lexington, Kentucky

In the Training Three-Day, Canadian Jacquie Kelton (left) took home the win with her 6-year-old Canadian Warmblood mare Miss Something Special (Rash R x SELMA DE LA BATIA)

Madeline Bletzacker (right) is no stranger to the USEA Classic Series. She won the Novice Three-Day at Waredaca (Laytonsville, Maryland) in 2022 aboard her other horse, Drummer Boy, and came in second with her longtime partner Landtino S (Solos Lantinus x Chess S). But this year, it was “Pumpkin’s” time to shine as Bletzacker and the 23-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding led the Novice Three-Day at Hagyard from start to finish.

Waredaca Three-Day Event and H.T. | October 27-29, 2023 | Laytonsville, Maryland

Kate Nolfi and her own 15-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Wild Pioneer (Pioneering x Miss Wildflower) topped the Modified Three-Day division (bottom left) at Waredaca.

In the Training Three-Day, Danielle Downing and Nancy Read’s 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding Caribe PCH (Con Capilot x Rhonda) emerged victorious (top left).

Making the weekend even more special for Caribe’s owner was that Read also claimed first place in the Novice Three-Day at Waredaca aboard Caribe’s half-brother, Classic Chrome PCH (Con Capilot x Southern Belle), an 8-year-old Oldenburg gelding (top right).

Emma Whitaker and Hedgerow Farm’s 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse HSH Golden Boy (Eastern Hero x Princess Boo) took home top honors in the Beginner Novice Three-Day.

Ram Tap Horse Park Horse Trials | November 17-19, 2023 | Fresno, California

The Novice Three-Day champion Christine Poulos (left) is no stranger to the USEA Classic Series with Ram Tap marking her sixth time participating in a traditional long-format event during her 20 years eventing. This was her first time, however, competing with her new partner Quality Beach (Beach Ball x Elley’s Next in Line), an 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding whom she just purchased a year ago.

Kate Flaherty (right) and her 11-year-old Cheval Canadian gelding Eli’s Coming (Sorybook Kurt William-Elite x Storms Aglo) led the Beginner Novice Three-Day from start to finish.

Michelle Wagner topped the Training Three-Day division aboard her 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Hillview Quality Control (O.B.O.S. Quality 004 x KEC Clover Faradiya).

About the USEA Classic Series

The USEA Classic Series keeps the spirit of the classic long ­format three­-day events alive for Beginner Novice through the Preliminary levels, now including the Modified level too. Competitors can experience the rush of endurance day, including roads and tracks, steeplechase, the vet box, and cross­-country, as well as participate in formal veterinary inspections and educational activities with experts on the ins and outs of competing in a long ­format three-­day event. Riders who compete in a USEA Classic Series event during the year will have the chance to win a variety of prizes at the events from USEA sponsors. Click here to learn more about the USEA Classic Series.

The USEA would like to thank Bates Saddles, FITS, SmartPak Equine, Parker Equine Insurance, and Stackhouse & Ellis Saddles for sponsoring the USEA Classic Series.