United States Eventing Association

The Area I Championships were held Aug. 16-17 at the Genesee Valley Riding & Driving Club (GVRDC) Horse Trials in Geneseo, New York, and divisions from Starter through Modified got their chance to shine.

We caught up with some of the winners!

Modified Champions I Jebb Simpson & Matisse I 34.5

Jebb Simpson’s win with Matisse in the Modified championship was extra special, as the 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Baltimore x Jadore Chanel) suffered from a near career-ending suspensory injury in 2020.

Simpson bought Matisse in 2018 from Donegan Ryan Eventing in Ireland. She was coming off of a spooky 17-hand horse who shook her confidence, so she was hoping for a schoolmaster to show her the ropes. Luckily, Matisse turned out to be that horse.

“We completed a ton of Novice and Training events as our partnership grew, and he really made riding fun for me again,” she said. “Unfortunately in 2020 he suffered a suspensory injury and ended up having surgery on both hind legs. I was told by numerous people not to get my hopes up as he may never jump again. I was devastated but determined to do right by him and rehab him the best I could. After an almost two-year recovery he was trotting and slowly gaining strength.”

In 2022, Simpson moved from Area II to Area I and started training with Darrah Alexander in Pine Plains, New York. “I credit his full recovery to Darrah’s plan of slow but steady, taking time with his rehab and his tremendous heart,” she said. “We have since completed two one-stars and countless Modified horse trials. He owes me nothing, and when he wants to be done, he can be done. But at 15 years old he still lives for cross-country, and I can’t take that away from him yet.”

While Simpson had three horses running in different divisions at GVRDC, she was able to balance it all with the help of Alexander and her barn family.

“Everyone pitched in to help. That’s what I love about this sport—we are always willing to help each other!” she said. “I just love the camaraderie of Area I. The whole event from the organizers to the volunteers really showed how much this Area loves the sport. It’s the birthplace of eventing after all!”

Training Champions I Katherine Cooper & One New Moon I 53.4

In the Training championship, the USEA’s own Katherine Cooper took home top honors with One New Moon, an 8-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (One Union x Brenda Baby) she owns. Cooper is the Development Officer for the USEA Foundation and has served on the USEA Board of Governors in the past.

“It was pretty magical!” she said of her weekend. “I started out drawing my lucky number 12 and then was awarded Best Turnout after dressage. Having the luck continue with a surprising win on a new horse was just amazing! We have only been together since April, and this was our third event. I planned to go slow and focus on footwork and ridability, so it was a great surprise that despite a lot of time faults, we moved into first place.”

Though it rained during her cross-country round, Cooper didn’t mind. “I was so happy when it started pouring at the start of my round,” she said. “I love riding in the rain, and when the temperature dropped and the wind picked up, it felt great after such hot, dry weather.”

She gave credit to the event for hosting and is a frequent competitor. “It is such a beautiful event, and it just keeps improving after 37 years! Some very good friends run the show, so I love to support it.”

Novice A Champions I Hannah Lowin & Jonathan Swift I 29.4

Hannah Lowin thought she had one of her best competition weekends every competing at Millbrook in New York, but the Area I Championships far surpassed that. She won the Novice A division with Jonathan Swift and earned the reserve championship with Jack Frost.

“It’s hard to express just how proud I am of the horses I competed with. This was my first win ever at a Championship in my five years in the event world,” she said.

Jonathan Swift, a 9-year-old draft cross gelding owned by Caitlin Macy, was competing in his fifth event at GVRDC. “Liam” came to Lowin’s barn last season, and she recognized his potential as an excellent junior or amateur horse.

“I believe Rebecca Coffin [her business partner] and I have developed a program that has worked well for producing horses, showing by their performances this weekend,” she said. “GVRDC is worth the drive! They have great galloping courses with questions at every level. Everything from the stabling to the people who run the event is such a fantastic experience.”

“I went into this weekend hungry for my first win, and I came home with four horses finishing in the top three!” she added. “Additionally, I won Best Turned Out, the Lowest Scoring Adult Rider Program competitor, and Reserve TIP with one of my horses.”

Novice B Champions I CaroleAnn Tullar & BSF Call To Courage I 24.4

CaroleAnn Tullar and her own 9-year-old Connemara/Irish Sport Horse gelding (Ballywhim Ann Luan x Derby Day) BSF Call To Courage, moved up from third after dressage to take home the win on their dressage score. This was their third Novice win in a row.

Junior/Young Rider Beginner Novice Champions I Kaitlyn Gallagher & Kieran I 28.4

Kaitlyn Gallagher and Kieran, a 12-year-old Connemara/Quarter Horse gelding of unrecorded breeding owned by Linda Walnes, led their division from start to finish. "I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity Linda and Jack Walnes have given me to ride and compete with Kieran this summer," saud Gallagher. "He’s been an absolute joy and has taught me so much in the short amount of time we’ve spent together. The continuous support from both the Walnes and my coach, Carol Kozlowski, has really made this such a special season for me!"

Beginner Novice Senior Champions I Jessica Bender & Bene I 26.3

Jessica Bender and her own Bene, a 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding by All About Ben, moved up from second place after cross-country to take the win in the Beginner Novice Senior division.

Starter Champions I Kim McIntyre & Niko Niko I 30.9

In February, Kim McIntyre bought what she thought was a green 10-year-old Appendix gelding. He had no lip tattoo or microchip, but it turned out The Jockey Club had his DNA recorded, and he was an unraced Thoroughbred (King Cugat x Artistry).

McIntyre named the 10-year-old Niko Niko because she’s half Japanese, and it means “smiling happily or cheerfully.)

In February, I bought what I thought was a green 10-year-old appendix gelding. He doesn’t have a lip tattoo or microchip, but the jockey club has his DNA recorded and it turns out he is actually an unraced TB. I decided to change his name to Niko Niko because I am half Japanese and it means “smiling happily or cheerfully.”

McIntyre hoped that “Niko” would enjoy eventing, and competed at Apple Knoll Farm’s schooling event in May, but cross-country was canceled due to weather. Their next start was at Course Brook Farm where they won and qualified for the Championships, though, “Wwe were not seriously considering attending at that time. I did not own a trailer, and we had a lot of work to do continuing to build confidence, strength, and fitness.”

Six months later with a safe but old bumper pull trailer, McIntyre was encouraged to make the long drive to GVRDC after several riders complemented the venue and the organizers.

“What an amazing adventure it turned out to be!” said McIntyre. “My friend Susan Kinsella made the trip with me, and as we arrived in Geneseo, New York, we were taken in by the beauty of the area. The views of the valley are breathtaking, and the farm where the competition is held has a lot of wide open spaces. Everyone could not have been nicer, and we made many new friends as the eventing community that attended were so friendly. We really enjoyed the competitors party on Saturday night held by the Adult Rider Program. Plenty of good food, tons of raffle prizes, and people there from so many states, including Ohio! Some were impressed that we had traveled from Cape Cod to be there.”

McIntyre appreciated that the courses were of championship quality and allowed her to challenge herself and Niko, all while being confidence-building.

“We hope to get back to GVRDC again sometime and highly recommend it to all!” she concluded.

For full results, click here.