United States Eventing Association

The Area IX Championships were held across two events this year. On Aug. 15-17, The Event at Archer in Cheyenne, Wyoming, hosted the Preliminary and Modified championships. Then, from Sept. 26-28, Tomora Horse Trials in Greeley, Colorado, hosted Starter through Training level.

Read on to hear from some of the champions!

Preliminary Champions | Rebecca Caulfield & Fernhill Opulence | 45.0

The Preliminary Championships at Archer were a bittersweet experience for Rebecca Caulfield (Lyons, Colorado).

A few weeks before, Fernhill Opulence, or “Horacio,” colicked. “We spent a very stressful few days, but thankfully he pulled through,” she said. “Because he was already so fit coming off our two-star at Rebecca Farm, he was still prepared to compete.”

The pair started out with their best dressage score at the level, then took it easy on cross-country to make sure the 15-year-old Holsteiner/Irish Sport Horse gelding (Pacino x Gorsehill Amber) was feeling good. They finished a strong show jumping round with just one rail down.

“I am so grateful he was able to compete. Every horse owner knows the greatest prize is a healthy, happy horse, and the ribbon is just the cherry on top,” she said. “Horacio has been my partner for three amazing years, and he truly is the horse of my dreams. He makes me laugh every day, challenges me in the best ways, and has carried me on adventures all across the country. I feel so lucky to be his person.”

Modified Champions | Chris Kawcak & Amelie | 39.6

Chris Kawcak (Fort Collins, Colorado) and his own 17-year-old Holsteiner mare Amelie (Chin Chin x Rosalie II) topped the Modified Championship at Archer in August.

“It was great from the standpoint that we had created some specific goals for my riding, and we were able to check those boxes,” he said of the win. “I was very happy with my riding, and as always super impressed with my mare.”

Amelie was a jumper who transitioned to eventing a couple of years ago. She and Kawcak have competed at Preliminary and have a goal of doing a two-star this year.

Kawcak has trained with Jan Byyny in Florida the past couple of years and was on a good path until Amelie sustained an injury in January. Kawcak spent the spring rehabbing her and found the time was a good opportunity to work on the basics in walk and trot and felt they came back stronger than before.

During the championships, Kawcak appreciated using what he’s learned from Byyny and his wife, fellow eventer Erin Contino, and was thrilled it paid off.

“We had a bit of time on cross-country, but I feel that I provided Amelie with a more supportive ride, which I am sure she appreciates. I so much appreciate her and the people around me,” he said, adding, “The Event at Archer is always great. Allison Murphy and her team do a fantastic job with the whole event, and Mark Grandia's course rode very well. It was quite technical for Modified, which is unique here, but it rode very well.”

Training Champions | Rochelle Costanza & Eye Candy | 46.3

Rochelle Costanza (Franktown, Colorado) and Jamie Girouard’s Eye Candy topped the Training championship, moving up from second after dressage. Costanza and the 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Sligo Candy Boy x Tullig Diamond Clover) have earned consistent placings at Training level this season.

Novice Champions | Madeline Backus & P.S. Sir Balinor | 26.1

Madeline Backus (Larkspur, Colorado) and her homebred P.S. Sir Balinor are on a roll this year, finishing no worse than second in their last seven starts at Beginner Novice and Novice, including topping the Marshall+Sterling Beginner Novice Horse Championship at the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds in August.

They led the Novice Championship at Tomora from start to finish. “I had a lovely weekend at Tomora Horse Trials,” Backus said. “It was filled with much success from our whole team, great camaraderie, and support from all Area IX eventers.”

P.S. Sir Balinor, who is a 5-year-old Trakehner, is out of Backus’ five-star mare P.S. Arianna and by Stiletto. “I feel very fortunate to have so many nice horses in my barn right now, but P.S. Sir Balinor is extra special to me because I bred, foaled, and started him myself,” she said. “He has exceeded all my expectations, having won all but one competition this year. He is also extremely cheeky and goofy on the ground, so he brings a lot of comedy to each day too! I am so grateful to everyone who has been a part of his story and all my sponsors for their support and am beyond excited for what his future holds.”

Backus enjoyed her weekend spending time with her Pendragon Farm team and her mother, who is head coach and her biggest cheerleader, Laura Backus.

“Things didn’t always go to plan, but the support was endless, and someone was always there willing to give a helping hand or a pep talk,” said Madeline. “I also want to say that Area IX is a force to be reckoned with. We are a tight knit community, and it is always a joy to compete with everyone. The effort that is put into these shows is immense, and we have so much gratitude for the dedication to the sport here between land owners, organizers, and volunteers.”

Beginner Novice Champions | Ingrid Hofmeister & Berklee | 25.3

Ingrid Hofmeister (Laramie, Wyoming) and Melinda Hofmeister’s Berklee, a 15-year-old Paint/Clydesdale gelding of unrecorded breeding, moved up from second after dressage to win the Beginner Novice championship.

“It was a great weekend!” said Ingrid. “Berklee and I laid down a fantastic dressage test, and then went clean and clear on cross-country and in stadium. It was so much fun to get out for one last time this season and have it be such a successful weekend!”

Ingrid has ridden Berklee since 2015 and they’ve moved from Starter to Novice. Currently a senior at the University of Wyoming, Ingrid has been balancing education and riding while sometimes sharing the ride on Berklee with her mother, who won this division with Berklee last year.

“One of my favorite parts of this weekend, and at almost every event, was riding cross-country,” Ingrid said. “Berklee is so game and loves his job, so it is so much fun getting out there and giving him a great ride.”

Starter Champions | Tessa Tucker & Fernhill Bijzonder | 31.2

After being tied for second place after dressage, Tessa Tucker (Eaton, Colorado) and Elle Synder’s Fernhill Bijzonder, a 19-year-old Holsteiner mare (Indoctro x Grafin), finished in first in the Starter championship.

For full results from Tomora Horse Trials, click here.

For full results from The Event at Archer, click here.