United States Eventing Association

Five Points Horse Trials held their inaugural Classic Series event from Sept. 5-7 in Raeford, North Carolina. Nineteen pairs contested the Beginner Novice Three-Day, while another 19 competed in the Novice Three-Day.

We caught up with the winners to find out more!

Novice Three-Day | Emily Chiles & Puzzle Master | 28.4

The Novice Three-Day at Five Points was a family affair for Emily Chiles, who competed alongside her mother, Whitney Digney. Ultimately, Chiles took the top spot riding Puzzle Master, Digney’s 12-year-old Percheron/Holsteiner/Welsh gelding of unrecorded breeding, while Digney finished in fourth place.

Chiles, Barboursville, Virginia, grew up with horses with her mother riding and her father a farrier. She’s a 'B' graduate from Mountain Skyline Pony Club (Virginia) and fox hunts and events.

Puzzle Master, or “Bing,” was purchased by Digney as a 5-year-old when she needed something to ride after purchasing her current horse, Dark Angel d’Avalon, as a foal.

Two years ago when Chiles’ previous horse was ready to retire, she got the ride on Bing.

“I'd ridden him here and there when my mom had him going, but our partnership has really developed over the past two years,” she said. “We haven't done that many events together, but we've done a little bit of everything else! We've outridden at local steeplechase races, did the Hunt Night classes at Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, and we whip in with Farmington Hunt Club. He's naturally careful, so the fox hunting has helped his confidence and bravery out on cross-country. He's very workmanlike, but still has a massive personality, and he's so fun to be around. I absolutely adore him.”

Chiles and Bing weren’t ready for Training level this year, but Chiles wanted a challenge, so she entered the three-day.

“With all the additional elements of a long-format three day; the jogs, dressage in a large arena, the additional fitness required for road and tracks and steeplechase, pressure of showjumping in reverse order—it was definitely more difficult than a regular horse trials,” she said. “I also knew that the additional fitness work would be helpful for him with his breeding. He's not a naturally fit horse.”

Chiles made sure to get lots of fitness rides at 6 a.m. before work or after work at 6 p.m., and she felt it paid off.

“He was better in every phase of the competition because of this new level of fitness,” she said. “His flatwork has improved, he recovered well on endurance day, and he was fresh on Sunday!”

Chiles appreciated the slower pace of the event as she’s used to one-day events in Area II. “It was also really fun to have time to enjoy the competition and down time with my horse,” she said. “There was a lot of time to relax in the barn and spend time with the horses, which was nice. Ultimately though, I think being able to share this sport with my mom and compete alongside her was my favorite part of the weekend.

“Huge thanks to the organizing team, the Carolina Horse Park team, the volunteers, and the professionals who led workshops on Thursday!” she added. “The event was fantastic ,and I'm so glad that we were able to attend.”

Beginner Novice Three-Day | Evan Harris & RREF Rubix | 22.5

Evan Harris and her own RREF Rubix, an 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Rubinius x Lerida) led their division from start to finish and ended on an impressive score of 22.5.

Harris had evented for a few years but returned to the hunter ring for about a year. When she found “Rubix” nine months ago, she got back into eventing.

The gelding had done dressage with his previous owner and a little bit of eventing. Harris wanted to try a Classic Three-Day because it sounded like a fun challenge with the extra phases and educational activities offered.

“I think Rubix really benefited from the experience too—it was so good for him to go out on roads and tracks, hacking out on his own somewhere totally new,” she said. “My favorite parts of the three-day was definitely either the steeplechase or roads and tracks. It was so much fun to do something in addition to cross-country, and it made the whole weekend feel extra special. I’d definitely do it again—it was the most fun I’ve ever had riding at a horse show!”

For full results, click here.

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. 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 Three-Day Event during the year will have the chance to win a variety of prizes at the events from USEA sponsors and earn leaderboard points. Click here to learn more about the USEA Classic Series.

The USEA would like to thank bronze sponsors D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis Saddles, PulseVet, and SmartPak, as well as contributing sponsors Bates Saddles and Schneiders Saddlery, for supporting the USEA Classic Series.