Mar 29, 2021

Morven Park Concludes 47th Annual Spring Horse Trials

By Morven Park - Edited Press Release
Skyeler Voss and Argyle. Erin Gilmore Photography Photo.

Over 200 competitors came to Morven Park International Equestrian Center for this year’s Spring Horse Trials and a successful 2021 eventing season kick-off.

The weekend’s big winners were Skyeler Voss, who won the Open Intermediate division riding Argyle and Ainsley Colgan riding Ginobi, who achieved the lowest score of the weekend with an impressive 26.10 in the Junior Beginner Novice Rider division.

In addition to Voss and Colgan, other notable winners were Ema Klugman who won the Open Preliminary-A division riding RF Redfern and Michael Pendleton who won Open Preliminary-B riding Redfield Fellow. Bruce Davidson, Sr., rode Invito, to a first-place finish in the Open Training division. Scores for all divisions will be posted on MorvenPark.org/HorseTrials.

“This was my first time attending Spring Horse Trials and I was awe-inspired by the sheer scope of an eventing competition,” said Stacey Metcalfe, Morven Park’s new Executive Director/CEO. “Each phase of competition was more exciting than the last and of course the competitors were all so impressive. We cannot thank the riders, officials, judges, and volunteers enough for coming out this weekend, in the sun and in the rain, to celebrate horse trials with us.”

Bruce Davidson and Invito. Erin Gilmore Photography Photo.

Beginner Novice through Intermediate was offered at this year’s horse trials and for the first time, a Preliminary Training Division was available. The P/T division winner was Martin Douzant riding Olympus. Cross-country took place on the Park’s sprawling 1,000 acres and competitors enjoyed dressage and show jump arenas outfitted with Eurotex footing from Attwood Equestrian Surfaces.

The Morven Park International Equestrian Center thanks Sponsors SmartPak and Winchester Equipment Company, Silver sponsor Adequan, and Bronze level sponsors Total Equine Veterinary Associates, Coat Defense, and In Memoriam Pet Services for their support of Spring Horse Trials.

The Morven Park Fall International Horse Trials and CCI4*-L, CCI3*/2*YH-S, CCI 4*/3*/2*-S will be held October 6 – 10 and the Park’s popular hunter/jumper summer series kicks off next weekend with a sold-out show. Visit MorvenPark.org/Equestrian for details. For sponsorship opportunities, email [email protected].

About the Morven Park International Equestrian CenterMorven Park International Equestrian Center is a premier competition venue located in Loudoun County, VA and attracts some of the world's top riders. Morven Park hosts events year-round, and in nearly all riding disciplines, such as carriage driving, hunter/jumper shows, dressage competitions, and the Spring and Fall Horse Trials. The Equestrian Center grew out of the renowned Morven Park International Equestrian Institute, one of the world's most prestigious riding academies. In addition to holding competitions and events, Morven Park also welcomes riders and show managers to rent facilities such as the indoor and outdoor arenas, stalls, cafe, and show office space. To learn more, visit MorvenPark.org/Equestrian.

About Morven Park Morven Park is a 1,000-acre nonprofit park in Leesburg, Virginia. Known as the “Central Park” of Loudoun County, Morven Park welcomes 250,000 visitors each year who come to enjoy exquisite scenery, formal boxwood gardens, the Morven Park International Equestrian Center, the iconic Greek Revival mansion, museums, and hiking trails. For more information, or to support the Park, visit MorvenPark.org.

Jan 20, 2025 News

Echoing the Dream: Small Acts of Kindness in Eventing

Today, we pause to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and reflect on the powerful moment in 1963 when he stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and shared his vision for a better future. Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech was more than just words; it was a call to action that transcended time, culture, and boundaries—a beacon of hope that continues to inspire.

Jan 19, 2025

That “Forward” State of Mind

We’ve all been there—on the horse who pokes his way around the warm-up ring, needs leg, leg, leg coming into the combination, or brings up the rear on every trail ride. None of us wants each and every ride to be a lower-body squeezefest, nor do we wish to do anything with our crop except maybe wave it at that annoying deerfly. In this excerpt from his book The Sport Horse Problem Solver, former international eventer Eric Smiley explains the essential quality of forwardness and how to prepare the horse to expect you to look for it in all that you do together.

Jan 18, 2025 Interscholastic

Stars of the Interscholastic Eventing League Shot to the Top of the 2024 Leaderboards

The inaugural USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) Championships may have been the pinnacle for program members of the IEL last year, but that’s not the only exciting achievement that occurred in 2024. A total of 41 events offered IEL Team Challenges for over 360 program members, and in the end, a year-end leaderboard champion was named at every level from Starter through Intermediate. The following IEL members worked tirelessly with their clubs and on their own competitive journeys in 2024 to earn the title of Interscholastic Rider of the Year at their respective level. Join us in congratulating these up-and-coming eventers on their success!

Jan 17, 2025 Volunteers

2024 USEA Volunteer of the Year Susan Hart Makes USEA History with Gold Medal Achievement

Veterinary pathologist Susan Hart has been trapped in an “always the bridesmaid, never the bride” loop on the USEA Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) Volunteer Leaderboard since 2022. After two years of chipping away at the leaderboard, 2024 was finally her year to proverbially walk down the aisle. With a total of 691 and a half hours, Hart topped the leaderboard to become the 2024 USEA Volunteer of the Year, sponsored by Mrs. Pastures, and win the first gold medal in USEA VIP history, which is awarded for achieving over 2,000 lifetime volunteer hours.

Official Corporate Sponsors of the USEA

Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA

Official Feed of the USEA

Official Saddle of the USEA

Official Equine Insurance of the USEA

Official Forage of the USEA

Official Supplement Feeding System of the USEA

Official Competition & Training Apparel of the USEA

Official Horse Boot of the USEA

Official Shockwave of the USEA

Official Horse Wear of the USEA