The GMHA Festival of Eventing concluded its SmartPak Equine USEA Training Three-Day event as well as their Novice Three-Day event on Thursday, just before the beginning their August Horse Trials. Forty-seven riders were divided up into four divisions as they competed in the classic format event in Woodstock, Vermont.
Going home with a first place finish in the Training Three-Day was Erin Renfroe from Concord, Massachusetts and her seven-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, Porter Creek. Erin and Porter Creek held the lead from the beginning with a dressage score of 24.8 and no jumping or time penalties.
“I had a great time at the event,” Erin said. “I thought it was really well run and organized. I think the educational aspect of the 3-day was the best part of it.”
According to Erin, a T3D is a lot of hard work. She had two horses running in the horse trials as well, which made it that much more tiring. Nevertheless, Erin was happy with the way Porter Creek ran.
“My horse, Porter Creek, ran very well,” Erin said. “He was a bit confused when we trotted out at the start of cross-country and there were no jumps! I think the roads and tracks and steeplechase were most fun for me. I still had a couple of sticky jumps at the beginning of D phase, both on my part and his, but felt that the second half of the course he really settled into a better pace. I was really happy with the overall experience.”
Paige Crotty from Southborough, Massachusetts won the Junior T3D at GMHA, aboard Roseann Mainero’s 12-year-old Oldenburg mare, She’s Gigi. The pair was in second place after dressage with a 35.7, but claimed their first place finish after double clear jumping rounds.
For their wins in the SmartPak Equine USEA Training Three-Day, Erin and Paige divided the prizes of a Five Star Tack Bridle, a SmartPak Wellfleet Halter and engraved lead, a pair of FITS Breeches, and a $200 Point Two Gift Certificate. They were also entered in a drawing to win a Stackhouse Saddle, a year’s supply of SmartPaks, and a Fleeceworks Saddle Pad Set.
In the Junior N3D, 13 year-old Katie Lichten from Hamilton, Massachusettswon with a final score of 25.7. Aboard the 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Silent Faith, Katie added no jumping or time faults to her dressage score throughout the event. Nancy Read from Sandwich, New Hampshire won the N3D on her 18-year-old Connemara mare, Denvers Jovial Lass, with a score of 27.7. The pair ended the competition on their dressage score.
This Series would not be possible without the support of: Title Sponsor: SmartPak Equine; Presenting Sponsor: Stackhouse Saddles; Silver Level Sponsor: Fleeceworks; Legacy Sponsor: Five Star Tack; Platinum Sponsor: Point Two; Elite Sponsor: FITS
One of the most important things to do before hitting "Submit" on your horse trial entry form is to review the event's Omnibus details on the USEA Calendar. Each event will have its own listing which outlines everything you need to know about the competition beforehand from entry information, who the officials are, what levels will be offered, what you can expect from the cross-country course, and much more.
Proper conditioning is a very important factor in getting the most out of a competition horse. There are two elements to fitness—cardiovascular and musculoskeletal. They are equally important. Both are ideally developed through long slow distance work (LSD).
For some riders, it’s easy to miss the moments in between the big goals like a championship or a long format event, but Jennie Brannigan is savoring her moment today at the Setters' Run Farm Carolina International CCI4*-S, where she took home the win on Tim and Nina Gardner’s FE Lifestyle.
Riders in the CCI4*-S at the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International CCI4*-S were in for a change this afternoon as Brody Robertson made his show jumping course design debut in the class and built a challenging track that shuffled the top 10.