United States Eventing Association

SmartPak Equine/USEA Training Three-Day Event Off To A Great Start At Inavale

On a picture perfect day in beautiful Philomath Oregon, amongst numerous venders with a backdrop of green grass and Christmas tree farms, riders at the Inavale Farm Horse Trials began competition.

Spectators enjoyed a large turnout of riders for this weekend’s event, particularly in the upper level divisions, which have been split into two segments due to the significant number of entries.

This weekend’s highlighted Gallops Saddlery Training Three-Day Event, part of the SmartPak Equine USEA Classic Series, had some lovely tests in the long court, which ran on grass.

Brooke Boyley stands atop the class after day one, following a foot perfect dressage test aboard her 17-year-old dark bay gelding, My Kona Boy. She was thrilled with her ride saying, “He was phenomenal today and very obedient. He has come a very long way in the four years I have had him.”

With scores very tight following this afternoon’s dressage, tomorrow’s competition is sure to be exciting. Marissa Marcotte sits close behind the leader on her Hanovarian/Thoroughbred cross. This isn't the pair's first T3D, and Marcotte says fitness should play a role for all horses and riders with the longer components they will see tomorrow morning.

Boyley, Marcotte, and the other competitors are looking forward to the excitement of tomorrow’s long-format endurance day, which will include roads and tracks, steeplechase, a ten minute box, and a beefed up Training level cross-country course, as they wind through the trees of this lovely facility.

With 15 SmartPak USEA Classic Series Three-Day Events now on the eventing circuit, riders are being given an opportunity to experience the unique feel and various components the long format offered years ago. You can learn more about the long-format and the Classic Series at the USEA’s website, or visit the Long-Format Club’s site.

The SmartPak Equine/USEA Classic Series is made possible through the support of its many sponsors: Title Sponsor: SmartPak Equine; Presenting Sponsor: Stackhouse Saddles; Silver Level Sponsor: Fleeceworks; Legacy Sponsors: Five Star Tack and VitalWear; Elite Sponsors: FITS and Nunn Finer