United States Eventing Association

Spokane Sport Horse Fall H.T. Crowns Three New USEA Classic Series Winners

The Spokane Sport Horse 10^th Annual Fall H.T. hosted three USEA Classic Series divisions from Sept. 26-29 at Spokane Sport Horse Farm in Spokane, Washington. We caught up with some of the winners to learn more about their experiences.

Training Three-Day

In 2020, after a long battle with cancer a decade earlier, Marcy Freeman decided to fulfill a bucket list wish of riding horses. She was 51 at the time and was ready to make the dreams of her childhood come true.

Knowing nothing about horses, she asked her sister-in-law for guidance, who advised her to buy a Friesian. She found one, a mare named Vanity, and then found a trainer, Ginnie Bryant.

“She not only taught me how to ride, she has given me the beautiful gift of friendship, and the added bonus of how to be a great horse woman,” Freeman said.

Bryant introduced her to eventing, and she was hooked. She found an Irish Sport Horse schoolmaster, Ted (Terenure Lad x Miss Twain), and did her first event at Caber Farms (Onalaska, Washington) in 2021. After three seasons with Ted, she decided to find a new partner to take her higher (and faster!). Her one request was no gray horses, but ended up with Georgey, a gray 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Tullabeg Fusion x Expectation).

“God does have a sense of humor, but Georgey is a special boy,” she said. “He is kind, gentle, clever, and a cross-country machine! His owner Alish Arkwright bought him as a young colt and placed her special boy with [Irish Olympian] Sarah Ennis to train. It’s evident that Georgey has been cherished and loved his whole life. I truly feel so honored that she has let her boy become part of my family. He arrived in May 2024, and since then we have been slowly building our relationship.”

Freeman, 55, Port Orford, Oregon, felt the Spokane Training Three-Day would be the perfect place to measure their partnership, and they came home with the win on a score of 47.0.

“I felt I really learned what Georgey requires from me as a rider, and more importantly I feel that he knows I will always take care of him. I can feel his trust,” she said. “There are so many parts of the competition that I love, from the anticipation of walking the courses to how the steeplechase challenges riders. Not to mention, the educational talks from dressage judges, down to unforgettable moments like when Christel Carlson, the owner of Spokane Sport Horse Farm, drove us around in the back of her truck to show us the roads and track, all the while getting to listen to all the excitement from all my fellow competitors.”

Freeman said she would encourage anyone thinking of doing a Classic Series to go for it. “You will learn so much about yourself, your horse, and your team!” she said. “None of this would be possible without my team; my truly dedicated trainer Ginnie Bryant, my friend Sam [Wagner]—thanks for all the vet box help and, of course, making me laugh—and my other special Irishman, my husband [Gary Freeman]. Thank you to everyone; you have helped make this little girl's dreams come true.”

Novice Three-Day

In the Novice Three-Day, Nicolette Farenbaugh, 34, Troy, Idaho, took home the win on her own Stadium Arcadium. She and the 6-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Giacomo x Richiesgirlcansing) finished on a score of 43.9.

Beginner Novice Three-Day

Mary Morris, of Emmett, Idaho, and her own Lilly topped the Beginner Novice Three-Day on a score of 28.2, more than 10 point ahead of their next competitor.

Both Morris, 46, and Lilly came to eventing from the western world. Morris grew up eventing and riding in Pony Club, but after college, she moved to Arizona and rode reining horses for a decade. She always missed jumping, so after getting married and having three children, the opportunity to come back to eventing arose, and she was able to do it with 9-year-old Lilly, who’s a homebred Quarter Horse/Lusitano (Esbelto CL x Cuttin Jewels)

Lilly was meant to be Morris’ husband Jeremy Morris' horse since he ropes and wanted a larger horse to use in the branding pen, but the couple was disappointed at first because Lilly topped out at 14.1 hands.

“We weren't sure what to do with her, and then the idea of making her my next horse began to form in my head,” she said. “We did a little bit of everything, from gathering cows to dressage, but eventing was always in the back of my head. We are blessed to live close to Wasatch Sport Horses in Eagle, Idaho, and began taking lessons there. It took longer than I would have liked as our training can be a bit sporadic with me being a teacher and mom of three, but I was finally able to compete in eventing again.”

The pair competed in the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds in 2022 (Kalispell, Montana) at Beginner Novice, and competed recognized sporadically since then.

“I know Lilly so well,” she said. “We raised her at our home in Emmett and have spent many hours together. She’s not an overly affectionate mare, but she enjoys a job and tries so hard at anything that is asked of her. The three-day was a challenge for her fitness-wise. Her breed is not known for long distance fitness, and I cannot always be consistent in my riding schedule—life! But, she is such a game little mare; she tried her heart out this last weekend!”

Mary said her favorite part of the competition was seeing her many hours of preparation at home come to fruition on Phases A and C.

“Spokane is a beautiful venue, and I so enjoyed warming up for cross-country out on the quiet trails instead of a busy and loud warm up arena,” she said. “ I loved how my barn friends came around and supported me and took care of us in the vet box. It was fun to experience a jog and get dressed up and feel like I was doing an upper-level event.”

Like Freeman, she appreciated the informational meetings throughout the week and the tour of all the phases so she would know exactly where to go on Phases A and C. She advises riders to try a three-day.

“They allowed us to practice the steeplechase on the Thursday before the competition,” she added. “They were there to answer any questions and were all so helpful. It was definitely a learner friendly experience. And don't be afraid to try it on a different kind of breed!”

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 SmartPak Equine and D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis Saddles, as well as contributing sponsors Bates Saddles and Parker Equine Insurance for supporting the USEA Classic Series.