United States Eventing Association

Temecula, Calif., Oct. 29, 2009--A total of 102 horses are set to start tomorrow in the 11th annual Galway Downs International Three-Day Event. Of these, 46 will be contesting the SmartPak Equine/USEA Training Three-Day Event, the largest starting field of the eight T3DE's held so far this year in the United States, and 11 riders will also take part in the long-format CCI*.

Organizer Robert Kellerhouse introduced the Training Three-Day Event to Galway Downs in 2008 to give West Coast riders a unique educational opportunity. Along with the competition, riders can attend a series of forums and lectures covering rules, competition procedures, and veterinary care. But the most popular educational opportunity is schooling the course for the steeplechase phase with cross-country course designer Ian Stark, a two-time British Olympic medalist.

"It's a fabulous feeling galloping over the steeplechase course," said Marilyn Payne, president of the Galway Downs ground jury. "It's amazing how you develop a new sense of how to balance and control your horse at a gallop. With the introduction of warmblood crosses into eventing, the classic three-day is a must in their education. Many of them come away with a "new gear" and a new understanding of galloping and jumping. All of this education just makes better horses and riders and makes our sport much safer."

Added Payne, "I'm very excited that we are now seeing organizers like Robert Kellerhouse willing to host classic-format events, especially putting on a classic-format event at two levels! I strongly believe that both the competition and the training leading up to these events provide a fabulous education for both horses and riders."

Galway Downs also plays host to one of only a handful of the remaining long-format CCI* events in the country, with eleven rider set to compete.

Some 22 horses will compete in the featured division of the weekend, the CCI2*. Dressage for the CCI2* begins at 1:15 p.m. on Friday and runs to 5:00 p.m. at the Southern California Equestrian Center, just east of Temecula. The Training Three-Day gets underway at 8:20 a.m. and wraps up at 2:45 pm. The classic-format CCI1* and the short-format CCI1* run concurrently with those two divisions.

Galway Downs is also hosting the inaugural Spalding Labs/USEA West Coast Championships this weekend, with nine four- and five-year-old talented young horses vying for national titles. Stay tuned to USEventing.com for more coverage of the West Coast YEH competition.

Riverside County Commissioner Jeff Stone will be the event's honored guest on Sunday afternoon to present the prizes and ribbons for the CCI2*. "We're tremendously pleased that Jeff will be joining us on Sunday for the event?s climax,: said Kellerhouse. "Each year, our events at Galway Downs contribute more than $2 million to the local economy, and I think his enthusiasm is a sign that our local leaders are recognizing our contribution to the community."

For all four of these competitions, Saturday (Oct. 31) is the exciting cross-country day, and the decisive show jumping concludes the competition on Sunday (Nov. 1).

General admission for the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event is $5 in advance, $8 at the gate. VIP tickets, which include seating in the ringside tent, lunch and a full selection of beverages, are also available for $55 per day in advance. For advance reservations, go to www.galwaydowns.com.

More than a dozen generous sponsors provide prize money, prizes and other support to the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event. Those sponsors include: American Wood Fibers, Auburn Laboratories Inc., Custom Saddlery, CWD Saddlery, Doug Hannum Equine Therapy, Equine Insurance of California, Moxie Equestrian, Mushroom-Matrix, Riding?s Publications Inc., SmartPak Equine, Sonoma Saddle Shop, and Succeed Digestive Conditioning Program.

For more information on the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event, visit www.galwaydowns.com or call 951-303-0405. To learn more about eventing, visit the U.S. Eventing Association's website (www.useventing.com).