I was fortunate and grateful to be selected as one of the recipients of the Galway Downs Mars Bromont Rising Program Grant. My home base is Carnation, Washington, and I frequently travel to events outside Area VII, which is an ongoing logistical and financial challenge. The financial benefits of this grant were incredibly helpful, and of course most welcome, but the other benefits of the grant went far beyond the financial aspects. The amazing opportunity to spend time and learn from eventing legends such as Bettina Hoy, Peter Grey, and Marilyn Payne was incredibly beneficial to me at this point in my young professional career. I have a burning desire and hunger to continually receive diverse and high-level coaching experiences, in addition to my longstanding local team of coaches in the Northwest.
The difficulty level and influence of cross-country suited James Alliston and his international horses perfectly this week. Alliston rode his wife Helen's 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding Paper Jam (Papparazzo x Reely Jamin XX) to top the Re/MAX CCI4*-L and Alliston Equestrian's 8-year-old Oldenburg mare Karma (Escudo II x Travita) to win the CCI3*-L.
Cross-country shook up the standings in the Re/MAX CCI4*-L with James Alliston and the 3-year-old Hanoverian gelding Paper Jam (Papparazzo x Reely Jamin XX), owned by Helen Alliston, emerging atop the leaderboard. Alliston continues a super year with only time faults on Clayton Fredericks' demanding track.
World Championship Team Silver Medalist Tamie Smith is getting a lot of well-deserved attention since returning to her California home turf. But it was her daughter, young professional Kaylawna Smith-Cook, who took the Re/MAX CCI4*-L spotlight following dressage at Galway Downs.
The second-to-last CCI4*-L of the 2022 calendar year kicks off this week in Temecula, California at the Galway Downs International Event & H.T. This event features competition from the Beginner Novice level through the Preliminary national levels and has a CCI2*-L, CCI3*-L, and CCI4*-L as well. There are 44 horse and rider pairs lined up to contest the FEI divisions being offered at Galway, who will bring home the top prize?
Founded in 2019, the MARS Bromont Rising U25 Program was initially created to assist up-and-coming riders under the age of 25 in North America who had not yet competed in a destination event, such as the program’s namesake the MARS Bromont CCI in Lac Brume, Quebec, Canada, or been recognized by the USEF programs intended for emerging athletes.. Spearheaded by the late Steve Blauner and Sue Ockendon, the program sought to give back to the sport by helping the next generation of riders get more experience under their belt with the help of the financial assistance provided by the program, and the two days of included instruction from leading coaches around the world.
Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered! Check out the USEA’s Weekend Quick Links for links to information including the prize list, ride times, live scores, and more for all the events running this weekend.
Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered! Check out the USEA’s Weekend Quick Links for links to information including the prize list, ride times, live scores, and more for all the events running this weekend.
Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered! Check out the USEA’s Weekend Quick Links for links to information including the prize list, ride times, live scores, and more for all the events running this weekend.
Emotions ran as high as the show jumping fences in today's conclusion of the Galway Downs Fall International FEI divisions. New California resident Alexandra MacLeod won with Newmarket Jack, far surpassing her goal of simply making the time on cross-country. That double clear yesterday put MacLeod in third, and she repeated the double clears over Marc Donovan's show jumping course in front of a full house of fans. Clear show jumping is a norm for the 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Newmarket Jewel x Newmarket Chantepie), but what came next was brand new for MacLeod.
The inaugural Adequan/USEF Eventing Youth Team Challenge Temecula – West Coast Final concluded on Saturday with awards being presented in both the CCI3*-L and CCI2*-L divisions. Audrey Sanborn (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) and OBOS Quality Time placed first in the YTC CCI3*-L and third overall, finishing on a 37.3, while Harper Click (Fall City, Wash.) led YTC Team A to victory in the CCI2*-L, earning top honors in YTC competition, and completing on a 31.5.