United States Eventing Association

After jogging successfully this morning all 23 remaining Adequan USEA Gold Cup CIC3* horse and rider combinations took their turn in show jumping arena at the Richland Park Horse Trials. Early morning rain gave way to clear skies and the sun remained throughout the CIC3* jumping and for the Advanced riders who followed as well.

An early morning sprinkle gave way to a nice rainbow and then to brilliant sunshine as the Adequan USEA Gold Cup CIC3* horses gathered for the final jog and inspection this morning at the Richland Park Horse Trials.

Mother Nature smiled on Richland Park again today with gorgeous weather for cross-country, sunny, mid-70s and a light breeze. Ian’s Stark’s course rode beautifully for Thursday’s leaders after dressage in both the Adequan USEA Gold Cup CIC3* and Advanced divisions.

For anyone who has not been to Richland Park Horse Trials, (which is about 10 miles north of Kalamazoo, Michigan) the 260-acre farm has green, rolling terrain with several significant uphill climbs on the cross-country, at least by Midwest standards.

Driving down the country lane, with soybean fields on either side, when entering the Richland Park Horse Trials in Michigan, the theme of the movie Field of Dreams comes to mind, “If you build it, they will come.”

The 2017 Richland Park Horse Trials in Richland, Mich. is the first qualifying event in the 2018 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series. Competitors who achieve a qualifying score in either the CIC3* or Advanced divisions this weekend will be qualified to compete in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Final at the 2018 USEA American Eventing Championships at the Colorado Horse Park in Parker, Colorado.

Due to an event cancellation, the location of the USEF Licensed Officials Final Examination has been relocated to the Richland Park Horse Trials in Richland, Mich. August 24-27, 2017 and is open to all prospective “r”, “R”, “S” Eventing Judges, Technical Delegates, and Cross-Country Course Designers.

There wasn’t a dry eye at Richland Park this afternoon as Katie Ruppel accepted the Inaugural Philippa Humphreys Award. Michigan born and raised, Ruppel earned this award as the highest-placed woman and winner of the Advanced division, which was an Adequan USEA Gold Cup Qualifier.

Will Coleman piloted the Conair Syndicate’s Tight Lines (Turgeon x Meridole) to double clear finish over Marc Donovan’s show jumping course to win the Adequan USEA Gold Cup CIC3* division at Richland Park Horse Trials. Only the 9-year-old Thoroughbred’s second go at this level, “Phish” proved himself a serious competitor, grabbing second place after the dressage phase and holding it after a super soaked cross-country day.

All sixteen Adequan USEA Gold Cup horses presented to the ground jury passed the horse inspection this morning at Richland Park Horse Trials. One withdrew after cross-country, The Conair Syndiate’s Soupcon du Brunet, who was ridden by Will Coleman.