United States Eventing Association

The 2024 USEA Classic Series Continues at Rebecca Farm

Hundreds of riders made the annual trek to the beautiful Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana, last week to compete in divisions from Beginner Novice through CCI4*-L.

The Event held two USEA Classic Series divisions, and we caught up with the two winners to learn more about their experience.

Training Three-Day

Erin Grandia and her husband Marc Grandia kept busy at Rebecca Farm all weekend with their Full Gallop Eventing students, but Erin found time take Adriane Jimenez’s 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (O.B.O.S. O Quality 004 x Thornhill Hazel) Riptide Rio in the Training Three-Day, and they came out on top, finishing on their dressage score of 21.5.

Erin, 33, Duvall, Washington, explained that she’s taken over the ride on the gelding this year as Jiminez has had some medical issues that have kept her out of the tack. “Rip” has won three events this year with both Erin and Marc in the tack in the lead up to Rebecca Farm. “He is so consistent and has a big heart and a lot of try,” said Erin. “The plan is for his owner to get back in the tack at the end of this season and compete him herself next year.”

After a Training level win at Aspen Farms (Yelm, Washington), Erin thought the three-day would be a good step up for Rio.

“It was a big step but he really rose to the occasion,” she said. “It was really good for him to run a longer course with some harder questions. I feel like he learned to dig in and gallop at the end of a course when he was getting a little tired, which will help develop his mental and physical stamina. He was ready for a little more to do in the dressage too and did quite well with the harder test. I also liked that he didn’t feel tired on show jumping day which proved his fitness work leading up to the event paid off. The first time getting a younger horse this fit lays a great foundation for their future as an event horse.”

Erin loved endurance day the most and appreciated the timing and details that go into planning it all. “I hadn’t done it myself for over a decade, though I’ve had many students participate, so it was really fun to do that again,” she said. “The last time I did it was in the old CCI1* with steeplechase at Galway Downs [Temecula, California] and it’s one of my favorite memories. I was excited to have a horse to do it this year.”

She advised riders to make sure to take advantage of all the extra educational activities during the week and come prepared. “It is so fun! It’s worth all the extra energy and prep. Make sure you really understand the process,” she said.

Novice Three-Day

Professional Tori Traube led the Novice Three-Day from start to finish on Sheryl Ehrlich’s 5-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding HSH Chase De Muze (I’m Special De Muze x NLS Nikitas Cool Dancer). They finished on a score of 31.9 after adding just a rail in show jumping to their score.

Ehrlich bought the gelding for Traube to produce in February this year from Caroline Pamukcu, who’d started his career in the U.S. with her business partner Kelley Hutchinson.

“I was actually going out looking for something a bit older and more trained but when I sat on him, I just knew he was special, and we had an immediate bond,” said Traube.

She thought the three-day would be a good learning experience for the gelding and was prepared for a more difficult cross-country as they eye a Training move up soon.

“I thought it would be a good stepping stone for him,” she said. “He’s an exceptional young horse with a great brain so I want to give him as many positive experiences as I can because I truly think he will be an upper level horse.”

She reports that while he was a bit unsure going out on roads and tracks by himself, by the end of endurance day he was growing in confidence.

“He loved steeplechase,” she said. “I thought he would get more tired than he did, but he was fit and full of run all the way through and came through the finish flags with his ears pricked ready to go! I was so proud of him.”

Traube, 29, Palo Alto, California, has been riding since she was 7 when she started taking lessons at Webb Ranch in Portola, Valley, California. She has her own business, Bayville Equestrian, but still returns to Webb Ranch, to teach and give back to their riding program.

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.