United States Eventing Association

Competitors at Ram Tap Horse Park Horse Trials & Classic Three-Day, held Nov. 14-16, had to battle the elements as a rainstorm dumped three inches of rain at the venue in Fresno, California.

The event hosted three Classic Series divisions at Training, Novice, and Beginner Novice. We caught up with the winners to learn more about their weekends.

Training Three-Day winners | Taylor McFall & Overkill DF | 54.9

Taylor McFall took home the win in the Training Three-Day division on Overkill DF, a 7-year-old Oldenburg mare (Hickstead White x Coet Twain DF) that her family’s Dragonfire Farm bred.

McFall’s been training “Scarlet” since the beginning. “I was the first one to sit on her, longe her over her first jump and ride her free off the line,” she said. “Scarlet has always been a very brave and motivated horse—maybe the most motivated horse I’ve ever ridden! She could not have been named more appropriately. She’s a real firecracker, and even having a foal after her 4-year-old year didn’t slow her down. But I honestly have an appreciation for opinionated mares, so she fits right in with my preferences.”

Scarlet spent most of the 2025 season at Training level, and McFall, 22, felt she was ready for a new challenge.

“She had a really good run at AEC earlier this fall, and I knew she would be ready for the physical challenge of the three-day format. I also wanted to support Ram Tap as a venue and show my appreciation for them preserving the classic format of eventing,” she explained.

Scarlet wasn’t quite as fit as McFall wanted her to be as she’s eyeing a move up to Modified next year, so the preparation for the three-day was a good way to gauge her fitness.

“She needs a few more miles on her before the move up, but more challenging Training level events like this are really what we need,” she said.

During the event, Scarlet lost a shoe on steeplechase, so they weren’t able to go as all out as McFall had hoped, but the finished the rest of endurance day strong. “This show had the added difficulty of slightly extreme weather and changes in the footing,” she said. “It rained maybe three inches throughout the weekend, and it was hard to predict what the footing was going to be like or if we would even show tomorrow. But once I start something, I really have to finish, and I knew I was determined to be the last man standing at this show! Once I was out there, I didn’t even notice the mud, everything felt like smooth sailing.”

McFall’s advice to those wanting to do a Classic Series event is to make sure to walk your roads and tracks course.

“Personally, I feel like roads and tracks is really hard to remember, because all you have to think about our flags—it’s not even a jump that you’re trying to remember it’s just another set of boring flags! So, it’s really easy to forget one,” she said. “Maybe take pictures while you’re on the course walk so that you know where each flag is and don’t get lost.”

“I would like to thank everyone who volunteered to help keep the show going at Ram Tap, and I would love to thank the officials who organize the show and gave all of us the opportunity to ride,” she added. “Every three-day eventing venue is important, and I appreciate everyone who does their part to help keep the sport thriving.”

Novice Three-Day winners | Georgia Myers & Maudlin's Miss America | 33.0

Growing up in a family that runs a small Connemara breeding farm, Clarecastle Farm, Georgia Myers grew up riding and was a member of the Blossom Trail Pony Club. Her mother evented, and she was able to do her first event at age 9 in 2021 alongside her sister at Ram Tap at the Starter level.

It was a full-circle moment at the event last weekend, when Myers and Maudlin’s Miss America won the Novice Three-Day division, moving up from 11^th after dressage.

Her family bought “Bridget” from Megan Gastel at Telesis Connemaras in May. Now 13—the same age as Myers—Bridget (Cheeky Bobby Sparrow x Moytura Blaithin) had been a broodmare for a few years and wasn’t very fit.

“Before coming home with me she went to Hartenburg Equestrian for a check in with my trainer, Allyson Hartenburg,” said Myers. “Then I spent the summer getting her into condition and getting to know her. We spent a lot of time walking and trotting in the Sierra foothills around our farm. It was great to spend this time with Bridget, developing our bond to each other.”

The pair earned their qualification for Ram Tap in October at the venue when they won the Novice Rider division.

Myers had done schooling three-day competitions at Ram Tap with her previous pony and loved it.

“Ram Tap offers a Beginner Novice Three-Day at their schooling shows which is a great low-key introduction to doing a Classic,” she explained. “Officials and organizers, especially Terry Hilst, Wendy Wergeles, and Kim Goto Miner, are very hands-on at those events ensuring a positive experience.”

For Bridget, Myers found that the preparation for the three-day helped strengthen their partnership.

“Bridget has limited miles, and the Classic gave us an opportunity to develop fitness and confidence without technical over facing,” she said. “The progressive format helped us create forward energy and settle into a rhythm. I am hoping to move up to Training later in 2026, so doing a Classic helps us develop the skills to be successful at that level.”

Myers, Exeter, California, gave a shout out to the volunteers at Ram Tap who had to deal with tough conditions.

“Ram Tap volunteers are the best and stuck it out all weekend in the pouring rain so we could compete,” she said. “Ram Tap volunteers have watched me grow up there, and I always appreciate their support and encouragement—it means more than they realize. I know there are also many organizers, officials, and other folks at USEA that believe in and value the experience of a classic format enough to keep it going. Thank you for making this experience possible!”

Beginner Novice Three-Day winners | Earl McFall & Almost Famous ICF | 24.7

Earl McFall, who’s Taylor McFall’s father, is a trainer at Dragonfire Farm in Wilton, California.

He rode his client Elizabeth Healy’s horse Almost Famous ICF, or “Patrick,” in the Beginner Novice Three-Day, leading from start to finish. The 8-year-old Trakehner gelding (Buddenbrock x Piper KD) was bred by Indian Creek Farm in Texas. Though he's a good partner for his amateur owner, he can be spooky, and a massive rainstorm over the weekend at Ram Tap was a challenge on top of his extra fitness.

But even so, “The hours of fitness preparation proved to be very beneficial, and he very much rose to the occasion,” said Earl. “The dressage felt like a struggle as were one of the last to go and had to battle fetlock deep mud on the track. The roads and tracks were sloppy and slippery. The steeplechase footing was pretty good, and he ran and jumped well. He came into the 10-minute box early and recovered well. Cross-country was wet but fun, and he ran around great. He jumped clear Sunday in the pouring rain and mud to finish on his dressage score with a comfortable win.”

Earl felt like Patrick came out of the competition much more confident after battling the elements and after endurance day.

He was also happy to watch Taylor win the Training Three-Day and come second in the Novice Three-Day. “It is fun to watch her become a true professional and a force to be reckoned with,” he said. “Our goal is to do this again at Rebecca Farm and Ram Tap next year. I would recommend this to everyone who wants to improve their horse, their bond with their horse, and build a team with their barn. It was a great experience; thank you to Terri Hilst and Ram Tap for putting it on.”

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