United States Eventing Association

The Classic Format Starts Strong At Galway Downs International Three-Day Event

Two riders from Washington State stamped themselves as the ones to beat during the first day of competition at the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event. MacKenna Shea, of Tacoma, rode Landioso to an impressive nine-point lead in the dressage phase of the classic-format CCI1*, while Stephanie Cooper, of Hobart, guided Calvin to a much narrower margin of .2 points in the short-format CCI1*.

Shea, a 16-year-old high-school junior, has owned Landioso, a Bavarian Warmblood, for three years. Galway Downs is the first classic-format one-star competition for both horse and rider. "He's fitter than he's ever been, and he feels good. I think the extra fitness has added a little bit extra to his dressage today," said Shea.

Cooper, a 38-year-old dental assistant, bought Calvin, a Thoroughbred, at Emerald Downs racetrack near Seattle as a 3-year-old. He's now 7 and competing in his first CCI1*. "He's a very easy-going horse. He's even kind of lazy, so I have to make sure I keep him going forward in the dressage ring," said Cooper.

Both riders are eagerly anticipating tackling Ian Stark's cross-country course tomorrow. "I think that every jump sets you up for success, so I hope it all works out like that," said Shea.

"There are some very good questions out there, but nothing has me particularly worried—at least not yet," said Cooper. She said she regularly looks forward to making the two-day drive to Galway Downs "because the organization is always right on. The courses are always groomed to the utmost, and the event is always lots of fun."

Kristi Nunnink of Auburn, Calif., is the overnight leader of the CCI2*. On Corner Street, a 10-year-old Oldenburg, she scored 46.7 penalties, to give her just a .2-point advantage over David Koss of Hailey, Idaho, on Look Sweet, with Tamra Smith of Hemet, Calif., just another .6 points behind on Bubbles At Bricky.

Olympic silver-medalist Gina Miles, of Atascadero, Calif., has taken the lead in section B of the SmartPak Equine USEA Training-Level Three-Day Event, scoring 29.5 penalties on her young prospect Patronus, a 6-year-old Trakehner. Veteran international rider Leigh Mesher, of Richmond, Washington, is second on Rafflasia Z (31.4).

Fiona Graham, of Portola Valley, Calif., rode Isengart to first place in section A of the T3D, for riders 25 and under, scoring 30.1 penalties. Kelsey Carlisle, of Peoria, Arizona, scored 31.4 penalties on Mandalay Bay to claim second. There are nearly 50 entries in the two divisions of the SmartPak Equine USEA T3D this weekend.

The SmartPak Equine USEA Training Level Three-day Series is made possible through the support of its many sponsors: Title Sponsor: SmartPak Equine; Presenting Sponsor: Stackhouse Saddles; Product Sponsor: ProChaps and Elite Sponsors: FITS, Nunn Finer. Visit the USEA’s T3D webpage for full calendar and more information.

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.