United States Eventing Association

For Alice Sarno, competing in a long format three-day event during her competitive career was always “icing on the cake” after a season of horse trials.

Now 77, Sarno remembers enjoying the education that came with preparing for a three-day—from learning how to take a horse’s vitals to riding at speed over steeplechase fences and learning to pace your horse over roads and tracks so they didn’t get tired before the cross-country D phase. “There was just so much horsemanship and knowledge that was taught to everyone that was doing it that was just part of eventing,” she said.

For the last three decades, Sarno has been involved with the Coconino Horse Trials in Flagstaff, Arizona, and she’s helped make its Classic Series event, held each July, come to life. “When I knew that [adding a Classic Series was] possible. I said, ‘Hey, sign me up. I want to do it,’ Sarno said.

Coconino’s events take place at the Fort Tuthill County Park fairgrounds over three weekends during the year—one in May and two back-to-back events in July. This year’s Summer Coconino H.T. and Western Underground, Inc. Classic Series event will be held from July 9-11 as Coconino celebrates 30 years of eventing.

For Sarno, keeping the three-day alive is a way for lower-level riders to gain horsemanship knowledge and as a good steppingstone to the next level.

“[The three-day] just kind of went away because it was so grueling at the upper levels,” she said. “I can totally understand why the upper level riders wanted to get rid of all of the roads and tracks and the steeplechase, because it's hard on horses, but at the lower levels, it certainly isn't, and all of the education that goes with taking care of a horse right there at those lower levels—I just think it's really important for our sport, for the new people that are getting in there, to understand where it's come from. And we aren't just practicing dressage, show jumping, and cross-country. There's a lot that goes in between all of it—maintaining a horse—and that's why I feel like it's something that should continue.”

Sarno knows successfully completing a Classic means you’ve done your homework and worked hard.

“And when the day is done, you can look back and say, you know, this was really a very good experience,” she said. “And there was more to it than just going to a horse show and doing all three phases. Adding in the endurance phase is just another part of the education, and especially in the vet box, learning what it takes to know what your horse's temperature should be at, what the respiration should be, and jogging for soundness.

What to Look Forward to

At this year’s Coconino Classic, there will be seminars and parties for competitors, said Sarno. They can look forward to learning about the vet box and schooling steeplechase and should come prepared for the popular stall decorating contest.

Many riders compete in the regular horse trials the weekend before and stay to enjoy the beautiful scenery and destinations like the Grand Canyon.

“It’s a good destination for people to plan their vacation around,” said Sarno. “In Phoenix, it’s going to be over 100 degrees down there, and up [in Flagstaff], it's going to be 70 to 80 degrees. So, it's a great place to be when it's really hot down in the valley. I just think it's a great destination place for the summer. We're really located well—we have people coming from all around us—New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Idaho, California, Nevada. It's just a great place to all come from different directions. We can draw from that, and the fact that you can do the back-to-back weekends is really nice because you get to plan your vacation up there with your horse.”

With all of her years of experience organizing a Classic Series event, Sarno knows how much extra work and volunteers they take, and her advice to organizers who want to host one is to shadow someone who has experience.

“Find somebody that's already done it, and just get information about how it works,” she said. “Every year we try to make it a fun thing, and the footing has to be really good. There's just a lot of behind the scenes and extra work that goes on.”

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 D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis Saddles, Gallagher’s Water, PulseVet, and SmartEquine, contributing sponsors Bates Saddles and Schneiders Saddlery, and prize sponsor 100xEquine for supporting the USEA Classic Series.