Temecula, Calif., Feb. 24, 2010—Are you one of the millions who’ve seen the hit movie Avatar? And are you ready—now—for a real 3-D adventure?
Then come watch the Galway Downs International Horse Trials on March 26-28, where real horses bravely gallop across the countryside to jump over more than 30 imposing obstacles they’ve never seen before.
At Galway Downs, you can actually get so close to some of the country’s best horses and riders that you’ll be able to see the intense looks on their faces and practically feel their sweat as they contest the Olympic sport of eventing. The centerpiece of the competition takes place on Saturday, when competitors take on the 2 ½-mile cross-country course, and you can be just yards away as they splash through the two picturesque water jumps or leap back and forth across the race track at the Southern California Equestrian Center just east of Temecula, Calif.
Or you can stand or sit on higher ground and cheer for the horses over the dozen or so fences you can see from your vantage point. Either way, it will be more exciting—and less expensive—than going to a 3-D movie.
But cross-country isn’t all these extraordinary horses have to do. On Friday they have to be relaxed and attentive to show off their best paces before two respected international judges in the elegant dressage phase. And on Sunday they have to be sound and fit for the fingernail-biting show jumping phase, where one lowered rail can be the difference between first and fourth place.
For both of these phases, once again you can be so close you’ll feel as if you could reach out and touch the sleekly muscled and generous horses.
During breaks in the action, you can sample the food, wine and equestrian-themed merchandise available at the trade fair just a few yards from the ring and the cross-country course. If you’re looking for a horse to buy, you can bid on one, or more, in the Elite Event Horse Auction that will be going on throughout the event. The horses offered for sale will be publicly presented on Thursday evening, with the bidding concluding on Saturday evening.
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, Point Two Air Jackets USA, Riding’s Publications Inc., SmartPak Equine, Sonoma Saddle Shop, Succeed Digestive Conditioning Program, and Toklat Originals.
The Galways Downs CIC3* is also proud to be a part of the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series, where Advanced level horses and riders from all over the country compete for cash and prizes. Top horse and rider combinations at each of the eight Gold Cup events accrue points on the Gold Cup leaderboard--the year-end winner takes home a cash prize of $10,000! Adequan, Nutrena, Nunn Finer, Cover-All, Broadstone Equine Insurance, and Succeed are proud to sponsor this unique series.
The USEA will be providing daily media coverage of this year's Galway Downs event - be sure to check out all the action! Want a taste of what the USEA will be offering? Log on to USEA's Youtube channel to see all of the Gold Cup, AEC, and educational videos.
General admission for the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event is $5 in advance, $8 at the gate. VIP tickets—which include seating in the ringside tent, lunch and a full selection of beverages—are also available for $55 per day in advance. For advance reservations, go to www.galwaydowns.com.
For more information on the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event, visit www.galwaydowns.com or call 951-303-0405.
Amidst the unbridled enthusiasm of the USEA Intercollegiate teams competing in this weekend’s USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships at Stable View (Aiken, S.C.), the Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) riders have held their own with displays of teamwork and horsemanship all weekend long. While all teams put their best foot forward, one team rose above the rest. The Iron Bridge Hounds Pony Club came into the weekend with one goal in mind—to win. They achieved that goal by such a large margin, a little more than 16 points, that they were able to claim the title of champions before their last rider, 16-year-old Claire McMillan, had even left the start box.
The University of Kentucky has claimed top honors at the 2025 USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship, held this weekend at Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina. With 10 teams and 36 entries, they not only secured the title of “School with the Largest Presence” once again, but also rode away with their second national championship title, adding to their 2021 victory. Their winning team, the Kentucky Wildcats (made up of Callia Englund,Sarah Ertl, Macy Hale, and Emerson Padgett) dominated the championship finishing 11 points ahead of second place with a total score of 77.76.
Kendal Fansler, Claire McMillan, Emma Whitaker, and Olive Dumais have been riding together for more than two years through their membership in the Iron Bridge Hounds Pony Club. Together, the teenagers have tackled Pony Club rallies, the intimidating Pony Club tradition of Quiz, and more. But this weekend, they’re tackling one of their biggest obstacles yet—the USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) Championship.
For the Texas A&M Eventing Team, this year’s return to the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championships wasn’t just about competition—it was about perseverance and the power of community. After three years away from the national stage, the Aggies were dedicated to making a comeback, arriving in Aiken with a 12-person squad and eight competing riders (Hailey Alfaro, Bella Koon, Payton McBee, Brenna McDonald, Scarlett Pienado, Sarah Talcott, Brianna Ulmer, and Brett Youssi).