United States Eventing Association

The Spring Event at Archer in Cheyenne, Wyoming, hosted their first USEA Classic Series Event from May 29-June 1. Eleven riders competed in the Novice Classic and Beginner Novice Classic divisions. Keep reading to learn about the inaugural winners.

Novice Three-Day Winners | Amy Bowers & High Noon | 29.9

Amy Bowers got her start with horses in the natural horsemanship world through her uncle, Pat Parelli, but her love of eventing started after watching the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. She picked up the sport a decade later, but loves to incorporate her natural horsemanship education and study of the horse to help create partnerships with her competition horses.

Her partner for her Novice Three-Day win at Archer was High Noon, or “Teddy,” a 9-year-old Bavarian Warmblood gelding (Hickstead White x Zara B).

Imported as a young horse a couple of years ago, he had a habit of unloading his riders occasionally, so he came to Bowers with hopes of helping him. She was able to figure out his quirks but had to take nine months off of riding due to some health issues.

Last year, the pair competed at Beginner Novice and Novice with inconsistent results on cross-country, but this year they’ve come out strong finishing second in both of their lead-up competitions.

“Over the winter we have been working hard, and I feel like our partnership is really starting to flourish,” said Bowers, of Fort Collins, Colorado. “I chose to aim him at the Novice Three-Day because I feel like he is almost ready for a move up to Training, so we needed the extra challenge, and I knew it would be great for his fitness.”

This is Bowers’ third time competing in a Classic, and she says she always feels her horses come out better.

“I feel like the time it takes to build the fitness really helps build a partnership, and I love how the steeplechase helps a horse think forward and jump out of stride,” she said. “The education that they offer through the whole weekend is amazing. It is such a great opportunity for any rider. But of course, doing the cross-country and feeling my horse be so full of confidence and finishing well was a huge highlight. I would encourage every event rider to do the classic format at least once in your life. It is such a fun challenge that will improve your horsemanship.”

Beginner Novice Three-Day Winners | C’Dale Jore & A Mariner | 31.7

After being an eventing mom for years, C’Dale Jore decided it was time to try the sport her children loved so much once they were grown and married, and she and her husband Phil Jore started riding and competing in 2020.

C’Dale imported her current partner, A Mariner, from Germany as a yearling. Phil did the groundwork and early riding, but after realizing the Oldenburg/German Sport Horse gelding (Morricone x Sissy) would be too small for 6’ Phil, C’Dale took on the ride in 2022.

“He learned to canter for the first time with a rider at age 6,” she said. “I continued his groundwork. He learned to jump 3' single barrels and canter tight circles around me at liberty before I ever rode him!”

C’Dale had always been intrigued by the long format and was inspired to enter after a clinic at Archer with Deeda Randle. Because she doesn’t have any eventing trainers near her home in Williston, North Dakota, C’Dale takes every opportunity to ride in clinics and soak up the knowledge.

“My horse was a quick learner, and I tried to retain as much info as I could [during Randle’s lesson],” she said. “I added that to a lesson the next weekend that I got from Meggan Holloway who was an upper-level eventer when my kids were starting out. I was so encouraged that I went home and changed my Beginner Novice entry to the three-day,” she said

Now 10, but with just four years being under saddle, “Mariner” stepped up in the Beginner Novice Three-Day at Archer in the bigger environment.

“It was so good for him be in a very busy show environment doing something other than arena work and jumping,” she said. “His pace got steadier and steadier, and by the end of Phase A he was listening very well to me with all the other distractions, including horses in front of him, passing him, or meeting him. It was awesome! Our partnership was evident.”

C’Dale enjoyed trail riding and cattle roundups when her children were young, and has competed in come novice endurance and compeitive trail competitions, so she enjoyed the extra phases on cross-country day at Archer.

“I have been eventing for four years, and I'm so blessed that my body still likes to trot at age 73!” she said.

Her advice to those considering competing in a Classic is to make sure you understand your timing on all phases on cross-country day and to take in all of the knowledge you’ll receive during your preparation and at the event. “Ask someone to help you figure out timing well in advance of the event,” she said. “You still might not meet your goals, but knowledge is life giving. Know your horse and know your own fitness because this will be different for both of you. Just do it! It's fun! I am grateful for such a helpful eventing community. The coaches who walked us through the educational three-day were awesome!”

For full results, click here.