United States Eventing Association

In 2017, Allison Murphy led the charge in creating a new event in Area IX, The Event at Archer, held at Archer Equestrian Park in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Now running twice a year—in late May and August—the event offers Starter through the hybrid Intermediate/Preliminary level, and for this year’s spring event, there’s an exciting addition of Novice and Beginner Novice Classic Three-Day divisions.

Murphy, an amateur rider based in nearby Loveland, Colorado, felt the region was lacking a Classic Series event after the Colorado Horse Park last hosted one in 2017.

“People look forward to doing the Classic, and instead of trying to drive 15 to 18 hours to Rebecca [Farm in Montana], or eight to 10 hours to Coconino [in Arizona], which are the only Classics in the middle of the country, I think that offering them in Area IX was just something for the members. People wanted to experience the long format, but without having to travel quite so far.”

Course designer Marc Grandia is on tap to lay out the tracks for the late May event, and competitors can look forward to new steeplechase jumps, an improved water complex, and new banks and coffins thanks to course builder Greg Thompson.

“We’re just really trying to do something new every year, just to make sure that we keep up with the times and keep up with the safety standards,” said Murphy.

The spring event will also include combined tests with coaching allowed from Starter through Advanced, and Murphy is hoping to offering the CTs as opportunity classes to members of the Colorado Hunter Jumper Association and the Rocky Mountain Dressage Association for those who want a taste of the sport and the community without the cross-country. Murphy says if there’s enough interest in the coming months for a Training Three-Day division, she’ll consider offering it.

On Mother’s Day weekend, May 9-10, Archer will host a FUNd raiser and will begin some pre-event educational activities for Classic Series competitors, including steeplechase schooling and roads and tracks practice. Murphy says to stay tuned for other educational opportunities to be announced closer to the event.

Former longtime Area IX event Abbe Ranch in Colorado used to host a Mother’s Day clinic weekend, and Murphy is happy to step up and fill that hole for competitors in the Area.

“Marc Grandia will be our guest instructor, and then we have great instructors like Laura Backus, Rochelle Costanza, and Madeline Backus,” she said. “We have a ton of really great instructors that are donating their time, and you get to ride twice, and it's really inexpensive. It just helps create such great camaraderie. And being able to have the fundraiser be an educational portion for our area will help with the three-day preparations and fill those educational gaps that we're missing.”

Lastly, Murphy added that the success of Archer’s inaugural Classic Series event will come down to volunteers.

“If we don't have the volunteers, it's really hard to offer the competitors all the things that they would like,” she said. “I do actually have barns who have reached out and said, ‘We'll help you with this. We'll help you with that.’ We give our volunteers gifts like T-shirts and coffee mugs, and every time they show up, they get something to go home with. All of our volunteers get gifts and appreciation and meals—we really do try to take care of the people who we value. It's important to know that our volunteers are very highly appreciated by us.”

This year’s Spring Event at Archer will take place from May 29-31. Click here for more information and be on the lookout for volunteer opportunities at EventingVolunteers.com.

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.