Many of the country’s best eventing athletes are at the Galway Downs International Event in Southern California this week to compete for the USEF CCI3*-L Eventing National Championship. This is the first time this championship has been held on the West Coast, and several horse-and-athlete pairs have made the trip across the country to participate.
Additionally, two athletes are in contention for the John H. Fritz Trophy in the Young Rider National Championship. This trophy is awarded to the highest-placed athlete in the USEF Young Rider Eventing National Championship and is open to riders age 16 through 21. The athletes meeting these criteria are Charlotte Babbitt (South Lake Tahoe, Calif.) and 2 A.M. and Sophie Click (Snoqualmie, Wash.) and Quidproquo.
All 12 CCI3*-L horses presented for the horse inspection on Wednesday passed and will begin competition with dressage beginning at 1:00 p.m. PDT on Thursday.
Galway Downs International is also hosting the 2020 Adequan® USEF Futures Team Challenge – West Coast. The Futures Team Challenge provides an opportunity for eventing athletes to gain valuable team competition experience in an unofficial team scenario on home soil at the CCI3* and CCI4* levels. Read more about the Adequan USEF Futures Team Challenge and see the team rosters here.
USEF Network will stream the CCI2*-L, CCI3*-L, and CCI4*-L from Galway Downs through the end of competition on Saturday, Oct. 31.Watch the live stream here.
A few months ago we began a series of Pressure Proof tips dedicated to the many different choices we have when thinking about our riding potential. We labeled these choices mindsets and discovered that some lead us towards growth, grit, and gratitude while others lead us in the opposite direction, towards feeling disappointed, defeated, and discouraged.
Spring and summer are on the horizon. As rider’s calendars begin to fill with horse trial, clinic, and schooling outing dates, organizing teams are busy with preparations to ensure smooth operations and a great experience for participants, horses, and spectators.
The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF)/US Equestrian has announced the appointment of former USEF Eventing Development Coach Leslie Law to the position of Chef d’Equipe and High Performance Manager for the Defender U.S. Eventing Team, and Karyn Shuter, who will take on the newly developed role of U.S. Eventing High Performance Advisor. Both Law and Shuter will begin in their respective roles immediately.
Last year was a big one for USEA Young Event Horse program graduate Arden Augustus. He made a successful move-up to Modified with Sharon White in the tack, followed by a smooth transition to Preliminary, then went on to win two CCI2*-S divisions and ended the year with a CCI2*-L win.