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.
The horses in trainer Joe Davis’ barn at Horseshoe Indianapolis don’t just get standard hay in their nets each day. Throughout the afternoon, Davis or one of his employees opens the HayGain machine that sits at the end of his shed row and pulls out a warm, beautiful-smelling bale of freshly-steamed hay to fill their nets.
Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered! Check out the USEA’s Weekend Quick Links for links to information including the prize list, ride times, live scores, and more for all the events running this weekend.
Last month, readers met VIP Volunteer Rebecca Proetto, who volunteered at the MARS Maryland 5 Star horse inspection. This month, the focus turns to husband and wife Ed and Leanne Barnett who introduced Proetto to the art of running an efficient horse inspection at Maryland. Ed and Leanne undertake a 12-hour drive from their home in Indiana to Maryland just to volunteer at the event.
The USEA is saddened to share the passing of Sara Kozumplik’s five-star partner As You Like It at the age of 34. The gelding died in his sleep at his retirement home at Kozumplik's parents' residence.