United States Eventing Association

USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships Kick Off at Maryland International

Adamstown, Md.—July 5—More than 100 horses danced between the boards at Loch Moy Farm despite the heat on the opening day of the Maryland International and USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships.

Competitors in the Young Rider Championships were full of smiles after their final salute, bringing new enthusiasm and excitement to the ring. The Young Rider Championships have been particularly festive this year with an Opening Ceremony that ended with a water balloon fight and hobby horse races on Thursday.

Lizzie Hoff is leading the CCI3*YRC-S with her own HSH Limited Edition (Sibon W x Tinirana Velvet). Hoff has ridden the 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse for the entirety of his FEI career, bringing him up through the levels herself.

“I was really happy with my ride today,” Hoff said. “He’s a very big horse so it can be a little harder in the dressage to get him round. He was very relaxed, which is something that we’re always striving for with him. But he went in and focused and did his job, and I was really happy with him.” Originally from Seattle, Hoff is currently based with Caroline Pamukcu on the East Coast. This is her third year in the Championships, but this year Hoff is the only rider from Area VII.

“I’m a bit sad to not have my friends with me,” Hoff said. “But it’s also a really good opportunity for me to meet people out east. The girls that I’m on the mixed team with are really nice.”

Tomorrow's cross-country will run over Ian Stark's final FEI course at Loch Moy as he'll be retiring at the end of the year.

It's been hot and dry in Maryland, but the track has been treated. The course builders have been out on course with aggravators and sprinklers to ensure the ground is horse-friendly. “The aggravators basically shake the ground and break up the dirt, so it’s softer, much nicer for the horses,” Stark said.

Young riders in the CCI3*-S division will tackle 25 different questions, which also make use of the terrain on site and twists and turns through the fields that comprise Loch Moy Farm. Hoff is looking forward to the challenge. “[HSH Limited Edition] is a big horse, and it’s a twisty course, so it might be tough to keep up with the time with trying to make the turns and everything. But, he’s done a few three stars now, so I’m pretty confident in his experience at the level," she said.

Thirty-seven young riders are competing this weekend across the CCI3*-S, CCI2*-S and CCI1*-S divisions. There are eight teams in total with seven individuals.

In the three-star, the Area II team is leading on a score of 106.5. In the two-star, the combined team from Areas I, V, and III is leading on a score of 83.80. In the one-star, the team from Areas IV and V is leading on a score of 87.4.

Saturday begins at 8 a.m. with show jumping for the CCI4*-S, followed consecutively by cross-country. All FEI levels, excepting the Young Rider divisions will show jump tomorrow between 8 a.m. and 1:55 p.m. Cross-country will run concurrently with show jumping from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. The Young Rider divisions will run cross country starting at 10 a.m. before finishing up with show jumping on Sunday, followed by an awards ceremony.

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