Sandwiched between Los Angeles and San Diego is Temecula, California, home to one of the most popular venues for eventing on the west coast, the Galway Downs Equestrian Center. The 240-acre facility hosts one of the last Hylofit USEA Classic Series events of the season at the Galway Downs International Event and Horse Trials on November 1-4. Rebecca Braitling and Dassett Ricochet rested on their dressage score of 24.60 to secure the win in the Training Three-Day. Jordan Crabo on Black Gold earned second place, and Cecily Bonadio on Just Off Broadway rounded out the top three.
It was love at first sight when Braitling spotted Dassett Ricochet while horse shopping for her client, Victoria Klein, in the UK over this past summer. 'What a good-looking horse,' Braitling thought to herself as the Dassett Eventing team brought out the striking 6-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding. “He was trotting around, and I was super impressed. My client was like ‘I’m buying him!' I said maybe just have a sit first, turns out he was far too green for what she was looking for. I was secretly excited to climb on myself and have a try, and I loved him.”
By trusting Braitling’s professional opinion and years of experience riding at the upper levels of eventing in Australia, Europe, and both coasts of the United States, Lauren Burnell purchased Dassett Ricochet sight unseen. “I called Lauren Burnell and said, ‘I’ve found a horse I love, and I think you will too.’ It’s fun because we found my client, Victoria Klein, the horse of her dreams on that trip, but she also gets to take pride in the fact she was a part of it all. It worked out for all of us, Lauren imported [Dassett Ricochet] without ever having met him!” emphasized Braitling.
The minute Dassett Ricochet aka ‘Jimmy’ landed in the U.S., it was clear he would become a barn favorite with his puppy dog personality. “He’s so fun around the barn, very laidback but also highly motivated at times. He loves to talk to all the horses in the warmup when they go by, it’s so funny.”
With hopes to be trotting down another jog strip next summer, Braitling shared, “I’d love to move him up to Preliminary in the spring and shoot for a summer one-star.”
From running steeplechase at the four-star level to teaching young horses about endurance at Training level, Braitling stressed the importance of the long format. “I grew up doing long format and even competed at the last long format held at the Adelaide CCI4*. [Dassett Ricochet] is a Swedish Warmblood so I felt it was important he learns about distance and endurance at an early age. I think it’s so valuable for a green horse to be developed with those same goals in mind.”
Amateurs, young riders, and professionals - the Hylofit USEA Classic Series is open to everyone that wants to relive the ‘thrill of the 'chase.’ Braitling explained, “I think it’s important the Training Three-Day isn’t just something amateurs or young riders are involved in, but remains so useful for professionals with up-and-coming horses to learn about the sport.”
About the Hylofit USEA Classic Series
The Hylofit 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 Hylofit USEA Classic Series event during the year will have the chance to win a variety of prizes at the events and will also be entered in a drawing held at the USEA Year End Award Ceremony for a year’s supply of SmartPak supplements and a custom fitted Stackhouse and Ellis saddle. Click here to learn more about the Hylofit USEA Classic Series.
The USEA would like to thank Hylofit, Parker Equine Insurance, FLAIR, SmartPak Equine, Stackhouse & Ellis Saddles, and Eventing Training Online for sponsoring the Hylofit USEA Classic Series.
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.
Just like that, let the official countdown to the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event begin! This year's entry list for the CCI5*-L was revealed today, and the star studded list includes former Kentucky champions, six of the world's top 12 eventers, Olympians, and so much more.
After two years on the East Coast, the United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) is thrilled to be packing our bags and heading West for the 2025 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds. On August 26-31, top USEA competitors from near and far will converge on Galway Downs in Temecula, California, for the annual championship that celebrates every level of the Olympic sport of eventing from Starter through Advanced. This year’s event will again feature the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final and the USEA Adult Team Championships.
Since 2006, the Broussard Family Charitable Trust has supported the sport of eventing in the U.S. and the careers of countless U.S. event riders through multiple grants including the Rebecca Broussard Developing Rider Grant (2011), Le Samurai Fund (2008), Cindy Burge Memorial ECP Grant (2006), Broussard Family Charitable Trust Going Forward Grants (2020), and the Rebecca Farm Travel Grant (2011). The USEA Foundation is excited to share that the Broussard Family Charitable Trust continues to remain committed to its support of these grants and has announced the following enhancements for 2025.