Phillip Dutton and Ben in the CIC***, photo by Samantha Clark.
Want to know what’s happening at Rebecca Farm? Keep checking this page for the latest updates and see what you’ve missed. Many thanks to Samantha Clark for her excellent coverage!
Rebecca Farm Links:
[Website]
[Schedule]
Kristi Nunnink and R-Star win the CIC3* at Rebecca Farm
Kristi Nunnink and R-Star won the CIC3* at Rebecca Farm for the second year in a row. Katie Ruppel and Houdini finished second, Katy Groesbeck and Oz The Tin Man finished third. Check out the rest of the top 10 and a few photos from Bill Olson.
Julie Wolfert: A Brilliant XC Round
Julie Wolfert is a top notch rider from Kansas who agreed to write for us a little bit about her first experience at Rebecca Farms. Julie and her OTTB Buenos Aires will be contesting the CCI2* for the first time, and after putting in a solid dressage test, they stood 6th at the end of day one. They were one of the few to complete the XC double clear, moving them into 3rd place going into show jumping today!
Sometimes all the stars align and so it was this afternoon at Rebecca Farm. When Hawley mentioned that her four star superstar Ginny hadn’t jumped since the show-jumping at Rolex due to Hawley’s injury a few weeks ago, and that she was thinking about asking four star superstar and Rebecca Farm xc designer Ian Stark to give her a pop for her, the wheels were set in motion for magic to happen! Don’t miss these photos and video of Ian and Ginny!
Katy and Emilee – 1,2,3 in the Rebecca Farm CIC*** after XC
Today’s press conference was unlike the usual, sometimes rather stiff question and answer affair; best friends and barnmates Katy Groesbeck and Emilee Libby brought along some more friends, Bill Olson and competitor Jordan Taylor, and we all got carried away and chatted happily for almost half an hour! Read about their rides in this interesting interview with Hawley Bennet’s top pupils.
Katy Groesbeck and Hawley Bennet’s Rebecca Farm CIC*** XC Report
Katy Groesbeck didn’t put a foot wrong today on Ian Stark’s demanding CIC3* cross country course and now occupies the top two spots with her Anglo-Arab full brothers Oz Poof of Purchase and Oz The Tin Man after bringing them both home clear and inside the time. Others in the top 10, including overnight leader Phillip Dutton, had some trouble.
Rebecca Farm CCI** Cross Country
Well done to Lisa Marie Fergusson who brought both her horses home clear inside the time, and Feral Errol keeps his dressage lead as we head into the show-jumping on Sunday.
Team Rebecca’s Rebecca Farm CIC3* Dressage
Phillip Dutton riding Team Rebecca’s Ben took a commanding lead of the CIC*** division this afternoon, giving himself an eight point cushion ahead of his closest rival, Kristi Nunnink on R-Star in second place.
I was sorry to miss the first test of the division, Lisa Marie Fergusson and Feral Errol as they set a standard that wouldn’t be matched and take the overnight lead with a score of 44.3. You can find all the scores here. A few points in arrears Frankie Theriot rode her little mare Uphoria into second place on 48.5. despite a nearly fourteen point gap between two of the judges.
Local Montana News Features Rebecca Farm & Ian Stark
Cross-country course designer Ian Stark was interviewed by KAJ18 News in Kalispell, Montana to talk about this year’s course. It’s great to see the local news out supporting the event!
Photos from the CCI* & CCI2* Jogs at Rebecca Farms
Luckily for us, our good friend Leah from Dapplebay is there on location for her first trip to Montana and couldn’t wait to snap some photos of the riders and their beautifully turned out horses.
Let’s Get to Know Marc Grandia
Marc Grandia hails from Washington State and is riding Fernhill Eagle in the CCI* here at Rebecca Farm in only their second competition together. Learn more about them in this interview.
Let’s Get to Know Katy Groesbeck
Katy has two horses – and full brothers no less – in the CIC*** here at Rebecca Farm, and it was an absolute pleasure to chat to her after her training session with David O’Connor.
Zach Brandt on Ian Stark’s Rebecca Farm CIC3* XC Course
USEF U25 rider Zach and his horse Cavallino Cocktail are in something of a unique position as they prepare to tackle Ian’s CIC3* xc course here at Rebecca – they have experience both with Ian’s courses at Galway having competed there for many years, and also have had a taste of the East Coast scene having jumped beautifully round the Jersey Fresh CCI3* this spring. As such, it seemed like a no-brainer to corner him after he’d walked the course for the first time and ask him for his thoughts about it, and how it stacks up against the others.
The CCI* and CCI** trotted up this morning; all the horses were accepted but Tamie Smith withdrew Ixiom from the CCI*. Read the full report with lots of photos.
Let’s Get to Know Katie Ruppel and Houdini
Katie Ruppel is back in Montana after a year’s hiatus, and this time with her lovely young OTTB Houdini to contest the CIC 3*. Although he’s pretty special to watch now, Katie told me that she spotted him at Charlestown Racetrack and because it was raining she didn’t even see him trot up but went on gut and how much she liked him walking down the shed-row. Learn more about them in this interview.
Hawley Bennett and First Day at Rebecca
The state of California is very well-represented at Rebecca; after all, it’s only a 20-something hour drive! I was thrilled to catch up with one of the State’s most beloved imported eventers, Hawley Bennet to find out why Ginny is here, looking amazing but she’s not riding her?
Julie Wolfert: Arriving at Rebecca Farms
ulie Wolfert is a top notch rider from Kansas who agreed to write for us a little bit about her first experience at Rebecca Farms. Julie and her OTTB Buenos Aires will be contesting the CCI2* for the first time, and hoping to make a splash! They haven’t been worse than 3rd place in all of 2012 or 2013 at the Intermediate level, and were recently 2nd at the CIC2* at Weatherford & Greenwood Farm HT. Good luck to Julie, and thanks for reading!
Welcome to The Event at Rebecca Farm and your CIC*** XC course pics!
Welcome to Rebecca Farm! Blue skies and hot sunshine means the water pods and sprinklers are working overtime to ensure the best possible footing on Ian Stark’s tracks here in Montana. The scenery is incredible, and matched by the hospitality of the crew here making sure that this really is an amazing destination event. Each year the event grows, both by the numbers of competitors and in stature.
