Pine Top is bracing for frigid temperatures this week. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
As much of the East Coast is bracing for Winter Storm Octavia, Pine Top is preparing for unseasonably cold temperatures to impact this week’s event in Thomson, Georgia, where Derek di Grazia’s new Advanced course will be unveiled.
A schedule change has been announced as a result. While the Advanced divisions were originally scheduled to run in a one-day format on Friday, the divisions will now be held across two days.
Dressage will now start at 10 a.m. EST Friday for both the Advanced A and Advanced B divisions. Advanced A will have show jumping on Friday afternoon, while Advanced B will show jump on Saturday morning. Both divisions will then run cross country on Saturday afternoon.
The CIC2* and CIC* will still run in a one-day format on Friday. The Preliminary/Training and Training divisions will still have dressage on Saturday, but show jumping and cross country have now been moved to Sunday.
See the bottom of this post for the full amended schedule. A final schedule of divisions and ride times is expected to be available on Wednesday.
“We appreciate everyone’s patience as we prepare for freezing temperatures,” Pine Top organizers Glenn and Janet Wilson said. “We have great courses prepared for the event and want every competitor to have the chance to compete in a safe qualifying event.”
Competitors with on-site stabling are advised to prepare for freezing temperatures. To protect the water pipes on the grounds, direct access to normal water sources will be limited. Competitors should pack additional buckets and containers to carry water, which will still be available on the grounds at all times.
Competitors with RV hook-ups should prepare for water shutoffs starting Wednesday night, when temperatures are expected to dip into the teens, with frigid temperatures also expected for Thursday. Here’s a look at Weather.com’s projected forecast for Thomson, Georgia, during the worst of the cold snap:
Screenshot via weather.com
Thankfully, temperatures are looking much improved for Saturday (54 degrees) and Sunday (69 degrees). Click here to check out the full list of entries at Pine Top Advanced, where many top horses are expected to have their first big run of the season.
The event is still looking for volunteers: dressage scribes, bit checkers, stadium jump crew and fence judges. Grab your Under Armour and Carharrts and contact Janet Wilson at [email protected] if you’re available to volunteer on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
Pine Top Advanced Links: [Website] [New Schedule] [Entries]
New Pine Top Advanced Schedule
Friday
8 a.m. EST: FEI In-Barns Inspection
10 a.m. EST: Dressage: CIC*, CIC2*, Advanced Division A, Advanced Division B
12:30 p.m. EST: Show Jumping (in the following order): CIC*, CIC2*, Advanced Division A ONLY
2:30 p.m. EST: Cross Country (in the following order): CIC*, CIC2*
Saturday
8 a.m. EST: Dressage: Intermediate, Preliminary, and Training
9:30 a.m. EST: Show Jumping: Advanced Division B
11:30 a.m. EST: Show jumping (in the following order): Intermediate, Preliminary
1 p.m. EST: Cross Country (in the following order): Advanced Division A, Advanced Division B
Sunday:
9 a.m. EST: Show Jumping (in the following order): Preliminary/Training, Training
9 a.m. EST: Cross Country (in the following order): Intermediate, Preliminary, Training
