GRC Photo
Stable View Farm will host its first Advanced horse trials on Oct. 1 and 2 this fall, offering $65,000 in prize money in the hopes of drawing a large crowd to the top-notch facility in Aiken, South Carolina. The top finishers in the Advanced division will share a $50,000 prize purse, with the other National divisions splitting an additional $15,000.
Capt. Mark Phillips designed the new Advanced track, with builder Eric Bull putting his signature stamp on the look and feel of the course. Stable View hosted a record number of entries last week for its spring recognized horse trials, and owners Barry and Cyndy Olliff hope the new Advanced horse trials will also attract new competitors to the facility.
Stable View is also excited to partner with Plantation Field and Fair Hill to launch the new 21 Challenge Series for young riders. All riders under 21 will have the opportunity to accumulate points on a series leaderboard while competing in the Preliminary or CIC* divisions at the spring horse trials for Stable View, Plantation Field and Fair Hill.
GRC Photo
To be eligible for a series award, riders must attend the 21 Challenge Series kick-off event at Stable View on March 21-22, 2017, and then compete in at least one other spring horse trials at Plantation Field or Fair Hill. The top three riders will receive a Stable View prize package that includes one month of free board, apartment accommodations on-site, and training sessions at the facility during the 2018 winter season.
Training sessions for each young rider will be arranged with resident Olympians or top clinicians who will be in Aiken for the season. Boyd Martin and other top riders base out of Stable View during the winter, and past clinicians at the facility include William Fox-Pitt and Phillip Dutton.
Carla Geiersbach, executive director at Fair Hill International, said she is excited to see a series for young riders that will give them access to train with international level riders. “By targeting the Preliminary and one-star level competitors, we will work together to help the next generation of the sport. High school and college is the time when young people are determining their path.”
GRC Photo
Mary Coldren, organizer for Plantation Field Equestrian Events, echoed Carla’s sentiments and said she is thrilled to see Stable View spearhead the effort for the 21 Challenge Series. “We are excited to work with Stable View to encourage and support the young riders in the sport and to give them this opportunity,” Mary said.
All eyes will be on Stable View’s inaugural Advanced horse trials in October, but the facility will also hold a slew of combined tests, jumper shows and dressage shows throughout the spring, summer and fall. Stable View’s popular “Under the Stars” series alternates dressage and jumper shows every Wednesday evening throughout the year.
Click here to check out the full calendar of events at Stable View and here to view the omnibus listing for the Advanced horse trials on Oct. 1 and 2, 2016. Stay tuned for full dates and more information on the 21 Challenge Series, which kicks off in 2017. Go Eventing.
