Tamie Smith, seen winning the CCI3*-S on Lillet 3 at the 2025 Twin Rivers Fall International,
returns to competing in her home state at the event in 2026. Atalya Boytner Photography
Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, CA, will host its annual Twin Rivers Fall International this weekend, September 18-20. The event will partner with the US Equestrian Open for the CCI4*-S competition, and Tamie Smith, the current points leader in the national eventing series, will make her return to competing in the United States following the FEI World Championships at Aachen in Germany.
In addition, the USEA Young Event Horse Series will host a qualifier on the road to the YEH West Coast Championships for 4- and 5-year-olds that Twin Rivers Ranch will host on Oct. 23-24.
There will be FEI competition from the one-star to four-star levels, as well as national levels from Introductory up to Intermediate. Dressage for all levels will take place on Friday. The FEI dressage tests will be overseen by FEI president of the ground jury Bea di Grazia and jury member Helen Brettell, with the national level tests judged by horse trials president of the ground jury Wendy Wergeles, along with Laurel Bruun, Vicki Stashuk-Matisi, and Loris Henry.
The FEI levels will show jump on Friday as well on the course designed by William Robertson and finish their competition with cross-country on Saturday on the four-star course of Morgan Rowsell and the one-to-three-star tracks designed by Adri Doyal. National levels will be divided for show jumping and cross-country over Saturday and Sunday.
Smith has three entered in the CCI4*-S in what is her first FEI event on the West Coast this year. The U.S. national team rider changed her usual competition schedule and spent more time to start 2026 at events on the East Coast and in Europe, rather than in her West Coast home base. Highlights included winning CCI4*-S competitions at the Carolina International in North Carolina in March with Lillet 3 (S.I.E.C. Livello x Princess L), at Ocala in Florida in April with Jump To Day D (Up To Date x Nicola D), at the Kentucky Three-Day Event in April with “Lillet,” and at Tryon in North Carolina in May with Danito (Dancier x Wie Musik).
Madeline Backus and Baratheon, who were second at Advanced at the 2026 Twin Rivers Summer Horse Trials, return for the CCI4*-S. Atalya Boytner Photography
Those four-star victories have given Smith the lead in the US Equestrian Open standings. The series winner will be awarded the lion’s share of $50,000 prior to the $200,000 US Equestrian Open Eventing Final at Morven Park in Virginia from October 9-11.
Smith then went overseas with Lillet, most recently representing the United States at Aachen. Twin Rivers’four-star represents the return to competition for Danito and Jump To Day D. She has also entered Spiro P (Spiros Z x Ugomein), on whom she won the CCI3*-S at the Carolina International.
“I’m super excited to be home,” Smith said. “I missed my home base in California so much. It’s always exciting to be traveling, and I’ve had the opportunity to be able to go east and compete at some really incredible venues this spring and then go over to England, Germany, Ireland, and Scotland to be able to solidify what we did on the East Coast. But honestly, there’s no place like home. So, I’m thrilled. I’m really happy with how the horses feel. I have a great team and excellent help with people that helped me when I was away for the time I was in England.”
Madeline Backus is returning from Colorado for Twin Rivers’ fall four-star with Baratheon (Holster x Bewitching Mist) after the pair finished as reserve champions at the Advanced level in their Twin Rivers debut this summer. “We had such a great time at Twin,” Backus said. “It was just what we needed as prep for Rebecca, and albeit a long drive, we were so welcomed and really enjoyed getting to know the people and competitors there.”
Also in the four-star field, Gabrielle Shank and Billy (VDL Cardento 933 x Good Girl VD Noordheuvel) were second in the first four-star for rider and horse at Aspen Farm in Washington in June. Brennan Kappes and Camarillo (Chicardo x Rehobeth) are coming off a win in the Area VII Intermediate Championship at Equestrians’ Institute at the end of August.
James Alliston and Made By Leontine EB winning the CCI3*-S at the 2026 Twin Rivers Spring International. Emma Gray for Atalya Boytner Photography
The field of 15 for the CCI3*-S includes some of the West Coast’s best at the three-star level. There are the top-two at the level from the 2026 Twin Rivers Spring International — James Alliston and Made By Leontine EB (Scuderia 1918 Casago x Jackpot E.B.) and Lauren Shady and Clearsky (Clearway x O Corrado II). In addition, Mickayla Howard and Miss Tique (Graf Top x Miss Calido) and Andrea Baxter and The Big Easy (Mr Lincoln B x PLS Hippo Q) were one-two in the CCI3*-L at Twin Rivers in the spring.
When the three- and four-star levels show jump on Friday night, there will be a wine tasting and charcuterie hosted by the United States Equestrian Team (USET) and US Equestrian (USEF). The organizations are offering the hospitality in recognition of the valuable role that owners play in the success and growth of the sport of eventing in the United States.
Twin Rivers Fall International (CA): [Website] [Entries/Timing/Scores] [Volunteer]
