Usually a schooling series, in the wake of so many canceled 2020 events Carolina Horse Park’s popular War Horse Event Series (WHES) applied for USEA licensure to offer more opportunities for riders to compete at recognized competitions. New USEA divisions, offered at Beginner Novice/Novice/Training/Modified/Prelim levels, provide riders additional opportunities to gain qualifying scores for the AEC, USEA/USEF year-end awards and WHES November Championship qualification points.
WHES, whose title sponsor is Southern Pines Equine Associates, is continuing to offer its signature schooling show opportunities alongside the USEA recognized divisions, including a schooling horse trials (Maiden – Prelim), dressage ride-a-test (any level) and combined tests (Maiden – Advanced).
The first WHES in the 2020 series takes place this weekend in Raeford, North Carolina. Saturday is earmarked as schooling day; open to anyone, show jumping courses will be set in the Overly and Meadow Arenas that are different from that of Sunday’s competition. Likewise, cross Country schooling will allow access to water complex and other jumps but not in the same sequence as the competition. What an awesome opportunity to knock off the rust and build confidence.
The recognized competition follows on Sunday. Five dressage arenas will come to life at 7:30 a.m., with judges Sue Smithson (r/Eventing), Jan Jacobson (R-Dressage), Janie Malone (R-Dressage), Heather Hamilton Boyer (L) and Kris Hamilton (L) officiating. Riders will head off to tackle show jumping and cross country from there. If you’re a fan of one-day events, 2020 is your year!
Looking over the entry list, it looks like a lot of riders are looking to WHEAS to get back in the show ring. The first rider up the centerline today is local Will Faudree with Pfun, riding the 5*B test, followed by Ariel Grald with Leamore Master Plan, who was minted a five-star horse last year with 12th and 10th place finishes at Kentucky and Burghley respectively — they’re doing the Advanced combined test. Next in for an Intermediate combined test we’ve got Canadian team rider Dana Cooke with her 2019 Pan Am Games mount FE Mississippi, among several more we’d be excited to watch!
Sitting this weekend’s WHES out? The series continues through this summer:
Upcoming dates with links to USEA calendar listings include:
- War Horse Event Series July H.T. (July 12): Opens May 26, Closes June 23
- War Horse Event Series August H.T. (Aug. 23): Opens July 7, Closes Aug. 4
You can find info about the accompanying schooling horse trials, etc. at the Carolina Horse Park website. There’s plenty more on the Park’s calendar for this summer, too, including Dressage at the Park I & II at the end of June.
Helpful links for this weekend’s WHES Show:
- ** COVID-19 Information
- Schooling Day Information
- WHES HT, CT, D Information
- Entry Status (as of 6/12/20)
- Tentative Schedule (revised 6/10/20)
- Ride Times (revised 6/12/20)
- Orders of Go (Saturday)
- Stabling List
- Stabling Chart
- RV Camping
- XC Course Maps
- SJ Course Maps (available by 7am Sunday June 14)
- Competitor by Number
- Grounds Map
- Live Scoring
Welcome back, everyone. Best of luck to all, and have fun! Go Eventing.
