Classic Eventing Nation

Gemma Stevens Takes Thorseby Grantham Cup CCI4*-S Win + Other Updates from the Eventing Spring Carnival

By on Apr 6, 2026 11:46 am -

A bumper crowd for Thorseby’s Eventing Spring Carnival saw podiums overflowing with British equestrian talent, with winners crowned throughout the weekend across FEI divisions.

Gemma Stevens Captures Lycetts Grantham Cup CCI4*-S

Gemma Stevens and Cooley Park Muze. Photo by Tim Wilkinson/BEDE Events.

Gemma Stevens turns a day of mixed fortunes around to claim her first Lycetts Grantham Cup victory aboard the Rex Syndicates Cooley Park Muze.

“A very mixed day but Cooley Park Muze was the last to go of my 4 [horses] and he gave me the most wonderful ride,” commented Stevens, who last year took the second spot on the podium in both feature CCI4*-S sections. The duo were one of four combinations to score below the 30 mark in the dressage, and went on to produce two faultless jumping rounds, adding just 0.8-time faults from the cross-country.

“He’s only a young horse,” she said. “He did Blenheim 4* last year and then has come out here. It was a really tough course today. It caused a fair number of mistakes, including me on my first three horses but Cooley Park Muze, he’s a classy class boy and he’s very exciting for the future.”

Stevens was one of many competitors to lavish praise on the BEDE Events team for how they’ve developed their Spring international fixture over the past five years.

“The event itself is clearly now incredibly popular, it has grown so much in stature and its now got that real feel like it used to have at Belton with a proper country fair and loads of people to come and watch. It’s nice that it’s become as good as that (Belton) if not better. The way the course comes round here past us, it’s fun for everyone and you get to see it.”

Now in its fifth year, the Eventing Spring Carnival has gone from strength-to-strength with growing numbers of spectators year on year, all eager to get a glimpse of the stars of eventing up close.

Putting his “pedal to the metal” paid off for Will Rawlin and Badminton bound Ballycoog Breaker Boy as they claimed third place and the Polly Phillips Memorial Trophy. “I thought this is a strong track and they’ve upped their game, and they’ve built a very good track and good preparation for us riders that have got horses going to Badminton and I thought the ground is good why not give it a go, get stuck in and have a crack.”

“I thought right let’s put the pedal to the metal and he just cruised, I’ve never been so fast in my life probably and I surprised myself actually how fast we did!” Rawlin commented. “But I didn’t do much checking which I usually do, I usually micromanage every little stride and I just got in a good rhythm and he was with me all the way, absolutely chuffed.”

Tom Jackson and United 36 Victorious in BEDE Events CCI4*-S

A hugely successful weekend for Tom Jackson resulted in a win in the first CCI4*-S section aboard Michael Stenning’s United 36, as the only combination to complete on their dressage score. Initially sitting in fourth after the first phase, their turn of foot across the country sealed victory in a competition where cross-country time proved hugely influential.

Jackson was no stranger to the podium, taking second on the Grantham Cup section with Helen Scott’s Hawk Eye. “I’m really thrilled with all 5 horses that we’ve had here,” commented the British team rider who is soon to be heading stateside to contest the Defender Kentucky CCI5* with Plot Twist B. “They’ve all gone really well and jumped brilliantly today. A couple of younger ones that have had educational rounds and then a few older ones that are going on hopefully to 5*’s in a few weeks that also had good rounds.”

Max Warburton and Coburg took second, putting his previous “curse” behind him, and finding a new love for the venue. “Thrilled with him”, commented Warburton. “Coburg is a big big horse and perhaps Thoresby is quite a fast-paced twisty track, doesn’t necessarily suit him, he’s probably a bit more of a Bramham horse where it’s a bit more in their face but he was super. He was quick with his legs, and he stuck his head down and galloped as fast as he could, so we were very pleased.”

A delighted Izzy Cook completed the podium line up with her mother’s and Jim Chromiak’s Cymoon “F” Z. Having only stepped up to the 4* level in 2025, chasing the time wasn’t part of the plan but a quick horse helped her climb the leaderboard.

“I had an amazing ride cross-= country today. I didn’t even set out to be chasing the time but he’s such a good, quick, cross-country horse and he really locks on, and he made it feel easy even though it’s not easy but I couldn’t be happier. He’s a tricky horse on the flat so it’s really rewarding to get a good result at this level and in a strong field as well so I’m really happy.”

On a track that caused it’s own amount of issues, at various points around the course, Cook was beaming with positivity.

“I walked it (the course) and it was very inviting, well built, it was there in front of you but it had to be jumped you had to set up positively and mean that you’re going and you had to be on your lines, there wasn’t a huge amount of wiggle room so you had to just ride positively and trust that what you had walked was correct.”

Local Rider Lizzie Baugh Takes Rathbones CCI3*-S on Easter Sunday

Lizzie Baugh and Priorspark Royal Riff Raff. Photo by Tim Wilkinson/BEDE Events.

In the final day of competition it was the Rathbones CCI3*-S that provided the star attraction for Easter Sunday, a class filled with a truly international field and world class competitors.

A new partnership paid dividends for local rider Lizzie Baugh rose through the ranks to win the Easter Sunday Rathbones CCI3*-S aboard Anne Staley’s Priorspark Royal Riff-Raff.
Based just 10-miles from the event, Lizzie has been no stranger to Thoresby Park, and certainly no stranger to the podium. Producing two faultless jumping rounds, the pair rose to the top by the
slimmest of margins.

Speaking of her victory, Baugh commented: “Raffie (Priorspark Royal Riff-Raff) is a new ride for me. I’ve only had him a couple of months and this is my third event with him, so really, really pleased with how he’s gone. He’s been improving in all three phases, and this weekend it’s just all come together with him, and I’m absolutely delighted.”

With eight horses competing across the three days, Baugh has certainly built herself an impressive team around her, a team whose combined efforts earned her the title of Succeed Leading Rider and
a £500 bonus prize for her efforts.

The CCI3* section attracted over one hundred entries, including a raft of Olympians and world number ranked rider Harry Meade with five of his spring five-star targeted rides. With a course once again designed by Stuart Buntine it provided a fair test for both horse and rider. “I walked the cross-country track on Friday and I was like ‘oh, this is a little bit bigger than what I was
expecting’ but actually it rode brilliantly and I think that all of the tracks, they’ve all been a good test, and a fair test and they’ve all ridden really well,” Meade said.

In a close affair Ireland’s Sian Coleman and Kilroe Frolic held on for second, completing on her dressage score of 32.6, just 0.1 of a penalty behind the winner. Coleman was one of several riders to make the trip over from Ireland, targeting the good ground and atmospheric venue that the Eventing Spring Carnival has to offer.

Elite amateur rider Max Gordon, riding his and his parents’, Shades of Sligo II rounded out the podium placings, completing on 32.7. The 9-year-old has been taken through the grades by Gordon
and will look to spend the 2026 season consolidating their three-star form before re-targeting the four-star level at Blenheim Palace later in the season. “We’ve had him for a few years now; he’s been coming up the grades with me. I was really happy with him. Really good double clear, he show jumped beautifully. I think he’s really come on this year. He’s come out stronger, confident and he felt like he was having a really good time today so I’m really happy with him.”

Like many riders Gordon was quick to compliment the event team on the exceptional ground conditions and overall event feel. “The ground is fantastic. I really liked the course. It’s a little bit different this year, it was nice to have it moved around and I think it asks enough questions – it is testing but that’s what we come for at three- and four-stars. The course rode well and it rewarded a forward ride which is always nice, and I’m really pleased with it.”

Reigning Junior European Champ takes Arena Saddles CCI2*-S

Setting the standard from an early point and leading from start to finish was Junior European Champion Ella Howard, riding her father, Edward Howard’s, Marchwood. The established partnership produced a 27.5 dressage, and from there on only added a further 0.8-time penalties across the country.

The 15-year-old Rousseau sired gelding is now in his third season with Suffolk based Howard. In his illustrious career the striking chestnut has supported numerous riders in their early careers including Susie Berry, Chuffy Clarke and Daisy Bathe.

Speaking of the win, 18-year-old Ella Howard commented: “Last year I was lucky enough to win the Junior Europeans with Marchwood, so this year there’s definitely been a bit more, I guess, expectations and light pressure. So, it’s really nice to come here and have a really lovely event, with great ground and a really good course. He felt really confident, really happy, and really enjoyed it. It was a brilliant course to ride around.”

Slotting into second place, Bella Innes Ker and the Roxburghe Eventing and Barratt Eventing owned Mountgable Independent completed on their 29.9 dressage score, improving their
two-phase placing by one. Completing the podium line us was Dani Stewart-Richardson and MBF Touch Your Toes, owned by E and S Woolley. The pair originally sat 1.2 penalties behind Howard and
Marchwood, however 2-time penalties on the cross-country dropped them to an eventual third.

Speaking of the result Steward-Richardson commented: “I’ve had a really good ride on MBF Touch Your Toes, we’re really happy because his owners have come back over from Ireland which is brilliant. He’s come back to me after going to a couple of riders, and it’s like putting on an old pair of slippers- he just went really well. He’s a performer, when he gets to a show he tries a bit harder for you, he’s that type. I’m delighted, it was a great course, brilliant ground, great event.”

Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby Park (GBR): [Website] [Scores] [Live Stream Replays]

Liz Halliday Earns Para Dressage Grade, Reunited with a Special Friend in Latest Update

By on Apr 6, 2026 11:28 am -

Liz Halliday continues her remarkable recovery from a traumatic brain injury sustained in a fall on cross country in August of 2024, and her latest update is full of news we can all smile about.

Liz has been back in the saddle as much as she can, now up to riding three days per week at her own home base in Lexington, KY after spending the last few months riding at a facility nearby. She also welcomed back her longtime upper level eventing horse, Deniro Z, to the barn, and has been riding “Niro” as she prepares for her latest goal: para dressage.

Happy Easter everyone! I am continuing to make steady progress in my recovery, and being back home at my farm has been…

Posted by Liz Halliday Eventing on Sunday, April 5, 2026

“The best news yet is that I traveled with Mark and my mom last week to TerraNova in Florida so that I could be graded to compete in Para Dressage,” Liz posted on social media with the help of her team. “The grading didn’t involve riding this time but did allow officials to assess which group I belong in from a capability standpoint at this stage in my recovery. I am proud to say that I am now officially an FEI Grade 2 Para Dressage rider!”

For the uninitiated, para dressage is assessed at five “grades”, with Grade I being the “most severe” in terms of physical limitation, with tests performed only at the walk. Liz’s Grade II designation is described as “Walk and trot tests. Typically for riders with severe impairment in one or two limbs, or moderate impairment in all four limbs and trunk.”

“The Grade 2 FEI tests are based on movements at the walk and trot, and judging is based largely on the quality of the horse and its performance,” Liz’s update continued. “The tests are long and quite complex, and I’ve started practicing movements at home with the anticipation to dive back into competing this year. I also met a number of Para Dressage competitors at TerraNova, and they are an impressive group: resilient, friendly, and dedicated horsewomen. It was an amazing feeling to be with elite athletes who are living with and overcoming the same challenges that I am. We all know much more about the amazing sport of Para Dressage now and are ready to start digging into it. This is an exciting new direction in my career, and I’m so happy to be able to compete again. Onward and upward!”

For Grade II riders, there are several tests available that you can view here. For the Para Olympics (which, I think it’s safe to say are at least on Liz’s radar!), Grand Prix level tests are used. Inside these tests, riders need to perform movements such as leg yields, serpentines, transitions within gaits and even voltes (small, precise circles). There is also a Freestyle test used during the Para Olympics, which also contains similar compulsory movements.

We’re continuing to send Liz all of our love and support and these updates make our day — we hope they make yours, too! #KeepFightingLiz

Monday News & Notes

By on Apr 6, 2026 12:01 am -

One Big Thing: Through the ups and downs of event organizing, the Horse Trials Organizers Network seeks to provide support and camaraderie

Events big or small don’t happen without a massive support group. Photo by Christine Quinn.

One of the quiet truths of eventing is that some of the most important work in the sport happens far from the spotlight — on town land, at local schooling shows, and behind the scenes where a hardworking crew of volunteers somehow pulls off an event with equal parts grit, goodwill, and duct tape.

That experience is exactly what led Beth O’Malley to create the Horse Trials Organizers Network, a Facebook community designed to connect organizers, coordinators, and volunteers working to keep these vital events alive. “In true eventing fashion we get the job done, but I often wish I had a place to turn with questions or to learn from others doing the same work,” Beth said. With rising costs, increasing demands, and events closing across the country, the group aims to create a space to share ideas, swap resources, problem-solve common challenges, and support one another — all with the goal of strengthening grassroots events and, in turn, the future of the sport itself.

Click here to check out and join the community.

Major International Results/b>

Stable View Spring International & HT, CCI4*-S (SC, USA): [Website] [Scores] [Live Stream Replays]

Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby Park, CCI4*-S (GBR): [Website] [Scores] [Live Stream Replays]

US Weekend Results

Rocking Horse Spring HT (FL): [Website] [Scores]

CDCTA Spring HT (VA): [Website] [Scores]

Other Links & Reading

Sponsor Spotlight: Horsepal Announces an Exciting New Accessory

Horsepal has launched a new suite of products and app upgrades designed to help riders track horse health, fitness, and performance with more clarity.

The Horsepal system includes a Heart Rate Monitor and Training Belt for real-time ride data, an Equine Health Check Kit to help establish and monitor vital baselines, and an English saddle phone holder designed to improve ride tracking and gait analysis through the app.

Together, these tools help riders monitor heart rate, recovery, temperature, training history, and environmental conditions in one easy-to-use platform. Upcoming app upgrades will also include a personalized fitness test and goal-based training insights to help tailor conditioning programs for each individual horse.

As Horsepal’s Global Marketing Director Kim Kulers says, it’s all about “giving your horse a voice” — helping riders spot changes earlier, train smarter, and better understand how their horse is responding to work.

Horsepal products are available now at Horsepal.com and will be officially celebrated during Defender Kentucky, where the brand is sponsoring the Safety & Wellness Arena from April 23–26 and can also be found in the trade fair/sponsor village retail area.

[Read our review of Horsepal here]

Training Tip of the Day

Some horse health essentials from Dr. Erica Lacher, DVM:

Go Eventing

Ok, not quite eventing but an equally deserving moment from this week’s Global Champions Tour leg on Miami Beach:

Lucienne Bellissimo Ticks Off Another Win with Dyri at Stable View’s CCI4*-S

By on Apr 5, 2026 3:27 pm -

Lucienne Bellissimo and Dyri. Photo by Haley Boothe / Impulsion Media.

Add it to the pile! Newly-sworn in U.S. rider Lucienne Bellissimo and the 14-year-old Dyri added another stamp to their collection this weekend at Stable View’s Spring International & H.T., collecting the wire-to-wire win in the US Equestrian Open qualifier CCI4*-S division on a score of 27.7.

Those who have followed Dyri over the last few seasons will know that his partnership with Lucienne has been an exercise in trust and patience. After a truncated CCI5* debut last year at Kentucky, during which Lucienne opted to retire on cross country with the horse’s best interest in mind, she went back to the drawing board a bit. It’s normal, really, for horses to step down a level or two between major runs to ensure their confidence is peak and to reduce the top level wear and tear on their legs. Lucienne chose to go all the way back down to the Preliminary and CCI2* level after experiencing a few more runs with blips. Now, a year on from that re-approach, she’s beginning to really reap the fruits of that labor.

“I think the things that make him great are also the things that historically have given us occasionally a day of ‘okay, we need to go home and regroup,'” Lucienne explained. “He’s careful, he’s conscientious, he takes himself quite seriously, and he’s a little insecure — but he’s also a very genuine, quality animal that I have very, very high hopes for beyond the wins he’s already had.”

Lucienne also mused that Dyri’s slightly later-than-traditional start in the sport (he didn’t do his first FEI competition, at the 1* level with Germany’s Dirk Schrade, until he was 8) as well as his breeding (sired by Diarado, out of the Thoroughbred King Milford’s La Calera) lent themselves to some additional quirks to overcome. “He’s by Diarado, and I think that tends to be a little bit the way that stallion stamps his stock there,” she said. “On the one hand, they can be very flashy, moving and quite fabulous jumpers, but on the other hand, sometimes I think their brains can be a little bit slow to process, so they’re careful, but they can also be a bit slow to assess things. So, specific to Dyri on cross country, historically, ABC combinations, ABCD combination cross country — unless he’s very much in front of your leg and understands the question — he might just a little bit stop pushing and trying by the time he gets to a C element, if something’s asking a lot of him. This year, having dropped him back down to two-star to regroup, to three-star to regroup, I feel as though he’s actually now really starting to understand to keep pushing through his body when his brain doesn’t necessarily 100% know what’s being asked of it.”

And it was evident this weekend at Stable View: Lucienne describes Dyri as much more “in the bridle” that he had been in the past on cross country, something she credits both to his increased confidence and also his ongoing fitness accumulation. They also were completely unfazed when another competitor crossed directly in front of them ahead of a big open corner combination — something Lucienne says Dyri would likely have spun around and lost his marbles at in the past. All of that led to the pair catching the optimum time (6:54) on Helen West’s 4* track and solidifying their eighth win going back to August of 2025.

“Through the winter, I’ve done a lot of just homework with him, just bounce training and things for muscle memory that just speed him up a little bit as he’s looking,” Lucienne said. “I’m doing the best I can to try and get him so he’s capable of reproducing these sorts of results.” But all that said, the ever-competitive rider knows there’s still more work to be done if she wants to truly stand up to the formidable competition overseas (and of course within the U.S. itself).

“I’d like to get that down to some of these European results, where people are on a 22!” she said, sharing that her next run is at the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S during Defender Kentucky week (also a US Equestrian Open qualifier), where she’ll hope to build on these results ahead of a planned European trip that will either include a CCI5* run at Luhmühlen in June (Germany) or a CCI4*-L at Strzegom in Poland.

“It’s almost been a little bit like fate that it didn’t go through,” she continued, noting that she had considered selling Dyri on to another professional. “I feel like my little guy is suddenly come into a whole new chapter, which I’m really excited about. I’ve got a huge emotional attachment to him, because we have had some of my best results together. So I like to say I’m quietly optimistic that he’s on the up again, and I think they can bloom late in this sport — 15, 16, 17 — while still producing world-class results. So I’m hoping he’s going to be one of them.”

Allie Knowles and Montpellier Scais. Photo by Haley Boothe / Impulsion Media.

Kentucky-based Allie Knowles has put in the work producing a new generation of horses to the upper levels, and she capped off the latest in a good spring campaign with Montpellier Scais (a 9-year-old Anglo European gelding owned by Allie’s longtime supporter, Katherine O’Brien) with a second place finish in this weekend’s 4*-S on a score of 35.0. This weekend was the fourth Advanced/second 4*-S for Montpellier Scais, and Allie said she benefitted from taking her first ride, LS Crown Royal (also a rising star 8-year-old for Allie), out on cross country ahead in the order. “That was a really nice opportunity for me to see how it was riding and how the distances were so when I went out on Montpellier, which was only his second four-star, I knew a bit more about the track,” she described in a press release sent by Stable View. “I knew to put the pedal down and I knew there was an opportunity to move up. I kind of put his feet to the fire. It’s definitely the fastest I’ve run him and he was all business. I can’t even describe how proud of him I am. This was the first time he came out and I was like, ‘let’s go win this.’ Both of them just cruised around like champions.”

Waylon Roberts and Fernhill Salt Lake. Photo by Haley Boothe / Impulsion Media.

Representing Canada and his traditional speed when it counts, Waylon Roberts cruised home as the first one to make the time on cross country with Andrea McAllister’s Fernhill Salt lake to end the weekend in third overall on a score of 36.1. Fernhill Salt Lake is 11 this year and has done his entire FEI career to date with Waylon in the irons, dating back to 2022. Waylon also took a “drop back and build up” approach after first moving the Irish Sport Horse gelding up to the 4* level in 2024, and now he’s secured two podium finishes at the level since they returned to it. Waylon also took home eighth with Nicholas Cardamone’s Sieve Callan Alpha and 11th with Carol Riley’s Chevalier.

“I couldn’t be more excited for all three of them,” Waylon told the Stable View press team. “The course rode so smooth. I think Helen [West] did a fantastic job. The track really felt like a cross country track out there. It was challenging enough at times but then it wasn’t over the top, because we’re still early in the season preparing for four-Long formats. I thought it was just a great day of sport. This was a big day getting these three MERs at the level. Now all three of them are qualified to go four-Long. I think the plan is going to be to go show jump at Progressive Show Jumping [in Aiken] on the grass in a couple weeks and then aim them at the four-long at Tryon. Then we have the Bromont four-Long in our back pocket.”

Looking to the current US Equestrian Open standings after Stable View, Lucienne will net 60 points for her efforts, finishing both first and ninth with Dyri and Kitsch Couture HPK, respectively. This will give her a season total of 140, which will leapfrog her up to second place in the points standings behind U.S. Olympian Caroline Pamukcu with 145 points to date. Boyd Martin will remain on his season total of 95 points after withdrawing his two 4*-S mounts this weekend; unrelatedly, he had a fall with Mo Chroi in the 3*-S but confirmed to EN that he is “all good” and will live to fight another day. You can view the US Equestrian Open standings here.

Full scores from Stable View can be found here.

Stable View Spring International & HT, CCI4*-S (SC, USA): [Website] [Scores] [Live Stream Replays]

Sunday Links

By on Apr 5, 2026 12:01 am -

Lucienne Bellissimo and Dyri. Photo by Shelby Allen.

We’ll have a full recap coming your way soon from Stable View, but quickly let’s shout out Lucienne Bellissimo, who’s comeback tour with Dyri continued with a bang as they took home the wire-to-wire victory in the CCI4*-S at Stable View yesterday. The 4*-S also serves as a US Equestrian Open qualifier for the final in October. Lucienne’s taken her time building Dyri back up to this point after he experienced some confidence issues last year. The big picture, slow is fast approach is one we can all take a lesson from.

Boyd Martin had a fall in the 3*-S with Mo Chroi, and while it was reported on site that he’d gone to the hospital, this was later confirmed to not be true. Boyd did withdraw his two 4*-S rides, Commando 3 and Cooley Nutcracker, but confirmed to EN he’s “all good”. Stay tuned for our full Stable View recap coming your way first thing tomorrow morning.

Full Stable View scores can be found here.

 

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Meanwhile in the UK, Gemma Stevens took home the prestigious Grantham Cup CCI4*-S title at Thorseby’s Eventing Spring Carnival with Cooley Park Muze. This 10-year-old Irish gelding is a certain one to keep your eye on as he continues to gain experience at this level; he was second in the 8- and 9-year-old 4*-S at Blenheim last year, and there’s more sure to come from this next gen talent for Gemma.

Full Thorseby scores can be found here.

Major International Events This Weekend

Stable View Spring International & HT, CCI4*-S (SC, USA): [Website] [VIP Tickets] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby Park, CCI4*-S (GBR): [Website] [Tickets] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

US Events This Weekend

Rocking Horse Spring HT (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

CDCTA Spring HT (VA): [Website] [Entries] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

Links & Reading

Olympian McLain Ward’s Favorite Jumping Exercise

Training Tip of the Day

Tune in for dressage warm-up with Boyd Martin and coach Brett Parbery:

 

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Go Eventing

New Zealand’s Jesse Campbell has launched a YouTube channel with the help of our own Tilly Berendt. Check out the first episode:

Saturday Links

By on Apr 4, 2026 12:01 am -

Colleen Loach and FE Golden Eye. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Congratulations are in order (again!) for Canada’s Colleen Loach and FE Golden Eye, who’ve just been added to the Equestrian Canada Eventing High Performance National Team Program B list for 2026. You can view the full list for 2026 here.

Major International Events This Weekend

Stable View Spring International & HT, CCI4*-S (SC, USA): [Website] [VIP Tickets] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby Park, CCI4*-S (GBR): [Website] [Tickets] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

US Events This Weekend

Rocking Horse Spring HT (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

CDCTA Spring HT (VA): [Website] [Entries] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

Links & Reading

Training Tip of the Day

Need some help with your canter transitions? Try this tip from dressage pro Amelia Newcomb first:

Go Eventing

Watch out for this next generation! Here’s Jordan Phoenix jumping her first Novice round with mom Jessie’s former Olympic ride, Pavarotti:

Spring has Sprung at the Stable View Spring International with Lucienne Bellissimo Leading the CCI4*-S

By on Apr 3, 2026 6:31 pm -

Lucienne Bellissimo and Dyri. Photo by Dave Shapiro.

The first day of the Stable View Spring International started with 2/3/4* FEI Divisions, with the first riders going down the centerline at 8:20 a.m.

In the CCI4*-S ring, Boyd Martin and Lucienne Bellissimo took turns battling it out for first place with each of their two mounts continuing to outscore the other. For the first half of the day they took up four of the five top spots. However, at the conclusion of the CCI4*-S dressage Lucienne Bellissimo and Dyri were in first on a 27.7. Boyd Martin and Commando 3 were in second on a 28.5. Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Connor were in third on a 29.3 with Katie Lichten and Hickstead Musterd in fourth on a 29.5 and Boyd Martin and Cooley Nutcracker rounding out the top five on a 29.8.

At the conclusion of dressage only a rail separated the top ten before combinations took their turns jumping over Chris Barnard’s show jumping track. Only 34% of horse and riders managed a double clear; 45% of combinations kept all the rails up but were a touch too slow to make the optimum time of 77 seconds. The three leaders after dressage were three of the double clear rounds and managed to keep their placings headed into cross country. There was still plenty of shifting of the leaderboard with Alexandra Knowles and Montpellier Scais moving into fourth on a 29.8 and Elisa Wallace and Lissavorra Quality slipping into fifth on a 31.8.

Boyd Martin and Commando 3. Photo by Dave Shapiro.

When asked about her rides Lucienne Bellissimo shared: “Really happy with both horses today. Dyri was really relaxed in the dressage, his changes felt as good as I’ve had them; so it’s nice when that harmony comes out in the arena. Kitsch Couture HPK was much improved, I believe she’ll start creeping into the 20s later this season. Dyri tried 100% for me in the show jumping. I felt Chris built a slightly more academic track than previous years and I liked it made you choose the ride. Great to be in the lead, tomorrow is another day, and we’ll give it our best shot.”

When asked about his rides Boyd Martin noted, “I had two top horses here, Commando 3 and Cooley Nutcracker, and this is sort of their final event leading into Kentucky.” Regarding Helen West’s cross country track he shared, “It looks good. I think it’s a good, fair test to prepare the horses for Kentucky. It’s got some of the questions that we are going to be faced with, with a pretty serious coffin and plenty of brush. It looks like a nice and guiding course too, which should leave the horses nice and confident for April.”

Helen West, cross country course designer, shared that this event is often used as a stepping stone to Kentucky specifically for the CCI4*-S combinations. Helen explained, “With that in mind, I’ve incorporated elements riders may encounter there. You’ll see more use of brush fences, and the questions are designed to help.”

On the 4*-S, there are a few especially influential questions. Combination 5ABC is an early, influential question featuring a MIM Oxer to a MIM Oxer, followed by an acute left-hand brush corner on a related distance, ridden downhill on a bending line. Helen noted, “It’s an early question that requires accuracy and sets the tone for the rest of the course.”

Another question that should be influential is the GGT Water Complex which consists of a bold brush drop into water, followed by a bending five strides to two offset brush shoulders on a one-stride distance. Helen shared, “The unpredictability of the landing makes this a true test. Riders must react quickly to find the correct line on a fairly acute angle.”

The final combination that Helen spotlighted was the Easter Academy Alp located in front of the Pavilion. This question will be sure to have many spectators tomorrow watching horse and riders navigate this technical question that includes a MIM rail over a mound to a ditch, followed by a direct three strides to a narrow MIM triple bar, and four strides to a left-hand corner. Helen said, “It’s a combination that keeps riders thinking all the way to the finish.”

[Course maps will be made available soon here on CrossCountry App]

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Connor. Photo by Dave Shapiro.

The CCI2*-S and CCI1*-S divisions wrapped up dressage today. In the CCI2*-S Alexandra Knowles and Tip Top Quality are leading on a 24.0. Asia Vedder and Litmanen Z are in second on a 26.3 and Lucienne Bellissimo and Duke’s Jory are in third on a 27.6. In the CCI1*-S Zoe Crawford and Sportsfield Olympic Bay are leading on a 28.5. Hayley Frielick riding Dunedin LB Muze and Meaghan Marinovich-Burdick riding Excalibur O’Donoghue are tied for second on a 30.4.

For the complete leaderboard standings check out the live scores here.

There is still lots to happen tomorrow including the Training, Modified, and Preliminary divisions kicking off their competitions, cross country for the FEI, Intermediate, and Advanced, the VIP experience, shopping in vendor row, and test drives with Land Rover Defenders over the new Off-roading Experience at Stable View.

For those interested in navigating the Defender Course stop by the Defender tent located beside the covered arena tomorrow. Boyd Martin was the first to test out the course. He shared, “That was wild! I didn’t have any idea how epic the Defender Course was going to be. For any one sitting around at Stable View, jump in a Defender, and take a drive. It’s an unbelievable experience.”

Stable View wishes all competitors the best of luck tomorrow!

Stable View Spring International & HT, CCI4*-S (SC, USA): [Website] [VIP Tickets] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

Friday News & Notes from Stable View

By on Apr 3, 2026 12:01 am -

One Big Thing: SEE You In Kentucky

Strides for Equality Equestrians will be at the Kentucky Three-Day Event on April 24th with a night full of education, fun, gifts, and prizes!

First, the group will embark on a cross country highlight walk at 3:30PM with US 5* event rider and Kentucky Horse Park board member Sara Kozumplik and social media star Sydney Steverson. SEE will be livestreaming the walk on their social media for anyone who can’t make it in person, but if you’re at the park, make sure to stop by!

A cocktail reception will follow at the Mary Murphy Arena Pavilion from 5:00-7:00PM. The first 50 people to arrive at the at the reception will receive an exclusive SEE 2026 hat, and everyone can participate in a charity sweepstakes to win a hat signed by multiple 5-star riders with the winner announced Sunday morning. Five lucky raffle winners will get the opportunity to walk the Rolex Arena show jumping course with Sara herself on Sunday morning.

[Click here to pre-register to reserve your hat and win an extra entry in the stadium walk raffle]

Major International Events This Weekend

Stable View Spring International & HT, CCI4*-S (SC, USA): [Website] [VIP Tickets] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby Park, CCI4*-S (GBR): [Website] [Tickets] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

US Events This Weekend

Rocking Horse Spring HT (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

CDCTA Spring HT (VA): [Website] [Entries] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

Other Links and Reading

Sponsor Corner: Stable View 2026

This weekend is Stable View’s first international event of 2026: the Stable View Spring International & Horse Trials! You can find all event information in the show program here, including information about the US Equestrian Open Qualifier CCI4*-S, where the two current series leaders Boyd Martin and Caroline Pamukcu will be going head-to-head this weekend.

Make sure to register your IEL, Intercollegiate, Alumni, or Adult Team by emailing [email protected]. Single riders are welcome to submit their information for the creation of scramble teams.

Beyond this weekend, the 2026 season is set to be a great one at Stable View with events and activities every week. Check out their full year calendar below, and mark your own for some upcoming shows in Aiken!

Training Tip of the Day

Are you taking your horse’s temperature and checking their legs every morning? If not, you could be missing out on important health data that can provide you with an early heads-up should your horse become sick:

Go Eventing

We love when some of our favorite behind-the-scenes friends are recognized for the incredible work they do for our sport:

All Star Lineup On Tap at Thoresby’s Eventing Spring Carnival CCI4*-S

By on Apr 2, 2026 12:00 pm -

Emily King and Valmy Biats. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

World class eventing returns to Nottinghamshire’s Thoresby Park this weekend, as the Eventing Spring Carnival marks the first eventing international of the 2026 season on British soil. A key fixture in the British eventing calendar and one that consistently produced one of the very best 4* HPRs (High Performance Rating) over the last five years, makes for an exciting weekend of competition.

With the entry list reading like that who’s who of eventing, who are the stand out “ones to watch”?

Ros Canter has a substantial roll call of accolades and paired with Lordships Graffalo is simply sensational, ranking as the ones to beat in the Lycetts Grantham Cup, with a 34% win chance from the EquiRatings team, and a 54% chance of a podium. The key question remains will they be targeting a competitive run or are they simply setting themselves up for Badminton?

Emily King and Valmy Biats are two-times winners at Thoresby, and they started the season with a strong showing at Oasby winning the OI with a 22.7 dressage. They’ve excelled across the Thoresby parkland for the past three years, giving them a badge of Thoresby specialists, can they take the Cup for a record breaking third time?

When it comes to the Lycetts Grantham Cup, it might be the British riders who have dominated, but for 2026 there’s some notable international challengers. New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone and Rocket Man finished eighth at Thoresby last season, and since then have only finished outside of the top ten of a CCI4*-S on one occasion – that was their early season run at Kronenberg two weeks ago. They’re incredibly consistent in the jumping phases and excel in the dressage, making them a key combination to watch.

When it comes to the Rathbones CCI3*-S, world number one Harry Meade tops the list of one to watch, and with five of his most well-known stable stars entered you’ll be hard pressed to miss him. With Grafennacht, Et Hop Du Matz and Cavalier Crystal all double entered at Badminton and Kentucky CCI5*, Thoresby will be a key preparation milestone for these stand out five-star performers.

Friday’s Arena Saddles CCI2*-S is awash with up-and-coming stars such as world number one Young Rider Elizabeth Barratt, and world number one Junior Ella Howard. In addition to Olympic medallists Tina Cook and Japan’s Yoshiaki Oiwa with their younger stable stars.

Advanced tickets are still available to buy online, with the Easter Sunday Bundle – two adult tickets, car pass, and two Easter Egg Hunt tickets, for £35, offering a bargain price for a fun day out for all the family. Children under 14 go free on all days.

For those unable to attend in person, Horse & Country TV will be showing all of the cross country action live via H&C+. Plus Eventing Manager is back for another season, offering anew and exciting way to engage with the sport via manager.equiratings.com. Further information can be found via www.thoresby-horse.co.uk.

Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby Park, CCI4*-S (GBR): [Website] [Tickets] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

Access Eventing: In the Heart of America, Eventing Thrives at Wolfert Eventing

By on Apr 2, 2026 9:00 am -

We spend a lot of time highlighting the riders and the programs at the top of the sport, but we also should be talking more about how to grow the sport’s base. It’s no secret that membership and competition entry numbers aren’t exactly exploding. Many programs around the country (and the world) have found ways to make headway into the broader world by attracting budding riders to well-run riding school programs. This year on EN, we’ll be paying a virtual visit to several of these programs to ask them what drives them, how they’ve set their business up and what, perhaps, we can all take away when we think about growing the sport from the bottom up. Look for new installments of this series coming your way regularly. 

To read more from our Access Eventing series, click here.

Much has been said of the tribulations that upper-level eventers must withstand to achieve their professional and competitive goals. Even the most successful athletes operate on razor thin budgets and a need to have ongoing sales and consistent students to keep the wheels on the bus. For Kansas-based Julie Wolfert, these challenges are compounded by being based far outside of “hubs” like Areas II and III, for example. An average person would rapidly back away from the work needed to be part of that life. Julie has not only built a successful career at the upper levels of the sport but also a successful riding program for dozens of Midwest riders.

Celebrating Horses and People Spirit

Julie cheers on student Molly Gall at a Kansas City-area show. Photo courtesy of Molly Gall.

When you talk to Julie about how she found eventing and began her riding program, it’s easy to just be amazed that she even found this path. Her parents have never been active riders outside of the occasional pleasure ride. But they still decided to purchase a 40-acre farm outside of Kansas City when Julie was still a child for her mom, Susie, to establish a therapeutic riding program. They named the farm, which started as just open fields and a few sheds, Chaps for “Celebrating Horses and People Spirit”. “My mom just loves taking care of people and she’s so patient and good. That was her calling,” Julie says.

Growing up on a farm with horses meant that Julie was lucky to start riding at an early age. She successfully competed in the local hunter/jumper circuit with Kendall Lacey but had no knowledge of eventing as a sport until she watched the 1996 Atlanta Olympics on television. “I was like, oh my gosh what are they doing! They were galloping horses across the field and jumping big jumps,” she said. “I had no idea that eventing existed and was a sport.” At this point 16-year-old Julie’s riding focus shifted to how to be an eventer.

Julie Wolfert and SSH Playboy en route to winning the Morven Park CCI4*-L in 2024. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Julie went from zero knowledge about eventing to happily discovering Heritage Park horse trials just 10 minutes down the road in Olathe. “It was hiding in plain sight,” Julie recalled. She utilized all of Heritage Park’s resources and took to eventing like the proverbial duck to water. Julie was self-taught up to the Preliminary level with success when she found herself competing at the American Eventing Championships in Lamplight, IL. At the Championship Julie was stabled next to Emily Mastervich who she quickly connected with and realized could provide the professional assistance required to keep achieving her goals. “Emily helped me get to the Advanced level. I have always been based in Kansas City so I would commute from KC to Virgina for a few years. I don’t like doing clinics so she’s basically the only eventing trainer I’ve had!”

As Julie explored what it would take to be an eventer, she also began crafting her lesson program at Chaps. She was able to utilize her Mom’s therapeutic riding horses to teach basic walk/trot and lunge line lessons for local students. “I had about three or four lesson horses that I could use. They were so quiet that anyone could learn how to ride on them,” Julie said. As she expanded her knowledge base with working student positions for Emily it eventually came time for her to go off to college. However her attention was always truly stayed with her growing business and she always came back home to keep her program going. “I just knew. I went to college for one year and I was like, this is ridiculous. I want to be a trainer,” she laughed.

Midwest Resourcefulness & Program Management

Even the smallest students are welcomed at Chaps Equestrian Center in Bucyrus, KS! Photo courtesy of Julie Wolfert.

Today, Chaps Equestrian Center is fully owned by Julie and has been transformed into a full-service eventing facility. The 40 acres that started as just fields and a few sheds are now compromised of multiple barns totaling 15 stalls for about eleven or twelve horses. Four are Julie’s personal horses with the remaining being clients in training with her. She has large indoor and outdoor arenas and a cross-country schooling field. Julie laughs as she describes her schooling field as “a very Midwest cross country field.” It doesn’t have a water complex but is full of varying levels of jumps that she built or bought over the years including the ditch that she dug and built herself. This resourcefulness extends to how she manages day-to-day operations. “Believe me when I say I do not have any working students. I literally mow the fields and feed the horses. I am the trainer, the groom, I am everything. That’s just how I can keep it afloat and afford everything.”

It is important to note here how Julie has purposefully transitioned her program so that she is able to support her own riding goals while running a farm and manage a training and boarding program. Julie says, “When I was starting to develop the training program, I had a lot of lesson horses that could jump and all that. But then my program shifted where basically everyone hauls onto my farm with their own horse.” Her students range from entry level to the Intermediate International level. “I’m a pretty private facility where if you board with me, you are in training with me,” Julie continues. “I do it all myself so I do not want to have 20 horses on the property because I would run myself into the ground.”

As a working professional rider and trainer with her own facility, it would certainly be tempting for Julie to pack in as many boarders as possible onto her farm to help with overhead expenses, but this thoughtful management of her time and willingness to put sweat equity into her property is what contributes to her success. Though she limits the number of horses boarding at Chaps Equestrian Center and most of her students are haul ins, Julie still spends a significant amount of time teaching pony club and other students just coming into the sport.

“Many people assume that just because I ride at upper-level and have upper-level students that I won’t teach up-down lessons. Whenever I hear that it actually makes me angry. I enjoy my time with our local Pony Clubs and with students that are barely doing 18 inches,” Julie says, “I even have some western dressage riders and it’s been so fun working with them. It is a different take for them training with me and they like the fact that I can help them out even though they’re in western tack.”

Engaged Care

JWE students showing off their winnings at an Awards Banquet.

Since Julie’s training program is mostly decentralized, it would be easy for her to default to just teaching a lesson or coaching at an event and keep it moving to the next student. But she makes sure to involve herself in the education of her students’ horsemanship and care of their horses which is especially important living in a part of the country where everyone is spread out and a student might not have close access to institutional knowledge for sport horse care.

This can range from Julie noticing that a horse is struggling with an exercise and suggesting that the horse might be having a physical issue a veterinarian should address, to show turn out, to designing a conditioning program individualized for each horse so that it can be appropriately fit for its level. This is key in pancake-flat Kansas where sprint work is going to be more effective than your traditional long trot and canter sets. Julie also makes sure that her students know she is a resource when inevitable problems occur. “I get texts all through the day and sometimes night asking for advice when a problem comes up even though I’m not a vet myself,” she says.

Efficiency is important when you have as many balls in the air as Julie and that extends to how she teaches her students. “I enjoy seeing challenges and then trying to figure out different ways to help them understand something. Even if it’s a different way to explain to them how to put their heels down or how to close your lower leg around the horse,” she explained. Many times the fastest way to help a student along is to hop on their horse herself. “I might get on a horse and find that I’m doing stuff that I don’t realize I’m doing. It comes natural to me, but that might not come as naturally to my student.” This extends to cross country schooling if a student is having a problem with an element like a ditch. “I’ve found that students really do like (when I school their horse) because they might be really nervous and then they can see their horse do it. I can change the mood for the day and my student believes that they can immediately go do it,” she says.

Finding the Chaps Equestrian Center Community

Photo courtesy of Julie Wolfert.

Chaps Equestrian Center is located about 30 minutes south of Kansas City in blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Bucyrus, KS. The farm’s close location to an urban area and Mill Street Pony Club helps to keep Julie consistently busy with eager students. Along with her regular clients, she has also earned a reputation for being a coach who willingly helps people on the fly at a show. “I do a lot of catch training. I’ll get a message a week out from a show from someone saying they’re coming in from Minnesota and their trainer can’t make it,” Julie says. I can help them with the course walk and all that.” She has also worked with some students in a barter system where she can exchange discounted lessons for them feeding her horses while she is away competing. For Julie, it is all about being as flexible as she can be so that people who are dedicated to horses and eventing are able to continue their passion. She easily relates to students who drive two hours and more one way to learn from her. “I just really want the sport to keep thriving in our area and keep going. I will do whatever I can to help.”

This dedication has helped Julie build a 30+ student community made up of people from all around the Midwest. She is active on boards of the Mid America Eventing Association (MIA) and Heritage Park Horse Trials and regularly donates lessons to Pony Clubs that can be used for benefit auctions and trivia nights.

Julie maintains a welcoming ‘come one, come all’ attitude with her program. When she travels to Florida for winter training, she makes sure that her students know that they are welcome to join her even if it’s just for a few days. Also, a student does not have to be in regular training if they’d like to join her down South. “It helps me sleep at night that I’m helping everyone else. I’m just here to help people and I do what I can,” she says. “That’s definitely the Midwest in me.”

Oh, also, Julie competed in the Mongol Derby in 2022 alongside friend and longtime supporter Renee Senter. Photo by Bayarsaihan Ochiroo.

Though Julie keeps a jovial attitude while discussing her program, she does turn serious when discussing how she manages her students’ goal setting, expectations, and safety. “Being a trainer can be tricky because I’m also pretty close friends with them. I have to be able to turn off ‘friend Julie’ and turn on ‘trainer Julie’ and not worry about hurting someone’s feelings at the end of the day. What matters most is the safety and well-being of the student and I have to forget about how this might affect our relationship”, she says.

Julie has often had to have difficult conversations not just with riders, but also parents, to let them know that their expectations are greater than their current skill set or their child’s skill set. “I always say, this is a dangerous sport. You pay me for my opinion and you need to respect that. I have found people respect me almost more because I gave them my honest opinion and they do appreciate that I am looking out for them. I don’t sugar coat things. If they aren’t ready, I’m not afraid to tell someone that.”

This honesty also extends to a student with a goal such as competing at the American Eventing Championships but is reluctant to put the resources needed to travel out of the area to compete. This is especially important because a student may technically be qualified from results at local events but has not been to a show with a larger atmosphere. “If you’re going to go to AECs, you need to compete out of state and go places you haven’t cross country schooled before. So I have those conversations where I have to tell someone they aren’t ready and everyone respects that. And I appreciate it.”

Julie’s good-humored attitude returns when discussing her community. Most of her students are adult amateurs who can honestly tell her when they show up that they haven’t been able to ride their horse for a couple of weeks. Like most of us, her students rely on their time at her farm as a break from real-life problems and primarily want to have a fun time while learning with their horse. She says, “We’re all a community and we like to randomly do things together. We’re all horse people and we all have that in common.”

Julie Wolfert is an Eventing International CCI 4* rider with several top ten finishes at the level including a CCI4*-L win in October 2024 with SSH Playboy at Morven Park in Leesburg, VA. In 2022, she completed the Mongol Derby in East Asia and in 2025 she was awarded the Amanda Pirie Warrington Grant by the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation. She owns Chaps Equestrian Center, an eventing sport horse training facility in Bucyrus, KS.