Classic Eventing Nation

Horse Fatality Reported at Florida Horse Park’s Ocala Fall H.T.

By on Oct 6, 2025 1:31 pm -

Erin Farrell and Atavious. Photo by Sally Spickard.

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Ataviuos, owned and ridden by Erin Farrell, following an accident during the Ocala Fall Horse Trials at the Florida Horse Park in Ocala, Florida, on Sunday.

Erin and Ataviuos, a 7-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Hard Spun x Wild Silk), were competing in the Intermediate division. Erin, a talented young rider, had developed a strong partnership with Ataviuos through the levels, and he was greatly loved by those who knew him.

The horse will undergo a necropsy at the University of Florida Veterinary Hospital for further examination. Erin was uninjured in the incident.

The Florida Horse Park Organizing Committee and the USEA extend their sincere condolences to Erin and everyone connected to Ataviuos. We take all such incidents seriously and will thoroughly review the circumstances to enhance safety measures and reduce risks within equestrian sport.

‘Rolan’ Out the Red Carpet for the US Equestrian Open at Woodside

By on Oct 6, 2025 1:11 pm -

James Alliston and HMR Rolan. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

The CCI4*-S at the 2025 Woodside Fall International on October 3 and 4 served as the final of 20 qualifiers in the new US Equestrian Open Eventing Series. However, the end of the series really represented the beginning of exciting possibilities ahead for the riders of the top finishers.

James Alliston and HMR Rolan followed up their victory in their four-star debut two weeks prior in the Twin Rivers Fall International with the win in the CCI4*-S at The Horse Park at Woodside. That now has Alliston and owner Anna Nicholas looking ahead to taking on the best on the East Coast in 2026, starting with the CCI4*-S that’s held at the Kentucky Three-Day Event. The long-term dream is the 2028 Olympics. The 9-year-old bay gelding (Tolan R x Aldatus Diamond) registered with the Warmblood Studbook of Ireland shares has the same sire, Tolan R, as 2024 U.S. Olympic horses HSH Blake and Cooley Nutcracker.

“What a bright future he has, so we’re just trying not to get ahead of ourselves and look after him and keep him healthy and pick the right classes for him,” Alliston said. “For all the owners, it’s so exciting to have [the Olympics] as a possibility when you have a horse with a lot of talent and potential.”

Alliston and “Rolan” took the lead with zero jumping penalties on William Robertson’s show jumping course at Woodside and then clinched the victory with the fastest round on Derek di Grazia’s cross-country course. Their final score was 37.2.

“He has that relaxed mind,” Alliston said. “He just has that great show mind where he obviously gets amped up for the jumping and running around, but it doesn’t seem to boil over when he needs to be relaxed in the dressage, which is a huge asset.”

Tamie Smith and Danito finished second, leading Smith to declare that “he’s back.” They turned in the best dressage score of 28.1 before judges Valerie Pride and Helen Christie. They added one rail in show jumping and just time on cross-country for a final a score of 48.1.

Danito was second in the 2022 Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill and has represented the United States on Nations Cup teams in Europe. After missing more than a year of competition from May 2024 to August 2025, Smith is eyeing the summit of the sport again with the now 16-year-old chestnut Hanoverian gelding (Dancier x Wie Musik) owned by Ruth Bley.

“He feels great and so on it; he’s an old pro,” Smith said. “He’s feeling really strong and happy to be back.” They’ll aim for the CCI4*-L at Galway Downs in Temecula, California, at the end of the month, and then “we want to keep trucking along,” she said.

Tamie Smith and Jump Today D. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Smith was scheduled to hop on a plane immediately after Woodside to be in Virginia for one of the biggest events of the year at Morven Park this coming week. She’ll partner with Kynan (Envoy x Danieta) in the CCI4*-L that will serve as the $200,000 US Equestrian Open Eventing Final. She’ll also ride Sumas Tina Turner (Quantino x Sumas Fanny Brice) in the CCI3*-S.

The Horse Park at Woodside brought the curtain down on the inaugural year of qualifiers for the US Equestrian Open Eventing Series, with executive director Steve Roon saying, “To be part of all the other wonderful events that make up this series that is bringing so much positive recognition to equestrian sports is a tremendous honor.”

Spectators attending a USEF Eventing Pathway Panel led by Tamie Smith, James Alliston, Molly Duda and Ellen Ahearn. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

The teams at The Horse Park and Gray Area Events collaborated with US Equestrian (USEF) and the United States Equestrian Team Foundation (USET) to host a panel about the Eventing Pathway Program featuring Alliston, Smith, Molly Duda, and Ellen Ahearn during a Welcome Social Happy Hour on Thursday. The national team riders led a course walk for owners.

“Having USEF and USET come out and recognize the owners and do a course walk and get the recognition out there for everybody, I think it’s super important, and it’s really refreshing to see the effort they are putting in,” Smith said.

There was a VIP experience available to all that attended show jumping on Friday afternoon in conjunction with the FEI Happy Hour & Appetizers Presented by Harrell Design + Build held in the Bay Arena Viewing Tent.

Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

“We love it; it’s awesome,” Alliston said. “The US Open in its first year, it’s great for the sport. I wish I could do [the finals at] Morven, but I plan to do it next year. It’s really nice that USEF and USET came out for this and made the owners feel special and maybe galvanized some new owners for Californian riders. We love having that presence here.”

Smith also captured the CCI3*-S with Jump To Day D and the CCI2*-S with Solaguayre Cantata. This was the first FEI event together for Smith and Jump To Day D, an 11-year-old grey Dutch Warmblood gelding (Up To Date x Nicola D) owned by Jeanne Shigo. They had zero jumping penalties and finished on a score of 43.2.

“I spent the year getting his strength, and the three-star was very strong,” Smith said. “It was quite difficult—a typical Derek course. It was awesome to be able to have that kind of difficulty of a course and to have the confidence in Derek to know it can be done. You had to fight for it out there, and he was great. He was such an honest horse, and he absolutely loves his job. He was squealing the whole way and happy.”

Lauren Billys Shady and Clearsky were reserve champions, also with zero jumping penalties and finishing with a score of 45.3. This was the first completion in an FEI event for the Puerto Rican Olympian since giving birth to her first son, Ben, in March.

“I have a lot of gratitude when I get to ride,” Billys Shady said. “I feel like having the baby made me more fierce of a competitor, which wasn’t what I expected, but is truly how I feel.”

Billys Shady is hoping to return to the Olympics after representing Puerto Rico at the 2016 and 2020 Games, and Team Latoni’s 10-year-old grey Holsteiner gelding could be the partner to make those dreams come true.

“He’s beautiful to ride,” she said. “He’s so fun to ride because he’s all in. He’s very genuine in his character. He understands something, or he’s always trying to understand something. There’s never a moment when he’s not trying to be a part of the team, and it makes me have a lot of trust and faith in him and the future of our partnership.”

Tamie Smith and Solaguayre Cantata. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Solaguayre Cantata, an 8-year-old Argentine-bred mare (Canturo x Solaguyare Clarita) owned by Julianne Guariglia, followed up her win in the CCI2*-S at Twin Rivers with another victory at the level, finishing on a dressage score of 28.6 at Woodside. In six FEI events together at the one- and two-star levels, they’ve won three times and finished second three times. Their record is a testament to the partnership they’ve developed since the mare first came to the United States.

“She’s been really difficult,” Smith said, with a laugh. “As a really young horse, she was very difficult. This year she’s kind of come into her own. She’s very opinionated. She’s a ‘Latin Lady.’ I love it because you want them to have a little bit of fight in them, and now she really eats up courses and is really solid.”

Helen Alliston and Fary Prince were reserve champions with a score of 32.6 in the FEI debut for the 6-year-old bay British Sport Horse gelding (The After Party x Farytale Cooley) that was the 5-year-old reserve champion at the Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) West Coast Championships last year.

Stephanie Goodman and Cord Johnson. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Woodside’s CCI1*-S went to Stephanie Goodman and Cord Johnson with a score of 34.8. The 7-year old bay Hanoverian gelding (Cordess 2 x Canstakkia) is well-traveled, competing in events in Florida, California, Washington, and Montana this year.

The Woodside Fall International was the final of three USEA-recognized events held at The Horse Park at Woodside in 2025.

Woodside Fall International (CA): [Website] [Scores]

Area II Crowns Champions at Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm

By on Oct 6, 2025 12:58 pm -

Tim Bourke and Sing To Me Cooley. Photo by Kira Topeka for Erin Gilmore Photography.

Fall kicked off in grand fashion at Loch Moy Farm this weekend as the USEA Area II Championships were hosted alongside the Land Rover West Columbia Maryland Horse Trials. Competitors had the benefit of lovely weather and top-quality jumping courses from the Netherlands’ Andrew Heffernan as well as jumping designer Kathy White.

Area II Championships were hosted from Starter level and up. Kicking things off on Saturday morning was a catch-ride crowning for Tim Bourke of Ireland. Bourke piloted Hedgerow Farm’s Sing To Me Cooley to the Preliminary Championships on a score of 33.2 after steadily climbing the standings. They earned the sole double clear round of the division to seal the win. He’s been riding the 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare since 2024 and has finished in the top five or better more times than not, capping off a competitive season at the Preliminary and CCI2* level on a high note with this victory.

Avery Cascarino and Excel Star Quidam’s Cavalier. Photo by Kira Topeka for Erin Gilmore Photography.

Area II Young Rider Avery Cascarino was victorious in the Modified Championship, teaming up with Gloria Cascarino’s Excel Star Quidam’s Cavalier on a final score of 30.5. This is Cascarino and the 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding’s fourth Modified win this year and will be feeling confident for their next steps as the season winds to a close.

Rachael Livermore and Accuraat Z. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Rachael Livermore won the Open Training Championship with Abigail Akre’s Accuraat Z, an enthusiastic 9-year-old Zangersheide gelding, on a score of 28.6. Livermore shares the ride with Abigail, who competes Accuraat Z herself at the Novice level while balancing her work and family life. This weekend marks the gelding’s third win at Training level.

Emma Whitaker and HSH Golden Boy. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Emma Whitaker and Hedgerow Farm’s HSH Golden Boy were the winners of the Junior Training Championship, moving up in show jumping to take the win on a score of 30.0. Originally campaigned by CCI5* rider Allison Springer, HSH Golden Boy has been partnered with Whitaker since 2023, starting out at Beginner Novice and eventually stepping up to Training level after a string of competitive finishes at Area II Championships at the Novice level. Since then, they’ve finished on the podium nine times at the level.

Martin Douzant and Frame Nantucket. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Professional rider Martin Douzant of France took home the top honors in the Open Novice Championship aboard his own Frame Nantucket S, a 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. This is Frame Nantucket S’s first season of eventing here in the U.S, and he’s had a successful spring and summer of Novice-level competition, finishing in the top three five times including this weekend’s result. Douzant is a well-known producer of young horses, emphasizing correct production and confidence-building with the horses that come into his program.

Quinn Miller and Jules Verne. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

One of the horses that’s come through Douzant’s program is Jules Verne, a 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding who won the Junior Novice Championship with Quinn Miller. This pair led the division wire-to-wire and finished on their dressage score of 29.2. This marks Miller’s first win with Jules Verne, as well as a personal best finishing score, besting their previous top score by over 6 penalty points.

Liana Theroux and Our Golden Chance. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Area II Adult Rider Liana Theroux and Elizabeth Bales’ Our Golden Chance were crowned Open Beginner Novice champions, also leading start to finish and ending on their dressage score of 23.8. Impressively, Theroux and Our Golden Chance, who is a 14-year-old off-track Thoroughbred, now add on to a string of victories in 2025 – they’ve not lost out on a win this year in six starts at the Beginner Novice level. Our Golden Chance was a royally-bred racehorse, with his sire, Golden Missile, a multiple Graded Stakes winner who made over $2 million on the track. He’s now an experienced eventer, helping riders such as Young Rider Championship competitor Reese Dellangelo get their starts in the sport.

Claire McMillan and RVR Coldstone. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Claire McMillan and Catherine Schroeder’s RVR Coldstone, a 7-year-old Westphalian gelding, picked up the start-to-finish win in the Junior Beginner Novice Championship on a final score of 29.1. This is a newer partnership that just began in the spring of this year, and this weekend marks their first win together.

Stella Uiterwaal and Crossfire. Photo by Lindsay Berreth for Erin Gilmore Photography.

To close out the day of Championship show jumping, Stella Uiterwaal and Lauren Sumner’s Crossfire came from behind to win the Open Starter Championship on a score of 26.7. This was the second recognized start for Uiterwaal and Crossfire, a 16-year-old former racehorse who is the namesake of Sumner’s Crossfire Farm in Damascus, MD.

Rounding out our Area II Champions are Carmen Defelice and Anne Hendey’s Bazinga, a 17-year-old Thoroughbred gelding by Belmont Stakes winner Victory Gallop. This pair were also wire-to-wire winners, ending the weekend of a score of 28.3.

Competition for the remaining non-Championship divisions wrapped up on Sunday, and full scores and results can be found on EventEntries here.

Loch Moy Farm and The Maryland Horse Trials extends its gratitude to title sponsor Land Rover West Columbia, which was on-site all weekend with display vehicles and representatives, with a rider Hospitality Tent in service throughout the competition. Many thanks are in order for our additional event and facility sponsors, our officials and volunteers, media team and all of the individuals – and horses – who make these weekends possible.

Loch Moy Farm will next welcome riders October 11-12 for the penultimate Dover Saddlery MDHT Highland Series competition of the 2025 season, presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services. The MDHT Highland Series features unrecognized competition for Intro through Preliminary levels, and this weekend represents the final competition ahead of Championships in November. More information can be found here.

The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm / Area II Championships (MD): [Website] [Scores]

Monday News & Notes from Morven Park Fall International

By on Oct 6, 2025 12:01 am -


Major International Events

Happy travels and best of luck to EN’s own Ema Klugman, who frequently works as a columnist for us, as she and the Chriaz Syndicate’s Chiraz head overseas to Military Boekelo’s CCIO4*-L this weekend. They’ve been tapped as part of team Australia, and this first international trip is a big accomplishment. Stay tuned for more from Boekelo all week long on EN as Tilly Berendt provides us with a look at the action, thanks to the support of Horsepal.

Major International Events

LOTTO Strzegom October Festival CCI4*-L (Poland): [Website] [Scores] [Live Stream Replays]

U.S. Events This Weekend

The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm / Area II Championships (MD): [Website] [Scores]

Woodside Fall International (CA): [Website] [Scores]

Apple Knoll Farm H.T. (MA): [Website] [Scores]

WindRidge Farm Fall H.T. (NC): [Website] [Scores]

Ocala Fall H.T. (FL): [Website] [Scores]

Middle Tennessee Pony Club H.T. (TN): [Website] [Scores]

News & Reading

Entries close TONIGHT! We’re teaming up with Sentinel Horse Nutrition to give away a year’s worth of Sentinel Horse Feeds! This sweepstakes is accepting entries until 11:59 p.m. ET on October 6. You can full the full terms and conditions + enter for your chance to win a big break for your bank account here.

Vittoria Panizzon of Italy is keeping things in the family as she competes not one, not two, but three offspring from her London Olympics mare, Borough Pennyz. This makes a total of five offspring that Vittoria has bred via embryo transfer and subsequently competed. You can take a dive into these promising young horses here.

How should you handle wounds when they (inevitably, because one of the best skills horses possess is the ability to hurt themselves in increasingly creative ways) happen to your horse? Of course there are varying degrees of severity at play here, you can find some advice on treating, sterilizing and protecting wounds here.

Sponsor Corner: Morven Park Fall International

It all comes down to this week! We’ll see you soon in Leesburg, VA, where nearly 40 competitors are poised for competition in the $200,000 US Equestrian Open Final at Morven Park’s Fall International. General admission for this event is free (and you can check out available VIP/upgraded experiences here), just register here for your free ticket. We’ll have the schedule and Ultimate Guide on how to follow coming your way soon, but in the meantime check out all the need-to-know on attending here.

Video Break

Meet Alex Conrad and off-track Thoroughbred Malibu Preacher, who are one of the pairs we’ll see this week in the US Open Final:

Eventers Represent in Nominations for 2025 FEI Awards

By on Oct 5, 2025 9:00 am -

Laura Collett and London 52. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Three eventers are recognized on the nomination list for this year’s FEI Awards, given annually at the end of season to deserving individuals and organizations.

Among the nominees are 2025 European champion Laura Collett (GBR) for Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete, which celebrates the best athletes across each FEI discipline. Laura is joined on the list by dressage athlete Justin Verboomen (BEL), endurance rider Marijke Visser (NED) and show jumper Richard Vogel (GER).

Thijs Boon (BEL) is nominated for the FEI Rising Star Award, given to young athletes who are emerging on the international scene. Thijs, 17, was fourth in the FEI Eventing European Championships for Juniors and Young Riders this year with his father and Dutch Olympic rider Maarten Boon’s (really a “family horse” as Maarten describes it; he himself competed the KWPN mare through the 4* and World Championships levels) Gravin van Cantos. This pair to watch hasn’t finished outside of the top five in FEI competition since they teamed up in 2024!

Last but definitively not least is Adam Short, who’s been Tom McEwen’s top groom (and, let’s face it, life manager/coach/therapist, probably) for five years, nominated for Cavalor FEI Best Groom.

You can view the full list of nominations, which include those for the FEI Inspire Award that recognizes initiatives and individuals who make an impact on equestrian sport, as well as learn how to cast your votes here.

Sunday Links

By on Oct 5, 2025 12:01 am -

Enjoy some ideal #goeventing scenes from Middle Tennessee Pony Club H.T. in Nashville to kick off your Sunday!

Did you know this event is the longest continuously running horse trials in the U.S.? The very first event took place in 1953, with equestrian journalist Miss Margaret Lindsley Warden helming the project. She then went on to found the Middle Tennessee Pony Club the following year and set another milestone here: this was the first chartered chapter of the Pony Club.

Following Miss Warden’s death in 2007 (at the age of 103!), the event has carried on in her tribute thanks to the dedicated efforts of organizing crew comprised of former Pony Club members, volunteers and community members.

Take a dive into the history books on Middle Tennessee Pony Club H.T. here.

Major International Events

LOTTO Strzegom October Festival CCI4*-L (Poland): [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream]

U.S. Events This Weekend

The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm / Area II Championships (MD): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Volunteer]

Woodside Fall International (CA): [Website] [Entries/Times/Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Volunteer]

Apple Knoll Farm H.T. (MA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Scores] [Volunteer]

WindRidge Farm Fall H.T. (NC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scores] [Volunteer]

Ocala Fall H.T. (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scores] [Volunteer]

Middle Tennessee Pony Club H.T. (TN): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps]

Links & Reading

Entries close tomorrow night! We’re teaming up with Sentinel Horse Nutrition to give away a year’s worth of Sentinel Horse Feeds! This sweepstakes is accepting entries until 11:59 p.m. ET on October 6. You can full the full terms and conditions + enter for your chance to win a big break for your bank account here.

Nicole Nair: Young Eventer, Wise Horsewoman

Cross Country Proves Influential at Osberton International

Different types of clips for horses explained, including diagrams

Thoroughbred Logic, Presented by Kentucky Performance Products: Track Tight

Video Break

More eventing feels, this time courtesy of the Maryland H.T. and Area II Championships at Loch Moy Farm:

Goresbridge To Offer Prize Money for 2025 USEA Young Event Horse Championships

By on Oct 4, 2025 9:00 am -

Diego Farje and Schmick show off the after-burners. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

For the first time since the program’s inception, the United States Eventing Association (USEA) is proud to announce that prize money will be awarded at the USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) Championships on both the East and West Coasts this year. This milestone achievement is made possible through a new partnership with Goresbridge, one of the world’s premier sport horse auction houses.

As part of their commitment to supporting the future of eventing, Goresbridge will provide $1,000 in prize money to both the 4-year-old and 5-year-old YEH Champions at each coast’s championship. In addition, each winner will receive a certificate redeemable as a credit toward the purchase of a horse at the prestigious Goresbridge Go For Gold Sale, taking place in November of this year.

The 2025 USEA YEH East Coast Championships will be held Oct. 16–17 at the Maryland 5 Star in Elkton, Maryland, followed by the West Coast Championships on Oct. 24–25 at Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be partnering such an important occasion in the world of eventing,” said Ed Donohoe of Goresbridge. “It’s great for us to have this opportunity to promote both Goresbridge and the Go For Gold sale to one of our most important markets. Customers in the USA have been great supporters of the sale, and our presence here allows us to showcase this year’s Go For Gold sale, which offers the best young Irish event horses in the country.”

“We’re incredibly grateful and excited to welcome Goresbridge as our first prize money sponsor for the YEH Championships—a milestone that reflects growing support for the future of the sport and the talent of young horses,” said Molly Pellegrini, YEH Committee Chair. “This partnership not only rewards excellence but also inspires the next generation of champions.”

The USEA Young Event Horse Championships are designed to identify and encourage the development of exceptional young event horses at the 4- and 5-year-old age group, showcasing their talent and potential for the upper levels of the sport. The addition of prize money and incentives from Goresbridge marks an exciting new chapter in the program’s continued growth and impact.

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Oct 4, 2025 12:01 am -

Entries are now live for the final CCI5* of the year in France at Les 5 Etoiles de Pau October 23-26! We’ve got a full field of 68 horses entered for 51 riders representing 11 countries. We’ll have a much more robust entry preview coming your way soon, but we wanted to at least give you a peek while we work on it! Quickly though, or the U.S., we’ll have nine horses entered:

  • Jenny Caras and Sommersby
  • Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl
  • Tiana Coudray and D’Artagnan
  • Cosby Green and Highly Suspicious
  • Cosby Green and Jos UFO de Quidam
  • Emily Hamel and Corvett
  • Boyd Martin and Cooley Nutcracker
  • Boyd Martin and Fedarman B
  • Grace Taylor and Game Changer

But that’s not all! We’ll have a pretty impossible field to handicap, with Tom McEwen (GBR) entering JL Dublin as well as Brookfield Quality, Laura Collett (GBR) with Dacapo and Hester, Tim and Jonelle Price (NZL) with eight horses between them (this will be whittled down closer to the event), and oh – who’s that? One Ballaghmor Class on the list for Oliver Townend (GBR)?

We could go on and on, but you’ll have to wait (im)patiently just a bit longer for the full deep dive. You can, however, see the full list for yourself here.

Major International Events

LOTTO Strzegom October Festival CCI4*-L (Poland): [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream]

U.S. Events This Weekend

The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm / Area II Championships (MD): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Volunteer]

Woodside Fall International (CA): [Website] [Entries/Times/Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Volunteer]

Apple Knoll Farm H.T. (MA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Scores] [Volunteer]

WindRidge Farm Fall H.T. (NC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scores] [Volunteer]

Ocala Fall H.T. (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scores] [Volunteer]

Middle Tennessee Pony Club H.T. (TN): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps]

Links & Reading

Only a few days left to enter! We’re teaming up with Sentinel Horse Nutrition to give away a year’s worth of Sentinel Horse Feeds! This sweepstakes is accepting entries until 11:59 p.m. ET on October 6. You can full the full terms and conditions + enter for your chance to win a big break for your bank account here.

Spokane Sport Horse Hosts USEA Classic Series Event

What would happen if I did a Trust Fall exercise with USEF?

Remembering Jane Goodall and the Lessons She Left for All Animal Lovers

Stretch Tall With Your Upper Body and Down In Your Seat—At the Same Time

Sponsor Corner: World Equestrian Brands

Comfort and function can coexist, and the proof is in forward-thinking products like Vespucci leather goods, available at World Equestrian Brands. With details such as single padded crownpieces and protective leather layers on the underside of buckles, Vespucci bridles lend a touch of elegance to their horse-friendly fit with ease. You can shop for your own Vespucci here.

Video Break

Have you heard about our latest challenge? We’ll see you at Maryland…

Equestrian Canada’s Eventing High Performance Advisory Group Announces Country Yucca Eventing Travel Grants for U25 athletes

By on Oct 3, 2025 9:00 am -

Saffron Klotz and Ballingowan Clarity. Photo by Cealy Tetley.

Equestrian Canada’s Eventing High Performance Advisory Group is pleased to announce the Country Yucca Eventing Travel Grants for U25 athletes, designed to assist young Canadian eventing riders in furthering their competition experience either across North America or overseas.

These grants have been established and named in honour of Country Yucca, a pony with a huge heart and personality ridden by Nick Holmes-Smith, who later represented the Canadian Eventing Team at the Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992 Olympics.

“In the 1970’s to early 1990’s as an eventing competitor I struggled to afford the costs of traveling and competing. I am now very happy to be able to help today’s riders with their financial challenges,” says Holmes-Smith.

Emily Gilbert, chair of the Eventing High Performance Committee remarked: “We are deeply grateful to Nick Holmes-Smith for his generous support of the Eventing HPAG’s vision and strategy. His commitment helps us expand programming and opportunities for U25 athletes and exemplifies the spirit of giving back to the sport of Eventing.”

Awarded once per calendar year, grants will be distributed to up to four recipients at the discretion of the selection committee. $20,000 CAD total will be awarded once per year with grants of $5,000 for travel within North America or $10,000 for overseas travel.

The grant must be used toward:

  • Travel expenses (flights, fuel, horse transport)
  • Entry fees and stabling
  • Accommodation during the event
  • Veterinary and health certificates for travel
  • Other approved competition-related costs

Eligibility: To be considered for the grant, applicants must:

  • Be aged 16–25 as of January 1 of the competition year
  • Be actively competing at the Training level or above
  • Be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada
  • Demonstrate financial need and clear competitive goals
  • Have a plan to compete outside of their home region, either across North America or internationally
  • Be in good standing with Equestrian Canada

The selection committee will take into account the competition performance record of the athlete/horse combination, giving specific consideration to Athlete/horse combinations who have achieved a Target Performance Result as outlined in the full criteria. Preference will be given to Athlete/Horse combinations having completed a CCI2*-L or higher.

For the 2026 competition season the application timeline is as follows:

  • Applications Open: October 1, 2025
  • Deadline to Apply: November 1, 2025
  • Recipients Notified: December 1, 2025

How to Apply

Applicants must submit the following information to the Eventing HPAG at [email protected]

1. A personal statement (max. 750 words) including:

  • Your competition goals
    Why this grant is important to your development
    How you plan to use the funds

2. An outline of travel plans

3. A detailed budget breakdown of estimated travel expenses

4. One reference letter from a coach, mentor, or federation official

5. A competition resume from the last 2 years

The Inspiration: Country Yucca represents the resilience of a true cross-country athlete. Yucca loved cross country and was well-known with his signature bald face and four white socks – he was hard to miss. At first, some might have thought Yucca was too small to jump the more advanced fences, but he quickly proved otherwise. Nick and Yucca were kindred spirits, small and carefree, enjoying galloping over the countryside in the southern Okanagan, British Columbia and all-over North America. Nick has influenced many Canadian eventers over the years, including several riders who have gone on to wear the maple leaf. Bruce Mandeville, Rebecca Howard and Michael Winter have all been fortunate to have worked with Nick on their road to representing Team Canada

Friday News & Notes from Stable View

By on Oct 3, 2025 12:01 am -

Boyd Martin has taken home a nice bonus to lead him into a busy (and potentially lucrative) October: he’s been confirmed as the winner of the $25,000 US Equestrian Open of Eventing series leaderboard prize! His season total of 260 points, earned from his best six finishes at 4*-S qualifiers in 2025, bests Phillip Dutton, who earns $15,000 for his runner-up tally of 235. Caroline Pamukcu gets one step closer to her mom car with a $10,000 bonus with a third-best total count of 215, helped along by a big surge at Stable View Oktoberfest last weekend. All three riders will face off once more in the Final, where the season tallies are erased and the winner will take the big share of the $200,000 prize money.

Ahead of next week’s final, US Equestrian will be releasing eventing-related episodes of their series The Open Road. Earlier this year, several episodes following the show jumping Open were published, and you can view them on the US Equestrian YouTube channel here.

Here’s a peek at the upcoming episode of The Open Road:

Major International Events

LOTTO Strzegom October Festival CCI4*-L (Poland): [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream]

U.S. Events This Weekend

The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm / Area II Championships (MD): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Volunteer]

Woodside Fall International (CA): [Website] [Entries/Times/Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Volunteer]

Apple Knoll Farm H.T. (MA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scores] [Volunteer]

WindRidge Farm Fall H.T. (NC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scores] [Volunteer]

Ocala Fall H.T. (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Middle Tennessee Pony Club H.T. (TN): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps]

News & Reading

We’re teaming up with Sentinel Horse Nutrition to give away a year’s worth of Sentinel Horse Feeds! This sweepstakes is accepting entries until 11:59 p.m. ET on October 6. You can full the full terms and conditions + enter for your chance to win a big break for your bank account here.

“European Championships course-designer Mark Phillips should be very pleased with what he did,” writes Andrew Nicholson, who penned an opinion column for Horse & Hound looking back on the European Championships at Blenheim last month. Andrew breaks down the German performance, debriefs on the surprising result for the Brits and looked ahead to the future of some up and coming teams here.

Show jumping is a technical sport, and when you apply it through the lens of eventing and adapting to a horse that has done at least one other phase before your round, the importance of having a flexible plan is underscored. We can learn a lot from those who spend their time exclusively in the show jumping ring. While our courses may not be as technical as some you’d see in jumperland, there are many subtle ways to get caught out if you don’t plan — and factor your horse in accordingly. Germany show jumper Ronny Reiner checks in with Practical Horseman to offer some advice on smart course walking here.

Sponsor Corner: Stable View

Photo by Christine Quinn Photography.

Registration closes today for the October Eventing Academy at Stable View, October 10-12! Get in some casual practice (or gear up for your next big event and get some tune-ups in!) with two schooling days followed by an unrecognized competition. You can take part in some or all of the weekend, and you can enjoy some of the jumps and course portions from Oktoberfest one more time. More information here!

Video Break

Mia Farley and Phelps are heading back to Maryland!