Classic Eventing Nation

“Essex Is Happening – But We Need You”: Essex Horse Trials Rallies Support as Entries Approach Close

It’s not every day a legend like Marilyn Payne personally picks up the reins to save an event — but that’s exactly what she’s doing for the much-beloved Essex Horse Trials, which have undergone a myriad of changes in recent seasons but now looks ahead to its upcoming Horse Trials June 1. This year’s event will be fully held at Moorland Farm in Far Hills, NJ (previously, some phases of competition had been held at USET headquarters in Gladstone, NJ).

“When the organizers said they were done, I thought, ‘We can’t lose Essex,’” Marilyn, who is now the organizer of the event, says. “So I stepped in. I’m not getting paid. I’m just doing this because I want Essex to happen.”

The historic horse trials are a beloved staple of Area II’s summer calendar. But as entries prepare to close on an extended late date of May 27, Marilyn has a simple message for the eventing community: “We need you.”

For Marilyn — an Olympic judge, lifelong horsewoman, and veteran competitor — Essex is more than just another competition. “Out of all the events I’ve ever done in my life — and I’ve done quite a few — I’ve never gone to a one-day or even a two-day horse trial that is as good as Essex,” she says. “It’s world-class, even at the lower levels.”

It’s easy to see why. With top-notch footing at the iconic Moorland Farm, a fully sponsored Riders’ Tent with free food and drinks all day, ribbons through sixth place and generous prizes through third place, as well as the kind of enthusiastic tailgating you’d expect from a world-class sporting event, Essex offers a truly special experience—for riders, owners, and spectators alike.

And this year’s edition will be no exception.

Ryan Wood and Ruby. Photo by i{mpack}t studio courtesy of Mars Essex Horse Trials.

What’s New in 2025

  • Among the upgrades for 2025:
  • A Starter division at 2’3” height to welcome newer riders and young horses
  • Tailgating at the water jump, which brings spectators right into the action
  • A 20-page special printed program celebrating competitors and community
  • A vibrant vendor village and multiple food trucks
  • Continued support for Life Camp, the event’s beneficiary nonprofit, which brings hundreds of inner-city kids from New York to experience horses up close

“We raised funds for Life Camp last year,” says Marilyn. “And the kids come—about 200 of them. They get to be around the horses, learn something new. It’s magical.”

Juli and Welbourne at Essex. Photo courtesy of Juli Hutchings-Sebring.

But First: We Need Entries

“As of now, we’ve only got about 30 riders entered,” Marilyn says. “We need at least 150 to break even. Last year we had 125. I know people want to come — they just need to enter.”

She stresses that entries will remain open after the May 22 closing date, and the team will accept late entries wherever possible. “It’s a beautifully run, welcoming event, and it can only keep happening if people show up,” she says. “If you’re thinking about it — do it. Bring a green horse. Try the Starter. Come see what makes Essex so special.”

Whether you’re a rider, spectator, or supporter, there are plenty of ways to be part of the Essex story:

  • Enter now (Starter through Prelim levels)
  • Encourage your barn friends to sign up
  • Plan a tailgate or come out to spectate
  • Donate to Life Camp or bring a first-time fan to the event

“When someone like EN puts out an article, it makes people say, ‘Hey, this is a big deal,’” Marilyn says. “It’s a third-party endorsement that makes all the difference.”

Let’s make a difference—for Marilyn, for Essex, and for the future of the sport.

📝 Entries close Thursday, May 22. Visit this link or visit the Essex website here to sign up or learn more.

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

As we approach the year anniversary of losing one of our own in British rider Georgie Campbell, who passed away after an accident at Bicton last May, a special commemoration has been placed at Bicton ahead of their Nations Cup leg next weekend.

The team at Bicton will be scattering purple throughout their May International next week, remembering Georgie through floral displays and bouquets. The money raised from a Pony Club course walk with Tina Cook on Saturday on May 24th will go directly to the Georgie Campbell Foundation. Tickets for this course walk and the event in general are available here.

U.S. Weekend Events

Spokane Sport Horse Spring H.T. (WA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Otter Creek H.T. (WI): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Kentucky May-Daze Horse Trials (KY): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Hunt Club Farms H.T. (VA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Bouckaert Equestrian H.T. (GA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Fair Hill International Recognized H.T. (MD): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Spring Gulch H.T. (CO): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Course Brook Farm Spring H.T. (MA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring]

Major International Events

Marbach CCI4*-S (Germany): [Website] [Entries/Timing/Scoring] [Live Stream on ClipMyHorse.TV]

Belsay International CCI4*-S (UK): [Website] [Entries/Timing/Scoring] [Live Stream on H&C+]

Links & Reading

USEA Events A-Z: Hunter’s Run Farm Horse Trials

Updated Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings Represent A Step Forward In Testing

Ride Clear Cross-Country Rounds with Ryan Wood

Ambulance Rides & OTTBs: The Plot Twist I Didn’t See Coming

Sponsor Corner: World Equestrian Brands

“I teach the horses that doing their best is good enough for me.”
– Sahar Daniel Hirosh

A thought for us all to strive for in our riding. Learn more about Sahar’s small habits that add to significant results in this edition of 1% More from World Equestrian Brands.

Video Break

The Martin boys do Kentucky:

Millar and ‘A Real Showman’ Top CCI4*-S at Belsay (1)

Aaron Millar and KEC Deakon. Photo by Athalens.

Aaron Millar and KEC Deakon are in pole position in Belsay’s inaugural RBC Brewin Dolphin-sponsored CCI4*-S after the first day of dressage at the Northumberland horse trials.

Cirencester-based Aaron, who is making his first trip north to Belsay, scored 25 on Heidi Bates’ 15-year-old, a son of Chacoa.

Aaron said: “He was really good. He’s an older horse; he’s used to working at these big events, and we are hoping to use this as a final prep for the CCI5* at Luhmühlen in Germany next month. I always think that in their calendar running up to CCI5* they need one significant run, and this is it.

“He’s quite a character. He loves an atmosphere; he’s a real showman. Out of all the horses on the yard, he’s the one that watches the lorry go out and wants to be on it and to go to events. He genuinely lives for it. He’s a real businessman – he comes in and gets the job done.

“This is the first time I have been to Belsay, and I love it. It has got atmosphere, but there’s also a really nice vibe about it – I think it’s amazing. The cross-country is a proper track, a proper test.”

Second in the CCI4*-S on a score of 27.5 are Izzy Taylor and SBS Big Wall, while Hayden Hankey is in third with 28 penalties on Fools In Love.

Suffolk’s Bubby Upton is in the lead after day one in the Forsters LLP CCI2*-S with a dressage mark of 27.5 on her own Auckland 7, an eight-year-old by A La Carte. Australian rider Isabel English is second on 28.6 with Cil Dara Dynamic, while John Westmore is third on Oughterard Quality with a score of 29.1.

Storm Straker and Temeraire. Photo by Athalens.

Two qualifiers for the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Finals at Defender Burghley Horse Trials took place today at Belsay.

Local rider Jack Mantel, fresh from a successful CCI5* debut at Badminton Horse Trials last week, won the five-year-old class on Krista Brown’s Adonis Couture, a son of Joris Couture.

“I had him last year as a four-year-old and he won the Burghley Young Event Horse class at Bramham and went to the final at Burghley,” said Jack. “He’s been back with his owner over the winter and only came back to me two days ago. But he hasn’t forgotten much and he was brilliant. He’s got such good movement, is a real showman and I think he’s an exciting horse for the future.

“It was a very good track today and it’s a great series. It’s great to get these young horses out and about without putting too much pressure on them.”

North Yorkshire-based Storm Straker won the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse qualifier for four-year-olds on her own Temeraire, who is by Timolin.

Storm said: “I’ve had ‘Thor’ since he was a two-year-old, and have produced him myself. I really like bringing young horses to Burghley Young Event Horse qualifiers; I think it is a great introduction to their competitive career. This is his first competition, and it has been such a great atmosphere for young horses. I’m delighted to have brought him here. To have such a great result was unexpected, but I couldn’t have asked for anything more from him.”

Dressage for both international classes continues tomorrow (Saturday, 17 May), and the showjumping and cross-country phases of the Forsters LLP CCI2*-S also take place. Showjumping and cross-country for the feature RBC Brewin Dolphin CCI4*-S will take place on Sunday (18 May).

To purchase tickets for Belsay and to find out more information, please visit www.belsayhorsetrials.com.

All the cross-country at Belsay (1) May 16-18 and Belsay (2) May 28-June 1 will be shown on Horse & Country TV’s live streaming platform H&C+.

Belsay will host two events in 2025: Belsay (1) 16-18 May will be the Chatsworth replacement fixture with international classes at CCI4*-S and CCI2*-S level and Advanced and Novice national classes. The cross-country courses for this event will take a completely different route to that of Belsay (2) 28 May-1 June, which features the British Junior and Pony Championships, CCI2*-L, CCI3*-S, CCI2*-S and CCI1* international classes and BE90 to Open Intermediate national classes.

Belsay International CCI4*-S (UK): [Website] [Entries/Timing/Scoring] [Live Stream on H&C+]

British Eventing CCIO4*-S Nations Cup Team Confirmed for Bicton

Laura Collett and London 52. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

British Eventing is pleased to announce the team that have been selected to represent Great Britain at the CCIO4*-S Nations Cup competition at Bicton Arena International (1) between 22 – 25 May is as follows:

Barnie Brotherton from Broadway, Worcestershire with the 10-year-old gelding DHI King Nelson owned by Naomi Brotherton.

Laura Collett from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire with the 16-year-old gelding London 52 owned by herself, Karen Bartlett and Keith Scott.

Selina Milnes from Clevedon, Somerset with the 11-year-old gelding Cooley Snapchat owned by Mr & Mrs William Rucker.

Gemma Stevens from Horsham, West Sussex with the 15-year-old gelding Chilli King owned by Christopher and Lisa Stone.

The team will be accompanied by Chef d’Equipe Richard Waygood.

The British Eventing teams are supported by the British Equestrian Federation’s World Class Programme, funded by UK Sport through the National Lottery. The Programme focuses on identifying talent, developing potential and maximising medal-winning performances on the world stage.

For further information on the event, click here.

More information on the FEI Nations Cup, including the full calendar, is available here. The U.S. team heading to Bicton can be viewed here.

Yasmin Ingham and Gypsie du Loir. Bicton Arena press photo.

Olympic gold medallists, 2022 Badminton winners and British Nations Cup team members Laura Collett and London 52 head up an international field for the showpiece TopSpec CCI4*-S class at the Bicton International Horse Trials in Devon, running May 22-25 which also incorporates the British leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™.

Alongside Laura, who brings forward four rides in this class, the British entry includes cross country supremo Harry Meade, fresh from a string of brilliant five-star runs, riding Jet Fighter; Gemma Stevens with another son of Chilli Morning, Chilli King, plus Jalapeno III who has been re-routed from Badminton; and world champion Yasmin Ingham on Goliath du Loir and Gypsie du Loir.

Bicton has attracted a strong international entry with riders from Ireland and the US forming teams for the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™, plus individuals from the Netherlands, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, including Tayla Mason, who made a great impression on her Badminton debut.

This fixture is known for fostering the eventing stars of the future, as is evident not only from an exciting line-up of riders intending to contest the prestigious British Young Rider National Championships sponsored by Succeed, but also from their presence in the TopSpec CCI4*-S too. All three of the riders who earned a podium position in this Championship last year, Joshua Levett, Isabelle Cook and Anna Price are back again for 2025, so competition at the top is bound to be tight.

With its stunning parkland setting, breathtaking views and exhilarating cross-country tracks, the beautiful Bicton estate provides the perfect backdrop for cross-country viewing. Plus, with the action taking place out on course on both Saturday and Sunday, the event promises to offer a full weekend of equestrian excellence.

Course Designer and Co-Director, Helen West commented, “We’re thrilled to be hosting such a talented field at Bicton for what promises to be a spectacular weekend of high-level competition and enjoyment for the whole family.”

Beyond the sporting action, this year sees an evolution of the attractions on offer with displays on both weekend days from the thrilling Knights of Middle England. There is also a vast array of activities on offer including the hugely popular family dog show on Saturday and Sunday, as well as a display from 2024 Crufts Champion Lorna Hayes with her canine partner Nora.

Get your tickets for just £10 and 12 and under go free. Full entries list and live results can be found at www.eventingscores.co.uk. Live action is being streamed by Clip My Horse www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_GB/

Top International Eventing Talent Coming to Poland’s Equestrian Festival Baborówko Next Weekend

Photo courtesy of Equestrian Festival Baborówko.

From May 22 to 25, 2025, the 17th edition of the international eventing competition – the Equestrian Festival Baborówko – will take place in Baborówko, Poland. The start lists for the international classes feature 250 horses and riders from 16 countries, competing in five international competitions at the following levels: CCI4-L, CCI4-S, CCI3*-S, CCI2*-S, and CCI1*-Intro**. Among the participants are riders from Germany, Italy, Poland, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, Denmark, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Australia, India, and even Turkey.

The highest-level competitions, CCI4-S and CCI4-L**, will showcase top athletes from the international scene, including: Julia Krajewski (GER), Olympic Champion from Tokyo; Felix Vogg (SUI), Olympian; Lara de Liedekerke-Meier (BEL), currently ranked 10th in the FEI World Rankings; and a strong Polish team featuring Paweł Warszawski, Mateusz Kiempa, Daria Kobiernik, and Wiktoria Knap.

In total, more than 300 horses will appear at the event, thanks to high interest in the national CNC100 class, a new addition to the Equestrian Festival Baborówko program. There’s also plenty to take in as a spectator, and you can get a full feel for eventing in Poland in our preview article here.

Photo courtesy of Equestrian Festival Baborówko.

The schedule of competition is as follows:

Thursday, May 22, 2025

Arena A
 10:30 – Dressage CCI3*-S for the ENERGYS Trophy
Arena D1
 12:10 – Dressage CCI1*-Intro for the Gatusos Trophy
Arena D2
 12:00 – Dressage CCI2*-S for the Duon Dystrybucja Trophy

Friday, May 23, 2025

Arena A
 08:30 – Dressage CCI3*-S for the ENERGYS Trophy
 11:10 – Dressage CCI4*-L for the KUHN Agricultural Machinery Trophy, under the patronage of the Wielkopolska Region Government
 14:00 – Dressage CCI4*-S for the Patron of the Event Roman Roszkiewicz Prize
Arena D1
 08:45 – Dressage CNC100 & CNC100-18
Arena D2
 09:00 – Dressage CCI2*-S for the Duon Dystrybucja Trophy

Saturday, May 24, 2025

Cross Country

09:20 – CCI3*-S Cross Country for the ENERGYS Trophy
 13:00 – CCI4*-L Cross-Country for the KUHN Agricultural Machinery Trophy, under the patronage of the Wielkopolska Region Government

14:45 – CCI4*-S Cross Country for the Patron of the Event Roman Roszkiewicz Prize

16:45 – CCI1*-Intro Cross Country for the Gatusos Trophy
Arena A
 08:00 – Show Jumping CCI1*-Intro for the Gatusos Trophy
 10:00 – Show Jumping CCI2*-S for the Duon Dystrybucja Trophy
 17:30 – Show Jumping CNC100 & CNC100-18

Sunday, May 25, 2025
10:00 – CNC100 & CNC100-18 Cross Country

12:15 – CCI2*-S Cross Country for the Duon Dystrybucja Trophy

16:00 – Driving Marathon (Water Obstacle) for the Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture Trophy
Arena A

09:30 – Show Jumping CCI3*-S + Prize Ceremony for the ENERGYS Trophy

12:30 – Show Jumping CCI4*-L + Prize Ceremony for the KUHN Agricultural Machinery Trophy, under the patronage of the Wielkopolska Region Government
 — Prize Ceremony CNC100 & CNC100-18
13:30 – Relay: Carriage & Car Challenge

14:45 – Show Jumping CCI4*-S + Prize Ceremony for the Patron of the Event Roman Roszkiewicz Prize
 — Prize Ceremony CCI2*-S for the Duon Dystrybucja Trophy —

The live stream for this event will be available on ClipMyHorse.TV here. Full entries for the FEI divisions can be found here.

Equestrian Festival Baborówko (Poland): [Website] [Entries] [Live Stream]

Friday News & Notes from Stable View

In the midst of all the schedules, scores, and saddle time, here’s your reminder not to lose sight of why we do this: the joy of being with horses. That joy is worth protecting — which is exactly the mission behind the Full Moon Farm Eventing Foundation’s upcoming virtual event.

Join them TODAY, Friday, May 16 at 6 p.m. ET, for a special Mental Health Awareness Month session with Rylee Powers, LGPC from Golden Counseling Services, focused on managing anxiety and showing up as your best self — in and out of the saddle. Equestrians are athletes, and that means tending to our mental strength, too.

You can find the event information here.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Spokane Sport Horse Spring H.T. (WA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Otter Creek H.T. (WI): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Kentucky May-Daze Horse Trials (KY): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Hunt Club Farms H.T. (VA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Bouckaert Equestrian H.T. (GA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Fair Hill International Recognized H.T. (MD): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Spring Gulch H.T. (CO): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Course Brook Farm Spring H.T. (MA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring]

Major International Events

Marbach CCI4*-S (Germany): [Website] [Entries/Timing/Scoring] [Live Stream on ClipMyHorse.TV]

Belsay International CCI4*-S (UK): [Website] [Entries/Timing/Scoring] [Live Stream on H&C+]

News & Reading

“Humbling” is the word Boyd Martin often uses to describe his tenure with Liz Halliday’s Paris horse, Cooley Nutcracker — but the belief has always been there from Liz and her team that Boyd would be able to do right by her should something ever happen to her that impacted her riding. As Liz continues to fight her way through recovery from a traumatic brain injury sustained in 2024, The Chronicle of the Horse caught up with Boyd and Liz’s team. Read the piece here.

Behind every success story is a bustling village of humans who all share a common goal: love the horse, love each other, and stick together no matter what. Badminton champion Ros Canter’s husband, Chris McAleese, embodies this idea. “You have faith in someone, and you can see their talents more than they can,” he says. “I don’t come from any kind of horse background, but you can tell when there’s a bunch of people around and you can spot your wife or partner and the difference in how they present themselves and how they do their job.” Read the full story about Chris and Ros here.

The last time the U.S. won a team gold medal in eventing at the Olympics was in Los Angeles during the 1984 Games. Now, as the next Olympics preps to come through the West coast once more in 2028, let’s dive into a throwback of American Golden Age here.

Horses are always teaching us something, if we’re willing to listen. In her latest column, dressage rider Lauren Sprieser muses on some recent “epiphanies” she’s had both in and out of the saddle. Read them here.

Sponsor Corner: Stable View

Want to read all about the latest from the crew at Stable View? Each month, the team on site puts out a newsletter that catches us up on all of the happenings — horsey and otherwise — at this popular Aiken, SC venue, and you can view it for free here.

Video Break

Preview the new cross country course set by Adrian Ditcham for the CCI4*-S at Belsay International (1) this weekend! Live stream links, etc. can be found in the link list at the beginning of this post.

The 4* course is revealed!

Here it is… a flyover of the much-anticipated CCI4*-S track at Belsay International Horse Trials 💥

All four courses are now open for competitors and connections to walk, spectators are welcome to walk from Friday morning but please stay outside the string where possible.

The courses will be on the CrossCountry App tomorrow!

#belsayhorsetrials

Posted by Belsay International Horse Trials on Thursday, May 15, 2025

Sweden’s Louise Romeike Leads Marbach CCI4*-S After Dressage

The following press release has been translated from German; please forgive any translation errors!

Louise Romeike and Caspian 15. Photo by Jan Frohne for Eventing Marbach.

At precisely 9 a.m. on Thursday, the opening day of the 2025 International Marbach Eventing, 33-year-old Fouaad Mirza entered Dressage Arena 1 aboard his Holsteiner gelding Camouflage. The arena, known as the “Marbach Stallion Parade Arena,” was inaugurated in 1978. The Indian rider, who won both individual and team silver medals at the 2018 Asian Games, is trained by Sandra Auffarth of Ganderkesee-Bergedorf, a 2012 Olympic team gold and individual bronze medalist in London. Mirza and Camouflage earned 37.7 points, placing them 26th after dressage.

Louise Romeike of Sweden topped the leaderboard in the CCI4-S*, sponsored by iWEST Tiernahrung. Out of 32 starters in the CCI4*-S, Romeike, who lives and trains in Fockbek near Rendsburg, rode the 11-year-old gelding Caspian, registered with the German Horse Breeding Federation, to a score of 25.0 points. She now leads heading into Saturday’s cross country phase. At last year’s Olympic Games in Paris, Romeike and Caspian were part of the Swedish team that finished sixth, alongside teammates Sofia Sjöborg and Frida Andersen. At Marbach, Sjöborg is currently 10th with Govalent, while Andersen is tied for 11th with both Box Leo and Stonehavens Baby Blue, each on 32.5 points.

Currently in second place is two-time Olympic team champion Ingrid Klimke (Münster), riding the 13-year-old Westphalian mare Equistros Siena Just Do It, on 26.9 points. She is followed by Lea Siegl of Denmark, who posted a 28.0 aboard a 13-year-old gelding from the Brandenburg-Anhalt breeding association.

With his second horse, the 14-year-old Holsteiner mare Dajara, Fouaad Mirza sits in fourth on 28.7, narrowly ahead of Michael Jung (Horb), who is fifth with fischersolution, a 9-year-old gelding of Polish breeding, on 28.9.

Michael Jung Leads CCI2*-S

Michael Jung and Ginster. Photo by Jan Frohne for Eventing Marbach.

Following the dressage phase of the CCI4* competition, two additional dressage tests took place on Thursday in the “Marbach Stallion Parade Arena”: the first part of the CCI2-S*, sponsored by Outletcity Metzingen, and the CCI1-Intro*, sponsored by fischer.

In the CCI2-S*, after 22 of the total 72 starters on the first day of the International Marbach Eventing, Michael Jung holds first and second place. The four-time Olympic champion from Horb earned 24.7 points with his seven-year-old stallion Ginster, and 26.3 points aboard the nine-year-old Polish-bred gelding Safran.

Currently sitting in third place is Libussa Lübbeke with the 14-year-old Holsteiner mare Darcy on a score of 27.8. Lübbeke, from Warendorf, was the winner of the U25 Förderpreis at Marbach in 2024.

In the CCI1-Intro*, after 18 of 73 total competitors, Sophie Grieger (TG Haupt- und Landesgestüt Schwaiganger) is in the lead. With her Bavarian mare Confetti, she scored 28.8 points, putting her ahead of Vanessa Bölting (Münster), who earned 29.4 points with her Westphalian mare Lady Giacomo.

The second part of the dressage phase for both divisions begins tomorrow, Friday at 9 a.m. local time. Full scores, scheduling, and live stream access can be found below.

Marbach CCI4*-S (Germany): [Website] [Entries/Timing/Scoring] [Live Stream on ClipMyHorse.TV]

Boyd Martin & Buck Davidson to Compete in FEI Arena Eventing at Devon

Boyd Martin & Contestor. Winners of the 2019 Devon Arena Eventing. Photo courtesy of The Book LLC.

Two of the nation’s top international event riders, Boyd Martin and Buck Davidson—both based in Unionville, Pennsylvania—will compete in the FEI Arena Eventing class presented by B&D Builders and Goshen Hill Farm at the historic Devon Horse Show and Country Fair on Sunday evening, May 25. The $50,000 Devon Arena Eventing competition kicks off at 7:15 PM, preceded by a course walk and horse acclimation at 6:15 PM.

The exciting FEI-sanctioned event will unfold across both the Dixon Oval and Wheeler Ring, with a hybrid course of approximately 30 obstacles designed by Captain Mark Phillips, Olympic gold medalist and one of the sport’s most accomplished course designers.

Boyd Martin, a three-time Olympian and past Devon Arena Eventing winner, returns to Devon with his powerful mare, Miss Lulu Herself. Martin is known internationally for his dynamic cross-country rides and consistent performance at five-star events and championships. He operates Windurra USA in nearby Cochranville, PA.

Buck Davidson, another top U.S. rider and former Devon Arena Eventing champion, is slated to compete on Erroll Gobey, the same mount with which he won the class in 2023. A longtime favorite on the U.S. eventing circuit, Davidson brings both technical mastery and bold cross-country instincts to this high-octane format.

Event Details

What: FEI $50,000 Devon Arena Eventing

When: Sunday, May 25, 2025

  6:15 PM – Course Walk and Acclimation

  7:15 PM – Competition Begins

Where: Devon Horse Show Grounds, 23 Dorset Road, Devon, PA

Course Designer: Captain Mark Phillips (GBR)

Prize Money: $50,000 awarded across 12 placings

About Arena Eventing at Devon
Arena Eventing is a fast-paced, spectator-friendly competition that combines the accuracy of show jumping with the boldness of cross-country riding—all within an arena setting. Unlike traditional eventing, which takes place over multiple days and phases, Arena Eventing is condensed into a single evening and features a course of both solid cross-country-style obstacles and show jumps, designed to test the horse-and-rider partnership for agility, bravery, and speed.

The Devon Horse Show’s Arena Eventing class is one of the few of its kind in the U.S., offering fans a rare opportunity to see Olympic-level eventers compete under the lights in an electric atmosphere. It’s a highlight of the show and a must-see for equestrian sports fans.

For tickets and more information, visit: www.devonhorseshow.net

“He’s the Horse I Didn’t Know I Needed”: Catching Up with Dondante

Meg Pellegrini and Dondante. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Five-star horses are a different breed than the average event horse. They have that little something extra—whether it be extra scope, extra heart, extra intelligence, or just that extra desire to make it happen.

The highest level of the sport demands a lot from both humans and horses as athletes. But at some point, the time comes to step down from that level. And stepping down can often be almost as challenging as stepping up. Just as an Olympic gymnast might feel at a loss as to what to do with their career after retiring from elite sport, so too do these top-level horses have to find a job or a place to call home after retiring from the 5* level.

Dondante, the former ride of Will Coleman, has hit the jackpot with his post-5* career.

After sustaining and rehabbing from an injury in 2023, the now 15-year-old gelding known as “Al” in the barn is showing an up-and-coming rider the ins and outs of upper-level sport.

Meg Pellegrini has been fortunate enough to lease Al for the 2025 season—a situation that is mutually beneficial, as it allows the horse to continue doing what he loves, and gives Meg some incredible experience learning from one of the best-educated and most-accomplished horses in the country.

I caught up with Meg to learn about how she got the ride and what it’s been like to develop a partnership with the horse so far.

Will Coleman and Dondante compete at Kentucky. Photo by Shelby Allen.

“Not many people get handed the reins to a horse like this—I’m beyond lucky,” explains Meg. The opportunity for Meg to partner with Al arose organically. Will has coached Meg for the past few years, and as Meg tells it, she was a huge fan of the horse from the very beginning. She was out on a hack with Will one day, and he pointed out Al in the paddock and mentioned that he would be coming back into work soon. As it turned out, Will allowed Meg to pick up the reins on the tall gelding, along with his employees, as the horse slowly came back into fitness and strength.

That, it turned out, was a great way for Meg to get to know the horse. “Bringing him back into work was the best way to build a bond,” she says, particularly because there was a steady timeline and a major focus on basics as he came back. “It was the best-case scenario because I got to know him from the ground up,” she says, and “it meant I got to understand how he thinks, what he likes, and what he doesn’t. It built a bond I don’t think I would’ve had otherwise.”

Photo by USEF Eventing.

Although Al’s owners, Team Rebecca and the Four Star Eventing group, along with his former rider, Will, were impressed with how well the horse recovered and considered bringing the horse back to the 5* level, they ultimately decided that it would make sense for him to stay at a slightly lower level for the longevity of his career — a commendable decision.

Meg acknowledges that it’s not only a privilege, but a responsibility, to ride their lovely horse. She seems to understand that this opportunity came with trust—from Will and Katie Coleman, from the horse’s owners, and also from Al himself—and she seems to carry that with her every time she rides the horse.

Surely Al’s owners and Will had seen how Meg connected with Al in helping bring him back into work, and had also seen her dedication to learning about the sport. She explains that she and Al did not click immediately— “he wasn’t sure about me, and honestly, I wasn’t sure I’d be enough for him”—and that she had to figure out how he ticks. Because the 5* level is so demanding, and it takes so many years to get the horses to that level, the horses are often so specifically trained to their own rider’s cues that it can be tricky for another rider to take over the reins. It was a testament to Will’s training the Meg could communicate with the horse. “Somewhere along the way, we started to meet in the middle. I learned to listen and trust him.”

Photo courtesy of Meg Pellegrini.

Dondante was originally sourced from Richard Sheane in Ireland, and Will produced the horse from the very beginning of his career. He finished third in the USEA Young Event Horse 5-year-old championships in 2015, and thereafter climbed the levels to the top of the sport with incredibly consistent results at every level. In 2022, he finished in the top-10 at both Kentucky and Maryland 5*.

This spring, Al and Meg are contesting events at the Intermediate and 3* levels, with already some good results on the board, including a recent top-10 finish in the 3*-S at Tryon. Al looks thrilled to be back out on the field of play, and Meg is learning a huge amount from him. Meg admits that she has experienced confidence issues in the past couple of years that Al is really helping her sort out. In this way, the story is really cool: Meg is able to learn lessons from Al that she is now transferring to her other horses. “He’s been there, done that. I don’t have to worry about teaching him the ropes—he’s teaching me.” That kind of confidence in the job from Al has really given Meg her confidence again.

Any rider who goes through confidence issues—which, really, is every rider at some point or another—would do well to realize the reality of the slow, diligent process of regaining it. Part of that process includes having a horse who is forgiving, and Meg has been lucky to find that in Al. “Even when I make a mistake, he’s like, ‘Don’t worry, I got you.’” That professorial quality is undoubtedly one that will have a legacy as Meg brings her other horses up to the top of the sport.

Beyond confidence, such an experienced horse has also given Meg a window into how top-level horses go and think. “My first real run on him, I came out of the start box and thought, this is crazy—he’s just so powerful, but at the same time, he wants to do the right thing all the time.” That kind of experience, which can really only be felt, and not taught, is helping Meg in her quest to be successful at the 5* level herself.

I had one more question for Meg before we got off the phone: what was behind Al’s barn name? “Oh,” she says, “he’s named after Al Pacino.” Known for his audacity, the infamous actor is an appropriate namesake for the horse. It sounds like he will pass that audacity on in spades.

Thursday News & Notes from VHC Eventing

Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Today we are remembering Rise Against, the longtime upper-level horse partnered with California-based Bunnie Sexton who passed away recently. Rise Against carried the flag for the Thoroughbred sport horse, competing four times at the Kentucky CCI5* with Bunnie and finishing as well as top-25 (2015) in their rookie performance together. Bunnie and “Ecko” inspired us all in this debut, saying “There are plenty of people who are older — just because you aren’t there showing doesn’t mean you aren’t putting in the work at home. Just because your horse is unconventional doesn’t mean he can’t make it.”

“Just over 14 years ago, I went to try a quirky horse named Ecko—one who would end up changing my life forever,” Bunnie shared on social media this week. “It is with a heavy heart that I share that, after an unfortunate accident while playing in the paddock with his girlfriend last week, I had to say my final goodbye.

When I first met Rise Against, neither of us knew exactly what our partnership would become. But over the last decade and a half, we grew together and took each other further than I ever thought possible.

We formed a bond that was truly special. I stood by him through his dressage nerves, and he took the wheel when I needed him most, as we guided each other through some of the toughest courses in the world. He was brave, generous, and endlessly willing, and he touched not only my life, but the lives of so many who were lucky enough to know him.

I’m deeply honored to have been a part of his journey. He gave me his heart, and I will carry his spirit with me always.”

Rise Against was 26 years old. Enjoy a few photos from his partnership with Bunnie:

U.S. Weekend Preview

Spokane Sport Horse Spring H.T. (WA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Otter Creek H.T. (WI): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Kentucky May-Daze Horse Trials (KY): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Hunt Club Farms H.T. (VA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Bouckaert Equestrian H.T. (GA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Fair Hill International Recognized H.T. (MD): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Spring Gulch H.T. (CO): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Course Brook Farm Spring H.T. (MA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring]

Major International Events

Marbach CCI4*-S (Germany): [Website] [Entries/Timing/Scoring] [Live Stream on ClipMyHorse.TV]

Belsay International CCI4*-S (UK): [Website] [Entries/Timing/Scoring] [Live Stream on H&C+]

News & Reading

German Olympian Bettina Hoy is one of the most heavily invested individuals in our sport when it comes to ensuring its future. As the latest step in her career trajectory, Bettina (who recently received the OLY designation to be used with her name to denote her contributions to the Olympic movement) is embarking on the International LEAdership Programme (LEAP), sponsored by the DOSB and the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Home Affairs (BMI). “The DOSB LEAP program is designed to prepare former athletes to embark on a career in sports politics on the international stage,” Bettina explained. She currently serves as the athlete representative for eventing on the FEI Eventing Committee, which meets monthly to discuss current topics in eventing. “I would never have thought that this kind of work, both with the FEI and the DOSB, would be for me, but I really enjoy it!” she continued. “If you get involved, you can really make a difference for your sport, and that motivates me a lot. It’s perfect for me now, since I don’t ride as much anymore. When you’re still involved in the sport, it’s simply not possible to get involved like that on the side. As a rider, you always have something to lose and are perhaps more cautious with one or two statements. Fortunately, I’m no longer in that position.” Read more on this here — and stay tuned as Bettina Hoy will be a co-host on The Go Eventing Podcast soon!

If you’re planning a trip west to Galway Downs for the USEA American Eventing Championships this August, get your trip squared away with these fun facts about the venue! Temecula, CA offers much variety in terms of things to do outside of horses, and there is truly something for the whole family in this awesome area of Southern California. Learn more about Galway Downs and Temecula here.

Let’s break down the concept of “Win Chance” as it’s used by EquiRatings. Of course, statistics and numbers only tell a fraction of a story at any given point, but these metrics are valuable when it comes to making predictions and assessing performance potential. EquiRatings co-founder and 5* rider Sam Watson chimes in to break the notion down for us here.

Dressage multi-Olympian Steffan Peters is widely respected for his horse-friendly, patient training methods. In this clinic report, you can take a peek behind the curtain as Steffan works with riders to tackle their challenges, always keeping a respect for the horse foremost in his mind. Read the report here.

Sponsor Corner: VHC Eventing

VHC Eventing is proud to welcome Capital Square back as a title sponsor of this year’s VHC Eventing competitions at Virginia Horse Park in Lexington, VA! You can meet Capital Square CEO and amateur eventer Louis Rogers in the video above, and click here to learn more about how Capital Square can help put more money back in your pocket through accessible real estate investment opportunities.

Video Break

Improve your riding with these three tips from dressage rider Henry Boswell: