Will Coleman will return to Morven Park aboard last year’s CCI4*-S winner, Chin Tonic HS. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.
Fresh off a team silver medal win at the 2022 Eventing World Championship in Pratoni, Italy, Will Coleman, Ariel Grald, Lauren Nicholson and Tamie Smith are headed to the Morven Park Fall International CCI & Horse Trials, to be held October 5-9 in Leesburg, VA.
The U.S. eventing team riders headline the list of more than 320 entries set to compete across the CCI4*-L, CCI4*-S, CCI3*-S, CCI2*-S, CCI3*-S, CCI3*YH-S, CCI2*YH-S and Novice through Preliminary divisions offered at Morven Park.
After topping the Morven Park CCI4*-S together in 2021, Coleman will be back aboard Chin Tonic HS, vying for the winner’s share of the $20,000 in prize money offered in the CCI4*-L. Grald will also be back on another 2021 winner, Diara. The mare earned victory in the CCI3*YH-S last year, and this year, Grald and the 8-year-old Hanoverian will be contesting the CCI2*-S. For Nicholson, spectators can most notably look for the #17 in the world ranked rider in the CCI4*-S aboard Paramount Importance and in the CCI3*YH-S with Landmark’s Jungle Gold. Tamie Smith will ride two horses in the CCI4*-L: Solaguayre California and Elliot V, and will also compete Kynan in the CCI2*-S.
Ariel Grald and Forrest Gump 124. Photo by Abby Powell.
Other top U.S. riders on this year’s entry list include seven-time Olympian and two-time gold medalist Phillip Dutton, Olympian Doug Payne, world-ranked #23 Bruce Davidson, Jr. and more.
Olympians and World Championship medalists are not the only ones to watch at Morven Park, however. With such a full range of division offerings and top prizes and prize money up for grabs, the event also attracts a number of young riders and up-and-coming stars of the sport.
Earning the distinction of this year’s youngest competitor is 14-year-old Lizzy Lenk, who will be riding George 43 in the Junior Training Rider division.
Katie Lichten and Yarrow. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.
Last year’s top U25 competitors, Katie Lichten on Yarrow and Isabelle Bosley aboard Paper Doll are also set to return this year. After winning the Morven Park Fall International CCI3*-S in 2021, Lichten went on to be named the 2021 U.S. Eventing Association Adult Amateur of the Year, and now, she and Yarrow are back to take on the CCI4*-S. Bosley and Paper Doll are also climbing up the ranks this year, moving up to the CCI3*-S from the CCI2*-S division.
This year, thanks to the support of Piedmont Equine Practice, U25 athletes, including Lichten and Bosley, will have a chance at an additional $1,500 in U25 prize money.
Spectator admission is free for the duration of the Morven Park Fall International CCI & Horse Trials, with a limited number of cross-country tailgating passes available here.
For a full list of entries for all divisions, click here. For a tentative event schedule and additional information, click here or visit MorvenPark.org.
