Photo courtesy of GMHA Festival of Eventing.
The GMHA Festival of Eventing will return to Woodstock, Vermont August 11th – 13th for USEA sanctioned Horse Trials and FEI CCI2*S and CCI3*S level competition with $10,000 in prize money. Rich in history, the GMHA Horse Trials began in 1957 and was one of the first to be held in the US since the US Cavalry Team competed in the 1948 Olympics. Today, it is the only remaining FEI competition for northern New England equestrians and this year promises several well-thought-out improvements for all division competitors.
New Schedule For 2023
GMHA and the Festival of Eventing committee has made the decision to replace the one-day Horse Trial, previously run on Friday, with the multi-day HT format which offers a better competitor experience. The new schedule accommodates a long-standing request to move the stadium to the larger Upwey arena, providing a more inclusive experience for all levels participating in the event as well as challenging the riders’ use of time and riding ability.
* Friday All Day – Dressage (FEI 3*/2*, I, P, M, T, N, BN)
* Friday PM – Show Jumping (FEI 3*/2* & Intermediate)
* Saturday All Day – Cross Country (FEI 3*/2*, I, P, M, T, N, BN) & Competitor’s Party
* Sunday All Day – Show Jumping National Levels (P, M, T, N, BN)
For divisions that culminate on Saturday with Cross Country or Sunday with Show Jumping, those divisions will run in reverse order of go, allowing for a few victory gallops, photo opportunities, interviews, and the award celebration!
Chris Barnard, of Reddick, Florida, an international show jump designer and builder whose talents have been employed at The Florida Horse Park, The Jockey Club, Tryon International, Stable View, Chattahoochee Hills, and the Virginia Horse Trials. Barnard will be designing the show jumping courses for the weekend. On Wednesday, August 9th, Barnard will design the courses in the Upwey Arena, the location for the HT SJ, for the GMHA Jumper Schooling Day. Sign up early to ensure your spot in this popular Pre-Festival of Eventing Jumper Schooling Day.
The cross-country courses are custom designed by FEI-licensed designer Morgan Rowsell. Rowsell’s resume includes Cross-Country Course Designer at Essex, Florida’s Rocking Horse Stables, Seneca Valley’s (MD) two events, ESDCTA (NJ) Horse Trials held at the Horse Park of New Jersey, the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event and Millbrook. Course Builder Jamie Gornall, GMHA Technical Coordinator and resident of South Woodstock, Vermont will join Rowsell’s team. Some of the courses that have benefited from Gornall’s course building talents have included Millbrook, Fair Hill, Southern Pines, UNH, Stable View, Great Meadow and the 2018 World Equestrian Games.
New Modified Division
In 2016, the USEA Board of Governors approved the addition of a seventh recognized level between Training and Preliminary. This new “Modified” level helps to bridge the gap between the upper and lower levels and provides a steppingstone to assist and prepare riders for advancement.
According to GMHA Event Manager, Jill Bogert, “Competitors have been asking to add Modified for a number of years now. Festival Committee members, Jane Hamlin and Cristin Roby, have really advocated for it from an educational perspective, and that’s what we’re all about here at GMHA.”
Olympic Judge and Committee Co-Chairman, Jane Hamlin agrees, “I’m so excited that GMHA is adding a Modified level. It’s such a useful division. It suits horses and riders who are not quite ready to jump into the preliminary division either because it might be beyond their comfort level or for people who haven’t gone south in the spring. I’m sure GMHA will provide a fun, educational experience!”
Photo courtesy of GMHA Festival of Eventing.
Other 2023 GMHA Festival of Eventing Highlights
* Friday Night Cocktails & Hors d’oeuvres – Adjacent to Upwey Show Jumping Arena
* Saturday Evening Competitors Party – featuring Trail Break Tacos and Live Music
* Educational SJ & XC Course Walks with Chris Barnard and Morgan Rowsell
* Friday FEI 2*/3* and Intermediate Dressage (am) & SJ (pm) in Upwey Arena
* Friday BN through Prelim Dressage in White and Walker Arenas
* Saturday – All levels run Cross County.
* Sunday All Day – Show Jumping National Levels (P, M, T, N, BN)
Entries Open: June 27, 2023 | Entries Close: July 25, 2023 | FEI Entries Extended Close Date: Tuesday, August 1st (for 2* & 3* only)
For event information including entries, visit GMHA Festival of Eventing.
Sponsorship opportunities are key to the successful production of the GMHA Festival of Eventing. Please contact Bruce Perry, GMHA Executive Director, at (802) 457-1509, [email protected] for information.
For event details, volunteer and sponsorship information, please visit the Festival of Eventing website.
