Kelly Ransom riding Prince Cavanagh, winners of the 2017 Open Training A at GVRDC. Photo by Brant Gamma.
There’s something new coming to Area I this August. The Genesee Valley Riding and Driving Club (GVRDC) Horse Trials held August 17-19 in Geneseo, New York, will be the first and currently the only event in Area I to host the new Modified division, and they want to help get you there!
“We’re really taking a big step adding the Modified and want to get the word out as far and wide as we can,” said Carol Kozlowski, a member of the GVRDC H.T. organizing committee.
Introduced in 2017 as a stepping stone between the Training and Preliminary levels, the Modified level offers a bridge between what is thought to be one of the largest level-gaps in the sport. Riders in the Northeast looking to make the jump from Training level to Preliminary this fall can now consider GVRDC as a possible stop on their way when planning their fall competition calendar.
GVDRC will run the regular Beginner Novice through Preliminary divisions in addition to debuting Modified, but that’s not all — they will also be hosting NEH, FEH, and YEH classes on Saturday afternoon, a first for this venue and a testament to the growth of the Young Event Horse programs throughout the Areas. Horses competing in the YEH and NEH divisions are still eligible to compete in the horse trials as well.
Located in western New York hunt country bordering the beautiful Finger Lakes region, GVRDC is a unique location of Area I, given its proximity to parts of Areas II and VIII. It may be a bit of a drive for some, but its organizers are looking to make the trip worth the while to competitors by offering a wide range of divisions and rolling out a new program to entice those who may be facing a longer drive: the GVRDC Travel Incentive Program will award $100 to the competitor with the best score in each division — from the Young Horse divisions through Preliminary for a total of $600 — who has traveled a minimum of 200 miles one way to the competition.
GVDRC is ready to welcome competitors to enjoy galloping across the rolling hills and farmland of Ney York hunt country on their cross country course designed by Jeff Kibbie. Closing date for this event is next Tuesday, July 31st, so don’t delay in getting those entries in! View the omnibus listing here.
Go Eventing.
