It’s a smaller but mighty field tackling the first CCI4*-L of the U.S. summer season at The Event at Rebecca Farm in lovely Kalispell, Mt. If you’ve not had the chance to make the trek to Montana, allow me to reassure you that yes, it’s 1000% worth it and yes, you will want to go back every year.
The FEI competitors along with the Training and Novice Three-Day combinations completed the First Horse Inspection this afternoon in front of the ground jury consisting of president Wayne Quarles along with Robert Stevenson and Helen Brettell. Ian Stark returns this year as the cross country course designer for the FEI levels, which Marc Donovan will design the 4*-L and 4*-S show jumping tracks. Chris Barnard is the show jumping designer for the CCI3*-L and CCI2*-L divisions.
In the CCI4*-L, all nine combinations will move forward to dressage, which begins for this division on Friday. Unfortunately in the 4*-S, Madison Temkin and Dr. Hart were sent to the hold box initially and subsequently not accepted by the ground jury. In the CCI2*-L, Taylor McFall and High Times will also sadly end their weekend early with a scratch from the CCI2*-L. Chin up, ladies, we’re thinking of you – a tough break for these two talented young riders.
We are pleased to have Erin Tomson on the grounds reporting from Rebecca Farm; she’s a gem of a human who also spent her morning volunteering and doing some press for Strides for Equality Equestrians so she’ll be checking in as the week progresses.
We’ll update this post with photos from Hope Carlin from this afternoon. We’ll also see some of her work here on EN for dressage, and then for the jumping phases we are proud to once again partner with Shannon Brinkman Photography, who is the official photographer at Rebecca Farm. If you’re competing this weekend, be sure to check out Shannon’s booth and website to order your photos. Our show photographers and videographers work endlessly hard at these events and we are ever grateful for them! Speaking of videographers, riders at Rebecca Farm can also order their ride videos from Ride On Video, who is also providing the free live stream of the action all week long. You can view the broadcast schedule here (times are listed in Mountain Standard Time) and the live stream here.
You will also see riders wearing black and white ribbons (available at check-in for those of you on site) this week (and beyond) in honor of Annie Goodwin, who passed away last week after a cross country schooling accident and who is sorely missed and deeply loved.
Another important part of this event each year is the Halt Cancer at X program, and you’ll see many riders decked out in pink ribbons or attire this weekend to promote this fundraising drive. Created in memory of Rebecca Farm founder Rebecca Broussard, Halt Cancer at X was launched in 2012 by Sarah Broussard and has since awarded over $700,000 in grants to local organizations and research programs. You can learn more about Halt Cancer at X here.
This week’s coverage is brought to you by Kentucky Performance Products – and you can win some cool KPP swag and receive a discount on product all year long just by entering through this simple survey. Good luck!
The Event at Rebecca Farm: [Website] [Entries & Ride Times] [Schedule] [Volunteer] [Halt Cancer at X] [Live Stream] [Show Photographer] [EN’s Coverage]
Take a look at some social media from jog day in Montana – and get ready to have some seriously FOMO:
