Samantha Hay completed her very first long format event this past weekend at The Heart of the Carolinas, which offers a learning experience about the multi-phase aspect of long format Eventing at the lower levels. Samantha and her mare Tre Jolie competed in the Novice 3-Day, and placed third! Brant Gamma also donated photos of the winners from each division to us, and enabled us to cover more than just Badminton. She was also nice enough to write us this post about her experience, so thanks to Samantha for writing, and thanks to you for reading!
Samantha & Tre Jolie on course
After volunteering last year at Southern Eighths Heart of the Carolinas Three Day I decided that this year I was going to be one of the competitors. Having just entered the eventing world, I had a lot to catch up on but I was determined to make it happen with the help of the amazing Bonnie Mosser. This spring I qualified to enter on my horse, Tre Jolie, for the Novice Long Format event.
We arrived on Wednesday night to get set up before the in-barns started bright and early on Thursday morning. What really set this event apart from all the others I have attended was all the clinics available through Southern Eighths. Even as one of the youngest competitors there, I was one of many who had never completed a long format event or had never jogged my horse up for inspection. The best thing about Southern Eighths wasn’t just the amazing volunteers and sponsors, but when the fitness day came around everyone knew what to expect, whether they had done it before or not.
After the in-barns, and everyone settled in, we attended the first of many demonstrations and clinics. Holly Hudspeth and Lauren O’Brien explained and demonstrated the proper technique for the jog-up. After the demonstration, we were each allowed to bring out our horses and get in a practice run before the official horse inspection later in the afternoon.
Sarah Zimmer won the Novice 3-Day (photo courtesy of Brant Gamma)
After each competitor took a practice jog, we entered the indoor arena, where most of the events were to be held, to figure times for the Roads and Tracks portion of the endurance day. All of the competitors gathered inside to hear Holly, Lauren, and course designer Tremaine Cooper, explain what to really expect on Saturday. As optimum times were given, each section of the endurance day was spelled out for us in order. We learned what to really expect on the steeplechase and roads and tracks portion of the event, which we do not usually experience as eventers.
After figuring times, the majority of competitors headed over to the beautiful dressage ring to hear Sue Smithson’s take on what the judge is looking for in a dressage test. After watching the demo rider perform and get critiqued on the dressage tests for all of the levels, we headed back to the barn to change and put the final touchups on our horses before the first horse inspection.
After all of the horses passed the initial inspection, the competitors headed into the indoor arena for the first official meet and greet and dinner, provided by Southern Eighths. During dinner Dr. Debbie briefed us on what to expect in the ten minute box and the vet box after cross country and we continued to meet our fellow competitors and all of the volunteers that made the event possible.
Dressage started at 9:00 on Friday morning in a large dressage arena. As many of you know, the lower levels perform in a small (20m x 40m) dressage arena as opposed to the three-day tests which are performed in a large (20m x 60m) arena. Not having a large dressage arena to practice in at home, it was definitely a new experience, but we were second in our division after dressage on a 32.5.
Kathy Viele won the Training 3-Day (photo courtesy of Brant Gamma)
After dressage, each level had a steeplechase demonstration and practice with Charlie Plumb, Susan Beebee, and Tremaine Cooper. We began by having our horses walk up to and look at the jumps, then quietly cantered up to them the first time, before galloping on the track. Each level of the competition, Beginner Novice through Training, had the same distance and speed for the roads and tracks, and separate distances and speeds for the steeplechase. Beginner novice did not have any jumps on their figure-eight track, while the novice and training levels ran two laps on the outside track with training running 1,560m at 520 mpm. As a novice rider my speed on the steeplechase was set for 1,410m at 470 mpm which is almost 100 mpm faster than I am used to going on cross country at a normal event. While Susan had me focus on lengthening my horses stride as opposed to going faster, Charles wanted me to focus on taking the jump in-stride instead of searching for a distance. After jumping the first jump three times, we were allowed to gallop a lap around the track in preparation for the next day.
Later in the afternoon we had another talk about the rider and groom responsibility in the ten minute and vet box with Nat Varcoe Cocks and Samantha Henley. Following the talk we headed out to walk cross country. Each level of competition had an optional group walk with Robert Costello on the training course, Tremaine Cooper on the novice course, and Susan Beebee and Charlie Plumb on the beginner novice course.
Saturday morning everyone geared up for the endurance day. Section A was roads and tracks for twelve minutes, 2,640 m at 220 mpm, followed by the three minute steeplechase track. Following the steeplechase, section C was another roads and tracks for 3,360 m at 160 mpm which is right between a trot and a walk for about 21 minutes. After completing section C the rider heads into the ten minute box to have their horse cooled off and checked by the vets before starting on cross country. At the completion of the first three phases I picked up one time fault on the steeplechase track, placing me into third place by 0.1 points. Heading out onto cross country we encountered a little bit of everything from a ditch and trakhener to a sunken road. Even though I haven’t been eventing for very long this was by far my favorite course to ride. The footing was as near to perfect as you can get and it had some great terrain which definitely added to the harder questions. After riding double clear on our cross country we headed back to the vet box where we were cleared to head back to the barn.
Sarah Miles won the Beginner Novice 3-Day (photo courtesy of Brant Gamma)
As the endurance day was wrapped up, each level went to walk the show jumping course with course designer Marc Donavan. We not only learned how our specific course was designed, but the different things he considers when designing any show jumping course. After our educational course walk we headed back to the indoor ring for the Kentucky Derby Party and hat contest. While enjoying the derby on two flat screens that were hooked up in the arena, the hat contest took place and photo contest winners were announced as everyone sat down to eat dinner. Throughout the evening we enjoyed listening to a band and dancing while others participated in the wine tasting contest. I headed back to the hotel early, after I braided for the final horse inspection in the morning.
Sunday morning we woke up to dark skies in anticipation of the coming rain. The jog took place at 9:00 AM with all of the remaining horses passing inspection. As we tacked up for showjumping it started to pour, and by the time I got to the warm-up area I was already drenched. After going double clear in showjumping we had our awards ceremony. I finished in third place with my dressage score of 32.5 and 0.8 time penalties on steeplechase.
It was a long and nerve-wracking week for me, but I would not think twice about doing it all over. I definitely plan on attending next year and I hope to see more competitors attending in the upcoming years. Not only is it a chance to ride the classical eventing style but it was very educational and I learned a lot throughout the weekend. This would not be possible without the many sponsors, volunteers, and of course the incredible hosts for making this event so fun and well organized. I only wish they had more events throughout the year! I really think all lower level riders should have to complete a long format event before moving onto the next level. You really learn a lot about you and your horse and where you are in your riding and fitness work. I look forward to meeting many new competitors next year coming out to tackle this wonderful course.
