It’s that wonderful time of year for us eventing nerds: events happening each weekend and that tangible feeling of “something’s coming…” heavy in the air. It’s very nearly 5* season — in fact, the southern hemisphere will get the calendar started this year with the Adelaide International CCI5* happening April 20-23. From there, it’s straight into Kentucky (April 27-30), followed by Badminton (May 5-8).
Ahead of those major events is a full slate of preparatory action, and that continues this weekend with four important CCI4*-S happening in California, Florida, Great Britain, and Poland. Keep reading for information on how to follow along with each event.
Galway Downs International
Erin Kellerhouse and Woodford Reserve. Photo by Sally Spickard.
FEI World Championships silver medalists Tamie Smith and the Ahearn family’s Mai Baum headline the CCI4*-S in southern California at Galway Downs this weekend. With Mai Baum, Elliot V, and Danito entered in the 5* at Land Rover Kentucky, this will be a key prep for the Smith string, who will also be accompanied on the bus to Kentucky by Solaguayre California to compete in the Lexington CCI4*-S. Also joining the 4*-S line-up at Galway are James Alliston and Nemesis, also aimed at the Kentucky 5*, as are new California residents Missy Miller and Quinn, who will make their debut at the 5* level in April.
Ride On Video will host a complementary live stream of multiple divisions throughout the week. You can find the live stream here. The schedule is as follows (subject to change):
Galway Downs International: [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]
Strzegom International Spring Open
Photo by Mariusz Chmieliński.
Some of the sport’s biggest names signed up to participate in Poland’s 4* season opener at Strzegom, including multi-medalist Michael Jung and his Pratoni partner, fischerChipmunk. No word yet on where Michael plans to make his spring destination with “Chipmunk”. We will also see Sandra Auffarth, Olympic bronze medalist and world champion who is entered at Kentucky with Viamant du Matz, as well as Dutch rider Merel Blom, team bronze medalist of the World Equestrian Games. Germany’s Alina Dibowski is also entered, and will be making the trip to Kentucky at the end of April with Barbados 26.
Strzegom Spring Open I: [Website] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [More Coverage]
The Event at TerraNova
Jacob Fletcher and Fabian fly around Capt. Mark Phillips’ TerraNova cross country track at TerraNova in 2022. Photo by Al Green Photo.
Over 50 riders will contest the CCI4*-S held at TerraNova in Myakka City, FL this weekend — the most robust roster of any spring 4*-S in the U.S. The entry list is a uniquely exciting one, a healthy mixture of 5*-aimed horses as well as horses and riders stepping up to the 4* level for the first time. Among these are two Mexican riders in the 4* (along with a slew of other entries across divisions): Eduardo Rivero Frangoso, who is contesting his first 4* with the 9-year-old gelding, Coloso. He’s accompanied in this division by Guillermo German de Campo and his Caribbean Games and Pan American Games partner, the 17-year-old gelding Quelite. Team Mexico can frequently be found in Florida and Aiken each winter, and in preparation for this year’s Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, the excitement around these strongly developing programs continues to build.
There is sadly no live stream of TerraNova this weekend, but we’ll be helping keep you abreast of the action thanks to roving reporters Amanda Chance and Hillary McMichael.
The Event at TerraNova: [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [EN’s Coverage]
Thorseby International Eventing Spring Carnival
The striking backdrop of Thoresby House. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography for BEDE Events.
If you’re looking for a Badminton preview — and then some — look no further than the beefy, chock-full entry list at Thoresby International. As is par for British eventers, the winter weather has seen many events abandoned or truncated, making this weekend all the more exciting and important as a pipe-opener for the spring ahead. Tilly pulled together a chunky entry preview for Thoresby here, and she’ll be joined on the road by 2022 Blogger Contest winner Diana Gilbertson. We wish them well with three days of dressage ahead of them — godspeed, ladies!
Horse & Country will carry the live stream for Thoresby this weekend, and you can view using your H&C+ subscription or by purchasing a one-time viewing pass for just about $20. If you’re in need of a subscription, we’ve brought back our discount code for 15% off the cost of an annual subscription. Simply use code EVENTINGNATION15 (the code is case-sensitive) at checkout and you’ll be all set to go!
Thoresby Eventing Spring Carnival: [Website] [Entries/Timing/Scoring/Schedule] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]
