Novice competitors Alex Holliday and Gold Peak. Photo by Brant Gamma Photography.
The Virginia Horse Trials (VHT) International got underway Tuesday at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Va. The organizing staff is pleased to welcome nearly 400 horse and rider combinations to this week’s competition.
This event was rescheduled from its original Memorial Day weekend date due to COVID-19.
“In rescheduling the event, we wanted to make sure competitors requiring qualifications would have the opportunity to obtain them,” said VHT Organizer Andy Bowles. “The Virginia Horse Center kindly worked us into their busy schedule, and we are grateful that so many competitors have chosen to come to VHT this week. I want to thank everyone for their support.”
VHT is hosting Starter through Advanced/Intermediate horse trials plus CCI1*-L, CCI2*-S, CCI2*-L, CCI3*-S, and Young Event Horse Series divisions. The schedule spans Tuesday through Friday, with national classes running as either a one-day or two-day competition.
On the first day of competition, the CCI2*-L and CCI1*-L competitors presented to the ground jury of Gretchen Butts (USA) and Helen Brettell (GBR) for the first horse inspection. Dressage for these divisions will begin on Wednesday.
The CCI3*-S wrapped up its competition today, with Boyd Martin and Luke 140, a 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by the Luke 140 Syndicate, winning on a score of 35.5. They led from start to finish beginning with a dressage score of 23.9, followed by a clear show jumping and cross country round with 11.6 time faults. Joe Meyer and Clip Clop finished 2nd in the division on 37.7; Benjamin Noonan and Keep Kitty were 3rd on 29.3.
Rebecca Brown and Dassett Choice won the Advanced Intermediate division on 29.4, followed by Dana Cooke and FE Mississippi in 2nd (39.4) and Boyd Martin and On Cue in 3rd (40.0). Open Intermediate A was won by Maxine Preston with Shannondale Magnum (47.7); Open Intermediate B was won by Jackie LeMastus and Lup The Loop (36.9).
Three Novice divisions and one Beginner Novice division completed a one-day format competition. Future stars of the sport also competed in the USEA Young Event Horse Series 4- and 5-year-old classes.
VHT is strictly adhering to all USEF, USEA, state, and local health and safety requirements for COVID-19, and we thank all participants for their cooperation.
CCI3*-S Top 10 Finishers:
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[Virginia Horse Trials Hosts Nearly 400 Entries at Midweek Event]
