It’s the inarguable best time of the year (I say that because it’s my birthday month, so it’s ok if you actually would like to argue that point): a full slate of top-level eventing action beckons, and I’m here to provide all the information you need to follow along each week. Let’s dive right in:
Sharon White and Claus 63. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Pan Ams Final Outing (Adamstown, MD) – October 6-7
The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm will play host this weekend to the U.S. Eventing team heading to Santiago, Chile in two weeks’ time for the 19th Pan American Games. Your selected team consists of:
- Sydney Elliott (Benton, La.) and QC Diamantaire, a 2010 Oldenburg gelding owned by Carol Stephens
- Liz Halliday (Ocala, Fla.) and Miks Master C, a 2012 Swedish Warmblood gelding owned by Debby Palmer and the Ocala Horse Properties, LLC
- Direct Reserve: Cooley Nutcracker, a 2014 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by The Nutcracker Syndicate
- Caroline Pamukcu (Miami Beach, Fla.) and HSH Blake, a 2015 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Mollie Hoff, Sherrie Martin and Caroline Pamukcu
- Sharon White (Summit Point, W.V.) and Claus 63, her own 2012 Holsteiner gelding
- Traveling Reserve: Tamie Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) and Kynan, a 2015 KWPN gelding owned by Kynan Syndicate LLC
This final Mandatory Outing will be used as a mini-training session and finishing touches run for the squad and the selected alternates. The team will ride a Combined Test Friday, consisting of the 4* dressage test and Advanced show jumping height. The Pan American Games are run as a hybrid 3*/4*-L, using FEI CCI4* Test B, a CCI3*-L cross country track, and CCI4* spec show jumping. The team riders will also have the opportunity to run the Intermediate cross country before the Open Intermediate on Saturday.
I will be on the ground at Loch Moy this weekend to bring you reports from the team outing — stay tuned!
Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm: [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]
Cassie Sanger and Fernhill Zoro.
Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography
Military Boekelo CCIO4*-L (Enschede, Netherlands) – October 5-8
The final FEI Nations Cup Eventing leg will be held at Boekelo, and a star-studded entry list awaits including a strong U.S. squad consisting of:
- James Alliston (San Ramon, Calif.) and Karma, a 2014 Oldenburg mare owned by Alliston Equestrian and Ric Plummer
- Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) and Denim, a 2015 Holsteiner gelding owned by Caroline Moran, Ann Lapides, Neil Sites, and Ann Jones
- Cassie Sanger (Wilmington, Del.) and Fernhill Zoro, her own 2008 Irish Sport Horse gelding
- Jennie Saville (West Grove, Pa.) and Connory, a 2012 Holsteiner gelding owned by Nina Gardner, Timothy Gardner, and Jennie Saville
There will also be an Olympic ticket up for grabs at Boekelo, as the winning FEI Nations Cup team (if not already qualified) will punch their pass to Paris. Tilly Berendt will be on the ground for us at Boekelo this weekend, so you’ll have plenty of action to keep you up to speed here on EN. You can also watch the action live on FEI TV on Clip My Horse here (membership required). The Netherlands is 6 hours ahead of Eastern time in the U.S., so plan accordingly for following along live.
Military Boekelo CCIO4*: [Website] [Schedule] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]
Tommy Greengard and Joshuay MBF. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Woodside Fall International (Woodside, CA) – October 6-8
On the West Coast as a part of this weekend’s triple-header, Woodside International in the Bay Area of California will hosts its fall CCI4*-S, as well as all other FEI levels and National divisions from Starter through Intermediate. While California-based stalwarts Tamie Smith and James Alliston have their top horses traveling to other events this month, we’ll still see performances from Sophie Click, Tommy Greengard, Emilee Libby, and Karen O’Neal in the 4*-S division.
Woodside is hosting a fundraising auction to support its ongoing eventing efforts, and you can bid on items ranging from luxury vacations getaways, lessons with Tamie Smith, Gina Miles, Robyn Fisher, and many more, cross country schoolings, entries, restaurant gift certificates, and much more. Bidding closes on Saturday, October 7. Click here to see auction items and place your bids.
Woodside Fall Horse Trials: [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer]
Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.
Morven Park Fall International CCI & H.T. (Leesburg, VA) – October 12-15
Next on the October tour will be a full weekend of international action featuring Morven Park’s CCI4*-L in Leesburg, VA.
Morven Park’s CCI4*-L has taken its place as a prime end-season long format, its cross country designed by Derek di Grazia in honor of the late Tremaine Cooper. This test makes this event a prime move-up target for horses ready to step up to their first 4*-L or ready to tackle a tougher one — but we’ll also see a healthy amount of seasoned campaigners capping off their season here this weekend. Morven Park also hosts a 4*-S, so we’ll see 25 horses and riders tackle that division. You can preview the full entry list here.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of eventing at the historic Morven Park, meaning there are plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy the fall scenery via VIP experiences or other hospitality tickets. Click here to see your options.
Veronica Green-Gott and myself will be providing coverage from on the ground at Morven Park.
Morven Park Fall International CCI & H.T.: [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [EN’s Coverage]
Buck Davidson and Sorocaima. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Maryland 5 Star (Elkton, MD) – October 19-22
We’re lucky to have not just one, but two CCI5* events to finish off the 2023 season (ordinarily, we’d have one more in the Southern Hemisphere, but Australia’s CCI5* ran earlier this year for 2023). The third annual MARS Maryland 5 Star, presented by Brown Advisory, will feature 5* competition as well as the USEF National CCI3*-L Championship and USEA Young Event Horse Championships (East Coast) for 4- and 5-year-olds.
28 horses and riders are entered in the CCI5* this year, including a strong international contingent of William Fox-Pitt with Grafennacht, Piggy March and Brookfield Cavalier Cruise, Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue, Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier, 2022 winning rider Tim Price and Falco, Monica Spencer and Artist, and Oliver Townend with Cooley Rosalent. 2021 winner Boyd Martin will bring forward two rides in Contessa and Luke 140.
As always, EN will have a full team on the ground and supporting coverage remotely. You can also follow the action live on ClipMyHorse.TV with your USEF membership (click here to bookmark the live stream page). You can preview the full entry list here. VIP tickets and other general admission options are still available here.
Maryland 5 Star: [Website] [Entries] [Live Stream] [Volunteer] [EN’s Coverage]
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Shanroe Cooley. Photo by Irish Eventing Times.
FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championships (Le Lion d’Angers, France) – October 19-22
Make way for the future superstars! Each year at Le Lion, we get a glimpse at some of the top 6- and 7-year-old horses in the world, some of whom will go on to be 5* and team horses. Set at the 2*-L and 3*-L levels, respectively, this test — complete with its creative and inviting cross country course — is always a big draw in a hotbed of the French sport horse production system.
The USEA last week announced that the 7-year-old Hanoverian mare Gina (Gentleman x Ballerina), owned by Corwin Sport Horses, LLC and ridden by Chris Talley, is the likely recipient of the 2023 Holekamp/Turner Grant and The Dutta Corp. prize. The full entry list has yet to be published, but you’ll be able to find it here once available.
Mondial du Lion will be broadcast live on FEI TV on ClipMyHorse.TV (membership required). You can bookmark this page for the live stream schedule and access.
Mondial du Lion: [Website] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]
Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti (CAN) at the 2019 Pan American Games. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.
19th Pan American Games (Santiago, Chile) – October 27-29
Get ready, it’s almost Pan Ams time! Every four years, we’re treated to a veritable “mini-Olympics” featuring North, Central, and South American countries vying for titles in their respective Olympic sports. Pan Ams are also a qualifier for the upcoming Games, and while the U.S. did secure qualification in Pratoni last year at World Championships, neighbors to the north Canada did not. To that end, they’re sending a strong team down with the goal of nabbing one of two berths up for grabs. Other countries seeking qualification in eventing this month include Brazil and Mexico, who will each send experienced squads forward to duke it out in Chile. Current FEI tracking of Paris qualifications can be found here.
You can view all Nominated Entries for Santiago here. Definite entries will follow on October 13.
EN will be covering Pan Ams remotely this year, but the FEI TV live stream will enable all of us to follow along live! Santiago is 1 hour ahead of Eastern time.
#Santiago2023: [Website] [Nominated Entries] [Live Stream] [Pan Ams Equestrian Info] [EN’s Coverage]
Tim Price and Falco. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Les Etoiles de Pau (Pau, France) – October 26-29
And this bring us to the end of October, which will cap off in France (where else?) with Tilly at Les Etoiles de Pau, the final CCI5* event of 2023. We always look forward to Pau’s bright fall colors and technical cross country test, and we know there are a few U.S. riders planning to head over, including Boyd Martin, Will Coleman, and Phillip Dutton. Entries have not yet been made public, but should be coming soon. Keep an eye here on EN and on the Pau website for the latest updates.
The live stream for Pau will be carried on Horse & Country (membership or one-time event pass required — save 15% off your annual H&C+ membership using code EVENTINGNATION15); you can bookmark the hub for this event here.
Les Etoiles de Pau: [Website] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]
