Liz Halliday and Cooley Moonshine. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.
Before we dive into all things Paris, we first have one of the summer’s hottest destination events on the docket this weekend: The Event at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, MT.
This event is well-deserving of a spot on your eventing bucket list, whether it’s to compete or simply to spectate or volunteer and take in the spectacular views and all that nearby Glacier National Park has to offer.
We’re looking at a strong field of entries for this year’s Rebecca Farm, which more often than not elicits a wait list in the majority of its divisions ranging from Beginner Novice up through CCI4*-L. Competitors also look forward to a robust USEA Classic Series offering, with long format Novice and Training Three-Day divisions also available and heartily supported.
How to Follow
This year’s event will be offered on live stream via Ride On Video as well as free of charge on H&C (no membership or one-time pass required). Competitors can also sign up to purchase videos of their rounds in each phase from Ride On Video here. Your official show photographer is Shannon Brinkman Photography.
The live stream schedule, which is subject to change, is below:
You can also keep an eye on the Rebecca Farm Facebook and Instagram pages. While EN does not have a dedicated reporter on site this year, Allie Heninger will be checking in periodically on our Instagram throughout the weekend.
Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
The Schedule
The full schedule of events can be found here.
Happenings
If you’re a Young Rider, there are a couple of great opportunities on the books for you!
FEI Team Challenge: The Young Rider Coordinators have put together an FEI Team Challenge for all Young Riders competing at FEI Levels. If you are a Young Rider is competing at an FEI Level at Rebecca Farm, use this link to sign up and you will be placed on a Team. This is a great way to meet new young riders from other areas and gain valuable team competition experience.
Young Rider Pizza Party + Q&A: Area VI’S Young Rider program will be hosting a pizza party and a Q&A session with Olympic short-listed rider and Rebecca Farm champion Jennie Brannigan on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. This event will be hosted on site in a tent on Spectator Hill.
Competitor Dinner: Join the Rebecca Farm team and your fellow competitors with the always-hopping competitor party, happening on Saturday at the Pavilion starting at 7 p.m.
Trade Fair: Get your shopping fix with the Trade Fair vendors. The Trade Fair will be open from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Sunday.
Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Entry Preview
We’ll see several pairs in the CCI4*-L and CCI3*-L from different parts of the country, many making the trek to Montana with the financial support of a Broussard Family Charitable Organization/USEA Foundation Rebecca Farm Travel Grant. Click here to view the riders who were given grants this year after submitting applications and sitting for an interview with a panel of selection board members.
While James Alliston and Karma, who were most recently members of the silver medal-winning Team USA at CHIO Aachen earlier this month, will not be returning to defend their CCI4*-L, the pathway this pair has taken en route to a berth on the Olympic short list is demonstrative of the influence a strong result at Rebecca Farm can play in a horse’s trajectory. Ian Stark has designed the FEI cross country at Rebecca Farm since 2011 and is currently in the midst of his final year as an active designer. His courses, which will be sorely missed after the 2024 season, have earned a reputation as strong but understandable and readable tracks that truly test the bravery and preparation of both horse and rider. Most of the riders you’ll see in the 4*-L and 4*-S divisions this weekend will be making their preparations for a step up to the 5* level or, potentially, overseas competition.
In the CCI4*-L we will also see last year’s CCI3*-L winners, Jennie Brannigan and Pascal, return for a go at the headlining title. Originally piloted by Alexa Lapp before Jennie took over the ride, Pascal is a real one to watch as a future 5* horse in the making. This is his first season at Advanced and will be his first 4*-L.
We also see several other travelers on the 4*-L list, including Julie Wolfert and SSH Playboy, who are ticking closer and closer to a 5* move-up as are Dani Sussman and Jos Bravio, Ashley Adams and Charly, and Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14. For their part, Pacific Northwest-based Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14 are coming off a strong win in the 4*-S at Aspen Farms and will be making their first 4*-L start together this weekend.
The CCI4*-S division also has several pairs to watch, including Australia’s Bec Braitling and Caravaggio II, who delivered a strong 5* debut at Kentucky this spring and are now aiming for the Maryland 5 Star this fall. Alexa Thompson has made the trek from Kentucky, with Just To Be Clear hitching a ride with Jennie Brannigan’s Pascal to Montana for a go in the Short division. Renee Kalkman and her Twin Rivers Advanced winner, Flame Eternal, will also contest this division. Additionally, Woodside Advanced winners this spring, Taren Hoffos and Master Class, are entered in their third 4*-S start.
You can view the full entry list for Rebecca Farm here.
Volunteer Opportunities
There are still plenty of spots available to lend a hand for a few hours as a volunteer! Score running, warm-up stewarding, cross country jump judging, and many more fun jobs are currently available.
View all volunteer openings here
Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Halt Canter at X
The Event’s impact goes beyond the horse world with Halt Cancer at X. The charitable initiative was launched in 2012 by the Event’s organizer Sarah Broussard in honor of her late mother, Rebecca Broussard, who founded the competition in 2002.
Through Halt Cancer at X, Montana Equestrian Events has so far provided more than $1 million in grant funds to innovative breast cancer research projects and to local non-profits that offer financial and wellness services to breast cancer patients. Those interested in making donations can do so here.
The Event at Rebecca Farm: [Website] [Entries] [Competitor Information] [Volunteer] [Halt Cancer at X] [Ride On Video Live Stream] [H&C Live Stream] [Live Stream Schedule] [Spectator Information]
