By Meredith Tipton
In order to preserve the traditional long format of eventing, several horse trials around the county are holding lower level three-day events for riders at the Beginner Novice, Novice, and Training levels. The Indiana Eventing Association holds a long format three-day event each year along with their recognized June Horse Trials.
This year two young riders from Mississippi qualified to compete in the IEA Novice Three Day event. Sisters Cassidy Doss and Sydney Doss, who train at River Run Eventing in Hernando, MS, traveled to Edinburgh, Indiana to participate in the exciting event.
Horses and riders entered in the three-day event were put through the normal phases of a regular long format event. The competition started with a vet inspection, in which the mount’s temperature, pulse, and respiration were taken along with any pertinent health information. Riders then had a briefing to go over roads and tracks, as well as the 10 minute box procedure. Horses and riders then had their first jogs in front of a panel of veterinarians. Unfortunately, due to a very untimely abscess, Cassidy's mount was not able to continue with the event.
Following the first jogs, riders then rode their dressage tests. The USEA has created a specific test for the long format events which is to be ridden in a Standard arena, rather than the traditional small arena. Riders were able to participate in steeplechase clinics and were also encouraged to hack their roads and tracks path before the cross country day on Saturday.
The clinician for the Novice three- day was eventing legend, Dorothy Crowell. She led the Novice competitors in a steeplechase school and a cross country course walk, and was available to answer any questions that arose throughout the weekend.
After dressage, Sydney and her mount Road Less Traveled went into cross country day on their dressage score of 34.1 After both roads and tracks and steeplechase, Sydney and “Trav” jumped double clear on cross country to go into show jumping – still on their dressage score. On the morning of show jumping, horses and riders had to present for a second jog to determine soundness before the final phase of jumping began. After passing the final jogs, Sydney and Trav jumped a double clear show jumping round and moved up to finish the event in eighth place. Sydney was the youngest rider and the highest placed Junior rider in the division! She also received the Best Conditioned Horse Award for the Novice 3 day, which is determined by the vet after cross country day.
In order to preserve the traditional long format of eventing, several horse trials around the county are holding lower level three-day events for riders at the Beginner Novice, Novice, and Training levels. The Indiana Eventing Association holds a long format three-day event each year along with their recognized June Horse Trials.
This year two young riders from Mississippi qualified to compete in the IEA Novice Three Day event. Sisters Cassidy Doss and Sydney Doss, who train at River Run Eventing in Hernando, MS, traveled to Edinburgh, Indiana to participate in the exciting event.
Horses and riders entered in the three-day event were put through the normal phases of a regular long format event. The competition started with a vet inspection, in which the mount’s temperature, pulse, and respiration were taken along with any pertinent health information. Riders then had a briefing to go over roads and tracks, as well as the 10 minute box procedure. Horses and riders then had their first jogs in front of a panel of veterinarians. Unfortunately, due to a very untimely abscess, Cassidy's mount was not able to continue with the event.
Following the first jogs, riders then rode their dressage tests. The USEA has created a specific test for the long format events which is to be ridden in a Standard arena, rather than the traditional small arena. Riders were able to participate in steeplechase clinics and were also encouraged to hack their roads and tracks path before the cross country day on Saturday.
The clinician for the Novice three- day was eventing legend, Dorothy Crowell. She led the Novice competitors in a steeplechase school and a cross country course walk, and was available to answer any questions that arose throughout the weekend.
After dressage, Sydney and her mount Road Less Traveled went into cross country day on their dressage score of 34.1 After both roads and tracks and steeplechase, Sydney and “Trav” jumped double clear on cross country to go into show jumping – still on their dressage score. On the morning of show jumping, horses and riders had to present for a second jog to determine soundness before the final phase of jumping began. After passing the final jogs, Sydney and Trav jumped a double clear show jumping round and moved up to finish the event in eighth place. Sydney was the youngest rider and the highest placed Junior rider in the division! She also received the Best Conditioned Horse Award for the Novice 3 day, which is determined by the vet after cross country day.
