2006
Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series
Spring Horse Trials Updated:
February 24, 2006
The 2006 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series will kick off
in just a few weeks at the Red Hills Horse Trials and CIC***-W, March 10-12,
in Tallahassee, Florida. Expect to see top riders, including Olympians from at
least four nations, vie for a trip to the FEI World Cup Finals this September
and at the same time to post points on the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series Leadboard.
Last year’s Gold Cup Advanced Division winner and two-time Olympic
Team Gold Medallist,
Phillip Dutton, has three horses entered in the CIC***-W division, which
also serves as the Gold Cup Advanced division. The Australian, who has called
West Grove, Pennsylvania home for many years, will face stiff competition from
several former Olympians including Darren Chiacchia, (Olympic Team Bronze
Medalist); Bruce Davidson, (Twice Individual World Champion) (Bruce
and Jam are pictured at the right in the Dressage Phase of the FHI Horse Trials
last August.); and Bobby Costello (Individual rider 2000 Olympic Games)
(Bobby and Wild Delight are pictured at the left below jumping into the water
at the Morven Park Horse Trials, last fall.);of the U.S., as well as the reigning
Individual Olympic Gold Medallist Leslie Law, of Great Britain, who just
recently relocated to Florida, and Mike Winter, who represented Canada
in the 2004 Olympic Games. Last year the event drew 40,000 spectators,
largely due to the efforts of its incredible co-organizers, Sallie Ausley and
Sylvia Ochs, and their cadre of volunteers. This is Sallie and Sylvia’s
last year organizing the event. We wish them all the best, and thank them for
their dedication to the sport. For more information on the Red Hills event, visit
www.RHHT.org.
The
weekend after Red Hills, the Gold Cup Series moves to the Carolina Horse Park
in Raeford, North Carolina, for the Southern Pines Horse Trials. This event
always draws hundreds of competitors who have come to expect top notch courses
over some of the best footing in the country. The Carolina Horse Park is also
the site of the 2006 American Eventing Championships, and can be accessed at www.carolinahorsepark.com. Just
two weeks after Southern Pines, the Cup treks 3,000 miles west, to Temecula, California
to kick off the Pacific Division at the Galway Downs CIC-W*** and International
Horse Trials, March 31 to April 2. Like Red Hills, Galway Downs is also hosting
an FEI World Cup qualifier, so expect the top horses and riders on the West Coast
to put in their best performances. For more information on the event, visit www.galwaydowns.com. Then
it’s back to the East Coast for The Fork Stables Horse Trials, April
6-9 in Norwood, North Carolina, another World Cup qualifier. Outdoor Heritage
Days are planned as part of the event, and will feature a falconry show, retriever
demonstration, and other entertainment for both kids and adults. Visit www.forkstables.com
to learn more about the farm and the event. The USEA is pleased to welcome
back many of our 2005 sponsors, including title sponsor Adequan, presenting
sponsors Nunn Finer, Amerigo, and Nutrena, and contributing
sponsors Cover-All and UlcerGard. A new contributing sponsor, Premier
Equestrian, has joined us this year, with several more sponsors in the wings. Winners
of the Gold Cup divisions at each event will take home a front and hind pair of
Nunn Finer American Style brushing boots. The second and third place finishers
at each event will receive a front and hind pair of Nunn Finer brushing boots.
At the end of the year, at the 2006 USEA Annual Meeting and Convention
in St. Louis, Missouri, a grand prize Gold Cup trophy and Amerigo saddle will
be awarded to the rider from each division with the most points at the end of
the year. In addition, the Gold Cup champion at the Advanced level will receive
a check from the USEA for $6,000, and the Intermediate champion receives a check
for $4,000. The second placed rider at Advanced wins a $3,500 Bit of Britian gift
certificate, and their Intermediate counterpart wins a $2,500 gift certificate. Spring
Gold Cup Series Horse Trials: March 9-12, Red Hills Horse Trials,
Tallahassee, Florida March 17-19, Southern Pines Horse Trials,
Raeford, North Carolina March 31-April 2, Galway Downs International
Horse Trials, Temecula, California April 6-9, The Fork Horse Trials,
Norwood, North Carolina
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