Though Barbara Crabo and her 5-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare Over Easy (Quite Easy 958—Olivia OF GCF, Admiral 764) were originally declared the winners of the Galway Downs long format CCI* (Calif.), Nov. 3-6, Crabo and Over Easy’s disqualification was announced today on the basis of the Fédération Equestre Internationale Rules For Eventing, Article 505, Section 2, which states that horses competing at the CCI* level must be at least 6 years of age.

“It’s just a bummer,” said Crabo, 42, Scottsdale, Ariz. “When I was going to enter her, I wasn’t sure if 5 was too young, so I searched to find the ruling and couldn’t find an age listed. Then I called the [U.S. Eventing Association] office, and they looked it up and told me that she could be 5.”

Crabo last competed in a long format one-star event with Eveready II, the 12-year-old gelding with whom she placed third in Galway’s CCI*** division. But Crabo and Eveready II (Irco Mena—Fleetswinger, Cruise On In) tackled the CCI* level together six years ago, and Crabo was unsure whether the rules had changed since then.

“I went through all of the right avenues and talked to the right people but was misinformed,” said Crabo. “I feel like the FEI should make the rules clearer and more user-friendly.”

When it comes to Over Easy’s performance, though, Crabo said the disqualification doesn’t detract.

“In my mind she still won, and I don’t feel like I was asking too much,” she said. “It didn’t make me think that we’re moving up to intermediate immediately in the spring. She’ll stay at preliminary until next summer, but I’m still ecstatic with her.”