Poplar Place Farm, which runs multiple recognized horse trials and CICs in Hamilton, Ga., has added an early season CIC*** to the Feb. 4-5 event. The decision came after a contingent of U.S.-based foreign riders asked show organizer Donna Stegman to consider running one.

“These riders who were trying to qualify for the Olympics as an individual had to get their points in by February,” Stegman said. “We felt that it was right to help the riders who frequent our shows and bring us revenue by putting this on.”

Poplar Place was a logical choice to run a three-star before the beginning of March. The venue already has a three-star in the fall and is one of the only places to run any sort of event in February.

Stegman started getting calls and emails from riders in the beginning of November, and she knew she’d have to act quickly to get approval from the U.S. Equestrian Federation and the Fédération Equestre Internationale.

“We knew events in Europe had added some three-star events to help their riders qualify, so we knew that we could get it approved by the FEI,” Stegman said. “The only option for these riders would be to pack up their horses and go to Europe to attempt to qualify, and that’s a big risk.” 

Stegman, who runs the events with her husband, Gary, said this show is typically fairly small with about 100 riders.

“An FEI event is always a lot more work and a lot more money,” Stegman said. “Our motives for doing this are nothing other than trying to give back to the riders who compete for us, participate in our association and bring us organizers revenue.”

Stegman hopes to have eight to 12 riders for the division.