The Southern 8ths Nikon Three-Day Event in the Heart of the Carolinas will feature the first U.S. Eventing Association recognized beginner novice and novice three-day event on May 3-6 at Southern 8ths Farm in Chesterfield, S.C.
On Feb. 7, the USEA Board of Governors made the decision to formally recognize three-days at the beginner novice and novice level. Riders will compete in the traditional format of the sport that includes roads and tracks and steeplechase, and their results will count towards USEA national year-end points and qualifications for the American Eventing Championships.
“It took years of work by a lot of people, but it finally happened. The USEA recognition of the beginner novice and novice three-day events opens the benefits of the traditional format to lower level riders who comprise the nucleus of the sport,” said Brad Turley, owner of Southern 8ths Farm.
USEA Chief Executive Officer Jo Whitehouse said that the popularity of a beginner novice three-day held last year and the number of beginner novice and novice three-days on the calendar for 2012 encouraged officials to push the approval during the February meeting.
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“Last year’s event [at the Heart of the Carolinas] was primarily for educational purposes, but it was so popular we knew it was important to approve this proposal,” she said. “These beginner novice and novice three-days are so helpful for members to set goals at their level of confidence. They provide very satisfying goals while still allowing individuals to stay within their particular comfort zone.”
Southern 8ths will also host top eventing professionals to educate and better prepare lower level riders for their three-day experience through various “mini-clinics” throughout the event.
“It’s important to stress that these events will focus more on pace, learning the appropriate speeds for cross-country, steeplechase, and to get people out there understanding it a little better,” said Whitehouse. “Last year’s event had evening lectures as well. [Karen O’Connor’s groom] Max Corcoran gave a lecture on [the use and practice of] studs. Officials gave lectures on three-day procedure and three-day horse care.”
Currently there are four lower-level three-day events on the calendar, but Whitehouse expects that number to increase quickly. Heart of the Carolinas will be followed by the Indiana Eventing Association Horse Trials and Classic Training and Novice Event (Ind.) on May 31-June 3, the Green Mountain Horse Association Novice and Training Three-Day Event (Vt.) on Aug. 6-9, and the Waredaca Classic Training and Novice Level Three-Day Event on Oct. 25-28. Whitehouse mentioned that Rebecca Farm (Mont.) is considering hosting a beginner novice/novice three-day in the future.
