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Kalispell, Mont.—July 19—“Look at me, Shrek! I’m trotting!” When sitting ringside at the Event at Rebecca Farm’s first horse inspection, does this notable line from the DreamWorks beloved Donkey flood your ears, or is it just me?
With an impressive peppering of spectators taking shade on the grassy banks, enthusiastic steeds and their riders in the CCI4*-L division took matching steps in front of the ground jury. All 14 horses presented passed.
The 22nd annual Event at Rebecca Farm offers the same sweeping views of its divine location in northwest Montana, inspiring an overwhelming feeling of excitement for everyone, but the horses are a little more eager to show it.
With trips to the event covering upward of 2,500 miles for few, there’s bound to be some shaking loose and kicking up dust, happy to have arrived under the big sky. The most animated steeds were both gray Thoroughbred geldings—Argyle, owned and handled by Skyeler Voss, and Vincent Chase, owned and handled by Heather Gillette—who floated forward, a bit sideways at times, and ears perked on the cross-country field beyond the potted flowers.
Canada's Kyle Carter was arguably the most fashionable, sporting a cowboy hat that perfectly embodied the spirit of the West alongside his calm, cool, and collected partner Gstar Van De Klinkenberg, a 12-year-old chestnut Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Barnstaple Group.
The CCI4*-L features several top pairs, including Liz Halliday-Sharp with Cooley Moonshine and Jennie Saville and FE Connory, hot off a CCI4*-S win at Maryland International. James Alliston and Karma are coming off an Advanced win at Twin Rivers (Paso Robles, California), while Buck Davidson brings forward Allie Knowles' usual Advanced ride Business Class. Knowles is riding her five-star partner Morswood. Canada's Jessica Phoenix has two rides in the flashy pinto Flourescent Adolescent as well as Isla GS.
Judges for the horse inspection were Bobby Stevenson (USA), Sue Baxter (GBR), and Gretchen Butts (USA). Stevenson is a member of the ground jury for the 2023 Pan American Games in Chile later this year.
CCI4*-L dressage begins on Friday, July 21 with Jessica Phoenix and Makayla Rydzik’s Fluorescent Adolescent entering the arena at 3:30 p.m. MDT.
For full results, click here.
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