United States Eventing Association

The first FEI competition of the 2021 U.S. eventing season is upon us at Elinor Klapp Phipps Park in Tallahassee Florida at the 23^rd annual Red Hills International Horse Trials. As in years past, the event will offer CCI2*-S, CCI3*-S, and CCI4*-S international divisions and Preliminary, Intermediate, and Advanced horse trials divisions.

The Field

• Hallie Coon and Caroline Martin tie for busiest rider of the weekend, each with six rides. Coon has three in the CCI2*-S, one in the CCI3*-S, one in the CCI4*-S, and one in the Advanced and Martin has two in the CCI2*-S, two in the CCI3*-S, one in the CCI4*-S, and one in the Preliminary.
• Jennie Brannigan makes up just over 15 percent of the Advanced division on her own with her three rides – FE Lifestyle, Stella Artois, and Twilightslastgleam. Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp is the only rider in the Advanced with multiple rides – Cooley Be Cool and Cooley Moonshine.
• Colleen Loach and Tamie Smith are tied for the most rides in the CCI4*-S, each with three rides apiece. Loach will compete on Qorry Blue D’Argouges, Vermont, and FE Golden Eye and Smith will compete on En Vogue, No App For That, and Elliot-V.
• Tamie Smith and her daughter, Kaylawna Smith-Cook, will compete against each other in the CCI4*-S. They both traveled from their home base in Temecula, California to Florida to train and compete this winter.
• The only previous winner of the CCI4*-S at Red Hills returning this year is RF Scandalous (Carry Gold x Richardia), who won the division in 2018 with Marilyn Little. However, Voltaire de Tre came close in 2020 with Leslie Law, finishing second to Sharon White and Cooley On Show.

• Passepartout is the only horse in the field besides RF Scandalous that has a CCI4*-S win on their record. He won the CCI4*-S at Twin Rivers last fall and was runner-up in the CCI4*-L at Galway Downs shortly after, piloted at both events by Tamie Smith. This weekend, Smith-Cook takes back the ride from her mother.
• Another ride of Smith’s, En Vogue, is the only other horse in the field that has come close to winning a CCI4*-S in recent years, taking second in the CCI4*-S at Twin Rivers in 2019.
• Five finishers from last year’s Red Hills CCI4*-S are back for another crack at it this year: Fernhill Wishes, ridden by Karl Slezak (4^th); More Inspiration, ridden by Holly Jacks-Smither (11^th); Magnum’s Martini, ridden by Nilson Moreira da Silva (15^th); Fernhill Limited Edition, ridden by Alexandra Green (18^th); and Islandwood Captain Jack, ridden by Caroline Martin (23^rd). Miks Master C, who finished ninth in the CCI4*-S in 2020 with Maya Black, and Reddy or Not, who was 13^th in the CCI4*-S in 2020 with Kyle Carter, are both in the Advanced this year.
• Riders in the CCI4*-S represent the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Brazil.
• Historically, a strong dressage performance has been crucial to a win at Red Hills International. In the last seven years, each winner of the CCI4*-S has been either first or second after the dressage phase.

The Facts

• This year, show jumping will take place on Saturday and cross-country will run in reverse order of standing on Sunday.
• Wayne Quarles (USA) will serve as the Technical Delegate (TD) for the CCI4*-S, Advanced, Intermediate, and Preliminary divisions. Gretchen Butts (USA) is the TD for the CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S. Leslie Threlkeld (USA) will be assisting.
• The CCI4*-S Ground Jury includes Peter Gray (CAN) and Jane Hamlin (USA). The Ground Jury for the CCI3*-S is Robert Stevenson (USA) and Helen Brettell (GBR), and the Ground Jury for the CCI2*-S is Amanda Miller (USA) and Debbie Rodriguez (USA).
• Michael Etherington-Smith and David O’Connor return for their sixth year designing courses at Red Hills. Etherington-Smith will focus on the CCI4*-S and Advanced tracks with O’Connor assisting on the CCI4*-S and also designing the CCI3*-S, CCI2*-S, Intermediate, and Preliminary courses.
• Chris Barnard is the show jumping course designer for the fifth year in a row.
• $30,000 in prize money will be up for grabs across the six levels offered – $5,000 per division.
• No spectators will be allowed at Red Hills this year and the event will be observing the USEF COVID-19 Action Plan guidelines and procedures. All those present on-site are asked to wear a mask at all times. Temperatures will be checked daily and different colored wristbands will be issued.
• Due to the recently reported case of EHV-1 in Ocala, Florida, all horses will be required to supply three-day health certificates and perform twice-daily temperature checks.
• Both the CCI4*-S and Advanced divisions are qualifiers for the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final that will take place at the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds in August.

The Competition Schedule

Thursday, March 11

• 10:00 a.m. – In-Barn Examinations

Friday, March 12

• 8:00 a.m. – Dressage (All Levels)

Saturday, March 13

• 8:00 a.m. – Show Jumping (All Levels)

Sunday, March 14

• 8:00 a.m. – Cross-Country (All Levels)

Helpful Links

• Red Hills International Website
• USEA Prize List
• Schedule of Events
• Entry Status
• Ride Times
• Live Scores
• Volunteer
• Venue Map
• Cross-Country Courses
• Event Coverage