Two of the country’s premier events, The Event at Rebecca Farm and the Cosequin Stuart Horse Trials, ran Adequan United States Eventing Association (USEA) Gold Cup Series divisions the weekend of July 21-23, giving eventers from both coasts the chance to test their mettle against some of the top horses and riders in the nation.

The Event at Rebecca Farm
Approximately 450 horse-and-rider combinations, from novice level through three-star, came from as far as Idaho and California and Arizona to The Event at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, MT, braving heat over 100 degrees during the weekend. Despite the heat, everyone at the Farm enjoyed the hospitality of the Broussard family and their crew of volunteers, who made competitors, spectators, officials and sponsors alike feel welcome throughout the weekend. The event ran like clockwork, and there’s no doubt that the hospitality and organization, along with the gorgeous and challenging cross-country courses designed by Captain Mark Phillips, are the reasons that the event took 500 entries (approximately 450 ran after the usual last minute withdrawals) and had to turn away another 100.

The CIC***-W and CIC** served as the Advanced and Intermediate divisions for the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series. Gina Miles and McKinlaigh looked impressive in all three phases of the CIC***-W, putting in a wire-to-wire victory for a final score of 54. This longtime partnership, who represented the U.S. in the 2002 World Equestrian Games and the 2003 FEI World Cup Finals, set the bar high in Friday’s dressage with a 40.8 score, more than seven points ahead of their nearest competition, Leigh Mesher and My Beau with 47.9.

Miles, who hails from Creston, CA, and McKinlaigh, a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Miles and Thom Schulz, jumped clean on Saturday during cross-country, and even their 13.2 time penalties (no pair finished under the optimum time) had little effect on the standings—they went into show jumping with a 6.3 penalty lead ahead of Canadian Hawley Bennett and her 16-year-old Thoroughbred Livingstone. Just 3.6 time penalties on course allowed Young Rider Tiana Coudray and King Street to hold their third place position on a score of 63.7. Coudray was reserve champion of last year’s Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series.

On Sunday, rails were dropping all over the show jumping courses, and the CIC***-W was no different. Bennett and Livingstone had one of the better performances, dropping just two rails. Coudray and King Street did them one better, dropping just one rail to move up for a guaranteed second place.

But it was Miles and McKinlaigh who put in the round of the day—the only double clear—securing them the win and a slew of prizes and prize money, including their share of the CIC***-W $30,000 prize money. For their Gold Cup Series win they received $500, a seven-dose pack of Adequan, a Mountain Horse jacket with Gold Cup logo, a front and hind pair of Nunn Finer American Style brushing boots, and the choice of either a Cross-Country Sereno Top Ride pad with ultra-suede, or the Cross-Country Ortho Top Ride saddle pad with advanced memory foam from Ogilvy Horse. In addition, McKinlaigh received a special cooler and $250 as the highest placing horse of Irish Draught descent.

Coudray, of Ojai, CA, and King Street, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Jatiel, Inc., took home a front and hind pair of Nunn Finer brushing boots, and a saddle pad from Ogilvy Horse. Coudray also received the Guinness Award, named in memory of Sarah Broussard Kelly’s beloved mount, for her finish as the highest placing Young Rider.

CIC**
Matthew Brown and Jasmine also put in a wire-to-wire win, finishing the CIC** on a score of 53.9. Brown and Jasmine, a 12-year-old Canadian Thoroughbred mare owned by Cecily Clark and Jodie Potts, took