We are fully immersed in spring season for the horses and riders aiming at 4*-L and 5* competition in 2025, and with the first US Equestrian Open qualifier underway at Bouckaert International this weekend, we’ve worked on both a U.S. and a UK early season preview for you to stay in the loop. European riders/events, don’t worry! We haven’t forgotten you. We’ll be releasing a “Road to the FEI European Championships” season preview in the coming weeks that will highlight key European pairs and prep events on the calendar en route to Blenheim in September.
Stay tuned for more updates on this article and beyond as we swing into all systems go! We’ll see you on the road, and Go Eventing.
Allison Springer and No May Moon. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Bouckaert International – March 6-9 – Fairburn, GA – US Equestrian Open Qualifier
The first 4*-S of the season kicks off, well, today actually in Georgia at the storied Bouckaert Farm venue formerly known as Chattahoochee Hills. This venue has hosted everything from Mandatory Outings for U.S. teams to the American Eventing Championships and everything in between (including a music festival or two!) throughout its history, making it one of the well-loved facilities in our sport.
This weekend marks the first US Equestrian Open Qualifier event as we look ahead to the Final at Morven Park in October. You can read more about the Open competitors and who’s projected to win (hint: it’s between the two Aussies-turned-Americans, according to the numbers) over on the Open website here.
Clayton Fredericks (AUS) has taken the course designing reins over this year, relieving previous designer Hugh Lochore (GBR), which means we’ll see some changes in the works as Clayton puts his own spin of technicality and bravery on display.
19 4* combinations will contest the top division at Bouckaert, including established horses such as Buck Davidson’s Sorocaima, Phillip Dutton’s Jewelent and Quasi Cool, Lucienne Bellissimo’s Dyri and Tremanton, Boyd Martin’s Luke 140 and Miss Lulu Herself, and many others. We’ll also see some horses still gaining experience at the level and likely heading to the Cosequin Lexington 4*-S at Defender Kentucky at the end of April.
Bouckaert Equestrian International (GA) [US EQUESTRIAN OPEN QUALIFER CCI4*-S]: [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Carolina International – March 12-16 – Raeford, NC – US Equestrian Open Qualifier
Colleen Loach and Vermont. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Next on deck is the Setters Run Farm Carolina International, which has a slight uptick in 4* entries in comparison to its 2024 field with 38 horses and riders entered. Many Kentucky or Badminton-bound pairs will historically target this track, favoring its mild terrain offerings and, until this year, its bold, forward Ian Stark-design.
This year, Tokyo Olympics and longtime Kentucky designer Derek di Grazia has taken over the design. While he’s been predictably mum on exactly what he’s got in mind for the 2025 event, we can bet that he’s gone over every inch of terrain and chosen the questions that will most naturally align with the inherent challenge of changing ground.
We’ve got some newer-to-us horses to see in this year’s field, including three horses for Katherine Coleman, Hayley Frielick’s newest Advanced horse Sportsfield Lumiere (as well as the return of her 5* partner, Dunedin Black Watch, in the 3*!), Colin Gaffney’s Baymax, and Elisa Wallace’s Lissavorra Quality. We’ll also have a strong showing from horses and riders we’ve become accustomed to seeing at these outings, such as Will Faudree’s Pfun and Mama’s Magic Way, Jennie Brannigan’s FE Lifestyle, Lisa Marie Fergusson’s Honor Me, Allie Knowles’ Morswood, and many others. This will also be Cooley Nutcracker’s first 4* start with Boyd Martin, who has taken over the ride on a few of Liz Halliday’s horses as she continues to recover from a traumatic brain injury sustained last fall at AECs.
Horse & Country will carry the live stream of this event, and we’ll update this preview with US Equestrian Open preview content soon.
Carolina International CCI & H.T. (NC): [Website] [Competitor Info] [Spectator Info] [Carolina Club Tickets] [Volunteer]
The Event at TerraNova – March 27-30 – Myakka City, FL – US Equestrian Open Qualifier
Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Another popular stop en route to Kentucky or another spring Long format comes to us in Florida at The Event at TerraNova, just to the east of Sarasota in Myakka City. Riders such as Phillip Dutton are using both Bouckaert International as well as TerraNova as their preparation route, with Phillip entering some of the same horses he has at Bouckaert, along with Denim and Possante, who just ran around well at the Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field earlier in March.
U.S. team member Lauren Nicholson will also be in action with I’ll Have Another at TerraNova, one of her very exciting horses coming up to this Championship and, eventually, 5* level as his career progresses. Paris Olympian Caroline Pamukcu features on just about every entry list this spring as she aims her burgeoning string of 4* horses at their respective goals and returns to riding full-time after having her first baby over the off-season.
The Event at TerraNova: [Website] [Entries]
Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Galway Downs International – March 27-30 – Temecula, CA
The West coast gets underway with its 4* season at the proposed host site of equestrian sports at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, Galway Downs. It’s an exciting time for West coast-based eventers, with several newer pairs stepping up to the Advanced and 4* level and others notching up some competitive results as they enter into another season at the level and look ahead to what’s next. Featuring on the entry list in the 4* at Galway Downs are Taren Hoffos with her two Advanced horses, Master Class and Regalla, a special mare she’s produced up from her young horse years who just won her last outing at Twin Rivers. Erin and Marc Grandia are also coming down from the Pacific Northwest with their super horses, GHS Calexico for Marc and Hyacinth for Erin, who finished on the podium in the Advanced at Twin Rivers.
Galway Downs International: [Website] [Entries] [Live Stream]
Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography.
Stable View April FEI – April 4-5 – Aiken, SC – US Equestrian Open Qualifier
More entries have yet to fill in our April events to date, but Stable View’s 4*-S, with a cross country designed by Helen West (GBR), is another stalwart on the prep calendar. It’s a bit closer in proximity on the calendar to Kentucky, but several Kentucky 4* or 5*-bound pairs will still elect to have one more practice run ahead of the big dance. Stable View, along with other venues like TerraNova and Galway Downs, boasts a decent amount of infrastructure that creates atmosphere, making these venues logical stops on a prep path to get horses into a more intensive environment.
Featuring on the early entries are Great Britain’s Lucienne Bellissimo with her two top horses, Dyri and Tremanton, Ariel Grald and the beautiful Diara, U.S. Olympian Kim Severson with her newest Advanced horse, Cooley Corraghy Diamond, and Lucia Strini with two newer horses to the level in DHI Kevin G, with whom Lucia won the 3*-L at TerraNova to cap off 2024.
Stable View April FEI: [Website] [Entries] [Live Stream]
Rebecca Braitling and Caravaggio II. Photo by Ride On Photo.
Twin Rivers Spring International – April 10-13 – Paso Robles, CA – US Equestrian Open Qualifier
We don’t quite have a line on entries for Twin Rivers’ (Paso Robles, CA) April 4*-S, which comes just a couple weeks before Kentucky and should feature a mix of combinations planning to stay on the West coast for the spring and also potentially a few travelers looking for one last run or perhaps a Combined Test before they hit the road to the middle of the country. We’ll update this preview once we have more entries!
Twin Rivers Spring International: [Website]
Ocala International Festival of Eventing – April 17-20 – Ocala, FL – US Equestrian Open Qualifier
Dani Sussman and Jos Bravio. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Another popular stop on the Florida calendar comes at the Florida Horse Park, whose A-team of organizers always ensure some of the best conditions you can have and a well-oiled machine to give competitors a top-flight experience. The Ocala International also features Long formats at the 1*-3* level, making it a proper end of winter season goal for horses and riders looking for a Long format to contest. The 4*-S also typically features an Advanced CT that features the 5* test used at Kentucky for any 5*-bound pairs who want one final prep test and show jump at height for finishing touches. The 4*-S generally features horses and riders who are newer to the level and perhaps aiming for a 4*-L at an event like Tryon or Bromont. We’ll update this preview with more information on entries as they file in.
Ocala International Festival of Eventing: [Website]
Spring Target Events
Below is a list of key events that many pairs will be aiming for throughout the 4* season this spring.
Potential Spring Targets (U.S.)
Potential Long Format Targets (UK & Europe)
We’ll keep this article updated with additional entry information, US Equestrian Open Fan Guides, live streams, and more, so keep an eye out for more coming your way soon!
