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Competitors Set to Tackle Cross-Country at Colorado Horse Park CCI*

Victoria New and Bally Whatnot (Photos by Cristy Cumberworth)

Parker, CO – May 25, 2013 – The date is quickly approaching and the cross-country courses have been set for the Colorado Horse Park’s upcoming CCI* Three Day Event, Training Three Day and Horse Trials, slated for May 31 through June 2. Riders will try to conquer the Horse Park’s challenging cross-country course and test out the new top-notch footing in the dressage and show jumping rings.

A long list of horse and rider combinations have signed up to compete at levels ranging from Beginner Novice to Intermediate and CCI*. Cross-country courses for each division are posted at http://coloradohorsepark.com/events/chp-three-day-event-cci-training-three-day-and-horse-trials.

Eventing will share the stage with dressage and jumping, as High Prairie Dressage I, II and III and KSMS’s Jump Into June CHJA will be run concurrently at the Horse Park. Vivien Van Buren, Manager of Eventing for the Colorado Horse Park, said the weekend will be a lot of fun for all. “The most crowd-pleasing, of course, is the cross-country,” she said.

Van Buren explained that the cross-country course represents the work of both David O’Connor and James Atkinson. “David designed the courses for us until he got very busy as the President of the USEF, and now as the coach of the U.S. Olympic Equestrian team,” she said. “James worked very closely with him, built the courses, and is now our sole course designer.”

Cynthia Wiseman
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Cynthia Wiseman

She said that the course has different technical challenges for each division, including three water complexes that provide appropriate tests for each level. “The upper level riders jump over a large obstacle going into the water and out again over another obstacle,” she said. “The lower level riders all need to go through the water and that is a challenge for many. And for all the levels, we have a really fun bank complex.”

Even at the Beginner Novice level, the cross-country course provides a challenging and varied test of the abilities of horse and rider. Beginner Novice riders will take on a course of 17 obstacles, including a bank, a ditch and water crossings.

Meanwhile, the CCI* riders will face a course that takes full advantage of the Colorado Horse Park’s cross-country offerings. The 30 jumping efforts include water complexes, a log and bank combination early in the course at 4AB, and a tricky triple combination of a hanging log, ditch, and corner at 10ABC. The preliminary division is one of just 19 Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) qualifiers in the United States in 2013.

After the initial horse inspection and course walk for the CCI* on Thursday, May 30, dressage will be held on Friday, May 31. Cross-country is set for Saturday, June 1, and the competition will conclude with show jumping on Sunday, June 2.

Keep track of the action with live scoring, available beginning on May 31 at http://www.evententries.com/livescoring/15284.html.

The Colorado Horse Park CCI*, T3D & Horse Trials Fast Facts

What: USEF/USEA Recognized Division: CCI1*, Intermediate, Preliminary

USEF Endorsed/USEA Recognized Divisions: T,T3D,N,BN

USEA Event ID: 15284

Event Date: May 31 – June 02, 2013

Tentative Schedule:
Wed: In-Barn Examination for CCI horses from 1-5 p.m.
Thurs: CCI: In-Barn Examination for CCI horses till 1 p.m.
2 p.m. Briefing and course walk for FEI competitors and coaches; 4:30 p.m. First Horse Inspection; HT course open 3 p.m.
Fri: Dressage – 8 a.m.
Sat: Cross-country – 8 a.m.
Sun: 8:30 a.m. CCI: Final Horse Inspection; 11:00 a.m. Show Jumping for CCI horses; HT: Show Jumping – 8 a.m.

Starting Times:

Entry status is listed at www.coloradohorsepark.com and starting times will be on the website after 6 p.m. on May 31.

Directions:

Address: 7522 South Pinery Drive, Parker, CO 80134

From North: I-25S exit Ridgegate Parkway – go east under the freeway.  Ridgegate Parkway to S. Chambers Road, approximately 3 miles (Traffic light) – turn right/south onto Chambers Road. At end of Chambers Road turn left/east onto Hess Road.  Hess Road to Parker Road/Hwy 83 – turn right/south onto Hwy 83 approximately 4 miles to Bayou Gulch Road. (Traffic light). Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

From South: I-25N, exit Founder’s Parkway.  Founder’s Parkway to Highway 86, approximately 4 miles (traffic light). Turn east/left onto Hwy. 86 to Franktown/Hwy 83. At Franktown go north on 83 approximately 7 miles to Bayou Gulch Rd. (Traffic light), turn right/east onto Bayou Gulch Rd. Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

About the Colorado Horse Park

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, the Colorado Horse Park was founded by visionary Helen Krieble who acknowledged the need for a high-volume horse show and horse boarding facility to serve Colorado.  The Colorado Horse Park welcomes more than 75,000 visitors per year and hosts over 40 competitions annually.  CHP features a derby arena designed by Olympic-designer Linda Allen and a cross-country course designed by Olympic Gold Medalist David O’Connor and eventing super-star James Atkinson. There are 300 permanent stalls with capacity for more than 1,000 stalls.

The picturesque property, located only minutes from the town of Parker, hosts international equestrian events in multiple disciplines. Visitors enjoy the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountain surroundings and access to miles of trails and open space.  The Colorado Horse Park is committed to supporting equestrian education and amateur athletics, preserving open space, fundraising for local charities and supporting the community.

Visit CHP at:  http://coloradohorsepark.com/.

Mary Adelaide Brakenridge for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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