Tag Archives: The Fork International Horse Trials

Competitions, Eventing/H.T.

The Fork International CIC */**/*** & Horse Trials Moves to Tryon in 2017

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Mill Spring, NC – May 3, 2016 – Jim and Bernadette Cogdell of The Fork International CIC */**/*** & Horse Trials announce the relocation of the event to the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in Mill Spring, NC, in 2017. One of the most prestigious Eventing competitions on the North American calendar, the Cogdells have made the decision to move locations in order to ensure that the popular event will continue at the same high level.

Jim Cogdell stated, “We have proudly hosted The Fork Horse Trials for 15 years, and it has grown into one of the premier horse trials in the United States. We are very proud of what we have created in North Carolina. It has taken a great deal of time, effort, passion, and funding to create this event, and it is now time for the next chapter in this competition’s history. We believe that moving the location of this event to the TIEC will secure its future and elevate the level of competition while enhancing the fan experience.”

While not straying from its home state of North Carolina, The Fork will take advantage of the spectacular new facility at TIEC in order to maintain a top quality event with top-of-the-line footing, a spectator-friendly venue, a stadium to showcase dressage and jumping, and one of the most hotly anticipated cross-country courses in North America.

“We are proud to partner with Mark and Katherine Bellissimo and the team at the TIEC to produce this event,” Cogdell said. “We believe this partnership will help the event to thrive and provide a quality final outing leading up to ‘Rolex,’ which is so important to the success of our four-star competitors. We want the legacy to continue and keep the event moving forward with The Fork at TIEC.”

As the final big run before the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI****, The Fork will continue to feature some of the biggest names in the sport of Eventing as they prepare for Kentucky.

Mark Bellissimo of Tryon Equestrian Partners stated, “The Eventing community has seen the Cogdells’ vision and leadership create a very special competition at The Fork. It is one of the finest events in the country, and we look forward to hosting it at TIEC. We are also very pleased to announce that Jim will remain the Chairman of The Fork at TIEC.”

The change of venue/location has received provisional approval from the USEF Eventing Committee. As is standard policy, the move is contingent on a site inspection and cross-country course approval.

TIEC, already host to the 2016 American Eventing Championships, will offer a full range of competition for The Fork in 2017.

For more information on The Fork, please visit www.forkstables.com.

Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) has quickly become an international hub for many of the world’s top equestrian athletes. It welcomes guests 365 days a year to watch, dine, shop, and experience one of the premier riding facilities in the world built for the love of horses and equestrian sport. For more information, visit www.tryon.com.

Competitions, Eventing/H.T.

Black Bests the Rest in The Fork CIC3*

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Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair (USEA/Shelby Allen Photo)

 Norwood, N.C. – Maya Black kept a solid grip on her lead in the Adequan Gold Cup CIC3* division this afternoon Doesn’t Play Fair. Tied for second after dressage at The Fork International Horse Trials in Norwood, N.C., the pair bumped into first after a clear show jump round yesterday. Dawn and Jonathan Dofelmier’s “Cody,” a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding, positively zoomed around this track, finishing 15 seconds underneath the optimum time, which was the fastest round in the three-star. The pair ended the weekend on their dressage score of 41.80.

“He was pretty fresh at the start and in the warm up,” she said. “It took me a few fences to get into a good rhythm, but after I got going everything rode quite well.” Black piloted the enthusiastic gelding well despite his exuberance, and said running this event was great feedback on her spring training.

Lauren Kieffer finished second in this big CIC3* division aboard Team Rebecca LLC’s Veronica (Pacific x Kimbel). The 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding easily navigated around this Tremaine Cooper track adding only 1.2 time penalties to her original dressage score, which ended the pair on a 43.30.

After skipping the Carolina International this year, the mare came to the Fork off of a win in the Advanced division at Red Hills International last month. “I let her pick her own pace,” Kieffer said, and that pace was right on enough to earn a top three finish. “She’s only run at Red Hills, so she was quite keen to get out there.” Kieffer also reported this track tested her fitness well, and she’s planning on simply maintaining the mare until Kentucky.

Lauren Kieffer and Veronica (USEA/Shelby Allen)
Lauren Kieffer and Veronica (USEA/Shelby Allen)

After a solid ride around the three-star track, Kieffer had an unfortunate fall off Landmark’s Monte Carlo, another of her rides also slated for the four-star at the end of the month. She reports that both she and the horse are okay after the uncharacteristic end to their cross-country. “I’m going to try to get him into the Intermediate at Ocala next week. I feel like it was a fluke thing, so I’m not panicking much,” she said.

Rounding out the top three was Colleen Rutledge and her own Covert Rights (BFF Incognito x Let’s Get It Right), a 10-year-old Thoroughbred cross gelding. “CR” has been on a hot streak this spring, winning his first FEI event this spring at Pine Top Horse Trials, and then placing 6th in a huge CIC3* division at Carolina International.

“He was fantastic. He was really super and rideable,” Rutledge said. “There was a moment where he shifted his shoulders a bit at the angles brush [at 6bc], but he was really honest. He’s just so easy to ride and he’s game for everything.”

CR is headed for a second trip around Kentucky this month, and Rutledge is eager to best their 11th place finish last year at the gelding’s first four-star. “Making the dressage a little more of the show that it can be, adding a bit more rideability where I need rideability and adding a little more sparkle where I need sparkle [is the plan for Kentucky],” she said.
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Following the top three ladies, Phillip Dutton claimed the next three spots, finishing fourth with Mighty Nice, fifth with Fernhill Cubalawn, and sixth with Indian Mill for a fantastic showing for the veteran rider.

Shelby Allen, USEA
Copyright 2016 United States Equestrian Federation