Rebecca Farm ballet

Equestrians ride in Dressage fundraising competition

By DAVID LESNICK/The Daily Inter Lake

A former Olympian and a local rider with Olympic aspirations were at their equestrian best on Saturday during opening-day competition at the Dressage at Rebecca Farm.

Jil Walton, 42, of Kalispell took first place in Second Level Test 3 and 4 and finished second in First Level Test 3.

Walton scratched from a fourth event.

Natascha Eickert, 20, of Whitefish finished fourth in Second Level Test 1.

A total of 47 riders from five states (Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana and Washington) and Canada (Cranbrook, B.C.) are competing in 35 classes at the two-day event. Competition resumes today at 9 a.m.

Walton, who grew up in Southern California, was a member of the U.S. Olympic team. She competed in Eventing in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, finishing 17th overall out of 80. That was the best showing by an American rider.

"I hope forever," Walton said of how long she wants to compete.

And the chance to do it in her backyard is even more delightful.

"It's so perfectly prepared all the time," Walton said of the Rebecca Farm facilities.

"When you come here, you feel so special."

Rebecca Farm donates its facility for this event, which raises money for maintenance and improvements at Ivan Herron Memorial Park. The event was previously held at Herron Park.

Walton competed on two horses - Seabiscuit Pumpkin and My Sedona. Seabiscuit Pumpkin is a Belgium thoroughbred cross owned by Pat Young. That horse had a minor role in the movie Seabiscuit.

My Sedona will be competing in a World Cup qualifier.

"An exercise in concentration," Walton said when riding two horses on the same day.

Training horses and instructing riders is her main focus these days.

Eickert is using this event to get ready for the National American Young Riders Championship in Lexington, Ky., next month.

"This is good practice for me before I go," she said.

"At the championships, the first day is dressage."

She will also compete in cross country and show jumping at nationals.

Eickert qualified for nationals by placing in the top 10 at a qualifying event in Florida.

"I was competing against Olympic riders," she said.

"That's my goal - to compete in the Olympics. That's what I'm working on right now."

Eickert only rode once on Saturday, but she was pleased with her performance. She is scheduled to ride once today.

"I had a good test," she said. "My horse felt better in the ring rather than in warm-ups. I was pleased with that."

Eickert competes on Paddy Winkler Lad, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse.

"Just a year," Eickert said of how long she's had Wink.

"Our partnership is good. It grows over time. Some people I'm riding against have had their horses for five years."

Eickert said Saturday's weather - chilly and windy - might have been a plus.

"Actually, it was kind of an advantage for Wink," she said. "He doesn't care about the wind. He's pretty laid-back."

Eickert competed in The Event at Rebecca Farm last year, finishing third in CCI *.