Olympian Dutton returns; competing for a 3rd time in The Event at Rebecca Farm

Five-time Olympian and two-time gold medalist Phillip Dutton returns to Rebecca Farm today after missing The Event last year to compete in the London Olympics.

This is Dutton’s third appearance at The Event. He took third place in the three-star division atop TruLuck in 2010 and won the advanced division atop Ben in 2011. This year Dutton will again ride Ben, but is stepping up to the three-star level.

“He’s in the international class this time, whereas the year that he won was the national class,” Dutton said.

“It’s a little bit of a step up for him, but he’s more than ready for it and hopefully we have a good weekend.”

In the three-star division, Dutton and Ben will compete against a loaded field that includes last year’s top three finishers, Kristi Nunnink, Katherine Groesbeck and Jolie Wentworth.

“To be totally frank, I haven’t even looked at who is here,” Dutton said.

“But it’s usually a well-attended event by everybody on the West Coast. It depends on the year how many horses get here from the East Coast. It will be stiff competition this year. (It’s) a good cross-country course and I think the best horse and rider will win.”

Dutton said he enjoys coming to The Event because the cross-country course is one of the best in the nation.

“One thing that’s important to us is the footing, or what the horses gallop on,” he said.

“The footing here is second to none because they have irrigation and great grass and great soil, so that’s good, and generally they just run a first-class competition. It’s a great experience for the horse and for the riders.

“It’s a credit to the Broussard family to have the vision. They have this beautiful property and it’s in a beautiful area, and it’s made this event so special that people from all over the country come here.”

Dutton will be in dressage arena 1 today at 3:08 p.m. He is scheduled to compete on the cross-country course Saturday at 12:03 p.m.

Dutton won gold medals as part of the Australian Three-Day Eventing team in the 1996 and 2000 Olympics. He became an American citizen in 2006 and has represented the United States at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.