The Event at Rebecca Farm: The journey begins

Boasting a competitive field of former and future Olympians gunning for a title in the CIC three-star class, the first day of competition at The Event at Rebecca Farm featured the novice, training, training three-day and CCI one-star classes — young horses working their way toward a bright and successful future.

To those unfamiliar with eventing classification, the lower levels at The Event may seem irrelevant, but in order to train a horse to tackle a three-star cross-country course it must be trained properly, which is an important task for any rider.

Bigfork native Kelli Blair has been competing at The Event since it’s inception 13 years ago, but the experienced rider stays away from the higher classes to train her young horses and adequately prepare them for advanced levels of riding.

This year she is having a blast on her 9-year-old mare named Pink.

“I use to do the higher stuff in my 20s, but now I’m usually bringing on young horses to move them,” Blair said Thursday.

“I had to steady her in at every jump instead of galloping because she wanted to stop at every cameraman or the dogs. That’s the thing about this sport. Pedestrians and dogs are allowed to get close to the action. Your horse has to be trained for that.

“This is the most professionally run show I’ve been to. If you know nothing about horses or you’re not into the sport, this is one of the places you come to and think ‘this is fun to watch.’”

Though Blair may have had a busy day on the cross-country course, it’s her hard work with Pink that will allow the gray Warmblood to develop into a champion competitor in the future.

“Your horse is your partner and that’s important,” Blair said.

“Some people go out and buy a $100,000 horse. It’s all ready to go because they get someone like me to ride the young horses. You know you’re going to sell the horse to another event rider, but you also know if they’re paying that much for a horse they’re going to take the best care of it.”

Along with Blair, Kristi Nunnink proves The Event isn’t about the rider, it’s all about the horse.

Nunnink won the CIC three-star class at Rebecca Farm in 2012 and 2013, but this year the highest class she’ll compete in is the CCI one-star after she retired her two-time champion horse R-Star due to health issues.

“I’m riding a 5-year-old and two 6-year-olds this year,” Nunnink said after completing her dressage routine with her 6-year-old gelding Lord Lombardi.

“It’s about the horse and developing it and enduring a partnership with it. I love to get a 3-year-old and bring them up through novice, one-star and two-star levels so I really know what I have when I start going into the advanced level. It’s all about the journey. It’s really fun and I love it.”

Instances such as an Olympic-level rider like Nunnink competing in the novice and one-star classes is what International Technical Delegate Andy Griffiths believes sets The Event apart from other equestrian competitions across the globe.

Griffths, in his 20th year as a delegate overseeing international events to ensure they meet Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) standards, marvels at his annual trip to Kalispell because of riders like Blair and Nunnink.

“It very unique here,” Griffiths said.

“There are events all over the world that run with 400 to 500 horses but not with all the minor levels that are here. What they do here for the sport, to put it simply, is unique. They’ve done a wonderful job. It’s a huge family and a great organization.”

The Event could have easily done away with the lower levels of competition to bring in higher classes and better horses, but the development that takes place every year is why this international equestrian triathlon exists. Riders and horses of all experience levels get to showcase their talent and continue to build for the future.

Competition resumes today with dressage at 8 a.m. The novice, training and training three-day classes will take on the cross-country course at 8 as well.