The Event at Rebecca Farm: Venue a treat for locals
<p>Cathy Rasch of Whitefish rides Jammer over an obstacle during the Senior Open Training cross-country event Friday afternoon at The Event at Rebecca Farm. </p>
<p>Kalispell’s Braun Lowry and Annamation clear the final jump during the Senior Open Training cross-country event Friday afternoon at The Event at Rebecca Farm. </p>
For the world-class rider traveling across the continent to compete in The Event at Rebecca Farm, a perfectly manicured cross-country course is somewhat expected.
For riders like Kalispell’s Braun Lowry or Whitefish’s Paula Sweeney, a three-mile jaunt or 15-minute ride to a course designed by a former Olympian in the middle of one North America’s most pristine mountain valleys is almost too good to be true.
Both Lowry and Sweeney are competing in the Senior Open Training class at this year’s Event, and after their cross-country runs Friday the two Flathead Valley residents are still in awe of what is right in their back yard.
“It’s so wonderful to have this place right here in Kalispell. These people travel hundreds and thousands of miles to get here and my house is three miles away,” Lowry said.
Lowry, riding his 16-year-old mare, Annamation, noted he didn’t have much trouble with the jumps because the horse was originally trained for show jumping. Thursday’s dressage was the difficult part.
“We did the preliminary class last year, but we’re trying to rebuild this year, trying to get better at dressage. She’s a great jumper, but we worked on dressage and dropped down a level,” Lowry said.
“The (cross country) run went great today. She was a little fresh so I had to slow her down a little bit. We ended up pretty good. (The course) rode really great; the water was really great. It was just really inviting. They put a whole new water feature in the back end and it was just fantastic.”
Sweeney, riding her gelding, Quick Trick, remarked at the eagerness the young horse showed during the cross-country competition.
“My horse bucked a little bit in the beginning because she’s was just so thrilled to be out here on this beautiful course,” Sweeney said.
“My ride went really well. I was really curious at how she’d do with the water. This is the first year with the island in the middle of it, but it was just a gorgeous ride. You go up this long hill, it’s a long gallop and then all of this scenery opens up in front of you. It’s really a fabulous course.”
With the convenience of a hometown course that attracts international competitors vying for a future in the summer Olympics comes a responsibility to ensure they’ll keep coming back — hospitality that both Lowry and Sweeney take pride in.
“Sarah and Jerome (Broussard, The Event organizer and owner of Rebecca Farm) are just the nicest people. They work so hard to make everyone feel welcome and have a good time,” Lowry said.
“Mostly in stabling while we’re just hanging around, people from out of town are asking, ‘Hey, where should I go to eat or how do I get to this place?’ It’s great to kind of play host a little bit. Montana is just a friendly, inviting kind of place. We’re just a small town so anybody that needs help or has questions, we’re pretty willing and eager to jump in and help.”
“The upper level riders help the lower level riders. They are just as interested and they care. You get all the free advice you want here. This sport, in particular, people are just so helpful,” Sweeney added.
Both riders have today off before their third and final event in their class at the equestrian triathlon — show jumping. They’ll look forward to an entertaining respite as the one-, two- and three-star levels complete the more difficult routes of the cross-country course, beginning at 8 a.m.
While the competitors from around the Flathead Valley have easy access to the international event, Lowry and Sweeney also note that the innovation at Rebecca Farm keeps them coming back while newcomers from out-of-town marvel at the prestigious competition.
“Every year they fine-tune things,” Sweeney said.
“Things like the stable adjustments or having the water closer to the stalls, they have bigger warm-up areas. Every year there are refinements and the staff here is always looking for ways to improve this event.”
“They have new stables here so we’re not all crammed together,” Lowry said.
“The jump complex in the back is great and the trade fair has all kinds of really cool stuff. Everything is just outstanding.”
While Lowry is competing in his seventh Event, Sweeney has been here for all 13. They’ll be back next year, ready to see the modifications that help The Event remain one of the best in the world because at Rebecca Farm, the more things change the more they stay the same.