It might not being going out like a lamb, however it’s shaping as much as be a busy March for the eventing world.
This week, in a blow to the game, it was introduced that the Grand Slam of Eventing won’t run in 2025. The well-known collection, which has solely been received by two athletes in its 24-year historical past, was placed on indefinite maintain after Rolex pulled its longstanding sponsorship this season.
Awarded to the rider who earns consecutive victories at Defender Kentucky, Mars Badminton, and Defender Burghley, the Grand Slam of Eventing was considered one of eventing’s most profitable prizes, providing a $350,000 bonus for winners since 2008.
Pippa Funnell of Nice Britain first rode Primmore’s Pleasure and Supreme Rock to a Grand Slam win in 2003. Twelve years later, three-time Olympic Champion Michael Jung of Germany repeated the feat aboard La Biosthetique-Sam FBW and FischerRocana FST.
“The organizers of the Grand Slam of Eventing are at present exploring various codecs for the collection,” US Equestrian stated in a press launch after appeals for a brand new title associate proved to be unsuccessful. “Whereas discussions with potential sponsors are ongoing, a brand new sponsor for the collection has not been recognized presently.”
In the meantime, the inaugural U.S. Open of Eventing collection returns this week to proceed its 2024/2025 season. This 12 months will kick off at Bouckaert Farm in Fairburn, Georgia (March 6-9), the third of just about 20, 4* qualifying legs going down throughout the nation this season. Two extra qualifiers will observe this month: Carolina (March 13-16) in Raeford, North Carolina; and TerraNova (March 27-30) in Myakka Metropolis, Florida.
With $1.5 million in prize cash on supply throughout all three disciplines, the US Equestrian Open Sequence hopes to raise American horse sports activities so as to higher put together riders riders for the championship calls for of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Video games.
Geared, primarily, towards strengthening America’s dressage and eventing applications, the U.S. Equestrian Open of Eventing Sequence will award $50,000 in prize cash to the three-highest positioned mixtures following the conclusion of the 2024/2025 qualifying interval. A further $200,000 will likely be distributed on the US Equestrian Open of Eventing CCI*4-L Ultimate at Morven Park (October 9-12) in Leesburg, Virginia.
Although it’s nonetheless early within the 12 months, U.S. rider Phillip Dutton at present has a dominant lead within the standings on 75 factors. Jennie Jarnstrom-Dennis of Sweden sits in second on 45 factors; whereas Emily Mastervich Beshear and Sara Kozumplik, each of the USA, are tied in third place on 40 factors.
