Rebecca Farm sets new record for competitors

Organizers at Rebecca Farm say more than 600 entries have been accepted to the The Event, the largest equestrian triathlon in the nation.

The Event will take place north of Kalispell on Thursday through Sunday, July 25-28. A young and future event horse series will take place on Wednesday, July 24. Changes in the schedule include running Novice cross-country on Thursday and holding additional show jumping competitions on Saturday.

Organizers say they’re bringing in additional temporary stables and looking at water availability and other infrastructure needs, as a small town literally sprouts up on the 640 acre farm in West Valley.

Event organizer Sarah Broussard said this will be the biggest Event ever. In the first 11 years of competition, the largest number of competitors at The Event at Rebecca Farm has been 480.

“With 720 entries, we knew we needed to make room for the most competitors we have ever hosted,” she said. “This year, 560 competitors will compete in the Horse Trials and 45 young and future event horses will also be featured. By adjusting the schedule we will maximize our capacity and with cancellations, it is likely that we will be able to accommodate everyone who wants to come.”

The Event features competition in dressage, cross-country and show jumping, with horses and riders of all ages and levels from across the nation. The Event also features The Classic, or long-format, which incorporates roads and tracks, steeplechase, and cross-country.

“People want to be here, and we want them to be able to come,” Broussard said. “I thought that we were as big as we were going to be and was shocked when I saw that we had 200 entries on the wait list. I am really excited that by adjusting the schedule and getting help from the competitors and community to volunteer, we now have the wait list down to 15.”

Admission for spectators is free, and Rebecca Farm also features an ever-growing trade fair tent and a variety of concessions that will be open all four days. A $5 parking donation is requested to support Halt Cancer at X, an initiative to raise money for breast cancer research in memory of The Event’s founder, Rebecca Broussard. Last year’s inaugural campaign raised $65,000 for both local and national organizations.

To access Rebecca Farm, turn west off U.S. 93 onto West Reserve Drive, drive west two miles to Springcreek Road, turn left and head south on Springcreek Road three-quarters of a mile to the entrance on the right.

For more information, visit online at www.RebeccaFarm.org.

Schedule of events:

Wednesday, July 24, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — USEA Young and Future Event Horse Series.

Thursday, July 25, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Dressage, all FEI levels. Dressage, National Horse Trial levels. Novice cross-country.

Friday, July 26, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Dressage, all FEI Levels. National Horse Trial levels dressage continues. Cross-country phase for Training, Training 3-Day, Novice 3-Day.

Saturday, July 27, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Cross-Country phase all day. All FEI levels. National Horse Trial Levels continue. Show jumping for Training 3-Day, Novice, Novice 3-Day.

Sunday, July 28, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Show Jumping phase, all remaining levels. Awards ceremony at end of each division.