Galway Downs International Three-Day Event

James Alliston and Tivoli, winners of the 2012 Galway Downs CCI3*.(Amy McCool photo)

Temecula, CA — The Galway Downs International Three-Day Event is coming on Oct. 30-Nov. 2 to the Galway Downs Equestrian Center in Temecula, CA. More than 150 horses will compete in three-day events at three international levels and one national level.

The weekend’s featured competition will be the CCI3*, with horses and riders coming from across the United States and Canada and from Europe to compete for the prize money and prizes. Galway Downs is one of only four CCI3* events held annually in North America, and it’s the only North American CCI3* held west of the Mississippi River.

In addition, younger or less experienced horses and riders will contest the CCI2*, the CCI*, and the classic-format training–level three-day event. And more than 200 other less-experienced horses and their riders will compete in the national-level horse trials divisions at three levels.

The CCI horses will perform their dressage tests on either Thursday or Friday, Oct. 31 or Nov. 1, and then they’ll all gallop around the spectator-friendly cross-country course, once again designed by British Olympian Ian Stark, on Saturday, Nov. 2. The event reaches its climax with the show jumping and awards on Sunday, Nov. 3.

Horses in the training-level three-day event will perform in the dressage ring on Thursday, complete the four phases of the classic-format cross-country test on Friday, and then finish up with show jumping on late on Saturday afternoon.

And, for the second consecutive year, Galway Downs will host the West Coast Championships of the USEA’s Young Event Horse Series. These 4- and 5-year-old horses, whose owners hope they’ll be the stars of the future, will do their dressage tests on Wednesday and jump over a combination of show jumping and cross-country fences on Thursday.

Buck Davidson and Petite Flower, winners of the 2013 Galway Downs CCI3*. (Amy McCool photo)

The weekend will also be filled with musical acts on all four evenings, and on Saturday spectators will enjoy local music, food and wine at several oasis destinations located around the cross-country course. Kids will also enjoy pony rides, bouncy houses and more.

And Friday night—Halloween Night—will feature a special party to celebrate the holiday.

Check the Galway Downs website (www.galwaydowns.com) in coming weeks for the complete musical line-up and for the food trucks and other treats that will be at Galway Downs.

CWD, Devoucoux, Equine Insurance of California and the PRO Tour are the Presenting Sponsors of the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event.

The Gold Medal Sponsors are: California HorseTrader, MD BarnMaster, Ian Stark Equestrian Centre, Professional’s Choice and Sunsprite Warmbloods.

The Silver Medal Sponsors are: Charles Owen, Embassy Suites-Temecula, Holiday Inn Express, Majyk Equipe, SmartPak and Temecula Creek Inn.

The Bronze Medal Sponsors are: American Medical Response, American Horse Trials Foundation, Auburn Laboratories, California Riding Magazine, The Chronicle of the Horse, Finish Line Horse Products, Freedom RV Rentals, Geranium Street Flowers, Point Two Air Jackets, Ride On Video, San Luis Rey Equine Hospital, Triple Crown Nutrition and Voltaire Design.

The Friends of Galway Downs are: Copper Meadows, Eventing Training Online, and Success Equestrian Pads.

General admission for the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event is only $10 per day in advance, $15 at the gate, with children under 12 free when accompanied by a paying adult.

For more information on the Galway Downs International Horse Trials, visit www.galwaydowns.com or call 951-303-0405. To learn more about eventing, visit the U.S. Eventing Association’s website (www.useventing.com).

Reporters and photographers who wish to cover the 2014 Galway Downs International Three-Day Event need to contact the press officers (above) prior to Oct. 28, 2014, to receive credentials.