KALISPELL — This weekend one of many greatest equestrian occasions within the West has returned to the Flathead for a world-renowned competitors.
“There’s nothing fairly prefer it. There’s nothing fairly like being on the again of an animal and actually you are placing your well-being of their arms, the again of an animal along with his personal mind. You have to belief that animal in that relationship and belief them to maintain you on the market,” stated Marc Grandia, an equestrian rider from Washington.
The Occasion at Rebecca Farm brings in equestrian riders to the Flathead from throughout the nation.
“The competitors is de facto second to none. There’s solely perhaps one different competitors that may examine and that is our nationwide five-star championship in Lexington, Kentucky,” stated Tamie Smith, a world renown rider from California. “So, we’re very lucky to have this place to deliver all of our horses, not simply our prime horses, however our up-and-coming horses, to a venue like this. It is world-class.”
The Occasion is an Olympic qualifier and one of many solely occasions within the West of its caliber. 600 thirty horses will journey at Rebecca Farm this weekend together with some horses and riders which have competed within the Olympics.
“We usher in all people from greenies to skilled. And one of many nice issues about eventing is you are all type of on the identical stage on the similar time. So, you understand, I could also be on the market warming up, and I look and subsequent to me is Phillip Dutton, who’s ridden for the Olympic crew, you understand, or whomever it is likely to be,” stated Occasion at Rebecca Farm organizer Sarah Broussard. “So I feel that is actually cool, so far as this sport goes, that we mix each amateurs and professionals, and it is a sport that welcomes each.”
The Occasion at Rebecca Farm is extra than simply an equestrian competitors. It’s also a giant fundraiser for breast most cancers to honor the creator of the occasion, Rebecca Broussard, who misplaced her life to breast most cancers.
“I by no means thought, you understand, once I got here up with this harebrained concept 11 years in the past, I by no means thought that I would be saying, yeah, we have raised 1,000,000 {dollars}. And we have helped a number of analysis applications, and we have helped a number of native applications right here for these coping with most cancers at the moment. So we rely closely on the neighborhood, however we additionally get pleasure from giving again to the neighborhood as properly,” stated Broussard.
The Broussard household additionally offers growing rider grants to opponents who want a leg as much as get to the subsequent degree. One recipient of those grants, Tamie Smith, is ranked quantity 5 on the planet, as of 2023, and is a part of the Olympic crew.
“A sense that individuals imagine in you makes you are feeling such as you actually can do it as a result of I feel self-doubt is a big factor, even with professionals., we now have that. It was virtually like affirmation that I actually might do it. And it was actually career-changing. I owe it to this household for what they did for me as a result of they finally put the idea in me to assist make my desires come true,” stated Smith.
Whereas there are some unimaginable skilled athletes at this occasion, it’s for riders of all ranges to come back compete at a world-class facility.
“Everyone loves it right here as a result of it is completely satisfied. , I imply, we create smiles and you understand, that is implausible. I like to see individuals having fun with what they’re doing. I actually get pleasure from seeing that and with the ability to be a part of the stepping stone ladder to get to the subsequent degree for every of those riders,” stated Broussard.
The Occasion at Rebecca Farm runs by means of Saturday and is free for spectators to get pleasure from. Try a schedule of occasions at https://www.rebeccafarm.org/.
Extra native information from KPAX
