World-class competition set at TerraNova in Myakka

More than 300 competitors — including at least five Olympians — are set to saddle up at a world-class international equestrian event Nov. 15-17 at the TerraNova Equestrian Center in Myakka City.

Dubbed “The Event at TerraNova,” the competition will consist of three different events over three days, designed to test both horses’ and riders’ stamina and precision.    

The competition is also divided by skill categories, from Intro and Beginner Novice, to Olympic caliber riders, said Ruby Tevis, TerraNova’s marketing and communications director. 

“It's based on experience,” she said. “You start at your most basic level, which is called starter, and it goes up all the way up to four-star level, which is the highest level we offer. And that's the level that you will see in the Olympic Games.”

Tevis says some of the best riders in the world will be on display. “We have the United States, Great Britain and Canada represented for Olympic athletes, and then countless Pan American World Championships riders as well,” she said.

This is the fourth fall Event at TerraNova, a 225-acre event site designed to be a go-to spot for all levels of equestrian competition. 

What is eventing?

The sport of eventing originated as a cavalry test. The three-day competition is divided into three separate sets of challenges. “It's similar to a triathlon. You're going to have the same horse and rider competing in three different phases over the course of three days,” Tevis said.  

The three components of eventing are:

Dressage. The first day is devoted to dressage, where the horse demonstrates obedience, flexibility and balance. The word is from the French term for "training." 

At predetermined areas in the arena, the rider and the horse must perform specific movements. “Depending on how well that horse and rider can perform that movement to the standard, that's how they're judged,” Tevis explained.

Each movement is scored by a judge on a scale of 0-10. A rider subtly communicates with his horse by using their legs, seat and reins. “It's almost invisible,” Tevis said. “That's what the judge is looking for; that harmony, that communication.” 

Along with earning marks for the dressage movements, judges also look for more general attributes such as the horse's gaits, submission, impulses and the rider's performance, according to the United States Dressage Federation.

Cross country. The second leg of The Event is held on open ground and a cross country course can be anywhere from 3,800 to 6,270 meters long. 

The course at TerraNova was designed by Olympic gold medalist Mark Phillips. It’s designed to mimic conditions as if the competitors were on a hunt, Tevis said. ”We have water features, mounds, and they're going to experience large obstacles.” 

The goal is to complete the course within a time limit without penalties, and jump or pass all obstacles in the proper order. Penalties are given for refusing, circling, or running out of an obstacle, or for going too fast or too slow. 

Show jumping. On the final day, the competition returns to the arena for show jumping, where a horse and rider navigate a closed course of obstacles of various heights and lengths in a timed competition. 

The goal is to complete the course without knocking down any obstacles within the time limit. Like cross country, riders receive penalties, called faults, if they knock down an obstacle, refuse to jump, or go over the time limit. 

The competitor with the fewest faults and fastest time wins. 

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What makes a champion?

Like any sport, how successful you are depends on how much work you put in, said Madison Bonamarte, the director of stable operations and programs at TerraNova.

Having a good foundation is key. “If you put the foundation work in, by the time you get to the upper levels, it's all easy,” she said. “I think that's the biggest and most important thing … having a good foundation and fitness.”

Bonamarte says equestrian events can see many breeds of horses, though many are thoroughbred or warmbloods, a cross-breed between a high-spirited horse such as an Arabian, and a heavier draft horse. 

“I've always competed on thoroughbreds my entire life, because I got them off the track and I introduced them to eventing, and they'd be rock stars,” she said.

“Most people nowadays are riding the warmbloods because they score better in the dressage, and they're still talented enough to do the jumping.”

She has three students competing at The Event, in the lowest level category. “It's kind of fun, because before they started taking lessons with me, they didn't know anything about eventing, so I'm really excited for them.” 

When training riders, Bonamarte says she stresses the partnership of the horse and rider. “I really instill that in the young riders who have aspirations to do the higher levels."

Bonamarte wants them to remember "why we do the sport and the love that we have for the horses.”

In the end, rider and horse are a team. “It's the heart of the horse and the connection between the horse and rider,” she said. “When a horse fully trusts you, there's no obstacle on cross country that they're going to say no to.”

The Event gives back to the community

The TerraNova Equestrian Center will be hosting a special Empty Bowls event during the competition on Saturday, Nov. 16, to benefit the Food Bank of Manatee, which is part of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee. 

Guests will enjoy a lunch of soup, salad, bread, and desserts provided by local restaurants including Taverna Toscana, ATRIA Cafe, Myakka City Grill, Tsunami Sushi & Hibachi, as well as several other familiar favorites.

Donors will also be able to take home a keepsake ceramic bowl. Tickets for Empty Bowls are $35 and can be purchased online or at the event. 

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Volunteers needed

TerraNova needs volunteers to work the event and they will be raising money for charity by just showing up.

Volunteers’ hours will be tracked and for every volunteer hour worked, $20 will be donated to The Azinger Family Compassion Center, a multi-purpose donation and distribution center that provides life-changing resources for foster children, hungry children, trafficked children, single moms, and struggling families from the surrounding community. 

It takes a lot of volunteers to put on this event, Tevis said. “It is an army of people. We have amazing volunteers, and we need more volunteers,” she said.

No equestrian experience is necessary. “We see an influx of thousands of people, and they don't know where to park, they don't know where to go,” Tevis said. 

To volunteer, sign up online. 

“We've had a busy summer to prepare for the upcoming season, and it is so rewarding to see everyone's hard work take shape,” TerraNova President Molly Oakman said. 

“With the recent hurricanes, TerraNova was able to open its doors to horses in need of evacuation stabling, but now we are ready to fill our barns with competitors and get back to what we love to do -- hosting equestrian competition.”

TerraNova has additional events scheduled most weekends from January to May, including the addition of Combined Driving in January and Para-Dressage in May, along with five uninterrupted weeks of Show Jumping in February and March.