July 20, 2025—After cross country on Saturday, five-star eventer Tamie Smith signed out with a “fingers crossed for tomorrow!” exclamation. But she didn’t need luck to hold her lead in The Event at Rebecca Farm’s CCI4*-L with Lillet 3 this past weekend. Or to keep her wits in helping Mai Baum close his 10-year international career with yet another major win in The Event’s CCI4*-S.
Representing a large East Coast contingent, this year’s Aachen CHIO Team Silver medalist Will Coleman was CCI4*-L reserve champion with Team Rebecca’s Fahrenheit Addict. Long time Rebecca Farm advocate Jennie Brannigan made her annual trip to Montana well worth it. Last year’s CCI4*-L champion took home third and fifth finishes on Nina Gardner’s Connory and Kismet, respectively.
Smith was also fourth in the CCI4*-L with the Kynan Syndicate’s Kynan and second in the CCI4*-S with Jutopia, owned by Molly Duda. The level of her accomplishments was rivaled only by the intensity of her emotions and those of Mai Baum’s people and his fans. Smith considers Lillet and Kynan among a current string of horses that can contend anywhere in the world going forward. “But my reality this week has been realizing that there will likely never be another Mai Baum.”
Asking to retire Team USA’s winningest horse of the last decade at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana, was fitting for Mai Baum and for The Event’s place in the sport.
“We’re so grateful to the Broussard family for everything they do for the sport and for hosting Mai Baum’s ceremony,” Smith said. Ellen Ahearn spoke on behalf of her family—husband Eric Markell and their daughter Alex Ahearn—in echoing Smith’s appreciation as Mai Baum’s owners.
In the first year of their partnership, Mai Baum and Smith won The Event’s CCI3* and have been in the winner’s circle many times since. “Rebecca Farm holds a very special place for us,” Ahearn said in thanking everyone from Mai Baum’s veterinarians, physios and farriers to those who documented his odyssey, including The Event’s official photographers Shannon Brinkman and Sherry Stewart.
A Fine Farewell
Mai Baum returned the favor by delighting his fans all week. On Thursday, his 22 dressage score broke The Event’s record, per EquiRatings data going back to 2008. He cruised around cross country Saturday and was cheered from start to finish. After double clear show jumping on Sunday, the 19-year-old German Sport Horse raced away from the finish line looking like he wanted to do it all over again.
Alex Ahearn rode “Lexus” in the CCI4*-S victory gallop and throughout the retirement ceremony. Then his saddle was stripped off and a beautiful wreath was placed around his neck. The gelding then posed for pictures with fans before taking a stroll on the grass with his longtime friend and frequent groom Alyssa Dobrotin astride bareback. It was a moving, fun and inspiring end to his inspiring international career.
Appreciation of The Event extended beyond Mai Baum’s circle. Visiting the 640-acre, family-owned property for the first time, Coleman said everything about it surpassed his expectations. “Everybody says great things about Rebecca Farm, but you really have to experience it,” he noted.
The setting in Flathead Valley, near Glacier National Park, is breathtaking. But Coleman spoke most emphatically of the welcoming vibe—from the Broussard family to volunteers wishing him good luck in the start box, to fellow riders and new and old fans.
East Comes West
“We’re thrilled to see so many East Coast people finally making the trip out here,” said organizer Sarah Broussard. Longtime advocates like Brannigan have urged their East Coast contemporaries to make the trip for years.
This year, $59,000 in Travel Grants from the Rebecca Broussard Charitable Trust Foundation helped 23 riders significantly defray trip expenses. For Coleman, 2025’s lack of international championships was another factor that helped make his long overdue visit possible.
Above all, Broussard is thrilled The Event met her definition of success—no major incidents or safety issues and horses and humans clearly enjoying the property and their time as part of the Rebecca Farm family.
A very positive response to new designer Jay Hambly’s courses is icing on the cake. Across the FEI divisions, seasoned riders praised the tests as squarely up to the standards for each division and as great preparation for pairs targeting international success. The footing also got great reviews—from riders and in the form of fresh, frisky horses logging numerous clear, fast rounds in show jumping after nearly maximum length cross-country efforts the previous day.
Meeting The Mandate
Supporting horses and riders with championship goals was a mandate established by The Event’s founder Rebecca Broussard. Bringing riders of all levels together was another primary goal. Counting split divisions, The Event hosted 36 different classes this year. Nearly 600 horses competed in levels ranging from Beginner Novice to the CCI4*-L, including two sections each in the Training and Novice Three Days.
Lost in 2010 to breast cancer, “Becky” Broussard left a legacy that remains as vibrant as the pink that popped everywhere throughout the week to promote Halt Cancer at X (HCX). Coming into this year’s Event, the HCX initiative had raised over $1 million for breast cancer research and patient support. At the Saturday night exhibitors party, another $68,000 was raised in an online auction and donations are still welcome here.
“We are really excited to have everybody come back next year for our 25th year,” Broussard said.
Pelligrini Stays Atop the CCI3*-L
Former West Coaster Meg Pellegrini gets credit for nudging her coach Coleman to make the trip to Montana. But her biggest accomplishments this week were winning the CCI3*-L with Falcon Crown Z and finishing fourth with Cooley Wish Upon A Star. The 20-year-old rode both to double-clear and with quiet equitation required by “Falcon.” “He doesn’t feel the way he looks,” Pellegrini explained. “His body is kind of broken up in parts, so I have to be really good with my body position or he’ll get over his shoulder.”
Being able to observe and absorb Coleman and his wife Katie’s riding style every day at their Virginia and Florida bases helps. And so does having Coleman’s former mount, Dondante, as a school master. “It was a huge help having him this winter and spring to hop on and practice difficult lines and technical things,” she shared of the horse she leases from Team Rebecca.
Besides a nice break, what’s next for both horses is not nailed down except that they’re both targeting big futures with the accomplished young rider.
California professional James Alliston was thrilled about Anna Nicholas’ HMR Rolan’s entire week here. “That was a long course yesterday,” he stressed. “Part of being a good upper-level horse is being able to show jump even when you’re a little weary.” The 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse jumped double clear for a second-place finish on his 28.9 dressage score.
Lucienne Bellissimo and Horse Scout Eventing’s Qatar M incurred just .8 time penalties to retain their third-place standing on a 31.7.
Tommy Greengard Keeps the CCI3*-S Lead
With a rail in hand and a horse that seems capable of jumping the moon, Tommy Greengard didn’t press for time in keeping the lead for Balladeer Kilbrickens Lad. “I wanted to give him a nice ride and do him justice because he deserves that,” he said. They added .8 time faults to end on a 32.3 and high hopes for the future. Greengard noted that the US American Eventing Championship (AEC), at Southern California’s Galway Downs in August, is on their radar. “After that is the million-dollar question,” he said. “He’ll go as far as he wants to!”
Second- and third-place finisher Erin Kellerhouse will be at the AEC, too. Based at Galway Downs, her two horses, Bon Vivant GWF and Ringwood Adios Amigo, seem set up for success after this weekend’s impressive performances.
Dani Sussman Seizes CCI2*-L
Cross-country and show jumping double clears enabled seasoned professionals Dani Sussman and Alliston to spotlight future stars in the 1 and 2 rungs of this division. The standings were tight and a mid-course rail sent overnight leader and young rider Gabriella Ringer and Get Wild into fifth.
Colorado-based Sussman is excited about Water Valley Royal Guy’s potential. He won the division by finishing on his 27.4 dressage score and heads home with experience that’s hard to get elsewhere. “The atmosphere the young ones get here is amazing,” she said. “The crowds, the music, the beautifully decorated fences … they get all kinds of exposure by coming here.”
Alliston and Arnell Sporthorses’ Made by Leontine EB took their 27.6 dressage score to a red ribbon after show jumping. He was thrilled with every phase. “This Long format is a big step up for him, especially on grass and in an unfamiliar venue with so much atmosphere,” he said. “I’m happy with how he handled everything.”
Accomplished Young Rider pair Hanni Sreenan and Ebenholtz kept their third place, adding .4 time penalties to finish on a 27.9.
Alyssa Phillips Takes the CCI1*-L Win
Florida-based professional Alyssa Phillips and her 6-year-old mount Centerfold secured a decisive, wire-to-wire win with another double-clear jumping effort to finish on their 31.5 dressage effort. It was their first time stadium jumping after cross-country and he came out “quite mellow, which was nice,” Phillips noted. Coming into The Event, she expected the normally spooky youngster to be a looky-loo, but on cross country and show jumping he acted mostly like a pro. “He spooked a little bit at the smallest log out there yesterday, but that was it,” she quipped.
Everything about the week here contributed to Centerfold’s development. Phillips is targeting the World Sport Horse Breeding Federation’s 2026 7-year-old championships and this win was a great milestone. “There are only a few shows in America that have this kind of atmosphere, yet it’s not in an overwhelming way,” she said. “I think he’s come out of this week much better than where he started.”
Renee Price, an amateur rider from Alberta, Canada, wasn’t planning on The Event this year until she saw the CCI1* on the agenda. Partnered with the 15-year-old She Owns The Room for 10 years, Price said their past outings here were memorable for the wrong reasons—namely refusals. Yet it all came together for their FEI debut this year. The oil-and-gas-industry product control officer and her beautiful chestnut mare head home on their 39.2 dressage score, flying a bright red ribbon.
Texas-based professional Rebecca Brown and her own Magic EB moved up into third after finishing dressage in 12th place.
