Maui Jim Horse Trials coming in July

In July, many of the country's top riders in the equestrian sport of everting will make their way to the village of Wayne to compete at the Maui Jim Horse Trials July 10-13.

Entries are pouring in and workers have been busy mowing and preparing the cross country courses for competition. The location of the event is Lamplight Equestrian Center on North Dunham Road in Wayne.

Maui Jim runs three International classes known as CIC's, as well as four national divisions, and is the only competition in the Midwest that offers the most difficult recognized level of the sport, Advanced. The competition is sponsored by Maui Jim Inc. of Peoria, makers of popular high-end sunglasses.

Everting is a three-phase competition that starts with dressage, a test of obedience and elegance in which horses perform specific movements in an enclosed arena.

The heart of the event, the cross country, takes place next on the lovely acreage of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County's Pratt Wayne Equestrian Area, which lies across Dunham Road from Lamplight.

Here, horses face obstacles in natural settings that include water, ditches, drops and banks in addition to more straightforward jumps. They must complete the course in an allotted time to avoid penalties.

The final phase is show jumping, where colorful obstacles are negotiated and must be jumped without fault. Scores from the three phases are cumulative and, as in golf, the lowest score, indicating the fewest penalties, wins.

The beneficiaries of the event are the Illinois Wisconsin Search and Rescue Dogs Organization and programs taking part in the Special Olympics Equestrian competition, which are July 13.

A Trade Fair will be on grounds and food is available for purchase. Admission is free. For details and a tentative schedule of events, visit www.mauijimhorsetrials.org.