Wayne equestrian center ready to host to riders, horses

More than 500 horses and riders from across the country are expected to descend on Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne Sept. 13-16 for the United States Eventing Association's national championships, the Wellpride American Eventing Championships.

Participants will battle for more than $55,000 in prize money and more than $100,000 in prizes at every level of competition.

At the upper ranks, more than a dozen past Olympic, World and Pan American medalists are expected, including three-time Olympian Karen O'Connor and 2004 Olympic bronze medalists Darren Chiacchia and John Williams, as well as three of the four Pan American team gold medalists who just recently returned from the Pan Am Games in Rio de Janeiro.

This year's Wellpride AEC will do more than just showcase the top horses and riders from around the country. It also will support a worthy cause, the Fox River chapter of the American Red Cross, which serves as the event's beneficiary. The chapter will be offering a pet first aid seminar Sunday afternoon.

The U.S. has been a powerhouse in this sport since it debuted in the Olympics in 1912, and the U.S. Eventing Association has served as the national association for the sport since 1959 and currently boasts more than 14,000 members.

Eventing is best described as an equestrian triathlon, with three phases that test the competitors' skills in the ring, over fences and galloping across the countryside.

Dressage, a sort of equestrian ballet, tests the horse and rider's ability to perform a series of prescribed classical movements in an enclosed arena.

During cross-country, horse and rider gallop over natural terrain, up and down hills, across ditches and into water, leaping over a variety of other imposing obstacles along the way.

In the show jumping phase, competitors make their way over a course of colorfully painted fences in an enclosed arena, making every attempt to leave all the fence rails up when they cross the finish line.

Gates will open each day at approximately 8 a.m., with competition ending each day around 5 p.m.

The tentative schedule has dressage taking place all day Sept. 13; both dressage and cross-country Sept. 14; cross-country all day Sept. 15; and show jumping Sept. 16.

The cross-country phase will take place on the rolling terrain of Pratt's Wayne Woods Forest Preserve, which lies directly across the street from Lamplight.

Admission is free and parking donations will be given to the Fox River chapter of the American Red Cross.

Lamplight Equestrian Center is at 6N940 Dunham Road, Wayne. Directions and maps can be found online at www.aecatlamplight.org.

For details, visit www.lamplightequestrian.com.

Spectators are welcome to take in the educational seminars planned for Sept. 13-16. Top names in the eventing, veterinary and design worlds will cover everything from grooming for competition, saddle fit, horse health, pet first aid, barn design and proper cross-country riding techniques. These seminars will all be free.

For those interested in show jumping course design, a special seminar with top international designer Richard Jeffery will take place Sept. 12-13 for a fee of $85. For a complete list of seminars and descriptions, visit www.useventing.com and click on the AEC logo.

The third annual AEC Fun Dog Show, with a new title sponsor, SmartPak Canine, will take place at 11 a.m. Sept. 16 in the trade fair. Classes will include Best Trick, Best Costume and Most Mysterious Heritage.

Throughout the weekend there will be food, fun for the kids and an extensive trade fair with local and national shops selling their wares.

For details on the Wellpride AEC, including a video tour, visit www.useventing.com.