2008 winner Clark Montgommery (USA) and Up Spirit

The 2010 HSBC FEI Eventing World Cup season kicks offs this weekend with the first qualifier at Red Hills Horse Trials in Tallahassee, Florida. Back on the calendar after a hiatus in 2009, this event is always a popular feature of the spring season. This year it runs March 4-7.

The HSBC FEI Eventing World Cup traverses the globe, giving the best horse and rider combinations the chance to qualify for the HSBC FEI World Cup Final.

A major event on the Tallahassee sporting and social calendar, Red Hills also features national level competition from Preliminary to Advanced. With entries in the triple digits, and many of the nation's best entered in the World Cup Qualifier, the competition promises to be an early showcase of what 2010 has in store for US Eventing.  

Competitors include former winner Phillip Dutton, who picked up three victories in the CIC3*-W in recent years. He rides Kheops du Quesnay and Tru Luck (who was second in 2007) in his attempt at a fourth win.

But Dutton, who was a member of the US Team at the 2008 Olympic Games, will have plenty of competition in the large field. This includes Karen O'Connor with Mandiba and Allstar and Allison Springer on Arthur (Allstar and Arthur were second and third in 2008 respectively) and one of two US riders from the 2009 HSBC FEI World Cup Final, Buck Davidson. He has Ballynoe Castle RM in the CIC3*-W.

With only two qualifiers on the North American continent, riders will have a second chance to get earn enough points for qualification at the Event at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, MT in July.