A New Game For Every Horse And Rider
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308 – May/June, 2025
By M.J. Nelson
Riding your horse along quiet trails, bridle paths, wooded trails, and across open fields is one of life’s pleasures. Along the way, you have likely ridden through water and perhaps even jumped a log or two, a low rail fence, or a low rock wall. While both your horse and you may have enjoyed conquering those little obstacles, it wasn’t a big deal. And, if you are anything like a lot of riders, after awhile, you start looking for a something a bit more challenging. If that’s the case, there’s a new game available that might just provide the test you are seeking.
It’s called Cross Country Equestrian (CCE) and while its roots are in three-day eventing, or at least what three-day eventing was 25 years ago, this is a different concept. All breeds as well as riders and horses with varying levels of skills are welcome to participate. The exclusivity of many traditional equine sports restricts participation in large part to those people already involved in a sport. So, there has long been a need for a sport that both welcomes and encourages newcomers. CCE was created in response to a need for a more accessible sport that focuses on riding cross country along with training and fitness.
It is the brainchild of Nick Larkin who began his life with horses at the age of 15 when his sister was upset that she had to sell her horse to make room for another. “At the time, my interest was in soccer. But, when I saw how upset my sister was, I figured I could step in. I remember thinking ‘How hard can it be?’ I also didn’t think it would affect my plans much at all. Little did I know…,” Larkin says.
From that naive beginning, and a whole lot of hard work over the course of several years, Larkin became an accomplished eventer. Larkin and a thoroughbred acquired for $900 off the racetrack that he called “Red” won the initial Kentucky Three-Day Event after it became a four-star event. The same year Red and Larkin were members of the New Zealand Equestrian Team at the World Equestrian Games. He also had wins and high placements in numerous other three-day events.
Click here to read the complete article
308 – May/June, 2025
