TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) -- Hotels and restaurants in Tallahassee are gearing up for a busy weekend as Tallahassee hosts the 20th annual Red Hills International Horse Trials. But this weekend won't just be big for the city, the riders have a lot riding on this competition too.
Over the last two decades, the popularity of this annual event has seen quite a bit of growth.
“It started small and has grown into what is listed as one of the three top competitions in the United States," says Marvin Mayer, a co-organizer of the Red Hills International Horse Trials.
Although the competitors, spectators, vendors and their families only stay through the weekend, their spending boosts our Capital City economy.
"Last year, with hotel room nights, and restaurants, and shopping, and gas stations and everything in between, the impact was a little over 5 million; $5.2 million impacting Leon County," explains Mayer.
Despite the large economy boost to the county, the Jockeys were only focused on one thing Friday, warming up their four-legged partner and showing their skills to the judges.
"We do three different phases," describes David O’Connor, a course designer, and competitor. "We do a dressage phase, which is everyone doing the same movements, and then cross country, which is tomorrow. In the end, it gets up to four miles and they jump over everything. This is about a two an a half mile course. Come back on the third day an arranged show jumps."
For most of the jockeys, this competition is the first in a series of qualifiers for the World Equestrian Games. Some countries even use the Red Hills Horse Trials to qualify riders for Olympic teams.
"It's really a test of all around horsemanship and all around training," says O'Connor. "It's all on the same horses you have to do this. It takes years of training to get the horses ready and yourself ready to compete at this level."
It takes more than 600 volunteers to plan and set up the Red Hills International Horse Trials. This year, more than 80 jockeys are competing on nearly 200 horses this weekend.
