For Sandhills residents, sightings of orange-breasted robins and yellow buttercups are the farewell bids to winter we’ve long awaited. But for serious equestrians in the region and beyond, the start of the show season may mark springtime’s advent best. Excellence in equine competitions, from nationally and internationally sanctioned horse trials to local jumper shows and more, happens year-round at Carolina Horse Park in Raeford, a 315-acre nationally recognized premier equestrian complex practically in Fayetteville and Cumberland County’s backyard. CHP is the only horse sports facility with multi-disciplined resources to level championship-level equine competitions in the mid-Atlantic region.
One of the first on the 2025 schedule is the Park’s biggest event of the year, the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International CCI and Horse Trial, March 13-16. Now in its 12th year, the program brings top-level and Olympian riders to neighboring Hoke County for Eventing’s second-highest level of competition.
An impressive test of both human and horse, Eventing is the three-discipline trial of dressage, cross-country and show jumping. While over 300 single horse and rider combinations will vie for victory in the 2025 Setters’ Run, only one participant will take home the top title. Still, as the season's first show, all participants make gains, CHP Director of Development and Communications Maggie Cline explained.
“The Setters’ Run is a four-star event, just one level below the Olympic level,” she said. “Every year, we have a number of riders who compete and then go to the Olympics. It’s also one of the first four stars in the competition schedule. It’s a time when riders are all getting their horses out and ready for the season—a good test of where they're at and where their training went in the off-season. So, it's a very exciting time.”
Attracting world-class equestrians and sponsoring the top level of competition is the goal of the Carolina International Executive Committee.
“Leveraging local and national expertise and leadership, we continue to deliver an outstanding weekend of horse sport and entertainment for riders, owners, patrons, sponsors and visitors,” the CIEC stated online.
This year’s leadership includes two of Horse World’s elites: Max Corcoran as show organizer and Derek di Grazia as cross-country course designer. Corcoran has served as the President of the United States Eventing Association, Inc. and has worked professionally as a super groom and event organizer for many years. One of the most highly respected and accomplished course designers in the Eventing world, di Grazia’s course resume includes the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, Defender Burghley and the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Excitement builds each year over the horse-and-rider combinations entered. Cline expects three-time CI four-star level winner Will Coleman to enter again. Coleman “three-peated,” Cline said, in the 2021-23 trials. American five-star event rider Liz Halliday took home the top prize last year.
One rider to watch, according to Cline, is a local equestrian from Moore County. Ariel Grald is a five-star-level competitor bringing horses owned by the 2025 Carolina International CCI and Horse Trial show sponsor, Setters’ Run Farm of Vass. Owned by Annie Eldridge, Setters’ Farm has been an established breeding program since 2012.
Setters’ Farm is the title sponsor; other leveled sponsors for the year are CCI3*-S Sponsor, The Cordelia Family Foundation; CCI2*-S Sponsor, Breezeway Sporthorse and Diagnostic Clinic; CCI2*-S Sponsor, Friendship Veterinary Imaging and Sports Medicine; and CCI1*-S Sponsor, Dechra. For a full list of sponsors, see https://carolinainternationalcci.com/sponsors.
CHP’s first competition of the season represents the hundreds of equestrians who start with this early spring, high-level contest and then springboard to countless others.
Southern Pines horsewoman, Heidi Grimm Powell, CIEC board member and CI title holder.
“I remember the first time going to see the CI in 2014 and being so impressed with the caliber of horses and riders, the quality of the event and the hospitality shown to all—competitors, spectators and owners alike. I set a goal at that first visit to someday qualify to compete at the marquee event,” said Southern Pines horsewoman,Heidi Grimm Powell, CIEC board member and CI title holder. “I was very excited when, in 2020, I qualified my younger horse Finnastic! to compete but was devastated when the event was canceled because of COVID. Luckily, we qualified again the next year and had a solid result. He continued to improve his training; the following year, we won our division in 2022. It was quite an accomplishment for us!”
Spectators can also enjoy the action while watching in the stands and enjoying family-friendly activities. Admission is free and includes access to the Kids’ Zone with bouncy houses, a climbing wall, face painting and corn hole. The Park also provides an expansive Vendor Village and Food Court for retailers and spectators. Play, shop and eat while watching world-class horse action March 15-16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A ticketed option is available to spectators via the Carolina Club. Participants receive premier ringside viewing and southern hospitality at its finest inside this VIP tent. Food, beverages, open seating and recognition in the Official CI Program are among the benefits of this purchase, with single tickets and reserved tables available. Learn more at https://carolinainternationalcci.com/carolinaclub.
Cline hopes residents will turn out March 13-16 to support the non-profit Carolina Horse Park and experience the CI for themselves. “People flood the area for this. Maybe not at the US Open Level, but we are just very excited to be able to offer it and be a part of the community.”
Check out all the excitement at https://carolinainternationalcci.com/.

(Photo: A rider participates during the 2024 Setters' Run Farm Carolina International CCI and Horse Trial. Photo courtesy of Pam Jensen Photography)