At the Carolina Horse Park, a newly-designed cross-country course and new galloping paths are ready and waiting to test some of the top three-day eventers in the country March 19-21, when the Southern Pines Horse Trials II will take place.

The big names of eventing — Davidson, Dutton, O’Conner, Martin and Faudree — will be testing their horses over the Tremaine Cooper-designed cross-country course.

Also competing in the Advanced Division will be Ashley MacVaugh, who hails from South Hamilton, Mass., and winters in Southern Pines.

MacVaugh, who placed fifth individually in the Pan American Games in 2003 and completed Burghley in 2004, will be riding her veteran campaigner All’s Fair at Southern Pines II, which kicks off the 2010 PRO Tour Event Series,

The PRO Tour Event Series is open to riders at the Advanced and Three-Star levels.

“All’s Fair is ever ready and ever young,” said MacVaugh, who purchased the 16-hand bay when he was 7. “He’s taken me all over the world. He’s competed here (Carolina Horse Park) several times. It’s one of his favorite events.”

MacVaugh is familiar with Tremaine Cooper-designed courses.

“I’m a big fan of his courses,” said MacVaugh. “They are very gallopy and flowing. They initially look a little intimidating but ride really well.”

One of the new fences, called the Palisades, which was constructed from trees on the Carolina Horse Park property, also incorporates standing trees in the obstacle.

“The fence asks a great question,” said MacVaugh. “The designer used the trees as part of the difficulty of the jump. It will require precision riding through here.”

MacVaugh, who trains with local professional Bobby Costello, is excited about the PRO Tour Event Series.

“It’s a great way to promote the sport,” she said.

The 2010 PRO Tour Event Series is a partnership between the Professional Riders Organization and Eventing Organizers.

Event riders and their horses will be vying for prize money at several events, including The Fork CIC3 in Norwood, N.C., April 1-4.

The goal is to earn enough points to be on top of the year-end PRO Tour leaderboard for a chance to win a trophy and a cash bonus.

The Southern Pines Horse Trials II are free to the public. Parking donations will benefit the Foundation of FirstHealth’s Cancer Care Fund.

The tentative time schedule is as follows:

Friday, March 19: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. — all dressage; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. — training and preliminary cross country.

Saturday, March 20: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — preliminary, advanced and intermediate cross country and training and preliminary show jumping.

Sunday, March 21: 9 a.m. to noon — preliminary and intermediate show jumping; 1 to 3 p.m. — advanced show jumping.

For more information, go to the Carolina Horse Park Web site: www.carolinahorsepark.com.