Veteran horses and newcomers to the sport of eventing put in great performances at last weekend’s Southern Pines Horse Trials I held at the Carolina Horse Park in Raeford.

Stevie Ray Vaughn, a thoroughbred/Belgian cross, was electric in the Novice Rider division. Stevie Ray and owner/rider John Burgess, of Southern Pines, were “In Step” throughout their dressage test, scoring -27.00.

They kept the lead through the cross-country phase and went clean in stadium to rest on their dressage score and win their first Novice event. The dynamic duo was a full six points ahead of second-place finisher LaFreda Williams, of Southern Pines, on Spice Girl.

“There are two good things about winning,” said Burgess. “It gives me hope that my children will understand why I’m spending their inheritance. And, it defies the old adage that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, which should give every senior citizen in Moore County hope.”

The Open Training A division was a real nailbiter, as less than one point separated the first- through third-place finishers.

Michele Lobsinger captured first place with her 14-year-old Able Sportsfield, whom she recently brought back to eventing after a two-year hiatus from competing. They were sixth after dressage, scoring -34.60. They went clean cross-country and clean in stadium to rest on their dressage score.

“Able is very trustworthy,” said Lobsinger. “Whether he’s taking Dottie Greenleaf for a trail ride or I’m riding him cross-country, we know we can depend on him to do his job. He’s a real showman and a competitor. He enjoyed his victory gallop and wasn’t at all surprised by his win, whereas I was overjoyed. He seemed to say, ‘What did you expect?’”

Professional rider and trainer Mark Weissbecker, riding High Point, was second, scoring -35.00.

Will Faudree won the Open Preliminary division on Andromaque, resting on their dressage score of -31.80.

For full results, go to the Carolina Horse Park Web page at carolinahorsepark.com.