The cross country portion of The Event at Rebecca Farm takes place Saturday, but several riders took the opportunity for an up close and personal look at what lies ahead Thursday afternoon.

Tamra Smith of Murrieta, Calif., paced off the 3,600-meter course in mental preparation for the big event.

"Probably three, four more times," she said of walking the course.

Smith, like the other riders, took no notes.

"Everything is in my head," she said.

"You can't take notes on the course with you (when you compete)."

Smith is here for the sixth time.

"This place, of course, is unbelievable," she said.

"It's one of the best in the country."

Smith took special note of a "couple technical questions from the horse's perspective and the rider's perspective" during her walk.

"The higher level you go, the less chance for margin of error," she said.

"At the 3-star level, the margin of error is null."

Her "questions" involved two sections of the course - the water complex and the double corners.

"He's made them more technical," Smith said of course designer Captain Mark Phillips.

As a result ... "my job is harder."

Karen O'Connor, a three-time Olympian and last year's HSBC FEI World Cup winner at The Event, was impressed after her tour.

"The footing is beautiful," she said.

"The course is gorgeous."

The cross country layout at Rebecca Farm is basically the same as it's been since its inception. Every year, Phillips makes a change or two.

New this year is a Western Town. Horse and rider will clear a jump into the town and exit by jumping over a saloon double door and through it.

Phillips said the Western Town will challenge the rider's and horse's "good balance.

"This allowed me to indulge in a little bit of history, fun," he said of the new addition.

Western Town is approximately a minute from the end of the course. It takes just over six minutes for rider and horse to complete their run.

Last year Phillips added a keyhole jump (six-foot diameter hole through evergreen brush) at the water complex.

"The ground," Phillips said of where he gets his course ideas from.

"It sounds a bit Irish, but let the ground talk to you. What works for a piece of ground."

Phillips, who designs equestrian courses around the world, said they are all special for various reasons.

"This is a wonderful facility," he said.

"You have wonderful ground. They put a lot of effort into it."

Phillips said strides have been made the last four years to improve safety for both horse and rider on the jumps. To accomplish that, the jump fronts are now sloped.

"The energy gets deflected instead of stopped," he said.

"There is less chance of the horse (flipping over) and the rider getting crushed."

The CIC*** portion of the course has 25 jumps.

The only difference between the jumps at Rebecca Farm and those at the Olympics are the angles and distance, which makes the Olympics more difficult.

This marks the 10th anniversary of The Event at Rebecca Farm. To kick off the next decade, Phillips plans a major design change.

"We've made a decision to move the start next year," he said.

"The whole thing will go in reverse order. It's been going this way for 10 years, time to change this around.

"In sports, nothing ever stands still," he said.

"Course designing, it's a never-ending process. You should never stand still."

The cross country starts Saturday at 8 a.m. for all FEI levels.

Today, dressage continues for all FEI levels starting at 8 a.m.

The Event concludes Sunday with show jumping, starting at 8 a.m.

Thursday's Results

Dressage

Leaders

Levels, Rider, Horse, Score

CCII* - Jolie Wentworth (Bally Quinn), 54.8

CIC1* - Karen Laidley (Snow Globe Effect), 52.5

Jr./Yr. Open Preliminary - Julianne Van Halst (Tristan), 31.7

Jr. Open Training A - Katherine Cole (Vatino), 28.2

Jr. Open Training B - Emily Presti-Dimmitt (Airlington), 25.5

Sr., Open Training A - Suzy Elliott (Rimsky), 28.6

Sr. Open Training B - Melissa Hyde (Sienna), 21.8

Sr. Open Training C - Sharon White (Ravenna), 30.9

Jr. Open Novice A - Lauren Bradley (Epic), 30.5

Jr. Open Novice B - Tessa Robinson (Sebter Sinn), 19.0

Jr. Open Novice C - Kathryn McKinstry (Piccolo), 25.5

Sr. Open Novice A - Michelle Liss (Kona Makani), 24.0

Sr. Open Novice B - Maeve Drew (Capriola), 27.5

Sr. Open Novice C - Brittany Lunney (Smarty Marty), 26.0

Sr. Open Novice D - Lisa Eppley (Sweet Basil), 27.0

Sr. Open Novice E - Lynne Larsen (Lady Antebellum), 29.5

Future Event Horse 2-years old - Mary Burke (Dragonfly BRF), 118.8

Future Event Horse 3-years old - Tamra Smith (Irish Blend), 123.3

Future Event Horse Yearling - Darcy Barnes (Findoctro HF), 116.3

Young Event Horse 4-years old - Tamra Smith (Fleeceworks Cinco), 84.7

Young Event Horse 5-years old - Kelly Prather (Happenstance), 79.8