Tucked away in the farmland west of Kalispell is Rebecca Farm, a sprawling paradise where horses graze in idyllic pastures under the sweeping Montana sky. 

This week, for the 25th year, hundreds of elite equestrians from around the world will gather for the farm's renowned weeklong competition, The Event at Rebecca Farm. The tradition changed the trajectory of eventing in the West a quarter-century ago, and it all started with one woman. 

When Rebecca and Jerome Broussard purchased the property that would become Rebecca Farm in 2000, it was hundreds of acres of crop fields and cattle land, but Rebecca had a vision of a world-class eventing venue in Northwest Montana.  

In those early days, though, “there was just a lot of dirt,” the Broussards’ daughter Sarah laughed. The family poured their collective energy into the property, clearing crops and seeding grass on more than 200 acres and brainstorming with course designers to bring the blank canvas to life.  

At the time, Montana wasn't known for eventing, the intense equestrian sport that is often compared to a triathlon and was first developed as a test for cavalry horses and riders. The three phases include dressage, cross-country and show jumping.  

"When people think about Montana, they think about rodeo, not eventing," Sarah said.  

The rough and rowdy sports of barrel racing and steer roping captivated the imaginations of locals and tourists alike, not the more reserved and disciplined eventing competitions that were so popular on the East Coast.  

For the handful of eventers in the West, competition events were few and far between, with riders often hauling their horses for days across multiple states just for the chance to compete. Meanwhile, back East, eventers sharpened their skills every weekend. 

"It was very difficult for riders in the West to stake a claim in the sport because we just didn't have the venue accessibility," Sarah said. "It was really my mom's vision that she wanted to have a world-class venue in the West." 

To some, the idea that Kalispell, so far away from anywhere, could host a prestigious eventing competition seemed like a pipe dream. But, as the Broussards constructed their course from the dirt up, they had faith in what it could become. 

"We used to joke, 'If you build it they will come,'" Sarah said.  

The Broussards weren't destined to become mainstays in the world of eventing. Rebecca rode horses in her early life but never competed. Sarah was 6 when, as she tells it, Rebecca made the tragic mistake of taking her to the barn, and she fell in love with the horses on the spot. 

As she grew older, Sarah worked her way up in the sport until she eventually found her way into eventing, which she competed in through college. As Sarah became more involved in the competition side of the sport, Rebecca took an interest in its governing bodies, working on committees and serving on the board of the United States Eventing Association.  

Rebecca and Sarah called on all their contacts for the first year of The Event. Sarah joked that she begged, borrowed and stole to convince competitors to make the long drive to Montana. Friends and family members were roped in as volunteer staff. More than 200 riders showed up, and 30 volunteers worked to make The Event a success, even in the beginning. 

“I think that a lot of people were a little surprised when they pulled on the property that first year because it was just dirt and baby trees, but they had faith,” Sarah said. “We pride ourselves on a small, family-friendly feel, and it’s really, as my father would say, a product of love. It’s the love that we all share for this event, for this farm, for my mom.” 

The feeling of close-knit community and high-level competition set against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains was an instant success. The next year 300 riders competed, and now, for its 25th year, more 600 riders are expected to take part in what has grown to be one of the largest eventing competitions in the U.S.  

THE EVENT has changed in other ways, too, since it first began in 2002. Rebecca died of breast cancer in 2010, and Sarah transitioned from her role as secretary to step into her mom’s shoes as event organizer. In 2012, Sarah launched Halt Cancer at X, named for the first movement in a dressage test when a rider halts their horse at a station marked “X” in the arena.  

The charitable initiative has since raised more than $1 million to support breast cancer research, survivors and patients. Sarah said much of the money raised stays in the Flathead Valley. Halt Cancer at X also funds research projects that are developing novel methods to combat breast cancer but have not yet attained national funding. 

“For an idea that was born on an airplane coming back from funeral, it really turned into something because I had a lot of people supporting me and supporting the idea,” Sarah said. “It’s obvious the difference that these programs make in women’s lives." 

Spectators are welcome to take part in The Event. Even those unfamiliar with the specific details of the sport can’t help but be impressed by the sheer athleticism of the riders and horses. Dressage is like ballet on horseback, Sarah said, while showjumping is a real nailbiter where placements can change in an instant. 

Aside from the horseback riding, there’s also a vendor village where everything from clothing to jewelry to furniture is sold, as well as a food fair. There’s a kid’s zone with face painting and pony rides. In keeping with Rebecca’s vision to bring the sport to the Flathead Valley, admission is entirely free.  

“I look around the farm and I see the changes that have happened over the last 25 years. I see the trees that have grown from little sapling to what they are now. I consider myself lucky that this has been my life,” Sarah said. “I think about the people that I’ve met and the name that Rebecca Farm has made for itself and the name my mother has made for herself. I’m kind of in awe about all of it.” 

The Event at Rebecca Farm takes place July 15 to 19 at Rebecca Farm, which is accessible via an entrance just south of 1010 West Springcreek Road. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit rebeccafarm.org. 

Reporter Elsa Ericksen can be reached at 406-758-4459 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.