Out west you are lucky to school cross country within a 2 hour 1 way drive
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Just announced: The AECs will be at Galway Downs in CA in 2025!
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Yay for the West Coast. I hope that there is a big turn out from the WC peeps for all the grumbling thatās been done.
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I canāt imagine anyone skipping it if they qualified and itās within range. For me itāll be a 10-11hr drive and you bet Iām going if I qualify.
But why so salty?
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Yes, yay for us for finally having the AECs on the actual west coast. I donāt see the problem with it alternating every so often so that the west coast is constantly isolated.
I know this is shocking to some, but there ARE eventers on west coast.
If I qualify again, which is a huge if, Iāll definitely go. Galway is about a 12 hour haul for me but it would be well worth the trip.
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Yes- I said yay for the WC. Donāt infer tone from the written word. (Thatās called projection).
Well aware WC eventers. I merely commented hopefully they will put up a good showing since it has been discussed ad nauseam.
Oh sorry - it didnāt read like genuine happiness at all, what with āā¦ for all the grumbling thatās been done.ā on the end 
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I was so sad to see the AEC sparsly attended at Rebecca. I dont want to compete against just some of the bestā¦Id rather compete against a big field with a fantastic course. Personally, I wouldnt ever recommend it held on the West, despite the ease for me. Id rather go to Kentucky and compete against everyone. Im used to drivingā¦ so I will drive. For me, that is better than competing against the same people that I see every other weekend in Area VII and VI
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I donāt think thereās any offense intended to the west coast, just that it is a numbers game. Yes there are top eventers getting it done in Cali/OR/WA. There just are way, way more eventers/events in easy driving distance to KY, NC, VA, etc than to anywhere on the west coast.
Galway is a great facility, but itās not a destination like some of the other prior locations. Itās not particularly scenic. Outside of wineries, thereās not a ton to do/see. Itās one heck of a drive for the WA/OR folks. Itās significantly further than KY for the folks living in the population centers of Texas. Itās about equidistant, if not a little closer for Denver folks, but the drive is all through mountain passes. So unfortunately, itās hard for me to see a bunch of people on the east coast packing up and schlepping across country to go to Galway.
Sorry west coasters, I used to be one of you and I feel for you, but unfortunately donāt see this one being highly attended from other regions.
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Itās worth noting that many other locations had not much more than 3-400 competitors over the years. And itās not āeveryone ā if the West coast isnāt represented fully.
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A lot of good points in here from both sides. As another WC eventer who is about 10-11hrs from Galway, it IS a destination event for me. Itās a beautiful venue but I would never make that drive for anything other than the AECs. Realistically, Iāll never have the funds or time off of school and work to haul a horse all the way to KY for a single event, no matter how high on my bucket list it is. Having the AECs on the west coast is the only way Iāll ever be able to attend.
There are a lot more eventers on the west coast than people seem to think. Galway wonāt draw many people from the east coast (which is unfortunate, and I do wish that in a perfect world a venue existed where we could all be equally represented), but it will still be well attended. I know people from ID, AZ, CO, WA, TX, etc. who haul all the way to Paso Robles just for a regular HT. They will come for the AECs.
Again, in a perfect world, all areas could be equally represented at the AECs. It just wonāt happen. The US is too big. Alternating regions is a good solution. Itās only fair to represent WC eventers and let them check off this bucket list item when east coast riders are so frequently prioritized for the AECs (and yes, for good reason, as others have pointed out!). I get that the haul isnāt possible for most riders on the opposite coast. Imagine how we feel year after year. One year on the west coast wonāt be the end of the world.
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Iāll be honestā¦ I WOULD absolutely consider going to Aecās if I qualified. I evented for almost 3 years in area 6 when I lived in Los Angeles, and it was by far, the best time eventing of almost everywhere. TONS of great people with more of a community spirit and way more fun. Less āred coatsā who were always on the same teams and more cheering for one another. I also placed a lot more and better. Funny how when youāre enjoying yourself and doing things you love it all comes together better.
I ran Novice at the first ever event at Galway and the whole Kellerhouse/Galway team are really some of the best people out there. Would it cost a lot to go? Sure. Would it be worth it to show the west coasters that some of us get it and respect what theyāve done to come east for things and represent as part of that whole of the US eventers, definitely!!!
I havenāt even evented full time in years, but I might with Chad this year, just to try for a shot.
Emily
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YAY! I propose a Barn Party for the East Coasters representing at AEC '25! 
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Amen. Had same exact experience in the bay area. Just a bunch of great, supportive people all having fun.
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