Did anyone else see that Chatt sold & “Bouckaert farm will continue to hold equestrian events through 2026 possibly into 2027.” ??
I saw that on Area III Facebook the other day. So sad. Its happening in all regions.
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Did it sell for a housing development? I think at one time I read that they had 5000 acres there. The last time I visited an event there the main barn was still unfinished which I thought was a little odd. Really really fancy but such small stalls. Beautiful property! I don’t remember when the Bouckaert’s divorced so I imagine that had something to do with the big barn being unfinished. And I don’t think either daughter was still eventing, but maybe their kids do.
I just saw this on a facebook page:
Carl Bouckaert came and spoke at the horse show yesterday to address the rumors circling around. They’re still in talks with a developer but no definitive plans as of yet. He confirmed 2025 and 2026 show season events will still be hosted at the facility like normal and that 2027 is also highly probable. If they are able to reach an agreement with a developer, he would give plenty of notice and still hopes to be involved in supporting the horse community events elsewhere as he has since the 70’s if the farm is in fact developed.
I also saw that Hugh Lochore who manages the property/course designer (??) is moving down the road to Newnan, & won’t be managing any longer.
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That is so sad. They’ve hardly even been there any time at all. 
I hate “development.”
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Bouckaert’s carpet/flooring company Beaulieu of America went bankrupt in 2017, wonder if that’s related?
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I hate “development.”
sound like my neighbors who sub divided their lands then for big bucks then pushed through a zoning restriction they think would keep me from selling our place off to developers because they enjoy the view of the open land and the livestock grazing … hell I will sell this place to a FHA 235 housing developer to build zero lot line three story townhouses just to piss them off
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There was financial trouble, and the fancy barn never got finished. There isn’t even water run inside, IIRC. I’m from the area and the story always sounded like non-horse people (or riders, not farm managers) building a fancy property and not hiring the right equestrian advice.
Anyway, it’ll be a shame if Chatt gets developed. It’s one of the few venues south of ATL besides Poplar, and it’s really really nice. The area is getting very expensive though, so I’m sure there are big figures being thrown around.
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From what I read (I do not travel in these circles) Mr. B’s wife was from an extremely wealthy Belgian? family (as in billionaire). He was wealthy too but not in that extreme. He was running the carpet factory and got into trouble with the IRS from questionable aggressive tax positions and the couple divorced. So maybe the bankruptcy resulted from the fight with the IRS and thus financial trouble. Add to that - carpeting is not as fashionable as it used to be and maybe sales dropped. I hate to see large, beautiful tracts of land get chopped up into housing developements.
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Yeah that’s pretty much it. But the big barn itself was definitely not designed in a horse-first fashion!
Yes I thought so too. Lots of foo foo but the stalls were tiny and it was intended to house large horses. It looked like there was maybe a vet area, maybe stallion collection? And concrete floors for all the stalls. UGH!!! If you are going to spend that many millions on making a barn fancy why can’t you make the stalls bigger? And not really any turnout areas possible close to the barn.
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I saw the post about next year’s events still on, and I thought, uh-oh, sounds like they’re getting out. Sad to have it confirmed. I got my first win at Novice there, and did AEC in 2011 there.
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I know this is a tangent, but I can’t resist.
I first heard of Beaulieu Carpets, and Bouckaert, when he was sponsoring the late, great, motorcycle road racer Dale Singleton (aka the Georgia Pig Farmer) when he won his second Daytona 200 (the biggest motorcycle race in the US) in 1981.
See http://hof.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=270
I didn’t know “Dial” very well, but I knew him well enough to say “hi” in the pits.
I was very surprised to learn, a few years later, that Bouckaert was also involved in 3 Day Eventing
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If I’m remembering correctly, didn’t they create or contribute to an arena footing that had carpet shreds in it?
Random question for you @fivestrideline Did you ever hunt with Shamrock Hounds? Good times and pre divorce for him. Carl was fun as a MFH.
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No, too young I’m afraid 
. But I showed hunters at Chatt (back when we called it Chatt)!
Yes they did. At one time it was being sold as a footing additive by several arena guys. I don’t know if it still is.
Goddamnit. We’re losing the largest rated showground here in Middle TN any day now too.
Carl has actually ridden for Belgium in the Olympics in 2012 and in 2000. When we had the Olympics in Atlanta he donated some carpet for us to lay on the concrete so the horses would not slip. Not so much fun gluing carpet to concrete in the July heat.
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which one?
