With the pending demise of Chatt Hills, Poplar will be it for most of Alabama, and yes it’s way down by Ft Benning. When Red Hills died in Tallahassee that was a big blow, losing Chatt Hills will be awful.
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When I lived in Alabama and evented, our options were:
- Poplar
- Chatt
- Lexington
- Ocala
- Riverglen
- One time a year, Middle TN in Nashville.
It was all a heavy drive and actually shaped my opinion on why they should not make volunteering mandatory.
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From middle TN, we basically had the same options.
Throw in Flying Cross. MTPC would put on a spring unrecognized horse trial. Walnut Trace coming along was a game changer for unrecognized, too. There also used to be this place in northern middle TN or maybe just over the KY line that used to run dressage shows and really low level unrecognized horse trials/combined tests. But for the life of me, I can’t remember the name of that place. The owner was a European man.
I am in Alabama & I agree. Mississippi is no different (and worse to events)
Travel Distances (North End-Huntsville/South End-Mobile)
- Poplar - 4.5hrs/4hrs
- Chatt - 3.5hrs/4.5hrs
- Lexington - 5hrs/9.5hrs
- Ocala - 8.5hrs/6hrs
- River Glen - 4hrs/8hrs
- MTPC - 2hrs/6hrs
- Aiken - 6hrs/7hrs
Currently being in north alabama, the only show I can volunteer at is MTPC, but that is only a recognized once a year. North alabama does not have a lot of options for schooling shows, South alabama has more schooling options, but further travel times to recognized venues.
Poplar still host shows, schooling shows and HJ almost monthly, but recognized eventing shows are only twice a year now. Poplar is one of my favorite venues and since I am only running BN/N, I am happy with schooling shows rather than recognized, but wish there where more options.
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I am based about 30 minutes from Bouckaert farms. I think everyone is equally disappointed and maybe just hoping something happens in the next two years and this isn’t real.
That being said, I’ve heard several rumblings from multiple barns and previous organizers who want to step up and host their own events. Of course to build an event to the size of Chatt would take years, Chatt took decades. (I remember competing there before stabling almost 20 years ago) If out of one closure, 3 initially unrecognized events pop up that may be good for the community. There’s a surprising little eventing mecca here. Many horse people and land to support it. To the extent that there’s enough money to build an international event? I don’t know.
Poplar is almost an hour. I saw this year they aren’t running the Intermediate. One can hope they can be awarded the FEI weekends in the meantime. Without Chatt, I think the numbers will have to go to Poplar. It’s been a staple event, but when you had either to compare, the footing and course design usually had most of us going to Chatt. They definitely have the capacity land-wise to run upper-level and probably destination events.
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I think it was under contract last fall, but the sale fell through. They have dates through 2025 at least, but not sure what is happening after that.
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I will forever be disappointed that the Thompson Tractor money went to building that ridiculous Birmingham Race Course in the 80s. That could have been a great location for a multi use facility for shows, events, and more.
I just double checked… 7,000 acres.
Now I’m madder than I already was lol
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Thanks for the update.
Is it just me or do entries seem way down there?
They have been. I think they lost their FEI dates, too? The property is challenging to design on…
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I know many, many people who won’t go to River Glen because they don’t like the current course designer’s courses.
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+1 here… annoying because it’s less than 2hrs from here. I’m no designer, but the property has to be pretty challenging to design on.
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Yes with that much $$ that could have been one helluva horse park. I always wondered what the “consultants” were smoking when they came up with the projections.
7000 acres - I never knew the property was that big.
I had a beloved t-shirt with the original Turf Club logo, and the poster in the article. Sigh. Sad all the way around.
Most people who want horse property either can manage it but cannot remotely afford it or are older and can’t manage a large property.
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That was one of many reasons I didn’t move Feronia home when I retired her. First was the cost of getting everything set up; one would think that with two barns that would be easy, but neither is usable for horses. So shelter, fencing, a frost-free hydrant etc. Then getting a companion… and managing everything on my own, with DH definitely not willing to give up travel etc because of the horses. I have a bad hand as well.
It could also be the honest horse person is just priced out of home ownership too. I’d leap at a chance to buy your place, frugalannie!! But the pockets say no 
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Ha ha yeh same here
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Carl married into the De Clerk family from Belgium.
I guess funds must be running low.
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A fundamental problem with our sport: the many who want to compete require the benevolence of the few rich landowners. As population grows, land is in higher demand and more expensive…
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And its rare that public parks ever offer much more than a small riding ring, if that.
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