I just don’t know what to say in this situation. It’s very distressing and unfortunate these types of situations are happening more and more frequently.
First - I am not certain that taking business away from Virginia residents is part of the VHC’s charter. The Bowles are both residents. They are running a very sucessful event which is popular, responsive to their customers, safe and growing. This sucess didn’t happen by luck. It came about by hard work, care for the sport and investments of great time and money - probably all that they have. If anyone thinks that the VHC will be able to find another organizer that will be willing to invest probably close to a million dollars in jumps and other infrastructure and do it before next Spring in time for the next horse trials, they need to have their head examined. I know I wouldn’t trust VHC to do the right thing if I was an organizer.
The VHC had every right to renegotiate the rent. I would put forward that they were hoping for this result to happen. The Bowles apparently came to an agreement on the new rent but then were notified that their contract wouldn’t be renewed anyway. Then VHC applied to hold events on the same dates as the Bowles had for VHT. Hopefully the Bowles will prevail on keeping their dates and the new venue that has offered to host them will come to a beneficial agreement for both sides. I hope that the people that don’t agree with the way VHC has handled this situation will express it by NOT going to any of their horse trials. I think if you read what Roxanne Booth actually says, they don’t have an organizer yet and I think she will find it’s not easy. Even if they get an organizer on board now, they won’t be able to build up their jumps and infrastructure in time to offer a wide range of levels by Spring. Developing an event is a long term project, I don’t care how much money you throw at it.
I hope that the Bowles and other smaller organizers that rent land and facilities for their events will consider negotiating their contracts 3 years out…in other words, this year negotiate for 2026 and then add that to the current contract. That would give them plenty of notice (3 years) if a facility wanted to do the same thing that VHC is doing here. The good old days of people doing the right thing seem to be over. It is time to protect yourself and your investment.
I see that Roxanne Book is on the USEA Foundation Board of Trustees. Perhaps the Bowles will be fighting a loosing battle. This along with what happened to Red Hills certainly leave a bad taste in one’s mouth. Good luck to them both.