Area 1 riders, why didn't YOU go to Groton House?

[frugalannie]

Just finished a successful Groton House weekend. Approximately 229 entries, three days of perfect weather, no major injuries. Many thanks to the organizing committee, all of the volunteers and all of the riders who came, their families, grooms and support groups.

But entries were down from the usual 300 +/-, and spectators sparse.

Next year will be Groton House’s 40th horse trials. I’m not on the committee, but I volunteer a lot and have no trouble carrying ideas to the organizers. Any suggestions? If you didn’t ride, why not? If you did ride, what could be improved (besides weather somewhere between flooding rains and drought)? I know that everyone who works on Groton House wants to make it the best that they can, and they want the 40th to be even better. So what are your thoughts?

[Saskatoonian]

I didn’t even try to get in this year because my horse isn’t ready, but have been around Area I for ages and talk about events with a lot of people, so figured I’d share.

For me, GHF is one of my very favorite events. I love it - love the area, the atmosphere and the people - but the horse has to be ready for a serious event. I often hear that it is too expensive (last time I was there, years ago, the event fed competitors so insanely well that by my math it came out inexpensive!!) and that it takes too much time, with only one phase per day. I actually love that, because it’s my idea of a vacation.

Entries may also be down because historically it’s been so difficult to get in. Had a horse for a while who was ready, but I was pessimistic about getting in so made other plans.

Thanks for the reminder about the 40th year!! We’ll shoot for it next season.

[soloudinhere]

Historically I have not gone because they don’t offer a BN division and that’s always what I seem to have a horse for.

That being said, it’s another event like GMHA where you have to be postmarked opening day or you’re not getting in, and often I just can’t do it that far out and want to see how another intervening event goes before committing.

[IFG]

It is a lovely event, and I have been there many times, volunteered, etc. I am not competing now, but when I did, it was an expense issue. I understand the one phase a day approach is historical, but it made it cost prohibitive for me. I could afford to do two or three one day events for the cost of attending GHF. So absolutely lovely, but too expensive for me. For the same reason, I stopped going to GMHA. Lovely as these events are, taking the time off for a two or three day event, and paying for stabling and accommodations, made them too rich for my blood.

[goodmorning]

If I had to guess it would be, if you don’t enter on opening day you wont get in sentiment. I almost didn’t enter for that same reason. A quick notice on the Area 1 page after the initial tally is done may help? Last year ran over 2 days which may have been a let down for some?

They feed you so well that, yes, its not expensive :lol: I mean open bars, the works, its just a fantastic event. Better than Millbrook IMO.

I had a fantastic time (Novice), loved everything about it. The course was excellent & it’s a privilege to ride around that property. It was a solid test, and you feel accomplished when you jump that final XC fence :yes: In the past I’ve heard other people say, it’s a softer Novice, this year that was not the case at all. I wouldn’t necessarily want to spend 3 days to do a softer course, so, maybe a factor?

FWIW, I don’t do GMHA Festival (or any of their HTs) because it is too expensive, time consuming, and the schedule isn’t working ammy friendly. There’s no “I’m doing a real 3 day” appeal at GMHA. I’ll try to get to Millbrook & a few of the other 1 days which are less expensive & don’t run the lower levels midweek.

Pass along this Novice rider’s thanks. Such a well done event, lovely lovely lovely :yes:

[soloudinhere]

[QUOTE=goodmorning;8722916]
If I had to guess it would be, if you don’t enter on opening day you wont get in sentiment. I almost didn’t enter for that same reason. A quick notice on the Area 1 page after the initial tally is done may help? Last year ran over 2 days which may have been a let down for some?

They feed you so well that, yes, its not expensive :lol: I mean open bars, the works, its just a fantastic event. Better than Millbrook IMO.

I had a fantastic time (Novice), loved everything about it. The course was excellent & it’s a privilege to ride around that property. It was a solid test, and you feel accomplished when you jump that final XC fence :yes: In the past I’ve heard other people say, it’s a softer Novice, this year that was not the case at all. I wouldn’t necessarily want to spend 3 days to do a softer course, so, maybe a factor?

FWIW, I don’t do GMHA Festival (or any of their HTs) because it is too expensive, time consuming, and the schedule isn’t working ammy friendly. There’s no “I’m doing a real 3 day” appeal at GMHA. I’ll try to get to Millbrook & a few of the other 1 days which are less expensive & don’t run the lower levels midweek.

Pass along this Novice rider’s thanks. Such a well done event, lovely lovely lovely :yes:[/QUOTE]

At Festival this year, BN and N are running as a 1 day, but it’s on Friday.

[mg]

I really wanted to go this year, but had a prior weekend commitment that couldn’t be rescheduled My coach and a bunch of my friends went and had an absolute blast. I will be going next year for sure!!

[Hilary]

Well this year, I was driving my mom’s pony at Bromont… but one reason in general that it’s not on my list of places to compete? I had a miserable time the one year I got in (back when it was cross your fingers on opening day) and it is JUST too far away to truck in and out, and JUST close enough that it is hard for me to justify the expense of a stall for 3 days and lodging for me.

Unless I’m at Prelim I don’t really like events that run 3 full days - I don’t need all that time and one-days are just fine for me at BN-T.

I was very surprised to see the notice that it was still accepting entries after the opening date and it totally crossed my mind - wow, what a change from the years when they ran 2 events, offered Advanced, and getting in made you feel like you won the lottery.

I think they should play up the 40th though and hope 2017 is back to the draw date being an actual draw. (I know I’m probably the only person who did not enjoy competing there)

[frugalannie]

Thanks so much for the responses thus far. Not speaking for the organizers, butI might have a few answers.

Soloudinhere, the weekend before “big” Groton House, and again in the fall, there is the “Groton House Classic” which is Elementary and BN, and is all in one day. It’s on the same property and is a great value. Check out the GHF website for details.

While having the event over three days may partly be tradition, I think there are other reasons too. As you may remember last year the organizing committee and ground jury decided to move up SJ to Saturday because of the predictions for a major nor’easter. Besides being worried about the venue and quality of the course, the overriding concern was that all competitors and volunteers would get home safely. It was an incredible effort but well worth it when the predictions proved to be accurate. Some of the issues with doing that were that a large number of volunteers come out all three days, and there was no way to have them cover their XC and SJ assignments at the same time. Ditto the officials. GHF deploys all the officials on course XC day, and they judge SJ. I paid attention this year, and I was impressed with how quickly the GJ showed up whenever there was an issue if they weren’t already there (which was most of the time). But you can’t clone them, and having additional around would only increase the cost of the competition.

And then there is the terrain. There are limited areas on the farm that are really flat and large enough to have 5 dressage rings going concurrently with adjoining space for warmup. Since one of the SJ rings is on the dressage field and the XC course loops through the field and the warmup area, SJ and XC could only be held after dressage was over. This year, the first tests were at 8am I think, the last at 3:30 which is rather late to set up SJ and run XC. And one of the joys of GHF (to me) is that it’s a galloping course rather than a tight, twisty course.

As to the expense, I don’t know…make friends with someone local and stay with them?

The above is just me trying to think through why things are as they are, but rest assured I will being your comments and suggestions above (and more I hope) to the organizers…the compliments too!

[soloudinhere]

[QUOTE=frugalannie;8723455]
Thanks so much for the responses thus far. Not speaking for the organizers, butI might have a few answers.

Soloudinhere, the weekend before “big” Groton House, and again in the fall, there is the “Groton House Classic” which is Elementary and BN, and is all in one day. It’s on the same property and is a great value. Check out the GHF website for details.

While having the event over three days may partly be tradition, I think there are other reasons too. As you may remember last year the organizing committee and ground jury decided to move up SJ to Saturday because of the predictions for a major nor’easter. Besides being worried about the venue and quality of the course, the overriding concern was that all competitors and volunteers would get home safely. It was an incredible effort but well worth it when the predictions proved to be accurate. Some of the issues with doing that were that a large number of volunteers come out all three days, and there was no way to have them cover their XC and SJ assignments at the same time. Ditto the officials. GHF deploys all the officials on course XC day, and they judge SJ. I paid attention this year, and I was impressed with how quickly the GJ showed up whenever there was an issue if they weren’t already there (which was most of the time). But you can’t clone them, and having additional around would only increase the cost of the competition.

And then there is the terrain. There are limited areas on the farm that are really flat and large enough to have 5 dressage rings going concurrently with adjoining space for warmup. Since one of the SJ rings is on the dressage field and the XC course loops through the field and the warmup area, SJ and XC could only be held after dressage was over. This year, the first tests were at 8am I think, the last at 3:30 which is rather late to set up SJ and run XC. And one of the joys of GHF (to me) is that it’s a galloping course rather than a tight, twisty course.

As to the expense, I don’t know…make friends with someone local and stay with them?

The above is just me trying to think through why things are as they are, but rest assured I will being your comments and suggestions above (and more I hope) to the organizers…the compliments too![/QUOTE]

I know about the classic, but it is not a recognized event.

[woodrwo]

Solid BN rider here. And just wonder if they should re-think having BN on another weekend? I just love being able to ride at Millbrook. Such a thrill to ride on the same weekend as everyone else with all of the hoopla going on. And the BN is a huge division at most events.
GHF is not on my radar due to expense. All of the events I do are one day and within driving distance. All my little budget can do!

[Larbear]

I was there and had a blast! The x-country and stadium courses were so much fun!!

[Snugglerug]

I am in Area 2, so too far from this particular event to know any specifics, though it sounds lovely. But I thought I’d pop in as the voice of dissent regarding scheduling. I dislike running all 3 phases in one day. It’s too harried and stressful. A big part of the event for me is social, spending time with like-minded friends, dinner and drinks, just hanging out with horses and their people. So I enjoy two or three day scheduling. More expensive, true. But I look at it as a mini-vacation.

[Martina]

First, I want to say I am in the camp of LOVING the 2 or 3 day events, and in fact I really hate the one days. I love the ‘big event’ atmosphere Groton House has–so much a rarity these days. Groton House has so much history. And so beautiful! It would break my heart for it to become a one-day event. You just can’t appreciate all that in one day. And Area 1 would then lose another “big event”. I do agree however that it would be awesome if BN were included. Or bring back the GHF I and GHF II.

Anyway the only reason I didn’t enter this year was because I was dealing with a veterinary issue at the time of opening/closing.

To those saying you can’t get in if you don’t enter on opening day… I’m not so sure about that! I thought the same but have been proven wrong. PLENTY of openings well after the opening date. Especially for NT and TP divisions. So next time don’t give up if you don’t get in. It used to be that the Summer Classic (E/ BN) would fill up on opening day, but I don’t think that is the case either.

I LOVE Groton House and hope, fingers and toes crossed, that we will be there next year.

[amb]

Would it be possible to have the one-day “Classic” events also be recognized? I don’t care too hard either way (unless that means it’s way more expensive or runs slower) but it sounds from the above like what people want.

As for lack of spectators, I can give you one person’s answer, because back before I was volunteering and/or competing at Groton House I was interested in going as a spectator, looked at the web site, found -nothing- about what I’d want to know as a spectator, and bailed. Just some basic info on a prominent “Spectators” tab like when to show up, whether it costs anything, food available on site, and basic etiquette would probably help some.

[goodmorning]

They were 3 very long days, maybe entries were down slightly, 730am-530pm XC day, how many more competitors can one fit :eek:

[Judysmom]

I love GHF, it’s my favorite event. It’s one of the few that reminds me of all the events I loved in the 90’s. I love the 3 day format, and having stadium after xc.

This year I had no horse, and I’m 7 mo pregnant. I’ll be back when I’m done having babies for sure!

[TownesThatBigChestnu]

My barnmates and I always go as a group to watch, it’s one of our favorite things to do every year. It’s just so lush and glorious there, a great day all around. I will agree with the lack of spectator info, a couple of years ago when I couldn’t find basic spectator info, I think I even posted here on COTH to find out. The weather was going to be iffy and I didn’t want to bring a half dozen of us if it was going to be expensive to watch and we didn’t stay long.

As it turns out, it IS free to watch ($10 parking donation to a local therapeutic riding program) and we have found our way with etiquette, etc. Having been before, I knew this year how to use the excellent shuttles around the vast grounds. I’d been having health issues but knew I could go and enjoy anyway, knowing I could utilize the shuttles if I had to.

The Pro Rodeo is usually the same wkend and we watch XC all day and hit the Rodeo at night. Great horse girls’ day out.

[ozjb]

I know nothing about this event because I live in Australia, but thought I would add to what the poster above said about spectators, if I might.

I was in the US visiting my family near Ocala. I had read something about an event happening in Ocala and thought I would go take a look. Good grief, it was impossible to find any information for spectators and I was a VERY interested spectator! I ended up back on this forum asking. Managed to find the place (no signage anywhere, just my GPS working overtime). Once I got there, there was again no signage as to where to park, nothing. I just picked a place and hoped for the best. Did find the secretary’s office, but didn’t want to bother them with my pesky questions and we are an eventing family, been around events for years, how hard could it be?

Pretty hard actually. We stopped to watch some of showjumping, but had no idea of what level we were watching. (Our heights are a bit different and we call the levels below the FEI ones different names). Watched some xc, which was good. Ate lunch and left because we couldn’t find a program as to who was riding when and what level.

I enjoyed it because eventing is what we do. But if I were not actively involved in the sport, I would have felt very lost and and even more clueless.

No idea how to address this issue, but we can’t bemoan the lack of spectators when we ignore the fact that one might turn up! It’s the same here . . .

[beowulf]

GHF has long been on my bucket list but for various and sundry reasons I have never actually been able to compete there.

It’s expensive; I’ve attended as a groom/spectator many times and I just love it - the poster that says it reminds you of the events in the 90s is right – that being said, it is almost always a very challenging event; it is not at all a move-up event IMHO. I don’t mind that, but GH is usually around when I am either moving up a green-bean or starting one at BH – not having the BN recognized is my biggest reason for never attending as a competitor. The timing has always been off for me and my crew!