Best H/J Shows in Mid Atlantic?

[spurofthemoment]

Looking for recommendations for the best shows (or simply venues) held within USHJA Zone 3, PA, NJ, KY, or OH. I’m mostly interested in cool venues that are fun to ride in that attract competition that is fun to watch when I’m not riding. For me, it’s more about the experience, cool memories, and pretty pictures than a ribbon. Bonus points for anything that has TIP-eligible classes!

EDIT: Sorry for the confusion about Mid Atlantic; KY and OH are reasonably distanced from where I call home base for a “special outing” show, so I also named those.

[BrownMareDon_tCare]

My favorites as far as fun shows and cool venues are Blowing Rock, Keswick (when it’s at Keswick not at Lexington), Upperville and Devon. Really, I’m a sucker for any of the heritage horse shows held at cool old show grounds! I also really enjoy Rosemount. It’s not one of your super prestigious shows, but the farm is beautiful, and the atmosphere is truly wonderful- it’s just a fun place to show.

[mh97]

Princeton, KHP, Devon, WEC Ohio

[blondewithchrome]

Agree with Princeton as a great show and fun/cute little town. Tryon is a very cool show grounds for the exhibitor (but expensive) if you are willing to make the trek down to NC, but not the most horse friendly (no turnout option, very limited grazing locations).

Virginia Horse Center in Lexington Va has 3 weeks of rated showing each spring/summer (4, if Keswick stays for good) and always has good hospitality and events (derby’s, Grand Prix, special classes), but lots of gravel and concrete all around. There is a large XC course you can ride on with lots of grass up that way if your guy needs to graze and stretch his legs. They have winter shows down there too but, VA in the winter is quite miserable lol

Loudoun Benefit is a great one in VA with wonderful hospitality and lots of events if Upperville fills up too fast. TIP/Take2 classes at both weeks of that show.

[zany1]

Kentucky Horse Park is pretty much unbeatable IMO

[Janet]

@spurofthemoment

USHJA Zone 3, PA, NJ, KY, or OH

Interesting definition of “Mid Atlantic”.

[spurofthemoment]

It’s too northern to be southern and southern to be northern - what’s a better way to say it? (Honestly asking - I’m used to people describing this area as such)

[Pokerface]

@spurofthemoment

It’s too northern to be southern and southern to be northern - what’s a better way to say it? (Honestly asking - I’m used to people describing this area as such)

Those states aren’t grouped together as any one region really. They aren’t all zone 3, and “Mid-Atlantic” is NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD, DC, and sometimes Virginia.

So far as destination shows in those states- for sure Devon, anything at KHP, WEC ohio, I used to love going to the Autumn in NY show, and that had some shopping and nice prizes. While VA is not on your list, Upperville cannot be missed for a gorgeous old show ground and shopping. On top of those are indoors, WIHS, Harrisburg, and the National Horse Show.

[spurofthemoment]

I know they aren’t grouped together - I am in Zone 3, but some of the outskirts of the surrounding zones are reasonable to travel to where I am, so I added those states.

[evtrmom]

Swan Lake, Princeton, and Ludwig’s corner also come to mind.

[Renn_aissance]

I think the Maryland Horse and Pony Show merits a shout. The facility isn’t special in the same way as one of the historical venues like Upperville or Keswick but it’s well-organized, well-managed, and extremely exhibitor-friendly, and for those reasons also draws strong competition every year.

[fourfillies]

The Swan Lake facility is nice but the McDonough shows are far better run and therefore IMO more exhibitor friendly. Neither are “legacy” type shows though. St. Chris which is held at Swan Lake right before Devon attracts a pretty high test competitor contingent each year. And agree about MD Horse and Pony. When it ran at PG lots of folks used it was a Capital Challenge warm up. Not sure if it’s running at McDonough or PG this year. What about the larger Aiken or Tryon shows?

[vxf111]

I guess everyone has a different definition of “special.” Many of the shows named are well run and good venues but not what I would consider SPECIAL. Devon and Upperville are shows I would consider special in terms of history, prestige, interesting venue, other attractions outside of just showing, etc.

[Railbird]

I am in KY right now to show and it is heaven. In this stage of the game I try to go to horse shows that are in a cool town/area so we can do family stuff too, which rules out some closer venues unfortunately, but we are having a blast. Some of the show venues that are very special to me as a horse person are just not non-horsey-family friendly. I had a bit of a YOLO moment last year to come here for the first time since before that I woudn’t have ever considered driving past so many good shows to this one, but I doubt I will miss it again if I can help it.

[Janet]

@spurofthemoment

It’s too northern to be southern and southern to be northern - what’s a better way to say it? (Honestly asking - I’m used to people describing this area as such)

According to Wikipedia

The Mid-Atlantic is a region of the United States located in the overlap between the Northeastern and Southeastern states of the United States. The region typically includes the five states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, the District of Columbia, and occasionally Virginia and West Virginia.

I have neve heard Kentucky or Ohio called Mid-Atlantic.

[Tha_Ridge]

@Janet

I have neve heard Kentucky or Ohio called Mid-Atlantic.

Yeah, seems to be missing a key feature: the Atlantic.

[Foitin]

I love MD horse and pony! It is at PG this year, a change from Lexington the past couple years. Though sort of weird since it is not in MD, I maintain that Lexington is a really nice facility with great rings, except the indoor, which is a little scary to ride in. Jumper ring, Wiley and the nice hunter ring on the top of the hill are fantastic, make for nice pictures, and can accomodate the bigger rated hunter divisions (3’6’’ and up) and high jumper classes. All this with large stalls and real bathrooms on site! McD is a wonderful local venue, very friendly for 3ft/1m and lower, but is not suitable for a larger horse show.

[blondewithchrome]

I would agree with McD assessment. I wouldn’t consider it “special” or an experience type show either but the team there does a very nice job running a small A (more like a B or C type show honestly).

OP, I just saw WIHS local weekend is at Upperville grounds this year. They have TB hunters I think, possibly TB jumpers too, and Shawn McMillan usually shoots that show so beautiful pictures. Can’t beat that location. This could be a. Great one for you to try out without the $$$$ upperville price tag!

[spurofthemoment]

I added those as an aside - I’m mostly interested in the Mid-Atlantic area but know that KY and Ohio are hot spots and a reasonable distance from the Mid-Atlantic area, just a little more western. I did not want to say Midwest because it was only two states.

Sorry to name a region and most of the states in it, plus a couple others.