Did you all see this just announced on the Colorado Horse Park board? There really isn’t any other information out there about it yet.
https://coloradohorseforum.com/2019/12/13/the-colorado-horse-park-is-closing/?fbclid=IwAR18c4o2XABKe0GEJEQE7f-c4Q9pJP0vv37k9Zii8rg3GgwtjWKymYzjpn8
I just posted this in Off Course. But that will throw a giant wrench in regionals.
Oh, boy…
Ashley Keeler is posting that it’s fake news, but it looks like the facility is telling people two different things?
This “CHP closing” info is from the Colorado HORSE FORUM, not the CHP or its board. It sounds like it may not be correct or complete info. The Colorado HJ Assoc FB pages states: IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO OUR MEMBERS📢
âš ï¸CHJA would like its membership to know that the 2020 show season in Colorado will continueâš ï¸.
More details will be available in the coming weeks; and we ask our members to be patient with us as we receive official information regarding the Colorado Horse Park management/owner changes, which will be released here, as it becomes available to us.
I am not an insider, so I don’t know the facts, but it seems as if there has been a big change (there was official communication from the Horse Park to boarders and others), but it seems that the details of that earlier communications were premature. Our local show management indicates that we should not panic yet and there may be a 2020 show season. There may not be a CHP after that, however. In more positive news, the National Western Complex in Denver is building out a huge national horse show facility, complete with a CSU Vet Clinic (hospital?). It is not targeted for completion for several years though, but we will eventually have a place for regionals.
In 2015, there was a similar panic and our regional GMO moved regionals to Estes Park. In addition to absolutely shitty footing, Estes has the night and day of stabling options. I personally do not feel you can have a fair competition when not everyone has decent stabling. Finally, Estes only has a level IV hospital. They can’t even read an X-ray (I know because my ankle was crushed at that show). If you have a brain trauma, you will have to be flown out somewhere else. I believe, in a world of Safe Sport and all kinds of other restrictions and requirements on showing, the shows themselves at least MUST be required to be within a half hour of a Level II or Level 1 trauma center…just saying…
Mary Phelps has reported on her FB page that the Colorado Horse Park is closing and is now for sale.
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I don’t think SafeSport means what you think it does.
The amount of bad, not even attempting to know the facts before issuing a public opinion seen on this thread is mind-boggling.
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Speaking of Estes Park, yes, that last regional show was pretty awful. Most of the Stanley Park staff was off for the season, the riding arenas had to be quickly converted from parking areas to something rideable, and the remaining staff was not up to the challenge. High winds took down the temporary judge’s tents so cars & trucks had to be quickly substituted. Still, Estes is beautiful, great views, food, and the “main” arena (used for the upper level rides) isn’t bad at all.
Sh*t happens at shows.
I prefer the ancient wooden stabling at the eastern end of the fairgrounds. 8 feet wide by 16 feet long with Dutch doors. My gelding likes a room with a view. CHP closing? I’m in the process of moving north. I’ll still have options close by…
Safe Sport covers things like sexual harassment, “grooming” for sexual exploitation, fat shaming, bullying and such.
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SafeSport has NOTHING to do with safety for competitors - it is only focused on potential sexual abuse of minors. So no, this is not the result of SafeSport.
I hope these rumors are not true - it is really sad to see a horse facility close. If I had to guess, it is more likely due to economics - real estate is worth more for other uses then for horses:confused:
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And the owner is going through a divorce.
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And, I would guess, have no way to know for sure, that of all his horse show properties, the CHP is probably the least profitable. Short season here (approx. May to September) and even some of the very early/late dates can be iffy weather.
I know we have lots more H/J people in Colorado and surrounding, but it’s still nothing like the coasts. Dressage around here seems to be shrinking or at least shifting.
He wrecked the footing at the CHP, IMO, and made the jumper rings cookie cutter flat and boring. We used to have a neat GP ring with changes in elevations, piano jumps and the like. The footing, which may work well in a more humid climate, does not work here. He must have spent millions to ruin it.
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In addition, he’s just paid $24 MILLION for land near the Palm Beach Equestrian Centre. Need to leverage another property for this acquisition???
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WTF? Are you all blind? I never said this was a result of Safe Sport. WHAT I SAID and MEANT, is that if you have to meet all kinds of other restrictions (LIKE SAFE SPORT TRAINING, Vaccination records submission, Health exams within 7 days of a show, etc) AT LEAST USDF/USEF could require that show facilities all be within 30 minutes of a Level 1 or Level II Trauma Center. MY POINT being (sorry for yelling, but am frustrated) that if you are going to make new safety rules, at least, at bare minimum, protect the health and safety of the riders!!!
Personal experience: I went through two unnecessary surgeries because the first surgery did not have proper imaging and the person who read the images made an error. I did not have proper emergency treatment, so that by the time I was able to get in to see a real doctor (not an intern, which the Level IV was staffed with on the weekend), it was an emergency open me up without an MRI surgery. I am trying to prevent that for others. Also, any head injuries are going to be much worse if they have to fly you to another facility.
I hope its not true. I have many great memories from riding there in the 90s and thought it was such a beautiful facility.
I agree with you Cowgirl, I won’t go anywhere there is not a trauma center close enough. This should be required!
It was, back in the 90’s before the footing got ruined and it was made over into a clone of B’s other East Coast show grounds.
For me, I wouldn’t want Estes Park to be disqualified as a show venue. That’s where many of MY best memories come from. After all, the H/J crowd and Rodeo folks still use it, and their sports are riskier than ours.
Cowgirl, you had a terrible, terrible accident there and I know it took a toll on you. Horses come with high risks. Estes remains one of my favorite venues. I’ll take the chance.
I know it’s about 5 hours south but I groomed this summer at the summer H/J series Hipico in Santa Fe. The facility was spacious, a good layout and beautiful. The footing is silica in the arenas and the GP and top Hunter grass arenas are very well maintained. Easy to deal with office staff and lots and lots of places to school (silica footing in the schooling arenas), lunge or hack out.
In addition to the regular series the Spiltrock series was held there in August. Splitrock and their competitors were also pleased with the facility and will return next year.
My employer was pleased and we will be returning next summer. I believe the Hipico people have geared up expecting an eventual closure of Horsepark.
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HIPICO in Santa Fe NM seems like a natural place to move some of the shows and the Region 5 championships - they have enough space and stalls, and good footing.
It would be an unfortunate addition to the drive for the folks coming from, like, Montana though – it’s several hours south of Parker. I showed at Estes and remember it being a fun town to visit, but yes the stalling was older and I remember that wind storm was something else!
https://chp.coth.com/?fbclid=IwAR2Z7QN8WLdYHcl-pNLLt0JpRetNAdPnogbAC_UFmJIl7DQ76CDnGuODH9Y
Colorado Horse Park Updates
Parker, Co. – December 18, 2019 – Colorado Horse Park (CHP) will continue to operate as a horse park in 2020 despite recent rumors to the contrary. The Colorado Equestrian Partners are enthusiastic about the 2020 schedule and have implemented changes to ensure that the horse show operates at peak performance.
For 2020, CHP will no longer offer boarding services at its venue, which mirrors operations at its sister equestrian centers in Florida and North Carolina.
“We have decided to no longer offer boarding services and we plan to continue operating CHP as a leading equestrian venue in the country,” said Michael Stone, President of Colorado Equestrian Partners.
In addition, Marion Maybank has resigned as manager of CHP. As a result, the partners are evaluating the different events and leadership needed for a strong 2020 season.
CHP is thankful to Marion and her husband, Mac Easley, for their hard work over the past years and wish them well in their future endeavors.
For additional updates on CHP, please visit www.coloradohorsepark.com.
The Colorado Horse Park, located in Parker, Colorado, is home to several equestrian events including top hunter/jumper, dressage, and eventing competitions during the spring, summer, and fall seasons.
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The Colorado Horse Park | 7522 South Pinery Drive Parker, CO 80134 | (303) 841-5550 www.coloradohorsepark.com | info@coloradohorsepark.com
The Colorado Horse Park | 7522 South Pinery Drive , Parker , CO 80134
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