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 saw that as well! Yikes.
I do remember wondering when I was there back in 1999 for Pony Club championships how long it would hold up to the pressure of the housing boom in the area.
Maybe a horse-crazy bazillionaire will turn it back to a High Prairie-sort-of-place. I used to board my horse there and it was awesome!
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I have seen/heard an official statement from USEA that Colorado Horse Park is NOT closing, and that the scheduled horse trials WILL happen. I THINK it was in the BOG meeting at the USEA convention.
And yet, locally, the hunter/jumper association is planning contingencies for the loss of the facility. There is discussion as to how to run an event given that the property upon which the XC course resides is owned by the county and NOT COHP. Thus, if the organizer can negotiate directly with the county, then the event may still run even if the property north of the road is sold.
I am very distrusting of what COHP may be telling USEA as they have bailed on Area IX before.
The entire property is on the market for $15 million according to the neighbors in the area.
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[TD=“class: x_editor-text, align: left”] [COLOR=#403F42][COLOR=#005E20]Colorado Horse Park Updates
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[COLOR=#403F42][COLOR=#222222]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 <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Tz7q3IYifMoZt5BRq6-SgvX8id9askfCuc3QYIrzdCkLyV4aTkOSTQpgzcN6TevtqHZeb7BOTWWrXCbQ8FeNDvnrkjEcqexjELKWk2blbE0zdiNMAWQTTh9lVOMjHtm6VfHoEGTqkRU=&c=j6I6_7gmA49MLBHXVoZV7159MAtBh_HZUq20Wxath94xuDLcfcyDvg==&ch=K-fzm8KcYfKcD9stIrdR0h_5v7dxbhGSQ30rkqWtVbmp4d5vVTBf_w==">www.coloradohorsepark.com</a>.
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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Link?
Am I wrong in thinking this is owned by the same Russian mobsters that own Tryon International?
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My understanding is that the same core ownership owns both Tryon and COHP. Mark Bellissimo is the apparent leader of both investment groups. I’ve read that each horse park has a different group name in ownership, but the strategic vision for both parks is coming from the same top management.
The Russian mobster part … really ??? Details please !!! I want to know! :lol: :lol: :lol:
https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/get-know-mark-bellissimo
Bellissimo also bought COTH, and I assume still owns it.
The initial announcement that Tryon and COHP would both be hosts of the AEC’s … but things do seem to be changing regarding those future plans. https://tryon.com/article/tryon-international-equestrian-center-and-the-colorado-horse-park-selected-to-host-american-eventing-championships
What is the source of the information that Colorado Horse Park is for sale? Just “neighbors”? Is it listed? Or a pocket listing, being shopped by private contact?
While I’m a bit surprised that any reporter would publish news that such a significant facility is canceling all events for 2020 without a quote and written announcement from the facility, from the note added to the article link, it sounds as if the reporter thought that they were told this by someone at the park. It wouldn’t be the first time that the left and right hands of COHP are on two different tracks - that was the case long before Bellissimo’s group was there.
I have heard through a reliable source it is for sale. It would not surprise me if it does not last much longer.
USEF doesn’t have the spring event listed. Does anyone know if it is still happening?
Bumping. Any news or updates? The CHJA schedule still doesn’t have any rated CO shows and they’re having a Town Hall meeting the first week in March to discuss the future of H/J shows in CO. I know this is the Eventing forum, but does anyone here have any updates?
The COHP website is useless regarding the future schedule, and news, as it has been since the Bellissimo group took it over a few years ago. They do not seem to comprehend website communication with the public.
The USEA still has the May 30-31 event listed. It is the usual Intermediate, Prelim, and all LL’s. It has traditionally attracted a lot of out-of-state eventers.
https://useventing.com/events-compet…nt?event=17356
From a distance, the question is if this is the usual format with the dressage, show jumping & stabling at the COHP itself, or if someone whipped up arenas and stabling on the cross-country course area across the street (technically, creatively, there is room, but $$$ plus talking the state into it). Does someone local know for sure?
The traditional fall event is not listed. I don’t know when COHP stopped that one.
(Area 9 USEA calendar https://useventing.com/events-compet…alendar?area=9 )
What would help is if the COHP itself would issue another statement with a simple schedule and an explanation of how the COHP is handling the spring event.
COHP - actually, the cross-country course - also had a few schooling days each year, and used to run an unrecognized. Anyone know if that is still going on?
