Well, we can impute sinister meaning to the land owner and the name, or we can read what has been printed in the programs for years.
In 1998, Glaccum moved the events to Menfelt in Frederick, Maryland while a more permanent site could be constructed in Pennsylvania. That’s where Walker came in. “In 2000 I approached Cuyler Walker about the possibility of using a portion of his property to conduct our trials. We ran our first horse trials at Plantation in the spring of 2001.”
With the move to Plantation came a shift in the name of the 501©(3). “The field was known as Logan’s Field and it also had a woods known as Plantation Woods. So, we changed our name to Plantation Field Equestrian Events, Inc. (PFEE). Since then, we have conducted four recognized events a year (one being [an international]) and three unrecognized events as well as schooling jumper and dressage shows.”
I’m going to guess that Mr. Walker feels that changing the name besmirches his family history as doing so is admitting to a past use that never occurred and obscures why the name was chosen in the first place. Simply my guess. It’s his land and if he wishes to dig in his heels and keep the name, that is his prerogative. He doesn’t have to let anyone do anything on that property at all. My next worry is that it will now be turned into houses, unless it has been preserved in a land trust.
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/vi…blic-relations
The information has been in the programs since at least 2009. Maybe earlier.
I still suspect if it had been quietly discussed this year behind the scenes and more board members who Mr. Walker knew, trusted and respected were persuaded they, in turn, may have been able to persuade him to rename it for 2021. Appealing to his better nature rather than effectively, if not literally saying, “Do this or we will contact the MSM and encourage social media to let loose.”
Or not. I don’t know the guy. But he has every right to change the name or not, as he sees fit.
I hope he softens at least enough to let other groups use it for dog trials, 4H, etc.