Things are a bit dull around here lately. I’m curious everyone, what is your favorite event? Planning ahead to the future, we are starting our plans to build what will hopefully be a Horse Trials at our farm. I would love to hear!
If you are Amercian, which event in the US?
If you are Canadian, which event in Canada?
And others…share with us too!
Tell me all the reasons why this event is your favorite! Share pictures and XC videos if you have any!
Ok, going to reply as a mom of a junior competitor - East Coast USA. We really like events that have all weather footing … so for us, Loch Moy Farm in MD and The Horse Park of NJ stands out, they run on time too, have great food, and courses are fair. There is also water access where trailers park which is a plus (HPNJ). Another venue is Virginia Horse Park for same reasons above bonus is having hotel choices very close by. Loved the food truck options there and the stabling is very nice.
My heart though lies with Plantation Field Horse Trials and Fair Hill HT as they are in our back yard … so we attend those on a regular basis as well as utilize the schooling shows and jump schools there… Very cool that you are thinking of offering an event at your farm! I think having the best footing you can for dressage is very important, sets poeple up for success.
We were able to compete for the first time at the KYHP for AEC’s and had the absolute best time despite some rain our first day.
There is a Facebook page for XC course walks that shows courses from all over which is neat to see. Happy to answer any questions about events we go to, been to a bunch!
Diana
Thank you! I am part of that FB group and actually the same type of page for Ontario events haha.
We have amazing footing, even on grass but we are definitely planning on putting in another large all weather outdoor at the time. We have one now but its not in a great place for hosting events.
In Area VII Aspen farms can not be beat. Beautiful courses, nice dressage arenas and beautiful views.
In Area III I went to a Stable View schooling event last year and wow. One of the best schooling shows I’ve ever been to. It was a bit of a culture shock to get basically permanent stalls vs what most of Area VII gets which are the tents. I can’t wait to go back this month for a schooling show and hopefully later this season for a HT. I’m looking forward to exploring the other venues near me.
Red Hills in Tallahassee. It’s like Rolex for horse trials. Big crowds, vendors, and competitors treated very well. Yes, it’s tent stabling and a “non pro” eventing facility…but they go all out to make it a great experience. Courses are challenging and beautifully built. It’s a very unique event, only prelim and above, but it is a special goal to aim for.
I just moved away from Area VII and I will miss competing at Aspen Farms. But now I live in Area VIII and got to compete at the Kentucky Horse Park for the first time in the fall and that was definitely a bucket list venue. I’m also excited to check out Cobblestone Farm HT in Michigan.
Riding at KHP is a dream of mine!
For one day HT which is what we mostly have in Ontario, is stabling important?
What I like best is a good old fashioned gallopy course. I took my son to the CDCTA horse trials and he said something about the long gallops and I told him that’s how they all used to be. Sure, I like Loch Moy for a lot of reasons, but their XC course just doesn’t give you that same feeling. Being in Area II, we have a lot of good choices so instead of picking my favorite, I’m picking my favorite feature.
I love that too. I find my favs are more old school terrain, big open hay fields of hills and terrain!
My place is a combination of hay fields and woods, and there is some good big hills throughout both. The woods are what I think would be a super cool feature. There is so much potential for working in terrain and having great galloping.
Loch Moy Farm, hands down 
(I’ve asked my family to scatter my ashes on the cross country course and in Lake Earl - with Carolyn‘s permission of course. That’s how much I love the place 
)
Nothing can top Otter Creek Farm in WI for me. Granted, I’m biased since it’s my home event but I’ve been to the KHP and it still doesn’t compare. Otter isn’t the hugest flashiest event but it’s safe, gorgeous, run punctually, the community is fantastic, courses are challenging, footing is top quality, and the grounds are always spotless. I would easily drive 9+ hours to go if I wasn’t close.
Aspen Farms definitely tops the list but the EI events at the WSHP aren’t too shabby either. The courses have gotten better and the terrain is mostly woodlands. They’ve improved the stabling area and added mats to the stalls so makes stripping easy and not picking up gravel. Now with the new enormous covered arena, things are looking up.
Kentucky is a hop, skip and jump for me! (Under 8 hours) I plan on riding at some venues up that direction in the next couple of years.
Have you noticed out here that people won’t go to events over a certain number of hours away? I feel positively spoiled having a venue that has regular HT under 4 hours away.
I wish I could have gotten to EI. It just never worked out for me.
I loved Jockey Club. Felt like a big event with a home town feel. Red Hills is awesome too.
Probably my top three would be MCTA at Shawan Downs, Marlborough and Radnor, not necessarily in that order. Maybe Kelly’s Ford if you count events that aren’t around anymore. I like the gallopy ones where a good jumper can move up.
I loved the old CDCTA venue, beautiful hilltop XC course and you just rolled along. MCTA at Shawan Downs was another huge favorite when I evented.
I love Seneca Valley PC as my home event, but it feels a little too homey you know? I have ridden there so many times it isn’t as special. Though undeniably nice! And I had a blast at Surefire too, the courses were challenging but fun.
I love the Virginia Horse Trials, Lexington VA. This was my first show in a bigger environment and I was awestruck with the business and excitement of the whole weekend. The XC views are gorgeous, the stabling and arenas are nice, and they have Intro - CCI***
They used to have swag for all entrants, too! A jacket, a backpack, etc. Wonder why that stopped a few years ago…
Hotels are about 3 minutes from the horse center, and there is a cute downtown with nice restaurants. Good hiking nearby, for your non-horsey family, too. 
Hi there! My husband and I are the organizers of VHT! Thank you for your kind words! We endeavor to improve our event in any way we can. We loved providing the swag as an extra bonus, unfortunately like many events across the country, COVID hit us financially and we needed to make sure that areas in the budget like cross country jumps and footing weren’t compromised. We are looking forward to getting back to offering our ever popular competitors party and hope to see you back at VHT soon!!
It’s a local unrecognized “mini event” but the Fox Valley Saddle Association puts on a killer show. Fun jumps, really nice people, nice stabling, and electric hookups for campers! If two shows are on the same weekend, I definitely pick FVSA over anything else.
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