I just noticed the USevening website shows both spring and fall HT as cancelled. Anyone know what happened?
I ask in part because I still have the entry credit from last year’s wash-out, and in part because it seemed like they were putting a lot of effort into the facility, new courses, etc. What happened?
Thanks!
Pretty sure it ran in the fall. Eta Sorry I totally misread the OP.
I heard from my trainer that Jim Moore had left his position there and I know he was a major part of the event, but I can’t confirm.
Well that’s a shame … I went to the fall HT the last two years and really enjoyed it. It seemed like an ‘up and coming’ event that was putting an effort into improving courses and such.
Maybe someone else will step in and want to continue to have events there, but it’s probably unlikely with h/j shows being much more lucrative and easier to run. Man, I hate it when we lose events … Especially ones that I would have liked to go back to!
Jim was let go from KF for numerous reasons. I won’t spread gossip, but from what I have heard from reliable sources (not related to Jim, but to the owners themselves and those who got screwed in this process) it wasn’t pretty. Last I heard the owners are considering getting another manager in to run the horse trials. (I told the acting manager of a few names she should contact) The owners DO want to have events there, they just need to find the right trustworthy person to manage them.
That’s really too bad! No idea about the trainer/facility situation but it’s too bad the event is without manager. I really like the local feeling events and was looking forward to going back. I hope there is a way forward now that they have invested so much in the facility.
KF seems to go through managers fairly frequently.
I have called them and was told that the owners are still planning to run the HT without Jim. Apparently there was some confusion over whether Jim or KF owned the rights to the HT. They seem to be very much planning to get both dates back on the calendar. I too have a credit I’d like to use!
I just did a competition search on the USEF web site.
I can not find a 2015 listing, but the 2014 listing has “James Moore” as the licensee.
I hope they do run it. I was one of the unlucky ones who DIDN’T get a phone call, email, or smoke signal the morning of the HT and drove 1.5 hours down there only to have to turn around to go home. I understand s*** happens, but at the very least they could have $&^%ing called.
Jim, as a usef and usea member, has the shows in his name. The issue is compounded by the fact that the owners of Kelly’s Ford wrote the check for the dates. It is all very confusing and I do hope they sort it out as those horse trials were lovely and the property has tons of potential.
[QUOTE=FrittSkritt;8027908]
I hope they do run it. I was one of the unlucky ones who DIDN’T get a phone call, email, or smoke signal the morning of the HT and drove 1.5 hours down there only to have to turn around to go home. I understand s*** happens, but at the very least they could have $&^%ing called.[/QUOTE]
Me too!
I was pretty unhappy about all that. Checked the website which said “still on” dated the previous night before leaving at 430 am. When they turned me around at the gate I suggested they might update that, to which they replied nobody knew how. They called me after I got back home, right around my dressage time.
I still really enjoyed other events there though and want to go back.
I am really sorry to hear about Jim Moore leaving KF and the negativity surrounding that. I have known Jim since he moved here from Colorado and he has been through very tough times. I hope he is able to land on his feet in a new position.
I also really love having Kellys Ford for xc schooling and for the event. Jim has put in lovely xc jumps and really developed it into a first class place for eventers. I sure hope they find a great replacement and are able to continue running the event.
My understanding is that Jim Moore was the licensed organizer for a recognized HT. He is looking at options for moving holding another recognized HT at another place.
KFEC has nobody remotely qualified to serve as an organizer. It does take some skill and experience to run a recognized HT. KFEC certainly can hold an unrecognized HT at their facility. They have a nice flat terrain that attracts lower level eventers. It’s great for novice rider in the starter type divisions.
The remaining assistant trainer is a H/J person and has no experience running a HT. I would be surprised to see even an unrecognized HT there this spring. Maybe a CT.
The whole situation is unfortunate.
IronwoodFarm, I would expect that the owners are recruiting someone to organize and run the horse trials. They have a lovely prelim level xc course so the facility is not limited to the lower levels. They have had some problems with flooding (last spring was awful), but generally, the footing is great and they run a great event. It is one of my favorite local events with tons of smiling volunteers and a generally very positive atmosphere. I would hate to see it disappear.
Sorry Winding Down but I disagree with you completely. The owners have never been supportive of the HTs and are not recruiting an organizer at present. The whole reason there was a HT at KFEC was because Jim Moore wanted to have one. You have to be qualified to act as organizer, not just be a random trainer. Jim Moore, among other things, served on the USEA BOG to 3 years, has level 3 instructor certification and has been involved in organizing HTs for years, first in Colorado and now in Virginia.
As I said before, I think we’ll see the run unrecognized at some point in the future.
Okay, so you must have different information from what I have. I have been told that they are actively recruiting a top organizer to take over… They have invested thousands into their eventing facility, and I am not so sure the owners are not interested in eventing. I have heard informatiaon to the contrary. That being said, I have not spoken personally with the owners about this so I apologize for misinformation if you have.
[QUOTE=IronwoodFarm;8029365]
Sorry Winding Down but I disagree with you completely. The owners have never been supportive of the HTs and are not recruiting an organizer at present. The whole reason there was a HT at KFEC was because Jim Moore wanted to have one. You have to be qualified to act as organizer, not just be a random trainer. Jim Moore, among other things, served on the USEA BOG to 3 years, has level 3 instructor certification and has been involved in organizing HTs for years, first in Colorado and now in Virginia.
As I said before, I think we’ll see the run unrecognized at some point in the future.[/QUOTE]
ROFLMAO. Then have your source explain why they reneged on the entry for the Spring HT donated to the CDCTA Silent Auction. I had to refund it to the bidder as the owners were not holding a HT and not returning any funds.
They are actively looking for someone. I have spoken to the current manager (Beth) about it and put her in contact with people. I received the email they sent to boarders, Beth is acting manager until they find someone to replace Jim. Jim was in charge of all of those silent auction things. The owners probably didn’t know he offered those to the CDCTA. While the owners are not the greatest (and this is known) there was A LOT that went on behind their backs that they were not aware of, and I have a feeling, there is MUCH more than we know about.
If they didn’t want the horse trials (they may not be able to run in the spring but perhaps the fall) WHY would the owners sign up and become USEA members and be in touch with Area 2 and the USEA if they were going to abandon them?
Beats me MLI, but I sure wish the owners were supportive of the donations made from their facility. I am not going to get into management issues, but a stand-up place would have honored the entry or refunded the fee, as it was made by their employee who had the authority to make the donation. It’s not like they haven’t donated entries for years. And if they aren’t paying attention to their business; again, that is a management issue. I’ve had this happen with a couple other entries at other facilities in the past, and every one of them stood behind their donation.
I actually hope the owners get their act together and run a HT. Clearly they can run unrecognized and given that they have an attractive course for the lower levels, they should get entries. Plus, to be perfectly honest, it is a great deal cheaper for the organizer to run unrecognized.
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