I don’t know the entire story, but it looks like there was a former horse trial on this property and when ownership changed it ended, now the jumps are gathered up and possibly set to be destroyed.
On of the largest and most prestigious events was held there. The Maui Jim Horse Trials along with the Wayne-DuPage HT. The AECs were the held there in their first cycle after their creation.
I competed up to Intermediate there and was intending my first Advanced on that course, it was so inviting and open. When Katie Lindsay retired there was just no person with the personality and drive to keep those going, it seems. I also know the change in the owners was also part of the issue.
I looked at thosepictures. I remember jumping a few of those tables. The open arch log fence in the second picture brought back a wonderful memory. Some pictures of some of it
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Linn Lowber Greenman "I’m surprised at the interest in these jumps. Can I see a show of hands from people posting here who EVER helped build, repair, move, or decorate these jumps? Or volunteered to do anything for these events? Very few hands are in the air. I am sincerely grateful for those that helped (BB, MF). “2 horrid people” are NOT responsible for the demis of Area 4. One of them has been an organizer since 1986. Have you? One huge reason for disappearing events is the lack of volunteers. The same few dedicated, wonderful people cannot carry the entire load. It’s exhausting and they eventually give up. Multiple clinics and schooling days were offered but were canceled for lack of entries. Did ONE person ever approach the organizers about taking over? No. The last HT was almost a dozen years ago, and some of the jumps haven’t even been moved since 2009. Wood rots. How do you SAFELY plan to load heavy, rotting jumps on a flatbed? Some of the bigger jumps weigh well over 1000 pounds. Do you realize the huge liability problem? It’s not as easy as you think. It is very sad to see the end of an area, but all things do end. Perhaps you could appreciate everything that was provided to Area 4 for so very many years. The organizers have well earned their “retirement.” I think they have also earned your thanks.
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Wayne-Dupage Hunt Club, I have wonderful memories of HT’s riding thru those woods, especially with Katie LIndsay and Joan Hamill. Two full blown characters. Joan shouting Atta Boy! and Whoopee! out on course. Katie and her dogs. The Davidson clinics; the 1978-9 ? Olympic selection with Jack LeGoff and his mega personality - yelling at Olympic level riders "Don’t be a pass-‘enger’: in his thick accent. It was a simpler time. Maybe just because I was young and naive. Wow I’d love a piece of that wood to woodburn the name and hang in our barn.
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I know! It would be wonderful to have some of those classic fences to still jump over. Part of eventing history and part of my/our history.
The story on the 5th picture I posted. If you zoom in, you will see a tiny pink mouse stapled to the center of the fence. It was Katie’s commentary about the wildly sculpted fences that were coming into fashion. 
I will love that jump until I die.
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I stand behind every statement that I have made on this controversy.
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Not sure who you are on FB. I posted this because it seemed like an awful shame to let the fences be destroyed. I’m not sure why that is a controversy. People want to save the jumps. That seems like something people can get behind.
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I used to love working those events! One of the things i missed the most when we moved away. We were so lucky to have it available to school over for so long. When was the last HT held there?
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The picture with the dog is particularly poignant. All the pics of the jumps are like looking at pictures of ghosts and remind me of the outside hunter course I rode as a young teenager. Long long gone long ago.
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I rode my first novice there in 1998, placed 4th at Area 4 training championship in 1999 on a 15h foundation bred QH; my first prelim there in 2001; first intermediate in 2003; won my first intermediate there in 2006; and did my first Advanced in 2007. I knew the organizers at both events and my family volunteered at WDP HT for years. Losing Maui Jim and WDP was a huge hit for the midwest and upper levels in particular. So many memories.
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Thanks for the memories! I used to braid Tiger for Mrs. Hamill for the Dunham Woods hunt shows etc. in the early 90’s. On the ground she looked like an 80 year old lady. On her horse, she looked no older than 50. She was my role model. I used to board at Dunham Woods and know those trails so well!
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Katie and Joan were awesome. Joan was a force of Nature
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LOL, I used to teach there! Worked there until about 2003. I am sure I know you!!
I co owned a little grey Mare named Liz…
Loved Wayne! Have a VHS of running Prelim there. So much fun!
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do remember you! I believe Audrey was the name of the other owner.
I was your trainer! Lynda
Yes! Audrey and I are still friends although Lizzy passed many years ago on my farm in Indiana. Thanks for bringing back so many wonderful memories!
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So nice to connect with you! I almost never look at the eventing page, so this was a happy accident!
