Hi, there was an older thread that provided some leads but anyone have any new suggestions? Looking for quality xc courses with good footing for a green horse. Thanks in advance.
Check out the NCDCTA calendar for dates- http://ncdcta.org/calendar.html
I’m sure the SCDCTA has something similar.
Portofino is new and up just east of Raleigh, they started running horse trials this year but good footing and fences, great for schooling- http://www.portofinoequestrian.com/
Hillcrest out in Mocksville is pretty nice for babies- http://hillcrestfarms.blogspot.com/
Heather Ridge farm down in Raeford is good for schooling greenies- https://www.heatherridgefarm.org/hrf-shows
Carolina Horse Park offers a good unrecognized series in Southern Pines. Also in that area is Running Start horse trials which is good for the greenies- http://www.runningstarthorsetrials.com/
Hillcrest was my OTTB’s first HT ever. It’s a pretty perfect venue for babies. They take really good care of their footing. Heather Ridge is run really well, but I wasn’t a big fan of the facility. The XC course is way condensed and the footing wasn’t the best (I’d love to board there, though!). Other unrec. HTs are Paradise Farm- absolutely amazing facility with excellent footing in all 3 phases. Jumping Branch is nice as well, but the XC course wraps around the whole facility so I could see a green horse being overwhelmed by that. TTC in Mocksville sometimes has a 2 phase (SJ and XC), but I’ve never been there except for CTs and jumper shows, so I couldn’t tell you anything about their XC course. Running Start in Vass is supposed to be a good starter one, but I’ve never been there either.
I personally think the War Horse series at the Carolina Horse Park is an amazing series of unrecognized events with excellent courses, footing and overall atmosphere. It’s pretty relaxed, especially in the summer time. Lots of greenies and kiddos on ponies. They also give out the absolute best prizes.
Running Start in Vass is another good one although I find those courses to be harder for the green horses…lots of questions that come up rapidly. Heather Ridge is excellent if you have one that needs to just school a bit…their XC course is quite condensed and it would be difficult to get into any kind of rhythm but with one that just needs to trot around and jump the jumps, it’s a good starter course.
Full Gallop Farm
Full Gallop! I love their cross country course - like everywhere in SC, later on in the year the ground can get hard, but I always found that the questions were very appropriate for the level.
Of course, I am biased - I jump-judged XC there WHENEVER I could - it’s a great, fun venue, I love the people (especially the people that volunteer), love watching the horses – oh and, when you volunteer you get a free schooling pass. Win/win for me, I went a few times with a couple of greenbeans when I lived in SC, and then was able to bring my more experienced horse and play around with the Training & Prelim questions.
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In SC, Full Gallop, Paradise, and FENCE all run unrecognized along with Recognized. In NC, Windridge also rusn both. Jumping Branch Farm (SC) was only unRec, but I’m not certain of their future. If me and Sterling make our goal of performing a T3D at SO Eights next year, I may step back from Rec shows all together. Costs outweigh the fun factor and I have no desire to move up levels, score prizes, or feed the professional support USEA(F) provides.
Julie’s one day Event at Jumping Branch is one of the best UnRecs I’ve gone too. She support(ed)(s) Starter to Prelim with fair questions (had been getting a little tougher over time, but not bad) and at a reasonable price.
