USDF Finals is moving for 2025. But not very far

[oldernewbie]

And there’s one other point that the Arab people grappled with over and over when trying to do bi-coastal nationals - any decent show facility does not, repeat does not, want to host every other year shows. That’s true of WEC, it’s true of KHP, and I’m sure is true of many large sites on the west coast. They often can’t find a show that fills in for when the show is on the other coast. Arab sport horse nationals was able to do it for a while with a show facility in Idaho. I guess that’s closer than Ohio (?) but it’s still not what anyone would call close to the west coast. And the facility was considered not so great. So is it a wild conjecture that the west coast show facilities don’t bid because they don’t want a major show every other year? I know WEC doesn’t.

The show facilities closer to the center of the country like Oklahoma City and Tulsa are booked solid during the fall. I have been to Oklahoma City for Morgan nationals and they just don’t have the rings to hold a big dressage show. I don’t know about Tulsa - they have a lot of rings but whether they are good enough for a championship dressage show I can’t say.

The true geographic center of the lower 48 is somewhere in Kansas. I don’t know of a showgrounds there - think we can talk the Roberts into building a WEC - Kansas?

[enjoytheride]

There were many discussions about this! It seemed like the only facilities that the west coast people were interested in were in CA.

It was the bid prices/lack of bid prices, and facilities wouldn’t accept an every other year contract. Competitors always thought otherwise of course.

[mvp]

Show jumping was at Santa Anita.

[libgrrl]

I was there!! I used to hack my jumper out to Fairbanks while they were building the cross country course too. Also recognize that I’m derailing the conversation, so carry on!!

[atlatl]

@mvp

Show jumping was at Santa Anita.

Thanks for the correction

[Zevida]

@enjoytheride

There were many discussions about this! It seemed like the only facilities that the west coast people were interested in were in CA.

It was the bid prices/lack of bid prices, and facilities wouldn’t accept an every other year contract. Competitors always thought otherwise of course.

I could be wrong but I don’t think there are facilities large enough to host a show of this size on the west coast but not in California. But I’m not familiar with Arizona facilities.

On the every other year CDS has managed to figure it out - their championships + the regional championships rotate between “north” and south every year which means they have every other year contracts with those facilities. I also think a facility would take a multi year contract of 2-3 years, and after never being on the west coast feels like 2-3 years on the west coast wouldn’t be unfair. It looks like this WEC contract is only for 2 years.

Eventing managed to figure it out - the AEC are here next year.

[Mardi1]

@rothmpp

“the three-day event took place over five days, because the dressage and show jumping were held at Santa Anita racetrack in Arcadia, Ca., sort of north and east of downtown L.A. The cross country for the Olympic three-day took place at Fairbanks Ranch in Rancho Sante Fe, at a site that was destined to be a golf course after the games, just outside of Del Mar, Ca”

The Fairbanks Ranch Country Club is still there just a few miles east of Del Mar, and is adjacent to Evergate Stables’ large west coast facility, which is approx, 220 acres. Most of it is flat open land, with some barns, arena, and turnouts.
The Gates bought the property 10 years ago from Jenny Craig, and at the time said the goal was to create a show venue for h/j. Although a show venue hasn’t been completed yet, they’ve done a lot of work grading and improving access to the open land.
If there is one thing that cross country needs, it’s land. Wouldn’t it be something if the 2028 Olympic cross country competition was held next door to the 1984 Olympics country club/golf course location ?

[Peggy]

Everything was at Santa Anita except for the cross-country portion of eventing.

The awards for the individual (prettty sure it was individual and not team). show jumping were at the Coliseum as part of the closing ceremony as per tradition at the time. I think they were on borrowed horses.

Modern pentathlon was at Coto de Caza.

[sascha]

Since every other year format came up, I’ll throw another possibility into the mix.

2 shows each year (east and west) 1 week apart, alternating which coast goes first each year. This is the way Canadians used to be done. 100% fair? No, but it sure cut travelling down except for judges, and imo, it was fair enough.

[MHM]

@Peggy

Everything was at Santa Anita except for yhe cross-country portion of eventing.

Interesting, thanks.

Coincidentally, or maybe not, I just saw a press release about the Split Rock show jumping tour at Santa Anita this week, which mentioned the history of holding the Olympics there in 1984. So I wonder if this is part of a bid to hold the Olympic horse sports there again in 2028.

[clanter]

@oldernewbie

I have been to Oklahoma City for Morgan nationals and they just don’t have the rings to hold a big dressage show.

Oklahoma City has been completely rebuilt for 2025, this last year was the last in the old colosseum. Numerous upgrades to the stabling are being done. But as a dressage venue, it would be had pressed to have the number rings needed indoors.

As for being booked, yes pretty for ever

Also the Dickies Arena in Forth Worth is nearly booked out forever

Tremendous investments of Public money into a site for the “wealthy” to have fun and games

As for having this in California are there now mandated State stabling Laws that require some pretty hefty space requirements for each horse confined?

[Silverbridge]

“As for having this in California are there now mandated State stabling Laws that require some pretty hefty space requirements for each horse confined?”

No.

[Mondo]

I think it’s funny that so many are digging in SO hard about the idea of having the Finals on the west coast. Why is that? Because you can’t stand the thought of the extra stress on your horses due to the long travel? Because of the extra expense of going that far, taking more time to travel to/from? It just doesn’t sound fair, does it? Well, now you know how we feel. If you think the dressage scene is scanty here on the left side, you are sadly mistaken. We have a large number of Olympians, WEG alumni, and others. We have a winter circuit, just as northeasters have in FL. It’s a big country and it just isn’t right that the east half is given priority.

I know a very successful Arab trainer here locally (PNW) who takes a number of horses to Ohio SHN every year and always does well. They don’t complain about the distance, but you can bet your sweet arse that if that show was held closer to home they would be thrilled. Some of their clients can’t afford to make the trip every year, even though they qualified.

[SillyHorse]

A gentle reminder that Ohio and Kentucky are not on the east coast. They are several hundred miles west.

[Mondo]

LOL I know where they are SillyHorse. The fact remains that they are in the eastern half of the country. Ohio abuts Pennsylvania. That’s hardly central.

[SillyHorse]

@Mondo

Ohio abuts Pennsylvania. That’s hardly central.

It also abuts Indiana.

I’m trying to point out that those who are complaining are mostly suggesting venues that are on the west coast, not several hundred miles inland.

[atlatl]

@SillyHorse

A gentle reminder that Ohio and Kentucky are not on the east coast. They are several hundred miles west.

OK, how about east of the Mississippi then?

[oldernewbie]

During the time when the Arabian sport horse nationals people were trying to do bicoastal, the east coast venues were in North Carolina and the Virginia Horse Park. That’s still a haul (like 8-9 hours) for those of us in Ohio and points west. LA to the site in Idaho (Nampa) was 13-14 hours for LA/San Diego. So even in the bicoastal days, the show sites weren’t exactly close to the majority of people.

I think having East Nationals and West Nationals is the closest we will come to solving this problem or…

It’s 21 hours from San Diego to Lebanon KS (geographic center of US) and 13 hours from Columbus OH to Lebanon KS. I’m telling you, get on the horn to the Roberts and ask them to build another WEC. We can all be inconvenienced equally then. There are only 182 people there so we would probably a welcome, though rather underserved, addition.

[Peggy]

@MHM

@Peggy

Everything was at Santa Anita except for yhe cross-country portion of eventing.

Interesting, thanks.

Coincidentally, or maybe not, I just saw a press release about the Split Rock show jumping tour at Santa Anita this week, which mentioned the history of holding the Olympics there in 1984. So I wonder if this is part of a bid to hold the Olympic horse sports there again in 2028.

I showed there this week! Would 100% show again next year. They need to de-clutter the jumper 2 warmup a bit, but that’s my only complaint.

Great WC Qualifier class. last nite. They have the contract for the WC qualifier for the next three years.

[Absolut_Equestrian]

While I too wish we had Championships on the West coast, the move to WEC and the possibility of everything being inside would make me more optimistic about traveling to championships there.

I love the KHP and have spent time living in Lexington, but have now been based in SoCal for many years. I no longer even have the appropriate wardrobe for showing outdoors in KY on a cold day in November. Things like heavier blankets for my horse, insulated gloves, and heavier jacket(s) add up quickly on top of the $10k+ it would cost just to get my horse and I there.

No one can convince me that a fit, athletic and freshly clipped horse used to going in 60+ degree temeratures is going to perform the same way when suddenly showing outside in cold and windy conditions. Having everything indoors/climate controlled might help level the playing field a bit.