For the first time in Area VI, Beginner Novice through Intermediate Championships will be held at one venue. This September 10-12, Copper Meadows Eventing in Ramona, Ca will be host to riders competing for the title of Area VI
Champion.
Show organizers and owners of Copper Meadows, James Atkinson and Taren Hoffos, have a lot to be excited about with their upcoming Event: this is their first year running the Horse Trials since taking over operations from Carolyn Hoffos, who has run Events for 10 years. “It is very exciting to be inheriting this Event, with its great track record. Carolyn and Robin have put so much work into this facility and we hope to carry on the tradition of offering excellent Events to competitors,” says Taren. Another reason to be excited about the September Event - prize money. “For the first time in this Eventʼs history we are able to offer prize money to our riders, which is something we have been wanting to do since the Event first opened. With the help of our sponsor, that dream has been realized,” Taren adds.
California Sheet Metal has signed on to sponsor the Area VI Championships with a prize money sum of $10,000, which will break down into $1,100 per Championship division. Prize money will be awarded at every level, another goal for James and Taren. “Lower level Eventing has the biggest population of riders, so why shouldnʼt they get the perks that upper level Eventers get?” points out James. “Beginner Novice riders are just as important to our sport.” Along with prize money, the Event will be awarding riders with prizes from Fleeceworks, Inc., Professionals Choice, bridles from Stubben Saddlery, and other prizes from local tack stores.
In the works for the Event are all new cross-country courses, for both the Championship divisions and the Horse Trials divisions; course designer Tremaine Cooper will draft the Intermediate course, and James Atkinson will be designing the Preliminary through Beginner Novice courses. Another feature that Atkinson and Hoffos are pleased to use for the show is their bi-level stadium arena. “It was so fun to use this arena for the June Horse Trials. The courses were designed by Jose Nava, and were long and derby like. It is a feature that not many other Events have, and we are proud of it,” says Taren of the new multi level arena. It is also a great place to watch the action of show jumping, she says, as spectators can stand on the upper level and see the entire course. Jose Nava will be back for the September show to design the challenging courses.
For more information regarding qualifications, or with any questions, please email Taren at [email protected], or call 858-610-1693. Visit the website, www.coppermeadows.com to see the facility.
Eventers who are new to the sport may feel a little overwhelmed by the often-misunderstood world of saddle fitting. Riders are often bombarded with information from peers online or self-described experts, putting them at risk of following bad advice related to equipment that impacts horse welfare perhaps more than any other piece of tack. Finding a qualified expert to answer these questions is crucial. Who better to turn to than both a qualified Master Saddle Fitter and a fourth-generation saddle designer to answer some of these questions?
Did you know that the USEA Foundation awards over 150 grants each year to deserving individuals who are involved in the sport of eventing? With grants that assist riders with accomplishing their competition goals, grants geared toward licensed officials, grants that are specific to continuing education for coaches, grants that assist competitions with obtaining frangible technology, and so much more, there really is a grant opportunity available to almost anyone!
With the start of the New Year just days away, now is the time to consider how your actions can have a positive impact on the sport of eventing in 2025. Each and every member of the eventing community has an important role to play in ensuring the sport continues to grow and thrive. From fostering educational opportunities to supporting grassroots initiatives and participating at all levels of the sport, there are so many ways to get involved.
Ride iQ’s popular “Ask An Expert” series features professional advice and tips from all areas of the horse industry. One of the most-downloaded episodes is an expert session with Peter Gray, an accomplished dressage judge and Olympic eventer. He has recently judged at events like the five-star at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and he served on the ground jury at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Pratoni, Italy. His background as a competitor in the Olympic Games riding for Bermuda and as a coach and selector for the Canadian eventing team adds depth to his understanding of the sport.