United States Eventing Association

Huntington Farm Horse Trials Rolls Out Exciting Improvements and Changes in 2024

Huntington Farm in South Strafford, Vermont, is pleased to announce exciting venue improvements and enhanced experiences for constituents at their 2024 USEA Recognized Horse Trials. These competitions will run July 6-7, 2024, and August 3-4, 2024, and will offer divisions from the Beginner Novice, Novice, Training, Modified, and Preliminary levels. In 2024, renowned cross-country course designer Beth Perkins was brought on to lead the course upgrades and the development of new complexes.

Perkins has a long history with Huntington Farm as her family owned and operated the venue for nearly 20 years, during which time her father served as the cross-country designer. Perkins, a national and FEI-licensed designer, is looking to add modern aspects of today’s sport while also featuring Huntington’s history. The most exciting developments in 2024 are the addition of a new water complex, upgraded galloping lanes, and exceptional land management. 

“I’m very honored to be asked [to design the Huntington course], it really is like going home for me. I’m excited to be back, it’s not a normal course design job; it is something special,” said Perkins. “I want to create a course that I would like to ride, and I want to keep it up to the standard as much as I possibly can. What I think is so special about Huntington is that it is not your run-of-the-mill course. I think it will ask fair questions. Part of the course will be an old-fashioned type of course and then open up into fields and feature more modern-day questions and open galloping type jumps.”

As the sport of eventing has continued to adapt and evolve over the last 10 years, Area I has experienced cancellations of events on the competition calendar due to the loss of privately owned land and financial challenges. In March 2021, Skylar Clemens purchased Huntington Farm with a passion for reinvigorating eventing in Area I. 

“We are deeply invested in making Huntington Farm Horse Trials into destination events in July and August to augment the Area I Calendar. Everyone on the organizing committee is committed to supporting the resurgence of Area I events through best practices, safety measures, and outstanding course design,” said Clemens.

Another main tenet Huntington Farm has prioritized is to provide an outstanding experience for all competitors, owners, sponsors, and volunteers which is being led by deeply experienced leadership and organizing committees co-chaired by Clemens and CaroleAnn "Pinky" Tullar. In addition to cross-country improvements, hospitality and vendor options have been upgraded to create an elite environment for all constituents.

“Having started my career within eventing in Area I, I am extremely excited to be involved with Huntington Farm and their improvements, as it is truly a staple of the eventing calendar,” said Max Corcoran, Huntington Farm HT organizing committee member, and former USEA President.

Entries for the July 6-7 horse trials opened on May 21 and will close on June 18.

Entries for the August 3-4 horse trials will open on June 18 and will close on July 16.

To learn more about the history of the Huntington Farm Horse Trials click here.

To learn more about Sponsorship Opportunities click here.