United States Eventing Association

Property’s Purchase Brings A Greener Future To Galway Downs International Events

Temecula, Calif., Feb. 15, 2011 — Galway Downs organizer Robert Kellerhouse is working closely with Ken and Tina Smith, who purchased the Southern California Equestrian Center in late October of 2010, in preparation for the Galway Downs International Horse Trials on April 1-3.(

“The sale to the Smiths means that we have the ability to look farther down the road than we ever have before—because we finally have stability with an owner who desires to make the property function as an outdoor sporting complex to include equestrian, soccer, polo and other youth sporting events” said Kellerhouse. “We can now make long-term plans with an owner who doesn’t have a desire to build houses on the property. It’s was tough to make plans when the owners wanted to put houses on portions of the cross-country course or where we park the trailers.”

Kellerhouse added, “The new ownership allows me to focus on the really important aspects of running the shows, because I’m not having to come up with a contingency in case they start building, as with previous ownerships." This is the third property owner in the 13 years of Galway Downs international events. "Instead of installing houses, we’re gong to be installing grass fields.”

Unlike the previous owners, the Smiths actually live in Temecula and have raised their five sons there. Ken owns Southwest Traders, a dry goods-distribution firm that’s been headquartered in Temecula for more than 30 years. Ken is a strong supporter of all kinds youth athletics, and he plans to make the grounds a center for them by installing grass athletic fields and making additional improvements that will benefit the horses and riders competing there.

Kellerhouse is busily enacting plans he’s long postponed to improve facilities for both the Galway Downs International Horse Trials and the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event. His plans include numerous ways to accentuate the individual aspects of these two destination events.

“From now on, show jumping will always be on grass and dressage will almost always be on grass,“ he said. For the upcoming Horse Trials, on April 1-3, dressage will be held in the all-weather upper arenas, next to the stable area, while the lower main arena is being seeded with Bermuda grass. For the Three-Day Event, on Nov. 3-6, dressage will held in the newly grass-covered main arena.

At the April 1-3 International Horse Trials, show jumping will be held on the Sycamore grass field between the training track and the stables, site of the 10-minute box during the Three-Day Event. The trade fair will also be located there for the Horse Trials. Show jumping will return to the newly constructed main grass arena for the November 3-6 International Three-Day Event.

The Sycamore grassy area that will be used in April has already been upgraded with a new fence and will have a raised viewing area constructed in time for the International Horse Trials.

Kellerhouse said he plans to keep the Horse Trials dressage in the upper show grounds arenas in the future, while the Three-Day Event dressage will be contested in the main arena.

“I’ve been thinking about this for years, to differentiate the International Horse Trials in the Spring from the International Three-Day Event in the Autumn,” he said. “They’re not the same show, not the same format. You qualify to compete in the Three-Day Event at the Horse Trials. I want riders and spectators to appreciate the fact that they’re not doing the same event just because they’re at Galway Downs.”

Kellerhouse emphasized that the new grass footing will provide excellent stability for the horses. Tons of additional sand will be added to the natural loam footing, and Bermuda grass will be planted on both the soccer fields and in the arenas. “Bermuda grass grows well here. The roots go down about 18 inches, to give it great stability. It will have a root base that will be unbelievable.

"Plus it’s going to be growing in sand, so horses if properly studded, won’t slip on turns or in front of the jumps,” he said.

As an additional way to differentiate the Horse Trials from the Three-Day Event, the international competitors on April 1-3 will ride both their dressage tests and show jumping rounds on Friday and then gallop over Ian Stark’s cross-country course on Saturday. Awards for the International classes will be presented at the gala party on Saturday evening. The same schedule was used in 2010.

The national advanced, intermediate and preliminary divisions will climax their event with show jumping phase on Sunday, while the training and novice divisions tackle the cross-country course.

The Galway Downs International Horse Trials are presented by Professional’s Choice and by Adequan and the USEA Gold Cup Series. The Galway Downs International Horse Trials is one of seven member events of the USEA Gold Cup Series.

Other generous sponsors of the Galway Downs International Horse Trials include: CWD Saddlery, Sunsprite Warmbloods, Voltaire Design, Point Two Air Jackets, Revere Saddlery, Advanced Protection Formula by Auburn Laboratories Inc., Big Horse Feed, Equine Insurance of California, Geranium Street Equestrian, Riding’s Publications Inc., Smartpak Equine, and the California Horse Trader.

General admission for the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event is $8 per day in advance, $10 at the gate. VIP tickets—which include seating in the ringside tent, lunch and a full selection of beverages—are also available for $55 per day in advance. For advance reservations, go to www.galwaydowns.com <http://www.galwaydowns.com/> .

For more information on the Galway Downs Horse Trials, visit their website (www.galwaydowns.com) or call 951-303-0405. To learn more about eventing, visit the U.S. Eventing Association’s website (www.useventing.com).