After 22 years of hosting and organizing the Copper Meadows Horse Trials on the outskirts of Ramona, California, the Hoffos family has announced the official retirement of their recognized competitions on their 65-acre farm.
"It is with sadness, but also a bit of relief, that we have decided to cancel the Copper Meadows recognized horse trials indefinitely," shared Taren Hoffos. "Our team has enjoyed serving the eventing community for over 20 years. Thank you to the riders who supported us for so many years! Unfortunately, the cost of running these events has proved to be unsustainable, and we need to do what is best for our facility and for our family. We will continue to offer schooling, clinics, unrecognized events, and will of course see all our wonderful friends at other Area VI events."
Taren has been involved with the Copper Meadows Horse Trials from day one after her parents, Robin and Carolyn Hoffos, purchased the Copper Meadows property in 1999 and built the farm from the ground up to provide the necessary infrastructure to host their first even in 2000. While her first job at the horse trials was as concession stand operator, Taren took over the day-to-day operations of the boarding and training facility on the farm as well as the organizational efforts of the horse trials in 2010.
The eventing community will undoubtedly miss the hospitality of the Hofos family in sharing their beautiful California facility with so many riders of all levels over the years.
Read more about the Copper Meadows Horse Trials here.
The USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) has initiated a renewed focus on the diverse challenges coaches in various regions of the country may be facing. To this end, the program is in the process of enlisting representatives in each of the 10 USEA areas to help guide the program as warranted for the unique needs of each specific area.
The United States Eventing Association (USEA) has opened nominations for the annual appreciation awards through Oct. 29. This is an opportunity for the sport to recognize those horses and riders who excelled in eventing throughout the year. It is also an opportunity to recognize and honor the very important people who have served the sport tirelessly both in a non-riding capacity and riding capacity during their golden years.
Anticipation for the 2024 USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship and inaugural USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) Championship is growing, and the host venue, Stable View, is up for the task of making both events an unforgettable experience for all involved. For the first time, the Intercollegiate and IEL program championships will be hosted on the same weekend at the Stable View H.T. in Aiken, South Carolina, on May 4-5, 2024, creating greater unity between the programs and demonstrating a clear pipeline of participation in the sport from grade school through college and beyond.
The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has made five rule changes which will go into effect October 1, 2023. Familiarize yourself with these rule changes below to make sure you are in compliance before heading out for your next event.