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 coveted Spirit Award, which originated from the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship and quickly became as important as the competition itself, will be returning this year with double the excitement at the 2024 USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships! With the two program championships merging for the first time, the organizing team at Stable View is committed to making the weekend an unforgettable experience for these middle school, high school, and undergraduate students. Separate Spirit Contests will be offered for each program , and Stable View has generously donated perpetual trophies for the two contest champions. The 2024 USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Championships will be held at the Stable View Local Charities H.T. on May 4-5, 2024 in Aiken, SC. Click here to learn more and prepare to enter on opening day tomorrow, Tuesday, March 19!
Sometimes all it takes is a little luck on your side to make your dreams come true. We recently asked our USEA membership to share why they feel so lucky to be partnered with the horses they compete with, and we received over 100 heartwarming stories! We compiled some of our favorites below in celebration of today’s luck-themed holiday.
With Paris Olympic team selection this summer as a big goal, Liz Halliday headed out onto Ian Stark’s CCI4*-S cross-country course today at the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International hoping to make the time with Miks Master C and show off a smooth round. After leading the division from day 1’s dressage on a 22.5, Halliday was able to accomplish both things and win aboard Ocala Horse Properties’ and Deborah Palmer’s 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding (Mighty Magic x Qui Luma CBF).
The standings after today’s CCI4*-S show jumping at the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International shuffled with 14 double-clear rounds out of 35 to start, but Liz Halliday stayed right where she was at the top of the leaderboard aboard Miks Master C.