Jan 29, 2022

Saying Goodbye to the Great Groton House Farm Horse Trials

By Meagan DeLisle - USEA Staff
Jim Stamets and Hat Trick at the 1995 Groton House Farm Horse Trials. Cindy Arendt Photo.

Groton House Farm in Hamilton, Massachusetts, owned by the Winthrop family, has undoubtedly made its mark on the sport of eventing in America having hosted horse trials for many decades. With the first dating back to the late 1950s, even before the existence of the United States Combined Training Association (USCTA, now USEA), many of eventing’s greatest horse and rider combinations have galloped across the grounds at Groton House. It has been a superb run, but longtime organizer Ann Getchell (a member of the Winthrop family) and the team behind Groton House Farm Horse Trials have decided to retire the event.

“Sadly, having had to cancel twice in the past two years due to the pandemic, and facing an uncertain and in any case limited future, we have concluded that the time has come for Groton House to call it a day. I don't think any of us contemplated the end until fairly recently, but the pandemic has only hastened the inevitable. None of us are getting any younger, and nothing lasts forever,” Getchell shared with the USEA.

Ann Getchell, photo courtesy of Ann Getchell.

“We have had a great run,” she continued. “Thanks to all the people including volunteers, competitors, officials, and farm and logistic support personnel who have made it happen for so long. The game may have changed over the years and we may have been old-fashioned, but I like to think we always did it right: the phases in the right order, courses that actually went across the country, and that glorious victory gallop at the end. We will miss it. Thanks everybody for your loyalty, your help, and your friendship.”

Groton House’s history started with unrecognized events in the 1950s followed by the Groton Horse Three-Day Event. In 1978 the local Pony Club organized the Eastern New England Pony Club Rally at Groton House, in addition to an open horse trial. They never anticipated those early beginnings with only 50 competitors to grow as rapidly as it did. By the mid-1980s, it took two consecutive weeks to accommodate the demand. Groton House saw competitors traveling in from all over the East Coast, eastern Canada, and beyond to compete on the farm. Divisions included Novice to Advanced with over 600 entries and a waiting list at every level. The pinnacle came in the late 1990s when Groton House was chosen as an observation trial for the Atlanta Olympic Team in 1996 and was a mandatory outing for the Pan American Games team in 1999.

The water complex at Groton House Farm with routes for all levels. Jacquelyn Littlewood Photo.

In the late 2000s, Groton House returned to its roots as a single weekend horse trials. That however didn’t diminish the ambiance of the full weekend experience for its competitors and spectators from gatherings around the picnic tables in stabling eating fried chicken to the extravagant victory gallop celebrations.

The community will undoubtedly miss competing across the stunning grounds at Groton House and the hospitality of the Winthrop family in sharing their working horse farm with eventers, from juniors, novice riders, to international competitors. The USEA thanks Ann Getchell, the organizing team at Groton House, the lifelong volunteers, and all who made Groton House such a special place to compete for decades.

Read more about Groton House Horse Trials here.

Mar 17, 2025 News

Eventing 101: Reading the USEA Event Omnibus

One of the most important things to do before hitting "Submit" on your horse trial entry form is to review the event's Omnibus details on the USEA Calendar. Each event will have its own listing which outlines everything you need to know about the competition beforehand from entry information, who the officials are, what levels will be offered, what you can expect from the cross-country course, and much more.

Mar 16, 2025 News

Winning with Horses

Proper conditioning is a very important factor in getting the most out of a competition horse. There are two elements to fitness—cardiovascular and musculoskeletal. They are equally important. Both are ideally developed through long slow distance work (LSD).

Mar 15, 2025 News

Brannigan is Celebrating Her Moment with FE Lifestyle at SRF Carolina International CCI4*-S

For some riders, it’s easy to miss the moments in between the big goals like a championship or a long format event, but Jennie Brannigan is savoring her moment today at the Setters' Run Farm Carolina International CCI4*-S, where she took home the win on Tim and Nina Gardner’s FE Lifestyle.

Mar 14, 2025 News

Artist Gives His Heart and Soul at SRF Carolina International CCI4*-S

Riders in the CCI4*-S at the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International CCI4*-S were in for a change this afternoon as Brody Robertson made his show jumping course design debut in the class and built a challenging track that shuffled the top 10.

Official Corporate Sponsors of the USEA

Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA

Official Feed of the USEA

Official Saddle of the USEA

Official Equine Insurance of the USEA

Official Forage of the USEA

Official Supplement Feeding System of the USEA

Official Competition & Training Apparel of the USEA

Official Horse Boot of the USEA

Official Shock Wave of the USEA

Official Horse Wear of the USEA