Aug 24, 2017

USEA Events A-Z: Chardon Valley Horse Trials

By Jessica Duffy - USEA Staff
Photo courtesy of Randy Pielemeier.

The Chardon Valley Horse Trials in Decatur, Michigan (Area VIII), hosts one USEA recognized event every fall and offers divisions for Starter through Training level.

Chardon Valley Horse Trials has been on the USEA recognized event calendar since 2015, but the history behind the event began nearly 10 years ago. In 2008, Pat Turck and Jim Lavaglia began to develop their property, Chardon Valley Farm, into an equestrian facility. Randy and Kitty Pielemeier, who now serve as the organizing team behind the Chardon Valley Horse Trials, moved their horses to Chardon Valley Farm in 2009. Randy has been building cross-country jumps since he was just 12 years old, and has built and designed courses at several other venues over the years. With his help, a schooling cross-country course began to take shape at Chardon Valley.

In 2013, Randy and Kitty moved to the property adjacent to Chardon Valley Farm, and with their only child Katherine out of the house attending college, found that they had time to pursue other interests. The pair had experience with organizing competitions, having orchestrated a variety of dressage, hunter, and unrecognized eventing activities since 1992. “With urging from Margaret Spencer, long-time eventer and trainer in southwestern Michigan, the course was expanded from a schooling course to a competition course,” said Randy, “along with significant financial support of the Chardon Valley Farm to build the more expensive questions.” With a competition-ready cross-country course, Chardon Valley made the switch from schooling venue to competition venue.

Southwest Michigan has few facilities that cater to eventers, and Randy and the team at Chardon Valley have made it their mission to provide a quality venue for eventers in the area. “A variety of local trainers have been able to build their eventing clientele using our facilities for schooling,” he commented. “Chardon Valley also runs a Derby in July which allows schooling the day prior to help introduce local riders to the sport. Our goal is to promote eventing with easy access to a quality course.”

One of the Training level cross-country jumps constructed from lumber found on the property. Photo courtesy of Randy Pielemeier.

In addition to all that Chardon Valley does for eventing in southwest Michigan, the event also donates a portion of the annual proceeds from the event to Decatur Human Services, which provides emergency services including food, clothing, utilities, fuel, and medicine to the needy in Decatur and Hamilton townships.

The eventing community in southwest Michigan might be small, but that makes for a tight-knit team that pitches in and does whatever it takes to makes the event happen. The Chardon Valley Horse Trials team is made up of Randy and his wife Kitty, their daughter Katherine, property owners Pat Turck and Jim Lavaglia, Michelle and Isaac Newell, Kim Weldy, and Stephanie White. Chardon Valley also has a dedicated team of volunteers and sponsors who help make the events happen.

Kitty Pielemeier, Kim Weldy, Michelle Newell, Isaac Newell, and Stephanie White all pitched in to help paint show jumps for the event. Photo courtesy of Randy Pielemeier.

Chardon Valley Farm sits on a gorgeous 250 acres of woods and hay fields. The facility provides easy access for all three phases, with two sand dressage arenas, show jumping on grass, and a cross-country course that winds in and out of the woods around the property. “The cross-country course is a little old school,” said Randy, “with lots of fences built of the abundant logs available on the property. Our goal is to have an inviting course to train horses and riders to enjoy the sport I have loved since I was 12 years old. Yes, I am now 52!”

Randy’s favorite part of any event is watching the horses and riders jumping around the cross-country course, as well as seeing people he may only see once a year when they come to compete at Chardon Valley. “Come see us once, I guarantee you will want to come back!”

The USEA is profiling the history behind all USEA recognized events in the USEA Events A­-Z series.

Jul 03, 2024 AEC

Two Months Until the 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds

The countdown to the 2024 United States Eventing Association (USEA) American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds is getting shorter and the tentative schedule is officially set! For the second year in a row, the AEC returns to the iconic Kentucky Horse Park from August 27 through September 1 and will offer 26 divisions, including brand new Starter divisions and all levels of recognized evening up through the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final.

Jul 02, 2024 Educational Activities

USEA Educational Activity Highlight: Sherwood Forest Hunter Pace | Sherwood Oregon | July 13, 2024

What’s a Hunter Pace? The Sherwood Forest Equestrian Center's Hunter Pace is a cross-country-style course around Sherwood Forest over various natural obstacles/terrain. The course ends with a final treat for riders to take in stunning views of Mt. Hood with a loop through the old Far Hill Farms field. The beginning of the course will first start with a warm-up loop around show jumping obstacles in the outdoor ring at Sherwood Forest and then riders will continue directly onto the course. Sign up as a solo rider, pair, or team.

Jul 02, 2024 Profile

No Longer Dreaming: Claire Allen's Goal of Qualifying for USEF Eventing Young Rider Championship is Now Reality

Claire Allen remembers when she was 11 years old, having just made the switch from the hunter/jumper ring to three-day eventing. She told her new eventing trainer that her goal was to one day compete in the United States Equestrian Federation’s Eventing Young Rider Championships.

Jul 01, 2024 Competitions

Alliston’s Busy Weekend, Braitling’s Reuniting with Five-Star Mount, & Kalkman’s Advanced Victory Highlight Twin Rivers Summer H.T.

As he was finishing tacking up his horse in preparation to navigate the cross-country course at the 2024 Twin Rivers Summer Horse Trials, James Alliston expressed concern about navigating the 101 Freeway. That’s because as soon as he crossed the finish line aboard Intermediate level winner Addyson (Ampere x Nickerbocker) at 10:38 a.m. on Saturday—his fifth cross-country round of the morning with three at Preliminary and two at Intermediate—the West Coast-based five-star rider had to drive 185 miles on the 101 Freeway from Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California, to San Francisco International Airport to catch a 4:35 p.m. flight to Frankfurt, Germany.

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 Shockwave of the USEA

Official Horse Wear of the USEA