Nov 02, 2017

USEA Events A-Z: Colorado Horse Park Horse Trials

USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

The Colorado Horse Park (CHP) in Parker, Colorado (Area IX) hosts three USEA recognized events per year. In June CHP hosts CCI*/2* and CIC2* divisions as well as horse trials, and Advanced Trials in August. CHP is also the host of the Area IX leg of the Charles Owen Technical Merit series.

Eventing at The Colorado Horse Park (CHP), formerly known as “High Prairie Farms”, began in the early 1990s with Helen Krieble’s purchase of the property. In the beginning, Krieble tasked Judith Burk to head a team and host the first High Prairie Farms Horse Trials. The team was comprised of Competition Manager, Nancy Mitchell, Course Designer, Andrew Popeil, Course Builder, Paul Popiel, Susan and Dick Farmer of Abby Ranch, Mike and Kit Strang of Strang Ranch, and several others.

A team of individuals, including Judith Burk and Nancy Mitchell, began the mission to expand competitive combined training in Colorado, and felt that it was an incredible platform for Young Riders to gain valuable experience in attempt to qualify for high caliber championship events following their graduation from the Pony Club ranks. Helen Krieble had always been an advocate of Young Rider development, which initially encouraged her to host FEI and national level eventing competitions and later the North American Junior/Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) in 2008 at CHP. The NAJYRC later returned to CHP again in 2016.

The early days of eventing at the Colorado Horse Park. Photo courtesy of the Colorado Horse Park.

Eventing at CHP entered into a new era in 2006 as David O’Connor transformed eventing at CHP by upgrading the cross-country course and footing. At the time, O’Connor hired Deeda Randall as Competition Manager and Greg Schlappi as Course Builder. Over the next nine years, leading up to the purchase of CHP in December 2014 by Mark Bellissimo and the Colorado Equestrian Partners, CHP evolved into the premier eventing competition facility in the Rocky Mountains.

At the helm presently is Vivien VanBuren as Organizer and James Atkinson as Course Designer and Course Builder. VanBuren and Atkinson learned from Schlappi, Randall, and O’Conner over the years and continue to be catalysts for the CHP’s eventing growth.

VanBuren and Atkinson are now guided by Meg Krueger, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Michael Stone, President of The Colorado Horse Park. The facility, equipped with over 300 acres of equestrian property and leased Douglas County open space, boast seven all-weather competition arenas, as well as a cross-country competition course equipped with all of the latest in eventing safety technology through the Advanced level.

White Fence Photography Photo courtesy of the Colorado Horse Park.

CHP hosts three eventing competitions year-round. In June the venue features the annual CCI*/CCI2*/CIC2* competition welcoming riders from all over North America. The event schedule continues in August with the Advanced Horse Trials, during which CHP hosts its annual Family Festival inviting the community onto the cross-country course to experience the action live. The competitions finish in September with a compelling national level event, which featured a unique Eventing Derby for the first time in 2017.

The unrated Eventing Derby, which acted as a hybrid eventing and show jumping competition, was well received by competitors both originating from the eventing and show jumping disciplines. The Eventing Derby also offered an opportunity competitors entered in the September Horse Trials the opportunity to school specific areas of the competition course. The success of the inaugural event has solidified the Eventing Derby’s place on the CHP events calendar in 2018 and beyond.

Eventing competitors travel to Colorado to enjoy the sport, the beautiful state, and to engage in top competition. This is the foundation of CHP eventing competitions and these tying themes will continue to expand as CHP continues its upward trajectory of growth.

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

Dec 11, 2024 Convention

Fast Facts: 2024 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention

Say hello to Seattle, USEA members! The 2024 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention gets underway tomorrow and features four full days of educational seminars, committee meetings, and social gatherings all surrounding the sport of eventing! This year’s Convention takes place in Seattle, Washington, at The Westin Seattle from Dec. 12-15. Check out all of the items on this year's agenda that you won't want to miss!

Dec 10, 2024 Eventing News

USEF Announces 2025 Eventing Pathway Program Lists

The U.S. Equestrian Federation is pleased to announce the Eventing Pathway Program Lists for 2025, including the Elite, Pre-Elite, Development, and Development 25 Programs.

Dec 09, 2024 Eventing News

RevitaVet Returns as Title Sponsor of 2024 USEA Young Rider of the Year Leaderboard

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is pleased to announce the continued partnership with RevitaVet and Tom Neuman to provide the 2024 USEA Young Rider of the Year with one RevitaVet system and prize pack.

Dec 08, 2024 Interscholastic

Fall Season Crowns Over a Dozen New IEL Team Challenge Champions

As the curtains close on the 2024 competition season, the USEA is looking back at an incredibly busy fall season. With the MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, two Dutta. Corp USEA Young Event Horse Championships, Area Championships in all 10 sections of the country, and more, there was no shortage of excitement, but the rise in IEL Team Challenges was certainly a highlight of the year for the USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL). Since we last reported in October, 13 additional IEL Team Challenges were hosted at events across Areas II, III, IV, VI, and VIII, to bring the grand total for the year to 44 challenges.

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