The closing date is fast approaching for the May 23-26 Virginia Horse Trials (VHT) International and Horse Trials at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Virginia. With two new divisions on offer this year, the 2019 spring edition of the Virginia Horse Trials may be the best yet.
Beginner Novice through Advanced/Intermediate divisions, including Modified, are on the schedule this year as well as a debut Starter division with fences set at 2’-2’3”. Starter is the perfect opportunity for newcomers to the sport (both horses and riders) to dip their toes into competition at a world-class facility. International divisions include CCI3*-S, CCI2*-L, and, for the first time at the spring event, a CCI2*-S class.
“We try to make positive changes based on feedback from competitors and add a little something new every year,” Organizer Andy Bowles said. “It was natural for us to add the CCI2*-S to the schedule considering the popularity of the CCI2*-L. And with our schooling shows throughout the year seeing so much success, we’re hoping to see some of the competitors from those shows joining us at the recognized level, from Starter on up.”
Young Event Horse divisions for 4- and 5-year-olds are also available for the next generation of eventing horses to get an educational experience and qualify for the USEA Young Event Horse Championships.
There is something for everyone at Virginia Horse Trials, from the green beans all the way to the professional ranks. Competitors are guaranteed great courses, carefully maintained footing, good food on site, and ample vendors, all on a sprawling facility in the valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
“We’ve really settled into our rhythm at VHT, and we are excited about everything we are presenting to competitors year after year,” Bowles said. “We have a great team dedicated to putting on the best event possible and giving every horse and rider a great experience no matter what level they compete.”
This is always a large competition with 400+ horses. Don’t wait until the last minute to enter! Closing date is Tuesday, May 7.
I’m not one for the spotlight. As the voice of the Association, you don’t need to know my personal views, political, eventing, or otherwise. So despite my byline appearing on thousands of articles on the USEA website and magazine, this is probably only the second time I’m writing about myself (the first was about my love for lessons, and reading it now makes me laugh as I am still 100% addicted). But as I am now just a USEA member I thought I would share a bit of my journey to add to our member spotlight series, Now on Course.
You’ve likely spent some time scouring the USEA Calendar to line up your 2022 competition schedule. Now that spring has sprung, it’s time to plan some cross-country schooling outings to make sure you and your horse are as ready as possible. If you own or manage a facility that welcomes guests for haul-in schooling, you’ve likely noticed horses and their humans showing up in droves to get their practice in. A successful off-site schooling day has many, many moving parts. From paperwork and payment to safety, these best practices for hosts and guests will help everything go as smoothly as possible.
US Equestrian is pleased to announce the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for the CHIO Aachen CCIO4*-S at CHIO Aachen World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany, from July 1-2, 2022. The team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Bobby Costello.
The countdown is on for the 2022 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds! This year, the USEA AEC moves to the beautiful Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana. The AEC will move back to the Kentucky Horse Park in 2023, so if you have ever dreamed of riding in the Flathead Valley of Montana with views of Glacier National Park, you won’t want to miss this year’s very special opportunity.