The Whidbey Island Horse Trials announced yesterday that they sadly will not be able to run a USEA recognized event in 2019.
"We have been keenly aware of the speculation surrounding the fate of the event and only held off from this decision as we worked to exhaust all our options with hope that we could offer this event in 2019," said a statement on the Whidbey Island Horse Trials website. "We know you look forward to and make plans early for joining us and we are sorry for any inconvenience that this change presents." The Whidbey Island Horse Trials is working on plans to offer an unrecognized event the same weekend that the horse trials would typically run.
"Whidbey Island Horse Trials does not own the land where the event is held and while we have a lease for about 50 acres of land, in order to run a recognized event, we must utilize adjacent farmland for stabling, dressage rings, and cross-country tracks and have done so since the mid-1990's under agreement with the farmers that cultivate the land," the statement continued. "Changes in recent years to farming activities have led to us being restricted to only having use of our 50 acres and the single lane South Access Drive."
Whidbey Island plans to return to the USEA recognized eventing calendar in 2020 at an alternate site. "Our long-term goal is to acquire a permanent event site and we will be looking to our eventing community's support in our effort to raise funds that will guarantee a permanent home for the Whidbey Island Horse Trials. Whidbey Island Horse Trials is the longest running event in Area VII - our first event ran in 1974. When we were forced to relocate in 1996, we also had a pause, and just like in 1997, we will be back in 2020."
Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered! Check out the USEA’s Weekend Quick Links for links to information including the prize list, ride times, live scores, and more for all the events running this weekend.
As eventing competitors, you know how demanding the sport can be. Three phases (often in one day!) means there’s quite a lot to think about, tons to prepare for, and there are a lot of people involved in making everything run smoothly. A key player in making any USEA-recognized event a success is the Technical Delegate (TD).
The USEA Office will be closing at 12:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday, November 27, and will be closed Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29, for the Thanksgiving holiday. The USEA staff will return to the office on Monday, December 2.
The USEA is honored to carry forward the legacy of the traditional long-format, three-day event through the USEA Classic Series. These events celebrate the roots of our sport, offering riders a chance to step back in time and experience the original format that shaped the sport we enjoy today. From the excitement of steeplechase to the strategic demands of roads and tracks, endurance day serves as a true test of the preparation and partnership between horse and rider. In addition, horse inspections and educational opportunities add to the depth of these competitions, making them an unforgettable milestone, particularly for those experiencing the long-format for the first time.