After 22 years of hosting and organizing the Copper Meadows Horse Trials on the outskirts of Ramona, California, the Hoffos family has decided to stop holding recognized competitions on their 65-acre farm, the U.S. Eventing Association announced Monday.
“It is with sadness, but also a bit of relief, that we have decided to cancel the Copper Meadows recognized horse trials indefinitely,” Taren Hoffos said. “Our team has enjoyed serving the eventing community for over 20 years. Thank you to the riders who supported us for so many years! Unfortunately, the cost of running these events has proved to be unsustainable, and we need to do what is best for our facility and for our family. We will continue to offer schooling, clinics, unrecognized events, and will of course see all our wonderful friends at other Area VI events.”
Hoffos has been involved with the Copper Meadows Horse Trials from day one after her parents, Robin and Carolyn Hoffos, purchased the Copper Meadows property in 1999 and built the farm from the ground up to provide the necessary infrastructure to host their first even in 2000. While her first job at the horse trials was as concession stand operator, Taren took over the day-to-day operations of the boarding and training facility on the farm as well as the organizational efforts of the horse trials in 2010.
The farm boasts a Hugh Lochore-designed cross-country course with jumps from the introductory to advanced levels and had hosted two recognized horse trials annually, along with clinics, schooling shows and other events.
Last autumn, the venue was approved to continue hosting two advanced-level horse trials per year through 2027 under the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s new Eventing Calendar Process. Three other California venues were approved at the same time to continue hosting advanced, CCI4*-S, CCI4*-L or CCI3*-L competitions through 2027: Twin Rivers in Paso Robles, Galway Downs in Temecula and Woodside Horse Park in Woodside.
Original article: The Chronicle of the Horse (chronofhorse.com)
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