Laine Ashker and Lovedance. Photo by Brant Gamma Photography.
Tucked away in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains, you’ll find a little slice of horse heaven. The Virginia Horse Center is located on 600 acres in Lexington and features a 4000 seat coliseum, campgrounds, and eight different barns. On May 23rd, eventers will gather to compete up to the CCI3*-S level in the Virginia Horse Trials, taking advantage of the Attwood footing in the Dee Dee Arena and newly resurfaced stalls and stall mats.
In preparation for the event, the horse center has worked hard to create an amazing experience for eventers, including updating the Oak Hill cross country course, which now features new obstacles for all levels, including a new coffin and updated water jumps. Local eventer Sydney Hagaman experienced the venue firsthand when she won the 3* at the May Virginia Horse Trials riding her German Sport Horse, Charmeur.
“I’ve been going there for quite a few years and try to get there as much as possible. I’ve taken young horses, I’ve done the 3* and the 2*-L on the same horse that I won the 3* on last year. So, we know the Virginia Horse Center pretty well and I loved running that event,” Sydney said. “It felt great there and they did a really good job with the footing, which was hard to do last year, we didn’t get much rain and they did the best they could so that was greatly appreciated on the riders part, we really enjoyed that.”
Designed by FEI cross country course designer Jay Hambly, Sydney said that the courses were challenging and up to level, making the event a great way to prepare both horse and rider for larger events like Tryon and even the Kentucky Three Day Event. Particularly difficult was the show jumping course, designed by Michael Vaillancourt.
“The showjumping course was quite difficult. And as an FEI course, that’s kind of what it’s meant for, to prep you for the next level. On the cross country course, the jumps were appropriate for the level and the questions were right for the level. I thought they did a really good job. They had it all set up well, and the course is really fun.” said Sydney. “It really preps you for when you have to go away and stable your horses and lets you get a feel of what they would be like outside of the state that we normally compete in. It does have a bigger atmosphere because it is a big center. It’s a good prep for if you have to go to Tryon or the Kentucky Horse Park or another big FEI.”
Photo by Brant Gamma Photography.
Even the dressage last year was particularly educational in Sydney’s eyes, as you were able to ride in front of a foreign judge. “I think she was a Pan Am’s judge. And I thought that was really cool, getting to ride in front of a foreign judge. I was like, ‘Ooh, this is cool,’” Sydney said.
Note: This year’s FEI judges include Olympic judges Jane Hamlin (2020) and Robert Stevenson (2024), as well as Sara Leary and Amanda Miller.
This year, the event has gone above and beyond in catering to eventers, who like to work hard– and play hard. The presenting sponsor, Capital Square, will be hosting an adult rider welcome party on Friday evening with special adult rider swag. Beverages (wink wink) will also be served throughout the weekend.
Sydney attended the rider’s party last year and would highly recommend making the time to go. “The rider party was fun, like they had a lot of good food. It’s really fun to see everybody at the bonfire. It was super fun. I actually really liked the food. There’s a lot of options. I really do think they did a really good job, the whole keeping us entertained and making sure that we’re all happy.”
May’s Virginia Horse Trials also include the opportunity to compete in the Adult Team Challenge. Teams of four riders will compete for prizes provided by Area 2 Adult Riders. Teams can be formed from mixed levels and– if you don’t have anyone to join your team– the show organizers will do their best to help you create a team. All teams are stabled together, so you can get to know your teammates before you compete. Awards will be presented after the last team member finishes their ride on Sunday with some great prizes for the top three teams from event sponsors. More info on how to sign up for the Adult Team Challenge here.
All in all, if you’re looking for a horse trial that offers you the chance to compete in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere with top-notch facilities in a gorgeous setting, you can’t go wrong with the Virginia Horse Center. This year, Eventing Nation will be bringing you all the action right from the event, which has seen a full roster of entries resulting in a hefty waitlist. Keep an eye on EN so you don’t miss out!
And don’t forget, support your local events– they need you to enter, volunteer, and participate however you can now more than ever.
VHC Eventing May Horse Trials: [Website] [Volunteer Opportunities] [Show Center]
