The Colorado Horse Park Two-Star Three-Day Event has been postponed. The event, usually held over the Memorial Day weekend holiday, typically draws several hundred horses and riders from beginner novice to Olympic medalists. Yet, even with its success, the volunteer Eventing Committee recommended postponement of the event in order to upgrade the footing, update the course and to find funding to make these improvements. Ideally, enough enhancements can be made to hold the Fall Horse Trials, which are currently scheduled for September 29-October 1, 2006.

“It is regrettable that we need to take a hiatus, but in order to provide the quality of event that we want, we need time to work on the cross-country footing, bring in a new course designer and builder, and make the appropriate changes to the course,” explained Tom Angle, a member of the Eventing Committee. “Trying to do the May date would not allow us to make the changes that we want.

“The anticipated course changes are entirely new tracks for all levels, improved footing on those tracks, with special provisions for bad weather. The improvements are absolutely critical in order to provide the highest level of safety for the competitors,” Angle continued.

While the Colorado Horse Park plans to continue to host two-star events and even eventually apply for higher ratings, the recommendations from the committee focus on rebuilding from the bottom up with absolutely spectacular lower-level courses.

The Colorado Horse Park and the Eventing Committee have been working diligently with the county to develop an effective reseeding program that will create better quality footing that is more easily maintained on the cross-country course. The costs for updating the cross-country course weigh in at $100,000-175,000. “Eventing is not a profit-making entity,” said Reed Ayers, an Eventing Committee member. “It takes a lot of commitment.”

The Colorado Horse Park has been very fortunate because hundreds of volunteers have not only donated their valuable time, but also materials and money to make the events successful, but a larger fundraising plan is in place.

“The horse trials and three-day events at the Colorado Horse Park have been quite important, not only to the geographical area, but to the national schedule as well,” Angle said.

For more information on the Colorado Horse Park, visit www.coloradohorsepark.org. If you are interested in participating in raising funds to ensure the continuance of the three-day event at the Colorado Horse Park, please call (303) 841-5550, ext. 17.

The Colorado Horse Park is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. The purpose of the Colorado Horse Park is to showcase the history and heritage of the West using the horse as the primary teaching tool through hands-on educational programming, museum exhibitions, competitions, boarding and training, recreation, entertainment and therapy for all ages.


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