Larkin Hill Horse Trials Preliminary XC Course

Dear Friends of Eventing,

Many of you are aware of the loss of several high-profile horse trials in USEA Area I (encompassing New York and New England) during the past several years. In 2015, the Stuart Horse Trials ended their remarkable 26-year run, in 2016 we lost our beloved King Oak Farm of an amazing 33 years, and most recently the curtain closed on Fitch’s Corner and their impressive 25 years.

Larkin Hill has been at the forefront of Area I, hosting two high quality events nearly every year for the past eight years. We have been encouraged to add a Preliminary division to the Beginner Novice, Novice and Training levels of competition to help fill the void left by the departure of Stuart, King Oak, and Fitch’s Corner.

Our top-class Course Designer Tremaine Cooper has assured us that we have the land at Larkin Hill to accommodate a Preliminary course. As many of you know if you have organized, officiated or volunteered at, ridden in, supported a horse or rider, or simply been a spectator at a horse trials, it literally takes a village for these competitions to become a reality. It is a massive effort, and an expensive investment for the future.

We have the operational infrastructure to add Preliminary level at our July 21 Horse Trials this year. We are off to a great start, but to build a complete set of Preliminary obstacles was neither practically nor economically ($30,000-$40,000!) feasible. However, in the true spirit of cooperation from our fantastic village of eventers, organizers Fernanda Kellogg of Fitch’s Corner and Louise Meryman of Millbrook Horse Trials, have graciously and generously agreed to lend us the necessary portable jumps to help flesh out a complete and high standard cross-country course for this year.

Our goal is to raise $50,000, not only to help make this Preliminary division a reality this year, but to help us build our own obstacles for the future. (Just transporting these jumps will run about $5,000!) Your support to help us attain this goal is essential, most welcome and greatly appreciated!

Please support us in any of the following ways:

· GoFund Me

· American Horse Trials Foundation*

· Larkin Hill Sponsorship

*Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. To make a tax-deductible donation through the American Horse Trials Foundation (AHTH), please contact Sharyn Antico at 413-454-4158. For more information on AHTF, please visit www.ahtf3day.org.

Thank you in advance for your support in growing and preserving eventing in Area I by helping create a new opportunity for Preliminary Division competitors at Larkin Hill!

Margie Hutchison (and Friends!)

Organizer, Larkin Hill Horse Trials

North Chatham, New York