United States Eventing Association

Unionville, Pa. – Changes are afoot at the Plantation Field International Horse Trials, which will welcome its fourth annual International CIC and the Area II Advanced and Intermediate Championships this fall with major show grounds improvements, including a new all-weather outdoor arena and water-jump complex.

Crews are hard at work installing the arena atop a hill overlooking endless acres of preserved hunt country, Plantation’s historic stone ruins and one of the nation’s premier cross-country courses. At 380 by 250 feet, the arena will be large enough to stage three-star show jumping or for two standard dressage rings with final warm-up areas for each.

The arena will feature all-weather Tapeta footing, the same synthetic turf used at world-class racetracks and in competition arenas around the world. The footing was a generous donation from local Plantation Field supporters Mary Alice Malone, of Iron Spring Farm, and Joy Slater, of Fat Chance Farm.

Also being installed this summer is a second water complex on the cross-country course. The complex, being built in a spectator-friendly location near the center of the course, will be used for all levels of competition.

As these installations progress, staff also are hard at work preparing and aerating galloping lanes and warm-up areas to ensure horses and riders the best possible footing on all competition surfaces.

The arena and water complex will make their debuts during the Plantation Field CIC and Horse Trials, Sept. 16-18 in Unionville, Pa. The fall competition will offer CIC*, CIC** and CIC*** competitions as well as horse trials at the preliminary through advanced levels, including the Area II Intermediate and Advanced Championships.

Also returning to the big fall event will be the annual trade fair and kids’ corner. The kids’ corner will include fun activities such as face-painting, a petting zoo and a moon bounce to entertain little ones.

The trade fair will feature food vendors, tack shops, artisans and apparel stores such as Dubarry, Outback Trading Co., J. McLaughlin and, attending from the UK, Alexander James Country Clothing.

Local beneficiaries of the event will be The Barn at Spring Brook Farm and The Cheshire Land Preservation Fund.
If you would like to support the event as a sponsor, advertiser, spectator, volunteer or vendor , please visit www.plantationfieldhorsetrials.com for information and applications.

Competitor entries open Aug. 2. We look forward to seeing you there!