United States Eventing Association

By opening the iconic grounds of the Plantation Field Horse Trials to a rare cross-country schooling day, Plantation Field Equestrian Events is proud to announce it raised $8,000 to help the victims of the True Prospect Farm barn fire.

Approximately 200 horses and riders visited Plantation Field, in Unionville, Pa., on June 13 to school over the jumps and support Boyd Martin, Ryan Woods, Caitlin Silliman and Lillian Heard, the four local riders affected by the fire.

“Plantation Field is the hometown event for these riders, and we wanted to do something to show our support and help them as they rebuild from this fire,” event organizer Denis Glaccum said. “Thanks to the generosity of landowners Katie and Cuyler Walker and the Longwood Fire Company, which donated its services for the day, we were able to host this schooling day. People had a rare chance to come out and school over our competition courses while also helping support their fellow equestrians.”

Among those taking advantage of the sunny afternoon were Martin and Woods themselves, who each brought several horses and students to school.

“It was fantastic, cross-country schooling out of Plantation Field on Monday. It’s one of America’s greatest courses and it was an amazing gesture by (U.S. Eventing Association) Hall of Famer Denis Glaccum to open up his facility to support the people whose lives were devastated by this fire.”

As Martin noted, the schooling day drew not only eventers but local show hunters, foxhunters, race and steeplechase trainers, including Sue Sisco, Dave Leinhauser and Janet Elliot, all coming out to enjoy the venue and support fellow equestrians.

A bake sale held by local Olympic eventer Jane Sleeper (www.janesleeper.com) and her students in conjunction with schooling day and the June 11-12 Plantation Field Horse Trials raised an additional $2,000 for fire relief efforts, bringing the three-day fundraising total to $10,000.

A check from Plantation Field Equestrian Events and decorative jar containing the bake-sale donations were presented to Martin and Woods, representing the four fire victims, on June 16 at True Prospect Farm in West Grove, Pa.

Evie and Phillip Dutton, who have helped organize fire-relief efforts, stood by, but Evie Dutton emphasized that they are not accepting any donations themselves, as insurance should cover their fire losses.

Martin said the money raised will go toward replacing personal possessions and equipment not covered by insurance. For him alone, that includes loss of training income, $15,000 in veterinary bills and approximately $90,000 worth of goods ranging from tons of lost hay and grain to scores of turnout blankets, galloping boots, saddles and other equipment.

“You don’t realize just how much is missing until you need it,” Martin said, noting that during Plantation Field’s June horse trials, held the weekend before the schooling day, he and his grooms realized they didn’t have all of the 40-plus bandages and quilts needed to wrap their competition horses after cross-country.

Martin is rebuilding by expanding on his new property, thanks in part to donations of wheelbarrows and other equipment, and the recent purchase of “20 third-hand Amish-made stalls” to add capacity to the farm.

Plantation Field Equestrian Events hosts four recognized events each year, including the Plantation Field CIC to be held Sept. 16-18, 2011, and two unrecognized starter horse trials. For more information, visit www.plantationfieldhorsetrials.com.