 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
California Riding Magazine • August, 2010 Copper Meadows Coup |
There will be no lazy days of summer this year at the Copper Meadows training and event facility in San Diego County’s Ramona. The first class venue owned by the Hoffos family is celebrating its 10th year in business by taking on the daunting task of hosting the Area VI Eventing Championships. That means lots of work and excitement building toward the Sept. 10-12 competition. With an unusually generous prize pot of $10,000 and plans to acknowledge participants’ accomplishments in many ways, this year’s Championships are on track to be a highlight of the West Coast eventing season. The prize money alone is a much-appreciated addition to the Championships. Provided by sponsor California Sheet Metal, it amounts to $1,100 for winners in the Beginner Novice through Intermediate divisions. Plenty of additional perks are planned for winners and all participants. The Area VI region of the US Eventing Association includes California and Hawaii. Riders qualify for the championships by finishing in the top three at an Area VI Beginner Novice through Training level competition between Oct. 27, 2009 and Aug. 24 of this year. Intermediate and Preliminary riders qualify by finishing first The Championships have been held at Ramtap in Fresno for the past several years. Taren and her mother Carol Hoffos thought it was time for a change. They’ve been encouraging Area VI to consider a different venue for a few years. “For the sake of the riders, horses and all the shows in our region, we thought a change of venue would be a good thing,” explains Taren. “If you are serious about eventing, as any Championship rider will be, you know it’s a good thing to challenge yourself and your horse over new and different courses and venues.” Every course and course designer asks different questions and sets the stage for improvement, she adds. “People put a lot of hard work into qualifying for the championships and we are putting a lot of hard work into making this very special,” says Taren. Normally known for her gifts as an eventing trainer and rider, Taren signed on as secretary for the event. At press time in late June, her office was filled with postcards destined for the 300 to 400 riders who’ve qualified for this year’s Championships. Often riders don’t realize they are qualified and she is determined to prevent that problem this year. The Hoffoses were eager to host the Championships at Copper Meadows. A new course for the Championship level is under construction. Tremaine Cooper is designing the Intermediate cross-country track and James Atkinson is doing so for Beginner Novice through Preliminary routes. “It’s a big change because we want it to be special,” Taren says. “The Championship should be the cream of the crop, so we want the courses to be tougher and different from what people are familiar with at our horse trials.” The Hoffoses aspire to host an event on par with the US Eventing Assn.’s National Championships. This competition takes place the same September weekend, but in Pennsylvania. It is a wonderful experience, Taren acknowledges, but not one that many West Coasters can get to because it’s across the country. “Our goal is to create that same feeling for our riders by having our own prestigious championship event.” A trade fair, high-level dressage demonstration and other activities are in the works and spectators are encouraged to come out.
For more information on the Area VI Championships, visit www.copper-meadows.com or call Taren Hoffos at 858-610-1693. |
