By mid-August, the sultry summer days are beginning to give way to slightly cooler temperatures and the air is beginning to feel different – a harbinger of the next season getting ready to arrive. For the past few years, I’ve spent one August Saturday perched on top of the hill at the “Peekaboo Corner Eventing Facility” on Route 124 just outside Norton, New Brunswick.
The view from up there is wonderful. It overlooks the rolling hills of the Kennebecasis Valley and farmers’ fields on all sides. It’s the ideal venue for creating a Horse Trials event. Below the hill there are two large flat areas, one with sand footing for the dressage phase of the Event, and one undulating grass field for the show jumping phase and the start box area for the cross-country jumping phase.
The facility is privately owned and operated by Matt Straight and his family. They generously support Horse Trials New Brunswick by hosting this annual event. They also allow coaches and riders to rent the facility for training purposes.
It’s an ideal spot to learn to ride more at speed, tackling jumps, and getting used to an environment different from a flat training ring or indoor arena. Both horses and riders need that experience before trying to become competitors.
Unfortunately, this year, there were only ten competitors at the event. All enjoyed the experience but it must be disheartening for the hosts. They put a lot of work into mowing the fields, setting up the dressage ring, building and placing the jumps – both on the course and in the show jumping ring, flagging the jumps appropriately to the various levels of competition, hiring a judge and steward, rounding up volunteers to help with the jump judging, handling all of the administration to manage the entries and track the results, and then providing ribbons and prizes.
And then, when it is all over, the follow-up administrative chores. Submitting results to the sport governing body and then cleaning up and putting away all of the jump materials so that the fields can be used to grow hay the next spring – only to do it all over again.
Those that did compete had a wonderful time doing so. The event offered all levels between OEV 100 to OEV 60 (for those not familiar – the numbers refer to the maximum height of jumps in each division).
Those who didn’t sign up missed a magnificent day. The weather was perfect. The setting was gorgeous and everything ran smoothly. If you weren’t there this year, either as a competitor or as a supporter, I hope you’ll consider it for the next time.
Capturing Cherished Memories 