Mary Hirsch has transitioned from a financial desk job to a life of eventing in Texas. She was kind enough to send us this article about the emergence of an advanced course at the Texas Rose Horse Park. Thanks for writing this Mary and thank you for reading.
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Photo by Catherine Texter Baker, Area V Chair
From Mary Hirsch:
Check out the dude on the left of this photo! That is former US chef d’equipe and course designer Captain Mark Phillips, in Texas, holding a shovel. Captain Phillips has the future Advanced course at Texas Rose Horse Park well on the road to the planned debut early next year. March 2013 at the Texas Rose Horse Trials will be an event of first’s – the first horse out of the start box will be the first official run over the first Advanced course in Area V in over 20 years. The second run will be at the second Texas Rose Horse Trials of the year in June 2013. The Advanced and the Intermediate courses will be designed by Captain Phillips.
On the right in the photo is the Captain’s shoveling partner, Carsten Meyer, a German-Lousianan who is designing the Preliminary and lower level courses. The Captain and Carsten are working together on the tracks to leverage the opportunities to strengthen the other existing courses as the Advanced course is built. Looking to the future, owner Kathy Brunson’s goal is to run CCI’s within the next three years. Texas Rose has been offering horse trials for 2* and below since 2010.
Texas Rose Horse Park, just outside of Tyler on the east side of Texas close to Interstate 20, has been selected as the host of the 2013-2015 AEC’s. But Kathy says the Advanced course had already been committed to and was going into construction regardless. Kathy says that Texas Rose will continue to offer courses to Area V designed to raise rider’s aspirations at all levels. The amenities at Texas Rose should also be a magnet to riders from other areas as well. Permanent stalls for hundreds of visiting horses, as well as a multitude of major and minor conveniences and comforts, are ready to accommodate competitors.
Carsten Meyer wants to laud the footing at Texas Rose to all and sundry. Kathy and her daughter Kim Brunson selected the property for the naturally sandy soil base, as well as the rolling hills. Kathy says that her dream is to have riders coming off course saying “I was challenged – I learned something – It was great!”
Stay tuned later this fall for more adventures with shovels, the Captain, Carsten, Kathy and Kim at Texas Rose Horse Park! Go eventing in Texas!
About me: Two years ago I left many years of city living and a corporate financial career to live on Greenwood Farm, the host of two of Texas’ largest annual horse trials, just west of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. (Greenwood is owned by Christie Tull, my new landlady.) I had already re-enlisted in the riding that had consumed my life before college graduation and career. On re-entry I put a toe into eventing waters and fell all the way in, and am now owned by a chestnut TB event horse. My own riding is focused on the amateur lower levels, which are fast and scary enough for me. From my wooded meadow out here in the west I follow the travails and triumphs of the Team and the Upper Levels like any other irrationally absorbed fan, through EN, the eventing media and the forums of Chronicle of the Horse.
