Some sad news out of Area VI and Ramona, Ca. as the Hoffos family has announce that it will no longer run recognized events at Copper Meadows. A staple training, schooling, and competition facility in southern California, Copper Meadows had hosted recognized eventing up through the Advanced/4* level for over 20 years. The venue hosted its first event in 2000.
βIt is with sadness but also a bit of relief that we have decided to cancel the Copper Meadows recognized horse trials indefinitely,” Taren Hoffos told the USEA. “Our team has enjoyed serving the Eventing community for over 20 years: thank you to the riders who supported us for so many years! Unfortunately the cost of running these events has proved to be unsustainable, and we need to do what is best for our facility and for our family. We will continue to offer schooling, clinics, and unrecognized events, and will of course see all our wonderful friends at other Area VI Events.β
Copper Meadows has been a family affair for Carolyn, Robin and Taren Hoffos. Carolyn, a San Diego-area native who grew up riding and dreaming of one day owning her own competition and training facility, shared the horse bug with Taren, who would later grow up to run Copper’s training program while also maintaining her own string of competition horses. After the purchase of the Copper Meadows property in 1999, it was all business for the Hoffos family: at their first event, it was Robin in the announcer’s booth, Taren on concessions, brother Drew Hoffos on the water truck.
From that point on, Copper Meadows hosted yearly recognized events and also grew its unrecognized and educational opportunities to the point where it’s now one of the most popular schooling events in the area. Never fear, local riders: the Sun Series and Look B4 You Leap clinics are here to stay, as are multiple other clinic opportunities and other events at Copper Meadows.
Thank you to the Hoffos family and the crew at Copper Meadows for all the dedication, hard work, and incredible memories. We’d love it — and we know the Copper Meadows family would love it that much more — if you’d share some of your favorite memories from over the years — post them in the comments and/or on social media! Enjoy a few photos we’ve collected in past seasons:
- Heather Morris wins the CIC3* on Charlie Tango at Copper Meadows. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
- William talks to a Preliminary group at Copper Meadows. Photo via Athletux Equine.
- Sarah Braun and Perfect Intentions at Copper Meadows. Photo courtesy of Captured Moment Photography.
- Competitors at the Copper Meadows Sun Series event on 1/17/16. Photo by Taren Atkinson.
- The boulders XC at Copper Meadows.
- Sunset on XC at Copper Meadows. What eventer doesn’t love this view?? Photo by Copper Meadows.
- Kristi Nunnink and R-Star, photo by Bill Olson
- Jennifer Mcfall riding High Times at Copper Meadows. Photo by Bill Olson.
- Eventers gather to watch the Belmont at Copper Meadows. Photo by Olivia Loiacono.