One Big Thing: Seneca Valley Pony Club Horse Trials #FeaturedFriday
A classic local event since the 80’s, the Seneca Valley Pony Club Horse Trials is on the hunt for more entries for their summer event taking place next weekend, June 13-14th, in Poolesville, Maryland.
Click here to read more from the USEA Events A-Z highlight on Seneca Valley Pony Club HT. The organizers are running low on entries and have opened up post entries through June 7th — we highly recommend you add this one to your calendar for next weekend! If you aren’t able to ride, they would also appreciate any volunteer efforts, so check out the signups at eventingvolunteers.com.
[Click here for Seneca Valley Pony Club Horse Trials’ omnibus listing]
This view of the beautiful scene at the Seneca Valley Horse Trials brought to you by Nancy from Skyland Farm.
About Seneca Valley from USEA:
The Seneca Valley Pony Club hosts two horse trials each year in June and August at Bittersweet Field in Poolesville, Maryland (Area II). Both events host Starter through Intermediate levels. This non-profit event has run for 37 years, thanks to the incredible Kiplinger family allowing the Pony Club access to their maintained, undeveloped land since 1987.
The Seneca Valley Pony Club (SVPC) was organized in 1961 by Austin Kiplinger and several other families in the northern part of Montgomery County, Maryland (then an exurb of Washington D.C.) to serve local youth, and the Kiplinger family opened their farm, Montevideo, for use by the club members. The club parents constructed a small cross-country course on the property and, over the years, began running unrecognized events at Bittersweet Field — which derives its name from the bittersweet-orange car Mr. Kiplinger and his wife used to get around the farm.
In 1986, SVPC was given the opportunity to be involved in developing the recognized horse trials at Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia and from 1986 through 1988 organized and ran six USCTA-recognized events at that location. In 1987, Mr. Kiplinger made an additional 100 acres available to SVPC, who began planning courses at Bittersweet… and the first recognized horse trials at Bittersweet was held in the fall of 1989, offering Training and Novice divisions.
“We are extremely lucky to have access to those areas of the Kiplinger farm which are not used for agricultural purposes, so our competitions run on established, fairly undisturbed turf. We do share the field with the Potomac Hunt, which runs yearly steeplechase races on the property. Both clubs expend a lot of effort to maintain the turf in great condition for equestrian use; we aggravate or aerate the courses as needed to ensure good footing.”
SVPC also continues to host an Interscholastic Eventing League Team Challenge and USEA Area II Adult Team Challenge at their summer event, along with High Point Pony Clubber and Thoroughbred Incentive Program awards.
“We try to run a friendly, fairly low-key event and meet the wishes of our competitors. For example, when Modified was approved, several of our longtime competitors told us they would really like it if we added that level, so we budgeted to add that division. I think competitors would also like to know that their participation really does help to bring along the next generation of equestrians: the horse trials are our major source of revenue and provide our members with free lessons, camp, and Pony Club certifications, as well as subsidized participation in USPC rallies and National Championships.”
Major International Events This Weekend
MARS Bromont CCI4*-L (CAN): [Website] [VIP Tickets] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream – ClipMyHorse.TV] [Live Stream – Bromont YouTube] [EN’s Coverage]
Melbourne International CCI4*-L (AUS): [Website] [Tickets] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]
Grandorse Eventing Kronenberg CCI4*-S (NED): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]
US Events This Weekend
Windermere Run HT (MO): [Facebook] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]
Apple Knoll Farm HT (MA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
Middleburg HT (VA): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]
Revel Run HT I (MI): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer
Other Links and Reading
- Current & prospective US FEI eventing owners: register now for the Q2 US Equestrian webinar
- Colic Surgery: Words from the Wise — Hear from owners who said ‘yes’ to colic surgery
- Flight Line Dressage 2026: Flight Through the Bluegrass II (KY) is accepting entries until tomorrow, June 6th; Flight of the Lone Star (TX) open until June 13th
- UC Davis Researchers Identify Genetic Cause for Fatal Neurologic Disease in Foals
Sponsor Corner: Stable View
We know we’re just now hitting summer, but while you’re filling out that competition calendar, make sure Oktoberfest is starred and circled! With $60,000 in prize money on the line and maintaining their status as a US Equestrian Open CCI4*-S Qualifier Event, anyone within a stone’s throw of Aiken should consider signing up for this opportunity to ride some world-class courses at a next-level venue.
There are just 100 tickets available for Stable View’s VIP Experience on Saturday, September 26, so sign up now before they start selling out again!
[Click here for the Oktoberfest $60,000 FEI CCI-S 1/2/3/4* & USEA Horse Trials omnibus listing]
Training Tip of the Day
Laura Graves has a really interesting way of discussing the half halt, and it makes perfect sense when you see it in action:
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Go Eventing
Eventing is not for the birds… though Jennie’s feathered friend might attest otherwise:
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