06/24/2022
June 23, 2022
Dear Fellow Event Riders,
It is with a heavy heart that we advise that our time at the Horsepark at Woodside has come to a close. I am very sorry for those of you who have counted on these shows to operate. I know the timing is terrible with the loss of other key venues in this state and the proximity of the August event, however we have been left no choice given the short term the Horsepark has offered. To be clear our existing 8 year agreement expires in September, but as in the previous two contracts (since 2004) the term was extended and we continued to provide successful events for the community and the Horsepark at Woodside. The Horsepark management has offered to carry the agreement for one additional month to include October.
Similar to the previous two extensions, we attempted to begin discussions with the Horsepark management at the conclusion of our October event in 2021 with the hope to secure a common understanding for moving forward in January. Sadly no real progress was made and we are left without an agreement past September. These events don’t run in a vacuum. The investments made to each of these shows helps to advance the future competitions. With the current condition of the Horsepark’s cross country, we are needing to make very large investments of time and material to get the tracks to an acceptable level. While in the past we have made these long term investments, we have done so with the backing of the Horsepark through the length of time we were provided to operate.
I wish we could provide you all with the remaining August and October shows and beyond, but the Horsepark leadership limiting us to an agreement to include only these two events puts us into an impossible position. I appreciate the time we were provided by the Horsepark Board and its presidents. I am forever grateful to the 20,000 starters we have hosted throughout our 18 years time in Woodside. We could not have done so without the support from the teams we have in the office, XC/SJ design and build, show operations, competition safety, special event prep and planning, sponsorship and last but not least the amazing volunteers at Woodside. You all have been instrumental in our success.
Thank you all for the many years of unbelievable support you have provided to our efforts in eventing at Woodside. We will continue to try and locate venues to advance this sport and will focus our efforts towards those next opportunities.
Kindest regards,
Robert Kellerhouse
