Town Hill Farm horse trials Sept. 4-5

LAKEVILLE — Town Hill Farm, the equine facility on Route 112 (55 Lime Rock Road) has been a fixture in Lakeville for more than 27 years.

And for decades before that it was simply the Belcher family farm.

About five years ago, Ward Belcher and his sister, Sarah Wardell, undertook a major renovation and turned the focus of the facility to eventing, a discipline that combines dressage, cross-country and show jumping all in one competition.

In addition to upgrades to all the barns, they also created a cross-country course and a dressage ring.

Town Hill Farm now hosts its own horse trials. This year’s event gets underway Saturday, Sept. 4, and continues on Sunday, Sept. 5.

For eventers, the season in the Northeast is drawing to a close, and while there are eight more horse trials scheduled for the USEA Area One region, only Town Hill Farm — and Kent School’s horse trials on Sunday, Oct. 3 — are nearby.

The Town Hill competition is for beginner novice, novice and training levels, and all three phases will run on one day.

Competitors have been given the option of choosing which day they prefer to compete.

For those anxious to get additional practice, tune up their horse or get in the mood, Heidi White, a 2008 U.S. Olympic team member, is running a prep camp on Thursday, Sept. 2, and Friday, Sept. 3.

White, who is based in Aiken, S.C., joined the Town Hill Farm team this spring and has been traveling north once a month to teach clinics and give one-on-one training at the farm.

Sharyn Cataldo, Town Hill Farm’s stable manager and event organizer, said they have more than 160 horses entered. But the focus of the event is very much for local competitors.

While there was chatter among a group of volunteers who were painting jumps at the farm on Monday evening about  Hurricane Earl, the forecast for the weekend and the hurricane don’t appear to be on the same track.

Competition starts at 8:30 a.m. and spectators are welcome. Dressage, show jumping and cross-country will be ongoing over both days and the cross-country course is open to spectators. Dogs must be leashed and children supervised.

The Town Hill Horse Trials take place Sept. 4 and 5, Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend. For more information, go online to townhillfarm.com.

 

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