Richland Park Horse Trials

03/02/2021

12/19/2020

Yesterday I learned of the passing of one of our dedicated, beloved RPHT volunteers. Linda Emmons passed away at the age of 72 on Thursday December 17th. Linda loved to help and volunteered every year at the horse show. Before the event she would help clean and set up the dressage rings. She also would help Rick Dunkerton in the show office, filing entries and other paperwork. During the show, on Thursday and Friday she was a dedicated dressage scribe. On Saturday and Sunday she was out on the cross country course as a jump judge. She was one of the Richland Park dressage "girls in pearls", who would wear their pearls on Thursday and Friday for the Dressage. RIP Linda.

08/31/2020

So, what do you do when you don't run your horse trials anymore, and you aren't hosting a Luke Bryan concert? Well you host a wedding on what would have been cross country day. The wedding was held on the mound by the water jump where the gecko log was, so all the jumps were decorated with cross country flowers, the water was dyed blue. We had a wedding reception in place of the competitor party. Perfect day, perfect weather. The photo of the Richland Park gate was the night of the wedding.

03/28/2020

I have no words. Susan did so much to promote the Richland Park Horse Trials. I had never met her, but she contacted me one day and said she would like to be in charge of the press and help with the sponsors. She jumped right in with both feet and promoted the show, set up interviews, arranged for tv, newspaper and radio coverage. She would be there at 5:00AM for the tv interviews with the Olympic riders with a smile on her face. I am beyond sad. My deepest condolences to her husband Ray and her kids Will and Emily.

Share Memories and Support the Family.

10/26/2019

Luke Bryan's Farm Tour comes back to Michigan

The Luke Bryan Farm Tour concert was a huge success on the rescheduled date. For those of you who couldn't make the concert, here is a link with photos of the event. It was amazing.

The show was postponed on Sept. 27 because of severe weather.

09/29/2019

Luke Bryan

Thanks Luke, can't wait to hear about the new date!

Richland...from me to you

09/12/2019

Luke Bryan | Knockin' Boots

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) regarding Luke Bryan Farm Tour Concert 2019 at Stafford Farms.

https://www.lukebryan.com/farm-tour

Animals
We accommodate service animals, no pets allowed.

ATM
ATM cash machines are available inside the concert area.

Backpack
No backpacks allowed. Please leave them in your car.

Food & Beverages
Sorry, NO outside food, beverages (except a factory sealed bottle of water), or coolers are allowed. However, a wide selection of your favorite foods and beverages including beer are available inside the concert area.

One (1) Factory sealed plastic bottle of water per person is allowed (16.9oz)

First Aid
EMT stations will be present on the festival grounds.

Gates
Please keep in mind that long lines form at the gates prior to showtime. We encourage you to arrive early to avoid the rush. For the safety of all of our patrons there will be a search conducted at the front gate.

Glass
Absolutely no glass allowed in the parking areas. Any found will be confiscated.

Is my pocket knife considered a weapon?
Yes. Leave it in your car. Same goes for box cutters, mace, and pepper spray. Any weapons will be confiscated for disposal and will not be returned.

Handicapped
State permit is required. A general admission seating area is provided for persons in wheelchairs and up to three companions. This area fills quickly and is available on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Video Cameras
Video cameras or any recording devices are strictly prohibited. Still cameras are welcome. No GoPros, laptops, tablets, or cameras with detachable lenses.

Re-Entry Lines
No Re-entry.

Refunds
There are no refunds for Farm Tour tickets.

What if I forgot my tickets?
In this case, you will need to go to the Ticket Tent, and they will be able to look your order up by verifying your personal information.

I've lost an item! How can I find it?
Lost and Found is located oustide the main gate ticket entrance.

Someone in my party has trouble walking. Is there a service to get them to the disabled seating area?
Unfortunately, no. Though we welcome everyone, it is an outdoor festival and weather sometimes is an issue. We provide ADA Parking, which is quite close to the event. If you are unable to walk, you are welcome to bring a wheelchair or a medical scooter (no golf carts please) to get around. Again, the festival site is large and is earthy (not paved) so please keep this in mind as you are planning your visit, especially if the weather has been bad leading up to or during the event.

How early should we arrive?
Parking opens at 2pm. You are encouraged to arrive early to avoid traffic delays and lines at the gate.

Can we bring grills?
For safety reasons, grills are not permitted as this is an outdoor event they are a fire hazard.

Can we bring chairs & blankets inside?
Chairs and blankets are allowed in designated areas of the venue. These areas will not be right next to the stage.

Signage Policy
No signs larger than i/2 sheet of poster board allowed.

Is this a family friendly event?
This is a family friendly event with adequate security, but please be aware that alcohol will be sold at the event which is general admission and that your discretion should be used before bringing young children to the show.

If I cannot drive home, can I leave my car?
No. Plans will need to be made on your behalf in advance of the show to get you and your car home after the show ends. Please drink responsibly.

What if my car gets stuck/or I lock my keys in my car?
There may be a wrecker service on site to help with car issues (Charges will apply according to the company). If there is not a wrecker service on site please contact your local wrecker service.

Can we camp?
Camping is not allowed.

Can we bring an RV?
We do not recommend bringing an RV since parking will be tight. If you do bring an RV, you can only use one (no more than this) pre-purchased parking pass +$50 at the gate for a total of $55 to park and you will not be able to park overnight. People arriving to the venue with no pre-purchased parking pass will be charged $75 to park the RV. Any vehicles left overnight will be towed at owner's expense.

Is there a discounted price for motorcycle parking?
No, each motorcycle is required to pay full price for parking.

Official website of ACM and CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan

09/06/2019

Just a Heads Up for anyone coming to the Luke Bryan Farm Tour - this is from his site! Please note what is and isn't allowed.

Show will happen rain or shine • Chairs & blankets are allowed in designated areas • No coolers allowed • No backpacks • No outside food or drink • No fireworks or weapons of any kind • No animals other than service animals • No video cameras or professional lens cameras • No large umbrellas • No footballs/frisbees/hula hoops • No re-entry • No glass containers on grounds • Tickets must be presented for access to parking areas.

You are allowed to tailgate ( no grills) before the show, but cannot bring anything into the concert itself.

04/26/2019

!!!!

Who is going (or already there) to Kentucky?
Who is your favorite team?

04/04/2019

Forward Equine Veterinary Services, LLC

Forward Equine Veterinary Services, LLC

Being able to evenly distribute your weight and decrease muscle tension through your low back and seat makes a huge difference for your horse, so this is for both you and your horse ;)

11/05/2018

Had to share the view of the sun this morning on the trees and their reflection on the pond. As soon as I snapped this photo the sun went behind a cloud. A moment frozen in time.

08/20/2018

Well..... here we are. What should be the best week of the year and all is quiet here at Richland Park. No dressage rings up, no stabling, and no gorgeous XC courses ready for the taking.

But, instead of lamenting, please share your favorite memories or pictures of Richland below!! Let’s reminisce and remember the good times!

09/06/2017

From Bob & Kay What an amazing ride

What an amazing ride it has been for Richland Park…. beginning in the fall of 2000 when Bob met with Mike Etherington-Smith to discuss building and developing our 400-acre farm into an eventing venue. Over the next several years we built the national levels of novice through Advanced and the international levels of CIC3***, CCI 2**, CIC2** and CIC 1*. In 2009, Ian Stark took over the role of cross-country course designer.
Richland Park is a year-round commitment, and it is impossible to describe and comprehend how much work, energy and effort goes into producing a world class venue. We have been blessed with truly amazing, dedicated and loyal volunteers, all willing to put enormous amounts of time and energy into Richland Park in order to produce a world class event.
Our goal with Richland Park was to offer a venue that would make the little guys feel like the big guys, and would offer them the chance to ride with the ULR’s and mingle with them. We are confident that we achieved our goal of a first class event where the little guy is treated as an equal to the ULR’s.
We were blessed because through years of hard work at our businesses, we were able to buy a spectacular piece of property, with fantastic footing. Our connections in the horse world brought us the best designers and course builders. Richland is blessed with amazing footing, second to none; a sandy loam with fabulous drainage. From the beginning our number one priority was footing. Our good friends who farm our property, WJ and Lori Stafford, installed irrigation throughout the cross-country course, and we purchased a K-Line watering system and all the necessary equipment to maintain and repair the footing so we could produce perfect tracks at each show. We are proud that in the sixteen years of hosting an event, we never had to cancel in spite of 7 inches of rain the week of the show, or a summer of drought. We had perfect footing every time.
So, what has the past seventeen years brought us? The thrill of watching the top riders in the U.S. and Canada ride cross country on our farm, at our home. We have to say that again, we got to watch the best of the best ride the best horses on our cross country course. Wow! It also brought us the opportunity to meet, work alongside and become lifelong friends with two of the best cross-country designers in the world, Ian Stark and Mike Etherington-Smith. We got the thrill of hearing “Richland Park” announced at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event as part of a riders resume of wins. We are proud and blessed that we have not had a serious injury to horse or rider. We are proud in the quality of the show that we produced with the help of our dear friends and course builders Bert Wood and Jay Hambly who went all out to make our show first rate. We thoroughly enjoyed the comradery and chaos of having 10 or so people, all working on a common goal, living with us for a month all helping to produce a spectacular event.
On the negative side, having to deal with organizations that are not organizer friendly, and are far too political. For us Richland Park has been all about the horses and not about the politics of the game. It should not be so difficult for an organizer to add a division, nor should it take years to do so. We put a lot of money and time into developing a new track only to be turned down for a CCI3***, this was a huge emotional hit for us. Why won’t they let us run a level we want to run and are willing to invest time and money into? It doesn’t make any sense. We started running intermediate in 2003, but had dropped it when we had both a CCI2** and a CIC2**. We had numerous requests to add the intermediate division back in and we never though our request would be denied. Not only denied, but told we cannot add Intermediate back into our divisions unless we move our date. Funny, we didn’t know eventing had a mileage rule. Previously, we had already moved our date from the end of September to the end of August because USEA wanted to run the AEC’s on our date at the end of September. In 2016, the USEA moved the AEC’s to the week immediately following our event, forcing the riders to choose which event to support. Unfortunately, we were unaware of the date change and took a huge hit on our entries. For us it was never about the money and almost every year we were in the red, and we expected it and were prepared for it. We Just took it in stride, sucked it up and dealt with it.
A long-time mentor of ours said “when you stop being challenged and stop growing, you are dying.” We spent the past year thinking about the future of Richland Park, and after careful consideration made the difficult decision. When our builders arrived in August, we told them that 2017 was going to be our final Richland Park, and that we wanted to produce the best show we could, the best show we ever had. From our perspective, the 2017 RPHT was the best. Saying goodbye to Richland Park is the hardest thing we have ever done as we both loved doing it and took great pride in what we created. We were honored to open our home and our farm to the eventing community once a year and share with them the magnificence of Richland Park. A fellow organizer commented; “Well is it congratulations or I’m Sorry?” The truth is, it is both. Thank you for the amazing ride.

Bob & Kay Willmarth
Richland Park

08/29/2017

Elle Choate’s Epic Save at Richland Park - Eventing Nation - Three-Day Eventing News, Results, Videos, and Commentary

Who saw this trick riding in person?? Nice work Elle!

https://www.facebook.com/susan.canole/posts/10213837600364980

Elle Choate is up for the Spider Monkey Award of the Year after she managed to recover from what looked like an unavoidable fall at the Richland Park Horse Trials last weekend. Entered in the

08/28/2017

Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights Produce Flawless Wire-to-Wire Win at Richland Park CIC3* - Eventing Nation - Three-Day Eventing News, Results, Videos, and Commentary

A hearty congratulations goes out to Colleen Rutledge Eventing and Covert Rights on their fabulous round and CIC*** victory at the 2017 Richland Park Horse Trials. Well done!

It’s a good feeling to know your horse loves his job, and there is no doubt in Colleen Rutledge’s mind that her homebred Covert Rights does. After injuries sidelined the 11-year-old Thoroughbred/Clydesdale for parts of

08/27/2017

Check out Lear!!!!

08/27/2017

United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA)

United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA)

Two horses were held in the final veterinary inspection for the Adequan USEA Gold Cup CIC3* at Richland Park Horse Trials, but upon reinspection everyone passed and 23 horses will move forward to show jumping. We've got a jog report as well as tons of fun facts to get the final day of competition started!

08/27/2017

Gold Cup Fast Facts: 2017 Richland Park Horse Trials

http://useventing.com/news/gold-cup-fast-facts-2017-richland-park-horse-trials

The 2017 Richland Park Horse Trials in Richland, Mich. is the first qualifying event in the 2018 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series. Competitors who achieve a qualifying score in either the CIC3* or Advance

08/27/2017

Thanks for this video, Eventing Connect!

08/27/2017

Eventing Nation

Eventing Nation

Dread Pirate Roberts was a notorious pirate in the cult classic film "The Princess Bride." Dread Pirate Robby is an off-track Thoroughbred who was out there at Richland Park taking no prisoners on the Preliminary cross country course. Enjoy this virtual ride along!

08/26/2017

Here's a great capture by Sarah of Boyd Martin making easy work of the water.

08/26/2017

It's Cross Country Day!!!! Need we say more? Have fun out there everyone! Post and tag us in your photos!

08/26/2017

Eventing Nation

Eventing Nation

The CIC2* and CIC* riders took to the show jumping arena today at the Richland Park Horse Trials in Kalamazoo, Mich. Lindsay Beer and Kennystown Frankie took over the lead in the CIC2* while Elisa Wallace and Riot Gear jumped clear to hold the top spot in the CIC* division. Click for a full report!

08/25/2017

Cross Country starts tomorrow! Have you seen our newest Ian Stark designed jump? It's hard to miss! Marie Foote shows us just how massive it is. Who is excited to jump this? Who is excited to watch?

08/25/2017

Hi All! We have another exciting day at the dressage rings! Here are the ride times for today! Go out and cheer on your favorite teams! It's another fabulous day at the Richland Park Park!

08/25/2017

Day 2 of Richland Park! Will Colleen Rutledge hold onto her commanding lead after dressage? We shall see!
Have a great day everyone!

08/24/2017

08/24/2017

Order of go for tomorrow!

08/23/2017

RP's own "dressage squad", the "Girls With The Pearls" are ready to welcome competitors down center line tomorrow morning. Let the games begin! The "Girls With the Pearls" are part of the SW Michigan dressage organization, Glassed Dressage, and they help run the dressage segment of RP like a well oiled machine. From setting up the rings, ring stewards, gate keepers, bit checkers, to tear down, Glassed is instrumental to us. If you see the volunteers, slap them 5, give knuckles, blow them a kiss, pat them on the back, (you get the idea) and thank them for their tireless efforts. It takes a village and we are grateful they are part of ours!

08/23/2017

We are so excited that Richland Park 2017 will get underway in less than 40 hours! Here is our rough schedule for the weekend. Please remember that this is a rough schedule. It's intended to give you a general idea of events and times.

Who is getting excited????

08/22/2017

By the Numbers: Richland Park CIC3* - Eventing Nation - Three-Day Eventing News, Results, Videos, and Commentary

http://eventingnation.com/by-the-numbers-richland-park-cic3-3/

Richland Park kicks off the busiest portion of the fall eventing calendar, with Advanced and CIC3* events running almost every weekend through mid-October in the U.S. Year after year, Richland draws competitors to Michigan with

08/21/2017

The week we've been waiting for all year, is finally here! Richland Park 2017! Don't forget to "Check in" at the Horse Park on social media and tag us in all your photos on Facebook and Instagram!

08/02/2017

Ruppel Family Gives Area 8 Young Riders A Leg Up at Richland Park - Eventing Nation - Three-Day Eventing News, Results, Videos, and Commentary

We are excited to announce this amazing award. We extend a heart felt thank you to the Ruppel Family who have supported Richland Park from the very beginning. We appreciate their continued support of both Richland Park and the sport of Eventing.

http://eventingnation.com/ruppel-family-gives-area-8-young-riders-a-leg-up-at-richland-park/

Chris, Patty and their daughter Katie Ruppel have stepped forward to sponsor the new Richland Leg Up Award, which will be given to the lowest scoring Area 8 Young Rider in any Preliminary division at the 2017