Zara Phillips Slams 2012 Venue Choice

Julie Zapapas’ Jumping Branch Farm held its final recognized show at her facility this weekend. The eventing Horse Trials concluded this weekend with the show jumping phase of the competition. The first Horse Trials was held at the facility in 1993, and for the past 16 years, many of the sport’s best eventers and horses have participated in the event.

Jumping Branch Farm will continue to host horse trials, but this weekend’s show was the last recognized show, said Zapapas, who owns the facility and organizes the horse trials.

“I want to thank everyone who’s participated for the past 16 years,” said Zapapas. “I want to thank all of the volunteers. There have been volunteers who’ve come from the beginning.”

Jumping Branch Farm’s Horse Trials have been a model of consistency and have placed an emphasis on safety. The facility will host unrecognized shows and jumping derbies, which will offer eventers an opportunity to compete and still receive a quality product for less money. The eventers will not be competing for national points, but will still be able to enjoy the sport and school their horses in a safe, quality environment, said Zapapas. Her decision to stop offering recognized shows was a matter of opinion, in part because of some of the newer regulations and the high fees she was having to charge competitors due to the high fees that Zapapas had to pay nationally…

Read the entire story by Ben Baugh
Date: 3-09-2009
By: www.aikenstandard.com