After a quarter-of-a-century, Tallahassee’s annual Red Hills Horse Trials is ending. The decision came after the national sanctioning body decided to move toward larger, more profitable events.
Since 1997, the local horse and rider showcase has been a labor of love for co-organizer Jane Barron. But now, she said the move by the US Equestrian Federation away from events like Tallahassee’s has left her board no choice.
“There didn’t seem to be any other decision that could be made and continue to do Red Hills well.”
And for each of its 25 years, even though COVID cut turnout for the 2021 trials, Barron said a faithful army of some 500 volunteers made it all happen.
“That’s what has been so heart-warming about Red Hills is that so many people are dedicated to doing something special for Tallahassee.”
The event typically brought as many as 20,000 spectators to Northwest Tallahassee’s Elinor Klapp Phipps Park each March.
