HISTORY
Skyline Eventing Park was founded in 2015 by a group of hard-working women with a vision. Before Skyline Eventing Park was created, Area IX (which includes Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota, and most of Montana and Idaho) had only 10 recognized horse trials. The creation of Skyline Eventing Park has helped grow the eventing community in the American west and provides a challenging, well-designed course for local eventers to continue to improve and grow in the sport. Skyline now runs two recognized horse trials, around four schooling events, and numerous clinics with international riders annually.
Skyline Eventing Park is currently organized by four local riders, trainers, and genuine good-timing gals: Dr. Summer Peterson, Carrie Matteson, Lani Homan-Taylor, and Taylor Timmerman. The effort to create Skyline Eventing Park was spearheaded by Peterson, an equine vet and Intermediate eventer who also happened to live in the same county as the park. Summer recognized the opportunity and had the vision for the creation of a cross-country course on 60+ acres of raw, rocky acres of municipally-owned land and helped facilitate early talks with government officials to help make Skyline Eventing Park a reality.
Peterson also helped with early fundraising efforts including an “Extreme Horsemen’s Challenge” which gave local riders and eventers a sneak peek of the new course and helped introduce riders from other disciplines into the insanity of the sport. The challenge included a few of the newly created cross-country obstacles as well as more “unique” obstacles, such as a tire pull and riding your horse through a mock “car wash”. The culmination was an exciting and thrill-filled day where local cowboys learned more about eventing and vice-versa. After all, it’s not every day that you see a cowboy with fringe chaps and a ten-gallon hat dropping into a Training level water complex!
Skyline Eventing Park is located at the Cleone Peterson Eccles Equestrian Center in Mount Pleasant, Utah. While it is certainly off the beaten path, regional riders are awarded with spectacular views of the local mountain range, and the small city of Mount Pleasant has all the amenities an eventer could need including a grocery store, regional hospital, hardware/auto parts stores, several local restaurants, a quaint family-owned inn, and perhaps most excitingly, a new coffee shop.
The equestrian center boasts four all-weather rings, including a large indoor, and a new outside ring that Skyline Eventing created for dressage and show jumping for the recognized horse trials. The Center also has 200 stalls (both covered and outdoor), ten wash stalls with concrete pads, and numerous RV hookups.
The cross-country course is directly adjacent to the dressage and show jumping ring and encompasses over 60 acres of gently rolling terrain. We created the cross-country course from scratch, including digging out the tracks, filling in ravines, and creating sunken roads and two water complexes. The rocky terrain was an initial challenge for creating the cross-country tracks, and many times we felt like we were “fishing for rocks”, but our efforts were rewarded with beautiful sand tracks that provide excellent support and footing for our equine athletes. The river sand that was revealed underneath the rugged surface holds water exceptionally well and is firm enough for very little “slippage” when galloping and jumping.
Another thing that makes Skyline Eventing special is the community itself. Area IX is spread throughout a large geographical area, but in many ways, our local eventers are some of the most genuinely supportive, caring riders you can find. Maybe because we know what it’s like to battle huge snowstorms in the winter and extreme summer temps — or hauling 12-plus hours in these extreme environments to make it to recognized horse trials.
One of the things that Skyline Eventing has become known for is our rocking competitor’s parties. Although quaint, Mount Pleasant doesn’t have the most audacious nightlife, so we strive to make our Saturday night competitor’s party one of the highlights of the event. Our parties have included barrel racing and pole bending competitions on borrowed rodeo ponies, mechanical bulls, bareback puissance, and insane relay races that include golf carts, roping, and blow-up bouncy horses. Of course, every competitor’s party includes a nostalgic music playlist, delicious food, and a healthy amount of margaritas.
ABOUT EVENTING
The Intermountain West’s Premier Eventing Venue
Skyline Eventing Park, located at the south end of Mt. Pleasant, is Utah’s premier cross-country facility offering eventing tracks from introductory skill levels through the Preliminary level.
The Skyline Eventing Committee encourages all to come to experience the thrill of eventing during the summer of 2023. Spectators are welcome to attend all of the events and clinics with free admission at Cleone Peterson Eccles Equestrian Center and Contoy Arena, 1000 S. 955 West, Mt. Pleasant.
What is Eventing?
The sport of eventing is likened to the equestrian triathlon, where horses and riders tackle three phases of competition. Dressage demonstrates the training of the horse under saddle. Cross country is a test of endurance and physicality where horses and riders jump solid elements at a high rate of speed. Showjumping shows the grace of the horse by jumping rails and fences.
For more information, visit Skyline Eventing Park's Facebook page or Instagram @skylineeventing, or send an email to skylineeventing@gmail.com.
Our Main Events
The Spring Event
The Spring US Eventing Association-recognized equestrian competition takes place, which includes dressage, cross county, show jumping and awards. On Friday, May 3, from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., is the dressage phase. Saturday, May 4, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., will show the cross country phase. Then on Sunday, May 5, from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., will be the show jumping competition and awards.
Freedom Fest
Skyline's annual Freedom Fest returns this year on July 26 & 27. On Friday, July 26, at 8 a.m., the two phases, dressage and show jumping, will be displayed most of the day. Then on Saturday, July 27, at 8 a.m., there will be a mini-event with dressage, cross country, and show jumping competition.
The Fall Event
The fall USEA-recognized equestrian competition three-day event takes place Friday through Sunday, Sept. 13-15, with dressage, cross county, showjumping, and awards.
Friday, Sept. 13, from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., is dressage. On Saturday, Sept. 14, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., will be cross country. Then on Sunday, Sept. 15, from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., we will hold show jumping competition and awards.
Through collaboration with the equestrian center and the city of Mt. Pleasant, Skyline Eventing is delighted to bring these events to Sanpete County and all are welcome to attend.