Premier Equestrian honors Summer Peterson for her exemplary contributions to the sport of eventing, as displayed through Skyline Eventing Park in Utah (Photo courtesy of Premier Equestrian
Sandy, Utah (January 11, 2017) – Eventers for hundreds of miles around Mt. Pleasant, Utah, are enjoying the city’s Skyline Eventing Park, established in 2015 – thanks in large part to the dedication of amateur eventing competitor and veterinarian Summer Peterson.
Peterson has competed in eventing for five years, but before the Skyline Eventing Park existed, she had to haul her horses six hours or more to reach the nearest competition. So when the city of Mt. Pleasant approached her with the idea of developing a cross-country course just five miles down the road from her farm, she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to help. “I felt like it would be a great way to give back to the community,” Peterson explained.
Premier Equestrian, a company that manufactures world-class footing, dressage arenas, horse jumps, barn supplies, and much more, is known for its dedication to furthering the growth of equestrian sports in the United States. The company, also based in Utah, was excited to see the eventing park debut so close to home. Premier Equestrian honors individuals who exemplify model horsemanship and make top-of-the-line contributions to equestrian sports – like Peterson – by dubbing them a “Premier Equestrian.” Peterson was recently designated with this title, and was presented with a ribbon and engraved plaque from Premier Equestrian in honor of the successful eventing venue that she helped bring into existence.
Leading up to the park’s inaugural event, Peterson spearheaded efforts to raise $50,000 so that an eventing Training Level course could be built. “We scheduled our first event for October of 2015 before we even had all the money. It helps when you have a deadline!” Peterson laughed. Although the $50,000 fundraising goal seemed daunting at first, Peterson said that the proposal to build Skyline Eventing Park received “tremendous support from the local eventing community,” as well as from the city and Wasatch Academy, a private college preparatory boarding school. Peterson was quick to share credit with the rest of the team affiliated with Skyline Eventing Park, including Carrie Matteson, Lani Taylor, Ingrid George, Beth Siron, Jack Widdison, and Lorraine Jackson, who helped her turn the dream of the Skyline Eventing Park into a reality.
This year, thanks to additional fundraising, Skyline Eventing debuted a Preliminary course at its event held over the weekend of October 7 through October 9, 2016. While playing a key role in managing the October event, Peterson also competed herself, finishing with the blue ribbon in the Preliminary division with her horse Jake the Fish, a Mustang-Thoroughbred cross that she plucked out of a field in Nebraska in 2010 as an unbroken seven-year-old.
Peterson’s accomplishments with the Skyline Eventing Park would be impressive enough on their own, but they are all the more so in the context of Peterson’s other responsibilities. A full-time equine veterinarian, Peterson attends to private clients as well as a herd of 2,000 Mustangs at a local Bureau of Land Management (BLM) holding facility. And for the five horses that Peterson and her husband keep at home, she does all of the care, vet work, and shoeing. Their farm is also home to two dogs, two BLM-adopted burros, and two goats.
What’s next for Peterson, and for Skyline Eventing Park? Peterson plans to continue competing her gelding Jake the Fish at Intermediate Level, with an eye towards preparing for a Two-Star. Peterson will also continue to develop her five-year-old Irish Draught-Thoroughbred mare, who jumped around Training Level for the first time at Skyline. But, as Peterson joked, “Horses always have their own plans, so we’ll see!”
Skyline Eventing Park will host two recognized events in 2017, one in May and another in October, as well as a mini-event in early July. Peterson hopes that Skyline will also be able to host schooling shows and clinics throughout the year.
Premier Equestrian is proud to recognize such outstanding contributions to equestrian sports as Peterson’s. The company also offers affordable selections of first-rate, American-made equestrian products that enhance the performance of horses and riders, both in the show ring and at home. For more information about Premier Equestrian and its full line of products including footing, dressage arenas, and horse jumps, please visit the company’s official Facebook or Instagram page (@PremierEquestrian), or go online at www.PremierEquestrian.com.
