If you’ve visited Honey Run Equestrian Easement in Ann Arbor, Michigan recently and thought, “Well, this place looks different,” you’re right.
Those improvements didn’t happen because a contractor showed up. They happened because volunteers did. Together, they’ve spent the last two years turning a long list of ideas into real improvements at Michigan’s community eventing facility.
And we’re only halfway through our three-year facility improvement plan.
Year One: The Year of Lists
Let’s be honest: Year One wasn’t particularly glamorous. There were meetings. There were lists. Projects were prioritized. Needs were identified. Paper was pushed.
But we didn’t spend the entire year making spreadsheets.
By the end of Year One, Honey Run had a brand-new notice board, a repaired bank complex, a new pole rack to keep stadium poles off the ground, freshly painted competition stadium fences, and two dressage judge booths purchased and waiting to make their journey across the state.
Not bad for a year that was mostly about planning.
Year Two: Give the People What They Want
At the end of Year One, we asked members what they wanted out of Honey Run with a short survey. The answer was incredibly clear: more small jumps. Really small jumps. We’re talking 18 inches or smaller.
So the Honey Run Committee got to work.Or more accurately, one board member accidentally recruited her entire family. Her aunt and uncle found, delivered, and donated telephone poles. Her mom worked on decorative elements so the jumps didn’t feel like telephone poles. Her dad and husband handled cutting and construction. She and a friend helped stain, paint, and make sure everything was safe and horse-friendly.
The result was a collection of new introductory fences that are small enough to walk over if needed but still fun to look at. Because if you’re going to build tiny jumps, they might as well have some personality.
Keeping the Momentum
Meanwhile, those dressage judge booths finally arrived. One board member found them and stored them all winter. Another board member and her husband drove them across the state to Honey Run. Volunteers then repaired and prepared them for competition use. For years, Honey Run judges mastered the art of judging from their vehicles. Thankfully, the “judges sitting in cars” era is officially behind us.
Some of the most important improvements, however, weren’t the flashy ones. Volunteers reconstructed the Novice ditch after it collapsed. Others reclaimed portions of the sand arena that had slowly been surrendered to grass over the years, restoring valuable space for dressage competition. The Training-level bank into the water received new reinforcement so it could once again be used safely.
These aren’t the projects that generate dozens of social media comments, but they’re the improvements that keep the facility functional, safe, and enjoyable for everyone.
The Great Staining Challenge
Then things got interesting. The Honey Run Committee decided that if volunteers were willing to keep helping, we should make it fun.
The challenge was simple: stain 20 cross-country jumps before August 1. If we reached the goal, we’d bring in an ice cream truck and host an XC schooling day. Everyone who stained a jump would school and enjoy ice cream for free.
We figured people might be interested. We hoped we’d get close to 20 jumps stained. We did not expect to reach 25% of our goal within two weeks. And we definitely didn’t expect the messages from volunteers who were disappointed when Michigan weather interfered with their plans.
Disappointed they couldn’t spend their Sunday staining jumps? That’s when we realized cross-country and ice cream could solve almost anything. And that we were in trouble. Good trouble. Let’s just say the ice cream truck has already been booked.
Looking Ahead
This July, Honey Run will once again host its Cross-Country Benefit Jump Day.
When we launched the event last year, two volunteers organized it while assuming a handful of riders might attend. Instead, registrations poured in and additional volunteers had to be recruited at the last minute to keep up with demand.
This year’s proceeds will help support our next major goal: a permanent show office. Because while pop-up tents are great, they were never intended to serve as command centers during a Michigan snow-rain-hail-wind weather event.
Why Honey Run Matters
Honey Run Equestrian Easement is unique. Unlike many eventing facilities, it isn’t privately owned. The property is protected through an easement entrusted to The Eventing Association of Michigan (TEAM).
That means Honey Run belongs to the future of eventing in Michigan. As long as TEAM continues caring for the facility, eventers will continue to have a place to learn, compete, volunteer, and build community.
The easement does come with some limitations. We can’t simply build whatever we want, wherever we want. (Sorry to everyone who keeps asking about permanent stalls.) But if the last two years have proven anything, it’s that a dedicated group of volunteers can accomplish an incredible amount when they care deeply about a place.
Honey Run’s future isn’t being built by contractors or corporations. It’s being built by riders, parents, friends, family members, and volunteers who care enough to show up.
We’re excited to see what Year Three brings. Though based on recent experience, it will probably involve ambitious ideas, cross-country jumps, and at least a little ice cream.
Upcoming Events at Honey Run:
June 26th – 27th Cathy Wieschhoff Clinic
July 5th TEAM XC Jump Day
July 25th – 26th Waylon Roberts Clinic
September 20th USEA Horse Trials
October 4th Honey Run TEAM Challenge Horse Trials
Learn more: https://www.eventingmichigan.org/honey-run-easement or
follow us on facebook https://www.facebook.com/HoneyRunTEAM