West Coast eventing is often described as a unique community. Jordan and Ava Chase are a couple who contribute mightily to that community – its horsemanship excellence, its volunteer spirit and its forward-thinking focus.
Ava and Jordan met as kids competing at Ram Tap in Fresno. They were friends growing up on the Southern California Pony Club circuit – Jordan is an “A” graduate – and on the eventing scene.
Marriages to other people and careers took them on separate tracks for much of their adult life. But when they reconnected 10 years ago and got married, Ava and Jordan made up for lost time by jumping fully back into the horse world.
Four years ago, the Chases bought a western horse training property in San Diego County’s San Marcos. They transformed it into a first-class equestrian boarding and training facility called Far View Farms.
High-caliber resident trainers provide daily coaching, while international riders visit regularly to help everybody up their game. Boyd Martin and Liz Halliday visit from the East Coast regularly,
And San Diego-based Olympian Sabine Schut-Kery is a frequently visiting coach.
Compelling Life Chapters
“I look at life as a series of chapters,” reflects Ava. “I’ve always been a learner and we like to take on projects because we want to learn new skills.”
That desire drew Ava to earning her US Eventing Association technical delegate license, which she used officially for the first time at Twin Rivers in April.
She’s close to earning her USEA judging credentials, too. Pursuing TD and judging credentials are time intensive tracks. Ava has kept on those tracks alongside working full time in the “real world” and managing the farm with Jordan.
Somehow, she’s found the time to volunteer, too,
“Both Jordan and I were eventers as young people. When we came back to riding, we wanted to be super connected to the sport.” Initially, they both got back in the saddle and back to eventing competition.
New Way To Engage
At some point, however, Ava decided that “I don’t bounce as well as I used to.” She opted to cut back on riding and accelerate her licensed official path. Already, she finds this less physically risky path is a fully engaging way to stay in and contribute to the sport.
Jordan continues to ride. His work is based in Ft. Lauderdale, FL., so he’s been commuting between Florida and California for the past few years. Along with Ava and Far View Farms endeavors, Jordan has adult children and grandchildren in Southern California, deepening his roots to the region. Jordan’s current horse stays in Florida, where they work with a jumping trainer to keep their skills sharp.
Now that Far View Farms has fulfilled Ava and Jordan’s vision for it as a first-class equestrian center, they’ve decided to make a fuller commitment to bi-coastal living. Far View Farms is newly on the market, with hopes that a new owner will be equally committed to keeping it a hub of equestrian sport and horsemanship education.
The Chases will base at their San Diego condominium when in California, balanced with time on the East Coast.
Ava’s daughter Tatiana Parker is an accomplished hunter/jumper trainer who operates Tati Parker Equestrian in Charleston, S.C. “I’ll be able to help her a lot with the knowledge that I’ve gained through Far View Farms,” Ava says.
The idea of jumping in to help as needed – versus being responsible for every detail—is appealing, Ava shares. “It’s kind of like being the grandmother,” Ava laughs. “You can step in when help is needed, but you don’t have to be completely enmeshed all the time.”
California Roots
Even spending ample time on the East Coast, Ava and Jordan are confident of staying fully connected to their home state.
“We were here in the early cowboy days of the sport,” Ava reflects on their start with horses in Southern California. “To see how much the sport has risen is amazing.”
Along with loving to compete and volunteer at Galway Downs, Ava is very appreciative of Robert Kellerhouse’s support of her educational pursuits. Both involved apprenticing with licensed officials several times. “He always helped me make sure I got my apprenticeships done.”
Whatever coast they’re on, the Chases will be fully engaged in eventing. They are part of horse owning syndicates for two of Boyd Martin’s horses – Fedarman B and Barney Rubble – and one of Liz Halliday’s horses – Newmarket Cooley.
And they have their tickets to this summer’s Paris Olympics booked. “We are going no matter what!” Ava reports.
From their beginnings on a relatively rudimentary West Coast eventing scene, the Chases continue to pursue their passion in ways that have helped Southern California become the world class eventing stage that it is now.