Preserving Tradition through Grass Root Initiatives: Show Hunter Turnout

HORSEMANSHIP AND TRADITION

There has been a substantial amount of criticism regarding new riders, both juniors and adults, and their resistance to become “horsemen” and also the lack of the heritage of our sport. To some defense, we now live in a society in which we are racing to and from work, school, after school activities, etc. Where riding was once a primary activity it is now one of many that we juggle throughout the day.

INVEST TIME AND ACCOLADES

To this point, I find it is important for those of us with more experience to perpetuate the values of horsemanship and tradition. How is this done? As a former corporate manager and the stepmother to four young adults, I have found the best results occur from dedicating both time and acknowledging progress through small rewards during the learning curve… Positive reinforcement goes a long way

PERPETUATING VALUES

The USHJA along with other affiliations and key individual mentors are implementing programs and scholarships to build horsemanship and barn management skills (USHJA Horsemanship Challenge, EAP, Leo Conway Maclay Grant, etc.). Each of us with experience also has the ability to set an educated example, while also continuing our own learning this curve. This is a sport where we never stop learning! While the USHJA Horsemanship Challenge is very important to me and I was very active in promoting it within our stable, especially amongst the adults.

I also have the “horse show” side of me that truly loves the details of the proper turnout of the show hunter- from scrims to braids! Living in a more isolated location, our hunter divisions are limited.

I feel fortunate that I grew up in the breed disciplines where we were partially judged on how our horses were fit and groomed and the culture is that we would do much of the day of the show preparation ourselves . There was so no short cut; it started with nutrition and continued with day-to-day management and elbow grease. Today, my hunter is kept out of state in a full service hunter/jumper barn where the same standards apply, only because it is a different discipline, there is a different show ring presentation, yet the details remain just as important.

TURNOUT MATTERS

This weekend marks the second consecutive USHJA rated show in Boise, Idaho (The Treasure Valley Classic), which has been made possible because of an unrelenting group of individuals that believed in creating this event. Since the inaugural debut, I proposed that Street to Stable rewards the best turned out horse and riders in the USHJA National Hunter Derby as a means of incentive to ALL participants to acknowledge the tradition of the sport. The USHJA judges choose the winner during the first round so everyone entered is eligible and there is no bias.

This year, a 2’6 Hunter Derby has been added and Street to Stable chose to also support this division with the identical prize (custom spur/straps from Saucy Piaffe  and peppermints) as the open derby. Since this class is typically a junior and amateur springboard into the USHJA hunter derby ring, I would love to see a rider win that is in charge of their own grooming and especially braiding! 

THE HUNTERS ARE BACK, IN STYLE

As a special note, since the USHJA approval was awarded to this show, we have seen a positive impact of the horse and rider turn out at our local shows. The Street to Stable best turnout awards are just a means of supporting USHJA’s initiatives and we make sure that the acknowledgment is well advertised in the premium books so that all participants are prepared. I hope the promotion has added to the momentum of this trend. At the minimum, I know this is a cause dear to my heart, as it starts with nutrition and ends with elbow grease and ultimately finishes with tradition.