2020 Season Cancelled Due to Pandemic

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Thank you to everyone who responded to our recent survey and extended their support to us during the COVID-19 pandemic. The outpouring of encouragement we received from you has reinforced our commitment to continue to create the kind of showing experience you have come to know and expect from Cascade Horse Shows.

It also makes the news that we must cancel the remainder of our 2020 season that much harder to give.

On May 29, the Kittitas County Health Director cast doubt on the county opening enough for us by July, stating that the county was proceeding with an abundance of caution to protect residents and businesses. This directly impacts our ability to run or expand our July shows, even with additional safety protocols in place.

The shutdown also has adversely affected our venue, the Washington State Horse Park, due to scarcity of available crews and supplies. Furthermore, the Park relies on revenue from events throughout the year to fund its operations, but shows in other disciplines have been cancelled as well. This makes it impractical if not impossible for the Horse Park to maintain its facilities in show-ready condition for our Finals event in September.

In short, we have had no choice but to make this hard decision.

2021 Show Dates

SWIFTWATER INVITATIONAL |  June 16-20 2021
ALPINE PREVIEW |  June 23-27 2021
PACIFIC CREST OPEN | July 15-18 2021
PACIFIC OUTREACH | July 15-18 2021
CASCADE FINALS |  September 11-12 2021

Your heartwarming support during this crisis has given us the perspective to take this year in stride and the resolve to come back in 2021 with a spectacular season of shows worthy of your commitment. The Horse Park will sport all new footing in the Jumper and Schooling Arenas and the addition of a $5 million dollar covered arena with lighting will make for some fantastic courses and evening competition. Plus we are considering different options for adding more show dates to 2021 calendar and have applied to USHJA to become a World Champion Hunter Rider event.

We hope you can get some showing in somewhere this year or find other opportunities to enjoy time with your horse. Please bookmark our 2021 dates and stay tuned for more details for our future events. We look forward to being together again soon!

Stay healthy and ride on.

June Shows Cancelled

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Throughout this trying spring we have remained optimistic that we could hold our June shows, as the notion of not doing so is crushing. But the thought of anyone coming into harm’s way because of Covid-19 is even more concerning.

Unfortunately, the threat from the global pandemic has not subsided. As of May 9, there are over 1.3 million confirmed cases in the United States with a staggering death toll. In our state, Governor Inslee has extended the shelter-in-place order limiting public gatherings, which directly impacts us. Kittitas County where the Washington State Horse Park is located (and one of only 5 counties that could apply for an exemption to the state-wide directive) has recently seen an uptick in cases and has delayed their phased reopening. Local businesses in and around Cle Elum that support our community have also remained severely impacted.

As such, we have made the decision to cancel both the Swiftwater Invitational (June 10-14) and the Alpine Preview (June 17-21) shows for this season. As hard as this is to share with you, it is the only decision reasonably open to us and the only responsible action to take out of respect for the health and safety of our entire community. If you have already submitted entries or stabling reservations for our June shows, any and all of your deposits will be refunded or remain unprocessed.

We are currently still planning on and looking forward to our July Pacific Crest Open and Outreach shows. We are exploring options for extending that week or possibly adding a week preceding it. We will update you as soon as possible. Thank you for your ongoing support and understanding.

We have also received the latest USEF COVID-19 Action Plan for Returning Safely to Competition which includes a comprehensive list of requirements and recommendations. We recommend everybody read through it as it will help prepare you for what the “new normal” of showing will look like for the foreseeable future.

Stay healthy and ride on,

Cascade Horse Shows

Entries for Our 2020 Shows Are Now Open!

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See our new 2020 Prize List.

We are excited to announce that we are now accepting entries for all of 2020 Cascade shows!  Our shows often sell out quickly, so we’ve made it easy to get everything you need–show details, the Prize List, our online or downloadable entry forms, stall and RV reservations, and more–directly from our online Competitor Portal.

Update April 3: We are carefully monitoring the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The health and safety of our community is paramount to us. We are still accepting entries for June (which can be secured with a deposit) but we are not processing any charges or cashing any checks until we are certain the shows can run as scheduled. In the event of a cancellation, any deposits already processed will be refunded. Thank you for your continued support and please stay safe.

Save by Getting Your Entries in Sooner

All of our 2020 shows now have early entry dates which, if met, qualify you for a discount. You will definitely want to take advantage of this opportunity to save:

2020 Cascade Show
Dates
Early Entry *
Swiftwater Invitational
Alpine Preview
Pacific Crest Open
Pacific Outreach
Cascade Finals
6/10 – 6/14
6/17 – 6/21
7/9 – 7/12
7/9 – 7/12
9/5 – 9/6
Tue, 5/26
Tue, 5/26
Tue, 6/23
Tue, 6/23
Tue, 8/18
* Entries received on or before this date will receive a discount. Please see entry forms or Prize List for details.

Please Welcome our New Online-entry Partner, HorseShowing.com

For 2020, we have partnered with HorseShowing.com by Sport Data, Inc. to make it easier than ever to enter online, check results, and more.  Once our online entries go live, things may look a little different, but we trust you will find this new system easy to use and accurate. (We also continue to accept online entries through Equestrian Connect.)  As always with technology transitions, there may be a learning curve. Please feel free to give us feedback on your experience. We are always listening.

Say Hello to New Show Secretary Alison Gerami!

We are pleased to announce that Alison Gerami of Laguna Hills, CA has signed on to be new our show secretary this season. Alison brings years of experience in this role and we are thrilled to have her on the team. We will miss our long-time friend, former show secretary Barbara Baierle; she was a familiar face to most of you, so please join us in wishing her the very best.

So for those of you who plan to mail in your entries, we have a new mailing address this year:

Mail entries to:
Alison Gerami, Cascade Horse Shows
24431 Chancellor Ct., Laguna Hills, CA  92653

Please get your entries to us soon, and we will see you all in Cle Elum!

Trainers: Pre-book Your Stalls Now!

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In anticipation of another sold out season we’ve made it possible for you to prebook your stalls ahead of getting your entries in.

Submitting your stabling request now lets us know your barn is coming and gives you the best chance of getting the stabling you want. It also helps us plan for some desired stabling upgrades, including matted stalls (limited availability, additional cost).

Keep in mind, this is not an entry form, and we cannot confirm your stabling until we receive your valid show entries (with deposits), so you will want to get those to us as soon as possible once entries open. Also, choices cannot be guaranteed; though we do everything in our power to meet your preferences, stalls do sell out.

All of our shows have early entry dates which, if met, qualify you for a discount. You will definitely want to take advantage of this opportunity to save:

2020 Cascade Show
Dates
Early Entry *
Swiftwater Invitational
Alpine Preview
Pacific Crest Open
Pacific Outreach
Cascade Finals
6/10 – 6/14
6/17 – 6/21
7/9 – 7/12
7/9 – 7/12
9/5 – 9/6
Tue, 5/26
Tue, 5/26
Tue, 6/23
Tue, 6/23
Tue, 8/18
* Entries received on or before this date will receive a discount. Please see entry forms or Prize List for details.

If you would like to request your stalls for one of our shows in advance, you can do so here:

Prebook Your Stalls

Happy show season planning, and we’ll see you all in Cle Elum!

New Video Shows Covered Arena Progress

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Our venue partner, the Washington State Horse Park, has published an engaging new video showing the progress being made in the construction of the $4.6 million covered arena project.  Filmed by cinematographer Daniel Jayne, the video features a combination of aerial drone footage, time-lapse photography, and traditional video capture.

As you will see, arena construction is proceeding nicely:

Cascade Horse Shows has partnered closely with the Horse Park to ensure that changes and improvements at the Cle Elum, Washington venue continue to benefit all equestrian disciplines. We look forward to featuring the arena in future Cascade shows when the new facility is ready.

Wishing you the best in 2020!

Reminder: Renew Your Annual Memberships

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It’s that time of the year again. Annual memberships in our sport’s governing organizations, US Equestrian (USEF), the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA), and the Washington State Hunter Jumper Association (WSHJA), are due for renewal by November 30.

As a refresher, Cascade Horse Shows produces US Equestrian-rated and USHJA-sanctioned hunter jumper competitions that meet a high bar for professionalism, fairness, sportsmanship, and safety. Our participation in these organizations helps you know that our shows are not only fun and exciting, but competitively rewarding as well.

Want to know more about what these organizations do, and ratings, memberships and affiliations? See our explainer for details!

Memberships in both US Equestrian and the USHJA are required to compete in our rated shows. USHJA members earn points toward the national and Zone 9 championships. Membership in WSHJA is optional; however, WSHJA members can earn points toward WSHJA’s annual awards by participating in Cascade Horse Shows rated events.

Not yet ready to be a member but want to experience what a top-notch hunter jumper show is like?  Check out our popular Pacific Outreach show in July.  It is an unrated but fully sanctioned USHJA event that does not require an active membership to participate. We are proud to offer this event each year to help bring hunter jumper competition to a wider audience.

We look forward to seeing all of you in Cle Elum in 2020!

Arena Construction Moves Forward at the Washington State Horse Park

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Our friends at the Washington State Horse Park have been hard at work since the end of the show season breaking ground and starting construction of the brand new $4.6 million covered arena project. It’s all making for a very busy off-season for the Horse Park, as they work to get the new arena ready for the 2020 showing season. In their own words:

“Construction momentum has kicked into high gear since our final events last weekend… Digging dirt, setting footing forms, laying rebar, pouring concrete, spreading fill and gravel… it’s quite impressive to see the scale and speed of work underway!”

When completed, the new 200 feet wide by 350 feet long covered facility will include:

  • A 150’ X 300’ competition space (covered, not fully enclosed)
  • 25-foot wide covered “porch” wrapping around the competition space
    — Houses judges stands, portable seating, vendors, etc
    — Protection for horses and riders from weather while waiting to compete
  • Balanced visibility via a translucent skylight panel and indirect outdoor light
  • Lighting for nighttime events

Artist’s rendering of what the covered arena facility will look like when finished. Image courtesy WSHP.

The new covered arena will allow larger events, significantly extend the potential showing season, and attract new visitors to the Horse Park. Cascade Horse Shows is already making plans for how to incorporate the new space into our future shows.

The Park Needs Your Support

As a reminder, the Washington State Horse Park is a not-for-profit organization entrusted to steward and manage the facility for the benefit of all equestrian disciplines in our state. Cascade Horse Shows pays to use the park, and we depend on the Park’s ongoing success to keep delivering our high quality hunter jumper events. Please consider showing your appreciation with a donation of any size, and make sure to earmark it specifically “for hunter jumper improvements”.

An Unbridled Evening 2019!

You can show your support right now by making plans to attend the Washington State Horse Park’s annual gala and fundraiser on November 9, 2019 at the Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, WA.  Enjoy keynote speaker John Nicholson, the former CEO of the Kentucky Horse Park, as well as fabulous food, drink, silent & live auction, dessert dash and updates on the park.  Representatives from Cascade Horse Shows will be there to share the fun and excitement with other members of our community. Doors open for all guests at 5:30 pm. Get your tickets now.

2019 Cascade Circuit Cup Champions Named

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We are excited to announce our Cascade Circuit Cup award winners for 2019.  The Cascade Circuit Cup is bestowed upon the horses accumulating the most points in each of five categories in rated competition through the Cascade show season, culminating in our Cascade Finals show in September.

Each winner receives a crystal trophy commemorating their achievement, $100 Olson’s Tack Shop giftcard, a Horseware stable sheet presented by The Absolute Horse, plus $100 in show credit to use at any 2020 Cascade show (and of course, glory, pride and accomplishment!).

And the winners are:


Cascade Circuit Cup - USHJA HUNTER DERBY

Presented by Brick Road Farms

ALOHA
Owned by CHRISTY LARSON
Ridden by SHANNON HENDRICKSON
Trained by Shannon Hendrickson at SIGNATURE WEST FARMS

Shannon Hendrickson and Aloha (with owner Christy Larson and sponsor Carol Hinckley) celebrate victory in the USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Brick Road Farms at the 2019 Cascade Finals

Cascade hunter derbies challenge both horse and rider to demonstrate brightness and pace in the hunt field, and this year’s winner did all that and more. Aloha, the 8-year-old Hanoverian/Thoroughbred mare ridden by Shannon Hendrickson and owned by Christy Larson, became our first 2-time champion by winning the USHJA National Hunter Derby at both the Pacific Crest Open and Cascade Finals. Deserved and happy tears flowed freely as this was a crowning achievement of the partnership between Shannon and Aloha.

Thank you Carol Hinckley of Brick Road Farms for sponsoring this wonderful year-end award.

Congratulations again Christy Larson & Shannon Hendrickson on Aloha’s win!

 

Cascade Circuit Cup -HUNTER 3' AND UP

BAMBECO
Owned by ROBIN LANDRY
Ridden by EMMA ROBINS
Trained by Quinn Partridge at THUMBS UP FARM

Emma Robins and Bambeco, owned by Robin Landry, after receiving the Cascade Circuit Cup champion’s trophy at the Cascade Finals.

To win this award requires an impressive showing in a variety of classes, demonstrating beautiful hunter form over fences. Bambeco, the 7-year-old bay Warmblood gelding ridden by Emma Robins and owned by Robin Landry, did just that, placing top 3 at the Pacific Crest Open in Green Hunter 3’-3’3 & Children’s Hunter 3’, first in Children’s/Adult Hunter Classic, and winning Champion in the Children’s Hunter 3’ in the 17 & under. Bambeco also placed 5th in the USHJA National Hunter Derby and dominated the Adult Amateur/Children’s Hunter division at the Cascade Finals.

Thank you to our extraordinary sponsors who made this award possible: Jamie Kosele of PNW Stubben Saddles, Shelly Kerron of Legacy Hunters & Jumpers, Carol Hinckley of Brick Road Farms, Mike Akers with Olson’s Tack Shop.

Congratulations Robin Landry and Emma Robins on Bambeco’s win!

 

Cascade Circuit Cup - JUMPER 1.10 AND UP

ARMANI SP
Owned and Ridden by HANNA MORRIS
Trained by Conner Patrick at FUERZA EQUESTRIANS

Hanna Morris and Armani SP, shown with trainer Conner Patrick, left, parents, family and friends, after winning the Cascade Circuit Cup championship at the Cascade Finals.

Jumping 1.10m and above is when you’re considered to have hit the big times in show jumping, and all the competitors vying for this award have earned their place in the ring. But it was Armani SP, the 13-year-old bay Canadian Warmblood gelding, owned and ridden by Hanna Morris, that rose to the top this season. At Swiftwater, Armani SP was Reserve Champion in High Adult Amateur/High Children’s Jumper and winner of the High Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic. He was Champion in the High Adult Children’s Amateur Jumpers and 4th in the 1.15m at the Alpine Preview, and at the Cascade Finals, he placed first in the Need for Speed and was Champion in the 1.15m. A truly well deserved win.

Thank you to all the fabulous sponsors behind this award: Eve Willett with Red Pony Insurance, Abbie Block with Absolute Horse, Debbie Dillon with Horseware of Ireland, Lori Houston with Whittier Trust, Lindsey Spurgeon with Voltaire Design and Ansara Patterson of Geneva Financial.

Congratulations Hanna Morris on Armani SP’s win!

 

Cascade Circuit Cup - JUMPER UP TO 1.05M

E-MAGINE
Owned and Ridden by SUSAN BERNARD
Trained by Quinn Partridge at THUMBS UP FARM

Cascade Circuit Cup winner Susan Bernard, trainer Quinn Partridge, and Cascade Horse Shows management partner Jessica Vania at the 2019 Cascade Finals. (A patient Enjoy is standing in for her stablemate E-Magine.)

You’ve got to be fast, clear and completely in the zone to be the winner of the Cascade Circuit Cup Jumpers Up To 1.05. E-Magine, the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare owned and ridden by Susan Bernard, was all those things at every show in the circuit this season. At Swiftwater, E-Magine was frequently top of the leaderboard in the .90 Low Adult Amateur Jumpers, and at Alpine Preview, she was Champion in the Low Adult Amateur Jumpers. At the Pacific Crest Open, she was Reserve Champion in the Low Adult Amateur / Low Children’s Jumpers. At Cascade Finals she won 4 firsts, 1 second, and 1 third in the .90s, leading to being named Cascade Champion in the .90s and the USHJA Stirrup Cup. (Whew!)

Thank you to all the phenomenal sponsors behind this award: Lindsey Spurgeon with Voltaire Design, Morgan Carr with Encanto Valley Farm, and Katherine Wade-Easley with Sundance Equestrian.

Congratulations Susan Bernard on E-Magine’s big win!

 

Cascade Circuit Cup - HUNTER UP TO 2'9

PHOENIX RISING STAR
Owned by STACEY DINUZZO
Ridden by ZOE THOMSON
Trained by Shannon Peavey at NOVELLA FARMS

Zoe Thomson and trainer Shannon Peavey, right, with winning gelding Phoenix Rising Star (owned by Stacey DiNuzzo), show off their Cascade Circuit Cup champion’s trophy at the Cascade Finals.

Precise form and composure under saddle are essential to winning the low hunter divisions, and that’s what Phoenix Rising Star, the 14-year-old bay Oldenburg gelding owned by Stacey DiNuzzo and ridden by Zoe Thomson, demonstrated at every show this season. At Swiftwater, he was always in the ribbons in the 2’6” Low Children’s Hunter, and was 5th in the Junior/Amateur Hunt & Handy at Alpine Preview. At the Pacific Crest Open, he was 2nd in the Low Children’s/Adult Hunter Classic, and Champion in both the USHJA Hunter 2’6” and the Low Children’s Hunters, and in the Cascade Finals he won 7 of the 8 Hunter 2’6” classes entered.

Thank you to all the wonderful sponsors behind this award: Dianna Connelly Insurance Services, Kelsey King of American Mechanical Corp and Mikie Tracey Shepler. Lindsey Spurgeon with Voltaire Design, Heather MacDonald of Infinity Hunters & Jumpers, Shannon Hendrickson of Signature West Farms, The Grange of Issaquah, Rocking ‘E’ Feeds and Denise Youell of Farpoint Farms.

Congratulations Stacey DiNuzzo and Zoe Thomson on Phoenix Rising Star’s win!

We appreciate that you have a choice of shows to attend throughout the year. Thank you for choosing to spend time with us in the Cascades. We look forward to seeing you in 2020!

  • Swiftwater Invitational | June 10-14, 2020| USEF National 2* rated competition
  • Alpine Preview |  June 17-21, 2020 | USEF National 2* rated competition
  • Pacific Crest Open  | July 09-12, 2020 | USEF Regional 1 2* rated competition
  • Pacific Outreach | July 09-12 2020 | Unrated, USHJA-sanctioned
  • Cascade Finals | September 5-6, 2020 | USEF Regional 1 2* rated competition. Cascade Circuit Cup Championship show

Photos courtesy of Gary Voth Photography

Announcing the 2020 Cascade Show Season!

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Every showing season is exciting for us, but after having a fantastic 2019 (thanks to you!), we are looking forward to bringing you even more family-friendly Cascade Horse Shows vibes next year. To that end, we are pleased to announce our 2020 show season, where you’ll find all the thrilling competition, the signature free hospitality, and camaraderie you experience only at Cascade shows.

So mark your calendars and save the dates now for the most fun hunter jumper horse shows of the season!

Swiftwater Invitational
June 10 – June 14, 2020


5-Day USEF Hunter Jumper Horse Show
US Equestrian National (A) | US Equestrian Jumper 2 | USHJA Sanctioned
Our season opener is always a fan favorite and the perfect entry point for your Cascade showing experience.


Alpine Preview
June 17 – June 21, 2020


5-Day USEF Hunter Jumper Horse Show
US Equestrian National (A) | US Equestrian Jumper 2 | USHJA Sanctioned
Our popular 2nd week June show is packed with thrilling competition and our signature spotlight events.


Pacific Crest Open
July 9 – July 12, 2020


4-Day USEF Hunter Jumper Horse Show
US Equestrian National (B) | US Equestrian Jumper 2 | USHJA Sanctioned
Our July show is a summer highlight and never fails to bring smiles to exhibitors and spectators alike.


Pacific Outreach
July 9 – July 12, 2020


4-Day USHJA Outreach Show
Unrated | USHJA Sanctioned
Our USHJA Outreach shows brings hunter jumper competition to a wider audience. No USEF or USHJA membership fees required!


Cascade Finals
September 5 – September 6, 2020


2-Day USEF Hunter Jumper Horse Show
US Equestrian National (B) | US Equestrian Jumper 2 | USHJA Sanctioned
Our final show of the season blends fun with exciting competition and determines the winners of our Cascade Circuit Cup awards.

Riders Cap Off a Great Season at the 2019 Cascade Finals

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It didn’t take long for September to roll around and with it our highly anticipated Cascade Finals on the 7th and 8th in Cle Elum. As our final event of the season, this exciting show determined the winners of our 2019 Cascade Circuit Cup awards along with USHJA Zone 9 Stirrup Cup Championships.

Jenni Wymer and Sommersby take a victory lap after winning the Red Pony Insurance Mini Prix. Image by Gary Voth.

Leading off, Jenni Wymer and Somersby, owned by Juliet Sears Le Dorze, rode to victory in our thrilling Red Pony Insurance Mini Prix. You know Jenni has to be smiling to see her name etched again on the perpetual trophy for this event, which she has won several times prior. In second place was Raquel Davalos on Martinique. For Raquel, this was a return to showing after a nearly 8-year absence. Clearly, this accomplished Grand Prix rider has not lost her touch (and we are glad to have her back!).

In the USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Brick Road Farms, judges awarded the blue to Shannon Hendrickson and Aloha, owned by Christy Larson, as they demonstrated mastery in the Farpoint Farm Grand Hunter Ring. Finishing in second place was Amanda Gelderman-Brant aboard Luigi. With this victory, Shannon and Aloha became our first ever back-to-back winners of the Cascade Circuit Cup award for the USHJA Hunter Derby.

In the Open Hunter Classic presented by Signature West Farms, Zoe Macbeth finished first aboard Cecilia, while Sally Wolff placed second on Acoustic. Congratulations to all of our Hunter standouts!

Meanwhile back in the Sundance Equestrian Grand Jumper Ring, owner and rider Hanna Morris and Armani SP won our exciting Voltaire Need For Speed class just ahead of Naya Patterson and Phoenix Rising. With this win, Hanna received a beautiful Voltaire anatomic jumper girth valued at $400, and the pair also won our 2019 Cascade Circuit Cup award in the Jumper 1.10m and Up category. In the Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic presented by Voltaire Design Saddles, our winners were Ava O’Malley on PK Cooper, while Allison Dady Smith piloted her Irish muse Dublin The Oddz to a strong second place.

Also being named winners of our remaining 2019 Cascade Circuit Cup awards were Emma Robins and Bambeco (Hunter 3’ and Up), Zoe Thomson and Phoenix Rising Star (Hunter up to 2’9″), and Susan Bernard and E-Magine (Jumper up to 1.05m). We will have a follow up post about the 2019 Cascade Circuit Cup soon. Congratulations to all!

2019 Cascade Finals Photo Gallery

Images by Gary Voth