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

2019 Cascade Circuit Cup Standings

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Last year, we introduced our Cascade Circuit Cup Awards to recognize outstanding horses and riders over our entire rated show season. The awards, given to the horses accumulating the most points in each of 5 categories, became a huge exhibitor favorite and are even more popular in 2019!

There are still a ton of horses in the running for this year’s championships, and just one more opportunity to secure your points: at the Cascade Finals September 7th-8th in Cle Elum.  At the show we will tally the final results and announce this year’s award winners.  As a special bonus, points earned at the Cascade Finals are tabulated at 1.5x the normal value.

Reminder: every class at every height is included in points tallying, so every horse is a contender! See our updated award categories and specifications.

Current Standings

Here are the current standings in the 2019 Cascade Circuit Cup Awards. Note that this isn’t a “top 10” list for each category, since every horse listed has enough points going into the Finals they could take home the trophy and all the glory.

See You In September!

Good luck riders!  See you in Cle Elum in September.

From right, Shelly Kerron on MTM Uber, Rachael Davis on Luxury, and Heather MacDonald on Cascade place 1st through 3rd in the USHJA National Hunter Derby at the 2019 Swiftwater Invitational in June. Image by Gary Voth.

 

Big Smiles at the 2019 Pacific Crest Open & Outreach

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Our concurrent pair of July shows, the Pacific Crest Open and Pacific Outreach, were big hits as competitors, trainers, family and friends enjoyed near-perfect weather in Cle Elum. The mix of riders and horses made for busy days, but there was plenty of entertainment and hospitality to keep everyone smiling and having a good time.

In the rings, competition was as exciting as ever. Katherine Wade-Easley won our $2,000 Cascade Mini-Prix aboard Retro Girl, owned by Cascade’s own Jessica Vania. The pair overcame Katherine’s mare Risky Business and the rest of the field in a tight finish. The tables were turned in the Need for Speed presented by Voltaire Design, with Katherine Wade-Easley and Risky Business taking the win ahead of her second entry, Retro Girl. It’s safe to say that all three of these fierce ladies put on a jumper clinic for their appreciative fans.

Katherine Wade-Easley and Retro Girl win the Cascade Mini Prix at the Pacific Crest Open. Image by Gary Voth.

In the Grand Hunter Ring, Shannon Hendrickson and Aloha, owned by Christy Larson, took the blue in our $1,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Brick Road Farms. The pair is no stranger to the Derby winner’s circle, having won our 2018 Cascade Circuit Cup championship for this event. However, they had to overcome a very strong challenge by Jacque Stuckens on FF Spotlight who rode beautifully together across the morning hunt field.

Our Classics winners included Kira Charoenkul on her stylish pony Milo in the Low Childrens/Adult Hunter Classic 2’6″, presented by Dianna Connelly Insurance Services. Emma Robins piloted Bambeco to the win in the Children’s/Adult Hunter Classic 3′, presented by Stübben Custom Saddles.

Our special classes brought loads of fun and smiles to the faces of both exhibitors and spectators alike. First up was our Oh, Dear, I Need a Beer Pro class. Our judges really got into the spirit of things as they asked the pros to complete a series of “wrong” maneuvers and demonstrate handiness over a series of crossrails. Jonathan Shank won the event on Juneau, demonstrating both poise in the saddle and impressive, um, technique with a glass. Kate Sharkey and Useless Bay were a close second, but we have a feeling that every one of our pros felt like a winner after this class!

Sara Davis and Hamlin won the Cascade Canine Jumper Classic presented by Evolution Equestrian, while Rylan Davis won the No Joke, Hold My Coke hippity-hop class for 18 and under. A mother and son dynamic duo! Incidentally, Rylan and Helios were also division Champions in the meter jumpers, so we know he is also skilled with real horses!

Our Pacific Outreach event was very popular this year and fun for all involved. Tracy Bryant picked up the win in our USHJA Outreach Hunter Derby aboard Happy Days, while Ava Holmes and Trouble With Tribute were champions in the Outreach Jumper .95m division.

We wish we could mention every winner of every class… but we hope that whatever your placing you had an awesome time. As always, thank you for choosing to show with us. See you at the Cascade Finals!

2019 Pacific Crest Open & Outreach Photo Gallery

Images by Gary Voth

Thrills and Chills at the 2019 Alpine Preview

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Our second 2019 June show, the Alpine Preview, lived up to its predecessors for fun and exciting hunter jumper competition. Even the weather was thrilling, giving us a blustery start to the week, but our horses and riders rode through it with flying colors, as always.

Patrick Billes guided his willing partner Rabenschwarz to victory in the $9,999 Horseware Grand Prix presented by Absolute Horse, with Rachel Geringer aboard Alimera taking second. In the USHJA National Hunter Derby, Shelly Kerron repeated her win from the prior week, this time on MTM Check Me Out, against a strong field including 2nd place finisher John French and Casino T. Artistry, piloted by the steady and composed John French, took first in the USHJA Green Hunter Challenge.

15-year-old Andee Hawk and Summer Breeze were impressive in winning the Voltaire Need For Speed, overcoming challenges from a fast field that included Tami Masters and barn mate Kayla Long. Meanwhile, Nicole Stern and Jesting showed fine hunter hack form in capturing the Rosé All Day Amateur Classic, facing down a dedicated challenge from Kelsey King and Caspian C.  Our inaugural $1,000 Junior/Amateur Hunt & Handy, presented by Infinity Hunters and Jumpers, was won by Phoebe Webb aboard Happy Together, while 17-year-old Madeleine Nielsen won our Horsemanship Challenge, presented by Northwest School of Animal Massage.

As in prior seasons, the Woodbrook Hunt Club was on hand to present the Woodbrook Hunter Pace, and a full field enjoyed the beautiful cross country trails of the Washington State Horse Park.

There was even more excitement on Saturday before the Grand Prix, as 15-year-old Phoebe Webb hippity-hopped her way to victory in our inaugural children-and-juniors-only No Joke, Hold My Coke Classic presented by Long Farms. Following the Grand Prix, Absolute Hunters & Jumpers presented the fan-favorite Absolute Blast Karaoke Classic, while everyone enjoyed our free hospitality events throughout the show week.

2019 Apline Preview Photo Gallery

Images by Gary Voth.

 

 

2019 Swiftwater Invitational: Fun, Sun, and Smooth Operators

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The season-opening 2019 Swiftwater Invitational, held in Cle Elum June 12-16, was a fantastic way to begin the Cascade Horse Shows season. The weather was warm and sunny, the horses and riders were ready and willing, and the fun factor was high.

Nobel, guided by professional owner/rider Lindsay Uyesugi-Lacey, was in fine form as the pair captured the top prize in the signature $5,000 Whittier Trust Welcome Prix, overcoming tough competition from second-place Jill Blunt and Udam. Shelly Kerron and MTM Uber outrode a strong field to win the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Brick Road Farms, while amateur Rachael Davis took the number 2 spot aboard Luxury. The fast-paced 1.20m Voltaire Need for Speed was won by professional Katherine Wade-Easley and her mare Risky Business, edging out Georgia Dillon and Ibrahim.

Meanwhile, Lisa Shane, aboard Taylor Guaron’s Ffenomenal, were on point to win the $1,000 USHJA Green Hunter Challenge presented by Olson’s Tack Shop, while the dynamic duo of Lina Jernberg and Paige Wagter demonstrated mastery of the $750 Captain Morgan Pro-Am Challenge aboard Reminisce. The Rosé All Day Amateur Classic was stylishly won by none other than Allison Dady Smith and Dublin The Oddz, taking home a case of Swiftwater Cellars rosé wine for their efforts.

Many other fantastic riders and horses distinguished themselves during the show. Congratulations to them and to all of our champions and reserve champions. As always, we thank our sponsors for helping us make it all happen!

2019 Swiftwater Invitational Photo Gallery

Enjoy this gallery of images from the show by photographer Gary Voth.

Understand the 2019 Requirements for Show Entry

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A number of rules have changed for 2019 that affect requirements for entering Cascade Horse Shows’ rated events (essentially, all shows other than the Pacific Outreach).  Most of this information is also on our show pages, but if you aren’t sure what you need to do or just need more background, then this post can help.

What is changing?

Microchipping

The biggest rule change for 2019 involves microchipping. All horses competing in USHJA sanctioned competitions must have a compliant microchip to compete. This requirement protects owners from fraud and ultimately benefits the animals too. There are a few exceptions: horses entered in USHJA Outreach classes, USEF Opportunity classes, leadline, and walk-trot do not have to be microchipped. Microchipping costs vary according to the veterinarian, but can often be performed starting at around $20. See the USHJA FAQ for more information.

Safe Sport Training

Another change for 2019 is the requirement for USEF Safe Sport Training. According to the USEF, “all adult US Equestrian (USEF) members with a Competing Membership must complete USEF’s Safe Sport Training to be eligible to participate in USEF activities”. Which of course includes Cascade shows. The good news is that this can be done conveniently online through your US Equestrian member dashboard.  Please be sure to do this before joining us in Cle Elum!

What else do I need to do to enter?

Having fun is the most important requirement. Image by Gary Voth

Other requirements such as having valid USEF and USHJA memeberships are not changing, but are important to know before attending our shows. Here is a summary of the things you’ll need to do for our rated events:

  • All entrants must have valid, active USEF and USHJA memberships.
  • Completion of USEF Safe Sport Training is required for adults (18 years and older) to participate in USEF activities, including competitions. See the FAQ for more details.
  • Microchipping: A compliant microchip is required for all horses competing in USEF-licensed and/or USHJA sanctioned competitions, as per above. See the USHJA FAQ for more information.
  • A completed and signed Release Form must be included with each show entry. If you complete your entry online, please make sure to also fill out the Release Form and send directly to Cascade Horse Shows per the instructions on our show pages.

Any final requirements?

Yes, the biggest one of all: have fun! You are the reason we do this, and it’s our commitment to make our shows as fun and rewarding as possible.  We can’t do it without your support, so thank you for choosing to spend time with us.  We we wish you the best in your 2019 show season!

“The Horse Does All the Work…”

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How often have we heard that one? Even our best friends and family members will tease us with it from time to time. Well, the horse does do a lot of the work, but non-riders underestimate the physical and mental skills demanded of equestrian sport. The effort it takes to ride well is no less than for other extreme sports, and as competitive athletes, we know that fitness matters a great deal.

Equestrians are athletes. The leg strength and aerobic fitness required by the rider to get a horse around a course is like the demands of cross country running.

Consider the sheer toughness it takes to compete in equestrian sport:

Our “teammate” is a half-ton animal with a mind of its own. We jump obstacles, sometimes our height or greater, frequently coming at them at speed. We cannot speak to our partner; we communicate through our body and our mind. The thin line of trust between us and our horse can be broken in an instant, with potentially disastrous results.

Giving our teammate the correct signals and keeping our posture in the saddle while moving at speed and over jumps is incredibly demanding physically. We train with our partner over days, weeks and years to hone our trust and perfect the smallest technique. If an accident or injury occurs, both we and our horse can develop incapacitating fears that must be overcome through training and mental toughness. Building (or rebuilding) mutual trust for riding requires extraordinary commitment for both rider and horse.

For the competitive equestrian, fitness is not merely a desire, it’s a necessity.

Equestrians are athletes. The leg strength and aerobic fitness required by the rider to get a horse around a course well is like the demands of cross country running. If you’ve never viewed yourself as an athlete, consider the core strength needed to correctly enter, maintain, and exit the two-point position when jumping your horse.

Of course, most of us do not compete at the Grand Prix or Olympic levels. But good fitness is no less important. In horse sports, we are fortunate that we can start riding at almost any level of fitness. The basics of sitting on and enjoying the experience can be had without having to take to the gym. But, as with most things, there comes a point where “just” riding is no longer enough. To continue to improve, our fitness outside of the arena must be a priority.

Beautiful woman in fitness attire performing bicep curls

Cross training balances strength, cardio, and flexibility. Image by Bruce Mars via pexels.com

If you wish to become more fit and improve your riding, what kind of approach is best? The answer is the one that you will actually do, of course! While anything you enjoy doing can help, cross training is generally considered the easiest way to strengthen riding muscles while increasing endurance in the saddle. A good cross training program balances strength, cardio, and flexibility for all around fitness. Becoming more fit also brings benefits such as being more mindful about diet. (Even if that does go out the window at the horse show!)

So, if you have yet to make the commitment to yourself — and to your horse — to become more fit, saddle up! Speak to your doctor or health professional before beginning a serious exercise program, but if you’ve got the green light, go for it. You will look and feel great, your riding will improve, and the next time you hear that comment you’ll have even more reason to smile and say, “Oh, really?”

Editor’s note: this article was prepared with contributions from the following professionals:

  • Jason Oliver, health & fitness consultant
  • Kevin Yruretagoyena, USEF licensed jumper judge
  • Katherine Wade-Easley, professional rider & trainer