We are thrilled to announce that Jennifer Hansen has joined Cascade Horse Shows as our new competitions manager and partner. Jennifer has been an avid supporter of Cascade Horse Shows since its inception. In addition to over 25 years working many aspects of the hunter jumper industry, she also serves as huntsman for the Woodbrook Hunt Club.

This change comes as Andrea Schroeder, after 30 years of managing shows, has decided it’s time to spend her summers showing her own jumper Kolibri and cycling and traveling with her partner Tim. Andrea will continue to support our shows and will work closely with Jennifer to ensure a smooth transition.

Jennifer says it is in part the skills she has acquired as a huntsman that have prepared her for her new role with Cascade:

“Foxhunting is about much more than just hounds and horses. It’s about conservation, community, fostering relationships between sport and landowners, and creating a safe space, free of bias for all ages to enjoy the outdoors with respect.”

These values are similar to the mission on which Cascade Horse Shows was founded. Hansen continues:

“I hope to use my experience as liaison between Joint Base Lewis McChord, the Woodbrook Hunt Club, and the Woodbrook Foundation (a 501c3 organization) to strengthen the relationship between Cascade Horse Shows and the Washington State Horse Park, and with the equestrian community as a whole.”

With Jennifer on board, we know our shows will remain in good hands.

On to 2022

Please bear with us as we get things rolling for the 2022 season. The labor shortage that caused the cancellation of the Cascade Finals in 2021 is real. We are in the process of reviewing and reworking the schedules for this year’s competitions to take into consideration the staffing and the resources of the Horse Park. Long show days make for tired competitors and show staff alike. It’s our goal to address this issue while maintaining the fun and excitement that are the hallmarks of the Cascade show experience.

With your support, Cascade Horse Shows continues to offer exciting competition in the mountain setting of the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Our shows are fun for the whole family, from lead line and Outreach classes, to National Hunter Derbies, Derby Cross and Grand Prix show jumping.

Our 2022 show dates are set, and we are working hard to bring you another memorable season of showing in Cle Elum. We look forward to seeing you in June!

The Cascade Horse Shows Team

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.

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