2022 SLNCHS Wrap – September 19

A long week of old lady horse showing finished yesterday and will resume again tomorrow with the “Post Charity” Horse Show. The St. Louis National Charity Horse Show was established as the first horse show west of the Mississippi in 1856. It was part of the World’s Fair in 1904. But, as things do, it faded from fashion, and ended in 1953.

In 1978, the horse show was revived and spent 20 years at Queeny Park in St. Louis county, providing many of my favorite horse show anecdotes – the show, and my riding career, were in their prime in those days with many colorful characters in attendance.

In 1999, the show moved to the newly built National Equestrian Center in Lake St. Louis, where it continued through last week. Unfortunately, the USEF (national governing body of horse shows) is eliminating the Maclay Regional Qualifying Class, which has attracted horses from all over the country. The show is sorely diminished already, and its future looks ominous as a big national event. No St. Louis Grand Prix this year. Horse Showing is changing.

Historically, there has been a “Pre Charity” Horse Show, which has been used to prepare for the big show. This year, alas, the NEC usurped the dates for a dressage show, hence the “Post Charity”. Kris will be here, though, and this will be my last chance to ride with him this year, so poor Bart must step up to the plate again tomorrow. But let’s review the past week…

My brief “recap” carried us to the weekend, but was quite sketchy. Susan Hibbard (whose main claim to fame is breeding Bart, of course) had an incredible week on Galatea (Teah to her friends), winning three of the four Novice Jumper classes, and primary colors in the classes when she didn’t earn blue. She was second by a fraction of a second in the Classic, with a beautiful round.

I’m jumping around a bit with this update. Speaking of the Classic, let’s go to Saturday evening, which had four Jumper Classics scheduled for the evening performance, along with a Hall Of Fame ceremony. We decided Bart should skip the morning Adult Jumper class, and save him for the Classic. There was great excitement, as we would be in the main ring, and it would feel like a real “show”.

I was walking the course at about 4:30, two hours ahead of the start time. Outside the big end doors, smoke was billowing from across Highway N! There was a terrible house fire, which burned up two houses and closed the highway. Luckily, we learned later that there were no injuries, but it was awful to see, and caused quite a mess on the roads.

Bad luck continued. In the first class of the evening, the Novice Classic, two of the first three horses on course fell down because of the footing. Susan was on deck, warmed up and ready to take her chances, when they decided to cancel all the classes and move them to the back ring on Sunday morning! So much for being finished on Saturday. Bart was standing tied in his stall, ready to be tacked up for the Low Adult Classic. Poor Bart, who had been promised a vacation Sunday, was loaded back into the trailer for night turnout, then had to return for another day of showing. Susan’s husband, Wiley, had to drive all the way home to Perry to feed the animals, then all the way back to watch the Sunday Classic. Jane Schweiger, who has trained me over the years, and is a longtime friend, was deservedly put into the St. Louis Horse Show Hall of Fame for her many years of dedication. That ceremony did take place on Saturday evening, with a good crowd attending, but it was a bit subdued, with all the changes.

Sunday, Bart and Petey traveled together back to the show in an unexpected downpour. Petey is returning to Kansas after a week of schooling at our house. We will miss him – he is a delightful horse and a perfect barn guest.

Bart was perfectly happy to horse show again, in fact he was as energetic as a youngster!

Bart had a lovely first round in the Classic. Alas, in the jump off, the old lady added a stride to the in and out, causing 4 faults. However, we still managed to win the “Weber Award” established by Harry, which is the fastest time in the jump off, regardless of faults (personally, I prefer double clears, but…). Bart had the fastest time of the day, and finished 5th, which paid quite well, and earned a big pink ribbon. It was great fun. I am so lucky to have such an exceptional horse, allowing me to continue to play this game!

Louise, our friend from Kansas City, who does the hunters, provided us an opportunity to watch the Low Derby. She and Encore looked magnificent, and finished in the ribbons in a huge class.

Our very young (12 years old) friend, Kendahl, daughter of Frank and Beth, who have Morrison Lane Stables near us, has started showing with Kris. It was fun to watch her, having known her since she was very little. She leased Smudge, one of Kris’ horses, and was a superstar in the hunters yesterday, winning two classes of 21 entries!

Well, time is, as usual, getting away from me. I have much to do. There is more to report, but it will have to wait. I have spent too long at Starbucks and must get home. We are having record heat, which is no fun at this time of year, but at least we know it won’t last…

Be safe, be well, stay cool. Slava Ukraini! Peace.