ShowBiz Feature
Considering the variety of classes it never got repetitious; there was always something new going on at every show. Add to that the camaraderie between riders, clients and owners, and you have a grand old time with standing room only for the evening classes.
something new going on at every show. Add to that the ca- maraderie between riders, clients and owners, and you have a grand old time with standing room only for the evening classes. The reality of that time in our sport was there were fewer
and Diane Grod on Bomella Bobby won one. Even then the west coast held its own against the best because they were, and still are, some of the best the country has to offer!! Hunters were more of a gentleperson’s sport then and that
shows. The yearlong circuit was Indio for 1 week, Yuma in Arizona for 1 week, A to Zoo Show in Phoenix, two shows in Tucson, two at Goodyear in Scottsdale, Channel City in Santa Barbara, Del Mar, back to the Flower Show in Santa Barbara, Flintridge, Cow Palace in San Francisco, The Forum in Los Angeles, add in LA Equestrian Center in the 80’s along with the change to the HITS ownership of the Indio circuit as it changed and grew. Finally, at the end of the year everyone headed to the east on their pilgrimage for the Indoors. Anyone left behind went to the Santa Barbara Turkey Show and took every rider in their barn!! Probably one of the first Grand
was reflected in the classes held. Classes started right off the bat with the 1st Year Green Hunters at 3’6”, that was the low- est height hunter class offered. Juniors and Amateur started in their respective classes at 3’6”, no smaller. There was no Pre- Green, Low Hunters, Baby Green classes, Short-Long Stirrup or Ch/AA Hunters and certainly no cross rails. Ladies to Ride Hunters were a delight to watch, Side Saddle
Prix events to come west was the $15,000 Rancho Bernardo Cham- pionship Invitational in Novem- ber of 1972. Tony Font, Anthony D’Ambrosio and several other east coast riders traveled out here to get a shot at what was then big money. Another step was the $20,000 Or- ange County Grand Prix on the football field of the Santa Ana High School at Flower and First Street. For this one Rodney Jen- kins, Conrad Holmfield and sev- eral of their friends came west to get a chance at that money. Rodney’s horse, Idle Dice, was a world favorite at that point and fans flocked to the class just to get a look at him in per- son.
Grand Prix was another class on this coast during that time period that drew riders from the east again. The first class ever of this amount, cars lined up for miles to bring huge numbers of spectators and fill the stands. A wide variety of riders won these early classes. Rodney Jen- kins riding #1 Spy walked away with one of the winning checks, our own Rusty Stewart won one riding Rise and Shine
The record setting $100,000 San Diego Country Estates
competition was always interesting, and the Stake class ended each division. There was always a Cham- pionship awarded in the Stake class, a Di- vision Champion and a Show Champion. Each of those ribbons got bigger with the Show Champion receiving something remarkable like a beautiful framed hunt print by a popular horse artist. By far the favorite was the Hunter Ap-
Bernie Traurig and Dianne Grod, 1976
class since they never knew what the judges would do, say or change in the order before the winner was announced. Most riders had a separate small trunk where all the appointments were kept in pristine order! Over the years the hunter specialty classes have been re-
placed by divisions of 3-5 identical classes, sometimes ending in a Classic. An occasional Handy Hunter will be added to complete a division. The fence heights in the hunters currently start with the Baby Green at 2’6” while Juniors and Amateurs can start at 2’3” in the Short-Long Stirrups. There is now a variety of classes for just about anyone. The jumpers have in recent years followed suit and now a
1. Hillary Kuhne Ridland, 1972 2. Butch and Guy Thomas, 1979 3. Rusty Stewart and Rise and Shine 4. Michael Roy Curtis, 1988 5. Tommy Lowe and Apollo, 1972 6. Deb Stewart and Tuxedo, 1980 7. Jolene Labour and Hell Set 8. The Three Bares, 1982 9. Gene Lewis and Book Learnin', 1963 10. Blair Nissen and Just a Moment, 1987 11. Robert Ridland and Kid Shannon 12. Robert Ridland, 1987 13. Lucy Stewart and Bomalla Babe, 1975 14. Susie Hutchison and Fleetwood, 1988 15. Tab Hunter and Sign Painter, 1970 16. Rusty Stewart and Vantage Point, 1972.
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pointments Class! Bridles with no buckles allowed, bits sewn to the bridle leather and reins sewn to the bit, white string gloves tucked under the billets with thumb on top pointing forward, a sandwich bag with a bread and butter sandwich - no crust, flask with Brandy and several other requirements. After competing over the jumps, riders and horses were called back in order of preference and the judges did a detailed inspection, including tasting and enjoying the sandwich and Brandy if they wanted to. Hunter spectators loved this
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