Every year, in the John Justin arena at the Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth, a little bit of magic happens. I’m not talking about the Fort Worth Stock Show as a whole, but a very special slice of it.
For the last seven years, the Chisholm Challenge horse show has taken place. Riders from ten different therapeutic riding centers across Texas meet to compete. The centers include All Star, Equest Therapeutic Horsemanship, ManeGait, Reins of Life Therapeutic Riding, Riding Unlimited, Rocky Top Therapy Center, Stable Strides Farm, Swan View Therapeutic Riding Center, Texas Tech Therapeutic Riding Center and Wings of Hope Equitherapy.
The idea for the Chisholm Challenge started in 2002 when a young man from All Star wanted to compete at the Fort Worth Stock Show. He realized his goal and did compete at the event, but this sparked the idea for the new portion of the show. Why couldn’t riders with disabilities compete in the Stock Show? There was absolutely no reason why they couldn’t, and thus the Chisholm Challenge was born.
The show takes place the week before the breed show kicks off of the Fort Worth Stock Show every year. This year it took place January 12-13, 2010. Sponsors for the show included the Fort Worth Stock Show, Gist Silversmiths and Texas Christian University. The show was also made possible by generous private donations.
The show is similar to any other breed show you might attend. Also, AQHA has their own section of the show, where Quarter horse exhibitors can compete for national points.
Exhibitors compete in classes such as English Equitation, Western Horsemanship, Showmanship, Barrels, Trail, Driving and Reining. Exhibitors compete in divisions based on the amount of assistance they require. Riders may require as many as three assistants, but some are able to ride independently.
Riders are given High Point awards and the best horse of the show is given the Carrot Award. Judge Pat Burton has been judging this show for the last 5 years and has judged other therapeutic riding events as well.
Judge Burton says his favorite part of this show is the sense of accomplishment he can see in each of the exhibitors.
“As a judge, you have to remember it’s your job,” Burton says. “You must put all personal biases aside and judge the class based on the requirements.”
The presentation of the awards is the most rewarding part, Burton says.
“It doesn’t matter the placing, you can see the glow in their faces and the sense of achievement, and that’s the most fabulous feeling,” he says.
I’ve been attending this show for the last three years myself, and every year is just as rewarding as the last. These riders compete with a true passion for the sport. They cheer each other on, even while they’re showing.
Judge Burton is right, it does not matter the placing, each exhibitor feels as proud as if they were all holding blue ribbons. Sometimes the horses don’t behave perfectly, but that does not discourage these young exhibitors.
Speaking as an exhibitor myself, I think we could all take a page from these rider’s books. There is no fighting during classes, no bad sportsmanship and none of the riders feel upset by their placings. These riders remember what showing horses is really all about; the bond between a horse and rider.
Every year, in the John Justin arena at the Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth, a little bit of magic happens. I’m not talking about the Fort Worth Stock Show as a whole, but a very special slice of it.
For the last seven years, the Chisholm Challenge horse show has taken place. Riders from ten different therapeutic riding centers across Texas meet to compete. The centers include All Star, Equest Therapeutic Horsemanship, ManeGait, Reins of Life Therapeutic Riding, Riding Unlimited, Rocky Top Therapy Center, Stable Strides Farm, Swan View Therapeutic Riding Center, Texas Tech Therapeutic Riding Center and Wings of Hope Equitherapy.
The idea for the Chisholm Challenge started in 2002 when a young man from All Star wanted to compete at the Fort Worth Stock Show. He realized his goal and did compete at the event, but this sparked the idea for the new portion of the show. Why couldn’t riders with disabilities compete in the Stock Show? There was absolutely no reason why they couldn’t, and thus the Chisholm Challenge was born.
The show takes place the week before the breed show kicks off of the Fort Worth Stock Show every year. This year it took place January 12-13, 2010. Sponsors for the show included the Fort Worth Stock Show, Gist Silversmiths and Texas Christian University. The show was also made possible by generous private donations.
The show is similar to any other breed show you might attend. Also, AQHA has their own section of the show, where Quarter horse exhibitors can compete for national points.
Exhibitors compete in classes such as English Equitation, Western Horsemanship, Showmanship, Barrels, Trail, Driving and Reining. Exhibitors compete in divisions based on the amount of assistance they require. Riders may require as many as three assistants, but some are able to ride independently.
Riders are given High Point awards and the best horse of the show is given the Carrot Award. Judge Pat Burton has been judging this show for the last 5 years and has judged other therapeutic riding events as well.
Judge Burton says his favorite part of this show is the sense of accomplishment he can see in each of the exhibitors.
“As a judge, you have to remember it’s your job,” Burton says. “You must put all personal biases aside and judge the class based on the requirements.”
The presentation of the awards is the most rewarding part, Burton says.
“It doesn’t matter the placing, you can see the glow in their faces and the sense of achievement, and that’s the most fabulous feeling,” he says.
I’ve been attending this show for the last three years myself, and every year is just as rewarding as the last. These riders compete with a true passion for the sport. They cheer each other on, even while they’re showing.
Judge Burton is right, it does not matter the placing, each exhibitor feels as proud as if they were all holding blue ribbons. Sometimes the horses don’t behave perfectly, but that does not discourage these young exhibitors.
Speaking as an exhibitor myself, I think we could all take a page from these rider’s books. There is no fighting during classes, no bad sportsmanship and none of the riders feel upset by their placings. These riders remember what showing horses is really all about; the bond between a horse and rider.
