127th National Horse Show is Underway in Syracuse, New York

Beezie Madden, shown here at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, is one of the founders of the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament. Photo: Clix/Shawn Hamilton

One of the biggest and oldest horse shows in America, the National Horse Show (NHS), is taking place this week in Syracuse, New York. Originally a society event held in New York City’s Madison Square Garden, the NHS currently has its home at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament (SIST), held in the Oncenter Complex in Syracuse.

The National Horse Show is widely known as the home of the ASPCA-Maclay Championships, a tradition since 1933. Qualified riders age 17 and under jump a course of heights up to 3’6″ in this class. Winning the Maclay is one of the highest honors in hunt-seat equitation. Past winners include William Steinkraus in 1941 and George Morris in 1952. Olympians McLain Ward and Chris Kappler were both Maclay reserve champions during their youth equitation careers, in 1993 and 1985, respectively. This year, the class takes place on the Sunday, November 7.

The $100,000 World Cup Qualifier of Syracuse will take place on Saturday evening at 7:00pm. This class draws top international grand prix riders and is one of the highlights for spectators at the SIST.

A free, online live stream of the show is available at SyracuseInvitational.com. Click here to view the stream. http://www.syracuseinvitational.com/Competition/FreeLivestream/tabid/901/Default.aspx

Fans in the Syracuse area can still purchase tickets to the show. Prices range from $10-25, and $1 of every ticket sold goes to the SIST’s charitable contributions. This year, the proceeds will benefit the Cornell University Equine Hospital and the Vera House, a Syracuse-based nonprofit that helps victims of domestic violence.

Other activities:

• The SIST hosts educational forums throughout the week. Topics include helmet fit, equine nutrition, an equine industry career and college fair, and breed demonstrations.
• The “Jump in and Horse Around” program brings elementary school students from the region to watch and learn about horses and the sport of show jumping.
• Entries from the “I Love NY Horses” art show will be on display at the venue during the show.
• A live auction will feature several unique lots, including a breeding to Judgement, Beezie Madden’s former mount; an equine performance analysis from Cornell University’s Equine Performance Clinic; and a ringside table for the weekend classes at this year’s SIST.
• The ride and drive competition has riders complete a jumper course, then dismount and climb aboard a tractor to navigate an obstacle course. Last year’s ride and drive included some comic relief when Leslie Burr Howard finished the jumping course with no faults only to crash the tractor during the second phase.

 

For more information, visit SyracuseInvitational.com and NHS.org