WHAT ARE WE MISSING?
The Case for the Saddlebred Hunter Division
By Allison Lambert
The Saddlebred industry is perhaps the paragon of the show horse world—from the traditions and stature of our breed to the grandeur of our World’s Championships, it is one that is looked up to by many in the show horse community. So how could a breed that is admired by so many be so far behind when it comes to progress?
As a child who grew up in the Saddlebred industry, I spent the majority of my life with “breed-blinders” on, completely unaware of the kinship we share with two particular breeds that are very similar to ours. It wasn’t until expanding National Horseman’s coverage to the Morgan industry four years ago, and then launching National Horseman Arabian two years later, that I really came to appreciate the many similarities the three breeds have in common.
Over the past few years, I’ve had the pleasure of attending both the Morgan Grand National and World Championship Horse Show and Arabian U.S. Nationals, and they offered the enlightening perspective that comes from comparison. In attending the major Championships for three different breeds, I’ve learned that areas where one breed lacks, the others thrive, proving just how much we could all learn from each other if we peered over the fence. However, despite the differences and similarities we share, it’s impossible not to notice one major common denominator shared by the other two breeds where the Saddlebred industry completely falls short: the lack of a Hunter division at our World’s Championships.
Some of the largest and most exciting classes at Morgan Grand National and Arabian U.S. and Youth Nationals are consistently in the Open Hunter divisions. The crowds go wild for the top trainers in the industry as they vie for a title against high quality horses, often having to contend with 20 or more other entries. Equally thrilling and well filled are the amateur and junior exhibitor classes, which are just as competitive as their Open counterparts. As a result of this explosion in popularity, shows continue to add more and more classes to their schedule, and entries continue to flock to compete. In fact, Morgan Grand National held more than 60 classes in the Hunter Pleasure and Equitation divisions this year, while an astonishing 120 classes took place between U.S. and Youth Nationals.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and it would take some time to implement that many new classes onto our show schedules, but it is up to the leaders in the Saddlebred industry to start pushing for the expansion of the Hunter Country Pleasure division and recognize its value to the industry by adding a World’s Championship for this wonderful discipline. Let’s start with one class, one championship and fight for progress that will benefit every facet of our beloved industry.
BREEDERS
There has been much talk in recent years about the declining number of registered Saddlebreds, a problem that will continue as the divide between the upper-echelon, high price tag horses and the mid-range horses grows while the costs for breeders also rise. Many horses are cast aside when it becomes clear that they will not make elite saddle seat horses, often leaving breeders with horses they can’t sell.
However, as the Morgan and Arabian industries have discovered, the hunter divisions can give a home to many amazing horses who might not carry their heads high, trot above level or make the cut in other divisions. Saddlebred breeder, trainer and judge Melissa Moore recognizes the importance of finding a job for these horses. “As a breeder, there are several horses a year that come out of all breeding programs that are not going to be big-time performance horses. Yet they are beautiful, mannered and athletic, and thus perfect for the Hunter division,” she says. "The American Saddlebred hunter is fun to ride and a new and exciting challenge for a saddle seat rider to learn. I think the Hunter division is a great division to promote the versatility of our breed and give our clients a fun new discipline to learn while loving and promoting the American Saddlebred."
Elisabeth Goth, a breeder and World’s title-winning amateur exhibitor agrees. “I think the expansion of the Hunter Country Pleasure division can only help our breed by finding more opportunities for horses that might otherwise fall through the cracks,” she says. "Hunter Country Pleasure would greatly expand our exposure to all horse lovers as an alternative use for American Saddlebreds. It will also create among American Saddlebred people more disciplines for our riders and horses to excel in."
Arabian and Morgan breeders have already been able to capitalize on the growing popularity of the Hunter divisions, and it has only strengthened their industry. Longtime members of the Arabian industry Samantha Hilliard and Chelsea Wesson teamed up to form the Arabian Hunter Pleasure Association to help promote the division within that industry and offer incentives to breeders and exhibitors through the creation of a futurity program. With the first AHPA Hunter Pleasure Futurity slotted to debut at U.S. Nationals this year, the organization has already been a huge success, and Samantha has witnessed how attitudes have shifted over recent years regarding the division. "I think the [Arabian] industry as a whole has changed since the early days of when the Hunter classes were first introduced," she says. "At first, very few took the division seriously, and no one really campaigned a stallion as a stallion that can produce great hunters. Well, that has definitely changed. At the 2017 U.S. Arabian National Championships, I believe at least five of the National Champion or Reserve Champions in the Hunter Pleasure Open, Junior Horse, AOTR and the Maturity classes were stallions." She adds, "This is a huge step in the right direction. We see more and more people breeding for hunters. This speaks volumes for our industry. We are changing as the times are changing and adjusting for what people want to show and ride."
Elizabeth "Bitsy" Jenkner, who works with Samantha as a board member for the AHPA, believes that as the respect for the Hunter division grows, so will the value of a nice hunter horse, something that will greatly benefit breeders. "The perception of the Western pleasure and country pleasure ‘drop outs’ has greatly changed. People used to perceive it as the catch-all discipline. Now, it is one of the most competitive divisions, consistently has the highest entries, and is extremely popular!" she explains. "Now, people are specifically breeding for the next national champion hunter pleasure horse, and people are out looking to spend top dollar on their next national champion hunter pleasure horse. I think that speaks volumes."
In fact, more and more Arabian breeders are investing time and money into producing quality hunter horses for just this reason. A perfect example is Royal Arabians, who stand the multi-titled hunter stallion Royal Maestro, the latest cover star of National Horseman Arabian. They decided to keep him out of the show ring this year to focus on breeding, and the hope is that he will produce the next generation of show ring stars. "We love the Hunter Pleasure division as it is such a natural way of going for the horse, and it is also a wonderful division for new riders to get started in as well," say Royal Arabians owners Cindy McGown and Mark Davis, who have had several top hunters with trainer Justin Cowden.
TRAINERS
While the Hunter division may seem foreign to trainers who have spent most of their lives working saddle seat horses, more and more trainers are embracing this division. Decorated Saddlebred and Morgan trainer Kristen Cater made a splash last year when she won the Morgan Hunter Pleasure World Championship for the second time with Epona's Mo'o Lio GCH, the very first hunter horse she ever trained. Although she admits that there was a steep learning curve at first, the experience was a valuable one, and she is a strong advocate for the division in both the Morgan and Saddlebred breeds. "I believe it is important to have a division for every kind of horse regardless of where their talents lie or what their conformation is. Just because a horse is not built to wear the bridle 'high-headed' does not mean that it doesn’t have all the same talent, beauty and quality of a 'park horse,'" says Kristen. "I think that the promotion of this division is necessary in order to create another market for useful, quality horses that might not be as competitive in the other open and pleasure divisions. Just as the Western division has done, I think if we bring the beauty and quality of our breed into this division it will grow and will be respected, and will in turn create another market to show and sell our amazing breed in. And once again, it will showcase their versatility."
Sarah Gove, who has trained and shown numerous World Champions across the Morgan Hunter divisions, has seen nothing but positive effects on her industry thanks to the growth of this discipline. "I believe the Hunter Pleasure division has added value to the show horse industry on many levels. For one, it has added sheer numbers. The Hunter division is often packed; the amateur and junior exhibitors often in the teens and 20s at regular state and regional level horse shows, and larger in OKC. The important part is they are packed with quality individuals. In a time when horse show numbers are dwindling, these large divisions not only support the actual horse show, they enforce a perception to the laymen that a blue ribbon means something in a large class!"
She continues, "The division is also a place where perhaps an average income family can still be competitive. A medium-priced horse is still capable of placing at the top of the card, whereas sometimes in the pleasure or park divisions you need something nearing six figures in order to be competitive. In addition to being affordable, sometimes it gives an opportunity to a child or adult who is intimidated by the energy of a park or pleasure horse to still enjoy showing horses. The division lends itself to a smart, talented rider that can read the traffic the way a great football player reads the field."
Saddlebred trainer Tammy DeVore, who is famous for her hand with a gaited horse, has been a vocal supporter of the Hunter Country Pleasure division ever since she began training her first hunter, Jolly Mon Sing, for client Ali DeGray. She says of training "Jolly," "It gave me a better understanding of the division and more respect for the type of horse, both mentally and physically, that it takes to be competitive. It also made me love the Saddlebred breed more because they have so many talents and make such beautiful hunters." She now believes that the promotion of this division and the addition of a World's Championship class is crucial for the breed, saying, "First and foremost, our breeders need this! Not all horses are going to be good at the same thing. The more places that we have for our horses to showcase their individual talents, the better off our breed will be." She adds, "This division is also great for the amateur-owner-trainer to participate in. An AOT can keep a nice hunter at home and still compete on a high level. That opens the breed up to more people. As a trainer, whatever makes our breed grow and shows more people how wonderful and versatile they are is going to end up being good for me."
EXHIBITORS
Perhaps the strongest argument for the expansion of the Hunter Country Pleasure division and its addition to the World's Championship schedule is the benefit for exhibitors. Industry professionals from all three show horse breeds agreed about one very important point: the hunter divisions provide opportunity for a greater range of horse enthusiasts as it is a great starting point for those new to the industry and it is often more budget-friendly than some of the other divisions. Not everyone can afford a six-figure park horse or can have their horse in full training at a premier show barn. These owners and riders have just as much a right to a chance at a blue ribbon, and their efforts should be rewarded by giving them their time to shine at Louisville.
CH Harlem's Sweet Success, a.k.a. "Danny," has become the poster child for how the Hunter Country Pleasure division allows Saddlebreds who don't fit the saddle seat mold to still rise to the top of their game on a national level. Ridden by Caitlin Brannon and trained by Caitlin's mother, Phyllis Brannon, Danny has won the Hunter Country Pleasure National Championship both years it has been held at the UPHA/American Royal. "We love competing in the Hunter division since it is a new era for the Saddlebreds. It’s awesome to compete in a class of 24 horses and get a top ribbon. The Hunter classes are usually the largest classes at the shows. We admire that most of the professional trainers have accepted the hunters and would be willing to have a hunter horse in their show string. It’s just so exciting to see the division growing so fast and to be part of it is awesome," Phyllis says. However, she recognizes that the industry still has a long way to go. "The challenging part is the major disappointment of not having the beautiful Saddlebred hunters at the World’s Championship Horse Show!" she says. "We need to look at the success of other breeds, how they are creating growth and interest within their breed."
Despite their frustrations, the Brannons still work tirelessly to promote the breed through Danny, taking him to open shows and using him as a therapeutic riding horse, things that aren't always possible with your typical show horse. "It takes a special horse to be the top in his division and then to be the top in an Exceptional Challenge Cup class," says Phyllis, referring to his wins in that class with Annie Messer. "We are very blessed to have this wonderful horse, and we love to share him with others."
The Brannons hope that Danny will serve as an example for what kind of special horses can thrive in this division, and that his success will show how important hunters are to the industry. "We need to accept change if we are going to grow as a breed. We need to have an appeal to others outside the Saddlebred word. We need a division where someone who shows a different breed can relate to and come join our Saddlebred show world as a competitor," explains Phyllis. "The expansion of the Hunter division has created a lot of financial opportunities in our Saddlebred world. Trainers, grooms, breeders, owners, veterinarians, farriers, tailors, consignment shops, tack shops, equipment manufacturers, publications, plus many others now have requests for new business that they may not have had 10 to 20 years ago. The business side of Hunter division just keeps growing and creating so much opportunity! Opportunity that we all need!"
Ali DeGray, a lifelong exhibitor of Saddlebreds and Hackney Ponies, became hooked on the division when she purchased her current Hunter Country Pleasure partner, Jolly Mon Sing, relishing the challenge this new division offered. "I love competing with Jolly Mon Sing because he has taught me more than I had thought possible. It’s a completely different style of riding, and I love learning new disciplines because the lessons can be applied across the board," says Ali. "The bridling, the seat and the transitions took me the longest to get a hang of, because a hunter is so much quieter and more meticulous than the average gaited horse I have shown. And honestly, who doesn't want to gallop around the ring as fast as they can get away with?" she jokes.
Like many, Ali thinks the Hunter division opens many doors to those on the outside looking in. "I wholeheartedly believe that the inclusion and promotion of ASB hunt seat is an asset to this industry. Not all Saddlebreds are built to trot above level, their heads wadded up to their necks, and not all riders want to tackle that level of a mount," she says. "I am so proud of the versatility of this breed, from the hottest five-gaited horses to the gentlest of hunters. I would love for more people to watch a show, find a class that resonates with them, and say, ‘I want to do this.’ Promoting the hunters just widens the audience, and gives more people the opportunity to love the American Saddlebred." One way to widen that audience is by including the hunters in the World's Championships with the best of the best in all the other show horse divisions. "I am equally as proud of Jolly Mon Sing as I am of CH Memories Of Cabo or Enchanted Kiss or Heartland High Tech," she notes. "It’s an honor and privilege to show all of these horses and ponies, and it would be an honor to get to compete with Jolly on the same stage as the others."
Already there is a large community of exhibitors, trainers and breeders voicing their support for the Saddlebred hunter, many of the members among the elite of the saddle seat divisions. Hunter Country Pleasure classes are repeatedly one of the largest classes at any show. At St. Louis National last year, there were 11 classes offered, and the number of hunters competing in these classes rivaled those of all the other divisions. With 14 in the Hunter Classic Final and 13 in the Prospect class, the classes boasted numbers equal to or larger than the Country Pleasure, Three-Gaited Pleasure, Park Pleasure and Five-Gaited Pleasure classes.
While there are many wonderful traditions our breed upholds and cherishes, those traditions should never be at the cost of progress. Tammy DeVore sums it up best, saying, “We complain about our horses ending up in the wrong places. We complain about the breed not growing. We complain about losing people to other breeds, disciplines, and interests. We as trainers, owners and breeders have to open our minds. We must change with the times. I hope people will come to understand how important this is.”