72 SIDELINES MARCH 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
The Show Jumping Hall of Fame –
Preserving Our Sport’s Legacy
By George Morris
President, Show Jumping Hall of Fame and Museum
The Show Jumping Hall of Fame and Museum was organized
to promote the sport of show jumping and to immortalize the
legends of the men, women and horses who have made great
contributions to our sport. A primary focus of the Hall of Fame,
which was officially established in 1987 and formally opened at
Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida in 1989, has been to encourage
broader interest and participation in show jumping, as well as to
educate those inside and outside the sport about show jumping’s
history by sharing its legends, lore and landmark achievements.
Enshrinement in the Show Jumping Hall of Fame is a great
honor bestowed upon those select few whose contributions to the
sport have set them apart.
The Hall of Fame moved to the Kentucky Horse Park in
Lexington, Kentucky in 2010 prior to the Alltech FEI World
Equestrian Games. It was the belief of our Board of Directors
that with the large crowds expected for the Games, and with the
growing significance of the Kentucky Horse Park in general, that
we would reach more people and be better able to accomplish our
mission at that location. Plaques honoring those who have been
honored with induction into the Hall of Fame can be seen at the
Horse Park’s Rolex Stadium and mementos and artifacts from our
sport’s history are on display as part of the Show Jumping Hall of
Fame collection at the United States Hunter Jumper Association’s
Wheeler Museum.
In addition to annual elections and induction ceremonies, and
our museum collection at the USHJA, the Hall of Fame also
conducts the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series
for junior and amateur-owner riders. The Series holds classes at
approximately 100 horse shows across the U.S. and is designed
to give amateur-owner and junior riders opportunities to compete
at higher levels while also helping to build awareness of the Hall
of Fame.
George Morris, President of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame and
Museum, not only wrote our story on the Show Jumping Hall of
Fame, but also has a plaque on display there.
To help educate those with little or no knowledge of those
who helped build our sport – people like Bert de Némethy, Bill
Steinkraus, Frank Chapot and Jimmy Williams to name just a few
– we also conduct some special projects. Thanks to the generosity
of some wonderful supporters, the Hall of Fame is able to print a
commemorative booklet containing photos of the plaques (with full
bios) of everyone who has been inducted into the Show Jumping
Hall of Fame. These are presented to riders who compete in the
Hall of Fame’s Jumper Classic Series throughout the year.
We have also been acquiring a large amount of historic videos
and films, ranging from old telecasts of show jumping competitions
to films taken on home movie cameras decades ago by legends of
our sport like Gordon Wright and Patrick Butler. We have started
converting these old videos and films to a digital format so that we
can preserve them for future generations.
Needless to say, there is a tremendous cost associated with
major undertakings like these and we welcome donations to help
us with these projects. It is because of our generous supporters
that the Show Jumping Hall of Fame is able to conduct these
projects that help achieve two important goals – preserving our
sport’s history and building an appreciation of that history with a
new generation.
The Show Jumping Hall of Fame is proud of the role it plays in
preserving the history of show jumping, honoring those who made
it great and helping our sport grow through increased awareness
and understanding. I invite all of you to visit the Hall of Fame the
next time you are in Kentucky and to visit our website at www.
ShowJumpingHallofFame.net.
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A visit to the Show Jumping Hall of Fame and Museum gives
visitors a look at the men, women and horses who have made
great contributions to our sport.
