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Thursday, December 15 2016 / Published in Sidelines Spotlight

Cynthia Hampton: Getting Young Horses on Course

Cynthia Hampton

By Doris Degner-Foster

Cynthia Hampton is a very energetic person. She laughs when she remembers her childhood. “My mother used to say to me, ‘You have so much energy! Why don’t you just go outside, I can’t take it!’”

Cynthia has recently applied some of the same energy to her passion for horses by founding Classic Champions, Inc., a circuit for young jumper horses, a not-for-profit 501c(3). Its purpose is to implement European practices for the young jumpers into show jumping competition in North America.

The Classic Champions circuit has adopted the European practice of competing on grass whenever possible (the natural environment for a young horse) over fences set by course designers trained specifically with the young horses in mind. “A course for 4-year-old young jumpers is much more forward with a lot of natural obstacles that are later going to be included in courses at the upper level,” Cynthia explained. “It’s mostly competing on grass with the lines set correctly on a natural curve, respectful of the correct striding.”

An old photo of Cynthia, taken by her father, shows where her love of horses began.

Love Of Horses Began Early 

“I was brought up in Portland, Oregon. My mother was an artist and my father was a successful businessman who received the Ethics-in-Business award for the country one year,” Cynthia said. “We’re a philanthropic family where the value of what we can accomplish with others is important. I was taught to give back and do community service.” She explained that in her case, it was her passion for horses that drove her interest.

Cynthia remembers exactly when her love affair with horses began. “The first time I was put on a horse was the moment that did it all,” she said. “I think I was 3 years old. My father took me to a farm and they had some old nags and western saddles. They put me up there on one of these horses and I was instantly fascinated.”

She rode at a local riding school, remembering how she’d spend the days there during the summers, happy to be in the company of horses. Then she got her own horse, an off-the-track Thoroughbred, but they found that it had the unfortunate habit of being a nasty stopper. “She’d take off with the front feet [over a jump] and then decide that this was a bad idea,” Cynthia remembered. “One time she did that so suddenly that I ended up on her poll. She reared and flipped me so high in the air I remember all the daylight I could see between the bottom of my feet and the ground! After that we got a very sweet 9-year-old horse that was very honest and so much fun — the kindest horse.” Cynthia went on to do well and won a Hunt Seat Equitation Championship at 17.

European Influence

A graduate of Stanford University with a B.A. in communications, Cynthia also studied journalism and documentary film making while minoring in French literature. After graduation, Cynthia worked as a fashion photographer in Paris for over 20 years. During that time, she married and raised a family, making time for horses and riding. While showing her jumpers in the Ile-de-France, the region surrounding Paris, Cynthia became familiar with the European methods of training young jumping horses and became a passionate advocate of that philosophy.

Cynthia and Orbetello in Wellington, Florida.
Photo by SportFot

She was especially impressed with the requirements for showing there. “In Europe, you may not compete in the show ring unless you’ve completed a minimum of seven exams. The final exam is both oral and written and then there’s the style of eventing exam covering dressage, cross-country and stadium. You’re taught morphology and pathology and to take apart a double bridle and understand the usages of all the bits, how to wrap a horse and how to negotiate a warm-up ring.”

In the European method, a large part of the young horse’s development is to compete over courses on grass that have been specifically designed for their age group. “The younger the horses are, the more they need breathing spaces [on course] where they can catch up with their mind, think about what they’ve done and what might be coming next,” Cynthia said. “They can’t have things thrown at them that cause them to have to adjust too often. Course designers need to present the fences to them in a way that makes sense. It’s just like people: There are optimum times and ways for us to learn.”

In 1996, Cynthia returned to the U.S. and competed her show jumpers on the West Coast and at Spruce Meadows. She currently divides her time between her Hampton Farms in Lexington, Kentucky, and Wellington, Florida. She became especially interested in the training of young jumpers as she began her breeding program on her farm in Lexington with Orbetello, a 2003 approved German stallion. While showing at Spruce Meadows in 2015 under Brianne Goutal, Orbetello placed third in the Husky 1.50m and was clear in the 1.55m. Cynthia resumed riding him for the rest of the summer and the winter season 2016.

“He’s a very respectful stallion,” Cynthia said. “He has very classic, fabulous style, both in front and behind.”

Cynthia purchased Kismet 50 in France and later sold the mare to Meredith Michaels Beerbaum.
Photo by Jean Morel, PSV Photography

Founding Classic Champions, Inc.

Impressed with the effectiveness of young jumper training in Europe, Cynthia founded Classic Champions in 2015 with the goals of setting approved standards for height and type of fences, and course design for young jumpers. Cynthia feels that in the U.S., course design and fences can vary significantly in young jumper classes depending on the venue. She’s also concerned that there are some courses for young jumpers that are being set by individuals that lack the proper training and who don’t have experience riding young jumpers.

Cynthia stressed that the courses should be inviting and only become more challenging as the show year progresses and as the age groups progress from 5-, 6- and 7-year-old horses. “I was just fortunate enough to be in Europe for a significant amount of time where over and over I saw the results of effective education for young jumpers and I saw how it was done. I’ve worked with those people — they’ve done it for decades.”

Partnering with her on the executive board of Classic Champions is Michel Ismalun of France. He’s a national course designer since 1994 and helped design the course for WEG in 2014 at Normandy. In his younger years as a rider, he won the 5-year-old championships in Europe and rode and competed successfully for several decades.

As a fashion photographer in Paris, Cynthia learned about the importance of building a brand and the use of effective graphics and has applied those skills for the Classic Champions circuit. Last year the Classic Champions tour included classes during the Ridge at Wellington show. At the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament, Classic Champions had several classes and prize money of $40,000 spread out over the divisions, which attracted many entries.

 

Cynthia competing Darius at Maisons Laffite, France.   
Photo by Jean Morel, PSV Photography

Plans are under way for the winter shows and Cynthia is excited about the future. “Classic Champions, Inc. will be working with Princeton Show Jumping and Princeton Equestrian League in 2017,” Cynthia announced. “We plan to make Eastern League Young Jumper Finals grow into an upscale event showcasing young jumpers in the way they deserve to be distinguished.”

The finals will be at Andrew Philbrick’s new 110-acre facility, Hunter Farms North, which is located just 2.5 miles from Hunter Farms’ earlier location in scenic Skillman, New Jersey. Two large show rings, two warm-up rings, three grass Grand Prix/Derby fields and the very best footing will make this new facility a major addition to the East Coast show scene. It’s an ideal location for young jumper competitions, with great footing and grass fields.

About the writer: Doris Degner-Foster rides with Harvard Fox Hounds fox hunt club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when she’s not interviewing fascinating individuals in the horse sport or writing fiction. Soon to be available is her middle-grade series about teenagers who ride and solve mysteries, and a mainstream murder mystery where a horse appears strangely to an ER doctor to help him through a crisis.

Photos courtesy of Cynthia Hampton, unless noted otherwise

 

 

 

 

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Tagged under: classic champions, cynthia hampton

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It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is. It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is...

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You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

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Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses—in a way, she was born into her career. She grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where her parents ran a farm. Her mother taught, and her father had a jump business and then created one of the first horse show software programs: Ryegate Show Services, Inc.

Riding all her life, Annette spent many years as a groom and loved it, but knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do as a career. After she finished college, Annette’s father recruited her to help process entries at Ryegate. Since her father, Lloyd Longenecker, founded it in 1981, Ryegate has provided show management and office staff for some of the largest shows in the country. Now, Annette has taken over from her father and directed the company as it focuses on managing memberships and rankings for organizations such as the North American League, WIHS Championships and Equitation, Rolex/USEF Computer Ranking and National Medal Series (THIS NCM and Ariat NAM). Ryegate also provides scoring software for use with video walls, and production teams for hunter and jumper shows.

“Besides running Ryegate Show Services and its various organizations, I can be found in the show office, running a scoreboard or judging jumpers at most shows,” Annette said. “I love getting to wear a few different hats at the show.”

When she’s not busy at a show, Annette lives in Annville, Pennsylvania, with her “fur-baby,” Maggie Mae, and enjoys spending time with her many godchildren. Though she doesn’t currently own any horses, Annette rides when she can at Rolling Acres Farm with Patty Foster, Ashley Foster-Worthington and Mary Lisa Leffler.

Read this month unbridled with Annette Longenecker by clicking the link in our bio. Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine! 🦄
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A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself The spor A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself 
The sport of eventing is a demanding and mentally challenging discipline that requires a combination of physical and mental fortitude from both the rider and horse. While having a coach can be incredibly beneficial, self-coaching can also play a crucial role in a rider’s success.

I think that given the opportunity, most riders would like to be coached every day. The reality of life in the horse world, however, is that the majority of us need to absorb as much from the lessons we have on a limited basis and then practice those skills at home to improve.

When I am riding, I try to have a plan for the horses each day and focus on what I’m looking to achieve. It’s important to be aware of the steady improvements rather than trying to solve everything all at once. This is especially important when teaching horses new movements or exercises that they might struggle with, and we need to give them time to learn and understand what we are asking for.

I have a couple of quotes that I use regularly when I’m teaching, and these are mottos that I hold myself to in my daily work as well.

The first is, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” This is a quote that was said to me many years ago when I was still motor racing and I keep it in the back of my mind each day. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same thing every day with your horse and bad habits are hard to break, from both riders and horses!

This leads me to my next quote, which is, “If what you are doing isn’t working, try something else.” It really is as simple as that! Many riders I see keep asking a horse to do something the same way over and over with an ongoing negative response and they wonder why things don’t get better. In these circumstances, I recommend that the rider change something, even if it’s wrong.

Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio! Don’t forget to keep your eye out for our April subscription!
📸Photo by Alex Banks Photography
The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here and we are so excited to feature three-day eventer Liz Halliday on the cover! Big thanks to photographer Melissa Fuller for the beautiful photo of Liz and Cooley Nutcracker- Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing. Liz and her horses have taken the eventing world by storm - and find out how Liz is at the top of the sport as a female eventer! As the horse world gears up for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2023, it's the perfect time to enjoy our eventing issue!! We also feature eventer and woman entrepreneur Frankie Thieriot Stutes, who is not only an eventer, but also runs Athletux and FRANKIE CAMERON handbags and accessories. And don't miss our eventing story on Robert "Bobby" Costello, who will be leading the US Eventing team to the 2024 Paris Olympics- and US Equestrian has named Bobby the eventing technical advisor/chef d'equipe!! Liz, Frankie and Bobby all have GREAT stories - don't miss any of them and don't forget to get your tickets for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event! We are also excited to introduce you to hunter-jumper rider Casey Lorusso Smith, who is not only a talented rider but also a psychotherapist and incorporates horses into her career. If you are up for adventure, then read the story on dressage rider Priscilla Baldwin who certainly doesn't let any grass grow under her feet! We also head to the west coast to catch up with hunter-jumper trainer Jim Hagman of Elvenstar Farm, we feature beautiful art by equestrian artist Tammy Tappan, and we get to know Miranda Jones and her family. Miranda is not only an attorney who spends a lot of time in the courthouse, but she's a rider and spends lots of time riding, and is joined by her daughters also! We are excited to feature Stephanie Lightner in our Unbridled column, and don't miss our columnists George Williams, Robert R.L. Jacobs and Margie Sugarman! It's a great issue - and you can read it online, but don't forget to go to the website and order a subscription and get every issue delivered to your mailbox!! Enjoy this issue and enjoy the ride: Link in bio!!
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