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Sunday, November 28 2021 / Published in Sidelines Spotlight

The Ins and Outs of Indoors

By Chrissie Kear

I hear riders talk about “Indoors” all the time. Can you explain what it is and what shows are considered Indoors?

Indoors is essentially the Pennsylvania National Horse Show (PNHS) in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), historically held in downtown Washington, D.C. but held in Tryon, North Carolina, this year and last year; and the National Horse Show, now held in Lexington, Kentucky, but the history of this show is that it used to be held at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Many riders now consider Capital Challenge as part of Indoors because it’s the first show in the vicinity of the other shows. This show doesn’t have the same qualification requirement for most of the show that the true Indoors shows do, but it’s the first show that brings most horse-and-rider combinations that are here East for the other shows, therefore garnering a very prestigious aspect as well. The World Champion Hunter Rider Program has its finals at Capital Challenge, so the best hunter combinations usually arrive to vie for their title at this show before heading to the Indoors shows.

The prestige of Indoors is the culmination of your hard work and validation of your “success” by the qualification aspect of these shows. These shows take your best 15 shows and tabulate your points against everyone in the rest of the country that has entered, and they only accept the top 20ish horse-and-rider combinations with invitations to participate in these shows. These invitations are coveted as success and, many times, used as an indicator, by riders, parents and trainers alike, of horses’ value and predictor of the future successes.

This will be my first time to show at Indoors. What should I expect and what do they offer?

As a first-time participant at Indoors, preparation is required. Many times, it’s the first time that riders from all over the country go head to head with riders and horses that they have only heard of. As a young rider myself, before social media, we came to Indoors to ride against horse-and-rider combinations that we only read about! As a trainer, we drill and prepare our riders and horses. I find myself telling my riders in my lessons that I will ask more questions in our lessons than you will see at Indoors—so they can head east with a peace of mind that they’re prepared for every question that may be asked and their horses are also tuned and ready to answer the same questions. What these shows do not offer is last-minute preparation. Time to get acclimated to the rings and have lessons are few and often at very inconvenient times of day. Given that “the show must go on,” many schooling times are after hours from 10 p.m. through to 2 a.m. Sleep is a hard commodity to find during these championship horse shows!

What kind of classes do I compete in at Indoors?

The answer to this question seems to be changing. Historically, only 3’6” horses (i.e. professional division, Juniors and Amateur Owners and Pony hunters at PNHS and WIHS) competed at Indoors. After the COVID-19 pandemic and with the cost to run these extravagant single shows, managements have opened up classes for the 3’ hunters (i.e. Green Hunters, Children’s Hunters and Jumpers, and Adult Hunters and Jumpers). This means that many more riders have the opportunity to compete above their zone level.

If my trainer doesn’t go to Indoors, how do I get there?

If your trainer doesn’t go to Indoors, I suggest network, network, network! Most trainers have a personal mentor or professional barn that they do business with that they would suggest you follow to attend these shows. If that’s not the case for you or your trainer, research is key. At Ashland Farms, we often get calls or emails from trainers and riders asking us if we would groom and train riders from other areas. We always take a large number of horses and riders so our staff is happy to accept riders unfamiliar with the Indoor showing experience.

What does competing at Indoors do for my riding career and why is it important?

I believe this question is the most important one of all! I’m going to take the motto from another prestigious show, Devon, to make my point. As you enter the Dixon Oval at the Devon Horse Show, the arch says “Where Champions Meet.” I believe this is true for all Indoors shows as well. As I said earlier, many times these riders don’t get to compete head to head with these other combinations from around the country. We tell all our customers that you are only as good as your competition. I believe that every zone or local community has their horse/rider combinations that are successful in their area, but we try to take those combinations and prepare them to compete at a truly national level. These shows provide that opportunity to compete, learn and grow! 

About Chrissie

Growing up in Pennsylvania at her mom’s Wood Lea Farms, Chrissie Kear found the love and drive to want to ride to the top of the hunter ring. As a Junior, Chrissie spent time working and catch riding for Louise Serio at Derbydown in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

After earning a college degree from Penn State University and then a law degree from Widener University, Chrissie became a working student for Rodney Bross and Elizabeth Solter at Independence Hall, where she had the pleasure of interacting with the great Hunter Rox Dene.

She currently manages and teaches at Ashland Farms, owned by Ken and Emily Smith, where she works closely with the working students to help them realize their dreams and become well-rounded horsemen.

Photo:

Abigail Gordon and Heartbeat Z won the Taylor Harris Insurance Services National Children’s Medal at the 2021 Capital Challenge Horse Show. Photo by Jump Media

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Jan Lukens has always felt blessed to be an artist Jan Lukens has always felt blessed to be an artist, turning his observations into works of art, but it hasn't always been easy. “My biggest challenge starting out was fitting in to the equestrian world as an artist, not a rider. Although I spent the better part of two decades exhibiting 15 weeks a year at national horse shows, there’s a massive 
difference between an artist who paints horses and someone who has been climbing into the saddle since they were 5 years old, surrounded by all aspects of the horse 
world.”

A prolific painter working mainly in oils, Jan’s original and commissioned works of art hang in the collections of the likes of individual gold medalist Joe Fargis and Rodrigo Pessoa, as well as many other Olympians and owners. One of the most influential 
moments in Jan’s career was in 2014, when Ralph Lauren acquired two of his equestrian paintings. “I was still recovering from the 2008 recession at that time. There  is a unique part of a painter’s reputation that is based on who has purchased or commissioned his art, and when I promoted that sale, my phone didn’t stop ringing for a 
year and a half.”
For more information visit janlukens.com

Read Jan’s full article at the link in our bio. And never miss an article by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine! 

 #Sidelines #sidelines2023 #sidelinesmagazine #magazine #forhorsepeople #abouthorsepeople
Calling all trainers and professional riders! St Calling all trainers and professional riders! 

Struggling to keep up with your social media and the barn? Reel editing got you overwhelmed? Is your #Hashtag - trending audio - sponsor tagging being neglected? 

Entrigue specializes in equestrian social media and rider management! We help equestrians handle the daily posting to Instagram and Facebook, handle boosting and engagement ads, and can help trainers and barns maximize their sponsorships, keep websites up to date, and PR! Your barn is a business too and as a rider or barn your digital hoof print counts!

@entrigue_marketing 

#equestrian #sponsoredrider #socialmedia #equestrianmarketing #equestrianreels #horsesofinstagram
Yay for June! We have another great edition for yo Yay for June! We have another great edition for you all that we can't wait for you to read. Up first are Evan and Ashley Donadt a dynamic duo that has won the hearts of many! Stay tuned for many great stories like this by following us on Instagram and Facebook or subscribing to get your very own copy of Sidelines Magazine!

What happens when a horse-crazy equestrian girl meets a never-touched-a-horse-before guy? If you’re Ashley and Evan Donadt, it might just be the beginning of a happily-ever-after that includes a solid dressage program and extremely popular social media channels featuring good-natured humor and horses.

Ashley, a lifelong equestrian, began her horse experiences with the local 4-H club, progressed to lessons with the local dressage trainer when she was 10, then her own pony when she was 11. Conversely, Evan grew up in Massachusetts, without any horse experience to speak of. The odds of them meeting were fairly low, until fate landed them both in Southern California.

Evan knew from the start that spending time with Ashley meant spending time at the barn. In fact, Ashley told him straightaway, “The horses come first always; you’re going to be second!” Evan wasn’t deterred, and instead found the loophole: spending all his own free time with her at the barn.

Read Ashley and Evan's full article in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine! You can also click the link in our bio. Don't forget to subscribe to get your very own copy delivered right to your door! Thank you Evan and Ashley for allowing us to share your story!
📸Portraits by Jeni Jo Brunner

#sidelinesmagazine #sidelines2023 #forhorsepeople #abouthorsepeople
As we head into June we wrap up our May women entr As we head into June we wrap up our May women entrepreneur, edition. We were so lucky to be able to feature so many amazing women within the Horse industry. We have one more to share with you, and if you missed any of the women entrepreneur stories head to our website for all of our past issues! Enjoy! 

Hurry Up and Wait” is a familiar saying at hunter-jumper competitions. Unlike other disciplines, where 
riders are assigned specific ride times, hunter-jumper riders typically must check in with the starter at 
the in-gate throughout the day to determine when they will show. In 2019, Emma Fass decided to put 
her computer science background to use in the show industry and created RingSide Pro to allow riders 
to be “ringside” wherever they are.
Throughout high school, Emma competed at horses shows on her horse Son Of A Sailor, aka Ernie, 
oftentimes trailering Ernie into the show for the day with her mom. “That was stressful because we 
didn’t know how the show was running until we got there. Even once we were on the show grounds, we 
struggled to find information. It’s a hike to the rings and the speakers in the barns tend to be 
unreliable,” Emma said. “I would think to myself, There’s got to be a better way.”

For more information, visit www.ringsidepro.com

Read Emma’s full story at sidelinesmagazine.com, and never miss an edition of Sidelines magazine by subscribing. 

@ringsideproinsta @emmafass 
📸Photos by Kirsten Konopnicki, kkonophoto #Sidelines #sidelines2023 #sidelinesmagazine #magazine #forhorsepeople #abouthorsepeople
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