This Time It Was Team USA That Was Victorious in the Las Vegas World Cup Challenge
Text and Photos by Diana Derosa

The Riders Want More

Despite their problems the riders spoke positively about the experience and the sport of hunters.“We go to a lot of shows but we don’t go to shows of this magnitude that showcase the hunters. This is an international event where you have people from all over. I wish the hunters could be a little bit more of an international type sport,” commented John.

Scott as the Leading Rider felt he was lucky with the horses he drew and added, “I had a great time.” “I understand what stage fright means,” commented Peter. “You come into this type of an arena with that many people and it’s an unbelievable feeling. It is a great class and I wish we could do it more often.”

Louise added, “You really have to respect the Europeans and the amount of pressure they ride with all the time. It would be great if we could have more classes on an international level and maybe raise the bar for the hunters a little bit. I think the hunters are going in a great direction right now and there are a number of things happening on the horizon.”

“It was a lot of fun and today was really good,” added Christian. “We were a little bit unlucky in the first round with Michael and Rodrigo. We had good winners today, but I hope we can beat them next time again,” said Marcus, with a twinkle in his eye.

“My first horse was a little bit scared of the arena,” explained Rodrigo, “but we are happy to have competed against our friends here from the States. I’d like to thank everybody who put a lot of work into this class and are trying to make the hunter sport more popular. It’s a great discipline.”

“We are just not used to this type of venue but we want to have the chance to continue to get this kind of exposure for the sport of hunters,” added AHJF President Geoff Teall.

George Morris, who was one of the judges, also wants to see the hunters go international. George would like to see the hunter classes return to what they once were. “I’m a traditionalist with the hunter divisions. These were much closer to the fences of the hunting field and much closer to the fences we jumped years ago in the hunter division. I thought Richard Jeffrey did a great course and I loved the fences.”

George continued, “I really respect those guys (the show jumping riders) here for sticking their necks out and participating in this. They are great sportsmen. They are superstars and icons to all of us. And I respect the others for going up against them. They are great riders. It’s a fun competition and very good for our sport in this country.”

George believes that the hunters can and should be an international sport. “Lots of these horses are coming from different countries. I’d like to see the anti upped for the hunter division and see it become international.”

AHJF President Geoff Teall revealed that he is working on a committee that is at the “very beginning stages of a very long road. It is time for the hunters to get back to being more exciting with bigger jumps and more difficult courses. We need to bring an international flare to it and involve more and more people.”

“We have a pinnacle for the show jumping with the World Equestrian Games, the Olympics and the World Cup and I think we’ve lost the top of the pyramid in the hunters. If we can create something that people will want to aspire to, it will raise the level of everything else along the way,” added Karen.
DeRosa Photo: Scott Stewart