Chagrin Valley Hunter Jumper Classic Opening Weekend

The Chagrin Valley Hunter Jumper Classic will kick off the 9 day event with Opening Weekend July 14th and 15th and will feature a 2 day unrecognized hunter jumper horse show. Also featured will be the Adoptathon, hosted by Geauga Humane Society’s Rescue Village.

Last year, the horse show had over 275 horses compete in Opening Weekend classes. This was an increase from previous years due to the fact that in 2005 a new jumper ring, the RISO 2000 horse ring, was installed down at the Cleveland Metroparks Polo Field and now jumper classes could be offered on Opening Weekend.

Competition included a variety of classes from the very beginner to the more advanced horse or rider. In 2006, one of the highlights for Kara Sawayda and her 11 year old pony Milton Bradley was winning Reserve Champion in the Limit Rider Division. Kara who resides in Auburn Township, has been riding for 3 years and had won the Walk-Trot Crossrails Championship in 2004 at this same horse show.

Other very popular classes are the Leadline classes which are for riders just starting out who are 6 years old or younger. All of the riders in the Leadline classes win Blue ribbons which means so much to all the participants. Many Leadline winners have gone on to become very accomplished riders and are competing at this year’s horse show.

The Chagrin Valley Hunter Jumper Classic is an annual nationally recognized horse show each July and is held at the Cleveland Metroparks Polo Field in Moreland Hills Ohio. For more information and to see this year’s results, visit www.ClevelandHorseShow.com.

Photo Credit: Kara Sawayda riding Milton Bradley, 2006 Reserve Champion Limit Rider Division Photo by Anne Gittins Photography