Betty Weibel - The Cleveland Grand Prix: Americas First Show Jumping Event

Published by The History Press

Charleston, SC 29403

www.historypress.net

Copyright 2014 by Betty Weibel

All rights reserved

First published 2014

e-book edition 2014

ISBN 978.1.62585.061.4

Library of Congress CIP data applied for.

print edition ISBN 978.1.62619.525.7

Notice: The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. It is offered without guarantee on the part of the author or The History Press. The author and The History Press disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without prior written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is dedicated to all of the volunteers and horsemen who worked over the past fifty years to make the Cleveland Grand Prix a success. Their hard work and passionate dedication created generations of fans and added to the rich culture of the Chagrin Valley. And it is written for one special fan in particular: Nancy.

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.

Maya Angelou

Many people contributed to making this book possible, and Karen Schneider leads the list for helping in so many ways, including climbing storage locker ladders, digging through musty archive boxes and endless fact-checking. Other major sources of information and assistance were Charles Kinney, Mary Silcox of Stadium Jumping Inc., Marty Bauman and Meg Schermerhorn of Classic Communications and Ken Kraus.

The author thanks the following for taking time to share their stories and details: Laddie Andahazy, Mary Chapot, Dan Collister, Peter Doubleday, Leonard King, Howard Lewis, Gene Mische, Michael Morrissey, Betty Oare, Tom Visconsi, William Steinkraus and, from the United States Cavalry Association, Frederick Klink, Walter J. Schweitzer and his daughter Karen McMannon. Books, newspapers, horse show programs and interviews with directly involved sources helped confirm the countless facts and abundant information collected for this book.

Thanks to the photographers who captured the Cleveland Grand Prix over the years on behalf of the Chagrin Valley PHA Horse Show Inc. Some of their work is displayed in this book: Bruce Wilkinson, George Axt, Marshall Hawkins, Leslie Howard, Judy Buck, Paul Tepley, ONeils, Laura Simon, Vesty Photography, Sandy Lee, Father James F. Flood, Flying Horse Photography, Tish Quirk, Anne Gittins and Ohio Photographers. Thanks also to the public relations professionals and media who supported the show and grand prix and chronicled events over the years, particularly Roland Kraus, who was involved in both promoting the Cleveland Grand Prix and reporting on horse sports in Northeast Ohio for the Plain Dealer, and reporter Marge Fernbacher.

The author also thanks Pat Zalba and Zo Sykora of Chagrin Falls Historical Society, Sally Burke and Gates Mills Historical Society and Museum, Annmarie Kasper of the Chagrin Valley Hunt Club, Ann Sindelar from Western Reserve Historical Society, Kathleen Landwehr of the United States Equestrian Federation, Mollie Bailey and the staff at The Chronicle of the Horse and Cami Blanchard and her team at Lake Erie College.

Special thanks to my behind-the-scenes team: Heather Lampman, Esther Morgan, Linda Henry, Stephanie Groff, Michelle Wood and Claire Weibel.

When local and equine publishers initially failed to show interest, Christine Brune, executive director of American Horse Publications, came to the rescue and introduced me to the wonderful team at The History Press and my commissioning editor, Greg Dumais.

Special thanks to my family for their support and encouragementmy husband David, my parents and brothers, Myrna Weibel and especially my daughter Claire, who edited countless drafts, outlines and proposals and inspired and encouraged me.

INTRODUCTION

If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday.

Pearl Buck

Northeast Ohio earned a reputation as a hub in the horse world and was an incubator for the fledgling sport of American grand prix horse show jumping. Cleveland was home to successful inventors, business leaders and titans of industry, and for many of them, leisure time revolved around their passion for horse sports. This passion created an ideal environment that encouraged competition and innovation, which ultimately boosted show jumping to new heights.

In order to appreciate the significance of the sport of grand prix show jumping and its birth in Ohios Chagrin Valley, it is important to understand the environment that laid the groundwork for development and expansion of horse sports. Local history became intertwined with the evolution of American show jumping when Clevelanders idea for a grand prixstyle competition grew from the need to be competitive with European equestrians, who outnumbered and out-jumped their North American counterparts.

The first North American show jumping grand prix for civilian amateur and professional riders was held in 1965. The Cleveland Grand Prix introduced European-style show jumping in the United States at a time when the new United States Equestrian Team, formed post-cavalry, was focusing its attention on fielding strong teams for Nations Cups, Olympic games and other international competition. The domestic training ground for these athletes was limited, as was the depth of experienced horses and riders capable of challenging foreign show jumpers.

When North American competitors were introduced to the grand prix concept of show jumping at the Cleveland Grand Prix, the enormous size of the obstacles, the length of the course and the wide water jump were all new to American horsemen. Some reacted by protesting the course and threatened to withdraw because they felt it was too difficult and dangerous. The $3,000 prize money purse, the largest ever offered up to that time, provided encouragement to take the risk and compete.

On competition day, the riders negotiated the course safely and discovered that although it was difficult, it wasnt impossible. The Cleveland Grand Prix gave horsemen a new level to aspire to, and it gave the North American spectators a thrilling new sport to watch.

The Cleveland Grand Prix was one of more than fifty different classes held during the July Chagrin Valley PHA Horse Show, but it outshined them all and attracted more than fifty thousand fans. The horse show and its new grand prix finale impacted the local economy and launched a national equestrian industry around show jumping.

For more than fifty years, horses and their teams of riders, owners and support staff from across the country and beyond the U.S. borders have traveled to the Chagrin Valley for the annual horse show. The transformation of the peaceful park polo field into an international competition arena was not unlike watching the circus come to town and set up its show. Ohio was significant in the equestrian world for hosting one of the largest hunter/jumper shows in the country and attracting the best of the best as they traveled the show circuit competing for year-end honors.

For the professional seasoned rider, success at the Chagrin Valley PHA Horse Show was a major career boost. For aspiring young amateur riders, it was a way to get noticed, especially if they were interested in being considered for a spot on the United States Equestrian Team. For the horse owner, a blue ribbon at the Chagrin Valley PHA Horse Show could translate into financial gain in the future sale of a horse. Even after the sport grew and the number of grand prix multiplied, the prestigious Cleveland Grand Prix remained the originalthe one to win.