 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
California Riding Magazine • September, 2010 Washington International |
Co-show managers, David Distler and Robert Ridland. Photo © Diana DeRosa When West goes East there’s a difference in the way things are done. Such is the case with the annual Washington International Horse Show, an event that inspires the most talented hunter, jumper and equitation riders to converge in the heart of Washington, DC. This year’s event takes place Oct. 26-31 and so we asked Californian co-show manager Robert Ridland to give us some input with a California slant. He was more than willing to offer his thoughts. With the understanding that this is an indoor show in a large city which has its own difficulties, how would you compare this show to the shows you do in California? Not at all comparable, of course! The closest resemblance to an event that we manage is the World Cup Finals in Las Vegas because it is a horse event that is outside of its normal environment or “comfort zone,” if you will. The Blenheim EquiSports horse shows that we produce in San Juan Capistrano and Del Mar are fortunate to be held in facilities with specific-use competition grass fields along with ample room for stabling and warm-up areas. That of course is not the case in Washington D.C., nor for that matter in the UNLV parking lot in Las Vegas! The similarity between Washington and the Las Vegas World Cup Final is that everything that is horse-related has to be brought in including, most importantly, the stalls and the footing...and in a hurry! Robert Ridland being interviewed by
Washington Post columnist John Kelly. You undoubtedly see the California riders competing on the West Coast and then coming East for WIHS. Riders like John French and Archie Cox. Other than the traveling, from your perspective, what are some of the things they have to adjust to? Having been based as a rider on both coasts, I can appreciate the big difference between coming indoors from the West Coast versus the East. When I lived on the East Coast, we had the luxury of going home between shows (even if only for a day), and more importantly being able to swap horses and bring in a “fresh string” for the next show! No such luck when you come from over 2,500 miles away! What do they bring to this show? They bring to the competition some of the best horses and riders in the country, particularly in the hunter, junior and equitation divisions. Only the top open and international jumper riders typically choose to stay in California at that time of year because of the conflicting West Coast World Cup schedule. What’s it like to be behind the scenes at WIHS? Organized chaos! But seriously, the “behind the scenes” team (many who have been there for years) is as professional as any group that I have ever worked with. Although David Distler does the bulk of the “heavy lifting” and almost all of the logistical preparations, both of us are so confident in the professional team behind us that we spend much of the time just “getting out of the way!” Was there anything that surprised you when you first came onboard? No! I expected it all!
John French and Small Affair. Photo © Diana DeRosa What do you feel you bring to the show as a Californian? What I feel I bring to the show has very little to do with the fact that I live in California. Rather, it comes from my long history of involvement with Washington wearing other “hats,” first as a junior rider (back in the old Armory) and later as an international rider, as well as a TV commentator and course designer at both of the two most What do you feel the staff of the show and especially you and David need to do to ensure this show continues to thrive despite the tough economic situation the country is facing right now? Being involved (even in a small way) with the monumental effort that goes on year-long, brings a great sense of appreciation for the sacrifice and commitment that so many people put into keeping the legacy of the Washington International alive. What we need to do is to keep reminding our peers that preserving over a half century’s worth of history and tradition is vital, not just for Washington, but for our sport. With the demise of the horse show at Madison Square Garden several years ago, Washington was shoved into the position of being the premier indoor horse show in the United States. We cannot afford to lose it! Why did you want to be a part of running the Washington International Horse Show? Because I have a very strong desire to see the long tradition of the show continue for years to come. An international horse show held in an urban environment in our nation’s capital is of course a logistical nightmare of unbelievable proportions. However it is a little piece of our sport that we must fight to preserve. It will always be easier to find a piece of land out in the country that has few of the inherent complications and costs of putting on an event in a metropolitan environment. However, the more we take our sport away from the people (for the sake of expedience), the more we lose our connection with them.
|
