Spotted Toad Equestrian's Kelly Hudyman interview with Andrew H. Philbrick, founder of Princeton Show Jumping and the Princeton Young Jumper Championships in Princeton, New Jersey
Kelly: What is your interest in young jumpers?
Andrew: Young jumper development, at this point, is a big missing block out of the base of our American sport pyramid. In Europe, young horses are a huge part of the base of the sport and as such, ultimately populate all levels of the sport and have generated a survivable business model. Show Jumping in America should not be one pie with just so many slices. With robust development of young horses we can make many, many more pies.
Kelly: Why do you believe the US has lagged so far behind in development of young jumpers?
Andrew: Young jumper development is on the wane in America as more and more of our national shows drop young horse classes due to low numbers and some misguided overregulation of the young Jumpers in the schooling area. Without substantial numbers, national shows find it very hard to support young horse classes.
Over the last 10 years, with the firm support of the Federation, elite International Show Jumping has soared to an almost unimaginable level. Grand Prix’s with prize money in excess of a quarter of a million dollars have become commonplace. For elite riders and horses there is an almost unbroken series of FEI competitions readily available between the US and Canada each season. The same cannot be said about our national shows which should be the backbone of young jumper development.
Remember, in Europe, most elite international shows do not offer all levels of competition. This stratification allows national shows to thrive and not be in competition with FEI horse shows for national level horses and riders. Not so in the US. Almost every elite US FEI horse show offers classes from the bottom to the top. This concentration at the top hurts developmental critical pipeline horse shows.
Kelly: What has this blurring of the lines between national and international competitions done to affect young jumper development?
Andrew: Many years ago, young jumper development was turned over by then president of the Federation, Alan Balch to a private organization. It was never made clear why this delegation of responsibility happened. This private program worked well for several years but now that effort has fallen apart. National level horse shows, the traditional host of young jumper competitions have been decimated by the rise of all-inclusive elite FEI horse shows. The base of the pyramid, building block shows are suffering. Most have seen a decline in horse numbers and available sponsorship.
Kelly: How long of you been involved with young jumpers?
Andrew: Way back in the 90's, I owned a very good jumping stallion named Rastel. He was a wonderful horse with great experience, temperament, and conformation. Some of our good jumping mares retired or were injured so we started to bred them to Rastel. This was an eye-opener for me. This newfound interest in young horses led me to see the Swedish Young Horse Championships in Falsterbo, the French Championship in Fontainebleau, the German Federation Championships and ultimately the International Young Horse Championships at Zangersheide in Belgium. These amazing European young horse competitions with hundreds of young jumpers in every age group have created a bedrock in their sport and enhanced the business of the sport as well. This combination of sport and business in Europe makes the breeding and training of young horses in Europe sustainable.
Kelly: Is this why you started the Princeton Young Jumper championships several years ago?
Andrew: Yes. Exactly. As an owner, breeder, and trainer I thought we needed an accessible and multifaceted final Championship to bring everyone involved in young jumpers together for a special final competition each year where young jumpers would be the focus.
Kelly: All inclusive? Is that why you added the Corinthian division?
Andrew: Yes, not all Young Jumpers arrive at the same level in the fall each year for one reason or another. The Championship division really focuses on the top level of the sport in each age group. The Corinthian division is 10 cm lower in every age group. This provides a final where breeders, owners, riders, and trainers of young jumpers at several levels can all come together in one spot each fall with the focus squarely on Young Horses. We strive to provide an overall competition where the sport and business of young jumpers can meet.
Kelly: Please tell us why you started your “free entry” program for young jumpers at Princeton Show Jumping. With nine shows leading up to the championships in early October, won’t the free entry program hurt your business?
Andrew: Breeders and owners of young jumpers are faced with the daunting cost of developing young jumpers in America with virtually no prize money. This high cost discourages this important development. At Princeton, we seek to substantially lower that cost, by eliminating class fees and other fees associated with showing young horses.
We see the development of young jumpers as an investment in Princeton Show Jumping’s future and an investment in the foundation of our sport in America. We are on the hunt for additional sponsorship to help carry the associated costs of this program and the finals. Branding rights for this program would be a natural for any sponsor that wants to be seen as supporting the growth of a crucial part of our sport. "Free Entries" is the ultimate feel good story!
Kelly: Has sponsorship taken up some of the financial strain of offering this program?
Andrew:
For several years The Princeton Young Jumper Championships has benefited from some early support from a few wonderful sponsors such as B.W. Furlong & Associates, Gotham North, and Newsprint Farm. These great sponsors gave us the leg-up that we needed to get started. We hope to continue to grow the program and sponsor base. We are striving to keep the cost low and maintain a very high level of competition. This program is worth supporting.
Kelly: Thank you for your time and commitment to the future of our sport.
The Princeton Young Jumper Championships will be September 25-29, 2019 at Princeton Show Jumping in Skillman, NJ.
Register your young jumper at www.princetonyoungjumper.com. Go to www.princetonshowjumping.com for full show schedule, prize lists and information.
To become a sponsor of the 2019 Princeton Young Jumper Championships contact Susan Benson (352)529-7409 [email protected].
Kelly: What is your interest in young jumpers?
Andrew: Young jumper development, at this point, is a big missing block out of the base of our American sport pyramid. In Europe, young horses are a huge part of the base of the sport and as such, ultimately populate all levels of the sport and have generated a survivable business model. Show Jumping in America should not be one pie with just so many slices. With robust development of young horses we can make many, many more pies.
Kelly: Why do you believe the US has lagged so far behind in development of young jumpers?
Andrew: Young jumper development is on the wane in America as more and more of our national shows drop young horse classes due to low numbers and some misguided overregulation of the young Jumpers in the schooling area. Without substantial numbers, national shows find it very hard to support young horse classes.
Over the last 10 years, with the firm support of the Federation, elite International Show Jumping has soared to an almost unimaginable level. Grand Prix’s with prize money in excess of a quarter of a million dollars have become commonplace. For elite riders and horses there is an almost unbroken series of FEI competitions readily available between the US and Canada each season. The same cannot be said about our national shows which should be the backbone of young jumper development.
Remember, in Europe, most elite international shows do not offer all levels of competition. This stratification allows national shows to thrive and not be in competition with FEI horse shows for national level horses and riders. Not so in the US. Almost every elite US FEI horse show offers classes from the bottom to the top. This concentration at the top hurts developmental critical pipeline horse shows.
Kelly: What has this blurring of the lines between national and international competitions done to affect young jumper development?
Andrew: Many years ago, young jumper development was turned over by then president of the Federation, Alan Balch to a private organization. It was never made clear why this delegation of responsibility happened. This private program worked well for several years but now that effort has fallen apart. National level horse shows, the traditional host of young jumper competitions have been decimated by the rise of all-inclusive elite FEI horse shows. The base of the pyramid, building block shows are suffering. Most have seen a decline in horse numbers and available sponsorship.
Kelly: How long of you been involved with young jumpers?
Andrew: Way back in the 90's, I owned a very good jumping stallion named Rastel. He was a wonderful horse with great experience, temperament, and conformation. Some of our good jumping mares retired or were injured so we started to bred them to Rastel. This was an eye-opener for me. This newfound interest in young horses led me to see the Swedish Young Horse Championships in Falsterbo, the French Championship in Fontainebleau, the German Federation Championships and ultimately the International Young Horse Championships at Zangersheide in Belgium. These amazing European young horse competitions with hundreds of young jumpers in every age group have created a bedrock in their sport and enhanced the business of the sport as well. This combination of sport and business in Europe makes the breeding and training of young horses in Europe sustainable.
Kelly: Is this why you started the Princeton Young Jumper championships several years ago?
Andrew: Yes. Exactly. As an owner, breeder, and trainer I thought we needed an accessible and multifaceted final Championship to bring everyone involved in young jumpers together for a special final competition each year where young jumpers would be the focus.
Kelly: All inclusive? Is that why you added the Corinthian division?
Andrew: Yes, not all Young Jumpers arrive at the same level in the fall each year for one reason or another. The Championship division really focuses on the top level of the sport in each age group. The Corinthian division is 10 cm lower in every age group. This provides a final where breeders, owners, riders, and trainers of young jumpers at several levels can all come together in one spot each fall with the focus squarely on Young Horses. We strive to provide an overall competition where the sport and business of young jumpers can meet.
Kelly: Please tell us why you started your “free entry” program for young jumpers at Princeton Show Jumping. With nine shows leading up to the championships in early October, won’t the free entry program hurt your business?
Andrew: Breeders and owners of young jumpers are faced with the daunting cost of developing young jumpers in America with virtually no prize money. This high cost discourages this important development. At Princeton, we seek to substantially lower that cost, by eliminating class fees and other fees associated with showing young horses.
We see the development of young jumpers as an investment in Princeton Show Jumping’s future and an investment in the foundation of our sport in America. We are on the hunt for additional sponsorship to help carry the associated costs of this program and the finals. Branding rights for this program would be a natural for any sponsor that wants to be seen as supporting the growth of a crucial part of our sport. "Free Entries" is the ultimate feel good story!
Kelly: Has sponsorship taken up some of the financial strain of offering this program?
Andrew:
For several years The Princeton Young Jumper Championships has benefited from some early support from a few wonderful sponsors such as B.W. Furlong & Associates, Gotham North, and Newsprint Farm. These great sponsors gave us the leg-up that we needed to get started. We hope to continue to grow the program and sponsor base. We are striving to keep the cost low and maintain a very high level of competition. This program is worth supporting.
Kelly: Thank you for your time and commitment to the future of our sport.
The Princeton Young Jumper Championships will be September 25-29, 2019 at Princeton Show Jumping in Skillman, NJ.
Register your young jumper at www.princetonyoungjumper.com. Go to www.princetonshowjumping.com for full show schedule, prize lists and information.
To become a sponsor of the 2019 Princeton Young Jumper Championships contact Susan Benson (352)529-7409 [email protected].