And our columnist saw this belief in action during the first USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals.

A friend of mine sent a Christmas card several years ago that had a list of quotes relating to our day-to-day lives, and one of them has always stuck in my mind. 

It wasn’t until the inaugural ASG Software Solutions/USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals that I realized how true this saying is as I watched it in action. I don’t know who the quote is attributed to, but it goes like this: “Teamwork makes the dream work.” 

I know that it sounds a little corny, but just take a few minutes to think about it in regards to your own support team or staff and how it applies to your own life and work.

Often you hear people attributing success to luck or to the stars aligning just right. I believe that luck and alignment of the stars is better used in relation to things we have no control over such as weather. I think success has more to do with teamwork.

And because of teamwork, the inaugural derby finals was nothing short of an incredible success. The USHJA High Performance Hunter Committee in conjunction with the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association staff had planned this event for more than 18 months, and as the first major competition production for the USHJA, they did a wonderful job. 

We all know there are always issues to deal with during the year and at the event as well as ways to improve upon the program. To analyze the positives and negatives and start the planning for next year’s derby finals, members of the High Performance Hunter Committee held a retreat on the Monday following the finals while the event was fresh in their minds.

Every aspect of the derby program, including qualifying events, program specifications and, of course, the finals were reviewed, discussed and amended as needed in an effort to continue moving the program forward in a positive manner.

Leadership is a critical component of teamwork and ultimate success. Ron Danta has led the HPHC over the past couple of years by building consensus on what’s right for the sport versus what’s right for any one individual.

The HPHC members are to be commended for setting aside personal gain for the betterment of the sport. This isn’t always an easy task, but, ultimately, the best for the sport results in the best for all involved in the sport. 

On the staff side, the leadership of Melanie Fransen, the USHJA director of programs and education, has been terrific. Melanie, along with executive director Susan Dotson, director of marketing Whitney Allen and Patty Wise and Tracey Weinberg from our sponsor partner Weinberg-Harris have worked with the HPHC, exhibitors, vendors, sponsors, event coordinators, officials and competition management to bring this event to fruition and make it successful.

A Camaraderie 

I want to commend competition managers across the country for embracing the International Hunter Derby and promoting it at their competitions. The USHJA has received some wonderful support and guidance from our host managements, which has helped to shape the future of the program. 

Hosting fees received from competitions are used to fund the prize money for this event, which has no entry fee. On site at the derby finals, our host management under the leadership of Hugh Kincannon was outstanding.

Hugh put the entire hunter side of his competition, the Kentucky Hunter Jumper Association Horse Show, on hold for Friday morning so that the derby finals competitors and other exhibitors didn’t have to worry about competing in rings elsewhere on the show grounds, giving everyone a chance to watch the class live. 

Hugh’s staff played an integral part in the development of the event production, and their support and guidance for the USHJA is greatly appreciated. The Johnson Arena in the new stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park was a spectacular setting for the derby finals.  The new grandstands, judges’ tower, scoreboard and areas for sponsor amenities added to the magical ambiance. The new lighting system in the competition ring turned evening into daytime.

One of the best compliments I heard during this event came from stewards/schooling supervisors Karen Golding and Peter Lane.  They absolutely felt that all exhibitors made a genuine effort to adhere to the competition and schooling rules, and the camaraderie they witnessed made Karen, in particular, compare the feeling to how people worked together in the days when she traveled the world with show jumping legend Michael Matz.

The USHJA entered into an agreement with Equestrian Life to broadcast the derby finals live over the Internet. The entire Equestrian Life staff was great to work with and instantly became part of the “team” producing the event.

On Friday morning, Equestrian Life received more than 16,500 hits on the web broadcast of the qualifying round.  As of intermission on Saturday night, Equestrian Life received more than 30,000 hits of the Saturday night broadcast. Coupled with the great in-person audience, the derby finals was viewed nationwide by equestrian enthusiasts of all levels of interest.

For next year, I’d like to explore the idea of telecasting the derby finals live to other areas of the country.

Competitions and organizations throughout the country could hold derby finals parties and events where people gather to eat, drink and watch the class.

The U.S. Equestrian Federation provided coverage of the derby finals through their Club Equestrian website and produced a video tour of the new USHJA office building at the Kentucky Horse Park. Thank you to our friends at USEF for all of their support of this event and for supporting the philosophy of the USHJA.

A Dream Come True

Programs such as the derby finals aren’t possible without the support of sponsors, and the USHJA has built a solid stable full of derby enthusiasts. Derby program sponsors came from within and outside of our industry, including ASG Software Solutions, Dietrich Equine Insurance, Walsh Harness and Saddlery, Charles Owen, Dover Saddlery, Essex Classics, The Clothes Horse, Grand Prix, Personalized Products, McGuinn Farms and media sponsor Equestrian Life as well as many individual sponsors who supported this program.

Due to the equestrian family of sponsors, competitors were given a multitude of gifts ranging from saddle pads to gift certificates for helmets. 

The social events were centered on the competition and honoring our list of esteemed competitors and sponsors.

Each event provided our sponsors with opportunities to meet the riders, trainers and owners of the great athletes competing in the derby finals. The support and belief in the derby program from our owners and riders has helped make this program a reality.

From sponsors, riders and spectators, at every event during the finals, the enthusiasm was overwhelming. I know that many of those who attended are going home to promote the derby program in their home area.  Across our country, skeptics became believers, which is part of achieving success.

We’re looking forward to our new sponsor partnership with The Chronicle of the Horse, which has joined the USHJA as title sponsor of the 2009-10 USHJA International Hunter Derby Program.

As you can see, there are many components that make up a successful team. For the derby program and finals, all of these components are integral to its current and future success. The “team” of dedicated volunteers, committee members, USHJA staff, host managements, officials, sponsors, riders, trainers and owners has made the derby program a success. 

Teamwork has made the dream work.

You should all be proud of being a part of history and changing our sport for the better. It’s been years since we’ve seen this type of enthusiasm for something new. The derby program has given the hunter discipline a much-needed boost, and I firmly believe that this program will evolve into an international program.   

Congratulations on reviving the sport of hunters in the United States!