The Washington times., 1934-04-26

OOWU III byIlCuUuTB1 va" nCAI
Saturday, there is going to be
O horse show, which will be Of
great interest to a great many
people between this part Of the
country and Lynchburg.
.iiup until about 20 years ago
Lynchburg held an annual horse
show that was member Of the
National Association. This was
during the lifetime Of Charlie
Smith and Blair Johnson. After
their deaths interest waned and
It was decided to discontinue
these shows.
After this the interest in
horses declined in Lynchburg
and vicinity and there were
practically no horses there,
with the exception of three or
! four enthusiasts who refused to
give riding up entirely, until
about 10 years ago. At about
this time interest began to be
renewed and gradually more
people began to buy horses for
riding and hacking only.
In 1928 the Junior League es-
tablished a. chapter in Lynch
burg. This local chapter i'm
rnediately began doing things
Of a charity nature, and par
tfcularly concentrated in work
f6r the blind and underprivi-
legged children, and also estab-
1Shed q prenatal clinic. This
was not all done at one time,
but over a period Of the last five
years.
People interested in horses
wishing to establish a horse
show suggested to the league
that they sponsor a horse show,
proceeds from which would go
to the league for the advance
111ent Of its undertakings. In
1881 the first Annual Junior
League Horse Show of Lynch
burg was held with far more
success than was anticipated.
Since 80 and '33 the show has
grown beyond all expectations.
The entry list for 1881 was
limited to entries within a ra-
dfus of so miles. This limita-
ton was increased and at the
present time there Is, no limit
as, to the distance from which
entries can be made. In 1888
there were horses here from
more than 1875 miles distance.
The Junior League decided to
select an early date, April, for
its show. It was thought that
by doing so it would draw inter-
est from the hunting sections
that were preparing for the
later and bigger shows Of the
year.
Particular attention is taken
in selecting judges and planning
and arranging classes. The first
year of the show only trophies
donated by individuals were
given as prizes. In order to
stimulate interest and to draw
horses from a larger area it has
been decided that this year
money prizes are to be given,
this money to be secured from
charging entry fees in each
class.
April %, has been selected for
the next show. The show begins
at 10 o'clock in the morning
and continues through the day
with intermission for lunch,
which the Junior League will
serve on the grounds. A wide
variety Of food, hot coffee. and
beer will be served. After the
show there will be dance at
the Oakwood Country Club.
The vicinity Of Lynchburg is
inhabited by the grey fox. In
tie last ten years there have
been developed three private
packs Of hounds within. a radius
OF IS miles. One of these packs
is~at Sweet Briar College. Mr..
wilbur Blackwell. a native Of
FHuquier, is Master. This pack
has no regular hunting schedule
but hunts whenever the weather
permits. Next year Mr.. Black
well Is planning to add a drag
pack which is primarily for the
pleasure Of the Sweet Briar Col
1ege students but which the
neighborhood is welcome to join.
] It Is safe to say that, whereas
10 years ago there were 10
horses for riding purposes with.
in IS miles Of Lynchburg, there
are now $50 to 200. A large per.
centage Of these horses, possibly
rs per cent, are either thorough.
bred or close to it.
7 The Junior League Horse
Show will be held this year on
the spacious Fair Grounds, as it
has outgrown Gorman's Field,
where it has been for the last
three years. The Horse Show
committee is composed Of Miss
Jean Watts, Mrs. E. P. Miller,
Mrs. E. L. Charrington, j. M. B.
Lewis, F. L. knight, B. P. Ed
monds, r. E. Graves, and H. L.
Wells. Charlottesville and Kes-
wick sections generally send
their green horses to the Lynch
burg Show before taking them
to the larger shows, but this
year they will have to take some
good ones to win, for Lynchburg
horse lovers have been so inter-
ested and own some fine horses.
Bedford and Natural Bridge
people also show there.
y u K