Evening star., 1936-03-30
BY JACK ALLEN.

ne SHOW NelQ at rUTC MyeI
riding hall two weeks ago now
is history, of course, and
L equine sports enthusiasts have
turned their attention to other mat
ters, but in the humble opinion of
this correspondent the foremost ac-
complishment of the recent meet has
been overlooked, generally speaking.
1t is our belief the chief feature
was not in the brilliant triumph of
the sensational Sandy in the open
jumping class nor the sparkling vic
tory scored by Maui Girl in the
touch-and-ou but the success at
tending the efforts to interest new
group-schools and colleges-in the
horse show game.
Collegiate competitors previously
neither asked nor received the proper
recognition or encouragement from
executives of the many meets that
are held in this section of the country.
1t was long the accepted belief To-
cally. that is, that colleges had not
sufficient interest in the competitive
end of the sport to be given a place
in the spotlight.
1t was conclusively proved at Fort
Myer, however, just how erroneous
this impression has been. Earnest
appeals to catalogue events for school
and college students led Cavalry OFF,
cials to add, simply as an experiment,
trr-a r1o m fhoir
The response was instantaneous and
gratifying to advocates Of the idea.
HORSES were sent here by several
Virginia schools, University Of
Maryland's Athletic Association i'm
mediately appropriated funds to send
riders and horses and even one OF
Washington's public schools-Gordon
Junior High-took part. Both classes
were well filled and the caliber Of
horsemanship and the ability of the
students horses were a pleasant sur
prise to the committee and spectators
as well.
With such an impressive beginning,
sponsors of horse shows in the Capt.
tai area should not allow the students
interest to die, but should encourage
it by embodying classes for them in
their programs.
The benefits would be far-reaching.
Not only would it attract new COM
petitors to the nearby meets, but the
same students, carrying on after grad
uation, would branch out into the
open events, hunt fields and generally
improve the sport.
THE credit for making the initial
move in this direction does not
belong entirely tothe Fort Myer OH
cials. Fritz c. Kleemann, the new
instructor at Arlington Hall College,
near Clarendon, who formerly taught
equitation in Northern schools and has
had years of show ring experience,
asked the committee to stage the two
classes. They were reluctant at first,
but finally consented.
So skeptical were they at the outset
they arranged the students jumping
class for the afternoon. fearing the
performance Of the collegians over
fences might not be quite up to par
and the evening audience would be
left cold by the exhibition.
A glance at the judges cards fol-
lowing the class revealed one team
negotiated the course Of 16 jumps
with only one fault and another COM
bination had only three points of its
of NkI
petitors would have done credit to q
great many who take part in the
shows held hereabouts week after
week.
Kleemann now Is working on q plan
which this writer sincerely hopes will
find favor among show officials. He
proposes to form an inter- collegiate
league that would stage special team
jumping classes at local meets. A
challenge trophy would be offered
and passed among the victorious
schools after each competition, finally
going to the outstanding team at the
close Of the year.
Hunts and other organizations
staging shows would be benefiting
themselves, as well as the students, to
lineup behind Kleemann's plan. In
creased attendance from the schools
alone would more than repay the
committees for their efforts.
WHILE on the subject Of collegiate
competition we might point out
that two colleges, thoroughly aroused
over the sport now that 1t has taken
q foothold in their ranks. are prepar-
ing to hold their own shows this
season.
University Of Maryland win hold an
open meet at College Park on May 16
and q pretentious program Is being
worked out\ by student committee
headed by Fred J. Hughes. jr.
Riding and Hunt Club originally
planned q show at Johnny Gheen's
Meadowbrook Saddle Club on that day,
but graciously withdrew when It
'ear~ed the date was the oulv one
:: K =,