Untacked

14 FA L L 2 014 U N TAC K E D PUBLISHER'S LETTER Start Spreading The News When it came time to lay out our editorial plan for Untacked's Fall Issue many months ago, a look back on New York City's equestrian history seemed like the perfect prequel to the Chronicle's upcoming Central Park Horse Show, slated for Sept. 18-21. But as staff writer Jennifer Calder began her research for our cover story (p. 52), it became immediately evident that we'd need to narrow our focus, as an entire book could eas- ily be written on the topic. erefore we decided to focus on a specific slice of the city's rich equestrian history: the days of top-level, international competition right in the center of Manhattan. e National Horse Show called Madison Square Gar- den its permanent home for more than a century, and exhi- bition horse shows in Central Park played significant roles in its promotion over the years. But to date there has never been an actual licensed competition held in the city's most famous open space. e Central Park Horse Show will be the begin- ning of that new tradition. Central Park is an iconic jewel that's known far and wide—no need to add "United States" or even "New York" to the identifier. Central Park evokes smiles, memories and dreams. ere could be no better place to host the first pri- metime, live broadcast of equestrian competition in the United States. It's long past time our athletes—both human and equine—enjoyed the same public following and promo- tion as those in many of our other major league U.S. sports. In the 21st century, competitions and basic accessibil- ity to horses is extremely limited for most Americans. Our vision for this four-day event, based at the Trump Rink in the heart of Central Park, is to create an opportunity for the general public to connect with not only the Olympic equestrian disciplines, but also the simple, wonderful grace and beauty of the horse itself. While the focus during eve- ning sessions will be top-level competition between some of the best riders in the world, our matinees will focus on cel- ebrating the connections between talented horses and their human partners. Events such as London's Olympia Horse Show, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto and the Dublin Horse Show have set impressive examples of how to successfully combine high performance competitions with entertaining and educational acts. ese events fill their start lists with the best riders in the world and their stands with local fami- lies, thrill-seekers and equestrians alike. For many, atten- dance becomes an annual tradition, and for some, it inspires a new hobby, a lifelong passion, or perhaps even a career. A good horse show should position its competitors to be viewed as true athletes, representatives for their respective countries, and role models. eir careers and their horses should garner a following throughout the year leading up to the event, adding to the excitement when they enter the ring. And it should, first and foremost, be accessible. e more people we can invite into the sport, the better it will be for everyone. As we look back on the history of our sports in this issue, we also look ahead with this objective for the future. e Central Park Horse Show's high- profile venue alone will attract thousands, and with proper pro- gramming and an annual com- mitment, we hope horse sport can take a big step forward to build a broader, deeper and more passion- ate audience in the United States. —Katherine Bellissimo, Publisher MANCINI PHOTO

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