About
Washington
Bridle Trails Association
Meadowbrook
Stables
Championships
Washington
Bridle Trails Association
The
Washington Bridle Trails Association was organized in 1940 to
encourage an interest in horses and horseback riding and to
develop and improve Washington’s bridle trails. For many
years the organization acted as a spokesman for the horse lovers
of Washington, representing local horse interests and encouraging
a higher standard of care and treatment of area horses. Since
its inception the association has sponsored horse shows several
times a year in Rock Creek Park and has been an organization
to which both experienced and novice riders may belong with
equal benefit and enjoyment.
Of the many
horse lovers who have served WBTA in the past, Colonel Rene
Studler was among the most notable. A retired Army Colonel whose
colorful military career began as an aviator during the First
World War, Colonel Studler was an avid horseman and a leader
in local equestrian activities. He sat on the board of WBTA
for well over a decade, nearly a third of that time as president,
and was largely responsible for the revitalization of the Washington
International Horse Show, of which he was executive vice president.
The WBTA Grand Champion Pleasure Trophy is presented at the
Annual Banquet each year in his name.
From its
beginning as one of the premier local horse shows in the Washington
area, offering 12 classes
(over fence heights starting at 3 feet 6 inches), the WBTA Hunter
and Jumper Show Series has grown to offer nearly 100 classes,
both rated and unrated, for all ages and skill levels. If you
have any fond remembrances of WBTA that you’d like to
share, we’d be happy to hear from you! Back
Meadowbrook
Stables
WBTA has a long association with Meadowbrook Stables,
which was considered one of the finest saddle clubs in the East
when it opened in the fall of 1934. Occupying several acres
of Rock Creek Park along East-West Highway, the facility was
established by the Meadowbrook Saddle Club to promote Olympic-quality
equestrian events and to provide city residents with opportunities
for open-country riding.
Throughout
its history, Meadowbrook has hosted premier local, national,
and international shows, and it continues to host the WBTA Hunter
and Jumper Show Series today. Its inaugural event, the Maryland
Parkway-Meadowbrook Horse and Hound Show, was attended by such
notables as the US Army’s Chief of Cavalry and the Ambassador
of Italy (who showed his famous jumper, Mussolini); prizes donated
by the Secretary of State were awarded by his wife. In succeeding
years, the society and sports pages of the Washington Post and
Washington Star often gave full-page coverage to shows at Meadowbrook,
paying particular attention to spectacular spills and fashionable
attire. Meadowbrook hosted the first Inter-American Horse Show
in the fall of 1936 (admission 50 cents) and, in the fall of
1938, the District of Columbia flag was raised for the first
time as part of the International Horse Show.
Edward
Strother, a traditional farrier who plied his trade for over
30 years, once worked out of the tiny blacksmith shop on the
grounds of Meadowbrook. Using a manual blower to fan his fire,
Mr. Strother spent one day a week handcrafting shoes, and the
rest of the week caring for horses throughout the Washington
area from the back of his sedan. Back
Championships
In addition to the ribbons and trophies awarded at each horse
show, yearend championships, grand championships, and sportsmanship
awards are presented each year at the annual banquet.
| Championships
Pre-Short Stirrup
Mini-Stirrup
Green
Pony Hunter
Junior
Hunter
Large
Pony Hunter
Schooling Pony Hunter
Pony
Equitation
Small/Medium
Pony Hunter
Short
Stirrup
Young
Horsemanship
Pony
Pleasure
Open Pony Hunter
Pre-Children’s Hunter
Pre-Children’s Equitation
Children's Hunter (Pony)
Children's Hunter (Horse)
Grand
Championships
High Point Young Rider
High Point Junior Rider
High Point Adult Amateur Rider
High Point Professional Rider
High Point Hunter
High Point Jumper
High Point Equitation
High Point Pleasure
Back
|
Horse Equitation
Pre-Green Hunter
Adult Horsemanship
Novice Adult Hunter
Children's/Adult Amateur Hunter
Baby Green Hunter
Open Horse Hunter
Horse Pleasure
Adult Amateur Equitation
Schooling Hunter
Puddle Jumper
Hopeful Jumper
Low Jumper
Training Jumper
Modified Jumper
Schooling Jumper
Sportsmanship
Awards
The
Claude E. White Memorial Trophy
for a Junior rider
The
James B. Edson Memorial Trophy
for an Adult rider
The
Rest Assured Memorial Trophy
for a distinguished horse or pony
The Bobo Perpetual Memorial Trophy
for service to WBTA
|
