Photo credit: Laura Kauffman
After the pandemic brought horse shows to a near halt, equestrians are finally back in the saddle. In October, the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex hosted the East Coast Ranch Riding 2021 Championship in conjunction with the Keystone International Livestock Exposition.
In Ranch Riding, horse and rider are measured in different classes on their ability to perform ranch tasks with willingness and trust. The patterns and courses test maneuvers like change of gaits or steering different obstacles as if on the working range.
In just five years, the East Coast Ranch Riding Association or ECRRA, has become one of the most entered and noted ranch shows in the Northeast. The organization enables riders of any age or talent the chance to compete under the big top of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Arena. Both non-members and members can compete.
In just three years ECRRA has progressed to three regions including over a dozen states, even hosting the first ever Regional Championship. This 2021 ECRRA championship show was record-breaking. All three regions were represented, from Maine to Maryland. There were 1364 entries in 43 classes over three consecutive days. There were 142 entries in Trail and 195 in Ranch Riding alone. The largest class was Ranch Gelding/Stallion with 32 entries. The judges were Dan Grunewald from Wisconsin and Lori Gordon from western Pennsylvania. Competitors ranged from age 5 in Lead Line to 70+. Locally, youth exhibitors in other disciplines and organizations have been up and down. ECRRA’s entries for youth has been overwhelmingly strong.
“Exhibitors were as excited as if they won the World Cup,” organizer Terry Helder said. And this seems to be the consensus from most everyone, even Judge Dan Grunewald who posted on Facebook, “Want to thank the ECRRA for inviting me to Harrisburg, PA, to judge a wonderful show… Great exhibitors, great staff and great horses! It was an honor…”
Kelsie Brindle of Rockin K Horsemanship had four division champions in Open, Non-pro youth, and Novice. One of her competitors ranked the highest score in Trail and the fastest in Walk/Trot Roundup. She said, “Everyone worked hard all season and we are blessed. I am so proud! And ECRRA had found a way to hold affordable and prestigious shows, drawing all levels of competitors.”
Ellie Harnish, an exhibitor from Lancaster, PA, said, “Reflecting over the ECRRA finals still takes my breath away. After the last two years, sitting on a horse and showing in person with people you consider family is so very special.”
Herm Gailey, horseman, showman, and creator of the YouTube channel: A Lifetime with Horses, stated, “It was wonderful to be back at KILE with the ECRRA family. The perfect finale to a great comeback year. Keeping a big show fun is a challenge, and ECRRA definitely brought it off.”
Awards went to High Points and Champion/Reserves in divisions including Walk/Trot, Walk/Trot/Lope, Ranch Riding, Walk/Trot Trail, Walk/Trot/Lope Trail and Round Up. High Point overall was Jacki Howell from Bangor, PA.
If you are an equestrian dreaming to show under the big top, anything is possible with ECCRA because of affordability, ease of competition, and comradery. Next year’s championship will be held at the same venue, September 30 through October 2, 2022.
This year ECRRA held four shows and a championship, plus 17 full-slated shows in three regions and still maintained two virtual shows (after virtual success during the pandemic) for those who either didn’t like to travel or could not. The ECRRA organization plans to keep this program of both. Visit the ECCRA Facebook page for a list of winners and future events.
—Alicia Stephens Martin is a businesswoman and writer from South Central Pennsylvania. Her upcoming novel, Horse Women Going Wild, is a return to horse showing by four over-50 women.