Small Fry – The Next Generation Takes to the Pen

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210 – May/June, 2017

BY TAYLOR FABUS

There are few things that can bring an entire show community together quite like the wide-toothed grin of a small fry exhibitor. While everyone seems to have a favorite rider to cheer for, the competitive nature of the horse show eases a bit when these youngsters take center stage.

The evolution of the small fry division has been fascinating to follow over the last several years. Just a few short years ago, most showbills only had one walk-trot class and one leadline class to offer the next generation of horse show superstars. A quick glance at a showbill today will tell a much different story. Solely based on the number of classes offered, it’s clear to see that the horse show industry is now highly valuing the involvement of their youngest exhibitors. Dig a little deeper and you may notice that the entry numbers, level of interest, and height of competition in the small fry division is impressive and continuing to rise. So what does this all mean for the horse show industry? We’ve visited with some of the industry’s leaders to get their take on the extremely popular small fry division.

Rosie Sheffer of Grass Lake, Michigan, coached her client, Ashley Rytman, to a Congress Championship in Small Fry Western Pleasure in 2016. Rosie says, “The small fry division is a great way to get young kids started in showing and introduce them to the AQHA circuit.” Tommy Sheets of New Albany, Indiana, has several champion Small Fry contenders in his show string, and he agrees that the small fry division is a wise place for the industry to be investing their time and talent. He says, “Small fry classes introduce children and families to the horse show industry, which is essential for continued growth.” Christie Showerman of Northfork Farms in Webberville, Michigan, whose granddaughter Jenna Morse took home her very first Congress bronze in 2016 after winning the Small Fry Trail, owns and operates Northfork Outback, in addition to her show and training program. Northfork Outback is a facility that focuses on horse camps, retreats, field trips, riding lessons, and more. She’s had more small fry families requesting camps and lessons than any other age bracket.

In addition to serving a population of interested riders, small fry classes also offer opportunities for a previously underserved audience. Meggen Baynes, an amateur competitor from Michigan whose daughter competes in the small fry division says, “small fry classes have encouraged the young kids, that are just coming out of leadline, to start showing. It’s nice, because before the small fry division was created, there was a large gap between leadline and the novice or 13 and under classes. The small fry division allows kids to get the experiences they need to move on without taking away from their eligibility for rookie or novice classes that they will still need as they grow in their riding capabilities.”

Click here to read the complete article
210 – May/June, 2017