SARATOGA SPRINGS — For Adele Einhorn, there is no better place for equestrian enthusiasts to get a good view of horses in action than at the annual Skidmore College Saratoga Classic Horse Show.
“It’s such a unique boutique-style equestrian event that I encourage people to come watch it because it’s nothing that you will see elsewhere,” Einhorn said. “You’re not going to get that close. When those horses jump you can see their eyes and the expression on their faces and the face of the rider, and I think that’s what makes it so special. You’re right there. This is a front row seat.”
Einhorn, the executive director of SCHS, brought the show back to fruition in 1998 along with Skidmore Head Riding Director Cindy Ford. It was originally inaugurated in 1927.
This year’s horse show has about 800 horses entered to compete at the Hunter Rings of Skidmore College over the course of two weeks.
The first week of the renowned event begins Tuesday, June 10 and continues through June 15, before the Skidmore Equitation Show on the 17th. The second week of SCHS goes from June 18-22.
Last year’s horse show earned a USHJA Member’s Choice Award, recognizing the best equine events of their kind in overall facility, personnel, hospitality and quality.
From kid riders to those in their 70s, this year’s events include a $25,000 Grand Prix, a $10,000 Jumper Classic and a $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. New this year is a $2,500 Children’s Adult 3-Foot Hunter Derby.
Last year’s $25,000 Grand Prix Landgero Cup Grand Prix winner was Quality Girl, an Oldenburg mare who went on to make a name for herself, winning numerous future classes, along with rider Todd Minikus.
“Our horse show was one of its first shows, so that’s pretty interesting that it won here and went on to be such a great horse,” Einhorn said.
The 17th annual Skidmore College Saratoga Classic Horse Show epitomizes what Saratoga Springs stands for, said Einhorn, and it’s something she wants to continue.
“We want to do everything we can to keep the tradition,” Einhorn said. “After all our tagline here is ‘Horses, Health, History’ for Saratoga, and we feel that we want to do whatever we can to perpetuate this show and make it even better for the community. It brings in a lot of money to the community and it brings in a lot of money for Skidmore.”
Well over $3 million has been raised at the two-week event over the past decade. Every penny goes to Skidmore students’ financial aid.
“Financial aid is one of our top priorities,” Einhorn said. “As a school that is a little bit younger, if you will, compared to some of our peer institutions, we don’t have the endowment that some of these older schools have.”
With financial aid being the second largest component Skidmore College’s operating budget, a large majority of that comes from the SCHS show. Nearly 42 percent of the Class of 2016 received Skidmore aid.
“What we pride ourselves on is that all proceeds go directly to fund student scholarships to students who are admitted who are in need of financial aid,” Einhorn said. “It’s meaningful for the students and the people who participate in this event because they have the opportunity to give back.”
As the director of special projects for Skidmore College, the horse show is just one aspect of her job, but one Einhorn said is “the most fulfilling.” As a rider herself, she knows what equestrians want.
“I pretty much know what people are looking for and I feel that because we know what we want we were able to provide it because we’re involved in the industry day in and day out,” Einhorn said. “So it makes it easy to provide a horse show that has what I would want myself. I don’t allow anything less than that. I want people smiling. I want people to be friendly. I want it to be seamless and I want people to get their bang for their buck.”
