A History of IDS Shows by Terry Luley

Editor’s Note: A horse injured coming back from an out-of-state show in 1978, the need to increase the very “sluggish IDS membership numbers”—these were a few of the factors that led to the first IDS show in 1979.  The following history of how the IDS show came to be is written by Terry Luley and was first published in the 1993 IDS Newsletter. It is yet another wonderful story of dedicated volunteers coming together to make it happen.

The show was the brain child of the late Wendy Boesch. In 1985, Wendy wrote the following of how the show came to be.

“In 1977 or ’78, not sure which year, Verta Cole (NOTE: The late Verta Cole was a Regional Director for USDF in the 1980’s) put on an AHSA dressage show, the first for IDS and the first in the whole state of Indiana.  However, Verta felt that entries did not warrant trying one again int hat area given the AHSA hassle and involved expenses.  There weren’t enough IDS member/riders at that time to make the work worthwhile. During those years there were only 3 to 4 dressage shows (schooling only) presented in the state during the whole show season. Some members progressed to levels of ability that they wanted to compete in AHSA/USDF shows but had to leave the state in order to do so.  Others were somewhat intimidated by AHSA shows because they didn’t know what to expect.

In the spring of 1978 I had a horse being trained and shown by Martha Kemmer, who showed quite a bit of ability and promise.  After doing very well in the fall schooling shows of 1977 and early spring shows in 1978, Verta suggested that Martha and I find some AHSA shows and get some experience and comments of AHSA judges.  We did, and he did extremely well.   However, coming back from one of those AHSA shows (naturally out of state), we had a trailer mishap late at night.  That mishap caused severe injuries to the horse, and I had to have him put down a month later.

As a result of losing the horse, Wendell, Martha, and I began to discuss what a help it would be to IDS member/riders that wanted or needed to compete in AHSA/USDF shows to have one in the state and in a centrally located place, with good roads to/from.  Naturally Wendell said we ought to be able to find a place in the Indianapolis area.  Wendell said that he was so sure that if such a place could be found in Indianapolis that it would draw riders from other states, thus not needing IDS members to make it worthwhile and financially OK and that he would be willing to put up the initial money to try it.

Martha spoke to Dannette Morgan about a location in Indy (Dannette had rings/equipment and available crew plus the experience to manage such a show).  I contacted Verta to see what she thought about the possibility of such a show in that location drawing additional riders, in addition to understanding what was necessary to get AHSA/USDF sanctioning.

Dannette was enthusiastic and felt it would work. Verta filled in the other information and suggested we could make it an USDF Benefit show as USDF had sent out requests to show committees, with information, regarding the need USDF had for additional funds. Verta felt that if it was an USDF Benefit show we would definitely get support of other riders and volunteer support for workers that would be needed.  Thus, we initially were going to do a USDF Benefit show, and it was to have been called “The Indianapolis Dressage Competition, USDF Benefit Show”.  Dannette was going to contribute her rings/equipment/crew.  Wendell was going to provide the monies needed for airline reservations, motel reservations, program printing, etc, and all of us were going to cover the other expenses needed until entries were received and we saw that there was going to be the money to pay us.

The purpose of the show was primarily to provide an AHSA/USDF show in the state for IDS member/riders that wished to compete in them so they wouldn’t always have to travel great distances, taking their money out of state.  In addition, it was to provide a learning experience for IDS members who wanted to see what AHSA shows were all about, as well as to see higher level rides and horses than we could ever see in our schooling shows.  The main purpose was never to make lots of money.

At some point Dannette suggested we offer to do the show as a benefit show for IDS.  She felt that IDS needed any small amount we could eventually make, if the show proved successful, more than USDF did.  Further, it would help advertise IDS and hopefully, thereby, increase our sluggish membership numbers.  The latter was the most important reason for offering it to IDS.

As Dannette was President of the IDS, she did not want to bring it up at the Board Meeting herself.  She knew there were members who would be opposed, and she didn’t want to influence the decision.  She asked Martha and me to present it to the Board, which we did in October of 1978.  There was some opposition but, after much discussion and explaining the how’s andwho’s, the Board accepted our proposal.  The opposition was for two reasons: (1) There were members who felt that an AHSA show was not needed in the state, and that the handful of riders that wanted to compete in such a show should continue to go elsewhere. But the members who felt it was important as a learning experience as well as for some of our rider/members won out.  (2) Others felt that IDS would become financially involved and then be responsible for any loss of money and that the club could not stand such a loss (which it could not have).  They sincerely felt such a show would not make it. However, when we explained that the show was being totally underwritten by the committee, not the IDS (therefore IDS would never be financially responsible), and only being offered to IDS as a benefit show, the opposition and concerns were satisfied.”

That first show was held on August 25-26, 1979, at the Marion County fairgrounds.  A total of 53 horses were entered, 17 of which were ridden by IDS members, and 4 states were represented.  Thirty classes were offered, and entry fees were in the $10-12 range, while stabling was $20 for the weekend.  By 1983 the show had moved to June and the Boone County 4-H fairgrounds in Lebanon.  It drew 113 horses from 7 states, and 45 IDS members competed.  A total of 45 classes was offered at fees ranging from $12-25 with stabling at $35 for an 8‘ X 8’ stall or $50 for a 10’ X 10’ stall.  Perhaps even more significant was the fact that this show was also an observation trial for candidates hoping for a spot on the 1983 Pan Am Games team (7 competed and one, Carol Grant, eventually did make the team).

1985 was a pivotal year for the “Indy Show.” Early in the year Dannette Morgan regretfully informed the Boesches that she and her crew would no longer be able to manage the show.  In February Wendell’s father became very ill and was given only a few months to live.  By April Wendell’s father was critical and a replacement for Dannette had still not been found.  On April 15 the painful decision was made to cancel the show for that year in order to avoid many of the non-refundable expenditures due at that time.  Also, there was simply not time to find and train someone new to take over the running of the show.  There was, naturally, a great deal of disappointment among the IDS members over the loss of their big show of the year.  In subsequent months discussion of what to do about the show in the future resulted in the decision by the Board to take over the running of the show as a club project, which also entailed assuming financial responsibility as well.  Lee Ann Zobbe nursed the show along for the first three years, most importantly the extremely traumatic year of 1987, when the show came within a heartbeat of being cancelled one week before because its new home, the Hoosier Horse Park, was not ready yet.  Robert Marr managed it in 1989 and 1990 and initiated some innovative changes.  And I took on the job from 1991-1994 and then passed it on to Barb Levy.

So that was the situation 20 years ago.  What has happened since?

At the beginning of its 15-year run at the Hoosier Horse Park, the Indy Show was given a new name which it carries to this day—the Indy Dressage Classic.  Over the next decade and a half the show grew to enormous proportions and realized significant profits.  There were several years in the early 1990’s when over 100 horses were entered and the show ran up to 5 competition arenas.  In 1992 sport horse breeding classes were added and in 1996 the show went to a 2 shows over 3 days format.

Due to the deteriorating conditions, especially the footing in the dressage arenas, at the Hoosier Horse Park and the availability of the superb new facility in Carmel, Indiana, the decision was made to move the Indy Classic to Sweet Charity Farm in June, 2002.  IDS had already hosted 2 very successful October shows at this facility so felt it was worth the risk.  It was hoped that the close proximity to Indianapolis would encourage more spectator and sponsor support of the show.  The cost of using this facility was about 4 times the cost of the HHP, and the show struggled financially for the first few years but held on until 2005 when two major changes occurred.  The show made a very good profit for the first time at SCF, and the facility was sold the week before the Classic and the contract for the October show was cancelled.

The club was now faced with a dilemma as to where to go to hold its shows.  Conditions at the Hoosier Horse Park had not improved sufficiently to be enticing so a search began for a suitable facility.  Foxton Farm in Romney, Indiana emerged as a very attractive option.  IDS had held the Fall Show and Ride-Offs there many years before, and the facility had grown and improved since that time.  The club decided to move the show to Foxton.

The Indy Classic remained at Foxton Farm through 2012 when the closing of that facility necessitated another move.  This time it was back to its old home at the now much-improved Hoosier Horse Park.

Indiana Dressage Society has been the consistent provider of dressage shows, both recognized and schooling, in the state of Indiana for 40 years.  Others have come and gone, but IDS has persevered and the show continues to carry on.