EQUESTRIAN

Preserving History

Kelly McFeeley, Club Sports Representative

The Broyhill Equestrian Preserve has been a supporter of the App State Equestrian team for a long time. They have played a huge part in helping the team to grow and continue to thrive as a club sport, while also playing a huge part in the history of the town of Blowing Rock. While much of the state would be plagued by the Great Depression, Blowing Rock remained untouched, with tourism in the thriving. This allowed the Charity Horse Show to continuously stay in operation every single year since 1923.

Many have heard of and know the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show. This is a show that has formally been put on every year since 1923 when it first took on the name “Blowing Rock Horse Show.” The history of the show didn’t start there though. The first records of the show date back to a newspaper article in the Lenoir News Topic from September 8th, 1897. The article details an annual fun show that the owner of Green Park Inn put on to entertain guests. Then in the mid 1920s Thomas H. Broyhill purchased the Mayview area of Blowing Rock and took over the Blowing Rock Horse Show as an attraction for the guests of Mayview Manor Hotel

In 1934, Broyhill sold the grounds to the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show Association and the area would then become what is now known today as the Broyhill Equestrian Preserve.

Equestrian

Their accomplishment eventually allowed the horse show to become part of the nationally recognized Heritage Competition Foundation and the show is now a major event in the town of Boone. The preserve officially begins their season in May, but for the last several years has kicked off the new year with the App State Equestrian Team’s Spring Open Show. During the spring, summer, and fall months, the preserve hosts several big shows including the Saddlebred Competition and the Hunter/ Jumper Shows. Both shows bring in many big names in the horse world, such as the Towel and Wheeler families. The season officially ends in November, but not before many people have had the chance to camp and enjoy the beauty of the preserve with their families and horses.

The Equestrian team has the entire preserve board to thank for their continued support of the team, but a main supporter of the team is Maurice Ewing. He had been a liaison between the team and preserve board for the last 6-7 years. This year will be his 70th Charity Horse show and his 45th year serving on the preserve’s board.

Photocreds: Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show The Appalachian Equestrian Team would not be able to make as big of an impact if it wasn’t for the generosity of the Broyhill Equestrian Preserve. We wish the Broyhill Preserve luck as they go to embark on their 97th Annual Blowing Rock Charity Horse show this summer. Just as it has in the past, we can’t wait to see how big of a success it will be going forward.