Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show

from Summer Times 2021

Beer and Wine

BY DAVID ROGERS

Few, if any, special events have as significant of an economic impact in the High Country as the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show has on Blowing Rock. Estimated at nearly $10 million every year during those special three weeks in June, July and early August, according to an Appalachian State University impact study more than 10 years ago, the Charity Horse Show means business to the region, especially when it comes to lodging, dining, and shopping.

And it has been doing it for more than a century, ultimately descending from a gymkhana in the late 19th century, at a space behind what is now the Green Park Inn. One newspaper1897, described the event as largely consisting of games on horseback and more of an equine fashion show for the amusement of hotel guests.

In 1923, L.M. Tate held his first Blowing Rock Horse Show, still at a venue near the Green Park Hotel. It grew as more of an official sporting event, but retained its reputation as a “fun show.” By the mid1920s, Thomas Broyhill had purchased about 1,000 acres of land in the Mayview section of Blowing Rock and the horse show moved to a small, little-used golf course there. Broyhill’s objective was to make the horse show an attraction for guests of the famous (but since abandoned and torn down) Mayview Manor Hotel.

The Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show Association was formed in the early 1930s, and in 1934, Broyhill sold what was known as the “horse show grounds” to the association for $1.

During the years, the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show has grown and expanded, while keeping its nonprofit organizational model. As the longest, continuous running equestrian event in the U.S., it has survived not only the Great Depression, but recessions, two world wars, and other regional, national, and even international crises.

Today it features a Saddlebred competition in June and then two consecutive weeks of Hunter/Jumper events, at times drawing more than 500 horses to compete and thousands of owners, riders, trainers, support staff, and their families. Participants come from North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, New York, California, Texas, and other states.

The first show, featuring Saddlebreds, roadster, hackney harness, pleasure, equitation, academy and miscellaneous classes, will be June 10-13, 2021. Altogether, there are 158 competitive classes planned for these four days, with thousands of dollars in prize money on the line.

With increased prize money, the Hunter/ Jumper Division will be two full weeks of excitement, probably attracting a record number of entries.

Previous shows have seen upwards of 500 horses competing for thousands of dollars, as well as bragging rights for a year. Week No. 1 is July 27-Aug. 1, then they do it all over again in Week No. 2, Aug. 3-8. For more information, visit www.brchs.org.

A hunter-class horse jumps over an obstacle during the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show. FILE PHOTO

PROVIDED BY THE BLOWING ROCK CHARITY HORSE SHOW ARCHIVES A hunter-class horse and rider competes in a past Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show event.