Presenting $6 million to the town of North Elba on Saturday, June 28, from left are Lake Placid Horse Show Association Board Chair Phillip Richter, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism CEO Dan Kelleher and North Elba town Supervisor Derek Doty. (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

The Lake Placid Horse Show is being re-born. For the first time in years, it had a significant waiting list, which represents a radical change from several years of declining attendance. The renewed interest is an outcome of a substantial investment in redesigning the overall layout, the installation of state-of-the-art all-weather footing throughout, expanded practice areas, and the installation of quality drainage in the stabling area.

Lake Placid always had a stunning setting and a welcoming community that’s especially attractive to families, but to stay amongst the best in the nation, it needed to be brought to the highest international standards. That upgrade was the outcome of the board hiring one of the best horse show managers in the country, Allen Rheinheimer, to take on Lake Placid and then invest in the plans and upgrades he proposed.

“People are shocked, amazed, and pleased by the upgrades to the Lake Placid Horse Show,” said Kim Tudor. “They say they miss the grass but would miss the loss of the horse show even more because it’s no longer possible to show on grass. Now, rain or sun, we can show, which is critical because people spend a lot of money to come up and show in Lake Placid.”

Two immediate outcomes of this investment are that the shows are now sanctioned by the International Equestrian Federation, meaning they meet the platinum standards of safety and competition. The second outcome was the investment of $6 million by the state, as announced by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Saturday, June 28, funding that will bring the long building and other elements up to the same standards as the rings. The bonus of this investment is a year-round facility that the town can use for a wide range of events throughout the year.

“I am pleased to invest in this new facility and to help make this great event even better,” said Hochul. “This contribution is an economic investment in this horse show that brings over 18 million dollars into the North Country over two weeks every year. That’s extraordinary. They attract riders from all around the world. I want the riders to enjoy this beautiful place and the competition and to help ensure they support all our neighboring businesses. So, this event is important to me, as are the 160 people who work here. Let’s do what we can to help this event continue to grow. I am proud to be your governor and proud to make this $6 million investment.”

Lake Placid Horse Shows Manager Allen Rheinheimer poses with Gov. Kathy Hochul on Saturday, June 28 at the North Elba Show Grounds. (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

As an added incentive for the very best riders and horses to come to Lake Placid, the Horse Shows now offer two $100,000 CS13 (Concours de Saut International) Grand Prix competitions and over $600,000 in prize money. Grand Prix-level showjumping competitions are held at the Olympics, the World Equestrian Games, and internationally ranked events, such as those in Lake Placid.

The immediate visual change was the relocation of the Grand Prix ring away from the road to the east side of the long building, providing spectators with a view of Whiteface and the Sentinel Range as a backdrop for the competition and the ski jumps as the backdrop for the Hunter Ring. Newly installed and upgraded paths improve the flow and safety of the horses brought into the rings from the stable area. An added feature of this shift is it allowed for the expansion of the main ring and space for a new ring.

These upgrades exceeded the expectations of many riders, trainers, and owners, so much so that, coupled with word-of-mouth that’s currently burning up the internet, there is no question that next year’s event will likely be sold out in record time.

“We filled out the entries within 10 days of opening the show and had five hundred on standby,” said Christian Currey from Franklin, Tennessee. “The market wants to come to Lake Placid. The board made a tough decision and took a risk, and it appears to be paying off. It’s a big change from last year and the year before. We have a good group of free star riders from all over; this is a great way to start chapter two.”

Equestrian horses are expensive; thus, horse safety is a high priority. The problem with grass is that it deteriorates, can get muddy and rutted, and doesn’t drain quickly, all of which endangers horse and rider safety. In addition, rain can cancel events held on grass; thus, for Lake Placid to remain viable, the show needed all-weather footing installed throughout the venue. Therefore, the board and the town were faced with either closing the show or making a substantial investment to upgrade the venue so that it would meet or exceed the highest international standards for competition and training.

Rider Laura Chapot is seen during the Lake Placid Horse Show on Saturday, June 28 at the North Elba Show Grounds. (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

“The facility is unbelievable,” said longtime rider Laura Chapot. “Even though Lake Placid had the best grass in North America, it needed to be replaced because it gets torn up when you have thousands of horses on it. They also did a lot of work in the tent area where we stable our horses, and I understand they plan to do more. That’s important because we care the most about keeping our horses safe and comfortable.”

“The upgrades are awesome,” said trainer Kathy Fletcher. “Now there is no need to have rainout days because the grass is gone, the traffic flow is better, and the footings are great.”

“We have made a lot of changes,” said Rheinheimer. “My goal is to keep the integrity of the show the way it’s been over the years. We didn’t want to make it too big, too big to handle. We have a comfortable situation with the amount of horses we have. The camaraderie, the competitiveness; with the FEI, we’ve attracted top competitors this year. It’s exciting to be back in Lake Placid and have the show headed on the right track.

“A lot of people may think this contribution and upgrade to the Horse Show footings is the culmination of our effort, but it’s just the start,” said North Elba town Supervisor Derek Doty. “Saving the core of the horse show was the primary objective in everything you see so far. Our vision extends beyond; once we have established the core event on solid ground with returning participants, and the fever is present, then the entire community can utilize the new and upgraded long building. ORDA is excited about crossing the street from the ski jumps and being able to entertain people who come for those events. In short, this investment is just the beginning.”

“It’s hard to define how I feel,” said Phillip Richter, Lake Placid Horse Show Board chair. “It’s a proud moment for the horse show, for the town, and for all the stakeholders: riders, trainers, grooms, spectators, sponsors — all the people who come together to make it happen. I think there’s a euphoria that hasn’t been felt in many years, and the future is very bright.”

Rider Christian Currey is seen during the Lake Placid Horse Show on Saturday, June 28 at the North Elba Show Grounds. (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

(Naj Wikoff lives in Keene Valley and has been writing his column for the Lake Placid News since 2005.)