A new Judy Richter Trainers’ Challenge Class is being sponsored by the Fairfield-Westchester Professional Horsemen’s Association in memory of a remarkable horsewoman, who is recalled as “a dear friend of the PHA.”
A top trainer, author and mentor to many, Judy was celebrated at a memorial service Monday at her Coker Farm in Westchester County, N.Y.
The new class is open to professional riders with no restrictions on the size of the horse or pony being ridden. Horses may be rider-owned, or leased or borrowed, but show attire is required for the rider.
The class will be run at the PHA’s summer shows, and scheduled after the upper-level equitation classes. In addition, a championship class will held at the fall medals final show, which is being held at Kirby Hill Farm in Pawling, N.Y., Sept.10.
For this inaugural year, all who participated in this class during the season will be invited to compete at the finals.
Each segment of the new two-phase class counts 50 percent. The first phase will be run over a course of 3-foot fences and include two tests built into the course by the designer. They may include a trot jump, hand-gallop jump, and halting and backing. The second phase will be held on the flat,
Awards at the championship class will include the Judy Richter Memorial Trophy, champagne and other prizes and ribbons.