What a wonderful breed of horse - The Tennessee Walking Horse. And what a wonderful opportunity the Academy Program provides for more and more people - an entirely new audience - to become acquainted with the performance horse. The Academy Program allows beginning riders, youth and adults, the pleasure of enjoying the show horse at an affordable price. They are given the opportunity to become knowledgeable and competent riders. The Academy Program creates a new market for the Tennessee Walking Horse as riders want to compete on a different level and purchase a more competitive horse.
Jane Hardy Meredith, an avid proponent of the Academy Program and member of the Performance Show Horse Committee of the TWHBEA, states, "I'm very excited about the Academy Program as we have received a lot of interest. The Academy Program has been very successful in the Saddlebred industry in promoting their horse to new markets. We have the chance to do the same in the Tennessee Walking Horse industry. It's a splendid way to introduce our show horse to new people and financially benefit the trainers and instructors. TWHBEA's Performance Horse Committee assisted by the Youth Committee has created a Pilot Program for Winter 2003. This program will help instructors/trainers get started with a lesson program. Part of this Pilot Program will be a Winter Tournament, one show a month December through February for Academy students in participating areas. To participate, trainers/instructors must attend one of two Certification Programs sponsored by TWHBEA. One will be held during the Celebration and the second one in early fall. We are excited that WHOA committed last February to sponsor and encourage Academy classes at shows."
The purpose of the TWHBEA Academy Pilot Program is to introduce the program to schools and youth groups. TWHBEA will aid in marketing and advertising the program in local areas. At least five participating stables or instructors are needed in a particular area. If all eligibility requirements are met, TWHBEA will maintain a three year commitment to the program.
Students participating in the Academy Program are given lessons on school horses. The performance school horse must be registered with the TWHBEA and MUST be a mare or gelding. The Academy horse must be neatly presented. No shanks longer than 10” and no ringed shanks may be used. NHSC rules are followed and all horses must be in compliance with the Horse Protection Act.
A rider is eligible to compete in Academy classes if he/she has not shown in a riding suit at an affiliated show, except the Country Pleasure class. Academy students are neatly dressed in long sleeve shirts, jodhpurs, breeches, or black pants (no blue jeans), jodhpur boots. Hair must be worn in a neat style, pulled back in a bun or braided above the collar. Safety helmets are optional and are the only acceptable headgear.
Students are charged for lessons at an hourly rate, which will vary from area to area. Academy shows will be held during the winter months and the classes are strictly for those taking lessons. The winter tournaments will be held at covered arenas or at different stable locations. Students are charged when they are taken to a show. The same horse may be shown more than once by different riders and the cost is then prorated. TWHBEA would like to see the formation of an Academy Championship, a separate show in late winter.
Students may desire to acquire their own Academy horse, which creates a market for the $5,000 to $25,000 horse or an older horse. The program can generate additional revenue and visitors for participating stables during the slower winter months.
Leigh Bennett, walking horse trainer, licensed judge, equitation instructor, and breeder from Alvaton, Kentucky, states that she, “believes the Academy Program is one of the greatest opportunities that has been presented to the walking horse industry in a long time."
Bennett is a member of TWHBEA and serves on the Performance Show Horse Committee. She attended the seminar conducted by noted Saddlebred trainer and instructor, Nancy McConnell, which was held in the Blue Ribbon Circle on the Celebration Grounds during the Annual Fun Show. McConnell spoke about the Academy Program and how it has been successful in the Saddlebred industry.
McConnell is a well-respected trainer, instructor, judge, and exhibitor. She trains and instructs with her son, Pat, and his wife, Julie, at McConnell Stables at Rigby's Green in Lexington, Kentucky. McConnell is a much sought after equitation judge. She is very involved in World Cup Saddle Seat equitation competition where riders from all over the world compete in Olympic style events. McConnell has made several trips to South Africa when the World Cup was hosted there.