Before the $7,500 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic at the Old Salem Farm Fall Horse Show this week, a special presentation was held. The Horse Show Hero Award, presented by ShowAssist, honors the hardest working people at the horse show. Throughout the week, people have nominated grooms, stall cleaners, bodyworkers, braiders, body clippers and other support staff as their horse show heroes, people whose hard work and dedication make the sport possible. The winner was selected at random from all the nominees.
Left to right: Amanda Terbrusch for ShowAssist, Barbara Lang, Ricardo Lopez, and Jennifer Hinman. Photo by SEL Photography.
SweetWater Farm’s Ricardo Lopez, nominated by the farm’s owner, Jennifer Hinman received a $500 VISA gift card and prizes courtesy of ShowAssist, the app that connects professionals and owners with support staff at horse shows.
“Ricardo has been my groom for 15 years and without him, things just do not happen,” Hinman said. “He is the hardest working man. He is always the first one there and the last one to leave.”
“I have always worked with animals,” Lopez said. “When I came here I started working with the horses and I really just love them, they are amazing creatures.”
The Old Salem Farm Fall Series horse show will resume Wednesday, September 16. The week will host a series of hunter, jumper and equitation classes including the NHS ASPCA Maclay Region 2 Championship on Saturday, September 19.