Competitors to rock the jumps in annual WWU derby

Megan Shahinian, a WWU senior, riding her partner, Golden Years.
Megan Shahinian, a WWU senior, riding her partner, Golden Years.

Fall horse show season is gearing up at William Woods University with the college's annual Jumping Derby on Saturday and a showcase of various disciplines the following weekend.
The Jumping Derby is an open event that will include WWU students, as well as members of the public who wish to enter their own horses and compete. The show, which is free and open to the public, will use the two indoor arenas and the outdoor arena on campus.
Michele Smith, associate professor and hunter/jumper instructor, said hunters will use the United Professional Horsemans Arena indoor arena while the other indoor arena will be used for warm ups. The outdoor arena will be set up for jumper classes.
"Hunters are judged on style - the pace he keeps and how he jumps the fence," Smith said. "Jumpers are judged on how fast he goes, and if he leaves, the sticks up."
Fences for hunters are more like what one would find in natural settings - natural colors, natural materials and brick walls. Jumps for jumpers can be all kinds of crazy designs and colors and tend to be on the larger size, Smith explained.
Smith said she is 71 and still jumps horses.
"I have two at home and 41 at school," she said, laughing.
People can still sign up the morning of the show; activities begin at 8 a.m. Unlike other competitions, ride times won't be set in stone.
"You don't have a clue as to when you're going to ride," Smith said. "You just have to watch things. It's not a laid back show. People are in and out of the arena all of the time."
Traditional hunter classes will start the day off and culminate with the Hunter Derby, Lo Jumper Derby and the Hi Jumper Derby. Prizes will be awarded to the winners of each class, division championships and the winners of each of the featured classes on the day's schedule.
The derby is organized and managed by the Hunter/Jumper Show Team and Smith. The show team puts on a number of fundraising events throughout the academic year. Proceeds from these events contribute to show team members' ability to participate in nationally recognized horse competitions with William Woods show horses.
"The derby has grown a little each year, with many 'outside' horses joining the William Woods students and horses for a friendly competition," Smith said. "There is often a nice audience composed of not only friends and families of competitors but also members of the Fulton community who just come out to enjoy an afternoon of show jumping."
The show is free and open to the public. Concession stands will also be available on the show grounds. It is recommended spectators bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on.
For more information, contact Michele Smith at [email protected].