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History

From a field to an international arena

“The first Lake Placid Horse Show had 60 kids riding Pony Club horses. My daughter served as a makeshift judge, and our dog and cat were the only spectators.”

Ruth Newberry, founder

The grounds across the years

Spectators and performers at the 1980 Olympic opening ceremony beneath Lake Placid’s ski jumps
Then · 1980The Winter Olympics opening ceremony at the North Elba Show Grounds.
An aerial view of the horse show rings, Clubhouse and Olympic ski jumps in summer
Now · The horse showsSummer competition beneath the same Olympic ski jumps.

  1. 1970

    A token show at Ruth Newberry's farm

    The first show was run by the East Kiln Pony Club of Ausable Forks as a step toward AHSA accreditation — sixty children on Pony Club horses, in a field.

  2. 1972

    Eugene Mische

    Eugene R. Mische, credited with advancing Grand Prix show jumping in America, was hired as manager.

  3. 1980s

    Weathering it

    Martin Stone, an international publisher and Thoroughbred breeder, took the chair and worked with Jeremy Jacobs to stabilize the finances after severe rainstorms in 1986.

  4. 1992

    Dick Feldman

    Richard M. “Dick” Feldman became Chairman and asked riders and trainers what they wanted at every show. In 1995 the hunter rings were expanded, drainage improved, a one-mile riding trail added.

  5. 2000s

    On television, and in the crowd

    Feldman started daily cable telecasts. The rail drew Bruce Springsteen, Michael Bloomberg, Glenn Close, Alfre Woodard, Paula Zahn and Lou Dobbs.

  6. 2018

    Philip Richter

    Richter took the chair as boutique shows were disappearing from the circuit, and set out to modernize rather than shrink.

  7. 2024–

    The rebuild

    Allen Rheinheimer became show manager, redesigned the ring layouts, installed international all-weather footing and brought FEI competition back for 2025. The Town of North Elba built a new Clubhouse with State support.

“Asking riders and trainers for their feedback at every show is essential.”

Richard M. “Dick” Feldman, Chairman 1992–2018

From the archive

Photographs from the Lake Placid Horse Shows archive

An archival aerial photograph of stabling tents, parked vehicles and grass competition rings at the North Elba Show Grounds
Early 1970sAn early view of the showgrounds, believed to be from the early 1970s.
Spectators seated beneath a long red-and-white tent beside the grass show ring
1970sThe Spectators Club tent beside the grass ring.
A horse and rider clearing a white fence in a grass competition ring, with other riders beyond
1981Competition in the grass ring, with riders warming up beyond the fence.
Conrad Homfeld, Leslie Burr and Joe Fargis standing together with bouquets at Lake Placid
1984Left to right: Conrad Homfeld, Leslie Burr and Joe Fargis, when U.S.E.T. announced the 1984 Team in Lake Placid.
An archival aerial photograph of rows of Airstream trailers across the North Elba Show Grounds
1985The Town rented the showgrounds to an Airstream rally of some 800 trailers, and the horse show moved to Mt Van Hoevenberg for the year.
Dick and Diana Feldman smiling together and holding a silver trophy
1992–2018Dick and Diana Feldman. Dick chaired the shows for twenty-six years.
Riders, families and show staff gathered on the grass at the North Elba Show Grounds, the mountains behind
2014Parents who competed here, with the children who compete now: several generations of the shows' families.