Hampton Classic Horse Show Kicks Off on Sunday

Photo credit: Lenny Stucker

The 40th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show, one of the largest outdoor horse shows in the U.S., kicked off the weeklong event last weekend.

The opening day took place on Sunday at the Grand Prix Ring in Bridgehampton.

In 2009, the Hampton Classic became only the second horse show ever to receive the status of Heritage Competition by the United States Equestrian Federation

The honor is given to competitions that have been in existence for at least 25 years and have provided for their communities as well as the horse community as a whole in an unprecedented fashion.

During the event, dozens upon dozens of ponies parade their riders, judged by Olympic Gold medalist Joe Fargis, while their proud parents and grandparents watch nervously from the V.I.P. tents.

In total, over 1,500 horses gathered for the competition.

The event features world-class equestrian competition, with more than 100 classes of competition, including jumper, hunter, equitation, short stirrup and leadline classes, as well as competitions for riders with disabilities.

“It’s a little cloudy today, but it’s still a perfect day for a horse show,” Shanette Barth Cohen, the Classic’s executive director, told the gathered crowd on Sunday. “I want to thank all our competitors, officials, staff and sponsors for making this show possible for 40 years.”

Proceeds from the event benefit Southampton Hospital, who has received over $2 million in contributions over the years from the event.

To start the morning, six sections of the SeaAire Leadline Division, for riders 2 to 4 years old and for riders 5 to 7 years old, took over the Grand Prix Ring.

Judge Joe Fargis, the winner of the individual and team gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the team silver medal at the 1988 Olympics, was the judge for the event.

Riders of more than 600 horses stabled on Long Island vied for the local hunter championships all day long in the Anne Aspinall Hunter Ring and in Hunter Ring 2.

During the competition, the children of two celebrities competed in the local hunter classes.

Alexa Ray Joel, daughter of singer Billy Joel, rode in the amateur-owner hunter division, and Sasha Seinfeld, daughter or comedian Jerry Seinfeld, rode in the junior hunter division.

Romy Lauer, daughter of “Today Show” host Matt Lauer, will ride later this week in the children’s equitation division.

The event will continue all week until August 30.