Young riders representing the Puthoff Equestrian Team will demonstrate their skills this weekend at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus--a sports and fitness exposition hosted by the famed actor, bodybuilder, and politician Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Lynne Puthoff, head coach and proprietor of Puthoff Performance Horses, said her young equestrians have proved their abilities to be superior countless times in her nearly 20 years of coaching--some earning national titles and merits because of Puthoff’s thorough teachings.
This weekend, 15 of Puthoff’s riders will perform in regional competitions at the Arnold Classic, and she hopes that many of them will advance to the next round in Jackson, Ohio and then ultimately to the nationals held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.
Located in West Milton, Puthoff Performance Horses draws riders from across the area, teaching students from New Carlisle, Tipp City, and Troy, as well as Greenville, Arcanum, and one from as far away as Indiana. Puthoff said she strives to teach her students to have fun and enjoy their time in learning new skills, and the technique has obviously been successful, as some of her riders have ranked within the top ten in the national standings in different shows.
She said the competitions in Ohio are some of the fiercest in the nation, as the state is known for its large shows, talented competitors, and superb coaches, making her team’s accomplishments that much more remarkable.
Horses are a family affair for the Puthoffs, as Lynne and her husband Tim are quite accomplished in the field, even passing along the tradition to their daughter Pasley, who now acts as a professional equestrian and assistant. Puthoff said she has been told by many established horsemen that her daughter’s work ethic and commitment to her craft is evident, which made her mother exceptionally proud.
“It’s from doing it all her life--she’s been riding since she was in my belly,” Puthoff said. “I just wish my son would have gotten more into it,” she added of her son Parker, who she explained is a very talented golfer.
Puthoff said the life lessons learned from riding at a young age often become applicable practices in adulthood, instilling a bond between man and beast as well as the ability to become a productive member of a team.
“We try to make it fun for the kids and their families,” she said. “We go as a team...and the parents’ support is always there--they make sure we’re stocked up on food,” she added.
Puthoff Performance Horses instructs riders ages six through 19, and Puthoff said some of her riders’ parents participate in shows as well. The business also includes several amateur adult riders who perform in shows as a hobby.
Puthoff herself has been immersed in equestrian culture since she was just a young girl, first taking the reins when she was “five or six years-old.” She said that as the youngest of her parents’ five children, she joined 4-H when she was nine, and has lived life in the saddle ever since. She opened Puthoff Performance Horses in 1989 and now has 30 head of horses, including 18 training horses. She noted that some of her “kids” have won the American Quarter Horse Congress, which is the largest single-breed horse show in the world.
At the Arnold Classic this weekend, the Puthoff riders will compete in youth Western competitions against 20 other teams from Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. Puthoff said the Interscholastic Equestrian Association will host the equestrian portion of the Arnold Classic, which includes demonstrations of overall Western horsemanship--meaning competitors will be judged on how well they sit on the horse and perform basic maneuvers while maintaining a smooth and steady demeanor. She said that during the upper-level competitions, the rider will be judged individually on “reining” techniques that require slow and fast circles, sliding stops, and spins.
The Interscholastic Equestrian Association was founded in 2002, and allows riders from the ages of 11 to 19 to compete in shows even if they do not own a horse. Mount and tack are provided to riders at each IEA competition--they just have to provide other materials such as riding clothes. Founded upon promoting and improving the quality of equestrian competition and instruction among middle and secondary school students, Puthoff said the IEA isn’t affiliated with any local school systems. The IEA currently includes more than 11,000 students nationwide.
We will publish updates on local riders’ standings from the Arnold Classic next week as they become available.