Showplace Productions is pleased to announce that respected hunter/jumper trainer Diane Carney will host several clinics during the 2010 Showplace Spring Spectacular Horse Shows. Held at the beautiful Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL, the Showplace Spring Spectacular will return with three consecutive weeks of competition this year, running June 8-June 25.

Diane Carney of Telluride Farm in Hampshire, IL, has been both an active participant and influential trainer in the hunter and jumper community for many years. Her contributions to the industry extend to the many clinics that she teaches every year, in addition to those that she hosts annually for U.S. Show Jumping Chef d'Equipe George H. Morris and top hunter/jumper trainer Don Stewart, Jr. In 2008, she was voted Horse Person of the Year by the Illinois Hunter Jumper Association, and she is also Vice Chairperson of the Zone 5 United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Hunter Committee.

Carney is a great supporter of Showplace Productions' events, and looks forward to the great hospitality that she receives each year. "Pat [Boyle] and I have such a great relationship because of his management, and he always provides great educational venues for clinicians," Carney noted. "When a clinician has an idea, he finds a way to do it. I do my clinics as much as I can in June because Pat makes it so easy for people to participate. He makes the footing perfect for the horses, he makes it easy for the participants to get in and out, and he makes it super easy for the clinicians with sound and water and equipment. He will drag the ring, he will give you jump crew, and he just tries so hard to help and he succeeds."

Carney will teach three clinics at the Spring Spectacular Horse Shows in June. On Friday, June 11, and Friday, June 18, Carney will host Zone V Horsemanship Study Groups. Zone V has a horsemanship class every fall where there is a written test as well as a flat and jumping phase. All three parts of the class establish the winners of the Zone V equitation championships, and Carney will spend those days focusing on the important principles of horsemanship.

"We have found in previous years that the study groups are very helpful because the kids start thinking about the written tests, which are unusual to have," Carney stated. "We study George Morris' book, Hunter Seat Equitation, and it helps the kids to read the books and pick up the manual. I think that it really helps them overall in their horsemanship, as well as in the placing of this class."

Diane Carney
On Monday, June 14, Carney will also host a Grass Roots Riding Clinic, which will be open to all levels, including riders that are getting ready to show as well as more advanced riders on green horses. Included in this clinic at the end of the day will be a course walk of the Showplace Productions United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) International Hunter Derby course.

"USHJA offers some financial support to clinics that run for the grass roots level, which to be defined, are kids that are perhaps not yet at the horse shows or horses that are not yet at the horse shows," Carney explained. "The advanced riders can bring green horses, which is a great experience, especially when it is done at a horse show like we are going to do. They can get in a ring and jump some show style jumps, and the kids that have never been to a horse show get to come on campus and ride around and get a feel for it. At the end of the day on Monday, anybody that is still around will also get to do a course walk of the USHJA International Hunter Derby course."

Each year, Showplace Productions hosts an exciting 'Derby Day' during their Spring Spectacular II. The 2010 Showplace Derby Day will be held on Tuesday, June 15, 2010, and will feature a $15,000 Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA International Hunter Derby, a $5,000 USHJA 3' Hunter Derby, and a $10,000 Open Jumper Speed Derby, all held in the Lamplight Equestrian Center's Grand Prix Ring. "We have been doing this for years. There is an immense amount of effort that goes into setting a proper derby course, and we initiated a whole day to go along with the International Hunter Derby," Carney said. "There are four derbies; two hunter derbies and two jumper derbies. We do a speed derby, which is a higher course set over that same track for the jumpers, and everybody loves it."

"The course walk is of the hunter derby classes," Carney continued. "The kids will have been there most of the day, and then we will go up to the main ring and there is usually a big barbeque and a party. Everybody gets a chance to see what the derby actually looks like, and I think that really helps get people's confidence up to participate in the derby classes later and it can get them interested to at least come and watch."

These clinics are not specific to the horse show and anyone that is interested can come and participate. Carney will run lower- and higher-level clinics in both the morning and the afternoon to accommodate every level of horse and rider. There will be no fee for the Zone V Horsemanship Study Groups, and a nominal fee for the Grass Roots Riding Clinic. Anyone interested in participating should contact Diane Carney for fee information and scheduling at (847) 922-6167 or [email protected]. Auditors welcome.

Showplace Productions is one of the top horse show production and management companies in the United States, and brings many of the nation's top horses and riders to the Chicago suburbs each year for great prize money, superb footing and course design, and a wonderful show experience. The three-week Spring Spectacular Horse Show Series will offer more than $500,000 in prize money with "AA" hunter and five-star jumper-rated competition. For further information on Showplace Productions and the Showplace Spring Spectacular Horse Shows, please visit www.showplaceproductions.com.