Source:  New Release/Michelle Riggs/Classic Communications

Show Jumping Hall of Fame Honors New Inductees Leonard King, John Ammerman and Good Twist at Gene Mische American Invitational presented by G& C Farm

The Show Jumping Hall of Fame held its annual induction ceremony at the Gene Mische American Invitational, presented by G&C Farm, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL, on Saturday evening, April 9. Honored with induction were Leonard King, John Ammerman and Good Twist.

Induction into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame is a great honor bestowed annually upon select individuals whose contribution to the sport has set them apart from others and whose influence has had a significant impact on the world of show jumping. The new inductees join the previous 67 inductees previously enshrined into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame. 

All three inductees have had a significant impact on the equestrian community, and their talents and efforts have now been formally recognized by their peers. It is because of these accomplishments, and what they have brought to the sport, that The Election Committee, composed of some of the nation’s top riders, trainers and officials, voted them as the 2010 inductees. 

Leonard King

Throughout his career, Leonard King has been a leader in moving the sport of show jumping forward, helping to popularize it in America with several ground breaking efforts.

King was among the founding members of the American Grandprix Association and he served as the association’s first President, holding the position from its inception in 1978 through 1999. In this role he helped to unify disparate Grand Prix events into a cohesive series attractive to sponsors and media. He used his position to lead the sport forward, personally negotiating major agreements with corporate sponsors new to the sport such as Mercedes-Benz, and he helped give the sport new positioning. 

As the sport of show jumping grew in the U.S., national television networks began to take an interest. King served as co-producer and manager of the first show jumping competition ever to be nationally televised when he partnered with CBS to air coverage of the Grand Prix at Upperville, VA. He then helped convince CBS to take a chance on televising the AGA Championships and other events.

King was co-producer and manager of the American Gold Cup, both at John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia and the Devon Show Grounds, and he produced and managed the Philadelphia Horse Show, the Baltimore Jumper Classic and the Valley Forge Grand Prix. He served as the President of the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair and currently serves as its Chairman.

King was the first North American (U.S. and Canada) representative to the International Equestrian Federation’s World Cup Committee. He was also co-producer and manager of the first FEI World Cup Final in the United States when it was held in Baltimore, MD, in 1980. 

King was a member of the United States Equestrian Team’s Board of Directors, and served as Chairman of its Development Committee. He was also a member of the American Horse Shows Association’s Jumper Committee. He was one of the founders of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame and served on its Board of Trustees and was its Treasurer for more than 10 years. He was a nationally and internationally recognized judge, judging many of this country’s most prestigious horse shows in addition to the FEI World Cup Finals.

John Ammerman

One of show jumping’s most respected judges for over three decades, John Ammerman has served the sport in a number of capacities.

In addition to the respect he earned as a judge both nationally and internationally, Ammerman has gained the esteem of the sport for his record as a manager of some of the nation’s biggest and most prestigious horse shows. He also maintained a business providing show jumps and his work there was equally respected.

Ammerman has served as judge at nearly all the top shows in the eastern U.S. A U.S. federation “R” jumper judge, he was one of only two FEI “O” level judges in the U.S. His calm demeanor, integrity and deep understanding of the rules earned him recognition internationally. He has served on the jury at two Olympic Games and was President of the Jury at two FEI World Cup Finals, the Pan American Games and the Washington and New York CSIOs. He also served as Foreign Judge at CSIOs at Toronto and Spruce Meadows.

Ammerman has also achieved great respect as a horse show manager. He was manager of the Washington International Horse Show for nearly three decades and also managed shows such as The Potomac Horse Festival, Upperville Colt and Horse Show, Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show, HITS Indio Winter Circuit, HITS Ocala Winter Circuit and the Vermont Summer Festival’s six week series.

The jumps he produced were also highly regarded. His jumps could be found in the show rings at most of the major east coast shows and they were chosen to be used in the 1979 Pan American Games in San Juan, the 1980 World Cup Final in Baltimore, and the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Ammerman has also served his sport by volunteering his time to its organizations. As a member of the USEF Jumper Committee & Management Committees, he was involved in the creation of Jumper Judges Clinic System. He also has served on the Board of Directors of the American Grandprix Association and Show Jumping Hall of Fame.

Good Twist

Good Twist represented the United States in international show jumping competition in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Ridden by Show Jumping Hall of Famer Frank Chapot, the grey Thoroughbred stallion enjoyed an illustrious career, winning 21 international classes in the United States and Europe.

Good Twist's consistency as a speed horse who could jump big fences and handle long distances made him one for the ages. Chapot said that he turned like a little horse but rode like a big horse and that he never worried about long distances while riding him.

Good Twist was one of two mounts (the other San Lucas) that helped Chapot place second at the 1966 European Championships at Lucerne, Switzerland. Good Twist and Chapot also enjoyed several major European victories in the late 1960s including winning three classes at Aachen in 1966, two classes at Hickstead in 1967, and the Prix du Champion at Ostend in 1969.

In addition to their international success, the pair had North American victories at CSIOs in Toronto, New York, Washington and Harrisburg. In 1972, they were part of winning Nations' Cup teams that also included Hall of Fame inductees Neal Shapiro, Kathy Kusner, William Steinkraus and Main Spring.

Also, in 1972, the pair was awarded the Frederick D. Mackay Memorial Trophy at the National Horse Show, where they put in an amazing performance with wins in four classes including the Grand Prix. They returned to win the Trophy for a second time in 1973.

In addition to his accomplishments in the show jumping arena, Good Twist is famous for siring one of America's most beloved and most accomplished show jumpers, Gem Twist. Greg Best and Gem Twist captivated the hearts of America when they won individual and team Silver Medals at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. Gem Twist was also awarded the American Grandprix Association Horse of the Year Award three times ('87, '89 and '92), each time with a different rider – Best, Leslie Burr and Laura Chapot.

Good Twist's impact on the sport has been immortalized through his contributions both in and out of the arena. He will forever be remembered for his talent and athleticism as well as the legacy he has left behind in his offspring.

The Show Jumping Hall of Fame and Museum was established in 1987 and formally opened in 1989. It was organized to promote the sport of show jumping and to immortalize the legends of the men, women and horses who have made great contributions to the sport. 

Since 1987, the Show Jumping Hall of Fame has inducted William C. Steinkraus, Bertalan deNemethy, Idle Dice (1987); Patrick Butler, August A. Busch, Jr. (1988); David Kelly, Jimmy Williams, Ben O'Meara, Frances Row (1989); Arthur McCashin, Kathy Kusner, Brigadier General Harry D. Chamberlin, San Lucas (1990); Adolph Mogavero, Whitney Stone, Morton "Cappy" Smith, Pat Dixon (1991); Eleonora "Eleo" Sears, Mary Mairs Chapot, Barbara Worth Oakford, Snowman (1992); Dr. Robert C. Rost, Joe Green (1993); Frank Chapot, Gordon Wright (1994); Mickey Walsh, Trail Guide (1995); Pamela Carruthers, Jet Run, Richard "Dick" Donnelly, Heatherbloom (1996); Edward "Ned" King, Bobby Egan, Sun Beau (1997); Fred "Freddy" Wettach, Jr., Melanie Smith Taylor, Johnny Bell (1998); Rodney Jenkins, Sinjon, Franklin F. "Fuddy" Wing, Jr., Democrat (1999); George Morris, Carol Durand, Touch of Class (2000); Eugene R. Mische, Lt. Colonel John W. Russell, Bobby Burke, Untouchable (2001); Harry R. Gill, Clarence L. "Honey" Craven, Calypso, Gem Twist (2002); J. Russell Stewart, Sr., Main Spring (2003); Snowbound (2004); Michael Matz and For The Moment (2005); Conrad Homfeld (2006); Joe Fargis, Karen Golding, Marcia "Mousie" Williams (2007); Dr. John Steele, Abdullah, Miss Budweiser, Riviera Wonder (2008); and Neal Shapiro and Balbuco (2009). 

The Show Jumping Hall of Fame also conducts the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series, held under Grand Prix rules and specifications, which features separate championships for juniors and amateur-owners. The Series holds classes at more than one hundred horse shows across the country. It is designed to give amateur-owner and junior riders an opportunity to compete at higher levels and serves as a proving ground for many riders who aspire to someday represent the United States in international competition.

The Show Jumping Hall of Fame is located at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Plaques honoring those who have been honored with induction into the Hall of Fame can be seen at the Horse Park's Rolex Stadium. Mementos and artifacts from the sport's history are on display as part of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame collection at the United States Hunter Jumper Association National Hunter Jumper Sport Museum at the Horse Park. 

For more information about the Show Jumping Hall of Fame, please visit the Show Jumping Hall of Fame website.