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REMEMBERING THE ONES THAT MAKE IT HAPPEN A Chat With AHJF President, Kavar Kerr
By Diana De Rosa

After recognizing the need to help the hunters get the recognition they deserve, the World Championship Hunter Rider Awards and its umbrella organization, the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation, were created. There are many who are responsible for the inception of the AHJF and its continued growth, and among those is Kavar Kerr. With Kavar's help and encouragement many private donors have stepped up to the plate to help the hunter industry. Kavar and I chatted at the Legacy Cup about those who have helped the organization.

"We need to recognize our membership because they are the ones who have supported the organization with private donations to make these big events happen," explained Kerr. "The amateurs, owners, and parents as well as the professionals." Kerr explained that they have held a Hunter Classic in Florida for five years, "and over that time the prize money increased from $25,000 to $100,000 this year…all with private donations. Never has their been a corporate sponsor."

The AHJF also helped the National Horse Show in Madison Square Garden. "When they lost their donor they came to the AHJF and we had two hours to raise $50,000 and we did it thanks to private sponsorship," explained Kerr.
Kerr also noted that beyond the private donors they've had a lot of support from vendors who donate great prizes. So, not only do the winners receive money, but prizes as well. "That's something that never happened for many years until the advent first of the WCHR program and then the AHJF," explained Kerr. The Legacy Cup is a good example of these prizes. Regal Crown is doing a custom riding jacket for the winner. All the trophies were also donated by private people (Walter J. Lee, Ashland Farm, Tad Coffin, Janet Read, China Blue Farm, Lisa Cudahy, the Lindner Family and Belcort Farm).

Kerr is pleased with all the support and especially happy to see that the professionals are also getting more involved in the spirit of the organization. " In recent years they've donated the money for all the coolers for all the divisions in the Hunter Spectacular at Palm Beach," she explained. Over 40 professionals also supported the Legacy Cup by giving a donation of $1000 each and being named to the Founder's Circle. "That's what helped us jump-start this show," explained Kerr.

Part of the success of the AHJF and of the Legacy Cup is that the key people behind the scenes (Kerr, Geoff Teall, Louise Serio, Michele Perla, and Colleen McQuay) each come from different perspectives so it gives a nice balance and it also means that no one is left out as some are riders, others trainers, and others owners. While they come from different perspectives their one common bond is their belief that the hunters need to get the recognition they deserve.

"Everybody wants to see the hunters be more in the spotlight because they deserve it," noted Kerr. "Nowadays the jumpers get all the sponsorship and we want to see the hunters get the respect they also deserve. All those jumper riders started in the hunters. Most of these people have been doing this all their life and they are so passionate that they want to see it flourish and they know the way to do that is to underwrite this program so that we can get some attention."

Kerr went on to explain that while the prizes and the money was certainly a draw for the Legacy Cup, "the incentive to come here was for change - to institute change in the industry." The change did not just revolve around the money incentives, but also to do something different. They made sure everyone was recognized, not just the riders, but also the owners, trainers and grooms. The announcer repeatedly acknowledged the sponsors, the riders, the donors and the horses. There was also a sense of camaraderie. For once it wasn't hard to get them all back into the ring for the awards presentation - and that included the owners, grooms, trainers, etc.. We also leave the door open for suggestions," explained Kerr. "We want everyone to let us know what they do and do not like about the format of this show."

"It's good that the professionals are starting to understand the spirit of the organization," concluded Kerr. "This organization comes from the heart and we all have to keep working together to keep going forward."

Before ending our conversation Kerr had one more thank you to make. "A special thanks also to the staff, especially Michele Perla and Cindy McDermott for all the work they've done for this and other events."