Q&A With Prolific Amateur and Long-Time CCHS Exhibitor John Ingram

What is your history with CCHS?

As a junior rider, I didn’t really do a lot of indoor shows; that started more with the adult amateurs. I’ve been a pretty consistent competitor at Capital Challenge for the past 15-plus years.  

Being at Capital Challenge is a really different schedule than what we are used to. It’s a whole different thing getting up and riding early — you typically have to get in the ring at 6 a.m. — but it’s the culmination of the year for us. Riders from the West Coast come for the year-end competition. It’s the best horses and riders who typically show up, so it’s extremely competitive.   

Hush and John Ingram        Photo by Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Why do you keep choosing to go back year after year?

It’s a prestigious horse show and a great competition at a nice facility. The timing is also good for me as I often have a number of work things that interfere with shows later on in the year. I run a big family business in the boat services trade — we do inland marine transportation — and I also brought major league soccer to Nashville, so I have quite a bit on my plate other than riding horses. Capital Challenge is often my annual swan song.

What is your favorite thing about the show? 

They make a really special effort. If you win you get a medal, a moment of celebration, and a bit of a tip of the hat, which makes it more special than regular weekend shows. They make a little extra fuss if you’re fortunate enough to win, which is lovely.  

What is it like to win at CCHS? 

To win at a venue like Capital Challenge is very satisfying. There is a lot of hard work that goes into preparing the horses, and we have a whole team who does that. I want to be fit, prepared, and rested myself, too, to give myself a decent chance.

What was your most memorable CCHS win?

I had a great horse called Airport 48 and, one year when I walked into the ring, I wasn’t sure whether I’d win or get bucked off him. He held it together and won, and then he was champion. That was a great thrill.  

John Ingram Airport 48  Photo by Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

What is your background with horses?

My aunt had horses, so as a little kid I grew up riding with my cousins. I was a pretty modest competitor at the junior level, but I’ve amped it up considerably as an adult amateur. As a kid you had your one pony for foxhunting, as your equitation horse — they had to do everything.

I then switched to polo for about 20 years and played with my brother a lot. Jumping is dangerous, but polo is that on steroids, and I managed to survive that. Then my wife Stephanie Curry and our daughter Martha were more into jumping, so I tried to do both for a while, but that was hard. As I’ve gotten older, I decided not to jump quite as high and concentrate with Martha on trying to have a really special hunter barn. We have been training with Tom Wright — who is a brilliant hunter trainer — for years now.

 Do you have any particularly memorable CCHS moments?

The first time I ever competed there was on a fantastic horse called Hush, who was one of the best movers in the country. It was my first time at Capital Challenge, and I didn’t really understand how things were. As I was coming out of the ring, it just so happened that all the horses who had won under-saddle classes in all the different divisions were going back in. They sent me right back in for the world hunter under saddle, and I asked Tom what I should do. He said, “Just go in and do what they do!” So I turned around, went back in, and Hush won that, too. I get it now, but back then I really didn’t know what I was doing.  

What is it like to see your daughter following in your footsteps? 

As a parent, it’s an amazing thing to see your children succeed. It’s been wonderful to see Martha progress from a timid kid into a super accomplished amateur hunter rider. Watching her win at Capital Challenge is very fulfilling; I feel a swell of pride, and I’m so happy for her. She doesn’t just love competing, she really, deeply loves the horses and is always expanding her knowledge, all while working for Nashville Soccer Club.

Nick Haness, John Ingram, Martha Ingram, and Pavlova     Photo by Jump Media

Any tips for success at CCHS?

Make sure your horses are well prepared. A little deep breathing before you go in is a good idea, and then just do your best. The great thing is that world peace is not at stake, but everyone wants it to go well. With the older amateurs like me, it’s people really committed to the sport, so it’s a competitive division with great riders.