Chisholm Challenge 2026 – What A Special Week!

by Sharla Kershen, New Hope Founder and Executive Director

The horses are clean and groomed to perfection, their coats gleaming as they wait. Their riders, dressed in their finery, stand ready for the chance to compete in an arena at least three times the size of the one at New Hope. All of this is typical of a horse show—except that this event features riders with a wide range of disabilities, making it something truly special.

There is giggling born of pure joy, but also the kind meant to ease nerves and release tension. Twenty-two riders have practiced for more than four months to prepare for this moment, yet training at home cannot fully prepare them for what awaits at Chisholm Challenge 2026. Some riders have been here before—New Hope has attended for ten years—while others are experiencing the event for the very first time.

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Several horses have competed at Chisholm Challenge in the past, but this year includes three newcomers making their competition debut. Because New Hope horses do not show regularly, they feel the nerves as well. They stand in stalls with cement floors instead of dirt paddocks, walk through unfamiliar passages, and share warm-up rings and equitation classes with many different horses—an experience far removed from their daily routine.

Countless hours go into preparing for Chisholm Challenge, but the day of the event brings challenges that must be faced in the moment. Some riders find themselves on horses they have never ridden before, others use tack different from what they practiced with, and some feel the weight of stage fright settle in. Yet none of it stops them.

                        

With steady hands, deep breaths, and quiet encouragement from those around them, each rider enters the arena. In that space, the noise fades, expectations fall away, and the focus becomes simple and powerful: trust, courage, and connection. Each ride is a victory—not measured by ribbons or scores, but by the bravery it takes to show up, to try, and to believe in themselves.

And still, the horses and riders of New Hope did achieve. They earned many ribbons and buckles, yes—but more importantly, they faced fears and succeeded in ways they never imagined possible. Volunteers and instructors were given the rare privilege of witnessing growth, resilience, and joy firsthand—of being part of something not just memorable, but truly life-changing.

                             

Special thanks to Susan Altshuler and the entire New Hope staff and volunteer crew for all the hard work before, during and after the event.

As Dan Roark would say.. Ride on and ride for hope.

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