Horse Show Manager Barbara Fisher of Knoxville, Tennessee has been giving back to the horse industry for nearly forty years. Many horse show managers prefer to fly under the radar but are the heart beat of the horse shows. It is not uncommon for individuals in show management positions to have shown themselves at one time or another and that includes Barbara. Find out her story and make plans to attend some of the shows she manages for the Tennessee Quarter Horse Association.
Show Manager Barbara Fisher’s story, as told by Barbara:
When I graduated from high school, my uncle had an office job waiting for me. During those times, a college degree was not as important as it is today. I have worked at some kind of job since I was 16 years-old–from a dime store clerk to Trust Fund Administrator of a $40,000,000 pension fund, which I retired after 33 years of service.
I have loved horses since I was kid. Every Saturday, my brothers and sisters walked to the movie theater to see Roy Rogers or Gene Autry. To this day, I would rather see a good western than any other program. I can’t tell you how many times I have watched Dancing With Wolves or Last of the Mohicans. So, when I married Glen, it was a dream come true, as we lived in a great ten room farm house with a wonderful old dairy made into a horse barn and several acres of rolling land with a practice ring and cattle. We stood three quarter horse studs and, as we both had full time jobs, our breeding was done at night, sometimes until one or two in the morning.
We began to show quarter horses quite a bit. Glen did most of the showing. However, I took lessons and showed halter, western pleasure and some hunter under saddle. I owned one horse which was sired by Two Eyed Jack. It seemed we never kept any riding horse too long if someone came along to buy. That was the business.
I have two daughters and a son, five grandchildren and three great grandchildren. My daughter, Teresa, showed one show season and then it was off to college. Even though I have given a lot of my time to the horse industry, my family is my life.
One day in 1975, we got a visit from Bob Barker. He told us about the Tennessee Quarter Horse Association and encouraged us to become members. Today, I am a life member of AQHA and TQHA.
There was a lot of down time at the horse shows and being someone who could not sit around, I volunteered to help in the office, then I became a show secretary. I was paid $.25 an entry. Back then, we did not have the entries we have today and most shows were on Saturday and Sunday. I became more involved on the state level and became TQHA’s Executive Secretary for ten years. I resigned to do more show management. Then, I accepted the Executive Secretary position again ten years ago and am still holding that position at the present time. I was also TQHA President for two years along the way.
Over the years, I have been show secretary or show manager to 40 show days a year. At the present, I am show manager of my personal five day “Circuit By The River” and the “Dogwood Classic”, both held at Roane State College in Harriman, Tennessee. I also volunteer my time as secretary to two novice shows and clinics sponsored by TQHA.
What do I like about show management? The people!! Some of the nicest people are horse people. I have made great friends being involved with the horse industry. Challenging? By all means. When I first started out as show secretary, we were finished showing by four or five pm. We would go to dinner, dance, and socialize. Today, paper work is greater, even with computers, show schedules are challenging–trying to fit 100 classes in one day, and people are more demanding, more competitive and expect more.
I remember in early years; we had one day horse shows and horses were tied to the trees. Not today. Horse ownership is big business. A very expensive business. But, you know, when an exhibitor comes up to you and says, “I earned my superior at your show.” It makes all the hard work worth the effort.
My memories are priceless–I have so many. One is in 1976, heading up the entrance of the Bicentennial Wagon Train from California through Knoxville traveling to Washington DC. I rode, Kid Otoe, one of the studs we were standing, from West Knoxville to East Knoxville Chilhowee Park, where the train camped overnight. There was music and good food. This was a big deal.
The most honorable memory that I remember was when I was asked by AQHA Director of Shows, Dan Delaney, to help with the newly formed Show Management Seminars. I was the first show secretary, at the first Show Management Seminar sponsored by AQHA. I did an outline on show management which Dan used for several years. I did three Show Management Seminars, one being the first to be held at the All American Congress. This was an honor for me and my ability to manage AQHA Shows.
From 1976 to present, I have been involved with quarter horses. There is nothing like it. Other than with my family, there is no other place I would rather be–well, maybe the beach!
