on the path
By Sarah Robinson
Horsing Around H
orses and humans have been tied to one another for centuries. In fact, some scientists believe horses were domesticated more than 5,000 years ago. While the exact date can’t be pinned down, one thing’s for sure: the bond between humans and horses is like no other. From thoroughbred racing to driving, show jumping to fox hunting and everything in between, there’s no shortage of equestrian sports. Even in New Albany, the variety of horseback activities is wide. Just ask New Albany resident and veterinary orthopedic surgeon Jim Harrison, a fox hunting and show jumping enthusiast. As part of the area’s Rocky Fork Headley Hunt, he occasionally takes his horses fox hunting. “The fox hunt here is a no-kill hunt, we don’t kill foxes,” Harrison says. “It’s just a Jim Harrison sport of riding off and following the hounds and seeing how they work.” Harrison got into fox hunting with his wife, now deceased, more than 30 years ago and has kept with the sport ever since. His true passion, however, lies with show jumping. “It’s a sport of communication with a horse,” he says. “To be able to communicate with my horses is just something that’s intriguing.” It may be shocking to learn Harrison is a septuagenarian yet enjoys the sport often deemed the most dangerous Olym-
Harrison with three horses 16
pic sport. Harrison, however, considers his age an advantage. “The average age of an equestrian show jumper is twice the average age of all other Olympians,” he says, “because it takes a very long time to train. Someone told me that it takes about 20 years to learn how to ride, but I would say that’s not long enough.” Harrison has been riding since he was a boy, though he took an extended hiatus from age 16 to about 40 to pursue his education, career and a family. He now has three adult sons but, he says, you never stop being a father. For Harrison, the best life lessons he’s learned from his experience with horses is from the relationships riders form with the animals. “(Horse) emotions are not much different than human emotions,” he says. “Once you learn how to communicate with a horse and understand their emotions and how to deal with it, it’s directly applicable to people.” Amy Hauk, CEO of PINK and longtime New Albany resident, has been riding regularly for about 10 years, though she became interested in horses as a young adult, leasing a horse with her college roommate and riding in San Francisco right out of college. “Riding is an incredible opportunity,” she says. “It’s a beautiful sport, it’s a physical sport, it’s a mental sport and the ability to connect with an animal is one of the most rewarding relationships you’ll build.” Hauk’s son, Victor Dehm, is a rising senior at New Albany High School, and he began riding around the same time Hauk picked it back up when they took a family trip to Scotland. “When we were on this trip, I rode every day,” Hauk says. “When we came back, Victor started riding and I knew that’s when I wanted to start riding, too.” Dehm started his equestrian career with horse camps, riding at a local barn once a week, then three times a week at various barns. And now? “I pretty much ride almost every day now,” he says. As a high schooler, Dehm has to balance riding and jumping with AP classes, his involvement in Model United Nations, and his role as president of the school’s debate club. “With the balance,” he says, “school comes first. I try to fit riding in on top of that as much as possible.” www.healthynewalbanymagazine.com
Photos courtesy of Jim Harrison
Life and times of three riders in New Albany
