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This story was submitted by Nan Chapman of Woodside.
Just for Fun, a hunter ridden by Cindy Brooks of Woodside throughout his horse-show career, was posthumously inducted into the National Hunter Hall of Fame in May at the Merion Cricket Club in Haverford, Pennsylvania.
He is one of only 27 horses of the thousands that show each year to be so honored since the award’s inception in 1995.
The partnership between Justin (his barn name) and Cindy began when the horse was purchased for Joseph and Pat O’Connell. In 12 months, Justin and Cindy were recognized as the top horse and rider in their division in the country when they gained the National Horse of the Year title in 1994 from the U.S. Equestrian Foundation, the ruling body for all breeds and recognized horse shows in the country.
Horse and rider dominated the Regular Conformation Division for the next five years until Justin was retired at the Menlo Charity Horse Show in the mid 1990s. After the ceremony the O’Connells gave the horse to Cindy. Before he died last year, he spent his days at pasture.
Cindy, who runs her training stable, Northern Run L.L.C. at Portola Farms in Woodside, says: “Justin has always been Hall of Fame to me. It’s wonderful that other people are recognizing his greatness and honoring him as well, but for me, he’s always been there.”
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