IHSA Executive Director Peter Cashman with Russ Walther (seated) and his family. Photo by Chloe LaMonica
Gladys, Va.- May 4, 2024 - The Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) is pleased to announce the induction of W. Russel “Russ” Walther Jr. into the IHSA Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place during the National Championship at Tryon International Equestrian Center, on Saturday, May 4. The IHSA Hall of Fame inducted its first members in 2020, and the second class included coaches, founders, riders and horses.
A second-generation Virginia horseman, Walther is well-known as a rider, trainer, judge and horse show manager. In the 1950s, he rode for Waverly Farms in Warrenton, Va., and in the 70s and 80s, Walther ran hunter/jumper businesses in Indiana, North Carolina, Maryland, and later in Virginia.
Russ Walther
For more than 60 years, Walther was a USEF ‘R’-rated judge, officiating at many of North America’s top hunter, jumper and equitation competitions, including at Harrisburg and the Maclay finals. As a horse show manager, Walther managed numerous prestigious hunter/jumper and all-breed competitions, including the Commonwealth Park horse shows (Virginia), Germantown Charity Horse Show (Tennessee), the Estes Park Colorado summer series, Tulsa Charity Horse Show (Oklahoma), the St. Louis Charity Horse Show and the USEF Pony Finals. He has been a member of the USEF Show Management Committee, and president of the Virginia, North Carolina, and Indiana Horse Show Associations, and was also a USEF-licensed hunter and jumper course designer.
In the early 80s, Walther was named the director of the Southern Seminary College equestrian team and coached them to IHSA nationals from 1980-1985. There, he coached a young Beezie Madden, then Patton, to a win in the 1984 Cacchione Cup.
His daughter, Devon Walther, a former IHSA high-point rider at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), said, “A big thing he always did was lead his students into the ring at IHSA Shows. He was always at the ingate. Back when he was at Southern Sem and IHSA was early on, he had his riders dress like they were walking into the ring at Medal or Maclay Finals. He always wanted the riders and horses to look sharp.”
Devon continued, “He was a driver in my decision to go to college at SCAD and ride on their IHSA team, which was hands down one of the biggest highlights of my riding career.”
Russ Walther with the University of Findlay IHSA Equestrian Team After a successful event
Walther joined the University of Findlay (Ohio) in 2013 as their IHSA hunter seat team coach, and was there for three years. He coached three individual national champions, two reserve national individual champions, and the Findlay team placed third at IHSA Nationals in 2016.
Brittany Friesner, who rode under Walther as a junior and senior said, “He was always very encouraging. He always had your back; always expected a lot but pushed you to be your best.”
Now the head coach for the Findlay hunter seat team, Friesner said "Walther was dedicated to his students, and tried to help them find job placements after they graduated."
“He cares about his students; he still is in touch with some. He was a huge mentor for me and continues to be.”
