Trip Harting, beloved judge, coach and clinician, died on Aug. 21 in his Los Angeles, Calif., home after a short battle with liver cancer. He was 62.

Raised in Potomac, Md., where his father founded the Potomac Horse Center, Mr. Harting began riding when he was 6 years old. By the age of 15, he became the youngest member of the U.S. Pentathlon Team.
He established and, for six years, directed Koko Crater Stables in Honolulu, Hawaii, before moving to Los Angeles. His business was patterned after the program his father instituted at the Potomac Horse Center and helped certify instructors and stable managers over the course of four years.

Mr. Harting showed jumpers at the grand prix level and competed internationally in three-day events, but he found his true passion in the dressage ring. He earned his U.S. Dressage Federation bronze and silver medals in 1995 and 1998, respectively.

Mr. Harting also received his U.S. Equestrian Federation judging license and since 1985 was a practicing S-rated judge. Up until his death, Mr. Harting taught 10 to 20 clinics and judged 25 to 30 shows per year throughout the United States and around the world.

Outside of competition, Mr. Harting was revered as a brilliant trainer and clinician. He taught hunt seat equitation, dressage and eventing for more than 30 years. Mr. Harting’s real love, however, was
working with juniors and young riders.

Mr. Harting was a major supporter of youth equestrian education and helped establish many intercollegiate competitions around the country. He coached the Young Rider combined training teams in USEA Areas I and V before focusing on dressage.

His extensive involvement with the Junior/Young Rider dressage program included serving as the chairman for the California Dressage Society and the USDF, directing and managing the CDS junior championships and serving as USDF Region 7 coordinator.

In 2001, Mr. Harting accepted the position of coach and chef d’equipe of the U.S. Pony Clubs team at the North American Junior Dressage Championship (Ohio). The USPC honored him as a living legend in 2004.

For the past four years, Mr. Harting performed countless hours of volunteer work for recovering drug and alcohol addicts and shared his own personal battle with drugs in the documentary film entitled, Trip To Hell And Back, released in early August. The biography won grand prize for best short documentary at the Rhode Island International Film Festival.

Mr. Harting is survived by a sister, brother and nephew. Memorial contributions may be made to Delora L. Lauver DVM, Community Veterinary Center, 10617 Burbank Blvd., N. Hollywood, CA 91607.