by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 8, 2023
Only one U.S. rider, Kent Farrington, will compete in the 22d Rolex International Jumping Riders Club Top 10 Final on December 8, during the Geneva, Switzerland, Concours Hippique International. The competition involves the 10 best show jumpers in the world, who qualify from the rankings list.
McLain Ward, number six in the world rankings, is opting out and instead going to the Desert International Horse Park in California during that time period. The IJRC worded announcement of that cryptically, saying Mclain “is unfortunately unable to travel to Europe to compete in this event.”
I was alarmed–could it be that McLain is sick, or was there a problem with his horses? But he told me heading west “was the better choice for my string of horses at this moment and keeping in mind next years busy season.” He is, of course, referring to the Paris Olympics.
McLain Ward and HH Azur on their way to victory at Geneva 2022. (Photo Ashley Neuhof/Rolex)
Irish rider Shane Sweetnam, number 11, made the top 10 as a result of McLain’s decision not to go to Geneva. At least Shane is based in the U.S.
Last year, McLain won the first leg of the Rolex Grand Slam (a different competition from the top 10) at Geneva with HH Azur, then took the second leg earlier this year in the Netherlands.
But their bid to become only the second winner of the Grand Slam ended when Annie had two of the first three fences down during the Grand Slam’s final segment at Aachen, and McLain retired from the competition. That was Annie’s last show. She had a formal retirement ceremony at the Hampton Classic in September.
Kent earned the Top 10 title in 2015 and 2019, and is the only U.S. rider ever to do so since the competition began in 2001. This year, he’s fresh off winning gold on the team with McLain at the Pan American Games, and also took individual silver at that competition in Chile. He is ranked number three in the top 10. McLain won individual bronze at the Pan Ams.
Created in 2001 by the International Jumping Riders Club, the Top 10 competition recognizes the achievements and talents of the world’s best show jumpers over the preceding year.
World number one Henrik von Eckermann of Sweden will be looking to repeat his 2022 finish at the head of the Top 10 final with King Edward. Also competing are number two, Ben Maher of Great Britain, who won the top 10 in 2021; Martin Fuchs and Steve Guerdat, both of Switzerland; Frenchmen Julien Epaillard and Simon Delestre; Max Kuhner (Austria) and Harrie Smolders (Netherlands).
IJRC President Kevin Staut noted that “the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final is a very special class; every edition of this competition is an extraordinary event, a new and exciting experience. Thanks to its format and the understanding there is between riders and the public, it is a perfect competition.
“Winning the Rolex IJRC Top 10 is one of the most satisfying and important achievements for a rider because it marks the crowning event after a year of constructive and constant work in perfect synergy and harmony with our horses.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 7, 2023
It started out as the ride of a lifetime around a top-level cross-country course at last month’s MARS Maryland Fair Hill event.
Arielle Aharoni, at age 23, was in her first 5-star competition on Dutch Times, a horse her mother, Christina, had bought as a weanling.
Now 15, Dutch had developed into a superb athlete who won show jumping classes, but whose heart was really in eventing. He finished second in June’s 4-star Long at the Bromont event in Canada, so a 5-star was the logical next step.
The Maryland course laid out by renowned Scottish designer Ian Stark had been upgraded in his third year on the job. The optimum time was tight (only one of the competitors would be able to beat the clock) and the hilly terrain posed its own challenge, That was in addition to the various tests ranging from a sunken road to the Crab Water with a beady-eyed replica of the crustacean as one of the elements.
Arielle Aharoni and Dutch Times on course at the Maryland 5-star. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
When Arielle neared the end of the 28-obstacle course, Dutch continued to cover ground as if he owned it.
“It was kind of a perfect round. I never felt him get tired,” she recalled.
“He was dragging me around. There was nothing he could have done any better. He never said no.”
Then they reached what Arielle called, “the last really difficult combination,” the Fair Hill Roller-Coaster and Drop. It was so close to the end that from the next fence, the Table, number 26, “you could literally see the finish flags.”
But as Dutch negotiated the Drop, “on landing, he never put his right front down, that was pretty terrifying, it was downhill, he was at full speed on three legs,” Arielle remembered.
“It took forever to pull him up, you know, gravity; you’re going straight down a hill. I’m in distress. I’m crying, pulling him up. There were people rushing to the scene. He’s not an easy horse to deal with when he’s all amped up like that.”
She didn’t know what had happened to him—could it be a broken leg? Please no.
After she was able to stop Dutch, the people who came to help put a cast on him and loaded him into the ambulance to bring him back to stabling.
A preliminary scan showed a rupture of the superficial digital flexor tendon. Following initial treatment, Dutch went back in the trailer and headed straight for the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, one of the country’s most highly regarded veterinary hospitals.
A later scan revealed, thankfully, that there was no involvement of the deep digital flexor tendon or suspensory ligament.
Arielle and her mother learned blunt force trauma is required in order for a tendon to rupture.
So how did it happen?
They speculated that when Dutch lost a shoe, possibly at the Foxcatcher Ditch hedge before the Roller Coaster, it might have flown off his right front hoof and hit his leg above his boot. Or he could have banged the leg on the back of a fence.
“It’s not anybody’s fault,” said Christina. “It’s just unlucky.”
Christina Aharoni makes sure Dutch gets plenty of personal attention. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
The shock of the injury understandably shook Arielle.
“I was pretty much ready to quit riding–you know, I don’t have my friend,” she explained.
“I love the other horses, but this is the horse that made things happen for me. I wasn’t prepared at all to never do that (cross-country) with him again.”
But she does have other horses who need attention, and kept on going. Arielle rode two of them at the Waredaca, Md., Classic Three-Day Event and Horse Trials last month, finishing second and third in Open Preliminary on Littlebitadominic and Chumley. Now she hopes those horses can be promoted to Intermediate.
Meanwhile, Dutch’s most recent scan shows the tendon already is filling in a little bit. Christina noted the prognosis is “the nine-month standard tendon rehab.” However, the Arharonis reference the fact that Dutch bowed a tendon on his left front eight years ago when he had a different rider, and the vets didn’t have hope that he would be eventing again. He came back anyway.
At the moment, Dutch’s right leg is bandaged. He’s on hand-grazing and stall rest, with other horses in Arielle’s Branchburg, N.J., stable taking turns keeping him company in the next stall. Dutch amuses himself by tossing around his lead rope and trying to get his blanket, which is placed strategically out of his reach on the bar in front of his stall.
Hand-grazing is on Dutch Times’ schedule these days. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
People have reached out with inquiries and supportive comments. Boeringer Ingelheim Animal Health sent along a case of Surpass, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that relieves pain and inflammation.
“It’s much appreciated,” said Christina.
Dutch will be going to the Aharonis’ farm in Ocala after Thanksgiving for more R&R in a friendly climate. The warm weather and limestone roads will help his healing process. After that, what he will do remains to be seen.
“He probably is not ready for retirement,” said Arielle.
“We have to hope for the best and give him something to do for the next three or four years until he starts to kind of age out.”
Possibilities include dressage, show jumping, low-level eventing or perhaps just being a mount for Christina, since she was the one who selected him all those years ago. One thing is for certain, though, said Arielle: “He’s staying with me for the rest of his life.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 6, 2023
It was a saga that captured the hearts and imagination of millions–how a sweet colt made an instant connection with a teen who battled a cruelly debilitating syndrome and forged a link that carried them both to world-wide fame.
Cody Dorman, who suffered from Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, found joy in the fabulous career of Cody’s Wish, the colt named after him. Cody met the son of Curlin at Godolphin’s Gainsboroough Farm on a visit sponsored by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and it was love at first sight.
Due to his condition, Cody could only communicate directly using eye-tracking to operate a tablet, but he still made himself understood to all of those around the world who followed his story.
Whenever his family could get him to the track, Cody was there, and the horse named after him was winning. Cody was his good luck charm.
That was never more evident than on Saturday in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita. There, the four-year-old colt battled for the win by a nose, and then withstood an objection to collect the trophy as Cody watched. It marked the end of the horse’s racing career, as he moves on to stud duty.
And with unbelievable timing, it was also the end of a heartwarming story. It somehow appears to be more than a sad coincidence that Cody himself departed a day later. He died on the way home from California to Kentucky. Cody’s Wish had been his work, and his work was done.
Michael Banahan, director of bloodstock for Godolphin USA, said the loss of the teen is especially difficult after the excitement of Breeders’ Cup weekend.
“It really does seem like divine intervention from the day Cody and Cody’s Wish first met,” he said.
“The highs and now the lows—it’s hard to comprehend. It has hit us all like a wall.”
He added about Cody’s famiIy, “I do hope they find comfort from the journey they’ve been on.”
In a statement, the family said, “We are heartbroken to share the news that our beloved Cody suffered a medical event on our trip home to Kentucky yesterday and he has passed away.
“On Saturday, Cody watched his best friend, Cody’s Wish, display his usual perseverance and toughness in winning a second Breeders’ Cup. Those are the same characteristics Cody has showed time and again for the 18 years we were blessed to have him. We have been completely amazed to experience the impact Cody has had on so many people, through the journey that this wondrous racehorse has taken us all on. From Churchill Downs, to Keeneland, to Saratoga, to Santa Anita this weekend, we could not move 20 feet without someone stopping to tell us just that.”
The statement concluded, “With Cody’s diagnosis at birth, we always knew this day would come, but we were determined to help Cody live his best life for however long we had him. Anyone who has seen him at the racetrack, especially around Cody’s Wish, understands that in many ways he taught us all how to live, always keeping a positive attitude and being more concerned about those around him than himself.”
Following the news of the teenager’s death, the Breeders’ Cup issued this statement:
“The entire Breeders’ Cup team is devastated by the news of Cody Dorman’s passing yesterday. His story captured our hearts and minds, and his strength, spirit, and determination were fittingly embodied by his namesake’s commanding performances in his honor. We send our sincere condolences to the Dormans, who gave our sport so much by welcoming us into their family.”
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations be made to Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 8, 2023
Part of the fun when going to major competitions involves visiting the trade fair to see what’s new and unusual. That’s how I discovered Nicola Schulten’s take on boots. What attracted me was seeing how she designed a way for spurs to in effect be buttoned onto the back of the boot.
A unique way of adding a spur to a boot. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I was really frustrated with my spurs flopping up and down and having very tight straps over my insteps and having the circulation cut off on my feet,” she told me when we met at the MARS Maryland 5-star.
“So I decided as a shoe designer and a rider, I ought to be able to solve this problem. We are not breeding our horses the same or wearing the same clothes as we did 100 years ago. So why should we be wearing still the same shoes that we were wearing 100 years ago?”
The veteran of 30 years in the shoe business undertook “a complete rebuild of a boot with more of an athletic construction method around the front, a lot of support on the back in the heel area and a lot of shock absorption on the sole.”
There’s also a shock-absorbing footbed inside the boot “that’s really energizing to wear. It’s much much more comfortable to jump off your horse in something that actually has shock absorption built all the way through it” rather than the usual thermo-plastic rubber, she said.
Any spurs on the market fit into the pockets on the sides of the heel. There are also two holes for adjusting the height of the spur.
She moved the zipper to the inside, “so the flexing is going on in the middle of the ankle.”
The part of the boot that goes against the saddle can be faced in suede, but overall “there are three layers of leather protection between you and your stirrup leathers,” Nicola advised.
They include a lining for sheepskin from India “so it has that natural quality that Indian sheep tend to have.” Between that and the leather exterior, there is a compressed layer of pigskin.
When the boot is worn by people with cerebral palsy, “they are now able to canter because they have more support,” Nicola said, adding other customers are riders with muscles missing, hammer toes, bone spurs and bunions. It struck me that para riders might benefit from these boots.
“The more I know about what’s going on with them, the more I can build into their boots,” the native of Great Britain said about her customers.
All boots are custom and start at $2,400 for the tall boots, and $800 for paddock boots.
Her business in Grand Rapids, Mich., The Impeccable Equerry, offers a variety of interesting products, including half-chaps.
I enjoy meeting entrepreneurs with original ideas, so that’s why I wanted to share the word about Nicola’s products when I spotted them.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 2, 2023
Another step in re-imagining the Stable at Lord Stirling Park will offer new housing for 16 horses and related facilities as part of a project to update the facility in Basking Ridge, N.J.
Now that the Somerset County Commissioners have agreed to approve the barn, it is expected the project can go out for bid by the end of the year. The cost of the work and its timeline won’t be known until the contract is awarded.
Formerly known as Lord Stirling Stable, the equestrian operation was a busy lesson facility for a half-century. In 2019, there were 76 horses in residence at the stable, 58 of which were used for lessons. There also were boarders and lead-line ponies on the site. In 2018, 430 juniors and 570 adults rode in group lessons at Lord Stirling, while 1,140 private lessons were given.
But after Covid struck in 2020, the stable was closed and the horses were sold, with only ponies and boarders’ mounts remaining on the property.
A plan to revitalize the park got under way in 2022. Trail ride horses to be used by the public were brought in, along with the therapeutic riding program, Rocking Horse Rehab. There are seven horses for trail rides and five ponies owned by the Somerset County Park Commission at the stable, which also is home to a group of equine boarders.
The old dairy barn at Lord Stirling.
The thinking behind the need for a new barn is the fact that the re-purposed dairy barn that has been used for much of the stabling on the premises “doesn’t properly support modern equine services,” according to a release from the commissioners. It has 21 box stalls and a number of unused straight stalls.
“The dairy barn was built for cows and not necessarily for a modern equestrian program. That said, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t have any uses at all. It may or may not be part of the future of the stable,” said Nathan Rudy, a spokesman for the county.
“This is an ongoing process to make sure this stable can operate with equestrian programs for the foreseeable future. That’s why a new barn is so important to this process.”
The new stable, which will have runs for 12 of the 16 stalls, also will include three tack rooms, feed rooms, a laundry and an ADA-compliant bathroom.
“It’s exciting to see this vision for Lord Stirling Park taking shape with the new barn plan, expanded trails, and renovations to the historic buildings as we prepare for the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026,” said county Commissioner Paul Drake, the liaison to the county Park Commission.
Rocking Horse Rehab operates at the stable.
In other work at the park, upgrades to the trail system will combine the historic buildings, Environmental Education Center (EEC), the stable and new amenities proposed in the plan. The trail network will include approximately three miles of combined equestrian and pedestrian trails and ten miles of equestrian-only trails.
A new trail has been constructed connecting the EEC to the stable, which will allow visitors to access both trail networks. Ongoing improvements include new information kiosks, directional signage, trail markers, fencing and gates, and parking lot upgrades.
Lord Stirling Park is 1,015 acres of parkland, natural waterways and open space in the northern area of Somerset County that is home not only to the stable and EEC, but also the Revolutionary War-era Boudinot Southard Ross Farmstead. These resources previously have been operated independently of each other.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 5, 2023
“No more testing.”
That was the word which came down from the judges after the top 24 competitors had completed their rides in the second round test of the ASPCA Maclay on Sunday.
The announcement had to be anticipated by anyone who was watching Carlee McCutcheon’s flawless performance on Chacco Star in that segment, 12 hours after the class started at the National Horse Show in Lexington, Ky.
Unlike her victory in the Dover Saddlery/USEF Medal Finals last month, when she came to the top from fourteenth place, Carlee led all the way through the Maclay in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park. Last year, she led until the final tests, when bobbles wound up putting her fourth.
There was no mishap this time around. The victory capped off quite a fall season for Carlee, who also was second in the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals East, and third in the Washington International Horse Show’s equitation championship last weekend.
“Today was really just a blessing, and I’m so grateful,” said Carlee.
Carlee McCutcheon and Chacco Star. (Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography)
“Having a partnership like I have with Chacco, is a big advantage for me, he makes me so confident and brave every time I walk in the ring,” she noted.
“I know he’s so good at the equitation; he’s very seasoned at it. He’s way better at it than I am, for sure. I think having that sort of confidence going in the ring makes a big difference for me.”
Winning at the National “means more than I think I can express. It’s so historic to be here,” said Carlee, whose name will be engraved on the iconic silver tray with the likes of those including Bill Steinkraus, Frank Chapot and Leslie Burr Howard, among so many great riders who won Olympic medals for the country.
“I’m always grateful just to qualify for this horse show,” Carlee remarked.
“It’s such a special feeling to walk into the ring here knowing the highest level of the sport has competed here and won here.”
Carlee comes from an equestrian family that breeds winners, although they are best known for reining—in which Carlee also competes. Her grandparents are Colleen and Tim McQuay; her parents are Mandy and Tom McCutcheon, all names well recognized in the horse world, no matter which branch you favor.
Carlee, who is trained by Max Amaya and T.J. O’Mara at Stonehenge in Colts Neck, N.J., also collected the Dennehy award for the best record in the fall equitation finals. She has finished her junior years with the ultimate triumph, and will be starting her professional career now.
The reserve champion was Eleanor Rudnicki, riding Waldo. She is trained by Berry Porter and North Run. Explaining what the show means to him, Berry said, “I remember watching some of these people on television and going, `Oh,it would be so cool to meet them or know them.’
“And then to have Missy Clark and John Brennan supporting me and at the ring with me is kind of cool. Never though it would happen.”
Tessa Downey, third on HH Moonshine, earned the same color ribbon as she got last year, but the University of Georgia equestrian team member stated she is “a lot prouder of the result” in 2023. She is trained by Peter Pletcher and Emily and Ken Smith.
Eleanor Rudnicki, Carlee McCutcheon and Tessa Downey with the famous trophy.
All three of the top-placing Maclay riders are from Texas, which is the first time that has happened at the country’s oldest major equitation championship, which began in 1933. (But it came close to happening last year, when the second, third and fourth-place ribbon winners were Texans.)
The officiating was being handled in a different fashion this year, with four judges: Rachel Kennedy, Wendy Peralta, Tamara Provost and Danny Robertshaw.
They were divided into two teams, complete with scribes, on each side of the ring, and the scores were done as averages.
“We spent a lot of time in Florida talking about how this should go,” said Rachel.
“I think the day went great. The kids rode great and the course was great. I can’t tell you enough good things about how today went.”
Transparency was the name of the game. The standby list was updated every 50 riders, and there was a QR Code on the livestream that people could access to find out the standings as the class went along. That innovation was enabled by Liz Soroka, who works magic behind the scenes at the show.
It took nine hours for the 226 Maclay starters in the first round to finish the beautifully landscaped course, designed by Kentucky Horse Park regular Bobby Murphy and Kevin Holowack, a Canadian who studied architecture in college. Kevin said proudly that a trainer told him the course “subtly separated” the contenders.
The challenges on the initial route included a unique first fence, a single red, white and blue pole over a base covered with artificial grass, and two one-stride double combinations with four strides between them.
A group of 24 was selected to perform on the flat, with 12 in each section.Competitors were asked to counter-canter, ride without stirrups, and lengthen stride in the sitting trot.
In the second round over 13 fences, judges included two tests; calling for the 24 riders to hand- gallop fence 4, an oxer on one side of the ring, and on the other side of the ring, put in six strides between the one-stride double of verticals and fence 10, an oxer.
As the leader following the first round, Carlee was honored with the new Hannah Serfass Memorial Award, named after a 15-year-old equestrian who died at a Florida show in April when her horse fell on her during a show jumping competition. Hannah’s score in the first round was 96.5; Eleanor’s was 94.75.
Here’s a shout-out for New Jersey: Kate Egan of Glen Gardner, who rides with Emil Spadone and Luke Olsen at Redfields, finished seventh; Caroline Signorino, who rides with Geoffrey Hesslink, was ninth.
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 4, 2023
Irish course designer Alan Wade has laid out show jumping fences across Europe and North America, with the FEI World Cup Finals and the FEI World Equestrian Games among the many competitions that have benefited from his style.
But until this week, he had never designed at the National Horse Show, so he was new to the Alltech Arena in Lexington, Ky., and the characteristics of that ring.
“It is quite a funny shape, but the horses seem to be jumping well. I try to build a course that’s friendly, but still gets a nice result,” said Alan, who was assisted at the show by Olympic designer Steve Stephens.
“This is quite a big ring, so it jumps a bit more like an outdoor than the indoors we have in Europe,” Alan observed.
As always seems to be the case, Alan’s efforts created classes that were both fair to the riders and exciting for the spectators.
The show’s highlight, the $226,000 4-star Longines FEI World Cup Qualifier Saturday night, drew an international field of 28, with 11 coming through to the tiebreaker.
U.S.-based Irish rider Shane Sweetnam made the most economical of turns in the jump-off with James Kann Cruz, his wife’s Irish sport horse by Kannan. He was rewarded with a clear round in the time of 33.41 seconds. His approach to the double combination showed a bit of bravery that paid off.
World Cup qualifier winner Shane Sweetnam with judge Maria de Lourdes Arrambide, National Horse Show Chairman Bill Weeks and NHS President Jennifer Burger.
“I just tried to keep it as smooth as I could, he’s a great horse, he’s always going to try to jump it,” said Shane, noting, “actually, we slipped a little bit, but it gave us room and then we just tried to keep it coming. You know, he’s giving his best all the time. He really is a show-off, he really wants to perform.
“I know with all the horses after me that I would have to be fast,” remarked Shane, who was fourth to go in the tiebreaker. His time of 33.41 seconds did the trick.
Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz. (Shawn McMillen Photography)
While he’s had a good year, finishing high up in a number of grands prix, he hadn’t earned first place in one during 2023 until he succeeded with the National’s feature.
He added, “I’m delighted to have won this, especially in Kentucky,” where he has been a regular in the winner’s circle at the Kentucky Horse Park.
His whole family is with him at the show, including his wife, Ali, and daughter Olivia, who was riding in the ASPCA Maclay finals the day after her father’s victory.
Last year’s National grand prix winner, Daniel Bluman of Israel, couldn’t repeat his 2022 feat, but came close in 34.14 seconds with Gemma W.
After the class he had a comment about the turbulence in the Middle East.
“I want to send my thoughts and prayers to everyone that is currently affected, by the war,” he said, referring to the situation in Israel and Gaza.
“It’s a real tragedy and we’re praying for our resolution for the hostages to come back, and for peace in a better future.”
U.S. competitor Devin Ryan, third last weekend in the 5-star World Cup qualifier at the Washington International show, earned that placing again with his long-time partner, Eddie Blue, clear in 34.22 seconds.
“He really is quite a fighter,” Devin said of Eddie.
“You know, at home in the stables and everything he has a big personality. He’s a bit cheeky and when he goes in the ring, he just loves his job. He puts his ears forward every time he goes in the ring. He likes being on the stage.”
Interestingly, the top three in the class all rode grey horses.
Devin leads the North American League standings for next year’s World Cup finals in Saudi Arabia. He has 30 points to 28 for Shane—who had never won a Cup qualifier before—and 25 for Alise Oken.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 11, 2023
The keynote address at the Rutgers Equine Science Center’s Evening of Science & Celebration will be “Welfare over Triumphs: Protecting the Juvenile Performance Horse.”
The speaker at the Nov. 9 gathering in New Brunswick is Dr. Jessica Leatherwood from Tarleton State University in Texas. Her presentation will focus on her years of research into the health and safety of the young performance horse, but won’t be centered on any particular breed or discipline. The talk will cover some of the most up-to-date guidelines and recommendations for the upkeep and management of young growing performance horses.
The Evening of Science and Celebration, which runs from 6-9 p.m. is an opportunity to unite equine professionals, horse owners, farm owners and barn managers, educators and students, 4-H members and all equine enthusiasts for the purpose of learning about current projects and ongoing research initiatives being conducted at the Equine Science Center. The Center addresses horse industry issues and challenges through sound science and research.
Leatherwood joined Tarleton State University earlier this year as a faculty member in the Department of Animal Sciences, serving as an associate professor and graduate coordinator. She received her Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in Animal Sciences; with her graduate programming focusing on equine nutrition and physiology.
During her time at Texas A&M, Leatherwood co-developed an international horsemanship program providing opportunities for high-impact learning experiences and obtained funding for students to participate in international experiences by conducting four-day horsemanship clinics in Europe, Oceania, and South America. She hopes to develop a similar program for students at Tarleton State University.
Dr. Karyn Malinowski, founding director of the Equine Science Center, will give her yearly update on the state of the center, along with an overview of the last year’s accomplishments.
The evening will include research updates and presentations. Taylor Palmer Jr., owner and operator of Boxwood Farms in Englishtown, N.J., will be awarded the 2024 “Spirit of the Horse” award. It recognizes individuals whose lives have been profoundly changed because of their involvement with horses and who have given back to the horse industry.
Palmer focused on the fine details of harness racehorse breeding that embraced quality over quantity; increasing awareness of the horse industry in New Jersey, including the importance of preserved farmland and open space; and served as the founding chair of the Rutgers Equine Advisory Committee (now known as the Rutgers University Board for Equine Advancement (RUBEA).
“Taylor Palmer Jr. lives and breathes New Jersey Agriculture, devoting his and his family’s entire life to breeding the best Standardbred racehorses possible”, said Malinowski.
She noted that he has served New Jersey agriculture for decades with his involvement in the state Board of Agriculture, his commitment to supporting the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey as treasurer, and as a proponent for the preservation of farmland in the Garden State.
“I am personally grateful for Taylor’s commitment to the Rutgers University Equine Science Center and its programs,” she said.
The event requires registration that can be made online at: https://go.rutgers.edu/Evening2023.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 5, 2023
I don’t usually write about horse racing these days, but I was so thrilled to watch White Abarrio win the $6 million Longines Breeders Cup Classic Saturday that I had to share my excitement.
I have followed this horse from the beginning of his career (there was just something about him that I liked) and I never lost faith in him. I always knew he would be a big winner.
Watching White Abarrio before the 2022 Haskell, Monmouth Park, when I got to see him in person.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 1, 2023
Even before the Pan Am Games team show jumping medals were decided this afternoon in Chile, after three perfect trips in the second round of today’s team competition, the U.S. was set to finish high enough to qualify for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Whew!
But when the competition finished, the news was even better. The U.S. had an amazing score of four clears from McLain Ward (Contagious), Karl Cook (Caracole de la Roque), Kent Farrington (Landon) and Laura Kraut (Dorado 212) in the second round. The squad took team gold, followed by Canada’s silver medal effort; as the former leader, Brazil, dropped to bronze on a tense and exciting afternoon.
Laura Kraut, McLain Ward, Karl Cook and Kent Farrington. (Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian)
It was quite a comeback for the U.S. under the direction of coach Robert Ridland from Tuesday’s initial speed round, where only anchor rider Laura Kraut went clean for the team, and the U.S. stood fifth.
To get a berth for Paris next year, which was Mission One in Chile, the U.S. needed to be in the top three (aside from Brazil, which already had qualified for Paris last month at the Nations Cup Final.) There would be no other chance to qualify for the U.S show jumping team, which is a regular participant at the Olympics. It was get it done at the Pan Ams or stay home next year.
The Canadian, U.S. and Brazilian teams get together on the podium at the end of the medal ceremony.
Coach Robert got it right Tuesday night when he said of today’s two-rounder, “it’s a new day for each of the teams here.”
Today, the U.S. riders were playing their A-game, as they took advantage of their last chance to make the cut for Paris.
Canada, earning team silver, has taken one of the other two places available for the Paris Games, and Mexico got the third. Mexico was fourth in the standings, but as Brazil finished third and was qualified, Mexico was able to clinch its slot.
“You know, we really needed clear rounds today or we weren’t going to be qualified for the Olympics. That’s as simple as that,” Kent said after his ride on Landon.
Kent and Landon.
Speaking about his horse, Kent mentioned, “He’s an inexperienced horse for this level of competition. I thought he showed his greenness the first day and he really rallied back today, actually over a more difficult and a real course. So thrilled with the performance, great progress for my horse and happy we got Team USA in the Olympics.”
As far as the medal, he noted, “Gold was the icing for us here.”
The gold, by the way, was the thirty-second medal U.S. equestrians have earned at the Pan Ams.
Robert pointed out, “One thing nobody has mentioned is the level of competition at the Pan American Games. The last two or three, we keep seeing a higher and higher level of competition. I think everybody saw that today.”
We’re all used to watching the Brits, the French, the Germans, the Swiss and the Irish, among others from Europe. So we have to readjust as we watch riders from countries such as Chile (which won gold in the first Pan Ams in 1951), Paraguay and Uruguay, with which we are less familiar in equestrian terms. But being a part of this competition meant so much to them; it was obvious by looking at their faces or watching their supporters cheer fervently.
“These are really strong teams out there fighting to the end,” observed Robert.
“It’s a tribute to what the Pan American Games have become. The sport has become so worldwide there isn’t this chasm between the Americas and Europe.”
Karl had a really difficult time Tuesday and was lucky to stay on after his mare ran out at a fence and started running. He had two rails in the first round today, but did well to leave all the poles in place this afternoon.
Karl Cook and Caracole de la Roque. (Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian)
“It’s been less than a year that I’ve had the mare,” he mentioned.
“We hit a few variables this week that were unaccounted for in our prep, and that’s obviously our fault. I was so thankful for the support of my team, so we would keep chipping away at the issues and just progressively get better.” The final trip felt good, he said.
Anchor rider Laura said she was “so relieved when the three riders before me went clear,” in the second round.
“I almost enjoyed the last round,” she confided.
Reserve rider Lillie Keenan said of her teammates, “I had no part in what they achieved today,”
But Robert and the other team members agreed to differ.
“We had a team of five riders here, all interchangeable parts, and that was the whole point,” said Robert.
“It wasn’t a four-plus-one team.”
The course, which Robert called “fantastic,” was set at a maximum of 1.60 meters, compared with 1.50 meters in Tuesday’s one-round speed class. The extra height made it more of a test for some of the horses, who lacked experience at the highest levels of the sport.
Designer Marina Azevedo of Brazil–the only woman ever to have designed show jumping courses for the Pan Ams, and the only Level 4 female designer in the world–came up with a brilliant layout that did just enough to test horses, rather than discourage them, in most instances.
The fences were intriguing and even educational about Chile, from the bright yellow model of the country’s famous railway bridge (yellow isn’t the easiest color for horses to see, so that’s a test) to the wall painted with a Patagonian scene. My favorite was the open water jump flanked by models of Emperor penguins and large blocks of (styrofoam) ice. Chile, the longest country in the world, governs part of Antarctica, so that’s how it relates.
Laura Kraut and Dorado 212 at the railroad bridge. (Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian)
Individual honors will be sorted out in two rounds on Friday, with 30 starters qualifying for the first round, and 20 for the medal round. McLain leads the Individual standings, followed by Laura and Brazil’s Stephan De Freitas Barcha on Chevaux Primavera Imperio Egipcio in third at the moment.
An order of go for Friday’s competition likely will be posted on Thursday, after the horse inspection. No country can field more than three riders in the individual, so Karl isn’t slated to be riding in that competition. He will, however, trot up his mare in the inspection, in case one of the other team members can’t ride for some reason, Robert said.
Ater the medal ceremony, McLain said, “As everyone knows, our `A’ goal was to qualify for the Games and to win a medal for the team and represent our country well. I thought the team rallied well and pulled it off in pretty good style today.”
McLain Ward and Contagious. (Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian)
He cautioned, however, “The fact that it took us so long to qualify needs to bring it to our attention that we can’t rest on a good week here, that we have some work to be done to be prepared for Paris. We need to find motivation.”
Click here for team results
