by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 17, 2023
After more than 15 hours of hearings over three evenings, Wellington, Florida’s Planning, Zoning and Adjustment board after midnight Thursday recommended that the Village Council either deny a plan to remove 96 acres from the Equestrian Preserve or table the matter until a detailed application for an expanded showgrounds on another parcel is submitted and works its way through the process.
The 5-2 decision was made “without prejudice,” which means the matter can be brought before the board again.
The showgrounds plan is in the “pre-application” process, but several Zoning board members wanted more definite information about what the property will offer before taking land from the Equestrian Preserve. The majority of the board, however, is in favor of taking land out of the Preserve if everything on a site plan for the showgrounds as displayed at the meeting is realized. The panel also made a key decision by changing the zoning from Residential to Equestrian Commercial Recreation on 114.65 acres, in the area where the showgrounds would be expanded by 90 acres.
A view of the location of the expanded showgrounds.
John Bowers, the board’s vice chair, said he would agree to remove the land from the Preserve, if in return “we are going to get an expanded, larger showgrounds and more productive space.”
The showgrounds is at the heart of the Village’s equestrian community. While it once was the ultimate venue in the “Winter Equestrian Capital of the World,” competition from the World Equestrian Center in Ocala–which was just awarded a qualifier in the FEI League of Nations–and the even newer Terra Nova outside Sarasota has raised the stakes.
“Getting out of the EPA is a very material vote I would not want to take without making sure that all i’s are dotted, all t’s are crossed. I want the maximum benefit of being able to evaluate the application before I make a decision like this,” said Bowers, who spoke more than any other board member during the Wednesday night meeting that drifted into Thursday.
The board had two long meetings last month without reaching a decision.
Citing his lack of equestrian expertise, Bowers added he would want the Equestrian Preserve Committee to offer an opinion on the showgrounds application. The EPC in June unanimously rejected having the land removed from the preserve, and approximately 6,000 Wellington residents have signed a petition against it. The argument is that high-density housing will increase traffic congestion and lead to other landowners demanding zoning changes that could hurt the horse community’s quality of life.
But the Zoning panel is only an advisory body, and it is the Council, which meets next month, that makes the final decision. To remove land from the Equestrian Preserve, four of the five Council members must vote in favor of doing so.
Why did it take three separate sessions for the seven-member Zoning board to come to its conclusion? This is a very complicated situation, involving two geographically separated parcels of land whose fate is connected.
Here’s the short version, if you haven’t been following the hearings that began in June:
For a project called Wellington North, developers who spent $35 million on a golf course applied to build housing nearby on the 96 acres that is part of the Preserve and now the home of Equestrian Village, where the Adequan Global Dressage Festival is staged.
That property also hosts some show jumping classes that are part of the Winter Equestrian Festival, which has its main facility about a mile down Pierson Road.
The developers include Mark Bellisimo of Wellington Equestrian Partners, branded as Wellington Lifestyle Partners, working in conjunction with the Tavistock Group’s Nexus Luxury Collection. Bellisimo made his name in the horse world as the point man for Wellington Equestrian Partners in the 2007 purchase of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center showgrounds, now Wellington International. He is involved with several groups that own large tracts in Wellington.
“Interested parties” were allowed to appear before the Zoning board Wednesday to make their cases against the project, and several warned of litigation involving both parcels if development is allowed. However, Village Counsel Laurie Cohen told board members that shouldn’t influence their vote.
Attorney Jamie Gavigan, representing the Jacobs family that owns Deeridge Farm on Pierson Road near Equestrian Village, said his client is opposed to taking any land out of the EPA. He pointed out that in 2016, Wellington residents by a two-thirds majority, voted to amend the Village charter to say “it shall be a Village priority to preserve and protect the equestrian community.”
Gavigan asked how a driving range and pickleball courts in the proposed North development “preserve and protect an equestrian lifestyle.”
He noted 244 additional residential units the applicant seeks on the property would not be transferred from any other Planned Unit Development in Wellington, and that is not consistent with the Village charter.
Wellington’s equestrian sustainability mantra.
The developers also applied for housing on the second parcel, Wellington South, which is contiguous to the home of WEF at the Wellington International showgrounds. The board approved plans for Wellington South, provided there is an increase in the number of larger lots offered and a decrease in density.
The land to be used in expansion of the showgrounds won’t be offered for purchase to Wellington International or rather, its parent company, Global Equestrian Group, unless the North development project on the Preserve is approved.
As Jane Cleveland, chair of the Village’s Equestrian Preserve Committee put it, the land sale for the showgrounds’ addition is being held “hostage” as the developer’s ace to make sure it gets the approval needed for its project.
Gavigan asked, “How can the Village tie a condition from one owner on one property to a project of another owner on another property? You can consider the South (project) without considering the North.”
Attorney Len Feiwus, representing Equestrian Club Estates, called it a “quid pro quo,” which he said is “not appropriate.”
The Equestrian Preserve Committee in June unanimously voted against removing the 96 acres from the preserve. But the Zoning panel sees a benefit to having an expanded, contiguous showgrounds for dressage, hunters and jumpers, at 180 acres double the size of its current venue.
Michael Stone, president of Wellington International, has testified that the expanded showgrounds would be able to host far more horses than in the current space, and offer an air conditioned hospitality area that would attract more sponsors. The facility would have a stadium and nine additional rings with warm-up areas. Jumpers would show there, while hunters and dressage would share the current showgrounds that would be adjacent.
The new showgrounds would have a real stadium, seating 7,000, as its centerpiece rather than an ordinary arena like the current international ring. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Dressage already has a lease with Equestrian Village for 2024, and seems likely to remain there for 2025. There has been an agreement that no building would happen at Equestrian Village, if development is approved, until dressage has a home at the expanded showgrounds. That facility, if all goes well, could open in 2026. Equestrian Village is no longer up to the standard for a top dressage facility, and there are no plans to improve it.
If the zoning change for Equestrian Village and other preserve property isn’t granted and the 96 acres remains in the preserve, the owner is under no obligation to continue offering a venue for dressage after the lease or leases expire. With the current zoning unchanged, some houses could be built there, and other permitted uses include everything from offices to a veterinary practice, a restaurant and a riding school.
Site plan approval and some other things would be required, but most are administrative procedures that need no public input or council approval.
Kelly Ferraiolo, senior planner for the Village of Wellington, noted the owner of Equestrian Village does not have an obligation to keep a showgrounds at that property. She said people wouldn’t be allowed to ride their horses across the land just because it’s part of the Equestrian Preserve. She explained it is private property and would require permission from the owner before people could ride there.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 8, 2023
Horseshoe Bend Park in Kingwood Township, N.J., will host the Horseshoe Bend Boogie for horses and human runners Aug. 19.
All proceeds will go to support open space in Hunterdon County through the tax exempt Friends of Horseshoe Bend Park. This event will include endurance rides, an ultramarathon and ride-and-tie divisions at distances of 30 and 50 miles. There will also be an introductory level division (14 miles) for anyone wanting to try endurance riding in a relaxed setting.
The event needs volunteers and supporters to help with timing, hospitality stops for horse and human food and water, road crossings, veterinary scribes and more. Anyone who wants to donate resources or time should contact Meg Sleeper at (908) 500-0091 or megsleeper@icloud.com.
Endurance riding involves controlled long-distance races. Horses and their riders head down the trail with periodic veterinary examinations to insure the horse is “fit to continue”.
An ultramarathon, also called ultra distance or ultra running, is any footrace longer than the traditional marathon length of 42.195 kilometers. Various distances are raced competitively, from the shortest common ultramarathon of 31 miles to more than 200 miles.
Ride-and-Tie is an endurance racing sport combining running and horseback riding. Teams consist of two runners and one horse who complete a 20- to 100-mile trail course by “leapfrogging” one another. One person starts the race on the horse, the other on foot. Equathon is a type of ride-and-tie in which the horse and rider complete the first segment of the trail and then the runner starts the second segment.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 1, 2023
DiAnn Langer, the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Youth chef d’equipe, and show manager Britt McCormick have been nominated as candidates for the presidency of the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association.
The USHJA board will vote Sept. 11 on who will succeed Mary Knowlton in the post. The new president will serve in a transition period until the 2024 USHJA meeting, when he or she takes office.
DiAnn, from Johnston, S.C., has been everything from a competitor, owner, trainer and breeder to holding many positions in governance and sport positions. She served as president of the Pacific Coast Horse Show Association, the California Professional Horsemen’s Association, the California Professional Horsemen’s Foundation and Los Angeles Horse Show Association.
Britt, of McKinney, Texas, also has been an owner, trainer, competitor and consultant. His USHJA experience includes the board of directors, executive committee, hunter and jumper working groups and the International Hunter Derby and Incentive Task Force, among others. He also serves as chair of USEF’s National Breeds and Disciplines Council and on the USEF National Hunter Committee.
In the sport, McCormick is a judge in various disciplines, including for the American Quarter Horse Association, and is a licensed hunter and jumper course designer.
The candidates were selected through a multi-step process. Members submitted nominations for the office of President, which were then reviewed by the USHJA Nominating Committee. The committee interviewed candidates before submitting their recommended nominees to the USHJA Board of Directors.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 14, 2023
International show jumping star McLain Ward gave a boost to the discipline’s next generation by coaching two winners at the Gotham North FEI North American Youth Championships, presented by USHJA,.
He helped both Baylee McKeever, the individual gold medalist in the Young Rider category, and Carlee McCutcheon, who took the same honors in the Juniors at the show in Michigan.
Baylee delivered the only clear round over Nick Granat’s challenging first round course for the Young Riders. She rode Formidable, a mare given to her as a high school graduation present by McLain. Then she produced another clear trip, earning the title after Augusta Iwasaki dropped a rail to take silver.
Baylee McKeever and Formidable. (Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography)
“I was trying to take it jump by jump and not get caught up with how the class was going,” said the 18-year-old Baylee.
“I just focused on my round and how my horse was going, everything I could control. Going to the last (fence), I was definitely nervous but I tried to stay calm and focused.”
Baylee also got support from her father Lee, McLain’s longtime barn manager and right-hand man.
After bringing Formidable back from colic surgery, Baylee started riding the mare about 18 months ago.
“I’d say we have a strong partnership. She’s special to me and she brought me up the levels from the Medium Juniors all the way here,” she said.
The gold was a surprise over a course that mirrored her horse’s name in terms of its difficulty.
“I knew it would be a bit bigger here, so I went in hoping to get around and have a good time. I couldn’t ask for anything more from her,” said Baylee.
McLain advised her to just enjoy the experience and simply be glad she had made it to the Individual final.
“He was talking about how nice it was to be in this situation to start with. Everyone wants to be at the top and you’re going to lose sometimes, but you have to appreciate where you are right now,” Baylee recounted.
Baylee’s name will be engraved on the Maxine Beard Memorial Trophy, along with the names of many show jumping stars, for whom winning the title was a first step toward memorable careers.
Carlee is an English equitation standout who doubles as a reiner in her role as a member of a famous family in that sport,
Coach McLain Ward with gold medal students Baylee McKeever and Carlee McCutcheon. (Photo courtesy McLain Ward)
In the Junior category, she had a lead to protect coming into the final round, with not a single rail dropped through competition to that point. With two additional clear rounds aboard Coco Mercedes on Sunday, she solidified her victory and earned the gold medal.
“This is my first Young Riders experience,” said Carlee, also a team gold medalist for Zone 7.
“Last year, I qualified to ride on the Zone 7 team, but I had a bit of a spill on the first day in the warm-up, so I was not able to compete. To come back here and have the opportunity to show and be part of the team means so much to me. I was really just looking forward to it all week, and it went better than I ever could have imagined.”
The win couldn’t have come without the ride on Coco Mercedes,another mare acquired from McLain.
“She’s so brave,” said the 17-year-old Carlee.
“I never have to worry about it. If I don’t see the perfect distance, I know she’ll take care of me. I think having a horse with so much confidence has given me a confidence boost and has improved my riding all year.”
With advice from Max Amaya and TJ O’Mara of Stonehenge Stables, as well as McLain, Carlee felt prepared to take on the final round of jumping, where she achieved her fifth clear in three days.
“Max and McLain both told me just to stay calm,” she explained. “This is the first of hopefully many situations I’ll be in like this, and it’s just icing on the cake at this point. It’s been a great week so I was happy with any outcome because she’s been incredible all week.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 14, 2023
The USA’s Jessica Springsteen won her first 5-star show jumping competition with her Olympic team silver medal mount, Don Juan van de Donkhoeve, as the duo took the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of London on Sunday.
Jessica Springsteen and Don Juan van de Donkhoeve are both all smiles after victory in the LGCT Grand Prix of London. (LGCT photo)
Olivier Philippaerts of Belgium was second for the second year in a row on H&M Miro. Picking up his 24th LGCT Grand Prix podium finish, Harrie Smolders of the Netherlands and Monaco N.O.P were third after a 10-horse jump-off, following a first round that drew 38 starters, five of whom retired on the course designed by Uliano Vezzani.
Against the backdrop of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, Jessie’s win also earned her the “golden ticket” to the LGCT Super Grand Prix in Prague this autumn.
“I’m so happy with Don today,” said Jessie.
“I took some risks but it paid off. I’m so excited, I’m honestly in shock. It means so much to win here, especially in front of this incredible atmosphere and crowd in London. It’s an incredible venue and an incredible crowd, they really give you the energy — they’re really cheering you on and I think you and your horse, they really feel that which is special.”
There were six double clears in the tiebreaker. When it was Jessie’s turn to go, she took off with a flying start and then made a risky, tight turn to the double, Jessie did just enough to take the top prize with a clocking of 43.01 seconds.
Olivier Philippaerts, astride the illustrious H&M Miro, gave it everything he could from start to finish, determined not to make the same mistake as last year adding an extra stride to the last that cost him the win. He couldn’t quite match Jessie’s pace, stopping the clock in 43.90 seconds.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 13, 2023
Britain defended its 2021 FEI European Eventing Championships title and then some today at Haras du Pin, as it took not only team honors again, but also collected individual gold and silver with smooth performances by Ros Canter on Lordships Graffalo and Kitty King on Vendredi Biats.
Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo on their way to double gold. (Les Garennes photo)
The Brits, coached by Chris Bartles, will be looking for another triumph next year when they return to France for the Paris Olympics. Their 103.9 penalties final score at the Europeans gave them an enviable margin over runner-up Germany (131.2), which was without its top rider, as Michael Jung had a startling fall (read it here) on Saturday’s cross country when fischerChipmunk went to his knees after misjudging the landing at fence 24. (A real sportsman, Michi still showed up to stand on the podium with his teammates instead of going home in a wave of disappointment.)
The Germans were only 3 penalties ahead of the French, who took the bronze medal to the delight of the enthusiastic crowd that turned up for this afternoon’s show jumping.
The setting of the FEI European Eventing Championships, crowned by a chateau, is one of a kind. (Les Garennes photo)
The British team also included Laura Collett, ninth on London 52 (46.6) after a fault-free trip in show jumping, and world champion Yasmin Ingham on Banzai du Loir, 25th with the team’s drop score (59.8) after a rail in the final phase. Tom Jackson on Capels Hollow Drift competed as an individual for Britian and wound up 29th. Tom McEwen, also competing as an individual, was eliminated on cross-country after a fall from JL Dublin.
The show jumping course map for the FEI European Eventing Championships
Sticky ground for Saturday’s cross-country phase took its toll, as three from the original field of 56 retired, 13 were eliminated and two withdrew.
But for all that, the horses looked great in this morning’s trot-up, with everyone passing. (The very veteran Karin Donckers, who became the drop score of Belgian team, was the only absentee from the horse inspection when she left her Fletcha Van’t Verahof in the stables. That horse had competed at Haras in 2014 when it hosted the FEI World Equestrian Games.) At any rate, seventh-place Belgium, like the eighth-place Netherlands, achieved their goal here of qualifying for the Paris Olympics.
Dickie Waygood, the British team manager, breathed a sigh of relief once the medals were about to be distributed.
“We rode the dragon yesterday,” he said, referring to the difficult footing conditions.
“I think every team did. It was a tough old day in the office.”
Kitty left all the rails in place, but had 1.2 time penalties to finish on 32 penalties for her silver.
“I’m just so proud of my horse,” said Kitty, noting she “rode like an absolute idiot.”
But her horse came through for her.
“When I came out, I was so cross with myself… Now I’m beginning to realize it’s been a long time coming and he deserves it so much,” Kitty commented.
“I just didn’t give him a very easy job, I kept him guessing the whole way, I kicked when I should’ve pulled and I pulled when I should’ve kicked. But he was brilliant and he helped me out.”
The bronze went to 2014 world champion Sandra Auffarth of Germany, returning to the scene of her triumph from nine years ago. She had a perfect trip with Viamant du Matz, finishing on her cross-country total of 34.6.
An overview of the scene at the awards ceremony.
Ros, this year’s Badminton winner, came into the show jumping with two rails in hand. She only needed a margin of one over the route designed by Quentin Perney and Jean-Pierre Meneau. Aside from toppling that single pole, Walter, as she calls her horse, flowed along effortlessly.
Being in the lead, even with a comfortable margin, put pressure on Ros due to the expectations of fans and supporters.
“It almost makes it worse, because there’s longer to fall,” she explained.
A lot of people held their breath at fence 4, the triple combination, when the A element, a vertical came down as Walter tipped it. But there were no more mistakes.
“I had to keep myself in my little bubble,” said Ros, explaining how she coped coming into today.
“For me, the team always comes first. It’s what I dream of doing, it always has been.”
As usual, just before receiving her medals, she gave deserved kudos to her wise and patient mount.
“I’ve got Walter to thank for it. He’s just an unbelievable horse. He’s what dreams are made of.”
Lots of history at this site.We already mentioned the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games. But the last time the Europeans were held at Haras, Great Britain mirrored today in taking team and individual gold and individual silver. The winners were Mary Gordon-Watson, Richard Walker, Derek Allhusen, Polly Hey-Hutchinson and Reuben Jones. Remembering is always nice for perspective.
Click here for individual results. Click here for team results.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 12, 2023
You really can’t count on anything in life, and nowhere is that more true than in the cross-country phase of eventing.
Overnight leader Michael Jung of Germany, who has boatloads of world championships, European and Olympic medals, won’t be adding another to his collection after a freak fall Saturday during the FEI European Eventing Championships at Haras du Pin in France.
His reliable fisherChipmunk was only one minute and 33 seconds from making the finish line, as he focused on achieving the optimum time, when the horse went to his knees on a sandy slide after landing over a big log. Michi tumbled forward as the horse headed downward. He wound up in the water while Chipmunk galloped away. Happily, neither one was injured.
Here’s where fischerChipmunk lost his footing.
That was, of course, a major setback for the German team, which was second to the British squad after dressage. Who would have thought Michi would be the drop score?
The Brits widened their 9.2 penalty lead over Germany after dressage to 27.3 following cross-country. The Germans are a scant 0.2 penalties ahead of the home team, France.
With difficult footing conditions, only one rider, Britain’s 2018 world champion Ros Canter, finished within the optimum time of 8 minutes, 18 seconds. She is in first place individually on her dressage score of 21.3 penalties aboard Lordships Graffalo, better known as Walter.
Ros’s mount was unfazed by the troublesome surface.
“Machine is a very good word to describe Walter,” she said.
“He’s just an amazing horse to ride cross-country.”
Not only is he eminently adjustable, “he’s brave as well,” she noted.
Second place also belongs to Britain at the moment, with Kitty King and Vendredi Biats adding just 3.7 time penalties today to their dressage score of 27.2.
“I’m really chuffed with my horse, he really dug deep. He hated the ground from the second we set out, which for him [was hard] as he lives for cross-country and he didn’t enjoy himself as he normally would, which is a big shame,” said Kitty.
“The ground was hard work and he kept trying and jumping and was really straight and genuine, I couldn’t ask any more of him and I’m proud of how hard he tried for me. It’s a shame we were a little bit slow, but I rode the horse I had underneath me. He came home happy and sound, and that’s the most important thing – and we’ve got a good score on the door for the team.”
World Champion Yamin Ingham dropped from fifth in dressage to 25th after adding 32.4 cross-country penalties (20 plus 12.4 time) on Banzai du Loir.
After jumping two elements at fence 22, she missed the third, noting noted her mount “didn’t get off the bank on the right distance,” so he wasn’t in position to take the next obstacle. Aside from that, she said, “he went around the rest with absolute perfection. I’m so proud of him for giving me his all today.”
Laura Collett, the other member of the British team, dropped from fourth to 14th with London 52 after adding 24.2 penalties to her dressage score of 22.4. Her horse took a flag with him at the second element of Fence 20 (tents memorializing the stay of Napoleon at Haras du Pin) and she was charged with 15 penalties for that, in addition to 9.2 time.
“I couldn’t be prouder of him, he’s never had to dig as deep as that before and he kept trying and jumping – he’s just so honest. On good ground, that course would have felt fantastic on a horse like him,” Laura observed.
Tom McEwan, riding as an individual for Britain, dislodged a MIM clip at fence 22 with JL Dublin but continued until the water at fence 25. The horse jumped in well, then missed at the next part, a step over a rail to a skinny.When his horse jumped the rail awkwardly Tom couldn’t stay with him, which meant he was eliminated by the fall.
Britain’s other individual, Tom Jackson with Capels Hollow Drift, had a stop at the last element of fence 25, that difficult final water, and stands 32d of the 38 who completed today. Three from the original field of 56 retired, 13 were eliminated and two withdrew.
The footing was sticky after rains Friday, leading to a two-hour delay of the start time in at the venue in Normandy, (which I remember well from the footing situation at the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games that also were held there.) Despite an extra dose of sunshine on the turf, the going was difficult. In the interests of safety, organizers wisely took a loop out of the course designed by Pierre Le Goupil and the optimum time was reduced.
Ros Canter of Great Britain and Lordships Graffalo (Walter) were perfect cross-country. (Photo by Les Garennes)
Germany’s Christoph Wahler, standing sixth on Carjatan X, noted, “It wasn’t the most pleasant round I’ve ever had.”
He found the striding changed before the fences due to the condition of the surface.
“With the ground being as it was, it was hard work, starting at fence one. It was hard work for us and even harder for the horses.”
While it was a “big, nicely built course,” after the rain came, “then the conditions changed everything and the way your horse can cope with the conditions again changes everything.”
Germany’s Christoph Wahler and Carjatan X at the keyhole. (Photo by Les Garennes)
Dickie Waygood, the British chef d’equipe, noted, “We saw today horses that had to work very hard; the ground was very energy-sapping. Horses didn’t always move toward the fences on the stride that they saw.”
At the same time, he called it, ” a fantastic championship track,” praising the designer for adapting to the weather.
The course designer is also laying out the cross-country for next year’s Paris Olympics. One might think that would give those riding in the Europeans an edge over those who weren’t there. But he is also handling the course for this autumn’s Pan American Games in Chile. so that takes care of the Western Hemisphere to make everything fair.
Click here for the team standings. Click on this link for individual standings.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 11, 2023
British riders have taken six of the top nine places on the leaderboard at the European Eventing Championships and lead the team standings, but the irrepressible Michael Jung of Germany stands first individually after dressage with fischerChipmunk on a score of 19.4 penalties.
“My feeling was very good,” said Michi about his test.
“I’m very happy about fischerChipmunk. He was amazing to ride. He was super in the preparation time (last week).”
Today, “he was very calm; in the beginning he was a little bit tense. That’s the reason why I went in so early (to the arena) to have a little more time,” noted Michi, who thought his canter was a highlight of the test.
Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk. (Les Garennes photo)
The British squad has 67.1 penalties from the best three riders, a 9.2 penalty edge over Germany on 76.3. Belgium is third on 90.9.
British team rider Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo is not far behind Michi with 21.3, while Tom McEwan–riding JL Dublin as an individual, is third on 22. The other Brits were marked this way: 4, Laura Collett and London 52 (22.4), 5, world champion Yasmin Ingham (Banzai du Loir, 23.4), 6. Tom Jackson, riding as an individual with Capels Hollow Drift (25.7) and Kitty King (Vendredi Biats, 27.2).
Ros recalled that she had to give herself a reminder “not to have too high an expectation and to stick to the process and remind myself that he’s still a horse that physically isn’t fully matured yet, and I was to stick within the boundaries of what he was capable of, but he actually gets stronger all the time.
“It’s little things – his changes are getting better and better, his halt and his rein-back were a real weakness last year and the start of this year, and this summer they’re starting to feel like they’re getting very consistent, so it’s really exciting,” said the 2018 world champion.
Great Britain’s Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo. (Les Garennes photo)
“There are little things I would tweak for next time, but on the whole, I think our training is just gradually going in the right direction, which is what I’m really pleased with,” she explained.
With the wet weather for the majority of the day, Ros’ thoughts turned to the Saturday cross-country. Those of us who were at the 2014 world championships in Normandy remember how bad the going got for cross-country after it had been wet, so it is interesting to know what Ros thinks.
“The first water is a very big drop in, so it’ll be interesting to see how they read that. Of course, with Walter (as she calls her horse), we are still coming across questions that he hasn’t actually come across before, with his age, even though he’s done what he’s done already. He tends to drift a bit more to the right and little things like that, so for my personal self I have to walk the course very much thinking of Walter, but I think it’s more the undulations, the twists and turns that are going to create more challenges at the jumps.
,,
“It walks very much like a short format, but obviously, you’ve got the length added onto it as well, so it will be mentally and physically quite challenging for the horses, and I think that’s where the questions are going to lie. The first three fences are basically on a 360 (degrees) to a 180, so it’s going to be very hard at the start of the course to get into the speed that you really want to be in. I think it’s highly likely by minute one you’re going to be down on the clock, and then I think it just depends on if you can claw it back and stay inside the time.
“We’ve been very positive as a team so far about the course – our course walks have been extremely positive and there hasn’t been too much talk on the parts we don’t like or the ground we don’t like, and I think that’s really good for team spirit,” she concluded.
Click here for team results. Click this link for individual standings.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 14, 2023
You have until Aug.16 to comment on the FEI’s draft of proposed changes to its statutes, and one in particular is worth more than a look.
While the list includes everything from restricting the tightness of nosebands to banning grooming and tacking up in stable aisles at shows, one that could affect every athlete involves serious sanctions in connection with use of social media.
Warnings, fines, suspension or provisional suspension could be the punishment for violations of a new policy that strives “to provide accurate and reliable information on social media platforms.”
Athletes should “fact-check before sharing or commenting on news or events related to their sport. Sharing false information or spreading rumours can have a detrimental effect on the sport and its shareholders,” states the draft.
But who determines whether something is “false information’? We have seen a lot of that in the U.S.–for example, the Hunter Biden laptop was deemed to be “Russian information” before it was determined to be real. And also in the U.S., we’ve had a lot of discussion about the first amendment and free speech being controlled by social media companies.
While it certainly is important to check facts and not repeat rumors, what about an opinion on something, anything, with which the FEI might disagree?
“It’s absolutely detrimental to the progress of equestrian sports,” believes Olympic eventer Doug Payne, a frequent poster online.
“Without dissent, you have a very, very small group of people guiding you with their perception of what the sport should be. I hope people are aware and see this is a precursor to something far worse. I feel it’s the tip of the iceberg; it’s going to put a significant amount of negative pressure on the sport in general.”
There’s also a question of who will set the standard about what can go on social media.
“Every once in a while, you’re going to make your point about something and who knows who’s going to be offended? That’s really scary,” mused dressage rider Kim Herslow.
Other riders from whom comment was requested did not respond, which might be considered evidence of the chilling effect the proposed rule could have.
A final draft of the changes to the FEI statutes will be presented Oct. 24. The rules will be discussed and voted on at the FEI General Assembly this November in Mexico City.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 11, 2023
After a 40-year gap in bringing home the Aga Khan trophy, the Swiss team reclaimed the prize with a stunning victory in the FEI Nations Cup of Ireland on Friday.
Steve Guerdat was the lead-off rider for Switzerland with Venard de Cerissy.
The fans who jammed the stands around the massive arena at the Royal Dublin Society saw an impressive display of quality horse flesh and fabulous horsemanship, but none outrode the Swiss.
The team of Martin Fuchs (whose father, Thomas, was on Switzerland’s last Aga Khan winning team in 1983), Bryan Balsiger, Steve Guerdat and Edouard Schmitz was spectacular in its precision along the swath of emerald turf.
Martin Fuchs on Leone Jei, a member of the winning Swiss team 40 years after his father, Thomas, was on the winning squad at Dublin.
During two rounds over the course laid out by Irish designer Alan Wade, they scored six clears, one 4-fault score and their anchor rider, 24-year-old Schmitz (winner of the grand prix at Dublin last year) did not have to compete a second time because they already had clinched the title.
The Swiss won the first Nations Cup at Dublin in 1926 and are counting on returning for the centennial.
“It’s an amazing feeling to hold this trophy,” said Michal Sorg, the Swiss chef d’equipe, after his team took possession of the massive gold cup.
“It’s the dream of every rider and chef d’equipe to win the Aga Khan trophy and today, yeah, we did it. I will never forget this day.”
The team was reluctant to let go of the trophy, and took it with them on its victory lap. But when they finished, only the lid was still being held by Balsiger. Whoops.
The Aga Khan trophy before it separated…
The victory was so complete that runner-up Ireland did not bother to send out its anchor, Shane Sweetnam, who was fault-free in the first round on James Kann Kruz. The home side had no way of catching up with the eventual winners, whose total was 0 penalties. Ireland’s 12 penalty total offered a safe margin over third-place Mexico (16), a previous Cup winner.
U.S.-based Shane Sweetnam was the anchor rider for the Irish team on Jame Kann Cruz.
Without the top two teams’ anchor riders, the competition lacked the drama of last year’s Aga Khan, when an Irish team member jumped off against a French competitor, as Ireland took the prize to much acclaim from the packed stands.
But enthusiasm still ran high this afternoon, and the fans obviously enjoyed celebrating the Swiss as much as they cheered for the runners-up; Michael Pender, Michael Duffy, Cian O’Connor and Shane.
The eight teams at Dublin did not include a squad from the U.S. The Swiss now have won the European division of the Nations Cup, with 370 points to 330 for Ireland and 305 for Great Britain. In addition to Dublin, they also won at home in St. Gallen and in Falsterbo, Sweden, as well.
The British wound up last in Dublin after Samuel Hutton, clear in the first round on Oak Grove’s Laith, met disaster in the second when his horse stopped at the first fence of the triple combination and he fell off.
Sienna Charles, the daughter of 2012 team gold medal Olympian Peter Charles, had 8 and 12 with Stardust, while her brother, Harry, collected 4 with Romeo in the first round, then had everything go south in the second, winding up with four rails and 13 times faults added to that. Tim Gredley was the best of the squad with 4 and 8 on Medoc de Toxandria, but there was no saving the effort.
Next up for the winners is the European show jumping championships, the equivalent of the Western Hemisphere’s Pan American Games, but dare I say it, but with a greater number of highly ranked riders.
Still, the Pan Ams will be tough enough, as the U.S. likely will be looking to qualify there for the Paris Olympics, if it doesn’t do that at Barcelona in the Nations Cup Finals next month.
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