Essex Horse Trials is the latest cancellation; Princeton’s start postponed

Organizers of the MARS Essex Horse Trials at Moorland Farm in Far Hills have made the “agonizing decision” to cancel the 2020 edition, due to the complications of running it under Covid-related restrictions from the state and the U.S. Equestrian Federation.

Essex was greeted with great enthusiasm from competitors and spectators when it was revived during 2017 after an absence from the calendar of nearly two decades. Even though it moved from its original June dates to July 18-19 this year, a call on whether to hold it had to be made six weeks beforehand because of logistics.

“It’s a big production,” explained Ralph Jones, who co-chairs Essex with course designer Morgan Rowsell.

“It’s so uncertain, that’s the problem. Even though you know it’s loosening up a little bit…I can’t know in a month what the rules will be. Enforcing the rules is a big part of the challenge.”

Concern for the 300 riders, 182 volunteers and “the inability to invite spectators to such a big community event” also figured in postponing the event until 2021.

Marilyn Payne, an international judge who has competed at Essex, said it is “very disappointing” that the event isn’t going, but understands why.

While other events, such as one planned for the Horse Park of New Jersey at the end of June, “can live without spectators,” Essex “is more of a community thing,” said Marilyn, who has a training stable in Tewksbury.

Citing the success of the Essex revival, she commented, “I’m sure it will come back just as strong next year, if everything’s normal.”

Marilyn mentioned that having events coming up in Maryland and Virginia will put more pressure on governors to reopen elsewhere.

“Everyone wants to just get out and do something,” she pointed out.

Marilyn’s daughter, Holly Payne Caravella, who runs an eventing training business in Chester, agreed that “it would be hard to do Essex without community involvement.”  While Holly noted, “it’s sad,” she added, “it’s gotten such a good reputation and everyone wanted to come back. But it’s such a weird year and they wouldn’t be able to run it the way they’d want to run it, so it’s probably best to wait until next year.”

Since some of her students are working from home, they have more time to ride and are “super eager to do anything at this point; they’re very motivated.” She hopes they can compete at Plantation Field in Pennsylvania June 6 and 7. However, she added, those organizers won’t get word from that state until Tuesday as to whether their competition is a go.

Megan Kepferle, who had a blast riding Anakin in the Advanced section at Essex last year, was hoping the event could go; she was looking forward to running there again.

“We were all crossing our fingers and toes; we were getting a little excited,” said the trainer who runs a stable in Long Valley. Then came the letdown.

“Now that Essex is gone, she said, she doesn’t know what to prepare for.

“I think at this point, we’re all just rolling with the punches.”

The cancellation of Essex brings up the question of what will happen with the Far Hills Race Meeting, which is also held at Moorland. The October 17 steeplechase draws 30,000 people to a fixture that is as much social as it is sporting.

Guy Torsillieri, who co-chairs the race meeting with Ron Kennedy, said a decision will be made by Labor Day on whether the races can go this year.

He noted half of the reserved parking places already have been sold: “Everyone’s looking to have some sense of normalcy,” Guy pointed out.

If the races aren’t held, those who bought spots can get a tax deduction for letting the races keep the money (the event benefits six charities), the space can be held for next year, or a full refund is available.

Guy noted that “some sponsors have bailed, which is disappointing to me.” He said they were concerned about putting a lot of people closely together.

He and Ron are looking at options to use Moorland more than twice a year, so they are considering both horse-related and non-related activities. Stay tuned on that one.

Meanwhile, Princeton Show Jumping in Skillman has had to cancel its June 7 and June 21 shows, because the state isn’t allowing outdoor non-contact organized sports until June 22. Demand is such that they got 750 entry requests for the June 7 date (the show can only handle 325 in one day).

So Princeton’s season now starts with June 24-28 and July 1-5 Level 4 jumper shows with outreach hunters and equitation. Pending USEF approval, AA Premier, C- Rated hunters, and National Equitation classes will be added to those shows.

The opening of hunter/jumper showing in New Jersey had been eagerly awaited. Colts Neck-based trainer Max Amaya was set to ship 29 horses to the June 7 Princeton show.

“It is unfortunate, because everybody is waiting to get going, and some states have loosened their restrictions and are allowed to do some showing. It is a little discouraging, but we want to keep positive and do more training at home.”

He feels badly for Princeton organizer Andrew Philbrick, citing the effort his crew has put into the show. Now Max will start the summer season for his riders at the Tryon, N.C., International Equestrian Center in June and come back to the Princeton shows in July.

“It’s a little bit of a setback, but the reality is there will be some obstacles on the way back to showing. It’s just the reality we’re living in. We just have to find solutions and do in a positive way what is the best in the situation we’re in,” Max said.

Princeton’s Summer Classic Charity Horse Shows begin with a welcome July 8-13, followed by shows July 15-19, July 22-26 and July 29-Aug. 2.

Andrew said he thought his June 7 show would be good to go because the governor’s stay at home order expired June 6. Once word about the June 22 date for organized sports came out, however, he said of the June one-day shows, “I couldn’t figure out how to make it comply,” even though competing on a 110-acre property, “is probably putting you at less risk than grocery shopping.”

He added the shutdown of showing has affected the entire industry.

For stable owners, he noted, “it’s incredibly hard to pay bills off (horse) board alone, and added some people aren’t even paying for their horses’ care.

Andrew pointed out that everyone from judges, water truck drivers, course designers, ingate people and many others have been out of work for more than three months in most instances.

So he’s looking forward to “getting the sport up and running in a safe and rational way.”