The Essex Horse Trials will be held in a unique split format this summer, enabling dressage and show jumping to run on all-weather footing at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation in Gladstone, N.J., while competitors still can enjoy a special cross-country experience at Moorland Farm in Far Hills.
The Essex Horse Trials cross-country will return to Moorland Farm as dressage and show jumping head to the USET Foundation. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Morgan Rowsell is the cross-country course designer for the Essex Horse Trials, of which he is also the co-organizers. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
Horses will be stabled at the historic Foundation headquarters. After completing their dressage tests and jumping rounds, they will stay overnight, then trailer the next day to Moorland, a seven-minute drive, for the cross-country.”The sport of eventing has changed, where you can’t jump on grass any place other than Burghley and Badminton,” said Essex co-organizer Morgan Rowsell, referring to Great Britain’s two 5-star events.
There are no plans at this time to put in an all-weather arena at Moorland, home of October’s signature Far Hills Race Meeting. Rain for several years made things tough in terms of doing the Essex dressage and show jumping on grass. The new format “is a good compromise,” said Morgan, who runs Essex with Ralph Jones.
He noted the date also has been changed again. It ran in June when the event, which hadn’t been held since 1998, made a comeback in 2017. It was held in mid-July last year. Now it will be earlier, July 1 and 2, and Morgan hopes the change will mean cooler weather.
The dates are unusual, however, because they are a Friday and Saturday, rather than Saturday and Sunday, but Morgan explained it was done for the benefit of those competing and attending
“We felt like having a day in between ending the event and the Fourth of July (which is on the Monday) would be a better outcome for the riders. This gives them a chance to compete, have a transition day and then have their holiday.
“We figured that this would be good for the tailgaters as well, or anybody that wants to watch, for the same reasons.”
Tailgating will run as usual during cross-country at Moorland, along with the car show that has become a popular tradition. A vendor village is going to be set up in Gladstone, but vendors also can elect to be on hand for the cross-country at Moorland, Morgan said.
Essex sponsors include Running S Equine Veterinary Service, Mars Equestrian and AIG, while organizers are in the talking stages with other possible backers.
A car show is a big part of the Essex Horse Trials. (Photo © by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Morgan anticipates about 150 starters, with divisions running from Preliminary down to Beginner Novice. There will be a break after dressage concludes, with show jumping held during the early evening in conjunction with a cocktail party.
Essex ran an Advanced section once and ran into problems with the footing after a rainy week. It may apply for Advanced status again at some point, but with the recent re-do of the eventing calendar, it couldn’t be held at that level until 2028 if it is granted the division. Events were awarded their status for 2023-2027 last year.
U.S. Eventing Association President Max Corcoran was excited to hear the news and learn that at least part of the event would be held at the USET Foundation.
“That is a very cool thing, because the Essex Horse Trials, when it was there, was an amazing competition.”
She recalled, “One of first three day events I ever did as a groom was Essex when I was a working student for Bobby Costello. What a cool place to have dressage and show jumping and then go off and do the cross-country. Eventing has been missing in that area. it’s awesome to bring it back there. it’s so exciting. It’s unusual, but it can work. To have that competition regain itself is so great.”