by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 10, 2024
Not too far down the road, your dressage test likely will be judged to some extent by Artificial Intelligence (AI), as well as a human official. And you probably can expect AI to be used to a certain degree in horse inspections at competitions in the future.
That was part of the discussion during a press conference following a closed-door gathering last week in the Netherlands of the International Dressage Riders Club, the International Dressage Trainers Club and the Dressage Organizers and Officials organization.
So how should AI be used in judging dressage? The most obvious answer is for items such as keeping track of the number of lead changes, regularity of paces or how many times a horse performs a pirouette.
“There are a lot of possibilities,” said Klaus Roeser, secretary-general of the IDRC, noting riders and trainers are quite interested but the judges “are a little bit scared about it. They may think, `Maybe in five years, they don’t need us anymore.’ ”
But Klaus said, “That’s totally not the point,” explaining AI may reduce the complexity of the judging task, so the officials “can concentrate more on the quality. Because quality you can’t measure with AI.”
In the near future, the use of AI will be tested, and judges are open to the idea, according to Klaus. It was pointed out that use of AI may help spectators understand the sport better.
As dressage reacts to being under pressure after several well-publicized, high-profile horse abuse cases in the past year, more than 120 stakeholders of the sport at the meeting discussed that situation and others that can impact the future of dressage, particularly its inclusion in the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Suggestions gleaned from the gathering on a look at the state of the sport went to Ronan Murphy, the FEI’s director of dressage, who is developing a new strategy for the discipline.
Issues center around perception, welfare, transparency and trust, items that need to be addressed in order to improve the situation, said Linda Keenan, secretary-general of the IDTC. Linda said “specific things” will be done “to gain more trust,” but until Ronan is ready to reveal them, no more can be said.
Klaus suggested that having open stable days so people can see how the horses are taken care of, could be a helpful approach, but he added, “it will never prevent if you have boys or girls doing bad things behind closed doors.”
Linda mentioned that riding that is not good enough can be conflated to become a welfare issue, when it’s simply “not fulfilling the goals to get a high score.” She also noted, “just because you’re not doing something perfectly is not the same as being abusive. We really need to do a better job of clarifying what is abuse and what isn’t abuse.”
Organizers addressed the difficulties they are having putting on CDIs and the financial pressures that exist in connection with that. At its general assembly this week, the FEI will address cutting the number of judges officiating at a World Cup Final from seven to five for cost-saving reasons.
The Dutch and Swedish federations made a proposal to allow use of a snaffle, instead of a double bridle, at Grand Prix in international competitions. It will not be voted on at this year’s general assembly, but Linda said it seems the FEI wants to encourage organizers to offer restricted classes where the snaffle is used, though such classes could not be Olympic qualifiers.
She noted the double bridle is not a welfare issue. Linda added a recent study showed there are more mouth lesions with snaffles. Riding with a double bridle is a skill; “it’s one of the ultimate skills of dressage riding. Competitors need to prove their competence at the top level in terms of using a double bridle.”
Other items discussed at the meeting included the effect that shape and fitting of the bit and bridle have on horse performance, the effect of saddle design on performance and the rider’s seat and the impending device for testing the tightness of a noseband, which is not yet available, so it’s not possible to give a recommendation on how to deal with it, Linda said.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 10, 2024
Three times a winner at Toronto’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Alex Matz wrapped up that trifecta with his first-ever Longines FEI World Cup qualifier victory Saturday night.
Alex is the 28-year-old son of U.S. Olympian Michael Matz, who won the same class at the Royal in 1977, and Michael’s wife, DD, who also rode on teams for the country. That pedigree demonstrates how show jumping success runs in the family, as Alex achieved the only double-clear in a five-horse jump-off. The course set by Oscar Soberon, making his Royal designing debut, foiled big name after big name.
Third to go in the tiebreaker, Alex was flawless with Ikigai in 34.68 seconds. That time would be bettered, but not his record over the fences. The USA’s McLain Ward and his Olympic mount, Ilex, toppled a pole but edged Matz on the clock by 0.10 seconds. Canada’s Tiffany Foster, the favorite of the capacity crowd of 6,500, had by far the fastest clocking in 32.81 seconds with the aptly named Electrique, but a rail at the final towering vertical put her second.
Ikigai, an 11-year-old KWPN chestnut stallion by Elvis ter Putte, had been out with an injury and underwent recovery for a year.
With “so much talent, the most talent of any horse I’ve ridden,” Ikigai was worth waiting for, noted Alex, who rode on the U.S. squad last month in the Longines League of Nations Final in Barcelona.
Alex Matz and Ikigai.
“I never thought I would have had the week that I had this week, The horse tried his heart out,” said Alex, who was named the show’s leading international rider. His other victories earlier in the week came with Cashew CR.
“Even if I was second, the horse performed so well that I would have been happy.”
Explaining her strategy, Tiffany said, ““I was trying to go as fast as I could, and the only part of the jump-off I watched was Alex’s turn to the last fence. I tried to replicate it, but I didn’t do it as well.
“This is Electrique’s first FEI World Cup™ class and her first big class indoors,” Tiffany said of the mare developed by U.S. Olympic medalist Kent Farrington.
“I think the world of her. She’s a real competitor. She loves to go fast and the faster you go, the faster her brain works and the faster her legs move,” added Tiffany, who received the trophy for being the show’s leading Canadian rider.
Defending champion Daniel Bluman of Israel finished seventh with Gemma W. That was good enough for him to move into the lead in the North American League standings with 37 points. American riders are close behind; Kristen Vanderveen is second with 36 point, followed by Kent with 30 points. They’re all trying to qualify for the final in Switzerland next April.
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 5, 2024
Kent Farrington and McLain Ward will represent the U.S. next month in Geneva at that most elite of elite match-ups, the International Jumping Riders Club’s competition for the world’s top 10.
Here is the complete list of participants: World Number One Henrik von Eckermann (Sweden), current titleholder Steve Guerdat going for the title for the fourth time, former Olympic champion Ben Maher (Great Britain), Kent at number four; Julien Epaillard (France), Max Kuhner (Austria), Richard Vogel (Germany), Olympic champion Christian Kukuk (Germany) McLain and Ireland’s Conor Swail.
Kent is at the far left on the second row; McLain is second from right in the first row.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has qualified as one of 10 nations that will compete for the second season of the Longines League of Nations. The U.S.earned the third-most points, behind Ireland and France and ahead of Olympic champion Great Britain. At the bottom of the rankings, Brazil was replaced by Italy in tenth and Canada was close, eleventh, but did not make the cut.
The U.S. leg of the League is held during March at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 5, 2024
A legendary rider of the 1970s and ’80s, Capt. Con Power of Ireland, has passed away at age 71 after a long illness.
A mainstay of the Irish team during his era, Capt. Power was part of his nation’s three straight victories in the country’s most important competition, the Aga Khan Cup at the Royal Dublin Horse Show, in 1978, 1979 and 1980. He was leading rider at Dublin in 1976 and 1979 and took the same award at Washington, New York and Toronto in 1978. Capt. Power won five classes at Aachen in 1979,
The horses he rode included Coolronan, Castlepark and Rockbarton. Another of his mounts, Mullacrew, became the dam of influential Irish sporthorse sire, Cruising.
The legendary Irish Aga Khan team of Paul Darragh, Con Power, James Kiernan and Eddie Macken.
Although he started his career as a jockey, growing to 6-feet, 2-inches tall called for a change of focus. Beginning in the Army Equitation School in 1973 on a six-week trial, he was selected to stay. In 1979, he retired from the Irish Defense Forces and set up his own equestrian business. The former officer was Irish Show Jumping Rider of the Year from 1983-1986.
Irish Horse Board Chairman Tiernan Gill pointed out that “Capt. Con Power really was one of Ireland’s true horsemen, with sporting achievements in so many different aspects of the industry, coaching, racing, eventing and showjumping.
“To be part of the famous three-in-a-row Aga Khan winning team on three different Irish-bred horses, demonstrates the phenomenal talent that he had with different types of horses. Winning a puissance competition before riding on a winning Nations Cup team at the same show, on the same horse, is a something that will probably never be repeated.”
Capt. Power is survived by his wife, Margaret, and their children, Robbie, a former jockey and Elizabeth, an eventer.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 3, 2024
“Consistency.”
According to judge Scott Fitton, that was the key to Taylor Cawley’s hard-won victory in the ASPCA Maclay hunt seat horsemanship championship at the National Horse Show on Sunday.
“We just felt like she stayed right there the same throughout each round all day long. We were very impressed with the way she handled it,” he said.
And it was one very long day, starting at 7:15 a.m. in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park, and ending nearly 11 hours later with the presentation of the final ribbon.
After the first round, which had 172 starters, Taylor led on 93.5, with Adriana Forte second at 93.125. Taylor, the winner of the Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search Finals East last month, was the runner-up to Adriana last weekend in the equitation championship at the Washington International Horse Show, where Christian Dominguez was third. Interestingly, they were all in the Maclay’s top group, with Christian reserve champ, Adriana third and last year’s Washington winner—Maddie Tosh—fourth.
But following the flat phase for the top 24, Adriana stood first, Taylor second, Maddie third and Christian fourth.The first round of jumping and the flat phase each counted 50 percent of the score before the first test, which was the second round contested by 24 competitors.
The course for the second round–notice the double, doubles; 5AB followed by 6AB.
Following the second round, in the final test for the top four, which called for a hand gallop to the first fence and a halt for four to six seconds after the last jump, Maddie was standing fourth, Christian third, Adriana second and Taylor first.
It was hard to critique those talented riders, but Christian had a very determined hand-gallop and Adriana’s round was a bit more quiet, so that may have been the difference.
Taylor Cawley and Oki D’Eclipse.
As the winners were announced, Taylor’s trainer, Stacia Madden, held her student’s hand, then gave her a hug as soon as Christian was named as the runner-up, which meant Taylor had won.
Stacia pointed out that Taylor is the only student she has taught who she met when the child was on day old. Taylor’s mother, Molly Ashe Cawley, is one of Stacia’s best friends.
“This feels so special to me,” said Taylor after her victory, citing the history of the class that began in 1933 and has been won by many riders who went on to compete in the Olympics.
Of her mount, Oki D’Eclipse, she said, “I honestly could not ask for a better partner throughout this whole finals season. He’s been amazing. He always comes out ready for the next day.I think it’s really important that you have a special bond with your horse.”
Christian Dominguez and his trainer, Jennifer Hannan; Taylor Cawley and Stacia Madden, Adriana Forte and Andre Dignelli.
Molly Cawley, a grand prix rider, and her husband, Chris, train Taylor along with Stacia and the crew from Beacon Hill. Taylor is the granddaughter of Sue Ashe, a respected judge who is an icon in the industry. Following up on a spectacular 2024 season, Taylor is hoping to go to Europe to ride jumpers next year, but also wants to continue in equitation with Stacia.
The class was judged by two panels of two judges; in addition to Scott they were Cynthia Hankins, Keri Kampsen and Lyman T. Whitehead. Cynthia said that arrangement is less tiring than just having two people judge, and it also lets judges see a rider from both sides of the arena.
“I think it’s really going in a great direction,” she remarked about that approach.
Keri said in collaborating with course designer Bobby Murphy about the layout of the fences, she told him she did not want to see too many related distances.
“I wanted to see the kids have to ride,” she noted, as opposed to just counting strides.
The fences were fantastic. You had to love the vertical flanked by towers of pastel macarons, which had a “bite” taken out of the top cookies. Other obstacles from StrideFull were used in the Paris, Tokyo and Athens Olympics, and included Greek pillars, perfume bottles and an elaborate Japanese house.
Click here for the order of finish in the Maclay
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 31, 2024
Twenty-seven years after her most famous mount, Gifted, was inducted into the Roemer Foundation/U.S. Dressage Federation Hall of Fame, he is being joined by his rider, the late Carol Lavell. The ceremony will take place during the USDF convention in Houston during December.
Carol Lavell and Gifted
The duo earned team bronze medals at the 1992 Olympics and the 1994 World Equestrian Games.They were the USA’s stars of the early 1990s. But Carol, who died last year, also reached out to help others be successful; she and her family assisted many riders through their financial support of the Dressage Foundation’s grants.
USDF President George Williams noted, “Many will agree it is past time that we honor all that Carol did and gave to dressage during her lifetime.”
Also being being honored at the convention is William (Bill) Woods, best known as a trainer and judge, who has instructed and judged in 43 states and five foreign countries. He is receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award.
He influenced development of what become the USDF Instructor/Trainer Development Program. During his seven years as chair of the USDF Council of Instructors and Trainers, he was largely responsible for bringing to fruition USDF’s program for instructor certification and the beginning of USDF’s program of annual National Symposia.
Bill Woods.
When the New England Dressage Association (NEDA) became a charter GMO at USDF’s founding meeting in 1973, it was Bill who attended the first USDF convention as NEDA’s official delegate.
A pioneer in the sport, he is always giving back to the community and helping others understand dressage. His work to establish a way to certify instructors has impacted dressage instructors/trainers to this very day, and will continue to influence the sport into the future.
George Williams noted, “I’m a strong believer in the importance of remembering and recognizing those whose efforts in the early years of USDF laid the groundwork for our current programs. Bill Woods is one of those foresighted individuals. He was instrumental in the early development of the major USDF educational program geared towards instructors.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 24, 2024
Bobby Costello, who smoothed the waters after a turbulent time for U.S.eventing two years ago, has decided not to continue as technical advisor and chef d’equipe for the discipline after his contract expires Nov. 30 at the end of the Olympic quadrennium.
Bobby, who is both respected and admired, noted his involvement “has been an incredible journey with this program and this role has brought me so much purpose over the past two years. For both personal and professional reasons, I have decided it’s time to step away and allow a fresh face to continue moving this program forward towards the success I know we’re capable of producing as a country and program.
“It’s been an honor to work alongside our athletes, team staff, owners, and supporters to bring some incredible moments of success back to the U.S. over the past two years. It’s bittersweet, but I am looking forward to continuing to support our U.S. eventing team in the years to come.”
Bobby Costello. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Bobby rode in the 2000 Olympic as an individual. His successes in the administrative end of the sport include the first team medal in nearly 20 years (a silver) at the 2022 FEI World Championship, two podium finishes at CHIO Aachen, a team silver at the 2023 Pan American Games, and a podium finish at the FEI Eventing Nations Cup in the Boekelo CCIO4*-NC-L in the Netherlands this fall. The U.S. Eventing Team finished seventh at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games with Bobby at the helm.
In the fall of 2022, the U.S. Equestrian Federation offered no explanation for dropping Erik Duvander from the chef role, a little more than nine months before the 2022 Eventing World Championships in Italy.
Eventing “stakeholders” were notified by USEF in a brusque email that Erik’s contract, which expired Nov. 30, would not be renewed and that Jenni Autry, the managing director of eventing, was no longer with the federation. Peter Wylde, who had been coaching eventers in show jumping, also was dropped. Both Erik and Peter are still training U.S. eventers on an individual basis.
The controversial action followed “a detailed review involving stakeholder surveys” and a series of meetings among eventing constituents, USEF CEO Bill Moroney and the organization’s president, Tom O’Mara.
Bobby filled the chef role with style and grace, his congenial approach winning him friends and admirers.
“I know I speak for everyone when I say Bobby’s commitment and leadership in this role helped the program find its feet and has set us on the upward trajectory towards future success,” said Amber Braun, USEF managing director of eventing.
“We’re incredibly sad to see Bobby depart this role, but have nothing but gratitude and respect for the achievements and contributions he has made to U.S. Eventing during his term. We wish him all the best in his next chapter, and we will continue to focus on the LA 2028 Olympic Games.”
Now the mission is searching for someone to fill Bobby’s role. No details of that process have been announced.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 24, 2024
A system enabling exhibitors and show managers to access a master property calendar of championships is on the drawing board at the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association.
During a Town Hall discussion Monday night, USHJA president Britt McCormick explained the idea is to enable people organizing their show schedules to “figure out a qualifying system and create a migration pattern that works for them.”
That means anyone can look at the calendar at the beginning of the year, plan where to go and “hopefully prevent having to choose between properties on the same weekend.”
Major national championships would be on the calendar’s first tier, creating blackout dates for regional championships and other properties “so we can be sure we’re not walking one property on top of another property,” Britt said.
A second tier of championships would include fixtures such as 3-foot, 3-inch equitation, various regional championships and properties that can possibly coexist on the same weeks, but in different parts of the country, while becoming blackout weeks for the third tier, which could include Outreach Festivals and some other programs at regular horse shows.
Britt reminded those watching the Town Hall that licensing shows is the responsibility of the U.S. Equestrian Federation (detailed in Chapter 3 of the rulebook), but noted USHJA does offer recommendations in terms of mileage exemptions.
Shelley Campf, a member of the competition management committee, said she would like to encourage USHJA leadership “to stay extremely involved,” with the date situation, observing that the organization should have “some sort of control” over hunter/jumper shows.
While the number of horse recordings and memberships with USEF have grown, in 2024 that did not align with the number of members showing as it typically does, she maintained.
“A lot of horse shows are having trouble sustaining themselves when they’re 60-80 miles from one another. I think it’s a very dangerous road,” Shelley continued.
Britt replied, “We had a reorganization with the channel system I think we have kind of let fall though the cracks. I think there are some answers in there.” He said participation numbers are steady but different as “the migration pattern seems to be in flux.”
He added USHJA is trying to get various task force and management committees together to discuss the show scheduling challenges and then bring those to the federation.
In other business:
- The Marshall+Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships Nov. 11-17 will run without FEI classes (read about that here) but it enables USHJA to use all three arenas at the South Point in Las Vegas, and will mean more riders can participate, said Britt.
- Three 1.40 meter jumper classes have been added, including the $49,999 Desert International Horse Park Grand Prix.
- Britt advised that the USHJA annual meeting, a celebration of its twentieth anniversary, will have a different format Dec. 9-12 in Tucson, Ariz., the location of the organization’s first annual meeting. The gathering will be more interactive, and look at “improving not only our sport, but our industry.”
- Forums will not overlap, so everyone can attend all the sessions if they wish.
- In the future, Britt announced, Town Halls will be offered quarterly rather than monthly. Comments Monday were sparse, with just a handful of people speaking during the 40-minute meeting.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 30, 2024
The MARS Maryland 5-star made a big leap in quality for its third year in 2023, then burnished the details in 2024.
“Every year, we just constantly try to figure out, `How do we tweak and adjust elements?’ ” said Terry Hasseltine, executive director of the Maryland Sports Commission,
Part of the effort is to “identify what worked really, really well, and then what is maybe a sticking point so that we can address it next year.”
One issue that still requires work is increasing participation in the marquee portion of the weekend, the 5-star.
Some of the sport’s biggest names took part in the October event presented by Brown Advisory. The only downside was that the division drew just 23 starters, with a mere eight coming through from cross-country to the show jumping phase finale. The accompanying 3-star had 54 starters.
After a long season, the autumn is a difficult time for a test as stern as a 5-star to attract a large number of competitors in America. Meanwhile, though, the final 5-star of the year, France’s Pau on the weekend after Maryland, had a starting field of 71, but just three horses from the U.S. entered. The conditions of the two events drew a sharp contrast. Maryland, usually known for its good footing, had very hard ground after a record-setting drought; Pau was lashed by storms and the cross-country footing was slick muck.
MARS Maryland 5-star winner Oliver Townend with runner-up Tim Price, left, and third-place David Doel, all of whom shipped over from Britain. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
New Zealander Tim Price, who flew over from England to finish second at Maryland with his Olympic mount, Falco, said, “We love coming over here, and we’ll do what we can to encourage more people to come here, because it’s a fantastic event, definitely one of the best events in the world and we want to pump it up. So we’ll do what we can.”
Oliver Townend, the winner with Ballaghmor Class, is another who traveled from Britain to compete. He has been to each Maryland renewal and never ceases to praise it effusively.
About the entry situation he said, “It’s a percentage game at the minute, trying to fill this event up.”
Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
He emphasized that Maryland, “really give the feeling of an exceptional event, and an event that’s going to be right up there with the very best in the world.”
Terry reported that organizers are “having good conversations” with the U.S. Equestrian Federation and the FEI (the international equestrian federation) “about what are some of the strategies we can implement together to insure the 5-stars — not just us, but (also) the others — are positioned on the calendar the right way, so there’s not conflict and challenges for some of the premier riders to have to make really tough decisions.”
The bottom line?
“To insure the vitality of this event can continue to move in the right direction. In the U.S. in the fall, it’s always going to be a unique challenge, no matter who hosted it. Multiple pro sports all kicking in; the change of seasons is coming along, you’re dealing with variations of weather systems. We’ve just got to keep making our product a bucket-list product people want to come out and see. not just in the equestrian space but in the general population.”
This was the first year that betting was allowed for the 3- and 5-star events via a partnership with Crab Sports, a startup sportsbook tailored for the Maryland market.
Maryland CEO Jeff Newman had said the idea was to create more off-competition amenities that would appeal to non-equestrians. He characterized its debut as sort of a beta test.
Terry Hasseltine and Jeff Newman. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
In regard to the cross-country footing, Terry said nearly 250,000 gallons of water were dumped on the course, “but it all got absorbed into the lower basin. Sometimes it hardens the ground more than softens it.”
The team is working on doing things before cross-country, such as dumping sand on the course “so it holds a little bit more water. There are turf recommendations being looked at so we can soften some areas when we do not have mother nature’s support.”
This year’s edition was supposed to be the last hurrah for Ian Stark, who has designed the cross-country course since the event began. But word of his retirement has been exaggerated, it seems. Paris Olympics course designer Pierre Le Goupil, who was named to replace Ian, has decided he doesn’t want to start out alone on that project. So Ian will be mentoring him at Maryland in 2025.
Pierre asked for Ian’s help, telling me he has never designed a 5-star; the Olympic cross-country is at 4-star Long level. On his first visit to the event, he found everyone “wonderful and welcoming.”
The Frenchman and Ian spent time together on the course, “sharing ideas and impressions. He noted, “it’s been an interesting and learning week for me.”
Pierre explained this month was a little bit early for him to make a plan for 2025. He took advantage of “more time for me to discover and know the people and how it works, the fantastic building team behind Tyson (Rementer, head of the course building effort.).
“It’s so important to feel the atmosphere of a venue before you even start to work on it. I’ve been taking a lot of information and need to digest a little bit,” he commented.
New Maryland cross-country course designer Pierre Le Goupil. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
“It is not an easy venue, that is crystal clear, because of the hills and the extensive organization of the three different areas, with the racing field, including the main arena; the area by the crab water jump and that quite long and hilly pathway in between with ups and downs that you can’t avoid. It’s a challenge how to make it different every year without creating a revolution, without losing the benefit of the previous experience for everybody, the organization and also the riders. There’s a lot to learn and I’m very excited. I have fresh eyes, I have ideas and I need to put everything in order.”
Although the event is near the site of the Fair Hill International event that began in 1989, the 5-star venue is quite different. The arenas rather unusually are set in the middle of a turf racetrack, where thoroughbreds finally will run, beginning on Memorial Day weekend next year.
“It’s an awesome venue, but it’s pretty unique. There are things about it that are really tricky operationally,” said Competition Director Joanie Morris.
She noted the event was put together with, “a lot of new ideas and ingenuity. It takes a long time to develop and establish it. The first couple of years, it was just trying to sort that out.”
But by Year Four, “It feels very real now. It feels really established. A lot of people who I have a lot of respect for, who have been to a lot of events for a lot of years around the world, have said how good it is.
“Now we’re at the point where, what can we continue to do, what can we do better? And we’re looking forward to next year.”
She added with a grateful smile, “That’s not always the way you feel when you finish an event.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 27, 2024
The Eastern States Dressage and Combined Training Association Championships and Open Schooling Show is a long way from the high-end competitions that dominate the calendar these days. It’s laid back, relaxed and friendly, a delightful unrecognized fixture that’s just plain fun and a high point of the season.
It may not be glitzy, but as Flemington, N.J., trainer Wendy Garfinkel said, “Don’t bash this: it’s someone’s Olympics.”
Former ESDCTA President Lisa Toaldo, who managed the show on the weekend, elaborated on what it means to the participants: “Most of the riders in the show won’t be going to Regionals and Nationals, that’s why it’s so exciting for them. This is their championship.”
Show manager Lisa Toaldo and Ann Dandurand with her champoinship ribbon. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
What adds to its appeal is location, location, location – the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation headquarters, steeped in history. The Gladstone, N.J., facility carries extra meaning as a venue for those privileged to ride there, whether they’re at training level or FEI.
When else, Wendy asked, do you get to ride at the USET?
“It’s affordable. We stable here too. You get to stay in Brentina’s stall. We work really hard to get here. They do a great job everyone is nice to you. If you fill out your entries incorrectly, they don’t yell at you.”
Something else which appeals to her is the fact that, “You see every type of horse. You don’t just see warmbloods; the odd breeds can do it too, I always promote that.”
A case in point is the Irish/Welsh cross ridden by her student, Lori Fortunato. Challenger’s Fourth Angel is a 14-hand pony that Lori adores.
Trainer Wendy Garfinkel and her student, Lori Fortunato, with Challenger’s Fourth Angel. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
“She’s like a puppy,” declared Lori, who used to do hunters and eventing. But now, she says,, “I love dressage, the connection, the partnership that I feel.” She is a psychotherapist, so she knows about connections. The Watchung, N.J., resident remembers what the USET meant to her as a kid, citing the famous people like Frank Chapot who trained there.
Another different breed from Wendy’s Poniez on the Rockz is an ex-thoroughbred racehorse owned by her right-hand worker, Shelby Dunlap.
“When she’s away, I’m in charge,” said Shelby, discussing her job description.
A former groom at the racetrack, she fell in love with Riopelle, who won $100,000 racing at Penn National, Woodbine in Canada and elsewhere.
“I thought he was adorable,” she recalled.
Shelby Dunlap and Riopelle. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Shelby got to pony him onto the track the day he won a race, only to learn he was claimed for $7,500.
“I cried all the way home,” she said.
Rio, by Grade I Super Derby winner Arch out of Constant Touch (Belong to Me) raced some more, but then a trainer friend of Shelby’s was able to claim him for her. She jumped him a little before switching to dressage. He can be quirky, but he also knows when to behave. Her best score at the show was an impressive 68.8 percent in Training Level 3.
She’s having fun with the 16-year-old gelding but promised, “a couple more years and he can retire.”
Another different breed at the show was Luchadora ESF, an Andalusian who won the FEI championship with a total of 65.647 percent for Ann Dandurand.
She made a mistake in her Intermediate I test, doing the pirouette too early.
“I don’t own the I-1 test yet. She’s Grand Prix; I’m not,” said Ann, explaining her mare knew the early pirouette was the wrong move.
“I am so fortunate to have this horse.”
Ann Dandurand and Luchadora ESF. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
When Ann asked for the pirouette in the wrong place, “She was like, `No mom.’ She didn’t want to do it.” And Ann knew there was a problem because, “She never says no. She’s amazing, a saint.”
Ann, who works as a physician, is based in Cranbury, N.J., and trains with Nikki Serge in Stockton as well as Andrea Velas in Pennsylvania. She joined ESDCTA 40 years ago. Her memory of the USET dates back to the mid-1980s, when she rode in an Arabian festival there and stayed in the groom’s quarters.
More on breed diversity: Lauren Anderson rode a catchy-looking pinto named Lakota Moon at Training Level. The 17-year-old, who trains with Jill Kuc at Hidden Creek in Pennsylvania, said no one is sure about her horse’s breeding.
It was fun for her mother, Colette Anderson, to come to the show, because she grew up in Bedminster, N.J., and her husband is from neighboring Gladstone. Colette was well aware of the USET when she lived in the area, but she didn’t ride.
Lauren Anderson and Lakota Moon. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
So now, “My daughter is living my dream,” she said. Riding at the USET has a bit of an intimidation factor, but more important, it’s “a big deal.”
Another unusual combo was embodied in Linda Butz’ Dannys Secret, a Friesian/Arab cross, who competed at Grand Prix. Linda, a Pennsylvanian who trains with Sarah Schmitt in Annandale, N.J., is hoping that next year she can do her Century Ride at the USET. For that U.S. Dressage Federation opportunity, the combined age of horse and rider must be 100.
Linda has had her 22-year-old horse for 17 years.
Linda Butz and Dannys Secret. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I bought her to trail ride and pop over some little jumps. She told us very quickly that wasn’t for her. She ended up with a dressage trainer. I’m really fortunate that I have this horse. I learn something every time.”
Linda has her USDF bronze and silver medals, and is working towards her gold. She rode at the USET once in before in the Summer Days show, and was happy to be back.
“This beautiful, iconic facility is a big draw,” said Holly Cornell, who has been ESDCTA’s president for six years.
ESDCTA President Holly Cornell. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
The organization “helps foster a lot of young riders coming up, encourages them to get involved in dressage and eventing, though most of the eventers go to recognized shows and don’t participate in the schooling combined test as much,” said Holly.
“It’s really great to see a lot of people coming up from the lower levels and getting better horses and improving.”
And as far as the Championship show goes, she pointed out, it’s obvious that “this beautiful, iconic facility is a big draw.”
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