by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 14, 2026
We already ran a short obituary last month for Jean Lindgren, but she was someone who deserved much more. Her son, Baylis Greene, did just that, writing one for the East Hampton Star, where he works. This is worth reading, whether you knew Jean, or just wished you had.
“In the 1970s, Jean Lindgren would proudly point out that she was the first woman carpenter on the South Fork. She had the shoulders and biceps to match, too.
This was after a stint teaching nursery school at the Hampton Day School in Bridgehampton, where she met Anthony Hitchcock, a science teacher with whom she would go on to work an array of odd jobs, at a time here when it was far easier to get by that way. This involved building greenhouses, in an elaborate process of gluing and clamping to bend wood supports, done in a barn behind their rented farmhouse in Bridgehampton, catering, notably the wedding of the sportswriter Mike Lupica, with attendees ranging from Don Imus, the radio host, to Donald Trump, and writing a series of guide books to country inns and historic hotels.
The job that wound up truly lasting, however, came about when Ms. Lindgren and Mr. Hitchcock took over the logistics for a small local horse show at the Topping Horse Farm in Sagaponack. As this area became more popular, more of a destination, more characterized by celebrity, so did the show, which in 1977 came to be known as the Hampton Classic, first at Dune Alpin Farm in East Hampton and then on 65 acres in Bridgehampton. The two ran it as a benefit for Southampton Hospital until 2005.
Ms. Lindgren, who lived in Sagaponack, died of heart disease on May 27 at Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead. She was 85.
The Hampton Classic may have been fancy, but the co-executive directors, who were not riders themselves, made certain to allow for the equestrians and fans from the area, introducing Local Day and accommodating Bridgehampton families like the McCoys and the Brennans with tables in the Grand Prix tent.
In many ways the face of the show, working with participants and registrants, the aggrieved and the entitled, Ms. Lindgren was invariably cheerful and charming, with a sense of humor that could defuse any misunderstanding.
Born on March 4, 1941, in Tenafly, N.J., the eldest of four children of Robert Lindgren, a commercial illustrator, and the former Ruth Jaster, she grew up across the New York border in Suffern, where the family had a horse rescued on its way to becoming mink food and an old jalopy she learned to drive before she was a teenager.
She attended Mary Washington College in Virginia but left before graduating, and later married Peter Greene, whom she knew from Suffern High School. They had two children. The marriage ended in divorce, but not before they moved to Sag Harbor in 1969.
In the mid-1970s, in Bridgehampton with Mr. Hitchcock, whom she would marry in the 1990s, the two were known for their volunteer work, particularly with the local historical society and the Black community of the Turnpike, at one point installing a small steeple atop the Baptist church, which led to a story they liked to tell of the difficulty of compound angles.
In later years, after the Hampton Classic, Ms. Lindgren continued to work as a secretary on the horse show circuit, from Westchester County to Ocala, Fla., to Indio, Calif., and she and Mr. Hitchcock began to vacation here and abroad, to France every spring, to Maine at the end of every summer.
Painting was one of her pastimes, and her children and grandchildren always looked forward to the cartoons she would draw for their birthday cards. She enjoyed mystery novels, watching “Jeopardy!” and “Antiques Roadshow,” shopping trips with her granddaughters, and baking, especially Christmas cookies.
Mr. Hitchcock survives her, as does a stepdaughter, Abigail Hitchcock of Brooklyn; two sons, Ryder Greene of Portland, Ore., and Baylis Greene of Noyac; a daughter-in-law, Julie Greene, and three grandchildren, Penelope, Griffin, and Bennett Greene. She also leaves a sister, Patricia Lindgren of Cold Spring, N.Y.
A celebration of her life is scheduled for Aug. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Long Beach in Noyac, N.Y.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 9, 2026
London Olympics 2012 show jumping course designer Bob Ellis has died at the age of 79 after a short illness.
Course designer Guilherme Jorge, who worked with Bob in London, called him “a great horseman, a great course designer and a great friend. His leadership and the way he looked after his team is something that I will always remember.”
Bob was a rider who began building courses in the 1990s under the mentorship of Jon Doney. He stopped riding in 1993, concentrating on course designing and achieved the FEI’s O status, enabling him to design courses at some of the world’s major competitions.
The crowning achievement of his career came at the London Olympics, where he created a series of iconic courses featuring fence designs that showcased Great Britain to a global audience.
He will be remembered not only for his outstanding contribution to the sport, but also for his ready smile and infectious sense of humor.
U.S. judge David Distler recalled, “I had the privilege of working with Bob on a number of occasions. Each time I came away with a greater understanding of courses, thanks to the generous sharing of his knowledge.
“One of the very best to ever lay a rail, a true genius, with a wonderful sense of humor. A mentor to so many.”
A statement from British Showjumping said Bob’s “distinctive style, creativity and ability to challenge competitors while always prioritizing horsemanship earned him international recognition and respect.
“Throughout his career, Bob was admired not only for his professionalism, expertise and eye for detail, but also for his warmth, humor and unwavering passion for the sport. He inspired generations of riders, officials and fellow course-designers, many of whom benefited from his guidance and mentorship.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 7, 2026
A week after Caroline Pamukcu was first and second in the Open Preliminary at the Essex Horse Trials, that prep paid off as she rode the same horses to top the 4-Star Long at the MARS Bromont event on Sunday.
The order of her mounts’ finish was reversed this time, though, with Essex runner-up HSH Double Sixteen, a thoroughbred, taking the top prize and She’s the One coming second. Both horses were free of jumping faults on cross-country, but each had two rails in stadium. Double Sixteen finished on 47.5 penalties while She’s the One accumulated 13.6 time penalties on cross-country.
Another U.S. rider, Tracey Bienemann was third with 57.9 penalties on Venezuelan River.
Caroline said her mounts, “Both of them are just fabulous horses, and I’m just so happy for the owners – they deserve it. They’ve been with me since day one, so it’s just great to do well for them, and do well for the horses.
She noted ” ‘Six’ was fabulous all weekend. There’s so much more improvement that can be done, but again, remember, they’re both 11-year-olds, and I think they both have bright futures. Their cross-country rounds were immaculate. They’re just absolute machines, but again, [there’s a] lot more work [that] can be done – the dressage and the show jumping – and even with the cross-country, I can fine tune some things. But I’m so happy because I felt confident this weekend. So that’s the biggest thing – the biggest takeaway.”
The cross-country courses were designed by Derek di Grazia, who also does the Kentucky 5-star, and Jay Hambly.
The 3-Star Long went to Canada’s Colleen Loach, while the 2-StarLong was a wire-to-wire win for Lucienne Bellissimo and Dyri. In the 4-star Short, old friends Phillip Dutton (Denim) and Boyd Martin (Fetiche des Rouges) were 1-2.
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 4, 2026
As keeping horses has become increasingly pricey, the amount competitors pay for showing on top of that has developed as a major economic issue. There is a tendency to blame the shows for over-charging, intimating that competitions are making huge profits off the exhibitors. But such accusations generally come from people who have no idea what it takes, or costs, to put on a show. They have no idea of the profit margin (if there is one) realized by competitions, particularly the smaller shows serving the all-important base of the sport.
Without a base, nothing can be built. If equestrian competition is seen as being only about the elite upper levels, that can hurt more than the sport’s image in the era of social license to operate. Such a perception also can discourage those who feel showing — viewed as a goal after all those lessons — is out of their price range. As a result, they may not continue to ride and go elsewhere for their exercise.
What does it cost to put on a horse show? Marnye Langer, who runs the Langer Equestrian Group shows in California, has produced a piece explaining the business model. Here is an edited version of what she wrote:
Horse shows are extraordinarily expensive to produce, even before a single ribbon is handed out. That is something many exhibitors – and increasingly, policymakers – fail to fully appreciate.
The public conversation around the U.S. Equestrian Federation channel system and the future of competition often assumes there is a large amount of fat built into horse show pricing. The reality is quite the opposite, especially for smaller shows. Margins are frequently thin, costs are largely fixed and many of the expenses exhibitors dislike most are not profit centers at all. They are simply mechanisms to cover operational necessities or pass through costs collected on behalf of associations.
Take staffing: A horse show requires an enormous workforce to function safely and professionally. Labor costs extend far beyond judges and course designers. They include office personnel, ring crews, maintenance teams, jump crews, in-gate staff, parking attendants, hospitality workers, and security. Those positions exist whether the show runs three days or five, three rings or five.
And importantly, these are not optional expenses.
A hunter/jumper competition cannot simply decide to eliminate EMT coverage, forego insurance or skip licensed officials because entries are down. Most of the core operating costs remain fixed regardless of the competition’s size or designation.
The same applies to venue costs. Facility rental, footing preparation, utilities, manure removal, tents, stalls, generators and equipment rentals represent substantial line items that do not meaningfully decline simply because a show is categorized differently under a channel framework. In many cases, regional competitions actually face higher proportional costs because they lack the economies of scale available to larger circuits.
Even when a horse show operates at a facility under the same ownership structure, the venue itself is not free. Someone still pays for footing maintenance, equipment, utilities, staffing, insurance, paving, landscaping, manure removal and ongoing repairs. This is also true for farms that host smaller local competitions. Rest assured, they have invested substantial money into making those properties functional for horse shows.
This is an important point because there is a persistent assumption that facility-owning show managers somehow operate without meaningful overhead. They do not. In many cases, horse show revenue is what keeps the facility itself financially viable.
Another uncomfortable truth: Ancillary revenues matter tremendously.
Exhibitors often view feed, shavings, office fees, nomination fees and sponsorship programs as excessive add-ons. In reality, those categories frequently determine whether a competition survives financially. Particularly for smaller and mid-level competitions, sponsorship revenue is limited or nonexistent. That means operational sustainability falls heavily on entries, stalls and associated exhibitor fees.
And even then, profitability is far from guaranteed. Weather disruptions, lower-than-expected entries, rising insurance costs, labor shortages, fuel prices and facility fee increases can erase margins quickly. A competition that appears “busy” from the outside is not necessarily financially successful.
This is why the assumption that (regional) Channel 2 competitions automatically create a lower-cost environment is so problematic.
The USEF channel system largely adjusts classification and prize money requirements. It does not materially reduce the overwhelming majority of production expenses that drive horse show economics. All the “things” still have to happen. Judges, course designers and EMTs still need to be hired. Rings still need dragging. Footing still needs maintenance. Insurance premiums do not suddenly shrink because a show is labeled “regional.” The list goes on.
If anything, smaller competitions often face a more difficult economic equation. They have fewer entries over which to spread fixed costs, less sponsorship support and less leverage when competing for labor and vendors against major circuits.
That reality matters because regional and mid-level horse shows are foundational to the sport’s ecosystem. They are where riders develop, trainers build businesses and new participants enter the industry. If those competitions become financially unsustainable, the long-term impact extends far beyond a single horse show’s balance sheet.
The concern is not simply whether some shows will disappear. It is whether the sport can maintain a healthy competitive middle class at all. Because once regional competitions vanish, rebuilding that layer of the industry becomes extraordinarily difficult.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 5, 2026
On the heels of his victory in the Devon Horse Show’s USHJA International Hunter Derby, Lafitte de Muze traveled a few hours south to take another derby in Virginia at the country’s oldest show on Friday.
Triumphant at the Upperville Colt & Horse Show for the third time in a row, the 15-year-old Belgian warmblood gelding responded beautifully to rider Amanda Steege at one of his favorite venues.
“He’s always gone fantastically in this derby, and I really enjoy showing here because of the large number of spectators who come to cheer us on. There aren’t many places where you get that kind of crowd in such an intimate setting. When he does one of his extra-special jumps, I can hear the crowd say, ‘Oooh! Ahh!’ and I really enjoy that part of showing here,” said Amanda, who presents the horse with the help of her barn manager and partner, Tim Delovich.
She was the final rider to go in the classic round, earning scores of 91 and 92 from the judges, along with four high-option bonus points from each panel. That put her in the lead with her longtime partner, owned by Cheryl Olsten.
Returning for the handy round, she and Lafitte handled the course beneath Upperville’s scenic oaks. Scores of 92 from each panel, combined with an additional 14 high-option bonus points, secured the victory and completed their three-peat at the venue.
Evan Coluccio rode Mary Antonini’s Dorian Grey to second place on a score of 368, while Kate Conover guided Privet Farm, LLC’s Proud to Be to third place with 358 points.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 4, 2026
America’s top-ranked dressage horse, Indian Rock, isn’t part of the U.S. contingent headed to Europe this summer.
The stallion’s owner, Heidi Humphries’ Zen Elite Equestrian Center, posted Thursday on social media, “After a lot of discussion with the team, we’ve decided not to include Indian Rock in our summer championship team plans this year.”
The U.S. is sending a group of horses to Germany to train in preparation for August’s world championships at Aachen. The squad that will compete at Hagen includes Rocky’s rider, Christian Simonson, on Fleau de Baian, Jordan LaPlaca (Gold Play), Meagan Davis (Toronto Lightfoot) and Anna Marek (Fayvel).
“Rocky has given us an incredible season, and we couldn’t be more proud of everything he has accomplished. He has exceeded our expectations in every way, and we feel the best decision for him right now is to enjoy a well-earned break and some time to simply be a horse,” the Zen statement said.
The 13-year-old Rocky finished second in the Zen Elite World Cup Finals in April with Christian in the saddle, then went on to the U.S. national championships in May. While he won the Grand Prix at that competition, Rocky had a couple of tricky moments in the Special the next day, and Christian made an error of course during the test. Rocky did not appear for the Freestyle two days later.
Rocky got a kiss from his rider after winning the Grand Prix at the national championships.
“We believe that building great horses for the long term means knowing when to continue forward and when to give them the opportunity to recharge,” the Zen statement acknowledged.
Rocky, part of the 2024 Dutch Olympic team and the eighth-ranked horse this month in the international standings, “has taken us on an amazing journey this year (one we couldn’t have dreamed up any better), and we want to set him up for continued success in the years ahead,” the Zen statement continued.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support of our entire team and the many people who have cheered Rocky on every step of the way.
“This summer, we’ll be proudly cheering on the rest of Team USA, including Christian and our handsome `lion,’ Fleau de Baian.”
Felix, as he is known, won the Freestyle and finished fourth overall in the national championships. Christian is ranked seventh among the world’s riders.
Christian Simonson and Fleau de Baian.
“Thank you for being part of Rocky’s story. @christian.simonson, @adrienne.lyle and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this very special horse” the Zen statement concluded.
The loss of Rocky is another blow for the U.S. world championships team, which also won’t include Jane, Alice Tarjan’s mare ridden by Marcus Orlob in the 2024 Olympics. Jane was out with an injury during the winter after showing in Florida. She is rehabbing and isn’t part of the U.S. group going to Europe.
Meanwhile, U.S. National Grand Prix Champion Ellesse Gundersen, with her homebred Quintessential 4, did not apply to be on the world championships team. There is no “wiggle room” to get her on the team, USEF reported.
Fayvel did not compete in the championships at WEC, but is a well-traveled veteran. Meagan and Toronto Lightfoot were third overall in the championships while Jordan was fifth.
Ashley Holzer, second in the national championships with Hawtins San Floriana, will be going to Britain rather than Germany in order to train and compete under the eye of her coach, Carl Hester.
Named to ride as individuals in the 4-star at Hagen are Kasey Perry-Glass (Heartbeat WP), thirteenth in both the Grand Prix and Special, who did not compete in the Freestyle at the championships, and the second-highest ranked U.S. dressage rider internationally, Genay Vaughn, thirty-ninth in the world standings. She did not ride Gino in the Freestyle at the national championships after finishing tenth in the Grand Prix and fourteenth in the Special.
Riding in the 3-Star at Hagen will be Ellesse; Christian’s trainer, Adrienne Lyle, who swept competition at that level at the World Equestrian Center in May with Helix, and Quinn Iverson (Gremlin 41). Katie Duerrhammer (Rosebank VH) will ride in the 1-Star there.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 2, 2026
It was rare to see Jean Lindgren without a smile.
Cheerful and unflappable, she brightened everyone’s day, whether you were with her for a minute or spent some time chatting.
A fixture at the Hampton Classic horse show, where she and her husband, Tony, served for decades as executive directors, she died May 27 after succumbing to heart disease.
“Her sense of humor and mine sustained us for 52-plus year, through tough times and easy ones,” Tony remembered.
“She never lost her trademark sense of humor and I miss her deeply. But her smile endures!”
Jean Lindgren is remembered for her trademark smile.
Update: A celebration of her life is planned for August 6 at Long Beach in Sag Harbor, N.Y., from 6-8 p.m.
The show cited her approach of “Live for the moment,” in a social media statement after her passing.
“That was the personal motto for Jean Lindgren, executive director of the Hampton Classic alongside her husband, Tony Hitchcock, for 30 years and then a devoted worker and the face of Will Call for many more. And how many moments there were.
“We are heartbroken at her passing. We will consistently remember her smile, warming presence, brilliant wit, love for the horse show, and most importantly, devotion to her family and friends. We will miss you Jean. We wouldn’t be here without you.”
Misti Cassar observed that “Jean was an angel and always had a contagious smile. I always enjoyed our conversations. She lifted my spirit up so many times with her gentle soft voice and encouraging words.”
That was a sentiment echoed by so many who had the privilege of knowing her.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 22, 2026
The essence of the SAFE Act aimed at banning transporting horses for slaughter moved a step ahead after passage of a surface transportation reauthorization bill by the U.S. House of Representatives’ Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, but it still has a lengthy road to travel before becoming law.
The Van Drew-Titus amendment to the Build America 250 Act, HR 8870, has the same language as the Save America’s Forgotten Equines Act, known as the SAFE Act, which has 229 cosponsors in the House. The bill, which also includes a ban on the shipment of horses in double-decker trailers, now must pass the floor of the House before the Senate addresses it.
In 2025, more than 25,000 horses went from the U.S., where horse slaughter is banned, to be put to death in Canada and Mexico. Conditions on such a journey are barbaric..
“This was a tremendous bipartisan win for our horses in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, but we still have a long way to go before the bill is signed into law,” said Chris Heyde of Blue Marble Strategy, a governmental affairs firm.
““However, the momentum and truth about the cruelty of horse slaughter won out over the outdated lies spread by those who want to profit from the horses’ suffering. I want to give special thanks to Mike Repole (a top owner of race horses) and Pat Cummings (from the National Thoroughbred Alliance) and (auction house) Fasig-Tipton, as well as my coalition partners who have worked tirelessly to advance this issue. Having worked on the effort to ban slaughter for 25 years, I feel we are so close and it is time to put all our effort into getting this across the finish line this Congress.”
Those who want to see this mandate become law should contact their representatives and in the next phase, their senators, urging passage of HR 8870, the Build America 250 Act.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 28, 2026
The U.S. senior and developing show jumping teams will be backed under a multi-year sponsorship arrangement with Icon Global real estate and its partner brand, Amasé.
Icon Global focuses on the valuation and preservation of prestigious mass-land properties, ranches, and estates around the world. Its newly launched partner brand, Amasé, offers access to high-end rental properties and experiences in luxury destinations.
Icon Global has an established presence with both the polo and western equestrian communities. Its involvement with jumping is an evolution to its growing and diverse footprint within the equestrian industry across disciplines and interests. The commitment to investing in high performance sport and conservation of equestrian heritage will be elevated with the inclusion of Amasé as the first-ever sponsor of the U.S. Jumping Development teams.
“Equestrian sport has long been part of my life and the Uechtritz family story, from Papua New Guinea, and Australia, to the United States and now across some of the world’s most iconic sporting and lifestyle destinations. Through Icon Global and Amasé, we are incredibly proud to partner with US Equestrian and support the U.S. Jumping Teams on the world stage,” said Bernard Uechtritz, founder of Icon Global.
“This partnership represents a shared appreciation for excellence, heritage, international competition, and a passion for the unique lifestyle that surrounds the equestrian world.”
Alongside their commitment to supporting the USA Jumping programs, the Icon Global and Amasé partnership will also include presence at major U.S. Equestrian Federation national championship events, including the USEF Junior Hunter National Championships – East & West, USEF Pony Finals, USEF Dressage Festival of Champions, USEF Talent Search Finals – East & West, as well as the USEF Junior Jumper National Championships, and USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final.
“Icon Global represents extraordinary people and their extraordinary properties in extraordinary places around the globe, while Amasé was created to offer curated luxury travel experiences connected to those same destinations and communities. The equestrian world and associated family offices naturally align with our clients, our passions, and the relationships we have built nationally and internationally. We are honored to stand alongside US Equestrian as an Official Partner and look forward to helping elevate the sport, support its athletes, and further connect the global equestrian community,” Uechtritz explained.
“To welcome a partner like Icon Global and Amasé to US Equestrian is a benefit for equestrian sport. Their support and commitment to the growth and preservation of the equestrian lifestyle and industry, extends across multiple disciplines, and is admirable,” said USEF CEO Bill Moroney.
To learn more about Icon Global and its associated properties, visit www.icon.global and to find more information on property rentals through Amasé, visit www.amasestays.com.
Icon Global designs and implements strategic, tactical, national and global marketing campaigns for Iconic real estate, and additionally provides specialty advisory and portfolio services for owners of unique assets across the USA, parts of Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Icon represents banking and governmental institutions, and high net worth individuals’, as well as corporations and family offices globally in the acquisition, management and disposition of property in all asset classes. Icon Global was founded by complex deal maker and international real estate advisor, Bernard Uechtritz.
Amasé is a private collection of 40+ private residences in iconic destinations from ski towns to coastlines to horse country, including Aspen, Jackson Hole, Hawaii, the Hamptons, Belize, the Bahamas, and beyond.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 31, 2026
Seven horses. That’s how many rides Olympic eventer Caroline Martin Pamukcu had at the Essex Horse Trials on Sunday.
Or if you really want to dig into the numbers, you could call it 21 rides, because, of course, she had to compete in three phases — dressage, cross-country and show-jumping — on each of her mounts.
She finished first, second, fourth and seventh in Open Preliminary, the highest-level division offered by the event at Moorland Farm in Far Hills, N.J., home of October’s Far Hills Race Meeting.
Caroline Pamukcu and She’s the One, Open Preliminary winner
In Open Novice, she was second, third and fourth, behind winner Sophia Middleburg.
Then she headed home to Pennsylvania to get in a little more riding while it was still light.
Oh, and she’s also a mother. Caroline’s 18-month-old daughter, Blake, is named after her Olympic equine partner.
Nothing can slow down Caroline, except the case of Covid she caught earlier this spring.
So what’s her secret, how does she keep going at that pace?
“It’s not really a secret. It’s just hard work,” she revealed.
“I wake up every morning four to five days a week at 4:45. My sleep-in days are 7 a.m. wake-up. I try to go to the gym five days a week.”
And after that she rides, so there are days that run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Explaining her drive, she said, “I really, really want to be a top, top rider. I’ve got to push myself so I can be.” (I thought she already was!) In her view, though, that includes winning a 5-star event for the first time.
So why come to Essex? It was missing the sport’s other big names.
Essex has a great history and once was a “must” stop for high-level eventers. Founded in 1968, it vanished after 1998, came back in a big way in 2017 and then struggled a bit. The solution for continued survival involved ending the multi-day approach and making it into a one-day event last year, along with the determination of Marilyn Payne and her organizing committee to keep it going.
Essex enjoys the comfortable feel of a local competition, but has wonderful ambience, getting great crowds tailgating around the water obstacle on the challenging course designed by Morgan Rowsell in the heart of the beautiful Somerset Hills.
It was an ideal destination for Caroline to give a couple of her top horses “a quiet run before the 4-star Long at Bromont (Quebec)” next week.
They are She’s the One, who led wire-to-wire to win the Open Prelim on 30.5 penalties, and HSH Double Sixteen, second in the division with 32.
Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Double Sixteen, second in the Open Preliminary.
“You have quite a bit of atmosphere here, so it’s really good for them,” she said, noting that applies even to a “seasoned competitor” such as Double Sixteen.
It also suited her “really exciting young horses” who got useful experience.
“This time of year, you focus on the next generation,” she said.
Calling Essex “amazing,” she stressed the importance of having an event like that at this level.
“This is the biggest crowd we’ll have all spring, besides Kentucky (the Lexington 5-star in April.)
“It’s so great for the horses. A huge shout-out to Morgan, he really made the course flow super-well. Being able to do dressage and show jump on the grass, you need the experience to teach your horses to push off this surface. The ground was foot-perfect. You would want to do your horse’s last gallop before the Olympic Games on this footing.
“There are so many good people keeping this event alive. I really hope some of the other top riders come out here,” she continued, but noted the discipline’s schedule has been so busy that at this time of year, many riders would like a short break.
Trainer Michael Pendleton, who won the Open Training with Gravitas (33 penalties) and his student, Lily Barlow, the Preliminary Rider winner on Sportsfield Kan Do (44) came from Aiken S.C., for Essex.
Michael Pendleton and Gravitas, Open Training winner.
“The course was awesome. It’s good to come up here and get on the hills and have some decorated jumps,” Michael said.
The long drive to get to Essex was “worth it,” he said.
Lily commented about her horse, “This is his first Preliminary, it was kind of a big step up for him, but he was awesome.”
At home, “We see the same shows all the time, so this was so good for them. This is my first time here and I love it,” she said, commenting particularly on the crowd.
“It’s so cool to go through the water and have people cheering. You don’t see it much in the South unless you’re going to a really big event. And if it’s a really big event, you don’t want it to be the first time your horse sees that.” (a crowd).
Essex didn’t give awards for rider endurance, but if they did, Holly Payne Caravella certainly was in the running.
Holly, the daughter of Marilyn Payne, won the Open Modified wire-to-wire on Princess Candy with a score of 25.7 penalties from dressage, unsullied by any errors in the other phases. She rode her mother’s Rock Me Mama to second place with 25.9, also unsullied.
Holly Payne and Rock Me Mama in the stadium jumping phase of Open Modified.
With her Essex duties, Marilyn obviously, was too busy to ride her own horse, although she has placed first in a division there previously.
“She wanted to move her up,” said Holly about her mother’s thoughts on what Rock Me Mama should do.
Candy is an Irish import bought by Olivia Ford as a 5-year-old.
The mare doesn’t have a princessy attitude, instead living up to the second part of her name.
“She’s really sweet,” explained Holly.
Holly Payne Caravella and Open Modified winner Princess Candy.
Her win was definitely an achievement.
“It’s really hard here, especially the water jump, because of all the tailgaters, the atmosphere. Both of the girls have done two Modifieds, this is their third and this is the hardest one. When I walked the course, I was like `Two jumps in the water?’
“A lot of times at that level, you might just have one jump in the water and that’s hard enough.”
Indeed, several horses in that division and Modified Rider took issue with having to jump the second of a pair of “lobster traps” in the pond.
Asked why she thought more top riders didn’t come to Essex, Hollly said the eventing schedule is very full now. She noted that riders who want to ride in the FEI long events need to qualify at FEI short events, and Essex is not FEI, so that is a factor.
But for those who want to give horses mileage and enjoy something reminiscent of the days when people were in it for the sport without worrying about qualifying for this and that, or trying to be selected for a team, Essex has a great deal to offer — and for spectators as well
The trade fair more than doubled in size from last year. Sarah Thomann, who works in the office at Redfield Farm in Hunterdon County, got a booth from which to sell her bejeweled browbands, halters and belts (or take orders for custom work) because, “I thought it was great to be part of a community event that was local. A lot of people stopped, more so for custom orders,” she reported.
Essex Horse Trials merch was a big seller in the trade fair.
Purina was on hand with a giveaway for riders who could guess their horse’s weight, a number confirmed when the animal stepped on a scale.
The prize was a saddle pad, supplements and other useful goodies.
Winner Janina Parmelee correctly guessed that her U.S.-bred Redfield Mikke, a German riding pony, weighed in at “1,050 pounds exactly.”
Janina is the owner of the personality-plus bay gelding, who came through Caroline Martin Pamukcu’s sales program. She rides him in dressage, so her friend, Kylie Stangle, was the one who guided him to victory over 13 other entries in the Novice Rider competition. Kylie keeps the ribbon; Janina, a fashion designer, keeps the other prizes.
Janina bought Mikke five years ago when she wanted a horse that could “do a little bit of everything.” She and Mikke are in Marilyn Payne’s training program.
Janina Parmelee and 1,050-pound Redfield Mikke.
Dr. Jennifer Gill, a nutrition consultant for Purina, said “We love supporting the local community and we just love riders and supporting them in what they do, they work so hard.”
She said there was good participation in the weight-guess program, but noted, “It usually surprises people how different it is from what they might think.”
Marilyn, the Essex board president who has ridden or judged at the event every year since it started, is dedicated to having a fixture where people interested in participating in the sport can “get in the door,” while it hosts “a lot of spectators and introduce them to what eventing is, because most of them don’t know. I just didn’t want to let it die. It’s amazing the people behind me, because I couldn’t do this myself. Everyone does it because they love it.”
Heather Gillette, president of the ground jury, who first rode at Essex in 1987, is donating her services to help insure that Essex survives.
“It’s part of our culture and our neighborhood,” she emphasized.”
“It’s sort of in your blood and part of your system if you’ve grown up eventing anywhere in the area. It’s a fixture.”
“Even if they’re not riders, everybody wants to be a part of it,” commented Marilyn.
So what was her verdict for the 2026 version of the event?
“The weather was perfect. It was super.”
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