by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 19, 2023
Buying a weanling as a sport horse prospect is a long road. But the trip has been worth it so far for eventer Arielle Aharoni, who earned the best placing of her career with the multi-talented Dutch Times at the MARS Equestrian Bromont 4-Star Long in Canada this month.
She finished second, just a little more than a rail behind eternal Olympic medalist Phillip Dutton and the exciting Azure, as that mare logged her first FEI victory.
“I definitely had a couple of tears in my eyes,” Arielle remembered about her reaction to a very special accomplishment.
“I was a little bit in disbelief of how well we did. It definitely didn’t feel real. I knew it was in there, but I definitely didn’t think it was all going to be put together,” commented the recipient of a Bromont Rising Under 25 development grant in 2019.
Her mother, Christina Barna Aharoni, said, “We were thrilled. It will put her on the map a little bit. Sometimes you have to wait for the stars to align for that perfect result. And you know what, how do you beat Phillip? But we’ll take it.”
Christina and Arielle Aharoni with Dutch Times at home. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
While Dutch’s Bromont ribbon was a milestone for Arielle, who finished 10th in that event last year, the 23-year-old Bedminster, N.J., resident is a long way from the finish line. The professional trainer is hoping to take her 15-year-old son of Good Times (by Nimmerdor) to the Land Rover Kentucky 5-star next year, and eventually ride on Nations Cup teams for the U.S.
That’s plural for a reason — “I have ambitions to make multiple teams,” said Arielle, referencing the inspiration of German superstar Michael Jung, who does it all. Dutch is a powerful show jumper, as well as an eventer.
Arielle and Dutch in May’s $50,000 Devon Arena Eventing competition, where they finished third. (Photo courtesy of Christina Aharoni)
Eventing and show jumping are in her sights at the moment. She admits, “dressage is not quite there yet but I’m thinking one day…”
Then she conceded with a smile, “We have to get a little bit more training in us.”
Arielle began sharpening that discipline this spring with respected trainer Heather Mason, who said, “I have been very impressed with her dedication to improving her dressage. It’s clear she works hard between lessons, and the hard work paid off at Bromont.” (Arielle was eighth in that phase.)
“She has a great relationship with her very talented Dutch. It’s nice to see a young professional training and riding their own horses up the levels.”
Erik Duvander, who is involved in training such top riders as Boyd Martin and Liz Halliday-Sharp, watched Arielle at Bromont.
“I am always talent scouting, and Arielle caught my eye a few years ago,” he said.
“The girl has grit! And you can’t teach that. With a decent horse and perseverance, you can learn the rest. This is Arielle,” he said, and at Bromont, “she did a super job.”
Arielle focuses on getting around the cross-country courses safely when she events, and that’s how she handled the Bromont route laid out by Olympic course designer Derek Di Grazia.
Arielle going cross-country on Dutch Times at Bromont. (Photo XO Girl Productions)
“I never really go for time, I never really pushed the envelope,” she said, explaining her priority is getting around safely, while she knows exactly where she could have made up time if that had been her plan.
Based at Aharoni Equestrian on a scenic Branchburg, N.J., farm, where she oversees care of 14 horses, Arielle works closely with her mother, who selected Dutch as a brash weanling out of the glamorous palomino Alino Queen (by Michellino) at Lauren Efford’s Goldhope Farm in Pennsylvania.
“He was just full of himself,” recalled Christina, “and I said, `This horse is going to be a star’.”
Arielle chuckled as she remembered the reaction of her eight-year-old self when Christina got Dutch.
“I did every sport under the sun except for riding,” she reminisced, citing ice skating, taekwondo and playing soccer.
“I didn’t want to do the same sport as my mom. And then she bought Dutch and I was upset she didn’t buy me a horse and that’s how I got started. (Toby, her first pony, still lives in the Branchburg barn.)
Christina began riding at the old Claremont stable in New York City, where she was born the year after her parents emigrated from Ukraine. She continued riding on Long Island before she wound up teaching at Winterbrook in Montville, N.J. and evented a bit, even competing at the Essex Horse Trials in its heyday. She had some lessons with Marilyn Payne and knew Denny Emerson, Bobby Costello and others still prominent in the eventing world.
Christina broke Dutch, and then turned him over to Tik Maynard, who went on to ride him in FEI competition in 2014 and 2015, before Arielle took over.
A member of the Amwell Valley Pony Club, Arielle got her A ratings in dressage and eventing. She has taught at Pony Club camp as a give-back, under the theory, “they gave you a start, you have to give them a start.”
Arielle graduated from Bernardsville, N.J., High School in three years by filling in blank spaces in her schedule with courses. She immediately got a Young Rider grant to work with Phillip Dutton for a month, then moved on to a working student job with Boyd Martin for two years before starting her own business.
Although Arielle is definitely in charge, her mother plays a major role, even though she works as a visiting nurse.
“She cleans, she organizes, she yells at me when I’m on my horse to put my heels down,” said Arielle.
“If there’s a horse with a cut, she tells us how to deal with it. She’s like a vet who hasn’t gone to vet school. Usually she’s right. She knows way more than I do, so it’s, `Yes, mother’.”
While it was a big decision to leave Boyd and go out on her own, Arielle reflected, “I’m glad I took the opportunity. It’s a long process building your own business. I’m glad I did it young, so could rely on my mom a little bit.”
She noted her mother handled the situation in such a way that “I didn’t notice I was taking over.”
Arielle’s father, Yuval, who emigrated from Israel, works for Torsilieri Inc. in Gladstone, N.J. That’s the company for which he has cut the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and put it up in New York City. But Arielle notes he pitches in with the horses, doing a bit of everything: “He knows how to groom, tack up a horse; he will feed, he’s quite handy, he fixes the fencing.”
Christina likes the fact that Arielle is involved with three disciplines, thinking that what she learns in each makes the others stronger.
Arielle hacking Dutch Times at home. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
“On a whim,” as Christina put it, after Arielle got more into her relationship with Dutch, they went to Andrew Philbrick for lessons a year ago. Though these days he’s best known as the impresario of Princeton Show Jumping, Andrew also has been a rider and trainer.
Christina called that relationship, “The best thing that ever happened. That accuracy in show jumping pays huge rewards on cross-country. Dutch literally skips around the 4-star now like it’s a gymnastic. Andrew is very positive and that helps the rider’s confidence, which makes them ride better.”
Andrew called Arielle “a worker. She is not a dilettante of any kind and will get on a 3-year-old or just about anything that needs a ride.”
He mentioned she has ridden in FEI show jumping classes at Princeton. Her talent has been noticed in the right places and he thought there was a possibility the eventing team for this autumn’s Pan American Games could be on her horizon.
Christina noted the Aharonis have had offers for Dutch “that would make us financially solvent. And the answer is, ‘No thank you,’ because he’s a family member. All of our horses become family members.”
While Dutch is the lead player in Arielle’s band of horses, she has others who are coming along. A pair of 5-year-olds also came from Lauren. Notorious, a buckskin, is Dutch’s full brother. Veni Vidi Vici, also known as Pickle, is by Valentino out of Dutch’s half-sister. She hopes to get them to their first events by the end of the season.
Arielle with Notorious and Pickle. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Lauren believes in breeding all-around horses: “They can jump, they can think, they can move. And that’s what I think is so important.”
Then there’s Chumley, bought as a hunting horse for dressage rider Alice Tarjan, who named him after her friend, eventer and dressage rider Lauren Chumley. Arielle has evented Chumley, but feels his real strength is show jumping.
Arielle on Chumley at the 2022 Essex Horse Trials. (Photo © 2022 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
She also is involved with Fantom, who came to her from Andrew. She is looking for sponsorship to help support her relationship with that horse, a show jumper.
Andrew calls Arielle, “Extremely talented. She has determination and real talent and all I really needed to do was take someone that was really concentrating on cross-country and try to then educate her in the mind of a show jumper. She has the potential to ride for both teams. It’s not very usual, but she absolutely could do this.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 18, 2023
Californian Christian Simonson was the freestyle runner-up on Son of a Lady Sunday at the Hagen, Germany, show, where the U.S. team took bronze earlier in the week.
His score of 79.167 percent was second to Germany’s Jana Lang on Baron with an 83.5.
“It was the last day that I would also be able to compete here ever as a young rider, so I know I hoped to deliver something special, not only for myself but also for the team,” said Christian.
Christian Simonson and Son of a Lady. (Foto Mhisen)
“Son of a Lady was just absolutely incredible. He was so supple and relaxed but powerful at the same time,” he said. Christian cited his teammates, Erin Nichols, sixth on Elian Royale (75.8) and Kat Fuqua, 11th on Dreamgirl (68.867).
“All in all, it was just a really special day.”
It was Christian’s third consecutive appearance in Hagen. The experience was particularly memorable because his Young Rider career ends when he ages out this year.
“It really has been truly special. I feel really fortunate that I have been able to compete here. I think having access to compete against the best young riders in the world is important,” said Christian, who is trained by Olympic medalist Adrienne Lyle. (To learn more about Christian by clicking this link to read a story I did on him earlier this year.)
He explained, “These Hagen shows are the best preparation I have ever had for a senior Nations Cup because they do such an incredible job at a young age of educating you on how the process goes, how you are there to support your teammates, and it really is an incredible show for the pipeline that USEF has been developing.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 18, 2023
Laura Collett and London 52 led from gate to wire at the 5-star Luhmuehlen, Germany horse trials to head a British podium parade Sunday.
Laura Collett and London 52 going cross-country in Germany. (Photo courtesy Luhmuehlen 5-star)
Impeccable throughout, Laura finished on her dressage score of 20.3 penalties, unfazed by Michael Etherington-Smith’s twisty-turny cross-country course. Second and third went to Laura’s countrywomen Kitty King (Vendreirdi Biats, 27.2) and world eventing champion Yasmin Ingham (Rehy DJ, 27.9).
“London is a sensational horse, a horse of a lifetime and I’m so lucky to get to ride him,” said Laura.
“He knows when it matters. He went like a dream in the dressage, was so brave in the cross-country and today, he showed off to the German fans. When the distance isn’t perfect he just jumps higher. Our partnership is the key, it’s all down to trust and a special bond – and I am so proud of him.”
The top American was Boyd Martin, fourth with Luke 140 (30.1). He also finished eighth with Federman B (36.4) and 25th on his Olympic partner, Tsetserleg (69.5), in a field of 38 who started on cross-country.
Boyd blamed himself for the cross-country refusal that dropped “Thomas” (his barn name) in the standings.
Boyd Martin and Luke 140. (Photo courtesy Boyd Martin)
After the competition, Boyd stated on social media that he is “incredibly grateful for my team here and afar, and everyone else who has supported us along the way. Going home with two newly minted 5* horses with a bright future and our little champion Thomas who gives it his all every time. I owe you one, buddy!”
Another American, Sydney Elliott, was 17th on QC Diamantaire (47.4).
Tamie Smith, who won the Kentucky 5-star with Mai Baum, retired Solaguayare California on cross-country. She had been 15th after dressage.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 16, 2023
How many times have you heard complaints about issues in the sport and what equestrian governance organizations are doing — or not doing — about them? But if all the conversations go nowhere, it’s frustrating. And that applies not only to those who raise the issues, but also to the organizations involved.
The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association, however, has come up with a Town Hall concept that enables members to air their concerns on a regular basis. The series began in April and originally was to end in July, but USHJA President Mary Knowlton said in an interview this week the initiative has been so successful that the forums will continue in August and then monthly through November.
The discussions range along a variety of topics, from the number of jumping classes a horse should be allowed to enter at a show, to how long a horse should be longed, judging concerns, and of course, the cost of showing.
Mary explains one of the reasons for holding the Town Halls by saying, “We need more connections.”
There are matters that must be dealt with. As she points out about one key subject that has been aired at Town Halls, “Social license is an uphill battle. People just don’t understand it. They’re struggling with it.”
USHJA President Mary Knowlton.
It’s a big issue for the FEI (International Equestrian Federation), which is making much of its Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission, using the slogan, “Horse First.”
The bottom line is that if the public thinks horses are being mistreated in some way, whether it’s not getting enough turnout, being overused or any other thing they see (even if it’s misinterpreted) they can make trouble for the sport.
Adam Cromarty, an announcer at many equestrian competitions, wrote an article in Horse & Hound predicting that within 10 years, use of spurs and crops will be banned as part of the social license movement. He added he couldn’t vouch for his timeline on such a ban, and I’d guess it will be much, much sooner than he predicted.
As Mary noted, everyone is a cell phone photo or video away from fame on the internet–and that’s not a good thing. Remember the outrage when a coach punched a horse who refused a fence in the jumping phase of the Modern Pentathlon? The outcry led to the equestrian segment of the sport being removed after the Paris 2024 Olympics in favor of an obstacles (on foot) phase, and there is a real question of whether the sport will even be part of the 2028 Olympics.
Many people don’t know the difference between the Olympic horse sports (eventing, show jumping, dressage) and the equestrian part of the pentathlon (an event that also includes running, fencing, shooting and swimming).
The subject of social license is world-wide. Francois Mathy Jr., the vice president of the International Jumper Riders Club, recently addressed the European Parliament’s horse group to explain the high standard of care for competition horses and emphasize their welfare.
He explained, “The reason the human started creating a bond with horses: transport, labor, war; these
reasons are obsolete: the sport and the leisure around the sport are now the only purposes
for the modern horse. Without the sport, his existence would even be threatened.”
Although there have been approximately 90 people participating in the last two USHJA Town Halls, Mary noted that for the most part, “they don’t want to bring up anything; it’s me who brings it up.” At the same time, she pointed out, “This is their meeting. This is not me talking at them, but I find it becomes up to me to choose subjects.”
She added, “I try to keep my ear to the ground as much as I can. It (the Town Hall) connects to our members and makes members realize we are listening to them. We’re open to having conversations.”
At this week’s Town Hall, Florida trainer Don Stewart did raise some issues, including: “Why are the 3-6 divisions continually declining?”
To that, Mary replied, “In general, people seem to want to jump lower and owners seem to want to jump their own horses, rather than having professionals developing them. So it seems to be a continual downslide into 3-3 and 3-foot and lower and lower.”
Don also asked, “Why are the hunter courses getting more and more watered down? ”
Mary addressed that by noting, “There is a huge shortage of hunter course designers right now. Part of this could be just getting more course designers licensed and teaching them what (you) are…expecting from a hunter course?”
At the same time, Don wondered, “Why are we competing for the same prize money as we did in the ’70s?”
Mary said, “The rulebook speaks to how much the minimum prize money can be for all these hunter sections. Finding prize money is not that easy.” On the other hand, she noted the Green Hunter Incentive program and the International Hunter Derby offer a great deal of prize money (as opposed to the regular sections).
One comment came from an anonymous attendee who said riding as an amateur-owner and having her horse showing in a professional division as well “is too costly to do it all.”
That’s an example of the way the cost of horsekeeping and showing often comes up.
“It’s getting more and more expensive for the people who run shows, and of course, that trickles down onto the exhibitor,” Mary said.
“It is crazy how much it costs right now. It’s insanity when a bag of grain is $30.” Not to mention the price of manure removal
Mary noted when those attending the Town Hall don’t come up with topics, it is up to her to choose subjects.
In that regard, she said, “I try to keep my ear to the ground as much as I can” to determine what interests members.
She added one consistent topic is generated by “people who don’t think (hunter) judges are doing a good job.” At this week’s Town Hall, there was discussion of having judges use scribes, so they don’t glance down at their clipboard and miss what’s happening in the ring. However, unlike the situation in dressage, where it is primarily volunteers who are used as scribes, the number of scribes who would be required for multi-ring hunter shows would be cost-prohibitive. A comment from one judge at the Town Hall noted that it would be impossible to use her scoring system if the numbers and notes were entered by someone other than herself.
An exciting development involves the initiative between USHJA and the U.S. Eventing Association to hold their 2025 annual meetings in the same location, so they can share thoughts about common concerns on at least one day of their sessions.
The next Town Hall, June 26 at 7 p.m., will address the base of the sport. Click here to register for the online meeting.
“People asked for it to be called a Grassroots Town Hall,” Mary said.
While there are those who scorn the “lower level,” Mary asks, “Really? Those are people who are fueling our industry. Not everyone is going to be a megamillionaire showing at a really high level.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 14, 2023
The Governor’s Award for New Jersey Horseperson of the Year is plural.
It went to a the Wunderlichs, a Sussex County family involved in the horse industry for three generations. The trophy was presented at the 66th Annual New Jersey Breeders Awards Celebration at the Horse Park of New Jersey to mark the Month of the Horse in the state.
The Wunderlich family.
The family’s passion and dedication over 50 years has built a successful training business in Lafayette, at the same time as they have been busy volunteering in many locations across the state and country.
Since 2008 Amy, Emily and Lori have worked to build Amy Wunderlich Performance Horses into a successful lesson, training, and breeding facility. They have coached and trained over 40 National and World Appaloosa Champions. They teach more than 70 lessons weekly and have started more than 700 students with their innovative Mommy, Horsey and Me program, which has provided many families hands-on experience, especially throughout the COVID -19 pandemic.
Lori Wunderlich has been a 4-H leader in Sussex County for over 35 years, while Amy and Emily have been leaders for the past 20 years. The family has been involved at all levels of the 4-H program from local club events, officiating at state events, coordinating various contests and competitions, and acting as national team coaches and assistants.
Emily is a program assistant with the state 4-H equine program. In addition, Lori has been a director of the Garden State Appaloosa Association since 1988 and is currently a National Director for the Appaloosa Horse Club. She has served as the National President of the Club since 2020.
Other family members not directly related to the equine industry but integral parts to this successful family include Dan Gurick, Amy’s husband; Travis Vail, Emily’s husband; John Wunderlich, and Daniel Wunderlich. Daniel served for 14 years as a director of the Horse Park of New Jersey, and chairman of the Jersey Fresh Three-Day Event for three years.
The third generation of Ryan and Nathan Gurick, and Mason and Wyatt Vail have started to followtheir parents’ lead, doing daily chores on the farm and competing in the show ring, where they have already earned year end awards in New Jersey and nationally.
After the trophy was presented, the family stated, “Today was a very special day. We can’t thank the members of the New Jersey Equine Advisory Board enough for this award. Many people don’t know how involved our entire family has been in the horse industry. We moved to New Jersey in 1988, and from that point on, we hit the ground running.
“In addition to operating the horse farm for the last 15 years, we have a combined 75 years of being 4H leaders, and volunteering countless hours at many different horse show venues, series and regional clubs across the state and Northeast. We can’t thank all of our current and past clients enough for your trust in us. We never would have had the chance at this award if it weren’t for you all.”
Other awards presented included New Jersey Standardbred Horse of the Year, Special Way, New Jersey Sire Stakes Premier Horse of the Year, owned by Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, and Al Libfeld.
Also: the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey Horse of the Year is Oh Well, owned by the SRF Stable of Lighthouse Point, Fla. The New Jersey Thoroughbred Horse of the Year He’spuregold , owned by John Bowers Jr. Breeder of the Year is Dr. Seven Dey III of Heritage Hill Farm, which bred the winners of over $3.3 million in 2022, ranking 11th overall in North America.
The Horse Park of New Jersey Volunteer of the Year is Nancy Frenick, who has been a ring steward, jump starter, jump judge, dressage scribe and show assistant for many horse show organizations. Since the Horse Park of New Jersey opened in 1987, she has shown there, sponsored show classes, volunteered in many capacities, donated needed items and offered her professional services for many events. Nancy is the Volunteer Sponsorship Coordinator for the Horse Park and is working on obtaining corporate sponsors.
The New Jersey Youth Horseperson of the Year, Agriculture Achievement Award Winner is Gianna Tanzi, a sophomore at Howell High School, who competes on the 4-H circuit and at open dressage shows. She also volunteers at a riding program for people with disabilities.
The Bell Scholarship went to Alejandra (Sasha) Burns, whose passion for horses began at a young age when her family relocated to a small town in the countryside of Spain. With no prior exposure to horses, they took on three Andalusians and a Dartmoor pony. As a teenager, she began teaching riding to young children lessons with her Dartmoor pony to young children and as she got older her dream of pursuing a career in equine veterinary medicine began to solidify.
Sasha’s academic career at Rutgers University includes doing research work with Dr. Carey Williams and Dr. Karyn Malinowski. In addition to her academic curriculum, Sasha has worked at Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center (MAEMC) as both a surgical and treatment technician. She hopes to get a degree in veterinary medicine and pursue an equine surgical residency. Additionally, Sasha aspires to create a non-profit equine rescue organization, combining her knowledge of veterinary medicine and equine-assisted therapy to better assist horses and people.
Superior Achievement Awards have gone to Entirely Smooth Movin and Sonnys Music Man. Entirely Smooth Movin is a 12- year-old Paint owned by Ava Stanker of Bridgeton. His accomplishments include Novice Youth Register of Merit (ROM), Western Horsemanship and APHA Youth Champion, among others.
Sonnys Music Man, a 17-year-old Paint is owned by Dawn Edmonds. In 2021, Sonny received numerous awards in Ranch Pleasure, Youth Color, and other classes.
The New Jersey Agricultural Achievement Award went to Ashley Presgraves of Millville, a senior at
Our Lady of Mercy Academy and an active member of Cumberland County 4-H.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 13, 2023
Ellie Wood Page Keith Baxter, the winner of the 1936 ASPCA Maclay Finals, died Monday at the age of 101.
An active fox hunter who also starred with hunters in the show ring, the Virginian was inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame in 2000. While she won many championships, perhaps the one for which she is best remembered is the Maclay.
She was victorious on Big Tip, of whom she said, “Of course he was a Thoroughbred. We didn’t ride anything but Thoroughbreds.”
Her mother, Big Elliewood, had a yard full of ponies and children at Keithwood, where students from the nearby University of Virginia in Charlottesville would come to ride. Her father was one of the original whippers-in of the Farmington hunt, and hunting was as important as showing for her family.
The horsewoman’s ability was legend. During the 1940s and ’50s to the mid-1960s, she found herself much in demand to ride in ladies’ and amateur classes. The horses on which she competed included Substitution, Spanish Mist, Escapade and Adventure.
She and her late husband owned The Barracks, a farm in Charlottesville that was purchased in 1973 by Claiborne Bishop and her husband, Tom, a former Master of Fox Hounds. Claiborne (who was three years old when she began riding with Big Elliewood at Keithwood), said Ellie Wood was “still as sharp as a tack” past her 100th birthday, which she celebrated at the Upperville Colt and Horse Show. Last week, she wanted to know what happened at the Devon Horse Show, and asked Tom for a report on that competition.
She stopped by the barn once a week, and kept up the high standards that were her trademark.
“She stamped all of us who rode with her,” said Tom, noting she would come out with the hunt following a double-hip replacement even when she was in her late 90s..
“She rode beautifully and expected a lot from you, but she was supportive.”
Claiborne added, “She had a following.”
Although riding wasn’t the only pastime at which Ellie Wood excelled–she also was an avid dancer and tennis player–her classic style and bravery over fences were what made her a much-admired figure in the horse world.
In 2022, she was awarded the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame’s Founders Cup for Excellence, joining William Steinkraus as one of only two recipients thus far.
In a statement, the Hall said, “Ellie Wood was an inspiration to many riders, young and old, in the hunting field as well as in the show ring. She was one of a kind and a lady of the highest order. Thanks, Ellie Wood, for showing us the right way to conduct ourselves in and out of the show ring. We are eternally grateful.”
She is survived by her son, Charlie; her brother, Tommy Keith and sister-in-law Sue Keith, as well as two grandchildren. Arrangements are pending.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 11, 2023
This weekend was quite a busy one both north and south on the grand prix show jumping front.
McLain Ward got himself back on his usual winning track in Virginia, after a miss in Devon’s big class earlier in the month, while Laura Chapot went 1-2 at Saugerties, N.Y. And then Colombian John Perez earned his first Spruce Meadows 5-star win in Canada.
McLain pulled out yet another entry from his vast string of horses, Quimi del Maset, to top a field of 30. There was a six-horse jump-off over a Nicholas Granat-designed course in the 4-Star $226,000 feature at the USA’s oldest horse show, presented by Mars Equestrian at Upperville, Va. His double-clear in 37.70 seconds edged Canadian star Tiffany Foster on Figor (38.11).
In Saugerties at HITS’ $100,000 Voltaire Grand Prix, Laura had the only double-clear to win with her reliable Chandon Blue.
Her Diadora’s Flying Dutchman was second with the fastest four-fault trip. He’s exciting to watch, and apparently, to ride as well.
“Diadora’s Flying Dutchman is such a unique horse because you can always have a plan going in the ring, but sometimes that plan just is not always followed,” she explained.
“You have to feel what’s under you, and one minute he might be leaving out a stride, the next minute he might be adding, but he tries very hard over every jump. He has a lot of energy and he has a lot of ability, but he just needs to stay focused on his job, and then he’s great.”
On the other side of the border, John Perez put in a lightning 45.32-second trip with Gigi-Carmen, which gave him a good margin over runner-up Darragh Kenny of Ireland on Arna ‘T Kruisveld (47.53).
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 11, 2023
U.S. competitors Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton dominated the top placings in the major divisions at the Mars Equestrian: Bromont CCI in Quebec, Canada, with Phillip rising from 15th in dressage on Azure in the 4-Star Long to first after cross-country, clinching the title in show jumping while accumulating just 0.4 time penalties in that final segment on Sunday.
Discussing Saturday’s cross-country route laid out by Olympic course designer Derek Di Grazia, Phillip noted, “The course was difficult, with the combination of terrain, jumps and the time that was hard to get.”
For Azure, he observed, “it was a bit of an eye-opener…and it’s certainly the toughest thing she’s done. The terrain is undulating, you’re constantly up and down, which probably takes about 15 percent off your speed when you’re trying to go fast.
“But she knows me pretty well now and I trust her, so I’m able to shave off time on the approach to the jumps as well. We’re forming a good partnership and hopefully it will grow from here.”
Arielle Aharoni, a veteran of the Bromont Rising development grant program, and Dutch Times were impressive in second place, moving up from eighth in dressage to second after cross-country and finishing double-clear in the final phase with a score of 41.3.
Last weekend’s Essex Horse Trials winner, Hannah Sue Hollberg, brought a different horse, Capitol HIM, to the facility that was the venue of the 1976 Olympics for third place (42.4).
Boyd, who like his friend Phillip grew up in Australia, did not have an entry in the 4-Star Long, focused on three other divisions, bringing home the win in each.
Phillip Dutton and Azure. (Cealy Tetley photo)
He took the 4-Star Short with On Cue (45.8) while Phillip settled for second there aboard his Olympic mount, the much-traveled Z (51.7).
Bromont was a prep for the Aachen, Germany competition this summer,where Phllip is on the U.S. team with Z.
Boyd paid his 17-year-old mare, rehabbed from a strained tendon, quite a compliment: “She would have to be the best cross-country horse I have ever ridden. She’s just back in the swing of things and it was a monstrous 4-Star Short course and she just went around on a loose rein.
“She’s smart, she’s careful and she gallops like the wind. She’s brave, easy to turn and sees a fence in a split second.”
Boyd Martin and On Cue. (Cealy Tetley Photo)
Boyd topped the 3-Star Long with Chiraz, winning on his dressage score of 29.6. In the 2-Star Long, he again took the measure of Phillip, victorious on his dressage score there as well, an impressive 23 penalties with Asti’s Charming. Phillip was close behind with Fernhill’s Shutterfly (24.9) and got a little revenge, since Boyd was third on Mo Chroi (26.9) rather than finishing 1-2.
“We’ve only been together a short time and I didn’t really know what to expect,” Boyd said of Chiraz.
“He put in a fantastic round and although we had a couple of iffy fences…he kept fighting for me and we finished just inside the time.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 9, 2023
Wellington, Florida’s Equestrian Preserve Committee Thursday night unanimously rejected a proposal to change the land use and master plan on property slated for a much-needed addition to the Wellington International showgrounds, raising questions about the future of that expansion.
Wellington International is best known as the home of Global Equestrian Group’s Winter Equestrian Festival, which draws competitors from around the world and hosts 2,500 to 3,000 horses each week during its run from January through March. It also holds smaller shows in other seasons.
Will this land ever become part of the Wellington International Showgrounds?
This was the the second evening in a row that the Equestrian Preserve Committee turned down a rezoning proposal involving The Wellington, a two-segment project.
It is a major revision of a concept presented to the committee last September by entrepreneur Mark Bellissimo, managing partner of a group that owns the land involved. Bellissimo and his daughter, Paige, have since formed Wellington Lifestyle Partners with developer Nexus Luxury Collection, one of private investment firm Tavistock’s largest portfolio investments.
The Wellington South segment, where the Wellington International showgrounds expansion would be located, covers 269.39 acres at the northwest corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, east of Gene Mische Way. WLP also seeks to develop up to 197 single-family residential units on the eastern 173.46 acres of the parcel.
Wellington North, on the northeast corner of South Shore Boulevard and Pierson Road, is 101.87 acres that includes White Birch and Equestrian Village, home of the Global Dressage Festival at the Equestrian Village. That proposal calls for removing about 96 acres from the Equestrian Preserve Area and the Equestrian Overlay Zoning District, changing the land use to residential, and developing a 300-unit residential project. The committee was unanimous in its rejection of that plan on Wednesday.
Concern was expressed during the discussion that once acreage was taken from the preserve, it would be a slippery slope leading to more loss of land for equestrian purposes.
Expansion of Wellington International by another 80 contiguous acres would mean more space to spread out than is available in the current cramped layout, even as dressage is moved from the Equestrian Village to the current Wellington International grounds, which it would share with the hunters, while jumpers would be on the additional land. Expansion also would open the door to solving access problems causing current traffic woes and offer far more parking than is available on the 94 acres at the current site.
The Preserve Committee is only an advisory group. The Planning, Zoning and Adjustment Board is slated to consider the project next month, and in August, the fate of the proposals are scheduled for a vote by the Village Council.
Michael Stone.
If the rezoning for the showgrounds expansion doesn’t go through, “We have to regroup and see what our options are,” said Wellington International President Michael Stone. That would involve looking at purchasing other lots close to the show, he suggested.
Committee members expressed concern that although they saw extensive plans for development of high-end homes and recreational amenities, as well as a golf course purchased for $35 million, they hadn’t been given any details about the showgrounds expansion, beyond construction of nine rings and a stadium that could seat 7,000.
“I do recognize that Global Equestrian Group’s plans need to be clearer and more tangible,” said Doug McMahon, managing director of the Tavistock Group, co-founder of Nexus Luxury Collection and the chief executive officer of Wellington Lifestyle Partners.
Although Nexus is not involved with what will be built at the expanded showgrounds, McMahon agreed, “That’s such a critical part. We’ll try to help them (GEG) get there.”
Stone said that Global Equestrian Group has a signed agreement for purchase of the showgrounds with Wellington Equestrian Partners, also headed by Bellisimo, but no money for the property has changed hands. Asked if the developer would be funding the horse show, Stone replied it would not.
Michael Stone and Mark Bellissimo at Equestrian Village when it was under construction in 2012. (Photo © 2012 by Nancy Jaffer)
“Wellington Equestrian Partners is holding the land hostage, will sell it if all of this approved. What that has to do with this Tavistock neighborhood — nothing, except they say they may get some people in here that might go to a horse show,” said Jane Cleveland, chair of the preserve committee.
“Global Equestrian Group is not in this application at all. If the applicant was really in favor of supporting the horse show industry, they would sell you the land…but you can’t buy it unless all of this gets approved. If the applicant was truly in support of the horse industry they would sell you the land without the strings.”
That comment drew applause from the audience.
Committee member Dr. Kristy Lund observed that “if you build and build and build, you lose the character of why Wellington people come here,” another remark greeted with applause.
“I don’t want to vote on the houses when I don’t know what’s going to happen with the new equestrian center they want to build. We need to see the plans, we need to see what’s going on,” said Carlos Arellano, one of seven preserve committee members.
Earlier in the evening, he commented about Wellington’s ambience, “We don’t want to change; we want to keep it the way it is.”
Dan Rosenbaum, an attorney for Wellington Equestrian Partners, said the developer “can bring to the table the infrastructure and the hospitality that’s needed in order for you to continue to be the (winter) equestrian capital of the world. You don’t see the other side of it, which is the fact that revenues are needed are needed to support these shows.”
Discussing the overall plan, McMahon noted that a luxury community “of this magnitude and magnetism we would bring” represents an incremental $200 million investment “before we even embark on selling real estate.”
Many of those in the packed meeting room appeared to be skeptical of the plans, saying what is needed are more four-acre farms within hacking distance of the horse show, rather than luxury houses.
McMahon responded, “I do think we would attract equestrians, I do think we would attract next generation equestrians, I do think we would attract patrons and sponsors and interested people to equestrian sport here if we create our kind of community.
He noted the majority of Wellington’s housing stock predates 2005 or even 2000.
“The most beautiful architecture and the most beautiful construction I’ve seen in the community are the barns,” he mentioned.
“There’s an opportunity to create a housing product and a club community here that is at the standard of what Wellington is as the horse sport capital.”
At the same time, he cautioned, “You cannot do a community of this size and scale and quality with 100 residential homes.”
Seventeen people spoke, with most expressing concern about maintaining the equestrian lifestyle that is the reason they live in Wellington.
Lynda Sirota, president of the Equestrian Club Estates Property Owners Association, said residents moved to that development because it was close to the horse show.
If the proposal passes, she said, “We are now going to engulfed by a residential area behind us,” adding traffic already is heavy in the area without more houses.
More than 3,000 people have signed a petition against the project.
Attorney Leonard Feiwus spoke as an “interested party” representing a “united coalition of hundreds of Wellington residents who strongly object to the land use application before this committee.”
He stated, “We cannot preserve a horse-friendly bucolic landscape by permitting developers to build conventional high-density residential and commercial space in the preserve,” adding the effects would include “excessive noise and pollution,intolerable traffic congestion overcrowded public spaces.”
“To the very limited extent that the applicant has provided vague, non-binding promises to expand the current showgrounds or promote equestrian activities in the preserve, has the applicant provided sufficient detail to greenlight the radical changes to the preserve and land use regulations that are requested by these applications?” the attorney asked.
He contended such changes to the village land use laws if approved “will destroy the unique equestrian lifestyle and landscape that is and has been the defining principle of this community.”
Asked what he thought about the tone of the evening, McMahon said, “I expected it to be charged and emotional, and it was more challenging than I expected. I think we did a better job communicating the second night, because we had a better understanding of the complexity of the environment. We are respectful of the process, and I tried to communicate that we’re listening and will continue to listen.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 8, 2023
A plan that would take 96.29 acres from Wellington, Florida’s equestrian preserve area and change the land use to residential was rejected unanimously Wednesday night by the Village’s Equestrian Preserve Committee, following a hearing of more than four and a half hours.
After members of the committee aired their thoughts in front of a packed meeting room, filled primarily with those objecting to the Wellington North project, resident after resident spoke out about concern over losing equestrian open space. They also feared an increase in traffic stemming from construction of 244 units of high-end housing. More than 30 other people who didn’t want to speak registered their objections in writing.
It was announced that a petition against the project, which started circulating a few weeks ago under the auspices of the “horsesnothouses.com” organization, has more than 3,000 signatures.
The 96.29 acres is 1 percent of the 9,360 equestrian preserve acreage in the Village. The Equestrian Preserve Area is included in the Village’s charter with the intent “to protect the distinctive characteristics of Wellington’s equestrian community and the lifestyle it offers.”
Wellington North is a companion proposal to Wellington South, which will be discussed Thursday night. It includes 269.39 acres, part of which would go for an expansion of the showgrounds where the Winter Equestrian Festival is held. The applicant wants approval of changing the land use and master plan to expand the current cramped WEF site, run by the Global Equestrian Group. It also would develop up to 197 single-family residential units on the eastern portion of the property.
Jane Cleveland, who chairs the Equestrian Preserve Committee, expressed concerns that there were no designs “not even a sketch” for the expanded showgrounds, which was presented as having capacity for 7,000 spectators and up to 1,500 stalls.
It was noted that there were “no assurances” the new show facility property would be developed. Money has not changed hands for the land on which the expanded showgrounds would be built.
The next step in the process will come when the Village Planning and Zoning and Adjustment Board hears the proposals next month. The decision on whether rezoning and development can be approved will come from the Village Council, which is set to weigh in on the issue in August.
Much of the land involved in Wellington North is known as Equestrian Village, now used for the Global Dressage Festival and a derby field where hunters and jumpers compete. The other portion is White Birch Farm, which has two polo fields.
An attorney for Deeridge Farm, the home of the Jacobs family that is down the street from Equestrian Village, spoke in protest of the Wellington North plan. He told the committee that if it approved the Wellington North plan, it “would have no recourse to require them (the developers) to develop the equestrian facility” (at Wellington South) if they decided not to do so.
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.
