by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 8, 2022
Helen Nicholls, whose time as a high-performance athlete was spent in windsurfing, will join British Equestrian as performance director in early May.
Her mission is to provide leadership of the elite talent World Class Programs funded by UK Sport and the National Lottery, and senior championship teams in the disciplines of dressage, eventing, jumping and para-dressage. She has spent more than 20 years in elite sport, and her experience is geared toward working with athletes and support teams to provide the correct environment for delivery of results.
Richard (Dickie) Waygood (you’ve often seen him at Land Rover Kentucky) acted as interim performance director through the Tokyo Games and led the teams to one of their most successful Games performances ever. He will have a new role, technical director, as well as continuing as eventing performance manager.
Helen has a degree in Applied Sports Performance,which led her to a decade-long career with British sailing (the Royal Yachting Association) in roles covering sport management and coach development in pathway and elite programs.
Helen then went to UK Sport as a performance advisor, where she worked across a number of sports, equestrian included, to facilitate maximum medal return for the investment into each governing body.
In 2018, she went into the Paralympic sport of Boccia as performance director, leading the team to Tokyo, where the highlight was individual gold for David Smith.
“I feel privileged and excited to be given this opportunity to join British Equestrian and I look forward to building on the outstanding success in Tokyo,” commented Helen. “My role will be to lead the WCP team, work closely with Richard Waygood, the performance managers, athletes, coaches, and the wider staff to continue delivering successful programs which enable riders to fulfill their tremendous potential.”
A horse owner in the past, Helen has a passion for the sport and is very aware of the unique challenges equestrian sport faces.
Richard Waygood has been involved with British Equestrian’s World Class Program for over 12 years and has been integral to its success over the last three Games cycles. He agreed to take on the Performance Director role and lead the effort through Tokyo on the basis it was an interim appointment. His extensive knowledge and skill set should serve well for the new role of technical director to advise and support the performance director, as they work in tandem to create and deliver a successful program.
Dickie said: “I’ve worked closely with Helen [Nicholls] previously during her time with UK Sport and as a fellow performance director in the run-up to and during the Tokyo Paralympics and her credentials are exceptionally strong.
“She understands elite sport programs and how to deliver results which is key, as is a solid relationship with UK Sport and other key partners, which Helen can provide. I believe that the technical director role will give our program a new dimension and with Helen and myself, plus our outstanding group of support staff, working with our immensely talented athletes and horses, it’s never been a more exciting time for us.”
British Equestrian Chief Executive Jim Eyre added: “Paris (the 2024 Olympics) is on the horizon and the World Championships later this year provide us with our first chance to secure qualification, which will be our primary objective – I look forward to working with Helen, Dickie and the World Class Program staff and athletes to make it happen.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 6, 2022
What was to be the first show jumping Nations Cup held on the west coast of the U.S. has been cancelled due to the EHV-1 outbreak in California, even though the competition was not scheduled to be staged until more than two months from now.
The event, sponsored by Longines, was to be the only Cup scheduled for the USA as a q
As we find ourselves in the middle of this uncertain and fluid situation, there is no realistic way for international teams invited to the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ USA, to commit to the logistical preparations necessary to compete in early May. It is also only fair to ensure the athletes can plan their competition schedules, at the highest level of the sport, early and effectively. Therefore, we are announcing with great regret, the cancellation of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ in San Juan Capistrano.
The Blenheim team is currently working to restructure the schedules for the remaining two weeks of the Spring Classic series that, if allowed, will be held under the highest standards of biosecurity and horse health protocols.
Nations Cup final in Barcelona this fall. The Nations Cup held yesterday in Wellington, Fla., was presented at a Rolex-sponsored facility and is not a Barcelona qualifier. Ireland topped 11 teams in the competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Canada was second and the young U.S. team (the first ever with all riders age 25 or under) finished third; a tie for second with Canada was broken on the time the riders took to complete their rounds.
To reduce the spread of EHV-1, the California State Veterinarian last week recommended that all hunter/jumper events (the most affected group) be postponed for the next 28 days, all equine events (including clinics) be postponed for the next 14 days, and all non-essential horse movements be postponed for at least 14 days.
In an effort to mitigate the risk of further spread of EHV-1, all USEF-licensed competitions in California were suspended for the next 14 days. USEF does not have any hunter/jumper competitions taking place for the next 28 days; the Desert International Horse Park last month canceled the rest of its winter season in the wake of EHV-1.
Blenheim EquiSports, which was presenting Nations Cup, explained the reason for cancellation so far ahead of the competition date.
“As we find ourselves in the middle of this uncertain and fluid situation, there is no realistic way for international teams invited to the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ USA, to commit to the logistical preparations necessary to compete in early May. It is also only fair to ensure the athletes can plan their competition schedules, at the highest level of the sport, early and effectively. Therefore, we are announcing with great regret, the cancellation of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ in San Juan Capistrano.
The organization’s first Spring Classic show also was cancelled because it falls within the 28-day window. The Blenheim team is “working to restructure the schedules for the remaining two weeks of the Spring Classic series that, if allowed, will be held under the highest standards of biosecurity and horse health protocols.”
Bill Moroney, CEO of the U.S. Equestrian Federation, explained the decision this way: “The safety and welfare of our members and their horses is our top priority and most important responsibility, and while we are disappointed for the Blenheim EquiSports management team and all of the athletes, we are fully supportive of this decision while the mitigation and containment efforts for EHV-1 are still ongoing in California.”
Meanwhile, two more horses were put down in the midst of the EHV-1 wave. A 22-year-old Thoroughbred gelding in Orange County displaying neurological signs starting Feb. 28 was confirmed positive for Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) secondary to equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1 non-neuropathogenic strain) on March 3. Another horse on the premises, a 22-year-old warmblood gelding displaying neurological signs starting March 1 was confirmed positive for EHM secondary to EHV-1 on March 3.
Both geldings were euthanized due to severity of clinical signs. Additionally, six other horses on the same premises displaying fever only or mild clinical signs have positive tests for EHV-1. The 350 exposed horses on the home premises have been isolated and quarantined. California Department of Food and Agriculture will continue to closely monitor the situation.
Remember that last year European shows were cancelled for six weeks because of an outbreak of EHV-1 in 10 countries, with 18 horses dying in the epidemic, so it’s important to consider possible consequences and make sure you obey the rules.
As the return to competition protocols are implemented, more horses will be tested which will result in more positive test results for horses. EHV-1 lives dormant in many horses. The increase in positives is expected as asymptomatic horses are tested for EHV-1. The additional testing will allow the USEF community to mitigate the spread of the virus and safeguard horses.
Dr. Nicola Pusterla, professor of medicine and epidemiology, University of California Davis Veterinary Medicine explained, “We all recognize that horses with clinical EHV-1 disease (fever, nasal discharge and even neurological signs) are high risk when it comes to risk of transmission. What most people forget is that infection does not always translate into disease, meaning that adult horses can shed EHV-1 without displaying any abnormal clinical signs.” The expected increase in confirmed positive EHV-1 cases is not necessarily alarming if the horse is asymptomatic.
As a further measure to protect horses and facilitate tracking, USEF will be providing an EHV-1 Declaration Form to competitions for competitors to complete when they arrive on competition grounds.
USEF will also make available an EHV-1 Test Result Form to be submitted to EHV@usef.org along with evidence of negative test results. These documents will be required under the return to competition protocol in order to get a horse’s ineligibility status lifted. This return to competition protocol applies to any horse that has been on the DIHP or Rancho Murieta showgrounds, or any horse that has been exposed to a horse confirmed positive for EHV-1 off competition grounds in the past 14 days. This will allow the horse to be released from the EHV-1 Ineligibility List.
FEI Return to Competition Protocols
In order for a horse to return to FEI competition, the following requirements must be met:
• FEI horses MUST have a negative EHV-1 PCR test to return to competitio
• Two negative PCR tests within 14 days, one at Day 7 and one at Day 14
OR
• One negative PCR test within 21 days, at Day 21
USEF Return to (National) Competition Protocols
In order for a horse to return to USEF (National) competition, the following requirements must be met:
• Two negative PCR tests within 14 days, one at Day 7 and one at Day 14
OR
• One negative PCR test within 21 days, at Day 21
OR
• 28 days without a test, if the horse has been isolated for a minimum of 28 days
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 28, 2022
Horse trainer Michael Barisone has rejected a plea bargain that would have limited the time he will otherwise have to spend in prison if convicted on attempted murder and weapon possession charges.
That decision by the defendant, who was the alternate for the 2008 Olympic dressage team, was made public in a court hearing today. It means he will go on trial later this month in Morristown, N.J., where he is being held in the Morris County Correctional facility in lieu of bail.
He is accused of shooting his student, Lauren Kanarek, in the chest at point-blank range, as a feud between the two and her boyfriend, Rob Goodwin, reached a boiling point on Aug. 7, 2019.
Barisone wanted them to leave the house where they had been living on his Long Valley N.J., farm. He repeatedly called local police, asking for help in evicting the couple due to what were called threats of physical harm and property destruction in a civil lawsuit filed on his behalf against the Long Valley department last year. The suit ultimately was thrown out.
Michael Barisone
Barisone’s criminal attorney, Edward Bilinkas, told Superior Court Judge Stephen Taylor during an online hearing that there were “issues between Mr. Barisone and Miss Kanarek and some other people who, basically they had gone on, I would argue, a rampage to try to destroy him and threaten him. ”
Bilinkas added Barisone had called the police in connection with the situation numerous times.
“There are all sorts of factors indicating Mr. Barisone was in fear of his life and that this woman and the people surrounding her were dangerous and made threats upon his life.”
Barisone, 57, has been incarcerated since he was released from the hospital after his arrest. He had been treated for various injuries following a fight in which Goodwin’s arm was broken after the shooting that left Kanarek in critical condition.
Morris County Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Schellhorn was on hand during the proceedings, in which Barisone participated from the jail.
The judge told Barisone, “Needless to say, you are facing a very severe state prison sentence if you are convicted of any of these offenses.” He then asked “Do you understand that?” to which Barisone replied, “Yes, sir.”
The plea offer involved dropping one count of attempted murder and one of the weapons charges. On the attempted murder count, the state would recommend a sentence of 10 years, with no possibility of parole for 8 and a half years and a few days. It also called for a sentence of 10 years on the weapons count, but it would run concurrently.
The judge warned Barisone that if he goes to trial and is found guilty of all charges, he faces the possibility of 20 years imprisonment on each of the two attempted murder counts for a total maximum of 40 years, plus an additional 10 years on each of the two weapons charges for an additional maximum of 20 years.
The judge asked Barisone if it was his decision to reject the plea offer, to which Barisone again replied in the affirmative. Then the judge asked, “Do you understand that means there will be no further plea negotiations and you would have to go to trial on these counts? And you understand therefore that if you are convicted at the trial, you would likely receive a much more severe sentence than the current plea offer?”
Barisone again concurred.
The judge questioned Bilinkas about his plan to mount an insanity and self-defense case on Barisone’s behalf.
“They’re alternative defenses?” said the judge.
Bilinkas replied, “I would label them as consistent with each other. ”
The judge questioned him about this, saying, “How can a person who’s insane raise a self-defense case? Isn’t it a reasonable belief that deadly force is necessary to protect yourself?”
Bilinkas cited a state Supreme Court case that mandates those defenses be tried at the same time.
“The state’s expert is saying that everything Mr. Barisone said happened to him by Lauren Kanarek did in fact happen and would cause a reasonable type person to be in some type of fear. Our experts are saying that attack upon him caused him to have a mental breakdown and that mental breakdown, he believed, he was delusional, he was in fear for his life at the moment he fired his weapon,” Bilinkas.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin March 21, with the trial to follow. It is estimated it will take four weeks, with dozens of witnesses, including psychiatric experts, expected to be called.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 2, 2022
A mere six and one-half months before the Eventing World Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, the U.S. Equestrian Federation is looking for an interim chef d’equpe who will serve as team manager for that competition and several other events.
Erik Duvander, who was performance manager and chef d’equpe from 2017 until last fall, departed when his contract was not renewed. USEF failed to give a reason for not continuing with him, a strategy that led to all sorts of speculation.
Erik Duvander and Boyd Martin. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
It seemed an odd decision, considering the program really started hitting its stride near the end of 2021, with a good team finish abroad, an individual victory at Aachen by Will Coleman and the first 5-star victory since 2008 by an American when Boyd Martin overtook world number one Oliver Townend of Britain to win at Fair Hill.
The Performance Advisory Team and the Eventing Elite Task Force appointed in January have come up with a job description for the interim person, with priority one involving qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics through the team’s performance at Pratoni.
For the Tokyo Olympics, the team did not qualify at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games and made the cut instead by winning double gold (Boyd Martin) at the 2019 Pan American Games.
The number two priority is earning medals.
The duties of the chef will include keeping track of the athletes’ personal trainer/coach support, and competition plans, while assisting with the development of a cross “team” of staff, grooms, owners and athletes.The chef also will assist with development and implementation of the World Championships logistics plan, and with developing and implementing a communications and public relations plan around the World Championships, while “ensuring athletes project a positive image.”
The chef is expected to attend many events, including the Kentucky 5-star, Aachen, and the Pratoni test event, if possible.
Ironically, many experienced team riders are now getting instruction from Erik, who is back in the U.S. as a private trainer.
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 27, 2022
Talk about pressure! Last night, Bliss Heers found herself as the only American in a five-horse jump-off for the $406,000 Lugano Diamonds 5-star grand prix under the lights at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
In 2021, when Covid restrictions limited the number of spectators at the Winter Equestrian Festival venue, Bliss recalled, “even winning the Nations Cup, there was really no home crowd.”
But this year, from the VIP area to the Tiki Hut, box seats and the Beachside dining area, the place was packed and fans were into the action.
Bliss Heers and Antidote de Mars. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
“When I walked into the arena tonight for the jump-off and everyone was cheering, it was unbelievable,” Bliss recalled in a chat after the awards ceremony.
“You had the atmosphere; even my horse felt the adrenaline and the tension. It was so fun just feeling that. Galloping down to the last fence and hearing the crowd, it was unbelievable. It was a big responsibility. You don’t want to mess that up.”
And of course, she didn’t.
Next-to-last in the jumping order for the tie-breaker with her valiant little stallion, Antidote de Mars, she was shooting at a clear round set by Ireland’s Bertram Allen on Pacino Amiro.
Bertram Allen checks to make sure all is well at the last fence in the jump-off aboard Pacino Amiro. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
“It was a little hard to know how fast to go with only five in the jump-off,” Bertram reflected.
“It was a question of getting the line right between going mad and too fast and having a rail, so I tried to have as good of a round as I could without going mad. He’s got a great length of stride, and any time there was an option, I was able to take one less and I suppose that’s what helped me today.”
Bertram Allen had the winning formula with Pacino Amiro. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Daniel Bluman of Israel, who logged the initial fault-free effort on Ladriano Z in the first round had already dropped a rail. So did the Belgian rider, Nicola Philippaerts, aboard Katanga vin Dingeshof.
So when Bliss came into the ring, the heat was on to try and beat Bertram’s time of 44.14 seconds, while keeping the rails in place and also worrying about the final rider in the tie-breaker, another Irish speedster, Paul O’Shea on the imposing chestnut Chancelloress, a daughter of the great sire, Chacco Blue.
“It was a fine line between going too much and not enough,” Bliss explained.
“Knowing that my horse is naturally very, very fast, I could have taken a bit more risk than I did and trusted his footspeed a bit more,” she mused.
“I think I definitely lost some time just by being more cautious, but then again, you can take a risk and knock one down. I did my plan and I’m very happy with the results.” (Click here for results of class.)
Her clocking of 45.17 seconds in a fault-free performance would be good enough for third, ahead of Daniel and Nicola, as Paul gave it a go with his mare but still fell a bit short in 44.49 seconds to take runner-up honors.
Paul O’Shea and Chancelloress. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
The riders agreed the course, put together by designers Anthony D’Ambrosio and Andy Christiansen, was quite a challenge.
“I think it was a proper 5-star grand prix course; there wasn’t one bogey fence and all three combinations were tough. The whole way around the course you had no real let-up, so it was a well-built course,” said Bertram.
Seven riders retired and two big names–former World Cup champions Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil (also and Olympic and WEG champion) and Mario Deslauriers of Canada–fell off but were unhurt.
Bertram, who collected $133,980 for his victory, won the same class last year when his mount, aptly nicknamed Buddy, had been in only one 5-star previously. Buddy, a son of Pacino, is even more of a threat now with mileage, having also competed in the Olympics last summer.
Paul commented, “When I walked the course, I thought it was tough, but the standard is so high here because there are so many top riders and horses.”
Here’s another way to judge how tough it was. Those who did not make the jump-off included half of the silver medal U.S. Olympic team with their Games horses, McLain Ward (Contagious) and Laura Kraut (Baloutinue); individual Olympic gold medalist Ben Maher of Britain with Ginger Blue (who was not his medal mount) and Germany’s impressive Daniel Deusser (Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z).
Continuing to discuss the course, Paul said, “Eveything I walked made me think it was difficult and it had a lot of options, so you had to make a plan. It was an advantage for me to go later (he was fourth from last in the first round) because I could see a lot go and make a good plan. The first few riders really had it tough because the time was so tight; they extended the time (allowed), so that was good, but for the first three or four, it was very difficult.”
Paul has to handle his mare delicately.
“She’s very sensitive and very nervous of other horses,” he explained.(To find out how a dressage rider handled her mare who has the same issues, click here.)
“She’s afraid of everything, but when she goes in the ring she’s like a lion; in the warm up, I don’t know how many times she stopped on me because she was nervous or saw a horse. She’s very unusual in that she’s very timid outside the ring, even in the stable, but when she goes in the ring, she’s very brave and tough, which is a great quality.”
Paul O’Shea, Bertram Allen and Bliss Heers on the podium with Craig Dickmann of Lugano Diamonds. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Bliss got her mount through Stevie Macken, a family friend who is the son of the great Irish rider/trainer Eddie Macken. He had sent a video of the stallion to her father. At the time, Bliss was injured, having broken her back and dislocated a hip in a shattering fall.”
Her father suggested she needed a nice horse. Bliss was a bit reluctant, because “I’d always loved young horses and I didn’t want to find something (already) going and doing it.”
She had only been on a horse twice since her accident, but she went to France to see the 8-year-old anyway.
“I tried this stallion and he looked like a pony and I fell in love,” she reported about the horse previously competed by Pierre Cimolai. The Lugano class was her best finish with the Selle Francais, now 12, since she was third in a Mexican 5-star last October. Her horse is by Diamant de Semilly, a brilliant sire who died this month.
Bliss, 34, who was long-listed for the Tokyo Olympics with her stallion, is from California but is seeking a base in Wellington and is looking at farms while she is here for the WEF.
She would love to do the Paris Olympics (how cool to bring her boy “home” again for that) but isn’t really pointing toward this summer’s world championships in Denmark, noting they are quite rigorous, as opposed to the Olympic format that she feels “is a bit nicer on the horses. I’ve got to pick my battles. I’d like to take a little bit of an easy year and enjoy my horse and take all the pressure off him.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 23, 2022
The U.S. Equestrian Federation today announced an agreement for the World Equestrian Centers (WEC) to operate USEF licensed hunter/jumper and dressage competitions at its venues in Wilmington, Ohio and Ocala, Fla. The shows will begin next month pending execution of finalized license agreements.
USEF and WEC have been at odds over show dates since before WEC Ocala opened last year. When Roby Roberts, who runs WEC, didn’t get all the dates he wanted originally, he turned to the National Snaffle Bit Association for his shows’ governing body during the winter series.
And after finally getting USEF dates for last summer, he gave them back and went with National Snaffle Bit again. Having USEF rule against his efforts to host a show in Ohio in place of Devon–cancelled due to Covid restrictions– didn’t make for warm relations. So this is a breakthrough.
WEC weighed in on the decision this way: “After much discussion between the organizations, both parties agree that working together is in the best interest of the sport and will provide exhibitors with a safe and level playing field at both venues. In addition, the move aims to provide WEC customers with access to the best facilities and the ability to earn points for both invitational events, indoors and year-end points-based awards supported by the USEF.
“The Wilmington, Ohio, facility will begin with week XII (March 2-6) of its Winter in the Midwest hunter/jumper indoor circuit as a USEF sanctioned event, and for the remaining weeks of the shows which run through April 10, 2022.
“The World Equestrian Center Ocala will run hunter/jumper horse show dates sanctioned by the organization starting in June. The facility currently hosts national level dressage events sanctioned by the USEF as well, and plans to reintroduce CDI and FEI-level events in the near future. Announcements with more detail on specific show ratings will be forthcoming.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 26, 2022
Cassandra Kahle is “working hard” on recovering from a traumatic brain injury she suffered last month when her horse fell in a jump-off. The 29-year-old professional show jumper is in rehab at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta.
“She has a lot to do to make her way back,” reported Emil Spadone, the owner of Redfields Farm in Califon,N.J. and Ocala, Fla., where Cassie works.
“But it’s her nature to work hard. We don’t realize how we take the most simple tasks for granted until you cannot do them,” he continued.
‘”Her therapies include working hard at regaining everyday life and becoming stronger to bring herself back. We are positive her efforts over the next month will bring us good results.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 26, 2022
The winners of last night’s 5-star dressage Grand Prix Special and Freestyle were the same admired competitors as in the qualifying classes earlier this week, but the atmosphere in the International Arena lifted riders and spectators alike into a new dimension of excitement at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
You couldn’t over-estimate the effect of having a larger stage–and a larger crowd–than at the Equestrian Village, the home base of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival a half-mile down the road in Wellington, Fla.
Grand Prix Freestyle winner Frederic Wandres of Germany and Bluetooth Old. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
The VIP section, the Tiki Hut and box seats at PBIEC all were filled, and the general admission crowd also made its enthusiasm felt for a series of bravura performances in both divisions.
The fans were really into it, clapping in rhythm as freestyle winner Frederic Wandres of Germany made his final trip down centerline with only one hand on the reins, while his mount Bluetooth Old clicked out a finely tuned passage.
“This is always an incredible feeling,” said Frederic, who was beaming with satisfaction.
“I think as a rider, you know that it must have been not that bad when the crowd is already clapping on the last centerline, and it always also pushes the horses a little bit more to come out of them and to shine and to make themselves proud.”
Bluetooth Old was on his game in the freestyle. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
The crowd also cheered with justified enthusiasm for the USA’s darling, Adrienne Lyle, and Salvino in the Special. The stallion’s every step looked polished, a happy horse who knows his job under the guidance of a loving rider who has developed his potential by asking enough, but never too much.
I chatted with Adrienne’s husband, veterinarian David Da Silva, after her test and asked what he thought of her ride.
“Amazing. Flawless. Perfect,” he told me. That was an accurate sum-up of what I was thinking about a test marked at 79.511 percent, just a bit short numbers-wise of her two 80 percent-plus efforts in 2020 and 2021, although one judge had her at 81.489. But it still put her far ahead of runner-up Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén of Sweden, who scored 69.617 percent with Devanto.
The rapport Adrienne has with Salvino is the key to success based on mutual respect.
“Every time I ask for anything” Adrienne commented about the 15-year-old son of Sandro Hit, “he says `Yes,’ and `how much?’ You say `jump’ and he says `how high?’
“He’s just unbelievable in that ring. He brings me to tears. He’s feeling better, more solid, I can really take my foot off the brake. I can really go for it. He goes when I say `go.’ He’s right there, really balanced, he feels real strong behind in the collection.
Adrienne Lyle and Salvino were miles ahead of the competition in the Grand Prix Special. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
She added, “It’s really exciting. He loves it. I know him. I know when he feels 100 percent and when not, and I will never, ever push him when he doesn’t.”
That’s what happened at the Olympics. After the team secured its silver medal in Toky last year, Adrienne decided to let Salvino rest instead of pursuing individual honors in the freestyle. It proved to be a wise decision, as demonstrated by yesterday’s performance, only his second since the Games.
And she has the full backing of Salvino’s owner, Betsy Juliano, who is there for every competition to show her support. At this show, Betsy’s Havensafe Farm was also the presenting sponsor, which meant she had the option of giving away the trophy or keeping it!
The podium for the Special: Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén of Sweden, America’s Adrienne Lyle and Christoph Koschel of Germany with Betsy Juliano and judge Elisabeth Max-Theurer. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
I’ve told this story before, but I think it bears repeating. I met Adrienne in 2005 when she was a working student for Debbie McDonald. I was writing a book on Debbie, and Adrienne posed for photos to illustrate training concepts.
I’m not sure Adrienne would have believed me then if I had played fortune teller and said she would be a two-time Olympian, going on to win team silver medals in Tokyo and at the 2018 world championships.
But I believed from the start that she had the drive, intelligence and ability to take advantage of all she was learning from Debbie and bring it to the highest level of the sport. She impressed, even then, and for me, it’s been so satisfying to see her develop into such an outstanding competitor. No, make that outstanding horsewoman, because that’s more important than just winning.
In the freestyle, it’s interesting how wise choices of music can totally enhance a test, while unwise combos of, say, tunes that don’t flow together, can jangle the observer.
Frederic’s music included the crack of thunder at several moments. I never heard that during a freestyle before, and it added quite an element of drama to a ride graded at 81.165 percent for the high score of the night.
“It’s kind of modern and a mixture between everything,” he said when I asked him about the music, which had a distinct buzzy lift to it.
“It’s really into the beat and fits good for piaffe/passage. That was important for me when I created the music, to have something that fits good for the horse in piaffe/passage and is also is good into the ears of the crowd.
“They can start to clap and things like that. I think it’s important when you choose the music that it’s getting supported to the people that are watching you and cheering for you. I designed it with our freestyle producer.”
Fredric told me the base song for it was “Tuesday,” which I see has a music video. Bluetooth should star in the next video of the tune if they are thinking of a re-do. He could be another “rave horse,” like Suppenkasper was at the Olympics.
Also very impressive was the way freestyle runner-up Laurence Vanommeslaghe had her Edison dancing to “Smoke on the Water.” The crowd was with her every second, and clapped along in delight.
Laurence Vanommeslaghe of Belgium and Edison. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
A charming Paris-based Belgian who rides as an amateur, she won the freestyle over at the Equestrian Village two weeks ago and felt her horse was even better last night, earning 79.430 percent.
Third in the field of 13 with 78.925 percent was Juan Matute Guimon of Spain, a local favorite who spent a lot of time in Wellington before returning to his homeland.
He survived a life-threatening stroke in 2020 and is back stronger than ever with Quantico. He has big plans, looking toward the World Cup finals in Leipzig, Germany, this spring and then perhaps the world championships in Denmark this summer.
When I asked if he might have a chance to be on the team there, he gave me his trademark grin and said, “Come on, of course! I’m ready for the battle.”
The irrepressible Juan Matute Guimon and Quantico. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
It has been amazing to see such top dressage performances in an arena usually reserved for the show jumpers. (there were still jumps behind the dressage ring because of an 8 a.m. start for a jumper class this morning.)
I can guarantee this won’t be the last time dressage comes to PBIEC. For a fuller explanation of that, click on this link to read my story from Wednesday night’s class.
Click here for the Grand Prix Freestyle results.
Click here for the Grand Prix Special results.
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 25, 2022
With Donatella M, the warm-up is the hardest part of competing.
“She’s completely terrified of the other horses,” said her owner/rider, Alice Tarjan, who is competing at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival.
“It’s been a problem her whole life. She’s really honest about it. but you’ll go down and try to do a line of changes and if there’s another horse even coming across, she just shuts down. There’s nothing you can do, except stop and try to get out of the way. it makes the warm-up a little worrisome.”
Alice Tarjan is an expert at keeping her cool in the warmup, no matter what happens. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
But there’s a plus side to the equation, as we saw today when Donatella was marked at an impressive 74.347 percent for the FEI grand prix performance on the national side of this week’s show in Wellington, Fla. The score was by far the highest in the class, but because Alice rode as an amateur, she was marked only against one other amateur rider for her blue ribbon.
With Donatella, “The good thing is, if she’s so terrified in the warm-up, by the time you get in the ring, she’s really happy,” since she’s alone at that point, explained Alice, who is based in Oldwick, N.J., but spends four months in Loxahatchee, Fla., every year.
“If you put her in the stadium, she’s relaxed in there compared to the warm-up. I’ve learned if I can’t get my changes in the warm-up not to panic, because she’ll do it in the ring. They all have their own thing. When she goes in the ring, she does her job.”
Alice bought the 11-year-old Oldenburg as a 4-year-old. The mare, who is by Furstenball out of a Jazz Time mare, had a foal a few years ago, but now has settled into a performance career. Trainer Marcus Orlob of Annandale, N.J., was on hand to offer comments during the warm-up, where I was impressed at the way Alice handled Donatella’s little quirks, not looking the least bit flustered.
That’s Alice, who doesn’t let a horse’s mood faze her.
Donatella behaves once competition is under way. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
“Whatever it is, you’ve got to ride it. Emotion plays no part in this sport. It’s just wasted energy,” Alice believes.
“It doesn’t change the situation. Whatever the situation is ,you’ve got to deal with it so you might as well think rationally and keep your head on your shoulders.”
Lars Petersen, a Danish Olympian (now an American citizen) who also has had a hand in training Alice, admires the way she handles her horses, no matter how challenging.
“She’s on them if they’re wild or not wild, she’s not a wimp,” he said.
“She’s amazing. She makes her own horses; she rides them from young horses and trains them up to Grand Prix.”
Alice calls Donatella, “A work in progress.” She wanted to compete her in international classes this week, but the mare developed hives (“it’s a Florida thing, they all get hives at some point”) and couldn’t give her the requisite medication for the skin problem if she went in the 3-star CDI. So she will wait until next week and enter her in World Cup classes.
Donatella is a star when it’s time to perform. ( Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
She’s not planning on trying for the World Cup finals this year; it’s too late in the season to think of it. But she’s interested in the prospect next year, when the finals will be in Omaha.
Alice isn’t one to plan too far ahead, though. She just enjoys being in the moment and having the opportunity to spend time in Florida during the winter.l
“It’s beautiful weather and you get to ride horses and that’s what I love to do,” she said.
“So life is good.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 24, 2022
Dressage returned to the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in a big way last night, with a sold-out VIP section that was treated to a brilliant performance by U.S. Olympic team silver medalist Adrienne Lyle and the stunning stallion Salvino.
Adrienne Lyle and Salvino. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Their mark of 76.500 percent in the qualifier for Friday night’s Grand Prix Special at the 5-star-rated show was the highest score of the evening, which also featured a qualifier for the Grand Prix Freestyle.
Adrienne had ridden previously in the International Arena (which usually hosts the Winter Equestrian Festival’s jumpers) when the Olympic selection observation trial was held there last spring. But there were few fans on hand for that competition because Covid restrictions were in place then.
“It’s so wonderful to be in this venue. It’s really fun to be back, with more spectators this time. We’re really thankful for this opportunity,” said Adrienne.
Her enthusiasm was matched by that of Germany’s Frederic Wandres, who topped a field of 13 in the qualifier for the freestyle with Bluetooth Old on a score of 74.631 percent.
“The stadium is fantastic. It was almost a full crowd and the Americans are always creating a super atmosphere. We love to be here,” he said.
The dressage ring was set on the VIP side of the arena, behind an incongruous backdrop of jumps. What was this, some newfangled combined training test?
Then I learned the dressage ring couldn’t be located in the middle of the arena because it would have meant moving the gazebo that is a permanent fixture. And the jumps remained because a jumper class was starting at 8 this morning, and the jump crew would have had to get up really early to set the course if the arena had been cleared entirely.
Dressage shows used to be held at PBIEC before the Equestrian Village, home of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, opened down the street. But Thomas Baur, AGDF director, said his requests to stage dressage again at PBIEC were turned down when Mark Bellissimo was running the property. It was sold last year to a group led by Andreas Helgstrand, a dressage horse dealer, and the new owner understandably was eager to host some dressage.
There obviously is an appetite for dressage at PBIEC, judging by the enthusiasm of the audience, who eagerly took part in a spectator scoring opportunity through an app or their phones.They enjoyed a lot of emotion. It was heartwarming to see the joy expressed by 24-year-old Juan Matute Guimon after his fifth-place finish on Quantico. Juan hovered between life and death in 2020 after suffering a stroke, but came back stronger than ever and delighted in his participation.
Juan Matute Guimon and Quantico. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
The crowd gave Adrienne a lot of love, well-deserved by the rider and her horse, a son of Sandro Hit out of a Donnerhall mare.
“I thought it was one of the best tests she’s ever had,” said Debbie McDonald, Adrienne’s trainer and mentor.
Adrienne withdrew Salvino from the freestyle after the team won its medal in Tokyo, feeling the horse was tired and not wanting to press him.
“That was Adrienne looking out for her horse. It was exciting to see the horse come out fresh and excited to be back in the ring,” Debbie said.
“I think the same as Adrienne–When you’ve got a happy horse who loves his job, I think you’re doing something right,” she observed.
Salvino really stepped out and up for Adrienne Lyle. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Debbie noted Adrienne, like most riders who went to the Olympics, gave her horse a lot of time off afterward. He spent much of it enjoying the pasture in Colorado.
“He loves it. They did a ton of trail riding,” Debbie reported.
“She’s been back riding him not even that long. But I have so much faith in her and the fact she has so much faith in the horse, she can go in and she feels she can ride a test right out of the pasture.”
As Adrienne remarked, “He’s certainly fit. He’s ready to do it all again.”
There were five in the GPS qualifier. Ashley Holzer was a distant second with a good effort on Valentine, marked at 70.696 percent.
Adrienne decided to aim toward the Special, rather than the freestyle, since “We focused so much on the Special last year because that was what counted for the team event (at the Olympics). I just feel like I’m more fresh on that one. We haven’t done the freestyle since World Cup, I believe. We’ll get that one in, but it was easier to step into the Special the first time.”
Speaking of the World Cup, the finals are in Omaha next year, and Adrienne has that as a goal after this summer’s world championships in Denmark, but she won’t predict whether Salvino will be her candidate for the 2024 Paris Olympics. She does have an ever-increasing string of horses, a testament to her talent and affinity for the animals.
Last night’s class was sponsored by Havensafe LLC and Betsy Juliano, who just happens to be Salvino’s owner.
Frederic was delighted with his test, a mistake-free personal best on his son of Bordeaux, and at a 5-star, yet.
The jumps in the arena didn’t faze Bluetooth Old. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
“He gave me a super feeling. that is really what I’m looking for. We have been building him up at the season here. Now delivering that score is what I’m looking for daily. That makes our whole team completely happy.”
Second to Frederic was 22-year-old Ben Ebeling, on Illuster van de Kampert with a score of 72.478 percent.
Ben was overjoyed with his ride, alternating between jubilation and not being able to believe how well he and his horse had done.
Ben Ebeling had to hold onto his hat after hearing his score of 72.478 percent in the Grand Prix Special qualifier. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
I wondered how it felt to be riding dressage with the jumps all around, and asked Frederic about it.
He replied, “The jumps didn’t really bother me. When we are at home in Germany, we are on a big farm and there is also jumping going on. I think Bluetooth is used to these things. Maybe for some horses it can be difficult, but maybe I was lucky and Bluetooth was not getting irritated of these things.”
Friday night Special will be the last class in Florida for Bluetooth, as Frederic prepares to head home and get ready for selection of the team that will compete in the world championships.
