by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 26, 2024
It’s the season for reminiscing, a time to recall the year gone by, which I will do on this website before 2024 ends.
But at the moment, I am reaching further back with my nostalgia; a half-century, in fact, remembering a horse and rider who made their mark in a very different time.
We always celebrate the competitors at the very top of the game, Olympians or professionals who make a living in horse sport. But this story is about an amateur who achieved recognition with her equine partner of a lifetime. It happened before warmbloods dominated the jumper ranks, when what were often considered big money prizes added up to five figures (or even less), and the heyday of horses selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars (or more) was still to come.
A field hunter who had a habit of overjumping his fences went to a horse dealer for dispersal. The gelding, an appendix-registered Quarter Horse without papers, eventually wound up with New Jersey rider Diane Ward. The horse was Traveler, who became a dominant force in the Northeast’s amateur-owner jumper ranks during the 1970s. Anyone who witnessed this pairing will never forget the determined way they conquered the fences; they always drew a crowd.
Diane Ward and Traveler airborne in their typical exuberant style.
Traveler took the A-O division’s American Horse Shows Association Horse of the Year title in 1974; yes, 50 years ago, which is why we’re commemorating this anniversary in 2024. Then he did it again in 1976. (AHSA was one of the predecessors of the current U.S. Equestrian Federation).
The memorable partnership began this way: Diane’s friend, Jo Iacono, bought Traveler from the dealer in 1969 (or so) after Diane tried him out for her and then showed him. But the dynamic horse didn’t turn out to be Jo’s type of ride.
“He wasn’t broken well on the flat,” recalled Diane, who noted, “riding on the flat, at least with the jumpers, is 50 percent of your ballgame. You don’t just get on and go to a fence.” But when it came time to ride a course, Traveler could jump with enthusiasm and accuracy, getting sharper with more training..
Diane was in the saddle when he demonstrated his prowess by winning in Preliminary jumpers (a division based on prize money won that doesn’t exist anymore) at the old Middlesex County show in New Brunswick, N.J., one of the state’s biggest fixtures at the time.
“This is a horse I want,” decided Diane, who had a limited budget. She didn’t let that stop her, however.
“We negotiated, sitting around all day. How much was I going to pay for him?” remembered Diane, who had ridden the horse all year and spent the winter doing dressage work with him.
The price was $5,000, an unreachable figure for the prospective buyer. Diane finally talked her way into paying $2,800, which was her limit, to get the horse. He turned out to be a bargain.
As a child, Diane began taking saddle-seat lessons in West Virginia. When her family moved to Smoke Rise in Kinnelon, N.J., she informed her parents that she wasn’t going unless they bought her a horse. That’s how the Morgan mare, Caramel, came into her life.
She remembers showing Caramel in saddle-seat classes at the old Junior Essex Troop Show in West Orange, N.J., during the mid-1950s. Trainer Vic Goines, who coached riders at Oakland Academy, felt Caramel would fit in well with the school’s program. So that’s where she and Diane went.
Patricia Byrne, who would later become one of Diane and Traveler’s chief rivals with another quarter horse, East Side Drive, remembered Diane from her own early days working with Vic.
“I knew nothing, was totally in awe when watching Diane ride,” recounted Patricia, now a horse show official.
Diane moved on to work with trainer Ben Purifoy at Smoke Rise in Kinnelon, N.J. In 1971, after buying Traveler, she started the year as amateur-owner jumper champion at the Saratoga, N.Y. show. Traveler competed against such well-known pairings as Michele McEvoy (now Grubb) with Advance Ticket and Melanie Smith (now Taylor) who rode The Irishman in amateur classes and was the division’s national champion in 1970. (She eventually rose from the amateur ranks to compete internationally and won team gold at the 1984 Olympics with Calypso.)
Melanie remembers that the combination of Diane and Traveler was one “to always watch, and hope you went after them in the jump-off” in order to beat the sizzling clockings they set.
Pat Campbell, who also competed around that time, recalled Traveler as “just an incredible horse, fun to watch.”
Patricia, who would take the national amateur-owner title in 1977 with East Side, commented about Diane, “She was always the one to try and beat. Traveler was lightning fast, turned on a dime and Diane was a fierce competitor.”
In 1972, things were off to a promising start for Diane and Traveler. They went to the old Winter Haven show in Florida, got the championship again at Saratoga, and did well at Ox Ridge and Fairfield. Then Traveler competed at a small show in New Jersey as a tune-up and stepped on a rock.
“That was it for the year,” noted Diane, noting the veterinarians were stumped trying to find out what was wrong with the horse.
Meanwhile, Pete Bausum, a nephew of one of her friends, had recently graduated from the University of Pennsylvania veterinary school and examined Traveler. He X-rayed Traveler and found a crack in his coffin bone. That started Diane’s friendship with Pete, who became a top practitioner.
The choice of treatment was “complete stall rest or nerve him.” In response, Diane said, “I’m not nerving him,” so stall rest it was.
During the horse’s recovery, farrier Ralph Snyder built Traveler a special cast-type support shoe. The horse was out of action for close to a year, recuperating while on stall rest, a difficult situation for an animal that previously had been worked every day.
Traveler came back in May 1973, after nearly a year off, and finished fourth in the national standings. He was just warming up.
“In 1974, he was unbelievable, he kept winning,” said Diane, of Traveler’s first national championship year. He was profiled in the yearbook, “Champion Horses and Riders of North America,” a volume put together by former U.S. Equestrian Team Executive Director Jack Fritz.
The program from the 1974 Eastern States Horse Show, where a photo of Traveler was featured (upper right).
Among the titles that Traveler won was the A-O championship at the North Shore Horse Show on Long Island. That has special significance to Diane because actor Paul Newman presented the trophy.
After a relatively quiet 1975, Traveler earned the national championship again in 1976. Diane had a lot of offers from people who wanted to buy Traveler. Some bids were around $30,000, “which in those days was pretty good money,” the horse’s owner pointed out, but she had no intention of selling her amazing partner.
Traveler earned enough money in the amateur ranks to qualify for the glamorous open jumper division in 1971 at the National Horse Show, which was one of the highest-profile events at the old Madison Square Garden, between forty ninth and fiftieth streets in Manhattan. (The current Garden opened above Penn Station in 1968).
“I sent the entry form in as a lark,” said Diane. After learning she had been accepted, she thought, “I hoped I wasn’t in over my head.”
The portrait of Traveler and Diane that hangs in her livingroom.
She cleared the National’s storied puissance wall at 6-feet, 6 inches, but was understandably nervous about trying anything that was bigger (puissance competitions often went to 7 feet or more).
In the next round, “I was so glad he brought the back rail of the spread fence down (a required obstacle in the class) because I didn’t want to jump any higher,” she said.
Traveler got third-place and fifth-place ribbons at the show, competing against the legendary Idle Dice with Rodney Jenkins and The Cardinal, another star of that era, ridden by Bernie Traurig.
After taking the AHSA A-O championship in 1976, Diane turned professional and retired Traveler from high-level competition. Her daughter rode “Trav,” as Diane called him, in the junior jumpers, and eventually Diane started using him for flat lessons. But she had to be careful:
“You couldn’t let him see a jump. He’d just point at it and go. He taught so many kids over the years to walk, trot and canter until he was in his 30s. Even a 5-year old could ride him.”
Diane’s Jack Russell also used to get on his back. Traveler was used in a lesson the day before he died at age 33 in 1993.
Diane Ward with her AHSA championship ribbons and plaque.
Diane moved to Ocala, Fla., from New Jersey, after her husband, Don, passed away in 2012.
“I fell in love with the place, with the trees. It’s a gorgeous area,” said Diane who lives 10 minutes from the World Equestrian Center and can go there to watch her fill of the jumpers.
With her own showing days long over, she keeps busy volunteering at VOCAL for Pets, (Voices of Change Animal League) a welfare group that offers everything from low-cost spaying and neutering to foster care and vaccinations. Diane is involved with their fundraising Fur Ball and a pet food program that has her unloading pallets of feed every Sunday.
Though Traveler has been gone since 1993, he is still a presence for Diane. A drawing of him hangs in her living room, where she sees it every day. The gelding was more than a brilliant competitor, he had a special personality to go with his athletic ability.
“He was not really a horse,” Diane contends.
“He was like a dog, he would follow you anywhere. He was so good to so many people.”
A memorial ad for Traveler.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 23, 2024
Zen Elite Equestrian has done it again.
The stable that bought Helix, Adrienne Lyle’s U.S. team Paris Olympic mount, and Bohemian, who was reserve for the Paris Games with Endel Ots, has purchased Indian Rock for Adrienne’s 22-year-old student, Christian Simonson.
Ridden in Paris by the Netherlands’ Emilie Scholtens, the 11-year-old KWPN stallion by Apache (hence the inspiration for his name) finished eleventh in the Olympic freestyle with a score of 81.750. Emilie has competed the horse throughout his career.
Christian, tenth on the FEI’s U25 ratings, recalled his first ride on Rocky, who has not yet arrived in the U.S..
The rider’s initial impression was “Wow,” followed by “holy cow. He gave me this unbelievable feeling, like nothing I’ve ever felt.”
Christian explained, “From the very first moment that I rode him, I realized he has so much heart and power that I was a little speechless.”
While he found the horse “expressive,” he noted that even with his innate power, “he’s so harmonious and so beautiful. It gives you a goosebumps feeling, and he’s just so honest, he feels like he wants to try for you as a rider.”
Emilie Scholtens and Indian Rock. (Timo Martis Fotografie)
Christian had watched Rocky since he was a young horse, because he’s a fan of Emilie.
“She’s an incredibly kind person and more important, is a really amazing horsewoman. I thank her for all her kindness.”
Although the horse will be stabled in Wellington after he arrives in the U.S., Christian explained that Adrienne will weigh in on when he should start to show Rocky at Global as their relationship develops.
“I can’t wait to learn more about him as a horse,” said Christian.
“I’m over the moon and so, so excited and grateful,” he continued, effusively thanking Zen Elite’s Heidi Humphries for the opportunity.
“It’s one thing to be able to ride such a once-in-a lifetime horse and also to do it at my young age. It just feels extra special. I also have to thank Adrienne. I feel like the luckiest person to have this opportunity, and I feel even more lucky to be her student and be under her guidance.”
Christian Simonson and one of his own horses, Son of Lady. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
A statement from Zen, based in Ft. Lauderdale, said, “We’re eager to see this promising partnership thrive and accomplish amazing thing.” Micha Knol of MRK Dressage arranged the sale of the stallion.
Zen does more than buy horses. It also is emerging as a big time sponsor. In addition to its group of dressage riders, Zen sponsors one jumper rider, Jill Briggs, and has been a sponsor of the Annual Series of Equestrian Sport Productions’ spring, summer, fall and holiday jumper shows for the last few years.
However, this year Zen is branching out even more and will be an official Winter Equestrian Festival title sponsor, backing the 1.30 meter jumper division.
“At Zen, the mission is to support equestrian sport at all levels, and they felt that this class was the perfect way to connect with both sides of the sport,” observed Zen’s spokeswoman, Kimberlyn Beaudoin.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 22, 2024
“I went as fast as I could go and hoped it was good enough,” said Darragh Kenny, explaining the strategy that won him the Longines FEI World Cup Show Jumping Qualifier as the London International Horse Show wrapped up its festive run on Sunday.
“The way he felt today, I think I can have a really good shot at it,” the Irish rider mused before he went second on Eddy Blue in the five-horse jump-off. It appeared the combination to beat would be 2023 winner and home favorite Ben Maher, three-time Olympic gold medalist on Point Break.
On the second-line of the jump-off course, however, Darragh took five strides between the fences while the British competitor, fourth to go, took six strides. That decision turned out to be the difference between the winning time of 34.76 seconds and second-place in 35.15. Third place went to the fastest 4-faulter in the jump-off, Robert Whitaker of Great Britain, clocked in 37.89 seconds on Vermento.
Victory at the London International meant a great deal to Darragh Kenny.
“I’ve watched this show since I was four years old,” recalled a delighted Darragh, who also took the leading rider title.
“It’s just an incredible show, the feeling is unbelievable, the crowd is just the best ever. It’s just really fun to be able to win it.”
Darragh Kenny on his way to victory with Eddy Blue. (Photo courtesy London International)
For his part, Ben said, “Point Break is in amazing form and gives me great confidence. He doesn’t have so much experience in the jump-offs, but he has to learn one day.”
This is literally a home show for Ben, as he lives nearby.
“It’s always great to be here; Christmas spirit,” he remarked.
And true enough, the show at the ExCeL arena is as much about Christmas as it is top sport. The tradition that began when it was at its former home in the Olympia facility continues, as Father Christmas (Santa on the U.S. side of the Atlantic) with a jolly ho-ho-ho came in pulled by a pair of white horses, and a contingent of green-clad elves did a little dance as flakes of artificial snow came down while the crowd sang “The First Noel.”
Father Christmas makes his entrance.
Austria’s Max Kuhner, twelfth on EIC Anton Sbk Z with a knockdown in the first round, noted his horse “was a little bit impressed from the beginning with the atmosphere,” and indeed, it was a lot to take in.
That was especially true over the route designed by Bernardo Costa Cabral of Portugal and his team, where the usual triple-combination was accompanied by an unusual pairing of two double-combinations that spelled trouble for 14 entries.
“It’s trappy everywhere,” commented British rider Scott Brash, who said the course was fair but called the arena “a tricky ring,” with the crowd close to the action along the rail.
The class was practically awash in Whitakers, with three of them competing. Robert is the son of John Whitaker, who rode in other classes at the show. When I started covering international shows in the 1980s, John and his brother, Michael, were pillars of the British team, and now their children are top competitors as well. The Brits aren’t just training the new generation of riders, they are breeding them!
Other highlights of London include the dressage World Cup Qualifier, the second feature on this website, and the four-in-hand driving World Cup Qualifier. Three driving teams returned for the drive-off. Despite incurring penalties for two balls that fell from the cones, the Netherlands’ Ijsbrand Chardon won. Ten-time FEI World Cup™ Final winner Boyd Exell of Australia was second with Friday’s winner Dries Degrieck of Belgium in third.
The riders have had quite a month with London following the Geneva show (read about it here and here), and different winners in each spectacular competition. Now, paraphrasing Santa, it’s merry Christmas to all horses and riders, and to all a good rest.
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 21, 2024
Screwworm has expanded from South America into Mexico. The U.S. Equestrian Federation warns that if not controlled, the screwworm flies will continue to move into the U.S. Should that happen, it could have an impact on shows, and movement of horses may be halted.
Screwworm is a type of fly larva (also known as maggots) foreign to the U.S. They can infect any warm-blooded animal, including humans, as they enter wounds as well as mucus membranes to feed on living tissue. Infested animals may have enlarging, draining, foul-smelling wounds and weight loss. They can die from secondary infection or toxicity in seven to 14 days if not treated.
An adult screwworm fly can travel up to 125 miles before laying hundreds of eggs in a wound or on a mucus membrane. The larvae that emerge from the eggs feed on living tissue and then fall to the ground to pupate.Ultimately, adult flies that reproduce will emerge. The adult female screwworm only mates once and lays those eggs to continue the spread of the parasite. Screwworms can also be transported by animals and people with infected wounds traveling from infested areas.
As it is a foreign animal disease, a state and/or federal animal health official must be notified of suspected cases. If screwworm is diagnosed, animal health officials will quarantine the animal until daily wound care and treatments with larvicides and insecticides have eliminated the screwworm larvae. Animal health officials will further investigate cases to determine if additional control measures, such as insecticidal treatment of the environment or sterile fly release, are warranted.
In endemic countries such as those in South America, control is based on a sterile male fly release program. As the female only mates once in a lifetime, the mating with a sterile male fly will reduce the fly population over time. Additionally, movement restrictions and treatment requirements are implemented to further prevent the spread.
Daily inspection of all wounds for any signs of larvae is critical. If larvae (maggots) are detected in a wound, the horse owner should contact their veterinarian immediately so they can perform an assessment of the type of larvae. If screwworm is suspected, samples will be collected for confirmation.
Any livestock or horses entering the United States from a screwworm-affected country are required to be pre-treated with an ivermectin product, remain in an import quarantine facility for a seven-day observation period, and complete a screwworm examination.Sedation is required for the examination of the sheath of stallions and geldings. If examination reveals no screwworms, the horse will be released.
For more information and images of screwworm, click on this link.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 19, 2024
From the moment that the majestic notes of “God Save the King” rang out as Lottie Fry entered the ring for her dresage Freestyle at the London International Horse Show on Thursday evening, there was a sense of a great occasion.
The British star didn’t disappoint, putting on quite a show at the ExCeL Arena with Glamourdale, the lustrous 13-year-old black KWPN stallion who collected marks of 10 not only for his trademark extended canter, but also received that distinction for music and choreography, with many 9s along the way in the Longines FEI World Cup Qualifier.
Lottie Fry and Glamourdale stretch it out in the extended trot. (Peter Nixon photo)
Lottie and the horse delivered a winning performance worthy of their 2022 world championship title, with just a minor glitch in the one-tempis, as they made up for a few mistakes that had placed them a surprising third in Wednesday’s Grand Prix. There she finished behind not onlyher Olympic teammate, winner Becky Moody with Jagerbomb, who won, but alsoNorway’s Isabel Freese, second in that class with Total Hope OLD.
Becky Moody and Jagerbomb.
As she started her Freestyle to the notes of “Another One Bites the Dust,” Lottie blazed into a powerful passage before her halt, then resumed passage and flawlessly transitioned to an energetic piaffe, earning a 9 and 8.5s for her entrance and halt.
The judges loved her, reflected in the winning score of 86.645 percent, with four of the five officials giving her artistic marks of more than 90 percent.
The crowd felt the same appreciation, enjoying watching the Netherlands-based rider demonstrate such expertise in her home country. Spectators were with her every minute, clapping along to her piaffe pirouette before her final halt.
At the awards ceremony, an overjoyed Lottie told fans, “The feeling I had in here tonight was something I’ve never felt before. He was absolutely incredible.
“He was on fire,” she said of Glamourdale.. I was so thankful to be able to do that in London in front of this crowd.”
Lottie Fry and Glamourdale
She added “I can’t thank you all enough for the support, not just tonight, but also the whole year running up to Paris (Olympics) and also in Paris. We could feel all your support; very, very grateful.”
As Lottie noted, “That makes it a little emotional to come back to England and ride in front of you all. It’s really an honor.”
Trainer Carl Hester consulted with Becky Moody after her Freestyle.
Becky was one of five British riders in the 14-strong field that did not include any U.S. riders.
She had made a huge splash with her homebred Jagerbomb in his 2023 debut at the show, and wound up competing on her nation’s bronze medal Olympic team last summer.
Her win in the Grand Prix this week was a good start, but mistakes in the Freestyle meant she wound up a disappointing fourth. A canter break in her right pirouette sank her standing with a mark of 3 and two 4s.
In the end, she got a decent score of 80.6, but not what she had hoped for. The crowd loved her anyway.
Isabel was second again with her consistent son of Totilas (83.270), who is out of Weihegold OLD, the World Cup champion of Germany’s Isabel Werth.
“This exceeds all my expectations,” said Isabel about her ride.
“I am so proud. It has always been a dream to compete here. I’ve just been eight weeks out of the saddle after a surgery, which made this result even more special. My groom took exceptional care of Total Hope, and perhaps the break was beneficial for both of us. He is in fantastic form.”
The Netherlands’ Dinja van Liere was further back in third on Hartsuijker (80.225), a big promotion from sixth place in the Grand Prix.
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 19, 2024
The woman who led the U.S. Olympic dressage team for the Paris Games last summer will continue in that role through the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Christine Traurig will be chef d’equipe while overseeing the Elite/Pre-Elite and Development programs for the U.S. Equestrian Federation. As a rider in 2000, she was the heroine of the team, securing a bronze for the squad at the Sydney Olympics with a great test under pressure.
Former U.S. Dressage Federation President George Williams will work with Traurig as the federation’s Dressage Program Pathway Development Advisor. Both will continue to support the Emerging Young Horse and Emerging Athlete programs respectively. At the beginning of next year, USEF will name additional coaches to support the programs.
Christine Traurig with Olympic veteran Steffen Peters and George Williams.
“I am excited about the next several years leading up to LA. The updated requirements for the Pathway Programs are in line with and support our goals on the road to the Olympics. There is no lack of talent in riders and horses in our country. It’s about bringing out the best in them. We have a plan, and our eyes are very much on the ball,” said Christine.
Next year will mark the start of USEF’s Dressage Training Series, which previously included Program Pathway clinics, and will consist of USEF funded clinics open to all FEI levels, except for two clinics restricted to youth participants only. These clinics will be taught under the guidance of USEF coaching staff and the coaches support network members. A preliminary calendar of these opportunities, as well as additional training options and evaluations for program members, is available on the USEF website, www.usef.org.
George will lead quarterly meetings throughout 2025 to increase collaboration among USEF coaching staff and personal coaches within the U.S. to provide more comprehensive support for program combinations.
Changes were made as of Dec. 1 to the USEF Dressage Program Pathway criteria across all programs. The idea is to strengthen transparency and accountability across the pathway through stronger focus on current competition results, USEF anticipates new program membership lists will be published no later than May 12, 2025, following the U.S. winter CDI season.
“This updated criterion improves upon the existing foundation of the USEF Dressage Program Pathway. I look forward to working with our coaching staff and support network to foster talent through our pathway programs and continue to grow and strengthen USA Dressage,” said Laura Roberts, the federation’s managing director of dressage.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 4, 2025
On Tuesday Jan. 14 at noon, Rodney Jenkins will be remembered during a ceremony on the second floor of the Laurel Park racetrack’s clubhouse, Racetrack Road and Route 198 Laurel, Md. The ceremony was postponed from Jan. 7 due to weather issues.
One of the greatest grand prix riders of all time anywhere in the world, Rodney also was legendary for his way with hunters. After retiring from showing in 1989, he went on to train racehorses with great success. He had 941 wins on the flat and his horses won $24.8 million during his tenure.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 18, 2024
Anyone involved with horses knows how valuable that connection is in many aspects of their lives. But those who aren’t lucky enough to have experienced such a relationship have no idea of its benefits, or how important they can be to so many people.
Quantifying the value of that link isn’t so easy. But British Equestrian has undertaken the challenge, researching the social value of equestrian activities, going on to highlight those benefits in a variety of areas, among them health, mental well-being, personal development, community engagement and social cohesion.
Why is this so important? Social license to operate. Public opinion can affect the way equestrians interact with horses and in a worst-case scenario, result in limits on equestrian activity. It’s the reason the equestrian portion of modern pentathlon was dropped from the Olympics after a coach punched a horse and the video made headlines around the world. Since many people today have never even touched a horse, they can’t decide for themselves if horses are being treated properly.
A case in point about social license involves the Danish Council on Animal Ethics, which states there are signs that the “welfare of horses is still under pressure,” despite equestrian groups’ efforts to improve the situation.
The council cites examples of sport horses showing “signs of discomfort, pain and conflict behavior.” Its recommendations on new legislative initiatives for sport horses will be considered by Denmark’s government. So the council has to be taken seriously. Its recommendations could include a ban on use of the double bridle, and dealing with issues such as riding behind the vertical, as well as other tack and training matters. And if the Danish government acts, you can expect governments elsewhere to consider following suit.
So it’s important that the public knows the positives of equestrian activities and involvement. The British study, being done In partnership with Sheffield Hallam University and the Sport and Recreation Alliance, involved a systematic search of academic databases, supplemented by a call for evidence that yielded 856 pieces of published literature and case studies. Now 290 of these have undergone the final analysis. Much of that focused on equine-assisted therapy and its transformative effects on participants.
it’s one of only a few types of physical activity to have the therapeutic benefits of animal-assisted therapy.
Mandana Mehran-Pour, head of Participation and Development at British Equestrian, commented, “These findings highlight the transformative impact equestrian activities have on individuals and communities across the UK, contributing to physical health, mental well-being and social development. The wealth of research we’ve gathered demonstrates the vital role equestrianism plays in enhancing quality of life.”
Professor Simon Shibli, director of the Sport Industry Research Center at Sheffield Hallam University said, “The volume and quality of literature we found were staggering and now provide a sound basis for deriving the social value of equestrianism.”
The work continues, with more progress expected in 2025.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 15, 2024
McLain Ward came close to topping a historically strong show jumping field on Sunday, but a heartbreaking rail at the last fence in the jump-off gave the Rolex Grand Prix in Geneva to the Netherlands’ Harrie Smolders, who picked up a check for $419, 442 in the process.
It was the first-ever 5-star victory at 1.60 meters for Harry’s mount, Monaco, who had finished second 11 times outside of championships, according to EquiRatings.
The fastest time of 41.48 seconds in the 10-horse tiebreaker was recorded by McLain, riding his Olympic USA team silver medal mount Ilex, with whom he has partnered for a mere 10 months. His clocking would have beaten the winner’s mark of a clear trip in 41.74 seconds, were it not for that pole dropping from the Rolex vertical with a mere unlucky touch of a hind hoof.
McLain Ward and Ilex.
Harrie had the disadvantage of being first to go in the jump-off; McLain had the advantage of being last to go.
As it was, McLain finished fourth in a field that was the sport’s strongest grand prix in 14 years, ever since EquiRatings started keeping those stats. The contenders included two Olympic individual gold medalists, the European champion, the world-ranked number one horse and rider (who also hold the world champion title) and former European Champion Martin Fuchs, who had won the Rolex International Jumper Riders Club Top Ten Final Friday night at the Palexpo arena. (Click here to read this story.)
So fourth place in such a high-caliber class is impressive, but not much consolation for missing out on the big prize. “I’m always disappointed not to win a big event, but it was a brilliant way to finish off what I consider a great year with Ilex,” McLain told me.
“Only beginning to ride him in February and to be able to put together the season we have is a testament to his talent, and I am very appreciative to all of the people around us make that happen,” he said while also praising his Dutch-bred gelding.
McLain, who can now take a few deep breaths, added “I’m very much looking forward to a bit of a Christmas rest with my family and to a great 2025. I always remind myself I’m very fortunate to play a game for a living.”
As he accepted his trophy moments after his victory aboard his 15-year-old Holsteiner, Harrie enthused, “I’m extremely happy. Monaco really deserved this win. Fantastic what this horse has done for me.
Harrie Smolders takes the spotlight.
“To start the jump-off in a field like this I think it is nearly possible to go straightaway from the first rider to win this, all riders behind you can go faster. He’s (Monaco) in fantastic shape at the moment, he’s so smart, so experienced. What he showed today is outstanding.”
Harrie admitted to the situation being “nerve-wracking,” noting that the riders coming after him could watch what he did and figure out where to make up their time on the course so they could go faster
“I really took my chances. I didn’t know if it was enough,” said Harrie, “I really took my chances. I didn’t know if it was enough, especially in this ring horses with a bigger stride have a little bit of advantage in a jump-off.”
Monaco checks out his trophy.
Harrie now has the first segment of the four-leg Rolex Grand Slam to his credit and moves on in 2025 to the next, in his home town of s’Hertogenbosch.
All four Grand Slam grands prix must be won in a row, so Martin’s September victory at Spruce Meadows no longer counts toward the Grand Slam for him, and he must start over.
Second place went to Giulia Martinengo Marquet, who rides in the uniform of the Italian air force. Her clean ride on the Selle Francais Delta Del’Isle was timed in 43.75 seconds and kept her EquiRatings record for clean jump-off rounds at 100 percent, though this was only her third such trip.
Right behind her was the promising young Belgian rider Gilles Thomas, on the Selle Francais stallion Ermitage Kalone in 44.77. He is also rated by EquiRatings at 100 percent, though again, this only his third jump-off at this level with the horse.
The podium: Harrie Smolders still can’t believe he won; Giulia Martinengo Marquet was second and Gilles Thomas third.
The class wound up having as many twists and turns as the course designed by Gérard Lachat of Switzerland and Gregory Bodo of France, who also did the Olympic routes in Paris with Santiago Varela.
The course for the Rolex Grand Prix
And speaking of Paris, the Alexandre III Bridge jump from the Paris Games wound up being a big time troublemaker. World Number One Henrik von Eckermann of Sweden had a run-out there with King Edward, mirroring a run-out he had in the second round of Friday’s Top Ten at a narrow fence of white rails. That’s on top of a disappointing fall at the Olympics.
Henrik’s compatriot, Peder Fredricson, also experienced a run-out at the Alexandre bridge in the Grand Prix jump-off with Catch Me Not to wind up sixth. Martin Fuchs broke a rail there with Leone Jei, who then not surprisingly dropped a pole at the first element of the double combination that came next. At a different fence, Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca came off Denver de Talma when the horse couldn’t negotiate the distance to the Rolex oxer that was the second-to-last obstacle in the jump-off.
Peder Fredricson at the troublesome Alexandre III bridge.
Two-time Rolex Geneva Grand Prix winner Kent Farrington of the U.S., had a rail at the oxer that was the B element of a double in the first round, and missed out on the jump-off with Greya, but finished twelfth as the fastest 4-faulter.
The first round was quite something. The list of eight riders who retired there after knockdowns included the USA’s Olympic team silver medalist Karl Cook with Caracole de la Roque following three dropped rails, and European Champion Steve Guerdat of Switzerland with Dynamix de Belheme, as well as other big names, among them Daniel Coyle of Ireland and Germany’s Marcus Ehning.
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The big show as the year comes to a close is the London International, set to start Wednesday, with dressage and driving as well as show jumping, and a host of exhibitions.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 13, 2024
The video that showed dressage golden girl Charlotte Dujardin of Great Britain getting after a horse with a longe whip in a private leson made headlines across the world, with the revelation artfully timed for maximum impact before the Paris Olympics. The resulting furor underlined once again the need for horse sports everywhere to get ahead on the issue of social license to operate.
British Dressage, which came out with a Charter for the Horse a year ago, is “determined to use the events of this year as a positive catalyst for change,” BD Chief Executive Jason Brautigam announced. An Equine Welfare Action Plan is the core of BD’s strategy for the next four-years up to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
Could it serve as a template for other countries to use in elevating and insuring how horse welfare is handled in all disciplines? Take a look at this summation and decide for yourself:
The plan’s focus is on governance, training and education, and also sport development, “fundamental to creating an environment where equine welfare remains paramount above all other considerations. Our primary aim is to promote the highest standards of health and well-being for our equine partners, while demonstrating the harmonious relationship that can be achieved between horse and rider through dressage.”
The goal is to insure “a long-term and sustainable future” for the sport, with a transparent approach to equine welfare at BD competition and training events. Members are encouraged to report any breaches they may have witnessed, so BD can investigate. A pillar of that approach is effective reporting for all welfare-related incidents, including eliminations and warnings issued by officials, with a framework in place to support the training and education for repeat offenders.
Disciplinary procedures will include the issuing of formal warnings for minor offenses, to encourage best practice at all times, while more serious breaches now have a clearly defined framework for the range of sanctions that apply.
A Welfare and Officials Officer will act as the initial point of contact for escalating any welfare-related issues, supported by the Sport Operations Manager and Training and Education Manager, to ensure that there is an integrated approach across the organization.
The education aspect is designed to ensure that all BD members have access to the training required to improve knowledge and understanding of equine welfare. This will include a range of modules covering the fundamentals of horse care, stable management, correct fitting of tack and equipment, and equine behavioral psychology. Equine welfare will be embedded in all training and development for BD officials and coaches, as well as fully integrated into our ongoing CPD activity.
A Steward Development Program will be part of BD’s commitment to promote and professionalize the role. Longer term, BD also is aiming to establish welfare marshals, who would work in a voluntary capacity to expand the presence of officials at shows.
A new BD Learning Hub incorporates a horse care program for all ages and levels that offers information on stable management, tack, equipment and husbandry. It eventually will include a program of online webinars and workshops focused on equine welfare and equine behavioral psychology.
Meanwhile, BD will work with the FEI and other equestrian governing bodies on a comprehensive review of the sport’s rules. This will include judging systems, content of tests and ways to ensure the recognition and reward for a harmonious partnership that accentuates the horse’s natural way of going. This process will also involve critically assessing the movements required in higher level dressage tests, and the impact of coefficient marks, to consider the demands that these place on horses.
The primary aim of all dressage competition must be to encourage correct riding and training, placing an emphasis on harmony and synchronicity over tension and submission. There will be clearer guidelines for officials on the correct use of aids, tack and equipment. This will help officials assess the input as well as the output, with the goal of rewarding combinations where there is evidence of good training practices and improving the level of consistency in judging.
The BD Sport Development Committee will also be exploring how to adapt rider skills tests to promote correct use of aids, seat, balance and way of going, with the potential for these tests to be used in future to qualify for progression through the levels.
BD emphasizes that members must understand their obligations and exemplify these values in their own actions. Chief Executive, Jason Brautigam commented: “It is our collective responsibility to ensure that we maintain the highest standards of equine health, care and well-being. To achieve this, we must all consider our own values, attitudes and behaviors, whether that involves looking after horses at home, training them in preparation for competition, or riding in the arena.
“We all have a role to play when it comes to equine welfare, from officiating at a show to watching as a spectator –- we can no longer be passive bystanders.”
