by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 1, 2020
It is truly the end of an era. Lt. Col. John Russell, the last of America’s influential cavalry veterans, passed away at his home in Texas Sept. 30 The world’s oldest living Olympic medalist was 100 years, 7 months and 28 days.
He likely was the last student of the legendary Brig. Gen. Harry Chamberlin in the Army’s equitation course before mechanization put an end to it.
The colonel, a show jumper, was the first non-German to win the Hamburg Derby–doing it on the American-bred quarter horse, Rattler–and rode on the U.S. bronze medal team at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952.
He also was part of the team that took the Nations Cups in Lucerne, Switzerland, and Dublin. As an individual, he won the puissance in Dublin, as well as the Prize of Paris in 1949.
Col. Russell eventually was put in charge of the U.S. Modern Pentathlon Training Center, serving as a mentor and inspiration to scores of athletes over 80 years.
John Russell, second from left, met at the Helsinki Olympics with Capt. Antonio Reimao and Maj. Fernando Paes of Portugal and Sgt. 1st Class Norman Brinker of the USA.
Gretchen Ornia Pacher, who owns Palermo Show Stable in Bedminster with her husband, Osvaldo, rode with Col. Russell during her junior years in San Antonio, along with her younger sister, Kate Bauer, and best friend, Gayle Cox.
His students always called their instructor “Colonel,” even though his army days were long behind him. Gretchen noted, “Colonel really never stopped teaching, he loved this sport so much that he taught as long as he could up through his final years.
Col. Russell behind the desk at his office in San Antonio.
He was, she said, “a kind man who loved our sport and all aspects of it. His teaching methods made riders think and problem-solve for themselves. One famous line in lessons was Come again,' which basically meant,`Think about the jump or exercise you just did and try it again.’ No elaborate explanations, just think and give it another try.”
Col. Russell served in World War II as a member of Gen. George Patton’s staff, selected because of his equestrian skills–you’ll remember that Patton was quite a horseman himself–and earned a Bronze Star, the Soldier’s Medal and a Purple Heart. After the war, he was named to the U.S. Olympic team for the 1948 London Games, part of the last U.S. equestrian delegation chosen from the U.S. Army. Col. Russell finished 21st in individual jumping on Air Mail.
Once the Army equestrian team was disbanded, Col. Russell was selected for the first civilian U.S. equestrian team in 1952. At the Games in Helsinki that year, he won team jumping bronze on Democrat alongside Arthur McCashin (Miss Budweiser) and Bill Steinkraus (Hollandia).
At the 1951 National Horse Show, John Russell rode the Italian thoroughbred Blue Devil to win the Royce A. Drake Memorial Challenge Trophy, donated to the show by the 1948 U.S. Army Horse Show Team. Blue Devil also evented. (Photo by Budd)
In 1956, Col. Russell became the officer in charge of the U.S. Modern Pentathlon Training Center at Fort Sam Houston,Texas. Over the subsequent decades, he coached the U.S. modern pentathlon delegations at six Olympic Games, where his athletes won six medals. His teams were also winners in the world championships. He helped organize the 1959 and 1977 World Modern Pentathlon Championships, and organized the modern pentathlon at the 1959 Pan American Games.
Olympic eventing medalist Jim Wofford, who was assigned to the pentathlon stables while he was in the Army, remembered that his father, Col. John Wofford, the first president of the U.S. Equestrian Team, was Col. Russell’s coach. In an interesting twist of fate, Col. Russell in turn became Jim’s coach.
Jim recalled that Col. Russell offered, “such an unusual mixture. His foundational riding was completely and thoroughly technically correct. And yet his training and teaching were entirely based on intuition.
“What made him special was his extraordinary ability to understand the horse’s capabilities, to understand the rider’s capabilities and to understand how to get the rider to maximize the horse’s capabilities That is not a function of keeping the straight line from the elbow to the horse’s mouth.”
Jim also cited the colonel’s “come again” technique, that helped enable riders to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it.
Even though Col. Russell was no longer in the service when Jim was riding for him, he still had the clout of a commanding officer, “because whatever he said around the stables went.”
Gretchen recalled Col. Russell as “a friendly man who loved conversation. He and my father, Dr. Charles Bauer, would have lengthy conversations even after we were no longer clients. We often visited Colonel when we’d all go home to Texas for Thanksgiving. He was always interested in the horses Osvaldo and I would find in Argentina.
“In a sense, I can thank Colonel for my marriage. Col. Russell was the one who presented the invitation to my sister for the international junior jumper competition where Osvaldo and I met.
“Colonel was a phenomenal rider himself. Apart from being an Olympic medalist, he was a stylish rider with a knack for winning.
“There are thousands of stories about Col. Russell. He touched so many people’s lives, not only the riders he taught, but their families as well. He will be remembered as a wonderful and hard-working man who lived a full and productive life.” Due to Covid, there currently is not a planned service. He will be laid to rest at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery with family present.
“Next time I visit my father’s grave there, I will definitely stop and pay my respects to this very important man in my life. I look forward to an announcement of a celebration of his life in the future. I’m sure his friends and family will do one, once we can all gather again.”
Col. Russell on Democrat at the 1952 Olympics.
Col. Russell received many awards in recognition of his importance to the sport, including the Pegasus Medal of Honor from the U.S. Equestrian Federation and the Gold Medal of Honor from the UIPM, modern pentathlon’s international federation. He was inducted into the U.S. Show Jumping Hall of Fame in 2001 and the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the FEI in 2010.
After retiring from coaching, he ran the Russell Equestrian Center in San Antonio, where his sons carried on his legacy and trained the next generation of champions.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation or USA Modern Pentathlon.
British sailor Jasper Blackall, also 100, is now the oldest living Olympic medalist.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 30, 2020
There will be a hunter/jumper/equitation show at Duncraven in Titusville, Mercer County, Oct. 11 to raise money for Kevin Babington, who was paralyzed in August 2019 when his horse fell in a grand prix.
The show, which debuted last year, offers raffles and sales of items from bandannas to bows that will benefit Kevin and his family as he continues his rehabilitation.,
Kevin’s hard-working wife, Dianna, says that as often as possible, Kevin goes to NeroFit 360 Physical Therapy in Florida, which we are told is his best chance to get moving.
Over the last year, he has made some recovery in movement of his right arm and toes on both feet. He has started to feel areas in his body that went silent after the accident.
As Dianna noted, “The therapists tell us `if you want to get out of the chair you must get out of the chair.’ The work he does is hard for him. It’s painful and exhausting, but he never gives up. He is still a true athlete.”
She added the costs are high to give Kevin the best chance to recover as much as possible. The Kevin Babington Foundation helps tremendously but the Kevin Babington Trust money keeps everything going so he can focus on improving his quality of life and getting out of that wheelchair.
Raffle and silent auction donations are still being accepted. Click on the link below to see Kevin working hard at his physical therapy.
https://www.facebook.com/100001071221248/videos/pcb.3449083931803947/3449083281804012/
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 16, 2020
Reacting to the Eventing Nation website’s “attack” on the use of the name Plantation Field for the major eventing series in Unionville, Pa., property owner Cuyler Walker announced today that he is cancelling the lease of his land for the competitions.
The Plantation Field International Horse Trials, where competition begins tomorrow, will continue through the weekend, but Denis Glaccum, president of Plantation Field Equestrian Events, said he and Walker “will not accept censoring of our First Amendment rights.”
Eventing Nation had cited the “troubling associations inherent in the name Plantation Field. Specifically, the word `plantation.’ ”
In an editorial, the website maintained that “Asking people of color to come visit, to spectate, volunteer, or compete, at a place called Plantation is insensitive at best and works against our efforts to implement more diversity in the sport.”
At the same time, it also was noted that no one associated with the event had an objective to offend with use of the name. And Eventing Nation pointed out Plantation Field proceeds benefited Work to Ride, a program for disadvantaged urban youths that offers them an opportunity to ride and work with horses.
Then after learning today that Walker was cancelling the lease, Eventing Nation posted this message: “The loss of this event is a significant one for our sport. Our intention was to open a discussion, guided by the governing organizations, to make sure diverse BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) would be welcomed and included in every area of eventing.
“We are deeply saddened that the property owner has chosen this path rather than join us in an open discussion about inclusivity as it reflects on the name of this iconic venue.”
Eventing Nation’s editor, Leslie Wylie, did not return a call seeking further comment.
A storm erupted on social media this afternoon with word about why the lease was being cancelled, during a year when many events–including U.S. Eventing’s own American Eventing Championships–were not held as a result of the pandemic.
The U.S. Eventing board decided in a recent meeting that it would not use the name Plantation Field in media releases or write-ups of the event. Glaccum contended the organization’s investigation found just two people who were offended by the name, neither were from the area.
Board member Doug Payne, who did not attend that meeting, called the situation “demoralizing.”
He is, he said, “Absolutely dismayed with actions that have led to the removal of the venue and I think it’s a massive detriment to the sport going forward.”
Payne sent a letter to the USEA board, suggesting it should do “some serious looking inward. I think they need to about-face on this. They’re tasked with growing the sport and right now, and we’re cutting it down.
“Clearly, I want no exclusionary policies; you don’t want people getting pushed away. The impact here is a massive negative and I’m obviously disappointed between the USEA and Eventing Nation with their actions that led to this.”
The USEA CEO Rob Burk and its president, Max Corcoran, apparently took Payne’s advice, issuing a statement on Sept. 17 saying: “Having this historic competition close isn’t the right result for the sport, and the USEA is working hard to find a solution. The organizer and landowners operate exceptional events on a beautiful piece of land.”
Having seen the light, they noted, “We are deeply sensitive to the history of the word ‘plantation’ and its connection to slavery; however, this property has no known connections to slavery (the emphasis is mine) and was instead named after ‘plantings’ on the property.
“We understand that neither the organizer nor the landowners have ever intended to cause any discomfort related to the name of the event and to imply otherwise is a disservice to our organizers, landowners, and our sport. The USEA does not have the ability to require an event to change its name as we are required to carry the US Equestrian licensed name of the competition on our calendar of events. However, we are hopeful that an acceptable solution to this issue can be reached.”
Meanwhile,some of Eventing Nation’s sponsors dropped off in the fall-out of the lease cancellation. The website said itwill be donating the vacated spaces to organizations doing good work in the equestrian world.
Prior to the issuance of the USEA’s statement, Glaccum said he was “extremely disappointed in the lack of leadership at the national level in dealing with this situation. This event welcomes riders from elementary to the 4* level at multiple competitions at the local, national and international level each year. It is also local to numerous professional riders including several Olympians. The loss of Plantation Field will be a huge loss to the entire equestrian community.”
So how did the iconic venue get its name?
In the 1930s, Plunket Stewart, who had purchased the land in the early 20th century, allowed the Boy Scouts to plant hedges and trees there. The dictionary defines the word “Plantation” as “an area in which trees have been planted”. Colonial Pennsylvania considered properties less than 100 acres to be a farm, while more than that up to 1,000 acres was a plantation.
And what did the property have to do with slavery? Nothing, as was pointed out in the USEA statement. So why wasn’t that obvious in the first place?
Ironically, considering the current circumstances, the Unionville area is historically a Quaker community. The Quakers were one of the earliest abolitionist groups and fought against slavery. This area was also part of the Underground Railroad.
“What will other events think?” Glaccum wondered about the issue, which first arose in June. “This is how you treat someone?”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 16, 2020
There are still plenty of horses in the New Vernon section of Morris County’s Harding Township, but in an earlier era, the area really could be called horse country without any exaggeration.
It was the original home of the Spring Valley Hounds, founded in 1915 and now based in the wider-open spaces of northwest New Jersey’s Sussex and Warren counties.
The Spring Valley Hounds meeting at Tyvan Hill.
But anyone who has ridden in New Vernon over the years or still enjoys the bridle paths will appreciate a visit to Tyvan Hill, which for many years hosted Spring Valley’s Thanksgiving Day hunt. The stone building is open to the public until October 4 as the designer show house and gardens of Mansion in May, cleverly rechristened Splendor in September after it was postponed due to the pandemic.
A fundraiser presented by the Women’s Association for Morristown Medical Center, it features rooms re-created with the imagination of a variety of designers. There are some horsey notes–a wide-ranging mural by Cindy Gelormini, known as the “Paint Diva of New Jersey” offers her interpretation of the hunt meeting at Tyvan Hill in decades past. It starts on the second floor and winds down along the stairs to the first floor, where she depicted a horse sticking out his head over the Dutch door of his stall.
This horse sculpture welcomes guests to Tyvan Hill.
Greeting you in the courtyard is a life-size horse sculpture (you can buy it for $8,000 after the showcase ends, if someone hasn’t already spoken for it). The entire ballroom, designated as the history room, is devoted to information on the property and its owners.
There are photos of the hunt and that classic Morris County Bridle Path Association map featuring a poem around the outside exhorting readers to “go forth and ride and ride.”
Unique wallpaper from the 1940s in the sales office features jockeys and racehorses.
Mansion in May, a fundraiser held every two or three years to benefit the medical center, was derailed by Covid restrictions. Many events all over the country were cancelled in the wake of the virus, but those behind this one weren’t giving up.
“We were so committed for two reasons,” said co-chair Kathleen Ross (whose mother-in-law, Margaret Ross, rode with Spring Valley).
“One, it was because it was for the hospital. (Funds raised go toward the facility’s Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute).
“We had the blessing of the hospital,” she continued, noting the medical center sent staff, including the heads of risk management and nursing, to walk through as organizers explained their Covid safety protocol. The hospital personnel gave the seal of approval for the plans of how to stay safe with social distancing and masks.
And reason number two?
“We had to do it because every one of those designers stuck with us,” explained Kathleen.
“When we closed in March, they were between 40 and 50 percent done with their rooms. When we got the blessing from the hospital and things were okay in New Jersey, we said, `That’s it, we’re doing it.’ On July 21, we sent an email to all of them and said `Come back.’ On Aug. 21, they were finished.” The show house opened Sept. 8.
Tyvan Hill
Pat O’Connor, co-chair, said a corporation is the current owner of the property, noting it is now for sale with eight acres and glorious views for $2.975 million.
Designed in the late 1920s by the architectural firm of Peabody, Wilson & Brown, known for their work on “large country residences,” Tyvan Hill is reminiscent of a little Downton Abbey. There’s even a section of the building once used for servants. The call buttons for each room are still on the wall in the servants’ quarters.
The 10,000-square-foot house was built for decorated World War I and II veteran John Castles Jr. and his wife, Dorothea, a daughter and granddaughter of Vermont governors. Other owners included Douglas Bowman Weed and Donald Cushing McGraw Jr. of the McGraw-Hill publishing company. The last family to live in the house was headed by Revlon President Sol Levine.
There is much more to learn from a visit to the ballroom/history room, and one can easily spend half of a delightful day touring Tyvan Hill and its gardens.
For information and tickets, go to www.mansioninmay.org.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 14, 2020
The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association, the last of the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s affiliates in the Olympic disciplines to make a decision about what to do with their annual meeting, has gone the same route as the U.S. Dressage Federation and U.S. Eventing.
Its board decided tonight that as Covid concerns continue, the organization will hold its December convention virtually, rather than in person in Washington State. The USEF also will stage its January convention and Horse of the Year Awards virtually, rather than in Austin, Texas, as planned.
A poll as to whether the meeting should be held live drew 153 respondents, with half saying they would feel comfortable attending a live convention. Several of the USHJA board members, however, said they wouldn’t attend an in-person indoor convention under the current circumstances. Board member Joe Dotoli pointed out during the meeting that this week’s New England Equitation Championship in Massachusetts got pushback about being indoors and as a result will be held outdoors, where the virus is deemed less transmissible.
It was mentioned during the board meeting that on the plus side, a virtual session may attract bigger numbers than an in-person gathering, because those who don’t have the time or money to attend a live meeting may take advantage of the opportunity to participate on line.
The virtual format, to run Nov. 30-Dec. 11, will enable everyone to express their thoughts and the time frame allows for multiple sessions.. USHJA Executive Director Kevin Price expects a higher level of participation than usual under the virtual format, noting some organizations report having double and triple the responses that they had when their meetings were live.
The nominating committee put forward the name of USHJA President Mary Babick for another four-year term. As the nomination process wound down, the panel narrowed candidates to Mary and one other person, who eventually was deemed to lack sufficient governance experience to move forward. As the only candidate, Mary’s election was assured and accomplished.
Mary Babick
Mary, a Middletown resident, outlined three main goals. The first involves getting USHJA its own information technology system. The second deals with competition and education.
Mary noted the business is “lopsided, with most of the eggs in the competition basket. We can’t always rely on competition to be there for us.” We have learned that the hard way during Covid.
She also is focused on outreach and growth of the sport, trying to “build a bridge into the unrecognized world.” As Mary pointed out, “the wider the base, the stronger the sport will be.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 1, 2020
Texan Col. John Russell is now the oldest living Olympic medalist. The colonel, a show jumper, was on the U.S. bronze medal team at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952.
Col. Russell, who turned 100 in February, assumed the honor following the death of Swedish runner Folke Alnevik last month.
John Russell, second from left, met at the Helsinki Olympics with Capt. Antonio Reimao and Maj. Fernando Paes of Portugal and Sgt. 1st Class Norman Brinker of the USA.
Col. Russell served in World War II as a member of Gen. George Patton’s staff, selected because of his equestrian skills, and earned a Bronze Star, the Soldier’s Medal and a Purple Heart. After the war, he was named to the U.S. Olympic team for the 1948 London Games, part of the last U.S. equestrian delegation chosen from the U.S. Army. Col. Russell finished 21st in individual jumping on Air Mail.
After the Army equestrian team was disbanded, Col. Russell was selected for the first civilian U.S. equestrian team in 1952. At the Games in Helsinki that year, he won team jumping bronze on Democrat alongside Arthur McCashin (Miss Budweiser) and Bill Steinkraus (Hollandia).
In 1956, Col. Russell became the officer in charge of the U.S. Modern Pentathlon Training Center at Fort Sam Houston,Texas. Over the subsequent decades, he coached the U.S. modern pentathlon delegations at six Olympic Games, where his athletes won six medals, and 22 world championships. He helped organize the 1959 and 1977 World Modern Pentathlon Championships, and organized the modern pentathlon at the 1959 Pan American Games.
Col. Russell received the Pegasus Medal of Honor from the U.S. Equestrian Federation and the Gold Medal of Honor from the UIPM, modern pentathlon’s international federation. He was inducted into the U.S. Show Jumping Hall of Fame in 2001 and the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the FEI in 2010.
Since retiring, he has run the Russell Equestrian Center in San Antonio, where he and his sons carry on his legacy and train the next generation of champions.
British sailor Jasper Blackall is now the second-oldest living Olympic medallist and also 100, having been born in July 1920. American canoeist John Lysak, who competed at Berlin 1936, is currently the oldest living Olympian in the world at 106.
The oldest living Olympic champion is Hungary’s former gymnast Ágnes Keleti, who won 10 Olympics medals in the 1950s including five golds.He is 99.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 26, 2020
Heading west from Oldwick to Illinois for the Dressage Festival of Champions last week, Alice Tarjan had her own little wagon train. She was hauling four horses herself, while two were shipped commercially.
Asked about the challenge of dealing with half a dozen mounts at the six-day U.S. Equestrian Federation national championship, she acknowledged, “It was exhausting.”
But worth it. Her string came home with two championships and three reserves in an all-hands-on deck effort.
“It was a lot of work,” she acknowledged in a masterpiece of understatement, noting how her husband, Dennis Sargenti, pitched in, along with friend and fellow competitor, Lauren Chumley of Pittstown, groom Debbie Altland; trainer Marcus Orlob and his crew, as well as various other people who stepped up when needed.
Alice, Marcus and Abby Fodor of Bloomsbury made a mark for New Jersey at HITS’ Lamplight Equestrian Center with standout championship and reserve performances during the competition, which drew 175 entries from across the country.
With the Covid situation, Alice initially wasn’t sure about making the trek, but Marcus talked her into it, saying, “You need to go, the horses need the ring time.”
A mark of 88.400 percent won the first four-year-old class for Alice’s homebred mare Gjenganger, followed by Marcus second and third on Flambeau (88.220) and Alice’s stallion Glory Day (81.400). She’s handed Glory over to Marcus because “he’s more horse than I want to ride. It’s a fun horse to watch.”
Alice Tarjan and Gjenganger, her four-year-old champion. Photo © 2020 SusanJStickle.com
Glory, who like Gjenganger is by 2014 Danish Warmblood Society champion stallion Grand Galaxy Win, was first with an 88.400 in the second class, where the mare was second on 85.400. But Gjenganger’s cumulative score took the tricolor for the division’s championship honors, leaving Glory as reserve.
Commenting on her chestnut protege, Alice said, “She’s been very easy to bring along, she’s naturally talented.”
Although the mare was sent out to get started under saddle, Alice has done all the work on her since then. It’s unusual for her to be riding a homebred; she buys most of her horses after watching them on videos, and her competition record makes it obvious she knows what she’s looking at.
Donatella M won the Developing Grand Prix for Alice with a score of 71.708 on the final day, while her stallion, Harvest, took the reserve honors in that section with 70.208.
Alice Tarjan and Donatella M. (Photo © 2020 SusanJStickle.com)
That mare is a 9-year-old, “a little further along than Harvest,” said Alice, noting she put in basically a clean test on both days at the Festival.
“The changes took a long time for her to understand. I think I brought her to four different trainers to help me get the changes on her. It’s a credit to her rideability that she actually figured it out. She really works for you, she really tries.
“Harvest is really, really green. He’s only eight. We just brought him for ring experience,” Alice continued, noting he was focused on breeding duties in the spring.
“I’m thrilled with the result. It’s not what we were expecting. He doesn’t get worried about the work, but he can be a little spooky and the environment can be a little bit of an issue sometimes, so we really did want to get him some exposure. Once he goes down centerline now, he’s been very workmanlike about it. I love training horses, you have to figure out how to explain to the horse what you want. That’s the fun of it.”
Summersby II, second in the Five-Year-Old Young Horse division, was second in the Four-Year-Old section last year.
“I was happy to repeat. She’s going to be a fantastic Grand Prix horse, fun to bring along,” Alice predicted about the Oldenburg mare, who earned 80.400 percent in the final.
Alice won the FEI Grand Prix on Candescent (71.478 percent), but didn’t get a shot at the championship because the mare was eliminated under the blood rule from both the Special and Freestyle after she bit her tongue and a little blood showed. It was especially a shame because Candescent, who can be challenging at times was “fantastic. She was fighting on my side,” said Alice.
Candescent won the Grand Prix. Photo © 2020 SusanJStickle.com
While the eliminations were disappointing, the rider noted, “I’m a big proponent of the blood rule.
“Zero tolerance is the way to go,” added Alice, who is a lawyer. If the rule isn’t zero tolerance, she asked, “where do you draw the line?”
Although the “no spectators” mandate was in effect, as it has been at all USEF competitions since they resumed in June after a Covid break, Alice said there were so many divisions at the show “it had a championship feel to it.” Marcus noted for the young horses, however, relatively quiet surroundings were a plus.
Marcus, after being a reserve champion at the Festival twice, finally got his blue cooler for the Six-Year-Old championship on Spirit of Joy by Sir Calypso. Owned by Jeanette Pinard, who also owns the four-year-old Flambeau, he earned 86.800 percent in the final with the only horse in the class to break the 80 percent mark.
After the class, Christine Traurig, the U.S. dressage young horse coach, suggested he take Spirit of Joy to Germany in December for the World Championship for Young Dressage Horses. The competition was moved from August to the end of the year because of Covid.
Marcus Orlob and Spirit of Joy. Photo © 2020 SusanJStickle.com
“It’s so hard to make plans with this whole situation, especially for the young horses,” said Marcus about the pandemic, noting he had competed the horse only three times before the championship.
“I feel like he’s doing everything right,” Marcus said about the Westfalen gelding.
During his first season in Florida, Marcus came to the attention of Steffen Peters when the Olympic medalist worked with him in a demonstration clinic at the Global Dressage Forum North America in West Palm Beach seven years ago. Steffen urged him to become a U.S. citizen, thinking he could have a future with the team.
Marcus Orlob at the 2013 Global Dressage Forum where he was “discovered” by Steffen Peters. (Photo © 2013 by Nancy Jaffer)
Marcus wants to ride with the U.S. squad in an international championship, and emphasized Spirit’s owner has been very supportive.
“Jeannette would love to be part of the dream to go to an international event,” said Marcus, calling her “fantastic,” and noting she already turned down an offer for the horse.
“At the moment, I feel he’s doing everything right,” Marcus said of Spirit.
“The main goal is to bring him up to the Grand Prix. I just started with baby half-steps, the beginning of passage. Now it’s just a question of how well he will do it. At the moment, he does everything I hope for. The long-term goal would be the Olympics and World Championships.”
Marcus was thrilled by Alice’s invitation to ride Glory in the Four-Year-Old division. He admires what she has done.
“She can fill a whole U.S. team herself. She has so many fantastic horses coming up right now. She has a very good eye and is really good with the young horses.”
Of their collaboration he said, “I feel like we have a very good partnership going on. I give her credit, she’s so focused and tries 120 percent. At the moment, it works really great with us.”
He is a fan of Gjenganger.
“You can already see the power and swing in the trot and canter. Later on, the passage work will be huge for that horse and on top of that, she’s a beautiful mare. Wow, that she bred the horse, it’s like hitting the jackpot.”
Speaking of Jeannette and Alice he noted, “It’s great to have those two backing me up.”
Marcus and his wife, Shannon, met at Warendorf, the German national training center, when Marcus was getting his rider/trainer certification. The couple runs Elite Expression in Annandale.
While Marcus went to college for interior design and thought he would end up working in his family’s funeral home business, he wound up opting for horses. He rode with German trainer Hubertus Schmidt and Johan Zagers, coach of the Brazilian Olympic team.
Abby Fodor, who trains with Heather Mason, marked her last year in the pony division by taking the Pony Rider championship after finishing first in the team test on Slip and Slide with a score of 70.238. She was third in the individual test with 66.216, but topped the charts with her overall score. Since Heather didn’t come to Illinois, Abby worked at the show with former U.S. Dressage Federation President George Williams.
Abby Fodor and her former western reining pony Slip and Slide were champions at the Festival. Photo © 2020 SusanJStickle.com
Her 14.2-hand quarter horse/Halflinger cross was a Canadian western reining pony she bought sight unseen from someone who got him at an auction and started him in dressage.
When he arrived in New Jersey, the first time Abby laid eyes on him she saw a “fat little hairy pony, we didn’t know how he was going to work. Then I rode him, then I loved him.”
This was the pony’s third time competing at the Festival, where the duo won the children’s championship in 2017. In 2018, Abby and “Slide” picked up the reserve championship in the pony division.
The pony ranks aren’t the last stop for the 16-year-old chestnut. Abby, a 16-year-old junior at Immaculata High School in Somerville, has shown him at Prix St. Georges, and thinks PSG/I-1 “is his max.”
Whatever happens, he has a home forever at Abby’s family farm, where she takes care of him herself.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 20, 2020
Kip Rosenthal, a successful hunter and jumper rider who became a top trainer and respected mentor, died today after a long illness. She was 69.
Her sister, Jo Michaels, noted that Kip “loved her career of over 50 years working with horses and their people. In turn, the people loved her for the inspiration and knowledge that she imparted to them.”
Kip Rosenthal and Goodboy Dee (Photo courtesy of Jo Michaels)
Kip, based in Wellington, Fla., was very well-educated, holding a bachelor of science degree, two masters degrees and a doctorate in adolescent clinical psychology. Her riding resume was just as distinguished. As a junior, her Good Boy Dee was National Junior Hunter Champion, while her Rome Dome was National Junior Jumper Champion Horse of the Year, then went on to become her grand prix jumper on the U.S. Equestrian Team.
In 1985, she opened her training barn, Benchmark Farms. Her students won all of the national equitation finals. Many of the riders and horses with whom she worked went on to win Horse of the Year in several divisions. As an R-rated judge, she officiated at all the national equitation finals and served on numerous U.S. Equestrian Federation committees.
Recently, her focus had been sports psychology, working with juniors, amateurs and professional athletes in many disciplines. Kip’s first book, Kip’s Tips, was just published. Over the years, she has written articles that have appeared in publications such as The Chronicle of the Horse, Practical Horseman, and Equestrian.
As Jo, observed, “Kip has always been admired and loved by her colleagues for her great ability as a rider, instructor and friend. Her honesty and willingness to share her knowledge was known by all her associates.
“Kip has left her family, dogs, and friends for a period of time, but has always believed it is only a temporary separation,” said Jo, who was very important to her, along with Jo’s husband, Jerry Michaels; her first born niece, Lauren Lary; Lauren’s husband, Jon and their children, Ethan and Anna, and her dearest second niece, Abby Lowe. Also missing her is her best friend of 46 years, Dale Huebner.
Steve Price, a longtime friend who rode with Kip, noted that she “didn’t teach her students to ride: she taught us how to learn to ride. Learning to ride was our responsibility, with Kip ever ready, willing and able to provide the necessary tools, correct us whenever needed and applaud our accomplishments.
“One of Kip’s favorite images was `sponge.’ She prized students who were eager to soak up information. Indeed, Kip often said that she could easily spend the rest of her professional life not seeking the glory of horse-show competition, but alone in a ring with a horse and a `sponge’ of a rider on its back.”
Arrangements for services are pending. Contributions may be made in Kip’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 33105 or to Guiding Eyes for the Blind, 611 Granite Springs Rd. Yorktown Heights, NY 10598.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 17, 2020
The Morven Park Fall Horse Trials in Virginia Oct.2-4 has cancelled its plans to hold FEI divisions, including the CCI 4-star Long that it was offering for the first time. It will only present national divisions.
The problem with the FEI competition was, as usual these days, COVID-19 concerns, including the additional cost of safety measures. A record number of competitors, volunteers, and officials were expected to attend from around the United States and other countries. Additionally, inaugural CCI2*YH-S and CCI3*YH-S levels had been planned to showcase up-and-coming horses.
“This decision was about safety,” according to the park’s executive director, Sheryl Williams. “Running an event of this scale is difficult, but to try to host FEI levels during a global pandemic proved to be too taxing on our resources and too risky for everyone’s health. This adjusted format allows us to move forward with competition and provide a great weekend of eventing.”
In addition to the Morven Park Fall Horse Trials, the 2020 calendar has been expanded to include the Morven Park Winter Horse Trials, scheduled for November 14–15, 2020. Beginner Novice through Preliminary competition will be offered.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 10, 2020
Cleaning out your tack room or closet? Donations are being taken for tack sales at Mane Stream and Riding with HEART, two organizations involved with therapeutic riding.
Riding with HEART’s fall tack sale Oct. 24-25 at 639 Route 513 in Pittstown will accept a variety of items for the horse, rider, barn or farm, English or Western.
Bring your donations to the farm from 10 a.m.-3 pm. Mondays-Fridays or Noon-3 p.m. Saturdays. Call (908) 735-5912 before you come to the farm to donate. Email tacksale@ridingwithheart.org to schedule a different drop-off time or a pickup for a big donation within an hour’s drive. All donations are tax deductible. Proceeds benefit Riding with HEART’s 501(c)(3) program and horses.
The sale will be socially distanced, and is going to be held rain or shine, except in extreme weather. Shopping hours are 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday Oct. 24 and Noon-3 p.m. Oct. 25, with most items half-price.
Mane Stream in Oldwick, a center for adaptive riding and therapy services, is seeking donations of new and gently used tack or horse related items for its fall tack sale Nov. 1 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Drop off unwanted bridles, saddles, blankets and tack boxes as well as out-grown boots, breeches, jackets and any horse related jewelry, models or knick-knacks.
Seven months into the pandemic, Mane Stream is only able to provide programs to a fraction of its regular participants. This means the facility’s earned income has been drastically reduced. Mane Stream needs support more than ever to ensure it survives the pandemic strong and able to serve all the children and adults with special needs who rely on its programs and horses.
All donations can be dropped off at the stable at 83 Old Turnpike Rd., Oldwick, during office hours. To make a donation or get the answers to your questions, contact Jen Dermody at jen@manestreamnj.org, 908-439-9636 or visit the website at www.ManeStreamNJ.org
Mane Stream is a 501c3 non-profit registered charitable organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals with physical, developmental, emotional and medical challenges through a diverse program of equine-assisted activities, therapy services and educational initiatives. Mane Stream is designated as a Premier Accredited Center of PATH, Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International, which provides education, accreditation and resources for the equine-assisted activities industry.
