by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 26, 2024
Representatives from national federations and stakeholder groups (including athletes, officials, organizers, trainers, and veterinary experts) will meet Oct. 1 under the banner of the FEI to embark on a comprehensive long-term strategy for dressage to ensure its sustainability and growth.
The focus will address the challenges impacting dressage, while providing an opportunity to update the community on current and upcoming research and development initiatives, including a study of the oral cavity (otherwise known as the mouth.)
“While the FEI fully recognizes the challenges currently facing the discipline of dressage and has worked to address issues as they have arisen, the primary focus in recent months has been on delivering key events, as well as a successful Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris 2024, which has required considerable attention and resources,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos explained.
“Our goal now is to collaborate closely with all our stakeholders to address the challenges facing dressage. While many in our community recognzse the urgency of the situation, others may not yet fully grasp the critical juncture at which equestrian sport currently stands.
“While the FEI is committed to seeking collective solutions and fostering consensus wherever possible, the safety and well-being of our horses remain our top priority. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that dressage is a discipline where the sport is conducted in a manner that focuses on the horse’s comfort.”
He added, “As the governing body, the FEI is prepared to take the necessary decisions to ensure that we are living up to our promise to ‘Be a Guardian’ for our equine partners, and to improve the standards of safety and care in our sport. We have shown in recent months that the FEI is ready to step in and take decisive action when the need arises.
“As the sport evolves, we must adapt and find effective solutions to current challenges. Our success depends on the community’s willingness to approach these issues with an open mind and work together toward common ground.”
The FEI introduced the Be a Guardian initiative in July, which calls upon members of the community to fully commit to their duties as ‘guardians’ of FEI horses.
Be a Guardian is the central message united the community around the FEI Action Plan developed from the recommendations outlined in the final report of the independent Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission.
The term ‘guardian’ marks an evolution in the FEI’s narrative of the horse-human partnership, chosen to better represent the human role in caring for horses and to underscore each individual’s responsibility for ensuring horse welfare.
Key links
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 13, 2024
The tragic death of Chromatic BF at April’s FEI World Cup Show Jumping Final in Saudi Arabia has sparked a three-part U.S. Equestrian Federation welfare initiative, designed to improve the safety and well-being of sport horses.
In the bigger picture, the horse’s passing also may generate a different perspective on veterinary treatment for equines in competition, an opportunity “to make horses in sport be safer and help them be healthier.”
Those are the words of Kc Branscomb, who owned and bred Chromatic, a 13-year-old gelding who was third in the second leg of the Cup in Riyadh. After returning to the stables in good order following his energetic victory lap, the USEF veterinarian injected him with a cocktail of several substances. Minutes later, the horse collapsed and died, leaving his team shocked, distraught and looking for answers.
Branscomb was determined to ensure nothing like that happens to another horse representing the U.S., taking issue with the shot Chromatic received and expressing concern that was the cause of death, even though a necropsy performed at King Faisal University was inconclusive. She did not rest until she got what she was looking for from USEF in terms of addressing what had happened to her horse, what might be the fate of other horses in a similar situation, and making sure it could never happen again.
After the necropsy, USEF originally stated, “The cause of the death was severe diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage and edema, which could be attributed to multiple causes, including disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), cardiopulmonary failure, shock, and exercise-associated fatal pulmonary hemorrhage.”
According to the final report, the administered medications were not identified as the cause of death.
But Branscomb was skeptical after learning Chromatic had received 4 milliliters of Legend, 5 of Adequan, 20 of Traumeel, 20 of arnica and 20 of Selevit, a selenium/vitamin combination.
When she called her own vet, Dr. Jack Snyder, while she was in Riyadh and told him what Chromatic had been given, he said, “Oh, my God. I would never have given that. It doesn’t even work.”
To Branscomb, that showed a big gap in the knowledge of the treating vet who was working for the USEF, so she got busy.
“I love this sport and want to be proud of it,” Branscomb said.
Seeking to avoid any other horse having an end like Chromatic’s, she collaborated with Dr. J.E. Madigan, professor emeritus of the Department of Medicine and Epidemiology at the University of California Davis school of veterinary medicine, who is board certified in the specialty of animal welfare. They engaged with USEF about the matter and on Tuesday, it was announced that Branscomb got what she sought.
In the announcement of the new initiative, the federation acknowledged, “USEF believes the most probable contributor (to Chromatic’s death) is related to medications administered to the horse by a USEF-appointed veterinarian shortly before the horse collapsed. The USEF-appointed veterinarian made the decision to administer FEI-permitted medications that he believed would help sustain the horse’s performance in the days that followed.”
Branscomb acknowledged, “I recognize Chromatic’s tragic death was the unintended consequence of a single veterinarian acting alone without prior consultation of anyone on Chromatic BF’s own team out of a well-intentioned, but mistaken, effort to help the horse prepare for the jumping final to be held two days later.”
She appreciates that “the USEF is taking substantive steps now towards improving sport horse welfare and better protecting all our competition horses.”
Branscomb had lobbied for revisions to the USEF’s Horse Participation Consent Agreement in terms of treatments that can be given without permission to horses representing the U.S. Now, except in an emergency, no medications will be administered to horses by team veterinarians at international competitions without prior consent of the athlete (a rider or driver), who is the person responsible under FEI regulations for substances present in a horse.
The second part of the initiative calls for the federation, in collaboration with American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) veterinarians, to develop a continuing education program for USEF team veterinarians “to ensure they are on the cutting edge of performance sports medicine and horse welfare in areas such as emerging therapies, equine exercise physiology, and pharmacology.”
As well, an education/research program in Chromatic BF’s name will promote a better understanding of sport horse welfare and encourage scientific research to improve the lives and well-being of high-performance equine athletes. USEF has pledged to make a financial contribution to establish a philanthropic fund through the AAEP Foundation in Chromatic BF’s name, which will be used to support research related to caring for sport horses. That will be administered by a committee consisting of USEF CEO Bill Moroney, USEF COO Sonja Keating; Dr. Tracy Turner, president-elect of the AAEP; Dr. Snyder; Dr. Madigan, USEF Chief Veterinary Officer Stephen Schumacher and Olympic show jumping medalist Norman Dello Joio.
Chromatic and Jill Humphrey at the FEI World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Branscomb said she is especially excited about the hand-in-hand collaboration between the senior leadership of the USEF and the incoming leadership of the AAEP.
The new committee has yet to meet, but Turner sees its mission as a great opportunity to make important changes.
“Let’s question everything we do,” he said.
‘Let’s make it a new world.”
In his view, the key question to ask when treating competition horses is, “What do they really need?”
Too often, he pointed out, horses are medicated just to medicate them, without really knowing which medications are needed.
“Let’s reassess all this,” Turner commented
He said this work “is long overdue,” adding he told Branscomb, “I’ve waited 40 years for you to show up.”
As Madigan noted, “After extensive discussions and negotiations with key stakeholders in U.S. sport horse events, we now stand on the brink of a new era. These changes are not just necessary; they are vital to protecting our horses and allowing them to compete safely.”
He called the initiative, “a major leap forward in horse welfare. It’s a new day for equestrian sports—one that prioritizes the health and safety of our equine partners above all else.”
Dello Joio recalled that years ago, one of his horses was medicated at a competition without permission.
He felt the agreement between USEF and horse owners “needed to be updated.”
The initiative, he added, “is the best possible scenario that could come from the death of a horse. It has some meaning and it’s going to go forward in a good way.”
Dello Joio, who won the individual bronze in 1992 at the Barcelona Olympics, recalled that he did have a horse once who got treated by a team vet without his permission.
“I made it clear at that time that if it ever happened again, I would no longer have any association with the team. It happened once and never happened again to me in all my years of showing with the team,” said Dello Joio.
“That was in a different era, and needed to be rethought.”
Keating noted that “Kc’s decision to work collaboratively with USEF and to move forward demonstrates her passion and commitment to the betterment of the lives of performance horses. We are grateful to her for that and look forward to implementing these new initiatives. As the guardian of the sport, horse health and well-being are top priorities for USEF, and these new initiatives align with our mission as a federation.”
Branscomb showed persistence in pursuing what can only be described as justice. Now the committee will help lead the way.
“I wanted people who had boots on the grounds at these shows. I wanted everybody to have a seat at the table to get their out-of-the box solutions on how do we focus the research and get the best information in the hands of the practicing vets, so that the horses that compete under our flag, and all horses, can live healthy, happy lives and be active in sport.”
Branscomb had a mission she was set on accomplishing. And so she did.
“I’m pretty relentless,” she admitted.
“I’m excited about these three initiatives. I feel pretty good about the legacy of my fabulous horse being something we all can be proud of.
“This horse was important to me. The horse deserved this. I had been waiting to get this agreement together before I was willing to put him in the ground,” she noted.
“I have his ashes. I’m satisfied We can lay him to rest in peace. I’m looking forward to burying him here on the farm where he was born.”
Those who wish to contribute to the philanthropic fund can go this link, https://membership.aaep.org/FFTH/Shared_Content/Donation-Pages/Public-In-Memory.aspx, and indicate: Directed Giving Chromatic BF Sporthorse Welfare Fund.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 24, 2024
For three-time Olympian Adrienne Lyle, the Adequan®/USEF Brentina Cup Dressage National Championship has taken on the status of a tradition.
The Cup for riders under 25, is named for the stellar dressage mare ridden by Adrienne’s coach and mentor, Debbie McDonald, who guided Brentina to glory in the FEI World Cup, the Olympics and the World Championships. The competition is meant to be a bridge for young equestrians as they move on to higher levels.
Adrienne won the Cup in 2008, and it’s something toward which she has pointed her students. You might even characterize it as an heirloom for Adrienne’s training operation. Quinn Iverson, who Adrienne took on as a working student, won it twice. Then this weekend, Christian Simonson, whose career Adrienne is guiding, took the honors after a sweep of all three classes leading to the title at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions in Illinois.
“It’s kind of fun to be watched it passed down in the family,” Adrienne commented.
Citing the Cup’s family tree, so to speak, Christian said after taking the title, “I feel truly honored to be among those riders. That’s the biggest feeling I have right now.”
He appreciates the team that Adrienne has put together, thanking groom Nicole Baergen and the others who contribute to the success of the stable..
“It’s truly a team effort and I’m just kind of one part of a really big machine to help something happen,” he said.
Adrienne made her own mark at the show on Sunday, winning the six-year-old championship on Zaunkonig (Blue Horse Zack X DeNiro), who received a mark of 9.2 for his canter. The Westfalian stallion belongs to Heidi Humphries of the Zen Elite Equestrian Center, who also owns Adrienne’s Paris Olympic mount, Helix. Zaunkonig’s winning score in the Six-Year-Old Final Test was 87.600 percent, to 84.800 for MW Mercury, ridden by Charell Garcia.
Christian, 21, was aboard Son of a Lady (Soreldo X Welt Hit II), his team gold medal mount from the Pan American Games last year. At that time, Sonny was a Small Tour horse (and number one in that division’s rankings during 2023). But this year, he has stepped up to Big Tour. He and Christian took the Grand Prix last week with a mark of 68.103 percent, followed up with a win in the Intermediate II (68.030) and capped it with the top mark in Saturday’s Freestyle, 73.675. Second in the division was Josh Albrecht and Goldenboy Vickenburgh.
Christian, who hopes to finish up his on-line college studies this year, is a business major, which should be a big help as he pursues a future with horses. Earlier this month, Christian won the Freestyle at the North American Youth Championships. But he noted, “It’s such a new level for me to compete at and it’s new also for Sonny.”
Christian Simonson and Son of a Lady. (Photo by Avery Wallace for USEF)
“This is really a whole different ballgame, trying to get piaffe/passage and everything on a horse who’s been a career Small Tour horse. It’s a new challenge,” said Adrienne
“I was really happy with him. I think he improved his performance every day,” she mentioned, but noted, “The horse is still green at this level, and the rider as well. They not that long ago were doing the Pan Ams and really focusing just on the Small Tour. When you’re on a senior team like that, you don’t want your horse playing around with one-tempis and accidentally have one in the middle of your Prix St. Georges.”
So Grand Prix training was put on hold in 2023. The focus this year involved staying in the U.S. to improve the skills for that level. Adrienne notes that Christian still has a few more years in the U-25 ranks. She feels “it’s important for him to take advantage of that. If he has a horse going that he can do some of the senior Grand Prix as well, we would take that option. Getting miles in the ring is the goal for him, as well as getting him on young horses,” whether they’re his or belong to others.
He is working with new horses from Zen Elite. Those two, Fleau de Baian and Guinness, are important projects, but he’s still in the “getting to know you” period and thanked Heidi for her vote of confidence and support.
What’s next for Christian in an off-year for championships?
A European trip could happen in 2025, but “we’ve got to see where the chips fall and take it step by step,” said Adrienne.
She added, “it’s really important to keep building the foundation and never jumping ahead too soon. There’s always a temptation when you have a talented horse and a talented rider to maybe push for something before their time. I’ve seen that too many times where either the horse or rider gets in over their head and you have a bad experience.”
She is not tempted, however.
“Making sure you have this foundation of all these experiences and all this knowledge so secure and moving up incrementally, is so important for the horse as well as the rider. Both of them need confidence.”
An illustration of that philosophy is the fact that Christian had 8’s on all the artistic marks in his freestyle set to electric dance music, but degree of difficulty ranged from 7.6 down to 7.1.
“I think we made the freestyle very creative and interesting to watch,” commented Adrienne, who worked on developing the freestyle with Karen Robinson and Christian.
“The horse is still green in his piaffe/passage work so we kept that part of the freestyle very basic and minimal and highlighted more of his strengths. We wanted something that showcases the horse well, but no need to make it so difficult that the horse or rider can’t accomplish it in this moment.”
Christian appreciates the guidance, since he is so committed to dressage.
“It’s the best sport ever. It’s so awesome,” he said, then explained his enthusiasm.
“These big powerful horses that are so beautifully trained. It’s such an amazing technical sport. Every horse can do dressage. You can have a fancy dressage horse or you can have your Shetland pony in the backyard and they both can do dressage to an extent. It’s a very inclusive sport that way.”
Click here for results of the Dressage Festival of Champions
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 18, 2024
It’s been a long road for Aaron Vale and Carissimo 25 this year, winding through Abu Dhabi, Rome, elsewhere in Europe and now Dublin. But he and the brilliant chestnut reached the personal pinnacle of their partnership (so far) with a third-place finish in the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland on Sunday.
Aaron missed the title in the 500,000 Euro class by mere fractions of a second—but was impressive in his performance.
At age 56, Aaron is hitting his stride internationally after long being a winner in competitions around the U.S.
“Aaron’s career has been just outstanding for decades, but to be able to do it on one of the world’s greatest stages, which he did today, and he has this year, is just fantastic and he deserves it,” said U.S. coach Robert Ridland. He mentioned that as Aaron has been getting to know the horse better, the Floridian and his mount have been “going in an upward trajectory.”
Aaron was on the American team Friday that took the Aga Khan trophy for the Nations Cup, then focused on the grand prix with the chestnut Holsteiner owned by the Carissimo Group.
Aaron Vale and Carissimo 25.
Only seven of 40 starters made the tie-breaker. Watching Aaron go from the penultimate fence, a vertical, to the Rolex oxer at the end of the course, it appeared as if he might be able to make the last obstacle in seven strides. But it worked out to eight strides in 38.76 seconds instead, leaving the runner-up spot to Ireland’s Mark McAuley with GRS Lady Amaro (38.74), and victory to the last to go, Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs on Conner Jei (38.69). He is the third Swiss rider since 2017 to win the class.
Martin Fuchs and Conner Jei. (Sportfot)
Asked whether he could have done the last line in seven strides, Aaron said, “I was hoping to, but I think my horse just jumped up in the air a little high at the vertical, and I just didn’t see it (a distance).
“It felt fast; it just wasn’t fast enough today.”
Discussing why he didn’t get the seven, Aaron said, “I’ve been jumping Nations Cups and been a little unlucky. One down in some grands prix, so I’m a little out of practice on the jump-offs. I just needed a jump-off more recent before today to get it done.”
He noted, “I saw Mark go in the jump-off and he laid down quite a track. I pretty much did everything I planned to do in the jump-off. It was our first run on the clock for some time, but I felt like we nailed the course.
“I knew it was close. I thought maybe I’d done enough to catch Mark, but just missed. My horse jumped amazing. Mark and Martin were amazing. What a great day of jumping and what a crowd. I’ve never been to a show like this.”
When the commentator from RTE broadcasting asked about something he saw on Aaron’s shirt, the rider said, “I love my horse,” echoing what was embroidered on his collar.
Only seven of 40 starters made it into the tie-breaker over Alan Wade’s artful course. The last line in the first round – the Rolex triple with two strides between verticals and one stride to an oxer, set four strides before an airy vertical, took the greatest toll, with a turn to the final fence, the chalice oxer, also adding to the total for more than a handful of riders.
The course map for the Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland.
McLain Ward was the second-highest-placed U.S. rider in the class with a rail in the first round to finish thirteenth on Callas. He was a winner the day before, however, taking the 1.5 meter grand prix with Contagious. Virginie Casterman, who works for McLain, won the $5,000 Grooms Award for the Dublin show, courtesy of Karlswood.
The full house of spectators for the Rolex feature cheered for every rider, but was even more enthusiastic about Mark, understandably. He was riding an Amaretto D’Arco mare bred by his uncle, Denis Hickey, and produced by his cousin, Patrick.
“Martin was always going to be the danger,” said Mark, noting that when the Swiss rider was clear in the initial round, “I knew he was going to be last in the jump-off. He was always going to be the one to worry about. I don’t feel Iike I could have done much more.”
Martin Fuchs and Conner Jei, owned by Adolfo Juri and Gerhard Stamer.
He commented about Amaro, “The mare was fantastic. She gave it her all. I’m delighted to finish second in this grand prix. It’s the second time she’s been second. Hopefully, next time she’ll win one.”
Martin, who flew over the last jump, said he knew he could take a risk there because his horse has such a big stride, and that was the place where he could win it.
“It was very tight, because Mark had an incredible round, and also Aaron really put the pressure on me.”
The 0.5-second margin of victory was the narrowest ever in the class. According to EquiRatings, the next-closest was the 0.11 seconds edge for another Swiss, Werner Muff, when he won with Daimler in 2017. Robert Ridland went a bit further and said “Can you imagine the top three in a 5-star grand prix as important as Dublin being separated by 0.07 of a second? That was an amazing jump-off.”
Mark McAuley, Martin Fuchs and Aaron Vale.
Martin said in a sense the victory helped make up for his disappointment at the Olympics with another horse, Leone Jei, where he rode much of the individual final without his left stirrup, and then had the last fence down to miss the jump-off.
“It’s nice to come back to an incredible show like this and be winning a 5-star Rolex grand prix,” said Martin. He was planning to stay an extra day so he could celebrate at the legendary Temple Bar, with “Irish music 24/7.”
(click here for results)
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 17, 2024
Hunt Tosh came from behind with the Wheeler Family’s Cannon Creek to take the Platinum Performance/U.S. Hunter Jumper Association’s International Hunter Derby Championship for the fourth time and make history in the process.
The victory on Saturday was the third for Cannon Creek himself, who won previously in 2021 and 2022. In 2023, he had an unlucky rail.
Cannon Creek was fourth after Friday’s Classic round, with a score of 287.50. But he climbed to the top with a mark of 292.5 in the Handy round at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. His total was 580.
Hunt Tosh and Cannon Creek. (USHJA Photo)
Even though he has won before in the vast Rolex Stadium, Hunt was still thrilled.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Hunt, who collected $45,415.21 for the victory.
“Cannon Creek, I can’t say enough wonderful things about him. He loves this ring.”
When heavy rain and winds hit the Horse Park after two-thirds of the 31 entries had completed their rounds, Hunt was wondering whether the class could even resume. But the weather cleared, things were tidied up and the top group got their opportunity to compete.
Amanda Steege, who won the Classic round with Lafite de Muze on Friday, had a lovely trip in the Handy until she finished and the spectators applauded. Lafite reacted with a spook and a lead change that dropped him from the top of the standings to fifth on 560.50. Their Handy round was scored as 266.50.
Second overall four points back of Hunt was Liza Boyd with Crooks Show Jumping’s Crooner Brimbelles Z (576).
“I started showing him in May,” Liza said, “and John French actually was the first one to ever show him as a hunter. Lauren Crooks had him and is pregnant and said, ‘How about you take him, do him in some derbies, and just do him through Derby [Championships] and then we’ll see, maybe he’ll like that job.’ And he clearly did.”
Scott Stewart finished third with Gochman Ventures’ Daydream (567) and also was the winner of the Tier II segment.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 16, 2024
The prestigious Nations Cup of Ireland on Friday stacked up to be a match between the U.S., which hadn’t won the Aga Khan trophy since 2017 and Ireland, a country with a habit of fielding winning teams this year.
And so it was at the end of the first round in Dublin before a packed (as always) grandstand that both of those nations had 0 faults, though the USA’s total time on course was better, 210.88 seconds to Ireland’s 217.32. The competition was far from over at that point, however. Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland, last year’s winner, were all behind but in reach with 8 penalties, while Britain was further back with 12. But no matter.
What counted would be where they were at the end of the second round for the presentation of the coveted golden trophy by the Lord Mayor of Dublin. The show, which began in 1864, is now part of the Rolex series, which gives it even more glitter.
EquiRatings gave Ireland its top win chance, 18 percent, but ranked the U.S. sixth in that category, with a 10 percent win chance. All of the last 10 winners were in the top two after round one, according to EquiRatings, so that held true.
The route designed by Ireland’s Alan Wade for the class sponsored by The Underwriting Exchange included many tributes to the nation’s history and character: the Ballsbridge wall, the Irish brooch fences, the Celtic crosses standing guard at the next-to-last and the Irish telephone boxes to finish off the display.
The only veteran of the USA’s Olympic silver medal team from earlier this month was anchor rider McLain Ward, but he was on the steady Callas, rather than his Games horse, the more spectacular Ilex.
Spencer Smith impressed on Keeneland not only as the U.S. pathfinder, but also the first in the class to venture out over the emerald green turf, a refreshing vista after all the man-made footing that is generally the rule these days. At age 28, the 2014 USEF Medal Finals winner surely has an even greater future ahead of him. Spencer is ranked no. 118 in the Longines standings, but that will be changing.
Spencer Smith and Keeneland. (US Equestrian photo)
“You want to have a strong rider come out of the box and it tends to be, more and more so, the chefs d’equipe are putting really strong riders to start off with because it takes pressure off those who follow,” said U.S. Coach Robert Ridland.
“We drew post position number one and Spencer said, `I’ll go first.'” And look what he did!”
He would be one of only six double clears in the class eligible for a piece of a 50,000 Euro bonus that was part of the $250,000 total prize money. When you consider that the others included McLain, world number one Henrik von Eckerman of Sweden (Iliana) and 2021 Olympic individual gold medalist Ben Maher of Great Britain (Exit Remo), that’s pretty heady company.
The U.S. flag waves in triumph over the Royal Dublin Society arena.
The difference for Ireland in the final standings was that it had no double clears. Each of its riders put in one fault-free round, and the Nations Cup rule that allows one drop score helped, but an additional fault-free trip by an Irishman would have made the score equal with the U.S. and led to a jump-off. Instead, the U.S. won on 4 penalties, while Ireland had 8 and Britain rose from seventh after the first round to third with a total of 12. Britain has won the Aga Khan trophy the most times, 27, while Ireland has won it 24 times.
On the podium with his team, Robert raised show jumping’s most famous trophy (the Aga Khan was instituted 98 years ago), as each rider touched it.
“I was just talking to (Irish chef d’equipe) Michael Blake. He was pointing out how many times he had beaten us this year,” said Robert.
“I think we got even today.”
The riders were ecstatic over the win.
“It’s an absolute honor to be here. This is probably the best Nations Cup in the world,” said Lucy Davis, who rode Ben 431. Aaron Vale was excited about making his Dublin debut with Carissimo 25.
“I just can’t wait to come back,” he said.
McLain noted, “It was a pressure-packed round on the way in.”
McLain Ward and Callas.
While he could afford three time faults for going over the 74-second time allowed and still secure a win, a knockdown would have meant a tie-breaker where the trophy could slip away. But he didn’t leave the door open and finished well within the time.
“I know the crowd was a tiny bit disappointed that we pulled it off, but we all started in Ireland anyway,” said McLain, whose father’s family has its roots in that country.
“It’s coming home for us and we love being here.”
Spencer noted, “We’ve got a lot of Irish friends and supporters and to ride with this amazing team, Olympians and superstar athletes, I’m so lucky to be here with a great horse.” He called winning the Aga Khan, “the greatest feeling in the world.”
“Obviously they cheer for the home team, but if the home team can’t win, we are the second favorite by a mile,” said Robert.
“Our four riders, when we win there, are like rock stars. It’s really quite amazing. They love team USA here.”
The Aga Khan trophy with Lucy Davis, Aaron Vale, Robert Ridland, McLain Ward and Spencer Smith.
Robert was happy to have Lucy “back in the fold” after she took a break from the grand prix scene. She had been on his medal-winning 2014 world championship and 2016 Olympic teams.
“She looked really good today,” said Robert.
He pointed out Aaron is getting to know Carissimo “better and better. He’s done quite a few Nations Cups for us this year and been very, very consistent.”
Although McLain was the only rider from the silver medal Olympic team to compete in the Aga Khan, Robert said “there’s momentum, and so we’re a little bit riding that momentum and it doesn’t get any better than Dublin.”
He added, “It’s kind of hard to beat what we just won.” And at Dublin, like the Olympics, what makes things special are the crowds.
“You can’t get from one side of the arena to the other to watch because there’s so many people,” he said, calling them “real fans of the sport. It’s very invigorating for sure. It’s why we do the sport.”
If you want to see the top riders live in Sunday’s grand prix, tune in to Horse & Country TV at 10 a.m. Eastern on Sunday.
click this link for the course plan
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 9, 2024
The 2024 Paris Olympics is a long way from Chariots of Fire, the Best Picture of 1981, which depicted the Paris Games of 100 years ago.
That was an idealistic time, with participation limited to amateurs, when athletes sought glory for their country as much as for themselves. The final Games organized personally by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the man who founded the modern Olympics, it was the second Olympics for Paris — which also hosted in 1900.
With World War I (incorrectly called the War to End All Wars) consigned to history, 1924 was a time of hope. The money and glitter associated with the commercialism of the Olympics in this era were yet to come.
Paris 1924 hosted 126 events involving 17 sports. Compare that with 329 medal events in 32 sports during Paris 2024. Only 3,089 athletes were in the 1924 Games; 10,500 was the number this time. There were about 625,000 spectators in 1924. This year, 15 million people fans were expected. Not counting the billions watching via TV, of course.
As romantic as the movie’s take on 1924 was, in the big picture for equestrian, these are far better times. Looking at black and white films of the show jumping in Paris 1924 is one long cringe, seeing the ungainly types of jumps and the way, for the most part, that the horses were ridden.
The 2024 Paris Games, which end Sunday, were fabulous in terms of horse sport and welfare. First of all, consider the stunning backdrop, the Château de Versailles. The beauty of that setting likely will never be duplicated at future Olympics. All the seats in the stadium were filled for each discipline, and more than 40,000 people turned out for cross-country. That’s great evidence for keeping horse sports in the Games.
Competitors and horses were safe, there were no bone-shattering falls. The jumps themselves were a treat, showcasing the highlights and culture of France, from Notre Dame to the Arc de Triomphe and haute couture. More important, we saw a renewed emphasis on horse welfare. Okay, the weather was a little warm, but that was handled with cooling stations, air-conditioned stables, wonderful footing and perfect conditions making for great performances.
The wall replicated a stained glass window from Notre Dame cathedral.
And there were plenty of them. Britain and Germany dominated the medal standings with five each. The Brits took team gold in eventing and show jumping, the Germans in dressage, as usual, and that country enjoyed standout efforts in its sweep of individual gold medals: Michael Jung (Chipmunk) in eventing, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (TSF Dalera BB) in dressage and Christian Kukuk (Checker 47) in show jumping.
The chateau de Versailles made a striking backdrop for equestrian competitions, as seen here with Britain’s Laura Collett. (Photo Jon Stroud Media)
It was a difficult Olympics for the U.S., which didn’t come close to an eventing medal and was eliminated in dressage. The saving grace was a show jumping team silver, the third in a row for America at the Olympics.
Saying goodbye to the Olympics that have become a part of our lives over 17 exciting days is never easy.
I have recollections of many Olympic closing ceremonies, always a bittersweet farewell when the athletes marched before their fans one more time. Medal winners or not, they each had memories they would carry forever.
In Los Angeles, 40 years ago, I watched something new during the closing ceremonies. I still remember the lead paragraph of the story I wrote, “It was a great night for brotherhood and break dancing.”
Who had ever heard of break dancing?
Well, I thought, we’ll never see that again.
Wrong. Now breaking, as it’s called today, is one of the newer Olympic sports, geared to attract younger people who want to watch the Games on their phones.
Dressage at Devon even picked up the thread last year, having a couple of break dancers judge the new Dance-Off feature with riders in outlandish costumes doing fun freestyles.
At the Barcelona Games closing ceremonies in 1992, I decided to join the athletes (strictly forbidden) and simply waltzed from the press seating into the stadium. No one stopped me. Doing that today, with all the security in place, would mean arrest or worse.
But back them, it was a joyous time, far more relaxed, with Olympians from all the different sports mingling in a happy jumble. It felt great to be in the midst of it, though no one asked for my autograph, as they were doing with the basketball Dream Team.
The Paris Olympics, great as they were in many ways, disappointed me with an over-long opening ceremony on the Seine. The team members went by on the boats so quickly you didn’t really have a chance to look at them for as long as you would if they had marched into a stadium, which it is the way it was done at every other Olympics.
The athletes always should be the focal point, but they weren’t. The wacky, and to some, appalling aspects of the opener seemed off the mark about what the Olympics stand for — or are supposed to stand for, at any rate. And why showcase that song “Imagine” with the line, “Imagine there’s no country, it isn’t hard to do?”
Yes it is.
Representing your country is still what the Olympics are all about, along with the values of excellence, respect and friendship. Without national pride and the magnificent smorgasbord of nations in attendance, the Olympics would be just another sporting event.
So I’m skipping the closing ceremonies, which are being billed as “Dystopian,” and featuring Tom Cruise rapelling off the top of the stadium to come down and hand off the Olympic flag to Los Angeles, the 2028 host.
Enjoy, if that’s your thing. I’ll be watching Chariots of Fire.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 8, 2024
The biggest shocker during the equestrian portion of the Paris Olympics was the fall of world number one Henrik von Eckerman in the individual finals, when his horse, King Edward, went left, and he went right.
Sadly, Henrik had no chance to show his appreciation for King Edward in victory at the Olympics, but this photo from the 2022 World Championships expresses his love for the horse.
Here is his explanation of what happened and his feelings about the lost opportunity for himself and his special horse, known affectionately as Edi. Henrik stated:
“It ended in a way I could never have imagined. Everything felt as it should until I misjudged a distance after the open water, which resulted in a hectic jump over the Eiffel Tower plank and a very long five strides to the next oxer.
“I wanted to resettle my balance and signs weren’t clear to Edi and the situation ended in a misunderstanding and a fall in the turn,” the Swedish rider continued.
“What’s hurting the most is that these were the last Olympic Games for King Edward; his shape and spirit were there to fight for medals in the jump-off, he deserved that so much. To take that away from him is a bitter pill to swallow.
“But with time, the wound and pain will heal (he’s speaking figuratively here, not literally) and the scar that stays will hopefully make me a better rider and horseman. I’m forever grateful to you, my king, my team and my family. Lastly, I wanted to reach out to all of you who have sent their support and all the kind messages I’m receiving. It’s touching me deeply.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 8, 2024
An Atlantic County mare who was vaccinated for Eastern Equine Encephalitis in July died six days later from the effects of the mosquito-borne illness. It is the first reported case of EEE for a New Jersey horse in 2024. Fever, front and rear ataxia and inability to rise were among the reported clinical signs in the affected horse.
EEE causes inflammation of the brain tissue and has a significantly higher risk of death in horses than West Nile Virus infection, a viral disease that affects a horse’s neurological system. Both diseases are transmitted by a mosquito bite. The virus cycles between birds and mosquitoes, with horses and humans being incidental hosts. EEE infections in horses are not a significant risk factor for human infection because horses (like humans) are “dead-end” hosts for the virus.
In general, most regions in New Jersey have a reported mosquito population near the five-year average. The first EEE positive mosquito pool was detected in Cape May County this year (https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/statistics/arboviral-stats/). EEE positive mosquito pools have also been found in Morris and Union counties. Livestock owners are strongly encouraged to vaccinate against WNV, EEE, and other mosquito-borne diseases. Effective equine vaccines for EEE and WNV are available commercially. Horse owners should contact their veterinarians if their horses are not up to date on their vaccinations against both EEE and WNV.
“We continue to encourage horse owners to be vigilant in vaccinating their animals against these diseases spread by mosquitoes,” New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn said.
“Vaccinated animals are much less likely to contract deadly diseases such as EEE and West Nile Virus.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 7, 2024
The new Olympic individual show jumping gold medalist, Christian Kukuk, is known to have been mentored by another Olympic gold medalist, Ludger Beerbaum. But it would seem that the foundation for his prowess was laid in Christian’s genes by his grandfather, Franz Kukuk, the highly respected head saddle master, or stud keeper, at the state stud in Warendorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
“He could tell exactly from below what you were feeling above. I was very lucky to be able to see him for a few more years,” Christian, 34, said of his grandfather, who died in 2005 but could teach his grandson when the boy was in his teens.
No wonder Christian felt an instant affinity with a Westfalian horse, Checker, by Comme Il Faut 5 when he first went to see him. That was the mount who took him to the only double-clear rounds in the individual show jumping at the Paris Olympics, and from there to the top level of the podium on Tuesday. The horse is owned in part by Madeleine Winter-Schulze, who also is an owner of Wendy, Isabell Werth’s dressage team gold medal ride who was silver in the individual.
Thoms Lehmann, who is associated with an insurance firm, called attention to Christian’s background in a fascinating facebook posting./p>
He recounted that at age 14, Franz Kukuk began working at the Warendorf Landstudüt, the Westfalien state stud. The former state stallmaster, named Bresges, soon recognized the special talent of the young stud keeper and sent him to Vienna at the end of the 1950s for training at the Spanish Riding School.
When he returned, he was entrusted with a beautiful stallion, Radetzky. He was allowed to ride the horse to the Grand Prix in dressage.However, at that time, horses owned by the state were never permitted to be used in competition, even though there were those who thought Franz and the stallion could have gone to the Olympics.
Radetzky
Franz was famous for his calm and soulful treatment with stallions. After 51 years with the state stud, he went to work for Ulrich Kasselman’s PSI stables, where he was known as a master of groundwork.
His grandson started his riding career with three or four months of work on the longe aboard a school horse from the Warendorf Riding Club. After that, he was allowed to jump. His reaction?</p?
“It was cool.”
Even these day, “Whenever I enter the grounds of the national championships in Warendorf, a lot of memories come back,” says the rider.
With determination after his introduction to riding, he was striving toward the top of his chosen profession, enjoying competition opportunities that his grandfather never had.
In 2015, Christian was awarded the Golden Riding Badge in his new home of Riesenbeck. His biggest breakthrough, however, came with the grey stallion Mumbai by Diamant de Semilly, which the rider took over for further training in 2019. With him, he was on the team for the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo. In the first qualification, however, the pair had a jumping error, so they did not make it to the individual final.
Christian Kukuk riding Checker 47 during the Individual Show Jumping Final at the Chateau de Versailles. (Photo Credit: FEI/Benjamin Clark)
The two went on to the European Championships that same year and were on the silver medal team, then finished fourth In the individual final. (click on this link to read that story). Sometimes, you just have to wait for destiny.
In Paris, Thoms noted, “Christian has realized the dream that his grandfather was denied. Christian Kukuk is an Olympian for eternity.
His winning horse named Checker has a remarkable pedigree. In the ninth generation of his pedigree there is a stallion named Radetzky, the horse that his grandfather loved so much.”
