by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 2, 2022
Boyd Martin, a member of every world championships and Olympic team since 2010, has been named to the U.S. Land Rover eventing squad that will compete in Italy’s Pratoni del Vivaro next month at the world championships. He’ll be aboard his Tokyo Games mount, Tseterleg.
Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
Other members of the team are Will Coleman with Off the Record, winner of the 4-star Short at Aachen last year; Lauren Nicholson and the veteran Vermiculus; Ariel Grald (Master Plan), and Tamie Smith (Mai Baum).
Will has a direct reserve, Dondante, in case Off the Record is unable to run. Phllip Dutton, the individual bronze medalist at the 2016 Olympics and long a pillar of the team, is traveling reserve with Z.
He is also on the list of alternates with Sea of Clouds, the only off-the-track thoroughbred in the group. Other alternates are Jennie Brannigan (FE Lifestyle), Boyd with Federman B, Buck Davidson (Carlevo), Sydney Elliott (QC Diamantaire) and Liz Halliday-Sharp (Cooley Quicksilver).
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 29, 2022
Hunter rider Amanda Steege has had great success with Lafitte de Muze in the country’s most important hunter competitions. Even so, she admitted to some extra stress today during the inaugural $10,000 Bill Ellis Memorial/U.S. Hunter Jumper Association International Hunter Derby at the Princeton Summer Classic in Skillman, N.J.
“I always feel like Lafitte’s a favorite, and if Lafitte and I execute, he and I can be the winner,” she said.
But then she observed, “It felt like a lot of pressure out there, because I wanted to do that for Bill and for this class being in memory of Bill,” she commented.
Amanda Steege and Lafitte de Muze. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Citing “emotional reasons” for her desire to do well in the class, Amanda mentioned she was very friendly with Bill, a top rider, trainer and judge during his career, who died at the age of 69 last November. (For another story about Bill, click here.)
When Bill was ill, he sent her one of his clients, Cara Garito, who now is part of Amanda’s Ashmeadow stable family.
“That gives me a little extra connection,” said Amanda, who is based in Califon, N.J., and Ocala, Fla.
“I was like, `Derby Finals is going to be a piece of cake after this,’” she chuckled, referring to the annual USHJA competition at the Kentucky Horse Park in August. It offers well over $100,000 in prize money, with the final figure, based on entry fees, yet to be determined.
In addition to wanting to participate at Princeton because the class was a tribute to Bill, Amanda thought it would be a good preparation for Kentucky “because it’s such a nice, big ring and we don’t have that many places to practice riding in rings this size.”
While the Rolex stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park is huge, she said, “I felt this was the closest I could get without driving too far away to do something, in terms of timing and similarity of ring size to Derby Finals.”
The class attracted a field of 12 for the two-part test, a classic round and a handy round, designed by Michael Puffer. Three names were standouts among the entries; Amanda, Geoffrey Hesslink and Jeffrey Ayers, all successful professinals.
“It was a good class with a nice group of competitors in it that all are very supportive of each other. The results reflected who you thought, when you looked at the list, would be in the top three or four,” Amanda said.
Lafitte’s total for the two rounds was 383 points, just ahead of the 380 score for Geoffrey’s ride, Chivalry. Jeff was further back with Cartel on 368, while Geoff’s other mount, Reddington, finished fourth on 364.
Geoffrey Hesslink and Chivalry, runner-up in the derby. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
The winner collected $3,000 for his share of the purse. He is an equine ambassador for the Equus Foundation, with his prize money used by his owner, Cheryl Olsten, to match donations up to $35,000 to help care for horses who have been abused and neglected, were being sent to slaughter or who are involved in therapeutic riding programs.
Bill’s family gathered at the event, with his husband and business partner, David Connors saying. “This is the best day ever. They did an amazing job. Bill would have been happy beyond.
“This was his favorite class and he just loved seeing spectacular horses show. This means a lot to us. He would have been thrilled.”
Amanda and Lafitte at the awards ceremony with Kelly DeSaye, Tim Delovich, Peggy McNeil, Cara Garito, Carol Stillwell, David Connors, Billy Ellis and Barbara Ellis. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Like many of the others on hand, he felt Bill’s presence.
“When the horses were going around, we’d be like. `You know what Bill would say, `She’s going too slow,’ he wants to see her pick up the pace,” he said with a grin.
Bill Ellis and David Connors at a quarter horse show in 2003. (Photo courtesy of David Connors)
Barbara Ellis, Bill’s sister, said “it’s such an honor to be here in memory of my brother. This would mean the world to him.”
Bill’s son, Billy Ellis, observed, “the best way to remember him is with a derby, a class he was so fond of and so special to him. It’s meaningful that so many people come out and celebrate and share great memories.”
Carol Stillwell, who rode with Bill, donated $5,000 in prize money, with the rest of the purse made up of contributions from Cara Garito, Kelly Moore, Dolly Hubbard, Abby Skelton, Lanie DeVoer and Peggy McNeil.
“The people who supported this, from local to far away, spoke volumes about the respect for Bill, about his journey about what they learned from him,” said Carol.
Amanda Steege and Lafitte de Muze enjoy their victory gallop. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
“He was a true horseman. With Bill, it was about the horses and making sure they were taken care of. I couldn’t be prouder, in New Jersey, to have it here, I would like to see this continue on and on.”
Andrew Philbrick, the impresario of Princeton Show Jumping, agrees that the class should be held again in Bill’s memory during World Champion Hunter Rider week.
Standing in the midst of the VIP tent, Andrew glanced over to Carol’s table and said, “A year ago, Bill was sitting right there in the front row. He was one of our professionals that we grew up with and he never had a bad word to say about anybody. Everybody loved him, everybody thought the world of him. He was the consummate horse professional.
“When they came to me and said Carol would like to honor him, we were all about it. What better than at an international hunter derby with all these top riders in the middle of New Jersey? The response was amazing. These classes are hard to fill because they’re difficult. Some of these international derbies are having six or eight horses because they’re hard. It’s a real test,” Andrew pointed out.
“It fits into our summer beautifully and I think it’s a testament to our friend, a hunter professional who spent his whole life developing hunters. To have our highest level hunter test in honor of Bill, what could be better?”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 28, 2022
Even without spectators in the grandstand, the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation’s arena has character. The towering backdrop of the historic stables in Gladstone, N.J., offers a reminder that this is where so many of the country’s most famous riders trained during another era.
That ambience is among the reasons the Summer Days dressage show always is such a good schooling opportunity, whether for a veteran mount’s tune-up or to provide mileage for young prospects and horses switching disciplines.
After the buzz of the Essex Horse Trials on July Fourth weekend, it was quite a change in mood to see horses performing their tests surrounded by silence this week. This is not what you’d call a spectator event, but it means a lot to those taking part.
“I love to ride at the Team. It’s great, the footing is great,” said Marilyn Payne, who was aboard Maestro LFS, a five-year-old gelding who punctuated his respectable Training Level 2 test with a series of inquiring, high-pitched whinnies.
Marilyn Payne and Maestro. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
“What’s going on?” the Dutch warmblood seemed to ask. “Where am I?”
Coming up the hill from the indoor ring, horses enter the big arena and suddenly, they catch sight of the (empty) grandstands and the stable.
“It’s hard for a young horse. For a lot of horses, it’s a real eye-opener,” explained Marilyn, a respected trainer and judge who has officiated at two Olympics.
“There’s a lot to look at,” she noted.
Then she laughed and said, “We stayed in the ring, that was good. A couple of times, I thought he was going to take off and jump out of the ring.”
But he didn’t, and was marked at 64.828 percent, third in his Training Level 2 class of five.
Maestro loves Marilyn’s husband Dick, and when he’s driving the tractor, follows him around. They have the same birthday, April 16; Dick is just a little older than Maestro. So don’t ask if he’s for sale.
Arielle Aharoni’s Furst Queen is “not a hot weather horse,” so she was taking a little break from eventing to compete at Gladstone. The Danish warmblood by Furstenball is a half-sister to Arielle’s well-known eventing mount, Dutch Times.
Arielle Aharoni and Furst Queen. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
“One day, she’s going to say `no more’ to eventing and this is going to be her full-time career,” the rider revealed about the mare.
Furst Queen won her Second Level Test 3 class with 63.33 percent.
“She is just happy to do whatever we say. She’s a really sweet, sweet mare,” Arielle said of the 8-year-old she bought six years ago. Before the mare, bred in Pennsylvania. came to Arielle, she had undergone surgery as a two-year-old for an OCD lesion, so she was nervous when she arrived at the farm of her new owner. No problem.
“Three days of sitting in the field and giving her treats fixed that,” advised Arielle, who uses that technique often.
She’s hoping to qualify Furst Queen for the U.S. Dressage Federation’s national championships in Kentucky this November. Gladstone was a step along the way.
“I do love this place. I think it’s a great environment, especially for the spooky horses that are just learning to take in a big scenery,” said Arielle.
“They have to get used to that if they want to go do big stuff.”
Kimberly Herslow, who has gotten into PRE horses, rode Spanish import Holgazan in Fourth Level Test 1, earning 61.53 percent.
Kimberly Herslow and Holgazan. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
“He’s just starting to learn his changes and get a feel for what’s going on,” she said.
“I was really happy because it’s an atmosphere here, and the last two shows he went into the ring and cantered off the halt and did silly stuff.”
“He just needs to go in and do a nice solid ride and do his job,” said Kim, whose test was marked at 61.53 percent.
Last fall, Kim said goodbye to her 2015 Pan American Games team gold medal mount Rosmarin, better known as Reno. He had a nice retirement on her farm in Stockton, N.J., then had to be put down due to worsening suspensory problems. She’s still emotional about that, of course, but Kim is one who keeps busy and looks ahead, focusing on careful training with a series of up-and-coming mounts.
Glenna Gray had a memorable day at her first show back after a two-year absence from competition. She fractured her right heel when she fell from a ladder, which made it hard to do heels down. Riding Alpine Getaway, a lovely thoroughbred ex-racehorse, she earned 66.923 percent in her first dressage show to finish ahead of four other entries in Training Level Test One. I was so impressed by the mare; as I was passing by the ring, she caught my eye immediately for her willing performance and pleasant appearance in the ring.
Glenna Gray and Rachel Rosenthal Bellard with Alpine Getaway. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
An English as a Second Language teacher in Manville, N.J., Glenna grew up in Peapack-Gladstone and visited the USET as a child but never rode at the facility.
“It’s a wonderful experience,” she said.
Glenna took lessons with trainer Rachel Rosenthal Bellard of Bedminster, N.J., when she was 12, and the two reconnected recently. Rachel thought Glenna and the 17-year-old mare, whose barn name is Harley, would be a good match, and they were.
“I really wanted to prove to myself I could get back in the show ring,” said Glenna, who is hoping to enter the mare in jumper classes.
The USET Foundation is a familiar venue for Lauren Sammis, who won a team gold medal in the 2007 Pan American Games. Although she’s a trainer based in Pittstown, N.J., Lauren has what amounts to a pleasure horse in Daisy van Wittenstein P, who earned 70 percent in the Grand Prix.
Lauren Sammis and Daisy van Wittenstein P.
Enjoying horse who amounts to a pet is an unaccustomed luxury for a professional.
“She’s on her own schedule,” noted Lauren.
“It’s been a joy to have my own horse. I can do whatever I want to. It’s no pressure, it’s just going in and riding the test.”
Daisy came to Lauren as a sales horse.
“I wasn’t able to sell her, because her X-rays were awful. Awful. And she’s been sound ever since.”
Of course, right?
Having her has enabled Lauren to try different techniques.
She’s not “a leg flinger,” so she competes nationally, rather than in CDIs. Lauren doesn’t see any reason to push her to become something she’s not.
“I didn’t care about scores whatsoever. She’s why you own a horse. She doesn’t ever do anything wrong,” said Lauren.
She has plenty of other horses to ride in competition.
They include the Danish warmblood Heiline’s Oh Land, who got 74.8 percent for a win in the Prix St. Georges, and the Hanoverian Baccara B.
Also competing at Grand Prix was Catherine Haddad Staller, who selected Hazel ASK off a video. The mare had been a 1.30-meter jumper in Denmark, until the rider’s wife decided to try her in dressage.
“I have to have that one,” Catherine said, recalling her reaction to what she saw in the video.
Catherine Haddad-Staller and Hazel ASK. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
“The greatest part about this horse–I can get her off the horse trailer, throw my right leg over her, and walk her around the grounds on the buckle. She’s totally cool,” commented Catherine, whose groom rides the 11-year-old mare bareback. She earned 69.239 percent in the Grand Prix early on the first day of the show. Catherine is hoping to enter her at Dressage at Devon this fall.
“It’s so wonderful to have a horse who wants to work with you. She’s totally inspired by the dressage arena.”
The mare belongs to a new company, NorCordia, that Catherine formed last year with three Danish partners. Another NorCordia horse, the 7-year-old Hanoverian Sola Diva, was marked at 78.6 percent in the young horse test.
Explaining how her business works, Catherine said “We’re buying and selling hand-picked horses, and put them with trainers in Europe and the USA. We don’t keep them in one stable.”
Catherine decides where they should go, matching top trainers to top horses, and when it comes to sales, “we look for the right partner for the horse.”
The company is also an investment firm. All the horses they buy go into portfolios of 10 to 12 horses, which is a way of managing risk for investors, as opposed to buying a single horse.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 28, 2022
The U.S. Equestrian Federation’s dynamic director of sport, Will Connell, is leaving the organization after eight hugely successful years.
“What drives me is trying to find programs and solutions that will grow the pathway, increase performance and everything,” said the native of Great Britain, explaining his decision to take another road.
“You have to give 100 percent. When you start feeling that it’s time for someone else to take the reins, that’s the time for me to move on.”
Will, who is staying with USEF through Nov. 25, will continue living in Gladstone, N.J., with his wife, Lizzy Chesson, the USEF’s managing director of show jumping. She will remain in her post.
Thinking about his time with USEF, he said, “There’s a huge amount I’ll miss. I don’t do this job for the check at the end of the month, even though that’s quite generous.
“I’m sure walking away from a well-paid job in the face of a recession is perhaps not the most intelligent move, but I’ve always been driven by my instincts and I feel that now’s the time. There will be plenty of people out there who can take up the reins and run with it.”
As he reflected about his time in the job, he commented on how much he appreciates those who step up to back the sport.
“The one thing the U.S. has that I don’t think any other country has is the support from the donors and that ability to engender financial support from people who really get nothing out of it, other than liking to see the team win. That is something the U.S. must never lose.”
Other countries’ sports programs, he pointed out, are supported by the government or commercial interests, or lack financial aid entirely.
“When you see the enthusiasm of the (U.S.) donors and how they’ll get behind projects, I wish I had been better at structuring programs they could have gotten behind,” he said wistfully.
He pointed out that “there are some incredibly talented and dedicated people in the U.S. across the whole spectrum,” running from the grooms, coaches, athletes and horse owners to the leaders in the federation.
Will Connell at work at a championship.
One of his great achievements was putting the U.S. para dressage program in the spotlight, which paid off with the country’s first team Paralympic medal in Tokyo last year.
So what’s next for Will, who came to the U.S. in 2014 from a job as the British Equestrian Federation’s Performance Director. He had the responsibility for co-ordination and delivery of the UK Sport National Lottery-funded World Class Program, which covered eventing, dressage, showjumping and para dressage. In 2012, HRH the Princess Royal presented him with the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire at Buckingham Palace, in recognition of his service to equestrian sport.
That was a hard act to follow, but he did it when he came to the U.S. Now he’s still thinking about another appropriate move.
“In my ideal world, if I could write the next chapter, there would be four or five or six projects that would be differing in nature but very focused in outcome. You might as well dream big,” he mused.
“Probably within sport, but maybe other areas as well. I think I’m also the sort of person that until I make that jump, I’m not going to force myself to find out what the next step will be.”
He noted that he has yet to rewrite his resume.
“I think it still says, `Just left the army, ’” he laughed.
There can be no doubt that whatever he does will involve some aspect of his leadership experience. While in the British army, he served as commanding officer of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery. In that prestigious position, he oversaw 165 soldiers and 130-plus horses that comprise the ceremonial saluting battery of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Household Troops.
Will Connell (second from left, front row) with the Queen Mother during his King’s Troop days.
Combined with his knowledge of elite sport, he noted, “those experiences can shape what I do next in terms of what I deliver.”
He is looking forward to having more time for his family, both here and in Britain, and plans to return to the London International Horse Show, where he works as a volunteer.
Will sees that show as “a beacon, where elite sport meets entertainment. You’ve got sport at the very highest level and you’ve also got entertainment at the highest level. When you can bring those two together, that’s pretty special.”
He’s pleased that the FEI World Cup Finals are going to Ft. Worth, Texas in 2026, a follow up to the dressage, show jumping and vaulting Cup that will be in Omaha for the second time next year.
“I hope they can find that balance between entertainment and sport,” he said.
With the World Championships looming next month, he’s still all-in for helping the U.S. teams in para, dressage and show jumping qualify for the 2024 Paris Paralympics and Olympics with their performances in Herning, Denmark.
Dressage will be interesting, he notes, with the Germans looking to be far from the juggernaut that they usually are in that discipline. Although the Danes are favored for gold, there is plenty of room for other countries to maneuver for the medals.
In jumping, he called the quality of the teams “unbelievable. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a championships or Games with such depth of quality jumping teams.”
The U.S. squad has several young athletes, but he noted, in the big picture, the U.S. show jumping program has done extraordinarily well, and the pride he feels about it was obvious.
“When you look at what the jumping team has achieved since 2012; medals in 2014 (the Normandy world championships), 2016 (the Rio Olympics), 2018 (the Tryon world championships) and ’21(the Tokyo Olympics), the World Cup finals. It’s been incredible. I think it’s had more success than any other team in history, probably, over an eight-year period.”
And he’s optimistic about prospects going forward.
“When you look at what is on the horizon for Paris, it’s very exciting. I would say it’s more exciting now in ’22 looking at ’24 than in ’18 looking at Tokyo. The team is super excited to be going, and that enthusiasm will carry them onto the field of play and they will come together as a team.”
But he also cautioned, “Yes, it’s wonderful to win medals every time you go out, but more important, it’s about having the long game.
“The first stage of Long Term Athlete Development is fundamentals. FUNdamentals. Having fun in sport. While we have great and good governance, we must never lose track of the fact that ultimately and initially, sport should be fun taking activity.”
The USEF will be hiring a new director of sport, and plans call for Will to help that person get established in the job.
In the meantime, CEO Bill Moroney had kind words for the man who is departing.
“Will Connell has provided important leadership and contributed greatly to the success of the U.S. teams since 2015; his accomplishments and contributions are many,” said Bill.
“We support him in his decision and appreciate that he remains completely committed to our efforts to field and support the athletes, their horses, and their support teams for the upcoming World Championships, as well as his continued support of our sport staff team and programs across all the FEI disciplines.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 27, 2022
The roster of National Horse Show managers over the venerable competition’s 139-year history includes many memorable names, from Ned King and Eric Atterbury to Honey Craven, John Franzreb, David Distler and Leo Conroy, co-manager with Hugh Kincannon.
Joining the list this year is Stephanie Lightner, who brings a unique set of credentials to the job.
Stephanie, who succeeds Michael Morrissey as manager, noted “Being a woman and being asked to be in that position, it made me feel good. There aren’t too many (women) playing at that level. The times they are a-changing.”
But she was selected on the basis of her achievements, not as a symbol.
“I don’t feel like I have anything to prove,” she commented in an interview after her appointment was announced today.
“I like the opportunity to take on a challenge,” Stephanie added.
Stephanie Lightner, the new manager of the National Horse Show. (Photo courtesy of the National Horse Show)
Her background is impressive, having helmed World Cup finals in Las Vegas and serving as vice president of operations for Bleinheim EquiSports, an equestrian event management company based in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., which produces horse shows in there and in Las Vegas. U.S. show jumping coach is the president of the company.
Stephanie lives in Florida, but continues her work on the West Coast. There’s a lot on her plate, but as she said about the National, “I felt like it was one I couldn’t turn down. It was an honor to be asked. It’s a very prestigious horse show.”
She made her comments as her work for the day wrapped up at the Adequan®/USEF Junior Hunter National Championship – West under Bleinheim’s auspices.
Stephanie never visited the National during its heyday at Madison Square Garden when it was the highlight of the U.S. season, but she has worked as a steward at the show, so she has a degree of familiarity with it already.
When she was asked to manage the show, she said her first thought was of Mason Phelps, the National’s dynamic former president who died last year, and “trying to do something to make him proud.”
When she has discussions about the show, she mentioned that “If I think of anything big, I say, `What do you think Mason would think about that?’”
Though she is coming on board a bit late for the 2022 National, considering that the show gets under way in just three months at the Kentucky Horse Park, Stephanie is making sure, however, that “this first year, nothing falls through the cracks and that exhibitors are given the best show possible.”
The National Horse Show is invested in tradition, as the lineup for the ASPCA Maclay presentation signifies. Mason Phelps is in the orange jacket in the front row. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
She knows everything should be properly in place, noting the group working with the show is a good one, and quite experienced.
Stephanie said she is always cautious about changes when doing something for the first time as she gains a deeper knowledge of the situation.
“I’m looking forward to going through this first year and coming out with a much better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the horse show,” she said.
An issue with the National is that it doesn’t attract the type of crowds a competition of its caliber deserves. Stephanie understands that and will be looking to eventually bringing in more spectators.
“One of the focuses toward the future is to rebrand the National with some fresh new aspects to it that maybe will stand out a little more,” she mentioned.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 27, 2022
State flags were flown at half-staff in memory of Assemblyman Ronald Dancer, a great friend of the New Jersey horse industry, who died at the age of 73 after a long illness.
Assemblyman Ronald Dancer
The son of famed harness racing driver Stanley Dancer, the assemblyman was a driver, trainer and breeder of standardbreds himself. The Ocean County resident “was a work horse, not a show horse,” Gov. Phil Murphy observed in a statement following the assemblyman’s death last weekend, referring to the legislator’s efforts for the equine industry, agriculture, tourism and veterans.
Ironically, when the assemblyman was successful in getting the state Legislature to pass a bill eliminating the tax on boarding horses, it was Murphy who doomed the measure by failing to sign it into law in January 2020.
Assemblyman Dancer’s most recent effort on behalf of the horse industry is a bill that would allocate $2.5 million for long-awaited improvements at the Horse Park of New Jersey. The bill remains in committee and its fate could be uncertain without the assemblyman pushing to get it to the floor for a vote.
“Assemblyman Dancer dedicated his career to supporting the agricultural community in the Garden State. Having been a lifelong equestrian himself, Assemblyman Dancer was a tremendous supporter of the equestrian community and thereby the Horse Park of New Jersey,” said Ellen Brindle Clark, the Horse Park’s interim president.
“His willingness to listen to his constituents’ needs, and find ways for the state government to help, made us feel valued and supported. We sincerely appreciate all the effort Assemblyman Dancer put towards helping the Horse Park of New Jersey. The Board of Trustees could not have asked for a better advocate and friend. He will truly be missed.”
He served on both the state horse racing commission and the state Department of Agriculture’s Sire Stakes board. The Rutgers Equine Science Center honored him with its Spirit of the Horse award.
The assemblyman, who grew up in New Egypt, was for 22 years the mayor of Plumsted Township, where he lived. He was known as the man who got things done. His volunteer work involved everything from the Ocean County Board of Social Services to the Ocean County Senior Citizens Advisory Council.
The assemblyman is survived by his wife, Brenda; two children and two grandchildren.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 25, 2022
A memorial service is important to the friends and family of someone who has passed away, but you can bet that Bill Ellis really would have appreciated commemoration of his life with a hunter derby.
And that’s just what he’ll get at 8 a.m. on Friday July 29 at Princeton Show Jumping’s Summer Classic in Skillman, N.J., where the $10,000 Bill Ellis Memorial/U.S. Hunter Jumper Association International Hunter Derby will be held. The international derby was Bill’s favorite class.
He was not only successful in the saddle, having won the leading rider title at such prestigious hunter/jumper shows as the National, Devon and Upperville, but he also did well on the quarter horse circuit. The trainer ran Four Winds with business partner and husband David Connors. The operation was located at Carol Stillwell’s Stillwell Stables in Colts Neck, N.J., at one time, but they also had a farm in Ocala, Fla., the area where Bill had based himself in the early 1980s.
Bill, a member of the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame, died at the age of 69 last November. He probably was best known in the 21st Century as a respected judge, having worked in that capacity for more than 30 years.
Bill Ellis in judging mode. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
Another claim to fame was his discovery of the talented thoroughbred For the Moment for his student, Lisa Jacquin. That duo went on to contribute to the U.S. team silver medal at the 1988 Olympics, in addition to winning many important competitions.
A small memorial service for Bill was held at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, but not everyone who would have liked to attend could be there.
So Kelly DeSaye came up with the idea of the class at Princeton, with Carol, Bill and David’s client, putting up $5,000 toward the purse. The derby emerged as a group effort, with the remaining $5,000 donated by Cara Garito, Kelly Moore, Dolly Hubbard, Abby Skelton, Lanie DeVoer and Peggy McNeil.
Noting Carol Stillwell was a long-time customer of the trainer, when the derby idea came up, “she thought it would be a really fun thing to honor Bill,” said Mary Knowlton, an administrator at Princeton Show Jumping and president of USHJA.
Bill was one of Mary’s mentors.
“He was a funny person, a wonderful horseman, generous with his time,” recalled Mary, who until recently ran Knightsbridge stable in Colts Neck.
When she was getting started on the big circuit with Carol Stillwell’s regular conformation hunter, Marshall, Carol sent Mary on the road with Bill. She felt it was a privilege to work with him.
“Bill, for so many of us, was a real icon,” Mary observed.
“He went too early.”
Kelly, who is known for her dedicated volunteer work with USHJA, put together the memorial derby, which is drawing such big names as Amanda Steege with Lafitte de Muze and Jeff Ayers with Cartel.
“There’s been so much support of people buying tables just to be here that day,” said Kelly, who trained with Bill the first time she went to Ocala.
“It’s very special. Everybody at the horse shows loved Bill, he was always there to help no matter what.”
Bill Ellis in the days when he was a champion rider. (Photo courtesy of David Connors)
Carol Stillwell remembers Bill’s belief that “every trainer, every individual that touched a horse had a responsibility to put that horse first. The horse’s needs always came first, that was from the very beginning.”
During the time she rode with Bill, Carol said, “I learned a lot, it was a long journey.” About 35 years, to be exact.
She remembered that despite his sense of humor, he was all business when riding was involved.
“When I started out with Bill, I was not a very disciplined person, I was very talkative,” Carol said.
She recalled that didn’t sit well with him when she was supposed to be focusing.
That was brought home to her, she recalled, the time she started to say something while jumping around a course while he was teaching.
“He called me into the middle of the ring and said, `The lesson’s over. We don’t talk during lessons. You want to talk? We talk after lessons, we talk before lessons, we don’t talk during lessons.’”
Carol can still laugh about that incident and explained, “He was a tough taskmaster. But if you’re talking, you’re not paying attention to what you’re doing. There was so much I learned from him.”
The derby, being held during Princeton’s sold-out World Champion Hunter Rider show, will begin following remarks by Carol and David Connors. Bill’s sister, Barbara Ellis, and his son, Billy Ellis, also will be on hand.
As Carol mused what Bill meant to her, she noted, ” The older I got, the smarter he got. He was such a wonderful trainer and so devoted to the horses. I miss him desperately.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 25, 2022
What kind of wine goes with lectures on pasture and supplements for your horse? Whatever they’re serving at the Cream Ridge Winery on August 4, when Rutgers’ Carey Williams and Penn State’s Laura Kenny will discuss making pasture more productive, as well as what type of supplements and forage are best.
Admission is free to the Evening of Wine and Equine is free at Cream Ridge, 145 County Rd 539, Cream Ridge, N.J. Wine tasting accompanied by light snacks begins at 5 p.m., with the program to follow at 6 p.m. Those who would like to buy wine and glasses to take home will get a discount.
While there is no fee for the evening, those planning to attend need to register by emailing Carey at cawilli@sebs.rutgers.edu.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 21, 2022
The British kept everyone waiting, but today they finally named their team for the Blue Hors FEI World Dressage Championship presented by Helgstrand, which will be held in Denmark next month.
Although Valegro is long retired, the country’s star, Charlotte Dujardin, still has plenty of horsepower. She was selected with Imhotep, a 9-year-old Dutch warmblood, partially owned by her mentor, Carl Hester, with Valegro’s groom, Alan Davies, at her side.
While Carl isn’t on the team as a rider because he didn’t have a horse available, you know he will still be active, and part of whatever success Britain enjoys in Denmark.
Charlotte also has a direct back-up in the 13-year-old stallion Everdale in case something goes wrong with Imhotep, so she’ll be a key part of the British effort. Everdale, the sire of Imhotep, was ridden by Charlotte Fry on the Tokyo Olympic bronze medal squad.
Also selected for the British squad are Gareth Hughes with Classic Briolinca (and as a direct reserve ride, Sintano Van Hof Olympia); Richard Davison (Bubblingh) and Charlotte Fry (Glamourdale ).
Britain could be a medal contender, though likely not on the scale of the Danes, who are favored, as often-dominant Germany is weaker than usual without its pregnant Olympic gold medalist, world number one Jessica Von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB. Sweden also looks as if it could be in for a medal. And don’t forget the USA.
Steffen Peters (Suppenkasper) and Adrienne Lyle (Salvino) were no surprise to make the Dutta Corp. U.S. dressage team for the championships. Both were on the country’s Tokyo silver medal team. Also named was Ashley Holzer (Valentine) an Olympic medalist for her native Canada before becoming an American citizen. She looked like a lock for the squad on Valentine after some impressive performances during the European tour this summer.
But newcomer Katie Duerrhammer with Quartett was a bit of a surprise, as speculation ensued about the fourth member of the squad. Katie, at 33 the youngest rider in the group, is trained by Adrienne. Debbie McDonald, Adrienne’s mentor, works with her, and Steffen as well. Steffen is the highest-ranked U.S. rider in the world, at number 19.
Alice Tarjan of Oldwick, N.J., was named alternate with the U.S.-bred Serenade MF and will train in Germany with the squad before it leaves for Denmark.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 19, 2022
You had to figure that Olympic and world championships medalists Steffen Peters (Suppenkasper) and Adrienne Lyle (Salvino) would make the Dutta Corp. U.S. dressage team for the championships next month in Denmark.
Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper, the highest-ranked U.S. dressage combination. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Ashley Holzer, who rode in the Olympics for her native Canada before becoming an American citizen, also looked like a lock for the squad on Valentine after some impressive performances on the European tour this summer.
But newcomer Katie Duerrhammer with Quartett was a bit of a surprise, as speculation ensued about the fourth member of the squad. Katie, at 33 the youngest rider in the group, is trained by Adrienne.
Debbie McDonald, Adrienne’s mentor, works with her, and Steffen as well. He is the highest-ranked U.S. rider in the world, at number 19.
Alice Tarjan of Oldwick, N.J., was named alternate with the U.S.-bred Serenade MF and will train in Germany with the squad before it leaves for the Blue Hors FEI World Dressage Championship presented by Helgstrand.
The Danes are favored for the gold medal, as often-dominant Germany is weaker than usual without its pregnant Olympic gold medalist, world number one Jessica Von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB. Sweden also looks as if it could be in for a medal. Britain has yet to announce its team, but a pillar of the squad, Carl Hester, lacks a horse and will not be riding.
