The Horse Park of New Jersey has its fans

by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 13, 2022

In the nation’s most densely populated state, the Horse Park of New Jersey is a tree-shaded oasis. I think of all the places where I used to compete not so long ago that have been developed or no longer stage shows—Coppergate in Basking Ridge, Tewksbury in Hunterdon County, Gill-St Bernards in Somerset County, to mention only a very few.

So the concept of a showgrounds that is safe from development is very important, especially if you are aware of the multi-breed constituencies it serves. From hunters and jumpers to Standardbred pleasure horses, saddlebreds, Arabians, eventers and a variety of schooling activities, the Horse Park stays busy.

Of course, it can’t be compared to lavish venues such as Wellington International or the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, where private entrepreneurs have spent many millions. There are, however, plenty of other facilities across the country that have state-of-the-art footing and some amenities without the bells and whistles of the big players. But while those involved with the Horse Park never stop trying to do their best, it remains a 30-year-old non-profit that could use some updates.

The Horse Park is awaiting word on a request for $2.5 million from the state that would pay for footing and stabling improvement. But it will be waiting for a while. The legislation for that spending, submitted by Assemblyman Ron Dancer, is now in the state Assembly Agriculture and Food Security Committee for review. According to a spokesperson for Assembly Deputy Majority Leader Roy Freiman, who chairs the committee, the panel will not resume its work until September. Then it has to come out of committee, go to the Assembly and Senate for approval and finally make it to the governor’s desk. It’s a long process, and who knows at this point how the legislation will fare.

Meanwhile, the Kentucky Horse Park has been granted $10 million from the Blue Grass State’s politicians to renovate its stabling. It is seeking feedback from those who have stabled horses there as to what improvements they would like. In Kentucky, there is an understanding of the importance of its horse-related constituency across the board, even as national attention focuses mainly on its racing, highlighted by the Derby and this year’s Breeders Cup. Horse-related activities bring in out-of-staters, helping all kinds of small businesses in addition to hotels and restaurants. New Jersey politicians should pay attention to what Kentucky has done, and why.

Despite the Horse Park of New Jersey’s shortcomings that have kept some trainers away, there are many who enjoy the facility and what it has to offer. I talked to competitors, officials and others during last weekend’s Dressage at the Park show to find out their opinion of the venue.

Trainer Marcus Orlob says, “I love it here,” citing the amount of space at the venue, but he was not happy with the puddles that distracted the sensitive stallion, Spirit of Joy, in his Developing Grand Prix test. Depending on who is managing the rings at the park, Marcus observed, the footing “gets at times deep, or really hard.”

Marcus Orlob and Spirit of Joy. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)

On Sunday, the surface was generally okay, aside from the puddles, he said. But he wondered why the East Ring was watered after a big rain two days earlier. At the same time, he said, the warm-up ring was fine. But the first group of riders bore the brunt of the water mishap.

Co-manager Kathy Grisolia approached Marcus for an assessment and apologized to him, he said. She noted that with the sun coming out, the footing dried up, they would do a drag during the break and “it gets better.” In terms of watering, “it’s a fine balance,” she commented.

Emily Wyman of Hudson, N.Y., a professional who rode her test with Chigali after Marcus had finished, also noted the puddles bothered her horse.

“I know he needs to go wherever and do whatever,” she said, but it presented a problem “especially because it wasn’t consistent.” There was a big puddle at one end and “a bit of puddling” on the long side of the ring, was a factor, she noted.

“They watered a little bit much,” Elisabeth Williams, a former steward who was working at the show as a volunteer, said on Sunday.

“It was a little bit deep this morning, but there is a bottom to it,”

Even so she mentioned, “They’re not slip-sliding around anywhere, even with the heavy rains we had going into Friday.

The show was supposed to have an FEI component, but the 2-star CDI was cancelled when entries were low and there was a problem getting a veterinary official with the required credential.

The July show traditionally is lighter in entries than the Eastern States Dressage and Combined Training show in September. Jennifer Bateman, co-secretary with Monica Fitzgerald, estimated there were approximately 124 entries. Initially, she had expected about 150. Unlike a hunter/jumper show, however, a dressage competition is valid for participants no matter how light the entry because competitors are marked the same way by the judges whether there is only one in the class, rather than 10, and the test comments are a good barometer of where a horse is in its development.

Some competitors were disappointed about the CDI situation because they needed an FEI result to qualify for next month’s national championships in Illinois. Marcus, who received 70 percent in the Developing Horse Grand Prix, is qualified for the championships because that division does not require a CDI score.

Emily entered the show when it was a CDI, with qualifying for the national championships as a goal, and is applying for a waiver to that competition after the CDI was scrapped.

Emily Wyman and Chigali. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)

Marcus rode just after 9 a.m., but as the morning went on and the ring was dragged, puddles disappeared and the footing was not the subject of complaints.

“It’s not fancy footing, but it’s not dangerous, it’s safe. I don’t mind the footing here at all. It’s not slick,” said trainer Lauren Chumley of Pittstown after her 10:55 a.m. ride in the  Intermediate I freestyle on Santa Barbara DASH.

Elisabeth observed, “No it’s not the wonderful Global (Dressage Festival) felt footing, but it’s totally rideable. None of the horses are sucking back. There’s enough give in it so they can extend and do all that good stuff. To me, they’re doing a good job on it.”

Marcus, based in Annandale, Hunterdon County, responded to a question about what should be improved at the park in addition to footing by saying he would appreciate more food trucks  (“better food” was mentioned by several people) and more vendors. And of course, upgraded stabling, which is what everyone would like. He sees the potential of the park with improvements as a place with the potential of a place “to hang out” for chats and socializing with clients and other professionals

Young Rider Morgan Colliti, 22, a Newtown, Pa., professional, who also did not need a CDI to make it to the championships in her division, is a fan of the park.

“I really like it here. It’s really open. The horses like it because they can see everything,” she said after completing her first freestyle, and noting her Donatalla CF is “pretty okay with water  (in the ring) most of the time.”

Another who appreciates the park is Mia Mata Blake.

“Even though the CDI was cancelled, we decided to come anyway, it’s been really good so far,” she said mid-morning.

“The footing’s been fine. They’re doing a great effort for trying to drag it between rides, which we really appreciate. It’s important for horses to stay sound,” said Mia, the head rider for Silva Martin’s stable.

Mia rode 12-year-old Hannah Lu W while Pamela Murphy rode Hannah’s dam, 18-year-old Rosa Cha W.

Rosa Cha W and Hannah Lu W have a brief discussion. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)

As is often the case with pre-teen daughters and their mothers, the two mares have their issues. “They have similar personalities,” explained Mia, so the only time they spend together is when they’re trailering to shows. Hannah showed Rosa who was in charge–she was first in the FEI Prix St. Georges while her dam finished third. I can only imagine their horsey conversation on the trailer ride home to Pennsylvania. I heard the remark of equine outrage after they touched noses when they stood together for photos in the Horse Park awards area.

The level of satisfaction seemed to focus on the competitor’s ride time. Those who rode after the early morning classes seemed pleased.

“It’s been a terrific show, the ring’s been fine, the rain helped a lot, they’re dragging it regularly. It’s very well-organized. I’m super happy,” said Sandra Cohen, an amateur who came from New York with her 11-year-old Dutch warmblood, Grace Jones, to ride in the Prix St. Georges.

The park often draws people who are just curious about the horses and their activities,  so important in terms of an opportunity for exposing more people to horses. The Garret family of nearby Manalapan, for instance, dropped by to watch because their daughter, 6-year-old Brielle, likes horses. They were unfamiliar with dressage, so one of the very nice volunteers answered their questions. Brielle’s parents, Lindsay and Scott, decided to come after Brielle’s  grandparents made a trip to the park and recommended it.

Lori Kelly of Hillsborough, N.J., was among the several vendors in the park’s pavilion with her booth of Waldhausen products. The brand sponsored the Brentina Cup at the show.

Lori Kelly at her Waldhausen booth in the pavilion at the Horse Park. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)

“The quality of the rides was great, but I don’t think the exhibitors showed appreciation for us being here. It’s not that they need to buy something, but just walk through and humor us,” said Lori. She mentioned, however, that one exhibitor did just that saying “Thank you so much for being here,” and the sponsorship.

“That means a lot to us,” Lori observed.

Elisabeth Williams feels the park has potential. She’d like to see better judges’ booths for the dressage, since it rains into the current open-sided booths, and mentioned the need not only for better stalls, but also for a few that are 12 by 12 for the bigger horses, instead of 10 by 10.

She feels that acting park president Ellen Brindle Clark “has the vision and runs enough shows to know what’s needed. Management is great and they’re really trying. There are different groups here running different competitions, and I think maybe a little more cohesiveness might be nice.”

Former U.S. Dressage Federation President Lisa Gorretta of Ohio, who was the show’s technical delegate, commented after the competition ended that she was impressed by her first visit to the park.

“It has a wonderful atmosphere. I love the `chi,’” she said, referring to its energy.

“It has extremely dedicated horse show and professional staff that do everything they can with the facility they have. The volunteers have been awesome to work with. These guys I think are doing a remarkable job, looking at the footing, trying to figure out what the weather is going to do They really are dedicated to making Mother Nature as cooperative as possible.”

As Lisa noted, it is important to stage 2-star level shows where horses, riders, officials and volunteers all can develop their skills.

“We have to have the farm team of horse shows,” she stated, explaining, that offers “opportunities for people to compete at approximately the level where they are comfortable and bring the standards up all around that.”

A German riding pony is a model of stardom

by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 9, 2022

As a kid, Lauren Chumley didn’t have a pony. The family wasn’t into horses, and her parents weren’t paying for her to ride.

But as Lauren pointed out, “Little girls that like horses are going to like horses, whether you have horses or not.”

Her enthusiasm wasn’t going to be denied, so she took the route of many other little girls and got a Breyer model horse. First one, then about 299 others.

With the exception of a Clydesdale that proudly stands on the mantel of her Pittstown, N.J., home, her collection now lives in boxes, treasured keepsakes stored away but not forgotten.

“I liked the realism of them, the different breeds, I liked the educational aspect,” the trainer said explaining her childhood involvement. Breyers fascinated Lauren during her non-riding days because she enjoyed reading about all the different breeds represented, along with the history of the real horses depicted.

“Breyer did such a good job. I just ate all of that up,” she recalled. “It was my only access to horses.”

These days, she runs barns at two locations (“I still have too many horses,” she chuckles) where her business involves training, selling and competing 60 of them. And wouldn’t you know it, more than warmbloods are in the mix.

She used to work for a Norwegian Fjord breeder, so it’s no surprise to see her on one of those intriguing individuals. But her best-known horses include a Morgan, Avatar’s Jazzman, who does dressage and evented, as well as Nikolas, a buckskin German riding pony who is a dressage specialist.

Both are made famous by becoming Breyer models, but Nikolas has been elevated to new stature by being named the 2022 Celebration Horse for Breyerfest, July 15-17 at the Kentucky Horse Park, and on the livestream as well. He’s also the program’s coverboy.

Breyerfest took a break from running as an in-person event during Covid, so the 33d edition marks the first time in two years that fans are welcomed to the horse park in Lexington for the event, entitled Breyerfest: Prost!, meaning “cheers” in German.  Of course the German theme was a natural for Nikolas as a centerpiece. To carry out the concept, there’s an Oktoberfest tent, complete with polka band and beer Garden.

Jazz and Nik will be performing together at Breyerfest. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)

Nikolas and Jazzman, both owned by Melissa Dowling, are appearing together at Breyerfest, doing a Grand Prix pas de deux with Lauren’s assistant, Jessie Hayes, on the Morgan. They are available for autographs and photos as well.

The duo is among 200 equines brought in for Breyerfest, which also offers numerous exhibitions–including Sylvia Zerbini and her lovely troupe of white horses.

Crafts and vendors fill out the offering, while a live broadcast studio brings the event to 128 different countries for those who aren’t among the 35,000 people from all 50 states to come there in person.

Stephanie Macejko, vice president of marketing and product development for Breyer’s parent company, Reeves International, noted it is unusual that someone has had two of their horses become models.

She explained, however,  “When we were looking for a horse a little bit different for our celebration model,” Nikolas emerged as the perfect choice for the Celebration horse, which comes with an all-access ticket to Breyerfest on site, or with traditional online access.

Sylvia Zerbini and her white horses will be part of Breyerfest. (Photo © by Lawrence J. Nagy)

“He was really unique, ” she pointed out.

“He sort of fit the bill; the German theme, his beautiful buckskin coloring. And Lauren we had known from doing Avatar’s Jazzman.

But there’s more to the selection than looks.

“One of the key aspects of being a Breyer Celebration Horse is they have to be good around people,” said Stephanie.

The Breyerfest experience is “very hands-on for the kids. It gives kids and adults an opportunity to meet their horse heroes, get their photos taken with them and talk with their owners and trainers,” she noted.

“It’s great to see kids having the opportunity to get the exposure to the horses.”

Having models made of the horses she rides has great meaning for Lauren.

“Jazzman was the first one, he’s a special guy. I thought it was really cool that he’s immortal now. There will be kids who are never going to see him who will know who he is. Maybe somewhere out west, or who knows where, some kid will read about Jazzman and the crazy stuff that we did. Who doesn’t want to make their special horse immortal?” Lauren asked.

She likes the idea that kids will recognize Nikolas the way they have recognized Jazzman because of the model.

“Oh my God. Is that Jazzman? Can we take a picture?” kids say when they see her with the Morgan at a show.

“It’s kind of fun,” she said.

Nik, who is 11, did his first Grand Prix last year. She is hoping to take him to Dressage at Devon this autumn, but notes that he’s still green at it and there’s more work to do.

“Just because you start Grand Prix–as I describe it to people–it’s like you finally cross the desert and you arrive at the other side. And then you realize you’re at the base of Mt. Everest; you’re not even halfway done!”

Avatar’s Jazzman with Jessie Hayes and Nikolas with Lauren Chumley stand by their models. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)

She has the encouragement of Alice Tarjan, her best friend, who is short-listed for August’s dressage world championships. In turn, she has groomed for Alice at Aachen last year and Rotterdam this summer.

“I am so happy to be able to help at all,” she said. “It’s an honor and privilege to go to those shows with her and help her out.”

So will there come a day when Alice will be grooming for Lauren at a big show?

“It would be my life goal that I could be good enough that Alice has to wrap my horse for me,” Lauren said with a chuckle.

Lauren didn’t start riding until she was 12, when her grandmother hit her 40s and decided she wanted to ride. She took Lauren with her to the stables at the Quantico Marine base in Virginia, where her husband was stationed.

“My parents are still mad at her. She was taking lessons and I tagged along and that was the end of it,” Lauren said. After that, she started taking lessons at home and “everything snowballed from there.”

The model of Nikolas was created by artist Brigitte Eberl of Germany. It’s a brand new sculpture from the woman who has produced likenesses of such dressage stars as Valegro, Salinero and Totilas.

“I usually tap Brigitte when we’ve got a particularly high-end dressage horse or a horse of the Olympic disciplines,” said Stephanie, noting that Brigitte, who also does bronze work, will have an exhibit at Breyerfest.

Jaime Potkalesky, who handles events for Breyer, notes Breyerfest will have a bigger footprint than ever, with many more model horse shows. People are glad to return after Covid, she said, noting many have posted along the lines that ” We cherish this year because we’re so lucky to be back and so lucky to be able to keep getting together with our friends.”

On the virtual side, “This will be the first time ever that people who can’t make it to the horse park will be able to experience what it’s like. It’s as close as you can get without being there,” she said.

Having her horses represented in the Breyer collection means a great deal to Lauren, who saved her money from babysitting, dog-walking and mowing grass to buy more models when she went to Breyerfest in her youth. Once at the event, she would stand on line for hours to get autographs, and now it’s her autograph that’s being sought.

Asked how she would have reacted if a time traveler could have told the horseless Lauren that in the future, her horses would be Breyers and that one of them would be on the cover of the Breyerfest program, Lauren responded, “I would have thought you were crazy.”

Isn’t it nice when reality turns out to be even bigger than a dream?