by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 17, 2021
Despite the efforts of high-profile athletes to reinstate teams of four with a drop score at the Olympic Games, the FEI (international equestrian federation) voted today at its General Asembly in Antwerp to keep teams of three for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Teams of four will still be standard for championships, finals and other key competitions run under the auspices of the FEI, rather than those of the International Olympic Committee.
There were 70 yes votes for the teams of three, and 30 voting no.
Arguments against the three-member teams, instituted for Tokyo, include horse welfare, putting pressure on riders to continue for the honor of their country even if their horse is struggling. Dressage has operated previously with teams of three, but the nature of that discipline makes it less likely that a team member will have to drop out or get eliminated than is the case in show jumping or eventing.
Several countries, including France and the U.S., argued for teams of four. Botswana, Hong Kong and the 2021 Olympic show jumping team gold medalist nation, Sweden, were in favor of teams of three.
Cutting the number of team members from four to three meant more countries could participate in Tokyo within the parameters set for the number of show jumping slots. The International Olympic Committee wants to see a wide range of countries in each sport at the Games, and the threat of equestrian being dropped from the Olympics is a concern when it comes to FEI policy.
Stephan Ellenbruch of Germany, re-elected chairman of the FEI jumping committee, acknowledged the dissension but asked for unity, comparing it with handling a show jumping course..
“I need you, the athletes…as team members. The course is set, let’s accept the framework we have and make it the best possible format we can do for the job. I’m counting on your advice and…expertise. Let’s jump this course together.”
Next up is the December deadline for all sports to submit their qualification procedures for the Paris Games. That has also been contentious.
To read how Swiss multi-medalist Steve Guerdat argued for four-member teams on Tuesday at the FEI meeting, click on this link.
Will Connell, the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s director of sport, called for longer term thinking on the Olympic formats that goes beyond Paris, to include Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032. “We need to play the long game,” he said.
Meanwhile, Roly Owers, who heads the World Horse Welfare organization, warned those at the meeting that responsible use and care of horses in sport is vital to the continuation of competition against outside forces–some of which even believe that horses should not be ridden. Others contend horse welfare will suffer when horses compete,” he pointed out.
“We must do right by our horses – and be seen to be doing so,” he advised.
FEI President Ingmar de Vos emphasized, “We must continue to educate the non-equestrian community about equestrian sport and our values as there is a lot of misinformation which exists out there and could threaten the integrity of the sport we love.”
Roly discussed a social license under which those involved with horses should operate. (Note on the graphic that license is spelled in the British way.)
The outcry over a pentathlete’s abuse of horse that refused in the jumping phase of that sport at last summer’s Olympics, as well as photos of her coach punching the animal, led the International Modern Pentathlon Union to say it would drop riding as an element of the sport after the 2024 Paris Olympics.
While no one could condone what happened in Tokyo, Roly accused the pentathlon organization of having “an apparent knee-jerk reaction” by dropping riding. He called it the wrong decision. Instead, it could have revised how the segment was run.
The organization has come up with an ethical framework of how to treat horses across the board, not only in sport but in everything from breeding to after-care.
Here is a graphic about the threats to horse keeping in the current environment.
In other business, the FEI officially dropped reining from its list of disciplines. It had been a part of the governing body for two decades, but the FEI and the U.S.-based National Reining Horse Association often clashed on matters that were, as the NRHA put it, “legal, cultural, structural, and financial in nature.”
A memorandum of understanding between the organization that emerged in June seemed to offer a path forward, but NRHA said the advent of a different agreement three months later prompted the NRHA’s decision not to move forward.
It reminded me of the old saying that when two people ride a horse, one person must ride behind, and neither the FEI nor the NRHA wanted to ride behind, so to speak. The FEI statutes state that the FEI “shall be the sole governing body for the FEI Disciplines.” That was not the case with reining.
“We hope that in the future we may be able to work together in some capacity,” NRHA President Rick Clark said.
For its part, the FEI pledged to “support initiatives from National Federations to preserve the FEI reining legacy.”
At the General Assembly, Sven Friesecke of Switzerland, who had been head of the FEI reining committee looked very sad as he told the gathering, “We tried to make it run, and unfortunately we failed. But we have plans…”
The USA’s David O’Connor was re-elected to chair the FEI’s eventing committee. David was the individual Olympic eventing gold medalist in 2000 and the first president of the U.S. Equestrian Federation.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 7, 2022
One of the state’s best-known stables has been sold, with plans in the works for refurbishment that will bring Duncraven back to its glory days.
The facility in Titusville, Mercer County, had been on the market for several years. Though it is in farmland preservation, which means the property can’t become a housing development, there was no guarantee that it would remain a horse farm, since other agricultural uses could have been permitted there.
Shawn Stout, who lives in Ewing Township, drove past Duncraven one day and noticed the parcel was available. He brought it up with his father, Harry Stout III, who is retired from the family business, Stout’s Transportation, but always alert for investments.
Shawn Stout will be managing the Duncraven Equestrian Center.
“Check this out,” Shawn told his dad, explaining that in his family “there’s an interest in horses and (I) thought it would be something to look into.” They went by the place, almost “on a whim” and liked what they saw.
The family, which also includes Shawn’s brothers Tim and Harry (H.J.) IV, formed YKnot Acres to buy Duncraven in a purchase that closed Dec. 30. From one perspective, the move seems like destiny.
While growing up in Pennington, Shawn did some team penning with quarter horses and recalled Duncraven as “a cool place.” He noted his father had kept horses near the Duncraven acreage years ago.
They want to continue the horse shows that are there, and perhaps bring in more.
“I’m excited they are horse people,” said Nancy Wallis, who was the head trainer at Duncraven for decades. She began there the day it opened, in 1993, leaving when it closed in 2020.
“It was my entire life for that many years,” she sighed
“It could have gone many different ways with that farm. The fact that they would still be interested in having horse shows is excellent, because that’s the facility. The location is superior in this state. It’s easy to get to from either direction. That’s what made it such a draw for the horse shows too,” Nancy observed.
The 61-acre tract initially was purchased as an investment for potential development by Tim Fedor, envisioned “as an equestrian estates type of development,” he recalled when Duncraven went on the market in 2019 for $2.5 million.
“Then my family kind of took a 360 and was more into preserving things. We also owned 75 acres across the street, which we sold to the Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space Program nine or ten years ago,” he said at the time he decided to market Duncraven.
Shawn sees the future for what will be called Duncraven Equestrian Center as “pretty much the same operation…a little more enhanced.”
The rings at Duncraven have hosted scores of horse shows over the years. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
The goal involves elevating it to the standard of its glory days in the 1990s and early 2000s.
“We want to bring it back to the pristine barn that it was. It was a good fun, family atmosphere. It was well taken care of. The concept will be the same,” continued Shawn, who plans to “bring in a few trainers.” At the moment, only one trainer, Alexis Pornovets, is operating on the premises.
She has 12 horses in training and does all the work herself. Knowing that Duncraven is being saved and improved is understandably important to her.
“We all love the rings and the atmosphere of it. They have big plans…wanting it to look like it used to look. I’m excited for that,” she commented.
The trainers who move to Duncraven will handle the horse end of things; “I’ll be more the barn and general manager-type person,” said Shawn.
“Whatever we can do in there, we’re going to do,” he promised, adding, “We’re cleaning the whole thing up, replacing all the fencing, renovating the barn, redoing all the offices. We’re giving it a complete makeover.”
He’s hoping that work, which includes new footing for the outdoor rings, will be finished by the spring, estimating there will be 40 stalls for boarding, and plans on reserving a couple of stalls for his own horses when he buys them.
Shawn and his brothers went on a cattle drive in Wyoming during August. It was the first time he had ridden in 20 years, but it was a good reminder that horses interest him.
“It’s a pleasure for people,” he said, “and I like seeing people have pleasure. It’s something to enjoy with them.”
Duncraven diversifies the family’s holdings, but Shawn is bringing with him lessons he learned in their transportation business, which operates everything from a variety of shuttles to luxury vehicles.
“The little things matter,” he emphasized.
Big name trainers have been based at Duncraven over the years, starting with Gary Kunsman and continuing through eventer Buck Davidson and grand prix show jumper Kevin Babington.
“Duncraven will always have a part of my heart. So many memories there,” said Dianna Babington, Kevin’s wife. “Literally most of my young adult life was connected to that place, along with so many relationships with the best of people.”
For the past two years, Duncraven has hosted a benefit show for Kevin, who was paralyzed in a 2019 fall during a grand prix.
“I am hopeful that the new owner will allow us to keep the benefit show for Kevin there,” said Dianna.
Dianna Babington during a benefit show for her husband, Kevin, at Duncraven. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I am really happy it will remain a horse facility,” she continued, noting that too many stables have disappeared from the state recently.
“It’s great news to hear,” agreed Karyn Malinowski, founding director of the Rutgers Equine Science Center.
That’s especially true, she noted, in view of the recent action regarding Gaitway Farm in Manalapan, which houses up to 600 standardbreds and has been a premier training center at the hub of harness racing in New Jersey.
The township committee voted last month to rezone the property along Route 33 for warehouses and sports complexes. Karyn is hoping “enough land will be preserved so the training center can stay and then do what they want with the rest of the property.”
On the other side of the coin, she pointed out, “Duncraven has a long history on the New Jersey horse show circuit. I think it’s wonderful that it has been purchased and will remain in its current use. That’s what we need in the Garden State.
“There’s a disproportionate amount of horse farms being sold compared to other agricultural commodities,” she explained.
“A lot of those large farms were racing farms and when the purse enhancement award went away in 2010, people said, `We’re getting out.'”
Now it’s starting to bounce back because the state has reinvested $20 million a year for the next five years for purse structure. It’s split half and half between thoroughbreds and standardbreds, said Karyn, noting there is another $2 million incentive for the Sire Stakes program for Jerseybred standardbreds.
“That’s a percentage of the sports book betting at the Meadowlands. We are in a renaissance as far as racing is right now.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 8, 2021
The Ridland Group is negotiating with the San Juan Capistrano City Council for management of the 40-acre Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park in the city for the next 20 or 30 years. An expanded program for the faciity is being planned by the group, which since 1998 has managed the park that was the scene of several Olympic trials.
“Horses have been a cornerstone of the San Juan Capistrano community for decades, and the Riding Park has played an integral role,” said Hillary Ridland, chief executive officer of the Ridland Group and Blenheim EquiSports. She is the wife of U.S. show jumping coach Robert Ridland.
“We’re thrilled to be able to keep that equestrian culture alive and to allow it to further thrive with the introduction of new events for various riding disciplines and our continued commitment to bringing world-class competition here to Southern California,” she said.
In February, the San Juan Capistrano City Council began accepting bids from potential facility managers – both equestrian and non-equestrian – who would agree to completion of approximately $7 million in environmental improvements. In a unanimous vote on Tuesday, the council directed its staff to finish negotiations and finalize details with the Ridland Group, whose proposal included an extensive engineering plan that would address the necessary environmental changes and prevent contaminated water from running off into the nearby San Juan Creek.
“We’re committed to being at the forefront of making the facility and equestrian sport as environmentally friendly as possible,” said Hillary Ridland. “We have secured the funding to complete the needed water infrastructure work and look forward to continuing to make The Riding Park better and even more accessible for the community as a whole.”
In addition to environmental improvements, the Ridland Group is already working to greatly expand the Riding Park’s event offerings. From March through September 2022, Blenheim EquiSports will host 14 weeks of top-level hunter/jumper competition, including the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ USA, to be held May 10-15. The event marks the first time the West Coast will host the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ that is a qualifier for the Cup final in Europe.
Beginning in 2022, The Ridland Group will also offer additional Western riding competitions, as well as a host of community-minded events produced in partnership with TAG Presents, including music festivals, comedy shows, free family-friendly activities, art shows, and more.
Speaking on behalf of the city council, incoming Mayor Derek Reeve remarked, “We are optimistic about the negotiations. I look forward to congratulating the Ridland Group following the final vote.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 15, 2021
Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, an Olympic and European Championships show jumping gold medalist, talked from the heart at the European Equestrian Federation meeting during the FEI general assembly today, saying the FEI wasn’t listening to the riders about the problems with the three-member teams at the Tokyo Olympics.
The FEI seems set to have the same format for Paris in 2024, with committees from all three disciplines approving the concept, which is awaiting a formal vote. Approval would mean the organization is not putting the welfare of the horse first, Steve said.
Swiss star Steve Guerdat has a collection of medals from every major championship. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Without the traditional drop score that can only used with a squad of four, “for a lot of teams, things were over after one or two riders, ” Steve pointed out.
He noted that the European Championships, which followed the Olympics, were more exciting because of their four-member teams. That format offers “much better sport,” he maintained, and there isn’t the pressure for a rider who is having problems to continue because the team can finish if he becomes the drop score. But without a drop score, even if their horse is struggling, riders may continue their rounds because they don’t want to let their country down.
The three-member teams enabled the FEI to include “more flags” in the Tokyo line-up, which is something the International Olympic Committee looks for–greater participation, with a wider range of countries appearing. There is always the threat that equestrian sports will be dropped from a Games that is featuring such trendy competitions as skate boarding and rock climing.
But it was obvious some nations at Tokyo simply weren’t up to the team test, so Steve said it would be better to have eight teams of four riders than 10 teams of three riders. Countries that are developing in terms of equestrian sport, he noted “don’t have three solid horse/rider combinations.”
He suggested, “Wouldn’t it be smarter to think and put all this time and resources into how do we help new and upcoming countries get better?” One way is to have more individual riders from countries that can’t really field a full team of athletes who are at the Olympic level.
An argument for teams of three has been that a drop score makes things difficult to understand among people unfamiliar with show jumping, but Steve disagrees. There’s nothing complicated about dropping the worst score from a team of four, and other sports do it, he pointed out.
He doesn’t believe the rules should be changed “for people who don’t follow equestrian sport.”
He had gone to the FEI to ask what could be done to make sport better and eliminate some of the ugly pictures from Tokyo. He was dismayed, however, to read a letter from the IOC to the FEI that praised the way things went in Tokyo.
Saying he was “really sad and disappointed,” Steve added “nobody is listening to the riders.” Other big names who have expressed concern include 2016 individual gold medalist Nick Skelton of Great Britain and the USA’s McLain Ward.
Steve said he felt like an idiot for his efforts in making a case that seems to have come to nothing. He wanted to give up, but other riders had begged him, “Try to save our sport.”
A group of countries, including France and the U.S., have requested a return to four-member teams. The number of riders is also a major issue in eventing, but the three-member team works well enough for dressage because of the nature of that discipline.
The general assembly continues through Wednesday in Antwerp and on line.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 28, 2021
The 2021 version of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event made an improvement over the 2020 edition, which didn’t happen due to the pandemic. But it was held without spectators this year; only cardboard images of fans were in the stands, aside from riders, horse owners and grooms. In addition to the missing crowds that create such excitement, there were none of the usual amenities, such as vendors, dining options and tailgating.
So there is great anticipation for the 2022 event April 28-May 1. Better buy your tickets early. Click on this link to get your spot for the always eagerly awaited 5-star.
The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event draws some of the best riders in the world, including world number one Oliver Townend. (Photo ©by Nancy Jaffer)
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 2, 2021
As the USA’s dressage technical advisor, at last summer’s Tokyo Games she led the way to the country’s first Olympic team silver dressage medal since 1948.
But now Debbie McDonald is out of a job. According to a U.S. Equestrian Federation spokesperson, the organization chose not to renew her contract due to the filing of a civil lawsuit alleging her husband, Robert McDonald, sexually assaulted two under-age women in California nearly a half-century ago. Debbie also is named in the lawsuit, which contends she was negligent for not protecting the teens while she was Robert McDonald’s assistant trainer. The two were not married at the time.
In addition, California’s 32d District Agricultural Association was sued. It runs the Orange County Fairgrounds, where Robert and Debbie trained at the time the incidents were alleged to take place.
USEF stated, “Debbie McDonald’s contract with USEF has expired and will not be renewed at this time. We are continuing to move forward with the balance of the plans that have been developed following a detailed review involving stakeholder feedback.”
The decision comes with the 2022 World Dressage Championships less than a year from now, and the Paris Olympics two and a half years away.
Debbie, 67, was the sweetheart of the dressage world when she became the first American Dressage World Cup Finals winner on Brentina, who shared icon status with her rider. Together they took double gold at the 1999 Pan American Games, team silver at the 2002 FEI World Equestrian Games, and team bronze at the 2004 Olympics and 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games.
With Brentina’s retirement, Debbie went on to make a name for herself as a coach, creating more Olympic medalists for the U.S., including Laura Graves, Adrienne Lyle and Kasey Perry-Glass.
Generous with her time and encouraging with her ability to make both horses and riders better, the petite trainer always put her heart and soul into her job.
Debbie and Bob McDonald at Brentina’s retirement in 2009. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
Her world was shaken when allegations of sex abuse involving minors from nearly 50 years ago were made against her husband with the U.S. Center for SafeSport, and in June 2020, he was banned for life by the USEF.
Two months later, just as the matter was going to arbitration, the women involved in the matter dropped it and SafeSport instituted an administrative closure of the case. Robert McDonald was removed from the SafeSport banned list and reinstated by USEF. The two women connected with the SafeSport case are the ones who brought lawsuit, but their names are not given in the legal papers.
Debbie declined to comment, but her husband passed along a hand-written statement and thanked everyone who has supported the two of them at this time.
He added, “We are unable to comment on the matters that we know nothing about. Hearing of a lawsuit filed against us has come out of left field. We simply ask that you allow the legal process to take its course and hold your thoughts and opinions until all the evidence is put forth which we believe will vehemently demonstrate the untruth of the accusers.
“It is upsetting that these ladies hide behind Jane Does when they choose to tarnish our reputation in our sport. It is equally upsetting that we were prepared to address the accusations at the SafeSport level when SafeSport closed the case. We have been together for 43 years and fully stand by each other and know that we have done nothing within the realm of what has been asserted.
“We are confident in the end the truth will prevail. We will continue to dedicate our lives to the sport we love and focus on the training of and for our clients who have stood by us.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 15, 2021
It has been an incredible year for New Jersey dressage riders, who made quite a mark at major competitions, ending their spectacular season with last weekend’s U.S. Dressage Finals.
Heather Mason of Flying Change Farm in Lebanon has found the key to success with the 16-year-old Oldenburg/Holsteiner-cross RTF Lincoln. That paid off with a victory in the open Grand Prix, his first win in that category at the finals. He scored 70.399 percent to top 20 other entries, and was the only horse in the class to break 70 percent at the Kentucky Horse Park.
She prepared by showing him in the Intermediate II the day before, calling it a confidence-building warmup at the competition presented by Adequan.
“He’s tricky temperament-wise but I think I’ve got him figured out now,” the trainer explained.
Heather Mason and RTF Lincoln (Sue Stickle photo for U.S. Dressage Finals)
“His management is carefully orchestrated and he gets longed every day at a certain time. He always looks like the quietest horse in the barn but the minute you get on, he’s dynamite.”
Just looking at the results and seeing that Alice Tarjan of Oldwick had finished second in the Grand Prix Adult Amateur Championship with Donatella M on 72.935 percent raised a question: “Who the heck could have beaten her?”
Turns out it was Alice herself, as she put in the winning ride on the U.S.-bred Serenade MF, earning 74.928 percent. The day before, the partnership won in the Intermediate II Adult Amateur division.
“Serenade has had a fantastic year and I have to give her so much credit,” said Alice.
“Every time we go in the ring, she is so reliable. She’s only eight years old and there’s still a lot of stuff that is a bit hard for her, but she still answers all the questions of the Grand Prix and does it consistently.
“You ask her to piaffe and she piaffes. You ask her to do a change or a pirouette and she does a change and a pirouette. She’s just easy that way.”
Known for being a winner with a variety of horses, Alice proved that point again on her six-year-old Oldenburg mare Summersby II, victorious in the Fourth Level Adult Amateur Championship with a unanimous win under all three judges for a total of 73.056 percent.
“I’m really excited about this horse for the future, even though she’s young and green and still makes some mistakes. But she’s honest about it,” Alice explained.
Alice Tarjan and Serenade MF (Sue Stickle photo for U.S. Dressage Finals)
“Fourth Level is a lot of test for her, but I think it’s a good thing to kind of push your boundaries a little bit and see what your horse’s answers are, and she is definitely coming up with the right answers.”
She appreciates the finals, whether she’s in the Alltech Arena or one of the other rings.
“It is a huge horse show and I think ring time here is so good to get the horses exposure. There aren’t many places in the country where you can get a horse show of this size and atmosphere, that is so well run and at a fantastic facility where the footing is this good. These kinds of experiences are invaluable for the horses, and for me as a rider, they give me a better idea about the horse I have underneath me.”
She also took the Third Level Adult Amateur Championship with Summersby, scored at 72.417 percent.
Lauren Chumley of Pittstown also was a winner, taking the title in the Second Level Test of Choice on Leeloo Dallas with 70.119 percent, the best score in three sections.
Feeling a thrill at the finals wasn’t always about victories. Bridget Hay of East Amwell was delighted to collect the reserve championship in the Grand Prix Open Freestyle on her home-bred Faolan.
The freestyle is a tribute to Faolan’s brother, Fitzhessen, who died seven years ago.
As Bridget noted, Faolan’s score of 73.867 percent was less than a half-point behind the winner, Kristen Wasemiller-Knutson on Vashti, marked at 74.275.
“I feel so incredibly fortunate to have such an amazing partner who truly is a once in a lifetime horse,” said Bridget, who trains long-distance with Olympic medalists Adrienne Lyle and Ali Brock. She also got help at the show from her friend Alice Tarjan and Lisa Basselini.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 4, 2022
When you want an answer, you have to ask for one. So my question to Andreas Helgstrand (CEO of the Global Equestrian Group that owns the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center) was whether he is planning to move Wellington, Florida’s, Adequan Global Dressage Festival from the Equestrian Village to his nearby farm, since rumors to that effect were percolating.
The short response was no, but keep reading.
His company does not own the facility where the AGDF is staged, a short canter from PBIEC, though he indicated at a Zoom press conference today that it likely will be the owner, and I’d bet on sooner, rather than later.
Andreas Helgstrand during his competition days, when he was a sensation at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games on Matine. (Photo © 2006 by Nancy Jaffer)
“At the moment, we only own the jumping part, so of course, we put all our efforts into the jumping,” he said, referring to the massive improvements made to PBIEC after GEG, which also includes German show jumping legend Ludger Beerbaum, took over there last summer.
Those efforts include upgrading rings, replacing railings that had rotted, working on drainage and adding land for stabling and parking; the latter is always an issue. Shuttles will be provided to move spectators from outlying parking areas. The concentration was on the horses and the rider experience, rather than anything too cosmetic, after a survey was taken to determine the concerns of riders and fans.
Andreas noted, “We are working hard to take over the dressage as well,” but added, “before that, we cannot do so much. We will do everything we can to do as much as possible for the dressage riders, but as long as we don’t own it, we cannot do more than what we do right now. Hopefully, very soon we can also take over the dressage there and then we will also go full power on that side as well.”
The gossip was that the jumper shows would expand from PBIEC to the Global tract, where there already has been a good amount of hunter and jumper competition during the Winter Equestrian Festival, so the dressage would then pick up and go to Andreas’ own farm.
“I don’t think we have space enough for this there,” pointed out the Danish entrepreneur, who made his reputation first as a dressage competitor, then as a trainer and horse dealer.
“We are not there to make another showgrounds We are there to have our sales horses and training with the customers and so on,” he explained during the virtual press conference, set up to preview WEF, which gets under way Jan. 5, and AGDF, which starts next week.
Big prize money, glitz, glamour and high-profile riders such as Georgina Bloomberg are major attractions at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
This isn’t the first time that there has been talk that dressage might be leavingf the Global grounds. In 2016, when Mark Bellisimo was calling the shots at PBIEC and AGDF, he and his partners paid $72 million for the International Polo Club. The word was that he would move dressage to that site, but it never happened.
Michael Stone, president of Equestrian Sport Productions (an umbrella entity for the Winter Equestrian Festival, AGDF and the Tryon shows), did say that PBIEC would be hosting some dressage, however. The riders appreciated it when the final Olympic dressage observation event last year was held in the International Arena at PBIEC.
Before Covid, crowds packed the AGDF stands to watch such world-class riders and horses and Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
“Our objective is to grow the jumpers, grow the dressage and put both in the best conditions and the best venue possible and then have some movement,” he explained.
“So just as the jumpers enjoy going over to Global and jumping on the grass, the Global riders like to come over here and show in our facility,” Michael mentioned, referring to PBIEC.
He cautioned that the trick is to “just make sure we can fit everything in so that we don’t have dressage going until 11 o’clock at night. It’s quite complicated, but we’re working on it.”
GEG intends to pull out all the stops.
As Andreas noted about his company’s takeover of the facility, it offered an opportunity “to create something even more unique than what it is already. We want to invest money there; we want to take care that Wellington will stay as the best place on earth for horse people.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 1, 2021
Michael Barisone was “incoherent” after the Aug. 7, 2019 shooting for which he was charged with two counts of attempted murder, according to a Washington Township, N.J., police officer who responded to the scene.
Detective Derek Heymer recounted under oath during a Superior Court hearing in Morristown today that when he arrived at Barisone’s Long Valley horse farm on the afternoon of the incident, he found the 2008 Olympic dressage team alternate face down on the ground with Richard Goodwin on top of him, while Goodwin’s fiancé, Lauren Kanarek was nearby bleeding from chest wounds.
Michael Barisone in his competition days. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
Heymer located the gun, a black and pink Ruger, underneath Barisone and threw it to one side and its empty ammunition magazine to the other. Barisone, who also was charged with possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, had blood on his face and a laceration on his forehead. He was talking to himself, according to Heymer, who reported the athlete had a blank stare and said several times, “I had a good life.”
Kanarek, a dressage rider, and Goodwin lived at Barisone’s farm, but he wanted them out because of what were called “escalating threats” involving fear of physical harm and property destruction, as alleged in a lawsuit filed in July against 11 Washington Township police officers and the municipality. A claim was made in the lawsuit that police did nothing to protect Barisone from the couple when he began calling 911 about the situation eight days before the shooting. Heymer was among the officers named in the suit, which eventually was dismissed.
Barisone’s attorney, Edward Bilinkas, said he plans to present evidence of insanity and self-defense in the case. In an interview outside of the courtroom, the lawyer said his client doesn’t remember anything about the shooting incident, blacking out from the time a representative of the state Division of Child Protection and Permanency began asking about accusations of abuse involving his girlfriend’s children, until he was hospitalized to be treated for his injuries. Following Barisone’s first court appearance in 2019, his former lawyer said that after Barisone tried to evict Kanarek and Goodwin, there was retaliation with the abuse allegations.
Michael Barisone confers in court with lawyer Ed Bilinkas. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
The purpose of this morning’s session was for Judge Stephen Taylor to decide whether jurors should be permitted to hear testimony at trial about what police officers heard Barisone say when they were dealing with him after the shooting. Two other Washington Township policemen were questioned about that at a hearing in October.
Morris County Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Schellhorn pointed out that police did not cause Barisone to make the statements, which were not offered in response to questioning but were overheard and unrecorded. There was, he added, no risk those officers could have misheard or misunderstood the statements Barisone made. According to the police officers’ testimony, the statements included “Is this real? I need to wake up” and “They destroyed my life in the last six months, they took it all away. I’m sorry it happened.”
Schellhorn asked the judge to rule those statements should be admissible at trial.
Barisone, who has spent nearly two and a half years in the Morris County Correctional Center, came into the courtroom in handcuffs and was seated facing the judge. He did not speak publicly, but talked with his lawyer during the hearing. He was scheduled to be tried in February. But a pending murder trial for someone who has been in custody longer than Barisone will be occupying Schellhorn early in the year, so Barisone’s proceeding has been moved to March 21. Lawyers on both sides expect the trial will take two weeks for each of them to present their case, and dozens of witnesses will be involved, including psychological experts.
Discussing Barisone’s comments that were reported by the police officers, Schellhorn noted Bilinkas argued that these statements were related to the allegation of insanity.
“It certainly would be the defendant’s burden to produce evidence and establish he was insane by a preponderance of the evidence,” said Schellhorn.
Bilinkas pointed out that his client had been beaten and was described in testimony as “incoherent” and “dazed” in the wake of the shooting. He contended that the comment, “Is this real” was “an indication he doesn’t understand…what he’s saying. Those statements indicate someone who’s struggling with, I submit, reality.”
Michael Barisone leaving the courtroom today. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
In response, Judge Taylor asked, “Is that a question for the court now or perhaps one for the jury?”
Bilinkas explained, citing his client’s trauma and head injury, “He didn’t realize what he was doing, what was going on. To make any type of statement, the court needs to make a determination, at least initially, as to whether or not it’s at all reliable and voluntary under the circumstances.”
The lawyer said some of the statements were made after Barisone received large amounts of narcotics in the hospital, maintaining it was mind-altering. The judge asked how he was supposed to know “what the pharmacological effects of fentanyl is a minute later?”
Bilinkas suggested the judge could use his “common sense,” but the judge said that assertion is subject to medical testimony.
“When you’re telling me it alters his mind, I don’t know that, I don’t have any evidence before me, medical records or other records, to indicate what the effect is on an individual,” the judge said.
Bilinkas responded, “He doesn’t know what’s real, he doesn’t remember the incident.” He added that should weigh heavily in regard to the court’s “initial determination as to whether or not the statements should be admissible.”
The judge said he would take the issue under advisement and issue a written opinion.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 14, 2021
Kevin Babington has written a letter detailing his progress from the 2019 show jumping fall which resulted in a massive spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed. Through his refusal to give up and the efforts of his wife, Dianna and daughters Gwyneth and Marielle, along with hundreds of supporters, Kevin has made progress. The gains come in small increments, but he’s light years away from where he was 26 months ago, and perspective is vital in understanding how far Kevin has come. He has just released an update about how he’s doing:
“I’ve been continuing with my regular physical therapy and recently added a very good acupuncturist to my program, and I also have some exciting new rehab opportunities coming up very soon. My right arm continues to get stronger and I feel quite comfortable driving my wheelchair by myself now, using a hand control.
“In addition to having some movement in my toes, I’m starting to get a lot of new sensations in my legs and hips. It’s sometimes hard to explain what the feeling is, but it is along the line of tingling, or “firing,” and I have been getting a lot of warmth in both legs, especially my left one. I’m very fortunate that I’ve had a lot of very good therapists reach out to me, and I’m really looking forward to these new opportunities.
Kevin, who teaches from his wheelchair, with his tireless wife, Dianna. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
“When I’m not doing my therapies, my days are kept busy teaching lessons. I’m looking forward to some more of my students coming down for season and to the beginning of circuit. I still love to follow the show jumping from around the world and spend many hours on ClipMyHorse, making sure my friends and former competitors are not making too many mistakes ;).
“It obviously has not been any easy journey, but all the support I’ve had along the way has made it the best of a bad situation. I remain positive and stay focused on my goal to beat this. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has supported me, because without you, my extensive therapies and care would not be possible. I am very grateful.”
To visit Kevin’s website, click here. To make a donation, click on this link. The Babington Family Trust is another way to help Kevin.
