Nancy Jaffer | Nancy Jaffer - Equestrian Sports

Phillips goes from PMG to ESP

by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 5, 2022

Lenore Phillips, the former president of equestrian marketing/public relations firm Phelps Media Group, has moved on to Equestrian Sport Productions as director of sponsorship.

Citing her “fresh ideas,” ESP President Michael Stone, said, “We expect that, with her help, we will be able to elevate the experiences of our valued sponsors while also promoting the equestrian sport and lifestyle in Wellington.”

As she began working with a new team at ESP and Global Equestrian Group, owner of Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (see feature story on this website), Lenore noted, “Phelps was a seminal proving ground for me.”

That firm was started in 2002 by former National Horse Show President Mason Phelps, who died last spring. Lenore explained that Mason “was a huge catalyst for change in my life. He really appreciated my drive to succeed and encouraged me to go after all the things I wanted for PMG.”

She sees a similar situation in her new job.

“For me personally, the opportunity to expand my knowledge and sphere of operations into international territory was really important to me as my next professional step,” said Lenore, who worked at Phelps for five years..

“I’m passionate about working with people, developing partnerships and sales. While that’s some of what I did at PMG, it wasn’t able to be all of it. That will be 90 percent of what I do with ESP. I’m personally thrilled about that.”

She knows she will enjoy having a new mentor in Michael, noting that he “has such a strong background and is such a good businessperson and manages the expectations of riders and spectators and everyone else. I’m going to learn a ton.”

Lenore acknowledged that leaving her previous employer was “a hard choice, because I put so much time, effort and love into
PMG, but how could I pass this up? It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Raised on her family’s horse farm in Harrisburg, Pa., Lenore shows in the jumper division and is a competitive swimmer and tri-athlete.

Jennifer Burger, president of the National Horse Show and a founder of the Brandywine Horse Shows, was named Phelps’ CEO. She is assuming Lenore’s responsibilities.

“I think Jennifer is going to be a great addition to that business. I look forward to bright futures for everybody,” said Lenore.

Tryon gets 2022 eventing dates previously held by Jersey Fresh

by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 30, 2021

he Tryon International Equestrian Center next year is getting a jump on its 2023-27 spring event, as it was awarded a 4-star Long and Short and a 3-star Long and Short for May 16-19 next year after the Jersey Fresh International cancelled its 2022 competition on those dates.
Tryon already was awarded Jersey’s dates for 2023-2027 after the event at the Horse Park of New Jersey bid to hold its place with its 4-stars and 3-stars, but was not awarded them under the new protocols for the eventing calendar, as you saw on this website in August and succeeding monrths.
In case you missed the series of stories we ran on what happened to Jersey Fresh, here is the reaction of Jersey organizers to news they didn’t win their bid. This is a link to their thoughts on having one last competition in 2022, and here is why they made their decision to cancel 2022 due to lack of sponsor support. And click here to read how and why the calendar was being restructured.

Do you know what it’s like to be a horse?

by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 13, 2021

Find out from veterinarian Lindsay Goodale, a lecturer in animal science at Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. In a free Zoom presentation Nov. 16, she will offer an understanding of equine cognition and biology, in order to gain insight on improving equine welfare beyond a horse’s basic needs.

The 6-7 p.m. session is free, but registration is required. Register by clicking here

“Fast away the old year passes…”

by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 30, 2021

My headline, which I have always used for New Year’s stories over the decades, comes from a seldom-sung verse of a favorite carol, Deck the Halls. Last year at this time, the headline signaled the hope that 2021 would be better, so good riddance to 2020. We all agreed 2020 couldn’t pass away fast enough. But few could have guessed what new tribulations 2021 would bring, although the Olympics gave us a bright spot for a few weeks.

After Covid became a national emergency in March 2020 and the U.S. Equestrian Federation suspended all showing until June 1, I asked federation CEO Bill Moroney when he thought things would get back to normal.

“December,” he said, but he was talking December 2021, not 2020.

“Really?” I replied in disbelief, anticipating it would have been much sooner. Turns out we were both wrong–our guesses were too optimistic. Omicron, a word you likely didn’t know unless you spoke Greek or belonged to a fraternity, is now part of our everyday language. Things are still being cancelled; the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation, for instance, just called off its Jan. 21 party to raise funds for the 2022 world championships. (The Westminster Kennel Club even postponed its January show.)

Five major winter indoor competitions in Europe already have fallen by the wayside, and there may be more to come. Will the FEI World Cup Finals in dressage, jumping, driving and vaulting be held in Leipzig, Germany this April after a two-year hiatus for the competition? Or will we have to wait for Omaha in 2023 for the first Cup finals since 2019?

So I’m saying, “happy new year?” rather than “Happy New Year!”

The Covid situation has meant some major modifications to the equestrian scene.

The Washington International show was able to hold its 2020 and 2021 editions, but they were in Tryon, N.C., far from DC and the unique character of this fixture. In the meantime, its lease at the Capital One Center expired. So the show isn’t going back to the city whose name it bears, heading instead to the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Maryland.

That’s a big change on the North American Fall Indoor Circuit, which didn’t see its finale, Toronto’s Royal Winter Fair, in either 2020 or 2021. Devon’s multi-discipline show was cancelled for the second year in a row (though Dressage at Devon did run at the venue in the fall). The anticipated Olympic/Paralympic quarantine restrictions at the USET Foundation in Gladstone, N.J., meant the popular and innovative Monmouth at the Team show became Not Monmouth, Not at the Team, when it moved to Centenary University’s equestrian center in Morris County.

On the other hand, the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla., is flinging open its doors and inviting spectators in for 2022, though fans are advised to have a mask handy. It was big news when a new partnership was formed for ownership of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, with famed riders Ludger Beerbaum (show jumping) and Andreas Helgstrand (dressage) involved. Major improvements already have been made to the home of WEF.

The good thing about how Covid tested the world of equestrian competition is the way so many people and organizations rose to the challenge. Equestrian Sport Productions continued without a hitch at WEF and the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (unless you didn’t pass the temperature test).

A group of determined riders, owners and supporters, led by Sara Kozumplik Murphy; her husband, Brian, and other stalwarts wouldn’t take no for an answer when it was announced the Kentucky 5-star wasn’t going to run. They pushed to get it done, and it happened, albeit with cardboard photos of spectators in the stands, rather than real fans.

The biggest story of the year was the Tokyo Olympics, which the International Olympic Committee insisted on calling the 2020 Olympics, even though they were held in 2021. It was hard to believe the Olympics could be staged in the midst of Tokyo’s Covid restrictions and that equestrian sports there could run as well as they did, but it happened. The ban on spectators meant atmosphere was lacking, but the competition itself was great and I was able to give my readers a window on the action in 20 stories on this website.

McLain Ward and Contagious, team silver medalists in Tokyo. (Photo courtesy FEI)

I have never gotten as many thank-you notes as I did for my Olympic coverage, because Nancy Jaffer Equestrian Sports became a go-to for those who didn’t want to rise at 4 a.m. or 6 a.m. Eastern time (and even earlier in other parts of the country) to watch the livestream. Cross-country was the only segment shown in its entirety during what was a comfortable evening time frame on this side of the globe. The Olympics, despite all their problems, are still popular with those who love horse sports.

Tokyo highlights for the U.S. included team silver medals for both the dressage and show jumping squads, as well as the country’s first team para dressage medal and two individual para golds for world number one Roxie Trunnell on Dolton.

Zoom was a still a go-to for many meetings this year. The U.S. Dressage Federation and U.S. Hunter Jumper Association cancelled plans for in-person annual meetings, but the U.S. Eventing Association went ahead with its convention; after all, eventers are risk-takers.

Covid was far from the only thing making waves in the horse show world, of course.

Yet to be resolved are differences between the USEF and the World Equestrian Center in Florida, which held enthusiastically received shows at a dynamic new facility. The issue involved a disagreement over show licenses. As an alternative, WEC chose to have its shows governed by the National Snaffle Bit Association, a group best known prior to this for its involvement with western competitions. The Sonoma, Calif., show series also is going with NSBA, and other shows are considering doing that as well.

The eventing scene was shaken by several things, including the USEF decision not to renew the contract of Erik Duvander, the performance director who gave the job everything he had. Ironically, this happened just after Boyd Martin became the first American in 13 years to win a 5-star–the wonderful new Maryland 5-star at Fair Hill–the team earned a silver medal in Europe and Will Coleman won at Aachen. A task force is supposed to look at eventing and plot a course for running it at the upper levels in this country.

Another facet of the new look at eventing was a re-do of the upper-level calendar. It sadly left by the wayside the Jersey Fresh International event, a fixture on which so many had worked so hard for nearly two decades at the Horse Park of New Jersey. Under the reshuffle, Jersey Fresh lost its coveted 4-star-Long designation, which had made it a selection trial for Olympics and World Championships, and also was divested of its 4-star Short and 3-star designations. Although the new calendar isn’t going into effect until 2023, sponsors did not want to back a last hurrah for Jersey Fresh in 2022, since the event would not be continuing. It’s such a shame, and a loss for the region.

Among the unresolved situations from 2021 is that of Somerset County’s Lord Stirling stable in Basking Ridge, N.J. The facility, one of the few in the area where people could learn to ride for a reasonable fee, had that program shut down in the midst of the pandemic and the horses were sold in 2020. A committee has been studying the future of the property, but a year on, there’s been no word about its conclusions, and the stable is now the province of boarders who have their own horses.

As always, we lost key people in the horse world during the 12 months gone by. It seemed to me that there were many more than usual whom I knew this year, though none of that group died of Covid. This is just how things go in the scheme of things, but it is still hard to take.

So let us remember those to whom we said goodbye.

Among them was the irrepressible Mason Phelps, who kept the National Horse Show alive as its president and moving force. A member of the USET in his youth, he translated his equestrian involvement into energy for so many causes. More tears were shed when two more pillars of the equestrian community died within the week after Mason’s passing in May. The dean of ringmasters, John Franzreb, left us with memories of his warmth that had lifted the spirits of so many competitors.

The deaths of both Mason and John were shocking because they were unexpected, but the passing of respected trainer Ray Francis, a horseman’s horseman, hurt just as much, even though he had been ill for a while.

Prince Phillip of Great Britain, a former president of the FEI (International Equestrian Federation) and the man who codified the rules for four-in-hand combined driving, said farewell in April at age 99.

Others we will miss include Harry de Leyer, who rode $80 former plow horse Snowman to show jumping stardom, then earned more fame late in the game with a book and movie based on his life and that of his marvelous horse; Kenneth Wheeler, a hunter trainer known among other things for his enormous success showing horses in-hand; the co-chair of the Far Hills Race Meeting, John von Stade and Bert Firestone, another man known not only in racing circles, but also among show jumpers and fox hunters.

Also Carol Harris, a native of West Orange active in the American Quarter Horse Association and famous for her relationship with the fabulous stallion, Rugged Lark; eventing cross-country course designer and builder Tremaine Cooper; Tom Mannos, well-known in New Jersey and beyond as a horse show announcer, and Frank Gibbs, master of the Spring Valley Hounds. The most recent death of note came this month, when trainer and horse dealer Jessamy Rousson passed.

We lost some great horses, too. Among those who went to greener pastures were Brentina, the special mare who elevated the status of U.S. dressage with rider Debbie McDonald. They earned medals in the Olympics, world championships and Pan American Games, as well as logging the first American World Cup finals win.

Others who are gone include Flexible, Rich Fellers’ 2012 show jumping World Cup winner and member of the U.S. Olympic team that year; the stallion Sandro Hit, who is in the bloodlines of all three U.S. 2020 Olympic team silver medal mounts; Poggio II, the plucky former mountain pack horse who carried Amy Tryon to Olympic and world championship medals, two-time American Invitational winner Kroon Gravin, ridden by Molly Ashe Cawley; eventing star Ballynoe Castle RM, the ride of Buck Davidson, and Judgement, guided to grand prix distinction by show jumpers Michal Matz and Beezie Madden.

When you uncork the champagne on New Year’s Eve, think of them and offer a toast in the memory of all they achieved as we ride forward in the unknown of 2022.

Services set for John von Stade

by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 30, 2021

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Dec. 19 in St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Owings Mill, Md., for John von Stade, who spent 50 years as co-chair of the Far Hills, N.J., Race Meeting.

Mr. von Stade, who died Nov. 28 after a long illness, presided over the Far Hills meet as it went from an event that attracted a few thousand spectators to the country’s richest day of steeplechasing, with more than 30,000 attending.

The ultimate volunteer, he did everything from bedding stalls in the stables to putting up snow fencing at first, and then managing hundreds of volunteers and setting the fixture’s course as it grew.

A resident of Peapack and Bernardsville until moving to Maryland six years ago, he was a member of a prominent racing family. His father, F. Skiddy von Stade was a founder of the National Museum of Racing in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., which Mr. von Stade served as president from 1989-2005–longer than anyone else has held that position.

Guy Torsilieri spent 35 years helming the Far Hills Races with Mr. von Stade, who retired from the co-chairmanship in 2014.

“He was an art lover, a historian. He was like an old school guy, but he managed to change with the times. He had an incredible way about him, so gentle and focused. He knew which way things needed to go and should go,” Guy said.

Mr. von Stade developed his interest in music and art while being educated at St. Paul’s School in Concord, N.H., and then Harvard University. A bass baritone, he attended the Aspen School of Music. He served in the Army Reserves and worked in banking before opening the Essex Gallery of Sport in Far Hills, just down the street from the race meeting.

Despite coming from a family that was deeply involved in thoroughbred racing, Mr. von Stade only dabbled in it briefly on a personal basis.

He good-naturedly described his Ivy Creek Stables as “a fantastic disaster.”

“He got into it and quickly got out of it,” Guy related.

Mr. von Stade dedicated his life to philanthropic venues and giving back.

Guy called him the “fabric and the glue” that held things together between the races and the foundation that donates to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Somerville. It is the home of the Steeplechase Cancer Center and the von Stade lobby, built on $18 million from the races.

Mr. von Stade will be formally remembered on race day next year.

“We will clearly honor him appropriately,” Guy said.

Mr. von Stade is survived by his wife, Phyllis; his son, John von Stade Jr., and his wife, Ann, as well as Phyllis’ daughters and son-in-law, Anna DuVal, Olivia Duval, and Joseph Cutrone; grandchildren Lily, Talbot, and Charlie von Stade, and Orlando, Sophia, and Nico Cutrone. Also among the survivors are Mr. von Stade’s niece, famed opera singer Frederica von Stade.

Mr. von Stade’s first wife, Sandra, died in 2000.

Sonoma Horse Park set to go with a National Snaffle Bit show series

by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 18, 2021

The Sonoma (Calif.) Horse Park announced yesterday it will hold six 2022 hunter/jumper shows from May to September under the auspices of the National Snaffle Bit Association, rather than the U.S. Equestrian Federation, a move that has USEF seeking further clarification in respect to USEF licensed events and pending mileage exemptions at the horse park.

Last week, word from the park was that it would not run USEF shows until that organization’s mileage rule, which currently requires 250 miles between shows in Sonoma’s region, instead permits shows within 50 miles of each other.

The circumstances brought to mind the situation between USEF and the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Fla., where the facility couldn’t get all the USEF hunter/jumper shows it wanted last winter and went with the NSBA instead. When WEC did get USEF dates for later in the year, it turned then down and signed up with NSBA again instead, a decision that also applied to WEC’s facility in Ohio.

Howard Herman, the Sonoma CEO, stated his case about the mileage situation at a Zoom meeting last week that drew approximately 50 riders, owners, trainers and other interested parties.

“We have known about the mileage rule for 30 years, but I didn’t really understand it until I got involved in the process,” he said.

Former Sonoma manager Sally Hudson of Headlands Management, the license holder for a number of the Sonoma shows, took her licenses to Rancho Murieta’s Murieta Equestrian Center, the state’s largest equestrian facility.

Sonoma then applied for USEF show licenses for the same dates as those held by Headlands, as well as a new competition at Sonoma, MGMT Giant Steps Charity Classics, according to USEF.

Murieta is about 100 miles from Sonoma, too close for the park to qualify for its own shows on the same dates as the equestrian center without a mileage exemption. As a result of the applications being for the same dates for both facilities, a mileage conflict was created and the two Sonoma requests must follow the mileage exemption processed contained in Chapter 3 of the USEF Rule Book.

Sonoma had three USEF dates, including an exemption for a May show according to Herman,, but he said his decision means giving up those dates because the park needs more than three shows for its circuit. He noted it is hard to plan without knowing well in advance which shows USEF will approve.

“Sponsors and vendors want to provide an adequate season,” he commented. Sonoma previously staged the Adequan/USEF Junior National Hunter Championship West and a week of World Championship Hunter Rider competition under USEF auspices.

“At 80 years old, I’ve been given a voice,” the CEO said, explaining he could not live with himself if people in his community were shortchanged because of the mileage situation.

He feels an area that is home to 13 million people should be entitled to more in the way of USEF shows. Herman cited how expensive it is for northern California residents and people from the Pacific Northwest to go to the Thermal circuit in Southern California.The Sonoma Horse Park presents a closer alternative.

With the NSBA shows, “We are committed to offering comparable prize money and special classes as we have in seasons past and a schedule that is consistent with what exhibitors and trainers have come to expect at shows that Sonoma Horse Park provides. We are looking forward to a new circuit, complete with circuit championships and prizes as per Sonoma Horse Park tradition,” stated Sonoma manager Sarah Appel.

According to USEF, Sonoma is currently licensed for two USEF competitions. Two additional mileage exemption requests have been received by USEF and are being processed in accordance with the applicable rules.

A USEF statement release today noted, “As part of this process, USEF staff held a Zoom meeting with Mr. Herman, Ashley Herman (Herman’s daughter) and Sarah Appel (Sonoma’s manager) on November 4^thto obtain additional information about their request. After Mr. Herman discussed multiple competition scenarios, Ms. Appel indicated she would provide USEF with a list of the competitions SHP wished to operate immediately after this meeting. USEF has not received this list from Ms. Appel.”

The statement continued, “Even though Mr. Herman has publicly stated that SHP (Sonoma) is not interested in holding USEF licensed competitions until the rules governing mileage are changed to meet his needs, USEF has repeatedly communicated with SHP to confirm their interest in moving forward with the two active mileage exemption requests. To date, SHP has not responded to the outreach by USEF. The recent actions and misleading statements of SHP, as well as their lack of response to the USEF inquiries are impeding USEF’s ability to process the mileage exemption requests.”

The USEF added, “The rules governing mileage cannot be amended upon demand of the SHP. Amendments to USEF rules must follow the procedures contained in the USEF Rule Book. Unfortunately, it appears the SHP team has not availed themselves of these rules, which are readily available on the USEF website at www.usef.org.”

A call to Sarah Appel for comment was not returned this evening.

Does your horse need a buddy?

by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 23, 2021

What does the future hold for trotters and pacers who can no longer race or be used for breeding? In an effort to solve the problem, the Cream Ridge-based Standardbred Retirement Foundation is introducing its newest program, the Companion Horse Adoption Assistance Program (CHAPS).

SRF is offering some financial assistance to new adopters of a pasture mate (aka: companion/buddy). These are Standardbreds that may not hold up physically to riding or driving, though they are otherwise healthy. They can do so much to enrich an adopter’s life, while offering a friendly buddy opportunity to another horse.

SRF has more than 225 healthy trotters and pacers of all ages under its care and expense from the ages of 4 to 25 looking for a buddy home. They are located across the country– from Kentucky in the east to Michigan in the north Florida in the south and almost everywhere in between.

The program includes reimbursement for required vaccinations and dental care up to $250 annually, and additional reimbursement up to $350 annually for other approved veterinary care. For more information, click here

Standardbreds, who come in a variety of sizes, are known for their wonderful temperament and excellent manners. SRF has more than 400 under its care and expense, all in need of homes. Most require a home for light use, or as a buddy or they would likely still be on the oval–which is why so many are in need.

SRF also has many of its horses in wonderful foster homes. For those who wish to foster, accountants can provide information on the tax advantages it can provide. For information click here.

SRF can be contacted at (609) 738-3255.

A heart-warming story for a special time of year

by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 26, 2021

The holidays offer the perfect occasion to showcase a feel-good tale, so here’s one that fills the bill.

During Dressage at Devon last fall, I spotted a lovely palomino, and marched right over to him. That was only natural; palominos are rare in the dressage ring, so he caught my eye. But it turned out his looks weren’t the only unusual thing about him. He came with a story, and now, after my hectic autumn season, I finally have time to tell it to you.

Fantom belonged to a retired music teacher, Bev Thomas, who was at a barn where Jess Idol was the assistant trainer. A Lusitano by the perlino stallion XA, Fantom was imported from Portugal. Jess doesn’t know what happened to him there or later, while he was passed around in the U.S., but said, “I assume he had a hard upbringing.”

The horse could do the Spanish walk, though Jess mused, “He was so afraid of the whip. I think they just made him do it. I don’t think anyone taught him.”

As a result, Fantom was spooky and challenging, which didn’t get him votes as a barn favorite. Bev was an amateur who loved her horse, but wasn’t really enjoying riding him.

So Jess started working with him in-hand and found “he was just sort of uncomfortable in his own skin.” Every day, however, the attention encouraged him to be better and better; “more honest and more trustworthy,” she remembered.

“I think he just needed someone to be his friend,” said Jess.

“Bev and I were the only people who believed in the horse.”

When Bev suggested that Jess should show Fantom, that wasn’t the most inviting proposal, but Jess accepted.

“I won’t say no to an opportunity,” she explained.

Jess and Bev were ecstatic with a 64 percent at Third Level, especially since they hadn’t thought he would even get in the ring. Bev realized that what the gelding needed was one person to be his trainer, and that’s why she chose Jess. Bev had dialed the right number.

Jess comes from a natural horsemanship background. starting youngsters and sorting out problem horses. She worked with her mother, Amy Beeson, in North Carolina. They advertised well over a dozen specialties, from training trail horses to desensitizing, teaching them how to load on a trailer and western dressage. It wasn’t an easy way to earn a living.

“Growing up,” recalled 26-year-old Jess, training horses was “how we ate dinner. We would get on anything. We lived out of our horse trailer.”

This was not some fancy van with sleeping quarters; it was a gooseneck with a tack room and a mattress on the floor.

“You mean you were…?” I asked hesitantly.

“Homeless,” was Jess’s quick response.

“We’d go to anyone’s place who had a horse. They were often horses that shouldn’t have been ridden. We would go to auctions. As a kid, five or six years old, I was put on horses to show they were kid-safe.”

Jess started riding Fantom, now 11, when he was nine.

“He just bonded with me and bonded with his owner. Only she or I could catch him in the field,” said Jess.

In mid-2020, she was doing a clinic with 2016 Olympic team bronze medalist Ali Brock and of course, Bev was supposed to be coming to watch, as she always did. But Fantom’s owner never showed up.

After her ride, Jess went to Bev’s house, where she saw newspapers in the driveway, mail in the mailbox and Bev’s dog sitting by the door. Alarmed, knowing that Bev was 70 and not in the best of health, she called 911. A fireman opened the door to the laundry room and found Bev in a diabetic coma. She was hospitalized but suffered bilateral strokes before passing away.

It was a huge loss. Jess noted Bev would do whatever she could for people at the barn, donated to every charity, had adopted mustangs and did much to help animals, especially golden retrievers and horses.

Bev had talked to Jess about taking Fantom if anything happened to her. Jess said she would, explaining “I love him.”

It turned out that Bev had left Fantom to Jess in her will, along with a trust fund so the trainer could afford to keep him.

Talking about it, Jess got emotional while thinking of how she misses her friend.

“Bev and I were the only people who believed in the horse. People felt he was tricky and difficult. He used to hide in the back of his stall and try to disappear. Now that he’s so confident, he has the biggest personality.”

He has graduated to a stall where can hang his head out and ask for cookies.

Jess works out of Dynamic Dressage in White Post, Va., with her partner, Patrick Tigchelaar.

Although they often ride in the same classes, Jess and Patrick are partners, not rivals.

“We don’t compete against. We just ride together,” explained Jess.

“We support. It’s easy. I say, `Good job.’ He says, `Good job.'”

In October, the two went to Dressage at Devon, a dream come true for Jess. Although Patrick had ridden at Devon five times, won there in 2011 and would win again this year in the Intermediate I, everything about the storied venue was a revelation for Jess.

“I had always seen people posting photos of being in the Dixon Oval,” she said, explaining she kept “visualizing what it was going to look like, what it’s going to feel like.”

But the visualizations didn’t quite match reality when Patrick pointed out the compact showgrounds as they drove along busy US Route 30 outside of Philadelphia. Jess had trouble believing that was Devon.

“I was taken aback that it’s literally in the middle of a town,” she said, still almost in disbelief.

“When you get in there, that’s where the magic is. You get in the Dixon Oval and it’s special,” Patrick told her.

As Jess finally walked into the arena on Fantom, she found the experience was indeed as special as she had hoped it would be.

“Holy cow!” she thought, while going through the gate and seeing the famous grandstand, painted Devon blue, towering in front of her.

“This is my moment, I’m in the Oval. I’m in a CDI (FEI class) with these judges that I look up to: Here I am. They rang the bell, I patted Fantom and said, `Here we go.’ ”

It wasn’t a bad test. Fantom finished 14th on 63.333 percent after scoring some marks of 5 in the flying changes every four strides and the extended and collected walk. But he also had some better moments, including 7s for flying changes and collected canters and the end of his test with a nice halt.

The next day in the Intermediate I, which Patrick won on O’Captain, Fantom moved up to seventh place on 65.490 percent, with two of three judges marking him at more than 66 percent. Fantom’s only mark below 6 was a 5.5 for the extended walk.

Lusitanos aren’t made for Small Tour, “they’re made for Grand Prix,” Jess declared.

“My ambitions are to conquer the world on horseback. Fantom is probably not going to be the horse I conquer the world with, but he’s going to be the horse that lets me get my feet wet in everything and lets people see me.”

She believes that Fantom will be a much better Grand Prix horse than he is Small Tour horse, because “walking is not a favorable gait for Lusitanos. When he can piaffe and passage around the ring for eight minutes, he’s going to be phenomenal.”

A national Grand Prix is the goal for the spring while Jess works on improving CDI scores in the Small and Medium tour.

“The ultimate goal (is) to do a CDI GP in the near future.”

They are hoping to compete in the new CDI in Lexington, Va., during May.

Even though she’s gone, Bev is still a presence for them.

“She was the best horse show mom. She would always bring snacks and water for us,” commented Jess.

At Devon, Bev’s photo hung on Fantom’s stall.

As Jess explained, “It was important for her to be here.”

There will be a welcome surprise for WEF showgoers

by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 29, 2021

The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Fla., has gotten a facelift.

“Much needed upgrades” have been made to the home of the Winter Equestrian Festival as the Global Equestrian Group invested in improvements to stabling and rings, including the center stage International Arena where the biggest show jumping grands prix are held. Global Equestrian Group, which includes Ludger Beerbaum Stables and the majority of shares of Andreas Helgstrand Dressage, is supported by Waterland Private Equity, which works with entrepreneurs to realize their ambitions for growth. The previous owners of PBIEC are also part of the Global group.

In addition to the arenas and stabling, improvements were made to fencing, in response to a survey of WEF competitors; longeing areas, seating and wash racks.

Other projects are set for completion by the beginning of the WEF in January.

Canada’s loss is Mexico’s gain

by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 19, 2021

A week after Mark Laskin resigned as Equestrian Canada’s Technical Advisor-Jumping, he has signed on as chef d’equipe of the Mexican show jumping team.

“The combination of his experience, drive and integrity makes Mr. Laskin an ideal fit for our community and for the next stages of growth,” advised a statement from the Mexican Equstrian Federation, which noted he will also act as the main advisor for the Mexican youth teams.

For nine years, Mark had filled his role for Canada after succeeding Terrance “Torchy” Millar. Mark was working without a current contract, despite continuing to fulfill his duties at numerous events including the Tokyo Olympic Games and the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final in Barcelona.

Mark Laskin. (Starting Gate Communications photo)

“I was told during the first week of April that a contract would be forthcoming,” he said.

“Seven months later, the contract promised to me still hasn’t been delivered.”

Equestrian Canada is conducting a review of the Technical Advisor Jumping position led by James Hood, Equestrian Canada’s director of high performance and FEI Relations.

“When I was hired, the Jump Canada Board ran the discipline and EC handled the administration,” said Mark, 64.

“At that time, “Torchy” Millar was the chef d’équipe and I understudied with him for two years as assistant chef d’équipe. We worked so well together that Torchy stayed on for an additional two years before I moved into his role full-time. That was a successful succession plan, developed and managed by Jump Canada.

“I now find myself in a position where James Hood has told me that EC is doing a review of the role and will be compiling a job description and putting it out to tender. Almost as an afterthought, he added that I would be welcome to apply,” continued Mark.

Equestrian Canada stated that after two Olympic cycles, internal stakeholders and funders of the high-performance equestrian system in 2020 recommended during planning for the Tokyo Olympics a review of technical advisor roles.

“Mark Laskin’s contract was in extension, and he agreed to remain in the role during the process and his input and expertise were sought,” according to Equestrian Canada.

“Mr. Laskin resigned from his position prior to the publication of the leadership review postTokyo, the completion of the job description, and the move into the hiring process.”

The job description and skills competency are in final review with a hiring target by Jan. 1.

Mark cited interference from Equestrian Canada’s leadership group as another reason for his resignation, including recently being pressured as to which athletes are selected for Nations’ Cup team competitions.

“The leaders at our national federation need to have understanding and experience with our sport,” Mark stated.

“Unfortunately, Equestrian Canada has had many people in leadership positions that have no background in the equestrian field. That depth of understanding is integral to any future success of the organization. Equestrian Canada’s leadership group are making decisions that aren’t congruent with my philosophy. It is my opinion that the high performance program has been adversely affected and will continue to be in the future with the current leadership group at the helm. Consequently, I felt that I had no choice but to step down.

“I feel very sad to be resigning,” he continued. “The management of an international team is a complex task that requires the full support and understanding of the National Sport Organization, and that has not always been the case recently.”

Mark’s decision was fully supported by the EC High Performance Committee–Jumping, which includes former world champion Gail Greenough, Mike Lawrence, Beth Underhill, and Marni von Schalburg.

“We share Mark’s frustration at the lack of communication and consultation with our committee,” said Mike Lawrence.

“As the people who are ultimately responsible for guiding show jumping at the highest levels, we need to have a say in the high performance program and the process that is followed.”

Mark produced double clear rounds riding Damuraz to lead Canada to the team gold medal at the 1980 Alternate Olympics in Rotterdam. He is a member of the Jump Canada Hall of Fame.

“I am Canadian through and through and have taken great pride in Canada’s success on the world stage,” said Mark.

“I want to thank everyone who has shown their support over the years, especially the riders with whom I’ve developed strong friendships and shared so many incredible memories and successes. I’ll miss them the most.”

which includes acting as chef d’équipe for the Canadian show jumping team at major games and Nations’ Cup team competitions.

He has been in the role for nine years after succeeding Terrance “Torchy” Millar. Mark has been working without a current contract, despite continuing to fulfill his duties at numerous events including the Tokyo Olympic Games and the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final in Barcelona.