by Nancy Jaffer | May 11, 2019
There were plenty of exciting moments on the Mark Phillips-designed cross-country course today at the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event, but for sheer survival skills, no one could beat Fylicia Barr ‘s determination to stay out of the water at the Jersey Shore complex.
Hannah Sue Burnett, the rider who went before Fylicia in the CCI 4-star Long at the Horse Park of New Jersey, got a dunking when Lukeswell had trouble clearing the third element of a combination and she came unseated.
Fylicia also ran into trouble there with Galloway Sunrise, as you can see in this photo.
Fylicia Barr and Galloway Sunrise in trouble at the Kenny’s Big Splash jump. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
We all thought she was a goner.
Fylicia was determined not to come off. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
But Fylicia, a professional from Pennsylvania, hung on, righted herself to a chorus of cheers from tailgating spectators and galloped on for a double-clear that moved her up to first from a dressage score that put her fourth in the first phase of the competition yesterday.
Fylicia in the clear. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
What makes it even better is the fact that Fylicia found the mare through Craigslist. She had a $1,000 budget, but only had to pay an economical $500 for a feral backyard-bred thoroughbred/paint cross who kicked Fylicia upon being introduced to her new owner.
“We treated her like a mustang,” said Fylicia, explaining how the mare was tamed.
David O’Connor, the former U.S. eventing coach who has worked with Hannah Sue for years, said the problem several riders had at the trouble spot was that their horses didn’t see the C-element of the brush combo. He noted competitors eventually figured out how to handle the challenge after watching a few riders go.The key was swinging a bit wide so their horse could get a bead on the obstacle and a better approach, David told me.
In case you’re wondering, “What the heck is the 4-star Long?” here’s the deal. The FEI (international equestrian federation) this year renamed all the event categories. So the 4-star Land Rover Kentucky became a 5-star. The change aligns eventing with the other Olympic disciplines, show jumping and dressage, for which the 5-stars are the top of their games. So the 3-stars you know and loved are now 4-stars, the 2-stars are 3-stars. Everyone got a promotion.
And instead of CCI or CIC, the categories are dubbed CCI Long or Short. Okay?
The Jersey Fresh 4-star Long (CCI4-L) ends Sunday with show jumping. Fylicia has a rail in hand (34.4 penalties) over Arden Wildasin and Il Vici (39.2).The 3-star Long (CCI3-L) also has show jumping Sunday. Today, Lynn Symansky kept her lead from dressage with a score of 27.2 penalties on RF Cool Play.
Lynn Symansky and RF Cool Play. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Right behind her is Doug Payne with Starr Witness ( 30.1). Doug’s name was seen most often today at the top of the standings. He also was fourth on Cascor in the 3-L and third with Quantum Leap (40.1) behind Arden in the 4-L.
The 3- and 4-star Short competitions wrapped up today. Will Coleman topped the 4-star with Off the Record (38.30) over Alexndra Knowles and Sound Prospect 42.20).
Will Coleman and Off the Record. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
The 3-star was exciting because Boyd Martin, who led through dressage and show jumping with Luke 140 picked up 5.2 time penalties. Since the horse is a new mount, he didn’t want to push him for speed.
So Boyd’s lead was threatened by Dana Cooke (FE Mississippi), who knew what she had to do to win, but said, “I wasn’t planning to go for time.” She noted, however, her mare goes better “if I ride her a little more forward.”
Dana Cooke and FE Mississippi. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
When she crossed the finish line, Dana looked down at her watch and found she was smack on the 6-minute, 6-second optimum time. Dana, a Canadian who lives in North Carolina, won by 0.7 penalties. It’s no accident that her mare’s nickname is Miss Perfect.
Jersey Fresh, which has too often been unlucky weather-wise on cross-country day, had sunshine, perfect footing and comfy temps in the 60s. It was a welcome reward for 17 years of hard work by never-daunted organizers and volunteers.
Come back tomorrow night to read about the final results in the CCI Long competitions.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 5, 2019
The Junior Essex Troop’s Garden State Horse Show got a makeover with its move this spring to the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation headquarters in Gladstone, going to one ring from the eight it utilized in its former location at the Sussex County Fairgrounds.
The historic U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation stable provides a backdrop for Carley McInerney’s victory gallop after the Garden State Horse Show’s EquiJet Grand Prix. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
It’s the same scenario as the Monmouth County Horse Show followed when it came to Gladstone from the Horse Park of New Jersey in 2016. The common denominator of Garden State and Monmouth is manager Tucker Ericson, a respected judge, a sharp organizer and one heck of a bartender.
He’ll pitch in anywhere, but he realizes the importance of hospitality, so when we talked yesterday, he was mixing up Margaritas in the VIP tent.
Tucker noted that about 50 percent of the exhibitors who came to the nine-day show, which ends today, are different from those riding at Monmouth at the Team, which only has a B rating on several days, because Garden State has a double-A rating for hunters and level 4 jumpers that are highlighted by a $25,000 grand prix.
Many of those who came for Garden State were so enthused by the location that Tucker noted the historic main barn already has been sold out for Monmouth at the Team in August. Garden State is “a nice complement” to the other show, and introduced people to the USET Foundation facility at the same time, Tucker observed.
“We have a lot of exhibitors who were waiting a year to see how successful this would be, if we could pull this off, and I think we’ll get a lot of those people back next year,” he commented..
“I think the trainers have been impressed that we can push through so many trips in a day in this ring, because we have no conflicts, we have posted orders and everyone cooperates.” While Garden State had 475 horses last year with the multiple rings, the show should be approaching that number in Gladstone as it wraps up this afternoon.
“There’s great energy with the entire show watching one ring that it keeps moving. It is challenging to keep everyone happy, but what was nice was a couple of exhibitors said their trainers give them more quality attention because they don’t have to run from ring to ring,” said Tucker.
“When any rider isn’t showing, they’re in hospitality cheering on their fellow teammates from their barn.The support from the sponsors has been tremendous, along with trainers rallying their barns to get hospitality,” Tucker pointed out.
“A one-ring horse show is very hard to break even, if not for the sponsors and the trainers supporting hospitality, then these shows can’t exist. It’s critical for that support to pull this off.”
Yesterday afternoon’s feature was the $25,000 EquiJet Grand Prix, which drew 19 starters over the course laid out by Ohio designer Joseph Carnicom, with five coming back for the jump-off. Although there were several professionals in the class, the winner was a junior rider, 17-year-old Randolph High School senior Carley McInerney. Aboard Cortina 200 in her second grand prix, she was clocked in 42.006 by taking advantage of a tight rollback, just ahead of amateur rider Sima Morgello on Azur Van Overis Z (42.480).
Carley McInerney and Cortina 200. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Carley, who showed at Garden State when it was in Sussex, said about the show’s new identity, “I love this ring and the property is awesome.”
Of her 13-year-old Holsteiner, Carley noted, “She’s incredibly talented. I couldn’t ask for a better mare. She just tries her heart out every time and I’m so lucky to have her.”
It was the first grand prix for Sima’s mount.
“I typically keep him in the medium amateurs to keep him confident and tonight was the first time I have ever asked for him to compete a course that size,” she said.
“It just felt right; he has produced fantastic results the last two weeks because he was also second, third, and fourth at the Longines Masters last week.”
Sima Morgello and Azur Van Overis Z. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I thought the course was fantastic and riding at this facility is always such a pleasure,” she added. “I’ve started grooming for myself, so it was a busy day, but luckily for me it is close to home and it’s always a show I enjoy.”
Bastian Schroeder of EquiJet said he likes the new location for Garden State, which his company had also sponsored when it was in Sussex.
“I think this is a good move, because the setting is great, the footing is perfect. The venue deserves a good horse show,” he commented.
The Junior Essex Troop was a military-style organization for boys that had its own farm in West Orange. The boys took care of the horses and developed a camaraderie that has lasted for decades. Though the organization itself has long since disbanded, the bonds that troopers shared are unbreakable.
The show was a feature of the troop year. After the farm was sold in 1983, the show moved to Chubb Park in Chester and then to the Sussex fairgrounds in 1987, where it became New Jersey’s largest show.
It provides a reunion opportunity for the former troopers, who worked tirelessly for decades to stage it. But handling everything was getting harder as the men got older, and things are different with Tucker and his crew overseeing things.
Members of the Junior Essex Troop. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
The former troopers are “sitting outside the ring now, relaxing, realizing they can actually enjoy their show and take a deep breath and watch people having fun and seeing how the facility creates the event for them,” said Tucker.
“I think it’s the best thing we’ve ever done,” said John Walker, a former trooper and show committee member.
“I’m thrilled we have a bunch of amazing people working with us. It’s been nothing but smooth. I think we needed to make this move for the prestige of the show,” said John.
“I think people like the panache of a boutique show where you’re not just a number.”
Allan Spina of Long Valley, who was a trooper from 1970 to 1979, said “I love the show here. The ambience is amazing and it’s setting the bar much higher than we used to in the past. I think it’s a much better experience for everyone.”
“It’s a different pace, a higher quality and it’s just wonderful. The footing here is just tremendous. It was time to make a change,” said Rodney Seelig, the show’s chairman.
Former manager Tim Cleary agreed.
“I think it was the right move at the right time. Tucker and the Team with all the troopers have done a great job.
Exhibitor Katy Merchant, 17, of Branchburg, has a special feeling for Garden State.
“I grew up competing at Garden State in Sussex, from a very young age. It was my favorite horse show because we’d stay in campers,” she reminisced.
While Katy said the show at the USET Foundation “It’s true to the feeling” she had in Sussex, “it’s much different and I think it’s really going to be successful. I loved it. To have the horses stay in this barn is such an honor. The elevated vibe of it is a good thing.”
by Nancy Jaffer | May 1, 2019
The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association is opening a 3-foot section of the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund/USHJA Emerging Athletes Program during the Regional Training Session at Centenary University at its equestrian center in Long Valley June 24-28. The clinicians will be Karen Healey and Nanci Snyder.
It’s worth watching, even for those who are not participating.
The 3-foot sections give riders of all ages who meet the eligibility requirements the opportunity to experience the benefits of the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund/USHJA Emerging Athletes Program at a 3-foot fence height.
During the intensive five-day Regional Training Sessions, riders 25 and under have the opportunity to work with top riding clinicians and some of the country’s leading stable managers, where instruction focuses on flatwork, gymnastics, related distances and course work, as well as an intensive stable-management curriculum that incorporates proper care and grooming, horsemanship skills, and barn management.
“The EAP is an incredible learning experience for young athletes who are passionate and dedicated to the sport and want to advance their riding and horsemanship skills,” said Sally Ike, USHJA Emerging Athletes Program Committee chair.
“We are also incredibly thankful to our returning title sponsor, the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund, and to our Regional Training Session hosts for their continued support of the program. Because of their support and commitment to education, our athletes will be able to learn in world-class facilities from leading professionals in our industry.”
For information, go to www.ushja.org/EAP.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 1, 2019
At age 72, iconic Canadian show jumper Ian Millar is retiring from international competition. After nearly a half-century riding at major events around the world, he will concentrate on coaching and developing young horses.
He has been a part of the Canadian team since 1971, representing his country in more than 200 Nations’ Cups. His 10 Olympic appearances are a world record for any athlete in any sport.
Ian Millar on In Style at the 2008 Olympics, where he was part of the Canadian silver medal team. (Photo©2008 by Nancy Jaffer)
In addition to his Olympic experience, he has participated in 10 Pan American Games and seven World Championships. He won his first Olympic medal, a team silver, at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and has 10 Pan American Games medals, including two individual and two team gold.
“Representing Canada many times over my career has been my greatest honor,” he said.
“Each time I wore the red team jacket was very special to me, and the fact that I was able to share this experience with so many great riders is a testament to the quality of horsemen and horsewomen here in our country.”
In addition to his efforts representing Canada internationally, Ian has won over 150 grand prix competitions over the course of his career, including the prestigious international grand prix three times at the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ tournament in Calgary, Alberta.
He is a 12-time Canadian Show Jumping Champion and was the first rider to win back-to-back World Cup Finals, earning the title in 1988 and 1989. His most successful horse, Big Ben, was a household name throughout Canada and the U.S. in the late 1980s and 1990s and was a favorite to win everywhere he competed.
Ian built his home stable, Millar Brooke Farm, located in Perth, Ontario, into a powerhouse training ground for international show jumping. In addition to his development of over 100 grand prix horses, Ian has coached a number of other top international riders including Canadian Olympic teammates Mario Deslauriers and Jill Henselwood, as well as Richard Spooner of the U.S. He has also been instrumental in the successful careers of his son, Jonathon and daughter-in-law Kelly, as well as his daughter, Amy, a fellow Olympian.
While Ian is stepping back from international competition, he plans to be busier than ever working with up-and-coming athletes and horses.
“The bond formed between horse and rider is an amazing thing to experience, but the partnership has to be built the right way, with compassion, understanding, and care,” he said. “Over the past few years, I have found myself more and more drawn toward working with young horses and riders, and I am excited to expand my coaching to share my knowledge and passion with the next generation.”
At the conclusion of his international career, Ian paid tribute to those closest to him over the years.
“It has been the journey of a lifetime with so many dreams realized, so much due to the fantastic horses I was blessed to ride, to whom I am eternally grateful,” said Ian.
“I would like to personally thank my owners and sponsors for all their help and support during my show jumping career. While there are too many to name, my partnerships with owner Ann Matthews and sponsor BMO Financial Group had especially long and sustained successes. I would also like to thank all the members of my support team who have supported me faithfully over the years: my family, staff, veterinarians, equine therapists, chef d’equipes, and all my fellow riders.
“Finally, the biggest contributor to my success was my late wife, Lynn, with whom I shared my most cherished bond. Through our partnership, we achieved incredible success.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 27, 2019
Oliver Townend, the world’s number one-ranked event rider, remained on top of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event standings today after cross-country, but how long will he be there? The 2018 Kentucky winner and Cooley Master Class don’t have a room for a mistake in Sunday’s stadium jumping phase.
Despite 1.2 time penalties on cross-country, 2018 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event winner Oliver Townend and Coolio are two-thirds of the way to winning the 2019 renewal. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
While the crowd at the Kentucky Horse Park seems to love all the riders and cheers for them, Oli got the most applause when he appeared in the dressage arena on Friday. But I’m guessing that the audience will be a little more partisan in the final segment, because Boyd Martin is just 2.6 penalties behind Oli, and has a real chance to become the first American winner of the 5-star event since his buddy, Phillip Dutton, did it in 2008.
The fans here are living their dream, and they can’t get enough of this event. They swarm riders at autograph sessions and love watching them warm-up, when they aren’t buying souvenirs in the trade fair. Boyd is one of their special faves, so it was good news for them when he and Tsetserleg moved up from third after dressage with rip-roaring trip over designer Derek di Grazia’s course. Boyd and Phillip, who stands fourth with Z, accounted for two of the three double-clears (jumping and time) among the 31 starters who finished a route that required them to prepare and think every stride of the way.
The other fault-free rider was New Zealand’s Tim Price on Xavier Faer, and as last fall’s Burghley winner in England, he is going for the Rolex Grand Slam. All he has to do to win the $350,000 bonus is finish first here and at Badminton in England next week. Nothing much. Oli went for it in 2018, but faltered at Badminton and didn’t take the prize, which has only been claimed twice, by Pippa Funnell and Michael Jung.
Tim Price and Xavier Faer. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Since a toppled rail counts for four penalties, you can see that Oli doesn’t have anything to play with in the Rolex Stadium. And Boyd also has to stay alert, because Tim is just three penalties behind him and only 0.8 penalties ahead of Phillip.
You probably could have figured those four would be the ones to catch, but the route’s technicality made everything uncertain.
“I thought the course walked a bit easy this year,” Boyd recounted, “and I was very, very surprised when there was so much trouble and I quickly realized how wrong I was, that this quite a tough course.
Recognition of the situation actually came early for the crowd of 34,889 who watched along the 28-fence route. The first three on course, Islandwood Captain Jack with Caroline Martin, Park Trader with Buck Davidson and DeNiro Z with Liz Halliday Sharp all were eliminated by falls.
Caroline and Buck both fell at 20B, the 3-foot, 9-inch high Normandy Bank; she was too sore to ride her next horse, and Buck broke his collarbone, then scratched his other two mounts. Liz, who had been tied for fifth after dressage, had her tumble at the third fence, the 3-11 high Turning Oxer.
Oli coped when Coolio lost a shoe, but the rider was very conscious of that, and the fact that it presented a challenge of not slipping on the grass.
Oli Townend at the drop into the water. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
“It made me a touch more conservative than I normally am,” he said, and it was reflected in the 1.2 time penalties he collected. But he described his horse as keen, enjoying himself with his “ears pricked all the way.” Noted Oli, “A little bit I felt he was more in control than I was. He was definitely up for it.”
Boyd was true to form with his black Trakehner, saying he felt “we’re a bit more a partnership” than they were last year.
“Throughout the course, he kept trying and trying and trying and never looked for a way out.”
Then he offered a typical amusing anecdote: “I was stabled next to Phillip Dutton and we were sort of egging each other on to see who is going to do the Normandy Bank (the straight way). I wasn’t sure he was going to do it and then when I heard the commentator say he did it while I was warming up, I thought, “Aww, I have to do it now, because I’ll look like a big wimp if I go around. That could have seriously backfired.”
Tim knew the course would be tough, but was proud of his mount, who also lost a shoe.
Boyd Martin shows the challenge of jumping up from the lake to a step and facing an imposing hedge. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I was really pleased with my horse. He threw himself over everything and stayed upright in all the important places,” said Tim, who noted he will have to “repackage” Xavier Faer after the horse inspection to get him ready for the stadium jumping.
The course designer has done all he can do once the event starts. As the problems arise, he can only hope the next competitor will go clear.
“As it turned out, all the jumps got jumped because a lot of people opted to take some of the longer routes, which is good,” said Derek.
“There were some more technical things than there were last year. For the most part, the jumps worked in the way I thought they would. And I think that with a lot of the combinations there was a variation on different strides between the obstacles and the riders used all of them.”
He noted at the iconic Head of the Lake water complex, the riders had to work harder than he thought they would have to after jumping into the water over a brush and heading toward a step out of the lake. After that, they bounced over a thick brush with a tiny slot for the horse to pass through, and that led to three refusals there, two riders who re-routed to go the long way and several near-misses.
So the stage is set for an exciting confrontation in a change of venue, from the grass to the all-weather footing in the Rolex Stadium, where Richard Jeffery’s clever courses will determine the order of finish and offer a thrill in the bargain.
Come back to my website tomorrow night to find out who won, and why.
Coverage of Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event on NancyJaffer.com:
Wednesday, April 24: And they’re off — at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event
Thursday, April 25: Dressage paves the way at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event
Friday, April 26: The Once and Future King of Kentucky?
Sunday, April 28: The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event has a repeat winner
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 24, 2019
It never fails. Every year when I tell non-horsey friends that I’m heading to Kentucky at the end of April, they always say the same thing: “Are you going to the Kentucky Derby?”
When I explain that my destination is the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event (known until last year as Rolex Kentucky) there is never a glimmer of recognition. But my horsey pals know exactly where I’m headed and why. It is the only 5-star-rated event in the Western Hemisphere. Billing itself as “the best weekend all year,” it certainly had a good start today with glorious weather at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.
Defending champion Oliver Townend of Great Britain says hello while jogging Cooley Master Class. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
The first order of business is the horse inspection, also known as the trot-up or the jog to determine which horses are fit to start. There were 42 presented to the judging panel, one of the smaller fields for the event, which got even smaller when Ashley Johnson’s Technical Manuever was not accepted.
The trot-up doubles as a fashion show, with awards given for the best female and male outfits. But it’s all a matter of opinion, as most riders showing a bit of personality-illuminating flair offer a glimpse at their inner selves not evident when they’re in boots and breeches.
Here is a look at a few of the standouts. Check back here every night through Sunday for the latest update on the action at Land Rover Kentucky.
“Show us your socks,” photographers yelled at Buck Davidson, seen here jogging Jak My Style, but we only got a tiny glimpse of his famous good-luck red and yellow socks. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
She’s all hat. Sarah Gumbiner and Polaris. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg are among the favorites to take the top spot (Photo©2018 by Nancy Jaffer)
Coverage of Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event on NancyJaffer.com:
Thursday, April 25: Dressage paves the way at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event
Friday, April 26: The Once and Future King of Kentucky?
Saturday, April 27: Is it time for an American to win the Kentucky Three-Day Event?
Sunday, April 28: The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event has a repeat winner
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 23, 2019
You don’t have to be an eventer to take part in the new Preliminary Derby at noon May 12 during the Jersey Fresh International, which runs May 9-12 at the Horse Park of New Jersey in Allentown..
The class, sponsored by East Coast Equine Performance LLC, Dr. Ted Mazzarisi, offers $2,500 in prize money, with eight placings. It will involve a combination of seven cross-country-style obstacles and seven show jumping fences, approximately 3-feet, 7-inches high on a course designed by Chris Barnard and Morgan Rowsell in consultation with Mark Phillips. The action will take place in both the Grand Prix Ring and the East Ring, in front of the pavilion.
Results will be determined by time, and any rails or stops (four seconds will be added to a competitor’s time for either). The derby will run between the CCI 3-L and CCI 4-L divisions.
Entries limited to 25 horses. Limited stabling is available if the horse has proof of FEI-mandated vaccinations, and is seen by the FEI vet before going to stabling.
Those who want to participate can use the U.S. Eventing Association entry form and send it to the Horse Park of New Jersey, 626 Route 524, Allentown NJ 08501 with a fee of $125. Entries also may be made via www.evententries.com.
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 7, 2019
Are you and your horse bored? Maybe an introduction to Working Equitation can give you both a new outlook.
Cornerstone Andalusians, 825 Route 579 in Flemington, is holding a WE clinic and show this month. Mindy Finelli, the owner of Cornerstone Farm, will be the instructor and judge. She has been riding and competing in Working Equitation for more than 10 years.
The clinic will start May 18 with an introduction to Working Equitation, explaining its origin and the basic components of the sport. Then it will be time to move on to the first phase, dressage. Riders will get the opportunity to ride their pattern several times with instruction. The afternoon will be devoted to the dressage phase of the schooling show.
May 19 will be the Ease of Handling Phase (Obstacles). Participants will practice over all the obstacles in the morning. In the afternoon, riders will take part in the Ease of Handling Phase of the schooling show. Lunch will be provided both days.
The cost is $50 per day or $100 for both days. Participants are asked to specify which day they will ride if they are only doing one day. The fee is $25 for auditors for both days. Pre-registration is required.
Email cornerstoneandalusians@comcast.net or call/text (908) 489-2069.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 7, 2019
Call it Dr. Meg Sleeper’s version of the trifecta–or maybe just a self-styled hat trick.
Last weekend, the veterinary cardiologist rode three different home-bred horses, who are all related, to win 75-mile, 100-mile and 50-mile endurance competitions over the course of three days.
Meg Sleeper and Syrocco Madrigal, her up-and-coming horse. (Photo by Becky Pearman)
It was a total of 23 hours, 27 minutes and 27 seconds worth of riding for the 51-year-old equestrian from Kingwood Township. She was, understandably, “a little tired,” but had no after-effects from her long hours in the saddle, except for slightly sore abdominal muscles. And that was a good thing, she said, because it was proof she was “riding fairly balanced. I felt better than I thought I would, that’s for sure.”
Of course, she’s in fine shape, riding every day, as well as working out with weights and doing yoga to stay fit.
The event was former endurance world champion Val Kanavy’s Fun in the Sun FEI (international equestrian federation) fixture in Williston, Fla. Followers of the discipline suspect that no one has won endurance competitions three days in a row, but the records aren’t geared to searching for that kind of information.
At any rate, you don’t need the record books to know what Meg and her mounts did is a special achievement.
“I thought the horses were competitive and might go well, but I didn’t necessarily expect to win,” Meg revealed.
“I’ve done a 75-mile ride and a 100-mile ride back-to-back once before. That’s a lot of mileage, and I wasn’t sure could I do a 50 on the third day. But that’s what I did.”
She won the 75 with Syrocco Cadence, a 15-year-old. In the 100, it was Syrocco Rimbaud, a 13-year-old who is a veteran of the 2016 world championships in Slovakia, and for the 50, her winner was 8-year-old Syrocco Madrigal, “the horse I hope will be my up and coming horse,” said Meg.
Meg and Syrocco Rimbaud, her 100-mile winner. (Photo by Becky Pearman)
“This was the first time I asked her to see what she could really do,” she observed about Maddie.
“She has done 75-mile rides twice before, but I never asked her to do much more than trot. She was great. It was a really hot weekend (in the low 80s) down here. It required some pacing and being cognizant of the humidity (which was 100 percent one day). She cantered the last loop and was happy to do it, so I was really pleased.”
Meg noted it was interesting “when you compare it to something like Tryon,” the aborted 2018 world championships at the FEI World Equestrian Games in North Carolina.
These are unsettled times on the endurance scene, following the disaster of that WEG endurance, which eventually was cancelled because of weather conditions but had all sorts of problems, beginning with mass confusion at the start.
In terms of the weather, in countries such as the U.S., Australia and South Africa, “We’re used to these conditions, the heat and humidity, and you ride accordingly,” Meg observed.
“One of the things that happens in those kind of events, depending on the country, some riders are used to cantering from point A to point B. Then you give them a rest and go from Point B to Point C. You really can’t really do that in the Southeast. Most U.S. riders don’t ride that way. To me, the goal of endurance is to ride as fast as you can, safely. Depending on the conditions, it may be mostly walk-trot. I think it’s interesting how different the sport is depending on where you are in the world.”
Syrocco Cadence, the 75-mile winner. (Photo by Becky Pearman)
There were three loops. For the 75, riders did two of them twice and for the 100, they did three of them twice .
“We’ve had a very wet year here, so there were sections of trail that were wet, and then a lot of sections that were quite nice,” said Meg.
“Val designed the trail and did a nice job making it as good as it possibly could be.”
She added, “There’s a lot of luck that goes into it. Each horse had a good day and it doesn’t get any better than that. I had a lot of support and a lot of well-wishes since, and that’s been really mind-blowing.”
Meg is usually pointing toward a world championship, but with the current uncertainty in the sport, it’s a different story. The FEI has a “temporary committee” that is trying to figure out what to do with endurance, while the American Endurance Ride Conference has voted to terminate its affiliate relationship with the U.S. Equestrian Federation at the end of the year.
Meg Sleeper’s immediate goal is to enjoy her horses. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
So as Meg sees it, “Right now, my main goal is just to enjoy the horses and have fun riding and competing. I’m just going to sit back, at least for the next few months, and see what happens.”
However, she was just named to the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Endurance Sport Committee. That appointment will remain in place until, or if, a new endurance affiliate is approved by the federation’s board, at which point the it would revert to the affiliate.
Areas of focus for the committee include clearly defining pathways for athletes within the sport, growing the sport of endurance within the U.S., and building a strong base at the national level for endurance athletes to expand into international levels of competition.
Meanwhile, USEF announced it will offer its inaugural Endurance National Championships at the 2019 North American Endurance Championship, hosted by Central Florida Horse Shows Nov. 14-16 at the Broxton Bridge Plantation in Ehrhardt, S.C.
Top U.S. endurance combinations will vie for USEF national champion and reserve honors at the event, which offers open 1- and 2-star competitions, along with junior and young rider divisions at those levels. There also will be an unofficial FEI team competition open to squads from the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 21, 2019
The Burlington County 4-H Horse Advisory Board is putting on a new series of hunter shows, which is the primary fundraiser for the county 4-H Horse Program. It provides education and scholarships for young equestrians in 4-H.
Although the organization has run a hunter show series for more than 30 years, it was open only to 4-H members until two years ago, when it became open to all riders. This year, the class list has been redesigned and includes more championship divisions. Series sponsors are being sought to provide championship and reserve prizes for a series designed to be relaxed, fun, safe and educational for everyone.
The Burlington County Fairgrounds has two large show rings and two smaller schooling rings. It offers spectator seating and easy access from Routes 206 and 295, as well as the Turnpike. The footing was recently redone and has received excellent ratings from USEF. The Dressage Experience Show Series offers three licensed shows there, run through the Transitions 4-H Club.
The shows will be held April 27, May 11, June 9 and June 23. The fairgrounds are in Springfield Township, at Route 206 and Jacksonville-Jobstown Road. For more information about sponsorship, contact Ellen Clark at eclark8968@gmail.com.
