by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 27, 2020
The All American Quarter Horse Congress, scheduled for September 29 – October 25 in Ohio, has been cancelled.
“The uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic simply prevents safely moving forward in Columbus, Ohio,” said a statement from the show.
“The well-being of our workers, exhibitors and attendees is our highest priority and based on the information we have today, the risk is simply too great. Thank you for understanding this difficult decision.”
Scott Myers, CEO of the Ohio Quarter Horse Association said, “Hearing all the concerns from the local and state health departments, and the CDC, it was the right decision to make to keep people safe and healthy.
“It is disappointing to all who worked tirelessly in preparation for this year’s Congress, and I want to personally thank you for your continued support. I look forward to the biggest and best Congress ever in 2021.”
He added, “We are in this together, our industry is strong and rest assured, the Congress will be here in 2021. Details on moving forward and further updates will be available on quarterhorsecongress.com.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 24, 2020
The Giving Games, a new fundraising campaign launched by Olympic and Paralympic national governing bodies, is designed to support and sustain U.S. athletes ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games that have been postponed until 2021.
The U.S. Equestrian Federation and the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation are participating in the effort that began July 24 and runs through Aug. 9, which is the original window of this summer’s Games.
The Giving Games’ ultimate goal is to support and sustain U.S. athletes as they prepare for the Olympics next summer. U.S. athletes rely heavily on their sports’ national governing bodies for financial assistance with training and preparation needs. Many athletes face financial hardships and other obstacles due to the significant number of domestic and international competitions that have been cancelled this year.
There will be 20 other NGBs joining the multi-faceted philanthropic effort. It offers a variety of donation opportunities, including pooled funds and direct giving to the USET Foundation. All funds raised will be received via direct donation or equally divided among participating organizations in order to support their athletes’ needs as they prepare for an additional year of training.
Fans and supporters of U.S. equestrian high performance athletes, USEF and the USET Foundation can contribute to the Giving Games in the following ways:
- Donate directly to the USET Foundation to help support equestrian athletes. Every dollar raised up to $50,000 will be matched by a supporter of the foundation, doubling the amount that equestrians will receive in their quest for the podium in 2021. In addition, donors will have a chance to be entered in the “Medal of Giving” awards, recognizing the top three cumulative donors based on donations received by August 9.
- Donate to the Giving Games pooled funds by participating in Giving Games promotions and events, which will be launched throughout the promotion period and divided equally among participating NGBs.
- Text ‘GIVINGGAMES’ to 243725
All funds raised either will be a direct donation to a specific sport, or general support of all of the sports, which will be equally divided among the participating sports organizations.
The Giving Games effort has partnered with notable brands, corporations and businesses, including BuzzFeed and Omaze to create unique and exciting ways for fans and supporters to continue contributing to the Giving Games effort. To learn more about the Giving Games, go to giving-games.com.
The USET Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports the competition, training, coaching, travel and educational needs of America’s elite and developing international, high performance horses and athletes in partnership with the USEF.Learn more at www.uset.org.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 15, 2020
The persistent question of how the USA’s three major fall indoor shows could run during a pandemic-plagued season was answered today: They are going ahead, even though it won’t quite be business as usual in the Covid era.
It’s good news, following cancellation of such major fixtures as Devon, Lake Placid and the Hampton Classic due to the virus.
The 4-star National Horse Show announced it will remain indoors at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Alltech Arena. There has been no announcement from the 4-star Washington International and 3-star Pennsylvania National, but we hear they will be held outdoors at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa.
The ASPCA Maclay Finals is a highlight of the National Horse Show, which will remain in the Alltech Arena. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Those involved with the shows, which get under way in October, have known for months that holding the fixtures would be a challenge because of Covid restrictions. So they took an innovative approach beginning in May, joining forces as they talked daily, working out a way to stage their fixtures.
There had been speculation that all three of the shows would be held either in Kentucky or at the same location in Florida, minimizing exhibitors’ need to travel, but that didn’t happen.
A three-way solution was precluded because Washington wraps up on the same weekend that the National begins with a group of well-attended equitation classes.
Details about the Penn National and Washington shows are expected next week, since they are still awaiting FEI approval.
As the pandemic ramped up in the spring, it was obvious major changes would be necessary, even for shows that wouldn’t be held until five months later. Washington’s usual venue, the Capital One Center, is not going to be open in October. This was to have been the final year of the show’s contract with the facility. Whether that can be extended to 2021 depends on the schedules of the arena’s basketball and hockey teams, which are not yet set for next year.
Highlights of the National Oct. 23-Nov. 1 include the ASPCA Maclay hunt seat equitation finals, the $50,000 hunter classic and the $213,300 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Lexington, as well as the Hamel Foundation National Horse Show 3’3” Equitation Championship and the Taylor Harris Insurance Services Adult Equitation Championship on its first weekend.
“I would like to commend all of the individuals who have worked tirelessly in recent months with the National Horse Show, to help us come to a decision that is in the best interest of our event,” said National President Jennifer Burger.
“We all kept saying our main goal was to have successful horse shows, and go into 2021 and beyond as stronger organizations.”
She is hoping to have the Taylor Harris VIP area open at Alltech, but noted, “that will come through guidelines of the state. We’re going to do everything we can to have everything we can. The National Horse Show is committed to safety and keeping the integrity of the horse show as intact as possible.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 3, 2020
Concerned that the riding programs at the Somerset County Park Commission’s Lord Stirling Stable in Basking Ridge won’t resume next year after its 2020 Covid shutdown, a woman who understands the importance of the stable has started a petition to Save Lord Stirling Stable and what it offers.
The lesson horses were sold and all activities at the facility were suspended for the year due to a pandemic-related shortfall in the Park Commission’s budget after golf revenues suffered for several months. The stable already was running at a loss of as much as $500,000, (Click here for the background on Lord Stirling’s closing) and the park commission has not committed to bringing back the lesson program and other activities in 2021.
A trail ride at Lord Stirling stable last year. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Lord Stirling’s closing is not just a county issue. In 2018, people from more than 4,000 households across the state were involved in Lord Stirling’s programs, which are offered at a lower rate to county residents.
And another reason to keep Lord Stirling going is that nationally, there are fewer and fewer stables that offer lessons to beginners or lower level riders, which means there are far less opportunities to begin riding than there were even a decade ago.
Sharon Vopal, a Realtor from Basking Ridge who rode at the facility as a child and then enrolled her daughters, knows firsthand how important Lord Stirling’s offerings are to a wide variety of people.
On a personal basis, one of her 12-year-old twins who has Down Syndrome blossomed during her interaction with horses and instructors, an individual example of how being involved with riding can make a difference in people’s lives.
In addition to lessons, Sharon pointed out, Lord Stirling offers many other activities, including trail rides, hunter paces, horse care workshops, horse shows, pony parties, summer camps and therapeutic riding.
Over the last half-century, generations of those who ride at the stable have bonded not only with horses, instructors and the stable staff, but also with each other.
As Sharon put it, Lord Stirling “is so much more than just a riding stable to county residents and the ridership—it is their home”
That inspired her to draft the petition, Save Lord Stirling Stables, which has more than 3,600 signatures as of this morning.
Speaking of her children, she said, “I want horses in their live forever.
“I doubt that will happen if this place closes,” Sharon added, citing the expense of being involved with horses in private settings elsewhere.
She also feels the sense of community created at the stable is important. Sharon would like to see it expanded with more activities for the general public, so they can appreciate the beauty and atmosphere of the former dairy farm.
Basking Ridge is part of Bernards Township, where Sharon has asked the local governing body to pass a resolution supporting the reopening of Lord Stirling. She hopes to approach other towns in the county to do the same, and plans to appear at the freeholder meeting July 14 and the park commission meeting July 16 to lobby for the reopening, with the signed petition to back up her case.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 28, 2020
Things are really revving up at the Horse Park of New Jersey, where this weekend’s horse trials attracted a waiting list of 100, with everyone eager to get back in action after long weeks without competition.
The park conducted a low-key opening from its Covid lockdown with barrel racing earlier this season, but the horse trials are a major league re-entry into the season. The event attracted a field of 31 Advanced entries and plenty of big names in two sections, with Phillip Dutton winning both. He took the A division on his top mount, Z, and the B section with Luke 140.
Z, the Zangersheide gelding who was the number one event horse on the 2018 World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses Rankings, had a 26.10 penalty dressage test, was clean in show jumping and got six time penalties cross-country, where no one made the optimum of 5:57 over Morgan Rowsell’s route.
Luke, a Holsteiner, also won his dressage with a score of 32 penalties, was clean in show jumping and wound up with 10.4 time penalties for cross-country. Phillip’s friend, Boyd Martin, is Luke’s usual rider, but as is too often the case, Boyd was injured so Phillip filled in admirably. Luke’s dressage has been polished by Boyd’s wife, Silva, who specializes in that discipline.
Phillip Dutton and his Advanced Division B winner Luke 140. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
With 92-degree heat predicted for Saturday (though it didn’t materialize) Morgan was careful to insure the course he designed didn’t push the horses and kept everything “at the lower end of the spectrum” in terms of specifications. With the world’s marquee competitions not going forward due to the pandemic, riders have different priorities than they would in normal times.
“They’re not getting ready for anything,” Morgan pointed out.
“All of us are quite cautious,” said Jennie Brannigan, who had a horse in both Advanced divisions.
Jennie Brannigan in the show jumping arena at the Horse Park of New Jersey. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
Before cross-country got under way, she observed, “I don’t think you’re going to see many people go out and try to fly around. I think we’re all just happy to be out.”
With events starting to reappear on the calendar, the sport has new wrinkles in the age of Covid. As Phillip put it, he’s “trying to get back to life, but trying to do it safely. Being an outdoor sport, it’s pretty fortunate; it seems the virus doesn’t like being outside.”
Although major events on which to focus, from Kentucky and Fair Hill through the Olympics, have been cancelled, Phillip is still looking ahead.
Phillip Dutton and Z, the winners of the A section of the Advanced division at the Horse Park of New Jersey. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I’ve always got big goals,” said the 2016 Olympic individual bronze medalist.
“You always try to get better. There’s some uncertainty about what events to get to, what your preparation’s going to be, but in some ways, it’s helpful with training to take a break from competing.”
U.S. Eventing Performance Director Erik Duvander agreed with Phillip’s assessment.
“The good thing is, the riders have had time to do things they normally don’t have time to do. They have time to be really thorough and experiment more with what they’re doing and their training methods.
“I’ve seen a lot of real good progress. For me, it’s been very useful and very beneficial for our team to have another year.”
None of the eventing horses who were targeted for the postponed 2020 Olympics have been sidelined because of their age, and younger horses are getting another year to train, which means the U.S. could enjoy more depth when it comes time to select a team for the Olympics in 2021.
While mass cancellations have been disappointing, Erik looks at the options that void provided.
“To me, it was an opportunity to dig deep, do some work and change a few things,” he said.
The basics of the horse trials are the same as they would have been at any time before the pandemic, yet from the minute everyone arrived at the Horse Park in Allentown, precautions because of the pandemic were evident. There were no spectators (the U.S. Equestrian Federation has prohibited them for now), but those on the grounds had their temperature taken and were required to submit signed waivers. In order to insure people didn’t gather in one spot looking at course maps, those were all on line. Needless to say, there was no tailgating.
Riders don’t have to wear masks if they are on horseback, but everyone who gathered around the ring or in groups was wearing masks. On the cross-country course, masks were not always pulled up, but there was plenty of space there for social distancing.
“It’s definitely possible to do this and stay safe, and that’s the main thing that matters,” said Jennie.
“I think it’s probably a little harder at the events where we have to stable. (The Advanced sections all ran in one day.) “I’m grateful to be able to still go and really appreciative to everyone for making it happen. They’ve been wonderful.” Sally Ike, a volunteer who has logged decades in the eventing world (she’s also USEF’s managing director of licensed officials), was pleased with the way things were going, noting, “Everybody is pulling together.”
She pointed out, though, that in the Covid era, “Eventing competitions are particularly challenging because of the number of volunteers horse trials use,” citing fence judges as an example, because they normally gather for briefings before competition gets under way.
U.S. Eventing came out with several videos about judging cross-country fences, so at the Horse Park, there was no briefing on the premises, Sally explained. Fence judges were asked to look at the videos and then Technical Delegate Rick Caldwell went around to the more difficult obstacles to insure the judges understood how they were to be scored.
Buck Davidson and Carlevo, second in the Advanced Division A at the Horse Park of New Jersey. Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
Buck Davidson was second in both Advanced sections, earning the fastest time of the day (6:11) with Carlevo (36.30 penalties) in the A division and finishing on 43.70 with Erroll Gobey in the B section.
He found the ground “a bit firm” and the course “a bit “twisty-turny at the end.” But he was happy with the outing, commenting, “It’s great to be back out seeing everybody and doing what we love to do.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 16, 2020
September’s Devon Fall Classic show jumping competition and fall festival held has been cancelled. Held at the Devon Horse Show grounds in suburban Philadelphia, it’s been a popular stop for riders from the region.
Devon Horse Show and Country Fair CEO Wayne Grafton explained that the decision to cancel was due to “the lack of regulatory guidelines within an adequate time frame in order to plan and execute the event.”
The organization “is very disappointed given the cancellation of the May DHSCF, but we are focused on the safety and well-being of our competitors, volunteers and spectators, as well as the overall community. We are putting all our efforts into planning the 125th Anniversary Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, to be held May 27-June 6, 2021.”
Dressage at Devon, a September competition put on by a different organizing group, was cancelled earlier in the spring. The Devon Fall Classic is expected to return in September 2021. For more information, go to www.devonhorseshow.net.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 5, 2020
Long Island’s Hampton Classic Horse Show, one of the most popular and well-attended U.S. equestrian competitions, is joining Devon, the World Cup finals and the Kentucky 5-star in the ranks of shows cancelled due to Covid-19.
The Labor Day weekend fixture, postponed until Aug. 29 – Sept. 5, 2021, is known as much for drawing celebrities to its VIP tent as it is for attracting stellar show jumpers, hunters and equitation riders. Just as Devon is a highlight of the spring, the Classic marks the waning days of the summer show season in style with the action involving six rings on 60 acres. It has been a “can’t miss” for competitors and spectators over the last 44 years.
Hampton Classic perennial winner McLain Ward is always a crowd favorite at the show. (Photo © by Lawrence J. Nagy)
“It is difficult to express how disappointing this is for everyone,” said Shanette Cohen, the show’s executive director.
“However, given the current situation and the uncertainty that lies ahead, our Board reached the conclusion that there really is no other option.
“Naturally, the safety and well-being of our exhibitors, and everyone involved with the Classic, takes first priority and the Board is unanimous in its belief that the wisest course of action is to put all our efforts and resources into ensuring that the Classic is able to return next year at the same high standard that everyone expects.”
Around the world, high-end shows like the Classic one by one have been postponed into 2021. Internationally, travel restrictions have made such major fixtures as Germany’s Aachen unable to proceed. But even domestic shows like the Classic that attract large numbers of spectators, have expansive (and expensive) VIP arrangements, offer a large vendor village (the Classic has 70 vendors) and are supported by major sponsors can’t proceed under Covid-related restrictions.
Social distancing makes selling sufficient seats to help pay for the shows impossible, and it can’t be effected in VIP areas that usually are jammed to begin with. Unfortunately, the Classic likely isn’t the last major show to cancel its 2020 edition, though there aren’t many in that category left that could run this year.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 4, 2020
October’s inaugural Maryland 5- star event at Fair Hill has been postponed for a year “due to health and safety factors, in addition to other challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic” and will take place October 14-17, 2021.
The decision, announced today after consultation with all the parties involved, was made because “not being able to guarantee the health and safety of everyone and producing the event in a limited capacity was not favorable for the Maryland 5-star at Fair Hill’s inaugural year.”
Event organizers and partners are now focused on producing the maiden event next year with a field of international competitors, as well as international spectators traveling to the event.at the newly constructed Special Event Zone at Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in Cecil County, Maryland.
“It was a very difficult decision and we are very disappointed for the competitors, fans and Eventing community,” said Jeff Newman, president of the Fair Hill Organizing Committee.
“The Fair Hill Organizing Committee was created and tasked to plan and produce the inaugural Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill as a world-class, international sporting event that includes an abundance of fan offerings drawing spectators from around the world to Cecil County and surrounding region.”
Newman added, “From the start of the pandemic until now, like many sports and entertainment properties, we’ve fully vetted out different scenarios ranging from a scaled back event with some fans, a competition-only event without spectators, or postponing the event to 2021. Ultimately, we felt that the uncertainties and risks that will remain throughout the year are too great to overcome. As a result, with the support of our sponsors and key constituents, postponing the inaugural event to 2021 best enables us to achieve our original goals and set the foundation for a tradition that will continue for many years.”
The Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill is the newest CCI5*-L Three-Day competition on the international eventing circuit. Fair Hill is one of only seven eventing competitions in the world, and just the second in the U.S. with the 5-star distinction. Six out of the seven 5-stars have been cancelled this year due to problems related to the pandemic. Pau in France, scheduled to run the weekend after Fair Hill, is still trying to present its 5-star.
Sponsors of the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill were notified of the decision this week and backed the postponement. Primary partners include host location Cecil County and its agencies, Brown Advisory, Quarry View Building Group, Taylor Harris Insurance Services, Dubarry of Ireland, W.L. Gore, Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Maryland Public Television (MPT) and The Sport Corp.
The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and United States Eventing Association (USEA) were also informed, supported FHOC’s decision, and confirmed the new dates on the schedule for the event in October 2021.
“We recognize the difficulty of the decision to cancel the 2020 Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill considering the excitement and positive momentum building towards the inaugural event in October. We look forward to working with the Organizing Committee to support a successful event in 2021,” commented USEF CEO Bill Moroney.
The 2020 USEF CCI3*-L National Championship, which was to run with the 5-star, will be reallocated to a new venu, with details announced in the coming weeks.
Mike Gill and Michael Hankin will remain as The Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill’s co-chairs. They said, “Ultimately, postponing the event to 2021 was the right move for the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill’s first year because health and safety must come first. Our goal from the start was to showcase Maryland Pride to attending fans from around the world while also delivering a top-class competition for the riders and horses. However, due to the incredible challenges and uncertainty resulting from the pandemic, that’s just not possible this year. We look forward to producing an incredible event in 2021 and providing an economic stimulus.”
Fair Hill’s newly built Special Event Zone serving as the venue for the Maryland 5 Star features a new Ian Stark-designed cross-country course, as well as new dressage and show jumping areas constructed in the infield of the historic turf track. The USEF CCI3*-L Eventing National Championships and USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championship will run concurrently with the CCI5*-L competition in 2021.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 3, 2020
After a pandemic hiatus of more than two months (because nothing was happening on the New Jersey equestrian scene) the page listing shows and other activities in the state has returned. Couldn’t run it when there was nothing to list. Check it out on this website.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 20, 2020
The “uncertainty of the time” led to today’s announcement that Dressage at Devon is cancelled. The September show, a highlight of the year, was called off “to ensure the safety of our competitors, vendors, sponsors, spectators and our wonderful volunteers,” according to the show’s president, Lori Kaminski.
The fixture is the third at the historic suburban Philadelphia showgrounds to be called off in the last few months. The first was the May hunter/jumper show, which should have been getting under way tomorrow. The summer Brandywine hunter/jumper show was next to go.
As the dressage show’s statement explained, “Operating an international competition at a venue such as Devon is a large undertaking. Our team has worked diligently to review the equestrian governing bodies’ requirements to hold a competition, as well as federal, state and local regulations. It became clear that holding the competition this September, while ensuring everyone’s safety, is not realistic.”
As the statement noted, the situation has made it difficult for suppliers, vendors, competitors, volunteers and sponsors to plan and commit resources and support, all crucial to the success of the show.
At the same time, a group of new board members was announced. They are Christina Morin Graham, Maureen “Mo” Swanson, Jessica “JJ” Tate and Karen Ramsing- Bixler.
