by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 9, 2021
The Washington International Horse Show is moving out of its namesake city for the third time since its founding in 1958, heading to Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Md., for 2022.
The show, formerly 4-star rated, will be a 5-star Oct. 25-30 if the FEI and U.S. Equestrian Federation approve. Show organizers had been looking for several years for an alternative to the Capital One arena in downtown Washington DC, because its lease was expiring.
The Washington International drew a nice crowd in the heart of the city. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
Capital One wasn’t the most convenient venue, with many competing horses stabled on the street. But being in the heart of the nation’s capital, mere blocks from the White House, made the show unique. The arena was within walking distance of restaurants, hotels and museums, contributing to a very special experience.
The schooling area at WIHS wasn’t very large, but riders managed. (Photo © by Lawrence J.Nagy)
The Show Place Arena will host the competition next year, while a partnership with the National Harbor waterfront complex in Oxon, Hill, Md., will offer lodging, entertaining, restaurants and shopping, as well as events such as WIHS Kids Day.
The show will be part of Maryland Horse Month, along with the Maryland 5-star at Fair Hill Oct. 13-16 and the Maryland Million horse racing feature at Laurel.
The Washington International was founded in 1958 and ran at the National Guard Armory in the city until 1974. The next year, it moved to Landover, Md., where it ran through 1999. In 2000, it was back in the city at the arena now known as Capital One. It was held there through 2019, but the pandemic prompted the show to head south to Tryon, N.C., for two years.
Replicas of Washington DC landmarks such as the Smithsonian and Washington Monument were part of the ring decor at the Washington International. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
Washington is part of the North American Fall Indoor Circuit, once a key goal for hunter, jumper and equitation exhibitors. The Pennsylvania National show remains in Harrisburg, but the National, which follows the Washington International, left its traditional home of Madison Square Garden forever in 2002 and is now held in Kentucky. The Royal Winter Fair in Toronto, which has kept its location at the exposition center through the decades, has not been held as the circuit’s finale for the last two years due to Covid restrictions.
The fall circuit has less importance now than in the past because the landscape of horse showing in the U.S. has changed dramatically in the 21st century. Many people head to Florida early, skipping the indoor shows instead of waiting to leave until after the holidays. Some do it for tax reasons to keep their Florida residency; others because there are so many offerings for competition in the Sunshine State during the autumn as well as the winter.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 8, 2021
The Ridland Group is negotiating with the San Juan Capistrano City Council for management of the 40-acre Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park in the city for the next 20 or 30 years. An expanded program for the faciity is being planned by the group, which since 1998 has managed the park that was the scene of several Olympic trials.
“Horses have been a cornerstone of the San Juan Capistrano community for decades, and the Riding Park has played an integral role,” said Hillary Ridland, chief executive officer of the Ridland Group and Blenheim EquiSports. She is the wife of U.S. show jumping coach Robert Ridland.
“We’re thrilled to be able to keep that equestrian culture alive and to allow it to further thrive with the introduction of new events for various riding disciplines and our continued commitment to bringing world-class competition here to Southern California,” she said.
In February, the San Juan Capistrano City Council began accepting bids from potential facility managers – both equestrian and non-equestrian – who would agree to completion of approximately $7 million in environmental improvements. In a unanimous vote on Tuesday, the council directed its staff to finish negotiations and finalize details with the Ridland Group, whose proposal included an extensive engineering plan that would address the necessary environmental changes and prevent contaminated water from running off into the nearby San Juan Creek.
“We’re committed to being at the forefront of making the facility and equestrian sport as environmentally friendly as possible,” said Hillary Ridland. “We have secured the funding to complete the needed water infrastructure work and look forward to continuing to make The Riding Park better and even more accessible for the community as a whole.”
In addition to environmental improvements, the Ridland Group is already working to greatly expand the Riding Park’s event offerings. From March through September 2022, Blenheim EquiSports will host 14 weeks of top-level hunter/jumper competition, including the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ USA, to be held May 10-15. The event marks the first time the West Coast will host the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ that is a qualifier for the Cup final in Europe.
Beginning in 2022, The Ridland Group will also offer additional Western riding competitions, as well as a host of community-minded events produced in partnership with TAG Presents, including music festivals, comedy shows, free family-friendly activities, art shows, and more.
Speaking on behalf of the city council, incoming Mayor Derek Reeve remarked, “We are optimistic about the negotiations. I look forward to congratulating the Ridland Group following the final vote.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 7, 2021
George Williams, the popular former president of the U.S. Dressage Federation, was a surprise entry for the top job again during the organization’s virtual annual meeting.
Lisa Gorretta, George’s successor, had decided not to run for another term due to her work obligations. Two candidates were nominated for the position of president, Kevin Reining of Region 7 and Steven Schubert of Region 8.
As is permitted by USDF Bylaws, Iris Berdrow of Region 8 nominated George from the floor. Upon George’s nomination and acceptance, Kevin Reinig chose to rescind his candidacy in favor of supporting George. Kevin will remain in his current role as USDF Vice President for the remainder of his current term.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 6, 2021
Erik Duvander (left) with Boyd Martin. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
The U.S. Equestrian Federation decided not to renew the contract of Erik Duvander after he put in four years devoting himself to American eventing as the fed’s performance director. No reason was given for dropping him, but USEF is doing a rethink on its eventing program. Read my story about it on the Horse Sport website. Here is the link . And as part of the big change, Peter Wylde, who coached show jumping for the eventers, also didn’t have his contract renewed. Read the details here .
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 2, 2021
As the USA’s dressage technical advisor, at last summer’s Tokyo Games she led the way to the country’s first Olympic team silver dressage medal since 1948.
But now Debbie McDonald is out of a job. According to a U.S. Equestrian Federation spokesperson, the organization chose not to renew her contract due to the filing of a civil lawsuit alleging her husband, Robert McDonald, sexually assaulted two under-age women in California nearly a half-century ago. Debbie also is named in the lawsuit, which contends she was negligent for not protecting the teens while she was Robert McDonald’s assistant trainer. The two were not married at the time.
In addition, California’s 32d District Agricultural Association was sued. It runs the Orange County Fairgrounds, where Robert and Debbie trained at the time the incidents were alleged to take place.
USEF stated, “Debbie McDonald’s contract with USEF has expired and will not be renewed at this time. We are continuing to move forward with the balance of the plans that have been developed following a detailed review involving stakeholder feedback.”
The decision comes with the 2022 World Dressage Championships less than a year from now, and the Paris Olympics two and a half years away.
Debbie, 67, was the sweetheart of the dressage world when she became the first American Dressage World Cup Finals winner on Brentina, who shared icon status with her rider. Together they took double gold at the 1999 Pan American Games, team silver at the 2002 FEI World Equestrian Games, and team bronze at the 2004 Olympics and 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games.
With Brentina’s retirement, Debbie went on to make a name for herself as a coach, creating more Olympic medalists for the U.S., including Laura Graves, Adrienne Lyle and Kasey Perry-Glass.
Generous with her time and encouraging with her ability to make both horses and riders better, the petite trainer always put her heart and soul into her job.
Debbie and Bob McDonald at Brentina’s retirement in 2009. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
Her world was shaken when allegations of sex abuse involving minors from nearly 50 years ago were made against her husband with the U.S. Center for SafeSport, and in June 2020, he was banned for life by the USEF.
Two months later, just as the matter was going to arbitration, the women involved in the matter dropped it and SafeSport instituted an administrative closure of the case. Robert McDonald was removed from the SafeSport banned list and reinstated by USEF. The two women connected with the SafeSport case are the ones who brought lawsuit, but their names are not given in the legal papers.
Debbie declined to comment, but her husband passed along a hand-written statement and thanked everyone who has supported the two of them at this time.
He added, “We are unable to comment on the matters that we know nothing about. Hearing of a lawsuit filed against us has come out of left field. We simply ask that you allow the legal process to take its course and hold your thoughts and opinions until all the evidence is put forth which we believe will vehemently demonstrate the untruth of the accusers.
“It is upsetting that these ladies hide behind Jane Does when they choose to tarnish our reputation in our sport. It is equally upsetting that we were prepared to address the accusations at the SafeSport level when SafeSport closed the case. We have been together for 43 years and fully stand by each other and know that we have done nothing within the realm of what has been asserted.
“We are confident in the end the truth will prevail. We will continue to dedicate our lives to the sport we love and focus on the training of and for our clients who have stood by us.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 1, 2021
Michael Barisone was “incoherent” after the Aug. 7, 2019 shooting for which he was charged with two counts of attempted murder, according to a Washington Township, N.J., police officer who responded to the scene.
Detective Derek Heymer recounted under oath during a Superior Court hearing in Morristown today that when he arrived at Barisone’s Long Valley horse farm on the afternoon of the incident, he found the 2008 Olympic dressage team alternate face down on the ground with Richard Goodwin on top of him, while Goodwin’s fiancé, Lauren Kanarek was nearby bleeding from chest wounds.
Michael Barisone in his competition days. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
Heymer located the gun, a black and pink Ruger, underneath Barisone and threw it to one side and its empty ammunition magazine to the other. Barisone, who also was charged with possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, had blood on his face and a laceration on his forehead. He was talking to himself, according to Heymer, who reported the athlete had a blank stare and said several times, “I had a good life.”
Kanarek, a dressage rider, and Goodwin lived at Barisone’s farm, but he wanted them out because of what were called “escalating threats” involving fear of physical harm and property destruction, as alleged in a lawsuit filed in July against 11 Washington Township police officers and the municipality. A claim was made in the lawsuit that police did nothing to protect Barisone from the couple when he began calling 911 about the situation eight days before the shooting. Heymer was among the officers named in the suit, which eventually was dismissed.
Barisone’s attorney, Edward Bilinkas, said he plans to present evidence of insanity and self-defense in the case. In an interview outside of the courtroom, the lawyer said his client doesn’t remember anything about the shooting incident, blacking out from the time a representative of the state Division of Child Protection and Permanency began asking about accusations of abuse involving his girlfriend’s children, until he was hospitalized to be treated for his injuries. Following Barisone’s first court appearance in 2019, his former lawyer said that after Barisone tried to evict Kanarek and Goodwin, there was retaliation with the abuse allegations.
Michael Barisone confers in court with lawyer Ed Bilinkas. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
The purpose of this morning’s session was for Judge Stephen Taylor to decide whether jurors should be permitted to hear testimony at trial about what police officers heard Barisone say when they were dealing with him after the shooting. Two other Washington Township policemen were questioned about that at a hearing in October.
Morris County Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Schellhorn pointed out that police did not cause Barisone to make the statements, which were not offered in response to questioning but were overheard and unrecorded. There was, he added, no risk those officers could have misheard or misunderstood the statements Barisone made. According to the police officers’ testimony, the statements included “Is this real? I need to wake up” and “They destroyed my life in the last six months, they took it all away. I’m sorry it happened.”
Schellhorn asked the judge to rule those statements should be admissible at trial.
Barisone, who has spent nearly two and a half years in the Morris County Correctional Center, came into the courtroom in handcuffs and was seated facing the judge. He did not speak publicly, but talked with his lawyer during the hearing. He was scheduled to be tried in February. But a pending murder trial for someone who has been in custody longer than Barisone will be occupying Schellhorn early in the year, so Barisone’s proceeding has been moved to March 21. Lawyers on both sides expect the trial will take two weeks for each of them to present their case, and dozens of witnesses will be involved, including psychological experts.
Discussing Barisone’s comments that were reported by the police officers, Schellhorn noted Bilinkas argued that these statements were related to the allegation of insanity.
“It certainly would be the defendant’s burden to produce evidence and establish he was insane by a preponderance of the evidence,” said Schellhorn.
Bilinkas pointed out that his client had been beaten and was described in testimony as “incoherent” and “dazed” in the wake of the shooting. He contended that the comment, “Is this real” was “an indication he doesn’t understand…what he’s saying. Those statements indicate someone who’s struggling with, I submit, reality.”
Michael Barisone leaving the courtroom today. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
In response, Judge Taylor asked, “Is that a question for the court now or perhaps one for the jury?”
Bilinkas explained, citing his client’s trauma and head injury, “He didn’t realize what he was doing, what was going on. To make any type of statement, the court needs to make a determination, at least initially, as to whether or not it’s at all reliable and voluntary under the circumstances.”
The lawyer said some of the statements were made after Barisone received large amounts of narcotics in the hospital, maintaining it was mind-altering. The judge asked how he was supposed to know “what the pharmacological effects of fentanyl is a minute later?”
Bilinkas suggested the judge could use his “common sense,” but the judge said that assertion is subject to medical testimony.
“When you’re telling me it alters his mind, I don’t know that, I don’t have any evidence before me, medical records or other records, to indicate what the effect is on an individual,” the judge said.
Bilinkas responded, “He doesn’t know what’s real, he doesn’t remember the incident.” He added that should weigh heavily in regard to the court’s “initial determination as to whether or not the statements should be admissible.”
The judge said he would take the issue under advisement and issue a written opinion.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 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.
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.
Former Far Hills Meeting co-chairman John von Stade, left, and race meeting co-chair Guy Torsilierico presented a trophy in 2010 to race horse owner Morten Buskop. (Photo © 2010 by Nancy Jaffer)
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.
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.
The grand prix arena at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center has all new footing as a result of the upgrade. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
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.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 28, 2021
The International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) has taken a formal vote to drop show jumping from its program following the Paris Olympics in 2024, although protests of the move have come from representatives of numerous nations. However, a group called Pentathlon United has been formed to lobby for keeping riding in the Olympic pentathlon at Los Angeles 2028 and beyond, while the issue has been taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport..
Pentathlon received an unwelcome spotlight in Tokyo after a horse refused with a German rider who had been leading the competition to that point. She whipped the horse and burst into tears, a moment memorialized in a photo that made headlines around the world. Her mount was punched by her coach, who was disciplined by being sent home.
In a letter to athletes, the pentathlon union–which feared that the sport would be dropped from the Games by the International Olympic Committee– explained the decision, stating, “We would be making a mistake if we were to take our place in the Olympic programme for granted past Paris 2024. It is not granted for us, it is not granted for anybody.”
The organization’s executive board held a secret meeting in which it was decided to remove horseback riding from the program. Riding’s replacement sport for the 2028 Games had yet to be decided.
But while there were countries that support dropping riding, comments from pentathlon supporters from Poland to Denmark and the Czech Republic to Finland have protested the move.
After word of the decision came, more than 700 pentathletes wrote a letter expressing no confidence in the pentathlon organization’s president and board, asking for their resignations, while at the same time they pressed to keep riding in the pentathlon to save the integrity of the sport.
In a letter to the Polish pentathlon association, athletes and coaches said they understood there needed to be changes and standardization of the rules of holding a riding competition as part of the sport, adapting rules not only to competitors’ skills, but also to the horses’ abilities.
At the same time, “There are many solutions, the introduction of which will make horse riding in a modern pentathlon safer for both parties,” those protesting contended in their letter.
A riding working group had been set up by the international governing body to explore whether the equestrian element should be continued in the format that also includes shooting, running, swimming and fencing, which debuted at the 1912 Olympics. There have been innovations since, including running all the sports in a 90-minute broadcast-friendly format, rather than over a period of days.
Modern pentathlon participants are assigned a horse and have just 20 minutes before competing in the jumping. It’s a big ask for athletes who are not accomplished riders. The five-discipline event began as a military competition, with women taking part for the first time in 2000. It has not been among the more popular events to watch for viewers of the Games, which endangers its continuing inclusion.
According to “Inside the Games,” UIPM vice-president Joël Bouzou claimed the IOC had requested the removal of riding.
IOC member and UIPM first vice-president Juan Antonio Samaranch said there was no demand from the IOC, but that the pentathlon organization had to act proactively to keep the sport in the Games.
“We must rapidly develop a new event – then a chance exists,” he said.
Although modern pentathlon had been called a core sport of the Olympics, meaning it is supposed to have a guaranteed place on the Olympic program, that can change.
Citing such modern sports such as 3×3 basketball, skateboarding and surfing that are more attractive to young people, Samaranch claimed there are “no core sports.”
.Meanwhile, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) called for all equestrian disciplines to be dropped from the Olympics, not just the riding phase of modern pentathlon. The FEI (International Equestrian Federation), which is the governing body for the Olympic disciplines of dressage, eventing and grand prix-level show jumping, does not regulate pentathlon.
“Just as the Olympics evolved to include sports that are of current interest, like skateboarding, surfing, and sport climbing, in a world that increasingly refuses to accept abuse in any form, it’s time to remove sports that are no longer supported by the public,” PETA’s senior vice-president of the equine matters department, Kathy Guillermo, wrote to International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.
There is no comparison between riding in the pentathlon and the Olympic equestrian sports, which are run at the highest standard of athleticism and care for the horse, most of which have been with their riders for many years.
