by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 14, 2021
The 2024 Olympics in Paris will be the last Games for German dressage superstar Isabell Werth, who told the German press agency that it will be a “turning point” for her career and she will retire at some point after that.
Isabell Werth and Bella Rose. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
The 55-year-old multi gold medalist said she could never see herself competing at the age of 60, and hopes to focus on training once she stops showing. Her Tokyo team gold and individual silver mount Bella Rose retired after the Games in Japan, but subsequently under went colic surgery and will miss a planned farewell ceremony in Aachen this week.
No worries, though. Isabell has plenty of horses in the pipeline that will take her through the moment she steps down from the podium for the last time.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 13, 2021
The winner and runner-up in the HITS $400,500 grand prix were new faces, which German course designer Werner Deeg considers a good thing.
The finale of the Saugerties, N.Y., spring/summer series was won yesterday by 25-year-old Megan McDermott on Entano, logging her first 5-star victory, while her close friend, amateur rider Maria Costa, 29, was close behind aboard Presence.
Friends Megan McDermott and Maria Costa finished first and second in the Hits $400,500 Grand Prix. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
There were many big names among the 26 starters; Hampton Classic grand prix winner Daniel Bluman, former World Champion and Olympic gold medalist Rodrigo Pessoa, the eternal Margie Engle (fourth on Dicas as the fastest 4-faulter in the first round), Amanda Derbyshire and Hunter Holloway (second and third in the competition last year). Werner, however, found it refreshing that virtual unknowns were at the top of the class.
“There is a change of generation at the moment,” he maintained.
‘”You can see it in Europe as well.”
He told the young women, “What you did today it was absolutely fantastic. We need names like McLain and Beezie, but we need these names in the future. This is what we have to work with.”
HITS impresario Tom Struzzieri told Mean and Maria during the post-grand prix press conference, “You young ladies should be pretty excited. I’ve sat here many times with people who’ve gone on to some pretty great things.” He cited, among others, Andre Thieme of Germany, who has been a winner of the big classes at HITS and just took individual gold at the European Championships.
Megan, a Westchester County N.Y., resident who is based for the moment at Blythe Masters’ farm in Bedminster, N.J., was the only rider to produce a double-clear in the competition after topping the three-horse tie-breaker. She set the pace with a well-judged round in 48.69 seconds.
Megan McDermott put in a winning trip with Entano. (Photo © 2021 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
“He’s naturally quick and has a big stride,” said Megan, noting that if she let Entano go in the jump-off, she was rolling the dice.
“My strategy was to go a little bit medium so I would not lose control at the end and have one of the last couple of jumps down. I definitely felt there was risk for me nearing the end,” said Megan, who had skill and luck on her side.
Ireland’s David Blake went for it following Megan’s trip, but had 12 penalties on Keoki.
David Blake and Keoki. (Photo © 2021 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
“Megan had a good tactic, she put a lot of pressure, I really had no choice but to chase,” David said.
“There were only three in the jump-off, there’s no real advantage to playing it safe. I was going to be second or third or win and had to give it a go. All we could do was try to beat her. It didn’t work out for us today,” David concluded.
Maria, who is a good friend of Megan’s, had the advantage of riding last.
Megan “put the pressure on,” said Maria, who coped as best she could aboard Presence.
“Unfortunately, coming to the second-to-last jump, I wasn’t able to get him back as much as I knew I needed to, I just wasn’t able to get it done. But I couldn’t be happier with the horse.”
Maria Costa and Presence. (Photo © 2021 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Werner’s first round route had plenty of challenging loops as it wound around the enormous grand prix arena.
“The horses have to maintain the rhythm and free-forward movement. Let them go and make them happy, give them a chance,” said the designer, citing the importance of balance.
“For me, it is important not only having a nice rhythm from (fence) one to five, they have to keep the rhythm through 13 and 14.”
Werner’s techniques were effective, and he was proud that no horses had real difficulty along the path he laid out.
Analyzing how Werner did his job, David said, “I think he used the length of the course, with 14 jumps and 93 seconds (time allowed).
“Turning back to the triple bar (fence 11) was quite an uphill battle for a lot of horses, they fatigued a little bit. I think the length of the course was clever, and for a $400,000 grand prix it should be hard.”
The grand prix course.
The victory turned things around for Megan, who does most of her own work with her horse. She hired a freelance groom who didn’t come on time yesterday morning to feed her horse; when the groom finally rolled in, she already had done everything, and friends pitched in to free her up for the course walk. It wasn’t a propitious start to the day, but she turned it around..
It is only a little more than a year that she has been riding Entano, a 12-year-old son of Namelus R out of a Numero Uno mare.
“The first time I jumped him, I thought, `I’m going to win a 5-star grand prix on this horse,’” Megan confided.
“He’s difficult, he’s very quirky, it takes a lot to manage him properly. For it to come together on my first 5 star, he just couldn’t have been any better,” she said.
“I’ve had a really awful year, starting the last week of August 2020. I’ve had terrible luck inside the sport and outside the sport. The way to keep getting through it, every time I show, I say `I’m going to win the class.’
However, she added, “I have not won any classes or even come close in a long time. but I always do psych myself up and think i am going to win. That’s what i have to do to give it my all.”
While Megan and Maria are new faces, they work with people who are big names. Maria rides with Laura Kraut, a member of the U.S. silver medal team at the Olympics. She wasn’t on hand in Saugerties, but Maria credits her influence as an important part of her success.
Megan’s mentor is Daniel Bluman. He had her ride Entano when he was thinking of selling the Dutch-bred gelding as an amateur’s mount, because he wanted to see how the gelding would go with a female rider. Megan hit it off with the horse, and changed his destiny.
“He’s been a super complex and interesting horse to work with. I love the challenge of him,” the young professional said.
Asked what she will do with her $132,165 share of the purse, she responded, “Try to keep my business afloat.”
Among the day’s featured classes was the $200,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix, which went to Jimmy Torano on Laskano. His final score was 357.50 for today’s two rounds, edging Hannah Isop and Believe, who had a total of 356.
Jimmy Torano and $200,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix winner Laskano. (Photo © 2021 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
The horse belongs to Daryl Portela, who is practically a member of the Torano family.
Teary-eyed for a few moments after his victory, Jimmy explained, “A year ago exactly, the owner of this horse had a catastrophic fall and can never ride again, so this is an emotional win today
“He won the first round, he won the second round, he was circuit champion in Florida, he just tries to win every class he goes in,” he said of the horse he bought from Emil Spadone at Redfield Farm.
Jimmy was wearing an air vest during his time in the arena, something he, his wife, Danielle, and their 11-year-old son, JJ, feel strongly about.
“We had talked about her (Daryl) wearing a vest and it never materialized and she had that bad fall and I said, `We’re ordering them.’ From that day forward we wear them in every class.”
Although more riders are wearing the vests, not everyone wants to.
Jimmy Torano gives Laskano a pat. Note the air vest he is wearing over his jacket. Photo © 2021 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
“In the old days, we didn’t wear seat belts, we didn’t wear helmets,” Jimmy pointed out. Now, of course, we can’t imagine life without those items
“Change is hard,” he acknowledged.
“This is my choice. Everyone’s got to make their own decision, and this is mine.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 10, 2021
The Master’s Chase races at Natirar on Main Street in Peapack & Gladstone are back on Oct. 9 after a year off due to Covid.
The event’s roots are in the cherished local tradition of steeplechasing in the Somerset Hills. Although the modern landscape means riders can’t race steeple-to-steeple, the afternoon will feature a full schedule of amateur horse racing and countryside sport.
Part of the Weekend in Gladstone festivities, the event benefits the Countryside Alliance of Somerset Hills, a 501c3 formed with a mission to perpetuate an understanding of the country way of life, maintaining and preserving the history and traditions of hunting with hounds and horses in the Somerset Hills, and to educate the public on the proper care of horses and hounds.
It’s a great tailgating occasion at the Somerset County park, with the action including relays, flat and jumping races, as well as a leadline race and stick pony races for children and adults. The fun starts at noon when the gates open, with the competition beginning at 2 p.m.
For more information and to reserve tailgating spaces, go to www.essexfoxhounds.org, or call Karen Murphy at (908) 727-0222.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 9, 2021
If you were planning to go to the New York venue for show jumping’s Longines Global Champions Tour Sept. 24-26, better make other plans. The show, which debuted on Governor’s Island in 2019 and was cancelled due to Covid in 2020, is not running this year.
The League has made “the difficult decision not to stage the events in New York and Shanghai due to multiple ongoing restrictions and logistical complications related to Covid-19 and the Delta variant.”
Instead, the season finals will be held in Šamorín on the shores of the Danube, in Slovakia, before the November play-offs in Prague.
The Covid situation has made things difficult for indoor shows as well, where social distancing is a problem.. Both the Stuttgart fixture in Germany and the Maastricht show in Holland also have been cancelled.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 8, 2021
A highly successful horse show held last autumn to benefit Kevin Babington will have an encore Oct. 10 at Duncraven in Titusville, with stable owner Tim Fedor offering the facility again to help the fund-raising effort.
Kevin, a U.S.-based Irish show jumper, suffered a severe spinal injury in a 2019 fall at a show. Although he was left as a quadriplegic, he has never stopped fighting to regain function, and has made some progress in a very long battle. Most recently, he received a stem cell transplant at the Mayo Clinic, but he still has a long and costly road ahead of him.
The show is still in need of division sponsors as well as basket / item donations for the raffle.Those who would like to sponsor a division or donate something contact jroslowski@hotmail.com or (609)-439-8983. Volunteers are also needed.
Meanwhile, donations to the Kevin Babington Foundation are now tax deductible, as it has become a 501 c3 organization. The foundation not only helps the Babington family handle the enormous expenses involved with Kevin’s situation, it also provides funding and support for equestrians with spinal cord injuries. The foundation works to educate riders, trainers and show organizers about the most current safety measures designed to reduce the risk of spinal cord injury.. To donate, click on this link
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 8, 2021
Clooney, the magnificent grey ridden by Martin Fuchs of Switzerland. has taken more than one step forward in his recovery and is being hand-walked. Martin’s gold medal mount for the 2019 European Championships slipped in his pasture last month and fractured his humerus on the right side.
He was put in a sling for treatment after the August 16 accident, but two weeks later, he was taking his first steps without the support.
“This horse never stops surprising me with his strength,” said Martin. “Blessed to have him in my life.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 6, 2021
Kroon Gravin, one of the great competition horses of the early 21st Century, has died in retirement at the age of 30.
The two-time winner of the American Invitational (2001 and 2002), ridden by Molly Ashe Cawley, also was the first U.S entry to win Berlin’s Eternit Grand Prix in 2000 and also was a winner the next week of the Audi Grand Prix in Maastricht, Holland.
Her resume includes a victory in the Grand Prix of Devon in 2001, the year before she won the selection trials for the USA’s World Equestrian Games team, but then withdrew due to an injury. She recovered and went on to continue her notable career.
Kroon Gravin. (Photo courtesy of Molly Ashe Cawley)
The Dutch warmblood mare (Grandville-Dalgravin X G.Ramiro Z) “picked her people and if you were one of the chosen ones, life was good,” recalled Molly, who enjoyed that privilege.
“If you weren’t, she wanted nothing to do with you and there was no changing her mind. She was afraid of people in general but she was such an incredible athlete. She taught me so much and I will always be grateful,” said Molly.
“She was just one of those special horses. I was lucky to have her.”
Kroon was retired in 2008, and spent her remaining years in Holland at the home of her farrier, Peter Van Houp and his wife Inge “so she got well-cared-for, always,” Molly emphasized.
“I will miss her always,” said Molly. While agreeing that 30 is a good age for a horse to reach, she said wistfully, “You could ask for forever, but you’re never going to get it.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 6, 2021
Two unvaccinated horses in Atlantic County were euthanized after contracting Eastern Equine Encephalitis, the second and third cases of the illness that have surfaced in New Jersey this year. The animals were an 8-year-old mare and a 7-year-old mini-horse stallion. All the infections of the mosquito-borne infection were in South Jersey; the previous case was in Cumberland County.
“These new cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis emphasize the importance of horse owners needing to vaccinate their animals to greatly reduce the chances of contracting EEE and West Nile Virus,” state Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher said.
EEE causes inflammation of the brain tissue and has a significantly higher risk of death in horses than West Nile Virus (WNV), a serious viral disease that affects a horse’s neurological system. The diseases are transmitted by a mosquito bite. The virus cycles between birds and mosquitoes with horses and humans being incidental hosts.
EEE infections in horses are not a significant risk factor for human infection because horses (like humans) are “dead-end” hosts for the virus.For more information about EEE in horses, visit the New Jersey Department of Agriculture web site at this link..
Most regions of New Jersey have a reported mosquito population at or slightly above the 5-year averages
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 5, 2021
The $300,000 Longines Hampton Classic Grand Prix went to Israel’s Daniel Bluman on Gemma W, who outraced speed expert McLain Ward this afternoon to take the Long Island show’s top prize for the second time since 2017.
Grand Prix winner Daniel Bluman and Gemma W.
Daniel last month missed being on the first Israeli show jumping team to make it to the Olympics because of a technicality in the way Gemma’s ownership was registered. So he may have had a score to settle over Alan Wade’s course in the seven-horse tie-breaker for the class presented by Land Rover.
McLain, the anchor rider for the silver medal U.S. team in Tokyo and a seven-time Hampton Classic grand prix winner, was fault-free in 36.79 seconds on his Games horse, Contagious, but a wide turn left the door open. Daniel went through it in overdrive with his gray mare to finish in 34.75 seconds.
Daniel was so thrilled as he crossed the finish line, patting his heart several times to show his joy and excitement..
“I was watching everything McLain did carefully,” Daniel said.
“He’s a fast rider, and he loves to win this class. Then the crowd went crazy when he finished, and I had so many emotions at that point. I just said to myself that I was going to give everything – absolutely everything – I had. I was going to take all the risks, and I was going to beat him. I wasn’t going to be slower than him today. And it worked out.”
An overjoyed Daniel Bluman patted his heart several times as his adrenaline surged following his gallop through the finish line.
“It was a really incredible feeling,” added Daniel, who is good friends with McLain.
“It’s really special not only because it’s the Hampton Classic, but because it’s McLain Ward on his home turf. (McLain is a New York resident.) To beat him today is definitely going to be one that I’ll remember.”
Of his Dutch warmblood mount, Daniel said, “Gemma has been with us since she was five years old.From the beginning, I knew she was very special and athletic. She wants to do the job, and she wants to leave the jumps up all the time. She’s scopey and careful, and I believe she has a great mind and a great heart.”
Third among the 23 starters in the class was Schuyler Riley on Robin de Ponthual in 37.42 seconds.McLain, who had several victories during the week, won the $30,000 Longines Rider Challenge with 538 points. Daniel placed second with 350 points
The Hampton Classic grand prix arena surface held well after a re-do at the beginning of the week, when it was obvious the grass had not rooted properly in the wake of rain and high temperatures.
Show organizers acted quickly to cover the ground with new footing, redoing the schedule to utilize other rings until Thursday. The field had not been use since 2019; the show was cancelled last year due to Covid.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 3, 2021
Harry Case, who defined Lord Stirling Stable’s character as its first manager, was a much-admired man. When the Ft. Meyers, Fla., resident, died on May 22, 2020, pandemic restrictions meant that wasn’t the time for those who knew him to gather in his memory.
Now his granddaughter, Krista Case, is organizing that celebration of his life. It will be held at Lord Stirling, 256 S Maple Ave. in Basking Ridge from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25. Those attending will be able to share their memories of Mr. Case and enjoy the scrapbook and mementos Krista is bringing. It is an open house type of celebration, so it is expected that people will come and go throughout the afternoon.
Those who have photos of Harry and his wife, Vivian, should call or email Larry Basinski, who is putting together a tribute video. Contact him at (908) 338-3223 (cell) or (908) 604-8501. His email is basi1952@gmail.com. In order for organizers to determine how much caterig is needed, those who have not RSVPd that they will attend should click on this link
The stable is located on a former cattle farm started in the 1890s by Dr. Charles Frederick Baker, a Newark physician. The property was purchased in the 1940s by John Jacob Astor VI, a survivor of the Titanic disaster (his mother was pregnant with him when she escaped the sinking ship.) The land east of Maple Avenue included a barn complex where he raised prize cattle; stables, paddocks, riding trails and extensive wetlands along the Passaic River.
After the Great Swamp was named New Jersey’s first National Natural Landmark, Helen Fenske, who led the fight to save it from becoming an airport, approached Somerset County Park Commission Secretary-Director Jack Moody in 1967 with $75,000 (worth about $573,000 today) from Sarah Mellon Scaife to help the county preserve the Astor farm. Moody obtained a matching grant from the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.
With the popularity of horses in Somerset County, Moody suggested to the park commission that it convert the Astor barns and stables to a county riding facility. He recalled, “We wanted to promote a broad appreciation of horses and the sport of riding among the general public.” The commission approved, opening the stable in 1969 with 30 horses and riding programs for adults and children.
Mr. Case, who had trained Arabians, was in charge and set the standard for Lord Stirling to become a very popular facility. He planned the program and the set-up, including the rings. He definitely was hands-on, and enjoyed leading trail rides on Utah, his favorite horse.
A real horseman, Mr. Case had a great sense of humor, which served him and the stable’s clients very well. A role model who inspired his students, he left his stamp on the stable and the hundreds of people who rode there prior to his retirement in 1991.
