by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 5, 2021
Olympian Rich Fellers has opted to go to trial in Oregon on criminal charges of sexual misconduct involving a minor. Proceedings were scheduled for April after a case management appearance yesterday by the 2012 World Cup show jumping champion.
He has been suspended indefinitely by the U.S. Equestrian Federation and the Center for SafeSport. His wife, Shelley Fellers, has been suspended until Feb. 9, 2027 on charges of abuse of process, retaliation and failure to report
Maggie Kehring, a former student of Fellers, 61, has stated publicly that he had a sexual relationship with her while she was a 17-year-old minor. Fellers was arrested June 7 and held briefly in jail before being released on 10 percent of a $40,000 bail.
Another Oregon jumper rider/trainer, Jeff Campf, 56, was suspended by USEF and SafeSport Oct. 4 for allegations of misconduct.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 4, 2021
New Jersey dressage competitors made quite an impact at the U.S. Equestrian Federation national championships last summer, and they proved over the weekend during ShowPlus Dressage at Devon that was no fluke.
Even though multiple national champion Alice Tarjan of Oldwick wasn’t riding in FEI classes at Devon, since her top horse just came home from the Aachen, Germany, show, the Garden State’s dressage strength was evident at the Heritage competition on Philadelphia’s Main Line. (Alice’s Ice Princess did win the Materiale Three-Year-Old Fillies and the USDFBCS Filly Final during the breed show.)
The busiest Jerseyan during D at D was trainer Lauren Chumley, who rode in 14 classes. She brought nine horses from her Pittstown stable, and handled eight of them, while her groom, Jessie Hayes, rode the other one. Lauren and Jessie split the chores involved with the care and grooming of the horse at the showgrounds.The workload doesn’t faze Lauren.
These are only some of the ribbons Lauren had on display by her stalls at Devon. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I have more energy than anyone I know,” stated the 37-year-old, who is also an eventer and competed in the American Eventing Championships during the summer.
At Devon, she had to get up at 4:30 a.m. in order to fit everything in. The array of ribbons by her stalls showed how successful she was, with big wins in the breeding section of the show, and nice prizes in the performance section.
“I love Devon. It’s my favorite show,” said Lauren, who has been coming to the iconic location for 14 years. Discussing some of the horses she brought, Lauren said, “They’re a little green but I thought they were ready to try this, dip their toe into the bigtime. I think it’s a really good place to take young horses under saddle.
“It’s a lot of atmosphere, but they have to get used to that if they’re going to go on to FEI and do big things. I can’t hide in my backyard.This is a destination. This is just the place to be, to show here and do well with the crowds and vendors…Devon’s got a magic to it.”
Lauren and Kyro. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Lauren just returned from her first trip to Aachen, where she groomed for Alice.
“That was amazing, but I’m still so excited about Devon. It’s a completely different kind of show.”
Lauren was thrilled about getting her first ribbon in a CDI, when Santa Barbara Dash took fourth in the Prix St. Georges.
“That’s a big deal to me,” she said
She won the Three-Year-Old Geldings Under Saddle with Notorious H20, bred by Kendra Hansis’ Running Water Warmbloods in Stockton (another Running Water horse, Fortunato H2O, won the Grand Championship and USDFBCS Five-Year-Old Materiale Championship for owner Lehua Custer).
Lauren also took the Materiale Four-Year-Old Test for stallions and geldings with Masterful Dream, who was the USDFBCS Four-Year Old Materiale Champion and won the USEF Four-Year-Old Test; the Materiale Five-Year-Old Mares with Leeloo Dallas and was second in Fourth Level Test 2 with Kyro, among other notable placings.
Lauren’s “life goal” is to compete at Devon in both the three-year-old class on the Tuesday and the Grand Prix under the lights on Saturday night.
“I think that would be so cool. You go to Europe, and you see the German A-team also showing in the stallion shows and the young horse shows,” she explained.
“That’s not how it works here. Europe has this formula riding three, four and five year olds and doing the Grand Prix at Aachen. I think it’s really cool to be a horseman and trainer, not just a rider of Grand Prix (horses) that somebody else trained. That’s what I’m trying to do, but I’ve got a long way to go.”
Other Jerseyans stood out in performance classes. Cesar Parra of Whitehouse Station won a very competitive 3-star Intermediate 1 class with a total of 70.981 percent on Belle Ami, by Bellissimo M. Marks over 70 percent were not freely given at this show, and two of the three judges put him at more than 71 percent for his efforts with the 12-year-old Westfalen mare owned by Brooke Centrella. He then went on to win the I-1 freestyle with 73.575 percent as the show came to an end..
He’s number one: Cesar Parra and Belle Ami. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Cesar worked with the mare when she was five, six and seven before Brooke took over. Then she passed the horse back to him this year. He qualified for Devon a few weeks ago at the Horse Park of New Jersey and noted proudly that Saturday’s class was only the third time he had ridden Belle Ami in a CDI.
“This is a good one,” he said, adding, “When she’s ready, I’m going to move her up.”
But he doesn’t want to rush, noting “at the very end for me, I’d rather have a wonderful sound Prix St. Georges (horse) than a nice Grand Prix lame. I can truly say it’s about the journey. At one point I think I was too much into the score. I care about scores, who doesn’t care, but it’s secondary to my horse is happy.”
He also won the FEI Young Horse Six-Year Old Finals with Fanta, scoring an 83.
Second place in both the 3-star I-1 and its freestyle went to Kim Herslow of Stockton with the Lusitano Elvis HI. She was marked in the first class on 68.921 percent for the horse she owns with Aileen Cascio.
Kim Herslow rocking with Elvis HI. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
At the USEF championships she learned that “definitely less warm-up is better. That’s huge. That’s the key to him.”
Replaying the first class, she said, “I wish I didn’t have the bobbles but I was trying to go for a little more expression, so you have that risk. In the freestyle, she earned 72.725 percent for her ride accompanied by–what else?–the music of Elvis Presley.
That was to be Elvis HI’s last start at Small Tour. Now she’s aiming him for Grand Prix.
Other New Jerseyans in the ribbons include Katryna Evans, who works for Cesar and won both FEI Young Horse Finals for Five-Year Olds with Mollegardens Fashion.
Bridget Hay of Ringoes was second and third with Shanahan in the Six-Year-Old Finals. She also was second in the Grand Prix Freestyle qualifier with Faolan, who was fourth in the freestyle itself. Third in the freestyle went to Shannon Stevens of Annandale, a CDI newcomer on Ferrari. Allison Nemeth of Flemington was a winner aboard Tiko in the FEI Young Riders category.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 3, 2021
The grandstands were packed with enthusiastic spectators cheering each ride in the featured Saturday night classes of ShowPlus Dressage at Devon, and the competitors rose to the occasion for their expectant audience.
The group that had ridden in the qualifiers for the Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle the previous evening really stepped it up to put on memorable performances at the venerable showgrounds, where everyone felt the excitement of being back a year after the pandemic had cancelled the 46-year-old show on Philadelphia’s Main Line.
Michael Bragdell, who repeated his victory in the freestyle Short Grand Prix qualifier with Qredit Hilltop, savored the stallion’s recognition of the appreciative fans.
Michael Bragdell waves to the crowd. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
“He’s really good with the electricity,” said Michael, the head trainer at Hilltop Farm in Maryland. He couldn’t stop smiling as he talked about the Oldenburg, who was grand champion at Devon in the performance division as a yearling 12 years ago. The memory brought tears to his eyes.
“From the day he came to the barn as a weanling, I felt like he was really special. He was so well-behaved.”
In the midst of a sea of European imports, Qredit who was bred by Judy Yancey, stands out for being born in the USA. (In case you’re wondering, the odd spelling of his name pays tribute to the breeding stallion’s sire, Quaterback),
“I loved how he felt in the ring and how electric he felt in the ring, in a good way,” Michael observed about his eager mount.
“It’s always fun when you do the freestyle and enjoy the music, we have so much history here, there’s no other place like it.”
A native of Sweden who has been in the U.S. for decades, Michael started as “purely a jumper rider” saying, “I never thought I’d do what I did tonight. To be here and wear the blue ribbon, it’s very special; especially on him.
Qredit Hilltop performs his one-tempis. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Michael earned a personal best of 72.995 percent from the five judges. His test in the World Cup Finals qualifier was heavy with marks of 7 and 7.5 for the various movements, but he got a bevy of 8s for his entrance, choreography and interpretation of the music from Blurred Lines and Coldplay.
The “dit, dit, dit” on his soundtrack reflected the rhythm of his horse’s piaffe and passage, and the music swelled appropriately for his powerful one-tempis along the diagonal as the crowd went wild.
Susanne Hamilton, who came all the way from Maine, moved up from fourth in the qualifier to second last night with 71.075 percent on Leseth, earning 8’s and a few 8-pluses for her bouncy music–“Puttin’ on the Ritz,” and its interpretation, degree of difficulty/calculated risks and choreography. She knew she had nailed it with her 12-year-old Hanoverian, flinging up her arms in triumph after her final salute, then pointing down to her horse as she gave him credit.
Susanne Hamilton gave credit to her horse for his “awesome” freestyle performance. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
“My horse is very young at the grand prix right now,” said Susanne.
“He had a little bit of trouble with the stadium the first few days he was in here,” she noted, but Puttin’ on the Ritz is his inspiration.
“He loves his music,” explained Susanne, who emigrated to the U.S. from Germany in 1984.
“The first time I played his music to him, he said, `This is it.’ I said, `Okay, we’ll go with that.’ And so today he let me ride him. Which was awesome.”
Third place on 70.990 was Shannon Stevens with the aptly named Ferrari. Shannon, who is married to trainer Marcus Orlob, works out of their stable in Annandale, N.J. Ferrari came in as a sales horse, but she took to the gelding and kept him.
It was Shannon’s first CDI with her “heart horse,” noting both she and Ferrari are green.
“We have a big operation at home,” said Shannon, noting there are 33 horses in training.
“Riding a horse like this kind of keeps that spark.”
There were only six starters in the freestyle, although it made for an evening that was just long enough, coupled with the preceding Grand Prix Special and a vaulting exhibition.
The show was lacking its usual contingent of Canadians due to difficulties crossing the border because of Covid regulations, and the burden of additional expenses involved. As a dual American/Canadian citizen, however, Special winner Diane Creech had no problems.
Her 18-year-old Chrevis Christo, a Danish warmblood she owns with Louise Leatherdale, received a score of 68.761 percent in the qualifier, then moved up to 69.659 percent, over second-place finisher María Alejandra Aponte Gonzalez of Colombia on Duke de Niro (66.745). There were four in that class.
Diane Creech and Chrevis Christo. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Between Diane and her daughter, Vanessa Creech-Terrauds, they gathered six blue ribbons.
“It was a perfect weekend for us,” Diane said.
She called Christo “a very young senior,” who got a little wild when he returned to the ring for the presentation. Maria, who came into the arena without her horse, immediately took hold of his reins and he settled down.
“He felt like a 12-year-old,” said Diane.
“The atmosphere—he rises to it.” He is so trained, she noted with a smile, that in the qualifier “I was preparing for the pirouette and all of a sudden, I was in the middle of the pirouette, because he knew what we were doing.”
Diane spoke for all the riders when she said, “We are so grateful to the organization of Devon despite all the challenges and everything that’s going on in this crazy world to still be able to make this go and come together in our community is even more special.”
There was a tribute in the arena to retiring steward and technical delegate Elisabeth Williams, as the Dressage at Devon crew, friends and admirers crowded around to wish her well.
Elisabeth Williams is honored on her retirement by the Dressage at Devon group. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
“Throughout her career,” observed U.S Dressage Federation President Lisa Goretta, “Elisabeth has brought a level of professionalism and vision for both dressage in the U.S. and our participation on the international front that is not duplicated by anyone else in the country. She’s been to multiple Olympics, World Cups, World Games, Pan Am Games, CDIs in this country and abroad. No one will be able to duplicate her experience.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 2, 2021
The fans were in Michael Bragdell’s corner when he won last night’s qualifier for this evening’s Grand Prix Freestyle during ShowPlus Dressage at Devon.
While spectators were politely appreciative for the other six entries in the class as the show returned after a year’s Covid-related absence, they really cheered for Michael and the chestnut Oldenburg stallion Qredit Hilltop after a performance that earned the Hilltop Stable trainer 67.132 percent and his first CDI win in the World Cup qualifier. He earned solid marks of 7 and 7.5 for many of the movements in his rendition of the short Grand Prix, where all the movements come up fast.
There definitely is more in there for the pairing to share with the crowd; they finished sixth in the Freestyle itself 2019, the last year the show was held, with 69.185 percent.
The delight the rider took in his horse and their achievement shone in his face during the victory gallop.
Michael Bragdell and Qredit Hilltop. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
“This is like a home arena,” said the rider, who is based nearby in Maryland,
“I feel so lucky to be here. It’s a dream come true.”
Michael showed obvious affection for the horse he started working with as a colt.
“He’s super nice,” said Michael.
The judges rewarded Michael Bragdell for his longtime partnership with Qredit Hilltop. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I was handwalking him early this morning and thinking back when he was a yearling here 12 years ago when he was Grand Champion.”
What does the future hold for the son of Qaterback out of a Dream of Glory mare?
“I’ve been working with Debbie McDonald (the U.S. technical advisor) a lot and I feel she will guide me where we are appropriately going,” said Michael in the wake of his first CDI victory. A native of Gothenburg, Sweden, a city that has been home to many World Cup finals, he is an American citizen who could well be among the growing contingent of riders being groomed for international competition.
Two New Jersey entries completed the top three. Bridget Hay, who breeds her own mounts at her Ringoes farm, was second with 66.737 percent on Faolan, while Shannon Stevens of Annandale earned 66.316 on Ferrari. Only six will come back for the highlight of the show tonight because Laine Ashker, best known as an eventer, did not break the required 60 percent to qualify with Atlas.
In the qualifier for the Grand Prix Special, which also will be held tonight, Diane Creech of Canada on Chrevis Christo with 68.761 percent. There were only four in the class. Entries in some divisions have been light. The Canadians always make a point of attending the Pennsylvania show, but this year, the postponed Olympics followed by an Aachen in September instead of July meant the team horses were just getting out of quarantine late last month and missed this show.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 29, 2021
The U.S. Dressage Federation and the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association have scrapped plans for in-person annual meetings later this autumn and will go virtual, as they did last year
USHJA Executive Director Kevin Price said a survey sent out by the organization, asking members whether they would attend the December meeting scheduled for Charlotte, N.C., “highly favored a virtual meeting.”
The USHJA board in the days of an in-person annual meeting.
While USHJA leaders did take the survey into account, Kevin noted, “the general feeling was there is still a lot of uncertainty around Covid, especially with hosting in-person conferences like our annual meeting. In hosting a virtual annual meeting, we remove the potential health risks for our members, volunteer, and staff.”
The meeting will run virtually from Dec. 4-10.
Earlier this month, USDF President Lisa Gorretta sent an email to members announcing that her organization’s meeting, which was supposed to be in Houston, will take place on line instead from Dec. 1-4.
She cited “current events and an unusual amount of feedback” after “registration open” was posted on the website. Lisa asked for the opinion of those involved in governance, noting “It was quickly obvious that USDF leadership needed to reevaluate our (until now, definite) meeting plans.”
Playing into the decision was concern about the pandemic and surging of the Delta variant in Houston, as well as the financial impact and worries over travel, in addition to “the ongoing uncertainty.”
As Lisa noted, “In what will be our second and hopefully last experience in this realm, a silver lining may be that many, many more members will have the opportunity to attend and participate in everything the convention has to offer.
“The overall convention agenda should remain relatively unchanged, with the exception of some time shifts to accommodate all time zones as much as possible, and we will still be able to offer the ever-elusive conflict free schedule! We will add virtual opportunities through Meet the Candidates to listen to, ask questions of, and be comfortable in electing the leadership of USDF.”
U..S. Eventing’s December annual meeting in Albuquerque is still on at this time, as is the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Naples, Fla., convention, set for early January.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 26, 2021
Trail users have an opportunity this month to enjoy themselves while supporting Horseshoe Bend Park in Kingwood Township.
On Oct. 30, the first annual Horseshoe Bend Boogie Endurance Ride and Ultramarathon will be held. There hasn’t been an endurance ride in central or northern New Jersey since the old Festival of Champions at the U.S. Equestrian Team in Gladstone.
This one-star ride is sanctioned by the American Endurance Ride Conference, the South Eastern Distance Ride Association, the U.S. Equestrian Federation and the FEI (international equestrian federation). Distances will be 50 and 65 miles, as well as a 12-mile introductory ride to include two veterinary exams (before the ride and at the end) similar to an endurance ride. Because it is such a short ride, anyone with a horse fit enough to do a hunter pace could experience what the sport is like (and get two vet exams for the $40 entry fee).
Pre-ride vetting will take place on the afternoon of Oct. 29. The competitions will start at various times early on Oct. 30.
Meg Sleeper, the organizer, said “The other really cool thing about this event is that we will have a concurrent ultramarathon (the only endurance ride that is still held in conjunction with an ultra is the Vermont 100).
The human runners will be using the same trails with various distance divisions (20, 40, 60 and 80 km, so the maximum distance is 50 miles). There are several places on the trail where anyone interested can watch. Riders may enter at the AERC website (AERC.org) and find the ride information on the calendar tab. The ultramarathon has its own facebook page. For information on either event, contact Meg at: megsleeper@icloud.com
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 24, 2021
If you want to immerse yourself in an equestrian learning experience, and shop at 200 trade fair vendors in the process, Equitana Oct. 1-3 at the Kentucky Horse Park is the place for you.
Specialists such as Olympic dressage medalist Laura Graves and progressive horsemanship trainer Colton Woods to Equine massage expert Katie Hawkins and equine body work teacher Jim Masterson are among an impressive line-up of experts passing along techniques and information. Educational sessions include Olympic eventing medalist Phillip Dutton showing how to introduce green horses to jumping; a look at a variety of breeds, among them Rocky Mountain horses and Akhal-Teke and getting a mental edge from trainer Lynn Palm. Among the demonstrations are mounted games, vaulting and a liberty freestyle routine.
These are just a small sampling of what will be going on at Equitana. For more information and tickets, click here
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 23, 2021
What does the future hold for trotters and pacers who can no longer race or be used for breeding? In an effort to solve the problem, the Cream Ridge-based Standardbred Retirement Foundation is introducing its newest program, the Companion Horse Adoption Assistance Program (CHAPS).
SRF is offering some financial assistance to new adopters of a pasture mate (aka: companion/buddy). These are Standardbreds that may not hold up physically to riding or driving, though they are otherwise healthy. They can do so much to enrich an adopter’s life, while offering a friendly buddy opportunity to another horse.
SRF has more than 225 healthy trotters and pacers of all ages under its care and expense from the ages of 4 to 25 looking for a buddy home. They are located across the country– from Kentucky in the east to Michigan in the north Florida in the south and almost everywhere in between.
The program includes reimbursement for required vaccinations and dental care up to $250 annually, and additional reimbursement up to $350 annually for other approved veterinary care. For more information, click here
Standardbreds, who come in a variety of sizes, are known for their wonderful temperament and excellent manners. SRF has more than 400 under its care and expense, all in need of homes. Most require a home for light use, or as a buddy or they would likely still be on the oval–which is why so many are in need.
SRF also has many of its horses in wonderful foster homes. For those who wish to foster, accountants can provide information on the tax advantages it can provide. For information click here.
SRF can be contacted at (609) 738-3255.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 23, 2021
It’s tack sale time again. Two organizations that offer therapeutic riding are having fundraisers this fall, so why not donate your used gear for the horse, rider or the barn?
Riding with HEART (Hunterdon Equine-Assisted Recreation and Therapy) in Pittstown has its sale at 639 Route 513 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 30 and from noon to 3 p.m. Oct. 31, when most items will be half-price.
You can donate from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and from noon-3 p.m. Saturdays. Before you make the trip to donate, call 908-735-5912 to let them know you’re coming. Pick-ups are available for big donations within a one-hour drive of the facility. To arrange that, email tacksale@ridingwithheart.org. All donations are tax deductible.
On Sunday, Nov. 7, Mane Stream at 83 Old Turnpike Road in Oldwick will hold its sale from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. In addition to new or used bridles, saddles, blankets and tack boxes, as well as outgrown boots, breeches, jackets, horse-related models and knick-knacks will be accepted. All donations may be dropped off or donors may call to schedule a pick-up. For more information, contact Jen at 908-439-9636 or jen@manestreamnj.org.
Mane Stream’s mission to improve the quality of life for individuals with physical, developmental, emotional, and medical challenges through a diverse program of equine assisted activities, therapy services, and educational initiatives.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 23, 2021
MARS EQUESTRIAN™ has stepped up to serve as presenting sponsor of the 2022 Badminton Horse Trials, the British event that is making a comeback May 4-8 after two pandemic-related cancellations in 2020 and 2021.
“I am delighted that MARS EQUESTRIAN will be a presenting sponsor at Badminton 2022 and we are really looking forward to welcoming everyone back next year.” commented the Duke of Beaufort, at whose estate the event is staged.
“Through this partnership, we hope to honor the equestrian legacy of MARS and engage spectators with our iconic brands as we work to achieve our vision of a better world for horses, pets, and their owners,” said William Clements, vice president of global sponsorships and sports marketing for Mars Inc. Mars Wrigley U.S. has its headquarters in Hackettstown and Newark, N.J.
He described it as “a family-owned business that has been creating products and services that people, and their four-legged family members, love for over 100 years. Horses are deeply rooted in Mars’ history, dating back to the 1930s.”
Jacqueline Mars, a member of the family, is well-known as a successful owner of event horses and supporter of eventing on a personal basis. The Virginia resident is an honorary life trustee of the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation.
Discussing the Badminton initiative, Clements said, “Through this partnership, we hope to honor the equestrian legacy of MARS and engage spectators with our iconic brands as we work to achieve our vision of a better world for horses, pets, and their owners. ”
Badminton Event Director Jane Tuckwell added, “MARS EQUESTRIAN Sponsorship increased commitment to Badminton is fantastic news for everyone involved. It’s very much all systems go and we are busy preparing to invite the exhibitors next month and will be opening the box office in January. We are all looking forward to a bumper Badminton 2022.”
