Jersey Fresh can run again in 2022 IF….

by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 24, 2021

Even though the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event won’t have its 4-star Long division starting in 2023, the Horse Park of New Jersey trustees “enthusiastically” have voted to stage the event in 2022–“so long as we can obtain the necessary sponsorship funding to run the show to the standard that we have set for ourselves,” board president Adam Furlong said today.

Over the weekend, it was learned that the event was not granted a CCI 4-star Long division by the U.S. Equestrian Federation for 2023 through 2027. There is, however, a possibility Jersey Fresh can run in 2023 without the 4 Star L if it gets the 4-star Short and 3-Star Long and Short, which will not be awarded until next month.

But it does have the 4-star Long and Short and 3-star Long and Short for 2022, just as it did this year, when it drew more than 160 entries, breaking its record set in 2019. The key to whether JFI 2022 happens will be what the sponsors want to do, knowing that it might not be held in 2023, or if it is, it would be a different event than in the past. Adam’s family business, B.W Furlong & Associates, is a longtime Jersey Fresh sponsor.

The iconic Jersey Fresh jump standards. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)

The decisions of the sponsors “ultimately will impact the size and scale of the event,” Adam said.

“We want to send Jersey Fresh off in the best light possible. In order to do that, we need to make sure we have the necessary revenue and income to run it the way we want, so when everyone leaves they’re like, `Wow, it’s really impressive what Jersey Fresh has done over the last several years and we can’t wait to see what they have in store for us in 2028’,” which would be the start of the next five-year cycle.

“Even if Jersey Fresh runs in 2023 absent the 4-star L, every year we try to raise the bar for ourselves as far as rider expectations and the quality of the event,” Adam said. He noted that Jersey Fresh for years has been a selection/observation trials for the Olympics, as it was this year, and also for the world championships. The championships are coming up next year in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, but it is too soon to know if Jersey Fresh will get the nod as a trial in 2022.

“The final list of selection trials will be confirmed once the selection procedures are published. As for when the selection procedures will be published, the FEI has not yet confirmed the qualification criteria for Pratoni, so we are currently playing a waiting game,” stated Jenni Autry, the USEF’s managing director for eventing.

Should Jersey Fresh get the nod to be a world championships selection trial, Adam noted, “if we have that as a selling point for the event for 2022, I would hope that would be considered a valuable commodity to sponsors.”

The cross-country at Jersey Fresh always draws tailgaters.

In 2023, even if it gets the 4-Star Short and the two 3-Star sections, Jersey Fresh would, not be able to run on its usual mid-May weekend because North Carolina’s Tryon International 4-Star L will be held then, drawing from the same pool of competitors as Jersey Fresh. Tryon is one of the six events that will host 4-Star Longs from 2023-2027.

“It’s going to be a complicated dance to try to figure out, can we do that with all the other events the Horse Park hosts in any given year?” said Adam in regard to finding a new date.

“We’re very fortunate our spring and early summer schedules are pretty jam-packed, so it would be kind of them (USEF) if they would give us a pretty early heads-up on when they’re going to tell us what their decision is.”

All of the venues that were awarded 4-Star Long divisions have state-of-the-art footing in their arenas, something the Horse Park lacks, though it is trying to raise money for that purpose.

Doug Payne, the highest-placing American in the eventing at the Tokyo Olympics, was a Jersey Fresh winner in 2019 with Starr Witness. A native of New Jersey who now lives in North Carolina,  he has ridden many times at the park and his family’s Applewood Farm is a regular sponsor of cross-country fences for Jersey Fresh.

Doug Payne and Starr Witness were winners at Jersey Fresh in 2019. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)

“I think they’ve made such a massive effort in recent years, working so hard to improve, that it’s definitely a hard pill to swallow,” he said about the park’s loss of the 4-Star L.

“The cross-country has made great strides to improve and the footing there, regardless of weather, generally is quite good. It’s unfortunate their rings are not quite top-tier quality at the moment,” he said.

“The Horse Park has done an admirable job trying to improve and make the most of everything they’ve got and you would like to see them back at some point.”

Adam said while the board is “disappointed” that USEF didn’t award Jersey Fresh the 4-star L for 2023-’27, “rather than getting too hung up on the negatives, the appropriate way forward is to use this as an opportunity to give us a couple of years to really pursue some of the necessary funding to underwrite the capital improvement expenses and investments that we’ve talked about for quite some time. Our hope and desire is that when the 2028 bid cycle opens up, we have established ourselves as a very well-suited venue to host an international-caliber event and will be very excited to hopefully get that event and that weekend back to the Horse Park of New Jersey.”

The park has a footing fund that paid for a partial overhaul of the grand prix ring in 2019, which cost just under $100,000. Eventually, the trustees want to overhaul all the rings, which would cost about $2 million.But the key project is to re-do the surfaces of the grand prix ring and its warm-up arena, which would require 2,200 tons of new footing and cost about $500,000.

“We want to add (synthetic) material to create a softer and more consistent feel…to get it to the standard that riders expect from us these days,” said Adam.

“While we are trying to meet the standards of one of a number of different types of competition we host at the park, we know these investments will be incredibly appreciated and valuable to all the other sports that utilize the park,” Adam said.

Those who want to help the park are encouraged to donate to the footing fund on the park’s website at.https://horseparkofnewjersey.com/hpnjfootingfund.

None of the events that got a 4-Star L for 2023-’27 are in the Northeast.

“Eventing has been migrating south for quit a long time,” said Doug, noting Area I (New England) was “the hub of it all” for quite a long time.

“We saw the writing on the wall and it was part of the motivation for us to move where we did,” he said.

He noted it’s important to have major events in order to encourage the growth of eventing in a region.

“Growing up, we had Pony Club camp at the USET (in Gladstone). Being around it and seeing it is without a doubt a motivating factor.

“If it’s not around you and you’re not aware of it, it’s hard not to start looking somewhere else, another discipline or another sport. It’s encouraging “If you have top-class sport in your backyard and see the best of the best competing frequently.”

Monmouth at the Team horse show adapts in a new location

by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 21, 2021

It’s been a crazy year in the equestrian world, as in every part of the globe, but Covid and the Olympics combined for an especially challenging situation on the competition front. Those who rose above it had to make a lot of compromises and be nimble enough to change direction as necessary.

No one knows that better than cousins Tucker Ericson and Michael Dowling, the owners of Monmouth at the Team, a show that was a big hit at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation in Gladstone starting in 2016, after it moved there from the Horse Park of New Jersey. Riders and their families enjoyed being at the iconic location in Somerset County for a fixture featuring hospitality at a competition that Tucker once described as “half horse show, half social event”

Then in 2020, it was cancelled, as so many shows were, because no spectators would have been allowed under pandemic restrictions. Aside from that, gathering people in a ringside tent didn’t seem like the best idea, even if it would have marked the competition’s 125th anniversary.

This year, the state’s oldest horse show was all set to return to Gladstone until it was determined that the U.S. Olympic eventing and dressage squads, as well as the Paralympic dressage team, would be doing their pre-export quarantine at the historic stables before flying to Tokyo. There also was a question about whether they would have to quarantine at Gladstone upon their return. The Foundation’s priorities involve international competition, so the quarantine plan obviously would have meant no one else could be on the premises. Left with a difficult decision, the Monmouth at the Team organizers decide to relocate rather than cancel two years in a row.

They chose to go to the Centenary University Equestrian Center in Long Valley, about 15 miles from Gladstone, where Michael is on the faculty and involved with coaching the intercollegiate team.

As it happened, the Olympic and Para horses didn’t quarantine in Gladstone because there was a problem with suitable flights from the U.S. to Japan, but that decision came long after there had to be a commitment for Monmouth in a new venue.

Although the show is not in Monmouth County (Long Valley is Morris County) and not at the Team, it has kept its name for its run that ended today. Manager Creigh Duncan and course designer Skip Bailey stayed on board and the hospitality side was bustling as a gathering place for families and friends, with plenty of food and sunflower arrangements atop the tables to keep it festive.

Hospitality played a big role for the show at Centenary as it did in Gladstone. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)

Entries in some divisions were down; Tucker wasn’t sure if that could be attributed to the change of venue or the fact that so many people spent much of the summer away on the big circuits, eager to get out and show extensively after more than a year with many restrictions, and were taking a break when they came home.

Many schools are also opening or getting ready to start, so that could be a factor, since the show was slated to end on Aug. 23, four days later than it did in 2019. However, in yet another twist of fate, it came to an early end when classes for Sunday and the final Monday had to be cancelled due to safety concerns because of impending Tropical Storm Henri.

The big question now is whether the show will go back to Gladstone next year or stay at Centenary. The drawback of Gladstone is that there is only one ring, so entries are limited. At Centenary, having an outdoor ring and an indoor stadium means more entries can be taken than at Gladstone without the threat of classes having to be postponed as darkness descended. It also meant post entries could be accepted.

“Everyone has different opinions, and we want to digest them all,” said Tucker, who has been surveying exhibitors about their venue preferences.

“Every facility has its pros and cons and we’ve always wanted to differentiate ourselves with something that stood out and was different for New Jersey and Zone II.”

He and Michael likely will “take a month to reflect and discuss and figure out what the next step is for the future. Every option is on the table.”

At the same time, Tucker said, “I bet if you took a vote of past and current exhibitors, it probably would be 50-50.”

I wondered if part of the show could be held in Gladstone with some select classes at Centenary, perhaps on the derby field that wasn’t being used after a big rainstorm last week.

“It’s fairly overwhelming getting one facility set up,” laughed Tucker, who is always hands-on working with Michael, dealing with anything that comes up.

Show owners Michael Dowling and Tucker Ericson pitch in wherever necessary. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)

“We run ourselves ragged just doing one facility. I can’t even imagine two.”

He noted, however, “that Centenary, just like the Team, has been extremely supportive.” The show is “an opportunity for the Team and Centenary to show what they’re all about and get people on their property.”

Looking at the big picture, Michael said, “It’s not the same as being at Gladstone, that’s so iconic, but we really do feel we’re giving exhibitors a really nice show and we’re getting awesome feedback.”

The National Professional Horsemen’s Association held its Medal Finals at the show for the first time.

“We are very excited to be a part of this horse show,” said PHA representative Lynne Peters. “It is truly fantastic, top notch, and first class.”

The finals was won by Kathryn Blount, whom Michael trains in conjunction with Michael Meyers. Her prize money of $1,500 was donated to Danny & Ron’s Rescue, which has saved so many dogs.

Those at the show were happy to share their opinions about its location.

Stephanie Desiderio, whose Desiderio Ltd. in nearby Chester has been part of the show since it began in Gladstone, is very positive about this year’s venue.

“I think they did a heck of a job bringing it up here. I know a lot of people were a little skeptical,” she said, but noted, “We’ve been here since Monday and it’s picked up every day.”

Stephanie sees the venue as horse-friendly and observed, “the footing is great, the jumps are great, the courses are great. If they keep this going the way it’s been going, either place is fine.”

Added Stephanie, whose son, Michael, won the $5,000 USHJA Hunter Derby last week on Deborah Bianco’s Cromwell, “I know everybody loves to ride at the Team, but it’s one ring and this is two rings.” She said that means barns can bring more horses, noting there wasn’t enough time to work horses in the ring during the mornings at the Team.

Centenary senior Madison Myro first rode at the USET Foundation two years ago.

“I absolutely loved it there. It was an amazing experience, the feeling it gives you, the history behind it,” she said. At the same time, Madison observed, since she goes to school at Centenary, “It’s really nice to be here and show.”

My favorite class of the show, the Nature Conservancy’s $10,000 Bobcat Derby, was well-filled and fun as usual. There were 29 starters in the 2-foot/ 2-6 division and 20 in the 3-foot section, with the prize money divided between the two.

It raises funds for Bobcat Alley, an area on the border of Sussex and Warren counties, where buying more land will enable the endangered bobcats to move safely between the New Jersey Highlands, the Kittatinny Ridge and the Appalachian Mountains.

“I think they’ve done a good job in making it feel welcoming and keeping the attention on the ring, like we need for the Bobcat Derby,” said Nature Conservancy Marketing Director Mary Conti, who said of the preservation effort, “it’s a long term project but we’re making good progress. We’ve protected about 1,500 acres over the last couple of years. We’re in it for the long haul.”

The cool thing about the derby is the must-have headbands sporting bobcat ears with their cute little tufts that riders put on their helmets. Wearing them meant an extra point on the score for each round. Riders who didn’t have a good enough score to advance from the first round to the handy round could take a quiz about bobcats, with the best effort (which included an essay) getting  a free ride into the handy for each section.

Kelley Norton came all the way from Massachusetts to compete in the 2-foot/2-6 division with the 19-year-old Urlala, who wound up as the winner for owner Terry Maloomian. Her scores were an 82 for the first round and an 83 for the handy round.

Kelley Norton and Urlala with Mary Conti of the Nature Conservancy (right), Kimberly Maloomian and Allyson Shogren (left). (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)

The Dutchbred mare specializes in derbies, so when Kelley saw that there was a Bobcat Derby in the prizelist, her reaction was “Got to do it.’’

“I’ve never won a derby before, so this was very exciting for me,” said Kelley, an amateur who works in her family’s funeral home business.

Eleanor Kunsman, a professional who runs Glen Eden Farm in Chester with her mother, Kathy, rode a “take no prisoners” round on Premium Blend in the handy for the 3-foot division. She took “quite a technical” direct line over the first three jumps in the handy round and didn’t stop coming until she had achieved a score of 90 for her trip. On top of that, she finished second on Bettina, a seven-year-old mare she owns with her mother. Since it was the mare’s first derby, Eleanor “took a little more of a conservative track”  with her.

Eleanor Kunsman with her bobcat ears on Premium Blend. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)

Premium Blend was second at Lake Placid and Princeton before he came to Eleanor’s barn. This was his first show with her, and he also earned a championship in the pre-children’s division with his owner, MacKenzie Teasdale.

“He’s very fun, very smart, very quiet, very brave,” Eleanor said.

She was also a winner in the jumper division, taking the welcome class with Callia Bergad’s Hilltop van het Gavershof, over Devin Ryan and his Ascalitta SBK Z. The winning horse wore a bobcat-spotted saddlepad that was one of the prizes Eleanor collected in the Derby. The same horse won the $2,500 Children’s/Amateur High Jumper Stake with his owner aboard.

Asked what she thought of the venue, Eleanor said, “It’s always so fun to ride at the Team, but Michael and Tucker did an amazing job transforming this facility and putting the same amount of effort in at the new location.”

The Tokyo Games haven’t ended yet for the USEF’s Will Connell

by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 17, 2021

The Olympic closing ceremonies didn’t wrap up the global athletic competition in Tokyo. Now the U.S. Equestrian Federation is focusing its attention on the Paralympics, which begin there Aug. 24 and run through Sept. 5.

But first, after scores of long days and four extremely strenuous weeks away as American Olympic riders trained in quarantine and then competed, USEF Director of Sport Will Connell was able to make a brief visit home to Gladstone.

His objective?  To “freshen up, get a haircut, see the dog, weed the garden and go back again.”

His plans for a short vacation in Japan before the Paralympics were scuttled due to that country’s strict Covid regulations for foreign visitors. So after putting a bit of temporary distance between himself and Tokyo’s Baji Koen Equestrian Park, Will had a chance to reflect on U.S. Olympic  equestrian efforts, which in the midst of difficult circumstances achieved team silvers in dressage and show jumping, along with a sixth-place finish for eventing.

“I’ve done a few Games and championships; I have to say it was kind of at the last minute we got this one done,” said Will, who was the British Equestrian Federation’s performance director prior to coming to the USEF in 2014.

He had only six weeks’ notice to change quarantine plans for the eventing and dressage teams when there was a problem with direct flights from the U.S. to Tokyo. Both wound up in Germany, as did the show jumping team, which moved to the Aachen showgrounds after the farm where it was to be based suffered massive flood damage.

And with “huge logistical challenges in the build-up,” it wouldn’t have gotten done “if it hadn’t been for the team at USEF,” Will emphasized.

“They were just outstanding, booking and rebooking flights, changing this and that. I’m not going to pretend it was easy or fun, to be honest.” But the process paid off.

Discussing the athletes, he said, “For jumping and dressage, they had to really dig deep to get the medals they got.” And, he added, “It was good to finish a team in eventing.”

Will called that a step forward from the 2016 Olympics (where Philip Dutton earned an individual bronze, but the team did not finish) and the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games, where the eventing squad was eighth of 18 teams.

“Eventing could have been better in the (stadium) jumping, probably (no team member was fault-free over two rounds), but they finished as a team, so that pointed in the right direction,” said Will.

“The team medals in dressage and (show) jumping were a real kind of demonstration of a team pulling together and pulling a medal out of what certainly could have been `not a medal’,” said Will.

The U.S. silver medal show jumping team: Laura Kraut, Jessie Springsteen and McLain Ward.

He praised the efforts of the disciplines’ managing directors.

“I can tell you categorically that if it hadn’t been for Lizzy (Chesson) in jumping or Hallye (Griffin) in dressage, they (the squads) wouldn’t have won the medals.

“They are as much part of it as the chefs (d’equipe),” he emphasized, while also citing the work done by the USEF eventing managing director, Jenni Autry, in keeping her team going.

Discussing the complexity involved in the day-to-day operation of an Olympic effort half a world away from home, intensified by the Covid situation, he noted about everyone’s contribution, “Without every spoke on the wheel, the wheel implodes.”

He mentioned that in dressage, with riders Adrienne Lyle, Sabine Schut-Kery and Steffen Peters not having the chance to compete in Europe before going to Tokyo, “We really thought we’d be fighting for bronze. Then to realize we could actually make a grab for silver was incredible.” And successful.

The U.S. dressage team of Adrienne Lyle, Steffen Peters and Sabine Schut-Kery.

The show jumpers, who were able to contest a series of Nations Cups in Europe during the spring, had to cope in Japan with a new and untried Olympic format, which Will called “very difficult.”

It involved having only three people on a team and no drop score, while the individual competition uncharacteristically was scheduled before the team effort. Kent Farrington, who rode only in the individual portion of the competition, played a role from the ground in the team endeavor.

“They all pulled together. Kent was a fantastic reserve, really helping out the team, really part of the team. He was brilliant, actually.”

Knowing that an individual medal was “a longshot” (and as it happened, no U.S. rider made it to the individual finals), the emphasis was on getting a team medal. And that’s just what the squad of Laura Kraut, Jessie Springsteen and McLain Ward did in a dramatic jump-off with the Swedes, whose horses dropped only two rails during the entire show jumping program.

“In jumping, the best team won; undoubtedly, the Swedish were the best team,” observed Will. But the U.S. was right behind them with only the difference of a few instants on the clock in the tie-breaker. He praised the expertise of course designer Santiago Varela, whose routes and fences highlighting Japanese culture were key to the way show jumping worked out.

One huge plus for equestrians was the quality of Baji Koen. The park had been used for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, but of course was marvelously updated for these Games, with climate-controlled stables, a galloping track, indoor arena and fabulous footing.

The arena at Baji Koen with jumps, minus spectators. (Photo courtesy FEI)

“The facility is fantastic, no doubt about it. It’s one of the best equestrian facilities we’ve seen in terms of what it will deliver in legacy,” said Will.

All the equestrian competitions were held at Baji Koen except the eventing cross-country, which ran at Sea Forest, a former landfill on the water about an hour away.

“Having to move to the cross-country (the night after the eventing dressage concluded) was challenging. The truth would be probably with no spectators the whole logistics of getting around Tokyo was a lot easier,” Will noted.

But the list of restrictions that included keeping the general public out of the stands at competitions meant all athletes and the staff from every country could not sightsee, or even eat at a restaurant. They were confined to hotels and the Athletes’ Village, permitted only to go to the venues where they trained and competed.

“It was difficult for everyone across all sports, being in that cocoon,” Will pointed out.

Of course, the most important thing was not to risk having Covid infiltrate the cocoon; athletes did not want to lose their chance to compete by testing positive for the virus, as happened with pole vault world champion Sam Kendricks, who missed his event as a result, and 28 others. More than 675,000 tests of accredited personnel were conducted, with a positivity rate of approximately 0.02 per cent. From July 1 through a week ago, 378 cases affected residents of Japan, while 170 involved non-residents.

The way the Games were planned for equestrian sport undoubtedly will be the subject of many, many meetings before Paris 2024. The FEI (international equestrian federation) has already said it will take a long look at how the competitions went and what revisions should be made.

Will in his office in Gladstone.

Will stated, “There has to be a discussion…about the format; the format for jumping, the scoring for the team dressage.” (The live scoring for dressage was in percentages, while the totals for the team scores were in points.) He also wondered about having a one-hour break before the final group of riders in team dressage.

“Is that a buzz kill if you’ve got a crowd?” Will mused

He added, “The format for jumping needs looking at. I’m not sure that no discard (score) works.”

He also questioned, “how many teams would not have completed in eventing if you didn’t have this weird rule that you could carry on if you’ve been eliminated (with a 200-point penalty added). It’s a bit weird when you see someone who hasn’t done dressage and cross-country do the show jumping and still have three down.”

The question many people are asking about the Tokyo Olympics is: Was it worth it? Remember, polls showed a majority of the Japanese people were against holding the Games, and there was muttering about cancelling them even days before they began.

“I think that’s something that will be discussed and debated for many months to come, if I’m honest. I can’t put my hand on my heart and say it was 100 percent worth it, but I can’t also put my hand on my heart and say it wasn’t worth it,” said Will, emphasizing that “the Japanese did a fantastic job with all the venues, and there’s a great legacy, so that’s good.

“I think people could be inspired by the way these riders dug deep to get those medals. People can be inspired by the ability of athletes to perform–and I’m talking cross-sports–(when) there’s no spectators, and all the other challenges and you’re locked down in your room.

“There are many inspirational things to take away from it. On the flip side, yes, we were putting on a global sporting event that cost a fortune in a city that had a rising number of Covid cases. And yes, there’s plenty of reason to question why that happened,” he said, although he added, “It’s probably not the time to really analyze it. I don’t think I can say it’s black and white a good thing, and black and white a bad thing. Maybe we look at it in a few months’ time.”