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.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 1, 2021
Catherine Haddad-Staller wanted to salute the outstanding success of New Jersey dressage riders and trainers during the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Festival of Champions, so she borrowed a tradition from Europe for a celebration at her Califon home last night.
All the prizes won by competitors from the Garden State at Lamplight Equestrian Center in Illinois last week were displayed in the international competitor’s barn, with the colorful ribbons arrayed on twine above tables covered with trophies and championship coolers. It was quite an impressive sight.
Outside, there was a big bonfire and Catherine’s husband, Dr. Greg Staller, presided at the barbeque grills cooking sausage, pork tips and peppers for guests waiting at a row of picnic tables. It was a time to relax after a week of very hard work.
Catherine Haddad-Staller and her husband, Dr. Greg Staller, by the bonfire during the party at their farm. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Catherine felt it was important to have a party for those who had done so well.
“It reminds me of when I lived in Germany, because any time we went to a horse show, there would be 10 or 12 riders right from the town I lived in who would be successful.”
Prizes were displayed and food and drink was abundant for the achievers.
“But this time, we went to the national championships, there were seven or eight riders from this county that brought home all of that swag. It’s incredible.
“I think Hunterdon County is a really strong county for equestrian sports, and in particular, dressage. We had so many people there. This area close to Gladstone (the home of the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation in neighboring Somerset County) is rider-rich. So it’s kind of exciting.”
The lion’s share of the booty belonged to Alice Tarjan of Oldwick, like Califon, a part of Tewksbury Township. Alice took nine horses to Illinois and had five helpers to take care of them.
Would she want to transport three-quarters of her barn like that again?
“I don’t know if we ever try to top that and just say we did it and we’re done,” Alice revealed with a smile.
She won two championships and two reserve championships herself, along with several high ribbons in other divisions while her trainer, Marcus Orlob of Annandale, won the five-year-old title on her stallion, Glory Day, earning several scores of 10.
Marcus, who rode another of Alice’s horse’s, Maximus, to sixth place in the four-year-old competition at the show as well, was concerned about the atmosphere affecting the two stallions.
“I was just hoping they’d behave, because there were obviously much more horses than at our local shows in New Jersey,” he noted.
Marcus Orlob, Jaime Dancer, Kim Herslow, Bridget Hay, Hope Beerling, Alice Tarjan, Krystian Evans and Cesar Parra all rode at the championships. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
But it worked well, because the horses “get a little more pumped and you have a little more power in the ring,” which was helpful during an extremely hot and humid week.
Even while her achievements accumulated during the show, Alice wasn’t focusing on them.
“I was just so busy all week, you don’t really have time to process it, you just ride, ride, ride and concentrate on riding the next test and try to give every horse the ride they deserve.”
Her conclusion about the show? It was a typically modest Alice observation: “I have a lot to go home and work on.”
She doesn’t operate on expectations, explaining, “We just train the horses and put them in the ring and see how it shakes out. The scores are going to dictate what we do or don’t do. If the horses are happy and sound, then that’s good enough for me.”
As she pointed out, “It’s a little surreal when you see the names on the trophies. All those people were on teams. I don’t think I really quite belong there.”
She is still getting used to the idea that she is going to the world’s greatest dressage show, Aachen, this month to ride her Grand Prix champion, Candescent, in the 4-star at that venue.
Here’s the same group clowning around, with Alice Tarjan as the centerpiece. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
“We definitely don’t belong there either,” Alice feels (that’s the modesty coming through again), but she took the advice of Marcus and U.S. Dressage Development Coach Charlotte Bredahl about making the trip.
“I guess we’ll just go for the experience. The horse has two CDIs on her and we’re going to Aachen, I don’t know if that’s what you’re supposed to do,” mused Alice, who has never even been to a European show to watch.
While dealing with her string at the championships was a tall order, she noted, “I had five girls working everything back at the barn and all I had to do was ride horses. They took care of almost every aspect. Without them, I don’t think it would have been possible. When people see me in the ring it’s just like the tip of the iceberg.”
Beneath the surface were Desi Altland, who works for Alice full time; Kimberly Kotch, who used to work for Alice and took a week off from her job to lend a hand; Kimmy Pullen, who was competing at the championships, and Allison Nemeth, who worked for her last summer. Alice’s husband, Dennis Sargenti, played a big role as well. He toted all the saddlepads, polo wraps and towels from everyone in their barn aisle to a laundromat he discovered in nearby Elgin Ill, where he made good use of the 50-pound washing machines.
“I bring so much laundry the guy gives me the dryers for free,” Dennis revealed.
The helpers also included Lauren Chumley of Pittstown, Alice’s best friend, who was showing her pony Nikolas, in the Developing Grand Prix and missed Catherine’s party because she’s riding in the American Eventing Championships in Kentucky this week.
Alice and Lauren are pals with Bridget Hay of East Amwell, who took ribbons with her homebreds at the Illinois show, and Kim Herslow of Stockton, who competed in the Intermediaire I championship with the Lusitano Elvis. Guess what kind of music she used for her sixth-place freestyle?
Another New Jersey champion was Katryna Evans, taking the four-year-old title with Fontenay, from the stable of Cesar Parra in Readington, while Alice was reserve with Ierland’s Eden in that division.
Katryna, who grew up in Colorado and trained in Germany, admitted to being a bit skeptical when she was invited to work in New Jersey.
“I didn’t know what Jersey was like, I’d never been here. I didn’t know what to expect,” she said.
As it happened, though, “It was the best thing I could have done. We got to compete around here and there are so many (dressage) people in this area.” She said Catherine’s farm and places like it “remind me a lot of Germany.”
Katryna also was third with Møllegårdens Fashion in the five-year-old category. Cesar, meanwhile, finished fifth in the six-year-old division with Fanta 4.
“Everybody learns when you go to that show,” Cesar said.
“The competition at Lamplight was awesome.”
Of Fontenay, he said, “We believe in him a lot and he keeps giving (to) us.”
While Catherine feted the entire group of ribbon winners, she also deserved personal acknowledgement as the breeder and trainer of Vianne, ridden by her assistant trainer, Hope Beerling, to the reserve title in the Markel/USEF Young Horse Championship for five-year-olds.
Hope Beerling and Catherine Haddad-Stallers with the “Congratulations Jersey Strong” cake. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Catherine, a decorated breeder in Germany, sold Vianne to a client last week, but will keep her in her program, with Hope doing the riding.
“We have very high hopes for the horse. She’s only five, so we have to wait and see what time brings,” said Catherine.
The only non-Hunterdon County Jerseyan in the mix was Jaime Dancer of Dancer Dressage in Millstone, Monmouth County, who brought along her 11th place ribbon from the Markel/USEF Developing Horse Championship (Prix St. Georges) with Supremont “the love of my life,” owned by E.G. Sporthorse.
Jaime noted the championships were “really competitive. I feel like in the last five years, we have stepped up our game as a country. I learned a lot; it was great.”
To read about the championships, go to this link for the On the Rail section of this website.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 30, 2021
Roxie Trunnell, who won gold in Friday’s individual Grade I test, did it again today after achieving a record-breaking score. Ranked as world number one, topped her category of the freestyle at Baji Koen Equestrian Park with Karen Flint and Flintwoode Farm’s spectacular Dolton as the Paralympics ended its run in Tokyo.
She now matches the mark of U.S. para pioneer Vicki Garner-Sweigert, who took two golds in 1996, the first time the Paralympics were held in conjunction with the Olympics.Roxie’s score of 86.927 was a world record.
Roxie Trunnell gives Dolton a pat for a job well done. (Taylor Pence for USEF)
“He was really with the music and marching today like we really wanted,” said Roxie of her horse’s performance to the theme from the movie “Forrest Gump.”
“All of the little points were really there..He really loves his freestyle,” added Roxie, who is coached by Andrea Woodard. Asked about a highlight, she noted that.in the stretchdown, “he was really stretching.”
This was a different path to fulfillment of a dream she once held as an able-bodied rider, when she had earned a U.S. Dressage Federation bronze medal, was eyeing a silver and thinking about the Olympics. Then in 2009, a virus led to a stroke, and she found herself in a wheelchair.
Undaunted, she pursued the Para path. In 2016, she was 10th individually at the Paralympics, and then won bronze in 2018 at the FEI World Equestrian Games. Grade IV rider Kate Shoemaker originally had the ride on Dolton, but gave it up after realizing that, as coach Michel Assouline pointed out, Dolton’s great walk would make him a star in Grade I with Roxie. (Riders are graded on their degree of impairment, and the tests they ride are designed accordingly.)
A native of Washington State, Roxie moved to Florida so she could pursue her goals with Dolton.
“That was the right choice,” she said.
Kate, an equine veterinarian, continued on her road with Solitaer and today finished achingly close to the podium with a fourth place in Grade IV. Her score was 74.910, just short of bronze medal winner Manon Claeys 75.680 as the Belgian rider claimed the bronze.
It’s been an incredible Paralympics for the U.S., taking its first team medal (the bronze) and two individual golds. While Britain kept on the unbeaten streak it has enjoyed since 1996, the U.S. is on its way and could eye an upset in Paris 2024.
The other U.S. rider competing today, Beatrice de Lavallette, was 10th in that division on Clarc with a score of 72.194.
Britain’s star, Sir Lee Person, claimed his 14th Para gold in Grade II with a score of 82.447 percent on the very sensitive Breezer, who he has had since the horse was foaled.
“I’m twice over the moon – I actually didn’t care if I won a medal, that horse gave me his heart in there,” said Lee.
“He was braver than the team test, braver even than the individual test a few days ago. He still was nervous in there and we had a tiny little spook before I entered and I just half halted to say, ‘Daddy’s here’ and just kind of said, ‘Come on, we can do this’. Then, halfway through the test, I nearly started enjoying it and then I remembered I needed to get to the end before I enjoy it – he was amazing.”
Between the Olympics–where they were the only country to medal in all three disciplines–and the Paralympics, the Brits left Japan with 13 medals. The U.S. was no slouch, however, taking two silvers at the Olympics and two golds and a bronze in the Paralympics.
