by Nancy Jaffer | May 19, 2021
Whether he was on the red carpet, running a horse show, pulling out all the stops to organize a party or helming his public relations firm, Mason Phelps Jr. was always a force to be reckoned with.
He knew everyone and had a knack of getting them to do what he wanted, usually for the greater good of the equestrian community. He was often controversial, but never dull.
Mason Phelps in the National Horse Show’s orange and black colors. (Photo © 2014 by Nancy Jaffer)
The multi-faceted Mason, who died in his sleep last night, will be missed from Newport to Palm Beach and on out to the West Coast, as well as Canada, where he spent quiet summers.
After a dinner with friends at his home in Wellington, Fla., Mason went to bed and didn’t wake up, succumbing to a heart attack. It’s probably the way he would have wanted to go, but it was just too soon; he was only 72.
Even so, the founder of Phelps Media Group and former National Horse Show chairman crammed plenty into his interesting life, from being an alternate on the U.S. Olympic eventing team in 1968, when he was Rider of the Year for the U.S. Combined Training Association, to running a hunter/jumper stable, founding the International Jumping Derby on his family’s farm in Newport R.I., serving in equestrian governance, leading the National Horse Show and being integral to starting the Equestrian Aid Foundation (formerly the Equestrian AIDS Foundation), a fundraising organization for equestrians in need.
Mason on Gladstone at Punchestown, Ireland, 1967. (Photo courtesy of Phelps Sports)
Most recently, he stepped up to head a new group, Athletes Equity Resource Center, that is raising funds for Athletes for Equity in Sport.
Kim Tudor had dinner with Mason earlier this month and recalled, “I’d never seen him happier or looking better.”
She met him through Gene Mische, head of Stadium Jumping Inc., who put Mason in charge of public relations when the National Horse Show moved to Florida in 2004. Mason had no p.r. experience, but he learned fast and started Phelps Media Group, which became a public relations giant in the industry.
“If it could be done and even if it couldn’t be done, he was going to try it,” said Kim, noting, “he just had the spark that lit up any event.” And those events often were over-the-top lavish.
His Denim and Diamonds fundraisers for the U.S. Equestrian Team were legendary. Who could forget the party where show jumpers Margie Goldstein-Engle and Leslie Howard rode in on elephants? And the entertainment, with such names as Donna Summer, The Village People and The Pointer Sisters?
Someone once told Kim, “Mason Phelps is the only person I know who could exceed an unlimited budget.”
Mason often organized parties to benefit the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
He definitely was a character, and a lot of fun, but never took himself too seriously.
“You could tell stories about him, but he could always tell them better,” observed Kim.
“Every room he was ever in, the spotlight was on him,” said Marty Bauman, head of the Classic Communications public relations agency and a close friend of Mason’s, who spoke to him just yesterday.
“He was a star, whatever he did, wherever he went. He packed a lot of living into his life.”
Gina Johnson, who knew Mason from her days working at Stadium Jumping, observed, “If you ever met anyone born to wear a tuxedo, that was Mason. He was so elegant and so funny and could be such a gentleman. Yes, he had very strong opinions and he was fearless in what he believed needed to be done.
“He was one of those once-in-a-lifetime personalities,” she remembered.
“He really did just light up the space he was in. It’s hard to believe he was mortal.”
Lenore Phillips, recently promoted to the presidency of PMG, is still in stunned disbelief at losing the company’s founder.
“It never occurred to me that there would be a situation when he wouldn’t be bugging me. I thought that was going to be a constant in my life and that I would be the one that went first,” she said with a sad chuckle, but noted the firm will continue without him.
Lenore, who had been a groom and a vet tech, always wanted to work for PMG, but through two interviews was told she didn’t have enough meaningful experience to qualify. Things changed in her third interview, when Mason marched into the room, interrupted and took over.
He talked to her for an hour and said “I think you’re the perfect fit for us, because you really know the industry and it seems like what you don’t know, you’ll figure out.”
She explained, “He gave me this huge chance and believed in me when other people didn’t. That’s just who he was. He loved people who loved our sport and there just isn’t going to be another person like him. There are so many people he propped up and pushed forward. That, I think, is the most important part of his legacy and that goes back to his generosity of spirit.”
Mason had more than one side; he definitely was multi-faceted.
“He was a judgmental person, and everyone who knows him knows how sharp he could be,” said Lenore.
“But at the same time, he was the first person to embrace you if you needed help.”
That help could take any form. When I met him at the Jumping Derby sometime in the 1980s, my rental car was stuck in the mud. Everyone had gone home, and I was alone–until Mason came along. He pitched right in and pushed my car out of the muck, this glamorous guy who had been hobnobbing with socialites at the fabulous Derby party the previous night.
When it came to those who had fallen on hard times and needed a financial boost, “he helped a lot of people, he gave a lot of money without a lot of recognition, and supported things related to the sport,” said Bill Weeks, chairman of the National Horse Show, who took over that position from Mason.
Bill is one of the many who have been impressed by Mason’s magic.
He remembered when Mason felt the National should move to Kentucky in 2011, he made a sponsorship pitch to Pearse Lyons, the head of Alltech, who had backed the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington.
Mason gave such a persuasive account of why Pearse should support the National that the executive ended up doubling the amount requested.
Mason got the National Horse Show moved to the Kentucky Horse Park. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
“I was almost in disbelief,” said Bill remembering how stunned he was. “It was like one of those pinch-me moments.” That was especially true because if Pearse had not come through, the future of the show would have been in doubt.
“Mason was always at his best when the chips were down and his back was against the wall,” Bill mused.
“Somehow, he’d always find a way forward. Mason was like the Pied Piper. He just had that enthusiasm and entrepreneurial spirit. He would get people motivated and they would follow.”
Mason dressed to suit every occasion; after all, you can’t always wear a tuxedo. Who can forget the figure he cut during his days at the National Horse Show, sporting its traditional colors in orange pants and a black jacket, or alternatively, black pants and an orange jacket. Remember him in white tie and tails? And then there was the time in 2005 that the good sport was Willy Wonka for a National Horse Show party.
Mason didn’t always wing it, and he took important matter seriously. He knew the industry and had deep insight into how it would have to evolve. For instance, in 2014, despite his deep roots in the past, he took note of the fact that the fall indoor shows needed to keep reinventing themselves.
“It’s a changing world,” he told me.
“Those of us with these events have to change with the times and not get stuck. Tradition is fine and I’m a believer in tradition. At the same time, you have to find a balance between tradition and what’s current.”
by Nancy Jaffer | May 14, 2021
The first KWPN (Dutch) approved stallion bred and foaled in America, Judgement ISF passed on last week, just shy of his 30th birthday. He is buried at his home, Iron Spring Farm in Pennsylvania.
He had a 10-year career as a grand prix jumper with Michael Matz and then Beezie Madden before retiring and focusing on breeding. Judgement was the only North American-bred horse to win the $1 million CN International at Spruce Meadows Masters in its 44-year history. He also claimed 25 additional international victories at the biggest venues in the world.
“Judgement ISF was an exceptional horse,” said his breeder and owner, Mary Alice Malone. “He gave us so many thrilling moments. Witnessing the magical connection between him and Beezie was the gift of a lifetime.”
Judgement with Beezie Madden up and showing in-hand (Photos courtesy of Iron Spring Farm)
Victorious in the 4-year-old Stallion class at Dressage at Devon in 1995, he was started under saddle by Melvin Dutton.
“When I saw him jumping in preparation for a keuring, I knew he had more talent than any horse I had ever seen,” Mary Alice recalled. After the keuring, Judgement ISF went to Michael Matz for further training.
Matz, a World Cup Finals champion and a world championships and Olympic team medalist, rode Judgement to win the 1995 International Jumper Futurity East Coast Finals. He went on to win $60,000 American Gold Cup in 1999. Shortly after the 2000 Olympic trials, Michael turned his focus to training racehorses and a new legendary partnership was born when Beezie, a world cup champion and Olympic multi-medalist, took over.
She and Judgement represented team USA in two FEI World Cup Finals, the World Equestrian Games and 10 Nations’ Cups. Judgement led the victory lap at the world’s best shows: the $60,000 Budweiser Grand Prix de Penn National, $100,000 Cosequin US Open Jumper Championship, $150,000 CSI3* Grand Prix of Charlotte, CSIO La Baulle, CSIO St. Gallen, The Irish Field Six Bar CSIO Dublin, the $175,000 Nexen Cup—twice, and the CN International.
“He loved to go to horse shows,” said Meghan deGaray, breeding manager at Iron Spring and one of Judgement’s biggest fans. “He was amazing to watch in the ring. He had so much power and presence.” Another hallmark of Judgement’s career was his versatility. He won some of the world’s biggest derbies, speed, six-bar and Grand Prix classes. In the $50,000 Animal Planet Sporthorse Cup at the Syracuse Invitational, he set the record at 6’3” in the three-phase competition.
His last victory came in 2009 at the $65,000 1.5m Esso Challenge at Spruce Meadows. The venue was his favorite and he was named National Champion there on four occasions. Judgement retired sound at the age of 18 after 10 years in the Grand Prix ring.
As a sire, Judgement ISF produced many notable horses. His son, Counselor, (formerly Artesian) was bred in the US and eventually sold to Europe. Counselor made 204 FEI starts, with 84 of those coming at the 3* level and above, with wins and top placings throughout. Judgement’s daughter, Worlds Judgement, was another international show jumper, representing Canada at numerous Nations’ Cups, with top placings at prestigious shows like Spruce Meadows.
Judgement was also the sire of top hunters, dressage and event horses. Zurich is a winning Intermediate I dressage horse who debuted at Grand Prix in 2020.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 12, 2021
The inaugural Maryland 5-Star three-day event at Fair Hill will be offering $300,000 in prize money, while the 3-star Long that runs on the same dates Oct. 14-17 will award $25,000, the Fair Hill Organizing Committee announced today.
The events will be staged at the new Fair Hill Special Event Zone in Cecil County, Md., where the U.S Eventing Association’s Young Event Horse East Coast Championship also will be presented.
Meanwhile, British Eventing has suggested that a one-off 5-star could be organized to fill the need for such an event in the wake of the cancellation of the country’s two 5-stars, Badminton and Burghley. There are a lot of questions about such an initiative, including raising the necessary funding, as well as getting the right horses there due to commitments to the Olympics and European championships.
The Maryland 5-star organizing committee anticipates it will offer information in the coming weeks related to retail vendor applications, tickets, sponsorships, volunteer opportunities, livestream and broadcast partners.
Organizing committee co-chairs Mike Gill and Michael Hankin said, “While we remain focused on monitoring health and safety protocols for our event, we are excited to see that the conditions continue to improve here in Maryland, and that events are beginning to open up. We are looking forward to producing an inaugural Maryland 5-Star that will provide a top-class experience for our competitors, as well as our spectators.”
The event will mark a new chapter for the State of Maryland’s equestrian tradition. The Maryland 5-Star is one of only two CCI5*-L events in the United States, and the seventh worldwide, although two in England already have been cancelled due to Covid.
“It is (a) great feeling having sporting events coming back in Maryland this year and welcoming spectators,” commented Terry Hasseltine, president of The Sport Corp.
“The Maryland 5-Star at Fair Hill will be one of the highlights during the fall, giving people something to look forward to, and something new to experience. We are excited to showcase the new Fair Hill Special Event Zone for the first time and produce an event that our state can be proud of.”
For additional information and news from the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, visit www.Maryland5Star.us or follow on social @maryland5star.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 10, 2021
Good news! Beginning May 17, the U.S. Equestrian Federation says anyone who is fully vaccinated is no longer required to wear a face covering outdoors at licensed competitions.
You have to read the fine print, though. Even vaccinated people have to stay six feet from anyone who is not in their immediate household when they are unmasked. The USEF decision is superseded by more restrictive rules from state or local governments, or individual shows. Meanwhile, everyone has to keep their mask on a when entering facilities that are fully or partially indoors. So don’t throw away your mask in joy quite yet..
Please click here to access the full amendments to the USEF COVID-19 Action Plan protocols.
As a statement from USEF President Tom O’Mara and CEO Bill Moroney said, “While we are all looking forward to the continued easing of restrictions on COVID-related protocols, we must also realize that the effects of the pandemic are not over and as cases increase and decrease, state and local modifications may occur.
“Overall, our community has done a great job of not only being one of the first organized sports to reopen, but has also successfully kept our sport open by complying with the USEF COVID-19 Action Plan. As we continue to ease restrictions, we must do so in a responsible and moderated manner. Personal responsibility continues to be a critical component of easing restrictions and ensuring we can continue to enjoy equestrian sport.”
by Nancy Jaffer | May 9, 2021
Just call him Champ.
Boyd Martin completed his sweep of the two U.S. spring eventing championships today at the Jersey Fresh International Horse Trials, where he came from behind in the 4-star Long on Luke 140 to win the division, taking the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation National Challenge Trophy for that level. At the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, where he finished fourth aboard On Cue as the highest-placed American two weeks ago, he claimed the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s national 5-star title.
Boyd Martin and Luke 140 over the Jersey Fresh International logo fence on their way to victory. {Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer}
Jersey Fresh, presented by B.W. Furlong and Associates, was the last of the U.S. Olympic observation and selection trials, so now selectors can get to work deciding on a team and alternates who will be announced at the end of this month or the beginning of June. It’s possible Luke,a 10-year-old Holsteiner, may have earned himself careful consideration with an impressive performance; the fact that he’s young could also be a help in the sweltering heat and humidity of a Tokyo summer.
“He’s fit and sound and I don’t think this has knocked him around at all,” said Boyd, who is sixth in the world eventing rankings.
Boyd blamed himself for not enabling Luke to have a better score than the 32.4 penalties he collected at the Horse Park of New Jersey.
On cross-country, where Boyd incurred 6.4 time penalties for finishing 16 seconds over the 10-minute optimum time, the 41-year-old rider conceded, “I could have pushed him a bit harder. I had a horse that was full of energy and wish I took more chances. I set up a little bit too much at a few of the fences.”
Boyd and Luke on cross-country. {Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer}
At the same time, he said, “I don’t think the run took anything out of him, and he just pranced out of his stall this morning like he hasn’t done anything.”
Luke, who was standing third coming into the final phase, had only 0.4 time penalties in show jumping, where Boyd noted he added an extra stride between the second and third fences. But the horse performed superbly.
“Something in his DNA just pings him up into the air,” Boyd observed.
“My job’s just to keep him relaxed and remember the way. and he pretty much jumps clean every time. He’s an awesome horse to have after a grueling cross-country.”
The Chris Barnard-designed show jumping course was “big and technical,” said Boyd, noting the degree of difficulty was increased with a tight time allowed and because “the ground’s a bit shifty.”
Double-clears in show jumping were achieved by only three of the 41 horses who started today, whittled from the original field of 55.
Brendan Furlong of presenting sponsor B.W. Furlong and Associates gives a giant check for $5,000 to Boyd Martin. He probably won’t be able to deposit that through the drive-thru window.
Going into that final segment, the division’s leader was Californian Tamie Smith. She won the dressage on Danito, with En Vogue second; then the horses switched places after cross-country.
Earlier in the day, Tamie won the 3-star Long with the interesting Argentine-bred Solaguayre California, and she looked to be a favorite for collecting another blue ribbon with one of her mounts in the 4-star Long.
But Danito had two rails down and 1.6 time penalties, putting him fourth on 41.5 penalties. Things went even worse for Tamie as the competition drew to a close, Last to go with En Vogue, she had three rails and 0.4 time penalties to finish third on 39.5 penalties.
Asked why En Vogue had her rails, Tamie said, “I think she tried her guts out yesterday and I think it’s hard when you’re not on super-great ground.”
On show jumping footing like the fluffy mix at the Kentucky Horse Park, she said, “They can really trust that the ground feels good when they’re landing.”
Tamie Smith and En Vogue. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
This afternoon, it was “a little stingy after they ran 10 minutes (on cross-country),” she pointed out, while adding En Vogue’s show jumping can be “hit or miss.”
The Horse Park has been trying to raise money for more modern footing, but in lieu of that at this point, the base has been redone and they had a footing expert on hand to make the grand prix ring’s surface as hospitable as possible.
Tamie kept things in perspective, noting she still was pleased with her finish.
“Five years ago, I would have been doing backflips to have two in the top five at a 4-Long; my expectations have just risen a little bit,” commented Tamie, who believes (and I think righrly so) that she is the only grandmother to have completed the 5-star course at the Kentucky 5-star. Her daughter, Kaylawna, presented her with a granddaughter, Kennedi, five months ago.
Second place in the 4-star L went to the horse who bested En Vogue in Kentucky’s 4-star Short, Oskar, ridden by Jersey Fresh regular Alyssa Phillips. His score was 38.5, including 4 penalties for a pole down.
Alyssa Phillips and 4-Star L runner-up Oskar. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
“He jumped phenomenal, and I couldn’t have asked him to be better,” said Alyssa, who hopes to try another 4-star L with him this fall.
“The cross-country course was more technical than it walked. He learned a lot after yesterday and he came out today and jumped really well.”
The weekend was a highly successful one for Jersey Fresh, which was cancelled last year because of the pandemic. (Click here to see coverage of cross-country at Jersey Fresh.)
When the U.S. Equestrian Federation eased its Covid protocols and decided to permit fans to attend shows, the event hopped right on it and got a great tailgating crowd for yesterday’s cross-country over a route designed by Morgan Rowsell, who had advice from the competition’s former course designer, Mark Phillips. Morgan also served as co-organizer with Jane Cory.
Adam Furlong, president of the Horse Park board, noted when he was asked for his thoughts on the success of the 2021 Jersey Fresh, “Last year was a really tough year for every person on earth, so you have to keep it in the context of thinking about that.”
Although the park had to be closed down for a couple of months in the spring of 2020, Adam noted, that after that, everyone was happy just “to be able to reopen the Horse Park last year and run events successfully, albeit with very restrictive protocols, It was a tighten-your-belt kind of year.
“This is a great sense of relief and seeing the other side of the finish line, returning back to normal,” he continued, citing how good it felt “having spectators here and the enthusiasm for it.
“Everything we do here is rider- and horse-focused, so to see so many (horse) trailers here is the ultimate stamp of approval from the riders. We’re very grateful for them coming back this year, and the sponsors coming back as well.’’ In addition to B.W Furlong and Associates they also include Zoetis and Boehringer Ingelheim.
The Horse Park will be hosting another event June 19-20, featuring Beginner Novice through Advanced.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 8, 2021
You might have thought the 4-star Long competition at the Jersey Fresh International Three Day Event could be a rematch between Tamie Smith on En Vogue and Alyssa Phillips with Oskar, who overtook Tamie’s lead from dressage and cross-country in the show jumping phase of the 4-star Short at last month’s Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event.
Tamie Smith and En Vogue lead the 4-star Long at Jersey Fresh. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
But after today’s cross-country at the Horse Park of New Jersey, it looked like Tamie vs. Tamie. Danito, who was first after dressage, had eight time penalties over Morgan Rowsell’s course, while En Vogue collected only 2.8 time penalties.
“I couldn’t have asked them to be better, they were really amazing,” said Tamie.
“Danito is a little green and I started off a bit slower and just gave him time to get into the rhythm of the course. I was able to kick it up a couple notches throughout. If I could have come out of the box straight away like that, he could have been really close to making the time.”
En Vogue has 27.1 penalties total, while his stablemate is on 31.9. And could Boyd Martin be any closer with Luke 140? That’s mathematically impossible, because his mark is 32.
Boyd Martin is a picture of determination on Luke 140. Look at his expression! (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
The division, which is an Olympic selection trial at the event presented by B.W. Furlong and Associates, drew an amazing 55 starters. It ends this afternoon with show jumping.
But don’t count out Phillip Dutton on Sea of Clouds who made a meteoric rise after dressage, where he was tied for 29th, when he finished 14 seconds under the optimum time of 10 minutes on cross-country. Now Phillip is tied with Karl Slezak on 33.6 in fourth place. Anyone watching Phillip could see he was really booking it. He was annoyed that a glitch in the start box for the Kentucky 5-star left him with 5.2 time penalties on Z, putting his eighth, so at Jersey he made sure nothing like that would happen again.
Phillip Dutton poured on the speed with Sea of Clouds to move up 25 places after cross-country at Jersey Fresh. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Tamie also leads the 3-star Long at Jersey with Solaguayre California (26.7) while Phillip is right behind her on Quasi Cool with 27.4.
The finals of that division will also play out tomorrow, but two sections wrapped up today. The 4-star Short went to Elisabeth Halliday Sharp and Cooley Moonshine, (32.8), a 9-year-old in his first 4-star season, with Boyd one penalty behind on Long Island T, who rerouted after a cross-country fall in the 5-star at Kentucky.
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Moonshine won the 4-star S. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
The 3-star Short went to Cosby Green on Buck Davidson’s former rider, Copper Beach (33.2).
Check back to this website tomorrow for details on the competitions that are doing their show jumping on Mother’s Day.
Spectators are welcome at the Horse Park, with tickets available at the gate. There was a great crowd today–how refreshing to see people enjoying the outdoors, tailgating and spending time with friends. Kentucky was not allowed to have fans attend under U.S. Equestrian Federation Covid protocols, and it left a big hole in the proceedings.
Local New Jersey favorite Holly Payne Caravella was fourth in the 4-star Short with CharmKing. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Morgan was understandably happy with the huge entry, especially since the competition was cancelled last year because of Covid.
“People trust us with their valuable horses and their horses that they potentially are trying to get ready for Tokyo,” said Morgan.
“You couldn’t ask for anything more. The footing is great and the rain didn’t come and everybody’s riding well and the frangible pins are keeping people out of trouble. We’ve got some vendors, a lot of parking spots are full, that’s what we like to see. It sets us up for next year.”
by Nancy Jaffer | May 7, 2021
September’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is being cancelled for the second year in a row due to the Covid situation, leaving Britain without a 5-star event over a two-year stretch during which both Burghley and Badminton in May have been cancelled twice.
“Despite the continued easing of lockdown measures, the nationwide vaccination program and the hope within the Government Roadmap for unlocking the country, there have been and remain too many variables and uncertainties due to the Covid-19 pandemic to deliver this much-loved international event,” said a statement from the organizers..
“We have, throughout the last six months, striven to find an event scenario which would allow our competitors, followers, exhibitors and contractors to enjoy this annual sporting highlight. However, the Event runs on a greenfield site; the lead time and strategic infrastructure planning all require significant investment and expenditure year on year. Staging the competition element is ongoing 365 days a year, from one year’s event to the next and the contractual cancellation procedures mean that even though restrictions are easing across the country, we have to make difficult decisions many months ahead of the event. The severe financial implications of a potential cancellation of an event of this scale and magnitude at a late stage, without available pandemic insurance, are too great to risk for all involved .”
This makes the new October Maryland 5-star event at Fair Hill even more important. When I spoke with Dickie Waygood, the British eventing high performance manager at Kentucky last month, he indicated riders based in his country would be interested in coming if they could get some financial “contribution.” This development should up the ante. Germany’s Luhmuhlen event and Pau in France (the only 5-star to run last year) to this point are available for the autumn unless the situation changes in Europe (always possible), but Maryland is a sure thing.
Miranda Rock, President of Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, commented: “It is with a very heavy heart that we have come to the extremely difficult decision to cancel The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials this year. The Horse Trials is an incredibly important part of what we do here at Burghley and is the highlight of the year for all those who live and work here.
“I am deeply sorry for everyone whose hopes have been dashed – from the equestrian world internationally to the pony clubs nationally, for the people of Stamford and our neighboring communities, as well as our wonderful suppliers, supporters, retailers, staff and visitors who will not be able to enjoy this glorious event in September. Next year marks our 60th Anniversary and, despite the challenges ahead, we will be focusing all our efforts on delivering a spectacular event in 2022.”
by Nancy Jaffer | May 6, 2021
One of the world’s greatest international horse shows, presented by the Royal Dublin Society, has been knocked out by the Covid situation for the second year in a row.
“The RDS has been monitoring the evolving situation regarding Covid-19, including the vaccination rates and the latest Government advice. In the current circumstances it has been decided that it will not be possible to operate a Dublin Horse Show this year,” said a statement from the RDS.
“Preparations for a typical Dublin Horse Show take many months of planning and organization, and this has not been possible this year with the levels of uncertainty that still exist around the re-opening of Irish society.”
It is both fiscal and sporting blow, since the show has been estimated to be worth 50 million Euros to the Irish economy.
The showgrounds will not be entirely dark, if the government approves a national show offered behind closed doors (without spectators) that has been proposed for the international’s five-day slot Aug. 18-22.
Entry to the event will be restricted to equestrian competitors for the day of their competition only,as the RDS “is mindful of acting responsibly during these times.”
The RDS statement continued: “Our desire to host the RDS National Championships, despite the exceptionally challenging circumstances, is motivated by our commitment to support the sport horse industry during this very difficult time. We would like to acknowledge and thank the ongoing support of our sponsors, who are crucial to the viability of the Dublin Horse Show, as well as the understanding of the equestrian community for whom the Show is a yearly highlight.
“We look forward to hosting the Dublin Horse Show in 2022 and welcoming tens of thousands of visitors back each day to a summer staple that people have known and loved for generations.”
The proposed schedule would feature;young horse in hand classes, ponies, amateur jumpers, children’s jumpers and classes for young jumpers up to 9 years old.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 3, 2021
Like so much else, the Hunterdon Polo Classic is returning this year. It will be held June 12 at Fieldview Farm, 342 Quakertown Road, Pittstown.
Because of Covid protocols, however, there will be no general admission, only tailgates. Those attending must be part of a tailgate and arrive in one vehicle per tailgate. Tailgates will be spaced out to ensure social distancing is possible. Adjoining tailgates may be requested if more than one tailgate is needed. There will be no tailgate or hat judging. Gates open at 12:30, with the match starting at 2 p.m.
The match will benefit local charities, including the Hunterdon Art Museum, the Toshiko Takaezu Studio Project, Riding with Heart, Team Velvet and Crossroads4Hope. For info, contact hunterdonevents@gmail.com or call (908)713-POLO (7656).
by Nancy Jaffer | May 3, 2021
There’s quite a lineup for the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event, which gets under way with dressage competition on Thursday, May 6 at the Horse Park of New Jersey in Allentown. (Diehards can attend the horse inspection on Wednesday for free.)
Boyd Martin, no stranger to the Horse Park, will be riding Luke 140 in the Jersey Fresh 4-star Long. (Photo © by Lawrence J. Nagy)
The final selection trial for the U.S. Olympic eventing team that will go to Tokyo has drawn 2016 Olympic individual medalist Phillip Dutton with Sea of Clouds and Pan American Games double gold medalist Boyd Martin with one of his top horses, Luke 140 for the featured 4-star Long.
It will also offer a rematch between the 1-2 finishers in the Land Rover Kentucky 4-star Short, Alyssa Phillips, who won with Oskar, and Tamie Smith with En Vogue, who dropped from the lead after two phases with a rail down and time penalties in the show jumping segment.
The U.S. Equestrian Federation is now allowing spectators at competitions it licesnes, so find out how to get tickets in advance or at the gate here.
Children under 12 years old will be admitted free of charge, as will 4-H and FFA members (with ID), Pony Club members (with pin), and military members and their dependents (with ID). Seniors 65 years and older will be admitted at a discount of $5 per person.
Unlike the case at the Land Rover Kentucky event last month, where Oliver Townend made his victory gallop past cardboard cutout photos of spectators, live fans will be allowed at Jersey Fresh. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Alyssa, who trains with Jennie Brannigan, is a regular at Jersey Fresh.This year, Alyssa noted, “With everything happening with Covid and all the closures, it fits perfectly with my schedule and he’s fit and ready, so Jersey is the perfect place for him to do his first 4-Long based on the terrain and the technicality that Jersey has to offer. I’m really excited; I’m really looking forward to it. He’s an awesome cross-country horse.”
Alyssa Phillips and Oskar winning the 4-star Short at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Mars Equestria. (Photo by RedBay Stock)
Other big names that will be running in the event, which also includes a 4-star Short and 3-star Long and Short include likely team candidates Liz Halliday-Sharp and local favorite Doug Payne, who grew up in Tewksbury. The 2004 individual Olympic gold medalist from Britain, Leslie Law, now one of the U.S. coaches, will be riding, along with fan favorites Sharon White and Buck Davidson. Doug’s sister, Holly Payne Caravella, is in the 4-star Short.
Dressage continues on Friday, with cross-country on Saturday, as well as show jumping for the 3-star and 4-star Short divisions. The 3 and 4-star Long divisions will show jump on Sunday.
