Judgement, a remarkable stallion, is gone

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.

A little personal Covid relief from USEF

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.”

Another one bites the dust; Burghley won’t be held

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.”

Brentina has left us UPDATED

by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 23, 2021

Brentina, synonymous with what became a new excellence in American dressage, has been euthanized at the age of 31. The Hanoverian mare by Brentano boosted the popularity of her discipline as she and rider Debbie McDonald showed the world that the U.S. had something very special to offer in a European-dominated sport.

A daughter of Brentano, Brentina was bought at a Hanoverian auction in Germany by Peggy and Parry Thomas. Debbie’s husband, Bob McDonald, advised them at the time, “This will be the best horse you’ll ever own.” He was right.

Brentina and Debbie McDonald were the best of friends. Photo © 2005 by Nancy Jaffer

“We had 14 wonderful years competing together through the levels, nine years of which were at Grand Prix.,” said Debbie, who brought the lovely chestnut along from first level. She started working with Steffen Peters, who would eventually be her teammate in the Olympics, and then trained for three months in Germany with Klaus Balkenhol, the German who served as U.S. coach.

The combination of Debbie and Brentina served notice to the world about the new power of American dressage just before the turn of the century, when they won double gold at the 1999 Pan American Games.  The duo went on to lead the silver medal team at the2002 FEI World Equestrian Games, just missing out on an individual medal, then played the same role for the U.S. squad at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, where the team took bronze. Debbie and Brentina became the first U.S. pair to win the FEI World Cup Finals, and were part of the bronze medal team at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games.

More than all those awards, their demeanor and harmony inspired many to try dressage, or to become a fan of the discipline that previously had fewer enthusiasts than show jumping and eventing in this country.

Brentina made her last competitive bow at the 2008 Olympics and had an emotional formal retirement ceremony the next year at the FEI World Cup Finals in Las Vegas. She spent the rest of her life at a California farm, where she enjoyed a  peaceful existence after having two foals through surrogates.

Debbie, now technical advisor for the U.S. dressage team, had deep love and gratitude for Brenina, the mare she called Mama. Together, Debbie and Brentina were celebrities who did so much for their sport.

“I had an amazing career with my horse of a lifetime,” Debbie recalled. “She was the one who put me on the map.”

Debbie also thanked many of those who played a role in Brentina’s life and success, from the Thomas family to groom Ruben Palomera, but she gave a special mention to Christi Sulzbach; her daughter, Kate, “and everyone at In the Irons Farm. They are the reason Mama lived such a long and happy life.

“They knew her inside and out and we all were under the agreement that she would tell us it is time. They had to make that awful call you never want to hear and they are the ones that stayed with her to the end. I can never repay what you gave her and also gave me. There was never a day I worried about her. That is rare for those of you that know mel I worry all the time! But never about her. A piece of my heart is gone but the memories will last a lifetime!”

Maybe fans can go back to horse shows next month

by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 7, 2021

Are you missing going to horse shows? Virtual may be useful, but it can’t match the thrill of being in the stands or on the rail to watch a competition. The U.S. Equestrian Federation has barred the general public from shows since last June due to Covid (shows were shuttered from March 20-May 31 when the pandemic broke out.)

But now there’s hope that you can watch your favorite athletes from across the ring rather than from across your living room. The USEF announced today it is “optimistic” it will be able to permit a limited number of spectators at USEF-licensed competitions by mid-May. The federation will offer more details in the next weeks “so that organizers and spectators have time to prepare in advance.”

A word of caution before you start making your travel plans: USEF warns that the only exceptions to its decision permitting fans “involve instances where state, county, or local government and health authorities or a particular competition organizer have more stringent requirements in place, in which case those more stringent requirements take precedence.”

Final observation for U.S. Olympic dressage team set for Florida, not Europe

by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 31, 2021

With an uncertain immediate future for horse sports in Europe in the wake of the EHV-1 outbreak and suspension of competition there, it has been decided that U.S. Olympic dressage team candidates will not be going abroad as usual for their final selection outing.

Instead, an observation of the short list riders will be held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington June 8-12, when it is believe the heat and humidity will be at a comparable level to what he team will encounter at the Games in Tokyo.

The event will be mandatory for the horse and rider pairings selected to the short list after the end of the qualifying period on April 25, according to the U.S. Equestrian Federation.

Steffen Peters leads the ranking of U.S. Olympic dressage team candidates with Suppenkasper. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)

“After much consideration, USEF, alongside program leaders and team selectors, have made the decision to continue team selection preparations in the U.S., as the window of opportunity to prepare effectively in Europe is very small and should anything change, it would be too late to formulate an alternative selection plan,” according to a federation statement.
“Given the competition opportunities made available to combinations over the past few months, it is has been determined that the team can prepare effectively in the U.S. by utilizing existing competitions and the final Observation Event.”

The horse inspection will take place on Tuesday, June 8, and combinations will compete in the FEI Grand Prix on Wednesday, June 9, with the group draw order determined by the FEI World Rankings List. The FEI Grand Prix Special Test to Music will be held on Friday, June 11.

The U.S. Dressage program intends to facilitate and support overseas travel to Europe for additional teams this year, including Young Rider, U-25, and senior teams, to continue building momentum towards the 2022 FEI World Championships in Herning, Denmark, the first team qualifying opportunity for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Confirmation of additional team events will be announced over the course of the next several weeks.

USHJA Town Hall examines key issues

by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 23, 2021

Several key topics came up last night at the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association’s Town Hall meeting on Zoom, one in a series of sessions that enables members and board members to share their thoughts. USHJA President Mary Knowlton (formerly Babick, who changed her name after her divorce), ran the meeting, which allowed for a good back-and-forth.Here’s an overview:

A questioner showing at A and AA hunter/jumper shows for 20 years stated “In our area, the shows are getting smaller and smaller, I think because the cost is too high” and said she would like the matter looked into. “I think this is something we have to continue to dig into,” said Mary. “As exhibitors, when we ask for more, when we’re getting more, it’s going to cost more. That money has got to come from someplace.” Meanwhile, Californian Marnye Langer is conducting a research program looking at the difference in costs for jumping and reining competitions at the same facility and trying to find out why one is so much less expensive. (Guess which one…) It is not USHJA’s business to tell show managers what to charge, Mary said, but added, “I do think as an industry we have to start looking at the cost of things and start trying to make things as affordable as we can. Otherwise, we are going to price ourselves right out of business. We’ll keep our eyes on that.”

• The new instructor credential program will get under way after the on-line portion is sorted out. Candidates eventually will be teaching live when Covid restrictions ease.
• There will be six regional hunter derbies this year; participants don’t have to qualify to enter.
• Outreach 2.0 has upgraded the entry level competitions, and it can be overlaid on existing shows.
• Feedback is being sought from competitors at Regional I and II (B and C) shows on what kind of finals they’d like and what would make regional shows more interesting (some parts of the country don’t have them.) There is some talk about combining regional and national-level shows. With Covid, some people don’t want to travel as much or as far as they once did, which could boost regional shows.
• The prospective three-way age split in the amateur-owner hunters is still under discussion after the rule change was withdrawn for further input, rather than tabled. “There is a disparity as you get a little bit older, it gets tougher,” said amateur task force chair Tracy Weinberg. Mary said some show managers felt a three-way split would diminish entries in the amateur division. Tracy would like to hold some amateur task force town halls to “really dissect this.” She noted 77 percent of those surveyed on the subject felt there is a need for change.
• Entries for the International Hunter Derby are down, as are USHJA member numbers, but the organization has “stayed really strong,” during Covid, according to Mary.
• A question about prohibiting the practice of pulling hunters’ shoes before under saddle classes was assigned by Mary to the Horse and Rider Advocate Committee. She wasn’t sure how something like that could be regulated.