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- The prospective three-way age split in the amateur-owner hunters is still under discussion after the rule change was withdrawn for further input, rather than tabled.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.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 22, 2021
At tonight’s U.S. Hunter Jumper Association Town Hall meeting, the question of when the public will be allowed to return to U.S. Equestrian Federation horse shows was asked several times–most notably by Hampton Classic Executive Director Shanette Barth Cohen–but no one had the answer.
Happily, I do; at least to a certain extent. The fan ban was enacted when shows resumed June 1, 2020 following a no-show hiatus to sort things out after the Covid pandemic hit. The idea was to enable competition to proceed while keeping everyone safe, despite the virus.
But now it’s been nearly 10 months with empty bleachers across the country. I happened to be talking this afternoon with USEF CEO Bill Moroney, and asked him when USEF-licensed competitions can once again be open to the public.
“We’ve been working on what the protocol will look like,” he said.
“I’m not sure yet of exactly when we’ll be able to do it. I can say pretty comfortably it won’t just be an open floodgate…that it will be limited in the number of spectators. We will have a methodical, graduated approach to getting back to what I’ll call pre-Covid normalcy of spectators and fans and public coming to competitions.
“But it’s going to take some time and we’re not quite ready to pull the trigger to say we’re ready to start. But we’re preparing for that day so that we’re not behind the eight-ball when it comes.”
Remember when crowds were allowed to fill the stands at the Hampton Classic and other U.S. Equestrian Federation shows across the country? (Photo © 2018 by Nancy Jaffer)
I asked him if it might happen during the spring, which runs until June 20 and the beginning of summer.
“I’m hopeful by that point that we’re seeing some level of spectators back by the end of spring,” he commented.
“Our environment is out in the open, it’s not like you’re in a stadium where you can say one person every six feet or something like that. It’s a lot harder to manage. It’s nice to hear that people on the management side are doing everything they can to enforce it (the protocol) and on the exhibitor side, people are actually saying,`This is how we are going to keep our sport open.’ ”
By the way, I asked Bill last September when he thought the whole Covid thing would have “pretty much released its grip on us.” He told me then December 2021, and I hoped he was wrong. But probably not….
“Our country is doing really well compared to a lot of countries…in the vaccine department,” he said.
“We’re getting a lot of people vaccinated. On the one hand, we’re ahead of the game, but on the other hand, I have concerns over the fact that so many people are getting vaccinated that people will forget to keep being vigilant. Just because they’ve been vaccinated they haven’t proven yet you can’t carry it to someone else. There’s rightful concern that even though you have been vaccinated, you still wear a mask and still socially distance, so we can get more people vaccinated.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 20, 2021
We wrote on March 10 that it looked as if only residents of Japan would be allowed to attend the Games in person, and that is indeed the case.
It was confirmed today that foreign spectators have been banned from the Games because of Covid fears. A majority of the Japanese residents polled recently said they thought the Games should be cancelled or postponed due to the pandemic. But the International Olympic Committee has said there is no Plan B and that the Games will go ahead. However, compromises have had to be made, and this is just one of them.
As IOC President Thomas Bach said in explaining he organizers’ position, “Every decision has to respect the principle of safety first. I know that our Japanese partners and friends did not reach this conclusion lightly.
“Together with them, the IOC’s top priority was, is and remains to organize safe Olympic and Paralympic Games for everyone: all the participants and, of course, our gracious hosts, the Japanese people.
“We stand shoulder-to-shoulder at the side of our Japanese partners and friends, without any kind of reservation, to make the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games a great success.
“Together with our Rights-Holding Broadcasters, we will make every effort so that the fans from around the world will be able to experience the Olympic spirit.
“In this way, the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be the light at the end of the tunnel and a safe manifestation of peace, solidarity and the resilience of humankind in overcoming the pandemic.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 18, 2021
As thoughts turn to this summer’s Olympics, the names most familiar to the general public for U.S. team candidates are Adrienne Lyle with Salvino, who earned 80.170 percent in the Grand Prix Special a year ago (we’re waiting to see her ride the stallion in competition again this spring) and Suppenkasper, guided to 19 straight victories by Steffen Peters, Adrienne’s 2018 World Championships silver medal teammate.
But Sanceo and Sabine Schut-Kery have a winning streak of their own, taking their fourth competition in a row today (March 20) at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival with a victory in the Grand Prix Special, marked at 75.660. It follows a personal best 75.022 for the Grand Prix for Special on Wednesday at the show in Wellington, Fla.
The Special is key for selection of a squad because it will determine the team medals at the delayed Tokyo Olympics, where the U.S. is going to face challenges not only from the Germans and British, but also the Dutch and the Danes.
Sanceo and Sabine, who were on the 2015 gold medal Pan American Games squad in Small Tour, could play a big role on the three-member team in Japan if they are chosen.
“I’ve watched Sabine for a long time, especially moving up the levels with this horse,” said Debbie McDonald, the U.S. dressage team technical advisor.
“She’s such an amazing rider and really has such beautiful harmony with the horse. It’s breathtaking to watch. Top quality. It just makes things look a little bit brighter for team USA. She’s just growing, I think she’s an easy 80 percent.”
Sanceo in action. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
The rankings before the Special compiled from Sept. 5, 2020, were led with a single score of 77.319 for Don John, ridden by Nick Wagman, who has never been on an international championship team. That mark came from a show in Wellington March 6; today was his second score.
Don John, who was marked at 73.196 while finishing second in the Wednesday Grand Prix and 73.340 for being second in the Special this afternoon, originally was followed in the overall standings by Suppenkasper with 76.745 and Sanceo with 75.936.
That number will be officially updated in the wake of Sabine’s Special victory, but according to some informal math, the results of the class mean Steffen’s score for the average of two Specials has moved him up to first, Sabine is now second with 76.564 and Nick third with 75.329, as his score today lowered his average.
I was not a math major, so all that must be verified by the U.S. Equestrian Federation, of course..And don’t forget that Adrienne will doubtless figure into the equation when she starts showing Salvino again.
Asked about how she views her prospects for the Olympics, Sabine said, “I think it is possible, but with things like that, I go one day at a time and try not to worry or be concerned.
“I really would love for it to happen. It’s an amazing opportunity that you work towards not just a year or two years prior. It’s a long road where you strive to take the time to train your horse as correctly as possible and that results in maybe making it on a team or not.”
It’s difficult to count on a team berth in any year, and this time so much more than usual is uncertain because of Covid and now the EHV-1(Herpes) outbreak, which has cancelled shows across Europe until April 11. As a result, there has been a delay in announcing the details of what the observation events will be for American team candidates. Normally, eight riders would be doing a European tour as preparation for selection, and the U.S. Equestrian Federation does have hotel reservations abroad in place for them.
Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo enjoy a victory lap. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer
But these are not normal times. As Hallye Griffin, the USEF’s managing director of dressage noted, “The aim is still Europe, but we’ve got to have other plans in place to make sure we can easily and quickly shift to not going to Europe if we need to. We’re in touch with show organizers both in the U.S. and Europe with what’s happening with different events.”
While there is one more international show in Wellington, one in April at the new World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Fla., and two others later that month at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in North Carolina and in Sacramento, Calif.,the question is what to do after the qualifying period ends April 25 to keep the horses on target.
“There’s nothing on the FEI calendar (in the U.S.) between May and September, so if we were to stay here (in the U.S.), we’d have to create events,” said Hallye.
“That’s definitely on our radar and kind of behind the door working on what we can have ready to go if we do need to go that route. There are a lot of things up in the air, that’s for sure. Things change every single day.”
Whatever happens, Sabine has great confidence in Sanceo, noting “his biggest strength is his work ethic, and obviously his talent. He can really sit.”
In line with that, his highlights, she notes, are the piaffe and passage.
“That’s really nice.” she said, but it doesn’t mean much “if you don’t have the willingness and the partnership. That’s what still until to this day blows me away, is that he’s with me and we know each other. He’s a good soul.”
Sabine is very hands-on with the 15-year-old Hanoverian stallion, a son of San Remo who is owned by Alice Womble.
“I still to this day do a lot of the grooming myself,” she said.
Knowing him so well, she is very conscious of what he needs in his program.
“I’m always very careful of giving down time,” she said. Other elements of her plan with him are “cross-training and making sure the fundamentals of the training are always refreshed and up to date.”
The first time I remember seeing Sabine, it was under very different circumstances than the sedate scene at Global. She was in the spotlight in front of a packed house at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas during the opening ceremonies of the 2007 FEI World Cup Finals, carrying the American flag into the arena aboard a gray horse who glowed in the spotlight..
Sabine Schut-Kery was part of the glitz at the 2007 FEI World Cup Finals in Las Vegas, where she carried the American flag on a stunning horse. (Photo © 2007 by Nancy Jaffer)
Talk about versatile! She has something of a show business background as does her husband, Kristian Kery, a stuntman who is also a movie director.and helped put together the music for her freestyle. A native of Germany, Sabine trained with Jan Bemelmens there. She came to the U.S. in 1998 to work with Friesians, often doing memorable exhibitions at shows and other events.She did exhibitions for so long, she said, that for awhile she didn’t even think about competing, but once she got involved with that, she did well, getting her U.S. Dressage Federation gold medal riding Friesians..
In 2017, she was awarded the Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Training Grant, enabling her to go to Europe with Sanceo for competition and training with Jan Nivelle of Belgium for two months.
Throughout her career, the priority has been doing things properly with her horses.
“Even when I did my demonstrations” she noted, “I always was very tough on myself and wanting to do it correctly. I want to learn and get better. That’s what I get pleasure out of.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 16, 2021
Tremaine Cooper died last weekend in an accident while working outdoors near his home in Bluemont, Va., the U.S. Eventing Association announced. He was 52.
An eventer, course designer and builder, his thoughtful approach resulted in tremendous advancements for the sport of eventing in all areas, but especially in the safety and design of cross-country courses.
“Tremaine will be missed by so many, myself included,” stated U.S. Eventing Association CEO Rob Burk
.
“I consider him a friend and advisor in so many ways. The last time he called was to remind me of a safety proposal he had made to improve our sport. I’m going to sincerely miss his visits to our office and just being able to reach out to him for guidance. I’m devastated for his family and all of his connections.”
Tremaine Cooper. (Photo from his Facebook page)
Tremaine grew up on a Connecticut farm and started riding when he was five.. A graduate ‘A’ Pony Clubber, he started eventing in 1984, competing through the Advanced level. At an early age, Tremaine began helping out with the cross-country courses at the Pony Club rallies at his parents’ farm.
At the end of high school and through Colby College, where he got a geology degree, he started building seriously and ended up constructing courses throughout the U.S. as well as in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Tremaine then focused more on course design, earning his FEI ‘I’ license more than 15 years ago. He designed at some of the country’s premier venues, including Morven Park, Millbrook, The Fork, Aspen Farms, Poplar Place, the USEA American Eventing Championships, and many others.
Tremaine, who had trained with Bruce Davidson, was one of the USEF national course advisors. He was involved in the educational design seminars for both the USEF and the FEI, and was co-chair of the building/design committee. Tremaine also sat on the USEA Board of Governors. In 2006, he was awarded the Neil Ayer Course Designers’ Award for his service to the sport as a cross-country course designer. Most recently Tremaine worked with the USEA staff to establish the frangible distribution program through the USEA headquarters.
Tremaine’s family is establishing a fund in his memory. Donations may be sent to the USEA Foundation, 525 Old Waterford Road NW, Leesburg, VA 20176 or by visiting www.useafoundation.org/donate and by using the drop-down menu titled “Use my donations to support:” indicate that the donation is “In Honor of Tremaine Cooper.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 15, 2021
Equestrian Sport Productions announced today that a horse who spiked a temperature at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival grounds has tested negative for Equine Herpes Virus-1. The horse and its barn mate were isolated.
Anyone shipping horses into the Palm Beach International Equestrian Festival and Global’s Equestrian Village facilities will be required to sign a declaration stating that the horses entering the facility have not competed at Florida venues outside Wellington or been in close contact with horses that competed in other Florida venues outside Wellington within 10 days prior to their arrival.
Meanwhile, elsewhere on the EHV-1 front, a three-year-old filly who tested positive was euthanized at a training facility near Versailles, Ky., where 24 horses in the same barn as the affected mare were tested. Five of the nine horses in the isolation barn were positive, with the last fever reported on March 12. Enhanced biosecurity measures have been implemented at other sanctioned training facilities in Kentucky and at Turfway Park.
A 14-day quarantine was initiated at the University of Tennessee Veterinary Teaching Hospital for the main equine barn facility and for horses in the isolation unit. One horse has been confirmed with EH Respiratory. In a Shelby County, Tenn., boarding facility, 100 horses were exposed, but only one horse was confirmed as EHV-4 and it is alive.EHV-4 can occasionally cause abortions in unvaccinated mares.
In Utah, a horse with EHV-1 was euthanized after becoming sick after being at the Weber County Complex, where events have been cancelled for the next two weeks. While two more horses previously at the Weber County Complex have fevers, are being tested for EHV-1 and quarantined, it is estimated that 100 horses were exposed.
Two EHM (myeloencephalopathy) and 2 EHV-1 cases were quarantined and isolated at a stable in Brewster, N.Y., after one of the EHM horses competed in equitation on March 5 at Old Salem Farm in nearby North Salem. It started showing symptoms on March 7.The stable has already implemented strict biosecurity measures, temperature monitoring and has been very cooperative during this investigation and situation. The origin of the disease is unknown and still under investigation. Old Salem Farm has no known cases of EHV-1 or EHM at this time. Show management is cleaning and disinfecting the facility and following appropriate EHV-1 biosecurity protocols.
Earlier this month, EHV-1 struck in California. A 12-year-old warmblood gelding in Los Angeles County displaying neurological signs was confirmed positive last Tuesday. Following an assessment of the facility where the gelding lives, 45 potentially exposed horses have been quarantined with enhanced biosecurity measures and twice-daily temperature monitoring. The owners of all exposed horses have been notified and no additional cases have been identified..
There also are seven horses under special quarantine at a boarding facility for show horses in Chester, Pa. The quarantine was triggered by detection of EHV-1 in multiple febrile horses on the premises. Investigation is ongoing, but due to a possible connection to an EHM case NOT located at this premises, the Department is issuing an official quarantine and is working with the very proactive barn management and private practitioners to monitor the health of the horses on the premises.
Also in the Keystone State, a horse showing neurological signs of EHV-1 was euthanized at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center.. The limited number of potentially exposed horses have been identified and are being contacted by New Bolton Center and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.This case has no known association with international travel, transport, or shows.
Three barns at Maryland’s Laurel Park were quarantined because of the Equine Herpes virus. All horses in residence must stay on the grounds until further guidance is offered. One horse tested positive at Laurel. Also in Maryland, there was an unrelated infection of a horse in Cecil County, That animal was euthanized.
At the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, a horse who spiked a fever which led to a quarantine of Barn D turned out to be EHV-1 negative. Based on that, the State of Florida, WEC veterinarians and management lifted the quarantine on the 16 horses housed in Barn D and horse showing will continue as scheduled.
As of today, no horses have tested positive for EHV-1 on WEC property. Moving forward, horses that have traveled to another Florida competition venue and horses who have been exposed to horses that have been at other Florida competition venues in the last 10 days will not be allowed on WEC grounds.
All equines entering the property must present a health certificate or statement of health from a licensed veterinarian within 7 days to the horse show office.
Until further notice, ship-ins (those working from trailers) will be restricted from the property. A dressage show scheduled for this month at WEC already was cancelled, but next month’s dressage show–with several top Olympic contenders scheduled to compete–will be held.
Shows in Florida have issued restrictions and new measures to insure the safety of horses on their grounds after a horse in Ocala came up positive for EHV-1 earlier this month. The horse was not at a show venue when its symptoms appeared, and it was not shipped in from Europe.
It was doing well after being treated at the University of Florida large animal hospital, according to the Chestnut Hill Farm Facebook page. A second horse whose stall was adjacent to the index horse while at the farm has also been confirmed positive.. The second horse is not exhibiting neurologic symptoms, although it has been febrile and is being treated at the separate isolation facility.
The farm’s horses that were at WEC were evacuated as soon as the positive test was revealed. Owners are working with state veterinarians and and inspectors as well as the University of Florida to achieve a tight quarantine.
On March 1, international equestrian competitions in 10 European countries were cancelled by the FEI (international equestrian federation) until March 28 due to the rapid evolution of a very aggressive strain of the neurological form of EHV-1, which originated in Valencia, Spain and already has led to related outbreaks in at least three other countries in Europe.
The FEI cancelled events in all disciplines in France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Poland, Netherlands, Germany and Slovakia until March 28.The advent of the disease also led to cancellation of the FEI World Cup Finals in jumping and dressage that were set to start March 30 in Sweden. (See the story in the main section of this website.)
“This was not an easy decision to block events in mainland Europe, particularly after the major disruption to the FEI Calendar caused by the Covid-19 pandemic,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said, “but this EHV-1 outbreak is probably the most serious we have had in Europe for many decades and our decision is based on clearly identified epidemiological risk factors.
“This strain of EHV-1 is particularly aggressive and has already caused equine fatalities and a very large number of severe clinical cases. We need to keep our horses safe. We are also aware that a large number of horses left the venue in Valencia without an official health certificate, meaning they had an unknown health status. Some horses were already sick, and the risk of transmission from these horses is a major concern.
“Cancelling these competitions in mainland Europe…limits the number of horses traveling internationally and therefore reduces the likelihood of this very serious virus being transmitted on an increasingly wider scale. We also strongly recommend that the affected member federations should also cancel their national events.
“We are very conscious of the fact that this is a very stressful and distressing time, and that this is potentially hugely disruptive for those athletes aiming for their Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs) or confirmation results for Tokyo, but we are looking at ways to alleviate that in order to assist athlete/horse combinations in getting their MERs or confirmation results once the events in mainland Europe are allowed to resume.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 12, 2021
A two-week extension of the shutdown of international events across mainland Europe until April 11 announced by the FEI (international equestrian federation) due to the outbreak of the neurological form of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1).has led to cancellation of the FEI World Cup Finals in show jumping and dressage for the second year in a row.
Although the shutdown of all FEI disciplines was originally scheduled to end March 28, two days before the World Cup had been set to get under way in Gothenburg, Sweden, the further blackout is designed to minimize the spread of the very aggressive strain of the virus with a goal of saving the rest of the show season. (For an update on the U.S. situation, look for the article in the On the Rail section of this website or click here.
Olivia Lagoy-Weltz and Lonoir, one of four North American combinations that were set to compete in the FEI World Cup Finals. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
The decision, which is based on scientific evidence from world leading epidemiologist Dr Richard Newton and a full risk assessment by the FEI Veterinary Department, will mean the cancellation of the FEI World Cup™ Finals for the second consecutive year following the loss of the 2020 Finals in Las Vegas (USA) to the Covid-19 pandemic. Four North Americans were scheduled to represent North America in the World Cup finals. They were Olivia Lagoy-Weltz (Lonoir), Charlotte Jorst (Kastel’s Nintendo) and Shelly Francis (Danilo) along with Canadian Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu (All In).
“It is very disappointing that it had to be cancelled, but it’s the right thing to do,” said U.S. Dressage Technical Advisor Debbie McDonald.
The extended lockdown applies to all countries that have international scheduled events in the period through April 11. They are Austria, Belgium, Spain, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portuga, Slovakia and Sweden. At the same time, the FEI again strongly recommends that all national federations in mainland Europe cancel their national events in order to minimize horse movement.
“The extension of the lockdown is difficult for everyone, and the loss of the FEI World Cup Finals for a second year is particularly devastating, especially for the qualified athletes and for our loyal Top Partner Longines,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said. “We know how much work Tomas Torgersen and his incredible team in Gothenburg have put into organizing the 2021 Finals, which would have been part of the 400th birthday anniversary celebrations for the city, so this is a desperately bitter blow.
The Scandinavium in Gothenburg, Sweden, known for its enthusiastic crowds (but not in the Covid era) was to once again be the home of the FEI World Cup Finals until they were cancelled today.
“We cannot eradicate EHV as it is endemic in many countries, but we need to work together to minimize the transmission of this particular strain, which has already caused the death of 12 horses in Europe. All of the original in-contact horses from Valencia, Vejer de la Frontera and Doha are already blocked on the FEI Database, but the whole community needs to be on the alert and monitoring their horses. We strongly urge all European-based FEI athletes to avoid travel with their horses during this prolonged shutdown, as travel is a very clear risk factor.
“Sadly this additional lockdown is crucial to slow down the spread of the virus so that we can preserve the rest of the season, get our athletes and horses back competing safely and allow as long a period as possible for those aiming for Tokyo to earn their Minimum Eligibility Requirements and confirmation results.
“Nobody wants to see an outbreak like this ever again. There will be a comprehensive and fully transparent investigation into every aspect of this outbreak and the way it has been handled, and the findings will be published so that, together with our community, we can all learn from this.
“We will be putting in place enhanced protocols to allow for a safe return to play once this outbreak is under control, and we will advise our community on those well in advance of the resumption of international events, but the priority right now has to be the treatment of sick horses and getting healthy horses back to their home countries in a safe and biosecure way. We all need to focus on safeguarding not just FEI horses, but the wider European horse community.”
Work on identifying the gene sequencing of this strain of the virus is already underway, and the FEI is continuing to monitor the evolution of the virus through the FEI Veterinary Epidemiology Working Group, which was formalised this week. The Group is composed of world-leading EHV specialists Professor Ann Cullinane (IRL), Dr Richard Newton (GBR), Dr Gittan Gröndahl (SWE), FEI Veterinary Director Dr Göran Akerström and FEI Senior Veterinary Advisor Caterina Termine. Reports from this Group will be published on a weekly basis.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 10, 2021
As the Covid state of emergency for the Tokyo area is extended until March 21, Japanese newspapers are reporting that overseas visitors will not be permitted to attend the Olympics there this summer.
Japan plans to limit the number of people allowed into the country at about 2,000 a day, with exceptions allowed once the state of emergency is lifted in Tokyo. The figure includes Japanese nationals returning to the country. In the meantime, exceptions for foreign athletes to train in Japan have been suspended.
The official decision on foreign spectators is expected by the end of March. But already an edict is in place that there can be no chanting or singing in the Olympic stadiums due to the fear of spreading Covid. A majority of Japanese citizens are against having foreign nationals come in as spectators for the Olympics.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 9, 2021
In the wake of Spruce Meadows cancelling its summer shows, Tom Struzzieri, president and CEO of HITS, said an upgrade to FEI 4-star for HITS on the Hudson’s July and August shows is designed to “fill the void for grand prix riders in the U.S. and Canada, who depend on the upper-level FEI events in the summer for FEI ranking points and top prize money both.
“I’ve had the opportunity to talk to lots of grand prix riders showing with us in Ocala, and some in Wellington, and the response to the upgrade has been super. We look forward to a great season of competition.”
There will be $2 million in prize money offered this spring and summer at the shows in Saugerties, N.Y. Each show is also FEI, while the final competition of the season is a 5-star as always, but there are big changes at the facility, including in the footing.
“Stay tuned as we release more information on one of the biggest makeovers to date,” stated the advice from HITS.
The September five-star will offer the $500,000 AIG Grand Prix, as well as Diamond Mills $250,000 Hunter Prix Final, the Platinum Performance $100,000 Hunter Prix Final, the $15,000 Green Hunter Prix and the $25,000 Jr/A-O/Am Jumper Prix.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 8, 2021
Think about hunter and jumper shows in Florida. What location comes to mind first? It’s probably Wellington, home of the Winter Equestrian Festival in Palm Beach County on the state’s east coast. That’s the circuit with the greatest name recognition after decades of memorable competitions attracting riders from all over the world.
But Ocala, about a 4-hour drive north and west, is getting more than the usual attention these days because this is the first season for the World Equestrian Center, a glossy eye-opener of a venue offering 17 rings (including air conditioned indoor arenas) on approximately 4,000 acres, complete with a 5-star hotel (to open next month) and a variety of restaurants. The stalls are permanent (no tents) and so are the restrooms (no portables).
The World Equestrian Center is making a splash in Ocala. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Of course, Ocala also has another major option, the HITS venue in a more rustic setting 10 road miles or so from WEC. That show organization has been offering classes in Marion County since 1985 under the direction of Tom Struzzieri, who also has showgrounds in Illinois, New York and Virginia.
It’s quite remarkable that last weekend, high quality grands prix were offered at each venue. WEC had the $75,000 Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian feature on Saturday night, while HITS presented the $150,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix the following afternoon. And consider that WEF had a Sunday FEI (international equestrian federation) grand prix worth $214,000, attracting many international riders seeking Longines ranking points. Over two-days, 103 horses jumped courses laid out in Florida by top designers at all three sites, with a total of $439,000 in prize money offered.
Aaron Vale and Prestige won their second HITS grand prix of the season on Sunday in Ocala. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Since WEC’s grands prix during its Winter Spectacular are not FEI (neither are the HITS grands prix) riders have the option of picking what suits them and their horses best in the Sunshine State. Over the course of the circuit, many riders will take advantage of all three choices, with WEC now adding another destination to consider. Depending on your vantage point, it could be called a case of the more the merrier.
In Ocala, WEC’s Roby Roberts believes it’s no problem for his shows to coexist with HITS.
“There’s room for both here. They’re two different experiences,” said Roby, a member of the family that owns not only WEC, but also the Golden Ocala club and the high-end housing around it.
There were 28 horses in WEC’s grand prix and 25 at HITS. In Tom’s view, having another show so close to HITS affected entries at his competition. On the same weekend in 2020 before the pandemic shutdown, the HITS competition drew 43 horses, he pointed out. Tom wondered if prize money will be sustainable at that rate.That’s especially pertinent when he says it, since the $1 million Great American Grand Prix is his Ocala series finale.Having another show nearby has meant things are different in Ocala this year.
“Our business is off about 30 percent, after you factor in Covid,” said Tom.
“So yes, it’s affected us,” he continued, then quickly added “we’ll survive.
HITS follows strict U.S. Equestrian Federation protocols, which means no fans due to Covid. WEC, on the other hand, is governed for this series by the National Snaffle Bit Association, which does not have the same constraints, so people came to watch the grand prix and be tourists at the new place.
Santiago Lambre of Mexico, who was 1-2 in the WEC grand prix with Comtesse and Easy Girl, appreciates the new venue. Santiago lives in Wellington and is prepping for the Olympics there, but considers WEC “the best facility in the U.S. and I think it’s the best facility in the world for me,” commented the veteran of 15 years in Europe..
“You have two stadiums, the best stables in the world,” added Santiago, who came for one week and stayed for six.”
In honor of the LPGA tournament last weekend at the Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club, the Golden Ocala jump in Saturday night’s grand prix was flanked by a putting green and a golf cart. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Aaron Vale, a consistent winner at HITS who has also done well at WEC, topped the Purina class with Prestige, a 9 year-old purchased from some friends in Slovakia. Aaron has spent five years producing the gelding, who logged his second HITS victory of the winter.
Having two shows so close is “awesome,” said Aaron, who also has been a winner at WEC this season.
“I’ve got eight or nine horses I can enter in a grand prix,” he commented. “Having two venues gives us some options because you can’t ride eight in one grand prix. It’s great that we have the options. I hope both (shows) keep going for a long time,” added Aaron, who wants to take Prestige to Wellington when he’s ready.
Aaron Vale rides out of the arena at Hits as a winner again. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Aaron lost 45 pounds in the last 14 months.
“ I’m motivated, I’m mounted and I’m having fun,” he said, but also gave back donating $5,900 that was his share of a pre-jump-off Calcutta auction to benefit the Marion County Therapeutic Riding organization.
“We get so much support here at HITS,” said Dana Waters on behalf of MTRA. “Tom always lets us have a nice event here and it has become our biggest fundraiser and we are so appreciative.”
