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 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 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 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.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 1, 2021
Now the Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1 non-neuropathogenic strain) of the disease that shut down showing in most of Europe has emerged in New York state.
Two EHM (myeloencephalopathy) and 2 EHV-1 cases are 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 on 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.
Earlier in the Keystone State, a horse showing neurological signs of Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (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.
The disease also has spread to the racing industry. Three barns at Maryland’s Laurel Park have been 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.
On March 1, international equestrian competitions in 10 European countries were cancelled by the FEI until March 28 due to the rapid evolution of a very aggressive strain of the neurological form of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1), which originated in Valencia, Spain and already has led to related outbreaks in at least three other countries in Europe.
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.
The message concludes by saying, “If anyone has any questions or concerns please contact Kyle or Kathy (Dewar).. We hope to lead by example and do the best thing possible for our horses and the horse community.”
The European cancellation decision applies to all FEI disciplines. It covers events in France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Poland, Netherlands, Germany and Slovakia.
“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, with the exception of the ongoing jumping tours in the Iberian Peninsula and Italy, 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 | Jan 27, 2021
Ignore stories predicting cancellation (for the second time) of the Tokyo Olympics this summer due to the pandemic.
That’s the advice of Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, saying “we will not add fuel to this type of speculation.” In the past, insisting the Games will happen; he has been firm about stating that there is no Plan B, even though a poll showed that 80 percent of the Japanese people want to see the Olympics cancelled or postponed.
During a press conference last week following a meeting of the IOC executive board, Bach pointed out that more than 7,000 athletic events have taken place over the autumn and winter, with 175,000 people tested and only a 0.18 percent positive rate .
“This is why we are so confident,” he said, while noting that if the IOC thought the Games couldn’t be safe, “we would not go for it.” And they are going for it.
IOC President Thomas Bach
He said the Covid vaccine could not be considered a silver bullet and athletes will not be required to get their shots (but are encouraged to do so, as long as they don’t cut in line ahead of the vulnerable).
Instead, the IOC is counting on such counter-measures for safety as reducing the number of athletes lodged in the Olympic village at the same time. Other concepts are outlined in a playbook that will detail housing, transportation and similar matters. It is coming out next month and is first in a series.
IOC Vice President John Coates said in an interview with Sky News that athletes must stay in the Olympic Village when they are not at their venues, and cannot go downtown. They will not be quarantined on arrival, but would be subject to testing for COVID at the Games every four days. They also will have to follow a set of rules before traveling to Japan, when they must quarantine, and on arriving in Tokyo.
A decision on whether spectators can attend will have to be made by March or April, though no one knows how many people could be in the stands at this point. Doubtless there will be social distancing in the stadiums, which means less tickets available. But maybe it will go the way it did for the Super Bowl in Tampa, where the least expensive tickets are running $10,250 (per ticket, for a 2 pack of tickets, going up 10 percent in a week). That stadium is using only 22 percent of its seats for the big game.
Tickets aren’t the IOC’s first concern, however. Don’t forget, the Olympics have TV contracts and sponsors to pay the way. The priorities for IOC are the field of play and safe competition, according to Bach.
“Everything else has to have second priority.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 24, 2021
An advisory group working on a strategic plan for the future of the Somerset County Park Commission’s Lord Stirling Stable in Basking Ridge includes six volunteers with close ties to the facility, as well as two paid consultants.
Names of the group’s members were made public today during the annual meeting of the Friends of Lord Stirling Stable, a support network for the operation that runs the retired school horse program.
Lord Stirling, which celebrated its 50th anniversary as a public stable in 2019, was closed in April during the midst of the pandemic. Although it eventually reopened for private boarders, the school horses were sold. Those who rode at the stable worried about if and when lessons will resume.
The county indicated earlier this month that the purpose of the advisory group is “to study and ensure future equine activities and programs” at the stable, which lost more than $500,000 in 2019. Such losses were subsidized by other park commission programs until the advent of Covid, when golf courses and other activities also were shut down. Nancy Brown, past president of the Friends and a member of the advisory group, said during the meeting that the stable is not being considered for a lease to a third party, which some had thought might be a possibility.
Speaking about the advisory group, Geoffrey Soriano, executive director of the Park Commission, believes his agency “ is exceptionally lucky to have folks like these willing to volunteer their time to endeavor to build a business plan aimed at reintroducing programmatic components to Lord Stirling Stable with a keen eye on fiscal prudence and sustainability. “
Karyn Malinowski, the founding director of the Rutgers Equine Science Center, has been hired as a consultant for the project, along with a fellow Ph.D from the university, Robin Brumfield.
A Rutgers animal sciences professor, Karyn has spent time as an extension specialist in equine sciences at the university and served as a director of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension. She has extensive experience in researching equine physiology in relation to the well-being of the performance horse, and also was successful as an amateur harness racing driver.
Robin is an extension specialist in farm management at Rutgers, where she works for the Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics. She also has expertise in management for farming business.
Nancy Brown, who owns a horse that boards at Lord Stirling, has been a leader or side walker with Somerset County’s Therapeutic Riding Adapted Instruction program for the disabled community. Nancy was in one of the first classes of women admitted to West Point and attended the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business in executive leadership while serving as vice president of operations for Coldwell Banker Commercial Corporate Headquarters, Realogy.
Nancy was succeeded today as president of the Friends by Anna McLernon, retired from Johnson & Johnson after 34 years as an industrial microbiologist. Her final position was as director of industrial microbiology worldwide. Anna’s retirement plan was to renew her passion for horses, starting with a course in horse management at Rutgers. Her professor recommended she go to Lord Stirling, where she has been a volunteer stable worker for four years. She started riding as a child at Watchung Stables, Union County’s equivalent of Lord Stirling. Anna enrolled in the lesson program at Lord Stirling, appreciating programs offering the opportunity to work with and ride horses for those who are not able to have a horse of their own.
The new vice president of the Friends, Barbara Roche, was Somerset County’s 2014 Volunteer of the Year. When her daughter decided that horseback riding was her passion, Barbara dedicated hundreds of hours to Lord Stirling Stable, where she now boards two horses. She worked with Verizon’s C-suite executives for decades, ensuring a symbiotic relationship between audience, objectives and strategies. She is said to have a solid understanding of the type of programs that patrons at Lord Stirling Stable are seeking.
Also serving as an advisor is eclectic horse show judge Kennis “Buttons” Fairfax, who often has been as a clinician at Lord Stirling. Buttons is an expert in both English and western disciplines. He has officiated at shows round the world, and in 2018, received the “Spirit of the Horse” award presented by the Rutgers Equine Science Center.
Chuck Rosen, who has been associated with Lord Stirling for 45 years, has three horses boarding at Lord Stirling. He has volunteered for more than 35 years for the park commission, and is a past president of the Friends. A certified management professional, he is experienced in leading multi-million dollar commercial, government and non-profit projects. His areas of expertise, decision support and conflict resolution have been applied to various companies and organizations through strategic planning, systems delivery, organizational management and behavior and decision support.
Ravenell Williams has ridden and cared for horses for his whole life. He managed a YMCA summer camp riding program and most recently held part time-barn care positions at Lord Stirling. A longtime horse owner, he has an extensive background in fundraising, grant writing, strategic planning, construction management, budget development, program development and public speaking. A career as a YMCA professional provided Ravenell the opportunity to work with mission-driven board and staff teams, conduct community relations initiatives, manage multiple facilities and implement successful marketing programs. He served as the president and CEO of the Plainfield YMCA from 2010 until his retirement in 2018.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 20, 2021
Monmouth at the Team is hitting the road.
The innovative one-ring show that debuted at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation to an overwhelmingly positive reception in 2016 will be held instead this year at the Centenary University Equestrian Center in Long Valley. The show was cancelled last year when Covid restrictions meant the ringside hospitality tent that is a focal point of the fixture couldn’t be offered
Hospitality in a tent alongside the ring has been a drawing card for Monmouth at the Team. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
The U.S. squad for the Paralympics in Tokyo will be quarantining at the Foundation’s Gladstone headquarters during August, which means the Aug. 16-23 show can’t run there this year, either. It was a surprise to the organizers, but they quickly pivoted. Monmouth will take a different tack as it uses two rings and a grass derby field for competitors at Centenary, where it can include A-rated hunter classes for the first time.
“We figured instead of cancelling for two years in a row, let’s reinvent ourselves once again,” said Tucker Ericson, who owns the show with his cousin, trainer Michael Dowling, a member of the Centenary faculty.
Michael Dowling and his cousin, Tucker Ericson, are owners of Monmouth at the Team. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Will the show stay at Centenary in 2022 if it works well there this year?
“We’re open-minded. I think the consumers will make that decision for us,” said Tucker, who in any case hopes to host “something special at the Team still.”
But he cautioned, “We’re trying to hold off pressuring ourselves for any decision or foregone conclusions until after this year’s show. The Team is very special to us. We love the facility, I love the feel of one ring. Maybe there’s a whole other twist we could do with something there as well, and try to accommodate both concepts.”
He pointed out, “The one thing about moving to Centenary, it enabled us to apply for an A-rating. A one-ring horse show can’t support the cost of the prize money for an A-show, but a two- and three-ring show can. Maybe we just need to think outside the box and think of something unique to continue to have at the Team. We’ll re-evaluate at the end of this year and see what everyone wants.”
The show, the oldest in New Jersey, was a fixture at several locations in Monmouth County since the 19th Century until Tucker and Michael moved it an hour’s drive north. It gained immediate acceptance, as outstanding hospitality became a trademark and a drawing card.
Ribbons from the first Monmouth County Horse Show in 1895. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
While exhibitors had to pay for their meals at the Team, Tucker and Michael are thinking about having hospitality at Centenary be free of charge. That would make it easier to keep track of things in three separate areas. To cover the cost, Tucker said they probably will put the prizelist/program on line rather than printing it, for a savings of $10,000, and dispense with a scoreboard, for another $10,000 in savings. They also are hoping that barns, families and vendors will volunteer to sponsor meals.
“I find it hard to believe people will want a program and a scoreboard over free food and drink every day,” Tucker observed.
The end of Centenary’s indoor arena, where classrooms and a lounge are located, can be a hospitality hub since it has air conditioning and electricity. In addition, there will be tents along the side of the outdoor ring and the grass field. Tucker envisions the landscaped vendor village being a circle in what is now a parking lot, with tables and umbrellas in the middle where people can relax.
“We’ll just move the parties around, depending on where the special classes are,” said Tucker, noting, “for the special classes, they will be the only thing going on.” Those would include a mini-prix and the $10,000 Bobcat Derby for hunters.
The Bobcat Derby is a popular feature of Monmouth at the Team. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
At this point, USEF is not allowing spectators at the shows it licenses, but Tucker is hopeful that seven months from now, things will be “80 percent better.
If not, we have much more flexibility at Centenary, so one blessing in disguise for being forced to move is the flexibility of (room for) a lot more social distancing,” he said.
The flexibility also extends to the number of classes that can be held. For instance, there is a chance to do three days worth of Outreach, for those just getting into showing..
“That’s a lot of opportunity for the grass roots,” said Tucker. There should be more people in the hunters, too, since people who shied away from the show because they were going for points can earn them at Monmouth. And Monmouth won’t have to turn away entries due to lack of time in one ring during daylight.
The schedule is still a work in progress, since USEF approval just happened this month, but expect to hear more in February.
At the same time, he noted that “until we start getting feedback about the plan, we really don’t know if we’re going to change.”
Tucker noted that when he ran the idea of the move past two sponsors, the Nature Conservancy, which backs the Bobcat Derby, and Running S veterinary services, they were eager to be part of it again.
“I think there’s going to be a lot of energy because of everything being so quiet the past year,” said Tucker.
“Having things to look forward to will be really healthy for all of us. I think it will draw a lot of people if we do it right.”
Among the questions that need to be answered: What about the name? Instead of Monmouth at the Team, maybe it should be Monmouth at Morris County, as I suggested to Tucker. (Long Valley is part of Washington Township, Morris County, for those not familiar with the geography)
Despite the change of venue, Tucker said of the name, “We’ll keep it this year until we know the long-term future.
“If we stay at Centenary, we have to think hard about that. Maybe we’ll have a contest.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 17, 2021
During all the Covid-related down time, you’ve probably had many hours to weed out your tack trunk as part of your closet-cleaning spree.
So take your used tack, horse-related items, jewelry, knick-knacks, models and riding clothes (from those closets) to Riding with HEART in Pittstown and Mane Stream (adaptive riding and therapy services) in Oldwick, Riding with HEART’s sale is March 27 (10 a.m.-3 p.m.) and March 28 (noon-3 p.m.). Mane Stream’s is April 10 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.Proceeds from the sales at both 501c3 organization’s benefit their offerings and horses.
Donations for Riding with HEART can be dropped off at 619 Route 513, Pittstown from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and noon-3 p.m. Saturdays. Call (908) 739-5912 before you come. Email tacksale@ridingwithheart.org to arrange for a different drop-off time or ask for a pick-up for a big donation within an hour’s drive.Item
Items for Mane Stream can be dropped off at the stable at 83 Old Turnpike Rd., Oldwick during office hours. Those who have questions should contact Jen Dermody at jen@manestreamnj.org, 908-439-9636 or visit the website at www.ManeStreamNJ.org
