by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 18, 2021
“We are listening,” was the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s key message during its virtual annual meeting, responding to a perennial complaint from members who feel their views are not considered by what some have seen as a top-down organization.
Hearing the voices of membership and affiliates is a priority for Tom O’Mara, who succeeded Murray Kessler in the USEF presidency as the meeting ended over the weekend.
Meanwhile, USEF is actively soliciting members’ thoughts, including organizing a competition task force to deal with reform of its often-contentious competition licensing process. It’s also putting together a group to handle the issues of restive amateurs who recently have asked for their own “bill of rights.”
“The listening part is obviously critical and I always felt there was the ability to do that, but you’ve got to listen when people say it’s not happening. We have to make sure it’s happening. That’s why we need a concerted effort to listen, learn and lead together,” said Tom, quoting a slogan from the USEF marketing department that lays out the pathway for change.
USEF President Tom O’Mara. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
People can’t always get an immediate response from USEF, as they do on social media, but they shouldn’t feel it’s a lack of transparency, Tom stated. The organization takes note of all input
“Serve the members. That’s our job,” he emphasized.
Tom, the federation’s former treasurer, noted USEF is a “revenue-constrained” organization, so more members would generate more sponsorship, meaning extra support for affiliates and other purposes.
“Great programs take more money,” commented Murray, who donated $50,000 of his own funds as a parting gift for para-equestrian development.
Murray Kessler, former USEF president. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
During the meeting, the board voted $50,000 for an Opportunity Fund. That will go toward new diversity, equity and inclusion grants for organizations offering equestrian outreach to minorities and under-served communities.
“So many people in the U.S. love horses, but the joy of horses doesn’t mean that you have to be a competing equestrian,” said Tom, who sees other possibilities.
“For so long, our association and its predecessors focused on riding, training, competing and showing a horse. That’s our mission, as the National Governing Body, to make sure there’s an opportunity from the grass roots to high performance, and to field U.S. teams.
“We cannot lose focus on that. Sport is the most important thing. However, around that, is our job as an NGB to get everyone to ride a horse…or to watch someone ride a horse?” Tom asked, knowing there’s plenty of potential in the latter.
Retired from an investment banking and business development career, the USEF president is a problem-solver who will devote full time to his new role. That means a lot, since his record includes helping assure that NCAA equestrian would keep going for college riders when it was in danger of being cancelled, and leading the task force that worked out a drug-testing partnership with the University of Kentucky, after USEF’s own testing lab ran into major problems.
When USEF and the lavish new World Equestrian Center in Ocala reached an ugly impasse over show dates, Tom was involved in a thinking-outside-the-box compromise last month that enabled WEC to run under the National Snaffle Bit Association umbrella while avoiding sanctions against FEI riders, owners, horses and officials taking part in the facility’s winter series this year.
Tom O’Mara and Beezie Madden, the 2019 USEF Equestrian of the Year, at the 2020 awards ceremony. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
“Glad to have WEC throwing a bit of disturbance into the show world,” one person wrote on social media about the drama. But USEF still feels it’s important to have shows that it licenses held at WEC.
“It’s a phenomenal facility,” said Tom.
“We have to work through the process to get there. I think it will be worked out over time.”
In other matters:
- USEF is ramping up its compliance efforts to insure shows meet expected standards. For this year, there is a new compliance director, and goals are to increase visits by those who will grade shows on everything from footing to facilities and developing a scorecard system that can categorize where competitions meet, exceed or fall short of regulations.
- Despite Covid, nearly two-thirds of the horse show calendar was able to run, with 729 license modifications needed to make it happen. USEF officials and staff put in a mighty effort to keep things going during the pandemic once showing began again June 1 after it had stopped for 11 weeks.
- Going forward, the competition task force will be working with a membership survey that drew nearly 4,000 responses (more than half of which were from those involved with hunters and jumpers) on how licensing can be improved for the 2,300 USEF horse shows.
- Suggestions focused on making licensing less restrictive in some ways and more restrictive in others.Members’ ideas also included mileage expiration after a certain number of weeks or years that a show runs, along with lack of compliance to standards as a reason for ending protection. Another idea involves no restrictions for smaller regional shows running against national or premier shows. There is the thought as well that show facilities which are owned or leased long-term by an applicant should have date protection that makes sense for organizers who are investing money into the venues. Another meeting on the subject will be held Jan. 25.
During the USEF’s virtual awards ceremony, show jumper Kent Farrington won the International Equestrian of the Year title. No surprise, as he was the lone nominee. Names of candidates for the William C. Steinkraus Trophy are put forward by each of the Olympic discipline affiliates, but “Kent was the only nomination we received this year,” a USEF spokesperson said.
The announcement of nominees came out Dec. 16, and voting continued through Jan. 2. Liz Halliday-Sharp, the first woman to become U.S. Eventing’s Rider of the Year since 1981, would have seemed a possibility in that discipline. Ditto Boyd Martin, who took the 4-star-Long national championship on Tsetserleg in Tryon, N.C.But as USEA CEO Rob Burk explained,
“Unfortunately, the USEF requires all nominations for the Equestrian of Honor or the Horse of the Year to be submitted by November 9. The USEA Rider of the Year came down to the very last event of the year from a points perspective and our season ends on November 30th. Our season was still quite active as of November. When the USEF reached out to us in October, we were not yet prepared to submit an annual Horse or Rider nomination; however we indicated that we were interested in submitting nominees for those awards once the season was closer to a conclusion.
“Once the Tryon CCI-4*L (November 11-15) was completed, we reached out again to the USEF but they indicated that the nominations were closed at that time. So unfortunately for us, the timing of the USEF award prevented submissions.
Another international discipline, dressage, saw limited FEI competition between March and the end of the season, but Adequan®/USDF Grand Prix Horse of the Year Suppenkasper was undefeated in 15 starts this year, under the guidance of Steffen Peters. His final victory came Nov. 22 in the Thermal Desert Dressage CDI3* Grand Prix Special .USDF President Lisa Gorretta said USEF’s timeline on nominations was “earlier than we were prepared for” and therefore no name was submitted.
Said the USEF spokesperson, “We’ve discussed this internally with our team and it is something we plan to address with the affiliates for the 2021 awards nominations process, since it’s the first time we’ve heard that feedback from them. We want as many athletes represented as possible, so we will try to improve this process next year to be sure everyone has enough time to submit nominees, particularly on the international side.”
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
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 16, 2021
An accident of local geography started Nancy Jones on a career with horses that went from the ground up to national recognition, earning her the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association’s 2020 Jane Marshall Dillon award.
Jonesie, who runs her business at Logan’s Brook Equine Center on the border of Morris and Somerset counties, is proficient at everything horse; from breeding, foaling and training them for a variety of jobs, to rehabbing mounts and teaching aspiring riders.
How did her involvement begin? As luck would have it, Jonesie’s family lived in a development behind Morris County’s Seaton Hackney stables in Morris Township.
“We used to sneak through the fence and fool around with the school horses,” she recalled about meeting the animals with her friends.
Although she was drawn to horses, she explained, “Lessons weren’t an option for me. My parents didn’t have that wherewithal.”
But Jonesie’s luck continued to direct her path, because Bert Beck, who ran the stable, was an “incredible horseman.”
Not only did he take an interest in kids who hung out at the barn, he was a skilled, old-school professional who made a point of imparting his knowledge to youngsters who wanted to learn the right way of doing things.
Those who were serious about horses learned plenty and developed not only a good work ethic, but also a great understanding of what it took to be successful with the animals.
“He was a top-notch trainer. Everything was correct from the beginning,” recalled Jonesie, and those who have trained with her emphasize that is also the way she operates.
“Everything is pretty much by the book,” said Mona Shaw, who worked with her at Logan’s Brook for many years.
“She’s so fastidious about doing things the right way.”
Jonesie and Whitney Reynolds before a hunter pace.
Logan’s Brook owner Maddie Devine observed, “She teaches horsemanship first and foremost. She just wouldn’t allow you to speed through the process.”
Maddie, who has ridden with Jonesie for about 30 years, says “she’s fantastic with children.”
Even though Bert wasn’t in the fanciest of situations, “He made the best of what he had,” Jonesie said
“He would let us groom and hang out. He had a very high standard. He’d let us take a pony bareback to check the back gate, just so we could sit on a pony. He would sit up in the hayloft and watch us.”
The kids learned a little bit of everything. That included driving Bert’s Clydesdale, Billy, to fixing halters. And of course, horse care was paramount.
“You never brought a horse back from riding with one bit of sweat on it, let me tell you,” Jonesie emphasized.
Bert, who considered the horses his “business partners” was “the original best teacher,” his dedicated student believes, and it set the course for her life.
“It’s all horses, it always has been,” Jonesie explained. “I didn’t decide; it just was.”
The Dillon trophy, named after the Virginia horsewoman who wrote the book, “School for Young Riders” about her training program, has been presented since 2010 to trainers who laid the initial groundwork for their students’ success. It acknowledges that while the students may go on to training elsewhere at a higher level, they advance on the foundation their early trainers gave them. In addition to Jonesie, Kathy Steege of Massachusetts (mother of top hunter rider Amanda Steege) and Pennsylvanian Betsy Morret were also recognized for the award in 2020.
As Olympic double gold medalist Joe Fargis noted about his mentor, Mrs. Dillon, “She gave me the best start a person could possibly have. She thought about the horse first, always, and was a good role model for the kids. I couldn’t have been luckier than to have started there.”
Had the award been given during Mr. Beck’s lifetime, he likely would have been a candidate for the honor.
Jonesie did everything she could to be involved with horses, even volunteering to hold mounts for members of the Spring Valley Hounds in New Vernon when the hunt had a picnic and members enjoyed a leisurely lunch..
Because she had been well-trained, people started to let her ride their horses. When Mr. Beck retired, she went over to Hilltop Stable in New Vernon, where Clarence Nagro was in charge, and to Tewksbury Farms in Hunterdon County, where she would polish boots for trainer Carl Bessette.
“I would clean the tack of those fancy show horses that I would just drool over. And then they let me sit on them and exercise them,” she remembered. Bertalan de Nemethy, coach of the U.S. show jumping team, would teach at Tewksbury and offered instruction to Jonesie.
“He taught me to sit the canter. He couldn’t stand seeing me in my two-point. I knew who he was and I was in awe of everybody at that time. But he just saw this kid who wanted to do it, and he really got after me. I’ll never forget it. ”
Jonesie noted, “I feel so fortunate I fell in the laps of top people, and they took care of me. My parents didn’t want me to do horses, but they couldn’t keep me away.”
While grooming for Clarence’s wife, Tania Nagro, Jonesie slipped on the rain-wet ramp of the van and fractured her ankle badly. She underwent surgery, and then the Nagros took her in at Tempe Wick, their home in Mendham
She was 18 years old, working at night at the breeding farm and during the day, at Hilltop.
“Talk about a horsemanship experience. Again, I credit Mr. Beck for giving me that base,” Jonesie said.
She foaled and broke babies, galloped race horses, was an honorary huntsman for Spring Valley, showed and did hunter trials. She would even ride horses in the parking lot at Bunchy Grant’s auction as Clarence watched to see if he wanted to buy them.
Clarence “knew how to get to a horse and make them understand their job,” she commented.
“When he broke a baby, you never had a problem with it for the rest of its life. By watching him and working with him, I learned how to train a horse.”
She often was there when the horses were born and also was on hand when they were put down.
“How many people know horses from day one until the end?” she asked.
A proud moment was when she finished second to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the Essex hunter trials on Northern Tim, a handsome fellow she had nursed back from a bowed tendon.
“My little off-the-track thoroughbred just nailed it. I know it doesn’t sound like much to a lot of people, but this little horse, he went right along,” she said proudly.
Jonesie showing Private Screening on the line at Devon. (Photo by Pennington)
She worked with Clarence until he died in 1985 when she was 30, then set up her own business at the Augustinus farm, finally moving in 1990 to Logan’s Brook located in New Vernon with a Basking Ridge address. Some may remember the property from the era when it was Rod MacDougall’s Floradale Farm.
She teaches the way she was trained.
“I will not just put a kid on a horse. They will learn about horse care right from the beginning. I don’t care if they’re five.”
That approach, she said, “attracts a certain kind of folk which I enjoy being around.”
Many of her students came to Logan’s Brook as youngsters, and rose through the ranks with her.
“I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity to essentially grow up at Logan’s Brook, and I am happy to say it was some of the best years of my life,” said Lindsey Anuzis, who spent 14 years there.
“I began training with Jonesie on my tenth birthday, and from day one, she taught me not only about impeccable horsemanship, but invaluable life lessons, including, but not limited to, the value of hard work, dedication and patience.
“Jonesie emphasized the care of the horses in her training because without them, we would not be riding. She encouraged her students to learn about all aspects of horse care; feeding, by learning about their horse’s grain and hay, which she grows on the property; basic veterinary care, farm maintenance and managing a business, as well as the fundamentals of riding and horsemanship,” noted Lindsey, now a clinical mental health counselor associate in North Carolina. She hopes eventually to incorporate equine assisted psychotherapy into her practice, a dividend of her early involvement with horses.
Lindsey noted that Jonesie has relationships with excellent trainers and former Olympic team members, giving her students an opportunity when they were ready to ride with such big names as Anne Kursinski, Jeff Cook and Chris Kappler, among others.
That paid off for another former student, Jessica Siuda. When she felt it was time for a move on to bigger things in the show world, Jonesie connected her with Hunterdon Inc., a top show stable, and Jess went on to make a name for herself on the international stage with Unbelievable 5 and Hello Sanctos.
“Jonesie is the one who gave me the connection when I wanted to take my riding to the next level,” said Jess, while noting, “she taught me from day one that the horse comes first; it’s not just about riding.” Like Jonesie’s other students, she learned how to take a bridle apart, clean it the right way and put it back together again, along with braiding, bandaging and all the other details of horse care that are key. Although she is targeting a doctorate in business administration and has put horses to the side at the moment, Jess has never forgotten what Jonesie gave her, “a debt that can never be repaid.”
Jonesie often had her hands full with Northern Tim, but she knew how to work with him.
Many students who got their start with Jonesie went on to make careers with horses.
“They circle back after 20 or 25 years and thank you for giving them a work ethic,” Jonesie commented.
Even so, earning the Dillon trophy “was definitely a surprise,” she said.
“I don’t look for awards. But the fact that people think of me in that way, I feel very honored and humbled by it.”
After so many decades of hard work, does she every think of retiring?
Jonesie seemed a bit mystified by the question.
“Why would I do that?” she asked.
Then she offered a bit of advice:
“Take the time to learn about horses for a lifetime of feeling like you have meaning.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 14, 2021
The Pennsylvania National Horse Show will have a new look for its 75th anniversary this October, and new management to go with it.
The Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg, its longtime home, has been through a $21 million re-do, according to the show’s executive director, Susie Webb.
And Pat Boyle is taking over as manager from Peter Doubleday, who is retiring from the show after 45 years, a period during which he also served as an announcer. Peter, whose foundation has contributed $230,000 to the show over the last 18 years, will still be active elsewhere, continuing in management with Devon and the Royal Winter Fair, as well as announcing at a variety of competitions.
The manager of the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association’s successful year-end championship show in Las Vegas, Pat has ties to the Penn National that go beyond his new job. He and his children both rode in the show and he brought students there when he was a trainer.
The U.S. Equestrian Federation has awarded the Pennsylvania National its traditional two featured events for junior riders, the Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final and Neue Schule/USEF Junior Jumper National Championships. They will run at the show through 2023.
Until 1966, the Medal was held with the ASPCA Maclay at the National Horse Show in New York, but that year, it made the trip west. It draws the biggest field of any hunt seat equitation championship.The 10-day Penn National had to scale back in the face of Covid last year, when it staged the venerable junior features at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in North Carolina after the Farm Show Complex was not available due to the pandemic.
The original idea was for all three shows on the U.S. portion of the North American Fall Indoor Circuit to take place in Tampa, but that didn’t work out and the National went to its usual home in Kentucky, while Washington and the Penn National migrated to TIEC.
“It was nice that Tryon was able to allow us to do this; I was determined to make this Medal finals happen and keep our foot in the door. We were persistent and dedicated to make it happen,” Susie explained.
“Things couldn’t have worked out any better in our favor on the day of the Medal finals,” She recalled.
“The kids had to school outside in the rain and come inside, where they actually competed. Everybody said, `We really miss the Farm Show facility. We never thought we’d say that,’” she chuckled..
Susie said she has been told by personnel at the Farm Show venue, “you’re not going to recognize the place” following its re-do.
Having a second competition ring for the first time means the show can add some divisions and raise the number of entries in the divisions.
“We’ve been listening to the people saying, `We don’t have things to do,’” Susie noted.
“We’ve taken into consideration the kids who come for the Medal and the horse puts on on the brakes at the first fence. What can we do to have these kids have a better experience and feel like they accomplished something and not be disappointed when they leave?”
The answer was a chance to compete and practice more, as well as getting into the ring before riding in the Medal.
“We want to make it a better experience for everybody involved,” said Susie.
She noted that for all the bad things about 2020, “it taught us think outside the box. At this time last year,” she pointed out with a chuckle, “the words `social distancing’ weren’t even in our vocabulary.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 13, 2021
There will be a Celebration of Life for trainer/author/clinician Kip Rosenthal on Sunday, January 17 at 5 pm Easter Time via the Zoom link below. Contact Abby Lowe if you would like to speak or share your screen during the service, contact (Abby.R.Lowe@gmail.com). There may be room for additional speakers at the end of the service. Additionally, please send her any photos or videos that you have so they can be added to the slideshow during the service.
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by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 12, 2021
This was supposed to be the month that tickets for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event were to go on sale. But it won’t be until next month that they can be purchased–that is if they are for sale. Organizers need to get permission for spectators to attend the 5-star, and that requires coordination with the state of Kentucky and the U.S. Equestrian Federation. What will happen to the event if it is cancelled for the second year in a row.
Find out more at this link.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 9, 2021
The Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association’s national championship show has been cancelled for the second time, due to Covid 19, as the organization’s board made the decision to follow the same protocol as in 2020 “with the safety and well-being of the membership in mind,”
IHSA Executive Director Peter Cashman cited the increasing numbers connected with the pandemic, which also led to scrapping the 10,000-member group’s entire post-season, including the Hunt Seat Zone Finals and Western Semi-Finals.
“With the ongoing pandemic and numbers on the rise, the board voted with the safety and well-being of the membership in mind,” said Peter Cashman, IHSA executive director. “We understand how disappointing it is to membership, many who have been unable to compete this academic year.”
The championship show is usually scheduled for early May.
“The board has agonized over this situation that has forced us to decide to cancel the IHSA postseason for the second consecutive year. We look forward with the hopes that the vaccine will prevent the spread and allow the country to relax restrictions and allow the schools to resume competition in the fall,” the executive director said.
IHSA will offer two online horse shows through DigitalHorseShow.com during the spring semester. The Inaugural IHSA Online Horse Show was successfully held during the 2020 fall semester, providing an opportunity for those members and teams who continue to ride and practice to compete across the membership. The spring events will again be open to all IHSA undergraduate and alumni members and will include a horsemanship element. Show dates and prize lists will be available soon.
The board of directors will present a live webinar on the state of the IHSA on Tuesday, Jan. 19.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 5, 2021
Dressage clinician, coach, motivational speaker, ballroom dancer, international rider and author, the multi-talented Jane Savoie died yesterday at the age of 71.
Even though she was ill with multiple myeloma for years, this shining light always kept going, and her final book was published just a month before her death.
Jane Savoie. (Photo courtesy U.S. Dressage Federation)
A member of the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame, Ms. Savoie was the dressage coach for the 1996 and 2004 Canadian Olympic eventing teams. She also coached her friend, Sue Blinks, to team bronze at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Devoted to adult amateurs, she motivated thousands of them with her first book, “That Winning Feeling! Program Your Mind for Peak Performance,” published in 1992. Her positive nature was contagious.
The Vermonter also wrote fiction and her final nonfiction work, “Dressage Between the Jumps: The Secret to Improving Your Horse’s Performance,” was published in 2020. Her first novel, “Second Chances,” came out shortly thereafter.
Survivors include her husband, Rhett.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 5, 2021
If you haven’t been to the grounds of the Winter Equestrian Festival or the Adequan Global Dressage Festival since Covid shut them down last March, don’t be surprised to find things quite different on your return this year.
Those fleeing to Florida, with or without horses, are learning that the “no spectators” rule, which has been in effect since competition resumed in June, will continue at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center and Equestrian Village in Wellington. It’s quite disappointing for people who have been drawn to the municipality by the amenity of being able to watch great horses and riders in action. Many enthusiasts view the winter and early spring shows as a highlight of their year.
But if you aren’t showing, or one of the two guests permitted to attend per rider, a sponsor or a horse owner, you are not allowed to drop by what has beem a wildly popular destination for visitors. Guests must register, which means management knows exactly who is on the showgrounds.
Big crowds have been a regular “Saturday Night Lights” feature at PBIEC. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
Lack of spectators is particularly disappointing because so many riders will be coming from Europe, where numerous indoor shows have been shut down. That means WEF and AGDF will be even more star-studded than usual. The entire Japanese dressage team is coming, and a record 10 to 12 countries will be competing in the show jumping Nations Cup. Many of the riders will be getting ready to make a bid for participating in the Tokyo Olympics.
But since most fans won’t be able to cheer them on in person, and getting horses used to performing in front of a crowd–important preparation for the Olympics and other big stages–is one function of training that isn’t happening..The facilities can’t chance that there will be a Covid incident leading to the shutdown of competition.
“We don’t want to take any risks with any of the competitors or anybody involved in the show world,” explained Michael Stone, president of Equestrian Sport Productions, which puts on the dressage and hunter/jumper series.
Although Florida doesn’t have restrictions on the number of people who can attend outdoor sporting events (the Super Bowl is scheduled for next month in Tampa) “no spectators” at licensed shows is a U.S. Equestrian Federation rule.
Is the possibility of hosting horse show fans even on the horizon? Michael said at a press conference yesterday that if Covid “suddenly, miraculously got under control, we’d certainly be open to it.”
USEF has stated that should Covid rates decrease over the next three or four months with the advent of the vaccine, “active preparations are ongoing for the day when we can gradually allow USEF competitions to host spectators once again. We are currently developing the necessary protocols to evaluate when this can safely occur.”
USEF advised, however, that the numbers would be “restricted” when it moves cautiously to allow attendance by the public.
Steffen Peters is coming from California to the Adequan Global Dressage Festival with Suppenkasper and two other horses, but there will be no fans saluting his performance at the Friday Night Stars freestyle as they did last year before the Covid shutdown. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
ESP’s priorities, meanwhile, are for those involved with making a living at the shows.
“So many people work on a day rate (as freelancers) that “if the show doesn’t happen, they don’t get paid,” Michael observed.
“That’s really a significant factor in our decision-making,” he said.
“The biggest challenge is to keep everybody safe and hopefully Covid fatigue won’t set in,”
Although there will be VIP areas as usual for sponsors, horse owners and officials, the numbers allowed in will be limited, but Michael noted that demand for ringside gathering has dropped as the pandemic drags on.Those who don’t attend can watch at pbiec.com
Although there had been talk of scrapping the Great Charity Challenge, in which jumper riders traditionally compete in costume to the delight of the fans, it was decided to go ahead. The challenge has raised $14.8 million for non-profit organizations in Palm Beach County, and the need this year is particularly great because of food shortages for so many due to Covid.
Luckily for ESP, the fact that fans get in free (except for parking fees) means it’s not losing a ton of money by keeping them away. Michael noted that all the sponsors except the Carnival Cruise line (which can’t sail at the moment) are back on board.
“Will we make any money?” Michael asked rhetorically. “Very little. But we will survive.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 1, 2021
Eight months after riding lessons ceased at the Somerset County Park Commission’s Lord Stirling Stable, work will begin on planning how to go forward in the wake of its Covid-related shutdown, which resulted in curtailed offerings at the facility even when it finally was able to reopen its doors.
An advisory group has been created “to study and ensure future equine activities and programs at Lord Stirling Stable,” according to a statement from Somerset County and the county Park Commission.
The group “is made up of representatives of stable stakeholders and equine industry experts,” according to the announcement dated Dec. 31 and received on New Year’s Day, but no names of those on the committee have been announced.
The good news is that it indicates the property in Basking Ridge will continue to host equestrian pursuits, something that should reassure its many supporters, who were concerned it might permanently cease operations. The stable had been losing $500,000 a year, even before it shut down in April due to Covid and the school horses were sold. It has since resumed limited operations, but only those boarding horses at the barn can ride there now.
“Lord Stirling Stable is an absolute jewel of the Somerset County park system, and we are committed to maintaining it for the enjoyment of our residents and guests,” said Freeholder Melonie Marano. “I look forward to hearing the results of the stakeholders and experts on the advisory group for a going forward plan rooted in cost efficient, community inclusive programming.”
The first job of the advisory group will be developing a strategic business plan that identifies “necessary and desired programs for the future of the stable and a comprehensive financial road map for the future.”
“How exciting,” said Nancy Brown, president of the Friends of Lord Stirling Stable auxiliary group, on hearing the news today.
“We are pleased Somerset County Park Commission is planning to eventually reopen the stable to the public. We also look forward to having the park open to all Somerset County residents and guests with new programming. FLSS stands ready with volunteers willing to continue supporting the stable and the Park Commission as plans develop.”
Current activities and programs at the Stable will continue as they have throughout 2020, though at the reduced level necessitated by the COVID pandemic and executive orders from the state government. These include the boarding of horses, horse activity including use of the outdoor rings and riding along trails, regular organized dog walks, and more.
“Our goal is for every one of our parks to be a welcoming place for all Somerset County residents and guests to share in the beauty of nature and to have health and educational recreational opportunities,” said Park Commission Director Geoffrey Soriano. “Lord Stirling Stable is a vital component to reaching that goal, and we will work hard with the county to ensure its continued active service.”
Lord Stirling Park, on the western portion of the Great Swamp, has been designated solely for environmental and equestrian activities. The 429-acre former Astor property that forms the foundation of the stable basin was purchased by the Somerset County Park Commission on Dec. 21, 1967 to fulfill the Park Commission Master Plan designating that a riding stable be built in the northern part of Somerset County. Lord Stirling opened in the spring of 1969 with 30 horses.
The facilities on the 450 acres of Lord Stirling Stable consist of the main barn and office building, a viewing area overlooking the 80’ x 240’ indoor ring, a pony party pavilion, maintenance areas, and three outdoor rings — a dressage arena, a round ring and a stadium jumping ring. There are also 14 miles of trails in the fields and woods.
