Live Oak International is quite a lively show

by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 8, 2020

The Live Oak International, named after its signature trees draped with Spanish moss, is a boutique horse show extraordinaire.  Started 30 years ago as a combined  driving competition, it is the only fixture in the U.S. that offers both grand prix show jumping and top-level driving (five advanced national championships were awarded this weekend).

Unlike the crowded grounds of the major show series, Live Oak offers thousands of peaceful acres where horses can relax, grazing and walking peacefully through wide open spaces in a setting that feels like what we call “old Florida,” before the days of high rises and retirement villages.

Horses feel peaceful standing under the live oaks. (Photo ©2020 by Nancy Jaffer)

The show is put on by the Weber family. Chester Weber is among the best four-hand drivers in the world, while his sister, Juliet Reid, formerly was president of the Washington International Horse Show. Her daughter, Chloe, is a professional show jumper who upheld the family pride by winning a class at this year’s show.

Since 2015, Live Oak has been the final qualifier for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final ™. That’s particularly exciting during the years riders aim for the final in Las Vegas (2015 and 2020), because everyone is so eager to ride in that glittering city.

It always puts a little extra excitement into the $100,000 qualifier, and today’s class was no exception. The course was artfully designed by Olaf Petersen Jr., who is also laying out the routes next month for the final at the Thomas & Mack Center. His trademark is putting together designs that challenge the best riders while not overfacing those who aren’t at that level. And his favorite number for a jump-off is eight, which is what he got today.

Even better, the rounds got faster and faster in the tie-breaker, where the top three were all clocked in 37 seconds and change.

Adrienne Sternlicht is still bringing back her fantastic mare Crystalline, who was injured when she was on the gold medal team at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games 

 Finishing the $100,000 class was a must-do requirement in order for Adrienne to be able to ride the 12-year-old in Vegas. But she did far better than that, with WEG teammate McLain Ward helping from the sidelines. Adrienne was clocked in 37.96 seconds, beating the previous mark set by Devin Ryan of Long Valley, N.J., 38.66 aboard Caspar’s Lasino, owned by Olympic multi-medalist Anne Kursinski’s Market Street in Frenchtown, N.J.

Devin Ryan and Caspar’s Lasino. (Photo ©2020 by Nancy Jaffer)

But when Margie Engle set off on Dicas, the crowd was leaning forward, riding with the famous speedster as she turned in a time of 37.37 seconds to move in front of Adrienne.

Daniel Coyle, the red-headed Irishman who rides for Canadian Ariel Grange, was last to go and managed despite a slip by Farrel to edge Margie in 37.05 seconds.

When Farrel slipped, Daniel thought he had lost and wondered if he would still be able to catch the leaders.

Winner Daniel Coyle of Ireland and Farrel. (Photo ©2020 by Nancy Jaffer)

“Both Margie and Adrienne have fantastic horses and are fantastic riders,” said Daniel. “Our plan was to go to come to Live Oak International with the hopes of qualifying for the Final and this win has done that for us.”

Farrel obviously was excited about his victory. He reared several times, as Margie distracted Dicas from the antics of Daniel’s horse with a few well-placed pats on the neck.

Farrel made sure everyone knew who won the big class. (Photo ©2020 by Nancy Jaffer)

Adrienne, had a close call in terms of being able to compete in the $100,000 class after falling off in the Friday qualifier for the grand prix when the other horse she brought to Live Oak, Benny’s Legacy, took off long at a fence. Normally, she wouldn’t have been able to compete today, but since there were less than 40 vying for a spot in the big class, she got in.

Her performance this afternoon made her first in the Eastern sub-league of the Longines-sponsored North American League of riders qualified for the finals, with Beezie Madden second and 19-year-old whiz kid Brian Moggre standing third. Devin also won his ticket to Vegas, though he will ask the horse’s owner before making a final decision on whether to go West. But Margie is headed for Vegas with or without her horse; she loves to gamble.

The runaway winner of the Western sub-league is Karl Cook, while a seventh place finish today put Jenni McAllister into a Vegas slot, along with Alex Granato, who did not compete in Ocala.

The driving marathon Saturday drew a great crowd around the obstacles, where Chester (who had the best score in all of the hazards) drew the loudest cheers. He won his 17th national four-in-hand championship wire-to-wire, taking first in dressage and cones as well, while looking toward this summer’s world championships in the Netherlands.

Jacob Arnold drove a stunning duo of grays to claim the advanced pair horse trophy. Taylor Bradish took the advanced single horse title, as she aims for that division’s world championships for the first time. Katie Whaley (who designs the most intriguing hats) was the advanced pony pairs champ for the fifth time (while mulling moving up to a pony four-in-hand.) Three-time single pony titleist Jennifer Keeler is awaiting the first foal from her beloved Amazing Grace, whose offspring is arriving courtesy of a surrogate.

Chester Weber in the cones on the way to his 17th national championship. (Photo ©2020 by Nancy Jaffer)

So you can see that Live Oak is special, but it’s concerning that the show has lost its date on the calendar. Live Oak had kept the spot because it offered a World Cup qualifier, but as the list of qualifiers was cut from 14 to eight, starting in 2021, Live Oak did not get a renewal of qualifier status. So it will be the decision of the U.S. Equestrian Federation as to the show’s future.

It’s important to keep it going for show jumping, so horses can get a break from the all-weather footing at the big shows and enjoy jumping on grass. But it’s even more important for driving.

“This is the only (driving) event in the U.S. where we have more than one event (sport) happening at the same time,” pointed out Jacob, who is a member of the USEF board as an elected athlete. He noted, “It’s a great thing for our sport..We get more public, more attention, which helps obviously build driving’s name throughout the country. It’s a wonderful event, it’s very well put-on.”

Jon Garner, who took over as the show’s director of sport this year,said, “I think for the sport, this is a critical event to the calendar for sure. It changes the focus for the horses and riders, especially on the jumping side, because you’re on grass.

“For driving, it’s critical to have a high level event in your country. It’s going to raise up the skill level of the athletes. We have to find a way for 2021 where it fits and what the plan will be.”

The general opinion seems to be that a 3-star rating for Live Oak’s show jumping would fit in well on the schedule, particularly when the Winter Equestrian Festival across the state in Wellington offers a 2-star and a 5-star. A 3-star likely would draw more people, because it offers classes that are less difficult than a World Cup qualifier, I’ve been told.

Chester urged riders, drivers and anyone else who enjoys Live Oak to contact the USEF and tell the federation it’s important to get a date for next year.

“Without a date, we can’t have sport,” he emphasized.

The Garden State Horse Show is on the move to a new home

by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 31, 2020

It’s the end of an era.

The Garden State Horse Show is heading this spring to the Asbury showgrounds run by Nona Garson and her partner, George D’Ambrosio, as the former Junior Essex Troopers who ran it with devotion for decades step aside from its management for good.

“It’s been an honor to be a part of this tradition” said Tim Cleary, who joined Troop in 1967 at age 10 and 1/2, then went on to manage the show for 33 years.

The show’s license has been transferred and it now will be called the Garden State Horse Show at the Ridge at Riverview, the name of Nona and George’s showgrounds in Warren County. It will be held April 29-May 3, with a pre-show the weekend before.

The Garden State Horse Show, which spent a year at the USET Foundation, is moving to a new location this spring. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)

The Junior Essex Troop ran as a military-style organization for boys that had its own farm in West Orange. At one time, the organization presented the largest junior show in America. It became an open show in 1972, known for its fun and challenging outside course, which involved crossing a stream and going up and down a hill.

“It’s a horse show I’ve been going to since I was a little kid. I grew up there,” said Nona. Recalling galloping down “the mountain” and splashing through the water, she estimated she had been involved with the show for 50-plus years.

Nona Garson and George D’Ambrosio. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)

She and George are “really excited about it,” appreciating the chance to host a show with such a long history that it is number 145 on the roster of  the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s 2,300 recognized competitions.

The troopers proudly wore their uniforms, taking care of the horses at the farm while relishing aspects of military life, including marching and riding with the organization’s well-known drill team, building an unshakeable camaraderie. Though the Troop disbanded as an active equestrian organization in the late 1980s, the former troopers enjoyed an annual reunion putting on the show, doing everything from announcing to management and serving as jump crew.

After the West Orange farm was sold in 1983, the show moved to Chubb Park in Chester and then to the Sussex County fairgrounds in 1987, where it became New Jersey’s largest horse show.

At every location, the former troopers, worked tirelessly to stage it. But handling everything was getting harder as the men got older. After the troop stopped functioning as an active equestrian operation, there wasn’t a legacy of younger people to bring up through the ranks, who could keep the show going in band of brothers style.

Troop alumni made their show an annual reunion. (Photo© 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)

Garden State last year relocated to the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation in Gladstone, where it occupied just one ring, compared with the eight it utilized at its previous home in Sussex.

That followed a similar move in 2016 by the Monmouth County Horse Show when it transferred to the Somerset County location, but the concept didn’t work as well for Garden State as it did for Monmouth.

Tucker Ericson, who guides Monmouth at the Team, ran Garden State in 2019 but estimated about half of the exhibitors at the troop show were different from the Monmouth competitors.

While Monmouth’s highest U.S. Equestrian Federation rating is B on several days, Garden State had a double-A rating for hunters and included Level 4 jumpers as well, highlighted by a $25,000 grand prix.

With only one ring, the show had to run nine days to include everything, and as Nona mentioned, it’s a quite a commitment to stay at one show for that long.

Tucker pointed out, “A one-ring horse show is very hard to break even. If not for the sponsors and the trainers supporting hospitality, then these shows can’t exist. It’s critical for that support to pull this off.”

When Tucker, who works in insurance, took a new job, he no longer had time for Garden State. At that point, it was obvious a big change was inevitable. Nona and George, who also run the highly succesful Turf Tour in Wellington, Fla., seemed to those involved with the show like the right management team to take over.

“We thought they were the best possiblity for continuing a show that was more in line with the way the Garden State Horse Show has been conducted, which was from the lead line to the grand prix riders, the expanse of talent and capabilities, not just an elite show,” said Rodney Seelig, who has served as Garden State’s chairman.

Nona anticipates this year’s show will have four or five rings. She and George are working on trying to get sponsorship for a $50,000 grand prix.

The troop organization will continue, but what it will do–aside from a reunion at this year’s fixture–is still under discussion.

“The show has been an all-encompassing operation of the organization for so many years,” said Rodney, pointing out that now, there is finally some breathing room and time to weigh whether troop alums should focus on giving scholarships or other philanthropic pursuits.

Whatever happens, none of those involved will ever forget their experience with the troop or the show.

The Garden State group at Sussex.

“My fondest memory of the whole time was working with such a good crew of people,” said Tim.

“When you are fortunate enough to be part of a great team, it’s one of the most rewarding experiences you can have in life.”

Looking at the big picture: Going beyond horse sports to give back

by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 18, 2020

Equestrians too often are viewed as people of privilege—even if they’re struggling to maintain a single horse in a humble backyard barn. But what most of those outside the horse world don’t realize is that many charity efforts not necessarily related directly to horses are spearheaded by individual equine enthusiasts or groups, doing everything from helping in disasters (such as the bush fires in Australia) to rescuing dogs (Danny and Ron’s) and taking on land use issues (Equestrian Land Conservation Resource).

There is also, however, a wider vantagepoint in terms of the impact equestrians make around the world, which is even lesser-known by the general public. Jim Wolf saw an opportunity to highlight what is being done for a variety of wide-ranging causes, organizing a seminar on “The Equestrian Community’s Impact on Global, Environmental and Social Issues,” at the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s annual meeting in West Palm Beach this month.

Jim, who has worked for USEF and the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation, is an entrepreneur who runs the Wolf Sports Group and knows key figures across the disciplines. With the sponsorship of MARS Equestrian, a major player on the scene these days, he organized the high-profile panel of thinkers and doers who operate independently with a broad range of initiatives.

The equestrian impact panel: Mollie Bogardus, Dave Vos, Jessica Newman, Joe Gerbino, David Jones and host Jim Wolf.

Anyone who sat in on or viewed the session (via the USEF network) would have agreed with Jim’s initial inspiration—“Wouldn’t it be interesting to harness the power of our equestrian community to help with some of these really important causes.

“To do that, it is necessary to let the public get a glimpse at how these organizations are helping in the big picture. I’m in a unique position to connect people and I’m going to do it, because it’s the right thing to do,” said Jim, who is planning similar forums, some with different participants, elsewhere in the future.

Jim noted, “The crowd that was here was incredibly engaged. There was a lot of passion about this topic within our community, but they haven’t had a voice to express it as a community that I’m aware of.”

Among the participating groups was Brooke USA, represented by veterinarian David Jones.  Brooke USA and its associated organization, The Brooke, annually serve more than 2 million working equines in underdeveloped countries. Representatives bring veterinary care and teach owners how to properly care for their animals, a practice that benefits more than 12 million people who rely on the creatures for transportation and their livelihood.  The welfare of their animals is directly related to the welfare of their owners and their families.

“There is,” the veterinarian pointed out, “a lot of effort that has been put into trying to make these communities that we work with, in a three-to-five-year period, sustainable and give them empowerment to look after their own needs.”

Jessica Newman, a former grand prix show jumper, spoke about her work as founder and president of JustWorld International, which has involved many other show ring competitors. Her organization funds educational and nutritional programs, in addition to medical resources for families in underdeveloped areas.

“When I graduated, I felt an incredible need to unite the global equestrian community, which I had grown up in, in order to effect positive change in the world that could fracture the cycle of global poverty,” she said. “I’ve always thought the power and influence of the equestrian community is enormous and I wanted to create a platform for philanthropy within the equestrian sector.”

Dave Vos, who owns eventing horses for Phillip Dutton, founded the Vos Foundation with a goal of planting more than 1 trillion trees before the year 2030 to eat up the rising concentration of global carbon emissions.

“We have a significant responsibility to address what we’ve done to the atmosphere, but we also have a remarkable opportunity to do that now,” said the native of South Africa.

Alternatively, he suggested “planting 13 trees a year for every person alive on the planet.”

Mollie Bogardus of Washington State started Aveterra, which deals with “creating value from waste.”  She talked about sustainable manure removal and disposal, always an issue for equestrian operations.

“I’ve come to really understand the economics of manure and what happens when water hits our manure piles and our paddocks that aren’t cleaned. Nutrients in the manure leach out into the waterways and when there is access to these nutrients in the water, it feeds the algae that exists there and makes it go crazy, suffocating anything underneath of it,” she said.

One step toward alleviating the problem is a relationship with the local conservation district, she suggested, but technology and a good composting system can make a huge difference in the impact on costs and the environment.

Joe Gerbino, the global communications director of cocoa at MARS, focused on sustainability, a key factor as the company continues improving its global footprint. MARS hones in on three key areas: climate action, water stewardship and land use. The company wants to make sure the cocoa used in its products is 100 percent traceable. The goal is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 27 percent by 2025 and 67 percent by 2050.

Bridgett McIntosh, director of MARS Equestrian who served as moderator for the session, noted the concept was the “most authentic way to expand on our partnership with the USEF and show our commitment to having a meaningful impact on equestrian sports and the

“At MARS, our approach to business starts with our purpose, and the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do our business today. This is our inspiration for pushing boundaries and challenging ourselves in the way we do business.” She pointed out that “horse health and environmental health go hand in hand. The equestrian element is the common passion we share as a community. It’s about doing the right thing, and horses tie us all together.”

The forum was just one of a number of informational opportunities at the convention, which for the first time focused on major issues rather than rule changes (rule changes will be approved at the USEF board’s June meeting.)

On awards nights during the convention, individual achievers were featured. Tim Dutta, whose company ships horses all over the world, received the Sallie Busch Wheeler Trophy for distinguished service to equestrian sport.

Tim Dutta, winner of the Sallie Busch Wheeler trophy.

Not bad for a guy who came to this country from India and started working as a groom for Conrad Homfeld, before becoming a taxi driver in New York and finally founding his own successful business.

The National Equestrian of the Year was hunter rider Nick Haness, while the hunter El Primero, shown by Victoria Colvin and owned by Bryan Baldwin and Meralex Farm, was the National Horse of the Year. The Dutch warmblood won the 2019 Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby.

Tom Brennan with National Rider of the Year Nick Haness.

Five-time International Equestrian of the Year Beezie Madden captured the title again. Although the Olympic multi-medalist is best known as a great rider,

Beezie also earns kudos for dedication and commitment to her work as a USEF board member. She always shows up for meetings and contributes to the discussions. Few athletes come close to participating in governance the way she does. Beezie realizes how important it is and takes it seriously.

Darry Lou, the Dutchbred stallion owned by Abigail Wexner and ridden by Beezie, was the International Horse of the Year. His victories included the world’s richest show jumping competition, the $3 million CP International Grand Prix presented by Rolex at Spruce Meadows last September.

He was far from Beezie’s first winner of the award—others she rode who have taken the title include Authentic, Simon and Cortes C.

Darry Lou belongs in their ranks because as Beezie put it, “He just does everything right. If I have a fault, it’s usually my fault, because he pretty much does everything I ask him to do. He’s special in that way. He has all the qualities you need.

Beezie Madden, center, scored a double by taking the International Rider of the Year title and the International Horse of the Year honors with her mount, Darry Lou.

“He’s maybe not as spectacular a jumper as others, but he’s very correct, he’s very careful, he’s  scopey, he’s nice to ride, he has a super temperament. He’s a pleasure to deal with,” she said.

If Beezie had to pick a ride for this summer’s Tokyo Olympics, she revealed (not surprisingly), Darry Lou “would be number one.”