by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 6, 2020
Ticket sales for April’s Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event have been delayed until a date to be announced in January, due to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 situation.
While the tickets normally would be available in the autumn of the year before the Kentucky Horse Park competition presented by MARS Equestrian, Mike Cooper, president of EEI that puts on the competition, explained the reason for holding off.
Oliver Townend was the winner at Kentucky in 2019, the last year the event was held. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
“As we continue to navigate these unchartered waters connected to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are in constant communication with the USEF, Kentucky Horse Park, and local governments,” said Mike Cooper, EEI president.
“Naturally, our prime concern is the safety and well-being of everyone and, given the current circumstances, we think it wisest to delay the opening of ticket sales until we are certain that we have the absolute best plans regarding spectator capacity and safety.”
The event, set for April 22-25 2021, was cancelled for this year in the midst of the pandemic, along with the $225,000 Kentucky CSI3* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, which is held on April 24, the Saturday of the 5-star after cross-country.
The Kentucky event, will include a 4-star S this year in addition to the 5-star, is very dependent on spectators and its trade fair. Among the steps expected to be implemented is an expansion of the number of tailgating spaces available for Saturday’s cross-country competition. This will allow for increased opportunities for watching cross country while maintaining any required social distancing.
Single-Day and Multi-Day tickets will be available. All grounds admission tickets to the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event will include general parking and admission to the Kentucky Horse Park and International Trade Fair, but not access to competition in Rolex Stadium on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Reserved grandstand seating for those days is sold separately from grounds admission. Grounds admission is free for children 12 years old and under with adult ticket purchases.
Plans for hospitality packages are still being formulated and will be announced before tickets go on sale in January. For more information, go to https://kentuckythreedayevent.com/
“Many spectators, patrons and sponsors chose to roll over the money they had paid for the 2020 event and are anxious to hear plans for 2021,” said Lee Carter, EEI executive director.
“While we don’t yet know exactly what the 2021 event will look like, EEI will continue to ensure that those who rolled over their money receive maximum benefit for doing so and everyone can be sure that next year’s Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event and the Kentucky CSI3* Invitational Grand Prix will still be `The Best Weekend All Year!’”
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 1, 2020
It is truly the end of an era. Lt. Col. John Russell, the last of America’s influential cavalry veterans, passed away at his home in Texas Sept. 30 The world’s oldest living Olympic medalist was 100 years, 7 months and 28 days.
He likely was the last student of the legendary Brig. Gen. Harry Chamberlin in the Army’s equitation course before mechanization put an end to it.
The colonel, a show jumper, was the first non-German to win the Hamburg Derby–doing it on the American-bred quarter horse, Rattler–and rode on the U.S. bronze medal team at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952.
He also was part of the team that took the Nations Cups in Lucerne, Switzerland, and Dublin. As an individual, he won the puissance in Dublin, as well as the Prize of Paris in 1949.
Col. Russell eventually was put in charge of the U.S. Modern Pentathlon Training Center, serving as a mentor and inspiration to scores of athletes over 80 years.
John Russell, second from left, met at the Helsinki Olympics with Capt. Antonio Reimao and Maj. Fernando Paes of Portugal and Sgt. 1st Class Norman Brinker of the USA.
Gretchen Ornia Pacher, who owns Palermo Show Stable in Bedminster with her husband, Osvaldo, rode with Col. Russell during her junior years in San Antonio, along with her younger sister, Kate Bauer, and best friend, Gayle Cox.
His students always called their instructor “Colonel,” even though his army days were long behind him. Gretchen noted, “Colonel really never stopped teaching, he loved this sport so much that he taught as long as he could up through his final years.
Col. Russell behind the desk at his office in San Antonio.
He was, she said, “a kind man who loved our sport and all aspects of it. His teaching methods made riders think and problem-solve for themselves. One famous line in lessons was Come again,' which basically meant,`Think about the jump or exercise you just did and try it again.’ No elaborate explanations, just think and give it another try.”
Col. Russell served in World War II as a member of Gen. George Patton’s staff, selected because of his equestrian skills–you’ll remember that Patton was quite a horseman himself–and earned a Bronze Star, the Soldier’s Medal and a Purple Heart. After the war, he was named to the U.S. Olympic team for the 1948 London Games, part of the last U.S. equestrian delegation chosen from the U.S. Army. Col. Russell finished 21st in individual jumping on Air Mail.
Once the Army equestrian team was disbanded, Col. Russell was selected for the first civilian U.S. equestrian team in 1952. At the Games in Helsinki that year, he won team jumping bronze on Democrat alongside Arthur McCashin (Miss Budweiser) and Bill Steinkraus (Hollandia).
At the 1951 National Horse Show, John Russell rode the Italian thoroughbred Blue Devil to win the Royce A. Drake Memorial Challenge Trophy, donated to the show by the 1948 U.S. Army Horse Show Team. Blue Devil also evented. (Photo by Budd)
In 1956, Col. Russell became the officer in charge of the U.S. Modern Pentathlon Training Center at Fort Sam Houston,Texas. Over the subsequent decades, he coached the U.S. modern pentathlon delegations at six Olympic Games, where his athletes won six medals. His teams were also winners in the world championships. He helped organize the 1959 and 1977 World Modern Pentathlon Championships, and organized the modern pentathlon at the 1959 Pan American Games.
Olympic eventing medalist Jim Wofford, who was assigned to the pentathlon stables while he was in the Army, remembered that his father, Col. John Wofford, the first president of the U.S. Equestrian Team, was Col. Russell’s coach. In an interesting twist of fate, Col. Russell in turn became Jim’s coach.
Jim recalled that Col. Russell offered, “such an unusual mixture. His foundational riding was completely and thoroughly technically correct. And yet his training and teaching were entirely based on intuition.
“What made him special was his extraordinary ability to understand the horse’s capabilities, to understand the rider’s capabilities and to understand how to get the rider to maximize the horse’s capabilities That is not a function of keeping the straight line from the elbow to the horse’s mouth.”
Jim also cited the colonel’s “come again” technique, that helped enable riders to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it.
Even though Col. Russell was no longer in the service when Jim was riding for him, he still had the clout of a commanding officer, “because whatever he said around the stables went.”
Gretchen recalled Col. Russell as “a friendly man who loved conversation. He and my father, Dr. Charles Bauer, would have lengthy conversations even after we were no longer clients. We often visited Colonel when we’d all go home to Texas for Thanksgiving. He was always interested in the horses Osvaldo and I would find in Argentina.
“In a sense, I can thank Colonel for my marriage. Col. Russell was the one who presented the invitation to my sister for the international junior jumper competition where Osvaldo and I met.
“Colonel was a phenomenal rider himself. Apart from being an Olympic medalist, he was a stylish rider with a knack for winning.
“There are thousands of stories about Col. Russell. He touched so many people’s lives, not only the riders he taught, but their families as well. He will be remembered as a wonderful and hard-working man who lived a full and productive life.” Due to Covid, there currently is not a planned service. He will be laid to rest at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery with family present.
“Next time I visit my father’s grave there, I will definitely stop and pay my respects to this very important man in my life. I look forward to an announcement of a celebration of his life in the future. I’m sure his friends and family will do one, once we can all gather again.”
Col. Russell on Democrat at the 1952 Olympics.
Col. Russell received many awards in recognition of his importance to the sport, including the Pegasus Medal of Honor from the U.S. Equestrian Federation and the Gold Medal of Honor from the UIPM, modern pentathlon’s international federation. He was inducted into the U.S. Show Jumping Hall of Fame in 2001 and the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the FEI in 2010.
After retiring from coaching, he ran the Russell Equestrian Center in San Antonio, where his sons carried on his legacy and trained the next generation of champions.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation or USA Modern Pentathlon.
British sailor Jasper Blackall, also 100, is now the oldest living Olympic medalist.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 1, 2020
If there were an official title for the top hunt seat equitation horse of all time, it would go to Grappa, the appropriate namesake of the Best Horse title at the East Coast Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search.
Grappa, an equitation horse to remember.
The seven-time national champion, owned by Sarah Willeman, left us this week at the remarkable age of 34. She often posted photos of him, and he looked great in retirement, grazing with his pal, Otter.
He took his final bow for the public in 2006 at the Washington International Horse Show. Sara called the years after that, “a gift beyond what I could have expected.”
She recalled that “his extraordinary life force made him unruly and brilliant as a show horse. The wild look in his eye that used to warn us of upcoming antics reassured me in his later years: a sign that he was thriving, still himself. His beauty, grace and class were with him to the end. An extraordinary being in all ways, a horse we all felt lucky to know.”
Sarah, who thanked caretaker Nancy Shaw for her efforts, noted, “What Grappa did for me in my riding career is forever part of me. And even more than the achievements, the chance to be his person, to learn from him, to care for him over many years, has helped to shape who I am. Whenever I’m with any horse, Grappa is in my heart.”
Trainer Missy Clark remembered that “Grappa ran the show, and we had to figure out ways to fit into his playbook. There will never be another soul like Grappa.”
After Lauren Bass rode him to the Maclay title in 1996, the year that the National Horse Show returned to Madison Square Garden from the Meadowlands, Lauren also was aboard the next year for victory in the AHSA Medal Finals.
When Sarah bought him, she won the 1998 Washington International Horse Show finals with the former jumper, then went on to take the Medal and USET East Coast Show Jumping Talent Search Finals. She leased him to Missy’s stuents, including Brian Walker, who won the Maclay in 2001 while in 2002, Maggie Jayne took the Medal finals.
“I am so incredibly grateful to have had a horse like Grappa in my life,” stated Missy.
“His talent, athleticism, individualism and desire to win were the traits that set him apart. His sense of humor was unforgettable too. He not only had an impressive track record of winning national championships, but he also had quite a track record of bucking people off! Luckily I escaped that fate, but he could sure keep you on your toes!
Missy offered condolences to Sarah and her mother, Anne Meyer, on their loss of such a remarkable horse.
“Godspeed Grappa… you were one in a million and I will remember all that you taught me for the rest of time.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 30, 2020
The Essex Foxhounds Masters Chase is always a fun fall happening at Natirar in Peapack, with races for everyone, whether you have a stick horse or a thoroughbred, and lots of tailgating.
But Covid has taken another competition from us, as the chase was just cancelled. Essex Joint Master Jazz Merton explained, “Fox hunting has been incredible lately; we are so, so fortunate to have been able to get outside enjoying the countryside sport in these difficult times, where quarantines, social distancing and avoiding big group gatherings have kept us from our normal activities.
“The Natirar race day that benefits the Countryside Alliance of the Somerset Hills is a very family-oriented day,” she said. Explaining the cancellation, Jazz added, “We just felt that the family tailgating experience would be too risky with the exposure and would potentially compromise our safe enjoyment of this wonderfully social celebration of our sport.”
Instead, Essex is offering a chance for riders to enjoy another hunter pace as they have added one Oct. 25 to the schedule at Cedar Lane Farm on Homestead Road in Oldwick. For more on Essex, go to www.essexfoxhounds.org.
Other paces this fall include the Monmouth County Hunt’s themed outing starting at their hunt kennels, 50 E. Branch Road, Allentown. The final pace in its series Nov. 1 offers thoroughbred challenge awards and a tailgate contest. All jumps have go-arounds.
There are three divisions, with the fee $55 for adults and $35 for juniors. Both English and western riders are welcome, with protective headgear, of course. For more information, go to this link
The Spring Valley Hounds’ hunter pace is Nov. 1 in Allamuchy, Warren County. There are six divisions, including a “fossil” section for which the ages of the two riders on a team must add up to 110. The fee is $50 per rider. Teams go out from 9 a.m. through 12:30 p.m. For details, go to http://www.springvalleyhounds.com/hunter-paces.html
There’s a grand prize of $500 for the best performance in two of the three Spring Valley paces this year.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 30, 2020
There will be a hunter/jumper/equitation show at Duncraven in Titusville, Mercer County, Oct. 11 to raise money for Kevin Babington, who was paralyzed in August 2019 when his horse fell in a grand prix.
The show, which debuted last year, offers raffles and sales of items from bandannas to bows that will benefit Kevin and his family as he continues his rehabilitation.,
Kevin’s hard-working wife, Dianna, says that as often as possible, Kevin goes to NeroFit 360 Physical Therapy in Florida, which we are told is his best chance to get moving.
Over the last year, he has made some recovery in movement of his right arm and toes on both feet. He has started to feel areas in his body that went silent after the accident.
As Dianna noted, “The therapists tell us `if you want to get out of the chair you must get out of the chair.’ The work he does is hard for him. It’s painful and exhausting, but he never gives up. He is still a true athlete.”
She added the costs are high to give Kevin the best chance to recover as much as possible. The Kevin Babington Foundation helps tremendously but the Kevin Babington Trust money keeps everything going so he can focus on improving his quality of life and getting out of that wheelchair.
Raffle and silent auction donations are still being accepted. Click on the link below to see Kevin working hard at his physical therapy.
https://www.facebook.com/100001071221248/videos/pcb.3449083931803947/3449083281804012/
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 21, 2020
When you’ve fallen off your horse, then ended up sporting a black eye and bloody nose after another ride, it may seem that you didn’t have a good day on the cross-country course. But if you earn a nice trophy at the end of the process, it’s a great day after all,
That’s how it was for Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp, who had her downs and ups at the Plantation Field International Horse Trials in Pennsylvania on Sunday.
The first downer literally involved hitting the ground, when Flash Cooley ran into trouble at a massive ditch and oxer, the sixth fence on the 4-star Short route.
“He’s a wonderful horse he’s only eight years old,” said Liz, who led him off the course after her tumble.
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Flash Cooley are none the worse for wear after a tumble on cross-country. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
“He is still green and very careful. That was a huge fence– he just panicked a little and jumped into the middle. We’ll drop him down a level to finish off his season easy and happy,” she said.
He was her second mount of the day. Cooley Quicksilver had gone around the course previously without incident and finished 13th.
Once Liz had time to catch her breath, she was up again on Deniro Z, the winner last month at the MARS Great Meadow International event in Virginia. All went well for her until the eighth obstacle, a combination.
“I had a little bit of an exciting moment at the first water, just where he jumped so big in, and then I got really deep to the skinny,” she recalled.
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z at the foundation wall, an iconic Plantation Field backdrop. (Photo © 2020 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
She got smacked in the face by his neck, and that was some blow.
“I was seeing double on the way to the coffin,” she said, referring to the upcoming three-part combination.
“Luckily, my vision came back just before I had to jump in,” she said with a smile. Liz galloped the rest of the way with a very bloody nose and an eye that was turning black, but all she talked about was how her mount took over when she needed him.
“It shows what a great horse he is. He just jumped in (to the coffin) and didn’t look at it. He’s a world class horse. I’m just lucky to ride him,” said Liz, who envisions a great future with the Dutch warmblood.
“I would hope the Olympics happens and I hope I’m there on him. I think he’s as good as any horse could ever be. I just think the world of him.”
She was spot-on the optimum time of six minutes, 22 seconds. Only two other riders of the group that finished from the original field of 53 were able to make the time, though no one else got it exactly. Liz led since the beginning of the event, adding 0.40 time penalties in stadium jumping to her dressage score of 26.40.
Phillip Dutton had been right behind her with his brilliant horse Z since the beginning of the competition with a dressage score of 27.30, but he wound up with two time penalties on cross country to finish on 29.30 in second place.
“I thought it was a great competition and the cross-country caused a little more trouble than expected – the time was tight,” he noted.
Another view of the foundation, as Phillip Dutton rides through on Z. (Photo © 2020 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Phillip, who is on the board of the event, missed the crowds who normally attend. The U.S. Equestrian Federation prohibits spectators because of the Covid situation.
He noted that a few months ago, the board was trying to decide whether an event could be held under the circumstances.
“We had to keep it kind of bare-bones, since we wouldn’t have spectators, etc. coming in. But people wanted to run their horses and we wanted to give them that opportunity,” he said.
“All credit goes to Denis and Bambi Glaccum and Mary Coldren, who put it all together.”
Woods Baughman, a 24-year-old assistant trainer to top-level rider Sharon White, finished 10 seconds slower on cross-country than Liz with C’est La Vie 135. But his trip was good enough to move him up to third on 36.90 penalties after finishing 10th in dressage and getting time penalties in stadium jumping, going from 10th after dressage to sixth following stadium.
Woods Baughman on C’est la Vie 135. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
“We’re going home happy,” said Woods, who calls his 12-year-old Holsteiner “a real machine. You just point him to the jumps and he takes you there. He can put up a bit of a fight but you just kind of have to let him go and do his thing and have a blast.”
In Saturday’s 3-star, Maya Black rode FE Black Ice to the title. Plantation Field has special meaning for Maya, who grew up on Whidbey Island, Wash., and is the cousin of dressage Olympian Adrienne Lyle.
“I think this was my first East Coast win in the 4-star many years ago,” Maya recalled with a smile.
Maya Black and FE Black Ice. (Photo © 2020 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
“So it’s been a very special event for me. I’ve always come here and love this event, the feeling of it, a pretty big atmosphere. It’s always just been such a blast.
“If I had my way I’d be able to come here again with more horses in the future,” she said. Maya was referring to the fact that the property owner cancelled the event’s lease after a website’s allegation that the Plantation name was racist and wasn’t welcoming to people of color.
Plantation refers to a place where trees were planted, and of course there were never slaves there because it’s in Pennsylvania. (See the On the Rail item on this website for a further explanation.
“If there’s anything we can do as riders,” said Maya, “we will get behind the event and the people who put it on and try to make it something we can enjoy for many years down the road.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 18, 2020
As 1978 wound down, Denis Glaccum knew he was in trouble. With little time until his end-of-year deadline, he was not close to making his quota as a salesman for IBM.
Inspired by something he read in an article about kids with cancer, he put a sign on his car that stated, “You may give up hope, but don’t give up trying.” He saw it every day as he got in his vehicle, and it encouraged him.
“I made my quota on Monday, Dec. 31 of that year. I can remember jumping up and down and yelling,” said Denis, flashing back to how excited he was after doing what he had to do. That wouldn’t be the last time he achieved a goal.
It was, he said, “a lesson that changed my life. I was not going to give up,” noted Denis, president of the Plantation Field Equestrian Events series of horse trials in Pennsylvania. Even at age 79, after dealing with some health problems, his determination hasn’t taken a hit.
Denis Glaccum speaking at the 2019 U.S. Eventing Association annual meeting.
“We as individuals do have the ability to make things happen,” he believes, and proved it again this year in the face of Covid restrictions that put many 2020 equestrian events out to pasture.
When he returned to Pennsylvania after a winter spent in Aiken, S.C., everyone was telling him, “We won’t be able to do it,” that the future of the Plantation Field horse trials this season looked bleak,
He was having none of it. When the first two trials on the schedule had to be cancelled as the U.S. Equestrian Federation banned all licensed competitions from March 20 to June 1, the June trials became a must-do. And so they happened, a tribute to his doggedness.
“We were the first sporting event held in Chester County in June, one of three held on the same weekend around the country,” he said proudly.
Doug Payne in an iconic Plantation Field cross-country setting. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
Another obstacle, more difficult than any he ever faced in a long cross-country riding career, came up when Plantation Field’s landowner, Cuyler Walker, announced he would no longer lease his land for eventing after this weekend’s international horse trials.
He took offense at the Eventing Nation website’s campaign to change the name of the event. The website contended the world Plantation had uncomfortable racial connotations, even though it referred in this case to the planting of trees, and obviously, Pennsylvania was not a slave state. (See the story in the On the Rail section of this website for details.)
Denis, however, is no stranger to dealing with controversy and always fights back. There are many stories attesting to that.
Molly Bliss remembers what he did for her when she was seeking a berth on the U.S. squad for the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Sweden. She was training in Britain, the youngest rider with the American contingent, and found herself “treated very differently by our coach at the time. He had made it clear that he thought women riders were not up to the same standards as men.” She was not invited to go to the WEG with the rest of the riders.
“Heartbroken, I went into London for the day, assuming I would be flying back to the States that week,” she recalled.
“While I was gone, my mother back at home called Denis. He immediately came to my defense and by the time I had returned from London that evening, Denis and (USET Executive Director) Jack Fritz had made it very clear I was back on the team and would be going to Stockholm.” Molly, who finished capably there, said, “I’ll forever be grateful to Denis for standing by me then and for always being one of my biggest supporters.”
Olympic eventing medalist Jim Wofford calls Denis, “One of these invaluable people that are basically behind the scenes who make the sport grow and improve. He can be difficult because he sees what he wants to do and goes and does it.
“He doesn’t always bring the bureaucracy with him. All of his efforts are well-intentioned and have led to improvements in the sport,” added Jim, citing the wonderful competitions that have been held at Plantation since its transformation from fields to a venue.
Denis organized the memorable Chesterland event that began in Pennsylvania in 1976, then moved to Fair Hill, Md., to run events there before a disagreement with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources led him to start the events at Plantation Field. Being outspoken has not always made things easy for Denis, but he’s not the type who asks that things be easy.
“I decided I would rather open my mouth and be wrong than sit silent,” he noted.
His dedication has been recognized many times. In 2001, he won the Wofford Cup for his contributions to the sport, he’s a member of the U.S. Eventing Hall of Fame and formerly served on the U.S. Equestrian Team’s Three-Day Event committee, as well as being secretary and vice president of U.S. Eventing’s predecessor, the U.S. Combined Training Association.
For him, it’s always been all about horses and making the sport better. Denis grew up in South Orange, N.J., and rode with the Junior Essex Troop, going into the organization as an 11-year-old private.
Dennis learning to jump in 1953.
Members of the Troop, founded in 1943 as a cadet auxiliary of the Essex Troop of the 102d Cavalry, New Jersey National Guard, wore military uniforms marked with the insignia of their rank and handled many tasks at the organization’s West Orange farm. Their activities ranged from courses in marksmanship to rides of 20 and 30 miles where troopers stayed the night in the field with their horses.
The program cost his parents $75 a year and the discipline instilled in him not only fortitude, but also a passion for hard work.
Denis as a member of the Junior Essex Troop (the National Guard Armory is in the background) jumping for the Netherlands trophy at the troop farm in West Orange.
“The only thing I did well at that stage of my life was ride,” said Denis, who came of age during the infancy of eventing in this country. He rode in the 1960 Olympic trials in California, and knew so many figures who grew the sport in this country. As he talks about what things were like 60 years ago, he peppers his conversation with a host of famous names; Philip Hofmann, first president of the U.S. Combined Training Association; Olympians Brig. Gen. Franklin (Fuddy) Wing and Maj. Gen. Guy V. Henry, as well as Max Palmer, who guided the Junior Essex Troop.
Denis competing at Pebble Beach on Wait-a-Minute in 1962.
The officials in those days, he recalled, were all ex-cavalry, operating in an environment much more structured than today’s, “where you learned how to conduct yourself.”
Brian Murray, a member of U.S. Eventing’s board of governors, has known Denis since 1963. He remembers him from that time as “a character; he was focused. He was eight years older than I was. I didn’t really understand eventing in those days. But he was doing something none of us were doing, he was a very good rider and a very driven guy, even then.”
Denis has an important partner in his wife, Bambi, a granddaughter of Amory Haskell, the first president of the Monmouth Park Racetrack. New Jersey’s most prestigious flat race, the Haskell, is named after him.
Bambi recalled her first encounter with Denis at a party she didn’t want to attend. Her mother cajoled her into going, saying prophetically, “You need to go to this party because you might meet your future husband there.”
And that’s just the way it happened. She found herself sitting next to Denis and had no idea who he was, so she asked, “Do you ride?”
Denis took it from there. The couple has two children, Ellie and John Amory, and five grandchildren.
Of living for more than half a century with Denis, Bambi, who serves as secretary of the eventing series, said, “He has an opinion about everything. I’m never bored. He has always loved horses, and if push comes to shove, the horses take precedence over everything.”
The couple has three horses, one of which is an off-the-track thoroughbred that Denis still rides.
As he talked about his involvement with the sport to which he has dedicated his life, Denis said, ”I always got more satisfaction if the horses go well or improve, or if the kids I was teaching improved, than necessarily winning anything. My thing in eventing still is I can go to one of the low-level trials and laugh the whole day. I see people enjoying themselves, I see people doing a sport that requires many traits or skills that do not exist anywhere else anymore in our society.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 18, 2020
Reacting to the Eventing Nation website’s “attack” on the use of the name Plantation Field for the major eventing series in Unionville, Pa., property owner Cuyler Walker announced on Sept. 16 that he is cancelling the lease of his land for the competitions.
The Plantation Field International Horse Trials, where competition begins tomorrow, will continue through the weekend, but Denis Glaccum, president of Plantation Field Equestrian Events, said he and Walker “will not accept censoring of our First Amendment rights.”
Eventing Nation had cited the “troubling associations inherent in the name Plantation Field. Specifically, the word `plantation.’ ”
In an editorial, the website maintained that “Asking people of color to come visit, to spectate, volunteer, or compete, at a place called Plantation is insensitive at best and works against our efforts to implement more diversity in the sport.”
At the same time, it also was noted that no one associated with the event had an objective to offend with use of the name. And Eventing Nation pointed out Plantation Field proceeds benefited Work to Ride, a program for disadvantaged urban youths that offers them an opportunity to ride and work with horses.
Then after learning today that Walker was cancelling the lease, Eventing Nation posted this message: “The loss of this event is a significant one for our sport. Our intention was to open a discussion, guided by the governing organizations, to make sure diverse BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) would be welcomed and included in every area of eventing.
“We are deeply saddened that the property owner has chosen this path rather than join us in an open discussion about inclusivity as it reflects on the name of this iconic venue.”
Eventing Nation’s editor, Leslie Wylie, did not return a call seeking further comment.
A storm erupted on social media with word about why the lease was being cancelled, during a year when many events–including U.S. Eventing’s own American Eventing Championships–were not held as a result of the pandemic.
The U.S. Eventing board of governors decided in a recent meeting that it would not use the name Plantation Field in media releases or write-ups of the event. Glaccum contended the organization’s investigation found just two people who were offended by the name, neither were from the area.
USEA vice president of active athletes and board member Doug Payne, who did not attend that meeting, called the situation “demoralizing.”
He is, he said, “Absolutely dismayed with actions that have led to the removal of the venue and I think it’s a massive detriment to the sport going forward.”
Payne sent a letter to the USEA board, suggesting it should do “some serious looking inward. I think they need to about-face on this. They’re tasked with growing the sport and right now, and we’re cutting it down.
“Clearly, I want no exclusionary policies; you don’t want people getting pushed away. The impact here is a massive negative and I’m obviously disappointed between the USEA and Eventing Nation with their actions that led to this.”
The USEA CEO Rob Burk and its president, Max Corcoran, apparently took Payne’s advice, issuing a statement on Sept. 17 saying: “Having this historic competition close isn’t the right result for the sport, and the USEA is working hard to find a solution. The organizer and landowners operate exceptional events on a beautiful piece of land.”
Having seen the light, they noted, “We are deeply sensitive to the history of the word ‘plantation’ and its connection to slavery; however, this property has no known connections to slavery (the emphasis is mine) and was instead named after ‘plantings’ on the property.
“We understand that neither the organizer nor the landowners have ever intended to cause any discomfort related to the name of the event and to imply otherwise is a disservice to our organizers, landowners, and our sport. The USEA does not have the ability to require an event to change its name as we are required to carry the US Equestrian licensed name of the competition on our calendar of events. However, we are hopeful that an acceptable solution to this issue can be reached.”
Meanwhile,some of Eventing Nation’s sponsors dropped off in the fall-out of the lease cancellation. The website said it will be donating the vacated spaces to organizations doing good work in the equestrian world.
Prior to the issuance of the USEA’s statement, Glaccum said he was “extremely disappointed in the lack of leadership at the national level in dealing with this situation. This event welcomes riders from elementary to the 4* level at multiple competitions at the local, national and international level each year. It is also local to numerous professional riders including several Olympians. The loss of Plantation Field will be a huge loss to the entire equestrian community.”
So how did the iconic venue get its name?
In the 1930s, Plunkett Stewart, who had purchased the land in the early 20th century, allowed the Boy Scouts to plant hedges and trees there. The dictionary defines the word “Plantation” as “an area in which trees have been planted”. Colonial Pennsylvania considered properties less than 100 acres to be a farm, while more than that up to 1,000 acres was a plantation.
And what did the property have to do with slavery? Nothing, as was pointed out in the USEA statement. So why wasn’t that obvious in the first place?
Ironically, considering the current circumstances, the Unionville area is historically a Quaker community. The Quakers were one of the earliest abolitionist groups and fought against slavery. This area was also part of the Underground Railroad.
“What will other events think?” Glaccum wondered about the issue, which first arose in June. “This is how you treat someone?”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 17, 2020
Indoor competitions are in trouble in the Covid era, as cancellations pile up. This time, it’s the U.S. Dressage Finals.
The U.S. Dressage Federation’s premier event, scheduled for the Kentucky Horse Park in November, will not be held this year, it was announced today.
Although USDF President Lisa Gorretta explained that the board “considered every scenario and option,” she noted, “we simply could not be confident in our ability to overcome the obstacles beyond our control: the ever-changing picture of the pandemic from state to state, the requirements of the US Equestrian COVID-19 Action Plan to which the Kentucky Horse Park requires strict compliance, the stresses of deep cleaning the premises on the heels of the National Horse Show that would precede the arrival of our dressage horses, and the limitations of what we could provide for competitors, volunteers, and officials with the restrictions placed upon the Park itself.”
USDF plans to hold the finals at the park next year. Any competitor eligible for the 2020 finals, whether by placing or earning a qualifying wild card score, will be allowed to carry over their eligibility to the 2021 event. To be deemed “eligible,” competitors will still be required to complete a declaration and nomination for 2020. Declarations will remain open through the end of the 2020 regional championship season.
Prior to the announcement, trainer Heather Mason of Flying Change Farm in Tewksbury qualified her horse, Lincoln, for the I-2 class at the finals during today’s Region 8 competition. And then came the news.
“It’s disappointing for sure, but I do think it was probably the right move to make, because we don’t want to get down there and then have it cancelled, which happened to the Pony Finals,” said Heather. She pointed out that if the National Horse Show wound up experiencing Covid problems, it could have led to a last-minute cancellation of the dressage if plans were made to have it go ahead at the park.
The National is being allowed to utilize outdoor facilities at the park, but the dressage show is a week later when cold weather could really set in.
“It’s such a wonderful competition, but it’s not one you’d want to have outside,” Heather observed.
“A lot of people were torn about whether they were going or not. At least now people can focus on their Regionals and not be as stressed to try to qualify,” she noted.
Lisa stated, “I know that many of you are deeply disappointed, yet I hope that all of you will keep striving to achieve your riding and training goals. For some of you, perhaps this news will provide opportunities that were thought to be lost in the 2020 mayhem and now might allow you to plan to attend the Finals in 2021.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 16, 2020
Reacting to the Eventing Nation website’s “attack” on the use of the name Plantation Field for the major eventing series in Unionville, Pa., property owner Cuyler Walker announced today that he is cancelling the lease of his land for the competitions.
The Plantation Field International Horse Trials, where competition begins tomorrow, will continue through the weekend, but Denis Glaccum, president of Plantation Field Equestrian Events, said he and Walker “will not accept censoring of our First Amendment rights.”
Eventing Nation had cited the “troubling associations inherent in the name Plantation Field. Specifically, the word `plantation.’ ”
In an editorial, the website maintained that “Asking people of color to come visit, to spectate, volunteer, or compete, at a place called Plantation is insensitive at best and works against our efforts to implement more diversity in the sport.”
At the same time, it also was noted that no one associated with the event had an objective to offend with use of the name. And Eventing Nation pointed out Plantation Field proceeds benefited Work to Ride, a program for disadvantaged urban youths that offers them an opportunity to ride and work with horses.
Then after learning today that Walker was cancelling the lease, Eventing Nation posted this message: “The loss of this event is a significant one for our sport. Our intention was to open a discussion, guided by the governing organizations, to make sure diverse BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) would be welcomed and included in every area of eventing.
“We are deeply saddened that the property owner has chosen this path rather than join us in an open discussion about inclusivity as it reflects on the name of this iconic venue.”
Eventing Nation’s editor, Leslie Wylie, did not return a call seeking further comment.
A storm erupted on social media this afternoon with word about why the lease was being cancelled, during a year when many events–including U.S. Eventing’s own American Eventing Championships–were not held as a result of the pandemic.
The U.S. Eventing board decided in a recent meeting that it would not use the name Plantation Field in media releases or write-ups of the event. Glaccum contended the organization’s investigation found just two people who were offended by the name, neither were from the area.
Board member Doug Payne, who did not attend that meeting, called the situation “demoralizing.”
He is, he said, “Absolutely dismayed with actions that have led to the removal of the venue and I think it’s a massive detriment to the sport going forward.”
Payne sent a letter to the USEA board, suggesting it should do “some serious looking inward. I think they need to about-face on this. They’re tasked with growing the sport and right now, and we’re cutting it down.
“Clearly, I want no exclusionary policies; you don’t want people getting pushed away. The impact here is a massive negative and I’m obviously disappointed between the USEA and Eventing Nation with their actions that led to this.”
The USEA CEO Rob Burk and its president, Max Corcoran, apparently took Payne’s advice, issuing a statement on Sept. 17 saying: “Having this historic competition close isn’t the right result for the sport, and the USEA is working hard to find a solution. The organizer and landowners operate exceptional events on a beautiful piece of land.”
Having seen the light, they noted, “We are deeply sensitive to the history of the word ‘plantation’ and its connection to slavery; however, this property has no known connections to slavery (the emphasis is mine) and was instead named after ‘plantings’ on the property.
“We understand that neither the organizer nor the landowners have ever intended to cause any discomfort related to the name of the event and to imply otherwise is a disservice to our organizers, landowners, and our sport. The USEA does not have the ability to require an event to change its name as we are required to carry the US Equestrian licensed name of the competition on our calendar of events. However, we are hopeful that an acceptable solution to this issue can be reached.”
Meanwhile,some of Eventing Nation’s sponsors dropped off in the fall-out of the lease cancellation. The website said itwill be donating the vacated spaces to organizations doing good work in the equestrian world.
Prior to the issuance of the USEA’s statement, Glaccum said he was “extremely disappointed in the lack of leadership at the national level in dealing with this situation. This event welcomes riders from elementary to the 4* level at multiple competitions at the local, national and international level each year. It is also local to numerous professional riders including several Olympians. The loss of Plantation Field will be a huge loss to the entire equestrian community.”
So how did the iconic venue get its name?
In the 1930s, Plunket Stewart, who had purchased the land in the early 20th century, allowed the Boy Scouts to plant hedges and trees there. The dictionary defines the word “Plantation” as “an area in which trees have been planted”. Colonial Pennsylvania considered properties less than 100 acres to be a farm, while more than that up to 1,000 acres was a plantation.
And what did the property have to do with slavery? Nothing, as was pointed out in the USEA statement. So why wasn’t that obvious in the first place?
Ironically, considering the current circumstances, the Unionville area is historically a Quaker community. The Quakers were one of the earliest abolitionist groups and fought against slavery. This area was also part of the Underground Railroad.
“What will other events think?” Glaccum wondered about the issue, which first arose in June. “This is how you treat someone?”
