by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 16, 2020
There are still plenty of horses in the New Vernon section of Morris County’s Harding Township, but in an earlier era, the area really could be called horse country without any exaggeration.
It was the original home of the Spring Valley Hounds, founded in 1915 and now based in the wider-open spaces of northwest New Jersey’s Sussex and Warren counties.
The Spring Valley Hounds meeting at Tyvan Hill.
But anyone who has ridden in New Vernon over the years or still enjoys the bridle paths will appreciate a visit to Tyvan Hill, which for many years hosted Spring Valley’s Thanksgiving Day hunt. The stone building is open to the public until October 4 as the designer show house and gardens of Mansion in May, cleverly rechristened Splendor in September after it was postponed due to the pandemic.
A fundraiser presented by the Women’s Association for Morristown Medical Center, it features rooms re-created with the imagination of a variety of designers. There are some horsey notes–a wide-ranging mural by Cindy Gelormini, known as the “Paint Diva of New Jersey” offers her interpretation of the hunt meeting at Tyvan Hill in decades past. It starts on the second floor and winds down along the stairs to the first floor, where she depicted a horse sticking out his head over the Dutch door of his stall.
This horse sculpture welcomes guests to Tyvan Hill.
Greeting you in the courtyard is a life-size horse sculpture (you can buy it for $8,000 after the showcase ends, if someone hasn’t already spoken for it). The entire ballroom, designated as the history room, is devoted to information on the property and its owners.
There are photos of the hunt and that classic Morris County Bridle Path Association map featuring a poem around the outside exhorting readers to “go forth and ride and ride.”
Unique wallpaper from the 1940s in the sales office features jockeys and racehorses.
Mansion in May, a fundraiser held every two or three years to benefit the medical center, was derailed by Covid restrictions. Many events all over the country were cancelled in the wake of the virus, but those behind this one weren’t giving up.
“We were so committed for two reasons,” said co-chair Kathleen Ross (whose mother-in-law, Margaret Ross, rode with Spring Valley).
“One, it was because it was for the hospital. (Funds raised go toward the facility’s Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute).
“We had the blessing of the hospital,” she continued, noting the medical center sent staff, including the heads of risk management and nursing, to walk through as organizers explained their Covid safety protocol. The hospital personnel gave the seal of approval for the plans of how to stay safe with social distancing and masks.
And reason number two?
“We had to do it because every one of those designers stuck with us,” explained Kathleen.
“When we closed in March, they were between 40 and 50 percent done with their rooms. When we got the blessing from the hospital and things were okay in New Jersey, we said, `That’s it, we’re doing it.’ On July 21, we sent an email to all of them and said `Come back.’ On Aug. 21, they were finished.” The show house opened Sept. 8.
Tyvan Hill
Pat O’Connor, co-chair, said a corporation is the current owner of the property, noting it is now for sale with eight acres and glorious views for $2.975 million.
Designed in the late 1920s by the architectural firm of Peabody, Wilson & Brown, known for their work on “large country residences,” Tyvan Hill is reminiscent of a little Downton Abbey. There’s even a section of the building once used for servants. The call buttons for each room are still on the wall in the servants’ quarters.
The 10,000-square-foot house was built for decorated World War I and II veteran John Castles Jr. and his wife, Dorothea, a daughter and granddaughter of Vermont governors. Other owners included Douglas Bowman Weed and Donald Cushing McGraw Jr. of the McGraw-Hill publishing company. The last family to live in the house was headed by Revlon President Sol Levine.
There is much more to learn from a visit to the ballroom/history room, and one can easily spend half of a delightful day touring Tyvan Hill and its gardens.
For information and tickets, go to www.mansioninmay.org.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 15, 2020
A 4-year-old Atlantic County mare who had not been vaccinated was euthanized after contracting the state’s first 2020 reported case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis, a serious mosquito-borne illness.
EEE causes inflammation of the brain tissue and has a significantly higher risk of death in horses than the West Nile Virus, which affects the neurological system.
The disease is transmitted by a mosquito. The virus cycles between birds and mosquitoes, with horses and humans being incidental hosts. EEE infections in horses are not a significant risk factor for human infection because horses (like humans) are “dead-end” hosts for the virus. There have been no reported animal West Nile Virus cases in New Jersey this year.
In general, most regions in New Jersey have a reported mosquito population below the running five-year averages. The first EEE positive mosquito pool was detected in Atlantic County this year. Livestock owners are encouraged to vaccinate against WNV, EEE and other osquito-borne diseases.
“Animals that are vaccinated against EEE and West Nile Virus are much less likely to contract these diseases that are transmitted by mosquitoes,” New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher said.
“We strongly encourage horse owners to stay current on vaccinations for their animals to help prevent them from contracting an illness that has the potential to be fatal to these animals.”
For more information about EEE in horses, visit the New Jersey Department of Agriculture web site at: http://bit.ly/1VE8lsm.
EEE and West Nile virus, like other viral diseases affecting a horse’s neurological system, must be reported to the state veterinarian at 609-671-6400 within 48 hours of diagnosis. The New Jersey Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory is available to assist with EEE and WNV testing and can be reached at 609-406-6999 or via email – jerseyvetlab@ag.nj.gov.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 14, 2020
The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association, the last of the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s affiliates in the Olympic disciplines to make a decision about what to do with their annual meeting, has gone the same route as the U.S. Dressage Federation and U.S. Eventing.
Its board decided tonight that as Covid concerns continue, the organization will hold its December convention virtually, rather than in person in Washington State. The USEF also will stage its January convention and Horse of the Year Awards virtually, rather than in Austin, Texas, as planned.
A poll as to whether the meeting should be held live drew 153 respondents, with half saying they would feel comfortable attending a live convention. Several of the USHJA board members, however, said they wouldn’t attend an in-person indoor convention under the current circumstances. Board member Joe Dotoli pointed out during the meeting that this week’s New England Equitation Championship in Massachusetts got pushback about being indoors and as a result will be held outdoors, where the virus is deemed less transmissible.
It was mentioned during the board meeting that on the plus side, a virtual session may attract bigger numbers than an in-person gathering, because those who don’t have the time or money to attend a live meeting may take advantage of the opportunity to participate on line.
The virtual format, to run Nov. 30-Dec. 11, will enable everyone to express their thoughts and the time frame allows for multiple sessions.. USHJA Executive Director Kevin Price expects a higher level of participation than usual under the virtual format, noting some organizations report having double and triple the responses that they had when their meetings were live.
The nominating committee put forward the name of USHJA President Mary Babick for another four-year term. As the nomination process wound down, the panel narrowed candidates to Mary and one other person, who eventually was deemed to lack sufficient governance experience to move forward. As the only candidate, Mary’s election was assured and accomplished.
Mary Babick
Mary, a Middletown resident, outlined three main goals. The first involves getting USHJA its own information technology system. The second deals with competition and education.
Mary noted the business is “lopsided, with most of the eggs in the competition basket. We can’t always rely on competition to be there for us.” We have learned that the hard way during Covid.
She also is focused on outreach and growth of the sport, trying to “build a bridge into the unrecognized world.” As Mary pointed out, “the wider the base, the stronger the sport will be.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 11, 2020
Looking for a discount on a new helmet? This weekend, Sept. 12 and 13, is the time to buy one. Most tack stores and helmet retailers are offering special deals this weekend.
It’s the 10th anniversary of International Helmet Awareness Day (now days) started by Riders4Helmets after Olympic dressage rider Courtney King-Dye sustained a traumatic brain injury in a fall when she was not wearing a helmet.
You need a new helmet if your current protective headgear is five years old or more, or if you were wearing it when you had a traumatic fall.
More than just a sale, the weekend offers a platform to educate equestrians about the importance of helmet and safety awareness world-wide. It is an opportunity to discuss correct helmet fit and how a helmet protects your head in the event of an accident.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 9, 2020
The Rutgers Equine Science Center is hosting the last in a series of educational webinars at 7 p.m. Oct. 22, featuring veterinarian Dr. Brian Colquhoun lecturing on use of alternative therapy for horse acupuncture. Register here
For questions about the series or for instructions to access Webex, email Hank Bignell at hdbignell@njaes.rutgers.edu
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 9, 2020
The 49th Olympia show in London has been cancelled, as attempts by organizers to run the competition have failed.
“Olympia is Christmas” for many in the United Kingdom and beyond, who have indulged in the wondrous trade fair and enjoyed seeing Father Christmas in a sleigh pulled around the arena by ponies, in addition to watching a variety of exhibitions and great classes.
“Over the last few months, the Olympia organizing team has been looking at multiple scenarios to try to stage the indoor show with the health and welfare of everyone involved at the heart of that decision-making process,” said a statement from those managing the fixture.
“Reluctantly, it has been concluded that it is not possible to run the event in December 2020 given the commercial implications of the government social distancing guidelines and the numerous additional Covid-19 safety requirements.”
Meanwhile, the Jumping Amsterdam show has become the first major Covid cancellation of 2021, though sadly, it already isn’t the last, as questions remain about international travel and having spectators at sporting events, including the Olympics.
And today, Denver’s National Western Stock Show, which includes a horse show, was cancelled because of Covid. Officials said the indoor event couldn’t comply with health and safety guidelines that have been issued to combat Covid, and will be held in 2022.
Paul Riemens, CEO of RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre and chair of Jumping Amsterdam, explained, “We do not want to take any risks whatsoever when it comes to people’s health.
“Moreover, from a financial viewpoint, it is not justifiable to incur expenses at a time when uncertainty rules and measures are continuously adjusted. In order to safeguard the continuity of Jumping Amsterdam in the long term, it is therefore more sensible to miss one year and to focus on the 2022 edition.”
The show, slated to run Jan. 28-31 was scheduled to be among the first major fixtures of next year. With so many 2020 shows postponed until 2021, it’s concerning to think some might not run then, either.
Last week, John Coates, vice president of the International Olympic Committee, said the Games will go ahead “with or without Covid 19.”
Meetings are under way involving officials from the Japanese Government, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, with the aim of producing “robust countermeasures” by the conclusion of the year.
“Their job now is to look at all the different countermeasures that will be required for the Games to take place,” John Coates said.
“Some countries will have it under control, some won’t. We’ll have athletes therefore coming from places where it’s under control and some where it is not. There’s 206 teams, so there’s a massive task being undertaken on the Japanese side.”
Guidelines are expected to be published in December by the coronavirus countermeasures panel.
Both Tokyo 2020 and the IOC are including spectators in their planning for the rescheduled Games, but have acknowledged holding events without fans is a possibility.
For Tokyo, the “situation is changing almost day by day,” IOC President Thomas Bach said during a press conference after an IOC board meeting.
“The task force has to prepare for different scenarios, not knowing which one will be the environment next year. That will not be easy, but of course, social distancing is under consideration.”
He added, “We are also following very closely the development of rapid testing and vaccinations, because these could also have an effect and facilitate preparations.
“But, it’s just too early to give a concrete answer to what will be the final scenario and the final approach.
“The only thing we can say is, it will be about offering a safe environment for all participants.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 7, 2020
Summer used to be a time of seemingly endless horse shows, week after week of grands prix and hunter classes in North America; big shows, smaller shows, take your pick. It was always the occasion for partying in the VIP area, seeing old friends, making new ones, picking up ribbons and prize money, buying and selling horses, the usual rites of the season.
But Covid-connected restrictions, rules and regulations changed all that. It became harder to find a show when such big names as Lake Placid. Spruce Meadows, the USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals and the Hampton Classic scratched due to the pandemic. Many of the smaller fixtures didn’t run either, unable to cope with the demands of offering a competition in these difficult times. Meanwhile, U.S. show jumpers couldn’t venture to Europe and the Europeans couldn’t come over here.
The crowds and excitement of Labor Day weekend at the Hampton Classic are only a memory this year. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
As the old song goes, “You don’t know what you’ve got, until you lose it.” The tune came out in 1961, when no one could have dreamed of what is happening now, but the sentiment really applies these days after so many things we took for granted have vanished.
Labor Day always would mark the unofficial end of the summer show season for exhibitors, who then started looking toward the indoor circuit and the equitation finals as they headed into the fall. And now–the indoors?
This year, some classes from the Pennsylvania National and Washington International shows will be outdoors in Tryon, N.C., after an attempt to move them to Tampa, Fla., was scuttled. The National Horse Show in Kentucky announced last week it will have the use of outdoor rings and a covered arena as well as its usual home in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park. Outdoor venues are deemed less of a Covid risk, but they can be chilly at the end of October.
Last weekend’s HITS championship show in Saugerties, N.Y., however, is a survivor that didn’t take a step backwards. It dug in and offered what will likely go down in history as the richest show jumping grand prix of 2020, the AIG, with $500,000 in prize money, as well as six-figure purse hunter competitions and smaller classes with good prize money.
Covid rules meant few were on hand to applaud in person, but winner Ben Maher on Explosion W, Amanda Derbyshire on Cornwall BH and Hunter Holloway aboard Pepita con Spita still enjoyed their impromptu victory gallop after the $500,000 AIG grand prix at HITS. (Photo © 2020 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
The Covid no-spectators rule meant only those involved with the show were watching in person, but anyone who was looking at the livestream also got an eyeful. The grand prix actually had international flair, attracting the world’s number one horse/rider combination, the aptly named Explosion W and his rider, Ben Maher of Great Britain, with shorter odds to win if you were betting than Kentucky Derby favorite Tiz the Law, who lost at Churchill Downs the day before.
Ben Maher and Explosion W in action. (Photo © 2020 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
But Ben and his glorious chestnut lived up to expectations in the field of 50 to take the top prize of $150,000 over another British rider, Amanda Derbyshire and Cornwall BH with a margin of more than five seconds in the jump-off. Both are based in the U.S., of course, so the travel bans didn’t matter..
AIG runner-up Amanda Derbyshire and Cornwall BH. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
Although it was only the second grand prix of 2020 for Ben and his mount, they demonstrated they still deserved all their accolades from 2019.
“Obviously, we’re in a different year; we’re not all going like we normally do in big grands prix week on week,” he said.
“I rode a bit of a slower first round by mistake and was just inside the time,” Ben observed. But he recouped during the tie-breaker, noting, “Everything went my way today and really made up for a long summer, as it has been for everybody.”
Amanda said she has never finished ahead of Ben and Explosion, but considering the elevated status of that duo, she was pleased enough with what she got.
“I’ll take second,” she said happily.
McLain Ward hasn’t shown as much as usual without Spruce Meadows and a European tour. But he flew in from the Traverse City show in Michigan for the AIG, in which he finished seventh on Noche de Ronda, noting that when he landed at La Guardia airport, “it was less crowded than Home Depot.”
Masks were the rule at HITS, as its president and CEO, Tom Struzzieri and McLain Ward demonstrate–no exceptions. (Photo © 2020 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
He’ll be taking off again this week, as several others in the HITS lineup are doing, heading back to Michigan for the American Gold Cup.
Devin Ryan, who wound up 12th in the grand prix on Eddie Blue, was grateful to HITS President and CEO Tom Struzzieri for the chance to jump for big money.
“Tom’s always sort of had that niche to throw money at us. That can make it or break it for a lot of us,” Devin said.
“That money during the circuit gave us something to jump for regardless of amount of entries that showed up. That’s one thing that Tom’s always been good about is the prize money; he stood behind it.”
In the hunter ranks, Jennifer Jones took Highlighter to the honors in the $250,000 Diamond Mills class over Amanda Steege and Lafitte de Muze.
Jennifer Jones and Highlighter. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
“She did the hunters for the first time this summer,” Jennifer said of the chestnut mare, purchased originally as a jumper.
“During Covid, we put the aluminum shoes on and turned her into a hunter and she loved it. She has a mentality more for hunters, she’s quiet, she likes to eat, she’s a fun horse,” Jennifer continued, noting she and owner David Raposa were pointing toward the Diamond Mills all summer.
“She’s done an amazing job,” Jennifer said of Highlighter. “She’s trying to do her best, she’s a great, great horse.”
After four rounds, her score was 364, with 358.50 for Amanda, who was all smiles after getting her ribbon and check.
Amanda Steege and Lafitte de Muze. (Photo © 2020 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
As she put it in a tribute to her consistent mount, “Every day with you and every class we have together brings me so much joy!
“You are the most talented, driven, smart, powerful yet sweet, caring, humble guy I know. The amount of joy you bring to me, your owner, Cheryl Olsten, all of the people that know you is hard to describe.”
Amanda had a winner of her own in the $15,000 Green Hunter Prix with Niki Holtzman-Hayes’ PHIL.
“To know him is to love him and we are so thankful for the endless laughs and smiles he brings to the whole team,” she said.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 3, 2020
Although Equitana USA, slated to be held this month at the Kentucky Horse Park, was Covid-cancelled, it’s continuing virtually through this link
Check in to check out seminars, shopping, exhibitions and more. The event will be held live in October 2021.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 1, 2020
Texan Col. John Russell is now the oldest living Olympic medalist. The colonel, a show jumper, was on the U.S. bronze medal team at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952.
Col. Russell, who turned 100 in February, assumed the honor following the death of Swedish runner Folke Alnevik last month.
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.
Col. Russell served in World War II as a member of Gen. George Patton’s staff, selected because of his equestrian skills, 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.
After 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).
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, and 22 world championships. He helped organize the 1959 and 1977 World Modern Pentathlon Championships, and organized the modern pentathlon at the 1959 Pan American Games.
Col. Russell received 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.
Since retiring, he has run the Russell Equestrian Center in San Antonio, where he and his sons carry on his legacy and train the next generation of champions.
British sailor Jasper Blackall is now the second-oldest living Olympic medallist and also 100, having been born in July 1920. American canoeist John Lysak, who competed at Berlin 1936, is currently the oldest living Olympian in the world at 106.
The oldest living Olympic champion is Hungary’s former gymnast Ágnes Keleti, who won 10 Olympics medals in the 1950s including five golds.He is 99.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 1, 2020
As the weather gets cooler, you’re ready to take your horse on the road a bit, but don’t want to show. That’s why it’s great to be in hunter/trail pace season, with plenty of opportunities in New Jersey to try this low-key, fun competition.
The Monmouth County Hunt will have two more themed paces this fall starting at their hunt kennels, 50 E. Branch Road, Allentown. On Oct. 11, the theme is tack sale and meet a foxhound. The final pace 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 Essex Foxhounds have added a pace Oct. 25 at their usual venue, Cedar Lane Farm on Homestead Road in Oldwick. For more on Essex, go to www.essexfoxhounds.org.
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.
