by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 27, 2020
The All American Quarter Horse Congress, scheduled for September 29 – October 25 in Ohio, has been cancelled.
“The uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic simply prevents safely moving forward in Columbus, Ohio,” said a statement from the show.
“The well-being of our workers, exhibitors and attendees is our highest priority and based on the information we have today, the risk is simply too great. Thank you for understanding this difficult decision.”
Scott Myers, CEO of the Ohio Quarter Horse Association said, “Hearing all the concerns from the local and state health departments, and the CDC, it was the right decision to make to keep people safe and healthy.
“It is disappointing to all who worked tirelessly in preparation for this year’s Congress, and I want to personally thank you for your continued support. I look forward to the biggest and best Congress ever in 2021.”
He added, “We are in this together, our industry is strong and rest assured, the Congress will be here in 2021. Details on moving forward and further updates will be available on quarterhorsecongress.com.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 26, 2020
Boyd Martin decided to take it a little easy at the Horse Park of New Jersey’s Horse Trials II yesterday.
For the Iron Man, that means he only rode three horses as heat soared into the high 80s and beyond, winning the FEI 3-star on Fernhill Prezley (40.10 penalties) and finishing second on Penhill Celtic (42) while ending up third in the Open Intermediate section with Long Island T (38). Then he let assistant Mike Pendleton take Bonito in the OI division at the Horse Park of New Jersey rather than riding that horse himself..
“I wimped out on Bonito,” Boyd said.
But there’s no need for apologies. This was just a few days after he rode five horses at the mid-week Virginia Horse Trials, and three months following surgery to repair various bone spurs and muscle tears. He was still experiencing some hip and groin pain.
“To be quite honest, I’ve probably bitten off a little more than I can chew,” he said of his workload as he continues to recover.
“At the moment, my body can only take so much. I want to do more, but the body’s screaming at me to take it easy and slow down a bit,” Boyd explained, reporting he’s “still a bit stiff and sore in my hip joints and still a little bit rusty, to be quite frank.”
And then, four days after competing at the Horse Park, he had surgery to remove a bit of bone from his groin muscle where it was stabbing his inner thigh. He’ll be out of action for a few weeks before coming back to finish the season, most probably in a big way, as is his style. But injury has been a fact of his life in eventing, so he has plenty of experience dealing with it..
“I love competition and riding and trying to find that balance where I can keep going for the second half of my career here. I’ve got to understand I’m not 19 years old anymore,” said the Olympic veteran, who turns 41 next month.
“I’ve got a great and decent rider (Mike) that helps with the young horses and also the upper level horses when I’m out of commission. I’m just trying to limit myself at the events at how many I can ride and try to do a very, very good job, rather than just spinning them around.”
Boyd Martin and Long Island T finishing up on cross-country at the Horse Park of New Jersey. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
Prezley has done only one intermediate previously, while Boyd is pointing Celtic at a long-format 3-star. Long Island T won his dressage phase with a score of 38, went clean in show jumping and had 10 time penalties cross-country, where Boyd wasn’t pushing him.
At these trials, “I never try and go flat out. I use them as training,” said the Pennsylvania resident, who is aiming the horse for the American Eventing Championships in Kentucky next month.
“This was more of a fitness run. It’s good to win, but you can’t try and win every step. It’s more a building-him- up type of event.”
The Open Intermediate, which with 23 starters was bigger than the FEI 2- and 3-star combined, went to a delighted Jennie Brannigan on FE Lifestyle, a horse she has been touting.
After finishing on her dressage score of 30.20 penalties with no time faults cross-country, a challenge on such a warm day, an excited Jennie called U.S. Eventing Performance Director Eric Duvander, who is in Montana at the Event at Rebecca Farm.
Jennie Brannigan was all smiles as she took FE Lifestyle around the cross-country course at the New Jersey Horse Park, where she won the Open Intermediate section. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
Lifestyle, she said, is “One of my really exciting ones coming up. I was planning to run him at the 4-star at Morven in the fall and God willing, if that went right, the way that horse is on cross-country, I would aim him at Kentucky next year. That’s what Eric and I talked about.
“He’s a really bold cross-country horse. He jumped around Fair Hill as a 7- year-old and ended on his dressage score. He’s quite a careful show jumper as well. In dressage, he’s a beautiful mover. That judge was judging pretty stiff; it was great to have Boyd’s horse…in the class to gauge off of the scores,” Jennie continued.
“Eric’s helped me completely change the way I’m riding him and it’s really paid off. He actually sat on him a couple of times, which was really great. I tend to be a little too sympathetic in my riding, going with the way the horses want to go, instead of saying, `No, be really through.’
“The quality of his connection is so much better and his brain is so much better since I’ve been putting him in the box and telling him exactly what to do.”
The German Sport Horse she got from Clayton Fredericks, who imported him five years ago, “is every bit of a chestnut warmblood, sensitive and very hot. He ends up winding himself up when I give him too much freedom, I realized. Normally, it would take me quite a bit to get him in the zone.”
This time, her work has paid off and “he was just all business at the beginning (of cross-country).
“I actually quite liked the course. The footing was fantastic,” the Pennsylvania resident said of the route designed by Morgan Rowsell at the facility in Monmouth County.
“He’s doing a good job of slowly building everybody back up,” she added about the test, where she finished two seconds under the 5-minute, 24-second optimum time.
Like Jennie, Boyd was pleased with what the Horse Park had to offer. Both commented on the “fantastic” footing.
“The course design by Morgan was absolutely spot-on. It was a great event, I’m glad we went.”
Of Morgan, a trustee of the Horse Park, Boyd said, “He’s got a real good feel for the property. It had good flow, every question you can imagine; turning questions, accuracy questions, bravery questions. I felt like the horses finished with their ears pricked and really felt like I’ve learned something.”
A determined Boyd Martin has his eye on his spot aboard Long Island T. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
The event went even more smoothly than the June Horse Trials, which were well-regarded.
“Ellen Clarke (a trustee) and the horse park board really worked hard on refining our Covid plan,” said Morgan. “We were much better prepared.”
When he designed the course, Morgan took into consideration, “Nobody had a legitimate spring to get ready,” since the U.S. Equestrian Federation stopped all competitions from March 20 to June 1 because of the pandemic.
“I went for a very straight-ahead, very basic, approach to the design, knowing that at the low end of the spectrum, it was still going to be hard for some riders, because at the end of the day, they’re not ready.”
“I was happy to see the horses comfortable with the footing, comfortable with what they’ve been asked and now they’re ready for whatever the next step is.”
Boyd said, “I take my hat off to the New Jersey Horse Trials.These events that are running have every reason in the world to cancel. They have to abide by all these new rules and I can’t tell you how grateful the competitors are that the organizers are putting on these great shows with this added extra headache of dealing with the Corona plague.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 24, 2020
The Giving Games, a new fundraising campaign launched by Olympic and Paralympic national governing bodies, is designed to support and sustain U.S. athletes ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games that have been postponed until 2021.
The U.S. Equestrian Federation and the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation are participating in the effort that began July 24 and runs through Aug. 9, which is the original window of this summer’s Games.
The Giving Games’ ultimate goal is to support and sustain U.S. athletes as they prepare for the Olympics next summer. U.S. athletes rely heavily on their sports’ national governing bodies for financial assistance with training and preparation needs. Many athletes face financial hardships and other obstacles due to the significant number of domestic and international competitions that have been cancelled this year.
There will be 20 other NGBs joining the multi-faceted philanthropic effort. It offers a variety of donation opportunities, including pooled funds and direct giving to the USET Foundation. All funds raised will be received via direct donation or equally divided among participating organizations in order to support their athletes’ needs as they prepare for an additional year of training.
Fans and supporters of U.S. equestrian high performance athletes, USEF and the USET Foundation can contribute to the Giving Games in the following ways:
- Donate directly to the USET Foundation to help support equestrian athletes. Every dollar raised up to $50,000 will be matched by a supporter of the foundation, doubling the amount that equestrians will receive in their quest for the podium in 2021. In addition, donors will have a chance to be entered in the “Medal of Giving” awards, recognizing the top three cumulative donors based on donations received by August 9.
- Donate to the Giving Games pooled funds by participating in Giving Games promotions and events, which will be launched throughout the promotion period and divided equally among participating NGBs.
- Text ‘GIVINGGAMES’ to 243725
All funds raised either will be a direct donation to a specific sport, or general support of all of the sports, which will be equally divided among the participating sports organizations.
The Giving Games effort has partnered with notable brands, corporations and businesses, including BuzzFeed and Omaze to create unique and exciting ways for fans and supporters to continue contributing to the Giving Games effort. To learn more about the Giving Games, go to giving-games.com.
The USET Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports the competition, training, coaching, travel and educational needs of America’s elite and developing international, high performance horses and athletes in partnership with the USEF.Learn more at www.uset.org.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 24, 2020
Things were Covid-quiet at the USET Foundation’s Gladstone headquarters for several months while it was closed to visitors. So this week’s Summer Days Dressage shows, presented by the Eastern States Dressage and Combined Training Association, became a welcome return to normalcy–or at least as close as we can get to it in this unusual era.
Some riders in shirtsleeves, others bowing to tradition by wearing jackets, took the July heat in stride; they were just happy to be back at a show for two days, especially in the team’s historic arena. It seems Gladstone has extra meaning for everyone
“I love showing here,” said Lauren Chumley, a professional rider/trainer from Pittstown.
“I didn’t move to New Jersey until 2007, so I kind of missed the golden age of Gladstone, but I’ve read about it since I was a kid,” commented the native of Ohio.
“It’s so special to come here, even to do Training Level.”
She rode Grand Prix with 14.1-hand, 18-year-old Avatar’s Jazzman, a been-there/done-that Morgan who is immortalized as a Breyer model horse.
Lauren Chumley and Breyer horse model Avatar’s Jazzman. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
“He’s a worker; he wants to work,” is the way she characterized him. In addition to handling the moves at the highest level of dressage, he can event, show jump and fox hunt.
“He did a pretty decent Grand Prix,” said Lauren, referring to a ride marked at 65.598 the day after Jazzman scored 67.375 percent for his freestyle.
“He tries so hard. He’s never going to get an 80, but we know that and he just does the best that he can. We’re just having fun.”
She made a point of wearing her brown tailcoat despite soaring temperatures.
When the judge asked why she chose a jacket instead of the cooler option, she said, “It looks nice, if I can do it.”
Jaime Dancer of Millstone, who also decided against going shirtsleeves, agreed.
Jaime Dancer and Viveur getting ready to focus during the hazy days of summer. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I just feel like it takes a long time to earn this coat and earn this spot and be able to be here,” she said, after getting 66.630 percent in the Grand Prix with Viveur.
“So I feel like I want to wear this coat for my judges. I’m lucky to be here.”
International competitor Catherine Haddad Staller, who has ridden at the most prestigious shows around the world, keeps a cherished spot in her heart for Gladstone.
“It’s where I fell in love with my husband,” the Califon resident explained, referring to veterinarian Greg Staller.
She won the Grand Prix with a percentage of 74.511 aboard Frankie on the show’s second day.
Catherine Haddad Staller and Frankie. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
I last saw Frankie at Gladstone three years ago when the mare was in the dressage development clinic there. Now 11, the Hanoverian has rounded out her resume.
“She’s so steady, she’s so reliable,” said Catherine.
“I’ve got a lot more power and strength in her than I ever had before, but I don’t have the brilliance yet. She picks up points with accuracy and correctness.”
Catherine decided to come to the show because, “I’ve been at home way too long. I felt I needed to get out and test myself and my horses a little bit. This is a very good outing for us close to home, where we can run through the test once and see where we’re at.”
Alice Tarjan is often the busiest rider at the shows she attends. With 11 horses in training at her Oldwick farm (Alice rides all of them every Monday), she has a lot to choose from when she goes to a competition.
Alice earned 71.304 percent in the first day’s Grand Prix and 71.5 in the Developing Grand Prix on Harvest. The Dutch-bred black stallion, who has been training at home for two years, is the sire of a colt (named Hamilton) foaled at Bridget Hay’s East Amwell farm as that rider was getting ready to go to the first day of the show.
Harvest, owned and ridden by Alice Tarjan. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
Harvest, characterized by Alice as “super well-behaved and super-honest” is known around the barn as The Teddy Bear. In contrast, a feistier stallion, Glory Day, affectionately is called The Terrorist. Alice, an amateur, gave the ride on the 17.1 hand bay to professional trainer Marcus Orlob, who took him to a score of 81.1 percent in First Level Test 3.
On the second day, Alice was runner-up in the Grand Prix with, Donatella M (72.337). The black Oldenburg mare and Harvest are qualified for the Developing Horse Championships at Grand Prix and I-2. The Summer Days shows were qualifiers for next month’s national championships and also regional championships, which was convenient for Alice and other area residents.
“Going to local shows is easy, I don’t mind doing that at all,” she said, noting that with the virus situation, it gets a lot more complicated when travel, hotels and restaurants are involved for “away” competitions.
Masks for scribe and judge and a plexiglass barrier–standard equipment for officiating in the Covid era. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I’m really grateful the management is trying so hard to make competitions happen,” said Lauren.
“Put your mask on, it’s not that hard.”
Competitor Janice Turner, who lives in neighboring Bedminster said, “I’m happy to show. I’ll wear a mask any time to keep everyone safe. It’s been such a trying time, I think everybody’s put their priorities in a better place.”
As Lauren observed, “I’m glad we can go to a horse show and not just sit in our houses and eat pizzas.”
Living in Covid times can be extra difficult for some.
“Normal people who have normal lives and normal jobs are just panicking. Horse trainers are just, `It’s all up in the air? What’s that like,’’’ Lauren said with a sly chuckle.
Equestrians know how to adjust to whatever. As she points out, “You’ve got to roll with it when you have horses.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 21, 2020
Aware of public concern about the future of Somerset County’s Lord Stirling Stable in Basking Ridge, the park commission and freeholder board have issued a statement to address the rumors, particularly speculation that the stable will be closing permanently.
While stable programs were suspended in response to the Covid pandemic, “there is neither a plan in place nor has any consideration been given to selling the Lord Stirling property to any third party,” according to a statement from the park commission.
Instead, the goal is “to reopen the stable in some fashion that makes sound fiscal sense.”
Even so, those who see the stable as an important part of the community have been worried about the situation.
Realtor Sharon Vopal, whose children ride at the stable, organized a petition signed by more than 4,000 people apprehensive about the facility’s future.
“Those of us in the community and the 4000-plus people who signed the petition will be closely following the plans to reopen LSS in 2021 and we hope that the public will be kept informed as those plans develop,” she stated.
The pandemic and the resulting restrictions to ensure the safety of staff members and the public have had an across-the-board “profound impact” on the park commission, not just the stable, according to the statement.
That situation resulted in an extreme effect on the financial well-being of the commission. According to the agency’s statement, “the loss of revenue experienced will, no doubt, result in long lasting aftereffects.”
To help ease the financial burden, the number of lesson horses in the herd was reduced during April and staffing cut to the minimum possible.
Despite those measures and efforts of stable management and staff to reduce costs, the expenses remained substantial and the deficit continued to increase. A month later, the remainder of the herd had to be dispersed, the commission said.
The plan for Lord Stirling, which is the same at many other commission facilities, is to “hibernate” for the balance of 2020.
Since the stable consistently operates at a significant loss, the commission “cannot afford to do much else,” the statement continued, adding, “the plan has never been to close the stable permanently.” There still are 30 horses boarded at Lord Stirling, many of whom were previously part of the lesson herd.
The majority of the property that is Lord Stirling Park (comprised of the Stable and the commission’s Environmental Education Center) was purchased by Somerset County in 1967, utilizing a combination of funds contributed by the New Jersey Green Acres Program, North Jersey Conservation Foundation (now known as New Jersey Conservation Foundation) and the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.
The 1,105 acres that comprise Lord Stirling Park are listed on Somerset County’s Recreation and Open Space Inventory, and, as such, the property is subject to New Jersey Green Acres rules.
As Deputy Freeholder Director Sarah Sooy noted in an interview this month with the Bernards Township Regional Chamber of Commerce, “that land will never be developed.”
At the same time, she acknowledged the stable has been hemorrhaging money for the past 10 years–the park commission said the facility was losing $500,000 a year–and said the best way to approach this is with “an outside eye; bring in someone and look at ways to make this profitable.”
Since January, before the pandemic hit in March, commission staff and senior management, as well as park commissioners and county representatives, have met as a committee in order to explore alternatives to address the stable’s financial challenges.
“While one option could be to cease stable operations, the committee quickly and unanimously dismissed same and is now focused on a financially prudent plan of reopening Lord Stirling Stable,” according to the statement.
The freeholder board and park commission, according to the statement, “are working their very hardest to ensure that a herd of horses will continue to roam Lord Stirling’s pastures,” and that the stable’s programs will resume.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 17, 2020
Dr. Hilary Clayton of Mason, Minn., Gary Rockwell of Wellington, Fla., and Verdades, the 2002 KWPN gelding owned by Laura Graves, have been selected for induction into the Roemer Foundation/U.S. Dressage Federation Hall of Fame.
As the inaugural McPhail Chair in Equine Sports Medicine, Hilary is a world-renowned equine-biomechanics expert and researcher. Her research on gaits and movement were so influential that U.S. Equestrian Federation dressage rules had to be revised to reflect the truth of how horses piaffe and pirouette, to name two prominent examples.
Her groundbreaking dressage-focused efforts influenced the sport from the ground up, from choices of arena footing and the care given to young horses, to bitting, training, conditioning and veterinary work. She is also president of Sport Horse Science, which is dedicated to translating research data into practical advice for riders, trainers and veterinarians through lectures, articles and private consultations. She is a USDF gold, silver, and bronze medalist; a longtime USDF Connection contributing editor and a past member of the USEF Dressage Committee.
Gary Rockwell is a USEF ‘S’ judge with Young Horse and Freestyle designations, as well as an FEI 5* Judge, having served at numerous Olympics and World Cup Finals. As a former member of the U.S. team, Gary and his Danish Warmblood mare, Suna, competed at CHIO Rotterdam in 1993 to earn a team silver medal, and a team bronze medal at the 1994 World Championships at The Hague in the Netherlands. Gary serves as a member of USDF’s L Program Faculty, as well as an honorary instructor for the USDF Instructor/Trainer Program. Gary was a member of the USDF Judges Committee from 2010-2012, and has been itschair since 2013.
Verdades (Florett AS x Liwilardo/Goya), who is known as “Diddy”, debuted with Laura, his owner/rider, on the international stage in 2014 at the FEI World Equestrian Games. The duo subsequently led the U.S. to multiple medal podiums, including the Olympic Games, FEI World Equestrian Games and the FEI World Cup Dressage Finals. Laura and Verdades were still practically unknown when they placed second at the 2014 U.S. WEG dressage qualifying competition and proceeded to stun the world by finishing fifth individually as the highest-scoring U.S. pair at those Games in France.
Other major achievements include team and individual Grand Prix Special silver medals at the 2018 FEI WEG, team bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, silver medals at the 2017, 2018, and 2019 FEI World Cup Dressage Finals, and team gold and individual silver at the 2015 Pan American Games. On January 8, 2020, Graves–who bought Diddy off a video as a weanling–announced his retirement via social media.
Noting that the organization’s annual meeting is going virtual this fall, USDF President Lisa Gorretta commented that “with the current circumstances facing us as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, USDF has been presented the unique opportunity to open up the annual convention, providing the entire membership a chance to experience USDF governance in action, as well take part in the celebration of the year that was and to recognize luminaries within our sport. I hope that everyone will join us for what is sure to be an unprecedented convention experience.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 16, 2020
Nearly every week the Standardbred Retirement Foundation has revealed that nearly every week, it has found finds trotters and pacers tagged for slaughter who were either homed by past owners or trainers with good intentions, or were given to an organization for this purpose. So why are they now tagged for slaughter?
There are many terms and conditions by which a horse can be adopted. An organization having a 501(c)3 status does not mean a horse will be homed, protected and followed-up appropriately. Having a 501(c)3 status means that the federal government recognizes that there is a need for the service.
Horses live well into their 30s. SRF’s data compiled over nearly three decades indicate horses likely will need more than one home, or perhaps as many 11 homes in their lifetime.
Owners and trainers should understand every organization is different. One well- known organization entitled their adoption agreement “Conditional Bill of Sale and Adoption Agreement.” It states that if their adopted horse is in an unsatisfactory condition or environment, it is not obligated to take possession. That means they are not obligated to help the animal.
When trying to do what is right and moral for a horse and using an organization to help, SRF recommends looking into the adoption process; their adoption agreement; if they follow-up, how it is done, and for how long.
To personally home a horse, SRF’s adoption agreement at AdoptaHorse.org can be copied into a new agreement with the individual’s name replacing SRF. SRF’s preliminary application is also on the website. The full application is easily available by contacting SRFHorsesandKids@gmail.com.
Horse adoption is complicated. While SRF would like to know that every horse is safe after racing and breeding, it is financially unable to find loving homes for all of them. Until the racing industry can offer a means to provide safety for these animals, SRF recommends that “due diligence” be used. SRF is available to answer any questions to assist in someone personally homing a horse. https://www.adoptahorse.org/
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 15, 2020
The persistent question of how the USA’s three major fall indoor shows could run during a pandemic-plagued season was answered today: They are going ahead, even though it won’t quite be business as usual in the Covid era.
It’s good news, following cancellation of such major fixtures as Devon, Lake Placid and the Hampton Classic due to the virus.
The 4-star National Horse Show announced it will remain indoors at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Alltech Arena. There has been no announcement from the 4-star Washington International and 3-star Pennsylvania National, but we hear they will be held outdoors at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa.
The ASPCA Maclay Finals is a highlight of the National Horse Show, which will remain in the Alltech Arena. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Those involved with the shows, which get under way in October, have known for months that holding the fixtures would be a challenge because of Covid restrictions. So they took an innovative approach beginning in May, joining forces as they talked daily, working out a way to stage their fixtures.
There had been speculation that all three of the shows would be held either in Kentucky or at the same location in Florida, minimizing exhibitors’ need to travel, but that didn’t happen.
A three-way solution was precluded because Washington wraps up on the same weekend that the National begins with a group of well-attended equitation classes.
Details about the Penn National and Washington shows are expected next week, since they are still awaiting FEI approval.
As the pandemic ramped up in the spring, it was obvious major changes would be necessary, even for shows that wouldn’t be held until five months later. Washington’s usual venue, the Capital One Center, is not going to be open in October. This was to have been the final year of the show’s contract with the facility. Whether that can be extended to 2021 depends on the schedules of the arena’s basketball and hockey teams, which are not yet set for next year.
Highlights of the National Oct. 23-Nov. 1 include the ASPCA Maclay hunt seat equitation finals, the $50,000 hunter classic and the $213,300 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Lexington, as well as the Hamel Foundation National Horse Show 3’3” Equitation Championship and the Taylor Harris Insurance Services Adult Equitation Championship on its first weekend.
“I would like to commend all of the individuals who have worked tirelessly in recent months with the National Horse Show, to help us come to a decision that is in the best interest of our event,” said National President Jennifer Burger.
“We all kept saying our main goal was to have successful horse shows, and go into 2021 and beyond as stronger organizations.”
She is hoping to have the Taylor Harris VIP area open at Alltech, but noted, “that will come through guidelines of the state. We’re going to do everything we can to have everything we can. The National Horse Show is committed to safety and keeping the integrity of the horse show as intact as possible.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 13, 2020
The Rutgers Equine Science Center is holding its Summer Showcase from noon-2 p.m. July 17. It will include updates, an equine anatomy lesson, a tour of the equine exercise physiology lab and an update on equine research.
A new quiz game is being introduced, just remember that to play, you need a second internet capable device (a phone or tablet) but you don’t have to download anything, since it’s web-based.
Register to secure a spot. A confirmation e-mail with details on how to connect to the WebEx will be sent to you.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 13, 2020
The Covid crisis was far in the future when Christine Reupke came up with the idea for the Horsemanship Society International website in 2018. The concept of combining virtual showing with a lesson was designed for people who do not have access to regular riding instruction. That could be because they live in an area far from a professional trainer or because they can’t afford it.
But even without the help of a crystal ball, Christine’s program arrived at the right time this summer.
“It was serendipitous with the timing,” acknowledged Christine, director of breed and equestrian sport at Toronto’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair horse show.
Christine Reupke leads a sponsor group on a course walk at the Royal Winter Fair. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
She started building the site, https://horsemanshipsociety.org, through 2019, without an inkling that a virtual approach to so many aspects of the horse world would take off just a few months later.
The site, which debuted last month, is geared toward show jumping, hunters, young horses and equitation. Dressage and western may be added down the road.
The inspiration came from Christine’s childhood,,as she explained. “I never had access to good training when I was a kid.” Money was tight in her family; she was one of three children raised by a single mother. Christine worked on a horse farm and was “kind of self-taught for a long time,” lacking the advantage of working with a top trainer.
She is aware those circumstances apply to many other people, in addition to some younger coaches, “who maybe don’t fully understand why someone scores the way they do, but nobody wants to ask for fear of looking like they don’t know.
“I feel so strongly about giving everybody some sort of equal opportunity regardless of how much money you have or regardless of where you live, if you live in Alaska or the Yukon.”
Each class lists parameters for the fence heights and distances on the course that competitors should set at their own farm, along with rules on what kind of tack to use (for instance, in a recent pony class, exhibitors were advised no gag bridles or draw reins.) There is also a list of requirements for dress, which allows on the informal end a collared shirt tucked into breeches. Braiding is optional.
The program, which has attracted entries from Britain and Germany in addition to the U.S. and Canada, also offers an opportunity for riders to be critiqued for their horsemanship as well as their style in the saddle. Although the winners of each class get a ribbon mailed to them, the prize isn’t the point.
The ribbons are pretty, but they aren’t the point. In case you’re wondering, a red ribbon is first place in Canada and England; blue is first place in the U.S.
“I’m trying to take the focus off the ribbon and onto learning what you did in the ring…and why you scored what you did and what you could do to be better,” Christine explained.
Licensed by Equestrian Canada as a hunter, jumper and equitation judge (the equivalent of a U.S. Equestrian Federation R judge), she is working with Jon Garner, former sport director for Equestrian Canada.
He has experience as an international show jumper for the Spruce Meadows venue in Calgary, where he went on to serve as competition manager for all of that facility’s tournaments. Jon specializes in jumper equitation and evaluating the young horses on the site, with marks for scope, rideability and temperament.
Jon Garner. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
As the site ramps up, they are the only two handling judging duties, but Christine said McLain Ward has agreed to do a young horse class, and she has plans to ask some other big names for their viewpoint. The site also will have an educational component that includes video interviews with veterinarians and other experts on topics such as pre-purchase exams, lameness and how to get a horse ready to be shipped for a long trip.
“I want to prepare kids, who are going to be our next generation, to get a little bit of an education,” said Christine.
“We don’t really have mentorship anymore. There are kids that hand the horses off and don’t do their own work. For a lot of these kids, it’s just another sport, like soccer or hockey. You look at someone like McLain and his horsemanship oozes from every pore on every horse he rides in the ring.
“Very few people are going to end up being like McLain, but it’s something we should all kind of strive for. I think being a better horseman makes people better riders.”
There is a free membership, with which the fee per class is $40 (Canadian), or a premium membership for $59.95 (Canadian), offering classes at $25 (Canadian) and access to educational videos once that content is created.
As Covid winds down and more shows are back “live,” Christine doesn’t believe it will really affect her site.
“I think with the group that horse shows heavily at AA shows in the U.S., probably it will fade a little bit. But I suspect with the ones that don’t have that access, they’ll stay on it.” At the same time, she added, “I think we’ll still retain a customer base on the people who show at the better shows. It’s a social thing, you download the course requirements, go to the barn on Saturday and maybe it’s something fun everybody does every few months.”
As she pointed out, pre-Covid, “the season never ends, we all show so much and practice very little.” The silver lining of the “break” is giving riders who otherwise would be completely immersed in showing a chance to improve their skills outside of the pressure from competition that too often involves short cuts
Here is an example of a critique HSI did for a rider. Identifying characteristics have been removed .Note that criticism and encouragement are effectively combined.
Class #21 – JR/AM Jumper Equitation .90m
Final Score –
Final Placing –
Turnout: As a pair, you were very neat and tidy, and the dark coloured breeches are suitable for schooling/training. The saddle pad is very clean, and the horse’s boots appear to fit well.
About the Round: You look like a very strong, capable rider and my first impression is that you are comfortable in the ring and you know what you are doing. Your pace was lightly forward and positive without being too quick or hurried.
The first jump on course was excellent, with good use of your eyes. There was a hard rub at jump 2. It appeared that you were still trying to turn with the reins and it caused your horse to lose it’s balance when leaving the ground.
Jumps 3 and 4 were well-ridden; however, the course specifications called for a 4 or 5 stride line and unfortunately you put in 6 strides between fences 3 and 4. This would be considered an ‘add’ in the line which, at a competition, would reduce your overall score. However, as a single line, it was well-ridden!
The rest of the course was excellent and very well-ridden. Your pace was even and you finished with the same canter that you started on, resulting in a very consistent-looking round. You position stayed consistent and your soft hand was apparent and appreciated by your horse.
You received the highest score I would give a rider who added in a line.
Tips: When turning on the left lead, instead of using such a large opening left rein, try to use more right leg to push your horse through the turn, rather than pull him/her through. This will help your straightness and balance of the horse as well as help to maintain your line and pace on the way to the jump. This will result in a better distance and smoother, more polished ride.
Score without adding in the line – 76
Score without adding in the line and a better distance to jump #2 – 78
