Andrew Ramsay has gone to all the right places seeking help with his ambition to ride on U.S. show jumping teams.
Andrew Ramsay and Stranger competing at International Bromont last weekend. (Photo by Lawrence J. Nagy)
During his quest, the native of California was mentored by Alan Waldman in the Netherlands, worked with George Morris and now has combined his enterprise with Chris Kappler Inc. at the Pittstown farm that formerly was George’s Hunterdon Inc.
Andrew and Sarah Segal are the competition riders at Chris’s operation and also train others, though Andrew said he puts most of his emphasis on being in the saddle himself. They work with Katie Martin Hartmann, a veteran of Hunterdon Inc., whose management skills keep the 35-horse operation going.
Andrew is nearly in awe of being a part of the iconic facility where so many top riders honed their skills. Growing up, he had always heard tales about the challenges of the imposing grand prix field at Hunterdon.
Andrew Ramsay and Cocq A Doodle. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
“To be at the old Hunterdon and riding on the field itself is fantastic,” said Andrew, whose winning string of horses includes Molly Ashe’s former ride, the Dutchbred Cocq A Doodle, “a horse that has a presence,” and the winner of the grand prix qualifying class last weekend in Bromont, Quebec, as well as grands prix at Tryon and Old Salem. “When you have a good mare, there’s not much better,” commented Andrew.
The rest of his string includes Jadalco, Stranger and California 62, “the most mature of the group.
History is in a way repeating itself with Andrew’s arrival at the Pittstown farm. Chris came to work there with George nearly a quarter-century ago.
“I’m very much into developing the next generation of riders,” said Chris, who no longer is interested in competing himself.
“George had already been working with Andrew and we found Doodle and California together, so I felt really close to that situation. I talked to George and said, `Do you think you could break the ice and see if Andrew would be on board for joining? Like I came to you, George, in ’93, I need someone to drop in and be my professional rider.’”
Added Chris, “It just seemed to be a partnership that made sense. There was a certain comfort zone and we both are George disciples. He’s still like our godfather and is there for us every step of the way,” continued Chris, noting he speaks to George weekly.
“He gave it a blessing and so far, I couldn’t be happier with how it’s going.”
Chris Kappler and Andrew Ramsay. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
Andrew’s eyes sparkle when he talks about his horses, and that type of enthusiasm is important to Chris.
“He has real genuine values for the sport. I really like his temperament with the horses and how he works with them,” Chris observed.
“He likes producing horses. He’s inquisitive and interested about how it works, how we can keep doing it better. He’s goal-oriented, it’s not just short-term results. We have a plan. We want to make the World Cup final; we want to get to Paris next year.” Andrew finished seventh on Stranger “a small horse with a big heart” last weekend in the first North American Longines FEI World Cup qualifier of the 2017-2018 season.
While he always knew what he wanted to achieve with his show jumping, Andrew, 32, “wasn’t quite sure how to go about it.” So he took a route that has been traveled by so many before him.
“I reached out to George. He was a great influence, providing guidance and direction,” Andrew said about his experience with the former U.S. show jumping coach.
Moving on to Chris’ operation was seamless.
“It was a nice transition. It’s fantastic working closely with Chris,” said Andrew, noting he didn’t have to spend “a lot of time adjusting to a different style. The care of the horses, the structure of the stable, I was all accustomed to with George.”
California 62 competing at Devon with Andrew Ramsay. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
Andrew lives at the Riverside Victorian B&B in Clinton when he’s in New Jersey, but like all show jumpers with aspirations, he’s on the road much of the time. He has found success in his new approach, with a good run this spring and summer.
Growing up on the West Coast, he started riding with Duncan and Gry MacFarlane. Their son, Ian, is now associated with Chris Kappler Inc. as a rider. Andrew went on to train with Linda Hough and Stephanie Simmonds.
He and his mother, Nonie, rode out of their Shalanno Farms, and they still have the Shalanno operation in the Netherlands, where there is a focus on young horses. The Shalanno farm in Wellington, Fla., is the base for Chris Kappler Inc’s operation during the winter.
The Shalanno name may be familiar to you—the Shalanno Style of Riding Award handed out in the presentation ceremony goes to the show jumping rider who exhibits classical form in competition.
Andrew Ramsay at the 2016 Washington International Horse Show with ringmaster John Franzreb, George Morris, WIHS President Vicki Lowell and multiple Shalanno Style of Riding awards winner McLain Ward. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
As Andrew notes, the award, an idea visualized with his mother’s input, is “a way of giving back and a way to keep focused on the American style of riding, which in many ways is a tribute to equitation and the future of show jumping,”
After wrapping up his junior career, Andrew took a break from horses and went to Colby College in Maine, majoring in computer science. But following a five-year hiatus, Andrew decided he needed to be back with the horses, so he headed to Europe.
When he returned to the U.S., he started competing in California, then headed East and began working with George. Andrew moved into his partnership with Chris after the Florida circuit this year.
The results since then “have been reflective of the program, the culmination of a lot,” said Andrew.
It’s never too soon to plan for Dressage at Devon, Sept. 26-Oct.1 at the Devon, Pa., showgrounds.
The open breed show Sept. 26-Oct. 1, the largest in the world, is offering a new class for Dales ponies. They are one of the United Kingdom’s native mountain and moorland breeds, known for its strength, hardiness, stamina, courage, intelligence and good disposition.
Sadly, this breed’s population is low, so it is considered “critical” by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and “threatened” by the Livestock Conservancy.
Also featured during the breed show is a thoroughbred class. Don’t forget that Keen, Hilda Gurney’s great U.S. dressage team horse, was a thoroughbred.
The Breed Show features the future stars of the dressage world, from colts and fillies born this year and young horses up to 3 years of age. Horses age 4 and older are shown in hand and under saddle as well.
“We are very proud to be able to continue to host the largest open breed show in the world,” said Melanie Sloyer, chair of the breed show.
“In addition to our age-based classes, our popular individual breed classes showcases more than 20 breeds with a wide variety some lesser known and rare breeds seldom seen in other venues. Plus this year we are happy to welcome the Dales Pony.”
Other breeds in the 2017 line up include Akhal-Teke, American Saddlebred, Andalusian, Appaloosa, Arabian (both purebed and half Arabian), Danish Warmblood, Drum Horse, Friesian, Georgian Grande, Haflinger, Hanoverian, Iberian Horse, Irish Draught Horse, ISR-Oldenburg, Knabstrupper, KWPN-NA (Dutch), Lipizzan, Lusitano,Oldenburg (GOV) and Paint.
In addition to watching the competition, there are other things to do at the show. Visit the vendors or enjoy a gourmet meal.
Want to be a part of things? Volunteers are always needed at the show. To volunteer for one or multiple shifts, sign up at www.dressageatdevon.org under Volunteers. If you have questions, email Penny@thehorsewriter.com.
It’s been a busy—and successful–few weeks for five-time world championships endurance rider Meg Sleeper of Kingwood Township.
First, she won the 50-mile Muckleratz Run ride near Hershey, Pa., with her attractive gray homebred Arabian, Syrocco Cadence. Next up was the Vermont 75 in Woodstock, and again, Cadie was the winner, even though Meg was more interested in getting her horse fit rather than picking up trophies.
As a bonus, her friend Hanna Weightman of Shamong won the Vermont 50-mile competition with Meg’s Syrocco Rabia, named best conditioned. There was a (human) marathon held in conjunction with the Woodstock event, which added to the excitement for the horses and riders, Meg noted.
Next up for her, Meg hopes, is the October 2017 test event for the 2018 World Equestrian Games at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in North Carolina. No word has come down about selection criteria for the test event or the WEG, but only three riders from each country will be able to take part and scout the up-and-down terrain in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains.
Meg Sleeper and Syrocco Cadence. (Photo by Genie Stewart-Spears)
Meg said word is that the Tryon course will be like “the Biltmore on steroids,” referring to previous challenging rides at the Biltmore estate in Asheville, about an hour west of Tryon.
She noted, however, “it will be exciting to have another course” in the U.S. endurance repertoire.
According to preliminary plans for the WEG, crews will not be allowed along the trail to keep putting water on horses so they can go faster and faster. That practice has led to catastrophic injuries elsewhere, particularly in the Middle East. Crews would only be able to tend to horses during the holds at the veterinary checks along the route.
The end result “will be a lot slower than usual,” Meg said, “but it will let us take it back to horsemanship, the old cavalry test—another whole step up at the challenge level.”
The sport has had an image problem because of abuses involving one geographic segment of the competitors.
“We’re struggling trying to figure out how do we get control again and make it the sport to be proud of,” she said. Meg did note, however, there are many places where it is still run as a “clean and wonderful sport” but “sadly, there are some events where that doesn’t happen.”
Meg is in the process of bringing back another horse, Syrocco Rimbaud, her 2015 world championships ride who was injured during the competition in Slovakia. The veterinary cardiologist would like to have two horses that could be candidates for the 2018 WEG. She has ridden all over the world, from the jungles of Malaysia to the fields of France, but being able to ship her horse by trailer instead of airplane and all that involves adds to the appeal of representing her country at home.
The popular Monmouth at the Team show has great entries for its second year as a competitive and social landmark on the New Jersey equestrian scene.
The show moved from Monmouth County to the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation’s Gladstone headquarters on Pottersville Road last year after being purchased by cousins Tucker Ericson and Michael Dowling. It’s a friendly, fun show that demonstrates ratings alone don’t spell success.
There are only two B-rated days, Tuesday and Wednesday Aug. 15 and 16 and the highest level of jumpers is Level 3, or 1.30 meters. The biggest prize money offerings are the $10,000 purses given away for the Bobcat Derby on Thursday, Aug. 17 and the jumper mini-prix on Sunday, Aug. 20.
IBut i’s worth a visit to see what can be done at a show by utiizing some creative thinking and effort in a wonderful location. The atmosphere recalls the era when people showed more for fun than for points.
Longtime Lake Placid Horse Show exhibitor Philip Richter will be taking over the chairmanship of the show in the Adirondacks from Richard Feldman.
Richard, who was devoted to the show, shepherded it through growth and many changes. He announced his retirement last weekend as the fixture’s annual two-week run drew to a close. Philip competes with distinction in amateur-owner jumper classes and has a thorough knowledge of the show and what it involves.
Lake Placid is an exhibitor favorite for its scenic setting and relaxing atmosphere, which Philip understands and appreciates after a lifetime of competing there. A New York resident, Philip is co-chief executive officer of Hollow Brook Wealth Management.
Hunter entries for the Monmouth at the Team show Aug. 14-20 closed for the most part at the August 1 deadline, but there are still openings in some areas.
Big Eq for both Monday and Wednesday will stay open, breeding classes on Monday are open, National Hunter Derby entries are open for the Tuesday (and they can take a few more A/O hunters that day) and flat classes only for the Outreach classes on the Friday.
The 2016 debut of the show at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation in Gladstone was wildly successful, with the hospitality matching the caliber of the competition. Donations for the Silent Auction to benefit the USET Building Fund are still welcome. Enter at www.horseshowing.com and check out the show at www.monmouthattheteam.com.
The VIP tent offers a great view of the action during the Monmouth at the Team show. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
The Horse Park of New Jersey is headed in a new direction with the election of trustee Allyson Jeffery as its board president last week. International eventing judge and trainer Marilyn Payne, along with veteran Jersey Fresh International volunteer Diane Sigafoos, joined the panel as well.
It’s a crucial juncture for the venue in Allentown, with the ambition of making “this facility an equine destination. I think it’s time,” said Allyson, a Millstone resident who has an equine bodywork and massage business.
“I think we all are together that we would like for the horse park to become a venue where horses perform very well because they feel good,” she commented.
That brings us to the effort for needed ring refurbishment and development at the park, where research has been ongoing while fundraising for the project continues. Few realize that the park receives no funding from the state, and income must go toward park maintenance as well as supporting a capital campaign, so getting money for the project has been a slow process.
Trustee Adam Furlong has just stepped up to chair the fundraising aspect of the arena development effort, which is key to implementing the work that needs to be done.
A step forward already has been taken with the involvement of arena consultant Brian McNeil. He took a comprehensive look at the park while evaluating the arena conditions, maintenance equipment, resources and drainage in the rings. He gave a briefing to show managers representing multiple disciplines, riders, trainers, horse park board members and the park manager, as well as a local arena contractor.
Allyson notes that footing is really only the top dressing for rings that are laid out properly and have the right drainage.
“We really need to go from the ground up,” she said.
To help things out in the short term, Brian pointed out different techniques for using the park’s existing equipment and making minor adjustments that should have a major impact on ring surfaces.
“We definitely need to improve the way we work the rings,” said Allyson, while noting that park manager Adam Hendrickson is “fantastic.” She added Brian was very complimentary about Adam’s work.
The techniques Brian suggested will improve conditions in the rings by the pavilion while attention is focused on major improvements for the grand prix ring that is located up the hill from them.
Allyson succeeded Jacques Roszel in the presidency. She praised him for doing a “”fabulous job” in paying down the park’s debt, noting he had “an immense focus” on that issue.
One of her interests is seeing the park become more of an education facility, “paying it forward to excellence in horsemanship. That’s my vision for how I would like to see the park evolve,” said Allyson, who is interested in hosting more clinics and offerings such as Foundation Equine’s autumn horse wellness seminar.
New Horse Park of New Jersey President Allyson Jeffery
The Standardbred Retirement Foundation is presenting the last Roosevelt Raceway reunion July 22 at the New Meadowlands in the Skyboxes by Pink Restaurant on the third floor.
Nearly 80 well-known drivers and trainers are scheduled to attend, including Carmine Abbatiello, the Popfingers, Mike LaChance, Billy O’Donnell, Bob Bencal, Butch Dokey, Randy Lee, Benny Webster, Bobbie Rahner, Jon Paton, Fred Hudson, Jimmy Marohn Jr., the Galantes and more.
A cocktail party from 6-7:30 p.m. is open to all for $39 if paid by July 17, or for $49 at the door.
In addition to providing an opportunity for meeting favorite figures in the sport, the party will feature an auction of Roosevelt Raceway memorabilia—some of which dates back to the early 1900s. Items will be available for bidding online at 32auctions/rrr2017 opening July 20, 2017 at 5 p.m. and will close July 24, 2017 at noon.
To sponsor, attend the cocktail party or donate racing memorabilia, contact Tammy at 732-446-4422, SRFhorseandkids@gmail.com, Use the form through the link or visit SRF’s website at AdoptaHorse.org
Dinner reservations may be made by contacting the New Meadowlands directly at 201-460-4079 or online at thebigm.com.
SRF is the largest Standardbred adoption program in the U.S. It cares for more than 220 trotters and pacers, provides lifetime homes for more than 140 retirees and offers lifetime follow-up for every adopted horse, so they are never again at risk.
Moorland Farm in Far Hills is on the brink of becoming a new center for equestrian activity, following the successful rebirth of the Mars Essex Horse Trials last weekend.
As the event concluded, “I made it very clear to everybody that this wasn’t the end, it’s just the beginning,” said Guy Torsilieri, chairman of the Far Hills Race Meeting, held every October at Moorland. He wants to see more non-racing competitions at the former estate on Route 202.
Riders such as Lynn Jones, finishing her competition with My My My Delilah, were all smiles at the revival of the Mars Essex Horse Trials. (Photo by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Essex, with an organizing committee co-chaired by Ralph Jones and cross-country course designer Morgan Rowsell, drew thousands of spectators. Guy wants the other competitions staged at Moorland geared toward bringing crowds in as well. It had definite community support, including Far Hills Mayor Paul Vallone, who was seen all around the venue.
Calling Essex “a smash hit” and citing its draw to the general public, Guy said, “There were a lot of people there who knew very little about eventing.”
He was pleased that they were drawn not only by the horses, but also by the vendors, the food court, a chance to get out in the countryside and the opportunity to visit the car show staged Sunday.
There also were several exhibitions from the area; the Essex Foxhounds, the Tewksbury Foot Bassets and side-saddle riders.
The Essex Fox Hounds were among the exhibitions at the Mars Essex Horse Trials. (Photo by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Looking ahead, Guy is planning for a jumping competition on the Wednesday or Thursday after Essex 2018 while the event’s infrastructure is still in place, but he’s also mulling a hunter derby and other possibilities for the Moorland calendar. That could even include an Arabian show. Meanwhile, he feels it is important to have something on the agenda at Moorland before the next renewal of Essex.
“I don’t want to wait another year,” he explained, commenting that he is “all ears” for ideas about what could be held at Moorland.
Although offering higher levels were discussed for Essex 2018, Guy feels it might be better for one more year to stick with the Beginner Novice, Novice, Training and Preliminary levels offered for 2017 as organizers work to perfect their offering.
“There were so many variables for this year that I think we’ll probably do a rerun for next year, just so we get it really right. We think Essex was a great success, a great re-start. We have a lot of work to do to make it even better for next year,” he commented.
That will include moving the dressage rings to higher ground. True, three inches of rain the night before the event began wasn’t optimum for the rings, but they were really too low in any case, and Guy would like to see them a bit closer to the action. The stables flooded because of the rain, and those might be moved too, though without the deluge they probably would have been fine.
The grass arena used for jumping was very deep for the first division on Saturday post-rain, but organizers made an effort to improve it following that.
“I’m comfortable (that) after aerating, rolling and the way we resurfaced the turf between classes at Essex, we’re ready to continue to have equestrian jumping events on turf at Moorland,” said Guy, who is not planning to go with artificial footing at this point. He said the grass in the jumping arena was relatively new without a deep root structure, but believes it will greatly improve by next year.
Essex, started in 1968 on the Haller family’s Hoopstick Farm in Bedminster, moved to the U.S. Equestrian Team headquarters in Gladstone, where it ran for the last time on its 30th anniversary in 1998 after development at Hamilton Farm involved space issues that precluded running an event there.
So many people had memories of Essex they shared during the running of the revival. Virginia Jenkins Rowsell, wife of the course designer, talked about what it was like to win at the old Essex.
Ann Haller, whose late husband, Roger, started Essex, was involved as a volunteer last weekend. The evening before the event got under way, she chatted about her thoughts on Essex.
Wendy Furlong was amateur champion in the 1-star at Essex in 1998, and decided she needed to ride in the event again with her Santa Lisa.
“When I saw this was coming, I said, `I’m going to have to go back and have a crack at Beginner Novice with a homebred horse that I hadn’t even really thought about starting to event again,’” she said.
Wendy Furlong and her homebred Santa Lisa. (Photo by Lawrence J. Nagy)
She realized, “That would be something kind of fun to aim for. It’s a fabulous facility. When you’re galloping up there on the racetrack in front of that beautiful vista, you might as well be at Badminton–that’s as close as most of us are ever going to get. It’s a beautiful piece of property to be able to enjoy,” said Wendy, fourth in the Open Beginner Novice.
Many of the biggest eventing stars, such as Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton, were missing this time around because they were riding in the upper levels at the Surefire event in Virginia last weekend. But at Essex, where Preliminary was the top level, there were a few boldface names, including Buck Davidson, who swept the first four places in the Open Prelim, and Jennie Brannigan, who won the Open Novice.
Yet one of the beauties of Essex was that it emerged as a destination event for amateurs and young people at the lower levels. Normally, they’d be riding at a no-frills venue; Essex had across-the-board panache.
“It was big atmosphere for a horse trials,” said Lauren Chumley, a professional dressage trainer who rides out of Stonebridge Farm in Pittstown.
“There’s a lot going on. This is a really cool event, because you get your horses out to see so much. In the (cross-country) water (complex), there’s bleachers, a ton of people. That doesn’t happen at the little horse trials. All these people came to watch who don’t know anything about horses. That’s fun.”
Lauren moved to New Jersey from Ohio 10 years ago, so she never attended Essex, but knew its reputation.
“I think it’s really fun to be here at its revival, and its 25 minutes from our house. It’s absolutely beautiful.”
One of the four horses Lauren rode was Avatar’s Jazzman, a Morgan owned by Melissa Dowling and Glenn Campbell, on whom she was in the ribbons at Dressage at Devon. Morgans are known for their versatility, so it wasn’t a stretch for Jazz to be eventing.
Lauren Chumley and Avatar’s Jazzman sailing along on cross-country. (Photo by Lawrence J. Nagy)
“I had a blast. I think this is a really cool horse trials. I think they made a nice, straightforward Beginner Novice and Novice courses,” said Lauren.
“The Training was challenging, but I think that’s what they set out to do. The course designer didn’t just throw logs on the grass. He really thought out how that Training course ran and I thought it ran very, very well. It would have been very tough if it was a first Training for some horse, but Jazz ate it up.
“He was so fast today. He’s a Morgan, so he’s kind of roundish, so he looks a little bit like a pork chop, but he’s not. He’s fitter than you think.”
She doesn’t believe he’ll move up a division.
“He’s 14.1, and I’m a dressage rider. So 3-3 is pretty big for a dressage rider.”
She started out well in the Novice Rider section, winning the dressage phase on the 14.1-hand Nikolas. But since he was in the first show jumping group on the Saturday, the stadium phase didn’t go well.
“I’ve never jumped him in mud like that before. He just couldn’t get off the ground. We all struggled in the footing. The cross-country footing stayed solid,” she continued, noting he was fine there, and that the stadium jumping footing was better on Sunday. Lauren felt that organizers did a good job handling what came their way.
U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation Deputy Executive Director Jim Wolf kept running into people he knew as he walked around the grounds, which was a big plus for him.
“Now that there’s something so close to home, all the horse people can come here and we see each other at home. We’re all so busy traveling to horse shows and being in the horse business, we never see each other at a hometown event. It’s nice to have it back.”
Guy Torsilieri and former N.J. Gov. Christie Whitman. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
Former New Jersey Governor Christie Whitman was enthusiastic about the event, going on the guided course walk, where she asked insightful questions, and then attending the competition daily. She’s hoping to return in 2018 as a volunteer doing “whatever they need done. I’d be happy to judge fences, I’d be happy to pick up rails.”
As a member of the Somerset Hills Pony Club in her youth, she even competed in an event, the national Pony Club rally in Kentucky. So Essex really struck a chord with her.
“It’s been fabulous,” she said.
“It’s wonderful for the sport, but it’s wonderful for the community.” She called Moorland “a beautiful spot, even if you don’t care about horses. It’s a day you shouldn’t miss.”
Thinking about riding western, but not sure whether you’d like it? Find out Aug. 6 by taking advantage of an introductory ride offered by the Somerset County Park Commission’s Lord Stirling Stable, 256 South Maple Ave., Basking Ridge. The ride will take place from 10 a.m.-noon and include some instruction.
Register from July 23 through Aug. 4 between 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the stable office. To be eligible, children must be at least nine years old and five feet tall. Everyone who registers must weigh less than 200 pounds. The fee is $40 for Somerset County residents and $50 for non-residents.
