by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 20, 2020
Former U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation Chairman Brownlee O. Currey Jr., an admired figure in the horse world, died March 18 at 91.
Many knew him as one of the owners of Touch of Class, the thoroughbred mare on whom Joe Fargis won team and individual Olympic gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. But he influenced the entire sport.
In 2016, the USET Foundation awarded Currey the R. Bruce Duchossois Distinguished Trustee Award, which is presented annually to one of its trustees, who exemplifies exceptional leadership, philanthropy and character. In addition to his stewardship of the Foundation, he led several charitable efforts, including chairing a benefit for the American Horse Shows Association during the National Horse Show, co-chairing the Nashville Charity Horse Show in 1985 and hosting the Music City Grand Prix to benefit Easter Seals and the Saddle Up! therapeutic riding program. He and his wife, Agneta, were also long-time supporters of The Hampton Classic.
Brownlee Currey
A fighter pilot during the Korean War, he became a businessman after earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Vanderbilt University. He was a director, a senior vice president and a member of the executive committee of Equitable Securities Morton & Company, Inc., a subsidiary of American Express.In 1970, he became vice chairman in New York of the Commerce Union Corp., which subsequently became Bank of America.
After resigning from that position, he purchased the Nashville Banner newspaper, which he served as chairman, chief executive officer and publisher between 1980 and 1998. In 1989, he co-founded Osborn Communications, a public radio company, and served as chairman until it was sold in 1997.
He served on numerous boards throughout his lifetime, including the United States Equestrian Team, the Show Jumping Hall of Fame and Museum and the Volunteer State Horseman’s Association.
Mr. Currey is survived by his wife Agneta; children Christian Brownlee Currey, well-known jumper rider; Stephanie Currey Ingram, and Frances Currey Briggs, as well as 12 grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held in Nashville and New York on dates to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Vanderbilt University, Gift Processing Office, PMB 407127, 2301 Vanderbilt Place, Nashville, TN 37240 or Montgomery Bell Academy, 4001 Harding Road, Nashville, TN 37205.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 18, 2020
The Horse Park of New Jersey has closed until April 13. I think you know why, but here’s the explanation:
“We do not take this decision lightly; but we recognize our social responsibility to be part of `flattening the curve,’ stated Adam Furlong, president of the park’s board of trustees.
“As a result of the guidelines provided by the USEF, FEI, and local and state officials, we have seen almost all equestrian events cancelled for the foreseeable future. As such, we must temporarily cease operations in order to be fiscally responsible and to ensure the safety of all those who use the park. It is our sincere hope that everyone will do their part in reducing the spread of COVID-19, and that will be able to return to operations in one month.
“The Board will work diligently with all impacted events to find suitable alternative dates when it is safe to operate those events.”
In other virus-related changes and closings:
Tack sales scheduled for the weekend of March 28 at Riding for Heart in Pittstown and April 4 at Mane Stream Therapeutic Riding in Oldwick are being postponed. Riding with Heart doesn’t have a date yet, but Mane Stream will be combining the spring sale with its autumn sale.
Meanwhile, the New Jersey Region Pony Club has reshuffled its schedule of events.
The Quiz Rally originally scheduled for March 14 in Goshen, N.Y., was cancelled and will be rescheduled before June 22, the closing date for entries for the U.S. Pony Club Championships and Festival in July at the Kentucky Horse Park.
The April 5 dressage schooling show originally scheduled to be held at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation in Gladstone, is being moved to the Horse Park of New Jersey. The new date is May 30. The May 17 Dressage Rally (open just to Pony Club members) has been rescheduled and moved from the USET to the Horse Park of New Jersey. The new date is April 25, sharing the weekend with the show jumping rally already scheduled for April 26 at the HPNJ.
Manhattan Saddlery is not open for in-person shopping, but will accept orders by phone and internet. Dover Saddlery remains open, but check hours. It is offering curbside pickup.
Further from home, the New Zealand Equestrian Federation has shut down the Olympics disciplines, para and endurance for three months. They’ll take another look at the end of April, however.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 17, 2020
The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair issued an announcement today saying that while organizers are keeping an eye on the latest concerning the virus pandemic, the show is still on from May 21-31.
The situation is “fluid,” they noted, adding, “Our committee continues to review the communications on this illness issued from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, USEF, FEI and other regulatory organizations.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 17, 2020
In a letter to members, U.S. Hunter Jumper Association President Mary Babick offered some guidance and information.
She revealed that U.S. Equestrian Federation President Murray Kessler has granted a Presidential Modification allowing Bill Moroney, USEF CEO, flexibility in shifting rules as necessary for the 2020 competition year.
“We will have to adjust many of our programs and qualifying structures,” Mary stated. “This is currently a moving target and we will update you as soon as we know an answer.”
She also noted, “let us not forget that for those whose incomes depend on showing, this may be a very tough time. As a community, it would be a great thing for the strong to assist those who are in need.”
Obviously, major changes have to be made across the board. Racing is an example; I point out the Kentucky Derby and Preakness are being held in September instead of May.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 16, 2020
Unbelievable. The spring (and likely summer) show and eventing season has been swept away by the virus pandemic, and who knows what will happen to the Tokyo Olympics July 24-Aug. 9?
(Note: In a March 17 communique, the International Olympic Committee issued a statement saying it “remains fully committed to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and with more than four months to go before the Games there is no need for any drastic decisions at this stage; and any speculation at this moment would be counter-productive.”)
Failing to consider postponement or cancellation of the Olympics in the face of the virus pandemic has been characterized as “insensitive and irresponsible” by Canadian gold medal hockey Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser, a member of the International Olympic Committee who leveled criticism at the IOC.
Noting the crisis is bigger than the Olympics, he pointed out some athletes don’t know where they can train but still have been urged to continue preparing for the Games in Tokyo this summer.
Without consideration of postponement or cancellation, Olympic pole vaulter Katerina Stefanidi told Reuters, the IOC is putting athletes at risk. They want to know what Plan B is.
“The stadiums have been closed for a week,” she noted, adding that athletes may get a special permit to go inside and train.
“But how can you train there, touching the same equipment and surfaces?” she asked, referring to the danger of contamination from the virus.
Meanwhile, the dominoes continue to fall in the equestrian world.On March 20, Britain’s 5-star Badminton Horse Trials finally gave in to the inevitable and called off the May event, Closer to home, the Upperville Colt and Horse Show in Virginia, slated for June, now will be held in September.
The first major evening competitiont to hit the dust was the April 23-26 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, cancelled on March 16 for the first time in its 42-year history. Needless to say, the 3-star show jumping grand prix that was to run with it at the Kentucky Horse Park is also a goner.
Oliver Townend, the world’s number one eventer, was a big star at Land Rover Kentucky. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Britain’s spring 5-star, the Badminton Horse Trials May 6-10 hasn’t been cancelled yet, but it seems only a matter of time. The Grand National, the world’s most famous steeplechase, won’t be going, and word is that the Kentucky Derby, famously run on the first Saturday in May, will now be held Sept. 5.
Then disaster struck closer to home, as word came that the May 6-10 Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event at the Horse Park of New Jersey was suspended, though organizers are looking for a date on which the 2020 edition of the competition can be staged, as soon as authorities deem it is safe to do so.
Tailgating is always popular at Jersey Fresh. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Morgan Rowsell, co-chair of both Jersey Fresh and the MARS Essex Horse Trials set for Far Hills July 17-18, said “This is all such a mess and we don’t know whether it ends in time for Jersey to run early in June.” Both were to be observation events for Olympic candidates.
As Morgan pointed out, “The NBA is gone, but the NBA has a lot of money behind it, it’s not like they won’t come back. These events that rely on each show to survive and now they can’t run—here we are.”
Essex is a “wait-and-see,” noted Morgan.
The Mars Essex Horse Trials drew some top riders, including Will Coleman. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
“We’re pushing forward and figuring and hoping in four months things will have calmed down.”
Rescheduling Jersey Fresh will depend on the calendar of the Horse Park, and I wondered if perhaps just for this year it would be possible to combine Jersey Fresh and Essex.
“Everything’s on the table,” said Morgan. “It crossed our minds.
“In extreme circumstances like this, what do we have in Jersey and how can we pull this all together? We need a 4-star moving forward. We need to get our international competitors ready for Burghley or the new (October) 5-star at Fair Hill. We need to get these people ready.
“We’re very much in the interim stage. We all could be shut down through the summer,” commented Morgan, but added, “hopefully we’ve got it licked in two months and both Jersey Fresh and Essex are ready to move forward in the best way we can, even if it’s a skeleton event with just the horses and the jump judges, and let the hoopla take a back seat, if the sponsors will follow our lead. Next year, we can make a better year of it.
“With the loss of Carolina, Kentucky, and Stable View, and Jersey Fresh postponed, there’s a need for qualifications going forward. We’re open to all suggestions at Essex and cooperation with Jersey.
“We’re a resilient community of eventers. We’ll bounce back and organizers will step up to the plate when it’s safe to compete. We don’t want to spread the virus, we’re going to do our part like the rest of the country. When the government says go, we’ll go as hard as we can to get back on track. Both events are important to New Jersey and the mid-Atlantic region in general, so if we could have both, that would be the best.”
Essex moved its date to July after encountering soggy footing the last few years.
Although eventually Morgan would like to have an all-weather surface for the dressage and show jumping phases, he said, “We will run on grass in hopes we’ll have drier weather. It’s okay if it rains; it’s whether or not we have an entire month of rain, which is what we had in June three years running.
“In July, typically the water table goes down and if it rains, it’s not that big a deal. We realize last year was not the best outcome, so we moved the date. We’re aerating, spreading sand and fertilizing to make sure the turf is better this year we’ll water if it needs watering,” said Morgan, who said perhaps they would incorporate some synthetics in the surface.
The lack of events this spring may work in favor of Essex, where the footing last year had some riders questioning whether they would come back. Now they will need an outing, so Essex may get the nod and hopefully it will suit them this time around.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 14, 2020
The tsunami of pandemic-sparked cancellations involving equestrian competitions large and small will be felt by a diverse group that runs from top athletes looking toward the Olympics down to kids hoping to qualify for their championships; officials, those who manage the shows, horse transporters, jump crew, show secretaries and catering staff, among many others involved with horse sport.
“It’s staggering what the ripple effect is going to be,” said U.S. show jumping coach Robert Ridland after it was announced that the FEI World Cup Finals in dressage and jumping April 15-19 were called off. The Las Vegas competition joined a sad list that includes March Madness and a host of other athletic events, as well as the closing of Disneyland, Broadway shows and the Metropolitan Opera. The London Marathon has been postponed to October from April 26, but the Grand National steeplechase in England set for April 4 was cancelled..
The void left by the eagerly anticipated World Cup Finals is “extremely disappointing, no question,” said Robert, who was manager of the Cup when it made its first Vegas appearance in 2000 and for four editions after that until he became coach.
U.S. Coach Robert Ridland walking with his team before the Longines FEI Nations Cup at the Palm Beach Masters. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
Twenty years ago, “it was the turning point of how the sport in many ways was presented,” giving a boost to “shows around the world that needed a kickstart.
“It was presented the way real sports are meant to be presented, fueled by tickets and fans,” he said.
The last time it was held in Vegas, in 2015, Steve Guerdat of Switzerland started a winning streak on the show jumping side (he was supposed to come back for a shot at a record fourth victory), while the fabulous Valegro won the dressage honors. (That’s the feature photo above.) Valegro’s rider, Charlotte Dujardin, was scheduled to compete on her current ride, Mount St. John Freestyle, in a battle with world number one Isabell Werth on Weiheigold, also going for an unprecedented fourth Cup win. Another loss is not being able to see the USA’s beloved dressage star Verdades enjoy a formal retirement in front of his fans.
Laura Graves and Verdades in Vegas at the 2015 FEI Dressage World Cup Final. (Photo © 2015 by Nancy Jaffer)
Cup organizers decided to cancel after the travel ban was announced on Wednesday, which would have made it impossible for European riders to get to Vegas.
“You can’t have the sport if you can’t have the competitors there,” said Devin Ryan of Long Valley, who qualified for the show jumping final on Caspar’s Lasino. After months of planning, the situation is discouraging.
Devin Ryan and Caspar’s Lasino. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
“You develop a whole season, you pick certain shows, you try to get certain points and qualify, and when your stars all line up, something like this happens,” he said.
“To take a shot at doing the World Cup Final again for the third time in a row, I was psyched.”
He also observed, however, “There are people out there who have it way worse than we do. We’re very fortunate that we get to ride these horses and do what we do for a living. There will be other shows.”
But wave after wave of bad news connected to the virus outbreak rolled in on Friday the 13th (which lived up to its evil reputation) and continued into the weekend and this week. In the wake of the U.S. Equestrian Federation calling for all its shows to suspend for a month (they can go on, but competitors will not receive points or qualifications) and the FEI (international equestrian federation) also was requesting a 30-day halt in the action, the U.S. Eventing Association voted to curtail recognition of any competitions under its direct jurisdiction for “at least” two weeks.
The National Basketball Association, along with major league baseball and hockey, has called a halt to games. There are those, however, who feel that equestrian’s regulatory bodies, in their concern about safety, may have overstepped their bounds, in effect forcing shows to cancel because running fixtures where participants can’t earn points doesn’t work in most cases.
The loss of the World Cup and so many other top competitions is regrettable, but they are far from the only casualties of the challenging situation, which reaches down to the state and local levels.
Mason Garrity has worked hard to rejuvenate the 47-year-old Four Seasons show, an April A-rated fixture he manages at the Horse Park of New Jersey. It falls within the 30-day window, and running it as an unrecognized show is not an option.
“It’s disheartening,” said Mason, who is supporting a young family.
“The amount of expense we put into the horse show, we can’t risk that to run unrated, hoping people show up. I want our exhibitors to be safe, so it doesn’t seem like a good plan to go against it and run. We ran unrated winter shows this year and ended up losing money. I just bought out Paul Jewell’s jump company,” said Mason, who was hoping to rent jumps to other shows, which now won’t be held. It’s a difficult situation all the way around.
“I don’t know what the answer is. It’s a shocker,” observed Mason, who is canceling his show and has emailed USEF to ask if the fees paid for this year can be rolled over to 2021.
The officials hired for the show that isn’t happening aren’t going to be getting their paychecks, ditto jump crew, ingate folks and show secretaries, along with others who are vital to putting on such a competition.
One of the judges who won’t be officiating at Four Seasons is Tucker Ericson.
“It’s times like these where I thank my parents for giving me the strength to stick with corporate America and do horses as a second career,” said Tucker, who runs the Monmouth at the Team show but works full-time in the insurance field.
“You feel bad for so many trainers who are (living) hand to mouth…and everyone who works a horse show. They probably will survive a week or two, but when you go much longer than that and they’re not getting their income, it’s tough.”
He noted everyone in the industry generally will agree to forego a paycheck if management has to cut out a ring or a day to make ends meet. In this instance though, “it’s a little bit concerning that this is just thrown upon them and there’s very little they can do to make up the difference.” There are many, he pointed out, who “don’t have a month of reserves.”
But maybe, “in a state like New Jersey that has so many lower-level schooling shows,” trainers will use this as an opportunity to take some of their lower-level riders to those unrecognized competitions. Perhaps they can make up the difference by focusing on that part of their business, he commented.
With the winter circuits winding down, perhaps “having a month as a good transitional time” will work, “as long as the 30 days doesn’t get extended further.”
He suggested that people, “think about those in the industry who are less fortunate than you and what you can do to help them get through this period. If each person just does something small for someone they know must be in a little bit of need, that’s awesome.”
Tucker Ericson
Tucker mentioned that trainers who have extra projects on their farms could hire jump crew members or others they met at shows who are out of work to handle their projects.
Mason Garrity’s difficult situation is mirrored around the country, but everyone is handling the current state of affairs differently.
Nona Garson and George D’Ambrosio are continuing their Turf Tour show jumping series in Wellington, Florida, even though the Adequan Global Dressge Festival and the Winter Equestrian Festival called a halt two weeks early. The early end to the WEF scuttled Devin’s plans to show his number one horse, Eddie Blue, at the final WEF competition and perhaps get noticed as an Olympic contender with a good performance there.
Bob Bell of the Gulfport, Miss.,Gulf Coast Winter Classics show circuit said on Facebook, “USEF may have ended our circuit by two weeks (early) but with so many unable to ship home we are having an unrated show next week with a $25,000 Grand Prix.”
However, after talking with USEF CEO Bill Moroney, he said he realized even a little show like the one he envisioned could jeopardize people’s health and called it off. Meanwhile, rides home were offered to horses stranded in Mississippi, so it all worked out.
Meanwhile, those involved with the USA’s Olympic effort are going to be meeting for discussions of how to handle necessary changes in training and selection looking toward the Olympics–and hoping they won’t be cancelled. There is not yet a clear path forward, and much is uncertain.
As U.S. dressage technical advisor Debbie McDonald put it, “We’re kind of in limbo.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 13, 2020
Pan American Games eventing medalist Patrick “Packy” McGaughan, 56, died in his sleep yesterday.
He began his career as a young rider in the late 1970s and went on to compete at the North American Young Rider Championships. He was rider in residence at the U.S. Equestrian Team from 1981 to 1982 under the guidance of coach Jack LeGoff.
In 1987, he rode on the U.S.gold medal team at the Pan American Games in Indianapolis, where he also earned the bronze medal individually. He graduated from Duke University in North Carolina and in 1991 from the University of Maryland School of Law.
A popular instructor in Area II, Packy operated Banbury Cross Farm in Clarksburg, Maryland. The farm was developed into a top training, breeding and boarding facility, specializing in eventing, dressage, hunters, and equitation. Packy produced numerous horses and riders to the highest level of the sport. He was a well-regarded instructor in Area II for juniors, amateurs, and professionals.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 12, 2020
| The Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association today joined the ranks of many equestrian organizations around the world and cancelled the remainder of its season, including the Zones, Western Semi-Finals and Nationals.
“Our top priority is the well-being and safety of all our members,” the organization commented in a statement.
“This decision was not made lightly and is based on the latest information concerning the coronavirus (COVID-19).
“We recognize the hard work and effort put forward by the membership, the hours of practice, volunteerism, fundraising and team spirit of the student members and the dedication and leadership of the coaches.”
Other cancellations include indoor Brabant in the Netherlands, the last Western European qualifier for the FEI Dressage World Cup Finals–which has yet to announce anything relating to whether the show in Las Vegas April 15-19 will take place.
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by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 9, 2020
Verdades, the USA’s top dressage horse of the last six years, will be taking his last bows before his public at the 2020 FEI World Cup™ Finals in Las Vegas next month.
Diddy, whose retirement was announced in January, will appear in the Devoucoux Dressage Showcase on Friday afternoon Apri 17 before his formal retirement ceremony the next evening during intermission of the Grand Prix Freestyle.
Owner Laura Graves, who got the personable show ring star as a weanling and trained him up to international stardom, has ridden him to second place in the last three World Cup finals, to a team bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics and to team and individual silver at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games
Explaining her choice of Las Vegas for his retirement, Laura noted that “Diddy.has so many fans and I wanted to give as many of them as possible a chance to see him before his retiremen.
“He has performed on the world’s biggest stages and there really is no bigger stage than the World Cup Finals in Las Vegas, so this is really the perfect place for his formal retirement.”
In 2009, Brentina, the top U.S. dressage horse of the early part of the century, was retired in an emotional ceremony in Las Vegas. Brentina was ridden by Debbie McDonald, now the U.S. dressage technical advisor and Laura’s personal coach.
Laura Graves and her Verdades have a special relationship that enabled them to become worldwide stars. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
To order tickets, or for further information on the 2020 FEI World Cup™ Finals in Las Vegas, go to the event’s official website at www.WorldCupLasVegas.com.
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by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 8, 2020
The Live Oak International, named after its signature trees draped with Spanish moss, is a boutique horse show extraordinaire. Started 30 years ago as a combined driving competition, it is the only fixture in the U.S. that offers both grand prix show jumping and top-level driving (five advanced national championships were awarded this weekend).
Unlike the crowded grounds of the major show series, Live Oak offers thousands of peaceful acres where horses can relax, grazing and walking peacefully through wide open spaces in a setting that feels like what we call “old Florida,” before the days of high rises and retirement villages.
Horses feel peaceful standing under the live oaks. (Photo ©2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
The show is put on by the Weber family. Chester Weber is among the best four-hand drivers in the world, while his sister, Juliet Reid, formerly was president of the Washington International Horse Show. Her daughter, Chloe, is a professional show jumper who upheld the family pride by winning a class at this year’s show.
Since 2015, Live Oak has been the final qualifier for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final ™. That’s particularly exciting during the years riders aim for the final in Las Vegas (2015 and 2020), because everyone is so eager to ride in that glittering city.
It always puts a little extra excitement into the $100,000 qualifier, and today’s class was no exception. The course was artfully designed by Olaf Petersen Jr., who is also laying out the routes next month for the final at the Thomas & Mack Center. His trademark is putting together designs that challenge the best riders while not overfacing those who aren’t at that level. And his favorite number for a jump-off is eight, which is what he got today.
Even better, the rounds got faster and faster in the tie-breaker, where the top three were all clocked in 37 seconds and change.
Adrienne Sternlicht is still bringing back her fantastic mare Crystalline, who was injured when she was on the gold medal team at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games
Finishing the $100,000 class was a must-do requirement in order for Adrienne to be able to ride the 12-year-old in Vegas. But she did far better than that, with WEG teammate McLain Ward helping from the sidelines. Adrienne was clocked in 37.96 seconds, beating the previous mark set by Devin Ryan of Long Valley, N.J., 38.66 aboard Caspar’s Lasino, owned by Olympic multi-medalist Anne Kursinski’s Market Street in Frenchtown, N.J.
Devin Ryan and Caspar’s Lasino. (Photo ©2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
But when Margie Engle set off on Dicas, the crowd was leaning forward, riding with the famous speedster as she turned in a time of 37.37 seconds to move in front of Adrienne.
Daniel Coyle, the red-headed Irishman who rides for Canadian Ariel Grange, was last to go and managed despite a slip by Farrel to edge Margie in 37.05 seconds.
When Farrel slipped, Daniel thought he had lost and wondered if he would still be able to catch the leaders.
Winner Daniel Coyle of Ireland and Farrel. (Photo ©2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
“Both Margie and Adrienne have fantastic horses and are fantastic riders,” said Daniel. “Our plan was to go to come to Live Oak International with the hopes of qualifying for the Final and this win has done that for us.”
Farrel obviously was excited about his victory. He reared several times, as Margie distracted Dicas from the antics of Daniel’s horse with a few well-placed pats on the neck.
Farrel made sure everyone knew who won the big class. (Photo ©2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
Adrienne, had a close call in terms of being able to compete in the $100,000 class after falling off in the Friday qualifier for the grand prix when the other horse she brought to Live Oak, Benny’s Legacy, took off long at a fence. Normally, she wouldn’t have been able to compete today, but since there were less than 40 vying for a spot in the big class, she got in.
Her performance this afternoon made her first in the Eastern sub-league of the Longines-sponsored North American League of riders qualified for the finals, with Beezie Madden second and 19-year-old whiz kid Brian Moggre standing third. Devin also won his ticket to Vegas, though he will ask the horse’s owner before making a final decision on whether to go West. But Margie is headed for Vegas with or without her horse; she loves to gamble.
The runaway winner of the Western sub-league is Karl Cook, while a seventh place finish today put Jenni McAllister into a Vegas slot, along with Alex Granato, who did not compete in Ocala.
The driving marathon Saturday drew a great crowd around the obstacles, where Chester (who had the best score in all of the hazards) drew the loudest cheers. He won his 17th national four-in-hand championship wire-to-wire, taking first in dressage and cones as well, while looking toward this summer’s world championships in the Netherlands.
Jacob Arnold drove a stunning duo of grays to claim the advanced pair horse trophy. Taylor Bradish took the advanced single horse title, as she aims for that division’s world championships for the first time. Katie Whaley (who designs the most intriguing hats) was the advanced pony pairs champ for the fifth time (while mulling moving up to a pony four-in-hand.) Three-time single pony titleist Jennifer Keeler is awaiting the first foal from her beloved Amazing Grace, whose offspring is arriving courtesy of a surrogate.
Chester Weber in the cones on the way to his 17th national championship. (Photo ©2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
So you can see that Live Oak is special, but it’s concerning that the show has lost its date on the calendar. Live Oak had kept the spot because it offered a World Cup qualifier, but as the list of qualifiers was cut from 14 to eight, starting in 2021, Live Oak did not get a renewal of qualifier status. So it will be the decision of the U.S. Equestrian Federation as to the show’s future.
It’s important to keep it going for show jumping, so horses can get a break from the all-weather footing at the big shows and enjoy jumping on grass. But it’s even more important for driving.
“This is the only (driving) event in the U.S. where we have more than one event (sport) happening at the same time,” pointed out Jacob, who is a member of the USEF board as an elected athlete. He noted, “It’s a great thing for our sport..We get more public, more attention, which helps obviously build driving’s name throughout the country. It’s a wonderful event, it’s very well put-on.”
Jon Garner, who took over as the show’s director of sport this year,said, “I think for the sport, this is a critical event to the calendar for sure. It changes the focus for the horses and riders, especially on the jumping side, because you’re on grass.
“For driving, it’s critical to have a high level event in your country. It’s going to raise up the skill level of the athletes. We have to find a way for 2021 where it fits and what the plan will be.”
The general opinion seems to be that a 3-star rating for Live Oak’s show jumping would fit in well on the schedule, particularly when the Winter Equestrian Festival across the state in Wellington offers a 2-star and a 5-star. A 3-star likely would draw more people, because it offers classes that are less difficult than a World Cup qualifier, I’ve been told.
Chester urged riders, drivers and anyone else who enjoys Live Oak to contact the USEF and tell the federation it’s important to get a date for next year.
“Without a date, we can’t have sport,” he emphasized.
