by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 8, 2021
Think about hunter and jumper shows in Florida. What location comes to mind first? It’s probably Wellington, home of the Winter Equestrian Festival in Palm Beach County on the state’s east coast. That’s the circuit with the greatest name recognition after decades of memorable competitions attracting riders from all over the world.
But Ocala, about a 4-hour drive north and west, is getting more than the usual attention these days because this is the first season for the World Equestrian Center, a glossy eye-opener of a venue offering 17 rings (including air conditioned indoor arenas) on approximately 4,000 acres, complete with a 5-star hotel (to open next month) and a variety of restaurants. The stalls are permanent (no tents) and so are the restrooms (no portables).
The World Equestrian Center is making a splash in Ocala. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Of course, Ocala also has another major option, the HITS venue in a more rustic setting 10 road miles or so from WEC. That show organization has been offering classes in Marion County since 1985 under the direction of Tom Struzzieri, who also has showgrounds in Illinois, New York and Virginia.
It’s quite remarkable that last weekend, high quality grands prix were offered at each venue. WEC had the $75,000 Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian feature on Saturday night, while HITS presented the $150,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix the following afternoon. And consider that WEF had a Sunday FEI (international equestrian federation) grand prix worth $214,000, attracting many international riders seeking Longines ranking points. Over two-days, 103 horses jumped courses laid out in Florida by top designers at all three sites, with a total of $439,000 in prize money offered.
Aaron Vale and Prestige won their second HITS grand prix of the season on Sunday in Ocala. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Since WEC’s grands prix during its Winter Spectacular are not FEI (neither are the HITS grands prix) riders have the option of picking what suits them and their horses best in the Sunshine State. Over the course of the circuit, many riders will take advantage of all three choices, with WEC now adding another destination to consider. Depending on your vantage point, it could be called a case of the more the merrier.
In Ocala, WEC’s Roby Roberts believes it’s no problem for his shows to coexist with HITS.
“There’s room for both here. They’re two different experiences,” said Roby, a member of the family that owns not only WEC, but also the Golden Ocala club and the high-end housing around it.
There were 28 horses in WEC’s grand prix and 25 at HITS. In Tom’s view, having another show so close to HITS affected entries at his competition. On the same weekend in 2020 before the pandemic shutdown, the HITS competition drew 43 horses, he pointed out. Tom wondered if prize money will be sustainable at that rate.That’s especially pertinent when he says it, since the $1 million Great American Grand Prix is his Ocala series finale.Having another show nearby has meant things are different in Ocala this year.
“Our business is off about 30 percent, after you factor in Covid,” said Tom.
“So yes, it’s affected us,” he continued, then quickly added “we’ll survive.
HITS follows strict U.S. Equestrian Federation protocols, which means no fans due to Covid. WEC, on the other hand, is governed for this series by the National Snaffle Bit Association, which does not have the same constraints, so people came to watch the grand prix and be tourists at the new place.
Santiago Lambre of Mexico, who was 1-2 in the WEC grand prix with Comtesse and Easy Girl, appreciates the new venue. Santiago lives in Wellington and is prepping for the Olympics there, but considers WEC “the best facility in the U.S. and I think it’s the best facility in the world for me,” commented the veteran of 15 years in Europe..
“You have two stadiums, the best stables in the world,” added Santiago, who came for one week and stayed for six.”
In honor of the LPGA tournament last weekend at the Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club, the Golden Ocala jump in Saturday night’s grand prix was flanked by a putting green and a golf cart. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Aaron Vale, a consistent winner at HITS who has also done well at WEC, topped the Purina class with Prestige, a 9 year-old purchased from some friends in Slovakia. Aaron has spent five years producing the gelding, who logged his second HITS victory of the winter.
Having two shows so close is “awesome,” said Aaron, who also has been a winner at WEC this season.
“I’ve got eight or nine horses I can enter in a grand prix,” he commented. “Having two venues gives us some options because you can’t ride eight in one grand prix. It’s great that we have the options. I hope both (shows) keep going for a long time,” added Aaron, who wants to take Prestige to Wellington when he’s ready.
Aaron Vale rides out of the arena at Hits as a winner again. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Aaron lost 45 pounds in the last 14 months.
“ I’m motivated, I’m mounted and I’m having fun,” he said, but also gave back donating $5,900 that was his share of a pre-jump-off Calcutta auction to benefit the Marion County Therapeutic Riding organization.
“We get so much support here at HITS,” said Dana Waters on behalf of MTRA. “Tom always lets us have a nice event here and it has become our biggest fundraiser and we are so appreciative.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 1, 2021
Now the Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1 non-neuropathogenic strain) of the disease that shut down showing in most of Europe has emerged in New York state.
Two EHM (myeloencephalopathy) and 2 EHV-1 cases are quarantined and isolated at a stable in Brewster, N.Y., after one of the EHM horses competed in equitation on March 5 at Old Salem Farm in nearby North Salem. It started showing symptoms on March 7.The stable has already implemented strict biosecurity measures, temperature monitoring and has been very cooperative during this investigation and situation. The origin of the disease is unknown and still under investigation. Old Salem Farm has no known cases of EHV-1 or EHM at this time. Show management is cleaning and disinfecting the facility and following appropriate EHV-1 biosecurity protocols.
Earlier this month, EHV-1 struck in California. A 12-year-old warmblood gelding in Los Angeles County displaying neurological signs was confirmed positive on Tuesday.
Following an assessment of the facility where the gelding lives, 45 potentially exposed horses have been quarantined with enhanced biosecurity measures and twice-daily temperature monitoring. The owners of all exposed horses have been notified and no additional cases have been identified..
There also are seven horses under special quarantine at a boarding facility for show horses in Chester, Pa. The quarantine was triggered by detection of EHV-1 in multiple febrile horses on the premises. Investigation is ongoing, but due to a possible connection to an EHM case NOT located at this premises, the Department is issuing an official quarantine and is working with the very proactive barn management and private practitioners to monitor the health of the horses on the premises.
Earlier in the Keystone State, a horse showing neurological signs of Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHV-1) was euthanized at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center.. The limited number of potentially exposed horses have been identified and are being contacted by New Bolton Center and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.This case has no known association with international travel, transport, or shows.
The disease also has spread to the racing industry. Three barns at Maryland’s Laurel Park have been quarantined because of the Equine Herpes virus. All horses in residence must stay on the grounds until further guidance is offered. One horse tested positive at Laurel. Also in Maryland, there was an unrelated infection of a horse in Cecil County, That animal was euthanized.
On March 1, international equestrian competitions in 10 European countries were cancelled by the FEI until March 28 due to the rapid evolution of a very aggressive strain of the neurological form of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1), which originated in Valencia, Spain and already has led to related outbreaks in at least three other countries in Europe.
At the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, a horse who spiked a fever which led to a quarantine of Barn D turned out to be EHV-1 negative. Based on that, the State of Florida, WEC veterinarians and management lifted the quarantine on the 16 horses housed in Barn D and horse showing will continue as scheduled.
As of today, no horses have tested positive for EHV-1 on WEC property. Moving forward, horses that have traveled to another Florida competition venue and horses who have been exposed to horses that have been at other Florida competition venues in the last 10 days will not be allowed on WEC grounds.
All equines entering the property must present a health certificate or statement of health from a licensed veterinarian within 7 days to the horse show office.
Until further notice, ship-ins (those working from trailers) will be restricted from the property. A dressage show scheduled for this month at WEC already was cancelled, but next month’s dressage show–with several top Olympic contenders scheduled to compete–will be held.
Shows in Florida have issued restrictions and new measures to insure the safety of horses on their grounds after a horse in Ocala came up positive for EHV-1 earlier this month. The horse was not at a show venue when its symptoms appeared, and it was not shipped in from Europe.
It was doing well after being treated at the University of Florida large animal hospital, according to the Chestnut Hill Farm Facebook page. A second horse whose stall was adjacent to the index horse while at the farm has also been confirmed positive.. The second horse is not exhibiting neurologic symptoms, although it has been febrile and is being treated at the separate isolation facility.
The farm’s horses that were at WEC were evacuated as soon as the positive test was revealed. Owners are working with state veterinarians and and inspectors as well as the University of Florida to achieve a tight quarantine.
The message concludes by saying, “If anyone has any questions or concerns please contact Kyle or Kathy (Dewar).. We hope to lead by example and do the best thing possible for our horses and the horse community.”
The European cancellation decision applies to all FEI disciplines. It covers events in France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Poland, Netherlands, Germany and Slovakia.
“This was not an easy decision to block events in mainland Europe, particularly after the major disruption to the FEI Calendar caused by the Covid-19 pandemic”, FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said, “but this EHV-1 outbreak is probably the most serious we have had in Europe for many decades and our decision is based on clearly identified epidemiological risk factors.
“This strain of EHV-1 is particularly aggressive and has already caused equine fatalities and a very large number of severe clinical cases. We need to keep our horses safe. We are also aware that a large number of horses left the venue in Valencia without an official health certificate, meaning they had an unknown health status. Some horses were already sick, and the risk of transmission from these horses is a major concern.
“Cancelling these competitions in mainland Europe, with the exception of the ongoing jumping tours in the Iberian Peninsula and Italy, limits the number of horses traveling internationally and therefore reduces the likelihood of this very serious virus being transmitted on an increasingly wider scale. We also strongly recommend that the affected member federations should also cancel their national events.
“We are very conscious of the fact that this is a very stressful and distressing time, and that this is potentially hugely disruptive for those athletes aiming for their Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs) or confirmation results for Tokyo, but we are looking at ways to alleviate that in order to assist athlete/horse combinations in getting their MERs or confirmation results once the events in mainland Europe are allowed to resume.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 27, 2021
Ignore stories predicting cancellation (for the second time) of the Tokyo Olympics this summer due to the pandemic.
That’s the advice of Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, saying “we will not add fuel to this type of speculation.” In the past, insisting the Games will happen; he has been firm about stating that there is no Plan B, even though a poll showed that 80 percent of the Japanese people want to see the Olympics cancelled or postponed.
During a press conference last week following a meeting of the IOC executive board, Bach pointed out that more than 7,000 athletic events have taken place over the autumn and winter, with 175,000 people tested and only a 0.18 percent positive rate .
“This is why we are so confident,” he said, while noting that if the IOC thought the Games couldn’t be safe, “we would not go for it.” And they are going for it.
IOC President Thomas Bach
He said the Covid vaccine could not be considered a silver bullet and athletes will not be required to get their shots (but are encouraged to do so, as long as they don’t cut in line ahead of the vulnerable).
Instead, the IOC is counting on such counter-measures for safety as reducing the number of athletes lodged in the Olympic village at the same time. Other concepts are outlined in a playbook that will detail housing, transportation and similar matters. It is coming out next month and is first in a series.
IOC Vice President John Coates said in an interview with Sky News that athletes must stay in the Olympic Village when they are not at their venues, and cannot go downtown. They will not be quarantined on arrival, but would be subject to testing for COVID at the Games every four days. They also will have to follow a set of rules before traveling to Japan, when they must quarantine, and on arriving in Tokyo.
A decision on whether spectators can attend will have to be made by March or April, though no one knows how many people could be in the stands at this point. Doubtless there will be social distancing in the stadiums, which means less tickets available. But maybe it will go the way it did for the Super Bowl in Tampa, where the least expensive tickets are running $10,250 (per ticket, for a 2 pack of tickets, going up 10 percent in a week). That stadium is using only 22 percent of its seats for the big game.
Tickets aren’t the IOC’s first concern, however. Don’t forget, the Olympics have TV contracts and sponsors to pay the way. The priorities for IOC are the field of play and safe competition, according to Bach.
“Everything else has to have second priority.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 24, 2021
An advisory group working on a strategic plan for the future of the Somerset County Park Commission’s Lord Stirling Stable in Basking Ridge includes six volunteers with close ties to the facility, as well as two paid consultants.
Names of the group’s members were made public today during the annual meeting of the Friends of Lord Stirling Stable, a support network for the operation that runs the retired school horse program.
Lord Stirling, which celebrated its 50th anniversary as a public stable in 2019, was closed in April during the midst of the pandemic. Although it eventually reopened for private boarders, the school horses were sold. Those who rode at the stable worried about if and when lessons will resume.
The county indicated earlier this month that the purpose of the advisory group is “to study and ensure future equine activities and programs” at the stable, which lost more than $500,000 in 2019. Such losses were subsidized by other park commission programs until the advent of Covid, when golf courses and other activities also were shut down. Nancy Brown, past president of the Friends and a member of the advisory group, said during the meeting that the stable is not being considered for a lease to a third party, which some had thought might be a possibility.
Speaking about the advisory group, Geoffrey Soriano, executive director of the Park Commission, believes his agency “ is exceptionally lucky to have folks like these willing to volunteer their time to endeavor to build a business plan aimed at reintroducing programmatic components to Lord Stirling Stable with a keen eye on fiscal prudence and sustainability. “
Karyn Malinowski, the founding director of the Rutgers Equine Science Center, has been hired as a consultant for the project, along with a fellow Ph.D from the university, Robin Brumfield.
A Rutgers animal sciences professor, Karyn has spent time as an extension specialist in equine sciences at the university and served as a director of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension. She has extensive experience in researching equine physiology in relation to the well-being of the performance horse, and also was successful as an amateur harness racing driver.
Robin is an extension specialist in farm management at Rutgers, where she works for the Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics. She also has expertise in management for farming business.
Nancy Brown, who owns a horse that boards at Lord Stirling, has been a leader or side walker with Somerset County’s Therapeutic Riding Adapted Instruction program for the disabled community. Nancy was in one of the first classes of women admitted to West Point and attended the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business in executive leadership while serving as vice president of operations for Coldwell Banker Commercial Corporate Headquarters, Realogy.
Nancy was succeeded today as president of the Friends by Anna McLernon, retired from Johnson & Johnson after 34 years as an industrial microbiologist. Her final position was as director of industrial microbiology worldwide. Anna’s retirement plan was to renew her passion for horses, starting with a course in horse management at Rutgers. Her professor recommended she go to Lord Stirling, where she has been a volunteer stable worker for four years. She started riding as a child at Watchung Stables, Union County’s equivalent of Lord Stirling. Anna enrolled in the lesson program at Lord Stirling, appreciating programs offering the opportunity to work with and ride horses for those who are not able to have a horse of their own.
The new vice president of the Friends, Barbara Roche, was Somerset County’s 2014 Volunteer of the Year. When her daughter decided that horseback riding was her passion, Barbara dedicated hundreds of hours to Lord Stirling Stable, where she now boards two horses. She worked with Verizon’s C-suite executives for decades, ensuring a symbiotic relationship between audience, objectives and strategies. She is said to have a solid understanding of the type of programs that patrons at Lord Stirling Stable are seeking.
Also serving as an advisor is eclectic horse show judge Kennis “Buttons” Fairfax, who often has been as a clinician at Lord Stirling. Buttons is an expert in both English and western disciplines. He has officiated at shows round the world, and in 2018, received the “Spirit of the Horse” award presented by the Rutgers Equine Science Center.
Chuck Rosen, who has been associated with Lord Stirling for 45 years, has three horses boarding at Lord Stirling. He has volunteered for more than 35 years for the park commission, and is a past president of the Friends. A certified management professional, he is experienced in leading multi-million dollar commercial, government and non-profit projects. His areas of expertise, decision support and conflict resolution have been applied to various companies and organizations through strategic planning, systems delivery, organizational management and behavior and decision support.
Ravenell Williams has ridden and cared for horses for his whole life. He managed a YMCA summer camp riding program and most recently held part time-barn care positions at Lord Stirling. A longtime horse owner, he has an extensive background in fundraising, grant writing, strategic planning, construction management, budget development, program development and public speaking. A career as a YMCA professional provided Ravenell the opportunity to work with mission-driven board and staff teams, conduct community relations initiatives, manage multiple facilities and implement successful marketing programs. He served as the president and CEO of the Plainfield YMCA from 2010 until his retirement in 2018.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 20, 2021
Monmouth at the Team is hitting the road.
The innovative one-ring show that debuted at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation to an overwhelmingly positive reception in 2016 will be held instead this year at the Centenary University Equestrian Center in Long Valley. The show was cancelled last year when Covid restrictions meant the ringside hospitality tent that is a focal point of the fixture couldn’t be offered
Hospitality in a tent alongside the ring has been a drawing card for Monmouth at the Team. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
The U.S. squad for the Paralympics in Tokyo will be quarantining at the Foundation’s Gladstone headquarters during August, which means the Aug. 16-23 show can’t run there this year, either. It was a surprise to the organizers, but they quickly pivoted. Monmouth will take a different tack as it uses two rings and a grass derby field for competitors at Centenary, where it can include A-rated hunter classes for the first time.
“We figured instead of cancelling for two years in a row, let’s reinvent ourselves once again,” said Tucker Ericson, who owns the show with his cousin, trainer Michael Dowling, a member of the Centenary faculty.
Michael Dowling and his cousin, Tucker Ericson, are owners of Monmouth at the Team. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Will the show stay at Centenary in 2022 if it works well there this year?
“We’re open-minded. I think the consumers will make that decision for us,” said Tucker, who in any case hopes to host “something special at the Team still.”
But he cautioned, “We’re trying to hold off pressuring ourselves for any decision or foregone conclusions until after this year’s show. The Team is very special to us. We love the facility, I love the feel of one ring. Maybe there’s a whole other twist we could do with something there as well, and try to accommodate both concepts.”
He pointed out, “The one thing about moving to Centenary, it enabled us to apply for an A-rating. A one-ring horse show can’t support the cost of the prize money for an A-show, but a two- and three-ring show can. Maybe we just need to think outside the box and think of something unique to continue to have at the Team. We’ll re-evaluate at the end of this year and see what everyone wants.”
The show, the oldest in New Jersey, was a fixture at several locations in Monmouth County since the 19th Century until Tucker and Michael moved it an hour’s drive north. It gained immediate acceptance, as outstanding hospitality became a trademark and a drawing card.
Ribbons from the first Monmouth County Horse Show in 1895. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
While exhibitors had to pay for their meals at the Team, Tucker and Michael are thinking about having hospitality at Centenary be free of charge. That would make it easier to keep track of things in three separate areas. To cover the cost, Tucker said they probably will put the prizelist/program on line rather than printing it, for a savings of $10,000, and dispense with a scoreboard, for another $10,000 in savings. They also are hoping that barns, families and vendors will volunteer to sponsor meals.
“I find it hard to believe people will want a program and a scoreboard over free food and drink every day,” Tucker observed.
The end of Centenary’s indoor arena, where classrooms and a lounge are located, can be a hospitality hub since it has air conditioning and electricity. In addition, there will be tents along the side of the outdoor ring and the grass field. Tucker envisions the landscaped vendor village being a circle in what is now a parking lot, with tables and umbrellas in the middle where people can relax.
“We’ll just move the parties around, depending on where the special classes are,” said Tucker, noting, “for the special classes, they will be the only thing going on.” Those would include a mini-prix and the $10,000 Bobcat Derby for hunters.
The Bobcat Derby is a popular feature of Monmouth at the Team. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
At this point, USEF is not allowing spectators at the shows it licenses, but Tucker is hopeful that seven months from now, things will be “80 percent better.
If not, we have much more flexibility at Centenary, so one blessing in disguise for being forced to move is the flexibility of (room for) a lot more social distancing,” he said.
The flexibility also extends to the number of classes that can be held. For instance, there is a chance to do three days worth of Outreach, for those just getting into showing..
“That’s a lot of opportunity for the grass roots,” said Tucker. There should be more people in the hunters, too, since people who shied away from the show because they were going for points can earn them at Monmouth. And Monmouth won’t have to turn away entries due to lack of time in one ring during daylight.
The schedule is still a work in progress, since USEF approval just happened this month, but expect to hear more in February.
At the same time, he noted that “until we start getting feedback about the plan, we really don’t know if we’re going to change.”
Tucker noted that when he ran the idea of the move past two sponsors, the Nature Conservancy, which backs the Bobcat Derby, and Running S veterinary services, they were eager to be part of it again.
“I think there’s going to be a lot of energy because of everything being so quiet the past year,” said Tucker.
“Having things to look forward to will be really healthy for all of us. I think it will draw a lot of people if we do it right.”
Among the questions that need to be answered: What about the name? Instead of Monmouth at the Team, maybe it should be Monmouth at Morris County, as I suggested to Tucker. (Long Valley is part of Washington Township, Morris County, for those not familiar with the geography)
Despite the change of venue, Tucker said of the name, “We’ll keep it this year until we know the long-term future.
“If we stay at Centenary, we have to think hard about that. Maybe we’ll have a contest.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 17, 2021
During all the Covid-related down time, you’ve probably had many hours to weed out your tack trunk as part of your closet-cleaning spree.
So take your used tack, horse-related items, jewelry, knick-knacks, models and riding clothes (from those closets) to Riding with HEART in Pittstown and Mane Stream (adaptive riding and therapy services) in Oldwick, Riding with HEART’s sale is March 27 (10 a.m.-3 p.m.) and March 28 (noon-3 p.m.). Mane Stream’s is April 10 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.Proceeds from the sales at both 501c3 organization’s benefit their offerings and horses.
Donations for Riding with HEART can be dropped off at 619 Route 513, Pittstown from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and noon-3 p.m. Saturdays. Call (908) 739-5912 before you come. Email tacksale@ridingwithheart.org to arrange for a different drop-off time or ask for a pick-up for a big donation within an hour’s drive.Item
Items for Mane Stream can be dropped off at the stable at 83 Old Turnpike Rd., Oldwick during office hours. Those who have questions should contact Jen Dermody at jen@manestreamnj.org, 908-439-9636 or visit the website at www.ManeStreamNJ.org
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 5, 2021
Dressage clinician, coach, motivational speaker, ballroom dancer, international rider and author, the multi-talented Jane Savoie died yesterday at the age of 71.
Even though she was ill with multiple myeloma for years, this shining light always kept going, and her final book was published just a month before her death.
Jane Savoie. (Photo courtesy U.S. Dressage Federation)
A member of the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame, Ms. Savoie was the dressage coach for the 1996 and 2004 Canadian Olympic eventing teams. She also coached her friend, Sue Blinks, to team bronze at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Devoted to adult amateurs, she motivated thousands of them with her first book, “That Winning Feeling! Program Your Mind for Peak Performance,” published in 1992. Her positive nature was contagious.
The Vermonter also wrote fiction and her final nonfiction work, “Dressage Between the Jumps: The Secret to Improving Your Horse’s Performance,” was published in 2020. Her first novel, “Second Chances,” came out shortly thereafter.
Survivors include her husband, Rhett.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 21, 2020
The U.S. Equestrian Federation’s top honor is the Lifetime Achievement Award, and no one epitomizes the meaning of that phrase more than Sally Ike. The Tewksbury resident, who has been a steward, judge and course designer, also served equestrian sport in so many more ways after she stopped eventing at the top level.
Starting with being district commissioner of the Somerset Hills Pony Club, then working as the director of show jumping, eventing and vaulting for the U.S. Equestrian Team, she went on to be managing director of show jumping for the USEF, where she eventually held the post of managing director of licensed officials and education. Although she retired from the USEF in September, she continues working with the organization on compliance matters. To read more about Sally, click on this link .
Her trophy will be presented during a virtual awards ceremony on Jan. 16. Other awards to be announced then include International Equestrian of the Year, International Horse of the Year, National Horse of the Year and National Equestrian of the Year. Members can vote for their choices in several categories, but not for International Equestrian of the Year, because the name of show jumper Kent Farrington was the only one submitted. While he’s certainly worthy, why aren’t there any other candidates from the Olympic disciplines?
Kent Farrington and Gazelle. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
“Nominees for the William C. Steinkraus Trophy are put forward by each of the discipline affiliates and Kent was the only nomination we received this year,” a USEF spokesperson said.
The announcement of nominees came out Dec. 16, and voting continues through Jan. 2.
Liz Halliday-Sharp, the first woman to become U.S. Eventing’s Rider of the Year since 1981, would seem a possibility in that discipline. Ditto Boyd Martin, who took the 4-star-Long national championship on Tsetserleg in Tryon, N.C.
But as USEA CEO Rob Burk explained, “Unfortunately, the USEF requires all nominations for the Equestrian of Honor or the Horse of the Year to be submitted by November 9. The USEA Rider of the Year came down to the very last event of the year from a points perspective and our season ends on November 30th. Our season was still quite active as of November. When the USEF reached out to us in October, we were not yet prepared to submit an annual Horse or Rider nomination; however we indicated that we were interested in submitting nominees for those awards once the season was closer to a conclusion. Once the Tryon CCI-4*L (November 11-15) was completed, we reached out again to the USEF but they indicated that the nominations were closed at that time. So unfortunately for us, the timing of the USEF award prevented submissions.
Another international discipline, dressage, saw limited FEI competition between March and the end of the season, but Adequan®/USDF Grand Prix Horse of the Year Suppenkasper was undefeated in 15 starts this year, under the guidance of Steffen Peters. His final victory came Nov. 22 in the Thermal Desert Dressage CDI3* Grand Prix Special.
USDF President Lisa Gorretta said USEF’s timeline on nominations was “earlier than we were prepared for” and therefore no name was submitted.
The USEF spokesperson said the organization is aware of the situation. It’s too late now to do anything about it for 2020, she explained, but noted, “we’ve discussed this internally with our team and it is something we plan to address with the affiliates for the 2021 awards nominations process, since it’s the first time we’ve heard that feedback from them. We want as many athletes represented as possible, so we will try to improve this process next year to be sure everyone has enough time to submit nominees, particularly on the international side.”
For details about the lineup of awards contenders on which members can vote, go to this link
(Updated December 23, 2020)
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 15, 2020
A legend in the world of Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies, Octavia Brown got in on the ground floor of this significant movement, becoming a visionary instrumental in its growth. And at age 78, the Gladstone resident is still just as committed to continuing that evolution.
“Octavia has dedicated her professional life to improving the lives of others, and her passion and expertise have touched everyone and every aspect of the industry,” said Kathy Alm, CEO of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH International).
“We’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who has served on more committees and work groups for the association.”
Yet it all began simply enough, as often is the case with so many important things. It happened that Octavia was a horse person in the right place at the right time, which was 1967. She was dating a man who worked at the McLean psychiatric hospital, which had a farm in Belmont, Mass. A horse-owning co-worker came up with the idea of bringing in horses as therapy for the patients.
It seemed a novel notion, but soon grew into a worthy one. When the horse owner moved on, the project needed someone to continue the program. Octavia, an immigrant from Great Britain with an equestrian background, was the perfect candidate to take over.
Four horses became part of what was called “activities therapy” and “I was `the horse lady,’ ” reminisced Octavia, who had ridden since she was eight.
McLean patients would come with an orderly to the barn or a walled, enclosed locked area (“so they couldn’t run away”).
Some were dealing with schizophrenia; others experienced psychotic episodes or were depressed. When they walked out of their wards, Octavia recalled, they “looked like the shutters were down on the windows.”
Yet after entering the barn, “all of a sudden, those eyes would come to life and we would be horse people together. It was a perfectly normal activity that could take place in this stressful environment,” she said.
“They would always go back in a better frame of mind than they came, and everyone would see that.” It quickly became evident to Octavia that when they spent time with the horses, “It was a skill they were learning and improving at, and I think that’s what got me hooked.”
For the patients, she realized, the horses were a slice of normal life, like music and art sessions, because “you could use your own talents, nobody was trying to analyze you.”
The program was created by Octavia and a colleague, Helga Haendel from Germany, the art therapist at McLean, who had heard a little something about equine therapy in Europe.
But “There was no training, nobody to tell you what to do,” recalled Octavia.
“I essentially learned on the job and took a lot of seminars and learned a lot about mental health and observed what people did with the horses. I taught horsemanship, and people responded,” she said.
Little did she realize, however, that an opportunity for someone who was “just a good horse person” could become a key component of what would develop into a respected mode of therapy. Eventually, it spread across the country as the concept grew around the world.
Octavia is the consummate teacher.
By 1969, people were getting together to create NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, PATH’s predecessor) and they organized a meeting in New York City of those who were interested in furthering the work. Octavia attended and found that at age 28, she was the youngest person in the room.
“They said, `We need a board of directors, who’s willing?’ We all put up our hands. So I was on the founding board from that moment.” She is the only person who remains from that original panel.
Octavia was asked to write about the program for an in-house seminar at McLean and produced a 15-page paper on psychiatric theory in connection with how people related to the horses.
“No one had a theory about what was happening and I created my own theory,” she said, explaining it had roots in activities therapy, which also included drama, music and art for psychiatric purposes Although Octavia had received an excellent secondary education in England, she didn’t have a college degree.
To fill that gap a year later, she enrolled in Harvard University’s school of education, seeking a master’s degree in Education for General Purposes, submitting the paper as part of her application.
She continued her understanding of therapeutic riding with a course at the Cheff Center in Michigan, where she earned a certificate and learned about the physical aspects of therapy and how it could be used with multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and stroke. Octavia presented an innovative international paper about teaching someone with cerebral palsy how to post to the trot, a technique that “was entirely my own invention” she said, confiding its origins involved the way she learned to post without stirrups.
“I discovered if you lift your chest, your chin and your pelvis forward and up, essentially you lighten up your seatbones and you can, in fact, post and you don’t have to grip like fury with your legs to get yourself unweighted,” she explained.
“Someone with spasticity can’t really use their legs and seats to push off of…but they can use their upper body to move with the horse and give that little upward push.”
By the time Octavia married and moved to New Jersey in 1971, she said, “I pretty much had it all under my belt.” When she founded the pioneering Somerset Hills Handicapped Riding program, it took off quickly.
After an article about her interest in starting a therapeutic program appeared in a local paper, a physical therapist from the Easter Seals therapy center in Morristown contacted Octavia, asking to work with her on getting a program going with her patients. An important piece of the puzzle was missing, however. So Octavia went to the Somerset Hills Pony Club, saying, “I need horses, can you help?” And they did,
Other people got involved. The Roser family, who had an indoor ring, hosted the program once a week. Octavia’s friend, Naomi Lorch, a psychologist and physical therapist who was working with Easter Seals at that time, referred people. The late Helen Gordon, who was active with the U.S. Equestrian Team, got on board. With the agreement of Octavia’s husband, Truman, for which she was grateful, the program moved to the couple’s Crossroads Farm in Bedminster in 1975, where it remained until the early 1990s. In that decade, it moved to Oldwick and eventually became Mane Stream.
“This Somerset Hills areas embraced me with both hands I never had any trouble fundraising,” Octavia said. The Essex Foxhounds were helpful as was Jack Fritz, then executive director of the USET. Although she and her husband are divorced, she emphasized how supportive he was of her project. For Octavia, it was gratifying that so many took to the concept.
“It became a thing that everyone was aware of, and we benefited from that. It seemed like once you tell horse people what you want to do, it’s almost a given they will get on board,” she observed.
“I think as it grew, it was self-evident to a whole bunch of people that this should be a good thing,” said Octavia.
“When I get on a beloved horse and go for a trail ride, I know what that means to me, so you have to extrapolate that to anybody with any type of challenge. It just is a natural sell.”
Octavia still enjoys riding.
Naomi Lorch noted that while there had been a focus on “the impairments of the body, getting people to move better,” beyond that what was important for clients involved “getting into real activities and being part of the world and doing what other people do, and not just being this kid with a disability who goes to therapy and doesn’t do much else. There was a sense that doing something that was fun would be good for kids.”
Octavia, she noted, “adapted to their levels and introduced the challenge of doing more and more based on their abilities, rather than a passive pony ride.”
Tracy Cole, who became one of Octavia’s first students in 1972, has gone on to be an instructor of therapeutic riding at Centenary University and mentor other instructors in training.
She got involved at age seven when the doctor at Easter Seals asked if she wanted to swim or ride for her therapy.
“I had wanted a horse my entire life,” said Tracy, so the choice was easy and Naomi connected her with Octavia.
The ability to ride horses has been life-changing for Tracy, who has cerebral palsy.
“They give me a chance to do things I can’t do on my own two feet, to go places, see things and compete,” said the Randolph resident, who uses a rolling walker to get around when she’s on the ground.
She took to Octavia immediately when they met.
“I was a little kid and she was going to teach me how to ride, and it was a dream come true. So she was the best person I ever knew,” said Tracy.
Octavia also has been active in the worldwide therapeutic movement, serving for three years as president of Federation Riding for the Disabled International. Europe, she pointed out, had been ahead of the U.S. in the 1960s in instituting therapy using equines in response to the polio epidemic. The Germans invented hippotherapy, in which a therapist uses the movement of the horse for therapeutic purposes.
Now the really good riders and trainers are seeing the value of going above and beyond and teaching someone to get into the Paralympics, she commented.
Octavia Brown
When Octavia moved on from Mane Stream, she went to work in higher education as she and Karen Bocksel co-founded Therapeutic Riding at Centenary (TRAC) in 2003. She also taught a course at Centenary on therapeutic riding and became the Gates Ferry Lecturer in 1993-94. She went full-time at the school in 1997, teaching a leadership and basic riding skills, as well as leadership and other thought-provoking courses. Centenary recognized her achievements by awarding her an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.
Although she retired this year, she still is involved with TRAC, now run by Karen Brittle.
“It has been a daunting but exciting prospect to steward the program forward, following Octavia’s impressive tenure,” stated Karen.
“In every way, Octavia strove to be supportive and generous towards me as we transitioned the TRAC program to new leadership, and this has afforded me the wonderful opportunity to get to know Octavia and to better understand her immense contribution to the EAAT industry as a whole. We are looking forward to next steps for the TRAC program and our EAAT industry training courses, while honoring the traditions of inclusion, vision, excellence in service and community that she established.”
Octavia’s influence is wide-ranging. She was involved with establishing Operation Centaur, Centenary’s therapeutic riding program for veterans now run by George Paffendorf. She’s still on a committee to further research the horse/human bond with the Horses and Humans Research Foundation, and consults with the Center for Therapeutic Riding of the East End on Long Island.
Despite all she has done, she sees more that should be accomplished.
Octavia hopes at some point insurance companies will cover therapeutic riding. They are “highly resistant to paying for anything that has to do with a horse, because by definition, they think it’s sport,” she explained.
“For physical, psychological and psychiatric reasons, it needs to be documented and researched as thoroughly as can be,” said Octavia.
While Octavia has no intention of ending her involvement, there now are many others who will pay forward what she did for them. As Tracy put it, “She was one of the reasons I became an instructor. I wanted to give someone else the opportunity she gave me:”
Reflecting on her career, Octavia said, “I truly do think I was exceptionally lucky. But also I realize that when a door opened, I went charging through – and perhaps that’s the legacy I’d most like to pass on to my students and riders.The truism is that if one door closes, seek another one that will open.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 14, 2020
It’s official. The U.S. is getting its second 5-star eventing competition next year, making it the only country besides Great Britain to host two of the elite fixtures annually.
The Maryland 5-star at Fair Hill will be one of just seven events at that level in the world. Due to Covid, the only 5-star held in 2020 was October’s Pau, France, standard bearer, but with Fair Hill set for Oct. 14-17, it’s reasonable to hope that Covid will be behind us and the event can go full throttle following approval from the FEI for a five-year run.
The event’s organizing committee, an affiliate of the Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland, put on a test event in August at the new Fair Hill Special Event Zone in Cecil County. It is just a short hop from where the traditional Fair Hill competition was held for decades.
The new cross-country course is designed by British Olympian Ian Stark. The dressage and show jumping arenas are located in the infield of the refurbished turf racecourse.
“On behalf of The Fair Hill Organizing Committee and our partner Fair Hill International, we want to thank the FEI for their continued support,” said Jeff Newman, FHOC President and CEO. “This validation of the new Fair Hill Special Event Zone to host a five-star level event is yet another exciting step forward as we gear up for the inaugural Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill next fall.”
The USA’s other 5-star is Land Rover Kentucky, which runs in April, the week before the Badminton event in England. Badminton’s organizers are hoping to be able to host spectators, though they have said they will stage the event even if fans can’t attend because of Covid. There are only seven 5-stars in the world. In addition to the U.S. events and Badminton. They are Burghley, another English event; Adelaide in Australia, Luhmuhlen in Germany and Pau.
