The Mid-Atlantic Charity Horse Show is making its debut July 14-16 at the Gloucester County Dream Park in Logan Township. It is one of only three shows in New Jersey with classes designated for saddlebreds, and the last opportunity to qualify for the August World’s Championship Show at the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville.
The show, under the auspices of the United Professional Horsemen’s Association Chapter 15, will benefit Saddlebred Rescue and Forever Morgan.
“There are just not enough local shows,” said show manager Kathy Stewart of Cream Ridge, noting there are many more such competitions for saddlebreds in New England than in this area.
The show isn’t limited to saddlebreds. The wide-ranging prizelist includes opportunity classes, classes for those with a mental or physical handicap, English and western pleasure classes, driving, academy classes and other competitions.
The show is double-pointed through American Saddlebred Horse Association-New Jersey for high score awards. The Show Local Challenge initiative offers a high-point award for those competing in four of five shows, including MAC, the Jersey Classic, the Keystone Classic, the Mid-Atlantic Charity Horse Show and the Children’s Benefit Show.
MAC is about more than competition. Kathy said the idea was to make the show “a family fun experience,” with plans for a big exhibitor “Beach Party Bash” complete with water slides.
The dream has become reality. How often do vanished equestrian competitions come back to life? That’s why it was so special yesterday when the Mars Essex Horse Trials got under way for the first time since 1998.
Speaking at the awards presentation, former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean recalled how a few years ago, people were saying, “What if we could get these trials to come back, and what if we could do them at Moorland Farm? It was a dream.” Then he turned to Guy Torsilieri and said, “You and Ron (Kennedy) make dreams come true.” The two men, who run the Far Hills Race Meeting at Moorland, were catalysts for reviving Essex, which was the type of competition to which rising eventers aspired. And now a new generation will be able to have the same ambition..
How appropriate that Buck Davidson–who competed at Essex in the days when it was held at the U.S. Equestrian Team in Gladstone–swept first through fourth places in the Open Preliminary section with Victor BZ, Dutch Harbor, Harry and Eroll Gobey respectively at the new venue, Moorland Farm in Far Hills.
Buck Davidson on his second-place mount, Dutch Harbor, with third-place Harry, left, and winner Victor BZ. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
The Preliminary Rider division went to Alice Roosevelt on Fernhill Zero. Alice, the great-great-great granddaughter of President Theodore Roosevelt, is only 16 and not surprisingly, had been unfamiliar with Essex. After all, it ended before she was born.
There was one big hurdle to overcome before the competitive jumping began. Friday night, a downpour left three inches of rain. It flooded some of the stabling (horses were moved to other stalls) and drenched the dressage arenas. They were a bit mushy, so after Saturday’s dressage phase, the white fences were moved to fresh ground for Sunday’s dressage.
Aside from that, things ran smoothly for what was essentially a first-time event with a well-known name.
“I think it was a great start,” Guy said, but he is looking forward to next year as the event grows and adds more advanced divisions.
The care and effort that went into this year’s event bodes well for the future. The seriousness of the enterprise was emphasized by its $26,800 prize money, an eye-opener for the levels competing.On Thursday, a cross-country course walk was an exciting reveal of handsome fences and the thought behind them at Moorland.
Course designer Morgan Rowsell, the event’s co-organizer with Ralph Jones, gave dozens of people (including another former New Jersey governor, Christie Whitman) a quick and insightful education about eventing.
Guy Torsilieri, former New Jersey Gov. Christie Whitman and Far Hills Mayor Paul Vallone (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
There are four tracks this year: Beginner Novice, Novice, Training and Preliminary. There are two sections for every division except Novice, which has two for Novice Rider and one for Open Novice.
Oh, did I mention that the course walk was preceded and followed by a cocktail party? Drinks included the Hoopstick, named after the Haller family farm in Bedminster where the event began in 1968, and there was an amazing cake topped by, what else a jump (it was edible, of course.)
Julie Berman, who keeps everyone organized at the Essex Horse Trials, with her husband, Bill, and the wonderful cake. (Photo by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Everyone attending the party gamely headed out onto the course, abandoning drinks, sliders and salads, to follow Morgan as he made the circuit of his route.
We covered a lot of ground, and got a feel of what the horses have in store, though I hope they will be fitter than a lot of us were for such serious exercise.
Join Morgan in the following video clips as he discusses the highlights of the course.
The first stop is by the landmark race announcer’s tower, where he explains 11 A, B and C, and the challenge of eventing on a steeplechase track.
The fences are very clever. I particularly like number 12, the Moorland Barn, that’s between the tower and Ralph’s Cedar, number 13.
Buck Davidson and Mars Essex Horse Trials Open Preliminary winner Victor BZ at the barn jump that mimics the real thing. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
Next we went to the water jump, 14ABC, the Far Hills Splash.
Then we visited the huge trakehner fence, number 15, aptly named Look and Leap.
After that it was 16AB, Life’s an Open Road, an oxer followed by a brush corner.
We finished up our tour with 18ABC, the Lazy River Bend, a giant log that horses jump before heading downhill to a ditch and then turning toward a rolltop.
Here’s a map of the preliminary course.
If you want to come out to the horse trials, you can see dressage, cross-country and show jumping either day. Times may be subject to some change, but at the moment, plans call for Novice and Preliminary to be held on Saturday, with dressage starting at 9 a.m. and running until 2:25 p.m.; Novice show jumping goes from 11:30 a.m.-1:55 p.m.; cross-country for both levels from noon to 3:50 and Preliminary show jumping is set from 5:30-6:45 p.m.
On Sunday, dressage runs from 8:35 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. Cross-country is 10:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., with show jumping ending the day from 12:15-3 :55 p.m.
Tickets are $10 per person if you buy them at the Essex website, www.essexhorsetrials.org . They are good for two days. Tickets at the gate are $20. Kids 14 and under get in free.
Non-equestrian attractions include activities for children, a classic car show, the vendor village and dining options.
St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center is asking New Jersey’s horse community to encourage the state’s Congressional representatives to vote in favor of the SAFE ACT- 2018 Agricultural Appropriations Bill that would impose funding limitations to prevent horse slaughter in the U.S. and transporting horses to slaughter outside the U.S.
The organization, based in Madison, singled out Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.) who has been positive on this issue in the past, but has not committed at this point on the bill, which is due for a vote July 12.
Saying his vote is critical to passing the bill, St. Hubert’s suggests that “simply by placing a call to Rep. Frelinghuysen’s office, every horse owner, trainer, farm owner, anyone who can simply loves horses will hopefully sway our representative to vote yes in favor of funding limitations to prevent horse slaughter.”
His Washington office’s phone number is 202-225-5034, while the phone for his Morristown office is 973-984-0711. Here is a link to his website: https://frelinghuysen.house.gov/11th-district/ .
Those living outside the district, which includes parts of Morris, Passaic, Essex and Sussex counties, can contact their representatives as well.
Nationwide, the ASPCA is asking for everyone to contact their representatives as well. Read more about it here
The Gold Ring, the second ring at the Devon Horse Show grounds, now will be called the Wheeler Ring in honor of Kenny Wheeler and his late wife, Sallie Wheeler. Kenny is known for his many victories in the breeding classes at Devon, as well as a long career as a hunter trainer. Sallie was a great philanthropist and chairman of the National Horse Show, also playing a big role in many shows and equestrian governance. Both were very much involved in Devon over the decades.
Kenny and members of the Wheeler family took part in the naming ceremony in Devon’s Dixon Oval, along with the Budweiser Clydesdales. (Sallie was a member of the Busch family, as in Anheuser-Busch brewing. Budweiser was its most famous brand.)
The Budweiser Clydesdales and members of the Wheeler family were on hand for the Gold Ring renaming ceremony at the Devon Horse Show, held in the Dixon Oval. Photo by Brenda Carpenter Photography
When the opportunity came up for the U.S. Equestrian Federation to hire Michel Assouline, the head coach of Britain’s highly successful para-equestrian dressage program, the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation stepped up.
“It seemed like an incredible opportunity to have somebody of his stature,” said USET Foundation Executive Director Bonnie Jenkins. “It really could be a game-changer for our para-dressage program” which has yet to win a medal in the modern era of the discipline.
“We were able to secure the funding rather quickly, so we didn’t lose the opportunity,” she said, citing the contributions of Betsy Bramsen, the Barnfield Foundation, Becky Reno and Ed Peavy that made it possible to hire Michel.
Will Connell, the USEF’s director of sport who had previously been Britain’s World Class Performance Director, knew Michel and suggested bringing him to the U.S., but there was nothing in the budget for that.
“We’re very fortunate to have Will Connell,” said Jim Wolf, the foundation’s deputy executive director. “He’s been able to use his relationship with Michel to bring him over and help him build the program. I think Will has a good plan in place, but we needed the funding to do it. This is exactly how the foundation and federation should work together Will had a need, he came to us and we found the funding through the generosity of some very important donors.”
Michel, who worked for the British for 12 years, will be head of para-equestrian coach development and high performance consultant. He will work with chef d’equipe Kai Handt and Laureen Johnson, director of para-dressage, to prepare U.S. athletes for the World Equestrian Games next year in Tryon, N.C.
Michel also will be leading a trainer/coach development program, while working closely with the Para Centers of Excellence around the country, and delivering and running additional seminars and coaching sessions.
Will noted that Michel was a key figure in the able-bodied dressage world as French national champion. “He’s been based in America and trained here, so he understands the culture. He’s obviouly been a very successful para coach He’s also completed a very detailed master coach program in Britain, which gives him a lot of skills in coach development as well . It’s not just about bringing him here to coach athletes, it’s bringing him here to coach coaches.”
Commenting that he has been “privileged to work with an incredibly successful team of athletes” in Britain, Michel noted, “during my time as head coach, we earned team gold in every single international championship and numerous individual medals, including two triple gold medalists at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. I now feel the time is right for a career which seeks out new challenges. My new role will also allow me to pursue other interests both within para- and able-bodied dressage.”
Can you imagine taking a sample of feed every time you open a new bag, keeping it in a baggie marked with the date the feed bag was opened and the lot numbers? Oh, and writing all the information in a log book, including where and when the feed was purchased. How about testing the supplements you give your horse, to see if they show evidence of substances that are prohibited in competition?
That’s now the routine at the barns where horses are being trained by Adrienne Lyle and her mentor, Debbie McDonald. Adrienne and one of her mounts, Horizon, were suspended from competition by the FEI (international equestrian federation) after a drug test taken at a Feb. 10 show revealed a trace of ractopamine.
Adrienne Lyle was all smiles after Horizon won the national Intermediaire I championship following a long battle to make it to the Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions. (Photo by Lawrence J. Nagy)
The substance, forbidden by the FEI, was not named on the ingredient list of Cargill’s Progressive Nutrition® Soothing Pink™, a gastric nutritional supplement administered to Horizon, but it was in there. The same thing happened to Young Rider Kaitlin Blythe and her mount, Don Principe. The only link between Adrienne and Kaitlin was the fact that they were using Soothing Pink.
The suspensions of Adrienne and Kaitlin were lifted after Cargill admitted responsibility for the presence of ractopamine and took the supplement off the market, but the FEI still insisted on its policy of suspending the horses for two months—even though they were not harmed and the substance had cleared their systems within five days.
It took intrepid lawyer Sam Silver bringing an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to get the horses’ suspension lifted so Adrienne and Kaitlin could take Horizon and Don Principe to last weekend’s Dutta Corp. U.S. dressage national championships in Gladstone.
It was worth the trouble. Each won the national title in their divisions; the Intermediaire I and Brentina Cup respectively.
Fighting the FEI is expensive, and the total bill hasn’t been tallied. The case has yet to be fully adjudicated by CAS, which will require a trip to Switzerland, according to Horizon’s owner, Betsy Juliano. What the FEI will do subsequently is uncertain.
Why shouldn’t the whole matter have been dropped once Cargill took responsibility?
A statement from the FEI said it is “not challenging the suspensions at CAS, but only defending its paramount interests; to safeguard the welfare of our equine athletes and the level playing field.” The FEI deferred further comment “until the final CAS decision is received.”
Betsy noted, “It’s not as if we disregarded an ingredient on the label.” She added that the horses have been tested before on the same regimen with no negative results.
Betsy stated that the U.S. Equestrian Federation has been a strong support, going to CAS on the horses’ behalf. If not for that, she said, Adrienne and Kaitlin would not have been able to compete in Gladstone after a long and thorough preparation of their horses.
“There was a real discouraging period of time after the FEI refused to lift the horses’ suspensions after all this time preparing the horses, the effort and the heart that goes into it. And then to have her not be able to go down centerline here was really sad to me,” she said, recalling her emotions about Horizon’s situation before the situation was resolved.
The USEF’s help sends “a positive message to the membership, especially the membership who competes, that our federation is fair and will stand behind us when it is necessary,” said Betsy. She had an unusual advantage in this instance, because her company is involved in providing legal services.
As she noted, “by lucky happenstance, this situation falls smack into my line of work. The method of proceeding through a situation like this is something that is every day for me.”
Betsy also praised Cargill and said she will still use their products. “I now know that if I get in trouble,” she said, Cargill will step up. “This company raced to our aid,” she pointed out.
The situation was a learning experience for all involved, but Adrienne—whom I’ve known and respected since 2005, when she started as a working student with Debbie—has a reputation for being aboveboard and meticulous.
“I’m always so paranoid. That’s the irony in all this,” Adrienne said wryly, referring to all the precautions she takes.
“The CDI horses (those in international competition) have their own grain room and only one person is allowed to make their grain.”
The situation affected her preparation with her horses, causing her to miss an important show at the Tryon, N.C., International Equestrian Center.
It “would have been key, especially for the stallion (Salvino) who’s only done one CDI. We applied for a wild card, and luckily they gave us a wild card,” said Adrienne, who was reserve in the Grand Prix championship with Salvino, noted the suspension didn’t affect training for Gladstone.
“We kept training as if we were going to come here,” she said.
Kaitlin, whom I did not know before meeting her at Gladstone, said, “The biggest thing for me is how vulnerable we all are without really knowing that we are. We all consult the best vets and nutritionists and you think you’re dotting all your I’s and crossing all your T’s; it came as such a surprise to us.”
Brentina Cup champion Kaitlin Blythe with Debbie McDonald, Betsy Juliano and Debbie McDonald. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
She noted it was lucky the horses weren’t harmed by the ractopamine, noting that in other instances around the country, there are horses that have been sickened or died after consuming contaminated feed.
Like Adrienne, she’s keeping a log and going through the baggie procedure.
“It’s been an educational experience,” said Kaitlin. “It’s going to be a bit of an eye opener for everyone as to what can happen when you think nothing can happen.”
We’ve seen this before. For instance, New Zealand eventer Jock Paget lost his 2013 Burghley 4-star title when his winning mount tested positive for the tranquilizer reserpine, determined to have been in a supplement. He was suspended for months, until it was found that he was not to blame.
Show jumper Margie Engle lost the 1999 American Invitational title when reserpine turned up in a supplement she used that had been guaranteed to test clean.
As Steve Schumacher, director of the USEF’s equine drugs and medication program warns, “Caution is urged if one is using so-called herbal or natural products, since plants are commonly the source for pharmacologically potent, forbidden substances such as cocaine, reserpine, and marijuana.”
Can you imagine taking a sample of feed every time you open a new bag, keeping it in a baggie marked with the date the feed bag was opened and the lot numbers? Oh, and writing all the information in a log book, including where and when the feed was purchased. How about testing the supplements you give your horse, to see if they show evidence of substances that are prohibited in competition?
That’s now the routine at the barns where horses are being trained by Adrienne Lyle and her mentor, Debbie McDonald. Adrienne and one of her mounts, Horizon, were suspended from competition by the FEI (international equestrian federation) after a drug test taken at a Feb. 10 show revealed a trace of ractopamine.
Adrienne Lyle was all smiles after Horizon won the national Intermediaire I championship following a long battle to make it to the Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions. (Photo by Lawrence J. Nagy)
The substance, forbidden by the FEI, was not named on the ingredient list of Cargill’s Progressive Nutrition® Soothing Pink™, a gastric nutritional supplement administered to Horizon, but it was in there. The same thing happened to Young Rider Kaitlin Blythe and her mount, Don Principe. The only link between Adrienne and Kaitlin was the fact that they were using Soothing Pink.
The suspensions of Adrienne and Kaitlin were lifted after Cargill admitted responsibility for the presence of ractopamine and took the supplement off the market, but the FEI still insisted on its policy of suspending the horses for two months—even though they were not harmed and the substance had cleared their systems within five days.
It took intrepid lawyer Sam Silver bringing an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to get the horses’ suspension lifted so Adrienne and Kaitlin could take Horizon and Don Principe to last weekend’s Dutta Corp. U.S. dressage national championships in Gladstone.
It was worth the trouble. Each won the national title in their divisions; the Intermediaire I and Brentina Cup respectively.
Fighting the FEI is expensive, and the total bill hasn’t been tallied. The case has yet to be fully adjudicated by CAS, which will require a trip to Switzerland, according to Horizon’s owner, Betsy Juliano. What the FEI will do subsequently is uncertain.
Why shouldn’t the whole matter have been dropped once Cargill took responsibility?
A statement from the FEI said it is “not challenging the suspensions at CAS, but only defending its paramount interests; to safeguard the welfare of our equine athletes and the level playing field.” The FEI deferred further comment “until the final CAS decision is received.”
Betsy noted, “It’s not as if we disregarded an ingredient on the label.” She added that the horses have been tested before on the same regimen with no negative results.
Betsy stated that the U.S. Equestrian Federation has been a strong support, going to CAS on the horses’ behalf. If not for that, she said, Adrienne and Kaitlin would not have been able to compete in Gladstone after a long and thorough preparation of their horses.
“There was a real discouraging period of time after the FEI refused to lift the horses’ suspensions after all this time preparing the horses, the effort and the heart that goes into it. And then to have her not be able to go down centerline here was really sad to me,” she said, recalling her emotions about Horizon’s situation before the situation was resolved.
The USEF’s help sends “a positive message to the membership, especially the membership who competes, that our federation is fair and will stand behind us when it is necessary,” said Betsy. She had an unusual advantage in this instance, because her company is involved in providing legal services.
As she noted, “by lucky happenstance, this situation falls smack into my line of work. The method of proceeding through a situation like this is something that is every day for me.”
Betsy also praised Cargill and said she will still use their products. “I now know that if I get in trouble,” she said, Cargill will step up. “This company raced to our aid,” she pointed out.
The situation was a learning experience for all involved, but Adrienne—whom I’ve known and respected since 2005, when she started as a working student with Debbie—has a reputation for being aboveboard and meticulous.
“I’m always so paranoid. That’s the irony in all this,” Adrienne said wryly, referring to all the precautions she takes.
“The CDI horses (those in international competition) have their own grain room and only one person is allowed to make their grain.”
The situation affected her preparation with her horses, causing her to miss an important show at the Tryon, N.C., International Equestrian Center.
It “would have been key, especially for the stallion (Salvino) who’s only done one CDI. We applied for a wild card, and luckily they gave us a wild card,” said Adrienne, who was reserve in the Grand Prix championship with Salvino, noted the suspension didn’t affect training for Gladstone.
“We kept training as if we were going to come here,” she said.
Kaitlin, whom I did not know before meeting her at Gladstone, said, “The biggest thing for me is how vulnerable we all are without really knowing that we are. We all consult the best vets and nutritionists and you think you’re dotting all your I’s and crossing all your T’s; it came as such a surprise to us.”
Brentina Cup champion Kaitlin Blythe with Debbie McDonald, Betsy Juliano and Debbie McDonald. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
She noted it was lucky the horses weren’t harmed by the ractopamine, noting that in other instances around the country, there are horses that have been sickened or died after consuming contaminated feed.
Like Adrienne, she’s keeping a log and going through the baggie procedure.
“It’s been an educational experience,” said Kaitlin. “It’s going to be a bit of an eye opener for everyone as to what can happen when you think nothing can happen.”
We’ve seen this before. For instance, New Zealand eventer Jock Paget lost his 2013 Burghley 4-star title when his winning mount tested positive for the tranquilizer reserpine, determined to have been in a supplement. He was suspended for months, until it was found that he was not to blame.
Show jumper Margie Engle lost the 1999 American Invitational title when reserpine turned up in a supplement she used that had been guaranteed to test clean.
As Steve Schumacher, director of the USEF’s equine drugs and medication program warns, “Caution is urged if one is using so-called herbal or natural products, since plants are commonly the source for pharmacologically potent, forbidden substances such as cocaine, reserpine, and marijuana.”
Hunter and trail pace season is under way in New Jersey, with lots of opportunities for riders of all levels to get out and ride now that the weather finally is cooperating.
The Essex Foxhounds are holding a pace June 4 at Cedar Lane Farm on Homestead Road. Call Jim Gordon at (908) 337-2546 for details.
Another hunt, Spring Valley, has a pace set for the same day (shouldn’t these dates be coordinated so people can do both?) at the Spring Valley showgrounds on Sand Spring Lane in New Vernon. For information, call Val DiCristina at (908) 362-9249.
The revival of the Mars Essex Horse Trials in Far Hills June 24-25 is being done in style at Moorland Farm, home of the Far Hills Steeplechase Race Meeting each October.
A total of $25,000 in prize money will be split among the first three finishers in eight divisions, with the lion’s share of $5,000 going to the winner of the open preliminary section.
Essex, which was last held in 1998 after 30 years in the Somerset Hills, is attracting such competitors as Buck Davidson, the mother-daughter combo of Marilyn Payne and Holly Payne Caravella, and the likes of Ryan Wood and Jennie Brannigan, who are expected as well.
All the divisions except beginner novice will run over a two-day format, so the organizers are giving riders four tickets for guests and admission to a Saturday night cocktail party, since most will have to stay over.
Presenting sponsors are the Open Road Auto Group, Peapack-Gladstone Bank, RWJ Barnabas Health and Running S Equine Veterinary Services.
General admission is $10, good for both days. There also is an opportunity to buy other admission packages, including tailgating on the 230-acre property and a chance to enjoy the Hoopstick Club next to the show jumping arena, with a view of the water complex.
There will be a vendor village and food will be available from the Farmstand.
Start out New Jersey’s Month of the Horse June 1 with a visit to the Concord Stud Farm, 20 Harvey Road in Cream Ridge. David Meirs III and his family have created a well-known Standardbred breeding and foaling facility at the 249-acre farm.
You won’t be alone. State Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher and New Jersey Equestrian of the Year Jamie Leuenberger will be on hand as well for a 10 a.m. tour.
Get an insight into the farm’s ecological practices, which include using fly wasps to combat the fly population and sheep and goats for weed control.
