One of the New Jersey equestrian community’s most active and respected volunteers, Tricia Haertlein, died Monday of cancer. A spirited worker with a “can do” approach who was extremely active with the Gladstone Driving Event, the Lebanon resident served as president of the Gladstone Equestrian Association’s Gladstone Driving board.
But you would often see her at competitions involving other disciplines in the state. She and her equally civic-minded sister, Barbara, took turns as president of the Hunterdon County Horse and Pony Association.
Susan Data-Samtak, president of the Somerset County Horse & Pony Association and another dedicated volunteer, noted “Tricia was a knowledgeable horsewoman, having been a carriage driver and rider most of her life. Early on, Tricia was a 4H leader for a “horseless horse club” before such clubs were popular. Tricia assisted in Octavia Brown’s handicapped riding program, organized driving and riding events, pre-dating the formation of the Gladstone Driving Event.
“Tricia was always there to help another horse person with advice or recommendations as to who might help if she couldn’t. We will miss her strength and support,” Susan concluded.
Contributions in Tricia’s memory may be made to the Hunterdon Land Trust, 111 Mine St., Flemington, NJ 08822, an organization with which she had been working before she became ill.
Jerseyans in the spotlight at the U.S. Eventing Association annual meeting last weekend included course designer Morgan Rowsell of Long Valley, who joined the group’s board of governors, and Beth Battel of Roosevelt.
Beth is the co-owner of Stella Artois, the winner of the 2-star competition at the Fair Hill International in October. Stella’s rider is co-owner Jennie Brannigan, who accepted a $25,000 check for the Connaught Grant, administered by the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation in memory of R. Bruce Duchossois.
Bruce, a great patron of equestrian sports, owned Connaught, who won the Rolex Kentucky 4-star with Phillip Dutton. The Connaught grant is given for a CCI one- or two-star horse that, like Stella, is seen as a potential candidate to represent the U.S. Equestrian Team internationally.
He was the superstar of American three-day eventing after making history by winning the individual gold medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. From there, he assured the end of a disruptive governance battle by breaking out of his comfort zone as the first president of the U.S. Equestrian Federation, serving for nearly a decade to get the new organization on firm footing.
No one who was at the Olympics in Sydney, Australia, in 2000 will ever forget David O’Connor’s triumphal pass around the arena with the American flag and his gold medal. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
Then he took the job he had always wanted and became the technical advisor and chef d’equipe of the U.S. eventing team. But the golden glow that lighted David O’Connor’s way for so long dimmed when his squads failed to finish at the 2014 World Equestrian Games and the 2016 Olympics.
Even though Phillip Dutton earned individual bronze in Rio last summer and the U.S. qualified for those Olympics with a team gold at the 2015 Pan American Games, where cross-country was run at the 2-star level, there was a real question as to whether David would get a new contract to continue in the role he undertook four years ago.
Under USEF Director of Sport Will Connell, an exhaustive post-Rio review was launched with input from athletes and officials. But it finally worked out with the announcement this week that David would stay, though at this point only through the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon, N.C. He will however, be employed with a slightly different methodology that’s stronger on the management side.
As the USEF statement put it, he will be working with eventing managing director Joanie Morris “in the development and implementation of eventing plans, pathway, program and systems that will help grow programs for developing and elite athlete.” His role, it said, “has been adjusted to focus more on management of the programs and the athletes’ personal programs and goals, rather than hands-on coaching.”
As David explained, “The personal coaches (of individual riders) are a very strong side of the program that’s going to be pushed, and the assessment of markers of what you expect within three months, six months, a year, for progression of horses and riders.
“These will be agreed upon with the rider and myself and documented, so there is a very clear path that we and they can judge whether the system that they have is actually working,” continued David, explaining the new format during an interview at the U.S. Eventing Association annual meeting in Hollywood, Fla.
David O’Connor at the U.S. Eventing Association annual meeting. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
For example, he said, “If someone is on a 53 dressage (score) and they think that’s a weakness and they say `I’ve got someone who’s going to help me,’ everyone’s on the same plan. But if six months later they’re on a 57, you’re like, ‘`Now wait a minute…’”
The idea is to have all those involved in working with horses and riders for top competition on the same page.
“The process will be more objective and the communication is clear and everyone understands what the communication is,” said David.
He wants to get more people involved, in the way a head coach gets information from various sub coaches. David plans to add observers at different fences on the cross-country day of championships who can give him information to help make decisions, noting Germany and France, for instance, have multiple people helping during major events.
In terms of why the teams failed to finish at the WEG and in Rio, a lot of factors are involved, but David didn’t want to rehash the specifics.
“I will never say it’s not my fault. I’m the captain of the ship. I’ll never throw riders under the bus,” he emphasized.
But he stated “I also think the program is halfway through its growth. When we look at four years ago, compared to what I look at now, I think we’re in a different place. I think about the younger kids coming up and showing consistency. I see good things in the future.”
At the time David started his job, he said, U.S. riders had a 48 percent completion rate cross-country. In 2015, it was an 89 percent completion rate, and this year it was 72 percent. “The game has shifted,” he contended, yet on cross-country day at the Olympics “it didn’t work.”
Overall, however, he commented, “I believe we’re on the rise. I have two years to prove it. And if I don’t prove it? Next stage.”
David competing at Rolex Kentucky in 2004. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
He reminded me of a conversation we had at the 2010 WEG, when he was coaching the Canadian team that brought home the silver medal against the odds. After I congratulated him, he reminded me that the Canadians’ success hadn’t come overnight, but had been a four years in development.
David pointed out U.S. riders generally finish in the top five everywhere they go, with the exception of the Badminton and Burghley 4-stars; in the Olympic Games, he pointed out, both Phillip and Boyd Martin were in the top 10.
Incoming USEF President Murray Kessler, who gave a presentation about his organization’s new strategic plan at the USEA meeting, said when asked, “Of course I’m happy David is coming back. I feel great about it.
“We had a committee that went through the process with it. I think the team put together a beautiful plan for the next two years with him, and if that delivers, I think you’ll see a very different performance on the team level at WEG.”
The last 18 months or so have been full of good news for equestrian fans and participants in New Jersey’s Somerset Hills, an area that is revving up to once again be a center of multi-discipline horse sports—which also is a positive for those much further afield who are eager to be part of it.
Following the announcement that the Essex Horse Trials will be revived in 2017 after an absence of 19 years, an exhibition competition was staged in June at Moorland Farm in Far Hills as a preview of the event itself. The fact that it drew such stars as Jennie Brannigan (the winner), longtime Essex competitor Buck Davidson and local favorites Sinead Halpin and Holly Payne Caravella was an indicator of great interest in the project, which also has drawn a good response as it seeks volunteers to help stage the competition.
This shot of Holly Payne Caravella at the Essex Horse Trials Derby Cross in June shows off the beauty of Moorland Farm. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
In August, the debut of Monmouth at the Team–relocating New Jersey’s oldest show from Monmouth County to the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation’s Gladstone headquarters in Somerset County–drew a great entry for a triumphant debut.
Word last month that the Grand Prix, Intermediaire I and Brentina Cup U.S. Equestrian Federation dressage championships are returning to the foundation facility in May 2017 is another boost.
And now here’s one more: Moorland Farm could host a prestigious show jumping competition in 2018 if it is chosen as the site of a Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League qualifier. When the USEF asked who would be interested in bidding to hold such a competition, Guy Torsilieri raised his hand. Guy heads up the Far Hills Race Meeting at Moorland that draws more than 30,000 people to the venue in October.
“Moorland Farm threw our hat in the ring,” said Guy, who filed an expression of interest by the Nov. 16 deadline and is waiting for details in the formal Request for Proposal that is due to come out early next year. At that point, he noted, the requirements can be analyzed “and we can decide if we want to proceed, but I think we probably will.”
If Moorland gets the qualifier, Guy envisions a set-up something like the one for the highly successful show put on by Equestrian Sport Productions in Central Park, which is not involved with the World Cup series. Footing is trucked into Central Park for the competition, which includes show jumping, hunters and dressage, and then trucked out again. Guy pointed out that footing has a limited lifespan, so it’s better to lease a state-of-the-art surface when it’s needed, rather than letting it sit and deteriorate when it is used only once or twice a year. An infrastructure involving a base and drainage at Moorland could be used for Essex as well, along with any other competitions staged subsequently, Guy said.
The Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping qualifiers, like the one where Kent Farrington was victorious in February at the Wellington Masters, have impressive signage as part of their program. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
The Longines NAL cut a large number of qualifiers to focus on 14 in North America, with seven in the East and seven in the West. Shows involved in that program were selected for a three-year run, beginning with the 2015-2016 season. The 2016-2017 season ends with the final in Omaha March 29-April 2, and the third season begins in June 2017. The USEF is looking for candidates to present NAL classes starting with the 2018-2019 season.
The qualifiers are always part of a show, such as the Wellington Masters and the Live Oak International, both in Florida, and the American Gold Cup in Westchester County, N.Y. Guy noted that more than the one class would be offered if Moorland won the bid. While most shows bidding likely will have held jumping competitions previously—something Moorland hasn’t done—it’s worth noting that the Wellington Masters is at a site which did not have a history of offering a major show, though jumping classes had been presented there before it staged its first qualifier last February.
Asked about how many entities came forward before last month’s deadline, Jennifer Haydon, the USEF’s director of jumping for national programs, replied, “We had a fair amount. We had a lot of interest in that. The FEI is going to work with us on getting more information so these guys know what it’s all about before they actually submit a bid.” She noted that all the U.S. venues that already are hosting qualifiers (which is all the USEF deals with, since others are in Canada and Mexico) want to continue. A decision on the 2018-19 qualifiers is not expected until April.
Even if Moorland does not get a Longines qualifier, it still is likely show jumping competition will be held there eventually.
“It’s something that interests us,” Guy said of the qualifier, while at the same time noting, “We may not do it, but it’s showing everybody we’re not just going to stop at the Far Hills Races, Essex Horse Trials, Monmouth at the Team. There are going to be other opportunities. There’s going to continue to be substantial equestrian growth in this area. We don’t have any specific plans yet, but show jumping at Moorland Farm is definitely on the radar.”
The VIP tent was full of spectators during Monmouth at the Team. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
Guy added, “It’s a continuation of this plan that Jimmy (Brady) and I and a bunch of us have been working on.”
The two men understand that there has to be something besides the equestrian portion of a competition to bring folks in the door, which is why there are plans for the Essex Horse Trials to have a car show and a vendor village, along with plenty of hospitality (also a hallmark of the Monmouth show).
In June 2015, the Gladstone Gathering at the USET Foundation headquarters brought together people from the community with an interest in seeing more equestrian competitions in the area. The Essex revival grew out of that party, which was spearheaded by Jimmy, whose family owned Hamilton Farm when it was a vast estate. He led the way in rejuvenating the Gladstone Equestrian Association, which in its heyday presented the landmark 1993 World Pair Driving Championships. Its new iteration, with a board drawn from several disciplines, is geared to “attract, promote and retain” equestrian activities.
So stay tuned. They say about stock funds that past performance is no guarantee of future results, but that type of warning doesn’t seem applicable to this initiative, which is in the right place at the right time and fueled by action as well as enthusiasm.
It’s time for an encore–Robert Dover will be technical advisor for the U.S. dressage team through the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games, while continuing to raise funds as he did so successfully before the Olympics.
“I am thrilled and honored to remain in the position of dressage technical advisor for the USEF,” he said after coming to an agreement with the U.S. Equestrian Federation.
“I look forward to continuing to work with staff, volunteers and athletes to produce training and programs for sustained excellence for the U.S. Equestrian Dressage Team,” added Robert, who also will serve as chef d’equipe at certain competitions.
Dover amassed quite a record after taking on the chef d’ equipe/technical advisor role in 2013. In addition to winning a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics last summer, the squad under his leadership took team gold and individual gold and silver at the Pan American Games and finished fourth at the 2014 WEG.
“Robert has done so many positive things for U.S. Dressage. From returning our team to the Olympic podium to growing our development program, there is no one better to lead U.S. dressage,” said USEF President Chrystine Tauber.
“As an athlete, chef d’equipe, or technical advisor, it has been wonderful to see the amazing impact he has had on this sport and our athletes. I know Robert will work hard to build upon this success.”
The Fair Hill, Maryland, facility that hosts the 2- and 3-star fall national championship events and a variety of other equestrian competitions, is looking for an upgrade as it seeks to stage the USA’s second 4-star event.
Stakeholders have begun discussions with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources about the 2015 Maryland Horse Park System Study, which recommended Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area as an ideal equestrian field event venue.
The interest was prompted by new information about the economic value of Maryland’s horse industry as well as an invitation to submit a proposal to host the 4-star, which will be held in 2018 or, more likely, 2019, since the World Equestrian Games will take center stage in September 2018.
“New economic data shows that the state’s equine industry has grown 23 percent in the last five years and contributes $1.15 billion in annual economic activity,” said Jim Steele, chair of the Maryland Horse Industry Board.
“Improving equine facilities at Fair Hill is a vital part of this industry-wide renaissance. We have to stay current and make sure our competition venues meet the needs of the equestrian community.”
Implementation of the study includes enhancement of existing facilities and infrastructure that would support improved conditions for a broad spectrum of activities and programming, including steeplechasing, timber racing, polo, 4-H, the Cecil County Fair and more.
As the partners in the implementation of the recommendations, Fair Hill International was given the opportunity to respond to a request from the U.S. Equestrian Federation to host the new 4-star. Rolex Kentucky, at this point the country’s only 4-star, is held in the spring at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.
“Regardless of the outcome of the 4-star proposal, there remains tremendous interest and support to upgrade Fair Hill’s infrastructure for a variety of recreational uses,” said Maryland Natural Resources Secretary Mark Belton.
“A community-led foundation is now being developed to begin identifying potential funding for critical enhancements and improvements at the racetrack and fairgrounds.”
Work continues with stakeholders, park users, and the community to develop and refine the proposed enhancements in the coming months. There will be opportunity for public comment and engagement. If the site is selected, Maryland would then join Kentucky as the only state to host both a Triple Crown race and a 4-star event.
Other contenders for the 4-star are Great Meadow and Morven Park, both in Virginia; the Ocala Jockey Club in Florida and the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Tryon, N.C., where the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games will be held.
Valegro, the greatest dressage horse ever, retires Dec. 14 at the Olympia show in London. You can see the ceremony and the freestyle that precedes it beginning at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on FEI TV. The show ends at 5:35 p.m. EST. Go to www.feitv.org to learn the details.
Click on the arrow to see a wonderful video paying tribute to this magnificent horse.
They’re coming back! The Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping and FEI World Cup™ Dressage Finals are heading to Las Vegas April 15-19 2020.
The venue will be a new one, the MGM Grand hotel, as the Thomas & Mack Center, the venue where finals in 2000,2003,2005,2007,2009 and 2015 finals were held, was no longer deemed up to the demands of the indoor championship competition in this era.
While it seems far in the future, 2020 isn’t that long away. And to make the waiting go faster, don’t forget the CenturyLink Center in Omaha will be hosting both finals March 29-April 2 2017.
There has been a lot of good news about venues for major championships in the last few weeks. First, we had word the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games will be in Tryon, N.C., next September. Then in May, the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Grand Prix, Intermediaire I and Brentina Cup dressage championships are coming to U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation headquarters in Gladstone (see article to the right for details.)
Those who dream about riding in the Olympics will need to temper their plans (real or fantasy) following the International Equestrian Federation’s (FEI) decision yesterday to cut teams from four to three in each of the Olympic disciplines and eliminate drop scores.
Olympic medal podiums will be less-crowded under the new format for three-member teams approved by the FEI. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
And you thought competition to get on a team was already tough enough?
Alternates, however, are envisioned as playing a bigger role, taking the place of a teammate who can’t continue after the competition has begun, but can you imagine, for instance, a jumper coming into the mix in the second round? The International Jumper Riders Club didn’t like it, saying it would be difficult for a horse to enter the competition cold without having become accustomed to the arena and fences in a first round that serves to acclimatize entries.
Cutting the number of competitors per country was only one of many measures taken during the FEI’s General Assembly in Tokyo Nov. 22. I watched the livestream from 7 p.m.-2:30 a.m. (Tokyo is 14 hours ahead of the Eastern U.S.) so I’ll fill you in on the highlights, including several presentations.
These changes and numerous others are all part of an effort to keep equestrian sports in the Olympics, with the idea of having more countries represented to show universality of participation in horse sports. Space in the Games is always at a premium, as new sports jostle to become a part of them, often at the expense of the older sports on the roster.
Only 11 of 107 nations represented voted against format changes, but their number included the equestrian powerhouses of Germany, Netherlands, France, Switzerland and New Zealand. Neither Canada nor the U.S. were among the dissenters.
Canadian Olympic gold, silver and bronze medalist Eric Lamaze said that at a meeting of his country’s team in Rio last summer, members of the squad were all against the change from four to three.
“Given the outcome of our meeting, it comes as a complete shock that Canada voted in favor of the proposed change to three-man teams. What the Canadian federation went forward with was not the wish of the Canadian show jumping riders, as per our meeting in Rio,” commented Eric.
“I accept the fact that our vote would not have changed the outcome, but we made a decision and believe that our voices should have been heard,” he continued.
“The current format works, and I want to make it clear that we believe the new format is not good for our sport on many different levels,” stated Eric.
However, it appears the FEI is at least on the right track with the IOC by increasing “the flags” because a promotional video from the Japanese Olympic Committee that was screened at the assembly kept emphasizing “diversity” in connection with the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Happily, it was decided not to switch the format of eventing to CIC style with the cross-country last, which had been discussed and would have changed the sport.
But other big changes for the Olympics include having the Grand Prix Special (run to music!) determine the team medals in dressage, with the Grand Prix being used to winnow the number of teams that can go in the Special. In show jumping, the individual competition will be first. The eventing dressage and show jumping will be at 4-star level, but cross-country will be at the 3-star technical level, and eventing dressage can take only one day, not two, as usual.
The presentation about the 2020 Games revealed there are two Olympic venues in Tokyo. The inland Heritage Zone “evokes the spirit of the ’64 Games” and that is where most of the equestrian competition will be, just as it was 52 years ago, the last time the city hosted the Games. The Sea Forest cross-country (designed by Derek DiGrazia, who also designs the route for the Rolex Kentucky 4-star) will be at the waterfront Tokyo Bay Zone on reclaimed land.
The good news for those who dream of achieving team glory is that the squads for the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon, N.C., will have four members, not three.While the IOC runs the Olympics, the FEI runs the WEG , which offers more freedom.
World Equestrian Game medal ceremonies still will have places for teams of four, as they did during the 2014 WEG in Normandy. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
Mark Bellissimo, the managing partner behind the Tryon International Equestrian Center, was in Tokyo to offer information on the WEG and his facility. He revealed that after Bromont, Quebec, withdrew as host of the 2018 WEG, he called his right-hand man, Michael Stone, and within five minutes it was decided Tryon—with its eight all-weather rings and six grass arenas–could do the Games.
The backing of the U.S. Equestrian Federation helped in submission of a bid, which was quickly accepted by the FEI.
After the 2014 Normandy, France, WEG, it was obvious changes needed to be made in the way the WEG was handled. Too often, the WEG has been a financial disaster. It was determined tighter parameters were needed for future World Games; that the time for the Games needed to be reduced to nine or 10 days, athlete numbers had to be cut and the FEI should reduce its host fee and sponsorship commissions.
Tryon has a huge advantage over Normandy and its multiple venues in that the 2018 WEG will be on one site. Although $125 million has been spent on TIEC, Mark said another $100 million will be going into the facility.
Plans for more hotels (among them a 200-room hotel is scheduled to open on site next year), amenities and recreational opportunities were outlined. Prospective spectators will be glad to hear that TIEC will have control over hotel rates in the region and nothing can be more than 10 percent over the usual cost of rooms, unlike the 2010 WEG in Kentucky, where price gouging was a big issue.
“We aspire to a venue of the stature of Aachen (Germany, home of the successful 2006 WEG),” Mark told his audience of 300. Hmmm, but did he go a bit far when he suggested in closing that after the 2018 WEG, people might refer to Aachen as “the Tryon of Germany?”
In other business, Lord Stevens gave a report in the integrity of equestrian sports (there were no equestrian drug/medication violations at the Rio Games) and noted that in other sports, including soccer, cycling and cricket, there was “an extraordinary series of scandals” recently.
He pointed out that scandal affects the reputation of a sport while also hurting its profitability, explaining that “trust is key” for sponsors. Along those lines, the FEI wants higher fines for those found to have violated rules involving banned substances and controlled medications.
When the 2016 World Endurance Championships in the United Arab Emirates “became a cause of concern,” the FEI “demonstrated strength” by relocating them to Slovakia, Lord Stevens noted.
Other items I picked up:
The Youth Olympic Games will be in Buenos Aires Oct. 1-7 2018, which could be an interesting experience for young people aspiring to the senior Olympics.
A new invitation system for jumping competitions at 2-star level and above will open more opportunities for athletes who too often found themselves closed out of big competitions . The new system will give them a chance to climb up the rankings ladder, which is often a key for team selection and also gives preference in entering shows with limits on the number of competitors.
Roly Owers, CEO of World Horse Welfare (worldhorsewelfare.org) talked about the “invisible” working horses around the world and their plight. Take a look at the website. The FEI Code of Conduct was drafted with World Horse Welfare, which promotes the need for responsible breeding and proper care of horses after their careers, among many other issues.
In closing, FEI President Ingmar de Vos noted, “This was a very important General Assembly. We took crucial decisions for the future of our sport and I understand that not everybody was happy, but we followed a very democratic process and in the end there was a clear majority. There are no winners or losers in this debate. These new formats give us a huge responsibility and failure is not an option, so we need to work together with all our stakeholders to prepare for Tokyo 2020.”
Bridget Love Meehan has resigned as executive director of the Washington International Horse Show after six and one-half years in the position.
She wants “to pursue new professional and personal challenges,” but is confident that the show is “in solid standing and in good hands.”
Bridget said she was honored “to help lead this incredible organization successfully through a period of significant development, including moving up to the 4-star FEI competition level, joining the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League, consistently maintaining positive income as an organization and annually generating more than $10 million in economic impact for Washington, D.C.”
Victoria Lowell remains as president of the show at the Verizon Center.
