by Nancy Jaffer | May 1, 2019
At age 72, iconic Canadian show jumper Ian Millar is retiring from international competition. After nearly a half-century riding at major events around the world, he will concentrate on coaching and developing young horses.
He has been a part of the Canadian team since 1971, representing his country in more than 200 Nations’ Cups. His 10 Olympic appearances are a world record for any athlete in any sport.
Ian Millar on In Style at the 2008 Olympics, where he was part of the Canadian silver medal team. (Photo©2008 by Nancy Jaffer)
In addition to his Olympic experience, he has participated in 10 Pan American Games and seven World Championships. He won his first Olympic medal, a team silver, at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and has 10 Pan American Games medals, including two individual and two team gold.
“Representing Canada many times over my career has been my greatest honor,” he said.
“Each time I wore the red team jacket was very special to me, and the fact that I was able to share this experience with so many great riders is a testament to the quality of horsemen and horsewomen here in our country.”
In addition to his efforts representing Canada internationally, Ian has won over 150 grand prix competitions over the course of his career, including the prestigious international grand prix three times at the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ tournament in Calgary, Alberta.
He is a 12-time Canadian Show Jumping Champion and was the first rider to win back-to-back World Cup Finals, earning the title in 1988 and 1989. His most successful horse, Big Ben, was a household name throughout Canada and the U.S. in the late 1980s and 1990s and was a favorite to win everywhere he competed.
Ian built his home stable, Millar Brooke Farm, located in Perth, Ontario, into a powerhouse training ground for international show jumping. In addition to his development of over 100 grand prix horses, Ian has coached a number of other top international riders including Canadian Olympic teammates Mario Deslauriers and Jill Henselwood, as well as Richard Spooner of the U.S. He has also been instrumental in the successful careers of his son, Jonathon and daughter-in-law Kelly, as well as his daughter, Amy, a fellow Olympian.
While Ian is stepping back from international competition, he plans to be busier than ever working with up-and-coming athletes and horses.
“The bond formed between horse and rider is an amazing thing to experience, but the partnership has to be built the right way, with compassion, understanding, and care,” he said. “Over the past few years, I have found myself more and more drawn toward working with young horses and riders, and I am excited to expand my coaching to share my knowledge and passion with the next generation.”
At the conclusion of his international career, Ian paid tribute to those closest to him over the years.
“It has been the journey of a lifetime with so many dreams realized, so much due to the fantastic horses I was blessed to ride, to whom I am eternally grateful,” said Ian.
“I would like to personally thank my owners and sponsors for all their help and support during my show jumping career. While there are too many to name, my partnerships with owner Ann Matthews and sponsor BMO Financial Group had especially long and sustained successes. I would also like to thank all the members of my support team who have supported me faithfully over the years: my family, staff, veterinarians, equine therapists, chef d’equipes, and all my fellow riders.
“Finally, the biggest contributor to my success was my late wife, Lynn, with whom I shared my most cherished bond. Through our partnership, we achieved incredible success.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 28, 2019
Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)Boyd Martin didn’t see Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event defending champ Oliver Townend’s ride in the final round of today’s stadium jumping finale.
After all, Boyd already had done everything he could following a fault-free trip aboard Tsetserleg at the Kentucky Horse Park.
He knew he had at least clinched second place on 27.9 penalties total for the three phases of the event. Going into the segment, he had been 2.6 penalties behind Oli, but a rail from the leader would have given Boyd the win.
Even so, he rode Tsetserleg away from the stadium after his round because he didn’t need to see what Oli would do on Cooley Master Class; he thought he already knew.
“I had a feeling he’d jump clear,” Boyd said.
“That horse is such a good jumper. In the warm-up, he was jumping unreal, so I sort of figured… Anyone can have an unlucky rail, but he looked pretty confident to me.”
And he was right. The British rider retained his crown. Oli showed the skill that has made him the world’s number one eventer as he cruised around the Richard Jeffery-designed course before a crowd of 21,047 on a frigid afternoon in Lexington.
But once he went through the finish line, Oli lay on his horse’s neck, putting his head down in relief while he let the tension drain out.
As he noted, “The horse has had a checkered career and we’ve finally got him on top form. We’ve always believed in the horse, and it’s thanks to everybody at home putting in a huge team effort. It was just my job to push the buttons at the right point in time. I couldn’t be more proud of the horse and the whole team.”
The victory came with a $130,000 check and a brand new Land Rover. Last year, Oli had torn around the ring when he got in the driver’s seat, so this time, the organizers took the precaution of providing a driver. But you can’t keep a good man down, so Oli stood on the seat and stuck his upper body out the sun roof so he could wave to the crowd.
Oliver Townend on his way to winning the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event with Cooley Master Class. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Boyd could take consolation in the fact that as the highest-placed U.S. rider, he was the national 5-star champion, winning the Haller Trophy from the U.S. Equestrian Federation and the Pinnacle trophy from the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation.
“This year he has come out blazing,” Boyd said of Tsetserleg, noting their partnership is working now, although it’s taken a while, as it usually does with horses. Actually, the way “Thomas” warmed up didn’t give him the utmost confidence. But the black Trakehner was at his best once he entered the stadium.
“I do have to say, I thin
k he loves a bit of atmosphere and the crowd,” Boyd noted.
“He tapped the first fence a bit and I thought, ‘Oh crap, this is going to be a long round,’ but at the second fence, he really tried, and then I thought, ‘Oh, I’ve got a shot here.’ ’’ Once he got through the first double on course, 4A and B, he thought he was going to be fine. And he was.
If Boyd, a two-time Olympian for America, had won, he would have been the first U.S. rider to take the Kentucky competition since his friend, Phillip Dutton, did it in 2008.
Oli enjoys his new ride. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Never one to dwell on what might have been, Boyd already is looking ahead. “Next time,” he told me, with his characteristic big smile. And likely there will be a next time, as Oli said he wants to come back in 2020 and try for a three-peat in the Western Hemisphere’s only 5-star event.
Perhaps the one who lost the most was New Zealand’s Tim Price, who had been third after cross-country. He kept his placing following a fault-free trip on Xavier Faer (30.9 penalties), but lost a chance to pursue the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam. Having won Britain’s Burghley 5-star last year, if he had been first at Kentucky and then first again next week at Britain’s other 5-star, Badminton, he would have collected the elusive prize that only two other riders in its history have been able to capture.
At this point, though, Tim is just happy his horse has overcome health problems and is back in form. In 2017, while at his breeder’s farm on R&R, Xavier Faer’s pony pal kicked him in the forearm. There was a wound that caregivers tended, and the horse was kept quiet to see what would develop. Sure enough, two days later, X-rays showed a hairline fracture. The horse had to be kept in a stall on crossties for several months so he wouldn’t lie down and stress the bone.
New Zealand’s Tim Price and Xavier Faer. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
“But he came through,” said Tim, and you could say the same about the way he jumped today, despite being a rather spooky fellow.
“Liverpools? He takes a real special liking to, or disliking to, whatever you want to call it and the whole middle of the arena was like that, an ocean of water trays and liverpools today so that was something he needed to overcome,” Tim observed.
“He jumped beautiful. He’s just a lovely big, scopey honest horse and I really enjoy riding a horse like him.”.
A total of 73,049 attended the event, presented by Mars Equestrian, which is billed as “the best weekend all year.” Fans ignore harsh weather like what we experienced today, and love getting up early to attend the horse inspection, which was quite uneventful this morning, with all 31 starters passing. They just want to be part of it.
The ones who stay through the long awards ceremony really get into it when the winner does his two-round victory gallop. Some riders just go through the motions on their honor round, but you can see Oli enjoys it.
Oli salutes the fans during his victory gallop. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Looking at the scoreboard, the top five all were fault-free in the jumping. Fourth place went to another Brit, Piggy French on Quarrycrest Echo (33.5 penalties) while the USA’s Doug Payne was fifth with Vandiver (35.9). Doug is a hard worker who is finally getting the results he deserves. Also fault-free was Erin Sylvester on Paddy the Caddy, who had an unfortunate refusal at the final brush at the Head of the Lake yesterday. Without those 20 penalties, she would have been sixth.
Leslie Law, the 2004 individual Olympic gold medalist for Britain who is now a U.S. coach, left the rails in place with the promising Voltaire de Tre, who was 10th, while Hannah Sue Burnett finished 11th with a perfect trip on the veteran Harbour Pilot.
Will Coleman on the often-tense Tight Lines was clear as well, winding up 13th on the French-bred thoroughbred he rode in the FEI World Equestrian Games last year.
Coverage of Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event on NancyJaffer.com:
Wednesday, April 24: And they’re off — at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event
Thursday, April 25: Dressage paves the way at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event
Friday, April 26: The Once and Future King of Kentucky?
Saturday, April 27: Is it time for an American to win the Kentucky Three-Day Event?
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 27, 2019
Oliver Townend, the world’s number one-ranked event rider, remained on top of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event standings today after cross-country, but how long will he be there? The 2018 Kentucky winner and Cooley Master Class don’t have a room for a mistake in Sunday’s stadium jumping phase.
Despite 1.2 time penalties on cross-country, 2018 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event winner Oliver Townend and Coolio are two-thirds of the way to winning the 2019 renewal. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
While the crowd at the Kentucky Horse Park seems to love all the riders and cheers for them, Oli got the most applause when he appeared in the dressage arena on Friday. But I’m guessing that the audience will be a little more partisan in the final segment, because Boyd Martin is just 2.6 penalties behind Oli, and has a real chance to become the first American winner of the 5-star event since his buddy, Phillip Dutton, did it in 2008.
The fans here are living their dream, and they can’t get enough of this event. They swarm riders at autograph sessions and love watching them warm-up, when they aren’t buying souvenirs in the trade fair. Boyd is one of their special faves, so it was good news for them when he and Tsetserleg moved up from third after dressage with rip-roaring trip over designer Derek di Grazia’s course. Boyd and Phillip, who stands fourth with Z, accounted for two of the three double-clears (jumping and time) among the 31 starters who finished a route that required them to prepare and think every stride of the way.
The other fault-free rider was New Zealand’s Tim Price on Xavier Faer, and as last fall’s Burghley winner in England, he is going for the Rolex Grand Slam. All he has to do to win the $350,000 bonus is finish first here and at Badminton in England next week. Nothing much. Oli went for it in 2018, but faltered at Badminton and didn’t take the prize, which has only been claimed twice, by Pippa Funnell and Michael Jung.
Tim Price and Xavier Faer. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Since a toppled rail counts for four penalties, you can see that Oli doesn’t have anything to play with in the Rolex Stadium. And Boyd also has to stay alert, because Tim is just three penalties behind him and only 0.8 penalties ahead of Phillip.
You probably could have figured those four would be the ones to catch, but the route’s technicality made everything uncertain.
“I thought the course walked a bit easy this year,” Boyd recounted, “and I was very, very surprised when there was so much trouble and I quickly realized how wrong I was, that this quite a tough course.
Recognition of the situation actually came early for the crowd of 34,889 who watched along the 28-fence route. The first three on course, Islandwood Captain Jack with Caroline Martin, Park Trader with Buck Davidson and DeNiro Z with Liz Halliday Sharp all were eliminated by falls.
Caroline and Buck both fell at 20B, the 3-foot, 9-inch high Normandy Bank; she was too sore to ride her next horse, and Buck broke his collarbone, then scratched his other two mounts. Liz, who had been tied for fifth after dressage, had her tumble at the third fence, the 3-11 high Turning Oxer.
Oli coped when Coolio lost a shoe, but the rider was very conscious of that, and the fact that it presented a challenge of not slipping on the grass.
Oli Townend at the drop into the water. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
“It made me a touch more conservative than I normally am,” he said, and it was reflected in the 1.2 time penalties he collected. But he described his horse as keen, enjoying himself with his “ears pricked all the way.” Noted Oli, “A little bit I felt he was more in control than I was. He was definitely up for it.”
Boyd was true to form with his black Trakehner, saying he felt “we’re a bit more a partnership” than they were last year.
“Throughout the course, he kept trying and trying and trying and never looked for a way out.”
Then he offered a typical amusing anecdote: “I was stabled next to Phillip Dutton and we were sort of egging each other on to see who is going to do the Normandy Bank (the straight way). I wasn’t sure he was going to do it and then when I heard the commentator say he did it while I was warming up, I thought, “Aww, I have to do it now, because I’ll look like a big wimp if I go around. That could have seriously backfired.”
Tim knew the course would be tough, but was proud of his mount, who also lost a shoe.
Boyd Martin shows the challenge of jumping up from the lake to a step and facing an imposing hedge. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I was really pleased with my horse. He threw himself over everything and stayed upright in all the important places,” said Tim, who noted he will have to “repackage” Xavier Faer after the horse inspection to get him ready for the stadium jumping.
The course designer has done all he can do once the event starts. As the problems arise, he can only hope the next competitor will go clear.
“As it turned out, all the jumps got jumped because a lot of people opted to take some of the longer routes, which is good,” said Derek.
“There were some more technical things than there were last year. For the most part, the jumps worked in the way I thought they would. And I think that with a lot of the combinations there was a variation on different strides between the obstacles and the riders used all of them.”
He noted at the iconic Head of the Lake water complex, the riders had to work harder than he thought they would have to after jumping into the water over a brush and heading toward a step out of the lake. After that, they bounced over a thick brush with a tiny slot for the horse to pass through, and that led to three refusals there, two riders who re-routed to go the long way and several near-misses.
So the stage is set for an exciting confrontation in a change of venue, from the grass to the all-weather footing in the Rolex Stadium, where Richard Jeffery’s clever courses will determine the order of finish and offer a thrill in the bargain.
Come back to my website tomorrow night to find out who won, and why.
Coverage of Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event on NancyJaffer.com:
Wednesday, April 24: And they’re off — at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event
Thursday, April 25: Dressage paves the way at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event
Friday, April 26: The Once and Future King of Kentucky?
Sunday, April 28: The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event has a repeat winner
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 26, 2019
Oliver Townend started out today where he left off last year–at the top of the leaderboard for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. The British rider and Cooley Master Class, the 14-year-old Irish sport horse he has been riding for the last decade, put in a stellar dressage test that drew cheers from the crowd of 11,676 in the Rolex Stadium.
The 2018 Kentucky winner, Oliver Townend, waves to his enthusiastic fans after a dressage test that put him at the top of the leaderboard. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Kentucky, said Oli, “is one of my favorite events.The people here are very, very friendly, the atmosphere second to none the stadium is out of this world. If I had the last event of my career, this is the one I’d want to be at because it’s such a special place to me.”
Oli was marked at 24.1 penalties, giving him a 3-point edge over his countrywoman, Piggy French on Quarrycrest Echo.
Coolio, as his mount is known around the barn, didn’t turn a hair in the atmosphere, where Oli got more applause than any other competitor.
“He was very laid back, almost bone-idle in there,” Oli commented. If it had been warm instead of frigid with wind and occasional rainshowers, Oli observed, his horse might have fallen asleep.”
He knows the horse so well that basically, all it takes for dressage is to “Go in there and do a clear round and press buttons.”
After his ride, Oli stopped and chatted with one of the little Pony Clubbers who remove and replace the board at the entrance to the dressage ring. Yesterday, Chris Talley did the same after his ride, when he invited the girls to pat his horse, Unmarked Bills. So it’s getting to be a “thing.”
But in this case, it turned out the little girl’s mother had bought a horse from Oli, and the child took care to say her mom was very pleased with the animal.
Never one to miss an opportunity, Oli said, “I asked if her mum was ready to buy a new one yet.”
Oliver Townend made a friend as he was leaving the dressage arena. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Piggy was a little nervous warming up this morning in what she called “a monsoon” during a rainstorm. But she said she was proud of the way her 12-year-old Irish sport horse conducted himself in the arena, calling it “very professional.”
Piggy French and Quarrycrest Echo. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
He was Piggy’s mount for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games, where she finished 10th. Her last visit to the horse park was for the 2010 WEG, and she noted it’s quite different for the 5-star but “really exciting.”
The only American in the top three is Boyd Martin with Tsetserleg, the compact Trakehner who was marked at 27.9 penalties, just ahead of overnight leader Felix Vogg on Switzerland on Colero (28).
Amazingly, it has been 11 years since a U.S. rider last won at Kentucky. That was Boyd’s close friend, Phillip Dutton on Connaught. He is seventh on Z (31.7).
Could Boyd be the hero for the Stars and Stripes this time around? He had a disappointing WEG last year with the horse he calls Thomas, but the two have come together since then.
The highest-placed American after dressage, Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
“This year, he’s a bit more seasoned and confirmed at this level,” said Boyd.
It’s the third year he has been with the horse, who is by Windfall, a stallion that was part of the 2004 Olympic team.
“It takes about two years to form a partnership. Last year was probably a little bit of a rush. It sort of felt like we were doing everything on a wing and a prayer. He’s a little bit of a quirky horse.”
Now, however, “We’ve had a bit of time to figure each other out. He’s one hell of a trier and at this level, it’s wonderful having a horse who tries his guts out for you.”
Saturday’s cross-country will tell the tale, not only for Tsetserleg, but also for the 40 other horses that will attempt Derek di Grazia’s challenging cross-country route.
“It always amazes me how much the course changes from year to year,” Oli observed. “I’m a huge fan of Derek’s courses; he’s absolutely exceptional for what he does.”
Find out how it goes for Oli and the others by coming back here Saturday night to catch up on my coverage.
Coverage of Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event on NancyJaffer.com:
Wednesday, April 24: And they’re off — at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event
Thursday, April 25: Dressage paves the way at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event
Saturday, April 27: Is it time for an American to win the Kentucky Three-Day Event?
Sunday, April 28: The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event has a repeat winner
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 25, 2019
The real excitement will have to wait for Saturday’s cross-country test, but the action got under way today at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event with the first half of the dressage. For many riders (although less than in the past) this is a segment to be gotten through, the vegetables before the sweet intensity of Derek di Grazia’s 28-obstacle course at the Kentucky Horse Park.
That is really why they come to the Western Hemisphere’s only 5-star event. The dressage today and tomorrow and Sunday’s stadium jumping finale are the bookends of this competition’s highlight, horse and rider going at speed over such spectacular challenges as the Frog Pond, the Bourbon Houses, the Cedar Lodge and of course, the Rolex Head of the Lake.
The standings after dressage usually undergo massive alteration following cross-country, but the first phase does give an inkling of who might be in contention.
Today, it was Felix Vogg of Switzerland, who topped the standings with a 28-penalty test, executed with a silken smooth sophistication on Colero. Although the atmosphere in the arena was more subdued than it will be Friday, a crowd of 5,466 was still good for a Thursday. And Colero, an 11-year-old Westphalian, wasn’t the least bit intimidated.
The leader after day one of dressage, Felix Vogg on Colero. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
“We tried something new,” said Felix.
“I didn’t warm him up too long, and it worked out quite well. He’s the kind of horse that just doesn’t take his atmosphere too seriously. He always puts in a good test and if I ride well, he does what I want.”
Felix came as a spectator last year and always heard nice things about the event from his friend, three-time Kentucky winner Michael Jung of Germany.
This is the last hurrah in the U.S. for Felix, who heads back to Europe next month to try for the European championships and wants to work closely with the Swiss team.
Liz Halliday-Sharp, the hot rider of the 2019 season so far, was second for the USA with 30.9 penalties on DeNiro Z, whose dressage is a work in progress that is shaping up nicely.
“It’s his second five star and his first time at Kentucky,” said Liz, noting her 11-year-old Dutchbred did Luhmuhlen in Germany, where the course is wooded and twisty, unlike the route in Kentucky.
“It’s never easy being third to go, and I really felt he gave me everything he had. I was a little disappointed with the score–I’m not going to lie,” she said.
“He does struggle with his (flying) changes and he did today, but I’m thrilled with the horse. He gave me everything and pushed hard and did phenomenal trot work.”
Liz Halliday-Sharp noted DeNiro Z stil struggles with his flying changes, but she’s confident she’ll get them under control as the test becomes more refined. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Buck Davidson, a Kentucky regular, stands third on the 17-year-old Park Trader, owned by Cassie and Carl Segal of Pottersvile, N.J. His score of 32.1 penalties has him nicely situated at the moment, though defending champion Oliver Townend of Great Britain will go tomorrow with Cooley Master Class, and such top contenders as Philip Dutton and Boyd Martin are set to compete in the afternoon.
“Park Trader isn’t fantastic at this phase, but he is maturing and getting better, finally, at the age of 17,” Buck observed.
The judges liked what they saw from Buck Davidson and Park Trader. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
“He did as well as he could possibly do, he did all the flying changes as well as he could do them. He did everything as well as he knows how.”
After the competition, we got a tour of the course from Derek, who is also designing the route for the Tokyo Olympics next year. It’s a thinking rider’s course, with lots of quick decision to be made about possible alternatives when things go awry.
The Rolex Head of the Lake, the Horse Park’s iconic water complex, has been completely redesigned, with a bunch of new fences, a nice drop into the drink and a bounce over a handsome brush jump after a bank on the way out.
“You’ll see a lot of horses go through here and make it look easy,” said Derek.
“There will also be some others that, if they’re not quite as organized, it won’t be so pretty. The good thing is there’s brush here, and brush is pretty safe.”
Derek di Grazia talks about the new look at the Rolex Head of the Lake. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
“There are choices you have to make as to the striding you want to do. Depending on how you jump in over the first will determine what happens over the second or the third . That’s where the riders, especially at this level, will react and know what to do when that happens.
“They have plan A if the horse jumps in like they want, then they just keep going and do what they want. If something else happens, they know what the options are as well. The riders that really walk their courses and feel their horses, what’s going on on the day, they’re going to know how to adjust.”
We can’t wait to see what they do, but as I’ve said, there’s more dressage first. Check back tomorrow night for a report on Friday’s happenings.
Coverage of Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event on NancyJaffer.com:
Wednesday, April 24: And they’re off — at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event
Friday, April 26: The Once and Future King of Kentucky?
Saturday, April 27: Is it time for an American to win the Kentucky Three-Day Event?
Sunday, April 28: The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event has a repeat winner
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 24, 2019
It never fails. Every year when I tell non-horsey friends that I’m heading to Kentucky at the end of April, they always say the same thing: “Are you going to the Kentucky Derby?”
When I explain that my destination is the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event (known until last year as Rolex Kentucky) there is never a glimmer of recognition. But my horsey pals know exactly where I’m headed and why. It is the only 5-star-rated event in the Western Hemisphere. Billing itself as “the best weekend all year,” it certainly had a good start today with glorious weather at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.
Defending champion Oliver Townend of Great Britain says hello while jogging Cooley Master Class. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
The first order of business is the horse inspection, also known as the trot-up or the jog to determine which horses are fit to start. There were 42 presented to the judging panel, one of the smaller fields for the event, which got even smaller when Ashley Johnson’s Technical Manuever was not accepted.
The trot-up doubles as a fashion show, with awards given for the best female and male outfits. But it’s all a matter of opinion, as most riders showing a bit of personality-illuminating flair offer a glimpse at their inner selves not evident when they’re in boots and breeches.
Here is a look at a few of the standouts. Check back here every night through Sunday for the latest update on the action at Land Rover Kentucky.
“Show us your socks,” photographers yelled at Buck Davidson, seen here jogging Jak My Style, but we only got a tiny glimpse of his famous good-luck red and yellow socks. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
She’s all hat. Sarah Gumbiner and Polaris. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg are among the favorites to take the top spot (Photo©2018 by Nancy Jaffer)
Coverage of Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event on NancyJaffer.com:
Thursday, April 25: Dressage paves the way at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event
Friday, April 26: The Once and Future King of Kentucky?
Saturday, April 27: Is it time for an American to win the Kentucky Three-Day Event?
Sunday, April 28: The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event has a repeat winner
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 24, 2019
She’s been the Winter Equestrian Festival’s overall open jumper champion rider at least since 2009, though Laura Chapot hasn’t kept track of how many times the honor has come her way over the years.
And while she claimed the title again in Wellington, Fla., for 2019, earning it is never the goal.
“I go down hoping I win one blue ribbon at some point during the show,” explained Laura, who of course did much more than that.
Laura Chapot and Chandon Blue were stars in Wellington. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
She competed with 12 horses from her family’s Chado Farm in Neshanic Station during the 12 weeks of WEF, which in effect is the world’s biggest (as well as the longest) horse show. Each of them wound up winning at least one class. The results also made her mother, Mary Chapot, the overall jumper owner and trainer titleist, as usual.
Laura rides 12 horses a day when she’s at WEF, since she has four customers’ horses in her barn at the show as well. It makes for a busy day, together with all the classes in which she’s entered.
But what really counts for Laura and Mary is how the individual horses fare in terms of their development. The best indicator of that in the Chado group is Chandon Blue, a horse Laura started riding exactly a year ago at WEF. Sent her way by Irish Olympic medalist Cian O’Connor, he has blossomed under Laura’s guidance.
Laura and Chandon Blue competing at the Winter Equestrian Festival. Laura Chapot and Chandon Blue were stars in Wellington. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
“We never expected he would rise to these heights and become quite the superstar he’s become,” she noted.
A 14-year-old Oldenburg by popular sire Chacco Blue, Chandon Blue scored five victories in 2- and 3-star-rated classes at WEF, along with two seconds and a third in the FEI (international equestrian federation) ranking classes.
“I’m very lucky to have that horse. He way exceeded my expectations. He’s a horse who knows when it counts,” said Laura, who calls the gelding Charlie around the barn.
“He comes out and tries every time. It’s an unbelievable feat when you’re talking about showing at Wellington that a horse can do that well, because you’re competing against some 85-100 horses in the qualifier, and then the top 45 in the grand prix. You hope maybe once during the circuit you win a nice ribbon. You don’t win five classes at that level with one horse.”
While Laura has shown lots of horses who have gone well over recent years, she’s been missing a breakout star and now Charlie seems to be emerging as a special horse. Laura was chosen to ride on the American team for the New York Masters on Long Island at the end of the month, along with FEI World Cup champions Beezie Madden and McLain Ward, rising star Lillie Keenan and another Jerseyan, Devin Ryan of Long Valley, second in the 2018 World Cup finals.
The show’s featured Riders Masters Cup at NYCB, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, will pit the U.S. squad against a contingent of top European riders. The Europeans won last year during the show’s debut at the arena in Uniondale, N.Y., so you could call this year’s contest a grudge match.
Robert Ridland, the U.S. team’s coach, characterized Laura as “our ace in the hole. She is one of the fastest riders around and is a huge addition to our team.”
Being on the U.S. team is important to Laura. It’s a family tradition. Both her mother and her late father, Frank Chapot, were stalwarts of the squad during the 1960s. Frank continued competing as captain of the team in the ‘70s. He went on to be the team coach, with the U.S. squad winning double gold and individual silver at the 1984 Olympics, among other notable honors, while he was at the helm.
Laura’s last team outing was the 2007 Pan American Games, where the squad won the bronze medal. She just hasn’t had a horse that was up to the ever-increasing demands of team participation, and her budget doesn’t allow for the trips abroad that have become standard for those seeking team berths these days.
“It’s just a matter of what ends up being paid for. For us to take a trip to Europe is pretty much out of reach,” commented Laura, adding another point; “There’s a lot you have to think about that you leave behind at home.
“I haven’t really had a horse to try with, so I haven’t had it (the team) in my sights. I didn’t have it in my sights this year either. But Robert gave me a call and I thought about it and it seemed like it would be a good opportunity to do something. I have not shown him (Charlie) very much indoors, so I don’t know what he’ll be like in such a small ring, compared to the big ring in Wellington. I’m a big supporter of the team and when the opportunity comes along, I love to take advantage of it,” she explained.
“I’ve been very fortunate to have a lot of horses that have been very successful grand prix horses, but I don’t think I really pursued that level with any of them, just because some of the horses I get can be a bit quirky. I feel to put yourself out for a team, you really have to have a horse you can rely on and be consistent with.”
Another horse who has been a good partner is ISHD Dual Star. She sustained a small injury during the circuit, but after a rest may be part of Laura’s string for May’s Devon Horse Show, where she also often has been leading rider.
ISHD Dual Star may be heading to Devon with Laura after her time at WEF. Laura Chapot and Chandon Blue were stars in Wellington. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Although the mare is older, “I thought she was jumping the best she ever jumped in Florida,” Laura said.
“We’d love to breed her one day. At the same time, as long as she’s enjoying her job, I don’t want to take that away from her. She’s not a horse who likes to just sit around. She does not turn out, she doesn’t know what that’s about. She enjoys going and showing.”
Two of her other horses are particularly worthy of note, and both suit Laura’s style of riding. They are by Gemini, the clone of the great Gem Twist, the 1988 Olympic double silver medal mount of Greg Best who was bred and trained by Laura’s father. Laura rode Gem Twist at the end of his career, and everyone has been eagerly waiting to see if the Gemini offspring resemble Gem in their talent.
“When we went down there, they were so green, they’d never been to anything like that. I was hoping by the end of the circuit they would make it into the seven-year-old division. But they were really game right of the bat. They really answered the call by week four or five they already were in the seven-year-old division,” Laura commented..
“They both seem very smart. They’re quick learners and really clever. The mare, Timeless, reminds me more of Gem in terms of style and looks and the way she looks.”
Gem Twist with Greg Best (Photo© by Nancy Jaffer)
The other horse is Pursuit of Happiness (he was born on the Fourth of July, so his name references the Declaration of Independence—life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.) He wound up as seven-year-old circuit champion.
“He’s more of a classically thoroughbred type. He’s very light off the ground. He still has to physically mature a bit more, but is a very, very brave horse and tries hard every time,” Laura said.
She noted how important her mother has been to her WEF record.
“My mom is always the biggest part of our team, supporting us in every single way so nothing falls through the cracks,” Laura said.
“She’s there at every single schooling jump. She helps me with my strategy on the course. I can bounce things off her and get feedback. She’s the videographer. We watch the tapes at night. She’s helpful in the sense that I have someone to talk to and can play ideas off her. It’s very hard to do it on your own otherwise.”
Laura also acknowledged her sister, Wendy, who lives in Madison. She is an accomplished amateur show jumper and also designs courses and serves as a schooling supervisor. The mother of three, who like Laura has a judge’s license, regularly drops by the farm in New Jersey to check on things while Laura and Mary are in Florida.
“This has always been a family thing and a family team,” Laura emphasized.
“That’s in our blood. I love the horses and I live it every moment of my life. I can’t imagine doing it any other way.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 23, 2019
You don’t have to be an eventer to take part in the new Preliminary Derby at noon May 12 during the Jersey Fresh International, which runs May 9-12 at the Horse Park of New Jersey in Allentown..
The class, sponsored by East Coast Equine Performance LLC, Dr. Ted Mazzarisi, offers $2,500 in prize money, with eight placings. It will involve a combination of seven cross-country-style obstacles and seven show jumping fences, approximately 3-feet, 7-inches high on a course designed by Chris Barnard and Morgan Rowsell in consultation with Mark Phillips. The action will take place in both the Grand Prix Ring and the East Ring, in front of the pavilion.
Results will be determined by time, and any rails or stops (four seconds will be added to a competitor’s time for either). The derby will run between the CCI 3-L and CCI 4-L divisions.
Entries limited to 25 horses. Limited stabling is available if the horse has proof of FEI-mandated vaccinations, and is seen by the FEI vet before going to stabling.
Those who want to participate can use the U.S. Eventing Association entry form and send it to the Horse Park of New Jersey, 626 Route 524, Allentown NJ 08501 with a fee of $125. Entries also may be made via www.evententries.com.
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 7, 2019
Mylestone Equine Rescue’s Help A Horse Day is April 28 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Horsemen’s Outlet, 37 Molasses Hill Road, Lebanon.
A sanctuary for abused, neglected and unwanted horses, Mylestone offers lifetime care if the animals can’t be adopted out.
All donations, which are tax deductible, will go toward a $10,000 matching challenge. Donations can be sent by mail (Mylestone Equine Rescue, 227 Still Valley Rd., Phillipsburg, NJ 08865) through Paypal or made at Horsemen’s Outlet on the 28th, but all should be marked HAHD, meaning that they are for Help a Horse Day.
A silent auction will be part of the day’s activities, and the funds raised from that, as well as a bake sale, merchanisesales and food sales also will be matched.
Horsemen’s Outlet is offering a chance to win a $500 gift card to the store to all who bring one non-perishable food item for the Calvary Bible Fellowship food pantry. They will also offer a 20 percent discount on one item in the store. There will be vendors and a tack sale as well.
Bakers are needed. Those who want to volunteer should get in touch at info@mylestone.org or by calling (908) 995-9300. New items for the silent auction also are needed.
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 7, 2019
Are you and your horse bored? Maybe an introduction to Working Equitation can give you both a new outlook.
Cornerstone Andalusians, 825 Route 579 in Flemington, is holding a WE clinic and show this month. Mindy Finelli, the owner of Cornerstone Farm, will be the instructor and judge. She has been riding and competing in Working Equitation for more than 10 years.
The clinic will start May 18 with an introduction to Working Equitation, explaining its origin and the basic components of the sport. Then it will be time to move on to the first phase, dressage. Riders will get the opportunity to ride their pattern several times with instruction. The afternoon will be devoted to the dressage phase of the schooling show.
May 19 will be the Ease of Handling Phase (Obstacles). Participants will practice over all the obstacles in the morning. In the afternoon, riders will take part in the Ease of Handling Phase of the schooling show. Lunch will be provided both days.
The cost is $50 per day or $100 for both days. Participants are asked to specify which day they will ride if they are only doing one day. The fee is $25 for auditors for both days. Pre-registration is required.
Email cornerstoneandalusians@comcast.net or call/text (908) 489-2069.
