The Longines Masters of Hong Kong show jumping tournament, set for Feb. 14-16, has been cancelled as a precaution following recent developments in the 2019-nCoV coronavirus outbreak.
“With more than 35,000 people expected from Hong Kong, Asia and around the world, the safety of our audience, athletes, visitors, exhibitors, service providers, internal teams, as well as that of the horses taking part in the events of the Longines Masters Series, is an absolute priority,” said Christophe Ameeuw, founder and president of EEM, which presents the show.
Riders involved will be contacted individually by EEM and ticket holders in will be reimbursed.
Meanwhile, German Olympic Sports Confederation President Alfons Hörmann has described the coronavirus as the “greatest threat” to the this summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
Though the Games don’t start until July, it’s wreaking a bit of havoc at the moment, as itI has meant a number of sporting events had to be moved from China.
As Hörmann noted, “This is a serious problem because there is no other area in life that lives more from international exchange than sport.”
He mentioned, however, that there had been a similar situation before the Rio 2016 Games with the spread of zika, but that got solved.
The Japanese government this week confirmed the first case of coronavirus in that country, a bus driver who drove two groups of Chinese tourists from Wuhan last month. Now six more people in Japan have been affected.
Next month’s Asian Indoor Athletics Championships, scheduled for Hangzhou, has been moved out of China.
The International Basketball Association announced its Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Tokyo 2020 is to be moved from Foshan, China to Belgrade, Serbia, while the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020 Asian Qualifiers Final Round – Group B has been moved out of China to Sydney, Australia. Chinese ice hockey clubs from the Supreme Hockey League have been told to play their home games in Russia due to the outbreak of coronavirus.
The World Athletics Indoor Championships slated for Nanjing, China in March has been postponed to 2021..
The 123-acre Lana Lobell farm in Bedminster, once a nationally known standardbred breeding facility where four Hambeltonian winners were foaled, is going up for auction Jan. 11 in the freeholders’ meeting room at the Somerset County Administration Building in Somerville.
Although housing and a golf course were proposed for the property in the past, it cannot be developed, since it was preserved for agricultural use through a joint effort of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation on behalf of Bedminster Township, the state Agriculture Development Committee and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service.
The previous owner filed for bankruptcy in 1997 and over the years, it was used as a boarding stable. Bank of America foreclosed on the property last year, precipitating the auction.
Equestrians too often are viewed as people of privilege—even if they’re struggling to maintain a single horse in a humble backyard barn. But what most of those outside the horse world don’t realize is that many charity efforts not necessarily related directly to horses are spearheaded by individual equine enthusiasts or groups, doing everything from helping in disasters (such as the bush fires in Australia) to rescuing dogs (Danny and Ron’s) and taking on land use issues (Equestrian Land Conservation Resource).
There is also, however, a wider vantagepoint in terms of the impact equestrians make around the world, which is even lesser-known by the general public. Jim Wolf saw an opportunity to highlight what is being done for a variety of wide-ranging causes, organizing a seminar on “The Equestrian Community’s Impact on Global, Environmental and Social Issues,” at the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s annual meeting in West Palm Beach this month.
Jim, who has worked for USEF and the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation, is an entrepreneur who runs the Wolf Sports Group and knows key figures across the disciplines. With the sponsorship of MARS Equestrian, a major player on the scene these days, he organized the high-profile panel of thinkers and doers who operate independently with a broad range of initiatives.
The equestrian impact panel: Mollie Bogardus, Dave Vos, Jessica Newman, Joe Gerbino, David Jones and host Jim Wolf.
Anyone who sat in on or viewed the session (via the USEF network) would have agreed with Jim’s initial inspiration—“Wouldn’t it be interesting to harness the power of our equestrian community to help with some of these really important causes.
“To do that, it is necessary to let the public get a glimpse at how these organizations are helping in the big picture. I’m in a unique position to connect people and I’m going to do it, because it’s the right thing to do,” said Jim, who is planning similar forums, some with different participants, elsewhere in the future.
Jim noted, “The crowd that was here was incredibly engaged. There was a lot of passion about this topic within our community, but they haven’t had a voice to express it as a community that I’m aware of.”
Among the participating groups was Brooke USA, represented by veterinarian David Jones. Brooke USA and its associated organization, The Brooke, annually serve more than 2 million working equines in underdeveloped countries. Representatives bring veterinary care and teach owners how to properly care for their animals, a practice that benefits more than 12 million people who rely on the creatures for transportation and their livelihood. The welfare of their animals is directly related to the welfare of their owners and their families.
“There is,” the veterinarian pointed out, “a lot of effort that has been put into trying to make these communities that we work with, in a three-to-five-year period, sustainable and give them empowerment to look after their own needs.”
Jessica Newman, a former grand prix show jumper, spoke about her work as founder and president of JustWorld International, which has involved many other show ring competitors. Her organization funds educational and nutritional programs, in addition to medical resources for families in underdeveloped areas.
“When I graduated, I felt an incredible need to unite the global equestrian community, which I had grown up in, in order to effect positive change in the world that could fracture the cycle of global poverty,” she said. “I’ve always thought the power and influence of the equestrian community is enormous and I wanted to create a platform for philanthropy within the equestrian sector.”
Dave Vos, who owns eventing horses for Phillip Dutton, founded the Vos Foundation with a goal of planting more than 1 trillion trees before the year 2030 to eat up the rising concentration of global carbon emissions.
“We have a significant responsibility to address what we’ve done to the atmosphere, but we also have a remarkable opportunity to do that now,” said the native of South Africa.
Alternatively, he suggested “planting 13 trees a year for every person alive on the planet.”
Mollie Bogardus of Washington State started Aveterra, which deals with “creating value from waste.” She talked about sustainable manure removal and disposal, always an issue for equestrian operations.
“I’ve come to really understand the economics of manure and what happens when water hits our manure piles and our paddocks that aren’t cleaned. Nutrients in the manure leach out into the waterways and when there is access to these nutrients in the water, it feeds the algae that exists there and makes it go crazy, suffocating anything underneath of it,” she said.
One step toward alleviating the problem is a relationship with the local conservation district, she suggested, but technology and a good composting system can make a huge difference in the impact on costs and the environment.
Joe Gerbino, the global communications director of cocoa at MARS, focused on sustainability, a key factor as the company continues improving its global footprint. MARS hones in on three key areas: climate action, water stewardship and land use. The company wants to make sure the cocoa used in its products is 100 percent traceable. The goal is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 27 percent by 2025 and 67 percent by 2050.
Bridgett McIntosh, director of MARS Equestrian who served as moderator for the session, noted the concept was the “most authentic way to expand on our partnership with the USEF and show our commitment to having a meaningful impact on equestrian sports and the
“At MARS, our approach to business starts with our purpose, and the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do our business today. This is our inspiration for pushing boundaries and challenging ourselves in the way we do business.” She pointed out that “horse health and environmental health go hand in hand. The equestrian element is the common passion we share as a community. It’s about doing the right thing, and horses tie us all together.”
The forum was just one of a number of informational opportunities at the convention, which for the first time focused on major issues rather than rule changes (rule changes will be approved at the USEF board’s June meeting.)
On awards nights during the convention, individual achievers were featured. Tim Dutta, whose company ships horses all over the world, received the Sallie Busch Wheeler Trophy for distinguished service to equestrian sport.
Tim Dutta, winner of the Sallie Busch Wheeler trophy.
Not bad for a guy who came to this country from India and started working as a groom for Conrad Homfeld, before becoming a taxi driver in New York and finally founding his own successful business.
The National Equestrian of the Year was hunter rider Nick Haness, while the hunter El Primero, shown by Victoria Colvin and owned by Bryan Baldwin and Meralex Farm, was the National Horse of the Year. The Dutch warmblood won the 2019 Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby.
Tom Brennan with National Rider of the Year Nick Haness.
Five-time International Equestrian of the Year Beezie Madden captured the title again. Although the Olympic multi-medalist is best known as a great rider,
Beezie also earns kudos for dedication and commitment to her work as a USEF board member. She always shows up for meetings and contributes to the discussions. Few athletes come close to participating in governance the way she does. Beezie realizes how important it is and takes it seriously.
Darry Lou, the Dutchbred stallion owned by Abigail Wexner and ridden by Beezie, was the International Horse of the Year. His victories included the world’s richest show jumping competition, the $3 million CP International Grand Prix presented by Rolex at Spruce Meadows last September.
He was far from Beezie’s first winner of the award—others she rode who have taken the title include Authentic, Simon and Cortes C.
Darry Lou belongs in their ranks because as Beezie put it, “He just does everything right. If I have a fault, it’s usually my fault, because he pretty much does everything I ask him to do. He’s special in that way. He has all the qualities you need.
Beezie Madden, center, scored a double by taking the International Rider of the Year title and the International Horse of the Year honors with her mount, Darry Lou.
“He’s maybe not as spectacular a jumper as others, but he’s very correct, he’s very careful, he’s scopey, he’s nice to ride, he has a super temperament. He’s a pleasure to deal with,” she said.
If Beezie had to pick a ride for this summer’s Tokyo Olympics, she revealed (not surprisingly), Darry Lou “would be number one.”
B.W. Furlong & Associates presents its 19th Annual Healthy Horse Seminar from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 29. at Beaver Brook Country Club in Annandale, featuring topics that include senior horse care, sport science and genetic diseases..
Registration is required but admission is free. Horse industry representatives will attend and there are prizes for those who enter a raffle. Proceeds go to Mane Stream and the Morris Country Park Police Mounted Unit.
A special feature is a “Myth Busters” presentation, during which veterinarians will discuss medical myths and rumors.
Click here or call the office (908) 439-2821 to register.
Seven New Jersey owners claimed Horse of the Year championships at the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s annual meeting last weekend. They included Leslie Goryeb of Gladstone, with MD Tsunami, Arabian Country Pleasure/Country Pleasure Driving Open; Joanne Dadd, Bedminster, PIK Andromeda, Half/Anglo-Arabian Dressage Amateur Second Level; Jennifer Alison Garutti, Flemington, Labras Leannon, Half-Bred Connemara Eventing; Marlaine White, Hancock’s Bridge, Sunsational Essence, English Pleasure Hunt Seat; Autumn View Farm, Long Valley, Coverboy, High Amateur-Owner Jumper; Ponies Unlimited, Franklin Lakes, EZ to Spot, Pony Jumpers (Ponies Unlimited’s Angel also was reserve); Patricia Eastman, Colts Neck, Heaven’s Gate Signature Style, Welsh Hunter Sections A &B, Adult to Ride.
Earlen Haven, a longtime licensed U.S. Equestrian Federation judge who runs Country Haven farm in South Jersey, is rallying the troops to push for approval of a measure that would eliminate the sales tax on horse boarding.
She asks that at noon on Monday Jan. 6, supporters attend a meeting in Trenton of the state Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. It will be held on the first floor of the State House Annex in Committee Room Four.
A caravan will leave Saddlebrook Ridge, 10 Saddlebrook Rd, Shamong at 9:45 a.m. that day. For more information, phone Gail Pratt at (609) 304-6636. EarIen also is planning on going and can take seven people, but call her first. Her address is Country Haven, 290 E. Lake Road, Pilesgrove. Her phone is (856) 769-1916.
She advises that those who cannot go should call or email Assemblyman Ronald Dancer, a horseman who has backed “No Sales Tax on Boarding”. His phone is (609) 758-0205; his email is AsmDancer@njleg.org. Also contact your own legislator, she stated, but emphasizes that should be done Jan. 2 or Jan. 3 for best results.
With a personality to match his athleticism, he will be remembered not only for his many international victories with Norman Dello Joio, but also for the excitement he generated among anyone lucky enough to see him perform.
“He always went into the ring with a competitive, burning desire to win,” said Philip Richter, who began competing Glasgow in amateur classes when Norman decided it was time for the regal Dutch warmblood to step down a notch.
Philip Richter and Glasgow competing at the 2011 Hampton Classic.
“Riding a horse of his caliber was such an honor and privilege because his capabilities had no limits—he always gave you more than he had, which was way more than most could handle,” recalled Philip, who guided him to victory in high amateur classes at Devon, the Hampton Classic and other prestigious destinations.
“He was like an overpowered Formula One car that had magnetic adhesion to the road. His talent and attitude enabled him to do things that a mere mortal horse would never dare try. From Spruce Meadows to the Winter Equestrian Festival to Hickstead, he decisively and consistently won it all. His personality was what really set him apart—he had an aura of superiority and arrogance that was somehow endearing and not offensive.”
Analyzing Glasgow’ career, Philip cited Norman’s relationship with the horse, noting, “I truly believe that Glasgow might not have been the success he was without Norman. Glasgow was blessed by raw talent and the sacred geometry of chance to be paired with a rider like Norman.”
After Philip stopped competing him, Glasgow was retired to Coker Farm in New York, owned by Philip’s mother, Judy Richter.
As Philip reflected, “His talent and attitude enabled him to do things that a mere mortal horse would never dare try. Just look at his record—an endless string of global wins at the highest level of our sport—for years on end.”
Want to get involved with what the Equine Science Center has to offer? Next up, starting Jan. 21, is Carey Williams’ 14-week online equine nutrition course, which can be taken by barn managers, horse owners, trainers, feed sales reps or anyone who wants to know more about feeding their horses. To register online, go to https://ce-catalog.rutgers.edu/coursedisplay.cfm?schID=78458. For information, call 848-932-9271.
On Feb. 9, the Center’s annual in-person horse management seminar in New Brunswick will focus on race horse/sport horse care and rehabilitation.
Kevin’s wife, Dianna, has written that Kevin used a headset on Friday to give a Iesson in Wellington, but she noted that it is not full speed ahead at the moment. This is a gradual process.
“I am carefully reintroducing him to the life he loves,” she explained.
“It is essential to his well-being, mentally and physically. What is good for the soul is good for the body. We as a team are attacking this from all angles to provide him the best recovery possible…We are seeking clinical trials, Eastern alternative therapies, we are trying to leave no stone unturned.
“The return to teaching and coaching is part of what is the best for him. He gets tired and needs rest after, but we are building stamina as we navigate whatever is out there to help this spinal cord injury.
“He is not `back to work’ on a level that is productive but he remains vested in helping riders to whatever his energy will allow.He is the guide to what his limitations are. He looks so happy training and around his friends at the show. I know it was the right thing at the right time. Further, we have a core team of family, doctors, caregivers and friends, but his team is truly made up of all of you who continue to pray, send good wishes, stop to chat to him, donate to support him, and simply keep him in your thoughts with positivity.
“Please keep that energy. He has some return of function in his right arm and we are optimistic that something is starting on the left side now. I truly believe that he is carried by a wave of positive energy. What he is living with is so difficult, but everyone who gathers for him makes it a little bit brighter. We are so happy to be in Florida around the best of people. You have no idea how much we as a family are grateful for what has been sent our way. Just thank you and please keep praying.”
Meanwhile, the Kevin Babington Foundation has set up a Facebook page to update people on the injured show jumper and his progress, share information regarding fund raising and to keep everyone current on what is needed for Kevin as he continues on his journey towards rehabilitation in the wake of his accident that left him with a critical spinal cord injury. To access the page, Here is the link
Some big-time eventers are on hand at the U.S. Eventing Association’s annual meeting in Boston this week. There’s lots going on, but Olympic veterans Phillip Dutton and Boyd Martin found time to drop by Trafalgar Square Books’ booth in the trade fair to autograph Riding for the Team, the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation’s new book.
The two even did a little promo video for the book, which tells the inspiring stories of medalists from eight equestrian disicplines. The athletes tell how they got their start, what hurdles they had to overcome (even if they aren’t involved with jumpers!) and document what it took to get to the top.
