At the end of three phases of competition, 2017 ASPCA Maclay winner Maddy Goetzmann and 2018 North American Young Rider show jumping individual gold medalist Daisy Farish were 1-2 in the Platinum Performance USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals East. But it wasn’t over yet.
Yesterday’s flat and gymnastics segments–as well as this morning’s show jumping—each were won by Maddy, who looked as if she were gearing up to take the whole thing this afternoon at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation headquarters in Gladstone. Her total for the three phases was 421, to 406 for Daisy.
The only segment left to contest was the Final Four, where the top quartet of riders started with a clean slate to compete over a shortened course, then rode the same route aboard each of the other finalists’ horses.
While Maddy earned a 90 on her mare, Faemes Van T Poelzelhof (AKA Famous) Daisy got an 88 with Arsouille Des Etangs, the horse she brought to the party. So Maddy was still ahead at the end of round one.
Maddy stayed one point in front of Daisy when each rode Cooper Dean’s Braavos. But the game changed in the third round when Maddy was on Arsouille, who cross-cantered, where the horse is on one lead in front and the other behind.Judge Ralph Caristo, who noted the young women had been “neck-and-neck” called the mishap “a slight bobble” but after everything was added up, that little mishap gave the title to Daisy by a single point.
In Ralph’s view, however, “To me, they were both the winners of this class.”
Last month was the first time that FEI World Equestrian Games has not used a Final Four format to decide its individual show jumping titles, but the other Talent Search judge, Chris Kappler, likes the concept continuing as part of this competition.
“I can understand why they have taken it out of the WEG, because of such big jumping,” said Chris.
“But I think it’s still very important. It makes this class different and distinct. You really get to see the horsemanship, the feeling, that these riders can give. We tried to have a somewhat simple course…that riders really had to use their eye…and their ratability and feeling for the horse.”
Maddy and Daisy, who are close friends, held hands as they waited for the announcement about who had won, then embraced as they heard the decision. Daisy’s score in the final four was 349, to Maddy’s 348.
“I knew it was going to be close, and I wasn’t sure which way it would go,” said Daisy, a 17-year-old high school senior from Kentucky.
“I felt the same way as Daisy…when it was just us two, the final two, and Daisy won,” said Maddy, briefly breaking into tears, “it was a very proud moment, we’ve been dreaming of this for awhile, she’s been one of my best friends for a long time.”
Maddy, who is coached by Stacia Madden and Beezie and John Madden, is headed in the next few weeks for the USEF Medal finals and Washington International horsemanship championship with her longtime ride, San Remo VDL. She isn’t sure if she will try the Talent Search again. Unlike the other finals, which are only open to juniors under 18, riders can compete in the Talent Search until they are 21. But she’ll be starting at Fordham University in September 2019, so what the New York resident does after that is to be decided.
Cooper, who finished third with a score of 311, works for Heritage, the farm headed by Andre Dignelli, the 1985 Talent Search winner who is also Daisy’s coach. A 19-year-old from Alabama, Cooper was reserve champion in the Medal last year. He noted that two weeks ago, he didn’t know what horse he was going to ride, and gave heartfelt thanks to Andre, the judges and God “because I wouldn’t be here without his support. To come here is a dream come true.”
Asked what he does at Heritage, he said, “I ride as many horses as I can. When they need me to be there at 3 in the morning, I’ll be there at 3 in the morning. Whatever needs to be done, if they need me to do it, I do it.”
Lili Kaissar, fourth on a score of 309, is going to Vanderbilt University in the fall of 2019 and hopes to become an equine vet.
The 18-year-old New Yorker was the only Final Four competitor who rode her own horse, Salt Lake. The dark brown gelding, who has an endearing habit of sticking his tongue out of his mouth as he goes around the ring, was named Best Horse of the finals.
The other riders’ mounts were leased or borrowed for a class that goes above and beyond what is required in most equitation finals. That was reflected in the fact that there were only 33 starters this weekend, down from 52 last year.
The idea of the Talent Search is to discover riders who have the ability to go on and perhaps someday represent the U.S. internationally, the way such previous winners as McLain Ward, Richard Spooner and Charlie Jayne have done.
“I think the great part of this final is the people who have won it in the past, and just looking at where they have gone in their riding careers,” said Daisy, who emphasized that her life will include “something to do with riding” after she goes to college.
Frank Madden, who trains Lili with his wife, Jennifer, noted that in 1982, when the Talent Search began, the only other equitation finals were the Maclay and the AHSA Medal (now the USEF Medal). Then the Washington International Horse Show put in a final, and soon a host of other championships were on the calendar.
“I think people have so many options and they made the standards of this more difficult than it had been,” Frank observed.
“You need a special horse. I think a lot of people have made the choice, (and say) `Maybe we’re not ready for this’,” he commented, though he suggested professionals need to keep an eye on what’s happening “so we don’t let it turn into 25 kids.”
Other trainers suggested lower numbers might stem from the advent of an easier option, the new USHJA jumping seat championship that has 3-foot, 3-inch fences, as opposed to the 1.20 meter (over 3-feet, 9-inches) that is the maximum obstacle height in the Talent Search, which also requires a water jump.
In other years, we’ve often seen competitors who really weren’t ready for the Talent Search challenge. Some of them may have opted for the USHJA class this year. The riders who participated this weekend all rose to the occasion, without the unhappy outcome for some that has happened in other years.
Stacia Madden pointed out that the sensible courses devised by Ralph and Chris were most welcome. The gymnastics at the Talent Search, for instance, had “historically been kind of a sticky wicket,” she noted, citing the fact that segment often relied on gimmicks. This time, it was more straightforward, including a serpentine of four fences down the middle of the ring, which gave the judges the opportunity to see “how their legs their hands, their seats, all work together; their eyes, using all their aids,” Chris explained.
Stacia was grateful that the gymnastics “were going to be something productive to treating these horses well and working on their jumping style and rideablity and letting judges judge the class, instead of the gimmicks. Ralph and Chris took this very seriously to make sure it was very standard and straightforward. I think the horses and riders were able to all solve the problems and come away feeling like they learned something.”
Asked what he thought of the event, managed by international judge David Distler, Frank–who has attended since the first finals–said, “Class is a word that comes to mind. This is such a class place, a class event for 33 classy riders here this year and two very classy guys judging it. It was the best of all the USEF finals I’ve been to.”
The Pittstown Trail Association is hosting a 10 a.m. trail ride and luncheon fundraiser Oct. 14 that is open to everyone. Helmets are required.
Space is limited, however, so those who want to participate must register by Oct. 6 with their name, phone, email and desired group speed. All groups will have a leader. There will be walk/trot and walk/trot/canter rides of four to eight miles. Trails cross roads and water.
The ride will be held at Finn Park, 36 Finn Road, Pittstown. Trailer parking is in second lot on the right. Park your trailer on the back side away from soccer area parking.
To register, send an email to SANDY.HOWLS@GMAIL.COM or call (908) 303-7955.The fee is $10 for current association members and $30 for non-members. Those who join the group the day of the ride can do so for $55 and pay for the ride at the member rate. You must bring proof of equine liability insurance.
The potluck lunch begins at at 12:30 p.m. Please bring a dish to pass. All are welcome to attend the potluck lunch, friends and family too.
Meet the rescued horses at Mylestone’s open house from noon-4 p.m. Oct. 7.
Taking care of the horses who have been through so mujch and promoting responsible horse ownership takes a lot of time and expense. Mylestone is eager to share with visitors what goes on at the farm in Warren County..
The rescued horses will come up to the fence to greet visitors. They are eager for a friendly pat on the neck and hello. For those who have always wanted to meet a horse (or two) close-up, this is a great opportunity.
Mylestone is located at 227 Still Valley Rd (Pohatcong), Phillipsburg. For more information, call 908-995-9300.
The horse Park of New Jersey’s schooling fun show Oct. 28 offers a hunter derby, hunt teams, gambler’s choice, trail obstacle course, western games and dressage test of choice.
The show, which benefits the park, will have points for the Thoroughbred Incentive Program, ESDCTA, and junior and amateur awards. Go to http://www.horseparkofnewjersey.com for details.
Historian Barry Thomson will give a lecture on equestrian pursuits in the Somerset Hills Wednesday Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. at the Peapack-Gladstone Library. Barry has fascinating stories and pictures to match about the heyday of horses and sport in an area known for foxhunting, shows and racing.
Admission is free but registration is requested. Go to https://sclsnj.org/for information.
Billed as a “family friendly day of amateur horse racing, just like the old days,” the Masters’ Chase is set for Oct. 13 at Natirar, the county park on Route 202 in Peapack. Gates open at noon, with the first post time at 2 p.m.
The event is presented by the Countryside Alliance of Somerset Hills and the Essex Fox Hounds. Games and stick pony races are on the agenda along with the regular horse races.
Those who want to picnic on the hill for the view can do so for $40, although no alcohol is permitted. Tailgating on the course is $500 per space. Those who prefer not to pay for parking can leave their vehicles in the park’s public lot and take the short walk over to the races.
If you want to race, get the entry blank at www.essexfoxhounds.org. Those who have questions can contact Karen Murphy at 908-727-0222.
Two New Jersey horsemen carried a little extra baggage in the form of gold medals on their flights home yesterday from the FEI World Equestrian Games at the Tryon International Equestrian Center.
The realization of a lifetime dream came 40 years after Jimmy Fairclough of Newton started training for his first world four-in-hand driving championship. Devin Ryan of Long Valley had a shorter time frame in his efforts to make the show jumping team that won the top prize at the WEG, but his journey with a serious concentration on the top of the sport took more than 16 years of trying to make it, in addition to how long he spent learning his craft after starting out on a $50 horse.
On his plane leaving North Carolina, the passengers were told a gold medalist was among them, and Devin got applause after making a brief speech.
“Ten years ago, I said at some point I want to represent the U.S. on some level, even at a Nations’ Cup level,” Devin commented when I caught up with him following the team awards ceremony at the WEG.
“It’s been a whirlwind coming here and being able to make it to the WEG, a major championship, and win a gold medal. That’s setting a high peak, so I guess the only thing after this will be an Olympics,” he said with a smile.
Devin, 36, emerged on the global radar when he was the surprise second-place finisher last spring at the Longines FEI Show Jumping World Cup Finals in Paris, which was won by veteran Beezie Madden. Coach Robert Ridland made a bold move when he put Devin on the team as the pathfinder, and made Beezie the alternate, but it paid off when the squad earned the top prize and a berth for the U.S. at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo to boot.
After three rounds of jumping at the WEG, the U.S. and Sweden were tied on 20.59 penalties. As Robert noted, the odds were long that two nations would have the same score to the hundredth of a point, but once it happened, a jump-off was the next step.
Devin, McLain Ward and Laura Kraut all were fault-free in the tie breaker, as were three of the Swedes, but the total time taken on course by the Americans was 2.03 seconds less than their rivals, giving them the gold.
This was Devin’s first team championship, and he found “expectations are high; they expect more out of you, you expect more out of yourself. I would think it never gets easier.” The team experience involved having every member of the squad, including the fourth member, Adrienne Sternlicht, living in the same house.
While Devin knows fans often are awed by the sport’s big names, he advised, “don’t be shy, because they’re no different than us. Everyone was doing their job, and that’s why we got our medal.”
He didn’t take his first riding lesson until age 13, then joined Pony Club and dealt with problem horses. A lesson with George Morris on one of those mounts started him on the path that would take him to the top. He worked with George for four years, then rode with dealer Alan Waldman in the Netherlands. He returned to New Jersey to open River Run farm and pursue his goal: Riding for the U.S.
Devin got Eddie as a four-year-old and developed the Dutchbred by Zirocco Blue himself. At age 9, the horse owned by LL Show Jumpers was among the youngest entries in the 124-horse field, where Devin finished 16th.
By bringing Eddie through the levels, he formed a stronger bond with him than he would have buying a ready-made jumper, which he couldn’t afford to do anyway.
“Look at the top riders and the horses with which they have been most successful,” he once told me, citing such Olympic gold medalists as McLain with Sapphire or Great Britain’s Nick Skelton with Big Star.
“They usually started with those horses as 5- or 6-year olds, when they’re young enough that they’re not set in their ways.”
Next up for Devin is trying to qualify for the 2019 World Cup finals.
It bothers him that there’s an impression that making it to the top level of show jumping requires a huge amount of cash.
“You don’t have to be uber-wealthy to get there,” said Devin, who didn’t come from big money.
“There’s so much talk that it’s not possible to get there,” he continued, noting hard work is the way to make it, even for those short of funds. He advises parents whose children are aspiring riders, “tell your kid to put the cellphone down and go to work.”
Fairclough’s marathon—where he had the disadvantage of being first on course–and cones scores contributed to the U.S. win, even though he had a control problem in the final segment after one of his horse’s nosebands broke. It had to be fixed with a zip tie when the teams were called back to the arena for the presentation.
Jimmy stood proudly on the podium with teammates Misdee Wrigley-Miller and his former student, Chester Weber, who also earned individual silver for the second time in a row. He was particularly pleased to be accepting the medal with Chester.
“At one point in life, we kind of parted ways a little bit, but we always still worked on teams together, no matter what,” he said. “Over time, it’s worked out and so it’s great. He’s worked very hard at it, so it’s nice.”
Thoughts on the podium were with people who worked hard to improve American driving but had passed away. One was Finn Caspersen, who brought the 1993 World Pair Championships to Gladstone and really put driving on the map in the U.S.
“Finn would have been ecstatic,” said Jimmy. He also mentioned Ed Young, the four-in-hand chef d’equipe, who died a year ago. “He would have been ecstatic too.”
As Chester noted, Ed “was the force around U.S. Equestrian’s program and led the way for a number of years, and today, when the reality was there that we won team gold, to me personally, for me and this team medal, that’s for Ed Young.”
At age 60, Jimmy isn’t sure what his next move regarding driving will be.
“I’m going to semi-retire,” he believes, noting without a sponsor, it’s hard to compete at the top level, especially since he owns his horses and pays their expenses. He thinks he’ll still compete in this country, but he’s no longer looking ahead to the next world championships, which would be in 2020.
“It’s been 40 years. It’s a lot of work to keep horses in the kind of training for that period of time. Five shoulder surgeries later and everything else, it’s a lot.”
The very next move is easy, though. He’ll be putting this gold medal next to the team gold he won at the 1991 World Pairs Championship. Those are nice punctuation points for a lifetime passion.
Will Faerber from Art2Ride will present a classical riding clinic Oct. 13 and 14 at Lord Stirling Stable, 256 S. Maple Ave., Basking Ridge. The clinic, which will run from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, is designed to introduce classical principles of foundation training. Auditors are welcome.
An Art2Ride Clinic focuses on the basic principles of relaxation, suppleness, connection and engagement over the topline as the foundation to all disciplines. This system is designed to improve the horse physically and mentally, taking the resistance out of riding.
Will is a master horseman who studied extensively in Portugal with Nuno Oliveira whom he considers his greatest influence. He has competed in eventing, jumping and dressage, in addition to coaching his students to regional and state championships; including Horse of the Year awards.
The auditing fee is $30 at the door. For advance tickets available at a discounted price, contact cemott27@verizon.net. For detailed information, go to the Art2Ride website: https://art2ride.com/event/new-jersey-classical-riding-clinic-2/ or email Marnie at njhcrep@gmail.com.
If you’re trying to get you child interested in dressage, but it isn’t working out, Dressage at Devon has some answers.
The Dressage Explorers program will take place Sunday, September 30 at the end of the Pennsylvnia show’s six-day run. and will feature the Make and Take Stick Horse. The show supplies the “horse” and all the trimmings to deck-out your child’s “mount” for a ride in the famed Dixon Oval – with professional announcers and judges. (Note: This is a lot less expensive than buying your offspring an imported warmblood.)
Another fave at the show in a suburb of Philadelphia is the Selfie Scavenger Hunt, where kids are looking for five yellow signs posted throughout the showgrounds. It they take a selfie with each sign, they can head over to the souvenir shop to receive an exclusive DAD prize.
There also will be special exhibitions by regional first responders and other demonstrations of excellence in horsemanship. Meanwhile, the day’s performances feature the sport’s rising stars, young riders from 16-25. These include the FEI Pony Freestyle Test and the FEI Young Rider Freestyle, among others.
Had enough horse stuff? The show features a Fall Festival, with lots of dining opportunities and shopping that appeals to the whole family, even those who aren’t equestrians. Ladies Hat Day – a favorite Dressage at Devon tradition – will take place on Friday, Sept 28.
For more information, visit www.dressageatdevon.org.
When Heronwood Racing Partners set out to buy a thoroughbred who would run under the stable’s colors, members of the group already were thinking of a way to make sure the horse would have a new job after he finished at the track.
Mark Bellard, the partner of hunter/jumper trainer Rachel Rosenthal, is in the group with Julia Greifeld of Whitehouse Station, a director of Mane Stream therapeutic riding, and Anthony Sileno of Mendham, who revealed “I’ve wanted to buy racehorses since I was about five years old.”
Like Anthony, Julia said, “I’ve always loved the thought of a racehorse. I’ve been approached many times over the years, but I wanted to be with people who would be interested in an end-game plan for the horse. I could never sell any kind of horse down the road.”
The group invested in Street Fighting Man, a son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense and a great-grandson of Native Dancer. Street Fighting Man, who raced at Woodbine in Canada as a two-year-old, is known around the barn as Jagger after Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, who sang the tune for which the horse was named.
When Heronwood took on Jagger after his time in Canada, he contracted pneumonia within the first week.
“It was a long road back,” Mark recalled, but the flashy-looking black with a come-from-behind technique finally was ready for the New York racing scene, breaking his maiden with odds of 19-1 at Aqueduct on Rachel’s birthday in 2016.
“I can’t wait until he’s my jumper,” Rachel exclaimed, to which Mark responded, “Hold your horses.”
Street Fighting Man kept running for another year. By the time he finished the 2017 season as a five-year-old, having won a little more than $80,000 in 22 races, it was decision time.
(To see Street Fighting Man in action at the track, click on the video below and watch the number 3 horse with the jockey in the red cap.)
“The risk at that level is that you have to put them in claiming races. The trainer spotted him in places he thought he wouldn’t get claimed,” said Mark. But the fact that Jagger was a turf horse made the next step easy. At the end of 2017, the partnership was faced with laying him off for six months until racing on grass began again, or retiring him.
Retirement won, and it was on to the next step for Jagger.
“We always knew we’d need a plan, and fortunately, with Rachel, we had one,” said Mark, discussing Jagger’s future. After chilling out in upstate New York for a few months, Jagger came back to Heronwood, Rachel’s barn in Bedminster, for training in his new vocation.
As Julia mentioned, “I liked the fact that he’s being trained by a professional for his next step in life.”
At the track, Jagger was under the guidance of trainer Nick Esler, who rides his own horses.
“He put some good miles on this horse,” Mark noted. “As soon as Rachel got on him, she knew it wasn’t like starting from scratch.”
Heronwood’s big goal is next month’s Thoroughbred Makeover, presented by the Retired Racehorse Project. Jagger will be among hundreds of off-the-track thoroughbreds who have 10 months or less of retraining. Competition involves 10 different disciplines, with entries seeking a share of the $100,000 in prize money. At the end, according to the organization, there will be one overall winner, “crowned America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred.”
It won’t be Jagger. The Heronwood group is under no illusions, considering that Jagger doesn’t have a lot of mileage in jumping and only seven months of retraining.
Rachel Rosenthal jumping Street Fighting Man. (Photo courtesy of Mark Bellard)
“It’s not about going there to win,” explained Rachel, who does feel Jagger will be prepared well enough to put on a decent performance.
“It’s about showing the community what you’ve got,” she continued, saying, “We’re going there to represent.”
Mark is as enthusiastic as the other partners about the Thoroughbred Makeover concept and Jagger’s appearance in Kentucky.
“It’s such a great exit plan for all the thousands of thoroughbreds that are looking for a second career. I think it’s gained a lot of traction with all the trainers and owners. It gives them more options what to do with their horse, sooner rather than later.”
Julia reminisced about how thoroughbreds once ruled the show ring, and then fell out of favor as the warmbloods took over. Thoroughbreds are making a comeback now through initiatives such as the Makeover and Thoroughbred Incentive Program at many shows.
“This re-purposing is a relatively new thing,” Julia pointed out. Anthony believes “the whole movement has reached almost everybody” and those at the track are more aware of the options for horses that have stopped racing.
Even though Jagger is pursuing a different profession now, racing is still in the partners’ blood.
“It gives us a lot of fun and takes us on some nice journeys,” said Mark. While Heronwood has no racehorses at the moment, it does have a mare in foal to 2008 Derby winner Big Brown. The partners also are looking for a filly who can race for them and then become a broodmare as her end game.
As for Jagger, “Right now, we’re interested in re-purposing him and giving him the best start,” said Rachel.
“We’re just trying to set him up for whatever his next stage might be. Had we not given him this training, he would have very few options,” Julia pointed out.
Anthony said a horse like Jagger probably would have wound up running in $10,000 claiming races at Mountaineer, a track in West Virginia.
“He would have been asked to run every couple of weeks until he broke down,” said Mark. But this horse has a different destiny, and Rachel is confident he has star quality, noting how much she likes his temperament.
“That’s the number one thing you look for in any horse,” she mentioned.
“He’s so sensible. I take him out in the woods and down the road. I think he’s really athletic; he’s been so easy to train. He gets it, and gets something new every day.”
