by Nancy Jaffer | May 9, 2019
Eddie Blue, trained and ridden by Devin Ryan of Long Valley, has been inducted into the Equus Horse Stars Hall of Fame.
The Dutchbred gelding was purchased by Lori Larrabee in 2013 as a four-year-old.
“The deciding factor in purchasing Eddie was primarily my trust in Devin’s instincts for the abilities of young horses. I had watched him for over seven years train and develop young jumpers. It was his special skill,” she said.
In 2017, Eddie broke into the big time with a victory in the Longines FEI World Cup Qualifier at Old Salem Farm in New York. The next year, they were second in the Longines FEI World Cup Finals in Paris, where he did not have a single knockdown. Five months later, Eddie and Devin contributed to the USA’s first show jumping world championship since 1986 at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, N.C.
Eddie Blue and Devin Ryan. (Photo©2018 by Nancy Jaffer)
Initially, Eddie was a grumpy and bossy horse outside of the show ring. Very full of himself, he certainly was not the barn favorite, but his proud personality translated well to the show ring.
“He comes in and always gives off an air of confidence,” said Lori. Eddie has become a much softer horse on the ground, seeking affection.
“He has always been a very cheeky horse with a ton of character. We have such a relationship, though, that he always seems to be a little less cheeky with me,” said Devin.
“This truly special horse is a once-in- a-lifetime horse. His mental toughness is a key to his success, as many young horses are not emotionally mature enough to handle the technical aspects of the courses he has been asked to complete,” said Lori.
“He loves his job and he loves and trusts his rider.”
Other horses named to the hall of fame include Cobra, the once-wild mustang who was the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s National Horse of the Year for 2019; Big D, a Belgian draft horse who is part of the Baltimore Police mounted unit; Lazy Days Midnight Lightning, a mini-horse from California who works in therapy; Petey, a Medicine Hat Paint and former 4-H mount who is now a therapy mount in Cincinnati; Wandering Angus, a thoroughbred former race horse who also was an eventer before being involved with therapeutic riding in Maryland; Karsten, a versatile Friesian stallion; Ms. Dreamy, a quarter horse mare who was part of the U.S. gold medal reining team at the 2018 WEG and ridden to individual silver by Dan Huss and Brad Wolf’s Private Practice, the winner of the 2018 USHJA International Hunter Derby and this year, the $100,000 Hunter Spectacular at the Winter Equestrian Festival with Tori Colvin handling the riding duties.
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 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 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 3, 2019
The Jersey Fresh International three-day event at the Horse Park of New Jersey in Allentown is on the list of potential selection trials for the U.S. team at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. That would include this year’s competition May 8-12 and the 2020 competition.
U..S. team regular Boyd Martin, seen here riding Kyra at the 2018 Jersey Fresh International, competes annually at the Horse Park event and is hoping to go to Tokyo 2020. (Photo©2018 by Nancy Jaffer)
Jersey Fresh, where the cross-country course has been designed by former U.S. coach Mark Phillips, has often been used as a selection trial for the Olympics and the WEG. The final list of trials will be published in the official team selection procedures for Tokyo.
While the U.S. qualified its show jumping and dressage teams for Tokyo at the 2018 World Equestrian Games, eventing has yet to qualify for the Games and is seeking to do that at the Pan American Games this summer.
The prestigious events that also are on the list of potential trials include several 5-star (formerly 4-star) events: Land Rover Kentucky; Badminton and Burghley in England and Luhmuhlen event in Germany
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 30, 2019
Don’t you love all the opportunities that are appearing for off-the-track thoroughbreds? For too long, they have been ignored in the show ring they once dominated, and elsewhere in the equestrian firmament too.
But the Jockey Club’s Thoroughbred Incentive Program is making a difference, and now the Monmouth County hunt is offering the only pace series in the country to feature TIP-sponsored awards for thoroughbreds. The series, which started April 7, resumes May 5 starting at 50 East Branch Road in Allentown, and runs from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The final segment is June 9.
The paces are open to both English and Western riders. The only dress requirements are ASTM helmets, collared shirts and shoes with heels. There are go-arounds at all the fences, and in addition to the open division, there are also junior and hilltop (slower) sections.
To be eligible for the TIP awards, your horse must be registered. Go to tjctip.com to get the TIP number card that is needed for eligibility. For questions about the paces, email monmouthcountyhunt@gmail.com.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 22, 2019
The Eastern States Dressage and Combined Training Association is offering a dressage training symposium April 6-7 with Lilo Fore at the Horse Park of New Jersey.
A retired 5-star international dressage judge, Lilo is a U.S. Equestrian Federation S judge with an R rating as a dressage sport horse judge. A U.S. Dressage Federation certification instructor and examiner, she has trained many Grand Prix horses and had been a short-listed rider for the U.S. Equestrian Team.
The symposium is an approved USDF “L” continuing education program and well as a USDF University program and a National Education Incentive program.
Those who want to audit should fill out the form at this link and mail to Kem Barbosa, 282 Carter Road, Princeton, NJ 08540 Those who register by March 24 will pay less than those registering after that date or at the door.
Pre-Registration (before March 24)
ESDCTA, Horse Park of NJ & Pony Club Members – $50 per day ($100 for 2 days)
Non-Members – $75 per day ($150 for 2 days)
Regular Registrations (after March 24) and at the door
ESDCTA, Horse Park of NJ & Pony Club Members – $60 per day ($120 for 2 days)
Non-Members – $85 per day ($170 for 2 days)
ESDCTA Volunteer Bucks: $20/day. If you are using volunteer bucks you must mail in a registration form with your check and volunteer bucks to Kem Barbosa.
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 22, 2019
A tribute to Dorothy Knocke Maxfield was held March 14 in the trophy room at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation stable in Gladstone.
A much-admired instructor who was also a dressage and eventing official, Dorothy died Feb. 17 in Mobile, Ala., of natural causes. She was 76.
Dorothy Knocke Maxfield. (Photo by Marie Cobb)
The daughter of U.S. Dressage Federation president and Eastern States Dressage and Combined Training Association founder Lazelle Knocke, Dorothy grew up on the family farm, Hobby Horse Hill, in Readington. A graduate “A” Pony Clubber, Dorothy was a professional horsewoman for more than half a century. She started out as an eventer, spending a year with the U.S. Three-Day team from 1963 to 1964 before focusing on dressage.
A U.S. Dressage Federation gold medalist, Dorothy earned her “R” U.S. Equestrian Federation Dressage judge’s license and “r” Eventing license, as well as a USEF Technical Delegate’s license for both dressage and eventing. She also held an FEI Dressage steward’s license.
A lifetime member of the U.S. Pony Club, Dorothy was dedicated to teaching young riders, accompanying generations of them to Pony Club Nationals over the years. She was awarded USPC Jubilee Legend recognition in 2005.
She was also the organizer of recognized shows at Hobby Horse Hill and involved with the Amwell Valley Event.
Dorothy committed her life to training horses and students at all levels, her most important legacy. She was able to take complex and complicated concepts, breaking them down into smaller, understandable pieces and then teaching the rider to communicate those concepts to their horse.
Former student Amy Nemeth recalled that Dorothy, her first dressage instructor, “was tough as nails, but instilled in me what it took to be successful. She taught me more lessons then just riding. She may not even have known that. I thought I was special because she let me shine her boots and clean her tack! She was an integral part of my dressage riding and training; the first instructor to get me to stop hanging on my left rein, which she so eloquently did with yarn on that side.”
Mary Alice Edwards remembers taking her first lesson with Dorothy 25 years ago in Lafayette, Louisiana.
“I had been a `rider’ since I was 12 years old, but soon found out I knew nothing about dressage. The first thing she asked me was “What is the distance between each letter in the dressage arena?” Well, of course I did not know; I thought, `Who knows those things?’
“So began my journey of learning dressage. She was so dedicated to her students and their horses, making sure we were going on the right path of knowledge. She became a good friend and a wonderful mentor. Every time I ride, I hear her words of wisdom in my head.”
Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Deborah Kuschel (Gunnar), her identical twin sister, Diane Kohout, and her younger sister, Martha Hoffarth (Anton).
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the United States Pony Club Inc., 4041 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511 ATTN: in memory of Dorothy Maxfield. A donation also can be made online at https://www.ponyclub.org/secure/Forms/MakeAGift.aspx. In the note section, please include “in memory of Dorothy Maxfield.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 21, 2019
There were two winners of the $100,000 USHJA/WCHR $100,000 Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla.
One was Brad Wolf’s Private Practice, ridden by Tori Colvin, who took home the $30,000 first prize last weekend.
Tori Colvin and Private Practice. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
The other winner was the EQUUS Foundation, which received the $22,000 second-place check that went to Cheryl Olsten’s Lafitte De Muze, ridden by Amanda Steege. But that money didn’t go home with the horse.
Amanda Steege and Lafitte de Muze with USHJA President Mary Babick and USHJA CEO Kevin Price. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Cheryl donates all of Lafitte’s winnings to EQUUS. Explaining why, Cheryl said, “He really is a special horse, a humble fellow who gives his all and loves people. I was taken with him and his eager spirit, and feel very lucky to be his owner.
“The thought came to me that I wanted to celebrate that spirit, and what better way than to donate his prize money to a cause? A horse helping other horses seemed appropriate. After much research, I came upon the EQUUS foundation.”
Lafitte did the 2018 Spectacular as a first-year horse, when it was only his third show in America.
“It was amazing to feel how much more mature he is a year later,” said Amanda, who divides her time between Ocala, Fla., and Califon, N.J., where she has stalls at Pinnacle Farm.
The top 12 in the first round of the Spectacular came back for a handy round, where speed and maneuverability counted. Lafitte was in the lead going into the handy, but he wound up second to Private Practice by just half a percentage point when Amanda played it a bit conservative.
Amanda Steege and Lafitte de Muze in the $100,000 Hunter Spectacular. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Even so, Amanda said, “I was really happy with my handy round. I thought he jumped amazing. I made the conscious choice to go around the red vertical on the way to jump (number) one.
Tori’s horse has won derby finals and is a bit more experienced than my horse. My horse is working his way up to being able to do those types of things and I wanted to just make the very best decision that I could for him for this to be the most positive experience possible. Other than that, I thought he was quite handy, very adjustable, very smooth. His jumping style felt amazing.”
The class was held in WEF’s International arena, usually the venue of the jumper grands prix, and it can be quite intimidating under the lights with a big crowd on the sidelines.
Amanda’s horses shipped in to WEF just six days before the Spectacular, “which I think actually is difficult to do, for my horses to come here and get used to the chaos and surroundings of Wellington in addition to having to go in the International Ring,” she said. “I was extra proud of Lafitte for being able to handle that.”
Lafitte has done some impressive winning, including the $500,000 HITS Hunter Prix and the $50,000 WCHR Pro Challenge at the Capital Challenge Horse Show last year.
All that prize money meant Lafitte could be a real asset to whatever charity Cheryl chose for donation of his winnings.
Cheryl liked the concept of the EQUUS mission, so she called its president, Lynn Coakley, for details. Lynn told her EQUUS is an “umbrella” foundation, supporting scores of organizations that need funding to maintain their own missions of helping to rescue, re-home and retrain horses bound for slaughter. The list runs from mini horses to race horses, quarter horses, wild mustangs that have been rounded up, carriage horses and show horses.
“They are all perfectly fine animals that, for whatever reason, have been cast aside,” Cheryl noted.
“EQUUS `vets’ these organizations to make sure they all legit and comply with the necessary standards.” For more about the foundation and its mission, click on this link .
It gives Cheryl comfort to know “that in a small way, the prize money that Lafitte wins is going to help rescue horses from the horror that awaits them and the painful trip across the border” to slaughter. She appreciates that this will give them a second chance. Cheryl wants Lafitte to stand for “being an ambassador and star for the EQUUS foundation, spreading the word. What better gift can one give if not to help another?” she asked.
“We hope his message inspires others to do the same.”
Private Practice was victorious in the USHJA International Hunter Derby in Kentucky last summer, and Amanda will be pointing Lafitte toward that class this summer. Tori has won the Spectacular five times, so she’s used to the challenge.
But junior rider Jordan Allan aboard Dana Schwarz’s Kind of Blue found herself in an unfamiliar position next to two stars of the sport in the victory ceremonies.
Jordan Allen and Kind of Blue (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
“It’s beyond exciting,” she said.
“It’s my last (junior) year and everything is sort of shaping out. I’m just so lucky to have incredible horses to show, Kind of Blue especially. I’ve been showing him for about two months now. I know him like the back of my hand.
“I’m so excited. I thought he was amazing in both rounds, obviously, but in the second round, I think he really stepped it up with the brilliance. I thought he was just amazing. I knew I didn’t have to go crazy, but he just always steps to the plate.”
Jordan, who is a working student for Florida professionals Ken and Emily Smith, says they are like a second family to her. She doesn’t own any horses, but each week, they get mounts for her to show and she is grateful. Others she thanked included Brady Mitchell, Adam Graham and Alvin Menendez.
Jordan Allen, Amanda Steege and Tori Colvin. (Photo©2018 by Nancy Jaffer)
This fall, Jordan will be going to the University of South Carolina, where she will ride on the equestrian team. When she mentioned she would be studying on a pre-med track, I suggested that if she is going to be a doctor, she should have Private Practice, because of his name.
“I’ll take him!,” she replied.
