by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 10, 2017
Need a new helmet? Don’t put off buying one any longer. Many tack shops are offering deals for International Helmet Awareness Day, which actually has expanded to two days, Saturday Sept. 16 and Sunday Sept. 17. Locally in New Jersey, the Dover Saddlery chain (Branchburg) is offering 30 percent off helmets, and Beval Saddlery in Gladstone is doing 20 percent off and a free polo both days. Check with your local store to see what they’re doing for this important opportunity.
The “day,” now a weekend, is the result of a campaign by Riders4Helmets, founded in 2010 as a result of American Olympic dressage rider Courtney King-Dye’s near-fatal accident when she was schooling a young horse who fell. Courtney was not wearing a helmet, leaving her with severe head injuries.
More than just an occasion for a discount on a helmet, the day also is a time for education about head injuries and the importance of wearing the right headgear when riding. Learn more at this link
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 9, 2017
Several activities at the Horse Park of New Jersey this month and into the autumn will benefit the Jersey Fresh International, the park’s premier competition
On Oct. 15, the Jump for Jersey Derby and Dressage event will be held. The levels are Starter through Novice for the Derby. For dressage, it’s the fix a test of your choice. Pre-registration required, with special rates for HPNJ members.
British trainer Lucinda Green will give a clinic Oct. 12 and13 at the Horse Park.
More information is available at horseparkofnewjersey.com. or contact Jane Cory at 215-262-2870 or jane@pleasanthollow.com.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 9, 2017
Comparing the first six months of 2016 and 2017, there has been more than a 25 percent reduction in positive doping tests performed by the U.S. Equestrian Federation for the hunter, jumper and equitation divisions.
Is that a result of greater publicity about violations this year and stronger penalty guidelines that were approved more than year ago?
“Some of it very well may be,” said a spokesperson for the organization.
“We certainly hope that US Equestrian’s firm stance on intolerance of these type of violations is being recognized,” she said.
Enhancement of penalty guidelines for abuse and welfare violations were voted on in July, so there is hope that those violations will be reduced as well.
Doing all this costs money, so USEF is increasing its membership fee for the first time in 10 years from $55 to $80. For reference, the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association’s active membership is $85.
The increase “will allow us to address these issues and re-invest back into growing our sport at all levels, not just elite levels,” USEF President Murray Kessler said in a letter to members.
“A primary area of investment will be to bring unrated shows into the US Equestrian family and encourage the return of B- and C-rated shows. Our sport can’t be strong without a strong foundation. We will also continue to invest in education, learning center videos, communication tools, athlete pathways, trainer certification, and the like. Finally, developmental funds will be allocated to help grow the sport across all breeds and disciplines.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 9, 2017
By Nancy Jaffer
August 9, 2017
Andrew Ramsay has gone to all the right places seeking help with his ambition to ride on U.S. show jumping teams.
Andrew Ramsay and Stranger competing at International Bromont last weekend. (Photo by Lawrence J. Nagy)
During his quest, the native of California was mentored by Alan Waldman in the Netherlands, worked with George Morris and now has combined his enterprise with Chris Kappler Inc. at the Pittstown farm that formerly was George’s Hunterdon Inc.
Andrew and Sarah Segal are the competition riders at Chris’s operation and also train others, though Andrew said he puts most of his emphasis on being in the saddle himself. They work with Katie Martin Hartmann, a veteran of Hunterdon Inc., whose management skills keep the 35-horse operation going.
Andrew is nearly in awe of being a part of the iconic facility where so many top riders honed their skills. Growing up, he had always heard tales about the challenges of the imposing grand prix field at Hunterdon.
Andrew Ramsay and Cocq A Doodle. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
“To be at the old Hunterdon and riding on the field itself is fantastic,” said Andrew, whose winning string of horses includes Molly Ashe’s former ride, the Dutchbred Cocq A Doodle, “a horse that has a presence,” and the winner of the grand prix qualifying class last weekend in Bromont, Quebec, as well as grands prix at Tryon and Old Salem. “When you have a good mare, there’s not much better,” commented Andrew.
The rest of his string includes Jadalco, Stranger and California 62, “the most mature of the group.
History is in a way repeating itself with Andrew’s arrival at the Pittstown farm. Chris came to work there with George nearly a quarter-century ago.
“I’m very much into developing the next generation of riders,” said Chris, who no longer is interested in competing himself.
“George had already been working with Andrew and we found Doodle and California together, so I felt really close to that situation. I talked to George and said, `Do you think you could break the ice and see if Andrew would be on board for joining? Like I came to you, George, in ’93, I need someone to drop in and be my professional rider.’”
Added Chris, “It just seemed to be a partnership that made sense. There was a certain comfort zone and we both are George disciples. He’s still like our godfather and is there for us every step of the way,” continued Chris, noting he speaks to George weekly.
“He gave it a blessing and so far, I couldn’t be happier with how it’s going.”
Chris Kappler and Andrew Ramsay. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
Andrew’s eyes sparkle when he talks about his horses, and that type of enthusiasm is important to Chris.
“He has real genuine values for the sport. I really like his temperament with the horses and how he works with them,” Chris observed.
“He likes producing horses. He’s inquisitive and interested about how it works, how we can keep doing it better. He’s goal-oriented, it’s not just short-term results. We have a plan. We want to make the World Cup final; we want to get to Paris next year.” Andrew finished seventh on Stranger “a small horse with a big heart” last weekend in the first North American Longines FEI World Cup qualifier of the 2017-2018 season.
While he always knew what he wanted to achieve with his show jumping, Andrew, 32, “wasn’t quite sure how to go about it.” So he took a route that has been traveled by so many before him.
“I reached out to George. He was a great influence, providing guidance and direction,” Andrew said about his experience with the former U.S. show jumping coach.
Moving on to Chris’ operation was seamless.
“It was a nice transition. It’s fantastic working closely with Chris,” said Andrew, noting he didn’t have to spend “a lot of time adjusting to a different style. The care of the horses, the structure of the stable, I was all accustomed to with George.”
California 62 competing at Devon with Andrew Ramsay. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
Andrew lives at the Riverside Victorian B&B in Clinton when he’s in New Jersey, but like all show jumpers with aspirations, he’s on the road much of the time. He has found success in his new approach, with a good run this spring and summer.
Growing up on the West Coast, he started riding with Duncan and Gry MacFarlane. Their son, Ian, is now associated with Chris Kappler Inc. as a rider. Andrew went on to train with Linda Hough and Stephanie Simmonds.
He and his mother, Nonie, rode out of their Shalanno Farms, and they still have the Shalanno operation in the Netherlands, where there is a focus on young horses. The Shalanno farm in Wellington, Fla., is the base for Chris Kappler Inc’s operation during the winter.
The Shalanno name may be familiar to you—the Shalanno Style of Riding Award handed out in the presentation ceremony goes to the show jumping rider who exhibits classical form in competition.
Andrew Ramsay at the 2016 Washington International Horse Show with ringmaster John Franzreb, George Morris, WIHS President Vicki Lowell and multiple Shalanno Style of Riding awards winner McLain Ward. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
As Andrew notes, the award, an idea visualized with his mother’s input, is “a way of giving back and a way to keep focused on the American style of riding, which in many ways is a tribute to equitation and the future of show jumping,”
After wrapping up his junior career, Andrew took a break from horses and went to Colby College in Maine, majoring in computer science. But following a five-year hiatus, Andrew decided he needed to be back with the horses, so he headed to Europe.
When he returned to the U.S., he started competing in California, then headed East and began working with George. Andrew moved into his partnership with Chris after the Florida circuit this year.
The results since then “have been reflective of the program, the culmination of a lot,” said Andrew.
“It’s really come together in a nice way.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 8, 2017
Don’t be confused when you go to the Washington International Horse Show Oct. 24-29. Since 2006, the facility has been named the Verizon Center, but now it’s the Capital One Arena.
The signage and branding makeover will happen this fall, but there’s already a new logo and a third name for the venue, which opened as the MCI Center in the winter of 1997.
The previous 20-year naming rights arrangement was negotiated by former Wizards and Capitals owner Abe Pollin, and current owner Ted Leonsis has said repeatedly that he was seeking a more team-friendly deal. The Verizon deal was set to expire in 2018, but Capital One’s involvement accelerated the schedule.
Financial details were not released, but the deal is worth $100 million over 10 years, according to a source familiar with the arrangement, who confirmed an earlier Bloomberg report.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 3, 2017
Apparently, it’s not enough just to have a 4-star three-day event. The Kentucky Three-Day (formerly Rolex Kentucky before its title sponsor stepped back) is adding a $225,000 invitational show jumping grand prix to its schedule in April.
After pairing the event with reining a few years back and then dropping it, EEI, which puts on the competition at the Kentucky Horse Park, has partnered with the Split Rock Jumping Tour in the new venture. The class, with a course laid out by 2016 Olympic course designer Guilherme Jorge, will be held in the Rolex Stadium after cross-country is completed on the Saturday of the event.
“For almost four decades, equestrian sports fans have traveled from all over to see eventing’s best riders and horses and now they will have a chance to see show jumping’s best at the same time. I think it’s safe to say that the ‘Best Weekend All Year’ just got even better,” said EEI President Stewart Perry.
I’ll be curious to see how many people are looking to watch an unrelated competition for a few more hours after getting up early to miss the traffic and then putting in a tiring day walking the cross-country course. Might they prefer to hit the trade fair or go out for a drink and supper? How many of those attending the event are grand prix show jumping fans. We’ll find out next year…
After the thrill of watching some of the world’s best eventers, like three-time Rolex Kentucky winner Michael Jung of Germany, will the crowds move on from cross-country to watch grand prix show jumping at the Kentucky Horse Park? (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 26, 2017
It’s never too soon to plan for Dressage at Devon, Sept. 26-Oct.1 at the Devon, Pa., showgrounds.
The open breed show Sept. 26-Oct. 1, the largest in the world, is offering a new class for Dales ponies. They are one of the United Kingdom’s native mountain and moorland breeds, known for its strength, hardiness, stamina, courage, intelligence and good disposition.
Sadly, this breed’s population is low, so it is considered “critical” by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and “threatened” by the Livestock Conservancy.
Also featured during the breed show is a thoroughbred class. Don’t forget that Keen, Hilda Gurney’s great U.S. dressage team horse, was a thoroughbred.
The Breed Show features the future stars of the dressage world, from colts and fillies born this year and young horses up to 3 years of age. Horses age 4 and older are shown in hand and under saddle as well.
“We are very proud to be able to continue to host the largest open breed show in the world,” said Melanie Sloyer, chair of the breed show.
“In addition to our age-based classes, our popular individual breed classes showcases more than 20 breeds with a wide variety some lesser known and rare breeds seldom seen in other venues. Plus this year we are happy to welcome the Dales Pony.”
Other breeds in the 2017 line up include Akhal-Teke, American Saddlebred, Andalusian, Appaloosa, Arabian (both purebed and half Arabian), Danish Warmblood, Drum Horse, Friesian, Georgian Grande, Haflinger, Hanoverian, Iberian Horse, Irish Draught Horse, ISR-Oldenburg, Knabstrupper, KWPN-NA (Dutch), Lipizzan, Lusitano,Oldenburg (GOV) and Paint.
For more information, or to enter, visit www.dressageatdevon.org.
In addition to watching the competition, there are other things to do at the show. Visit the vendors or enjoy a gourmet meal.
Want to be a part of things? Volunteers are always needed at the show. To volunteer for one or multiple shifts, sign up at www.dressageatdevon.org under Volunteers. If you have questions, email Penny@thehorsewriter.com.
Those who interested in competing at Dressage at Devon can look at the prizelist at http://dressageatdevon.org/pdf/DADPrizeList.pdf.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 25, 2017
Fair Hill International has been nominated to be the host of a new 2019 autumn 4-star three-day eventing competition. If approved by the FEI this fall, the competition at the 5,613-acre Natural Resources Area will be the second event at that level in the country, with the Kentucky event (formerly Rolex Kentucky) in the spring at the Kentucky Horse Park (Britain is the only other country with two 4-stars, Badminton and Burghley).
The U.S. Equestrian Federation named Fair Hill as its choice after a months-long selection process that finally was narrowed down to the Maryland site and Great Meadow in The Plains, Va. Fair Hill, where a number of eventing competitions are held during the season, got the nod this week after the state Legislature awarded a $100,000 grant for development.
A concept illustration of what Fair Hill would look like for the 4-star event.
The Fair Hill tract to be developed for the 4-star is on the other side of Gallaher Road from the current site where the October 3- and 2-star competitions are held.
“Fair Hill’s nomination to host this 4-star event in Maryland is a reflection of our rich equestrian tradition and establishes our state as a premier destination for equestrian events and equine activities,” said Gov. Larry Hogan.
“We are proud that numerous private sector organizations, boards, and state and county agencies and elected officials all worked together to get Maryland to this point in the process, and we are extremely optimistic that we will secure final approval.”
Plans also call for improvement of the racetrack area and the work is good news for steeplechase races, the Cecil County Fair and the Scottish Games, all of which are held there. The location of the former DuPont estate is geared toward drawing spectators from a wide area. It is bordered by Pennsylvania to the north and less than a half-mile west of Delaware.
What remains to be seen is how things will work out for the designation of the fall event, if the FEI approves proposed changes to the rating system for eventing, which would add a 5-star and make revisions down through the levels.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 25, 2017
It’s been a busy—and successful–few weeks for five-time world championships endurance rider Meg Sleeper of Kingwood Township.
First, she won the 50-mile Muckleratz Run ride near Hershey, Pa., with her attractive gray homebred Arabian, Syrocco Cadence. Next up was the Vermont 75 in Woodstock, and again, Cadie was the winner, even though Meg was more interested in getting her horse fit rather than picking up trophies.
As a bonus, her friend Hanna Weightman of Shamong won the Vermont 50-mile competition with Meg’s Syrocco Rabia, named best conditioned. There was a (human) marathon held in conjunction with the Woodstock event, which added to the excitement for the horses and riders, Meg noted.
Next up for her, Meg hopes, is the October 2017 test event for the 2018 World Equestrian Games at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in North Carolina. No word has come down about selection criteria for the test event or the WEG, but only three riders from each country will be able to take part and scout the up-and-down terrain in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains.
Meg Sleeper and Syrocco Cadence. (Photo by Genie Stewart-Spears)
Meg said word is that the Tryon course will be like “the Biltmore on steroids,” referring to previous challenging rides at the Biltmore estate in Asheville, about an hour west of Tryon.
She noted, however, “it will be exciting to have another course” in the U.S. endurance repertoire.
According to preliminary plans for the WEG, crews will not be allowed along the trail to keep putting water on horses so they can go faster and faster. That practice has led to catastrophic injuries elsewhere, particularly in the Middle East. Crews would only be able to tend to horses during the holds at the veterinary checks along the route.
The end result “will be a lot slower than usual,” Meg said, “but it will let us take it back to horsemanship, the old cavalry test—another whole step up at the challenge level.”
The sport has had an image problem because of abuses involving one geographic segment of the competitors.
“We’re struggling trying to figure out how do we get control again and make it the sport to be proud of,” she said. Meg did note, however, there are many places where it is still run as a “clean and wonderful sport” but “sadly, there are some events where that doesn’t happen.”
Meg is in the process of bringing back another horse, Syrocco Rimbaud, her 2015 world championships ride who was injured during the competition in Slovakia. The veterinary cardiologist would like to have two horses that could be candidates for the 2018 WEG. She has ridden all over the world, from the jungles of Malaysia to the fields of France, but being able to ship her horse by trailer instead of airplane and all that involves adds to the appeal of representing her country at home.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 25, 2017
By Nancy Jaffer
July 25, 2017
When she’s competing in the Novice or Training divisions, Marilyn Payne is far from being just another lower-level eventer.
The Tewksbury resident is unique in many ways, not least because she is an internationally known official, having served as president of the eventing ground jury at last year’s Rio Olympics, among her many other impressive credentials in the sport. Although she stopped eventing in 2001, she picked it up again six years later at an age when many riders contemplate retirement—if they haven’t already bowed out.
Marilyn Payne and Double Entendre competing at the Mars Essex Horse Trials this summer. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
Now 68 and soon to be a grandmother, Marilyn continues her participation in a discipline that is demanding in many ways, with cross-country a challenge that can often daunt riders who are far younger.
Marilyn had event horses early in her career, at one point riding as high as the intermediate level, but sold them after she and her husband, Richard, decided to start a family. She remains involved in the sport through their business, Applewood Farm, where she has bred, trained and competed horses that were eventually sold.
Marilyn Payne is always looking toward the next fence. (Photo by Lawrence J. Nagy)
“I really hoped that some day I would be able to keep a horse once it had been trained,” she said. Her decision to resume competing in the sport she loved came when she was driving home from an event with her children, Doug and Holly, both 4-star veterans. As they laughed and talked about their fantastic day, she came up with a plan.
“I was jealous of hearing about all the fun they had at these events. I decided that I had to get my own event horse and join them,” she said.
The mount she bought in 2007 was Safe Harbor, a sale horse that came from Doug, christened after the name of a retirement plan suggested by her sister, an investment broker.
Marilyn competed the mare from Beginner Novice up, through Training, doing the eventing championships and the Waredaca classic three-day event. When Safe Harbor hit 20, Marilyn started all over again in the spring of 2016 when she got Double Entendre, a horse that was being ridden by Doug’s wife, Jessica. Marilyn competed the young German-bred gelding, who has impressive Galoubet and Donnerhall bloodlines, at Novice in the Essex Horse Trials during June and is planning on moving him up to Training, contemplating Waredaca again next year when the horse will be seven.
Riding cross-country is still a thrill for Marilyn Payne. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
“I just want to take him as far as I can,” she said.
Although she comments, “I don’t compete to win,” the Payne family is notoriously competitive. Marilyn recounted that at one event, she, Doug and Holly all got the same dressage score, but since her cross-country clocking was closest to the ideal time, she was happy to finish ahead of them in the standings.
“It was great. I didn’t care if I beat anybody else,” she said with a chuckle.
“We have a great time. You want everybody to do well, but you just want to do that little bit more so you can say, `Ha! Here I am an old lady, and I’m still beating these kids.”
To some extent, she has a greater appreciation for her riding than she did when she was younger.
“I enjoy it more because I know more. I wish what I know now, I knew then. I’d like to get some of the horses back I rode earlier and see what I could do with them,” she commented.
Sally Ike, the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s managing director of licensed officials, has known Marilyn since they both were district commissioners of their respective Pony Clubs; Sally at Somerset Hills and Marilyn at Spring Valley in New Vernon, where she used to live.
“I have so much admiration for her. Here she is, someone who has done so well as an FEI eventing official and is so well-respected, but she still loves the sport so much that she rides horses at Training Level,” Sally commented.
“She’s totally without ego,” observed Sally. “Somebody who has an ego wouldn’t want to put themselves in that position. Someone who has judged at the Olympic Games–a lot of people like that wouldn’t want to expose themselves to what others may perceive as their weaknesses. She does what she loves to do. High five.”
“It’s all about staying active,” added Sally. “Are you too old? Not if you stayed active. Carry on.”
Although Marilyn doesn’t ride as much as she’d like to because of her judging duties, she tries to keep fit between rides with other sports, including swimming, jogging and tennis when possible.
Marilyn with Martin Plewa and Christian Landolt, the eventing ground jury at the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
“I’m always challenging myself,” she said.
Marilyn notes a plus to her equestrian participation is the fact, “The riders really appreciate that I still compete. They think it’s great. Other officials think it’s kind of cool,” she continued, while adding, “There’s probably people who think I’m crazy because I’m older.”
Well aware of the sport’s risks, Marilyn doesn’t go at it the way she might have a few decades ago.
“I’m much more sensible and careful. I don’t want to fall off,” she emphasized.”
“I’m not going to ride some of the difficult horses that I rode when I was younger. I want something safe. But on the horses I ride, I’m not nervous at all. I trust them because I brought them along. There’s really no fear there, it’s such a low level it’s not like I’m out there doing Rolex,” she said, referring to the Kentucky 4-star.
Plenty of assistance is always available. She goes to dressage clinics and Holly and Doug help with her jumping. In a quid pro quo, she helps them with their dressage if the whole family is at an event, and all of them can look at each other’s videos.
Marilyn Payne and her husband, Richard, with their son Doug and daughter Holly Payne Caravella. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
Her children enjoy her involvement.
“I think it’s great,” said Doug who recently got a grant to compete at Great Britain’s Blenheim event.
“She got into this because she loved it. Safe Harbor was a perfect partner for her because she rode infrequently since she was judging so much, and the horse had a wonderful attitude.
“On the officiating side, it gives a much better perspective because it’s maybe not the top level, but she’s still in it. The moment you stop riding and only are officiating, it’s hard to stay cognizant of the questions being asked and how they will affect you,” said Doug. He noted another older high-profile official, Tokyo Olympics 2020 course designer Derek di Grazia, also tries to keep his hand in and won the 2-star at Rebecca Farm in Montana last week..
The riders appreciate having a senior official are out there with them.
His mother, Doug noted, “probably has one of the larger cheering sections when she’s out competing. My perception (of other riders) is that they all have the same respect that I do,
“It’s a lot of fun for us, too, when we’re able to compete at the same place. I’m pretty confident in her ability. She does a good job. She’s not going to push it beyond where she’s comfortable.”
Asked how he feels if she beats him in an event, he responded, “I guess you never like losing. But if you’re going to lose to somebody, that’s the first person I’d pick to lose to.”
