by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 5, 2017
Olympic show jumping medalist Anne Kursinski of Frenchtown will be inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame next month at the Devon Horse Show.
A veteran of three Olympics, she finished fourth at the 1988 Games at Starman, owned by Fran Steinwedell, who is also being inducted into the Hall. Fran’s other horses included Livius, on whom Anne took team and individual gold medals at the 1983 Pan American Games.
Anne, a two-timeAmerican Horse Shows Association Horsewoman of the Year, is also an author, trainer and active in equestrian governance, serving on the USEF board of directors.
Fran was president of the Flintridge Riding Club, where she worked with Jimmy Williams to develop show jumping on the West Coast. She initiated the Grand Prix of Flintridge, the second ever held on the west coast and one of the first FEI World Cup Qualifiers in the west. She was also a founding member of the American Grandprix Association (AGA), and she has served on many boards including the Pacific Coast Horse Shows Association (PCHA) for 20 years. She was PCHA Horsewoman of the year in 1992.
The mother of Francie Steinwedell Carvin, who won both the ASPCA Maclay and the USEF Medal classes as a junior, Steinwedell was the first person ever to reach 35 years as a member of the USET Gold Medal Club.
Also being inducted is The Natural, the first show jumper sold for $1 million. He won the 1987 World Cup finals with Katherine Burdsall (now Heller), who also rode him on the 1986 U.S. gold medal world championships team.
The horse also was shown by Katie Monahan (now Prudent), Terry Rudd, Rodney Jenkins and Alice Debany, who won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup with him at Spruce Meadows in Canada.
He was retired in 1994 and died in 2008 at the age of 31.
Recognized for his many governance roles, Walter B. Devereux III who will be inducted posthumously was a polo devotee who served as president of the National Horse Show Association.
Walter owned several hunters and jumpers with his wife Bunny and their daughters, Lindly and Anne, also rode and competed. Always ready to do what he could to help support the sport, Devereux purchased and then permanently loaned the legendary jumpsd Sinjon to the USET, where he became a hugely successful mount for Olympic riders George Morris, Kathy Kusner, and Bill Steinkraus. Sinjon won many international competitions around the world with those riders, participated on 19 winning Nations’ Cup teams, and helped the U.S. win a team Silver Medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics with Morris in the saddle. Sinjon was inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame in 1999.
Walter also served as an officer and director of the American Horse Shows Association and the USET, as well as the FEI Bureau.
Walter, who died in 1970, served as a judge of equestrian competition. The Walter B. Devereux Sportsmanship Award is presented annually to the horseman or horsewoman who personifies the ideals of sportsmanship through commitment, dedication and service to the sport.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 30, 2017
The Essex Horse Trials, making a comeback after 19 years, is looking for volunteers to do everything from fence judging, dressage scribing and decorating to handling hospitality June 24-25 at Moorland Farm in Far Hills.
It’s a great way to meet people and become involved with an iconic event at the same time. Go to the website at www.essexhorsetrials.org or call Lisa at 201-838-5164 or Mary at 201-787-3795.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 30, 2017
Here’s a new competition that may suit you as you get ready for the competition season. The Jump for Jersey Eventing Derby, presented by Rowsell Equestrian Design to benefit the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event, will be run April 23 at the Horse Park of New Jersey over a combined show jumping and cross-country course.
Set up in the park’s grand prix ring, it offers fences for novice at 2-feet, 11-inches; 2-7 for beginner novice and 2-3 for starter.
The fee for the first round is $65, which includes a jump-off round. A second full round at the same level or another level (same horse and rider combination) is an additional $20.
There will be a cash pot for each division, utilizing $10 from each first-round entry. Cash will be divided among the top three competitors, while ribbons to eighth place will be awarded.
The closing date for entries is April 15. Click here for entry information.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 29, 2017
Olympic show jumping individual gold medalist Nick Skelton always said he’d retire when Big Star did, but his farewell is coming earlier than planned.
Although he had hoped to show this summer, plans to compete at Geneva and Olympia last December were scuttled when the horse came up with a slight injury. Although word was Big Star would be jumping again this past January, it was decided he didn’t owe anyone anything and it was time to bow out.
The retirement ceremony for both Nick, 59, and the stallion will be held at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May. Their last competition was the Royal Winter Fair, where I was lucky enough to see them jump.
Nick Skelton and Big Star at Toronto’s Royal Winter Fair last year, their final show together. (Photo copyright by Nancy Jaffer)
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 29, 2017
New Jersey’s biggest three-day event is set for May 11-14 at the Horse Park of New Jersey in Allentown.There are plenty of opportunities for tailgating on cross-country day, May 13, with a new water obstacle likely the venue of choice.
The New Beginnings Thoroughbreds tent is one of those spots where brunch and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided. Get tickets at http://nbt-jerseyfresh17.eventbrite.com. It’s $30 for adults, $15 for kids and those under 21.
There’s an array of top riders schedule to compete, including Phillip Dutton, Boyd Martin, Jennie Brannigan and local favorite Holly Payne Caravella.
Whatever you do, don’t miss Jersey Fresh. For more info on the event, go to www.jfi3d.com.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 28, 2017
A new 4-star championship trophy is being given at Rolex Kentucky in memory of Roger Haller, whose celebration of life during last year’s Rolex weekend drew scores of the biggest names in eventing to pay tribute.
The designer of the cross-country courses for the 1978 World Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park and the 1996 Olympics, he served as a judge, technical delegate, organizer and perpetual proponent of the sport, serving all its various associations. Roger was a walking rulebook and always willing to help where needed for the betterment of the sport before dying of cancer at age 70 in 2016.
Artist Kerry Millikin–who won the Olympic individual eventing bronze medal in 1996 over a course designed by Roger–is creating the trophy. Since it takes a while to produce a work of art like the Haller trophy, a surrogate silver plate was presented this year to the winner, Phillip Dutton, the top-placed American at Rolex. He was fourth with Mr. Medicott.
Ann, who was involved in the presentation at Rolex, just became the competition manager for the Fair Hill International in Maryland.
Anne Haller presents a surrogate for the new Roger Haller trophy to Phillip Dutton on Mr. Medicott. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
“We hit the trifecta with Ann. She has organized events, stewarded FEI eventing competitions, and has been the press officer at events across the nation. She has a true 360-degree view of competitions. We couldn’t have asked for a better partner to join us,” said Fair Hill International’s executive director, Carla Geiersbach, stated.
Ann will coordinating technical aspects of all of the events that Fair Hill International runs throughout the year.
Fair Hill just received a $100,000 allocation from the Maryland legislature that could help boost its chances to host a new fall 4-star. Fair Hill is one of two finalists for the designation; the other is Great Meadow in Virginia.
Discussing the legislative support and vote of confidence that will be reflected in massive upgrades to the Fair Hill facility, Carla said, “We think that speaks volumes about the support for the project. The improvements to the turf track and the grandstands will benefit all the different disciplines that use the special events zone.”
Roger Haller. (Photo by Nancy JaffeR)
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 25, 2017
Two big names have dropped out of next week’s FEI World Cup finals in Omaha due to horse health issues.
Defending champion Hans Peter Minderhoud of the Netherlands bowed out when Glock’s Flirt came up lame. Then Jessica van Bredow-Werndl of Germany–who already was in Omaha–had to send her regrets after Unee BB colicked before getting on the plane to the U.S.
While it would have been fun to see them in action at the Cup, the odds are that the winner will be Isabell Werth of Germany, the most decorated Olympic equestrian ever, on Weihegold OLD.
U.S. entries in what is now a 16-horse field are Laura Graves (Verdades), Kasey Perry-Glass (Goerklintgaard’s Dublet) and Steffen Peters (Rosamunde).
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 15, 2017
A joint project of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, the new multi-use Hutchinson 3.5-mile trail at Sterling Forest State Park in Tuxedo, N.Y., has its official opening March 25 at 11 a.m.
Equestrians, hikers and mountain bikers are welcome at the ceremony for the trail, which winds its way through hemlock forests and historic mining sites. It is also a project of the Sterling Forest State Park and the New York Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
Geo-location: N41.20686 W 74.239673. Caretaker Parking Lot, Long Meadow Road (Route 84), 1 mile north of Sterling Forest Visitor center. Parking Entrance will be flagged.
For more information, call Soňa Mason, West Hudson program coordinator,New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, 600 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ. Call her at 201-512-9348 or 845-664-0417 (cell).
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 13, 2017
Laura Chapot dominated the $35,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic Sunday at the Winter Equestrian Festival, winning on her reliable Quointreau un Prince and finishing second on Thornhill Kate, a mare she started riding last year.
Kent Farrington, one of the fastest riders anywhere and ranked number two in the world, had to settle for third with Dublin, timed in 36.69, behind Prince’s 34.79 mark and Kate in 35.88.
Laura, who is adept at going for it against the clock, noted, “The jump-off was really fast, so I just took a big shot at it, and they came through for me.”
The rider from Neshanic Station observed, “I think I have turned Kate more into a ride similar to Prince.
“When I first got her, she was used to going more up and down and not quite as forward and long-strided. Now she really loves to gallop and leave out strides. She actually has a very big stride, so she is becoming more similar to Prince, who is just a pleasure to ride. You just gallop with him, and if he sees a long distance, he gets there in a heartbeat.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 8, 2017
A comedy night benefiting Spring Reins of Life will be held March 18 at the Flemington Elks Lodge. A buffet and cash bar is available at 5:30 p.m., with comedians performing from 7-10 p.m.
Spring Reins of Life is an EAGALA model certified program, the first and only program with “Military Services Provider” certification in New Jersey (working with Lyons veterans’ hospital and three PTSD units). The organization also works with at-risk/high-risk teens from New York and New Jersey, and partners with Good Grief Princeton providing services to children from six to nine years old.
Tickets are $35 each or $350 for a table of 10. Send check or money order to: Spring Reins of LIFE, P.O. Box 5311, Clinton, NJ 08809. Specify how many tickets you are purchasing List your name, phone and email so receipt can be confirmed. Orders for tickets by mail must be posted by March 11.
