by Nancy Jaffer | May 24, 2017
By Nancy Jaffer
May 24, 2017
Can you imagine taking a sample of feed every time you open a new bag, keeping it in a baggie marked with the date the feed bag was opened and the lot numbers? Oh, and writing all the information in a log book, including where and when the feed was purchased. How about testing the supplements you give your horse, to see if they show evidence of substances that are prohibited in competition?
That’s now the routine at the barns where horses are being trained by Adrienne Lyle and her mentor, Debbie McDonald. Adrienne and one of her mounts, Horizon, were suspended from competition by the FEI (international equestrian federation) after a drug test taken at a Feb. 10 show revealed a trace of ractopamine.
Adrienne Lyle was all smiles after Horizon won the national Intermediaire I championship following a long battle to make it to the Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions. (Photo by Lawrence J. Nagy)
The substance, forbidden by the FEI, was not named on the ingredient list of Cargill’s Progressive Nutrition® Soothing Pink™, a gastric nutritional supplement administered to Horizon, but it was in there. The same thing happened to Young Rider Kaitlin Blythe and her mount, Don Principe. The only link between Adrienne and Kaitlin was the fact that they were using Soothing Pink.
The suspensions of Adrienne and Kaitlin were lifted after Cargill admitted responsibility for the presence of ractopamine and took the supplement off the market, but the FEI still insisted on its policy of suspending the horses for two months—even though they were not harmed and the substance had cleared their systems within five days.
It took intrepid lawyer Sam Silver bringing an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to get the horses’ suspension lifted so Adrienne and Kaitlin could take Horizon and Don Principe to last weekend’s Dutta Corp. U.S. dressage national championships in Gladstone.
It was worth the trouble. Each won the national title in their divisions; the Intermediaire I and Brentina Cup respectively.
Fighting the FEI is expensive, and the total bill hasn’t been tallied. The case has yet to be fully adjudicated by CAS, which will require a trip to Switzerland, according to Horizon’s owner, Betsy Juliano. What the FEI will do subsequently is uncertain.
Why shouldn’t the whole matter have been dropped once Cargill took responsibility?
A statement from the FEI said it is “not challenging the suspensions at CAS, but only defending its paramount interests; to safeguard the welfare of our equine athletes and the level playing field.” The FEI deferred further comment “until the final CAS decision is received.”
Betsy noted, “It’s not as if we disregarded an ingredient on the label.” She added that the horses have been tested before on the same regimen with no negative results.
Betsy stated that the U.S. Equestrian Federation has been a strong support, going to CAS on the horses’ behalf. If not for that, she said, Adrienne and Kaitlin would not have been able to compete in Gladstone after a long and thorough preparation of their horses.
“There was a real discouraging period of time after the FEI refused to lift the horses’ suspensions after all this time preparing the horses, the effort and the heart that goes into it. And then to have her not be able to go down centerline here was really sad to me,” she said, recalling her emotions about Horizon’s situation before the situation was resolved.
The USEF’s help sends “a positive message to the membership, especially the membership who competes, that our federation is fair and will stand behind us when it is necessary,” said Betsy. She had an unusual advantage in this instance, because her company is involved in providing legal services.
As she noted, “by lucky happenstance, this situation falls smack into my line of work. The method of proceeding through a situation like this is something that is every day for me.”
Betsy also praised Cargill and said she will still use their products. “I now know that if I get in trouble,” she said, Cargill will step up. “This company raced to our aid,” she pointed out.
The situation was a learning experience for all involved, but Adrienne—whom I’ve known and respected since 2005, when she started as a working student with Debbie—has a reputation for being aboveboard and meticulous.
“I’m always so paranoid. That’s the irony in all this,” Adrienne said wryly, referring to all the precautions she takes.
“The CDI horses (those in international competition) have their own grain room and only one person is allowed to make their grain.”
The situation affected her preparation with her horses, causing her to miss an important show at the Tryon, N.C., International Equestrian Center.
It “would have been key, especially for the stallion (Salvino) who’s only done one CDI. We applied for a wild card, and luckily they gave us a wild card,” said Adrienne, who was reserve in the Grand Prix championship with Salvino, noted the suspension didn’t affect training for Gladstone.
“We kept training as if we were going to come here,” she said.
Kaitlin, whom I did not know before meeting her at Gladstone, said, “The biggest thing for me is how vulnerable we all are without really knowing that we are. We all consult the best vets and nutritionists and you think you’re dotting all your I’s and crossing all your T’s; it came as such a surprise to us.”
Brentina Cup champion Kaitlin Blythe with Debbie McDonald, Betsy Juliano and Debbie McDonald. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
She noted it was lucky the horses weren’t harmed by the ractopamine, noting that in other instances around the country, there are horses that have been sickened or died after consuming contaminated feed.
Like Adrienne, she’s keeping a log and going through the baggie procedure.
“It’s been an educational experience,” said Kaitlin. “It’s going to be a bit of an eye opener for everyone as to what can happen when you think nothing can happen.”
We’ve seen this before. For instance, New Zealand eventer Jock Paget lost his 2013 Burghley 4-star title when his winning mount tested positive for the tranquilizer reserpine, determined to have been in a supplement. He was suspended for months, until it was found that he was not to blame.
Show jumper Margie Engle lost the 1999 American Invitational title when reserpine turned up in a supplement she used that had been guaranteed to test clean.
As Steve Schumacher, director of the USEF’s equine drugs and medication program warns, “Caution is urged if one is using so-called herbal or natural products, since plants are commonly the source for pharmacologically potent, forbidden substances such as cocaine, reserpine, and marijuana.”
by Nancy Jaffer | May 24, 2017
By Nancy Jaffer
May 24, 2017
Can you imagine taking a sample of feed every time you open a new bag, keeping it in a baggie marked with the date the feed bag was opened and the lot numbers? Oh, and writing all the information in a log book, including where and when the feed was purchased. How about testing the supplements you give your horse, to see if they show evidence of substances that are prohibited in competition?
That’s now the routine at the barns where horses are being trained by Adrienne Lyle and her mentor, Debbie McDonald. Adrienne and one of her mounts, Horizon, were suspended from competition by the FEI (international equestrian federation) after a drug test taken at a Feb. 10 show revealed a trace of ractopamine.
Adrienne Lyle was all smiles after Horizon won the national Intermediaire I championship following a long battle to make it to the Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions. (Photo by Lawrence J. Nagy)
The substance, forbidden by the FEI, was not named on the ingredient list of Cargill’s Progressive Nutrition® Soothing Pink™, a gastric nutritional supplement administered to Horizon, but it was in there. The same thing happened to Young Rider Kaitlin Blythe and her mount, Don Principe. The only link between Adrienne and Kaitlin was the fact that they were using Soothing Pink.
The suspensions of Adrienne and Kaitlin were lifted after Cargill admitted responsibility for the presence of ractopamine and took the supplement off the market, but the FEI still insisted on its policy of suspending the horses for two months—even though they were not harmed and the substance had cleared their systems within five days.
It took intrepid lawyer Sam Silver bringing an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to get the horses’ suspension lifted so Adrienne and Kaitlin could take Horizon and Don Principe to last weekend’s Dutta Corp. U.S. dressage national championships in Gladstone.
It was worth the trouble. Each won the national title in their divisions; the Intermediaire I and Brentina Cup respectively.
Fighting the FEI is expensive, and the total bill hasn’t been tallied. The case has yet to be fully adjudicated by CAS, which will require a trip to Switzerland, according to Horizon’s owner, Betsy Juliano. What the FEI will do subsequently is uncertain.
Why shouldn’t the whole matter have been dropped once Cargill took responsibility?
A statement from the FEI said it is “not challenging the suspensions at CAS, but only defending its paramount interests; to safeguard the welfare of our equine athletes and the level playing field.” The FEI deferred further comment “until the final CAS decision is received.”
Betsy noted, “It’s not as if we disregarded an ingredient on the label.” She added that the horses have been tested before on the same regimen with no negative results.
Betsy stated that the U.S. Equestrian Federation has been a strong support, going to CAS on the horses’ behalf. If not for that, she said, Adrienne and Kaitlin would not have been able to compete in Gladstone after a long and thorough preparation of their horses.
“There was a real discouraging period of time after the FEI refused to lift the horses’ suspensions after all this time preparing the horses, the effort and the heart that goes into it. And then to have her not be able to go down centerline here was really sad to me,” she said, recalling her emotions about Horizon’s situation before the situation was resolved.
The USEF’s help sends “a positive message to the membership, especially the membership who competes, that our federation is fair and will stand behind us when it is necessary,” said Betsy. She had an unusual advantage in this instance, because her company is involved in providing legal services.
As she noted, “by lucky happenstance, this situation falls smack into my line of work. The method of proceeding through a situation like this is something that is every day for me.”
Betsy also praised Cargill and said she will still use their products. “I now know that if I get in trouble,” she said, Cargill will step up. “This company raced to our aid,” she pointed out.
The situation was a learning experience for all involved, but Adrienne—whom I’ve known and respected since 2005, when she started as a working student with Debbie—has a reputation for being aboveboard and meticulous.
“I’m always so paranoid. That’s the irony in all this,” Adrienne said wryly, referring to all the precautions she takes.
“The CDI horses (those in international competition) have their own grain room and only one person is allowed to make their grain.”
The situation affected her preparation with her horses, causing her to miss an important show at the Tryon, N.C., International Equestrian Center.
It “would have been key, especially for the stallion (Salvino) who’s only done one CDI. We applied for a wild card, and luckily they gave us a wild card,” said Adrienne, who was reserve in the Grand Prix championship with Salvino, noted the suspension didn’t affect training for Gladstone.
“We kept training as if we were going to come here,” she said.
Kaitlin, whom I did not know before meeting her at Gladstone, said, “The biggest thing for me is how vulnerable we all are without really knowing that we are. We all consult the best vets and nutritionists and you think you’re dotting all your I’s and crossing all your T’s; it came as such a surprise to us.”
Brentina Cup champion Kaitlin Blythe with Debbie McDonald, Betsy Juliano and Debbie McDonald. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
She noted it was lucky the horses weren’t harmed by the ractopamine, noting that in other instances around the country, there are horses that have been sickened or died after consuming contaminated feed.
Like Adrienne, she’s keeping a log and going through the baggie procedure.
“It’s been an educational experience,” said Kaitlin. “It’s going to be a bit of an eye opener for everyone as to what can happen when you think nothing can happen.”
We’ve seen this before. For instance, New Zealand eventer Jock Paget lost his 2013 Burghley 4-star title when his winning mount tested positive for the tranquilizer reserpine, determined to have been in a supplement. He was suspended for months, until it was found that he was not to blame.
Show jumper Margie Engle lost the 1999 American Invitational title when reserpine turned up in a supplement she used that had been guaranteed to test clean.
As Steve Schumacher, director of the USEF’s equine drugs and medication program warns, “Caution is urged if one is using so-called herbal or natural products, since plants are commonly the source for pharmacologically potent, forbidden substances such as cocaine, reserpine, and marijuana.”
by Nancy Jaffer | May 22, 2017
Last year’s inaugural Pony Up!® event at the U.S Equestrian Team Foundation headquarters on Pottersville Road in Gladstone was such a success that they’re doing it again Saturday June 17 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
It is geared to introducing children 17 and under to horses, with pony rides, demonstrations, crafts and of course, lots of opportunities to have fun with Breyer model horses. The $20 admission for kids includes a Breyer model (worth $20). Adults are admitted for $10. For more information, go to https://www.breyerhorses.com/pony-up-201…
Kids who love real ponies love Breyer horses too (and even Brookside Pink Magnum enjoys his model.)
by Nancy Jaffer | May 22, 2017
Hunter and trail pace season is under way in New Jersey, with lots of opportunities for riders of all levels to get out and ride now that the weather finally is cooperating.
The Essex Foxhounds are holding a pace June 4 at Cedar Lane Farm on Homestead Road. Call Jim Gordon at (908) 337-2546 for details.
Another hunt, Spring Valley, has a pace set for the same day (shouldn’t these dates be coordinated so people can do both?) at the Spring Valley showgrounds on Sand Spring Lane in New Vernon. For information, call Val DiCristina at (908) 362-9249.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 21, 2017
It was a two-fer Saturday at Hamilton Farm in Gladstone, home of the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation. While ridden dressage was going on in the arena behind the historic stable during the Dutta Corp. U.S. national championships, driven dressage was the order of the day on another part of the property.
The Gladstone Equestrian Association was presenting its annual combined test and horse driving trials in picture-perfect surroundings. Driving has been an annual feature for decades at the facility, which hosted the World Pairs Championship in 1993.
Suzann Johnson of Whitehouse Station competing in the single training horse division at the Gladstone Horse Driving Trials. (Photo by Lawrence J. Nagy
by Nancy Jaffer | May 21, 2017
The revival of the Mars Essex Horse Trials in Far Hills June 24-25 is being done in style at Moorland Farm, home of the Far Hills Steeplechase Race Meeting each October.
A total of $25,000 in prize money will be split among the first three finishers in eight divisions, with the lion’s share of $5,000 going to the winner of the open preliminary section.
Essex, which was last held in 1998 after 30 years in the Somerset Hills, is attracting such competitors as Buck Davidson, the mother-daughter combo of Marilyn Payne and Holly Payne Caravella, and the likes of Ryan Wood and Jennie Brannigan, who are expected as well.
All the divisions except beginner novice will run over a two-day format, so the organizers are giving riders four tickets for guests and admission to a Saturday night cocktail party, since most will have to stay over.
Presenting sponsors are the Open Road Auto Group, Peapack-Gladstone Bank, RWJ Barnabas Health and Running S Equine Veterinary Services.
General admission is $10, good for both days. There also is an opportunity to buy other admission packages, including tailgating on the 230-acre property and a chance to enjoy the Hoopstick Club next to the show jumping arena, with a view of the water complex.
There will be a vendor village and food will be available from the Farmstand.
For more information and tickets, go to www.essexhorsetrials.org.
Holly Payne Caravella at last year’s preview of the Mars Essex Horse Trials. (Photo by Lawrence J. Nagy)
by Nancy Jaffer | May 20, 2017
Start out New Jersey’s Month of the Horse June 1 with a visit to the Concord Stud Farm, 20 Harvey Road in Cream Ridge. David Meirs III and his family have created a well-known Standardbred breeding and foaling facility at the 249-acre farm.
You won’t be alone. State Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher and New Jersey Equestrian of the Year Jamie Leuenberger will be on hand as well for a 10 a.m. tour.
Get an insight into the farm’s ecological practices, which include using fly wasps to combat the fly population and sheep and goats for weed control.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 20, 2017
The Devon Horse Show runs through Sunday, so don’t miss a chance to see one of the country’s great fixtures. There’s a reason it’s 121 years old–tradition and innovation go hand-in-hand for success at the country’s largest multi-breed show, which benefits Bryn Mawr Hospital.
Special features include the Budweiser Clydesdales, and there’s a grand prix Saturday night June 3. Sunday June 4 is devoted to breeding and young horse classes, as well as a sale of all the plants used to decorate the show rings.
For tickets, go to www.devonhorseshow.net or phone (610) 688-2554.
Kevin Babington and Mark Q, winners of the 2016 Sapphire Grand Prix at Devon. (Photo copyright by Nancy Jaffer)
by Nancy Jaffer | May 20, 2017
It’s perfect weather for tailgating at a polo match. The opportunity comes up June 10, when the Hunterdon Foundation presents the Hunterdon Polo Classic to benefit local charities, including the Hunterdon Art Museum and Riding with HEART.
Gates open at noon at Fieldview Farm in Pittstown. Tickets are $35 (children under 12 are free) and can be bought on line or until June 9 at the following businesses: Bishop’s Supermarket, Whitehouse Station; Bourbon Street Liquors, Califon, Clinton, Lebanon and Flemington; Gary’s Wine & Marketplace, Bernardsville and Coach Stop Saddlery, Bedminster.
Rain date is June 11. For more information, go to www.hunterdonpolo.org.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 20, 2017
Eager to ride to the hounds, but worried about how to do it with some expertise? Here’s the solution. Field hunter clinics are being held by local hunt volunteers June 9 and 14 at Chammings Showgrounds in Stillwater.
What will you learn? How to handle obstacles and varied terrain, along with hunt basics and etiquette. Meet other equestrians and enjoy dinner, the proceeds of which will benefit the pony club.
The fee is $35/clinic, $5 for spectators. Call 908-343-9631 or email rldhunters@gmail.com.
