by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 9, 2016
The problem-plagued United States Equestrian Federation Dressage Festival of Champion, which was set for mid-October in California, has been cancelled. The competition, which was to include the Grand Prix, Intermediaire I and Brentina Cup title competitions, had light entries after an intense year for competitors at the upper levels.
Steffen Peters was the only member of the U.S. Olympic dressage bronze medal team who planned to take part in the Grand Prix segment, and he was bringing Rosamunde, rather than his Rio mount, Legolas. The top goal for the best Grand Prix combinations in 2017 will be qualifying for the World Cup finals in Omaha March 29-April 2.
The USEF stated “there would not be an adequate number of qualified combinations to make a championship-level competition” at the festival. Another difficulty involved the change of venue from Epona Farms to Paso Robles, which would have involved additional cost.
Bids are being accepted through Sept. 15 from venues that want to host the 2017-2019 Festival of Champions. The Festival was held for many years at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation in Gladstone–maybe it’s time to bring the championships back to New Jersey.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 2, 2016
A preview of the film, “Harry and Snowman,” is being presented at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9 to benefit Mane Stream, which offers equine-assisted activities for special needs children and adults.
The movie, slated for theatrical release Sept. 30, is a true story about Harry de Leyer and the horse he rescued from a slaughter truck who went on to become a champion show jumper. The movie’s director/producer, Ron Davis, is a native of New Jersey who competed for years in the show ring.
The movie will be screened outdoors at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation, 1040 Pottersville Road, Gladstone. Those attending may bring their own chairs and blankets, or choose bleacher seating. In case of rain, the screening will be moved indoors.
Tickets are $20 for a family of four or $10 per person.
For information about Mane Stream, go to www.ManeStreamNJ.org.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 20, 2016
Question 1 on Tuesday’s election ballot asks whether two casinos should be allowed in North Jersey, at least 72 miles from Atlantic City. One possible location is the Meadowlands racetrack, which is lagging in competition with tracks in neighboring states that have “racinos” boosting purses and hence, attracting more horses.
Although revenue from the measure would go to a variety of beneficiaries,it is specified that “not less than two percentage points in each State fiscal year would be dedicated for programs designed to aid the thoroughbred and standardbred horsemen in this State.”
Racing is a major player for supporting businesses such as blacksmiths, tack shops, farmers growing hay, feed stores selling us grain, etc. All of the above are needed by the non-racing horses also. What would you do if your veterinarians left the state because their practices lost a high percentage of the horses they served when the animals moved elsewhere?
New Jersey’s horse industry is in trouble. If Question 1 passes, it will give an incentive for racing interests to stay in the state and boost the industry as a whole, including sport horses. Vote “yes” for your own self-interest.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 29, 2016
Mylestone Equine Rescue is having an open house Oct. 9, offering a chance to see the horses they’ve saved and meet people who care about animals (but don’t bring your dogs, some of these horses might be scared of them.)
The woman who runs Mylestone, Susankelly Thompson, explains what happens from noon-4 p.m. at 227 Still Valley Road, Pohatcong.
“When you arrive at open house, you will see Mylestone at its very best. All the horses are freshly cleaned and brushed; there are tents all about the farm with information, Mylestone merchandise, volunteer sign-ups and everyone’s favorites–the bake sale and our great silent auction. It takes a lot of volunteer hours to pull this one afternoon together, and we do it all for you. We want you to get the best picture possible of all that Mylestone Equine Rescue entails.”
Rain date is Oct. 16.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 10, 2016
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 26 in St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 182 Main St., Gladstone, for Barbara Caspersen of Hobe Sound, Fla., the widow of former U.S. Equestrian Team Chairman Finn Caspersen.
Mrs. Caspersen, 71, is a former Bernardsville resident and was active with the driving community during her time in New Jersey. Her husband founded the Gladstone Equestrian Association and became the key player in the growth of driving in the U.S. The Caspersens owned four-in-hands that competed in a number of world championships.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 27, 2016
At last week’s Pennsylvania National Horse Show, former U.S. Equestrian Team member Mary Chapot of Neshanic Station was inducted into its hall of fame. Her late husband, U.S. team captain Frank Chapot, was inducted in 2013.
A double gold medalist at the 1963 Pan American Games, she also won both the AHSA Medal and the ASPCA Maclay in her equitation days. Mary and Kathy Kusner were the first women to ride on a U.S. Olympic show jumping team when they competed in the 1964 Olympics.
A year later, Mary won the first grand prix held in the U.S. when she took first place in the Cleveland Grand Prix. In 1967, she won the Grand Prix de Penn National on Anakonda and later would go on to judge the Medal at the show, completing a rare double.
Her daughter Laura is a top grand prix rider, while her other daughter, Wendy Nunn, is an accomplished amateur-owner jumper rider, both young women having benefited from coaching by Mary and Frank.
Also inducted with Mary was the late Harry Gill, best known as the owner of the great jumper Idle Dice. Those who rode for him included Rodney Jenkins, Michael Matz, McLain Ward and Todd Minikus.
Harry was a sponsor of many shows and also an active board member of some of the country’s most prestigious competitions.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 9, 2016
He’s been trying since 2012, and today T.J. O’Mara finally won the Platinum Performace/U.S. Equestrian Federation Show Jumping Talent Search Finals East.
Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search Finals East winner T.J. O’Mara of Rumson and Kaskade on their victory gallop. (Photo copyright 2016 by Nancy Jaffer)
Riding his reliable Kaskade, the mare with a heart of gold, the University of Kentucky freshman moved up from third after three phases to finish on a score of 355, ahead of Sophie Simpson (daughter of U.S. Equestrian Team veterans Will Simpson and Nicki Simpson), Vivian Yowan (347) and Daisy Farish (246). Daisy, who was at the head of the rankings after all three initial phases over two days, had a refusal with her own horse in the first round of the final four, and then the low score in every round thereafter.
Each of the top four competed over a shortened course on their own horses, then rode each of the others’ mounts over the same route.Simpson won the first three rounds of the final four competition until she got on Daisy’s Ganjana, then cross-cantered at the end of the ring and met the in-and-out in less-than-optimal fashion.
T.J., trained by Stacia Madden of Beacon Hill and Max Amaya of Stonehenge, said winning the Talent Search “has been one of my dreams for my junior career. I’m so proud of my horse.”
Vivian’s mount, McLain Ward’s Clearline, won the Grappa Trophy as Best Horse. The 2015 ASPCA Maclay winner, Mckayla Langmeier, finished fifth.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 9, 2016
A unique opportunity for cross-promotion of horse racing and equestrian sports is being aired Saturday via a variety of websites in connection with the livestream of the Far Hills Race Meeting, highlighted by the $350,000 Grand National.
Guy Torsillieri, a key player in both the steeplechase races and the revival of the Essex Horse Trials next year, said race organizers realized they needed to fill in the time between races on the livestream at the jumbotron at Moorland Farm, where the Far Hills meeting is held. They saw it as an opportunity to give exposure to horse sports beyond racing.
Horses head for the finish line at the Far Hills Race Meeting. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
So they will be using videos about Essex, the Monmouth at the Team horse show at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation, the women’s Professional Golf Association Championship to be held in July at the Trump National club in Bedminster, the U.S. Golf Association and the ARC of Somerset County. ARC, which serves individuals with disabilities and their families, is being paid to handle clean-up at Moorland the day after the races.
“We’ve opened it up to a lot of groups in the area, so it’s really cool,” said Guy.
“The video feed will be available internationally, and jump-racing fans in Ireland, England, and Europe will have an opportunity to watch our championship-level races.”
The presence of horses from Britain, Sharp Rise, trained by Charles Longsdon and Days of Heaven, trained by Nick Henderson, sparked international interest.
Guy invited Murray Kessler, who will take over as U.S. Equestrian Federation president in January, to come to the races as his guest. That could lead to even greater exposure to horse sports from the connection with the race meeting, which draws more than 30,000 people and next year will offer parimutuel betting.
The cross-promotion offers opportunities for both equestrian activities and business in the area. The race meeting received the economic championship award for 2015 from the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce.
Sites on which the livestream will appear include farhillsrace.org, the National Steeplechase Association (nationalsteeplechase.com), the Chronicle of the Horse (chronofhorse.com) and racing sites in the United Kingdom.
“It’s going to reach a lot of the markets to bring knowledge and exposure to all the things we’re collaborating on,” Guy pointed out.
“It’s exploding in a good way.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 27, 2016
Meg Sleeper, who represented the U.S. this month in the Endurance World Championships at Samorin, Slovakia (a venue bidding for the 2018 World Equestrian Games) shared her thoughts about the meet and a statement she signed about the sport for the American Endurance Ride Conference.
She also noted that her horse, Rim, who was spun at the 88-mile mark of the competition, is home and happy. He will be evaluated once he has a chance to rest; she thinks at this point his lameness at 88 miles did not reflect a serious condition. Meanwhile, she thanked everyone who supported her, both financially and as morale boosters.
Here’s what she had to say: ” I also wanted to send an update regarding some of the issues that face endurance as a sport. The sport of endurance developed out of the old cavalry tests, and it is supposed to test horse endurance and athleticism as well as rider horsemanship.
In recent years, particularly at the international level, there has been pressure to go faster and faster, which has led to more events being run over flatter terrain, where the speeds can be faster. Unfortunately, the change has led to a complete change in the sport and injuries typical of thoroughbred racing have become common. I hope that we can return international endurance to the sport that I have loved for 30 years. I am pasting the statement that AERC is circulating and hoping we will find enough international support to make a change.
The endurance riding world watched the World Endurance Championship in Slovakia with much excitement and anticipation for a more positive outcome than has been observed in recent FEI endurance events. Sadly, we were all disappointed with a needless equine fatality and numerous eliminations due to over-riding. Further, we were disappointed that the FEI appeared to “spin” a story in their initial press release rather than simply stating a significant injury had occurred and was being fully investigated. In the wake of this event, the American Endurance Ride Conference is very concerned about ongoing abuses in international endurance riding and requests that the following recommendations be forwarded to FEI:
- In the future, championship courses (indeed all endurance events) should be designed to include technical variations that require high quality horsemanship (as described in the Endurance Rules, article 801).
- Continued stringent drug testing to include sensitivity tests on the legs of horses to detect nerve blocking agents.
- Further emphasis on the model of endurance riding which emphasizes the goal of “fit to continue”.
- Crewing on trail should be eliminated or drastically reduced. The constant crewing has transformed the sport from one that rewards good horsemanship to one that rewards large crews and encourages over-riding of the horse. Many 160 km rides in the U.S. are successfully run without any crewing on trail. AERC strongly believes that this is an important horse welfare issue.
- Significantly increased suspensions for stables, trainers, owners AND riders whose horses are found to be metabolically compromised from over-riding (i.e. suspension from competing in any FEI event for 24 months). Clearly the previously levied penalties were inadequate. For example, all 5 horses from Dubai (MRM and Fazzi 3 stables) were disqualified for metabolic reasons (over-ridden) and one horse suffered a catastrophic injury despite the previously levied short term suspensions and educational measures undertaken by FEI.
The enforcement of high veterinary standards and rules appears to be improved over the past year. However, the events at the 2016 WEC indicate the need for continued and increased emphasis on horse welfare in FEI events.
It is our hope that continued insistence upon strict rule enforcement and high veterinary standards will result in a cleaner and safer sport for all endurance riders and their horses worldwide. We also hope that these recommendations will encourage FEI to continue to support clean endurance and horse welfare.
Sincerely,
Michael Campbell, President and Dr. Meg Sleeper, Chair International Committee
American Endurance Ride Conference
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 13, 2016
Mary Babick will take office as USHJA president in December.
Finally!
Mary Babick, a Middletown trainer, was in line to succeed Bill Moroney as U.S. Hunter Jumper Association president four years ago, when he decided not to step down at the end of his term after some members urged him to stay.
Instead of being offended and quitting, Mary just worked harder to learn more about good governance and devoted even more of her time to volunteering for both USHJA and the U.S. Equestrian Federation. Today, she was elected to the USHJA presidency at a meeting in Texas. She will take office Dec. 15. The other candidates for the post was Illinois trainer Diane Carney.
“It’s such an honor and a huge responsibility to be selected as president,” said Mary.
“I look forward to working in concert with other passionate volunteers to unite our industry, tackle our problems and, in so doing, assist in the development of our future leaders.”
Mary is a USEF registered judge. She earned her instructor certification from the British Horse Society and is a USHJA certified trainer. She has trained in certified management accounting and worked on Wall Street in the area of compliance.
Mary has been on the USHJA Board of Directors since 2010,, most recently serving as the Hunter Discipline vice president and a member of the executive committee since 2012. Additionally, she has been a member of the planning committee and the emerging athletes committee (on which she still serves), as well as chairing the youth committee. Her committee work dates back to the earliest days of USHJA. In addition to her USHJA service, Mary serves as chair of both the USEF National Breeds and Disciplines Council and Horse Identification Task Force.
“The USHJA has an incredibly bright future, and I look forward to Mary’s leadership continuing to improve our excellent member services while growing our sport,” said Bill Moroney, current USHJA president on leave of absence and CEO of the USEF, who presided over the election.
