by Nancy Jaffer | May 23, 2024
During the two decades since the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association was formed, Britt McCormick has served it in various capacities as a volunteer. But since becoming the organization’s first president from west of the Mississippi, he is working on developing a different perspective.
The Texan, who operates a training and showing business with his family outside of Dallas, was president-elect until last month, when former president Mary Knowlton resigned.
At his first Town Hall this week, Britt said he is looking for feedback on ways to improve service for members and stakeholders, “how we can do a better job at what we do to help drive participation in various USHJA programs to add a value to your membership and showing at every level.”
He explained, “One of the first things I wanted to do was kind of look under the hood of USHJA on the business side.”
Britt McCormick during the Town Hall.
USHJA is a nonprofit, and Britt pointed out, “if we don’t maintain the integrity of the business side, we’re not going to be able to function properly and serve our members.
“What is the foundation of our business model? It’s participation. Not just by people joining and recording horses, but by participating in various programs USHJA offers.”
The organization must make it easier for people to do that, in his view, removing barriers to participation.
“We need to encourage people to show in a recognized environment,” he believes. That includes having riders starting in Outreach, “but hopefully growing and for those people who have a goal of showing recognized, we need to show them the way to get there.”
Britt also wants to strengthen brand identity and “figure out a way to communicate with those in the system and those who are yet to become members. My goal is, if you ride a horse and jump a horse, that eventually you become a member of USHJA.”
Communication is vital.
“We have to make sure we’re not siloed in our own little worlds and we don’t look at things through our limited perspective,” he emphasized.
Britt wants to keep things fresh, and is ready to implement change where it’s needed.
“I feel like we’ve stagnated a little bit. We had this spark 20 years ago and we were really excited…we were creating all these things. Now we’re kind of in the maintenance phase,” he maintained.
“One of my goals is to have us take a look at all of our properties, take a look at all of our products, make sure they’re relevant, make sure they’re still exciting, that we still have a spark out there.”
That involves “a moment of self-reflection and seeing where we are, seeing what we created and making sure we’re still relevant. If we’re not, we need to address those issues and correct them.”
Citing the changes in the hunter/jumper world in the last five or six years, he noted, “we have some products that people are not that interested in. At some point, we’re going to have to cut those loose and make room for something new that nobody…has even dreamed up yet. That’s going to be my focus for sure for the foreseeable future; taking a look inward and making sure we’re doing the best job that we can.”
The process requires input from USHJA’s constituency.
“I’m relying on the membership to be vocal and let us know when we have it right and let us know when we don’t have it right,” he emphasized.
For the next six months, Town Halls will feature different topics, including the education side and its relation to the sports side. He envisions bringing in judges and other key players, including show managers, to discuss what they do and connect with members during the webinars.
A goal is to “try to inform the members and listen to the members, as well as to what we do what we offer and how we can do that better.
The Town Hall concept offers the chance to ask questions directly and get immediate answers.
For instance, Nancy Jones, a horse show judge from Arkansas who is on the USHJA amateur task force, asked what was happening with a measure that would permit amateurs to teach.
Britt explained the U.S. Equestrian Federation passed a rule across its breeds and disciplines allowing amateurs to teach for a limited number of hours weekly as a sport growth initiative, but not having amateurs involved with teaching for a living. Although USHJA’s board had no problem with the rule, the amateur task force wasn’t in favor of it, so USEF executed a carve-out for hunters and jumpers. The discussion on the subject isn’t over, with the new president calling it a “work in progress.”
The format of Britt’s Town Hall was different than the way it was done in the past. Those wishing to comment had to speak and give their names; previously members were permitted to type anonymous comments on the chat line.
Also, Britt brought in two USHJA department heads for the session. They were Lauren Klehm director of education who handles the instructor credential program, gold star clinics, the Emerging Athlete Program and also is involved with the very interesting Wheeler Museum. and sport director Katie Patrick. Her department handles competitive programs from Outreach through the higher levels and the International Hunter Derby, as well as jumpers and equitation.
There will not be a Town Hall in June because of Britt’s travel schedule. The next one is scheduled for July 15 at 7 p.m.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 21, 2024
An agreement involving a California regional nonprofit protecting water quality and the Ridland Group show organization has paved the way for competitions to resume at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park, after activities involving more than 25 horses were barred last month.
Subsequent negotiations were held between the two entities and the city of San Juan Capistrano, which owns the park that is leased by the Ridland Group, the operator of Blenheim Equisports. The property on San Juan Creek hosts a group of shows in the spring and summer. The next Blenheim show was slated to be held there June 7-9.
On Monday, Sarah Spinuzzi, legal director of Orange County Coastkeeper, explained the circumstances that will enable horse shows to be offered again at the park, which also is used for community events such as dog shows and concerts.
“The facility is going to be re-graded such that storm water from the equestrian stabling areas (known legally as the CAFO Production Area) will be retained on-site by June 3,” she stated. (CAFO stands for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation).
“This grading will prevent discharges of stormwater and wash-rack water to the creek. The facility will use the large grass field to pond retained stormwater. Over the rest of this year, the facility will work to improve infiltration infrastructure to be more professionally engineered so that rain events will not cause flooding and will be functional for the facility’s intended use. Future plans also require groundwater monitoring wells to ensure the protection of water quality.”
Violations of the Clean Water Act at the site have been an issue since 2017, according to Orange County Coastkeeper, which sued the city and the Ridland Group that year. An agreement for a “collaborative effort” to protect water quality in San Juan Creek while continuing equestrian activities was reached the next year. There was a five-year timeline for the remediation, plus two extensions, but Coastkeeper maintained this year’s April 15 deadline had not been met and announced the restrictions.
Two Blenheim shows were moved north to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center this month. The U.S. Equestrian Federation permitted relocation of the May competitions “because of the short notice of the closure and desire to not disrupt competitors’ plans to show,” said USEF CEO Bill Moroney.
When it was announced at the end of April that the two shows would be moved, the Ridland Group issued a statement saying it “acknowledges and respects the issues raised by Orange County Coastkeeper regarding the compliance of the Clean Water Act and would like to affirm a wider ongoing commitment to uphold the highest standards of environmental conservation throughout the operations at the Riding Park.”
Meanwhile, the dates that had been reserved for the other Blenheim shows slated for the Riding Park through Sept. 22 became available for applications to USEF from Southern California organizers who have “proof of venue” where the competitions could be held. The Ridland Group was among those that applied.
USEF also had requested that organizers interested in hosting the Junior Hunter Finals West or the Show Jumping Talent Search Finals West, both of which were slated for the Riding Park, make contact by May 20.
“All organizers meeting USEF standards and the license criteria were welcome to apply for events through the duration of the application period, which closed last evening on May 20,” according to a Tuesday comment from USEF.
“The applications submitted through this process are being reviewed thoroughly.”
The federation added it “is working diligently to ensure that competition participants and their horses have access to reliable, safe, and quality competitions in California for the remainder of the competition year. We recognize time is of the essence and are working to resolve the calendar issues as expeditiously as possible.”
by Nancy Jaffer | May 20, 2024
Anna Buffini announced that her dressage star Davinia La Douce (Don FredericoXA Jungle Prince) is retiring after a long career and at the right moment.
“I have made the decision to retire her when she’s still feeling her best,” the Callifornia rider said on social media.
Anna Buffini and Davinia La Douce on their freestyle victory pass in Wellington. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
“From a horse who was overlooked by many to sixth place in the World Cup, none of us could have imagined how far Diva would take us. I purchased Diva off of a video during Covid, but because of the excellent training she received from Klaus and Belli Balkenhol, Guenter Seidel (her trainer) and I were able to compete with her almost immediately.
Anna and her other horse, Fiontini, are short-listed for the U.S. Olympic dressage team and will compete in Europe in the run-up to selection for the Paris Games.
A retirement announcement also has been made by German star Isabell Werth for her 18-year-old Emilio at Wiesbaden over the weekend, where he won the Freestyle with a score of 83.3 percent. The FEI World Cup Finals in Riyadh during April was supposed to be his last bow, but a small injury meant he couldn’t travel to Saudi Arabia.
Anna Buffini noted in her posting about Davinia La Douce, also known as Diva, that “In 2021, we made our First Nations cup team together. She also got to compete in Rotterdam and place fourth in the special at Aachen. In 2022, Diva girl was on fire and qualified for the World Cup. I received a lot of acknowledgment for being the youngest ever U.S. athlete and the first African-American to compete in the World Cup, but it was all because of Diva,” Anna stated.
“After the World Cup, we got to experience Horses and Dreams for the first time and she placed fourth in an incredibly special freestyle. In 2023, we found our way into the World Cup again, including scoring our first ever 80 percent together. We flew to Florida with one chance to qualify for it and she came through again. With a tenth place finish in the Grand Prix and placed sixth with our Top Gun freestyle routine, that’s the memory I’ll take with me of Diva forever.
“Later that year, she was the anchor for team USA at Aachen and the first day of the Grand Prix we set one of our personal bests. This horse is all heart. Going into 2024, I looked at this season as icing on the cake. She had a good first show but I made too many mistakes in the next few shows and we didn’t get the scores we were hoping to get to make the short list.
“However, our last show in Temecula was magical and made for a beautiful ending of our career together. It was a hard decision not to bring her to Europe, but just like we did with Sundayboy, I always want to retire our horses before they start to decline. I’ll be forever thankful to this mare who has been an underdog her whole life. She may not have had the biggest muscles or the most extravagant movements but she does have the biggest heart. She will live out the rest of her days by my side teaching young up-and-coming riders, and being the boss of the barn as usual. Who knows? We may also see some Diva babies in the future. I wish to thank my coach Guenter my parents and the incredible team of people who have worked so hard to keep this wonderful mare healthy and happy. We indeed did have the time of our life.”
by Nancy Jaffer | May 20, 2024
Did you watch the Defender Kentucky 5-star three-day event? If so, you saw a big chunk of the British Olympic eventing team hopefuls finish 1-2-3.
Britain has just named its powerhouse short list for this summer’s Paris Games, and it’s no surprise that Kentucky winner Oliver Townend, the world number one, is on it with Cooley Rosalent, as well as Ballaghmor Class, a former Kentucky winner who had to scratch from the Badminton 5-star two weeks after Kentucky.
Oliver Townend and Kentucky winner Cooley Rosalent. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Also named were Kentucky runner-up Tom McEwen and JL Dublin, one rail away from victory at Defender, and on the Tokyo Olympics gold medal team with Oliver. World champion Yasmin Ingham, third at Kentucky on Banzai du Loir, was named with him and also was selected with Rehy DJ.
Additionally on the short list are Bubby Upton, who made a miraculous recovery from breaking her back in a fall last year to finish 10th at Badminton with Cola. Emily King, fourth at Badminton with Valmy Biats, has made the cut, along with her mother, Kitty King and Vendredi Biats. Others are Tom Jackson (Capels Hollow Drift), fifth at Badminton and Ros Canter with both Lordships Graffalo, the 2023 Badminton winner, and Izilot DHI, who she retired on cross-country at Badminton.Also on the roster is Laura Collett with London 52, victorious at Badminton in 2022 and a member of the gold medal team in Tokyo.
Britain is definitely the team to beat at the Olympics. Four finalists will be named to the team in late June, though only three will actually be part of the starting order, with one rider as a reserve.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 21, 2024
The iconic horse show is known as the place “Where champions meet.”
That’s the slogan over the main ring at Devon, a goal for many riders and an annual “must” for others. The show gets under way Wednesday.
The Budweiser Clydesdales in front of the iconic Devon grandstands during their last appearance at the show. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
This year, it goes from 11 days to 12, with an addition to its schedule of junior classes that runs through the first weekend.
Driving always has been part of the show, and a tradition is the carriage pleasure driving, with judging starting at noon May 26.
After the juniors have gone home that day, the arena eventing is the evening feature with such stars as Boyd Martin and Buck Davidson competing.
The professional hunters start the next day, along with amateur jumpers and coaching, featuring the beautifully turned-out four-in-hand teams pulling gleaming vehicles.
The FEI jumpers begin on May 28. Those on the roster include many big names, among them McLain Ward and Daniel Bluman. Highlights of the week include the International Hunter Derby on the morning of May 30 and that night, the Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon (named after McLain’s famous mare). The final day of the show, June 2, is devoted to hunter breeding.
Special events include the Budweiser Clydesdales May 30 and June 1; the Shetland pony steeplechase May 26 and 27, and the Radnor Hunt Fox Hounds May 25.
The country fair is always a big attraction, and there’s a carnival with games and rides for the kids.
For more information and to buy tickets, go to Devon Horse Show.net.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 19, 2024
She was outspoken, determined and totally devoted to three-day eventing. The sport lost one of its most ardent advocates last week, when Trish Gilbert died at 83.
Doing it all, and doing it well, was the trademark of a very practical woman who was one of a kind. While in this era she might be identified by most as president of the Fair Hill International, and the emergence of the new Maryland 5-star, her contributions were far more numerous.
From Pony Club District Commissioner to involvement with governance at the national level, designing cross-country courses, organizing competitions, becoming a technical delegate and selector, as well as officiating at the Olympics, Trish knew every aspect of the sport and served it well. For her contributions, she was made a member of the U.S. Eventing Association Hall of Fame.
Trish Gilbert
“She was a remarkable individual and without ego,” said Sally Ike, who had been a friend of Trish’s since the mid-1960s when both were eventing at the USA’s highest level.
Their paths crossed often, beginning with their early days as riding colleagues. Sally became managing director of eventing when Trish was in charge of the discipline for the U.S. Equestrian Team. Then Sally designed show jumping courses for Fair Hill while Trish was at the helm.
“All she wanted to do was do the best for the sport,” Sally, emphasized.
Fair Hill event secretary Mary Coldren understandably still can’t believe she won’t be having her frequent phone calls with Trish, which were a big part of the mission they served together.
“I truly admired her knowledge and her practicality and her love of the sport. It was always for the good of the sport. That was always where her heart and focus was,” said Mary.
“The events at Fair Hill, the horse trials and everything else, have stood the test of time because of Trish.”
Jim Wolf, Trish Gilbert and Tim Dutta with Jan Byyny during a Fair Hill trophy presentation. (Photo © 2013 by Nancy Jaffer)
Mary noted Trish passed her love of eventing along in her family, first to her daughter, and more recently, her granddaughters.
“She was a great supporter of her granddaughters Ryan and Carlin who event also,” said one of Trish’s daughters, Rumsey Keefe.
“If she couldn’t make it to watch them ride, we would send her videos of competition and lessons, which usually was quickly followed up by a phone call to them or me to comment on what she saw and thought.”
Rumsey recalled that Trish would listen to people who sought her counsel, then she would “look at at the big picture and try to figure it out,” even if it involved “taking in people who needed a little more guidance and security in their life.”
A native of Virginia who was involved in running the Blue Ridge Horse Trials during the 1970s, Trish moved to Churchville, Md., in 1983 and became involved with equestrian activities at the Fair Hill Natural Resources Area. When the U.S. fall championship held at Chesterland in Pennsylvania ended its run after the 1988 edition, Trish was a member of the group that found it a new home as the Fair Hill International the next year. Those events always included a lively party.
In 2017, Trish headed the effort to bring a 5-star to Maryland. And in 2021, the USA’s second 5-star event debuted at Fair Hill. Although it is not run by Fair Hill International, Trish remained involved with the event.
On Facebook, Shelley Page conjured an image that brings to mind with a smile the thought of other eventing greats we have lost, and eases the pain somewhat.
“There is a bar in heaven with Roger Haller, Ann Haller, and Jimmy Wofford sitting at a table…. In walks Trish. Oh, the laughs they will have.”
Jane Thery, expressing her condolences on social media, stated, “Trish Gilbert. Now that is a woman who left a positive mark on our world. As she said in my Pony Club cross-country clinic many years ago, “Go forward. Do not stop.”
Trish’s husband, Bill, a racehorse trainer, died in 2011. She is survived by her daughters, Mary Elizabeth Looney (Gregg), Rumsey Gilbert Keefe (Tim) and Samantha Gilbert Brennan (Pete); a son, Raymond Richard Guest (Mary Pat); and stepson William Pepper Gilbert (Alice). She is also survived by her brother David Donovan (Teresa) and sister, Deirdre Donovan; 12 grandchildren, and seven step-great grandchildren.
Contributions in her memory may be made by check to Fair Hill International. 378 Fair Hill Drive, Elkton, Maryland 21921or online at fairhillinternational.org.
A celebration of life will be planned at a later date, possibly at the time of the Maryland 5-star.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 15, 2024
It took a century of work, but World Horse Welfare is celebrating historic legislation that will ban live export of horses and other livestock for slaughter and fattening from Great Britain. It has passed Parliament and awaits assent of the king before becoming law.
“The passage of this law ensures that no horse, pony or donkey will legally be exported from Great Britain for slaughter and while this is a monumental step forward, plenty more needs to be achieved to effectively combat the illegal export of equines from the country,” said Roly Owers, the organization’s CEO.
“This will rely on the new law being effectively enforced and the introduction of full traceability of all equines, and we look forward to working with DEFRA (Britain’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) to achieve this. In the Twenty-first Century, it is preposterous that equine ID is still based on a paper-based system, which simply provides an open door for horse smugglers.”
A symbolic ride to Parliament emphasized the urgent need for reform and played a role in getting it established. World Horse Welfare’s recent rescue of the “Dover 26” – a group of horses and ponies, some of whom were almost certainly intended for slaughter in Europe – highlights the critical need for enforcement of the new legislation.
These animals were found on an overloaded and filthy transporter at Dover (a British port), with only 19 of the 26 declared for export. Many were unfit for the journey, including pregnant mares, unhandled youngsters and a severely arthritic mare who required euthanasia. At least one animal was infected with Equine Influenza, showing the significant biosecurity risk that smuggled animals pose.
As the UK legislation moves forward, World Horse Welfare pledges to continue its advocacy work within the European Union, focusing on ending long-distance transport of horses for slaughter and citing the legacy of its founder, Ada Cole.
U.S. horses are transported to Canada and Mexico for slaughter, which is also problematical. In 2022, 16,300 U.S. horses were sent to slaughter in Mexico, and 5,100 to Canada. There are, however, no plants slaughtering horses for human consumption in the U.S., with the last one closing in 2007.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 12, 2024
The sixteenth time was the charm.
New Zealand’s Caroline Powell won the MARS Badminton Horse Trials’ Whitbread Trophy on Greenacres Special Cavalier after 15 previous outings in the event.
Caroline Powell of New Zealand with Badminton’s Whitbread trophy. (MARS Badminton Horse Trials Photo)
“I wasn’t ready for that,” said Caroline, 51.
“I thought third place would be great, but to win – wow. It’s awesome and it means so much – I’m not in my youth and just to get a horse to this stage is difficult enough, but to win – I can’t believe it.”
There was a huge shakeup in the standings during Sunday’s show jumping phase on the track designed by Kelvin Bywater at the seventy-fifth anniversary of the British fixture. Another New Zealander, Tim Price, dropped from first after cross-country to eighth with five knockdowns on Vitali, who is not known for his show jumping prowess. (To read about cross-country day, go to the second feature on this website or click here.)
Even more remarkable was the slide of Great Britain’s William Fox-Pitt, who went from a close second with Grafennacht following a brilliant cross-country trip, to an unlucky thirteenth after six knockdowns.
“I should have pulled the plug yesterday,” he said, referring to his wonderful cross-country ride, “but I have lived with a few moments in my career and it will all be fine tomorrow. I’m 55, I’m in one piece and I’ve been lucky.”
The mainstay of so many British teams, William had suggested that this could be his final Badminton, He confirmed it after his ride, noting the time has come, though he thinks he will still compete at a lower level.
As for Grafennacht, William said she will continue with a younger rider.
Caroline, seventh after dressage and sixth after cross-country, was among only three who achieved double-clear in the show jumping. She pulled it off on her 11-year-old Irish sporthorse mare (Cavalier Royale X Touchdown).
Caroline finished with a score of 43.2 penalties, ahead of Ireland’s Lucy Latta on RCA Patron Saint (45.2). Without just one of her two knockdowns, Lucy would have been the winner on a big day for the Irish.
But it already was special. Lucy is the highest-placed Irish rider at Badminton since Eddie Boylan won in 1965.
“I made a total rider error at the third fence, but my horse was phenomenal this week and I feel there’s loads more to come for him,” Lucy commented.
Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier on their way to Badminton victory. (Photo MARS Badminton Horse Trials)
An even bigger leap was made by third-place Alexander Bragg of Great Britain. He came up from fifty-first after dressage with Quindiva, moving to tenth following cross-country and elevated himself to the podium with one of the double-clear show jumping rounds. His total was the same as Lucy’s, but the tie was broken by her lower cross-country score.
Caroline, who retired her other mount, Aldo, on cross-country, came up with her victorious mare from forty-sixth place in dressage. But as they say, it’s not a dressage competition.
Vastly experienced, Caroline, a former point-to-pointer, first came to Britain as a groom for three-time Badminton winner Ian Stark. She won team bronze at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, and was on her country’s 2008 Olympic team.
She finished thirtieth at Badminton last year on “Cav,” and sixth in the 2023 Maryland 5-star (where Ian designed the cross-country route) less than five months later. The Badminton trip was to get the mare used to crowds and atmosphere, in case she is picked for her nation’s Olympic team in Paris this summer.
Caroline and Cav going cross-country. (MARS Badminton Horse Trials Photo).
“Cav has had her tricky moments,” said Caroline, “but to be here, winning Badminton, is a dream come true.”
The top U.S. rider was UK-based Grace Taylor, who wound up eighteenth with 62.6 penalties, having moved up to nineteenth from her thirty-first place after dressage with a cross-country trip free of jumping faults.
But two knockdowns in the show jumping enabled her to rise only one place in the final tally. If she had been free of show jumping errors, she would have been just outside the top 10 in eleventh place.
Grace is the daughter of Ann Hardaway Sutton, who rode for the U.S. in the Seoul Olympics. Her father is Nigel Taylor, who like Ann, was a veteran of Badminton and Burghley, and is a British eventing selector, course designer and coach.
Three knockdowns and time penalties put another U.S. rider, Tiana Coudray on Cancaras Girl in the twenty-fifth spot. They had been sixth after dressage. Cosby Green and Copper Beach collected 28 jumping faults and 1.6 time penalties to place thirty-first.
Boyd Martin, who accumulated 60 jumping penalties on cross-country for a run-out and then crossing his own track on the way to the alternate route, was thirty-fourth with Tsetserleg in the field of 37 who finished the event. It was Boyd’s first Badminton completion, and like Tim Price, he has now completed every 5-star in the world.
He wound up on 122.6 penalties after dropping two rails in show jumping. Hopes had been high after he placed fourth in dressage with the horse he calls Thomas.
“This event wasn’t perfect,” Boyd said on social media, “but I felt like there were bits and pieces where Thomas was the best he has ever been. Certainly not the result I was looking for, but to be here was a huge achievement within itself.”
Boyd noted he is “Extremely grateful for the Turners (Thomas’ owners) for backing us around the world through the highs and lows of the sport. He’s a champion horse and for it to be his seventh year at 5-star is a huge credit to his heart, toughness, soundness, and the team at Windurra USA who helps keep him at the top of his game.”
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | May 11, 2024
EquiRatings gave New Zealand’s Tim Price only a 10 percent chance of winning the 5-star MARS Badminton Horse Trials this weekend, but he’s on track to prove them wrong.
On a testing cross-country course designed by Eric Winter, the optimum time of 11 minutes and 19 seconds proved impossible for anyone to make, as was the case in 2023. But Tim, ranked sixth in the world, did well to finish with Vitali on just 0.4 time penalties, jumping clean and moving up two spots from his dressage placing to stand first before show jumping on 31.7 penalties.
Of Vitali, Tim said, “He gave everything he had today – he was just class.”
Looking toward Sunday’s final phase, Tim noted, “His show jumping has been good recently and I think I’ve got a bit of a plan in place. He’s buzzing with fitness and wellness, so hopefully that will help tomorrow, but I’m just going to enjoy it for today.”
Tim Price and Vitali (Photo Badminton Horse Trials)
If he wins, Tim will have achieved what his wife, Jonelle, did in 2018, when she was victorious with Classic Moet. EquiRatings advises that eight of the past 11 winners have been in the top five after dressage.
Tim, who has jumped every 5-star course in the world, won’t rely as yet that tomorrow he will be holding the famous Whitbread trophy. Only six of the last 11 cross-country leaders went on to win the entire event, EquiRatings says, noting less than one in five have jumped clear at Badminton since 2010.
Great Britain’s most veteran William Fox-Pitt, tied for eighth after dressage, is less than a rail behind Tim with 33 penalties. He had a mere 2.4 time penalties added to his dressage score of 30.6. William took one cautious longer route that added a few seconds to his total on the lovely mare Grafennacht.
The master rider has hinted that this will be his last Badminton, and you know he’d like to go out a winner.
Of his mount, he said, “She’s a cracking mare – anyone could ride her; she always says `yes’. She’s not put a foot wrong and is a great old man’s conveyance.
William Fox-Pitt and Grafennacht. (MARS Badminton Horse Trials)
“I was optimistic about today because she has never had a cross-country fault. I did take a long route and circle at the Dew Pond and Tim didn’t, so that serves me right,” added William, who made an amazing comeback from a life-threatening head injury more than eight years ago.
Further back on 37.2 penalties is Ireland’s Lucy Latta, a Badminton first-timer with RCA Patron Saint (such a good name for an event horse who is no trouble on cross-country). Lucy, who works in marketing, had the fastest time of all, coming close to the optimum by one second with just 0.4 penalties and making the leap from equal eighth in dressage (that should sound familiar) to stand on 37.2 penalties. That gives Tim a margin of a rail plus some time over her.
And what of the rider EquiRatings picked as the favorite with a 21 percent chance of winning?
That would be defending champion Ros Canter on Izilot DHI, her 2023 Pau 5-star winner and the leader after dressage. The world number two-ranked rider activated a frangible pin at obstacle 10 jumping into the MARS Badminton Lake, then retired after her horse spooked and ran past the final element. Bummer.
It was also a disappointing day for the U.S., especially since there were such high hopes for Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg after they finished fourth in dressage with 29 penalties. The experienced duo was going well as one of the first rides on course, until…
Let Boyd tell you about it.
“Thomas (as Tsetserleg is known around the barn) started out fantastic. We were humming along, jumping all the hard obstacles early on,” said Boyd, ranked world number three.
And then trouble struck three-quarters of the way around.
It was “a sunken road, which was a skinny down a dip in three strides, up a bank to one stride to a skinny. I had a complete mental breakdown,” he recounted.
“I knew I had to stay out and get square but…I don’t know, we were going pretty fast. We’d done a lot of the harder jumps and I was getting a bit too brave and confident,” he admitted.
Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg at Badminton (Photo Peter Nixon for USEA)
“Unfortunately, I cut my turn and tried to angle this skinny and it was basically a horrible ride. Poor old Thomas didn’t have a moment to see the fence and balance up and jump the jump. We ran off the skinny and I sort of tried to figure out where the alternate was and sort of figured it out.”
But not exactly.
“I crossed my tracks going the alternate way. After that, I was sort of just on survival and got him home safe and sound. It was unbelievable riding here and a tough, tough place to bring an event horse.”
He was given 20 penalties for the run-out and 40 more for crossing his track. Then there were the 25.2 time penalties, making his total 114.2 penalties and putting him in thirty-eighth place among the 41 who finished cross-country.
Good on Boyd for being so honest, as he usually is, and for adding, “Very proud of Thomas. Kicking myself all day for the ride I gave him at one jump. Fingers crossed for tomorrow’s show jumping.” He’s looking for his first completion at Badminton.
Grace Taylor and Game Changer, the best U.S. finisher after cross-country at Badminton. (Peter Nixon for USEA)
The best-placed U.S. rider is the unsung UK-based Grace Taylor with Game Changer, nineteenth on 54.6 penalties and clear over the jumps. She moved up from thirty first place after dressage. After her it’s Tiana Coudray on Cancaras Girl, twenty-sixth, followed by Cosby Green in thirty-second on Copper Beach.
Meghan O’Donahue (Palm Crescent) and Allie Knowles (Morswood) were eliminated after falling.
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by Nancy Jaffer | May 6, 2024
It definitely was a longshot.
When Alice Tarjan handed her talented mare, Jane, to her trainer, Marcus Orlob, three months ago, it seemed unlikely the new combination would be among the eight U.S. competitors making the cut for a trip to Europe as part of the Olympic selection procedure.
Yet that is just what happened after the qualifying process ended last weekend at the 3-star TerraNova show in Florida.
This week, Marcus, a naturalized American citizen, heads to his native Germany to work with Jane for a month before the shortlisted U.S. riders face off against each other for the benefit of the team selectors in Hagen, Germany in June.
Marcus Orlob and Jane. (Susan J. Stickle Photography)
“I am excited and looking forward to getting to know the horse better and spend some time training,” said Marcus.
“It was so busy the last couple of weeks, showing, showing, showing. Now I can finally experience a little bit and connect with her more.”
The Annandale, N.J., resident will be in Dusseldorf, where his family has a home, working with former Brazilian team coach Johan Zagers.
“It’s another step. Olympics? I don’t think it’s realistic, but you never know. The horse is doing great and has so much more potential,” he said of the 10-year-old Dutch warmblood (DesperadoXMetall).
While Marcus admitted he “lost his head” and went off-course at one point in his most recent show, “there are moments where I connect with her some more and she got a couple of eights and a nine. There are good moments coming. I am excited for Jane now.”
The talented mare had been trained through the levels by Alice, but because Jane could be strong in the arena, the horse’s owner felt Marcus should work with her. Jane’s first CDI with her new rider was only March 28, two months after Alice was showing her at Intermediate A.
The purpose of going to Europe early is for Jane “to have a couple of easy days and then focus on, hopefully, good training,” Marcus said.
The top eight horse/rider combinations on the U.S. Olympic dressage ranking list announced Monday include three other pairs that are new this year, but veteran Olympian Steffen Peters leads the shortlist roster, as he has throughout the qualifying period with his 2021 Tokyo Games mount, Suppenkasper.
His average for the qualifying period was 73.620 percent to 72.702 for second-place Adrienne Lyle with Helix. Adrienne is also fourth on 72.028 on Lars van de Hoenderheide, behind Endel Ots and Zen Elite’s Bohemian (72.041). They all new pairings.
Adrienne Lyle and Helix. (Susan J. Stickle Photography)
The top eight riders are supposed to go to Europe to prepare for the Olympics, but Adrienne has two horses (both owned by Zen Elite) which moves Marcus up a notch from ninth place (70.761 percent).
Anna Buffini and Fiontini (71.494) are fifth. Like Steffen, Anna is a Californian. Neither she nor Steffen came East to compete this year. Pan American Games individual bronze medalist Anna Marek is number six on the list with Fire Fly (71.040). With the exception of the two Annas and Steffen, the rest of the top group rode in the final qualifying show.
Katherine Bateson-Chandler and Haute Couture (70.979) are seventh overall and Sarah Tubman with First Apple is eighth (70.817).
Endel Ots rides the most celebrated of the three Zen horses, Bohemian, guided to fourth in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics by Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour of Denmark. He capped his campaign with a victory in Terra Nova’s Freestyle, where he was marked at 75.670 percent.
Endel Ots and Bohemian. (Susan J. Stickle Photography)
Appropriately, Endel’s music included a bit of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” It was the first ever international freestyle that the rider had performed. His highest mark for a routine that included a piaffe pirouette on the last centerline was 79.35 percent from judge Christof Umbach at E.
“That was a really fun experience and a little surreal,” said Endel, whose freestyle (which included a little French interlude looking toward Paris) was crafted by his trainer, Albrecht Heidemann and Terry Gallo.
Adrienne won the Special with Lars (71.723), while Marcus was second on 69.872.
Noting that Saturday was a “blistering hot day,” Adrienne commented that while Lars completed his qualifying criteria for the Olympic short list with his Special victory despite the weather, Helix “did the freestyle just as thunderstorms rolled in.” She said “he found the plants blowing in the wind to be quite scary, but still managed to pull off a podium finish and complete his qualifying criteria.”
Helix, who was marked at 72.560 percent, to be third in the freestyle, won the Grand Prix on Friday.
Saying it was time for a big sigh of relief after qualifying criteria were completed, Adrienne thanked Zen’s owner, Heidi Humphries, and her own mentor, Debbie McDonald, as well as her grooms.
Kasey Perry-Glass, who had been a team regular with Doublet, now retired, was second in the freestyle on her new ride, Heartbeat W.P. (72.615).
The Freestyle is a requirement for Olympic candidates, but it doesn’t count in their overall standings. It’s the Grand Prix and the Special, which determines the team medals at the Games. The Freestyle secures individual medals, which are considered less important than team medals in the big picture.
Click here for Olympic dressage ranking list
Click here for TerraNova Grand Prix results
Click here for TerraNova Grand Prix Special results
Click here for TerraNova Freestyle results
