by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 10, 2025
Scrutiny on horse welfare, with social license to operate gaining traction, is prompting Denmark’s Blue Hors Stud to temporarily pause participation in dressage competition
In a social media post, Blue Hors noted, “Danish dressage sport is in a breaking time, when horse welfare, training methods and animal ethics are up for debate. The development is taking place from a deeply serious background, and it is decisive for the future of the sport.
“The debate has started a long-awaited effort to make clearer guidelines for the ethical correct use of horses in sport. The initiative is part of the Dansk (Danish) Riding Association’s new strategy “Sammen om Hestewelfærd” (Together on Horse Welfare, an update of the guidelines for the professional and ethically correct use of horses in sport), which also focuses on better education and changed competition ratings. We support the work of the association, so that together we can create a better and clearer framework for the future — in terms of horses, riders and sport.”
The new guidelines will cover how sport horses are trained and evaluated going forward.
The decision has no impact on Blue Hors’ daily activities and stallion shows will continue March 29. The only senior rider competing on behalf of Blue Hors is Nanna Skodborg Merrald. The stud recently downsized and moved its facilities.
Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors Zepter. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
Explaining its decision, Blue Hors’ statement elaborated, “As long as there is so much ambiguity as to what the correct ethical use of horses is, we have temporarily chosen to pause Blue Hors’ participation in dressage events.”
The post added that in three months, the stud will “assess whether a greater common understanding of horse ethics and sporting guidelines has been achieved, or whether we should extend the break from the event further.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 14, 2025
Global Medics, whose product Relax Pro was given to an Olympic eventing horse at the Paris Games, contends in a public statement that the supplement was contaminated with Trazodone at the production level,
Relax Pro was found to be responsible for a positive doping test on the horse Dia van het Lichterveld Z, ridden by Tine Magnus during the 2024 Olympics. Her disqualification led to the loss of the Belgian team’s fourth-place finish. The rider had been told by the team vet to use Relax Pro.
Trazodone is an anti-depressant that is sometimes prescribed as a sleep aid for humans.
“We deeply regret this incident—for Tine Magnus, for the entire Belgian eventing team, and for the equestrian sport as a whole,” the company noted, adding that the situation “is beyond our control.”
“This is not a case of deliberate doping aimed at enhancing performance but rather an unfortunate case of contamination. As soon as thorough research confirmed that a batch of Relax Pro contained traces of Trazodone, Global Medics transparently communicated this objective information on its official website, pending further in-depth investigation.
The affected batches (24D02CA and CA/23J31) were immediately withdrawn from the market. Those who have the supplement with those numbers should contact Global Medics. The company emphasized that in terms of health issues, the supplement contained “a clinically irrelevant dose of Trazodone,” adding, “We can also confirm with certainty that all newly produced products are completely free of this contamination.
“Current findings indicate that the contamination occurred at the production level, resulting from a contaminated magnesium raw material sourced from Spain.” Investigations into the situation are continuing.
“While Tine Magnus is undoubtedly the greatest victim of this situation, Global Medics has also suffered significant reputational and business damage. We emphatically state that Trazodone was never intentionally added to our products, contrary to some insinuations in equestrian media and on social platforms. This contamination occurred entirely outside of our control, at the raw material supplier level,” the company maintained.
It noted, “This incident raises an important question: how can supplement distributors and riders protect themselves from unforeseen contamination of this nature? It is concerning and disappointing that, in such crisis situations, there is not more unity and understanding within the industry to support Tine Magnus and collectively seek solutions for the future.”
When the investigation is complete, the company promised to share the whole story.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 15, 2025
Mexico’s Carlos Hank Guerreiro found himself in the Wellington International winner’s circle Saturday night with an amazing ride in the $215,000 FEI 4-star Horseware Ireland Grand Prix.
Bold and determined as he set off against the clock, he was fifth to go in a 14-horse tiebreaker, brilliantly handling the turns on Oscar Soberon’s twisting jump-off course to bring H5 Porthos Maestro WH Z home in 39.98 seconds.
Mexico’s Carlos Hank Guerreiro and H5 Porthos Maestro WH Z.
Last to go, Egypt’s Nayel Nassar on Esi Ali had what would have been the winning time — 39.92 seconds — but a giant leap to the last fence caused a rail to hit the ground and he wound up ninth as the fastest 4-faulter.
Former eventer Marilyn Little of the U.S. executed a skillful trip with La Contessa, though she didn’t break the 40-second mark, finishing in 40.55 seconds to end up a very respectable second. An Irish rider, Tom Wachman, was third on Do it Easy, clear in 40.61.
“I have a very fast horse in Porthos, and it was a big enough jump-off with some very fast riders behind me,” said Hank, who has been working with the 11-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Picasso Z for four years.
The 24-year-old rider pointed out, “I didn’t want to leave it all out on the line because you still have to leave the jumps up. I wanted to take the risks I knew I could, and it paid off today.”
Carlos Hank Guerreiro on the way to victory. (Sportfot photo)
He added, “The atmosphere here has always been unbelievable; I’ve been jumping here for a few years now and these ‘Saturday Night Lights’ are very special. It’s what motivates us during the week. To win one has always been a dream of mine so I’m very grateful.
“It’s a very tough place to win. If you can win here, you can win anywhere.”
The class drew 40 starters. McLain Ward wound up 18th on High Star Hero with one rail in the first round. Beezie Madden was eliminated when she had a fall from Nairobi early on course, but walked out of the ring unaided.
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 13, 2025
A celebration of Rodney Jenkins’ life June 1 will offer a chance to reminisce about the Red Rider and meet with friends to recall what made him so special. The gathering will be held from 3-5 p.m. at the Upperville, Va., horse show grounds in the 1853 Club on the jumper side.
Rodney, considered the greatest U.S. show jumping rider of all time by many, died last December at age 80. In addition to his achievements in the show ring, Rodney went on to become a successful trainer of thoroughbred racehorses.
Rodney in action with his most famous horse, Idle Dice.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 8, 2025
The younger set took over in the $500,000 Bainbridge Grand Prix Saturday night at the Winter Equestrian Festival, with 24-year-old Emilie Conter of Belgium earning her first 5-star victory. Great Britain’s 25-year-old Olympic team gold medalist Harry Charles was the runner-up, edging Swedish world champion and world number one Henrik von Eckermann.
Her 5-star victory brought instant fame to Emilie Conter, and had spectators clamoring for her autograph.
“I’m super surprised I won,” confessed Emilie, who bested Harry’s jump-off time of 43.33 seconds on Sherlock with her mark of 42.43 seconds aboard Portobello van de Fruitkorf.
Harry noted he was happy with second place, explaining, “I didn’t plan on jumping Sherlock in too many of the bigger classes under the lights; he’s still quite green at night, but tonight he jumped better than I could have hoped. I thought the course builder (Alan Wade) did a great job.”
grand prix; 6645, SHERLOCK, HARRY CHARLES; Sportfot
Henrik, 44 — two decades older than his chief rivals in the class — has been working on some issues in jump-offs with King Edward. He was a bit cautious in the tiebreaker and finished clear in 43.88 seconds for third place.
“I felt I needed to go two steps backwards and get a little more confidence again in it,” noted Henrik. Whatever position he is in, he’s used to handling pressure.
“I like to go in the ring and feel the pressure. The day I don’t feel the pressure it’s time to put the hat on the shelf, because the excitement is not there when it should be. I’m just so happy I have a horse like this and try to enjoy every round I have with him.”
Emilie, who rides for her family’s Stephex stable, noted she added strides with her mare twice in the jump-off.
Emilie Conter on her way to victory before a packed house.
“I wasn’t supposed to do that,” Emilie admitted, “but she was super quick off the floor. I think to the last line I made up some time. Every week got better with the mare, so she’s maturing. I saw a really long [distance] to the last oxer and I heard Helena (Stormanns, her trainer) scream ‘go get it!’, so I took it. I didn’t think it was going to be enough to beat these other riders, but I looked up and saw that I was in first.”
Discussing her 10-year-old mare, Emilie said, “When I first started riding her, she was a bit colder, but always had massive scope. When she was younger, she was not so impressed with the small jumps but now the bigger the fences, the better she jumps.”
Emilie is ranked 79th in the world, and third in the Under 25 category.
Seven entries from a field of 41 at Wellington International were fault-free. Big things were expected from world number two, Kent Farrington of the USA on Myla, but his current winning streak ended when he had a rail at the A element of the double that was the penultimate obstacle on the first-round course. He is only 29 points behind Henrik in the world rankings, and a win in the 5-star would have helped boost his standing.
No U.S. riders were on the podium for the 5-star, where Emilie Conter was the winner, Harry Charles (left) the runner-up and Henrik von Eckermann was third.
Another top U.S. rider, McLain Ward, was back this week after a month off for a spinal injury following a fall. He also did not make the jump-off after having two rails down with his Olympic mount, Ilex, as feisty as usual, putting in a big buck after the first fence.
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 6, 2025
Talented writer, website designer and book publisher Michelle Bloch died Monday March 3 of breast cancer. She was 55.
Michelle had been a pillar of the Capital Challenge Horse Show since 1996, designing the program and prizelist and writing its daily update during the show.
Michelle Bloch at the Capital Challenge Horse Show. (Tricia Booker photo)
“It’s a big loss,” said Oliver Kennedy, the show’s manager and co-founder, said of her passing.
He noted that whenever Michelle was presented with a concept, “she ran with it and made it amazing. Whatever you asked her to do, she figured it out and did it,” he added, saying she always gave “150 percent.”
She was the “keeper of knowledge” for the show with statistics, figures, photos and winners from the past 31 years.
A successful competitor during her time in the junior ranks, Michelle taught riding and kept horses at her Branchville, N.J., farm, but eventually focused on writing and designing.
Tricia Booker, co-founder of the Ink Horse book publishing venture with Michelle, noted her friend loved nature and hiking, but was “as comfortable in a city as in the middle of nowhere.”
Michelle was an intern at the Chronicle of the Horse in 1991 when Tricia was an editor there, and went on to write many freelance articles.
“Throughout my 25-plus years at the Chronicle, Michelle was one of the writers I counted on to always provide accurate and well-written articles,” Tricia remembered.
“When they arrived in my inbox, I’d sigh with relief knowing I could relax and just enjoy the story rather than having to do a rewrite. Michelle always met the tight deadlines of our weekly magazine, and her creativity and beautiful way with words made her work stand out among the rest.”
The two went on to work together at the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association’s In Stride magazine.
“She became much more than a freelancer to me; she was my collaborator,” said Tricia, who admired Michelle’s fashion sense that was part of her flair.
At In Stride, “Although she didn’t have a title on the masthead, she should have had one,” Tricia observed.
“We spent countless hours on the phone discussing article ideas, people to interview, industry trends, horse care topics, the importance of continuing education and so much more. I lost count of the number of American Horse Publications Awards her articles received, but it has to be in the double digits.”
Public relations executive Jennifer Wood, who worked with Michelle at Capital Challenge, noted how helpful her friend was when she launched Equestrian Businesswomen and played a major role in making it successful.
“From the start, she provided her design services and her creative eye to design the logo, build the website, make all the graphics, and bounce around all the ideas for the original 2019 Summit,” Jennifer recalled.
“She continued to support EQBW through the founding of the Equestrian B2B podcast, of which she was guest on the 26th episode about “How to Be Creative and Keep Creativity Consistent” and on Episodes 63 and 51, when she helped recap the 2024 EQBW Networking Brunch and 2023 Saratoga Women In Business Spectacular.
Michelle’s written work can be seen at her website, Writersbloch.com, and on Substack.
In one piece, she elaborated on the painstaking process of putting words together to achieve what she wanted them to mean.
“And then, when it is finally complete,” she stated, “the sun shines and the birds sing and voila, I have written… Past tense.”
Michelle is survived by her parents, Phyllis and Wolf Gstattenbauer; her husband, David Bloch, and their daughter, Abigail. Those wishing to make a donation in Michelle’s memory should contribute to the charity of their choice that most reminds them of her, orThe National Parks Foundation (nationalparks.org)
A celebration of life for Michelle will be held on March 30 from 2-4 p.m. at The Conservatory at the Sussex County Fairgrounds. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.fergusonfuneralhomesnj.com
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 24, 2025
The developer of the proposed Isla Carroll development adjacent to the National Polo Center off 120th Avenue South had asked for an delay of approximately 30 days on a vote, when it appeared in January that Wellington’s Planning, Zoning and Adjustment Board was going to turn down its proposed project in the Equestrian Preserve.
But representatives of the Discovery Land Co. were not on the agenda for the PZAB’s February meeting. Tim Stillings, Wellington’s director of Planning, Zoning and Building, reported to the board that the developer was involved with a re-do of the proposal for a Planned Unit Development on the 79.171-acre property. The land is part of the Village’s Equestrian Preserve, where two-acre zoning is the norm.
The plan called for 35 houses on one-third of an acre, and five properties of 1.5 acres where horses could be kept, with room for a paddock, stalls and a sand ring.
An equestrian center would have a 24-stall stable, housed in a refurbished barn on the property, where rescue horses and retired horses would be housed. The ambitious undertaking called for them to be used for every equestrian pursuit from jumping to endurance, vaulting and dressage.
The quirky plan presented to the Equestrian Preserve Committee, which unanimously voted against the project in January, and the PZAB raised concerns about its feasibility. There were many questions that went unanswered or received answers that appeared to be unrealistic.
“We have to be convinced this is an equestrian amenity and that this isn’t just a housing community with an equestrian label on it,” said Michael Drahos, a PZAB member who formerly served on the Village Council.
Such comments prompted the developer to request a halt to the proceedings and ask for extra time to refine the plan. If it is resubmitted, it once again will have to be heard by the Equestrian Preserve Committee before it goes before the PZAB. Both panels are only advisory, however. The decision on any project is made by the Village Council.
Click here to read a previous story on Isla Carroll.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 4, 2025
What a remarkable group! The legends who gathered for the annual Show Jumping Hall of Fame dinner in Wellington, Fla., over the weekend have an incredible list of glittering achievements in the sport.
The Hall at the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association Wheeler Museum honors these stars, both human and equine, with more deserving giants of the discipline added every year.
This time it was the turn of Olympic team gold medalist Laura Kraut, who is still going strong at age 57 and competed in the Nations Cup the night before the dinner.
Laura Kraut and Baloutinue. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Buddy Brown’s versatile ride, the late Sandsablaze, was also inducted. A champion equitation horse and hunter before becoming an Olympic show jumper, this thoroughbred showed the ability and mettle of his breed–all too often overlooked today as warmbloods dominate the sport.
Sandsablaze and Buddy Brown (Hall of Fame photo)
Also honored at the dinner was Mario Deslauriers, a former U.S. team member who now rides for Canada. He received the International Award. Pancho Lopez, a great groom and manager who taught many others to excel in those professions, was a member of the 2023 Show Jumping Hall of Fame class. He wasn’t able to attend last year, so he accepted the honor at the dinner for the class of 2024.
Hall of fame members gather for a photo after last weekend’s installation dinner. (Hall of Fame photo)
Can you identify all the people in the photo? In the back row are Pancho Lopez, Norman Dello Doio, Peter Doubleday, Robert Ridland, Linda Allen, Anne Kursinski, David Distler, Michael Matz, Anthony D’Ambrosio, Dr. Dan Marks.
Seated are Margie Engle, Laura Kraut, Katie Monahan Prudent, Mary Mairs Chapot, Melanie Smith Taylor, Jane Clark, Leslie Burr Howard, Beezie Madden.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 4, 2025
In case you hadn’t noticed last year’s FEI World Cup finals in Saudi Arabia, or last month’s Longines League of Nations leg in Abu Dhabi, the Middle East is playing an ever-larger role in high-level non-racing equestrian sport.
Now a 10 million Euro (U.S. $10,541,000) tour, the largest equestrian sporting event in the region, has been announced by the Qatar Equestrian Federation and the Al Shaqab facility. Doha already hosted top show jumping, but this will be the largest equestrian sporting event when its 10 international events run Jan. 1-April 4, 2026.
It starts with the HH The Father Amir Tour, including four new five-star championships over four weeks. That will be followed by: HH The Amir’s Sword Festival, CHI Al Shaqab, Longines Global Champions Tour and Doha Equestrian Tour 2026. Although show jumping is hte focus, plans also call for inclusion of dressage and para-dressage competition.
Bader bin Mohammed al-Darwish, president of the Qatar Equestrian Federation, and vice-chairman of the Organizing Committee for International Equestrian Championships – Qatar 2025, said: “The events (in the new Qatar Equestrian Tour 2026) will make the global equestrian calendar full of competitions that will further enhance the status of Qatar as a sports capital and an ideal destination to host the largest and most important international equestrian tournaments, and a meeting place for the exchange of different cultures for horse lovers and equestrian.”
He added, “We believe that our sports facilities, where the season’s competitions are held, will be the focus of the world’s attention, and will contribute to accelerating and enhancing the growth of equestrian sports at the regional and global levels.”
The ultimate goal?
“We aspire to be the world’s premier destination for equestrian sports, and to continue to provide a role model in hosting major sporting events, especially in the field of equestrianism.”
The organizers are implementing “the highest levels” of security and safety measures in all sports facilities.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 2, 2025
Versatility, commitment and pure ability all have served jumper rider Skylar Wireman well, but that combination of assets was never better illustrated than by her achievements during February.
Still eligible for Under 25 classes, the young professional made her U.S. international senior team debut against the exotic backdrop of Abu Dhabi, where coach Robert Ridland rode a camel in the parade of participating countries at the Longines League of Nations’ 2025 opener. With only a single rail down there, Skylar –the youngest rider in the entire competition — proved she belonged in the heady company of top international team competition.
Then, as the month ended, the 20-year-old switched gears to focus on style while taking the $100,000 Pro Equitation Challenge on home turf in California at the Desert International Horse Park. Its catch riding test played to her strengths and secured the victory.
Schuyler Wireman on her way to winning the $100,000 Pro Equitation Challenge (High Desert Sport Photo)
It was only a little less than one year ago that Skylar had her introduction to a major championship at the FEI Show Jumping World Cup Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“It was my first FEI show out of the country; my first show internationally was the World Cup Finals,” she reflected, still seeming to be a bit amazed.
“It was a great takeaway, being able to watch so many of the top 10 in the world.”
In an imposing, unfamiliar setting, she was clean and fast with her 10-year-old Tornado (Diarado X Chacco Blue) to finish tenth in the first round and earn the admiration of other countries’ chefs d’equipe. In the second round over bigger fences, however, lack of mileage for horse and rider showed. With four rails down in that leg, Skylar wisely decided not to contest the even more difficult third phase.
As she explained at the time, “Tornado is inexperienced at this level and having studied our round on Thursday and talked extensively to my coach and many others whose opinions and experience I have high regard for, I will not risk his welfare or his future in the sport by asking Tornado to jump a course he might not be quite ready for.”
Smart. That’s Skylar.
The experience overall benefited Skylar and her mount, however.
“I came home with an even better horse than I went with. He really learned a lot there, as much as I did. It was a huge growing week for us.”
They proved that by jumping four clear rounds in a row at Thunderbird in British Columbia upon their return.
She noted that before Riyadh, “if he was impressed, he’d kind of hurl himself over the jumps, rather than opening up and following through behind.”
He finally figured it out over the big fences in Saudi Arabia.
When they came home, “he had a whole new hind end. He found the shape of his body and a true correct bascule over the jumps,” said Skylar.
She has always had to work for what she got. Her mother, Shayne Berridge-Wireman, acts as both her trainer and her groom when necessary, and together they make things happen from their base in San Diego County, Calif. Being women going to the Middle East last year for the first time may have seemed a bit intimidating at first, but as Shayne noted, everyone was very nice and they felt welcome. In Abu Dhabi, where the hotel staff was the friendliest they had ever encountered, the U.S. group even visited a mosque.
The team visits a mosque in Abu Dhabi. Skylar Wireman is fifth from the right. (Photo courtesy Lizzy Chesson)
“We were more comfortable coming to the Middle East because we had done it once. We knew what to expect and how it works, so it was a lot less stressful in the preparation,” Shayne said.
Skylar’s work ethic has made her a standout, and she caught the eye of Olympic team gold medalist Peter Wylde during the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association’s Emerging Athletes Program finals when he was 14 in 2019.
“She had really good instincts as a rider,” recalled Peter, noting Skylar had also impressed in the stable management portion of the competition.
It can be hard to evaluate someone in the EAP, because they are on borrowed horses, some of which are easy and some of which aren’t, he commented.
But “every time there was a problem situation, Skylar’s reactions were correct,” he said.
“She had the most appropriate instinct of what to do when it wasn’t going the right way. As an athlete, she has incredible body control,” he continued, noting she had also been a gymnast.
She didn’t win the final, because of a mistake in the last line of the ride-off, but her talent had made its mark with him.
Skylar and her mother had asked after EAP if Peter could work with them, but at the time, he was too busy. And then Covid hit. With everything shut down, he had the time to give Skylar.
Skylar and her mother Shayne Berridge-Wireman with Coolio 23. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Peter invited the Wiremans to his base in Wellington, Fla., where they stayed in his guest house. He was sharing a stable with international show jumper Lauren Hough, who let Skylar ride one of her jumpers in addition to a hunter being trained by Peter. Mark Phillips, the former U.S. eventing chef d’equipe, was also on the scene and gave Skylar flat lessons.
“Everybody’s like, `This kid is really good.’ It cemented in my mind that she was as talented as I thought she was when I saw her at the EAP,” Peter said.
She’s been busy accumulating honors. Skylar was the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Junior Rider of the year and topped the 2020 Platinum Performance/ USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals West at age 15.
While she didn’t win one of the major indoor finals, finishing second in the Medal and the Washington after working with Andre Dignelli, Peter noted that McLain Ward and Beezie Madden went up to Skylar and said, “Don’t worry. We didn’t win a finals either.”
Explaining his involvement, Peter said, “I feel like she’s exceptionally talented. They have a very low budget and I know it’s going to get better at some point and they already have gotten some money behind them. Skylar works as hard as anybody to get where she’s gotten so far.”
She and her mother make their budget work by pitching in with their own braiding, transport, grooming and stall cleaning . The budget also determines their choice of shows.
“We have to go where she has a shot of paying back the entries,” said Shayne, explaining their financial strategy.
In the spring of 2023, Skylar took over the ride on Tornado, known as Tomato around the barn. He was going to be a jumper for top hunter competitor Nick Haness, but he gave Skylar the ride after breaking his wrist.
She had success with Tornado in the jumpers, despite being sidelined for six weeks with a lacerated liver she suffered when another horse stepped on her after a fall. Nick enabled her to keep Tornado until November of that year, when a group of friends and family were able to purchase the Swedish warmblood for her at the 2023 Las Vegas National on the Thursday, just before she rode in the World Cup qualifier two days later. She was eighth there and then went on to the Cup qualifier in Fort Worth, Texas, where she won and earned points to qualify for Riyadh. Skylar is also hoping to make the cut for this year’s Cup finals in Switzerland next month.
What makes her so good?
“She consistently sees the confident forward distance and is able to get the horse to that distance,” said Peter, who doesn’t charge fo his work with her.
“I call it pro bono,” he said.
“He’s so easy to work with,” said Shayne, noting that even though she is her daughter’s trainer, she defers to Peter “because he knows so much more than me.”
For her part, Skylar commented, “to have someone with such knowledge and expertise helping me is really amazing, and for him to do it all because he wants to.”
From Peter she has learned, “finesse and (that) small things can really make a big difference.” He has also mapped out a show schedule that enables her horses to be at their peak when it really counts.
And he introduced her to Boyd Martin, the Olympic eventer he helps, who aided her in getting a Purina sponsorship. She is also grateful for help from Mary Jo and Todd Kaplan, who own one of her horses, Karen.
Looking back on Abu Dhabi, Skylar mentioned the special dynamics of an all-female team, and noted they did some fun things, such as camel riding and falconry on a desert adventure tour.
Skylar and Tornado in Abu Dhabi.
But they were all business for what mattered most. Skylar noted that her time on a Major League Show Jumping national team in the U.S. had been good experience for riding for her country in Abu Dhabi. But being part of the U.S. squad in the Longines League raised the stakes.
“It adds an element of pressure knowing that your team is relying on your round. You have to be really on point and it takes a lot for all the stars to align for everyone to have that perfect round to end up on top,” Skylar emphasized.
Shayne recounted that Robert Ridland defused tension by giving the team a pre-game pep talk, saying that while they were a little bit the underdogs, “We’re going to ride California strong and for the fires,” referring to the blazes that devastated the southern part of the team members’ home state recently.
“It was a great pleasure working with Skylar at her first CSIO 5-star,” said Lizzy Chesson, the USEF’s managing director of show jumping.
“She is an extremely hard-working, talented and dedicated young woman who really maximized her experience in Abu Dhabi. Her curiosity and desire to learn was remarkable. I truly hope she continues to find backers within the sport that help her achieve her potential.”
When the team didn’t qualify for the second round, “Everyone was disappointed, but everyone was grateful for the experience,” said Skylar, noting the U.S. squad did have the second-fastest first round time of all 11 teams. The riders rightly considered that an achievement.
And at her next team event, she will be able to bank on her first experience.
“It’s a whole different animal to put on that pink coat for a team event versus the World Cup, where it’s every man for himself,” she explained. “I like the team, I like the pressure, it’s well-suited for me.”
