by Nancy Jaffer | May 30, 2025
Devon was packed wall-to-wall with spectators, from the ringside blue benches and the fans in the jammed standing-room-only area behind them, up to the box seats. There were enthusiastic visitors in every nook and cranny that would permit even a mere glimpse of the Dixon Oval.
Thursday night was the $226,000 Sapphire Grand Prix, a must-attend for many families from Philadelphia’s Main Line, even with parking at $80 a car. The class is a tradition like no other in the U.S. You can compare the enthusiasm level with that encountered at the Dublin Horse Show or Aachen.
Even if Devon is the only horse show these folks attend, coming once a year — every year — has given them a certain degree of familiarity with the sport and its players.
Number one on their hit parade is McLain Ward; the class is named after his late, great mare, twice a winner of the class. As McLain cantered into the arena on Callas, the crowd roared a welcome even before his name was announced. And when he collected 4 faults for a rail at the final fence, unlucky number 13, there came a high-decibel roar of sympathy.
He had flown in from Europe to compete at a show for which he feels a special affinity, and when it ends this weekend, he’ll fly back to ride for the U.S. team in France. But he always makes a point of riding at Devon.
As it happened, designer Anderson Lima’s course yielded a jump-off of six riders, not all of whom were familiar to most of those in attendance. But they still cheered and clapped.
McLain Ward and Callas. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
Four of the next generation of show jumpers made the cut from the starting field of 25, but the honors went to the veteran Aaron Vale, age 56, and the high-flying Carissimo 25. Though Aaron has competed at the show in the past, he is not a regular like McLain, who has won the grand prix 12 times. Yet Aaron quickly won over the crowd, and he loved it.
“It’s a lot more fun when someone comes and watches you do this,” he said.
“I do this every day at home by myself, with just four or five people watching.”
Aaron Vale and Carissimo 25 enjoy their victory gallop. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
Aaron enjoyed the advantage of going last in the draw, so he had a little time to see how the course rode. Ireland’s perennial team rider Shane Sweetnam was slotted first in the tiebreaker, producing a very professional effort in 34.29 seconds on the 9-year-old Corian van Klapscheut Z, who was jumping in his first 4-star grand prix.
Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam was second in the grand prix. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
While Shane noted his mount is naturally fast, he didn’t push the Zangersheide gelding, who was at the show to gain experience.
“I knew I was quick enough, but I knew I could be caught,” said Shane, who was happy with his horse.
“You ask him to do it and he does it quite well.”
Anderson Lima designed a course with lots of challenges for the grand prix. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
Speaking about his preparation for the jump-off, Aaron reported, “I went up in the stands to watch Shane in person.” Aaron’s Holsteiner has a big stride and is “a bit of a slow mover, so time allowed is a bit of an issue sometimes.
“Going later with him really gives me a chance to watch and see where I can leave a stride out and cut a turn and whatnot. If I can get moving early, that puts me in a groove with him.”
Getting an in-person overview of the ring is important.
“You get a better judge of things than on the TV screen,” Aaron explained.
“I wanted to see the strides he (Shane) did. I kind of had my plan and I watched him and then I tracked everybody’s time behind that.
Aaron Vale and Carissimo 25 were flying high at Devon. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I figured if I could do eight strides from one to two and two to three, which I ended up doing, I thought that would really kind of get me in a rhythm where I was able to just kind of coast the rest of the way in.”
He noted, “There was maybe one stride less available to the last fence, but I was able to peek at the clock as I was coming out of the in-and-out. It looked like I was up far enough that I could just take the eight strides and still make it.
“My only concern was when he (Carissimo) got there, he was a little slow. He jumped real high and spent a little time in the air, and I was like, `Oh no, that might have done it, the height.’ But it was good enough.”
He was clocked in 33.70 seconds, which did the trick and earned the approval of the crowd. Aaron’s warmth reaches out to people, whether he is on a horse or just walking around the showgrounds. He;s a friendly, folksy guy, whose business is called “Thinks Like a Horse,” and he does. A native of the Ocala, Fla., area, at one time he was best known for his record in that region. But since getting together with Carissimo in 2023, he has become a world traveler and a regular on U.S. teams.
When Carissimo came up for sale “he showed up at my barn. I didn’t even really know it. He’s a super talent, tons of ability,” said Aaron.
“We’ve had some really big results. I’m just trying to find more consistency.With his ability, I feel like we should be having this result almost every week. As you develop a partnership and you find some tricks to the training and communication, maybe we’ll get there. We’re in this position more often.”
Aaron Vale listens to the Star-Spangled banner being played for his win, with ownership group members Don and Nancy Stewart standing by. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
Aaron was fifth in line for the Paris Olympic squad (only three competed) in 2024, rode on the U.S. team that won the Aga Khan trophy at the Dublin Horse Show after the Games, and then finished third in the prestigious grand Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland at that venue.
Third place at Devon went to Alex Matz, whose father, Michael, was often a winner in the Dixon Oval during the twentieth century before switching careers to becoming a successful race horse trainer.
As Alex noted about Devon’s special meaning to him, “It’s my hometown show, it has one of the best atmospheres of any shows we have in the States.” He was timed in 34.69 seconds with Ikigai.
Alex Matz and Ikigai. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
“My dad won this grand prix a lot, so I try to use any wisdom that he passes on,” said Alex.
Aaron chimed in, saying cheerfully, “I saw him discussing some angle he (Michael) wanted him to take to a warmup fence.”
Alex replied a bit sheepishly, “I didn’t do that. I spaced out and I did something else.”
His father was a fan of Ikigai, a Dutchbred stallion, when Alex tried him in Europe, and urged Virginia McNeil to go over the pre-arranged budget to purchase him. The chestnut turned out to be a great buy; Alex was leading international rider at Toronto’s Royal Winter Fair last year.
The under-30 set was represented not only by Alex, but also by Alexandra Worthington on De L’oiseliere in fourth place, followed by Chloe Reid, who had a rail down with Crossover 4 and Baylee McKeever on Formidable, experiencing a run-out before finishing the course. It was the first 5-star for Baylee, the daughter of Lee and Erika McKeever, pillars of McLain’s stable.
Update May 31: As the show ended, Aaron Vale was named Leading Open Jumper Rider and Carissimo 25 the Leading Open Jumper.
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | May 29, 2025
It was a morning of peaks and valleys at the Devon Horse Show on Thursday for Colin Syquia and Jennifer Hannan, as the couple shared a wide range of emotions.
There were smiles for Colin’s victory with Front Page in the show’s $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, and tears as Jennifer’s beloved mount, Mindful, was given a farewell ceremony in the same arena.
But as she wiped her eyes, Jennifer noted the way it happened was “actually a double high, so great for Colin to win today” and “for Mindful to retire that way.”
Front Page, a Belgian warmblood, moved up from seventh place in the classic first round, earning a mark of 101from one of the two sets of judges, followed up by a 100 in the second round, the handy. The derby was a major goal for Colin, as Front Page is shown primarily in the amateur division by his owner, Cynthia Sulzberger. She’s a member of the family that publishes the New York Times; hence, her horse’s appropriate name.
Colin Syquia and Front Page. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
Front Page, who was champion in the second-year green hunters at Devon two years ago, “loves this venue. like I do. It’s iconic. You feel the energy. It makes you want to perform better. It’s a special place,” said Colin.
Referring to the historic trophies on display at the showgrounds, he noted, “If you’re lucky enough to have your name and your horse’s name engraved on that trophy, it’s immortalized.”
He said he and Front Page “have gained a great relationship.” He didn’t focus on every single class in the run-up to the derby, instead opting to get him stronger and looser. “So in the end, he’s fresh and happy.”
The horse knows when a competition is special.
You might not even notice him at an ordinary show, Colin said but “When he comes here, Kentucky or the National, he just grows a hand, he’s alert, his jump is electric.”
The next goal Colin has with the horse is the finals of the Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship in Kentucky this summer. There he will meet up again with Hunt Tosh, a three-time winner in Kentucky, who settled for second at Devon with the Wheeler family’s Cannon Creek, and Michael Britt-Leon, third Thursday with Mark Dorfman’s well-behaved stallion, Prime Time. Like Cannon Creek, he is a Holsteiner.
The leader after the first round, which drew 31 starters, was Four Aces, ridden by David Wilbur. But the momentum didn’t last and that combination wound up ninth after the top 12 came back for the handy round.
“It was a great course today I thought, both rounds,” said Hunt, noting he had a rub in the first round.
“It was a great atmosphere we all have a good time in the schooling area and watching each other go. Every great hunter, I believe, has a story behind it at Devon.”
People who have horses at the level of the top performers in the Derby “start planning their careers and their show schedules around Devon,” Hunt mentioned.
Michael felt like “a little bit of an underdog coming out” because the horse is new for him since last fall, when he rode him at the indoor shows. But he said Prime Time is “very, very mellow…you know he’s going to get to the other side of all the jumps.”
Since this was their first derby together, he had “low expectations and just wanted to have a nice smooth round today.”
He said the course designed by Alan Lohman offered many possibilities.
“The jumps were large and there were definitely a lot of questions on the course that you could kind of make your own and keep it exciting,” said Michael, admitting to being “a bit of a ham,” adding he felt Hunt and Colin had the same inclination.
Mindful, a 21-year-old Hanoverian who could be 10 if you judged by his well-kept looks, was surrounded by friends as his saddle was removed for the last time and replaced with a blanket of white roses.
Jennifer Hannan wipes away her tears as she leads Mindful out of the arena after his retirement ceremony. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
His owner, Selma Garber, and former rider, Kelley Farmer, were on hand to wish him farewell for his retirement in Rhode Island. He will be turned out with his buddy, Olympic Fire, another hunter, and get plenty of his favorite treat, Publix iced oatmeal cookies.
Mindful’s former rider, Kelley Farmer, and his owner, Selma Garber, were on hand at his retirement. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
He was imported from Europe as a jumper, and ridden by Canadian Jay Duke. He switched to the hunters and was an immediate success. Jennifer started riding him 10 years ago.
“He’s really sound and he’s great, but he’s 21 years old,” said Jennifer, explaining the decision to retire him.
Then she added quickly, “He’s still spry and very happy.”
At age 20, Mindful won a hunter derby at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla. But at the beginning of their relationship, it took some time for Jennifer to connect with him.
The first year, she got bucked off regularly, and then realized “I was going to learn from him. We ought to look inside our horses and figure out what makes everything tick.”
Jennifer added she is, “Grateful for an incredible experience with him. He has changed my whole career.”
by Nancy Jaffer | May 28, 2025
They are the Devon Horse Show’s ultra hunter champions: Nick Haness, Leading Hunter Rider for the third year in a row; Scott Stewart, who piloted the show’s Grand Hunter Champion for the umpteenth time and Amanda Steege, High performance Hunter Leading Lady Rider (for the third time in four years).
They share an appreciation of their horses’ intelligence and desire to be in the game. You can see the though process of one racehorse trying to outrun another, but do show hunters understand the more subtle nuance of victory in their arena? Amanda thinks so; Scott and Nick agree.
Amanda believes that Cheryl Olsten’s Lafitte de Muze, the Belgian warmblood by Darco that she has ridden for eight years, “just really has a desire to win. I’ve never had a horse that I feel is trying to win every class as much as he is. I think that’s the thing that makes him extra special. He’s really intelligent and I think he knows when he goes in there that he’s performing.”
Lafitte was the show’s High Performance Hunter Champion, scoring a career best of 96 in the division’s final class, the stake.
Amanda Steege and Lafitte de Muze. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
Devon was the only show where he hadn’t taken that championship, said Amanda, speaking of the “elusive white cooler.”
Nick, who was aboard the Ingram Family’s Odette, the show’s Leading Mare and Green Conformation Champion, is “amazing, probably one of the smartest horses I’ve ever ridden. She’s incredibly in tune with the rider. I don’t think I’ve ever asked her to do something that she didn’t do for me,” he said of the Oldenburg, who won all the jumping classes in her division. If you have a great mare, she can do anything.
Leading Hunter Rider Nick Haness with Odette. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I’m so excited and blessed to be riding her again this year, especially at venue like Devon,” said Nick, who was primarily in California over the winter, while Odette was in the East, ridden by Emily Williams and trained by Tom Wright.
Betsee Parker’s Grand Hunter Champion, California Love, is described by Scott as “beautiful, scopey, athletic.” The horse he bought as a three-year-old “is very laid back. When it’s a little more (atmospheric) environment, he picks up in a good way.”
Although Scott has been a winner repeatedly over the decades at Devon, the thrill remains.
Scott Stewart and California Love with owner Betsee Parker. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
“It’s still very special. The ring has great memories for me,” he observed.
Amanda’s connection with Devon started long before her personal involvement.
“This show is important to my family,” she explained.
“I have a picture of my great grandfather showing here in 1913 on his pony. My mom’s family, the Smiths, they’re from Blue Bell and Fort Washington (Pa.).
“My mom showed here when she was growing up. It was the same course every year. She jumped the first jump, then her pony he stopped at the second jump.” She would fall off and “had to walk the whole way back to the ingate.” Amanda did add that her mother persevered and finally made it around the course.
Click here to go to the results website, then click on Tuesday, May 27 and Wednesday, May 28, to see hunter champions
by Nancy Jaffer | May 29, 2025
As I was on the rail taking photos of the jumpers at the Devon Horse Show, I heard an older woman in the seats behind me telling her friend as a certain star rider entered the arena, “That’s McLain Ward. I saw him on TV at the Olympics, and now he’s at Devon!”
McLain has fans in many places, but nowhere more so than Devon, where he gets the loudest cheers when he enters the ring and also when he leaves, win or lose.
Wednesday night, it was a win, as he and a newer horse, the Holsteiner La Serra “a very nice, careful mare,” finished ahead of 34 other starters in the two-phase $38,700 Main Line Challenge Stake, which we used to call a power and speed. The fences were set at 1.45 meters (as opposed to up to 1.5 meters for Thursday’s 4-star Grand Prix) and both segments were timed. La Serra was fault-free in 31.32/31.05 seconds.
The complicating factor was the drenching rain and cold, very uncharacteristic for late May in the Philadelphia suburb. McLain was totally soaked, and still dripping after he dismounted. You can see the downpour in the lead photo on this website.
I asked about the weather as a factor affecting the competition and Mclain said, with a smile,”It’s part of the game. Cold and wet, but we have to make a living. So…”
For awhile, he was first and second. Snapchat van de Broekkant Z, a 9-year-old Zangersheide finished just behind his stablemate (0/0, 30.78/32.76). But Kaitlin Campbell had something to say about it and ended as the runner-up on the Oldenburg gelding Bull Run’s Hesed (0/0,32.20/31/76).
Kaitlin Campbell and Bull Run’s Hesed. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
Jessica Springsteen, appearing at Devon for the first time in 10 years, was third with the Swedish warmblood mare Galaxy Girl (0/0,31.88/31.91).
McLain is in the process of building his string of horses. His longtime partner, Contagious, will be retired, he revealed, but he has a new star in Imperial HBF, who put in the crucial clean anchor round last weekend at the Rome Nations Cup to insure victory for the U.S.
Even though he will be on the team in La Baule, France, next week, McLain flew home to be part of Devon.
“These are important events and I enjoy them. It’s good for developing horses to get the experience as well,” he explained.
The grand prix is named in memory of Sapphire, the mare who won it twice with McLain in the saddle. She also retired at Devon, which strengthened her connection with the show.
McLain Ward and Sapphire at her retirement during Devon, 2012. Photo © 2012 by Nancy Jaffer
His 10 employees are divided between Europe and the U.S., so he has excellent strings of horses both here and abroad.
Kaitlin is used to winning at Devon, where she was an achiever in the junior jumpers. She has been riding Bull Run’s Hesed since last fall and called him “a very fast horse, very elastic. It took a little bit of time for him to get to know me and me to get to know him, but it’s really come together in the last couple of months.”
Based in California where she finds the shows at Thermal a good place to “put all the pieces together” and bring horses along, she is originally from Doylestown, Pa., and rode with Patty Miller.
Thinking back to her pony days at Devon, she said riding in the show “definitely feels like coming home.”
A new owner, Mirasol Equestrian, has invested in horses for her, so she’s putting a string together with horses available for every type of class. She did the World Cup finals in April, her first senior championship.
“It was definitely eye-opening, the level of competition and the size of the fences,” she commented.
Kaitlin is hoping to qualify for the FEI World Cup Finals in Fort Worth, Texas, next year.
Jessie never had competed in the open jumper division at Devon, and always wanted to do it. She has had her horses stabled at her family farm in Colts Neck, N.J., a short commute from Devon. Her parents, Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa, have their own horses at the farm, and like to ride western on the trail.
Jessica Springsteen and Galaxy Girl. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
Devon has special meaning for Jessie.
“I’m so glad to be back,” she said, noting she has had flashbacks to when she competed in the ponies at the show.
“It was so much fun.”
In the grand prix, Jessie will be riding her 2021 Olympic team silver medal mount, Don Juan van de Donkhoeve, who was out for a while with an injury. She has been building him back up so he can compete in shows at the level of Devon.
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | May 28, 2025
The Bluman cousins made a real statement in the Devon Horse Show’s opening show jumping competition, sweeping the top placings for the Jet Run Devon Welcome Stake.
Daniel took the one-round class on his longtime partner Gemma W., while Mark finished as runner up with Ubiluc, less than a second behind the winner’s clocking of 56.21 seconds over the Anderson Lima-designed course.
Daniel Bluman enjoys his victory lap on Gemma W. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
Another Bluman, Ilan, was further down in the 43-horse field, winding up thirty-seventh and thirty-eighth with his two mounts.
There is naturally a bit of rivalry among the cousins, who grew up like brothers in Colombia, but they’re all part of the same business, so a winning finish by one is a winning finish by all.
“It’s probably the first time we’ve been 1-2 in a class. It’s always nice to have a family win, it feels great,” said Mark.
Mark Bluman and Ubiluc. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
“We really love this show, we try to come every year,” noted Daniel. “We all want to be competitive, so we’re just having fun, doing what we love.”
Daniel became an Israeli citizen nine years ago. His cousins are still Colombian, but are working on switching their citizenship.
More than a dozen of the riders entered the class on two horses, with a goal of being competitive on one mount and giving the other a look at the arena and the spectators, who are always numerous and appreciative.
Daniel took it easy with Hummer Z, his mount for Thursday’s featured Sapphire Grand Prix, but he went for it with Gemma, who will have a few days off until Saturday night’s closing jumper class.
“We’ve been together for many years we know each other great,” he said of the reliable grey mare, “so for me to go at that speed doesn’t take much of an effort. She’s a fantastic horse, she’s won so much. I thought I could win the class without her making a huge effort.
“It’s always fun to beat Markie,” Daniel added slyly.
“He’s a fantastic rider. We’re all competitive. Actually, his plan was not to go fast. I think when he saw I had been fast, he got a little extra competitive and went for it. He was just not enough today.”
Family comes first, before who gets the ribbons.
Seven-year-old Tiris Carlin was thrilled to get Daniel Bluman’s ribbon from the Jet Run class. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
“There’s always a rivalry, but a healthy one,” Daniel explained.
“We all work together. We run the business together, we live pretty much together, so it’s a very healthy rivalry. But of course we want to win.”
Even so, “if it had been the other way around — I’m second, he’s first — I’m just as happy. I beat him, maybe tomorrow he beats me.”
Daniel makes Devon a regular stop on his circuit.
“I think the atmosphere is lovely, the people are very nice, the crowd knows it’s like a tradition to come and be part of the horse show. It’s our responsibility as riders and professionals to support and come to these events. It’s what really keeps the sport alive. I love being part of it.”
The class is named in memory of Michael Matz’s famous horse, Jet Run, many times a winner at Devon. Michael’s son, Alex, rode Ikigai in the class, finishing thirteenth, just out of the ribbons.
click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | May 21, 2025
Horse welfare continues to be in the forefront among governing bodies, whether they are of the equestrian or national variety.
The U.S. Equestrian Federation this month held a “collaborative summit” with reps of its affiliates to examine a number of issues affecting horse sports, including those touching on social license to operate.
USEF Chief of Sport David O’Connor presented a draft of the “USEF Horse Welfare Stoplight Guidelines,” listing the differences among horse friendly, non-horse friendly and unethical treatment of a horse. In line with that, training techniques and practices to guide officials and participants about acceptable versus unacceptable behavior were offered. An educational campaign centered around horse welfare will be launched this summer.
As USEF noted, “Self-regulation is preferable to being regulated by outside entities.”
A case in point: An arduous new requirement that managers of all equestrian competitions in the U.S. would have to register with and report to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but which has been at least delayed and will not go into effect during 2025 show season.
The requirement was part of a proposed amendment to the Horse Protection Act, which originally was designed to stop the practice of soring in Tennessee Walking Horses and breeds that were similarly abused. USDA and its Horse Protection team will continue to work on what’s next,including additional postponement, and will continue to seek stakeholder input.
Elsewhere, however, the extent of governmental involvement already is an issue in Europe. Horse & Hound cited a discussion on equine sport-horse welfare during a May meeting of the Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals in the European Parliament.
Danish European Parliament member Niels Fuglsang, who chaired the session, has been pushing for tougher EU oversight of horse welfare, seeking to have a directive now limited to farm animals to expand for inclusion of sport horses and allow sanctions for mistreatment.
Fuglsang has advocated for banning double bridles across the EU (would North America be next?) and expressed frustration with slow progress after meeting with FEI president Ingmar de Vos last year
Dr. Mette Uldahl, vice president of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe, maintained, “We urgently need to educate modern equestrians in equine behavioral science. But education is not alone sufficient, we need to have firm governance and regulation.”
So you can see the direction in which this is headed.
Uldahl stated, “Welfare must be evaluated through objective indicators, such as body language, tail movements, ear position, eye and facial expressions and behaviors like open mouths. Horses showing signs of pain, fear or discomfort must not be rewarded.”
She added, “Harmful or coercive equipment that reasonably risks causing pain, injury, suffering, or fear must be banned, and tools that fix horses into rigid positions or mask body language must not be used.
“Independent advisory boards must be empowered to question practices, raise concerns and ensure transparency. With these principles embedded, it is entirely possible to align horse sport with modern standards of welfare and public expectations.”
She added, “It’s not about revolution, it’s about evolution – but we need a mandate to make that happen. A clear step would be requiring independent advisory boards to oversee all types of horse sport.”
De Vos pointed out the FEI’s commitment to welfare, citing reforms such as removal of time limits on horse abuse cases and the implementation of recommendations from the independent Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission.
For his part, FEI veterinary director Dr. Göran Åkerström discussed the 37-point Equine Welfare Action Plan, which includes the newly introduced noseband measuring device and the launch of the Equine Welfare Advisory Group for external oversight.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 7, 2025
What is the social impact of equestrianism?
That’s a key question in this era of Social License to Operate; that is, public acceptance of horse sports. The answers are even more important.
British Equestrian, Great Britain’s national federation for horse sports in Great Britain, is involved with a major research project on the subject, which could become a model for other countries — many of which, including the U.S., are grappling with the same situation.
BE’s partner in its work is State of Life, which specializes in measuring and demonstrating the social and economic value created by various organizations. Sad that horse sports have to be justified these days, but that’s the case
The effort, which started with a research phase in 2024, has moved on to investigate the social value of equestrianism.
State of Life has worked with several sports and community organizations to provide in-depth analysis of their social impact. They are involved with developing a new national model dealing with the social value of sport and physical activity for Sport England. The government is seeking to estimate the contribution of community sport and physical activity to health and well-being in the country.
In the first phase, equestrian activities were proven to have benefits ranging from the social value outcomes of physical and mental health and subjective wellbeing, to individual, social and community development.
Examples: riding, stable work and hippotherapy contribute to fitness and rehabilitation, while equine-assisted therapy provides therapeutic support for those with conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression. Engaging in equestrian activities has demonstrated an increase in confidence, employability and social connections, strengthening both individuals and communities.
Stage two will take this research to the next level, calculating the monetary worth of equestrian social value. It will demonstrate the way equestrian activity can be a vital contributor to public health, aligning with a government “Get Active” strategy. The findings will enable BE and its affiliates to showcase the industry’s impact on people’s lives across the United Kingdom, shape future strategies with data-driven insights (otherwise known as evidence), advocate for equestrianism’s unique benefits and strengthen investment and strategic partnerships.
Abigail Bevan, Insight and Research Manager at British Equestrian, noted, “We’re excited to measure the tangible impact of equestrianism, following the gathering of research, which has proven the vast benefits our sector provides to the community, by encouraging people to spend time in outdoor spaces, connecting with nature, creating friendships and enjoying partnerships with our incredible horses.”
by Nancy Jaffer | May 25, 2025
Yuri Mansur and the fabulous mare Miss Blue-Saint Blue Farm finished atop a field of the world’s best riders in the Rolex Grand Prix of Rome Sunday, as the show at the Piazza di Sienna wrapped up with a spectacular competition.
“She was born for this job,” Mansur said about the daughter of Chacco Blue, who also was a winner in Hamburg, Germany last year and in Fontainebleau, France, last month. The victory for the veteran of Brazil’s teams came, appropriately, on the day after his forty-sixth birthday.
Yuri Mansur won the Rolex Grand Prix of Rome with Miss Blue-Saint Blue Farm.
“This is a mare from Brazil, she didn’t have any experience when she left there, but in three years since 2022, she has given me my best wins,” said Yuri.
“And I feel it’s just the beginning, we’ve had some bad luck with health problems, but now she is good again and she is doing an unbelievable job.”
He is just the second rider from Brazil to win the grand prix. Rodrigo Pessoa, who was sixteenth on Sunday with Major Tom, took the title in 2009.
Yuri rode for the first time only at the age of 14. The Olympian gives credit to working with Belgium’s Ludo Philippaerts as both a rider and groom.
“He helped get me started…so a big part of my journey came through Ludo. I bought a barn in 2017 in The Netherlands and now Holland is home for us”, he explained.
Remarkably, his jump-off didn’t go as planned.
“What almost made me lose was I spoke with McLain Ward, and he told me to start from the right for number one. And then at the last moment, I changed to the left, and I didn’t get a good shot to number one, so I added one stride and that meant I had to risk as much as I could,” Yuri explained.
“I had planned seven strides, but I did eight from fence one to two, and that made me just risk as much as I could in the rollbacks. I had two really blind distances but I kept following and we worked it out.”.
His time of 35.65 seconds was just 0.11 seconds ahead of Ireland’s Cian O’Connor and Iron Man in the second round of the test designed by Uliano Vezziani on the broad green field, surrounded by thousands of spectators in the heart of the Eternal City.
It was the third 5-star runner-up finish for Cian with the steel-gray Zangersheide gelding, but he wound up winning the leading rider trophy named after Italy’s greatest horsemen, brothers Piero and Raimondo D’Inzeo.
Cian said his mount “hasn’t much experience against the clock and he’s such an expressive jumper, he’s not maybe as quick as some of the others because he takes his time at his fences but that’s something we’re working on.”
France’s Nina Mallevaey, a rising star at 25 years old, finished third in 36.35 seconds with Dynastie de Beaufour.
“I know I have an amazing horse that is really generous. We did our first five-star Grand Prix about a year ago and I think we have built a great relationship together,” said Nina, who began her international career with Julien Epaillard and is now trained by Helena Stormanns.
“It’s my first time here in Rome and since the beginning of the week she’s been enjoying that arena and loving to be here. This was a dream of mine to come here so I’m very, very happy.”
A favorite of the Italian crowd, Giulia Martinengo Marquet, was galloping toward the sixth fence of blue planks with Delta Del’Isle, as a member of the course design team was adjusting a plank that had blown down in the wind. She had to turn away while the clock was stopped and the crowd gasped. However, she was able to finish the course quickly with only one knockdown and qualify for the second round. Giulia finished ninth.
The second round’s fastest effort by far, in 33.39 seconds, belonged to the USA’s Laura Kraut on Bisquetta. But a knockdown at the first element of the Rolex double simply meant she was the quickest of the four faulters, winding up sixth.
Karl Cook, Laura’s teammate on the winning Nations Cup squad Friday, missed his opportunity for the 125,000 Euro ($142,000) first prize and the honor of back-to-back wins in the class when Caracole de La Roque slipped out behind on the turn to the the third fence, the imposing green Rolex wall.
He made a valiant effort to recoup but ended his tour of the course with two knockdowns. That meant he did not qualify for the second round, limited to the top 12 of the 45 starters, and wound up twenty-second.
The USA’s McLain Ward and his Olympic team silver medal mount, Ilex, retired after dropping two rails, joining the list of six other riders who did the same. The fourth member of the American Nations Cup squad, Lillie Keenan, had two rails and a time fault with Argan de Bellard in the first round to wind up thirtieth.
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by Nancy Jaffer | May 23, 2025
A perfect round under pressure–which is the trademark of anchor rider McLain Ward–avoided a jump-off and clinched the first U.S. victory since 2009 in the Rome Nations Cup on Friday.
McLain Ward and Imperial in the midst of one of the world’s most beautiful venues.
Aboard his newest mount, Imperial HBF, McLain’s performance in the 5-star Nations Cup Intesa San Paolo assured America its 4 penalty score could hold off the French team, which had to settle for second on 8 penalties.
After the first round over the course designed by Uliano Vezzani on the grass field of the scenic Piazza di Siena, the U.S. was tied on 4 faults with France and Germany. But the second time around, the latter dropped to fourth behind the home team, Italy, which claimed third place on the podium with 20 penalties.
McLain, who took over the ride on Imperial in February from Great Britain’s Tim Gredley, was double clear, as was his teammate and protege Lillie Keenan aboard Kick On. Laura Kraut, who was on the 2009 team with Cedric, dropped a rail on each trip with Bisquetta. Karl Cook had a rail in the first round with his Olympic team silver medal mount, Caracole de la Roque, but was fault-free on his second go to help secure the USA’s sixth victory in the history of the class.
After lifting the silver trophy above his head, U.S. Coach Robert Ridland noted his riders have been on a real winning streak.
U.S. Coach Robert Ridland and the trophy, with team members McLain Ward, Laura Kraut, Lillie Keenan and Karl Cook.
“Three in a row sounds pretty good,” he said with a grin, referring to team victories this spring at the Longines FEI League of Nations in Ocala and the Nations Cup in Wellington, Fla.
He also pointed out that not only McLain, but also Laura and Lillie were on horses they had never ridden previously in a Nations Cup. Karl was the lone rider who had Cup experience with the mare he rode Friday.
The Cup “was a tough slog from the very beginning,” Robert continued.
“We drew first in the order and we were hoping that would stay true in the end, but it certainly wasn’t easy. After the first round, we knew what we had to do in the second round, and as that was unfolding, we weren’t really creating much of a gap. So we were prepared for a jump-off, but one way or another we were going to try to win this thing!”
Mclain, a member of the winning team in 1997, noted that Vezzani’s style of course designing “always allows us to ride, it’s not about tricks and it’s not hiding jumps. But you had some bold fences, the wall (centered with a statue of a wolf nursing Rome’s founders, Romulus and Remus), the triple out of the corner with the chariot in the way. And then the last line was shifting away from the side, very delicate and that’s always a challenge. This is Rome, an iconic event, and it should be difficult,” he added.
Not only had he not jumped a Nations Cup previously with Imperial, this was his first 1.60 meter class with him.
“Tim Gredley did an incredible job bringing this horse to the highest levels of the sport”, he pointed out.
And he was delighted that his pupil, Lillie Keenan, was the other double-clear. He was surprised, however, when she told the story of how Kick On received his barn name of Ken.
“I got him around my twentieth birthday, when the Barbie movie was coming out and it just seemed right,” she explained. (For those who don’t know, Barbie’s boyfriend was Ken.)
She went on to say how well he is evolving.
“He’s really gone from strength to strength, I took him to the World Cup Finals not long ago and that was at that stage the biggest thing he’d ever seen, and really going into today, he rose to the occasion and I’m so proud of him!”, she said.
Karl Cook, who won the Rolex Grand Prix of Rome with Cara in 2024, said, “Between last year and this year, it’s completely different. When I was here last year, I more or less had no expectations. I remember in the jump-off last year, I just decided whatever was about to happen was just going to happen. That kicked off my whole summer. Without this show last year, the rest of the summer would not have happened,” said Karl, for whom Rome was a precursor to his Olympic experience.
Laura noted that Bisquetta “took a little look at the wall (fence 3) which surprised me, normally she’s super-brave, so I rode her very strong and that made her very strong, so I think that first fence in the middle of the combination (fence 4) came from that. She finished very well and I thought the second round she jumped beautifully. Maybe I was a little free to the plank (fence 9) and she lightly touched it.” The top element went down as a result.
“I could have been better today, but I had great teammates to back me up and I’m excited about Sunday,” she said. Laura will ride Bisquetta in the Rolex Grand Prix while Karl tries for two in a row with Cara. McLain will ride his Olympic horse, Ilex, while Lillie has entered Argan de Beliard.
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by Nancy Jaffer | May 18, 2025
The stories are amazing. Even those who weren’t in Gladstone, N.J., for the 1993 World Pair Driving Championship have heard what a spectacular competition it was, with a record 23 countries participating at Hamilton Farm, home of the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation.
Although there had been other good combined driving events at Gladstone before and after the championship, nothing else held there ever could match the championship, where the marathon segment was watched by 15,000 spectators. That was a unique experience.
But as time went on, the importance of the driving event in the Pine Meadow section of the property diminished. That’s what happens when supporters move, retire or pass away.
The Gladstone Equestrian Association, founded by the late Finn Caspersen and now headed by James C. Brady III, has sought to rejuvenate competition at the site. Over the weekend, its horse driving trial and combined test (dressage and cones without the marathon) drew 40 entries, the maximum it could handle logistically.
“We’re super-excited because for the first time in probably 10 years, we were completely sold out,” said Christine Siracusa, a volunteer and sponsorship coordinator.
The ground was soaked by torrential rain during the week, so some drivers opted to scratch the marathon and compete in the combined test instead due to mud.
But others, from those driving mini horses (also known as VSEs — very small equines) to pairs of horses, opted to forge ahead in the best sporting tradition.
GEA Gladstone Driving President John Layton and Eris K (a Cleveland Bay otherwise known as The Beast) won the Single Horse Preliminary division. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
A small but mighty volunteer base, several of whom had been lending a hand to Gladstone driving events even before the Pair Championship took place, did yeoman work to make the 2025 competition happen.
“Mother nature was not our friend this week. We ended up having three course changes, but our course designer (Bruce Jones) and officials were amazing,” said Christine Siracusa, a coordinator of volunteers and sponsorship.
“The weather couldn’t have been any better” on Saturday and Sunday.
Having some time to dry out, the marathon course “was not as mucky as we thought it would be,” she pointed out.
“I was at the finish line and saw everyone smiling. They were excited, they kept on thanking us for putting on a fabulous event and hopefully, they’ll keep coming back and supporting this event.”
Alice Tarjan, better known for ridden dressage than driven dressage, skillfully guided Patser and Naferno in the Preliminary Pairs competition. (Photo © 20)25 by Nancy Jaffer)
John Layton, the GEA Gladstone Driving president, was thrilled by the number of entries and has big plans for next year. He hopes to reopen and re-do the former George’s Gorge marathon obstacle, fixing it up and renaming it the Gulch of the Northeast. John also wants to see a tailgating destination near there for optimum viewing of the action..
Amie Bauman, who handles the same duties as Christine for the GEA, is a driving professional from Pennsylvania who teaches and trains, as well as competing.
She guided Lois Kennedy’s 5-year-sold VSE stallion, Sundance, to victory in the VSE Single Preliminary, with 113.77 penalties, the best score in any of the Preliminary divisions.
“He’s a natural at it. He has so much talent. He just loves it,” she said of the bold little stallion, who handled the marathon obstacles with energy.
Amie Bauman and Sundance at the water obstacle. (Photo © 2025 by Gerry Heffner)
Amie has been coming to the driving event since 1983, the days of fellowship when local legends Bill Orth, George Hoffman, Joe Urso, Norm Sutton and George Millar — all gone now — were competing.
Looking to the future of the event, she said, “It absolutely has to keep going. It’s such a historic piece of property and we don’t really have many driving events in the North anymore.”
She works with the GEA and helps keep up the property for the event.
In that regard, she cited the assistance of Paul Miller Land Rover in fixing roads and cutting down some trees; the USET Foundation and its facility manager Maureen Pethick, who “have been incredible,” hiring a company to fix the roads and helping wherever needed, and the Hamilton Farm Golf Club, which also cut down trees and loaned equipment to the volunteers readying Pine Meadow for the competition.
Amie added, “I just need to give a shout out to the Gladstone Equestrian Association and all the people that are on it, and also all of the volunteers who help. Without them, none of this would happen.”
Kate Pantelione and Addalittlespice were pretty in pink.( Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
Shelly Temple, president of the ground jury, believes it’s important for the GEA driving trials to continue.
“The history of this place is incredible. We’ve all competed here every year. The obstacles are still very workable. I think it’s a great show. You have a lot of dedicated people who want to keep it going, a good group to bring it forward and they’re getting sponsors, so I think there’s a lot of potential. There’s a lot possible here. There were new competitors, I didn’t know a lot of them; a lot of young people were here, which I love.”
But she added, “more people need to step up and help this crowd that has kept it going. It’s very important for our sport.”
Competitors’ horses were able to stay in the historic USET stable, elegant with its tile floors and polished brass.
“That’s a great benefit to showing here,” mentioned Shelly, a 2007 team bronze medalist in the World Pony Driving Championships.
Another judge, Lisa Singer, was equally as enthusiastic.
Lisa Singer on the job. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
She was National Pairs Champion nine times and a member of the U.S. team at eight World Pair Championships. Lisa no longer drives competitively, but teaches, trains, runs shows, gives clinics and designs courses.
Looking at the roster of competitors on her clipboard, she said, “What was neat was that I only knew three people on this list. There’s a lot of new people, a lot of young people coming. That’s awesome.”
Click here for Horse Trial results. Click here for Combined Test results.
