Sidelines Magazine and The Chronicle of the Horse have been sold in unrelated transactions, it was announced Wednesday.
Sidelines was acquired by HITS, the company known for its horse shows around the country. Buying the Chronicle from Wellington International was the GRANDPRIX Group, which specializes in media, audio-visual and events.
Characterized by its photo-heavy interviews with top equestrians, Sidelines also features many other types of stories. Editor Jan Westmark Bauer will continue in that post.
Bob Bell, president of the Classic Company which sold the magazine, said, “I have enormous pride in what the team and I have accomplished during my tenure at Sidelines. I look forward to seeing the next phase of the magazine’s growth and wish the team at HITS the same fun and success we have enjoyed for almost a decade.”
HITS board chairman Mortimer Singer said, “The acquisition of Sidelines Magazine represents the next chapter in HITS’s commitment to holding our customers at the center of what we do. HITS being the largest national producer of horse shows makes Sidelines a perfect vehicle to showcase the many exciting equestrian enthusiast stories across the country.”
HITS was founded more than 40 years ago by Tom Struzzieri and purchased in 2022 by Traub Capital Partnres.
GRANDPRIX, a monthly magazine, also puts out news daily on line. Studforlife.com provides in-depth coverage of show jumping and breeding, and Horseman.nl is a leading outlet in Flanders and the Netherlands. The group also publishes the ASEP Stallion Guide, a reference tool for breeders.
By integrating The Chronicle, GRANDPRIX “will bring its editorial and technological expertise to this prestigious title: modernization of formats and platforms, revitalization of subscription and distribution offers, expansion of editorial content, and enhanced international coverage of major equestrian competitions,” according to a statement from the purchaser.
Sean Gagnon, chief financial officer of Wellington Interantional, said, “We are highly confident in the future of The Chronicle of the Horse under the leadership of Vincent Goehrs and the GRANDPRIX team. While the publication was no longer aligned with Wellington International’s strategic priorities, we are certain that GRANDPRIX’s vision and investment will allow The Chronicle of the Horse to continue to grow and thrive as a media of reference.”
The Olympic eventer who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a fall on cross-country the month after the 2024 Paris Games has made great progress in her recovery. She’s even riding again. Liz Halliday updated her many fans and supporters on social media Tuesday. Here is what she had to say:
“I’m still grinding every day in my therapy at the Centre for Neuro Skills in Dallas. Thanks to the dedicated therapists here, I have made significant progress, but it is clear that there is still a long way to go on my road to recovery. This is a slow process,” she reported.
“My injury was on the left side of my brain, which means the right side of my body is impacted. My right leg and right arm have very limited function at this stage, especially my arm. Important benchmarks: I can now walk on my own for longer and longer distances with a cane, and my balance is much improved. I am healthy and getting stronger all the time.
“I’ve now learned to write with my left hand, but my speech and writing are connected, and both are still a work in progress and something I struggle with daily. A major bright spot has been getting back in the saddle, which I’ve been able to do at a wonderful local facility. I am able to school walk and trot, and riding every week has definitely lifted my spirits.
Liz Halliday is riding again. (Photo courtesy Liz Halliday)
“I don’t know exactly what the future will look like for me, but I can promise you one thing: I will never stop working my ass off. Every day is a constant effort to walk, talk, read, write, and do all of the things we take for granted every day, but I will never give up.
“Thank you to my mom, Mark, family, and friends for their constant support. Thank you to Boyd Martin for the fantastic job he is doing with my horses. Thank you to Tamy Pollard, who keeps my dogs at her farm nearby and brings them over for regular visits. And thank you all for your continued positive thoughts, prayers, and good vibes. I’m still here, and I’ll never stop fighting. Up, up, up!”
The affection is well-deserved He got a grateful kiss from her after a fault-free first round in the $200,000 Blue Diamond Cup Grand Prix. Then there was another heartfelt smooch after his victorious trip in the jump-off Saturday at Old Salem Farm.
“He’s a horse I really believed in from the second I sat on him as an eight-year-old,” she said of Origa V/H Zuid-Pajottenland. (Whatever happened to names like Big Ben and Gem Twist?)
The 11-year-old Belgian warmblood gelding was out for a year after fracturing a hip in a freak accident when he slipped at home, so Adrienne had a bit of a hiatus in her big time competition results until he won a 5-star a month ago in Ottawa.
“I’m so emotionally proud of him, how he’s come back. I’ve always said it was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had on a horse and to see him really get his time in the spotlight means a lot to me,” said Adrienne, a member of the U.S. gold medal team at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games.
“Whenever you go through those ups and downs with a horse, it’s always an emotional journey and it’s so rewarding to be on the other side of it.”
The winner is by Thunder VD Zuuthoeve, who was the sire of McLain Ward’s FEI World Cup Finals-winning horse, HH Azur. Interestingly, also on Saturday, but in Traverse City, Mich., Karl Cook topped a Winning Round class with Kalinka van’t Zorgvliet, who claims the same sire. And she was doing only her second grand prix in 18 months because she fractured her hip in the spring of 2024. Talk about an odd coincidence!
Origa was previously ridden by Jonna Ekberg of Sweden, but came to Adrienne through her good friend Irish show jumper Bertram Allen.
“I was gnawing at him to let me come try him,” she recounted.
With the horse’s heritage, not surprisingly he has real character and ability, as exhibited in a five-horse jump-off after a field of 32 competitors from 14 countries was narrowed by the well-produced Blue Diamond Cup course from designers Alan Wade and Paul Jewell.
Adrienne’s major competition came from Marilyn Little on the fleet Mecklenberg mare, La Contessa, and Molly Ashe Cawley on Quimi del Maset, a Spanish gelding. But Adrienne enjoyed a benefit by going last, and she took advantage of it.
Molly set the pace in 40.50 seconds and then Marilyn, winner of Thursday’s Welcome Stake, quickly bettered the time to beat in 39.85 seconds.
Adrienne was faster between the first two fences than Marilyn, and made a great turn that brought her home in 39.11 seconds to take the 4-star crown. She attributed the win to her horse’s “stride and his bravery.”
She noted, “I really trusted my horse because he’s so game and has so much scope. I knew that if I did it right and gave him a good chance, he would fight for me.”
During her showing lull between August 2024 and January of this year, Adrienne focused on learning and benefited from polishing her skills with experts. Click on the video link to have her tell you who she worked with and what she did.
The weather in Westchester County, N.Y., was picture-perfect for the class; the rain didn’t start falling until the last notes of the Star-Spangled Banner following the presentation. Old Salem is a lovely setting for a show, and that is especially so in September. It feels special to be there with view of the the stable overlooking the ring and people watching from the grass hillside. The show is a must stop for Adrienne.
“It’s close to home for me. It was able to work well with my schedule. i can still pay attention to my horses at home and ride at home in the morning and sleep in my own bed in New York City. “That makes Old Salem a special place for me,” noted Adrienne, who has a farm in Greenwich, Conn., near Old Salem.
She fits in riding with a busy schedule that include a new blog, Show and Tell, which she started with her friends, Lucy Deslauriers and Alessandra Volpi, who also travel the show circuit and need to find places that will feed, exercise and soothe them.
“I almost annoyingly look for good coffee. I look for good restaurants, workout places, yoga is a big part of my not just fitness routine, but mental health. I find it really difficult when you’re in these random cities knowing where to go,” said Adrienne.
So the riders made it a project.
“We said,`Why not do it together? We have a lot of big ideas for our little blog and we’re very excited to see what we can do with it. We want to share all the great places we get to go and learn along the way. And it’s so fun to do it with friends.”
Mary Alice Malone’s dedication to sport horse breeding and showing was passed down to her daughter, Catherine Malone, who is taking over management of Iron Spring Farm in wake of her mother’s death this summer.
Catherine will remain true to her mother’s vision with the same commitment to excellence, soundness, and temperament that has always defined the program, a statement from the farm said.
Catherine, who grew up on the farm, worked with her mother for several years, bringing in new stallions such as Kaiman, and the highest quality mares, including Noblewood Tarpania,
“Mom and I spent so much time talking about horses and bloodlines and the kind of horses we want to have in the barn,” said Catherine, an FEI rider and successful breeder in her own right.
Catherine Malone and Uno Don Diego. (Terri Miller photo)
“It all starts with falling in love with horses. Their beauty and spirit. That’s why we do this.”
While this is a time of change, it is also a time of renewal, according to information from the farm.
“Catherine is committed to honoring her mother’s legacy while embracing opportunities to evolve and grow. The heart of Iron Spring Farm–a dedication to producing horses that inspire, perform, and connect deeply with their riders–will remain steadfast.
“We are grateful to the breeders, riders, and friends who have been part of our story for nearly 50 years. Your support has made Iron Spring Farm what it is today and we invite you to join us in shaping its future. Follow along with us, through our newsletter, website, and social media, as we share beautiful foals and world-class mares, exciting new stallions and exceptional sales horses, and the continuation of our story.
“Mary Alice believed in building something that would last. Today, with Catherine holding the reins, Iron Spring Farm moves forward–strong, inspired and ready as this next chapter unfolds.”
Storms that caused massive destruction when they swept through Montgomery Township, N.J., last weekend have prompted the cancellation of the Princeton Show Jumping fall series scheduled for September 17–21 and September 24–28.
“After careful evaluation of our options and several municipal inspections, it was apparent our showgrounds sustained significant damage—damage so extensive that it will take weeks of cleanup and rebuilding to restore the property to a safe condition,” a statement from the show advised, following an assessment of the situation in the wake of the Sept. 6 storms.
“After two days of careful evaluation and several municipal inspections, we concluded that we cannot responsibly welcome horses, riders, or spectators back to Hunter Farms North until it is safe to do so,” the statement continued.
“We know how important these shows are for our riders, trainers, owners, and the entire equestrian community. Canceling is the last thing we wanted—but safety must come first. This challenging moment will also become an opportunity: the rebuilding process will allow us to make lasting improvements to the facility and return in 2026 with an even better show experience for everyone.”
Competitors who have already entered should contact princetonshowjumping@gmail.com for processing, or contact Nicole at nicole@princetonshowjumping.com with any questions.
Last year, Princeton also cancelled its final shows of the season, but for a different reason, involving a lack of entries.
At the time, Andrew Philbrick, who runs the Princeton series, contended three international shows in New York and Connecticut that are geographically close to his competitions drew entries that otherwise might have come to his shows.
Zen Elite is best known as the owner of such special dressage horses as Indian Rock, Fleau de Bain and My Vitality, and for sponsoring top riders including Adrienne Lyle and Christian Simonson. But now Zen owner Heidi Humphries has stepped up again to sponsor the FEI World Cup Dressage Finals™ that will be held next April in Texas.
The Split Rock Jumping Tour, in partnership with the City of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Sports Commission, will host the finals in both Jumping and Dressage at Dickies Arena.
“Zen Elite has become one of the most significant supporters of dressage in the U.S., and we are thrilled to welcome them as Title Sponsor of next year’s Dressage Final,” said Derek Braun, founder and president of the Split Rock Jumping Tour.
“Their commitment to the sport makes them a natural partner for the World Cup, and we look forward to working with them in making this the best World Cup Final ever held.”
“We are beyond honored to step forward as title sponsor of the 2026 FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final in Fort Worth, Texas,” said Heidi Humphries of Zen Elite.
“This is more than a moment for Zen Elite. It is part of a much bigger journey, one rooted in a lifelong love for horses and the unshakable belief in what can be achieved when a horse and rider come together in harmony and trust. Dressage isn’t just a sport. It is a special story of the partnership between horse and rider and an inspiration to all who witness it.
“To welcome the world’s best to American soil is both humbling and exhilarating, and we hope this incredible event will ignite a beautiful flame of passion and unity as we look ahead to the 2028 Olympic Games.”
It’s been more than three years since dressage rider Michael Barisone was found not guilty by reason of insanity on a charge of second-degree attempted murder, and bit by bit, he is regaining some autonomy.
At his eighth Krol hearing Tuesday, the 2008 U.S. Olympic team alternate got permission for a little more latitude in his movements, with judge Stephen Taylor allowing him to drive from his Florida farm to New Jersey as needed so he can retrieve belongings from his former home state. Previously, he was required to fly to New Jersey for the Krol hearings.
They are held to evaluate the progress of a criminal defendant who has been confined to a psychiatric institution following a verdict like the one delivered for Barisone in April 2022. The next hearing is scheduled for February.
Barisone was charged in the 2019 shooting of Lauren Kanarek, a tenant at his former farm in Long Valley, N.J., farm who also trained there. He said he doesn’t remember the incident, which left Kanarek hospitalized with two bullets in her chest. The shooting occurred during a confrontation with Kanarek and her boyfriend, Rob Goodwin, who had been at odds with their landlord.
During Barisone’s trial, his lawyer, Edward Bilinkas, asked Kanarek whether she was bent on destroying his client and threatening everything he held dear. She replied, “at some point, yes.”
As was the case during the last Krol hearing seven months ago in the Morris County, N.J., Courthouse, Taylor listened to testimony from clinical psychologist Dr. David Landry, who usually sees Barisone on a weekly basis in Florida.
In response to a question from Morris County Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Schellhorn, Landry said on a Zoom call aired in the Morristown courtroom that in his opinion, Barisone has no signs of any active mental diseases or disorder.
Asked by Schellhorn whether he discussed the shooting, referred to as the “index event,” with Barisone, Landry said they talked about “his lack of memory of the event and what that means for his having to internalize and accept these events as occurring, and where we go from here, knowing that this has occurred…and what his plans are in moving forward.”
Landry said Barisone, 61, spends much of his time working around his farm in Loxahatchee, Fla., and keeps “a low profile.”
As a result of the shooting incident, Barisone is under an interim suspension from the U.S. Center for SafeSport, which means he can’t take part in any U.S. Equestrian Federation sanctioned competitions, or even be on showgrounds. That sanction remains in place pending the outcome of an investigation or final decision.
Michael Barisone riding at his former farm in Long Valley.
Landry characterized the SafeSport situation as a “stressor,” in Barisone’s life, noting that is “pretty typical in these circumstances.”
In treatment, doctor and patient talk abut all possible outcomes. Landry said they “develop plans around that. He seems to be okay with whatever happens and has a plan in the event any outcome would occur.”
In an interview after the hearing, Barisone said, “I’ve been doing everything exactly as I’m supposed to do. I’ve abided by every single rule.”
Speaking about the judge’s decision, he observed, “At least now I can start finishing moving my stuff out of New Jersey and really get the place in Florida (to be) home. So I think at this point, this process happened just like it’s supposed to, like it’s written in the law.
“The doctors all say, `He recovered from what happened to him’ and I’ve been given pretty much freedom to be about as normal as I can.”
When he returns to Florida, he hopes to start riding after a break to deal with legal matters.
Barisone riding in Florida earlier this year.
But there also are other legal matters with which is involved.
In July, Barisone sued the USEF. Those legal papers state that on Aug. 1, 2019,, he had phoned Sonja Keating, the federation’s chief operating officer and general counsel, saying he was “in a life and death situation due to the malevolent and dangerously unpredictable conduct of Kanarek and Goodwin,” and that he feared for his life.
The lawsuit noted Keating offered no assistance and suggested he call the police. Barisone told Keating the police refused to help. According to the lawsuit, Keating never mentioned the Center for SafeSport, nor did she say she would refer the matter to the Center. The lawsuit stated she was obligated to refer the matter to SafeSport, which she did not do.
On August 7, 2019, the shooting took place.
The lawsuit also noted that Murray Kessler, who was USEF’s president at the time, did not return Barisone’s phone calls about his situation.
The lawsuit contends that USEF “breached its fiduciary obligations to the Plaintiff in that it did not exercise its duty of care and protect the Plaintiff from the actions of Kanarek and Goodwin,” and as a result, Barisone was damaged.
He is seeking compensatory and punitive damages from USEF.
Asked for a comment on the lawsuit, a USEF spokesperson said the federation does not comment on matters in litigation. Attorney Steven Tarshis, who filed the lawsuit, said USEF attorneys had requested an extension until the end of September to respond.
In February, Barisone sued Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital, where he was a patient for more than a year in 2022 and part of 2023 before the judge allowed him to live in a private home later that year.
The way he was treated at the hospital led to “emotional harm, pain, damage and suffering, among other injuries,” according to the lawsuit filed by attorney Christopher Deininger, which alleges medical malpractice.
A motion by the hospital to dismiss the action was denied by a judge, but the hospital has filed another such motion that has yet to be ruled on.
There’s nothing more important to people who truly love horses than the welfare of their animals. And in the big picture, the focus on welfare for equestrian competition is key to its survival in the era of social license to operate.
But not everybody recognizes welfare issues, or how to cope with them. With that in mind, the U.S. Equestrian Federation on Monday released a set of horse welfare guidelines under the title, “Protecting Horses.” The information can be accessed at this link.
The guidelines align human and horse interactions with the concept of a stoplight – green, yellow, and red to help create a mutual understanding of horse-friendly vs. cautionary vs. unacceptable actions for all breeds and disciplines. A rule change effective last year enabled USEF to take action against anyone involved with cruelty, abuse and unethical treatment of a horse beyond the showgrounds as well as at a competition.
USEF Chief of Sport David O’Connor introduces segments on various topics. Today’s videos focus on an overview of the subject and recognizing issues in horse movement and appearance. More instructive videos will be released weekly through Oct. 27, and a list of rules involving horse welfare is available to explain how welfare is encouraged and enforced.
If I had asked you to guess on Sunday morning which U.S. competitor would be second in the world’s richest grand prix at the Spruce Meadows Masters during the afternoon, you might have guessed Lillie Keenan, who has been rolling out double-clear trips in Nations Cups this season, or Aaron Vale, winner of two grands prix last spring.
The odds are you wouldn’t have mentioned Kyle King, a 50-year-old journeyman rider who is number 144 on the Longines ranking list.
But he made a big statement in the $5 million (Canadian) CPKC International in Calgary, Canada, with a 10-year-old Zangersheide, Kayenne Z, a mare he has been riding for just seven months who also was second in the Queen Elizabeth Cup earlier this summer during Spruce Meadows’ golden anniversary year.
Kyle finished the incredibly testing CPKC class as runner-up to Great Britain’s Scott Brash, the only person ever to have won the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.
It was also Scott’s third victory in the grand prix presented by Rolex, which was not just the richest class of 2025, but the most valuable ever held in the sport. The purse, $3.6 million in U.S. dollars, was worth $1,192,000 (U.S.) for the victor, who said he was “shocked and surprised and delighted” at his triumph aboard Hello Jefferson.
“I’m absolutely delighted for my horse. More than anything, he deserves a title under his belt,” said Scott.
“He’s been such a good horse for so many years and we’ve had ups and downs, but he has been a fantastic horse. So I think it’s great finally being able to get a title under his name.”
Leopoldo Palacios, the perennial course designer for the class, headed a team that put together one of the most challenging routes seen anywhere.
“You never know what this man’s going to build,” Scott observed.
“I was kind of in shock all the way around when I walked it,” Kyle said.
Laura Kraut, who had been double clear in the Nations Cup Friday aboard Tres Bien Z to help the U.S. to third place, decided after walking the grand prix course not to compete on the still-developing 10-year-old mare because she “didn’t want to bite off more than she could chew with a super horse,” according to U.S. Coach Robert Ridland.
Evidence of the difficulty quotient was the fact that the glittering field of 36 riders did not include anyone who was fault-free in all three rounds. After the top 12 from the original group of starters competed in the second round, the two best — Scott and Kyle — were tied for the lead on 4 penalties each, with the tight time allowed in both rounds having been a huge factor in that result. Even Leopoldo was surprised that he had no double clears for a tie-breaker, but he acknowledged he knew it might have to happen at some point in his career.
The two leaders jumped off over a new course of seven fences, with a time allowed of 48 seconds. Scott was fault-free in 46.97 seconds, so Kyle knew he not only had to go clear, but also beat the time of a gold medal Olympian who had already won the class twice in his career.
It was all going according to plan when Kayenne ticked the jump composed of planks that formed a Canadian flag, and Kyle was penalized for the knockdown. He finished faster than Scott in 46.09 seconds, so his plan almost worked — except for the 4-fault toll it took.
Kyle and Kayenne at the infamous Canadian flag plank jump.
“The mare’s pretty green. I don’t have much control up there,” said Kyle.
“I would do it the same again. I thought I had it just right and I thought the planks showed up probably better than anything else. When I heard them fall I was like `Oh.’ I was surprised that I actually still did beat his (Scott’s) time. I’m just getting to know that mare, she is actually fairly quick. She covers the ground really well. I’m really proud of the way it all worked out,” he emphasized.
“This has always been one of my biggest dreams…to win this grand prix. To be that close was incredible.”
Third place went to Olympic multi-medalist Steve Guerdat of Switzerland, who made it through the difficult double of liverpools in the second round, only to have a rail at the iconic Dutch bicycle fence (as did Kyle and four others). Just a time fault with Venard de Cerisy kept him out of the jump-off. His countryman, Martin Fuchs, was not as lucky aboard Leone Jei, however.
The defending champion in the class, Martin was embarking on the Rolex Grand Slam trail after winning the Rolex grand prix at Aachen in July. To win the Grand Slam, a rider must take three of the four competitions (the others are the Dutch Masters and Geneva) in a row. But Martin’s quest ended at the first fence in the second round, when his grey gelding took off a stride early and tumbled to the ground. Both horse and rider walked away from the accident.
Coach Robert Ridland has known Kyle a long time around the California circuit.
He said Kyle has never been on one of his teams, but noted, “he’s a terrific rider, always has been.” However, he mentioned Kyle never had a horse who was “a legitimate contender.”
Now that he has a horse who is “the real deal,” Robert commented, “I can’t wait to have him on a team He would be a huge asset.”
But Robert better move fast.
Kyle, who has been coming to Calgary his whole life, rides out of Rocky Mountain Sport Horses south of Calgary.
“I’m a permanent resident now of Canada and pretty close to getting my citizenship and possibly riding for Canada. I’m in the works of doing that at the moment. And then I had the Canadian planks down,” he said ruefully.
Kyle King was overjoyed with his finish in the world’s richest grand prix.
“Canada and Spruce Meadows is my one way to ride against this caliber of people in my life. I’ve never shown in Europe. But Europe comes to Calgary once a year and I feel a special connection to Spruce Meadows. I thought I was going to win it today. I thought destiny was going to happen. But to me it was a win, so I’ll take it.”
Click here for results (the time for the jump-off is not in the results, but it is in the story above)
Saturday was British Day in several ways at the Spruce Meadows Masters.
The designation was made long before the hard-fought BMO Nations Cup took place this afternoon, with Sophie, Britain’s Duchess of Edinburgh, as the honored guest.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, with Spruce Meadows’ Linda Southern Heathcott. (Spruce Meadows Photo)
But the British team didn’t get a freebie in the competition because of the honor, and had to fight for its first victory in the class since 1996 at the show in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
The question of who would take the towering trophy came down to Britain’s final rider, the last to compete in the class. That was Donald Whitaker (nephew of former British team mainstays Michael and John), and his dependable mount, Millfield Colette.
Before Donald entered the arena, Richie Vogel of Germany, who won the European championship last month, had just dropped a rail with Cloudio at the last of 12 fences on course, giving his nation a total of 4 penalties over two rounds. Three Germans had gone clear in the first round, so he didn’t have to ride at that point.
But his best effort was needed in the second round after Olympic champion Christian Kukuk toppled a pole at the first element of the triple combination. Once both rounds were completed, the Germans found themselves on a total of 4 penalties and Richie commented that he thought he overrode the liverpool obstacle.
But Richie’s score meant that if Donald could go fault-free for Britain, the title would belong to his nation.
Donald Whitaker and Millfield Colette
Donald was, as British Chef d’Equipe Di Lampard described it, “steely cool” in delivering the hoped-for outcome on his lovely gray mare.
Di included the other members of the squad, Joseph Stockdale, Matt Sampson and 2021 Olympic individual gold medalist Ben Maher in her praise, saying, “The spirit of this team is second to none. It’s fantastic and it’s come together so well this year. To have the win here, I’m so proud of them all.
Ben Maher of Great Britain on Enjeu de Grisien. (Spruce Meadows Media/Mike Sturk)
How important was it to take the title again for the first time in nearly three decades?
“It was huge,” she emphasized.
“Prior, it was won several times by the British, year after year. We do take a little stick from home for not following on. Finally we’ve come together and done it.”
She was confident her anchor rider could deliver.
“Donald has been in that position before for us this year. The progress he has made throughout the year in that position, I was happy he was last.”
Donald Whitaker and Millfield Colette, partners in triumph. (Spruce Meadows Media/Mike Sturk)
While there was undoubtedly immense pressure on Donald, with a crowd of more than 25,000 on hand to watch and celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the show (not to mention the presence of a member of the royal family) he relished the chance to demonstrate what he and the dynamic mount could produce.
“It’s kind of everything you always dreamed of doing, really,” he said.
“Spruce Meadows, last to go to win it. It’s kind of a fairy tale in your head sometimes.”
How did he handle it?
“Just tried to stay relaxed,” he commented.
The British team: Ben Maher, Joseph Stockdale, Chef d’equipe Di Lampard, Matt Sampson, Donald Whitaker (Spruce Meadows photo)
The route for the class was laid out by Spruce Meadows’ perennial course designer, Leopoldo Palacios, who did not put pressure on the riders with a tight time allowed. But the clever arrangement of fences meant that faults were well-distributed, though the water jump fronted by a wavy wall that confused some horses drew plenty of penalties.
Eleven riders collected faults there, but even the first fence took its share of errors. It was the Austrian obstacle flanked by standards that resembled mountains and with a panel of musical notes, calling to mind the movie, “The Sound of Music.”
The vertical-vertical-oxer triple combination under the trees also caused its share of heartbreak as the afternoon wore on and shadows lengthened.
The first round drew 11 nations, with six coming back for the second round.
The U.S. was tied with the Germans on 4 penalties before Aaron Vale was the last to go for his team. He had 4 penalties in the first round with Styles, but that wasn’t the drop score, since 21-year-old rookie Elena Haas had two rails on Claude.
It appeared Aaron really didn’t have to ride a second time, because there was no way a even a fault-free trip could displace the Brits. But Coach Robert Ridland sent him out, explaining that ties other than for first place are broken by cumulative times of the top three scores in the second round.
So Aaron raced against the clock.
“When he went in, we still had a chance to be second if we could get a faster clear,” Robert explained.
“Bottom line — we weren’t going to concede second place.”
But as it turned out, Germany claimed the runner-up spot because it was timed at 232.56, while the U.S. wound up third on 234.34, even though Aaron delivered a quicker trip than his teammates, all of whom were clear, as he was.
It’s been quite a summer for the U.S. team, with podium finishes across Europe and a victory at the all-important Aachen show, at the venue which will host the 2026 world championships.
Robert was pleased with his crew, noting both Aaron and Laura Kraut (Tres Bien) “had young horses who were spectacular today. Pathfinder Lillie Keenan (Argan de Belliard) “has proven to be a double-clear machine” with that score in March at the League of Nations in Ocala, as well as Rome and Aachen, in addition to Spruce.
Lillie Keenan of the USA and Argan de Belliard.
“And finally,” Robert added, “Elena was outstanding in her first major 5-star Nations Cup and rode a picture-perfect second round under immense pressure.”
By the way, Robert rode on the USA’s winning Nations Cup team at Spruce Meadows in 1986. So he doesn’t just talk a good game.
In keeping with the festive anniversary of the show, horses were given dress sheets with a giant 50 emblazoned on them, and Britain’s Household Cavalry made an appearance complete with gold braid and smart uniforms.
