by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 18, 2023
The American Horse Council is seeking people involved with horses and the horse industry to participate in its 2023 national economic impact survey.
The purpose of the census is to demonstrate the value of the equine industry in the national and state economies by analyzing the direct, indirect and induced economic impact of horse ownership, recreation and equine-related services.
AHC notes that the last three years have been a time of great change throughout the country for homes, businesses and industries.
“Rising costs of living, shrinking of assistance and changes in demographics have affected so much of our world, and that includes the equine industry.”
Not all of the changes are easy to identify, which is why AHC has begun what could be one of the biggest studies in its more than 50 years. Major economic changes have occurred during the past five years. Not only have business closures and resulting federal stimulus programs related to the pandemic made a major impact, but the horse industry has adapted to historic changes made to the tax code since 2017.
Click on this link to take part in the survey as an individual. Click here to take part in the survey if you are a horse industry supplier and do not own a horse. The survey remains open through Sept. .29.
An economic impact study examines the effect an event or industry has on the economy and usually measures changes in business revenue, business profits, personal wages, and/or jobs. As a large, economically diverse entity, the U.S. horse industry contributes significantly to the American economy.
In the past half-century, the AHC has conducted numerous national economic impact studie for the U.S. horse industry, which has included such pivotal years as 1987, 1997, 2007 and 2017.
“The challenges of the last few years with the pandemic and its economic impacts on all aspects of our industry make the 2023 study all that more important and necessary,” states Dr. Rick Mitchell, chairman of the AHC Board.
Data collected in the survey which runs through Sept. 30 will inform public and private investments in a number of areas, including equine-related businesses, equine health care, education, land use decisions, tax policy, tourism and employment incentives.
New this year are sponsored incentives for individuals and groups who participate in the survey, including a John Deere Z545R ZTrak Mower valued at $7,500, one year of Nutrena feed for one horse (a $2,000 value); one year of Purina feed for one horse (a $500 value/horse); gift certificates from Trafalgar Square Books (total value $180); enrollment in Texas A&M’s AgriLife Equine Reproductive Management Online Course valued at $300/enrollment; plus more.
“The Economic Impact Study is the most effective tool in our advocacy quiver,” said AHC President Julie Broadway.
“When the industry needs to take aim at an issue, this data is invaluable in helping us paint the picture of the contributions the industry makes and the breath and depth of its composition.”
The AHC and the AHC Foundation are not government-subsidized, nor do AHC or AHCF receive any funding through check-off programs like some livestock groups. AHC relies on contributions, sponsorships and advertising to fund the study. Details about these opportunities can be found at https://horsecouncil.org/economic-impact-study-fundraising/
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 21, 2023
Air vests, once most commonly associated with eventers, have gotten more popular with hunter/ jumper riders over the last few years.
While it may seem like a good safety measure to wear one, the truth is that there hasn’t been sufficient research to determine how much protection they offer and set safety standards for their use.
Eventers are required to wear hard body protectors under their air vests on cross-country. There already are safety standards in place for body protectors.
Hunter/jumper riders just wear the air vests, which unlike the body protectors, do not change their body profile–a look that is important to them. The vests fit nicely over a regular show coat and are attached to the saddle via an unobtrusive lanyard. When the rider parts company with a horse, the lanyard detaches and activates the vest’s trigger mechanism, releasing Co2 to inflate the vest before the body hits the ground.
But there’s a great deal that isn’t known about the effectiveness of air vests operating on their own, without body protectors beneath them.
There’s a lot to take into consideration when calculating the protective value of air vests for riders.
The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association is launching an extensive program of testing the air vests at Virginia Tech, which previously came up with the star rating program for evaluating helmet safety. USHJA has pledged $100,000 toward the research, which will cost a total of $825,000 and cannot begin until $450,000 is raised. Those who wish to contribute can go to this link.
On Tuesday night, USHJA presented an informational webinar with Drs. Stefan Duma and Barry Miller from Virginia Tech. It was hosted by Joe Dotoli, the USHJA’s safety committee chairman.
There are a lot of questions to be answered, from the extent of the thoracic protection offered by the vests, with and without body protectors, as to whether they also may help prevent some head injuries.
One problem mentioned is the prospect that if someone falls from their horse and the vest doesn’t deploy, the Co2 canister used to inflate the vest could prove a danger to the rider’s ribs.
Another downside is the concern that the popping sound of the vest being deployed could spook a rider’s horse or other horses in the vicinity. Companies that make vests are working on making the noise go away, but achieving it “will be a challenge.” The vests started as protection for motorcycle riders, Joe pointed out, and the cycles (of course) didn’t care about a popping noise.
Listeners to the webinar wondered whether wearing an air vest could become a rule, the way helmets did at the beginning of this century. But Joe noted at that time, the U.S. Equestrian Federation “had a good standard from ASTM (The American Society for Testing and Materials) on the helmets.”
Air vests (the black garment over the red coat) are gaining popularity with hunter/jumper riders, despite the fact that more information about their effectiveness is needed. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
To find a standard for the vests, “we don’t know until we do the science,” he explained. The study is expected to take two years after it gets under way. The sooner the money is raised, the sooner that will happen.
One of the goals of the work is to “test and rate the biomechanical performance of equestrian chest protection systems.”
Once manufacturers have information from the study, “they can design vests around the research,” Joe said.
The researchers would like to get any videos that might help them in their work. If you have something like that, send it to bmiller21@vt.edu .
A concern expressed during the webinar is whether the vest can protect someone whose horse falls on top of them. It requires a body protector for an effort to reduce the severity of crush injuries, though it is not always effective against such a traumatic accident.
Joe noted that “eventing falls have been so devastating with rotational falls.” He explained that type of fall doesn’t tend to happen in hunter/jumper competition because of breakaway cups and rails that tumble easily in those classes, while eventing involves many more solid obstacles cross-country.
USHJA webinars have aired on a number of topics. Next up on Monday June 26 at 7 p.m. is a Town Hall on the grassroots of the industry.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 4, 2023
Falls of horse and of rider in competition will be reported in the class results of every U.S. Equestrian Federation competition beginning Dec. 1, the organization has decided, calling the procedure “a safety and welfare measure.”
In what can only be called a statement of the obvious, USEF explained, “It is well known that minimizing the occurrence of horse and rider falls decreases the risk of injury to participants and our equine partners in competition. To inform change, evaluate risk, and implement risk mitigation strategies in our sport, accurate data pertaining to falls is needed.”
Horse falls will be reported as ‘HF’ in the competition results and rider falls will be reported as ‘RF’. This requirement will be for all licensed breeds and disciplines, excluding eventing. For eventing competitions horse falls will continue to be reported as ‘MR’ (standing for mandatory retirement), and rider falls will continue to be reported as ‘RF’.
General Rule 122 defines the fall of a rider or a horse in competition this way: “A rider is considered to have fallen when they are separated from their horse, that has not fallen, in such a way as to necessitate remounting or vaulting into the saddle. A horse is considered to have fallen when the shoulder and haunch on the same side have touched the ground or an obstacle and the ground.”
It will be interesting to see what having accurate numbers available will do in terms of preventing falls.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 2, 2023
McLain Ward, who was hoping to be only the second person to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, had two of the first three fences down today in the Rolex Grand Prix at the Aachen horse show in Germany and retired from the class.
McLain Ward retired from the Rolex Grand Prix after two fences down in the first three at Aachen.
He was aboard HH Azur, on whom he won the first two legs of the Grand Slam in Geneva and at the Dutch Masters. But with no chance of making the cut to be in the top 18 for the second round this afternoon, there wasn’t any point in continuing in the class with the mare who had given him so much over the years.
Obviously, he was disappointed.
“You certainly come with high hopes,” he pointed out.
A victory would have meant 1,500,000 Euros, a combination of the prize money an a bonus that has been won just once before, in 2015 by British rider Scott Brash. But even more important, it would have captured his “white whale,” a victory that has eluded him in this most prestigious of grands prix.
It seemed HH Azur, at 17, just wasn’t up to the challenge at this point in her life.
“We really thought she was going to retire a couple of years ago. She’s had this kind of rebirth the last 18 months. It has been just this incredible ride,” he mused.
“I knew it was going to come to an end somewhere, and maybe I didn’t just quite believe enough today.”
He added, “I knew we were kind of on the last gasp and she always just seems to be able to pull something magical out. I probably didn’t ride her also 100 percent like I believed she had all the energy to do it. It’s disappointing, but I don’t think it takes away anything from her incredible career and what a partner she’s been.”
What’s next? He’s thinking about the Paris Olympics next year.
“You move forward. We have some exciting young horses coming up.”
Meanwhile, he’s grateful for his partnership with the mare, whom he fondly calls Annie.
“I said to my daughter when she was crying today, we’re only the second person that’s ever been in this position and we’ll continue to fight on and be proud of the work we’ve done,” McLain noted.
Now the mare is ready for the next stage of her life.
McLain and HH Azur on their way to the World Cup title in 2017. (Photo © 2017 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I think Annie means a lot to the entire equestrian community, the fans of show jumping and particularly the U.S. She really is a queen. We’re all very grateful to be in Annie’s life and she’s going to have a wonderful retirement and probably a few more babies,” McLain concluded.
Later in the day, McLain wrote this letter to Annie and put it on his Facebook page:
I knew this day would come, but somehow you always were able to reach deep inside and achieve greatness time and time again.
We all know there comes a time when your mind and body disagree but it is still hard to let go. You have given all of us so much but it’s time to say goodbye to our sport and retire in good health.
I knew from our beginning you were better than me and that it would take every bit of my ability to not let you down. Your wings carried all of us whose lives you have touched on an incredible journey that is the epitome of why we seek such lofty goals and pursue them with such passion.
You are the very definition of a queen. It was a privilege to have been the one to ride on your wings, to be your partner and to be part of your life.
A special thank you to Lee, Erica, Virginie, Kirstie, the Mathy family, the Harrison family and all of our incredible team. I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in Annie and my journey. Without each and every one of you, the story we’ve written would not have been possible. I’m forever grateful for your contributions and I have no doubt Annie has touched your life in a positive way as she has everyone’s.
Happy retirement, my Queen.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 2, 2023
The Paris theme of TSF Dalera BB’s freestyle music made its usual memorable impression today at Aachen, as Jessica von Bredow-Werndl completed her sweep of the Grand Prix dressage competition.
After her final salute, Jessica hugged her mare’s neck as the fans stood and cheered. In turn, she waved, and wiped away tears.
“I was very emotional, as everyone could see,” pointed out the German Olympic gold medalist and FEI World Cup Finals champion.
Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB.
“It is because of this incredible mare. She leaves her heart in there for me. It is the arena that affects me, it such a pleasure to perform there and she always listens to me. Yesterday, I had big mistakes because I made the wrong decisions.
“Today I didn’t take any wrong decisions, so we had no mistakes, because she just listens to me,” she said.
Jessica and the Trakehner mare were rewarded with a score of 90.820, which may well go higher if she does the same music-appropriate performance at the Paris Olympics next year.
Second place went to Nanna Skodborg Merrald of Denmark with Blue Hors Zepter her World Cup runner-up (to Dalera). The judges awarded 88.730 percent for the combination’s best-ever freestyle result to-date. Aachen was only the pair’s fourth competition together.
Like Dalera, Nanna said, Zepter is a horse that has “a big heart and always want to fight for you. I now just have to figure out how much I can ask of him and what is too much. I actually found some new buttons here in Aachen. No, I don’t think we have reached the limit in his potential yet.“
Third place went to a rider from Aachen’s partner country, Great Britain. That was Charlotte Dujardin with Imhotep. She once set a world record to the Freestyle she performed today. That was with the legendary Valegro, whose horseshoe decorates the Walk of Fame in Aachen. Her new star is nick-named Pete, and at least as younger horse he was so wild that Dujardin and her trainer, Carl Hester, decided it would be best for him to live outside 24 hours a day.
“He bucked everyone off,” revealed Charlotte. He is no longer quite as wild, but still is on grass with a friend around the clock when he is at home.
His score of 88.415 percent is a new personal record for him, and it seems inevitable that the numbers will go up.
“Pete is a very young, inexperienced horse, so I am delighted with the result. But there is more to come,” Charlotte vowed.
Fifteen riders qualified for the freestyle, but no U.S. riders were among them.
Click here for the dressage results.
Four-in-hand driving also wrapped up today. As usual, Boyd Exell of Australia, world number one, was the winner.
For the individual driving results, click here. For the team driving results, click this link.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 2, 2023
The final day of the CHIO Aachen World Equestrian Festival is always emotional, ending with the aufwiedersehen tradition of the crowd and competitors waving goodbye as white handkerchiefs flutter everywhere in the stadium to the accompaniment of the German folk song, Muss i Denn.
But the competition that wrapped up this afternoon seemed even more poignant than usual in terms of the high passion synonymous with one of the world’s great horse shows.
There was a lot to take in, from Rolex Grand Prix winner Marcus Ehning of Germany weeping following his victory, to dressage champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl’s tears after taking the freestyle and the disappointment (well-handled) of McLain Ward losing his chance at the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping (Read the details in the On the Rail section of this website.)
And then Ludger Beerbaum spontaneously grabbed a microphone and announced that he is retiring from show jumping.
As he looks ahead to his 60th birthday next month, the 1992 Olympic individual gold medalist explained, “Now is the time to make room for the younger generation. It is a pleasure for me to take this step at the most beautiful tournament in the world, which is not easy for me.” Or for the 45,000 in the grandstand, either, as tears came to their eyes while the German superstar rode his last lap of honor in what to him (and many others) is a sacred place.
Today’s victory on Stargold was the third for Marcus in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen; he also won in 2006 and 2018.
The class was a marathon, with 40 starters (all of whom had to qualify in order to compete) riding over an appropriately challenging Frank Rothenberger-designed course in the vast stadium, complete with its lake, hedges and ditches.
Frank conceded, “Sometimes designing the course can be difficult, because the arena is so big, so we have to make sure we include some technical combinations and lines instead of just related distances. I think the best courses use a mixture of modern course designing with a bit of everything.”
Marcus Ehning and Stargold in the vastness of the Aachen stadium–talk about atmosphere.
The original group was whittled down to the top 18 for a second round (although only 17 went because the 18th qualified, Laura Kraut of the USA, withdrew Baloutinue after he over-reached and grabbed himself in the first round.)
From the group of 17 that went over another course, five were tied on zero penalties to jump off over yet a different route. Four of them were past winners of the grand prix.
The only one in the group who hadn’t won the grand prix, Mexico’s Eugenio Garza Perez, had a rail at the Mercedes oxer with the lovely grey, Contango. They would finish fifth, but Eugenio earned the award for being the most stylish jumper rider at the show.
Next up was Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil, who had been Olympic and world championships individual gold medalist, as well as a three-time winner of the FEI World Cup Finals. His mount, Major Tom, was really trying, but knocked a pole at the Grand Slam fence. His time of 47.08 was better than Garza’s 48.77, however, so he moved ahead in the placings.
Germany’s Philipp Weishaupt, the 2016 winner who was third to go, also had a rail at the Mercedes fence with his 9-year-old Zineday, the youngest horse in the class. But his time of 43.36 (which would be the fastest of the tiebreaker) insured that at least there would be a German winner.
The 2021 winner, Daniel Deusser, produced the first triple clear of the day on the horse who has the coolest name, Killer Queen VDM. He also left the jumps intact, but his time of 45.73 was eminently beatable, as illustrated by Philipp’s clocking.
So Marcus did exactly that, bringing Stargold through the finish line 0.61 seconds faster than Daniel.
Stargold made a statement after his victory.
“I tried to put a bit of pressure on Marcus,” said Daniel.
“I have mixed feelings; of course I would like to be standing on the winning podium, but even if I had ridden a second faster, Marcus would probably have done the same.“
Philipp blamed himself for his dropped rail, but pointed out “No one else had such a young horse. So, sitting here on the podium next to these two guys with their experienced championship horses is a great result.”
Speaking of his win, a delighted Marcus stated: “I was the last to go in the jump-off, and he was incredible. I couldn’t really watch the horses before me, but I know he is such a fast horse – I didn’t want to take too many risks and in the end, it all worked out.”
The crowd was behind him, he noted, saying, “I could feel their energy and I wanted to give them something back. So long as I rode well, I thought my horse could do it – I was slightly lucky in the second round, but without luck, you can’t win. Today was my day.”
Marcus Ehning and Stargold triumphant. (Photo by Tiffany van Halle)
Overjoyed and overcome, Marcus said, “It is absolutely amazing, my horse is a superstar and I really believe in him. I was the last to go in the jump-off, and he was incredible. I couldn’t really watch the horses before me, but I know he is such a fast horse.”
At the same time, he added, he was a bit cautious, explaining, “I didn’t want to take too many risks, and in the end, it all worked out.”
When it did, he took off his helmet, waved it around and then buried his face in the neck of his 11-year-old Oldenburg stallion by Stakkato Gold.
Marcus Ehning, overcome by emotion buries his head in Stargold’s neck.
Marcus emphasized, “Stargold is incredible, not many people believed in him, but last year at the FEI World Championships he showed how class he is. He is a very clever horse, and I am so proud of him and very thankful to his owners” (Elmrock BV).
Now Marcus is embarking on his own Grand Slam crusade. The Grand Slam prize goes to a rider who wins three of the events in the series, with Spruce Meadows in Canada the next up.
Before the white handkerchiefs came out, each nation competing at Aachen sent its riders into the arena for a farewell, passing between the stands and a line-up of Great Britain’s Household Cavalry. Workers were kept busy raising and lowering the appropriate flags as the anthem of each nation played.
Britain was Aachen’s partner this year. Annually, the show picks a country to be saluted. It’s the turn of the U.S.in 2024, but I ask you: What do we have that can match the pomp of the British Household Cavalry? Not only are the members of that group resplendent in their beplumed helmets and gold braid, but they also have swords and lances — and know how to use them. One demonstrated by galloping his horse past a hanging watermelon and slashing it in half with his saber. The other demonstrated tent-pegging (a former FEI discipline not practiced in many parts of the world) by taking his lance and sticking it through a peg and pulling it out of the ground (at a full gallop, of course).
You have 12 months, USA. Figure out how we can show off to that wonderful crowd at Aachen.
For the Rolex Grand Prix results, click here.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 28, 2023
Dressage at the Park, July 6-9 at the Horse Park of New Jersey, will have 1- and 2-star FEI competition this year in addition to national classes. It offers nine qualifiers for various championships as well.
Those trying to qualify for the Pan American Games in Chile this autumn will have their last chance to get the necessary scores at the competition in Allentown, since qualifying for the Small Tour (the Pan Am teams combine Small and Big Tour riders) ends on July 9, the final day of the show.
Dressage at the Park always attracts a nice group of horses and riders.
But there will be more to enjoy than just the competition during the show.
On the Saturday, July 8 during the lunch break, kids pf any age will be able to participate in a matchy/matchy parade, whether they want to wear costumes themselves, dress up their ponies or use stick horses or Breyer horses. They can do whatever they like with color coordination to make them feel like little dressage queens and kings.
There are several divisions, including a leadline (only necessary for real ponies, not the stick horses!) The ponies, if not already entered at the show, must be entered with a signed liability waiver, a negative Coggins test and vaccination records. Click here for the entry blank and more information.
Participants are asked to raise money any way they like, through donations or a lemonade stand, perhaps. The proceeds go to Philadelphia’s Work to Ride program, a nonprofit community-based prevention program that aids under-resourced urban youth through constructive activities centered on horsemanship, equestrian sports and education.
Dr. Carey Williams of Rutgers university will offer a free seminar on equine nutrition in the pavilion at the park on that Saturday. Later in the afternoon, about 3 p.m., New Jersey dressage rider Alice Tarjan–who will just have returned from competing at the Aachen show in Germany–will be signing autographs and doing a Q and A during a party open to all.
“We’re excited to have her come,” said Jennifer Bateman, a member of the show committee.
The free events are something everyone can enjoy, whether they’re riding or not. And there is no admission charge to attend the show.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 1, 2023
“Thank you, beautiful Dalera,” is the way Jessica von Bredow-Werndl expressed her gratitude to TSF Dalera BB after winning the dressage Grand Prix at Aachen on Thursday, and she had the chance to say it again today, after another victory, this one in the Grand Prix Special.
Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Dalera. (Photo courtesy CHIO Aachen)
It was her 10th triumph in a row since November 2022, with time off between January and the FEI World Cup final in April while she was on maternity leave.
There were a few bobbles this morning; the marks of 6 she got in the collected walk transition into the piaffe, and uncharacteristic 4’s and 5’s for a miss in the flying changes between the canter pirouettes.
“It’s not so easy when you try to be so light in the aids,” said the Olympic champion.
“I made two wrong decisions which ended up in two big mistakes,” explained Jessica.
“In the transition from the collected walk to the piaffe, I collected Dalera too much into transition to the piaffe. And with the one-tempis on the center line, I waited too long.” The rider from Bavaria said both mistakes were her fault: “Dalera was amazing; I wasn’t,” she emphasized.
The very refined Dalera, a 16-year-old Trakehner by Easy Game, made up for the mishaps stepping as lightly as if she were dancing on a cloud.
As expected, Jessica’s score of 81.021 led the way to a German team victory (458.285). Denmark (460.097) was second despite the best efforts of Great Britain’s Charlottes, Dujardin and (Lottie) Fry, who were the pillars of the third-place British team (459.756).
Charlotte Dujardin is still getting to know Imhotep.
Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep. (Photo courtesy CHIO Aachen)
“He is making such good progress as the moment and is gaining more and more strength and expression,” she explained about the Dutch warmblood, marked at 80.787.
World Champion Lottie, riding her Olympic mount, the Dutchbred Everdale, rather than her world’s mount, Glamourdale, finished fourth with a score of 79.574. Maybe we’ll see Glamourdale face off with Dalera at the European Championships this summer.
Third place went to the best Danish pair, Nanna Skodborg Merrald, with the Oldenburg-bred gelding, Zepter by Zack with a score of 80.340 percent.
The horse was schooled by Daniel Bachmann Andersen. When Daniel left the Blue Hors Stud, Zepter was intended as a schoolmaster for a young rider, but he also left. So Nanna, took over the gelding; together they were second at the FEI World Cup finals in Omaha.
Click here for individual results, and on this link for team results.
Aachen didn’t go well for the U.S. team, which finished last of eight nations. Chalk it up to a learning experience.
“There are certainly things we will take away from this competition and look at moving forward as a program,” said U.S. technical advisor Debbie McDonald.
“It wasn’t the result or marks we wanted coming into this competition, but each of these combinations knew the areas of improvement that need focus in their training and have clear takeaways after this week, so they can come back better and stronger.”
Bright notes for U.S. dressage came in non-team classes. Today, Christian Simonson finished out his Young Rider career with a third place on Son of a Lady in the freestyle, earning 75.660 percent. The other American in the class, Erin Nichols, finished 10th on Elian Royale (72.235).
Christian was ninth with a 70.177 percent on Zeaball Diawind in the Intermediate I. He acquitted himself well among big-time competition.Olympic multi-medalist Charlotte Dujardin won with the promising Times Kismet (78.294), while German Frederic Wandres had an impressive performance with Quizmaster FRH (75.441).
Adrienne Lyle, an Olympic medalist who is a protege of Debbie’s, trained Christian remotely because she is six months pregnant and couldn’t make the trip to Germany.
The music Christian used for his freestyle was what he rode to with his first Young Rider horse. It’s a full circle kind of thing, he noted, calling it “a good farewell for my Young Rider career.”
With Zeaball, “it was more a real weekend of experience, getting my growing pains out of the way. It was just `give me a lot of time in the ring in Aachen,’ which is something I hope will pay dividends…years from now.”
In the four-in-hand driving, the USA’s only representative, Chester Weber, lost his way in the marathon and was eliminated.
“Today we had an unfortunate error of course. I take full responsibility for this mistake,” stated Chester, who had won the dressage phase, “and am sorry that I let my team and my horses down. In life, we are suffering or learning and I choose to use this setback as a springboard for a comeback.”
Click here for individual driving results.
Aachen is a show like no other, and if I had to offer just one example, it would be this evening’s MERKUR Casino-Cup in the vast Deutsche Bank Stadium. The class is a contest among multi-national teams of three; an eventer, who rides a course of solid jumps and a tour of the lake in the middle of the stadium; a show jumper who competes over a regular course of colored poles and a four-in-hand, maneuvering around a set-up like the obstacles on a marathon course, as well as negotiating a route through a pair of cones after the eventer piled on the carriage.
It is all for fun, with the crowd cheering and clapping to music non-stop for a refreshing break from the serious competition.
The top three teams in the combo class delighted the audience.
The music fit the competitors; Australian eventer Andrew Hoy, for instance, rode to “I come from the Land Down Under.”
That was also appropriate for the driver with whom he was paired. World Number One Boyd Exell–who won the marathon today–is an Australian as well. Joined by Swedish show jumper Frederik Spetz, they topped the combo competition with a score of 165.28. Right behind was Bram Chardon, a rival of Boyd’s and the son of another of Boyd’s great rivals, Ijsbrand Chardon (second in the marathon). Bram was teamed with show jumper Jur Vrieling and Belgian eventer Lara de Liedekerke-Meir for a score of 165.85.
Sunday is the Aachen finale, with the Grand Prix dressage freestyle and the Rolex Grand Prix. Will McLain Ward win the competition, which has long been his ambition? The pressure is on, because he took the first two legs of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, and a victory in Aachen on HH Azur would give him an extra million Euros to spread around for the feat of taking three majors in a row.
Check back Sunday evening and we’ll tell you all about it.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 1, 2023
The eventers persevered today through a reversal of fortune to finish second after a demanding cross-country test, producing the best placing of any U.S. team at the five-discipline equestrian festival in Germany.
Will Coleman, who won at Aachen two years ago, was leading for the U.S. effort until he had a run-out with Off the Record after a slip before a skinny at the Turkish Airlines complex, the 16th of 25 obstacles. That incurred 20 penalties, and he got another 20 for crossing his line as he resumed his trip, becoming the discard score for the U.S.
The errors plummeted him from fifth to 38th, but the very veteran Phillip Dutton moved up from 24th after dressage through a clear in Friday’s show jumping to wind up sixth with Z on 38 penalties.. That helped clinch the team silver medal placing, earned with a total of 108.2 penalties. Phillip had just 5.2 time penalties on cross-country, where no one made the optimum time.
Phillip Dutton and Z handled cross-country in their usual workmanlike fashion. (Photo courtesy USEF)
Tamie Smith, the 5-star Kentucky winner in April with Mai Baum, turned in an equally impressive performance from her Land Rover win with just 2.80 time penalties cross-country to wind up third. Time faults were practically a given on soft ground along Rudiger Schwarz’s cross-country course that demanded both precision and stamina. The ground got a good soaking by the end of the competition as rain fell, adding to the challenge of the equation.
Tamie had the same number of time faults as German superstar Michael Jung on fischerChipmunk, who wound up second on 27.2 penalties to lead Germany to the team gold (104.9 penalties).
Tamie Smith and Mai Baum showed their usual determination in leading the U.S. to silver in the Aachen SAP Cup. (Photo courtesy USEF)
Tamie’s teammate, Liz Halliday-Sharp came through with only 4.4 time penalties on Miks Master C to finish fifth with 36.5 penalties total and boost the USA’s fortunes. Three Americans in the top six–great effort!
Chef d’equipe Bobby Costello noted, “I’m very encouraged, because we made a plan to come here with the strongest possible team we could field just to make a statement after Pratoni last year (the world championships, where USA took silver) that that wasn’t a one-off. We came here with every expectation of a solid finish and I’m glad we could produce that result.”
Said Tamie of her mount, “He’s a once-in-a-lifetime horse. It’s a dream to be able to have a competitive score like that. Hopefully, there’s more to come.”
Will Coleman reflected, “Not the way we wanted to finish individually, but I could not be more proud of my teammates and usef eventing this weekend CHIO Aachen. They carried the day, and rode fantastic to put us on the podium.
“Timmy was his usual beastly self on the cross-country. I was going for it, but didn’t execute well enough to pull it off in the end. There will be another day. It’s always a privilege riding at this incredible horse show, and it was an honor representing our country with this fine group of riders and horses”
World Champion Yasmin Ingham of Great Britain collected a mere 1.6 time penalties on Banzai du Loir to regain the lead she held after dressage and win the competition on 27.10 penalties, making up for a refusal cross-country at Kentucky that ruined her effort there. She wouldn’t have the same mistake twice.
Yasmin Ingham, the Aachen champion of the SAP competition. (Photo courtesy CHIO Aachen)
Yasmin is never afraid to show her feelings and there were many thoughts crowding her consciousness as she contemplated the victory.
“I am pretty speechless,” she said with a smile.
“I am very glad to be here representing my country. I am very lucky to be here riding. My amazing horse did everything right. His performance in each phase was immaculate. He did brilliantly in the dressage, there are a few areas I can still polish up, a few marks to grasp, but overall he performed brilliantly.”
Yasmin added, “I could have kicked myself after the show jumping,” she said, speaking of the second phase, where she accumulated two time penalties that dropped her from the lead she held after dressage.
“I rode too slowly, didn’t canter enough, I couldn’t fault him, but I was a bit frustrated with myself. I channeled that frustration so that I would impress in the cross.” And she did.
A speedy Yasmin Ingham squeezed neatly over a corner with Banzai du Loir.
Michi Jung observed that some caution was called for on the route.
“The course was nice to ride, but the faster you ride, the more risk, you take, which can lead to mistakes.“
Ask Tom McEwen about that.
The British team wound up third. After being the overnight leader, Tom and JL Dublin had a run-out at that troublesome Turkish Airlines complex to wind up 26th, as the Brits ended on a total of 136.6 penalties for third place.
Click here to see team standings, and on this link for individual placings.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 29, 2023
Legendary Aachen has it all–pomp, an incredible sense of the occasion, an educated audience (45,000 were in the stands for the show jumping Nations Cup) that knows when to cheer and when to groan. But most important, of course, is the wide array of equestrian competition it offers–dressage, show jumping, eventing, four-in-hand driving and vaulting.
With the World Equestrian Games no longer on the global schedule, the German production more than fills the gap. In fact, Aachen hosted the most successful WEG in 2006, a standard to which its successors aspired but never quite were able to match.
The opening ceremonies on Tuesday served notice of the splendor that would follow, with all manner of pageantry. Each year, Aachen picks a partner nation to salute, and this year it was Britain. That meant a visit from Princess Anne and the Household Cavalry (our cover photo), as well as racing Shetland ponies. The theme song for the evening was the Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love.”
The setting of the main arena is a true landscape in the city, complete with hedges and a lake. The big names in every discipline wouldn’t miss Aachen. The dressage Grand Prix and the show jumping Mercedes Benz Nations Cup today involved a face-off of the biggest in those disciplines.
Buoyed by double-clears from 2012 Olympic gold medalist Steve Guerdat (Venard de Cerisy) and former European Champion Marcus Fuchs (Commissar Pezi), the Swiss took the show jumping title for the first time since 2002. The class, worth 1 million Euros, was touch and go until the end. When Martin went clear, it clinched the title for his country.
Martin Fuchs proclaims victory for Switzerland after a clear round that clinched the Cup for his homeland.
Switzerland had only 4 penalties after the two rounds. Great Britain and Belgium were tied on 8, but the British got the nod for second place because they were faster in the second round.
The U.S. was fourth of eight teams on 12 penalties. McLain Ward went double clear on Callas. All eyes will be on him Sunday as he tries to win the final leg of the Rolex Grand Slam, after taking the first two segments in Geneva and the Netherlands. His performance today qualified him to compete in the grand prix this weekend.
Second-best for the U.S. was McLain’s 2018 WEG gold medal teammate, Devin Ryan of Long Valley, N.J., who had one rail in the first round and was clean in the second on Eddie Blue. It was a triumphant return to Aachen for Devin, who missed major classes with Eddie for a long time after the horse suffered a bone bruise.
Team newcomer Natalie Dean had a rail in each round with Acota M, while Laura Kraut logged two rails in the first round and one in the second with her 2021 Olympic team silver medal mount, Baloutinue.
“We always aim for the podium, and we just barely missed it in fourth, against eight of the top teams in the world. So not disappointed,” said U.S. Coach Robert Ridland.
“McLain of course did his normal double-clean in the anchor spot. The energy and excitement here at the sold-out stadium at Aachen is, as always, the epitome of the sport, the Wimbledon of show jumping. The atmosphere actually was a bit much for Baloutinue, and he ended up being quite an uncharacteristic handful for Laura.
McLain Ward on the field at Aachen with Callas. (Photo courtesy USEF)
“Natalie in her first big-time Nations Cup was very impressive and it was great to have Devin and Eddie Blue back on our team after his absence due to injury following the world championships in 2018…also a very impressive performance.”
Devin Ryan and Eddie Blue. (Photo courtesy of USEF)
In the dressage Grand Prix, Germany’s Olympic champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, world number one and two-time World Cup winner, with TSF Dalera BB; Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin on Imhotep, a son of Everdale, a stallion who was being ridden at Aachen by another famous Brit, World Champion Lottie Fry (she won the world title on Glamourdale; like Everdale, by the stallion Lord Leatherdale).
Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Charlotte is back after having baby Isabella Rose. Jessica was absent from the world championships last year after she gave birth. It’s nice to see these women aren’t missing a beat once their babies have arrived.
Jessica, Charlotte and Lottie finished 1,2,3, with only Jessica breaking 80 percent, which she did after a slow start that she left behind with her usual verve and a strong finish to earn 82.304 percent. She got a 10 for her final halt.
In the beginning of her test, she explained In the first salute, the mare was slightly restless and lifted her left hind leg.
“That is an energy thing,” Jessica explained.“She can hardly wait for us to start.”
Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and her fabulous mare. (Photo courtesy CHIO Aachen.)
Germany topped the competition with a score of 235.413, while Denmark finished second (228.608). Britain came oh-so-close behind on 228.565.
Charlotte, who warmed up Wednesday in the Prix St. Georges with a victory on her “ballerina,,” Times Kismet, earned a score of 79.782 on Imhotep in the team competition. That’s remarkable, considering her relatively brief competitive partnership with “Pete,” as the Dutchbred stallion is known. Lottie’s mark was 78.913.
Charlotte noted, “My goal was to compete here, and here I am, I came second and am absolutely delighted with Imhotep. How he coped so well with the atmosphere here, at the biggest, best equestrian show in the world. He is an inexperienced horse, he hasn’t done many Grand Prix tests yet, he is 10 years old and it is such fun riding him! He is so full of energy and has so many highlights. He is the horse with the best piaffe I have ever sat on.”
And that’s saying something. Remember, she rode the great Valegro to her Olympic gold medals.
Lottie was enthused with her finish.
“I know what Everdale is capable of. But for everything to go right on day X and in the arena in Aachen, that is something different. So I couldn’t have been happier today. I was actually a bit emotional after the test because he felt so super and I am looking forward to the next class.”
That is Saturday’s Grand Prix Special, which will determine the final team placings.
The U.S. wound up eighth of eight teams in the Grand Prix on 213.638. Anna Buffini on FRH Davinia la Douce was last to go in the class, but led the way for America in 17th place with a score of 72.804, backed up by Alice Tarjan, 23d on the petite Serenade MF (71.087). Susie Dutta (69.739) 30th on Don Design DC also figured in the total, with Sarah Tubman 31st on First Apple having the drop score, 69.67.
Anna Buffini and Davinia La Douce. (Photo courtesy USEF)
As the anchor rider, Anna was ready to handle the pressure of her second Aachen experience.
Although her mare “was the most difficult she’s been beforehand,” Anna and trainer Guenter Seidel were “really soft with her and just waiting for her to get her legs under her again and feel good again after the travel. She had the fire in her eyes. She was excited to go.”
Driving dressage was running at the same time as ridden dressage, with the USA’s Chester Weber taking the lead on 38.85 penalties, just ahead of world number one Boyd Exell of Australia on 38.92, far past third-place Bram Chardon (48.38) from the Netherlands. Bram is ranked world number two, and Chester is world number 16.
At half-time of the show jumping,16-year-old DSP Alice was retired to the refrain of “One Moment in Time.” She was German rider Simone Blum’s partner in taking the show jumping world championships at the 2018 WEG in North Carolina. The mare wore a sheet that bore the words, “Thank you, Alice.”
Said Simone, “I wouldn’t be where I am now without Alice. She has always been my soulmate. Because she is so unique, we have a very special connection.”
Simone Blum and DSP Alice.
Check back for another update. In the meantime, get individual dressage results at this link. Find team dressage results here.
To see jumping results, click here.
