by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 20, 2023
Services are set March 22 for Olympic and Pan American Games eventing medalist Kevin J. Freeman, 81, who died March 18 in Portland, Oregon. His passing came six weeks after the death of his teammate and close friend of 57 years, Jimmy Wofford.
Kevin, who represented the U.S. at three Olympic games and the Pan Ams, was also a successful businessman, as well as coach and mentor to equestrians around the world. He earned his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He and his wife of 52 years, Barrie, who were best friends in high school, lived in Portland at Clodomir Farm.
Kevin Freeman and Good Mixture.
Kevin’s equestrian accomplishments include winning a gold medal as part of the U.S. team that competed at the 1963 Pan-American Games in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where he also won an individual silver. He helped the U.S. team win silver medals in the 1964, 1968, and 1972 Olympic Games, and in 1964, he was the U.S. National Three-Day Event Champion and won the Olympic Trials in Gladstone. At the 1968 Olympics, Kevin competed on Chalan, a horse he’d ridden only once before. Kevin capped off his Olympic career at the 1972 games, finishing fifth individually and leading the American contingent to a team silver as the highest-placed U.S. rider. He had one of only three clear rounds on cross-country aboard one of his longtime partners, Good Mixture.
Kevin also placed third in the Maryland Hunt Cup and won the 1968 Iroquois Steeplechase in Tennessee, the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup in 1969, and the New Jersey Hunt Cup in 1970. He then turned his attention to show jumping, winning at the highest levels across North America, including at Spruce Meadows and Thunderbird venues in Canada.
As a coach, Kevin delighted in sharing his knowledge with the hundreds of horses and riders he trained over the last 50 years at Clodomir Farm. He also hosted the Freeman Farm Horse Trials at his family’s Molalla farm for several years, attracting competitors from around the country.
An all-around athlete, Kevin was a varsity athlete for the 1961-62 Cornell University men’s polo team and an avid skier. He was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1991 and the United States Eventing Association Hall of Fame in 2009, along with Good Mixture.
Kevin worked closely with his father, Percy, and brothers, Michael and Perk, to run J.A. Freeman and Son, a farm-implement manufacturing company based out of Portland for more than 100 years. When the family sold the business to Allied Systems Co. in 2004, he and his two brothers continued working together, creating the Freeman Group, a commercial real estate company that he helped run until his death.
In addition to his wife, Kevin is survived by his children, Eric (Stephanie); Peter (Anna); Kevin and Wendy Freeman Gallo (Edgar); his brother, Perk; sister, Laurie Freeman; his six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
The March 22 memorial service will be held at 10 am at St. Mary’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland, followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Kevin’s name to the United States Equestrian Team Foundation or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 1, 2023
McLain Ward, who has piled up triumph after triumph since winning the first leg of the Rolex Grand Slam in Geneva last December, had to settle for sixth place tonight in the $500,000 Rolex 5-star Grand Prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival.
Richard Vogel took a victory lap after winning the $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix.
The 40-horse field faced quite a challenge at the Wellington International showgrounds on the course designed by Guilherme Jorge.
German rider Richard Vogel on Cepano Baloubet was one of only two contenders in the seven-horse jump-off to finish fault free, winning by an amazing 8.62-second margin over Colombia’s Roberto Teran on Dez’ Ooktoff, who wisely decided to go for a clear rather than time.
McLain was aboard HH Azur, the mare on whom he won at Geneva as well as the second leg of the Rolex Grand Slam series in the Netherlands. She was also his ride six years ago in Omaha, when he won the FEI World Cup Finals for the first time.
Luck was not with him, as he had rails down at both the Rolex double, as well as the vertical that followed it. His total was 12 faults in 40.6 seconds.
“I’m overwhelmed,” said Richard.
“Two weeks ago, I wasn’t sure I even wanted to do this horse in this big a grand prix. But, he felt really good and then we thought, ‘We’re here and he’s in very good shape, so let’s give it a try,’ and he was amazing.”
“My plan was not to risk too much in the jump-off, but also to put the pressure on the ones coming after me so they had to risk a bit more to be faster and I was lucky it all worked out,” said Richard, who had four international wins during the 2023 season at WEF.
Cepano Baloubet just found a new home in Richard’s stable after Veronica and Molly Tracy purchased the gelding for him to compete.
“I first rode this horse when he was six, and not too long after the horse came to our stable with the same owner and we were able to produce him. In January, they purchased the horse for me to keep it in the stable, so I’m lucky to have such good owners and so much trust in those people.”
Guilherme Jorge’s course map for the $500,000 class.
Explaining his strategy, Roberto said of his horse, “I knew he wouldn’t have the foot speed to take a win but was thrilled with the second-place finish.
“When I bought this horse, he was quite green at this level,” said Roberto, who represented Colombia in the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games.
“He’s not a fast horse, but he’s consistent in clear rounds. I’m ecstatic with him because we’ve been working with him for more than three years and he’s now very consistent at this level.
“I wasn’t going to pass Richard, or Mclain, or anyone else going fast, so I wanted to go double clear and hope for some mistakes and it worked out,” he added.
Richard, 26, and McLain, 47, will face off again this week in Omaha, which hosts the Cup finals for the second time. McLain will be aboard Callas, while Richard rides United Touch S.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 28, 2023
Charles “Champ” Hough was only 18 when he made history in Helsinki with the 1952 U.S. Olympic squad, earning a team bronze medal in eventing as the youngest equestrian competitor at those Games.
That was the USA’s first civilian equestrian team at the Olympics, after the cavalry was phased out and the Army no longer was involved with horse sport. But it was just the beginning for someone who would go on to make his mark in multiple segments of the horse industry.
Champ Hough on the great hunter, Sutton Place, in 1968. (Photo by Fallaw)
Champ died peacefully at age 88 on Monday, after a week in hospice. He suffered a stroke in 2001, and it had been “a bumpy road” since then, but true to his can-do attitude, “he lived his best life in the nursing home,” said his daughter, Lauren Hough, a show jumping Olympian herself.
She noted Champ was in the Hall of Fame at the Palm Beach Nursing Home in Lake Worth, Fla., where he enjoyed wearing his cowboy hat and cowboy boots as he visited everyone in his wheelchair “and flirted with all the nurses.”
During his long career, “He did every aspect of equestrian life,” said Lauren, who mentioned he was involved with saddlebreds at one time, then went on to run the famous Sutton Place hunter/jumper stable in California with her mother, Linda Hough.
After the couple separated, Lauren would go to the East Coast for the summers to spend time with Champ.
“He would hook up a two-horse trailer behind the motor home. I had a small pony and a junior jumper and we’d travel all over the east coast together. He groomed for me and polished my boots; we just had a great time.”
Champ went on to racehorses, training them and preparing them for sale when he worked for Fasig-Tipton. He also was on the ground floor of the Saudi Equestrian Federation as it got started, helping build their stables.
“He was a really keen horseman,” Lauren observed.
“He’s going to leave a hole, for sure. You think you’re prepared, but it’s something I haven’t really navigated yet.”
Although he and Linda were divorced, she was his caretaker for the last 20 years.
Linda, Champ and Lauren Hough. (Photo courtesy Lauren Hough)
Champ was inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame. Jimmy Lee, the president of that organization, recalled him as “a great horseman. He had a vast knowledge of all aspects of the horse. He could condition and present a horse, as well as anyone I’ve ever known.”
Jimmy called Champ, “an amazing showman who set the standard for doing it the right way and a credit to our sport. He was a master at presentation, whether in the show ring or at the sales. He was kind enough to share his knowledge about the horse and about showing with me. Needless, to say I always took his advice.”
Sharon Stewart-Wells met Champ when she was about 13 and he and her father were at the Camp Pendleton Marine Base.
“Every year, there was a big rodeo at Camp Pendleton and Champ put on an exhibition of jumping a horse around a course that he had set up. I told my mother that I wanted to do that. She took me to the base stables and Champ taught me to jump by jumping the picnic tables at the rodeo grounds,” she remembered.
In addition to Linda and Lauren, Champ is survived by another daughter, Cindy Brooks.
A celebration of Champ’s life will be held on Monday, April 3 from 4-6 p.m. at the Wanderers Club in Wellington, Fla.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 30, 2023
Laura Roberts, who had been the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s dressage performance and event support director, will now be the managing director of dressage. She has moved up to fill the spot vacated by Hallye Griffin when she was promoted to the organization’s director of FEI Sport this month.
In addition to serving with USEF for five years, Laura has other sports experience. She was involved with USA Karate and U.S. Figure Skating, serving as team USA coordinator for the latter at the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.
Laura was the USEF’s team leader for the 2019 Pan American Games and and led several Nations Cup teams at both senior and youth levels.
“I am thrilled that Laura is stepping into the managing director role for dressage,” Hallye said.
“Laura has worked closely with our coaching staff and committee members throughout her time with us and has developed invaluable knowledge about the ins and outs of dressage. She is a hard worker and a team player, and I have no doubt that she will be a great leader for U.S. Dressage.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 21, 2023
Canadian show jumper Jonathon Millar, who fell and hit his head March 12, underwent brain surgery to stop a bleed and relieve swelling. He is now off sedation and breathing on his own at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, where he is showing promising signs communicating with facial expression and hand signals.
Jonathon, the Florida-based son of Canadian show jumping chef d’equipe Ian Millar, is in stable condition, but the care required for his full recovery is financially daunting, and he has a long journey ahead.
A Gofundme has been started to help with expenses. Those who wish to donate may click on this link.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 28, 2023
HITS’ announcement last month that John Ammerman would return in a mangement capacity to the company’s Vermont Summer Festival shows was “premature,” Ammerman has said.
“After asking for my help as a co-manager (with Joe Dotoli) at the Vermont Summer Festival, the HITS management team has unfortunately failed to produce a realistic contract that includes the terms originally discussed.I have since been informed by HITS that they cannot afford my services and `do not need my assistance anyway,’ ” Ammerman commented in a statement.
He added, “Given that the news of my return was released prior to finalizing an agreement between myself and HITS, it is only fair to let the exhibitors know that I will not be working at the 2023 Vermont Summer Festival.”
Joey Norick, HITS’ chief customer officer, attributed the situation to “a touch of miscommunication. Interpretation may have been taken differently. As much as I’d love to have John there, I’m sorry it didn’t go the way he wanted. We would only wish him all the best.”
In its official statement reacting to Ammerman’s comments, HITS said the company “has nothing but admiration and respect for John Ammerman and everything he has done for the Vermont Summer Festival. We are truly sorry he is not joining us, but we have nothing but well wishes for him and Dotty.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 25, 2023
Weeks of qualification at Wellington International culminated Friday in the Winter Equestrian Festival Equitation Championship presented by NetJets.
Topping the field of 43 was Carlee McCutcheon, from the famous reining family, who has also made a name for herself over fences as well as in a western saddle. The 17-year-old Texan, who rode Chacco Star, is coached by T.J. O’Mara and Max Amaya of Stonehenge in Colts Neck, N.J., and her grandmother, Colleen McQuay.
Carlee McCutcheon and Chacco Star. (Photo © Sportfot)
Second place went to another Texan, Elanor Rudnicki on Brentwood, with Jordan Gibbs of Colorado third on the famous Cent 15.
“I would like to thank T.J. who puts in so much work to make these horses perfect for us and everything he does for us, and Max Amaya, and the whole team at Stonehenge,” said Carlee.
“And to thank my grandparents and parents for pushing me and believing in me enough to make this all come true.”
The course designed by Andy Christiansen offered a first round that included an S-line question and varying obstacle challenges, such as a split-rail option. The top 12 were called back in reverse order for a second round and then the top four came back for testing without stirrups. The class was judged by Archie Cox, Abby Blankenship, Tammy Provost and Lillie Keenan.
Riders competing in this championship are on their own. They must walk the course, make their plan and warm up without the assistance their trainers. They have to hand over their cell phones and can only have one groom in the schooling area, where Diane Landreville and Dan Reed observed the warm-up for the first two rounds and awarded riders a score for their time management, horsemanship and effectiveness in the schooling area. Those points were either added or subtracted from their overall score.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 22, 2023
Graeme Thom, the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s director of FEI/High Performance Sport, has stepped down after six months in the post to attend to “personal obligations” with the countdown to the Paris Olympics less than 17 months away, and the Pan American Games set for this autumn.
But don’t worry. Filling the role he held will be Hallye Griffin, who has served as USEF’s managing director for dressage since 2015. She has a long history with the federation. Hallye was the competition department’s assistant for the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games, which were staged at the Kentucky Horse Park, home of the USEF. The following year, she became USEF’s director of national dressage programs.
Hallye, who now also will serve as chef de mission at the Olympic, Paralympic, and Pan American Games as well as the FEI World Championships, cited how fortunate she has been “to work with a great team at US Equestrian over the last 10-plus years, and I am grateful for the knowledge and experience that has been shared with me.
“We have busy months ahead readying for the many events on the calendar for the FEI disciplines. We have a strong staff at the US Equestrian office, and we will be working closely on not only the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games but also focusing on the home Olympics and Paralympics –- Los Angeles 2028 –- which are on the quickly approaching horizon.”
Hallye Griffin.
Hallye managed U.S. dressage team efforts at the 2016 Olympics in Rio and the 2021 Games in Tokyo. which yielded team bronze and team silver medals respectively. She also served as team leader through two world championships, several Nations Cups and national championships, providing leadership, oversight and support for medal-winning teams. Beyond dressage, she was team leader for para dressage and vaulting teams at the 2014 WEG.
Laura Roberts, who worked with Hallye for five years as dressage performance and event support director, has been promoted to managing director of dressage.
It is great to see USEF promoting from within for important jobs. There are a number of people in key positions at the federation who have not only talent, but also great familiarity with the organization as well as the various disciplines, and can easily move up.
Lizzy Chesson, the USEF’s respected managing director of show jumping, said of Hallye’s promotion, “I’m super supportive and excited for her. I think we’ll be a great team. We’ve worked together as team leaders since 2016. We have a great relationship and we both are very focused on performance and growing the sport.”
Dressage technical advisor Debbie McDonald noted that over the years, she and Hallye “have shared many memories together” and in terms of their day-to-day dressage working relationship, “I am really going to miss her.”
At the same time, Debbie noted, “But she is still a part of the team. Laura is great, so I am sure we will be fine.”
Olympic medalist Adrienne Lyle posted about Hallye: “While all of us dressage folks would selfishly love to keep you to ourselves forever, I can’t think of a better person in the world to step up to this role than you. You have been the reason behind countless achievements for USA dressage and I feel fortunate to have had the privilege to work with you.”
Graeme, who competed in eventing, served as chair of the Canadian High-Performance Committee and as a chef d’equipe for Canada and New Zealand at major championships over the last 15 years.
He was appointed when Will Connell, USEF’s director of sport for eight years, resigned in 2022 to pursue other opportunities. At the same time, David O’Connor, a former USEF president and eventing individual Olympic gold medalist, was named the federation’s chief of sport
In explaining the decision to leave his position, Graeme said, “Over recent months, I have encountered some evolving personal obligations that are limiting my ability to commit the necessary time in my role as director of FEI and high-performance sport. It is out of great respect to the United States Equestrian Federation, the sport department, and most importantly, to the athletes, that I am stepping aside.”
He will, however, remain in a consulting role to ensure a smooth transition and continue as a resource for the federation.
“I welcome and look forward to staying on over the next few months to assist in special projects with a particular focus on Major Games preparedness,” said Graeme, adding, “I am confident that Hallye will do an excellent job and represent the federation and its athletes admirably.”
Hallye will report to David, who noted, “I am very enthusiastic about Hallye coming on as the Federation’s Director of FEI Sport. Hallye’s experience with the Olympic successes that dressage has achieved in these past eight years is a testament to her leadership qualities.
“Coming up the ladder from within the USEF family places Hallye in a position that will allow for a seamless transition and keep USEF athletes focused on the path toward the 2023 Pan American Games in October and the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games next summer. We are fortunate to have someone with these qualities step into this important role.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 15, 2023
After months of competition, the entries for next month’s FEI World Cup Dressage Finals in Omaha are finally set, and we will be there to bring you all the news in that discipline and the show jumping.
The roster is led by Cup defending champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl of Germany, the 2021 Olympic gold medalist who scored 91.732 percent in the freestyle to earn that honor in Tokyo on TSF Dalera. Who will be able to approach that kind of score to take the title away from her?
Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera.
Her compatriot, Isabell Werth, won the Cup three times in a row after earning the honor in Omaha in 2017, and will be aboard DSP Quantaz. Another German, Ingrid Klimke, who is better known as an Olympic eventer, has qualified with Franziskus FRH.
Jessica’s brother, Benjamin Werndl (part of the German team at the 2022 world championships when his sister was pregnant and out of action) had a good qualifying score but can’t compete. Only three riders from one country are allowed to participate.
There is, however, no rule that everyone on the podium can’t be from the same country. Yet it is likely that a place will be taken by another western European.
Perhaps it will be Dinja Van Liere of the Netherlands with Hermes. She is ranked fourth in the world, and her stallion is the number two horse in the world.
The number one rider in the rankings, World Champion Lottie Fry of Great Britain, qualified for the finals but is not coming because her mount, the stallion Glamourdale, will be breeding at that time.
The others from the Western European League who made the cut include Dinja’s countrywomen, Thamar Zweistra on Hexagon’s Ich Weiss and Marieke Van der Putten with Torveslettens Titanium RS2.
The Danes will be represented by Nana Skodborg Merrald on Blue Hors Zepter,. Morgan Barbancon, who in the past has ridden for Spain, will be aboard Sir Donnerhall II OLD competing for France.
The three U.S. riders are Steffen Peters, who won the Cup in 2009 on Ravel. He will be riding his Olympic and world championships veteran Suppenkasper. Anna Buffini (FRH Davinia La Douce) and Cup first-timer Alice Tarjan (Serenade MF) will be gaining good experience as they point for places on future international teams.
Anna Buffini and FRH Davinia La Douce. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Representing the Central European League are Justina Vanagaite of Lithuania on Nabab and Alisa Glinka of Moldova on Aachen.
The non-league representative is Caroline Chew of Singapore on Tribiani.
Australia’s Simone Pearce on Fiderdance got one of the extra starting places. The other extra places went to Western Europeans, Sweden’s Johanna Due Boje on Mazy Klovenhoj and Belgium’s Jorinde Verwimp with Charmer.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 20, 2023
The North American League of the Longines FEI World Cup will field a bunch of heavy hitters against the best Europe has to offer when they go to Omaha for the finals next month. The League wrapped up Sunday in Ocala, where the final points for the standings were distributed.
The European contenders are headed by world number one and world champion Henrik von Eckermann of Sweden with King Edward, while defending titleist Martin Fuchs of Switzerland on Leone Jei is another key challenger. Marcus Ehning, a former Cup winner from Germany, qualified with Stargold but after that horse was scratched, will be competing on Priam du Roset.
This continent will be seeking the title with the likes of headliners McLain Ward–who took it in 2017, the last time the final was in Omaha. Can he do it again? McLain is on a roll, having won two of the three legs of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping over the last four months, but this time, he won’t be aboard HH Azur. Callas is his ride.
And then there’s Aaron Vale (Prescott), who’s been on a winning streak of his own recently..
Others from the East Coast competing are Hunter Holloway (Pepita con Spita and Eastern Jam), Ailishe Cuniffe (Vivaldi du Theil), Devin Ryan (Eddie Blue) of Long Valley, N.J., and Nicholas Dello Joio (Cornet’s Cambridge). Nick is the son of 1983 Cup winner Norman Dello Joio.
Hunter Holloway earned more points than any other North American rider to qualify for the World Cup finals. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
From the West Coast, the contingent is Natalie Dean (Acota M), Elisa Broz (Kardenta Van ‘T Meerhof) and Simonne Berg (Cooper). The Canadians are represented by Erynn Ballard (Gakhir and Hero).
The “extra athletes,” who competed in North America to qualify but hail from other parts of the world are Daniel Coyle of Ireland and Israel’s Daniel Bluman. Conor Swail, another Irish rider who looked as if he had a good chance at making his mark in the final, qualified but is not competing as Count Me In was scratched.
Even so, there should be some pretty fancy jumping in Nebraska, where 19 nations will be represented. Click here for the complete list of entries.
Omaha also is hosting the Cup finals in vaulting and dressage (click here to read this story).
Don’t forget, there won’t be another Cup finals in the U.S. until 2026 in Fort Worth. Want to watch in person? Click here to buy tickets.
