I always thought of Jimmy Wofford as the irreplaceable man. Jimmy, who died today after a long struggle with cancer, held the status of legend befitting his expertise in a variety of roles.
He was a doer who checked all the boxes; few lives are as well-lived and appreciated as his. And right up until nearly the very end, he made the most of the time he had left, visiting family and friends in England, going fishing and enjoying his Fox Covert Farm in Virginia.
(NOTE: Jimmy’s funeral has now been set for 11 a.m. Feb. 24 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 9108 John S Mosby Highway in Upperville, Va. Donations in his memory may be made to the Piedmont Fox Hounds Conservation Fund c/o Box 592 Upperville, VA 20185 or The National Sporting Library,102 The Plains Road,Middleburg ,VA 20117.)
Heavily influenced by his military heritage, he grew up on a farm next to the Fort Riley, Kansas, Army base, where the U.S. cavalry trained. His father, Col. John Wofford, was an Olympian who rode on the U.S. army show jumping team in the 1932 Olympics.
Jimmy went on to get Olympic and world championships medals in eventing. He then became a coach, generously sharing his knowledge of the sport to the benefit of horse and rider, whether in person or through the books he wrote.
There likely isn’t an eventer who wasn’t influenced in some way by this master horseman.
Jimmy going cross-country on Carawich.
Swapping his riding clothes for a business suit, he moved seamlessly into equestrian governance, becoming a most effective president of the American Horse Shows Association, the predecessor of the U.S. Equestrian Federation. He also served as a vice president of the U.S. Equestrian Team.
His great sense of humor was a treat for every audience when he served as an after-dinner speaker or a master of ceremonies at the U.S. Eventing awards presentations.
A real student of history, he used that to tailor his perspective on the world. An engaging writer, he produced several technical equestrian books.
But his finest effort was “Horse Crazy After All These Years,” his life story that was both motivational and entertaining. It’s a history as much as it is a biography, because Jimmy lived through all the changes in U.S. horse sport that brought us from the army teams to today’s very different world.
Jimmy’s heyday in the sport was at a point in time when endurance and guts, as much as talent, were the keys to victory. And he had all three.
As an outdoorsman, he enjoyed going fishing with his dog, shooting and fox hunting.
Last month, he left his home for the final time to attend a meet of the Piedmont Fox Hounds, greeting the masters and thoroughly enjoying the action, despite the burden of being on oxygen. His friend, Jim Wolf, took him there, reporting that “everyone in the hunt field came by and said hello and the hounds came up to him. It was nice.”
Jim and Jimmy were like brothers. They had traveled the world together and engaged in their share of shenanigans.
“What do you say about someone like Jimmy, who’s an icon of the sport?” asked Jim.
“He made so many contributions it would be hard to catalogue them. It just goes on and on.”
Added Jim, “He got some really good years after the diagnosis, and he went after it. He did not feel sorry for himself. He had a long time to say goodbye; he hadn’t left anything undone or unsaid.”
Jimmy will be mourned by many, including me. He was a loyal friend, a faithful correspondent and a continuing inspiration. But as his daughter, Hillary Jones, told me, we can take comfort because he is now at peace after his grueling final battle.
Jimmy enjoying one of his favorite pastimes, fishing with his Labrador Retriever by his side. (Photo courtesy Jim Wolf)
He leaves Gail, his wife of 56 years; Hillary and her sister, Jennifer Ince, and four grandsons.
Funeral arrangements are in italics above, but I also would count on some kind of tribute at the Kentucky Horse Park during the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event in April.
Dressage trainer Debbie McDonald, who was at the helm of the team that took silver at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, has been named the U.S. technical advisor for the discipline through the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The announcement comes 13 months after her technical advisor contract was not renewed by the U.S. Equestrian Federation.
She has operated as a private trainer in the interim, with a group of clients including her longtime associate Adrienne Lyle.
Adrienne, the USEF’s International Rider of the Year for 2022, now is the top-ranked U.S. dressage rider, 10th in the world standings.
Last year, there was no U.S. technical advisor for the world championships in Denmark, where the team finished sixth to qualify for Paris, but was out of the medals.
Debbie will be focusing on training support and collaborating with riders’ personal coaches over the next 18 months in the run-up to team selection for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“The team’s achievement in Tokyo was such an incredible moment for our program, and over the last year I’ve felt a fire and drive to want to get our athletes back on the podium in Paris,” said Debbie.
“I’m so passionate about the potential of our athletes and combinations, and it’s my intention to make sure we’re doing everything we can to produce the absolute best results possible in Paris. I’m very motivated and feel incredibly supported to help our athletes work towards that goal over the next year and half.”
In the technical advisor role, Debbie will work closely with USEF Managing Director of Dressage Hallye Griffin and High-Performance & Pathway Development Advisor George Williams on preparation, planning, and training, as well as providing on-the-ground training support through the Paris Games.
Debbie has been an integral piece of the program’s success over the last decade, with multiple podium finishes at the championship level, including the Olympic Games, the FEI World Championships and the Pan American Games.
She began working for USEF as the Dressage Development coach and continued to support pathway development through her appointment as technical advisor in 2019. An Olympian who earned team bronze at the Athens 2004 Games with her special mount, Brentina, she is a double gold medalist from the 1999 Pan American Games. In 2003, she was the first American rider to win the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final.
Debbie’s contract was not renewed in 2021 after a lawsuit was filed against her and her husband, Bob. He had been suspended by USEF when allegations dating back nearly a half-century were made to SafeSport. After SafeSport arbitration, the case was closed and Bob was reinstated. The civil matter–for which the couple never had been served–was dismissed.
When you think of family projects, perhaps painting the living room, cleaning the garage or planting a garden comes to mind. But for Natalee and Steve Herrig; their daughter, Hannah, and her husband, Zach Ketelboeter, the family project is being produced on a grander and altogether different scale.
It’s a state-of-the-art horse show facility, rising from an old cattle pasture similar to the properties you can still see on the drive of a half-hour or so from glamorous Sarasota on Florida’s west coast. The still-rural location offers a contrast to the busy tourist destination city with its famous Gulf beaches, high-end stores and wonderful restaurants, but it’s close enough to allow exhibitors access to those features.
When the family started its work, there was nothing on the property they had bought, just over the Sarasota County line in Manatee County. Hannah and Zach named it TerraNova after two of their horses, Terra and Nova, but the name was doubly appropriate because it means “new land” in Latin.
Eventually, the showgrounds will be surrounded by housing, estates particularly suitable for horse lovers who want to enjoy their animals in the country, while being close enough to Sarasota that it’s easy to hop over for shopping or dinner.
Steve, whose businesses include workers’ compensation insurance, handed the equestrian portion of the project over to Hannah, an eventer turned dressage rider who has a degree from the University of Florida in communications and leadership fulfillment. Her husband is experienced in construction and stable management.
Natalee is part of the effort as well, handling community outreach and charitable initiatives. Since TerraNova opened last year, it has hosted not only jumper shows, but dressage competitions and eventing as well.
Although the facility had no track record in eventing, it immediately received dates from the U.S. Equestrian Federation for those competitions, because it has not only a specialist operations team experienced in the discipline, but also demonstrated the ability to accomplish what the family set out to do.
The ambitious TerraNova endeavor continues its growth, with a permanent VIP pavilion, a new show office under construction and permanent stables for the horses shipping in to compete. The barns are state-of-the-art, with a high-ceilinged design that maximizes air circulation, as well as stall fans, LED lights and “mattresses” cushioning the stall floors to insure horses get a comfortable night’s rest.
I asked Steve how he feels now that his vision has gone from imagination to reality, and he swiftly but politely corrected me. Listen to what he and the rest of his family had to say in this video.
Florida isn’t always as balmy as it is portrayed in the commercials suggesting that you come on down. There was a recent cold snap in the Sarasota area (you can hear the wind blowing in the videos above and below) but the organizers were quick to move the VIP facility back toward the comfort zone with heaters whose flames danced as showgoers gathered around them.
Trainer Michele Grubb, who has been nominated for the Show Jumping Hall of Fame, has added TerraNova to her list of showing destinations.
“The footing is great, the management is great, the new barns are absolutely spectacular, the VIP is lovely. There’s nothing more you could ask here for the horses, exhibitors, the spectators. The only thing, it is very far from the hotels,” she said, noting that makes it difficult for people, including grooms,who are staying in motels closer to Sarasota if they need to be present at the showgrounds late at night or early in the morning. Cabins and other onsite accommodations are part of the venue’s plan, but there is no completion timeline for them as yet.
Irish rider Jonathan Corrigan, based in Wellington on the east coast of Florida, showed at TerraNova last year as well as in 2023, noting that it can hold its own among the many shows in the state.
“They were brave building this with everything else that’s going on,” he pointed out, while mentioning that Florida’s west coast has less in the way of showgrounds than the Ocala/Wellington axis.
“I know we’re planning on coming back a couple of times this year,” he said.
A Winter Equestrian Festival regular at Wellington, Jonathan commented that at TerraNova, “The classes are easier, a little bit softer, They’re still competitive enough, but there definitely is less pressure. If you want to come and bring an FEI horse or two and then bring a couple of young horses, it’s a great place to do it.”
When I wondered if he could evaluate TerraNova in relation to the lavish World Equestrian Center in Ocala, he pointed out, “WEC is pretty much finished and these guys are just getting started, so it would be hard to compare them just yet.”
Olga Zarlenga, who is going to be barn manager at TerraNova, was manager of the show jumping at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
She noted one important aspect of the new facility is that “They’re listening to the riders” about what they want,” which doesn’t always happen elsewhere.
As to its location, she said, “Everything starts from somewhere.” As an example, she mentioned that “Ocala was, okay, it’s horse country, but suddenly WEC was there and everybody wants to go there.”
The TerraNova show jumping competitions this winter, which include competitions rated 2 stars by the FEI (international equestrian federation), are being run by the Split Rock Tour. It was founded by Derek Braun, who put his riding career aside so he could focus on his efforts on advancing the sport with an updated perspective.
Split Rock’s event manager, Mike Belisle, was also involved in developing the TerraNova concept. He is delighted with the growth of the site and its shows. Hear what he had to say in the video below.
One innovation that gained instant popularity is Natalee’s project, Tiny Town. This miniature village complete with a child-sized veterinary clinic and market is a magnet for kids when they get tired of watching horses jump.
The vendor area is still a work in progress, with only a few tents selling vests and saddlery. There undoubtedly will be more vendors when there are more spectators.
Emilien Rieyre is based in Wellington with Voltaire Design, but wanted to come over and see what TerraNova was about. He had a conclusion about the venue that was similar to that of many other people I spoke with there.
“It’s really different but it’s beautiful,” he said.
Equestrian Land Conservation Resource is offering a program on equestrian trails at 10 a.m. EDT Wednesday Feb. 8. Among the panelits is ELCR Executive Director Holley Groshek, on why public equestrian trails are important to outdoor recreation, considerations for building and maintaining trails, safety measures when sharing the trail, working with equestrian groups in your area and more.
The audience for this presentation could include outdoor planning professionals, city managers, tourism and parks/recreation departments, as well as anyone in the general public interested in preserving outdoor access.
Susan Sisco, a wonderful trainer and an outstanding side-saddle rider, died today after a long struggle with ovarian cancer. She was 63.
Susan Sisco, a wonderful horsewoman who will be missed. (Photo courtesy of Tyler Graham)
In a poignant facebook post on January 14, she commented, “My mother always said getting older was a privilege denied to many. To all of my female friends from 60 years and up… most of us are going through a challenging phase of our lives. We’re at that age where we see wrinkles, gray hair, and extra pounds.
“We’ve run households, had careers, raised families, paid the bills, dealt with sickness, sadness, grief, and everything else life has assigned us. We are survivors… we are warriors in the quiet… we are Women…aged like a classic car or a fine wine. Even if our bodies are not what they once were, they carry our histories, our souls, our courage, and our strength. We should never feel bad about getting older. It’s a privilege that is denied to so many.
Enjoy every minute.”
Rider/trainer Patty Heuckeroth said on social media, “Sue was one of my very best friends for so many years. She was a great horsewoman, rider, trainer and all-around human being. The horse world lost one of their best.”
Shutterfly, the great mount of Germany’s Meredith Michaels Beerbaum, has passed away at age 30. It was a good, long life with many special moments, but that doesn’t ease the pain of losing him.
His rider posted a tribute to her amazing horse, a Hanoverian by Silvio I, who triumphed in the World Cup finals three times. Here is what Meredith had to say:
“It is with a very heavy heart that I am sad to announce that we lost Shutterfly this morning. He was a unique and irreplaceable part of our lives.
I was lucky enough to spot Shutterfly as an immature and gangly talent at age six during the show in Rastede. He came to my stable a few months later. I was fortunate enough to share the next 24 years of his life with him. We just recently celebrated his 30th birthday.
Shutterfly aka “Petey” started as a doubtful, unsure youngster and blossomed into one of the greatest horses to ever live. He won three World Cup Finals, two Top Ten Finals, the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen, amongst many other prestigious titles. He brought me to the top of the World Ranking list, as the only women ever, where I was able to enjoy #1 for 24 months.
Shutterfly won the Preis von Europa in Aachen against the best in the world at age 18, just before his retirement ceremony there in front of his adoring crowd.
We will miss the kind and sweet-hearted Petey, who stuck his nose in the baby carriage and softly nuzzled my daughter Brianne just days after she was born. I am sure that caress gave her the passionate love for horses she has today.
I will miss you my friend and I appreciate every moment I had with you. You were the greatest partner anyone could ever have. You will never be forgotten Petey. Rest in peace my love.”
Eventer Will Coleman may have missed out on the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s International Rider of the Year award, but he got recognition from the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation, earning the 2023 Whitney Stone Cup.
The Whitney Stone Cup is awarded annually by the Foundation to an active competitor whose consistent excellence in international competition and whose standard for sportsmanlike conduct and contributions as an ambassador for the sport and for the USET Foundation exemplify the Team’s highest ideals and traditions.
Riding Off the Record, Will was the highest-placed American at the 2022 world championships, finishing seventh, and is the top-rated U.S. rider on the FEI eventing world rankings, standing fifth.
“It’s a tremendous honor to receive the Whitney Stone Cup,” said the Virginian, a veteran of the 2012 Olympics and 2018 World Equestrian Games.
“The competitors that have received this award are and were some of the greatest horse people in the world — many of whom I’ve looked up to my entire life. Some of the people I most admire in our sport have won it, so to be that person and to be given this award is humbling. I’ve never thought of myself as being the type of person to receive this award, so it’s really gratifying.
“Success in eventing is often at the end of a very long and challenging road,” continued Will.
“For every great experience and achievement, there are many disappointing and formative moments. You go through these ups and downs many times and at many different levels throughout your career. It is thanks to the support from organizations like the USET Foundation, and from your owners and sponsors, that you can continue to climb the ladder and reach your fullest potential. Wherever you have success on an international level, the USET Foundation certainly helps you to get there.”
The Foundation this month also recognized others who have contributed to the sport. Margaret H. Duprey of Wellington, Florida, was presented wtih the R. Bruce Duchossois Distinguished Trustee Award.The award was created in 2015, paying tribute to its namesake’s leadership, generosity, and outstanding character.
“I’m deeply honored to receive this award in memory of Mr. Duchossois, who was such a well-respected horseperson,” said Margaret.
“This sport has brought me tremendous joy over the years and my hope, as a member of the USET Foundation’s Board of Trustees, is to give back just as much as I’ve received. I aim to support initiatives that ensure the success of our U.S. high performance athletes and teams at major international competitions.”
Margaret has served on the board for more than 15 years, playing an integral role in supporting and donating to several fundraising campaigns.
Most recently, she spearheaded the “Trustee and National Advisory Committee (NAC) Challenge,” that inspired USET Foundation Board of Trustees and NAC members to make contributions and pledge multi-year gift commitments. Thanks to her leadership, the Challenge exceeded its goal and raised more than $3 million for high performance programs.
“Margaret has long been instrumental in supporting high performance equestrian sport in the United States, and I’ve been humbled by her generosity over the years,” stated W. James McNerney, Chairman, President, and CEO, of the USET Foundation.
“Her consistent and active participation on the USET Foundation’s Board of Trustees demonstrates her unwavering commitment to ensuring prominence for our U.S. teams on the world stage.”
In addition to her work with the Foundation, Margaret and her husband, Robert (Bob), own and operate Cherry Knoll Farm Inc., which is home to high performance dressage and show jumping horses that represent the U.S. in international competition.
“Initially, I got involved with U.S. para dressage rider Rebecca Hart as part owner of Schroeter’s Romani, a mare that represented the U.S. at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in North Carolina,” explained Margaret.
“I loved and respected Rebecca’s passion, drive and desire to win on the international level. That was exciting and led me to get involved with others. Luckily, I had the opportunity to purchase the horse Cedric, which introduced me to (show jumper) Laura Kraut. This all led me to support the USET Foundation.”
Christian Simonson of Ventura, California, received the Foundation’s Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy, awarded to a junior or young rider in an Olympic discipline who exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship and horsemanship.
Christian, 20, who has amassed an impressive list of accolades as a young rider, joins an elite group of equestrians that have successfully represented the U.S. on an international level.
“I sincerely want to thank those around me including my trainer Adrienne Lyle (the USEF International Rider of the Year) and fellow rider Katie Duerrhammer,” said Christian.
“They are incredible role models that demonstrate what horsemanship truly means. Without them, this would not be possible. I plan to uphold the ideals of the USET Foundation and continue the journey of learning from both human and horse.”
Christian has been a winner already this winter, on Son of a Lady at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. Taking advantage of the USEF High Performance Pathway, Christian competed at the 2017 and 2018 North American Youth Championships (NAYC) earning the team gold medal and individual silver medal in the Junior division in 2017 and the team silver medal in the Young Rider division in 2018. Simonson was also awarded the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) bronze and silver medals in 2017.
In 2021, he won triple gold in the Young Rider division at NAYC riding Zeaball Diawind and he was also selected to represent the U.S. at the Future Champions Nations Cup in Hagen, Germany, where the team took home bronze. In the summer of 2022, Christian and Son of a Lady had a third-place podium finish in the Young Rider Freestyle at CHIO Aachen in Germany.
From a stark orphanage in Ukraine, a country where trouble was brewing, to being named PATH International Youth Equestrian of the Year, Vika Christian has come a long way in a decade. And it was horses who helped her get there.
PATH leads the advancement of professional equine-assisted services to support more than 53,000 special needs individuals, like Vika, through a variety of equine-assisted services.
When Nancy Christian of Budd Lake, N.J., adopted five-and-a-half-year-old Vika, the child appeared to have a lazy eye that interfered with her vision. But after Vika got to the U.S. and underwent a brain scan, it was revealed she actually suffered from a birth defect, septo-optic dysplasia, which made her legally blind.
Horses play an important role in the lives of Nancy and Vika Christian. (Photo courtesy Centenary University)
And that wasn’t all.
“She had a speech impediment as well, and she’s hyper-active,” said Nancy.
“She had a lot of things any ordinary child would have trouble dealing with. The orphanage let her go out in the world with no diagnosis at all.”
Luckily, Vika’s new mother is a special education teacher at the Valley and Ridge School in Blairstown, so she knew how to handle a very difficult situation. Finding activities for Vika wasn’t easy at first, however, as Nancy sought opportunities that would help socialize her new daughter.
“We didn’t last long in dance class; even in day care, we didn’t last,” Nancy recalled.
But then she got some good advice.
“I had been talking to parents in special needs groups, and they suggested I check out riding,” said Nancy.
It started to look like a dead end, because insurance wouldn’t cover hippotherapy, a formal type of treatment utilizing horses and professional therapists, which was out of her price range. Even so, Nancy kept looking and met someone whose daughter participated in Centenary University’s TRAC program of therapeutic riding in Long Valley.
That was a start, but it didn’t turn out to be an instant fit. As Vika tells the story now, when she was introduced to horses, she thought, “What the heck are you doing to me? That’s way bigger than my dog and you want me to do what with it?”
When she got in the saddle, her hyper-active side came through, and it didn’t please the patient Lucy, one of the good-hearted horses in the TRAC program. The mare wasn’t retaliating, she just looked unhappy.
Then TRAC founder Octavia Brown came to the rescue of both of them.
As Octavia recalled, she saw Vika pulling on the reins and bouncing “all over the place, she was out of control. I finally got tired of it and marched over there and said, `Vika, Lucy doesn’t like it when you behave like that. If you do it again, you’re going home.’”
Vika paid attention. That was her breakthough moment.
“It was, I guess, the first time she suddenly took in that another creature could care, and she needed to care about it. And that was the first time she actually regarded the needs of another being as being important,” Octavia mused.
“She puts it as a matter of trust. From that moment, we started to be able to engage the concept of Lucy as something she needed to pay attention to. We laminated a picture of Lucy and she had it under her pillow. She’d come and talk to Lucy about her problems. And Lucy’s caring about what she did was the first real attachment she developed, as far as we can tell.”
As Vika’s mother describes her daughter today, “She is now a going concern.”
Octavia explained, “When you’re brought up in an orphanage in Ukraine and nobody really gives you love or affection, you don’t know how to relate to anyone, and she didn’t. This horse made her able to do that.”
What matters, according to Octavia, is “The fact that the horse is non-judgmental in a nonverbal sense (and) doesn’t try to control you. The fact she learned to care for that horse’s reactions shows you how powerful that silent reaction of the animal is. She didn’t need people talking to her, she just needed the sense that something accepted her for who and what she was, if she would also accept them for what they are.”
Acknowledging the importance of the PATH award, for which there were nominees from all over the world, Vika said, “I am proud to accept this award, but PATH Intl. has given me more than an award. It has taught me trust—how to trust my horse, people, and myself.”
TRAC Director Karen Brittle pointed out, “Anyone who wants to know what the value of therapeutic riding is just has to watch Vika at TRAC. She has a palpable joy when she is at the barn that’s very contagious.”
It is, she said, something that has impacted not only Vika and her family, but also the instructors who have worked with her over the last 10 years.
“You can see how this person who struggles with attention (deficit) and impulse control and other behavioral challenges is incredibly motivated to demonstrate more consistent behavior for the benefit of her horse. She’s become quite a young horsewoman. She’s always thinking about the horse first instead of thinking about what she wants to do.”
Riding became the centerpiece of a life that meshes Vika’s Ukrainian heritage with becoming an American. The Ukrainian government mandates that adoptive parents ensure their child maintains a link with their culture.
Nancy and Vika are learning Ukrainian (Vika’s first language is Russian, which is widely spoken in the eastern part of the country) and they go to a Ukrainian summer camp in the Catskills. It’s been helpful for Nancy that her college roommate had a Ukrainian background, so she can offer advice about cooking and celebrating holidays.
Vika also follows what is going on in her homeland’s war, and she and Nancy write to Volodymyr, the English-speaking taxi driver (he learned the language from video games) who was so kind to them while they were in Mariupol. He is now fighting with the army.
Before adopting Vika, Nancy spent three months in Ukraine learning about the country so she would be better able to relate to her new daughter. She can really empathize with the situation facing Vika, who had been institutionalized all her life.
Her sojourn there taught her “how exhausting it is to try to fit in and learn a new culture.”
But Vika has made plenty of progress. She puts in additional riding time at Freedom Horse in Long Valley and is competing in horse shows. Originally, she was on a leadline; now she’s off the lead and on her own with a horse and a dream.
While many teenagers are saving up to buy a car, Vika’s eyesight condition means she won’t be able to drive. So she’s saving up for a horse. And there’s no question about what she wants to do for a living, something with horses.
For her, and a lot of the children we serve in the program, horses are the one thing that has really, really clicked,” said Karen.
“This is a big piece of her identity. When other kids are talking about ski trips or soccer, Vika has this to talk about. To be honored at an international level for something that drives you is an amazing experience in someone’s life.
“This is something she is good at and works hard at and now she has been recognized. It’s a life-changing moment in a positive way for anyone.”
The Essex Horse Trials is reinventing itself. Again.
For the third time since its 2019 edition, when it was staged in late June at Moorland Farm in Far Hills, N.J., it has switched its date. Organizers are hoping that positioning Essex in early June will result in favorable weather conditions. And the horse trials is adding an Intermediate division for the first time, looking down the road to the possibility of including an Advanced section at some point.
The biggest change, however, came last year, when the dressage and show jumping phases moved to the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation’s Gladstone headquarters, while cross-country continued just down the road at Moorland.
The innovation was a huge hit with competitors, who appreciated riding at the prestigious venue, with its storied history of Olympic medalists who trained there.
“Local people like to come here; it’s like getting to Yankee Stadium if you’re in Little League,” observed Ralph Jones, co-chair of the horse trials with Morgan Rowsell, who is also the cross-country course designer.
As Morgan noted, competing in the iconic main arena at Gladstone is useful for teaching young horses about dealing with atmosphere in their surroundings while competing, which will serve them well as they move up in their careers.
The Essex set-up is the same this year. A cocktail party will be held during the stadium jumping, which follows the dressage on Saturday June 3 in Gladstone. Cross-country is set for Moorland the next day, where the Peter Chesson Memorial Car Show also will be staged. Another atmosphere test for both horse and rider is the water complex at Moorland, surrounded by enthusiastic tailgaters.
The event has attracted a number of the sport’s biggest names in recent years, including Olympic individual medalist Phillip Dutton; U.S. Eventing’s Rider of the Year, Boyd Martin; Will Coleman, the top U.S. finisher at last year’s world championships and Hannah Sue Burnett Hollberg.
Essex was a major fixture on the eventing circuit from the late 1960s through 1998, when it last ran at the USET. When some of the USET property was sold, that meant it was no longer optimal for the cross-country phase, so the event didn’t go again for 18 years. But there were many who remembered Essex and missed it. An opportunity to stage all phases at Moorland, also home of the Far Hills Race Meeting, led to its revival in 2017.
A mid-July date in 2021 (2020 was cancelled due to Covid) wasn’t great weatherwise, and a continuing problem was the lack of all-weather ring at Moorland for dressage and jumping. Then last year’s switch to the fourth of July weekend was a problem for volunteers and sponsors who had other plans for the holiday, so an alternative was needed.
“It’s difficult to get a date,” said Morgan, citing the crowded eventing calendar.
He negotiated on behalf of Essex with Chris Donovan of the Maryland Combined Training Association, which has an event on the same June dates. He noted she was gracious about giving permission for Essex to run on the first weekend in June. There really isn’t a conflict, he pointed out.
While the Maryland event gets most of its participants from that state and southern Pennsylvania, Essex tends to draw from New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania and U.S. Eventing’s Area I, Morgan explained. He noted that Area I has lost a good number of events over the past few years, which means Essex is an important and convenient stop for riders from New York and New England.
The lowest level division offered at Essex is Beginner Novice, with Intermediate the highest. Morgan explained that while the cross-country fences have a maximum height two inches higher than Preliminary, “the show jumping is significantly higher” than Prelim at 3-feet, 11 inches and more technical. Chris Barnard, a popular eventing show jumping course designer, will be handling those duties at Essex again.
Essex is always looking for people who would like to be patrons of the event to help keep it going. Those who are interested can contact Ralph at ralph@essexhorsetrials.org. The Essex website is www.essexhorsetrials.org.
The event’s beneficiary is the LifeCamp in Pottersville, a century-old venture that provides a day camp each summer for 300 kids ages six through 14 from the greater Newark area.
Last year, a visit to cross-country day was an enjoyable field trip for the campers and their parents. They had a picnic by the water complex for a memorable afternoon, really getting into watching the horses splash into the water.
Campers had a chance to brush a pony during the horse trials. (Photo by Hillary Murphy)
“It was super exciting,” said Kathy Cree, the camp’s director, who also noted about the setting “Moorland Farm is a beautiful place by any standard.”
The kids, most of whom had never been close to a horse, were thrilled to be able to brush and pet a pony that was brought to the horse trials. They also learned about what the pony eats and how to take care of it.
“This pony was just the best, sweet and calm. Six kids at a time were brushing the pony. It was great,” commented Kathy.
She expects 150 to 175 kids with their parents and grandparents to attend the horse trials this year, though there could be more.
The camp has a link with Essex through James Cox Brady, who founded it a century ago and also built the imposing stables at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation on what was once his farm.
“The support of the horse trials has been amazing for us and we are incredibly grateful for it,” said Kathy.
“Beyond the financial piece of it, it helps get our name out in the community with people who may not be familiar with what we do. All the money that comes in goes to our programs, so we don’t really spend a lot of money on marketing” But with the publicity for the horse trials, she commented, “People say, `Oh, we saw your name around town.’”
Programs provided by the camp include swimming, with every child getting a swim lesson daily.
“It’s a lifetime skill that is portable,” Kathy pointed out.
Boyd Martin has never been shy about advising people what he’s up to, but he reached a new pinnacle in that regard with his new year letter (complete with photos) to friends, owners, supporters and sponsors.
He touches on everything he’s been up to, including his quest to be the number one-ranked eventer in the world, giving up drinking alcohol in his eternal quest for fitness; managing to stay out of the hospital for awhile despite being accident prone and what’s going on with his wife, Silva, and their irrepressible children, Nox and Leo. Boyd also generously thanked the people who work for him and his wife, from the nanny to the stable help.
Boyd and Silva Martin with their children, Nox and Leo (Photo courtesy Boyd Martin)
I think his letter offers a real insight into the thinking and life of a top rider. You’ll find it interesting. Here are some edited excerpts from what he had to say:
“In the first week of January, the bulk of the eventing horses moved to our winter training base in Aiken, S.C. For many years we have been training out of a beautiful facility named Stable View. A lot of the other top professionals have now chosen Ocala, Fla., over Aiken for their winter base.
“I personally still feel Aiken is the perfect spot for my horses and team. Firstly, the month of January is really about getting the horses fit and build up their condition. Stable View is perfect for that. It is a 2,000-acre property with superb facilities to get the horses built up for the up coming year. I believe it’s important not to to rush the horses to competition too soon.
“With our group of horses, it is a very detailed slow progression of work.
“I truly think that this prepares them for the upcoming year. It’s very easy to get overly excited early in the year and I truly believe a lot of the injuries occur when the base fitness is missed in the early stages of their preparation for the competition season.
“We start competing in February as we start preparing for the big events this spring. With all of the horses in training, we have major goals marked throughout the year. Make no mistake, we want to win these major goals and be at the top. A lot of the competitions leading up to these major goals and events are the contests that lead to this ultimate success. I believe it’s important to understand that it’s not that productive long-term for us to try to win every start. This is a long journey.
“Silva’s team of dressage horses are braving the cold in Pennsylvania for January and February. The new indoor arena at Windurra (the Martins’ farm) is superb. Having this new world class indoor means that the training of the horses in the winter is unaffected due to the weather. The cost of building it was crippling, but we are thrilled with it. McComsey Builders have done a superb job of exceeding our expectations with this building.
“Silva will take a top group of horses to Wellington in March to compete and train. At the moment, Silva has the most exciting group of horses that she has ever had. Her group of owners are top-class, and the quality of horses is outstanding. (Here is a link to the story I wrote last September about Silva and her career prospects.) Silva had a bit of a blip in her career with a brain injury and two pregnancies. It’s not until now I that she she is now in a place to really crack on with her equestrian career. I think the next years in Silva’s riding carrier could be some of her best.
“Family life is absolutely full-on. Nox has started his new schooling life at the Upland School where he has entered the 1st grade, whilst Leo is continuing his studies at the magnificent London Grove Pre-School. In the last 12 months Nox has started to understand the fierce enjoyment of competition. Leo still sees his sports as a great opportunity to chat and play with the other children. Sport seems to be more of a social event for him at the moment. Ice hockey is definitely the winter choice of sports, and swimming, soccer, and lacrosse for the rest of the year.
Boyd with his future ice hockey stars, Leo and Nox. (Photo courtesy of Boyd Martin)
“Both boys are enjoying jumping on the horses after school. After many attempts, both Silva and I realize that they both don’t think we know what we are talking about with horses and that we pay for riding lessons at the local riding school up the road each week. I actually think it’s better if I don’t try to help them with the art of riding a horse, but just have fun when we ride together.
“We are slowly getting through the projects into developing Windurra into the ultimate training facility. Currently the farm is a mixture of being very Australian with electric tape paddocks and some very workmanlike stables, with the other half looking very German (Silva is a native of Germany) with beautiful arenas and attractive landscaping.
“For me, it was a mixture of results last year with the event horses. I was a little short of top, top horses with a number of my superstars sidelined with injuries and the next generation about to pop through to the 5-star ranks.
“I finally won a medal at the World Championships after 12 years of attempts, and was lucky enough to win Rider of the Year in the U.S. 2023 looks very exciting for me. Some of my faithful soldiers are back in action, and we have purchased a couple of very exciting new horses. The younger group of horses coming through also look amazing. If all goes to plan this upcoming year, I have a real chance of being number one in the world.
“Obviously, this all revolves around finding the best horses, and more importantly having a loyal, generous group of supporters behind us. Starting the sport from the bottom makes me realize how much we appreciate the support. We never feel entitled when it comes to people stepping up and sponsoring horses, and we also completely understand how much of a financial commitment it is. The reality is that the horse sports at the top level is getting more and more competitive.
“To win the big ones, you need the best quality horse you can get your hands on. This type of horse is getting harder and harder to find. It’s also getting more and more expensive to buy the best ones. This is the name of the game. We have all of the other parts in place. Work ethic, top staff, brilliant coaches, perfect training facilities and experience and mileage at the top end of competition.
“I also achieved another personal goal of giving up the demon drink for the last 12 months. Over the years, I have had a love/hate relationship with alcohol. To be honest, I love a cold beer at the end of the day, but it slowly evolved into a daily extremity. I have always struggled with moderation in all areas of my life, and at the moment, I need to be at my best with all of the balls I am juggling.
“Eventually I would like to try to revisit having a social cocktail, but for now I will continue living the life as a monk. The other major change moving forward will be to cut back on teaching so many lessons in a day at the farm. I have often found it hard to say no to things, but I believe to be the best.
“I need to focus more on my riding and training at home, rather than to zoom through my list of horses so I can start teaching at 2pm. I will still help a handful of the top professionals on occasions and still teach clinics at quieter times of the year but am planning to just slow right down on the ship-in lessons from local riders. I have a lot of top horses now, and I need to give them as much time as I can. Sometimes my biggest enemy in life are the distractions and it’s important for me to focus on keeping the main thing, the main thing!
“My body has held up very well in the last year. After having a never ending run of surgeries and injuries in my early 40’s, I believe I have found a good system of staying healthy. I continue working with my physio Andrew Russell, my yoga instructor Biz Magarity, and my personal fitness trainer Kenny Ray. Doing a series of stretch’s and exercises each day along with a healthy diet has improved me as an athlete. I feel better in my body and I also think it has helped my mental health. I feel better and am generally more happy in life.
“I have kept the circle of coaches the same with Silva doing most of the dressage, Peter Wylde the show jumping and Erik Duvander overseeing all of the training. In my opinion, these three coaches are the best in the business. I still believe that I am improving. I also think it’s important to keep wanting to get better, even after all of these years.
“This time last year, I spoke about the transition of the USEF team. I didn’t know what to expect. Honestly, after the last year, I think it’s been great for me. I have had more opportunity to work with the coaches I believe suit me and my horses the most.
“I am still unsure if this way is good for the whole country, but for me personally, it’s been great. It seems a lot of the countries around the world are heading in this direction. The new Chef d’Equipe, Bobby Costello, has had a bit more of a managing role and has had a lot of success in his first year. To keep going forward, I believe we should back him and the team and keep trying to win medals at every level!”
