by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 26, 2022
There was yet one more win for Alice Tarjan at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions today, as she took the Markel/USEF Developing Grand Prix Championship (Intermediate II) with Jane (Desperado NOP X Metall) marked at 71.813 percent.
Alice, from Oldwick, N.J., didn’t mince words when she assessed Jane, bought as a two-year-old.
“I think she’s probably the stupidest horse I’ve ever trained,” stated Alice, then quickly noted that once Jane learns a movement, “she’s so honest, that’s what she does every time and she doesn’t question it. Once she understands it, it’s completely solid.”
Assessing her test, Alice said proudly, “We got the twos and the ones,” referring to the two- and one-tempi lead changes.
She called it “kind of a miracle, given what the warm-ups have been. This horse hasn’t been basically been ridden for 2 ½ months.”
Alice was training in Germany this summer with the U.S. world championships team, for which she was the alternate.
Jane was shown just a bit in Florida, where Alice also has a stable, but the championships at Lamplight Equestrian Center in Illinois was her first real “away” show.
Alice Tarjan and Jane.. (Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian/Susan Stickle)
“The horse just needs exposure and experience,” said Alice, comparing being in the saddle of the eight-year-old to riding a four-year-old.
“The concentration has been on having her trying to feel confident in the arena. She’s the sweetest horse everybody loves her.”
Alice characterized Jane as “super hot.” That made her so strong when she was young that Alice thought she might be a man’s ride. But it’s all worked out.
“She’s so willing, she has no attitude at all,” Alice reported.
Another New Jersey competitor, Cesar Parra, was wildly enthusiastic about his win on Møllegårdens Fashion in the FEI Six-Year-Old Preliminary Test with a stellar mark of 84.200 percent.
“I’m very excited. I love this horse. I connected with him very well,” said the trainer, who has stables in Pittstown, N.J., and Wellington, Fla.
The Danish gelding (Florenz 71 X Tailormade L’Espoir) was bought by Cesar as a two-year-old as a present for his wife and previously trained by others at Parra’s farm.
Looking toward the championships, Cesar said, “I took the ride on him in late March. He’s very strong, but I think he’s a horse built for Grand Prix. He has amazing hind legs, he’s very honest and he’s very powerful. Hopefully, we can be part of the (U.S.) team in the future. I think we have a wonderful horse. It’s up to God.”
Cesar characterized the horse as “a goofball. He’s the dude in the barn, like Mr. Sexy. When you get on him, it’s like you are going on a jet. I think he’ll be a better horse as he develops.” The horse was third last year in the five-year-old championship.
The FEI Seven-Year-Old Preliminary Test went to King’s Ransom, ridden by Endel Ots to a score of 78.543 percent.
“I gave more gas in that ring than in the warm-up. I just really wanted to go for it and show everybody how great a mover he is. He is such an honest, really-with-you horse,” said Endel.
He called the stallion (Glock’s Pleasure X Glock’s Johnson TN) “a puppy dog. You can have a five-year-old lead him, but then he fights for you in the ring that way.”
Endel has had the horse for a year, but he wasn’t ready for the six-year-old championships in 2021.
He told the horse’s owner, Heidi Humphries, that the seven-year-old competition would be “a really good plan for him.”
The owner agreed and “has been a dream. That kind of support…gives you a lot of confidence. I never felt any pressure. She said, `I want what’s right for the horse.’ It’s been wonderful.”
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by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 25, 2022
Alice Tarjan continued her march toward the national Grand Prix Dressage Championship today, taking the Grand Prix Special with Serenade MF on 73.467 percent at the Festival of Champions at Lamplight Farm in Illinois.
Second place went to Katie Duerrhammer with Paxton (71.680 percent).
Interestingly, Katie, a Coloradan who rode Quartett on the U.S. team at the world championships this month, last week was one of three riders (Adrienne Lyle and Steffen Peters were the others) named to the U.S. dressage pathway program’s elite training list. She was named with Paxton.
Meanwhile, Alice and Serenade, as well as another of her horses, Donatella M, were not selected for the elite program, but rather, the pre-elite program with 10 other riders, including Katie, who is on that roster with Quartett.
As I mentioned previously, Alice’s Wednesday Grand Prix score of 73.869 percent was ahead of the marks delivered by Katie and Ashley Holzer with Valentine, half of the U.S. team at the world championships. Would Alice, who was the squad’s alternate, have had the same score she earned at Lamplight had she been at the world championships? No way to know, but interesting to consider.
Alice, who lives in Oldwick, N.J., needs only a good enough score in Saturday’s freestyle to take the national Grand Prix title for the second year in a row. But that isn’t a done deal.
“All kinds of things in the freestyle we haven’t practiced in probably over six months. And the horse has worked two days,” said Alice, who doesn’t want to overdo on a non-show day.
Alice Tarjan and Serenade in the Grand Prix Special. (Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian/Susan Stickle)
“We’ll try to school a little bit…and cross my fingers and pray. It’s easier if they’re kind of familiar with the lines, which she’s not,” Alice observed.”
The American-bred Serenade (Sir Donnerhall X Don Principe) is continuing her development.
“We missed both sets of ones (one-tempis) so that’s a little disappointing,” said Alice, as she thought about her test.
“It’s hard had to get everything on the same test on the same day.”
Even so, she added, “It’s a drastic improvement over where it was last year. We didn’t prepare for this show at all, so I’m really pleased. The horse is drastically different than she was last year.”
She praised Serenade’s work ethic, saying, “You could put your 12-year-old child on this horse and it would do its job.”
Laura Graves, once the world’s top dressage rider with the now-retired Verdades, took the Intermediate I Championship on SenSation HW.
She had won the Prix St. Georges and Intermediate I classes this week, but finished second today with 76.005 percent in the I-1 freestyle to Emily Miles of Kansas and Daily Show (77.300).
Laura, a Florida resident, had a high enough overall score to take the tricolor, however. She earned a total of 75.104 percent to Emily’s 73.301 for reserve. SenSation was ridden by Michael Bragdell to the USEF five- and six-year-old championships in 2018 and 2019 respectively before Laura took over.
The Westfalen gelding (Sunday NRW X Dancier) will now move up to the Grand Prix ranks, with enough time ahead of him at that level to perhaps be considered for the Paris 2024 Olympic team.
Laura was all smiles to be back in the show ring, have missed two years after Verdades retired and she had a baby.
“I’m always so excited to stand top three with women. (Rebecca Rigdon was third overall on Iquem with 71.350 percent.)
“It’s so amazing for us to support each other. It’s such a difficult industry. And to see smiling faces and people really supportive of you….”
She said it was the second time she had ridden SenSation in the freestyle, but “the first time in a big atmosphere,”
There’s more to come.
“It’s just the beginning, I think,” she said, noting she’s rally getting to know him.
Laura was “Super proud of the test we put in at beginning of the week,” referring to the Prix St Georges.
At this point, Laura sees herself “moving forward and excited about it.”
Olivia Lagoy Weltz has only been riding Johnny Be Good (Glock’s Dream Boy NOP X Tietse 428) since December, but he made a real statement to the tune of 74.558 percent for his performance in the Markel/USEF Developing Horse Prix St. Georges Dressage National Championship. That was a personal best for her, and she’s very excited about Johnny.
Olivia Lagoy Weltz and Johnny Be Goode. (Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian/Susan Stickle)
“He’s a very striking horse. He’s very elegant in his trot work and his extensions. He just kind of draws you in,” she said, assessing her mount.
“I think he’s a horse that potentially has no weaknesses. He’s scored up to 10 on the walk, and I don’t know that we were able to show that today, but I think that he really has the ability to have no holes.”
Adrienne Lyle made a statement for the future with young horses.
She topped 12 other horse/rider pairs in the Markel/USEF Young Horse Four-Year-Old Dressage National Championship with Fürst Dream (Furstenball Old X Benetton Dream), who won the Four-Year-Old test with a score of 9.5. Lyle. The Hanoverian stallion is owned by Betsy Juliano, who also owns Adrienne’s Olympic and world championships ride, Salvino.
“This is a big venue, and there’s a lot going on for a four-year-old,” Adrienne pointed out.
“We’ve done very limited showing. He handled everything just super well, he was focused, and he was right there with me. He’s just got such an incredible brain, which is something I really like, besides his talent. And he’s got lovely gaits, but he’s really got a super brain, especially for a stallion.”
In the Markel/USEF Young Horse Five-Year-Old Dressage National Championship, Adrienne was the best of 14 starters in the Preliminary test on Valor (Vitalis 4 X Furstenball OLD) on a score of 9.26. Kylee Lourie’s 2017 Westphalian gelding rose to the occasion.
“Honestly, I don’t think I could have asked him to do much better than what he did,” she said.
“He is so fun in the ring. He is so light to the aids, soft in the contact, that you can just kind of sit there and try to stay out of his way. And he really lets you navigate him through all of the different questions in there.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 25, 2022
Popular combined driving competitor Bill Orth, once one of the top single-horse drivers, died at the age of 90 on August 20 at his home in Eaton, N.Y.
A native of New Jersey who once had a farm in Stockton, he did a lot of winning with a Morgan named Bentley and gained international fame in 1992 with the Morgan New-Ran’s Hawk. He and Hawk traveled to the Royal Windsor show in England and won the Single Horse title at the Harrods International Driving Grand Prix competition. The trophy and ribbons were presented by Queen Elizabeth.
His closest competitor at Windsor was another Hunterdon County resident, George Hoffman. The two were members of the Possumtown Five, a group of fun-loving drivers that also included George Millar, Joe Urso and Stan Rosania during the heyday of combined driving in New Jersey. He also was an active member of the Hunterdon County Horse & Pony Association.
Bill Orth
Born in Passaic, N.J., Bill went to work for the Noll family farm, where he met Marilyn Noll, who became his wife in 1957. After his time in the dairy industry, Bill became a long-distance driver for several trucking companies before starting his own B-Line Trucking, which he ran until his 1985 retirement.
Bill and Marilyn relocated to Southern Pines, N.C., but after her death, he moved to Eaton, N.Y., and built a log cabin on the Orth family dairy farm.
A self-taught musician who played several instruments, he also was a bird-watcher, historian, a competitive card player and quite a storyteller.
He also was known for his sense of humor. Katie Whaley, another driver who was a close friend, remembers the time he showed up with his friends at the Fair Hill, Md., driving event’s exhibitors’ party in late October. They came as Snow White and the seven dwarves. Bill was dressed as Snow White, and the other Possumtown members were the dwarves. Margie Margentino, who narrated their skit as Merlin, helped Pat Rosania make the costumes.
Margie remembered Bill as a “good mentor and great horseman who was a good supporter of the sport and always encouraged new people.”
Bill is survived by his sister-in-law, Dorothy Hostage and her husband, Michael. The family has requested that instead of flowers, those wishing to remember Bill with a gift should make a contribution to a charity of their choice.
A celebration of Bill’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Oct. 15, at the Orth family farm, 2861 Evans Road, Eaton, N.Y. 13334. Arrangements are by Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 31 Cedar St., Morrisville, N.Y.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 23, 2022
Joe Fargis had many words of wisdom for those participating in a sold-out clinic he gave at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation in Gladstone, N.J., this week. You need to listen when an Olympic double gold medalist tells you something.
“Better to get it right than to hurry through it,” he told groups of participants riding during segments at fence-height levels from 2 feet to 3-3. The clinic, and a show today, were organized by the Metropolitan Equestrian Team.
Clinic participants start off with an exercise involving poles on the ground. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Joe’s other advice included:
- “Don’t ride faster than you can think.”
- “Be as exact as you can be with your flat work.”
- “Don’t let your transitions look like you just put on the brakes.”
- “We all do too much when we’re riding; less is more.”
- “Always do some flatwork after the last jump.”
- “Stay square in the tack. Be committed to straightness in everything you do.”
Those are just some of the comments that reflect his background of classical training and doing what’s right for the horse. Much of the need to take time and lay a foundation often has been ignored or forgotten as riders negotiate a crowded competition calendar that offers points toward awards, qualifications and big money. That often makes it all too difficult to skip a show and stay home to train.
In addition to Joe’s team and individual gold medals with the thoroughbred Touch of Class in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, he also won team silver on Mill Pearl in Seoul at the 1988 Games.
But it took a long time and plenty of work on the basics for Joe to get to that point. He first came to the USET headquarters at age 21 in 1969. During the time he was working with USET show jumping Coach Bertalan de Nemethy, he slept in one of the no-frills rooms that now serve as offices on the top floor of the historic stable. Bert, who was in the Hungarian cavalry, exercised strict discipline and expected those he was training to adhere to the highest standards.
Joe is a living legacy of that tradition. And though the world is very different today than it was more than half a century ago, the principles of horsemanship remain, and those in the clinic appreciated getting them first-hand.
“Such an amazing experience to ride with an Olympian,” said Rachel VanDemark of South Brunswick, N.J., She adopted her 5-year-old, Disco, from New Vocations, a thoroughbred rehoming agency, which meant Joe’s background had particular appeal for her.
“I know Joe’s top Olympic horse was a thoroughbred, so to ride with someone who knows the breed so well was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” she said.
Metropolitan Equestrian Team’s Jane DaCosta and Joe Fargis with a painting of his 1984 Olympic mount, Touch of Class. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Her big takeaway from the clinic was “Asking for my (lead) changes earlier instead of waiting until we got to the wall (at the end of the ring).The term Joe was using was `Don’t bounce off the wall.’”
Rachel said she got “some good tips I will take home and definitely do my homework.”
Shelly Jermyn of New Hope, Pa., watched her 15-year-old daughter, Bella, ride her thoroughbred, Myko, in the mid-level segment of the clinic. She called it, “A great opportunity to have a training clinic with a famous Olympian and get off property; new faces, new horses and experiences.”
Another New Hope resident, young professional Lucy Nyland-Elliott of InGate Farm, was riding an eye-catching gray, Cristal Hill. She had set up a grid at her farm similar to the gymnastic that Joe arranged.
“At home, he wanted to rush a little bit, so it was nice to have it implemented today in the exercise because it helped me learn how to take a step back and slow it down. It’s a refreshing experience, she commented.
Joe offers a pointer to Lucy Nyland-Elliott as Bella Jermyn looks on. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Joe is doing clinics almost every weekend this fall. He said the Metropolitan organization called him “out of the clear blue sky.” Despite having to move the clinic to the indoor ring because of rain, which meant Joe often had to shout his messages to the riders, he said “I’ve enjoyed coming here.”
He keeps the gymnastic exercises “as low and as simple as I can,” which helps riders avoid trouble, and enables him to give them equal time, instead of having to work more with one who’s having a problem.
“It was a wonderful exercise. I loved how he built on it, focusing on the straightness and the softness,’ said Melissa Rafano, who took the “perfect practice” mantra to heart.
A pastry chef from Sweet Melissa Patisserie in Lebanon, N.J., Melissa rode in the section with the highest jumps and confessed to being “a little nervous coming in”, but said of Joe, “he was super-approachable. What a nice man.”
Olivia Sousa, a 15-year-old who came from Cornwall, N.Y., with her horse Mooney, called the clinic “really cool. I was very excited. It was very helpful to find my rhythm and think `straight.’ ”
What was amazing was hearing Joe call each of the riders by name; they were all new to him, but it was special that he could identify them. You can see he really puts his heart into the clinics. Joe also does many of the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association’s Emerging Athlete Program clinics around the country.
“I just love the attitude of the people I teach at the lower levels. They’re not entitled. They love riding and horses. It’s fun,” he observed.
Joe continues to ride at home in Virginia. Although he hasn’t shown for six months, he might compete again.
“I’m not going to rule it out,” said Joe, who is the president of the Upperville, Va., horse show, adding with a smile, “I never make a plan.”
The Metropolitan Equestrian Team was established in 2010 by the energetic Jane DaCosta, who explained the organization that focuses on athletes in grades three through 12 is part of the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Community Outreach program, which offers grants.
“The idea is to be a part of the large picture of what opportunity can be brought through equestrian sports for people who may or may not have been able to have access to it before,” said Jane.
Metropolitan is also an affiliate of the USHJA which provides grants and opportunities including the Outreach competitions.
Because of her organization’s involvement with USEF and USHJA, “we came to the decision that this is the home of the U.S. Equestrian Team for the Olympics and felt it would be in best suit to have a two-time Olympian who is a part of this historical facility to provide an opportunity for an educational session on our sport,” Jane explained.
Those attending got a post-clinic tour of the stable from the USET Foundation’s Maureen Pethick. Proceeds of the clinic and show will go toward Metropolitan’s scholarship fund.
“We provide horseback riding and educational opportunities for children regardless of their socio-economic status,” Jane commented. To date, the organization has gotten $1.7 million in college scholarships.
Jane noted, “If you believe in hard work and education, you can be a part of this team. Our vision is to change the conversation from `if’ I’m going to college to `where’ I’m going to college.” Vocational opportunities also are part of the picture.
Although Metropolitan is based in Manhattan’s Times Square, it has satellite locations all over the country. Horses owned by the group are scattered at different barns, including in New Jersey, with Genna Centolanza at Brookside Show Stables in Ringoes.
“This equestrian team provides so much for these kids. I think it’s a good, good thing,” said Joe.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 21, 2022
Dressage star Charlotte Dujardin is expecting a baby girl early next year with Dean Golding, to whom she has been engaged and had an on-and-off relationship, which is very much “on” at the moment.
“Our hearts are already full of more love than we thought possible,” Charlotte stated on social media.
“A new chapter in our journey will begin; one that we have always hoped for, and we cannot wait to welcome our little girl into the world. I just hope she already knows how much she has been wished for and how much love awaits her, from ourselves and our excited families.”
Dean and Charlotte at the baby’s gender reveal party. (Photo by Jess Photography)
The timing is good, as Charlotte just completed the world championships on the British silver medal team, and the European Championships aren’t until later in 2023. The Paris Olympics are in 2024, so she should be all set for competition after the baby is born.
After Charlotte took her last gold medal ride on Valegro at the 2016 Olympics, Dean was photographed with a sign that said, “Now will you marry me?” But the couple broke up in 2019 before reuniting last year.
Charlotte became Britain’s golden girl with double gold at the 2012 Olympics in London on Valegro. They continued as a winning combination through Rio, after which Valegro retired.
But Charlotte continued bringing in the medals, taking individual bronze in the Special on Mount St. John Freestyle at the 2018 world championships, and individual bronze on Gio at the Tokyo Olympics. Riding the very inexperienced Imhotep this month at the world championships in Denmark, she missed an individual medal but contributed to the team’s silver.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 19, 2022
The answer to the question above is not just “airplanes.”
It was time for a re-think after the team failed to finish in the top five at the FEI World Show Jumping Championships last week, which would have been an automatic ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The American show jumpers didn’t even make it to the line-up of 10 teams that battled it out for the medals in Herning, Denmark, but coach Robert Ridland has a plan that should land his squad in Paris at the right time. As he pointed out, there are other opportunities upcoming to make the cut for the Olympics.
Coach Robert Ridland began his winning streak with the U.S. show jumping team eight years ago. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
First is the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona, Spain, in the autumn of 2023. The U.S. didn’t qualify for the final in Barcelona this year due to a variety of circumstances including the EHV-1 outbreak in California, but will go all out for next year. The highest-placed nation that is not already qualified for the Olympics can manage it through this route. But that’s only one available spot.
Then there are the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, Oct. 31-Nov. 3, 2023.
They are the final qualifier for the Olympics. Three of the highest-placing teams not previously qualified would become eligible for the Olympics. However, this time all the teams (unless one from the Western Hemisphere gets lucky in Barcelona) will be vying for an Olympic spot, since only Europeans were in the top five group at the championships in Denmark. That means the qualifiers for Paris will be the Pan Am medalists.
In the years when the U.S. qualified for the Olympics at the World Championships, the Pan Ams presented an opportunity for less-experienced riders to gain championship mileage.
But it’s a different story for 2023. Robert sees the Pan Ams not only as a must-do for a top team, but also “a dress rehearsal for the Olympics.”
Because Chile is in the Southern Hemisphere, the Pan Ams will be held later than its customary schedule. It’s our autumn but South America’s spring. Pan Ams usually are held in the Northern Hemisphere’s mid-summer.
“I want to take advantage of the fact it’s quite close to the Olympic Games, which is important,” Robert said of the Pan Ams.
“That was the plan we’ve been hatching for some time now. It makes a lot of sense in the lead up to Paris.”
So the U.S. squad will include A-team riders, as well as “one or two of the younger horses we want to see in a championship before you hit them with a big time world championship or the Olympic Games. It’s a perfect opportunity for that,” commented Robert.
Robert Ridland is planning on how the U.S. flag can be raised high for show jumpers on the podium at future championships. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
“Hopefully, it will work out and a similar type team will be in Paris eight months later.”
Putting things in perspective, Robert suggested, “You have to look back on the last two Olympic cycles and what we did. And a lot of things we were consistent with. The first Olympic cycle, Normandy (the 2014 world championships), Toronto (the 2015 Pan Ams) and Rio (the 2016 Olympics), we had a podium finish all three, which is rare in one Olympic cycle. We repeated the same thing in two cycles,” the next being Tryon, Lima and Tokyo.
“That’s unprecedented. No team I’m aware of in the last 50-60 years has ever done that. That’s a pretty good winning streak.”
At the same time, he pointed out, “As with all winning streaks in sport, the Lakers, the Yankees–at some point, they come to an end, and what do you do? Start a new one.”
This time, “the pendulum swung with the injuries, that affects the depth,” he said. The injuries ruled out two Olympic team silver medal mounts, Laura Kraut’s ride Baloutinue and Jessie Springsteen’s, Don Juan van de Donkhoeve, who weren’t available for the world championships, as as well as Jessie’s world championships reserve horse, RMF Zecilie.
“The bottom line is, we didn’t have the horsepower” said Will Connell, the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s director of sport, quickly adding that at the same time, “there isn’t a need to panic. This needs to be looked at as a catalyst for launching forward, for stepping up again, not getting depressed and looking back.”
After the experience in Herning, Robert said, “You wake up the next morning and plan for the next winning streak. I have been planning our lead-up to Paris and hope we’ll end up with a successful result there.”
On the bright side, the dressage team qualified for Paris by finishing sixth in its championships in Denmark, while the para dressage squad qualified for the Paralympics with a team bronze medal.The eventing squad will go for its qualification next month at the FEI World Championships in Pratoni, Italy.
“Herning shouldn’t be all about the jumping team,” Will pointed out, citing the successes.
He mentioned that competing in Europe is a big deal convenience-wise for riders from the U.S., while the Europeans often can just load their horses on a van and drive to their next stop, then head home. Think about the proximity of France, Germany and Switzerland, for instance.
“Our people compete and train and take themselves away from home,” he said.
That makes for “a hard three years,” during the Olympic cycle, as Will put it. He added that there were “no (U.S.) athlete horse/combinations that didn’t want to go to Herning but should have gone to Herning. We had the best available. The pride in team among the top U.S. athletes is as strong as any other nation in the West.”
The reality was that Lillie Keenan and Brian Moggre (at 21 the youngest in the competition but who finished ahead of the other riders on the team) were on their first championship squad, while Adrienne Sternlicht, a member of the 2018 gold medal world championships squa, hadn’t competed at this level for several years with Cristalline. All three are in their 20s. Robert usually puts just one younger rider on his teams, but no veterans were available this time around except McLain, who had only one fault-free trip in the team competition.
Robert noted the teams “more in contention in Herning than others were the ones with two superstar riders, who had serious championship success. We had a team with one of those riders,” he said, referring to McLain.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 20, 2022
Brendan Furlong bought a horse off a video a month ago, and what a winner he turned out to be.
The veterinarian from Pittstown, N.J., finally saw the gelding in person this week at the Dublin Horse Show, where the Irishbred Bloomfield Watergate won the Three-Year-Old Middle Weight class, then the Three-Year-Old Championship and the Supreme Young Horse Championship.
As if those weren’t enough awards, he also won the championship for horses bred by an exhibitor. Percy, as he is known, was shown by Michael Lyons.
Brendan Furlong and his new purchase, Percy, with Michaell Lyons, who showed him. (Photo courtesy Brendan Furlong)
Brendan isn’t bringing Percy home quite yet, though. He’s leaving him in Ireland to be produced for the Hunters Under Saddle Class at next year’s Dublin show.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 19, 2022
It was an intensely exciting equestrian encounter that made history today: Ireland winning the Aga Khan trophy in a jump-off for its home Nations Cup at the Dublin Horse Show.
The crowd in the packed stands around the emerald grass arena at the Royal Dublin Society grounds was treated to an epic equestrian battle. Cian O’Connor, last to go for the Irish in the second round, put in a perfect trip aboard Kilkenny that tied the Irish with the French, each on 4 penalties. (The Irish had zero penalties in the first round, the French 4; in the second round, the scores were switched, leaving each nation on 4 total when taking into account the drop scores).
That necessitated a one-on-one tie-breaker, with France’s Marc Dilasser on Arioto de Gevres starting out first, putting in a clear round in 31.81 seconds.
Conor Swail was picked to represent Ireland in the jump-off. As he had been the first to go in the previous two rounds with Count Me In, it was judged that his horse was not only the most rested, but also fast enough to be equal to the task of breaking the tie. He lived up to chef d’equipe Michael Blake’s faith in him, taking the title with his perfect trip in 30.31 seconds as the crowd roared its approval.
This was the fourth time that Ireland had won the most prestigious trophy in the Nations Cup series, but the first time since 2015.
Conor Swail with the Aga Khan trophy.
Coming on the heels of Ireland qualifying last week for the 2024 Paris Olympics by finishing fourth in the Ecco FEI World Championships, it put an ecstatic Michael over the top.
“It was a lot of drama for me,” said the chef d’equipe, radiating joy.
“It was a good fight from Cian to keep us in the Games,” he continued, then added, “Wasn’t Conor just amazing?”
Comparing Count Me In to “just a big pony,” he cited all the winning that horse has done this year, and then praised his team.
“I can’t be thankful enough to be able to work with these guys. They were so good, so professional. When we had to fight back, we fought back. You have no idea how much this means to me, to get the Olympic Games qualification and the Aga Khan in seven days. That’s just the stuff of dreams.”
There’s one reason he’s dedicating himself to the team.
“I’m doing it because I love the sport. I breathe it. There’s no other feeling like it. Team jumping is just the most amazing thing. The excitement that was here today–where would you see that anywhere else? We’re jumping all day, and with a competition at the end between two horses.”
Chef D’Equipe Michel Blake hoists the Aga Khan trophy with his team, Cian O’Connor, Shane Sweetnam, Conor Swail and Max Wachman. (Photo courtesy FEI)
Dublin, which has been absent for two years in the wake of Covid, is the most amazing show. Those who haven’t been should go if they’re interested in the essence of international show jumping in a very special venue. The enthusiasm of fans is magnificent, and they were more avid than ever celebrating the show’s return.
“The crowd to get behind you, it does lift you,” said Michael.
Conor Swail greets the crowd after clinching the Irish Aga Khan victory.
“To see the crowd that were here today and how they appreciated that. They probably enjoyed having to go to a third round, but it wasn’t enjoyable for me,” he said, and with the tension the jump-off generated, that was understandable.
The U.S. finished sixth of seven teams, with only Laura Kraut (Confu) going double-clear over the brawny course.
Lillie Keenan (Queensland E) and Katherine Dinan (Brego R’N B) were fault-free in the second round after knockdowns in the first. Spencer Smith had nine penalties in the second round and 12 in the first with Untouchable 32 after he lost a stirrup.
Putting in three clears in the second round was “a tremendous comeback effort for our team,” said Coach Robert Ridland.
“We went over what didn’t work one-on-one and each combination had a different area to fix, but they were fixes that were easy for them to address. Each of them executed what we discussed in their second rounds.
“Laura just needed to do the same thing in the second round and it went to plan. The grit and the determination, and the ability to turn the switch, fix the problem, and not get down with the result or where we were, but to come back and fight was just amazing. It was a tremendous second- round effort on everyone’s part and it was great to see from this team.”
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by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 21, 2022
The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association International Hunter Derby was dominated by Hunt Tosh, who won Friday’s Classic round with Cannon Creek, then went on to top the Handy round Saturday and take the big prize for the second year in a row.
Cannon Creek, owned by the Wheeler farmily, received a total of 606 over two days from the six judges, while Hunt also took third place with the Devon Horse Show’s derby winner, Ceil Wheeler’s Autograph (583.25), behind runner-up Hannah Isop and the 18-year-old Red Ryder (586.5), owned by her aunt, Tracy Freels. Hunt also was the Leading Rider of the International Hunter Derby Member Event, earning $83,239 after competing in six derbies.
Hunt Tosh and Cannon Creek. (Photo USHJA)
It was the third time overall Hunt had won the competition. The only other riders ever to achieve that were Liza Boyd and Tori Colvin.
Cannon Creek’s exacting execution of all the challenges is what put him miles ahead in competition, as the only horse in the derby to break the 600 barrier in his score.
“The horse tries so hard every time we show him. He’s super careful, brave and he’s kind of everything you look for in a hunter,” his rider said.
“His balance is wonderful. We show him sparingly, but he comes out and he’s just phenomenal.”
The International victory at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington carried $42,643.04 in prize money for Cannon Creek.
The courses designed by Alan Lohman and Danny Moore heightened the interest of the competition. For the Handy round, a unique bounce of material that resembled tangled branches was reminiscent of an obstacle you’d find out hunting, which added a bit of authenticity stemming from the roots of show hunters. It could be taken in either direction, and some exhibitors even rode between the elements on their way to the next fence after they jumped it.
There were thought-provoking options, and the final obstacle after a long gallop offered the possibility of earning more points for those who chose a high-side jump that stood 4-feet, 6-inches.
It’s too bad that this wonderful class never draws much of a crowd. The stands in the Rolex stadium had many more spectators for the dressage phase of April’s Land Rover Kentucky 5-star Three-Day Event than for the derby, which offers the type of action that can appeal to a general audience.
Other finishers in the top 10 were fourth-place Front Page, ridden by Colin Syquia, (582.35); 5) In The Know, Samantha Schaefer (568.65); 6) MTM Hand Him Over, Elizabeth Boyd ( 568.50); 7) Lafitte De Muze, Amanda Steege (568.35); 8) Milagro, John French (566.5); 9) Zanziebar R Z, Greg Crolick (556.85); 10) Attendu De Lannois Z, Augusta Iwasaki (555.25).
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 24, 2022
Alice Tarjan, the alternate rider for the USA’s FEI world championships dressage squad, got an opportunity that she missed earlier this month in Herning, Denmark, to show what she and Serenade MF can do.
They topped the Grand Prix at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions at Lamplight Farm in Illinois today, marked at 73.869 percent. If they had ridden at the world championships and gotten that score, they would have finished ahead of two riders who were on the team.
Alice Tarjan and Serenade MF. (Photo U.S. Equestrian by Susan Stickle)
Adding her scores to those of the top two U.S. finishers, Steffen Peters (Suppenkasper) and Adrienne Lyle (Salvino), the U.S. would have had a team total of 223.030. It still would not have been enough to move into the medals, however, since Germany won the bronze with 230.79. The U.S. would have remained sixth. But that placing was enough to qualify for the Paris Olympics, which was the goal.
Alice, who lives in OIdwick, N.J., spent so much time in Germany training with the team that she wasn’t able to focus on the national championships in the lead-up to the show.
“It’s not been very good preparation because the horse was in Europe all summer,” said Alice, noting the mare didn’t get back to New Jersey until last week, which meant she was only able to ride her three times before coming to Illinois.
“I didn’t quite know what as I was going to get,” said Alice, but at least, “it’s going in the right direction.”
She said the balance is better explaining that now, “If I lose the balance, I’m able to get it back.
FEI competition started Monday with the Prix St. Georges and continued yesterday with the Intermediate I. Both were won by Laura Graves on SenSation HW, who will start Thursday looking for a clean sweep by taking the freestyle. After that, the horse will move up to Grand Prix.
Laura was once the world’s number one ranked rider with Verdades, her medal mount for the Olympics and world championships. He retired in 2020.
Her score in the I-1 was 74.793 percent. She said the test was a little more tense than her Prix St. Georges, but noted it was a bit more difficult. She cited “a little mistake in the two-time tempis. But I think other than that, it was really a clean test.”
Quinn Iverson rode Beckham 19 to victory in the first leg of the Brentina Cup, the Intermediate II, for riders 25 and under. Quinn started as a working student with Adrienne Lyle.
Speaking about her ride that earned 67.676 percent, she said, “We came in, started a little bit shaky, but he settled and actually let me ride him. He was very honest in there. A few bobbles we’ll clean up, but overall, I’m so happy with him.”
The para dressage championship went to Californian Mia Rodier-Dawallo and Jayden, known as Pudding.
“I am very proud of our work. In general, I don’t chase scores and I think comparison is the thief of joy, so I do my best not compare myself to anyone else,” she said. Her score was a total of 69.094 percent after three tests.
“It’s an honor. It is so validating that all of the blood, sweat, and tears that we put into this have come to fruition,” she mused.
“In this sport in a matter of a week you can have a humbling of a lifetime or feel like you are on top of the world or everything in between. It is such an emotional roller coaster, mentally, physically, everything. When you get an opportunity to come out on a national stage, and first of all have the time of your life, and second of all, win.”
