by Nancy Jaffer | May 16, 2023
A new Judy Richter Trainers’ Challenge Class is being sponsored by the Fairfield-Westchester Professional Horsemen’s Association in memory of a remarkable horsewoman, who is recalled as “a dear friend of the PHA.”
A top trainer, author and mentor to many, Judy was celebrated at a memorial service Monday at her Coker Farm in Westchester County, N.Y.
The new class is open to professional riders with no restrictions on the size of the horse or pony being ridden. Horses may be rider-owned, or leased or borrowed, but show attire is required for the rider.
The class will be run at the PHA’s summer shows, and scheduled after the upper-level equitation classes. In addition, a championship class will held at the fall medals final show, which is being held at Kirby Hill Farm in Pawling, N.Y., Sept.10.
For this inaugural year, all who participated in this class during the season will be invited to compete at the finals.
Each segment of the new two-phase class counts 50 percent. The first phase will be run over a course of 3-foot fences and include two tests built into the course by the designer. They may include a trot jump, hand-gallop jump, and halting and backing. The second phase will be held on the flat,
Awards at the championship class will include the Judy Richter Memorial Trophy, champagne and other prizes and ribbons.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 14, 2023
The home team scored an important victory in California Sunday afternoon, as the squad won the first Longines FEI Nations Cup of the USA ever held on the West Coast. It comes after a triumph in the Mexican leg of the Cup last month, and puts the U.S. in the lead for the overall North and Central American/Caribbean Nations Cup League, with one leg of the series to go in Canada next month.
“This is a crucial step for us to qualify for the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona,” said an elated coach Robert Ridland. Winning the league would give the U.S. a spot in the Nations Cup final in Barcelona this fall, and a chance to compete there for a berth in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“To do it in your home Nations Cup and for the first time ever on the West Coast is a very special feeling,” noted Robert, whose wife, Hillary, runs Blenheim Equisports which hosted the competition at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano.
McLain Ward was the only double-clear in the entire competition, handling Leopoldo Palacios’ demanding course with the effervescent Contagious, who was totally on his game. The U.S. had a five-point lead over Mexico after the first round. The home team ended the California class with 12 penalties over two rounds, to 17 for Ireland, 33 for Mexico and 42 for Canada.
In the overall League series, the U.S. has 200 points, Mexico 170 and Canada 150. Ireland, which already has qualified for Paris, is not part of the North American League (obviously).
McLain Ward and Contagious.
“We definitely said ahead of time we were bringing our A team. It was an amazing performance. All four riders on our Tokyo Olympic team were part of those Nations Cups,” said Robert, referring to both Mexico and California.
McLain observed,”I thought Leopoldo set a very challenging track. When I walked it, I have to say I was a tiny bit surprised at how big it was.But it’s a five-star Nations Cup. There are huge consequences to this qualification, and that’s the way it should be.”
Laura Kraut, like several of the riders in the competition, was aboard a horse making a first appearance in a Nations Cup on the Oaks International Grand Prix field. In the initial round, the 10-year-old Dorado toppled the plank that was the first part of the troublesome vertical/oxer double, but he learned from his mistake and his determined rider, enabling him to go fault-free in the second round, which was run over the same course.
“In the first round, he definitely was impressed,” Laura said of her mount.
Laura Kraut and Dorado. (McCool Photography)
“I agree with McLain that the course was much more difficult than I was expecting, and it caught me off guard.” Dorado, she conceded, “was a little bit shy from the first round, and he could have gotten smaller for the second round, or he could have grown. He grew and rode around beautifully, like he’d been doing it a long time.
The younger members of the team, Lillie Keenan (Argan de Beliard) and Karl Cook (Kalinka van’t Zorgvliet) each had four faults in the first round. Lillie’s came at the water in the first round and then at the plank in the second round. Karl’s four faults in the first round were at the oxer that followed the plank in the combination and at the plank in the second round.
The U.S. team of Karl Cook, Laura Kraut, Lillie Keenan and McLain Ward with Coach Robert Ridland. (Photo courtesy USEF)
The tight 76-second time allowed caught six riders. Michael Blake, the Irish chef d’equpe, noted that several more competitors might have jumped clear if they had two more seconds “but there wasn’t two more seconds.”
And at the point in the course where riders would have “liked to take a breather,” he noted, they were faced with the Longines fence, the biggest on the course, which he estimated at a bit more than 1.60 meters high.
The Irish had three clear jumping trips in the second round. Conor Swail on Cup newcomer Nadal Hero & DB, Andrew Bourns and Seatop Blue and David Blake with Claude all left the rails in place, though David had one time penalty. If he had been on time, it would have cut the U.S. margin of victory from five penalties to four, but wouldn’t have changed the outcome.
As Michael Blake said of the U.S. contingent, “They would have looked the favorite on the books” for those appraising the odds.
Kent Farrington, who was on the team in Mexico, will be back for the Canadian leg of the Cup with Lillie and Karl, as well as other younger riders, Lacey Gilbertson and Brian Moggre.
“We’re going to win,” Robert promised.
“We’re not going there to just survive so we can qualify for Barcelona. It’s really important after the year we had last year (when the U.S. did not qualify for Barcelona), that we put winning back in the equation.”
With this series, he commented, “Now we’ve won it twice; we want to win all of them.”
It wasn’t just the victory that impressed, it was everything around it, the stands crowded with exuberant spectators.
“What was so unbelievable about today,” Robert explained, “is any time you’re at your home Nations Cup, there’s added importance and excitement and energy. Those wins are always more significant.
“The fans here were absolutely amazing.”
He said it’s important “to bring in the entire country and not just the East Coast, but in a big way. feeling the energy today in California is something I’ll never forget.
“We have a very strong country in a whole lot of ways, but we have to use the whole country.”
Karl agreed.
“Growing up in California, the sport’s in a different location. Everyone talks about going East or going to Europe, and that’s what you hear the whole time you’re growing up. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s just that it would be great if the sport was also in California.
“So, it’s great to be able to show 45 minutes from home, and it’s great to have people who are local that I’ve grown up with to be here to see sport like this. I know it helps inspire the next generation. It’s just really important for the West Coast.”
While California hosted Olympic trials in 2004 at the same venue, Robert noted that was restricted to American contenders.
“This was an international event,” like the Cups that also took place in Madrid and Great Britain’s Royal Windsor this weekend.
“This was the most significant international jumping event on the West Coast since the 1984 LA Olympics,” he declared.
“This is part of the lead-up for five years from now, when the Games are back in LA. This was a huge thing for our country and the West Coast. to have those riders step up to the plate.
“They did exactly what we expected them to do. We took the `A’ team and split it in half, Kent, McLain, Laura and Jessie (Springsteen),” who were on the Tokyo silver medal Olympic team.
“These riders have just been amazing, everyone here this week and the ones in Mexico,” said Robert.
“They all jumped on board in December when I said, `Call to arms.,'” and explained the importance of qualifying for Barcelona.
“There wasn’t one single rider who said, `I have something more important to do.'”
And now?
“Our entire team is enjoying the moment,” he told me.
.Click here for full results
by Nancy Jaffer | May 14, 2023
Remember when thoroughbreds dominated the ranks of show jumping and eventing?
It was only a few decades ago. But they’re practically non-existent at the upper levels of those disciplines these days, though there are a few, and they deserve recognition.
In the Olympics, however, the lineage of thoroughbred ex-racehorses was not recognized, and they were only listed as “breeding unknown.”
For the Paris 2024 Games, however, any thoroughbreds competing will be documented with their lineage in starting lists and results, and this will carry forward for all FEI competitions.
The new approach is the result of discussions and an agreement among the European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federation, the World Breeding Federation for Sports Horses, the FEI and the International Stud Book Committee.
The issue arose because under a Memorandum of Understanding between the FEI and the WBFSH, only member stud books of the WBFSH have historically been credited, and the WBFSH only has members that specifically breed horses for the Olympic disciplines.
Jessica Phoenix and Wabbit, a thoroughbred (Line of Departure-No Kissing) were 19th at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
The arrangement was welcomed by Paull Khan, Secretary-General of the EMHF (which represents the governing bodies for thoroughbred horseracing in 26 countries) and a member of the Steering Group of the International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR).
Citing the efforts made to encourage owners of retired racehorses to explore second careers, he pointed out, “this recognition will both further the message that thoroughbreds do go on to compete with distinction in other equestrian disciplines and prompt more thoroughbred owners to consider this retirement option for their racehorses”.
Nadine Brandtner, general manager of the WBFSH added: “The WBFSH recognises the extensive influence the thoroughbred has had on sport horse breeding and development, and that undoubtedly the thoroughbred deserves recognition.
Citing current widely publicized concerns about the welfare of competition horses, she noted, “the initiative to encourage second careers for retired thoroughbreds is a vital effort to maintain the social license to operate. We believe that it is the entire equine sector that must stand together to face this challenge, and so it is natural that the WBFSH would support this”.
The FEI’s Director of Governance and Institutional Affairs, Francisco Lima, confirmed that this development carries the full support of the FEI.
Simon Cooper, vice-chair of the ISBC, added: “The International Stud Book Committee is delighted that Thoroughbreds will now be recognized for their participation and success in equestrian sports.
“Thoroughbreds have consistently shown that their athleticism, attitude and adaptability so often make for a successful second career in equestrian sports around the world. The ISBC’s 68 Approved Thoroughbred Stud Books across the world will be supporting IFAR, WBFSH and the FEI in promoting post-racing opportunities and ensuring recognition for these Thoroughbreds”.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
The European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federation (EMHF) represents the governing bodies for thoroughbred horseracing in 26 countries –www.euromedracing.eu. It is the regional body of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) www.ifhaonline.org.
The main objective of the EMHF is to develop relations among European and Mediterranean Horseracing Authorities, to foster best practice in racing administration throughout the region and to represent Europe and Mediterranean countries before the IFHA and European Union bodies.
Further information:
Dr Paull Khan,
Secretary-General
paullk
by Nancy Jaffer | May 5, 2023
Spring Reins of Life is recruiting, restructuring, reinventing, revitalizing and rebooting as it sources new ways to secure donors and funding partners. It also is seeking to regain local strategic alliances, rebuilding its volunteer base and executive board.
In the midst of a national fundraiser for May, Mental Health Awareness Month, it is seeking to rebuild its veterans’ Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Programming.
Spring Reins of Life, based out of Hunt Cap Farm in Readington, Hunterdon County, has successfully funded, hosted and served more than 1,100 veterans since opening its founding in June 2012. New Jersey veterans were the first population served at SRoL, which is committed to keeping Operation Horse available. Although more than $200,000 was raised through private donors/public fundraisers until 2020, the pandemic wiped out the group’s base of support and traditional way of funding.
Now SRoL is involved with the Seen Through Horses Campaign 2023 and its sponsors Horses for Mental Health and Zoetis Equine. It highlights 55 organizations across the country; Spring Reins of Life is the only one in New Jersey.
Those who are interested in helping SRoL should contact the organization, which is a non-profit 501c3. It is an EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) model program offering Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Equine Assisted Learning. Here is a link to connect with SRoL.
It uses horses for therapeutic intervention in connection with promoting emotional growth and healing. A team approach features a licensed mental health professional, a certified equine specialist and horses specifically selected for their capacity to work with individuals who are troubled or suffering.
The program does not, however, offer any riding or mounted activities. The EAGALA Model offers the emotional benefits of behavioral rehearsal combined with a rich experiential component, which naturally develops when observing clients interacting with the horses at “free will” or on equal ground.
Animal-assisted therapy with horses combines the positive emotional effects gained from the human/horse bond with opportunities to challenge and explore a person’s thoughts and internal struggles during activities with an equine partner. It is a therapeutic intervention that defeats the stigma often associated with traditional counseling, but more importantly, it is an intervention that works.
The organization would like to recruit New Jersey residents as volunteers. However, so much also can be done remotely.
“SRoL will welcome enthusiastic, passionate, revitalizing support from anywhere we can accept. We are looking for interested volunteers to join our herd and build our base back to where it was before March 2020. This includes becoming involved in starting over with new committees for fundraising, veterans’ advocacy, teens and youth advocacy and donor outreach. Additional executive board members also are needed.
“We are connected to and involved in the Seen Through Horses Campaign because we have seen the miracles that can happen when groups of internally wounded humans have the chance to find their place among the herd. Finding the trust within the horse and themselves, then leads to pathways of healing and personalized coping skills and self-leadership. Everyone has their own solutions to find, and each horse has shown the way uniquely to each situation. In the past decade we have witnessed the mending of families, rebuilding of marriages, personal life-shifts, and lives saved `because of that horse.’ ”
Operation Horse Wednesdays requires $35,000 in funding to host these sessions.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 11, 2023
HITS LLC is expanding its portfolio of dressage shows and has acquired Centerline Events to increase and enhance the dressage competitions at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, N.Y.
HITS will manage these shows with the knowledge of Debra Reinhardt and her Centerline staff. In addition to five USEF-licensed dressage shows at Saugerties from May through September, HITS will host dressage at Lamplight Equestrian Center in Illinois and the Del Mar Horse Park in California.
Exhibitors can expect a new experience at HITS-on-the-Hudson, including world-class footing by Wordley Martin in three of its competition arenas. The premium front barns feature new mats, and there will also be a newly renovated restaurant, café, and updated restrooms.
“HITS has enjoyed hosting world-class dressage competitions throughout the year, including the Festival of Champions at HITS Chicago (Lamplight), and we are excited to expand our calendar at HITS Saugerties through the acquisition of Centerline Events,” said HITS COO Joe Norick.
“We are thrilled to have Debra Reinhardt and her staff’s continued support of these events as we prepare for the 2023 show season.”
In addition to Debra, HITS has added Cameron Wyman to its team as the Dressage Coordinator. She started her dressage career as a youth and in the U25 division this year. She is also working towards her Level 3 status as a manager and secretary to further support the HITS Dressage program.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 11, 2023
The last week of the 2024 Winter Equestrian Festival will be designated as Rolex Finale Week, it was announced today, with the news that Wellington International and Rolex will renew their partnership that started in 2012.
The Rolex CSI5* Grand Prix, offering free spectator seating, will be the highlight of that final week, featuring “unique classes, events, hospitality and awards,”in the International Arena in Wellington, Fla.
Rolex will remain the official and exclusive timepiece of Wellington International, WEF and the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival. The primary goal of the collaboration will be to elevate the equestrian and spectator experience in North America through the Wellington International venue.
Rolex also sponsors the Rolex Grand Slam at three European shows. It concludes this summer in Aachen, Germany, where U.S. rider McLain Ward will attempt to claim the final leg after winning the first two segments.
Another high-end watch company, Longines, is the title sponsor of the FEI World Cup Finals and many other competitions as the FEI’s first Top Partner since 2013. It is also the title sponsor of the Global Champions Tour.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 8, 2023
Interested in helping out this month at a Horse Driving Trials at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation’s Pine Meadow showgrounds in Gladstone? There’s a great tradition of driving at that location, where a highlight was the 1993 World Pairs Championship.
Opportunities are available to assist with the May 20 trials, where you can learn about driving first-hand. To volunteer, contact Karen Patrick at patrickpack@comcast.net.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 12, 2023
McLain Ward topped a field of 21 with Kasper van het Hellehof to win the $200,000 5-star Longines Grand Prix at San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
Only McLain and Mexico’s Jose Antonio Chedraui Eguia on H-Lucky Retto qualified for the jump-off. McLain’s time of 38.31 seconds topped his rival’s 38.31 seconds.
McLain Ward and Kasper van het Hellehof on their way to victory at San Juan Capistrano (Photo courtesy USEF)
It was Kasper’s first 5-star victory, and the fact he did it over a difficult course designed by Leopoldo Palacios made it all the more impressive.
“Leopoldo is one of the most seasoned and one of the great course builders in the world over the past two decades. He has a super feeling,” explained Ward.
“He didn’t have a huge class today and we do have the Nations Cup coming on Sunday, but there were some strong combinations and he had to build at a 5-star level.”
McLain is tuning up for the all-important Nations Cup of the USA, which will count toward the U.S. team qualifying for theNations Cup finals in Barcelona, Spain, this fall. The U.S., which has yet to for make the cut for next year’s Paris Olympics, could earn a place for the French Games in Barcelona, where one Olympic spot is on offer. But first, the team has to qualify for Barcelona.
“The most important part of this week for us is the Nations Cup,” McLain emphasized.
“We have to qualify out of our league, so these three Nations Cup – the first in Mexico, which we were successful at and won; here in San Juan Capistrano and then on to Langley (British Columbia). Our backs are against the wall. This is a must-do. I think all of the best riders and supporters of horses in our country are trying to come together and get this job done.”
Riding on the U.S. team this weekend with McLain is Laura Kraut, his teammate for the 2018 gold medal World Equestrian Games squad; Lillie Keenan and Karl Cook.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 11, 2023
On the heels of her Grand Prix victory Wednesday at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, Charlotte Dujardin made it a double with a freestyle triumph on Imhotep, three weeks after taking up riding again following the birth of her baby, Isabella Rose.
She was marked at 83.2 percent for her performance. Gareth Hughes, who was second in the Grand Prix, obtained the same placing in the freestyle with an 80.510 on Classic Briolinca.
Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep in the shadow of Windsor Castle. (Photo courtesy of Royal Windsor Horse Show/Peter Nixon)
An exuberant Charlotte said, “I was so excited to come here, it was really not in my schedule to rush back after having my daughter, but I got on and felt really good. I absolutely love this show, so here I am.
“I was so excited to be here, back out here riding and competing, for me it’s just such a buzz and I’ve loved every minute of it.”
Of Imhotep, she continued: “He hasn’t competed since the World Equestrian Games last year, so it was a huge ask for him to come here as it’s such a huge atmosphere.
“I’m a bit ring rusty, he’s a bit ring-rusty, we’re still making mistakes, but he’s such an incredible horse to come to this kind of show and perform the way he has the past two days, I can’t ask for more. To get this under our belt is absolutely fantastic.”
by Nancy Jaffer | May 15, 2023
Mai Baum. Miks Master C. Z. Off the Record. They are four of the top seven-placing horses from last month’s Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event.
Now they’ve been named to the U.S. squad for the Aachen, Germany, 4-Star Short this summer, along with Ariel Grald’s ride,Leamore Master Plan, who did not compete in Kentucky.
Mai Baum and Tamie Smith on their way to clinching the Land Rover Kentucky 5-star victory with a clean round in show jumpping. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Why mess with success? It will be fun to see Kentucky winner Mai Baum go for another big win with rider Tamie Smith. Miks Master C was third with Liz Halliday-Sharp, Z finished fifth under the guidance of Phillip Dutton and Off the Record (the top placing U.S. horse at the 2022 world championships), will be ridden by Will Coleman. Will also has a direct back-up in Chin Tonic, 11th at Kentucky.
It will be interesting to see how these horses fare meeting a whole group of European competitors who didn’t come to Kentucky. We’d expect Germany’s Michael Jung to be among them.
