by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 17, 2023
Red Tail Farm in Bedminster, N.J., is sponsoring an evening of freestyles Sept. 8 to benefit Mane Stream, a facility down the road in Oldwick that offers therapeutic riding and more.
The fun begins at 5 p.m. at 1100 Rattlesnake Bridge Road. Spectators may bring chairs and a picnic. They are admitted free, and can vote for their favorite performers with donations to Mane Stream at $1 a point.
Heather Mason, a nationally known competitor, will be doing the judging.
This is an exhibition competition, so lead line and walk/trot are eligible, along with all higher level freestyles, pas de deux and quadrille. There is no qualifying requirement and costumes are encouraged. There is no entry fee; however, competitors are asked to fundraise $100 (or more!) for Mane Stream prior to the event.
Since this is an evening event, there will be large portable lights set up around the outdoor dressage arena.
To enter, click on this link. In case of rain, the event will run the next evening.
Mane Stream’s mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals with physical, developmental, emotional and medical challenges through a diverse program of equine assisted activities, therapy services, and educational initiatives.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 1, 2023
Sweden, already the Olympic gold medalist and world championship show jumping team, completed its hat trick Friday in Milan with a team victory in the European Championships, but the individual title went elsewhere two days later.
The second-place Irish team accumulated nearly two times the penalties of the Swedish squad over Uliano Vezzani’s courses, with 18 faults to 9.51 for the winners. Austria took third place (22.7), the first time that country has made the podium at an international show jumping championship. The bronze also qualified Austria to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Germans, who had led going into the final day of team competition, were handicapped by having a three-man team after Aachen winner Stargold nearly flipped in the barn. Rider Marcus Ehning felt the stallion wasn’t right and withdrew. Without a drop score, the Germans finished fourth on 25.31.
Discussing his team’s victory, “I am lost for words,” said Swedish Chef d’Equipe Henrik Ankarcrona..
Keeping things in perspective, he noted, “The big goal is Paris,” explaining he tested different horse/rider combinations at these championships.
“I really tried to bring up new horses.
Going into the Sunday individual finals, the lead belonged to Jens Fredricson of Sweden (Markan Cosmopolit) with 0 penalties. Right behind him was Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat (Dynamix de Belheme) on 0.43, with third being held by Ireland’s Michael Duffy (Cinca 3), 2.18 penalties, who would not appear on the final day to give his mare a break. Oliver Perreau of France appeared to be in real contention on GL Events Dorai d’Aiguilly (2.79) followed by Great Britain’s Olympic champion Ben Maher in fifth with Faltic HB (3.13).
But the final two-round test broke Jens’ lucky streak, as he had a rail in each segment to sink to fifth when his perfect record until then was marred by 8 penalties. Steve was fault-free across the board to take another gold medal, added to his 2012 Olympic title. Germany’s Philllip Weishaupt on Zineday had one rail Friday but was perfect on Sunday to earn silver, while France’s Julien Epaillard on Dubai du Cedre claimed bronze.
FEI Jumping European Championship, Milano (ITA) 2023. Individual Final. Steve Guerdat with Dynamix de Belheme (SUI). Taken on 3 September 2023 by Liz Gregg. Copyright FEI / Liz Gregg
“I brought the horse of a lifetime,” Steve said of Dynamix, a 10-year-old Selle Francais mare he has been producing for the last five years. “Today she was amazing, and it feels incredible to be here as a European champion.”
Since he was concerned that Dynamix was still a little green for such a major test, Steve said: “I tried to give her a little bit of my experience. Luckily, it worked out, and I’m delighted.”
He explained, “My main goal is to make my horse ready for the Olympics (the 2024 Paris Games).“I’ll be focusing on that.”
With Steve’s team score, Switzerland qualified for Paris by being sixth at the end of the Championships’ team competition.
Ben Maher moved up to fourth in the final reckoning. But an expensive rail in the triple combination during Sunday’s first round precluded a better finish. He he been able to go fault-free Sunday, he would have taken silver.
For Ben and Faltic, it would be a repeat of their fortunes at the World Championships in Herning, Denmark, last year: one step off the podium in fourth place.
“I’m disappointed,” said Ben
“It was an expensive fence down in the first round today. Maybe if I went back I’d do something different, but it felt good – just an unfortunate fault and that’s the way it goes.
“Faltic jumped incredibly all week. I don’t like to blame other things, but the fence down on the first day was definitely not helped by the ground situation here. He’s jumped incredibly since then, so, like I said, it’s a little disappointing. The team competition (where Britain was ninth) was a bit of a long haul this week, then I was out on my own today.
“I knew I probably had to be double clear to get a medal. But he’s fit, he jumped incredibly all week and it didn’t feel like it took a lot of out him compared to other championships, so I’m very happy to have him go home safe.
Click here for team scores. Click here for individual standings.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 1, 2023
Artist and horsewoman Tiffany Teeter died when her car and a truck pulling a trailer collided Aug. 29 in Southern Pines, N.C. She was 82.
Her many friends are swapping Tiffany stories as they remember an unforgettable character with a golden heart. She was always a live wire, telling tales of Studio 54 from her younger days, and had connections with many famous horses. They included the great Idle Dice, once ridden by her ex-husband, Bernie Traurig, and Sloopy, guided by Neal Shapiro to team silver and individual bronze at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Tiffany Teeter with her beloved Lucas terrier, Snippet. (Photo by Anne Claire Christiaen)
A breeder of rare Lucas terriers, she once sold a dog to the great opera singer Pavarotti, according to Allie Conrad, who spent a lot of time with Tiffany. Allie noted Tiffany was always volunteering at the Carolina Horse Park, whether for hunters, eventing or whatever was happening.
“If you had a modicum of respect for her, she would do anything in the world for you,” said Allie, noting she was good at matching up people with horses.
“She loved making deals, and horse-selling was the best kind of deal around.
“She had so much knowledge. Sitting and watching her ringside was an education. If you could soak it in, it was amazing,” said Allie, who mentioned one of the things Tiffany sold at a tack sale she organized was Sloopy’s old halter.
Tiffany was a big thoroughbred racing fan who knew all the bloodlines and had racing on TV at her house “almost 24-7,” according to Allie. Tiffany produced a “painted pony” model of Secretariat for the Carolina Horse Park Foundation benefit art walk and auction. She got help doing the horse’s legs because she wasn’t able to bend down, but she painted from the stomach up, as she said.
In a note on Allie’s facebook page, Janet Sizelove said, “Tiffany could find a solution for any problem. She loved animals, people and her community. Adventure and living life to the fullest were her daily goals.”
A former resident of Stockton, N.J., where she lived at Plum Broke Farm, Tiffany was a founding member of Kingwood Foxhounds/Amwell Valley Hounds and became an honorary Master of Foxhounds.
Amwell President Joanne Possumato remembered that Tiffany’s many pastimes included car racing, and she noted her friend sold a Lotus to buy fencing for her farm.
Joanne called Tiffany “a tremendous force for decades, always promoting AVH, providing horses and her gorgeous farm for clinics, concerts, hunter trials and fabulous parties. She was a fundraising dynamo for our club, an artist and introduced many a fox hunter to hunting in Ireland and into her famous hilltopping field in her later years. No words can adequately describe Tiffany, but all who knew her know there will never be another.”
Discussion already is under way about planning a celebration of Tiffany’s life, something that might include wine, art and perhaps the type of outlandish sweaters she used to wear.
Survivors include a sister, VK Foster; her son Michael Traurig, a horse trainer and former steeplechase jockey, as well as a daughter, Bridget Bodine, and another son, Mitch Bodine. Tiffany’s husband, Jim Rigney, who was injured in the crash, remains hospitalized.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 3, 2023
The show jumping phase of the Defender Burghley 5-star was the decider big-time for the British event, with a reshuffling that left Great Britain’s Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class as the winners, after leader Tim Price had three rails down with Vitali to sink to fourth place with 38.7 penalties on Sunday.
Oliver Townend riding Ballaghmor Class for GBR during the show jumping Defender Burghley Horse Trials, in the parkland of Burghley House near Stamford in Lincolnshire in the UK on the 30th August to 3 September 2023.
Oliver wasn’t perfect himself, dropping one rail on the Paul Connor-designed course aboard his Irishbred campaigner, which gave Tim a bit of breathing space he hadn’t had with his Holsteiner going into the final segment.
But as the last to go, he needed more than that to be on the podium when Vitali–after a record-setting dressage performance and 8 time penalties cross-country–struggled with falling poles to topple his chances for the coveted trophy and the first prize payout of 110,000 British pounds. Tim is a previous Burghley winner, having taken the crown in 2018 with Ringwood Sky Boy.
Oliver, who also won Burghley in 2017 with Ballaghmor Class, is a three-time winner of the Land Rover Kentucky 5-star, collecting the title in 2018 and 2019 with Cooley Master Class, and 2021 with Ballaghmor Class. He has quie the resume, on which you can add in his 2009, Burghley victory with Carousel Quest.
Another Brit, David Doel, was just 0.7 penalties behind Oliver’s 33 penalty score to take second on the Dutchbred stallion Galileo Nieuwmoed with a perfect show jumping effort. British mainstay Harry Meade was third with another clear show jumping round on the Irish mare Cavalier Crystal (37.4).
The USA’s best, Boyd Martin, finished ninth and tenth on his Olympic partner Tsetserleg, who had three rails, and with On Cue, who had two. Tseterleg moved down from seventh after cross-country and On Cue moved up from 12th.
Boyd called Tsetserleg “an absolute hero this weekend.”
After mishaps in two other 5-stars this year, he said, “it was a big relief to have a great cross-country round.”
In contrast, show jumping was “a disaster. I jumped fence one and made a turn to fence two, and then we were cross-cantering and then we fell to trot and then we were on a completely impossible distance and plowed fence two.”
He praised On Cue as “absolutely fantastic this weekend.”
Boyd noted she had not done a big 5 star since Maryland in 2021, which she won.
At Burghley, “She was pretty tired and had to dig deep for me on the cross-country day,” observed Boyd, who was happy for a top-10 finish.
In show jumping, “We had two poles down, she sort of gets in there and gets starstruck.”
All the same, he noted, “This horse has been such a fantastic partner.”
Jennie Brannigan Saville of the USA did a very credible job in her first Burghley to wind up 12th with FE Lifestyle after a rail and 0.8 time penalties in the final phase. Three rails moved the only other U.S. rider to finish, Will Faudree, down from 10th to 16th.His compatriot Grace Taylor, 16th after cross-country with Game Changer, did not present her horse on the final day. U.S. rider Tiana Coudray had been eliminated on cross-country with Cancaras Girl.
The demanding Derek DiGrazia cross-country course also was unlucky for Great Britain’s Ros Canter–who won the European championship just three weeks ago in France. She hit the ground when Penco’s Crown Jewel left a leg at a triple bar arrowhead in the 20ABC combination.
Luckily both horse and rider were okay, but that’s just another example of how fast things can change for even the most experienced riders.
Click here for final results from Burghley.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 2, 2023
A demanding Derek DiGrazia cross-country course at Burghley couldn’t derail overnight leader Tim Price of New Zealand on Vitali, but Great Britain’s Ros Canter–who won the European championship just three weeks ago in France, hit the ground when Penco’s Crown Jewel left a leg at a triple bar arrowhead in the 20ABC combination.
Luckily both horse and rider were okay, but that’s just another example of how fast things can change for even the most experienced riders.
Tim had a record-setting dressage performance on his Holsteiner with a mark of 18.7, but 8 time penalties cross-country brought his total so far to 26.7.
British riders are lined up close behind him, with Oliver Townend’s faster trip (4.8 time penalties) on the Irish veteran Ballaghmor Class leaving him less than a rail back of Tim on 29 penalties. Oliver had an unlucky break, literally, earlier in the day when a rein snapped while he was at the 17th obstacle with Tregilder and had to retire. He also retired his other mount, Swallow Springs. A total of 13 horses retired, and eight were eliminated from the field of 58 starters.
Tim has little bit of breathing room from third-place Brit David Doel. His score on the Dutchbred stallion Galileo Nieuwmoed is 33.7, so that’s nearly two rails, but not quite. Wills Oakden and the Irish-bred Oughterard Cooley are at 34.9. The top five is completed by Ireland’s Sam Watson, 35.8 with the Irish gelding SAP Talisman.
David and Wills had no time penalties, while Sam accumulated just. 0.4.
The USA’s Boyd Martin is seventh on his Olympic partner, the Trakehner Tsetserleg, with 37.7 penalties, only 0.3 behind Britain’s Harry Meade and the Irish mare, Crystal Cavalier.
Boyd is also 12th with On Cue (42.6). Other U.S. riders and their rankings are Will Faudree, 11th with Mama’s Magic Way (42.2), Grace Taylor on Game Changer, 16th, 46.5, and Jennie Saville, FE Lifestyle, 17th, 46.7. Tiana Coudray was eliminated with Cancaras Girl.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 30, 2023
Ellen DiBella, known for her contributions to western dressage and love of the Morgan horse, passed away Aug. 20 at the age of 79.
Her desire to build an equestrian community combining the Western traditions of horse and rider with classical dressage led to her becoming the founding president of the Western Dressage Association of America, which became a USEF Recognized Affiliate Association in February 2012. Mrs. DiBella served on the USEF board from 2005 to 2015, receiving the federation’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.
The Parker, Colo., resident graduated from the University of Denver with a degree in sociology and a sub-specialty in medical social work. She worked with her husband of 58 years, Dr. Nicholas Di Bella, to build a successful medical oncology practice.
Ellen DiBella with USEF President Murray Kessler during the 2019 Pegasus Awards. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Mrs. DiBella was known worldwide for her love of Morgan horses over more than a half-century, originating with the purchase of her first Morgan in 1972. She was drawn to Morgans after seeing them used in the rehab program at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center in Aurora, Colo., following the Vietnam War. This encounter sparked her passion for horses and led to lifelong dedication as an owner and competitor, initially in Western Pleasure.
Her desire to build an equestrian community combining the Western traditions of horse and rider with classical dressage led to her becoming the founding president of the Western Dressage Association of America, which became a USEF Recognized Affiliate Association in February 2012.
According to Western Dressage Association of America President Cindy Butler, “Ellen devoted her life to service for equestrian sports and honoring horses. She inspired so many people, including me. Ellen DiBella had a way of making everyone she touched believe in themselves more and we are all better advocates for horse welfare and better people for having had her in our lives.”
American Morgan Horse Association President Carrie Mortensen recalled, “She was deeply involved with so many different organizations and gave of her time unselfishly for decades. Her contributions were countless. We will remember her not only for her ambassadorship of the Morgan horse and Western Dressage, but also for her impact on the entire equestrian community.”
Apart from her work for horses and equestrians, Mrs. DiBella helped found the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center Foundation, which provides financial assistance to cancer patients and their families in meeting living expenses while fighting cancer.
In an interview with the Western Dressage Association of America, Mrs. DiBella noted, “Horses offer us an opportunity to be much better people that we could ever be without them. Whether you ride English or Western, you have the opportunity to have a two-way trusting partnership. The tools and principles of classical dressage naturally make for better and healthier horses and make us a better human being. It really is about the journey.”
Upon her acceptance of the Lifetime Achievement Award, she advised, “I would say to everyone love your horses. Listen to your horses. Be partners with your horses. Share your horses with as many people as you can, because those horses will make you better and make everyone else better.”
Survivors include two daughters, Catherine (David) Lindsey and Christine Hamilton.
Donations in Mrs. DiBella’s memory may be made to the Ellen DiBella Western Dressage Scholarship at the American Morgan Horse Educational Charitable Trust. There will be a Celebration of Life held at the Western Dressage Association of America’s World Championship Show Sept. 29 during the exhibitor party.
