by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 18, 2023
A letter to the editor in Great Britain’s Horse & Hound magazine last week caught my eye, because it reflects what I hear from many people in the U.S. They obviously are not alone.
Reader Carolyn Selley of Devon (England, not Pennsylvania) wrote that she has “a nice horse and would love to show him, but though at one time there were plenty of local shows and gymkhanas, these no longer exist–larger shows are the only option.
“They are too expensive for someone like me–there are so many organizations I have to join just to put a foot in the ring, and I am sure there are many others too who just don’t bother. I’m not looking for a qualifier; if I could show my horse without having to join all these organizations, I might give it a go.”
The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association and the U.S. Equestrian Federation have tried to address the issue with their Outreach and Lite shows respectively, and that helps. But can they make up for the disappearance of so many local unrecognized shows, which used to be where riders would enter their first competitions as they took a first step into the world of showing?
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 19, 2023
It was as close to a photo finish as you can get in the finals of the $223,350 Platinum Performance/ USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship.
The overnight leader, John French on Paradigm, finished just 0.25 points ahead of Geoffrey Hesslink on Drumroll to take the $37,719.35 winner’s share.
John French and Paradigm on the way to victory. (Photo courtesy USHJA)
John, who won the first Derby in 2009 on Rumba, showed he hasn’t lost a step with a score of 599.25, his total for Friday’s Classic round and Saturday night’s Handy round in the A section.
John French and Paradigm, Derby champs.
He stayed on the counter-lead from the first fence to the second, figuring he didn’t have enough pace to do a change, and had a small rub, but the judges didn’t hold it against him.
He was scored 97.5, 95.75, 93.25 as the last rider to go in the Handy. His total for the two rounds (Classic and Handy) with the former breeding stallion was 599.25; Geoffrey’s was 599 on a son of prestigious sire Diamant de Semilly.
“I don’t think there has been one this close before,” said John.
“It’s been a long time, I won the first one and I’ve been hoping to do it again and it hasn’t happened. It finally happened tonight. I can relax again.”
John is based in Florida, as is Jimmy Torano, third on Laskano with 586.50. The runner-up entry is from Basking Ridge, N.J.
The Handy round course map
Paradigm, owned by Meredith Lipke, and Meridian Farm’s Drumroll were 1-2 after the Classic round, where Amanda Steege was third on Lafitte de Muze. A “heartbreaking” rail in the Handy dropped Amanda to 26th place.
But she vowed on social media, “We will be back….we are fighters….we will be back in 2024 to battle again.”
The Derby podium: winner John French, center; runner-up Geoffrey Hesslink, left and Jimmy Torano, third.
The course in the 3 1/2-acre stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington was designed by Alan Lohman. He came up with an interesting closed pen, the third obstacle, that was a focal point of the 13 jumping efforts.
Horses jumped in on the long side and took two strides to jump out (some crossed panels in doing so, but made it look smooth.) Once out of the pen, they came back in over a trot jump on the short side, then looped around inside the pen and jumped out on the short side next to the trot jump. After that, it was a good nine strides to a brush oxer.
Derby competition has changed the hunter game across the country, and the finals are a grand finale, with $18 million having been given away since their inception in 2009.
Click here for complete results.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 17, 2023
After more than 15 hours of hearings over three evenings, Wellington, Florida’s Planning, Zoning and Adjustment board after midnight Thursday recommended that the Village Council either deny a plan to remove 96 acres from the Equestrian Preserve or table the matter until a detailed application for an expanded showgrounds on another parcel is submitted and works its way through the process.
The 5-2 decision was made “without prejudice,” which means the matter can be brought before the board again.
The showgrounds plan is in the “pre-application” process, but several Zoning board members wanted more definite information about what the property will offer before taking land from the Equestrian Preserve. The majority of the board, however, is in favor of taking land out of the Preserve if everything on a site plan for the showgrounds as displayed at the meeting is realized. The panel also made a key decision by changing the zoning from Residential to Equestrian Commercial Recreation on 114.65 acres, in the area where the showgrounds would be expanded by 90 acres.
A view of the location of the expanded showgrounds.
John Bowers, the board’s vice chair, said he would agree to remove the land from the Preserve, if in return “we are going to get an expanded, larger showgrounds and more productive space.”
The showgrounds is at the heart of the Village’s equestrian community. While it once was the ultimate venue in the “Winter Equestrian Capital of the World,” competition from the World Equestrian Center in Ocala–which was just awarded a qualifier in the FEI League of Nations–and the even newer Terra Nova outside Sarasota has raised the stakes.
“Getting out of the EPA is a very material vote I would not want to take without making sure that all i’s are dotted, all t’s are crossed. I want the maximum benefit of being able to evaluate the application before I make a decision like this,” said Bowers, who spoke more than any other board member during the Wednesday night meeting that drifted into Thursday.
The board had two long meetings last month without reaching a decision.
Citing his lack of equestrian expertise, Bowers added he would want the Equestrian Preserve Committee to offer an opinion on the showgrounds application. The EPC in June unanimously rejected having the land removed from the preserve, and approximately 6,000 Wellington residents have signed a petition against it. The argument is that high-density housing will increase traffic congestion and lead to other landowners demanding zoning changes that could hurt the horse community’s quality of life.
But the Zoning panel is only an advisory body, and it is the Council, which meets next month, that makes the final decision. To remove land from the Equestrian Preserve, four of the five Council members must vote in favor of doing so.
Why did it take three separate sessions for the seven-member Zoning board to come to its conclusion? This is a very complicated situation, involving two geographically separated parcels of land whose fate is connected.
Here’s the short version, if you haven’t been following the hearings that began in June:
For a project called Wellington North, developers who spent $35 million on a golf course applied to build housing nearby on the 96 acres that is part of the Preserve and now the home of Equestrian Village, where the Adequan Global Dressage Festival is staged.
That property also hosts some show jumping classes that are part of the Winter Equestrian Festival, which has its main facility about a mile down Pierson Road.
The developers include Mark Bellisimo of Wellington Equestrian Partners, branded as Wellington Lifestyle Partners, working in conjunction with the Tavistock Group’s Nexus Luxury Collection. Bellisimo made his name in the horse world as the point man for Wellington Equestrian Partners in the 2007 purchase of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center showgrounds, now Wellington International. He is involved with several groups that own large tracts in Wellington.
“Interested parties” were allowed to appear before the Zoning board Wednesday to make their cases against the project, and several warned of litigation involving both parcels if development is allowed. However, Village Counsel Laurie Cohen told board members that shouldn’t influence their vote.
Attorney Jamie Gavigan, representing the Jacobs family that owns Deeridge Farm on Pierson Road near Equestrian Village, said his client is opposed to taking any land out of the EPA. He pointed out that in 2016, Wellington residents by a two-thirds majority, voted to amend the Village charter to say “it shall be a Village priority to preserve and protect the equestrian community.”
Gavigan asked how a driving range and pickleball courts in the proposed North development “preserve and protect an equestrian lifestyle.”
He noted 244 additional residential units the applicant seeks on the property would not be transferred from any other Planned Unit Development in Wellington, and that is not consistent with the Village charter.
Wellington’s equestrian sustainability mantra.
The developers also applied for housing on the second parcel, Wellington South, which is contiguous to the home of WEF at the Wellington International showgrounds. The board approved plans for Wellington South, provided there is an increase in the number of larger lots offered and a decrease in density.
The land to be used in expansion of the showgrounds won’t be offered for purchase to Wellington International or rather, its parent company, Global Equestrian Group, unless the North development project on the Preserve is approved.
As Jane Cleveland, chair of the Village’s Equestrian Preserve Committee put it, the land sale for the showgrounds’ addition is being held “hostage” as the developer’s ace to make sure it gets the approval needed for its project.
Gavigan asked, “How can the Village tie a condition from one owner on one property to a project of another owner on another property? You can consider the South (project) without considering the North.”
Attorney Len Feiwus, representing Equestrian Club Estates, called it a “quid pro quo,” which he said is “not appropriate.”
The Equestrian Preserve Committee in June unanimously voted against removing the 96 acres from the preserve. But the Zoning panel sees a benefit to having an expanded, contiguous showgrounds for dressage, hunters and jumpers, at 180 acres double the size of its current venue.
Michael Stone, president of Wellington International, has testified that the expanded showgrounds would be able to host far more horses than in the current space, and offer an air conditioned hospitality area that would attract more sponsors. The facility would have a stadium and nine additional rings with warm-up areas. Jumpers would show there, while hunters and dressage would share the current showgrounds that would be adjacent.
The new showgrounds would have a real stadium, seating 7,000, as its centerpiece rather than an ordinary arena like the current international ring. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Dressage already has a lease with Equestrian Village for 2024, and seems likely to remain there for 2025. There has been an agreement that no building would happen at Equestrian Village, if development is approved, until dressage has a home at the expanded showgrounds. That facility, if all goes well, could open in 2026. Equestrian Village is no longer up to the standard for a top dressage facility, and there are no plans to improve it.
If the zoning change for Equestrian Village and other preserve property isn’t granted and the 96 acres remains in the preserve, the owner is under no obligation to continue offering a venue for dressage after the lease or leases expire. With the current zoning unchanged, some houses could be built there, and other permitted uses include everything from offices to a veterinary practice, a restaurant and a riding school.
Site plan approval and some other things would be required, but most are administrative procedures that need no public input or council approval.
Kelly Ferraiolo, senior planner for the Village of Wellington, noted the owner of Equestrian Village does not have an obligation to keep a showgrounds at that property. She said people wouldn’t be allowed to ride their horses across the land just because it’s part of the Equestrian Preserve. She explained it is private property and would require permission from the owner before people could ride there.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 8, 2023
Horseshoe Bend Park in Kingwood Township, N.J., will host the Horseshoe Bend Boogie for horses and human runners Aug. 19.
All proceeds will go to support open space in Hunterdon County through the tax exempt Friends of Horseshoe Bend Park. This event will include endurance rides, an ultramarathon and ride-and-tie divisions at distances of 30 and 50 miles. There will also be an introductory level division (14 miles) for anyone wanting to try endurance riding in a relaxed setting.
The event needs volunteers and supporters to help with timing, hospitality stops for horse and human food and water, road crossings, veterinary scribes and more. Anyone who wants to donate resources or time should contact Meg Sleeper at (908) 500-0091 or megsleeper@icloud.com.
Endurance riding involves controlled long-distance races. Horses and their riders head down the trail with periodic veterinary examinations to insure the horse is “fit to continue”.
An ultramarathon, also called ultra distance or ultra running, is any footrace longer than the traditional marathon length of 42.195 kilometers. Various distances are raced competitively, from the shortest common ultramarathon of 31 miles to more than 200 miles.
Ride-and-Tie is an endurance racing sport combining running and horseback riding. Teams consist of two runners and one horse who complete a 20- to 100-mile trail course by “leapfrogging” one another. One person starts the race on the horse, the other on foot. Equathon is a type of ride-and-tie in which the horse and rider complete the first segment of the trail and then the runner starts the second segment.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 1, 2023
DiAnn Langer, the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Youth chef d’equipe, and show manager Britt McCormick have been nominated as candidates for the presidency of the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association.
The USHJA board will vote Sept. 11 on who will succeed Mary Knowlton in the post. The new president will serve in a transition period until the 2024 USHJA meeting, when he or she takes office.
DiAnn, from Johnston, S.C., has been everything from a competitor, owner, trainer and breeder to holding many positions in governance and sport positions. She served as president of the Pacific Coast Horse Show Association, the California Professional Horsemen’s Association, the California Professional Horsemen’s Foundation and Los Angeles Horse Show Association.
Britt, of McKinney, Texas, also has been an owner, trainer, competitor and consultant. His USHJA experience includes the board of directors, executive committee, hunter and jumper working groups and the International Hunter Derby and Incentive Task Force, among others. He also serves as chair of USEF’s National Breeds and Disciplines Council and on the USEF National Hunter Committee.
In the sport, McCormick is a judge in various disciplines, including for the American Quarter Horse Association, and is a licensed hunter and jumper course designer.
The candidates were selected through a multi-step process. Members submitted nominations for the office of President, which were then reviewed by the USHJA Nominating Committee. The committee interviewed candidates before submitting their recommended nominees to the USHJA Board of Directors.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 14, 2023
International show jumping star McLain Ward gave a boost to the discipline’s next generation by coaching two winners at the Gotham North FEI North American Youth Championships, presented by USHJA,.
He helped both Baylee McKeever, the individual gold medalist in the Young Rider category, and Carlee McCutcheon, who took the same honors in the Juniors at the show in Michigan.
Baylee delivered the only clear round over Nick Granat’s challenging first round course for the Young Riders. She rode Formidable, a mare given to her as a high school graduation present by McLain. Then she produced another clear trip, earning the title after Augusta Iwasaki dropped a rail to take silver.
Baylee McKeever and Formidable. (Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography)
“I was trying to take it jump by jump and not get caught up with how the class was going,” said the 18-year-old Baylee.
“I just focused on my round and how my horse was going, everything I could control. Going to the last (fence), I was definitely nervous but I tried to stay calm and focused.”
Baylee also got support from her father Lee, McLain’s longtime barn manager and right-hand man.
After bringing Formidable back from colic surgery, Baylee started riding the mare about 18 months ago.
“I’d say we have a strong partnership. She’s special to me and she brought me up the levels from the Medium Juniors all the way here,” she said.
The gold was a surprise over a course that mirrored her horse’s name in terms of its difficulty.
“I knew it would be a bit bigger here, so I went in hoping to get around and have a good time. I couldn’t ask for anything more from her,” said Baylee.
McLain advised her to just enjoy the experience and simply be glad she had made it to the Individual final.
“He was talking about how nice it was to be in this situation to start with. Everyone wants to be at the top and you’re going to lose sometimes, but you have to appreciate where you are right now,” Baylee recounted.
Baylee’s name will be engraved on the Maxine Beard Memorial Trophy, along with the names of many show jumping stars, for whom winning the title was a first step toward memorable careers.
Carlee is an English equitation standout who doubles as a reiner in her role as a member of a famous family in that sport,
Coach McLain Ward with gold medal students Baylee McKeever and Carlee McCutcheon. (Photo courtesy McLain Ward)
In the Junior category, she had a lead to protect coming into the final round, with not a single rail dropped through competition to that point. With two additional clear rounds aboard Coco Mercedes on Sunday, she solidified her victory and earned the gold medal.
“This is my first Young Riders experience,” said Carlee, also a team gold medalist for Zone 7.
“Last year, I qualified to ride on the Zone 7 team, but I had a bit of a spill on the first day in the warm-up, so I was not able to compete. To come back here and have the opportunity to show and be part of the team means so much to me. I was really just looking forward to it all week, and it went better than I ever could have imagined.”
The win couldn’t have come without the ride on Coco Mercedes,another mare acquired from McLain.
“She’s so brave,” said the 17-year-old Carlee.
“I never have to worry about it. If I don’t see the perfect distance, I know she’ll take care of me. I think having a horse with so much confidence has given me a confidence boost and has improved my riding all year.”
With advice from Max Amaya and TJ O’Mara of Stonehenge Stables, as well as McLain, Carlee felt prepared to take on the final round of jumping, where she achieved her fifth clear in three days.
“Max and McLain both told me just to stay calm,” she explained. “This is the first of hopefully many situations I’ll be in like this, and it’s just icing on the cake at this point. It’s been a great week so I was happy with any outcome because she’s been incredible all week.”
