by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 7, 2023
In their first head-to-head encounter, German Olympic and European Champion TSF Dalera BB and Jessica von Bredow-Werndl finished ahead of World Champion Glamourdale and Britain’s Lottie Fry at the FEI European Championships in Risenbeck, Germany on Thursday. The mare vs. the stallion.
The match-up had been highly anticipated and each horse experienced brief downsides during their tests. But after a bit of a slow start without her usual bevy of 10’s in the initial piaffe/passage work, Dalera’s specialty, Jessica emerged with the upper hoof on 84.612, a new personal best in the Grand Prix .As she was leaving the ring, the mare spooked into a few strides of gallop, but Jessica quickly brought her under control.
Glamourdale, whose strength lies in his extensions and tempi changes, got uncharacteristic marks of 6.5 and 5 on the final center line in the piaffe, bringing the stallion’s score to 81.258 and a personal best in the Grand Prix.
In the big picture, the score clinched team gold for Lottie’s side on a total of 242.220, with Germany second on 239.674 and Denmark taking bronze with 228.727.
Jessica accepted the fact that her score wasn’t enough to nudge Germany into gold medal territory.
“Everyone rode super,’ she said.
“More was not possible here today. We can’t do more than our best. The British are just abnormally strong.”
Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB. (EQWOnet photo)
Lottie noted she has been on a good number of teams in her career, so “to finally get the gold here is an incredible feeling and so special to do it with these teammates. He went in there on fire. He felt amazing in there. He had a few small distractions, I could just feel his eyes wandering to the outside of the arena.” Even so, she noted, “We really improved on a lot of things since last year.
Britain, which led after day one with a brilliant performance by Carl Hester on Fame and good support from Gareth Hughes on Classic Briolinca, went from strength to strength early in the second day as Carl’s protege, Charlotte Dujardin, put in a personal best in the Grand Prix on Imhotep, fondly known as Pete.
Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep compete in the Grand Prix at the FEI Dressage European Championship. ( Photo Jon Stroud Media)
The new mother of the adorable Isabella Rose was bubbling with delight after being marked first across the board by the judges when she delivered a test marked at 82.422, a real surprise in that it wound up being more than a point ahead of Lottie’s mark.
Charlotte declared, “It’s been absolutely incredible. I wasn’t really going to plan to be here this year after having Isabella only six months ago. It was kind of a roller coaster.”
After her pregnancy, she started competing again at home at Royal Windsor. then got Pete’s first 80 percent at Wellington in England before a pre-championship run at Aachen.
“Pete hasn’t done an awful lot of competitions,” she noted, but figured about Aachen, “`Why not run him there?’ Again, he got brilliant scores. It was brilliant preparation for coming here. He has been on top form. He felt amazing. Pete is an unbelievable horse.
“He has so much power, so much ability, his brain is phenomenal. He tries so hard. He’s gone out there and done his absolute best. and that’s all you can ask, win or lose, when you’ve got a test like that, you can’t ask any more. He always wants to please. That’s what makes it so emotional.”
But eventually, you can.
As Charlotte noted, w ith10-year-old Pete only in the development stage and gaining strength, “There’s still more. I’m still on half-power.”
Pete had 19 hours of travel and was “travel sick” when he got to Germany. And on top of that, Isabella Rose was running a temperature.
Olympic multi-gold medalist Charlotte,, who became Britain’s golden girl on the now-retired Valegro, knows how to take it all in stride. Her attitude helps her overcome.
Team Gold Medalists Great Britain (L-R) Gareth Hughes, Lottie Fry, Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester at the FEI Dressage European Championship 2023.- (Photo Jon Stroud Media)
“For me, it’s all about having fun and enjoying it,” she said.
“Especially now, as I’ve had a baby, I see it so differently: `Oh well, there’s always another day.'”
But Thursday was the day to remember.
“I am absolutely thrilled and euphoric,” said chef d’equipe Caroline Griffith.
“This team have been building toward this…and when you see the riding and the tests they produced, it’s phenomenal. They support each other so very well, as a team, they are super to work with.”
Britain first claimed European gold at the FEI European Championships in Rotterdam in 2011, a harbinger of going on to win a historic Olympic team gold at London 2012 and start the dynasty of British dressage.
Thursday’s win in Riesenbeck was the second European gold for Britain in the last month, as the eventing team set the stage in France during August with a double victory for the squad and Ros Canter, while silver went to Kitty King.
Likewise, there is a possibility of several individual medals for Britain in dressage. On Friday, the Grand Prix Special will have 30 participants who qualified, but it will be touted as a sequel to the face-off between Jessica and Lottie
“We’re really going for it tomorrow,” said Lottie on Thursday.
In terms of the glitches, she said she will “to try to iron out those little things. Hopefully, he’s a little more concentrated rated tomorrow and I’ll be more prepared to handle it.”
Sixth-place Austria, followed by Belgium and Spain in the rankings, qualified for the Paris Olympics next year on the basis of their finish at Riesenbeck.
click here to see full team results
click here to see individual results
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 4, 2023
There was a pause in the action at the Hampton Classic Labor Day weekend when McLain Ward retired HH Azur, his “queen,” as he always called this spectacular mare.
Horse and rider became a presence on the circuit after Francois Mathy sold half interest in her to Hunter Harrison and Double H Farm in 2015. They started winning right away, with the $400,000 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Spruce Meadows a special triumph for the 9-year-old.
Her many achievements include contributing to the U.S. silver medal at the 2016 Olympics, working with her rider to fulfill a longtime dream as he took the title at the FEI World Cup Final in 2017, and then months later, helping the U.S. win silver at the FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona. All of that made her the 2017 USEF Horse of the Year.
McLain Ward leads HH Azur out of an arena for the last time. (Photo Randolph PR)
In 2022, Annie, as she is known, earned 4-star wins at the Winter Equestrian Festival and Old Salem before a 5-star win at Spruce Meadows. Most recently she and McLain claimed two 5-star legs of the Rolex Grand Slam, the Grand Prix of Geneva in December and ’s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands in March
Over the years, Annie won 25 FEI Grands Prix at the world’s most prestigious shows. She deserves the wonderful retirement that McLain will provide for her.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 6, 2023
Carl Hester, the architect of British dressage success, is heading the individual rankings as the European Dressage Championships got under way in Riesenbeck, Germany, on Wednesday. Riding Fame,a 13-year-old Dutchbred (Bordeaux X Rhodium), the veteran of 22 championship competitions put his nation in the lead with a personal best score of 78.540 percent.
“I absolutely love this horse. I look forward to riding him every day,” said Carl, who noted that despite the “boiling” hot weather, “he delivered today. When a horse goes like that for you in these weather conditions…If I never did a test again, it’s a lovely one to finish on.”
Carl Hester waves to the crowd in Riesenbeck as he leaves the ring with Fame after a super test.
For the moment, his teammate, Gareth Hughes, has the drop score with Classic Briolinca (74.565), the 17-year-old mare with whom he has been working since she was three.
It’s likely Gareth will remain as the drop score, since British stalwarts Charlotte Dujardin (Imhotep) and World Champion Lottie Fry (Glamourdale) ride tomorrow. But at this point, Gareth is fourth overall, back of Germany’s Mathias Alexander Rath (Thiago GS, 74.845)
Germany for now is the second-place team on 77.174, Isabell Werth’s mark with DSP Quantaz, which makes Mathias the current drop score.
Despite standing second behind Carl, Isabell, who has seven Olympic gold medals, likely won’t be the top score for the German team. Not only does Frederic Wandres (Bluetooth Old) ride Thursday for the home side, but also world number one Jessica von Bredow-Werndl on TSF Dalera BB.
The world is waiting for the showdown between Dalera and Glamourdale. Jessica missed the world championshps last year because she was pregnant, while Glamourdale did not appear at this spring’s FEI World Cup finals because it was breeding season.
Click here for individual scores.
Click here for team standings.
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.
