by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 28, 2023
HITS’ announcement last month that John Ammerman would return in a mangement capacity to the company’s Vermont Summer Festival shows was “premature,” Ammerman has said.
“After asking for my help as a co-manager (with Joe Dotoli) at the Vermont Summer Festival, the HITS management team has unfortunately failed to produce a realistic contract that includes the terms originally discussed.I have since been informed by HITS that they cannot afford my services and `do not need my assistance anyway,’ ” Ammerman commented in a statement.
He added, “Given that the news of my return was released prior to finalizing an agreement between myself and HITS, it is only fair to let the exhibitors know that I will not be working at the 2023 Vermont Summer Festival.”
Joey Norick, HITS’ chief customer officer, attributed the situation to “a touch of miscommunication. Interpretation may have been taken differently. As much as I’d love to have John there, I’m sorry it didn’t go the way he wanted. We would only wish him all the best.”
In its official statement reacting to Ammerman’s comments, HITS said the company “has nothing but admiration and respect for John Ammerman and everything he has done for the Vermont Summer Festival. We are truly sorry he is not joining us, but we have nothing but well wishes for him and Dotty.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 25, 2023
Weeks of qualification at Wellington International culminated Friday in the Winter Equestrian Festival Equitation Championship presented by NetJets.
Topping the field of 43 was Carlee McCutcheon, from the famous reining family, who has also made a name for herself over fences as well as in a western saddle. The 17-year-old Texan, who rode Chacco Star, is coached by T.J. O’Mara and Max Amaya of Stonehenge in Colts Neck, N.J., and her grandmother, Colleen McQuay.
Carlee McCutcheon and Chacco Star. (Photo © Sportfot)
Second place went to another Texan, Elanor Rudnicki on Brentwood, with Jordan Gibbs of Colorado third on the famous Cent 15.
“I would like to thank T.J. who puts in so much work to make these horses perfect for us and everything he does for us, and Max Amaya, and the whole team at Stonehenge,” said Carlee.
“And to thank my grandparents and parents for pushing me and believing in me enough to make this all come true.”
The course designed by Andy Christiansen offered a first round that included an S-line question and varying obstacle challenges, such as a split-rail option. The top 12 were called back in reverse order for a second round and then the top four came back for testing without stirrups. The class was judged by Archie Cox, Abby Blankenship, Tammy Provost and Lillie Keenan.
Riders competing in this championship are on their own. They must walk the course, make their plan and warm up without the assistance their trainers. They have to hand over their cell phones and can only have one groom in the schooling area, where Diane Landreville and Dan Reed observed the warm-up for the first two rounds and awarded riders a score for their time management, horsemanship and effectiveness in the schooling area. Those points were either added or subtracted from their overall score.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 21, 2023
Ralph L. “Larry” Roberts, Sr., 77, patriarch of the family that owns the World Equestrian Centers, died March 19 in Ocala.
Mr. Roberts, known as “Senior”, was the founder of R+L Carriers. He started in the trucking business in 1965 with a single Ford truck, moving household furnishings in his spare time while working at Irwin Auger Bit. His warehouse was behind his home. After he linked up with Mayflower, the business grew exponentially.
Family, service, safety, and quality guided Mr. Roberts, who knew those values were shared by drivers, dock workers and office staff. More than 18,000 people are employed by his company.
Mr. Roberts is survived by his wife, Mary, whom he married in 1963; his children, Michelle Carpenter, Ralph L. Roberts, Jr.(Terri) and Roby (Jennifer); seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Mr. Roberts wished people to remember him for his legacy and did not want a memorial or funeral service.
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 26, 2023
Riding with HEART in Pittstown, N.J., is running its spring tack sale next month. Want to donate? (Contributions are tax deductible.)
They will accept new and “gently used” equestrian equipment (for horse, rider, or barn) from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, and noon-3 p.m. Saturdays. To schedule a different drop-off time or the pick-up of a big donation within an hour’s drive of Pittstown, email tacksale@ridingwithheart.org.
Looking to buy? The sale is March 25 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and March 26 from noon-3 p.m., witha half-price sale on most items that day.
Riding with HEART (which stands for Hunterdon Equine-Assisted Recreation and Therapy) is located at 639 Route 513, two miles west of the Pittstown traffic light.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 20, 2023
There are some heavy hitters who were named today to the team for the May 14 U.S. Nations Cup, the country’s next step toward earning a berth at the Paris Olympics next year. Unlike the Nations Cup in Wellington earlier this month, the May Cup in California is a qualifier for the Barcelona Nations Cup finals this fall. One place from that competition will guarantee a country a team spot in Paris if it comes in ahead of countries that are already qualified for the 2024 Games.
McLain Ward and Laura Kraut, longtime pillars of U.S. success, are part of the team. Also selected were Lillie Keenan, Nick Dello Joio (son of Olympic medalist Norman Dello Joio) and Karl Cook, who has been on a winning streak this year.
McLain Ward’s mileage will be crucial for the team competing i California’s Nations Cup. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
If the Barcelona strategy doesn’t work in terms of a ticket for Paris, the U.S. will have one more shot later in the year at the Pan American Games. That competition in Chile should be a dilly for countries that haven’t qualified, a list that could include Brazil and Canada. Three countries from the Americas can make the cut at the Pan Ams.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 14, 2023
Instead of marking its 50th anniversary next month at the Horse Park of New Jersey, the Four Seasons show will be in limbo.
“We’re taking a year to regroup,” said show manager Mason Garrity as he announced cancellation of the fixture. However, he’s not making predictions about the future for what normally is the first big outdoor show of the year in New Jersey.
“We’ll see what next year brings,” he commented.
“Last year, the weather was gorgeous, in the 70s, but no one was there,” Mason recalled. Asked why that was the case, he noted that people are staying in Florida longer into the spring, with many not coming home until the week of Four Seasons. In addition, he pointed out, the Horse Park is showing its age, and leasing a facility is another expense for the show.
Stand-alone shows don’t have the resources of the big circuits.
“The landscape is changing,” observed Mason, who also owns a jumps company, announces and manages other shows.
Four Seasons was started in Readington in 1973 by the late Gary Kunsman, the father of Mason’s wife, AJ.
“Because of Gary, we ran it as long as we could,” said Mason. The show was also cancelled in 2020 along with most other competitions because of Covid.
