by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 30, 2023
Want to get close to the action at April’s FEI World Cup Finals in Omaha? Or maybe you’d like to see what goes on behind the scenes?
You can have an opportunity to do either, and more, by volunteering for the April 4-8 competition.Other benefits include receiving commemorative event wear.
McLain Ward was the winner of the 2017 FEI World Cup Finals in Omaha. He’ll be back this year. (Photo © 2017 by Nancy Jaffer)
Remember how well the 2017 finals went? They involved jumping and dressage. This spring, vaulting–basically gymnastics on horseback–is being added to the mix. More fun!
To sign up as a volunteer, click on this link
Don’t feel llike working? Click here to buy tickets or VIP packges.
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 22, 2023
HITS, the horse show series with competitions from coast to coast, has a new leader in Peter Englehart.
The company’s president and chief executive officer will be at the helm as HITS “redefines its commitment to creating an exemplary customer experience at all six of its world-class venues.”
In the past, he has worked with ESPN, ABC Sports, Sesame Street, MotorTrend & Hot Rod magazines and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series, among other enterprises. He joined HITS in March 2022 as part of the team recruited by the shows’ new owner, Traub Capital Partners.
“Peter has a proven track record of creating winning teams and businesses,” said Brian Crosby, co-managing partner of Traub Capital Partners.
“Understanding the enthusiast consumer is a characteristic in which he is well-versed, and this trait will aid the growth of HITS in the equestrian marketplace.”
The new president has already helped launch such initiatives as the Young Jumper Program and developing more dressage events, as well as expanding into California’s historic Del Mar Horse Park, which will open in July after a two-year hiatus.
“Leading HITS is a wonderful opportunity to take a legacy brand to a new level of growth,” said Englehart. “We are blessed with wonderful locations, dates and an experienced management team to help move the company forward in the future.”
The HITS Ocala Winter Circuit at Post Time Farm will continue through March 26 and be followed by five more circuits throughout the spring, summer and fall in New York, California, Illinois, Vermont and Virginia.
HITS, established by Tom Struzzieri, is the largest producer of hunter/jumper horse shows in the U.S., operating six venues with 60 Weeks of sanctioned Hunter/Jumper competitions and six Weeks of dressage events.
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 19, 2023
Sabin Schut-Kery is announcing, “A new chapter begins for a horse of a lifetime.”
The stallion Sanceo, the USA’s highest scoring horse at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, will compete no more, his rider stated today on social media. His performance in Japan that earned a personal best of 81.596 percent in the Grand Prix Special clinched a historic team silver medal was his last in competition. He is moving on to a breeding career.
Sanceo and Sabine Schut-Kery in Tokyo.
Explaining the choice to retire the stallion, Sabine said, “Since our wonderful Sanceo was just three years old, he has given everything he can to all that is asked of him; always inspiring us and always giving 100 percent to anything put in his way….and it’s because of this, we have made the decision to retire him from competitive sport.
“We have learned so much together and he has always been there for me, and I keep this in my heart as we make this difficult but also exciting decision to let him finish his performance career on a high, with happiness, memories, and while he is in good health.
“I will always cherish the unbreakable bond that led us to achieving our goals, through to his
big finale in Tokyo. Sanceo will continue to be adored in this next chapter of his life with his owners, Alice Womble-Heitmann and Dr. Mike Heitmann on their breathtaking ranch in Hempstead, Texas, where they have welcomed his return home.
Sabine and Sanceo had a big victory in Wellington in 2021 prior to the Olympics. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
“Walking into the barn every day without his cheerful face will take a little getting used to, but I know in my heart this is the best decision for him and what we owe him. In these past three months together, we have just enjoyed each other’s company, as I reflected on the journey that we have been on and how special this horse has been to me and my life.
“His kindness and intelligence has still shone through each day; still fascinating me and inspiring me. We had such a strong partnership and together with his perfectionist mind and his incredible talent, we have made memories that will last a lifetime.
Sanceo competing in the freestyle in Tokyo.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank his wonderful owners, Alice and Mike, as I was so fortunate to have shared Sanceo’s journey with them.
They have always made me feel like Sanceo was also my horse, going as far as to say that I could keep him with me here in California.
“But a retirement with them, on their beautiful 1,000-acre ranch just feels right for our one in a million. They have such love for the sport, but Sanceo’s happiness has always come first and I’m so grateful for their belief in us and their friendship through these wonderful years.
“His legacy will continue through his breeding duties, as he spends this next chapter of his life on the ranch; a scene so special and fitting for our beautiful boy. He will always have a very special place in my heart and I look forward to many more visits with him.
“Our journey has been a team effort so I take pride in dedication another post in the future to the amazing team behind us.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 24, 2023
Adrienne Lyle, who seemed almost a lock to qualify for April’s FEI Dressage World Cup finals, won’t be competing in Omaha with Salvino.
Adrienne Lyle and Salvino. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
She was all set to ride a week from today in the final qualifier in Wellington, Fla., until Betsy Juliano’s stallion popped a small split.
“Salvino has been doing great in his training and we were entered and ready to go for next week’s CDI-W,” Adrienne recounted.
“However, when we took him out of his stall, we noticed a lump on the inside of his leg that was not normally there. Upon veterinary evaluation it was discovered that he had popped a small splint. Betsy, Debbie (McDonald, Adrienne’s coach) and myself conferred and all agree that of course, his welfare always come first and he will not be pushed to do next week’s competition.
“Although a very minor injury, it will need time to rest and recover and with only only (one) World Cup qualifier left this season, it simply wasn’t meant to be for us,” she continued.
Salvino missed a qualifier earlier this season when he colicked. He and Adrienne, who were part of the Olympic silver medal team in 2021 and competed on the world championships team last year, will be pointing for the Paris Olympics next year.
“We will always treasure our memories of competing at the World Cup in Sweden in 2019, and we wish all of our fellow U.S. riders the best of luck on their last qualifying competitions and on to the World Cup! It will be a very special event this year, having it on our home soil,” Adrienne said.
Steffen Peters already qualified with Suppenkasper on the West Coast. Alice Tarjan and Sarah Tubman are the two highest on the World Cup qualifying list, with Alice three points ahead of Sarah. Anna Buffinii also is competing for the third berth. Friday night’s class will determine who gets on the plane.
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 16, 2023
Course designers Anthony D’Ambrosio and Linda Allen have just been elected to the Show Jumping Hall of Fame and will be inducted March 5 at the group’s annual dinner in Wellington, Fla.
While both have impressive course designing credentials (Tony has designed the World Cup Finals; Linda the 1996 Olympics) each also made their mark in other areas of the industry.
As a rider, Tony is perhaps best known for setting records in the puissance; first in 1973 at the National Horse Show in Madison Square Garden, where he jumped 7 feet, 4 inches aboard Sympatico. Nine years later, he rode Sweet & Low at the Washington International Horse Show over a wall standing 7-feet, 7 and one-half inches, an indoor record that still stands.
Tony won more than 30 Grand Prix competitions, including the Hampton Classic and the USET Show Jumping Championship. He is also well-known as a technical advisor/delegate and course designer l.
He and his wife, Michael, are based out of Wild Horse Ranch in Red Hook, N.Y., which specializes in developing Grand Prix jumpers. He has sold four Olympic horses, three of which he developed from an early age, as well as many other Grand Prix winners.
With more than 60 years involvement in equestrian sports, Linda began as a rider, representing the U.S. in international competition, then following that with a career as an internationally respected official judge and course designer. The Californian has also served as president of the ground jury for FEI events in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. She also served on the ground jury for the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games and 2000 FEI World Cup Finals, as well as for other FEI events around the world.
Linda has been a design consultant for more than 50 equestrian facilities throughout the U.S., Mexico and Canada and conducted clinics worldwide for riding, course design and judging. She has served on the boards of the U.S. Equestrian Federation, the U.S. Equestrian Team, the Young Jumper Futurity and the Young Jumper Championships, among others.
She also wrote the book, 101 Jumping Exercises for Horse and Rider, and the DVD, The JumpSmart Guide to Course Building. Linda has won many awards, including the USEF Pegasus Medal of Honor and the California Professional Horsemen’s Association Horsewoman of the Year.
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 17, 2023
Three riders will be getting valuable team experience on the U.S. squad at the Nations Cup in Wellington, Fla., next month.
Floridians Natalie Dean and Mimi Gochman were selected, along with a Californian, Mavis Spencer. The squad will be filled out by the more seasoned Adrienne Sternlicht, a veteran of the 2018 gold medal World Equestrian Games team, as well as the 2022 world championships.
Mimi Gochman at Devon last year. Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer
The Cup at the Winter Equestrian Festival is always quite the occasion, with rooters from the countries participating giving their teams plenty of vocal support. It does not, however, count as a qualifier for the Nations Cup finals in Barcelona this fall.
That is a Longines fixture, while Rolex is the watch sponsor of choice at the Wellington International showgrounds, where the WEF is held. So it offers a chance for riders to get team mileage in an electric venue where spirits and tension are high.
The Longines Nations Cup for the U.S. will be held this spring in California. It’s important for the U.S. to win there and get a shot for Barcelona, since the country needs a berth in the 2024 Paris Olympics. If the U.S. doesn’t make the cut in Barcelona, there’s only the Pan American Games in Chile later in the fall to secure a place in Paris.
