by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 13, 2023
Debbie McDonald, the USA’s former dressage technical advisor, and her husband, Bob, “are looking forward to 2023” as a fresh start, after SafeSport allegations involving him and a subsequent civil lawsuit naming both of them have been swept away.
In 2021, Debbie led the squad in Tokyo to the USA’s first Olympic team silver dressage medal since 1948. A few months later, however, after the lawsuit was filed, the U.S. Equestrian Federation did not renew her contract.
She remains active in working with private clients, including Adrienne Lyle (see this website’s featured story). Debbie also has trained many other successful international competitors, including Laura Graves, who for 2018 took the same USEF award that Adrienne just won.
Debbie and Bob McDonald with Brentina. (Photo © 2009 by Nancy Jaffer)
In a hand-written statement today, Bob said:
“Thank you to the witnesses that came forward to provide testimony in the SafeSport arbitration of the case against me from the mid-1970s.
The SafeSport case was closed in February of 2022 by a ‘preponderance of the evidence;’ no sanctions were issued against me. This constituted the ‘written reasoned final decision’ by the arbitrator in accordance with the SafeSport Code.
“The civil case against Debbie and me (in which we were never served) was dismissed in March 2022.
“Debbie and I just celebrated our 44th wedding anniversary this December. After a prolonged process we are happy to move on together and continue to enjoy the sport we love.
“To those of you who stood by us, we cannot thank you enough for your belief, kind words, and encouragement.”
Debbie was the sweetheart of the dressage world when she became the first American to win the FEI Dressage World Cup Finals on Brentina. They took double gold at the 1999 Pan American Games, team silver at the 2002 FEI World Equestrian Games and team bronze at the 2004 Olympics and 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games.
With Brentina’s retirement, Debbie went on to make a name for herself as a trainer, creating more medalists for the U.S.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 14, 2023
Tonight, two days after being named the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s International Rider of the Year, Adrienne Lyle stepped up to the podium again to claim another award
Betsy Juliano’s Salvino, Adrienne’s top mount, was named USEF/Smart Pak International Horse of the Year at the annual meeting in Kentucky. The award was determined by a popular vote, and the stallion has the credentials to warrant his victory.
He and Adrienne partnered for team silvers at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games and the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. At this year’s world championships, they were on the team that qualified the U.S. for a berth in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Betsy Juliano, Adrienne Lyle, USEF President Tom O’Mara, Debbie McDonald and Morgan Klingensmith. (Photo courtesy of USEF)
“None of you would know about Salvino without his best friend, trusted confidant, and rider Adrienne Lyle, the USEF International Equestrian of the Year,” said Betsy after accepting the award for her 16-year-old Hanoverian by Sandro Hit.
“She has made this horse who he is. In my opinion, a horse can have talent to the moon but without a rider who he or she can learn from, they will never reach their full potential,” Betsy continued.
“Alongside Adrienne, there is the dedication of trainer Debbie McDonald and head groom Morgan Klingensmith, who have improved [Salvino] along the way.”
Adding to the luster of Adrienne’s weekend, she won Friday night’s freestyle in Wellington, Fla., with Salvino. It was a qualifier for the FEI World Cup Finals to be held this April in Omaha.
On the national side at the USEF annual meeting,the Wheeler family’s Cannon Creek was voted Horse of the Year. The winner of the Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby last year, he is ridden by Hunt Tosh, the USEF’s national rider of the year.
“This is an incredible honor for my parents, Ceil and Kenny Wheeler, and my uncle, Douglas Wheeler,” said Sallie-Mason Wheeler in accepting the honor.
“Cannon Creek is a big, sweet, amazing horse. Hunt Tosh and everyone there has done an incredible job with him. On behalf of the Wheeler family and Hunt Tosh Incorporated, we are just extremely grateful.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 10, 2023
It’s boom times for the Winter Equestrian Festival, and the Adequan Global Dressage Festival as well.
At a press conference today, representatives of those entities, along with a show jumper and dressage rider, told us what we already knew: Wellington, Florida continues to be the go-to for many of the world’s top show jumping and dressage competitors. With both venues offering a total of nearly $13.7 million in prize money, it’s no wonder they are projected to draw a combined total of approximately 10,500 horses for the winter season.
The new Wellington International sign at last year’s unveiling.
That’s why the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center last year was re-christened Wellington International, acknowledging a different ownership for the home of WEF and an emphasis on horse well-being and spectator care.
As Wellington International President Michael Stone explained, the name “showed a clear change for where we were to where we are now.”
The transformed showgrounds has three new permanent barns, something riders had been wanting for “a very long time,” as Michael put it.
Flood-prone arenas number seven and eight were re-done as well. It’s all part of the $9 million spent so far by the Global Equestrian Group, which purchased the facility in 2021.
“Everyone is really appreciative of these changes,” said show jumper Brianne Goutal-Marteau.
Although Wellington once was the destination for equestrians wanting to spend the winter in Florida, it now faces competition from the glossy World Equestrian Center in Ocala, where amenities include a 4-star hotel, a variety of restaurants and state-of-the-art stables, along with a bevy of top-class arenas, both indoors and out. And the brand new sleek TerraNova Equestrian Center just east of Sarasota, Fla., on the state’s west coast, which opened just last year, is also a high-end facility.
Michael Stone, Brianne Goutal-Marteau, Adrienne Lyle, Thomas Baur.
But one of Wellington’s advantages is housing; many of the riders, trainers and owners have bought or are able to rent property in the area. That means they are just minutes away from the showgrounds—some can even ride their horses over.
As Brianne noted, what used to be a 12-week season can now be as long as five months (Wellington International had summer and fall shows), which is a bonus for competitors with families. Brianne has two children, and after a long circuit up north, she said she is “relieved to get here.” Staying in one place for months has big benefits in view of how much time equestrians spend on the road overall.
Brianne also pointed out that the time in Wellington benefits development of horses, since they have such a long period to be trained and get used to the routine.
“All of a sudden, you see babies are almost veterans by the end,” she commented. The fact that WEF offers such a variety of levels culminating at the top, is also an advantage.
Neither WEC nor TerraNova has the numbers drawn by Wellington, or the big money FEI show jumping grands prix often used in selecting team candidates for international championships.
Both Michael and Thomas Baur, who runs Global, noted that Olympic qualifying already has started, and Wellington also will be a destination for those pointing toward the Asian Games and the Pan American Games, set for November in Chile. While for the past several years the dressage Nations Cup didn’t have enough countries participating with teams to make it an official competition of that nature, Thomas noted more countries, including Australia and Spain, are considering fielding squads, along with the omnipresent U.S., Canada and Germany.
Olympic dressage medalist Adrienne Lyle is hoping to qualify for the FEI World Cup finals in Omaha this April, and was happy she could earn points with an early start aboard Salvino in December at Global, before the regular season at the site gets under way.
Adrienne Lyle is a favorite of the Friday Night Lights frestyle crowd. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
“It is honestly one of the coolest atmospheres I think I’ve ridden anywhere in the world,” she said.
“The electricity and enthusiasm on a Friday night you know, freestyles, is really incredible. You can feel it as a rider, your horses can feel it. It’s really an experience I’m not sure you could get anywhere else,” Adrienne contended.
Dressage riders also will have a chance to broaden their horizons by riding at the WEF showgrounds rather than Globbal in week 10 for their 5-star competition.
Changes at the showgrounds have also affected spectators, with peaked tents over the box seats being removed to offer more standing room. The internet on site is improved as well.
Not everything goes as planned, of course. Michael apologized for a parking snafu last weekend as WEF opened, with long delays to get into the venue. He said the police handling it were new, and promised organizers will “get it solved for the rest of the season.”
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by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 8, 2023
George Spellman is being mourned by his many friends, in particular those from the equestrian world who knew him through the Devon Horse Show.
A celebration of his life will be held Sunday, Jan. 15 at 11 a.m. at the Class of 1944 Chapel at the Episcopal Academy. In lieu of flowers, donations to his memory may be made to the Garrett Williamson Foundation or the Arbor Day Foundation.
“If you’ve shown at the Devon Horse Show in any capacity you know of George. He could be found making all of the `Devon Magic’ happen behind the scenes in his red shirt,” Nina Shaffer stated in a tribute on Facebook.
“Whether it was driving a tractor, the water truck, a golf cart, the skid steer, dressed in `Devon Drag’ for Dressage at Devon or…helping the food vendor; to say George wore many hats is truly an understatement.
“George was the kind of person that would always lend a helping hand, was a problem solver, friend, and an incredible businessman,” she continued.
“Devon will never be the same for those of us whose lives he truly touched in one of the most esteemed Equestrian venues.”
The 60-year-old business owner died in a work-related accident when a tree fell on him Jan. 4, A resident of Newtown Square, Pa., he founded his own contracting firm, George J. Spellman Inc., which specialized in landscape design. George was also an integral part of the Devon Horse Show for 35 years and was indispensable to the local equestrian community.
George was an avid gardener, a talented chef, an accomplished hunter,and a mentor to many. An outgoing and generous man who showed his love for family, friends, and neighbors through action. His acts of kindness ranged from baking custom birthday cakes to mitigating catastrophes of all sorts. On speed dial for many, George always made himself available for anyone that found themselves in a pinch. At times, George was there before you even knew you needed him.
He was the epitome of a self-made man and dedicated his life to helping others. A master of many trades, George was one of a kind. In his final moments, he was doing what he loved best: boots on, laced tight, he seized the day, guiding his team, taking on the latest challenge.
He is survived by his wife,Jodi; his daughter, Catherine, and his brother, Matthew Spellman.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 27, 2022
Starting this month, you can take a fully online equine nutrition course at Rutgers University from your home, with a 14-week undergraduate offering being presented in two different formats to horse owners, trainers, feed sales representatives or anyone interested in the topic. Each format has a different course workload, level of required interaction, completion documentation, and registration fee.
To earn a certificate of completion, students are expected to be fully engaged each week during the course, submit assignments, complete readings, watch videos, participate in discussions, and complete a final project. Those who receive a grade of 80 percent or more in the class along with the certificate, will also receive continuing education units (3.6 CEUs) rather than undergraduate college credits.
To earn a Certificate of Course Participation, course completion will be based on automatically graded quizzes and self-paced practice assignments but there are no deadlines or instructor interaction.
Click on this link for more information and to register for the course that runs Jan. 17-May 1. Questions? Contact Carey.Willliams@rutgers.edu.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 5, 2023
The FEI’s (international equestrian federation) popular director of show jumping, Marco Fuste, has died of a heart attack at age 60.
Marco Fuste.
He suffered the attack a few days ago and succumbed January 5.
Before he went to the FEI, he was chef d’equipe of the Spanish showjumping team and director of show jumping for the Spanish equestrian federation.
When Marco was appointed to the FEI post in December 2020, he called it, “absolutely my dream job.
“Horses and equestrian sport, particularly jumping, have been a part of my life for so long and I see this new role as the pinnacle of my career. Jumping is already the FEI’s largest discipline and, while I know the challenges involved, I also see great opportunity for further expansion, particularly in South America, so that we can develop the sport more broadly. I can’t wait to get started.”
Lisa Roskens, who brought the FEI World Cup finals to Omaha in 2017, with a return to that city slated this April, noted, “He was that special combination of knowledgeable but collaborative and provided us with great guidance as we prepare for the World Cup finals this year.”
Lizzy Chesson, the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s managing director of show jumping, called Marco, “a good friend and an outstanding human being; but i am sure there are many around the globe saying exactly the same thing at this very sad moment.
“Marco was a friend and a mentor to so many and dedicated to equestrian sport and jumping in particular. As a chef d’equipe, he wore his passion on his sleeve and he has, in my firm opinion, been doing an amazing job in the very challenging role of FEI director of jumping,” she continued.
Marco Fuste, left, in his role as chef d’equipe with Spain’s 2018 winning Nations Cup team at Gijon, Spain. (1Clicphoto)
“I will always laugh when I think back to his ability to `embellish’ the English language when there were things going wrong or people making poor decisions. Most of all, I will remember a warm human being who I will miss greatly.
“My thoughts and prayers are with his family and also with FEI family, who have lost one of the good ones’.”
During his time at the FEI, Marco oversaw the full revision of the FEI jumping rules, the successful delivery of the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games due to Covid-19, and the FEI World Championships, World Cup and Nations Cup Finals. He worked closely with FEI Jumping Committee and Chair Stephan Ellenbruch (GER) to ensure the different stakeholders within the community understood the decisions, the reasoning and the decision-making process.
His eclectic background began in 1986 as event manager at the Spanish sports events company Organización y Gestión Deportiva S.A, before spending nine years with the World League of American Football, NFL Europe and NFL Europe League. Marco would go on to the tennis world, becoming general manager at the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation, during which Spain scored its first Davis Cup victory.
“The FEI and the greater equestrian community have lost a true friend, loyal equestrian, mentor and aficionado,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.
“Marco always gave it his all–he was not one for half measures or taking the easy option–and everyone respected him for his tenacity, his integrity and his good business sense.”
