by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 18, 2022
Single-session tickets have just gone on sale for the FEI World Cup Finals in Omaha April 4-8.
The usual show jumping and dressage competitions will be joined this time by vaulting, gymnastics on horseback that is a real crowd pleaser, with its costumes and music in the final rounds.
McLain Ward on his way to winning the 2017 finals on HH Azur.
Omaha put on a heck of a show the last time it hosted the finals in 2017. Next year’s finals will be the first in the U.S. since then, because the 2020 finals scheduled for Las Vegas were cancelled due to Covid.
Some of the biggest names can be expected to compete, such as the 2017 winner, Isabell Werth in dressage and McLain Ward in show jumping.
Seating at the Chi Health Center is limited, so if you want to go, this is the time to buy a ticket and reserve a hotel.
Click on this link for more information.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 20, 2022
The coronation of Great Britain’s King Charles III has been scheduled for May 6, which was to be cross-country day for the Badminton Horse Trials. But not anymore.
The schedule for the 5-star has been reshuffled, so it will begin a day later than usual and cross-country thus will be held on the Sunday, May 7. (Someone I met at the Maruland 5-star event joked that the conflict would be settled by having the coronation at Badminton, which I believed for two seconds–after all, Badminton is very important!)
Dressage competition will start early on May 6, then be halted so spectators can watch the coronation on big screens around the grounds. Dressage will resume when the ceremonies conclude.
So if you’re planning on the trip of a lifetime to Badminton and making reservations, bear in mind that the event will end Monday, May 8 rather than on the seventh.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 23, 2022
The 30th try was the lucky one. After decades of frustration, McLain Ward finally won the $100,000 Grand Prix de Penn National Saturday night at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show.
His lack of success in the class had become a running joke with McLain and his friends, but he had the last laugh as he and First Lady caught Rodrigo Pessoa, the class leader to that point with Quality FZ on a clocking of 34.883 seconds.
McLain Ward and First Lady. (Photo by Andrew Ryback)
“I went in with the thought to try to push the envelope a little bit and catch him and it worked out, said McLain, timed in 34.638 on the mare owned by Robiin Parsky.
Third and fourth places went to Beat Mandli aboard Dijon Terdoorn Z and Chartraine Pre Noir, respectively, while Katie Dinan accounted for fifth and sixth with Brego R’N B and Atika des Hauts Vents.
McLain has been riding the 9-year-old Oldenburg mare, for the past two years, but this week marked the pair’s first time competing together indoors.
“That’s one of the reasons we brought her here, to get her some experience and prep here for next season, and obviously she stepped up beautifully,” explained McLain.
“She’s feisty, but has a tremendous amount of quality; she’s still inexperienced, but she has a lot of heart.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 17, 2022
Luke Jensen made it through three difficult tests in the Dover Saddlery/U.S. Equestrian Hunter Seat Medal to top a field of 230 at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show yesterday.
The Texan had been second in the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals East earlier this month, but he was never after anything except victory this time around.
Luke Jensen on Jamaica. (Photo by Leslie Potter for U.S.Equestrian)
Second place went to Californian Skylar Wireman , while Kate Egan of Glen Gardner, N.J, rounded out the top three.
“The prestige of this horse show is incredible, so I’m very grateful to be able to compete here and to be here and show at the highest level,” said Luke, a working student with John Brennan and Missy Clark of North Run.
“The competition is incredible. Every rider here earned their spot, and they’re all incredibly talented – all the horses, all the riders. To be able to win it is very special to me and the prestige just makes me all the more grateful to be here.”
The opening round of competition got underway at 7 a.m. with a challenging course set by designer Thomas Hern,Jr., with input from judges Karen Healey and Mark Jungherr. The technical track posed narrowed the field to the top 25 who would then return for a second round.
From there, the top four of Kate Egan, Schuyler Wireman, Luke and Isabella David returned for further testing. Each of them was handed a slip of paper listing the test – which included two counter-canter fences, a trot jump and a hand gallop down to the final triple bar fence. They were given time to review the test while mounted in the ring before being asked to exit so as not to see any of the other riders’ tests.
Returning in reverse order of their standings, Isabella and Kate each had some minor bobbles in their counter-canter work, but Wireman returned in the penultimate position. Luke was able to hold onto first place.
“They were both very, very close at the end,” said judge Karen Healey.
“The first course was not easy, and at first, I thought the second one was going to be way too easy. Then it kind of took care of itself a little bit. Then, it ended up working out the way we wanted it to at the end.”
Judge Mark Jungherr added, “[Luke] came in winning both rounds, and then their work-offs were very close. He had a great connection with his horse, and he kept the same weight in his hands all the way through the three rounds over a lot of jumps.
Luke has had the ride on Jamaica, owned by North Run, since the beginning of the year when he began taking care of the 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding in his working student role.
“Getting to [take care of him] is very, very special to me,” said Jensen, whose name will be added to the Adrian Van Sinderen Memorial Perpetual Trophy for the win.
“I’m so grateful to do it, and I think it makes a big difference to know the personality of your partner.”
Earning the title of the Best Equitation Horse and the Doris H. Clark Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by Missy Clark, was Castlefield Spartacus, ridden by fourth-place finisher David and owned by West Hill.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 6, 2022
The Standardbred Retirement Foundation, which in 2021 saved 733 Standardbreds from slaughter after they finished their racing careers, is expressing concern about the New Jersey state Legislature’s Bill A-4465, designed to set up a five-year grant program that will allocate funds to assist with the care of retired standardbred and thoroughbred racehorses.
“Wording in this bill is unclear as to eligibility requirements, and may also prevent these funds from helping race horses tagged for slaughter. After 33 years of efforts by the Standardbred Retirement Foundation, we must be certain that these funds are directed correctly and ask for your immediate help,” the organization said in a statement.
It continued, “The current draft requires accreditation by the Standardbred Retirement Foundation; however, it is not clear if the SRF, being an accredited organization, will also be eligible for these funds. We must preempt this. Here is a link to the bill.
The current draft requires accreditation by the Standardbred Retirement Foundation. However, it is not clear if the SRF, being an accredited organization, will also be eligible for these funds. “We must preempt this,” the organization stated.
Also, an additional accrediting organization that is noted in A4465 follows the The Right Horse Initiative. Under their guidelines, organizations must refrain from purchasing from “kill pens/bail outs”. This means that the Standardbreds in greatest need, tagged to ship for slaughter, will not be helped by this fund. https://www.aspcarighthorse.org/warmupringresources/
From Oct. 7-12, comment may be sent to Assemblyman Ralph Caputo to assure these funds reach the horses in need, according to SRF. In-person testimony has been delayed and will be heard into November in Trenton.
To email or call Assemblyman Ralph Caputo, use this link.
On Oct. 7, SRF will provide further information for supporters and the general public to register to testify before the committee. The window to do so is very short, SRF pointed out.
Assemblyman Ralph Caputo can be reached via this link
The SRF suggested this wording for communication with the assemblyman: “In regard to A-4465, I urge you to clarify that the accrediting organization, Standardbred Retirement Foundation, is eligible to receive funds. In addition, no organizations following The Right Horse Initiative can be approved (as funds will not be directed to the race horses in most need).”
SRF is the largest Standardbred adoption program in the U.S. and is feeding and caring for 512 Standardbreds. Visit the website at www.AdoptaHorse.org for more information.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 5, 2022
Therapeutic riding pioneer Octavia Brown will be honored with the “Spirit of the Horse” award during the Rutgers Equine Science Center’s Evening of Science & Celebration next month.
Octavia Brown
The keynote speaker is Dr. Frank Andrew of Louisiana State University, whose topic is diestary management of gastric ulcers in horses, a topic to which so many horse owners can relate. The event will take place Nov. 3 from 6-9 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Cook Student Center on the Cook Campus of Rutgers University in New Brunswick.
The eventing brings together equine professionals, horse owners, farm owners and barn managers, educators and students, 4-H members and horse enthusiasts so they can learn about current projects and research being conducted at the Equine Science Center. The Center aims to address horse industry issues and challenges through science and research.
The keynote speech will focus on risk factors, clinical signs, and how stomach ulcers can be diagnosed.
The speaker is the LVMA Equine Committee professor, head of veterinary clinical sciences and director of the equine health studies program at LSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine.
He is a clinician-scientist with a strong research background in the areas of equine gastrointestinal health and disease, and has been active in scientific investigation for more than 30 years.
Karyn Malinowski, founding director of the Equine Science Center, will give her yearly update on the state of the Center, and the accomplishment over the last year.
Research updates will be provided by Ph.D. Candidate Ellen Rankins from the Rutgers Endocrinology and Animal Biosciences Program, on “Co-regulation Between Horse and Human in Equine Assisted Activities (EAA) and its Effects on Symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Veterans”. Kenneth McKeever; associate director of research, Rutgers Equine Science Center, and a professor in the Department of Animal Sciences; will discuss his research into “Effect of Nasal Flairs on Thermoregulation During Exercise.” Daniel Gimenez, a professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences, speak on “Effects of Horse Manure-Sourced Biochar on Soil Nutrients, Carbon Sequestration and Hydraulic Properties of Agricultural Soils”.
The Spirit of the Horse award recognizes individuals whose lives have been profoundly changed because of their involvement with horses and who have acknowledged the impact by giving back to the horse industry.
“Dr. Octavia Brown has been a stalwart supporter of the equine community in New Jersey and was an instrumental organizer and founder of multiple equine programs and initiatives throughout the state”, said Karyn Malinowski. “Tave is truly worthy of the ‘Spirit of the Horse’ award, as evidenced by her long-time commitment to the advancement of Equine Assisted Services nationwide.”
The 2022 winner of the Gold Medal Horse Farm award will be announced at the event.
The event requires registration that can be made online at https://go.rutgers.edu/Evening2022.
For additional information, please contact the Equine Science Center at 848-932-9419 or Kyle Hartmann at kylehart@njaes.rutgers.edu.
