by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 23, 2022
The Rutgers Equine Science Center is conducting the 2022 Equine Industry Needs Assessment Survey to determine what concerns are most important to those involved with horses.
The survey is available through Nov. 1. Anyone can participate if they are over 18 years old and involved with horses in the U.S., either through riding, owning horses, running a horse-related business, or in some other way. Use this link to share your views and opinions in the 10 minute anonymous survey.
“Everyone’s opinion matters for this project”, said Karyn Malinowski, director of the Rutgers Equine Science Center.
“The main goal of this survey is to help us better understand how the Rutgers Equine Science Center can best support members of the equine industry in New Jersey and nationwide. Other aims are to learn more about the different groups that are part of the equine industry with regard to their demographics, interests and the issues that are important to them”, she said.
Those who have questions about this project may email the study coordinator, Alisa Herbst at ach158@sebs.rutgers.edu or phone: (848) 932-3761.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 21, 2022
Tim Price, who won the MARS Maryland 5-star at Fair Hill last weekend on Coup de Couer Dudevin, has received a recorded warning from the FEI (international equestrian federation) for “abuse of horse/misuse of whip”
Asked about the situation, Tim stated, “After the penultimate and before the last cross- country fence, I ‘brushed’ my horse with the whip. It was not deemed abuse of the horse by the officials. I was merely using the whip as an enthusiasm aid to encourage him to stay up and gallop.”
He added, “My round was a very smooth round, with my horse’s enjoyment and confidence kept as paramount at all times. Anyone who watches the round I’m sure will agree.”
The penalty for three recorded warnings in two years is a two-month suspension.
Tim Price and Coup de Couer Dudevin. (Photo © 2022 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Other riders cited by the FEI in the Maryland 5-star include Woods Baughman, who finished twentieth on C’est la Vie 135, and Buck Davidson, twelfth on Carlevo.
Woods got a “yellow warning card/serious case of dangerous riding” and a recorded warning for “abuse of horse/misuse of whip.” He did not respond to a request for comment.
Buck got a yellow warning card for “abuse of horse/blood on the horse-severe bit rubs both sides of mouth.”
Buck said he accepted the decision and is “thankful my horse is healthy and happy in (his) paddock in Florida.”
Two yellow warning cards in a year bring a two-month suspension.
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.
