by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 3, 2022
The very inclement weather on Sunday did not cooperate with the Kevin Babington Benefit Horse Show in New Jersey, as heavy rain moved as many classes as possible indoors, while the turnout understandably was light. But the fundraising continues for the show jumper who suffered a severe spinal injury that left him paralyzed three years ago.
The benefit show has been a tradition at Duncraven in Titusville, Mercer County, since 2019, and the new owners, the Stout family, have continued it with their generosity.
They opened the doors of their refurbished facility to the cause that has involved so many people who want to help. Kevin is able to give lessons from ringside, but he is still undergoing therapy, and the costs of that and the care he requires are astronomical.
Because of the conditions for the show, there are still raffle and silent auction items left over. They will be available next weekend at the N.J. Professional Horsemen’s Association show at Duncraven Oct. 8 and 9.
The raffle will be held during the NJPHA show for those who are present. Bids for the auction items, a Bates Arena saddle from Bucks County Saddlery and a $1,000 gift certificate from Dover Saddlery, may be made via phone with Julie Koveloski at 609-439-8983.
Julie worked with Nancy Wallis, Jen Cassidy and many others who gave their time to put on the show. She said of the day, “We really made the best of it. Whoever was showing, they showed in everything. I think we really only had 38 horses and ponies showing. The trainers were fabulous who stuck around and pretty much ran the classes. It was pretty much a group effort.”
The jump donated by Mason Garrity.
As she mentioned, the thought in everyone’s mind as the rain came down was “what would Kevin do? Kevin would trudge on and make the best of it. Everyone kind of did the same.”
Julie said “we did really well, considering the weather. Can’t ask for more than that. Duncraven and the NJPHA Fall Finale were really generous, letting us keep the raffle and silent auction items through next weekend and hopefully generate a little more for Kevin.”
Raffle items include a horsehead painting by Cecile Bruck, a handmade cherrywood table from Liz Soroka, and a jump made by Mason Garrity. Julie will be upstairs at Duncraven during the NJPHA show to handle the raffle and auction bids.
Table donated for the raffle by Liz Soroka.
She said in addition to the saddle, Bucks County also donated the majority of the champion and reserve champion gifts.
“They were very very generous,” said Julie, noting Bucks County also donated Breyer horses for the kids.
Kevin’s wife, Dianna, responded to the incredible effort by saying, “Kevin and I are incredibly thankful and feel blessed to have such support from 1home.’
“We miss everyone so much and are always overwhelmed by the love and support that remains to help him with his journey. We are also extremely appreciative for the use of Duncraven,” she added, citing the new ownership.
The Babington’s are based in Florida, but formerly lived in New Jersey.
“We will see you all next year and I hope Kevin can someday make the journey home,” Dianna added..
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 10, 2022
The Far Hills Race Meeting returns to Moorland Farm on Route 202 Oct. 15. The card of steeplechase races offers an opportunity to see exciting sport while tailgating and catching up with friends.
The Far Hills Race Meeting is always a special occasion. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
There’s a vendor village and food trucks to visit between races on a day perfect for enjoying the countryside in the full beauty of autumn.
The races started as a thank you to property owners who permitted the Essex Foxhounds to hunt over their land, and they used to be called the hunt races. It is NOT a hunt and no longer has anything to do with the hunt, though the misinformed use that nickname when they are referring to it.
Far Hills is one of 40 such race meets that begin in March and end in November, held throughout the East and south from New York to Georgia.
For more information and tickets, go to https://farhillsrace.org/
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 2, 2022
Are you looking for tack, horse blankets, boots, breeches, knick-knacks or other equestrian and farm items? Or do you want to get rid of same?
Tack sales are gearing up in Hunterdon County to benefit therapeutic riding organizations. Now is the time to drop off items at Riding With Heart and Mane Stream.
For Riding with Heart, bring donations to the RWH farm, 639 County Road 513, Pittstown from Monday to Friday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and noon-3 p.m. on Saturdays. Call (908) 735-5912 before you come so staff knows when to expect you.
Email tacksale@ridingwithheart.org to schedule a different drop-off time or a pick-up for a big donation within an hour drive. All donations are tax deductible.
The tack sale will be held Oct. 8 (10 a.m.-3 p.m.) and Oct. 9 (Noon-3 pm.) when most items will be half-price.
Mane Stream’s sale at 83 Old Turnpike, Oldwick, will be held from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 6. Before then, drop off your items or call for a pick-up. Contact Jen at (908) 439-9636 or email to jen@manestreamnj.org.
Proceeds go toward Mane Stream’s mission to improve the quality of life for individuals with physical, developmental, emotional and medical challenges through a diverse program of equine assisted activities, therapy services and educational initiatives.
A tack sale also will be held at the Kevin Babington benefit show Oct. 2 at Duncraven in Titusville, Mercer County. Tack may be dropped off the week before the show at the stable, 1300 Trenton-Harbourton Road. Those who need to drop off tack before that should contact show manager Nancy Wallis at (908) 256-3386.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 30, 2022
Sabine Schut-Kery wowed the world aboard Sanceo at the Tokyo Olympics last year, where the combination clinched a historic silver medal for the U.S. dressage team and finished fifth individually in the freestyle.
Last night, without an equine partner, she wowed the crowd during Dressage at Devon, giving pointers in a masterclass to a select group of riders in a clinic that fascinated her audience as twilight descended over the historic arena on Philadelphia’s Main Line.
Silva Martin and Farouche. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
While she demonstrated star power on her own two feet, we’re looking forward to seeing her once again ride Sanceo. The 16-year-old stallion was missing from this year’s world championships after sustaining an injury in Florida that meant he couldn’t qualify for last month’s competition in Denmark.
It was, she recalled after her clinic, “so unfortunate, the timing.”
Now, “He’s coming back to work,” but “he’s not back to full work because we’re always so careful with him.”
I wondered whether he might make the FEI World Cup Finals in Omaha next April.
“I don’t know,” she said. “I’m not going to predict anything anymore. I’m going to take it day by day. In the end, he’s going to tell me.”
What happened this year gave her a dose of reality.
“I stopped making plans,” she said.
But in terms of Omaha, Sabine added, “Hopefully, there will be enough time” to qualify. We’ll see. That would be super fun.”
It certainly would be a big draw for fans. Only two riders, Steffen Peters and Debbie McDonald, have ever won the Cup finals.
Devon’s Saturday night freestyle is the first North American qualifier for the competition in Omaha, but qualifying will continue over the winter.
The six riders in the Devon clinic performed for Sabine the day before, so she could get to know them.
“I could see a little bit and pick some of the movements that I thought would be good for each horse,” said Sabine.
“I think we have some really amazing horses coming up,” she added.
One is Farouche (Foundation X Carpalo II), who was ridden by Silva Martin earlier in the day to an impressive victory in the four-year-old Young Horse class, earning 87.600 percent with marks of nine for the trot, submissiveness and general impression. She went on to take the Young Horse Championship.
Sabine Schut-Kery appraises Silva Martin and Farouche as they work. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Commenting during the clinic sponsored by Show Plus powered by Captive One, Sabine cited the expressive Westfalen mare’s elegant trot with its suppleness and elasticity. As she looks forward to Farouche’s five-year-old season, the objective is to ask for more engagement with the mare’s hind legs, not letting her simply run forward.
Sabine had Silva perform a serpentine and some leg yields on the diagonal. There is a reason it is important to stretch forward and downward, rather than downward and forward, Sabine emphasized. Going forward opens up the back, she said.
Team veteran Olivia Lagoy-Weltz was up on the eight-year-old gelding Johnny Be Goode by Dream Boy. When the horse was tight in the new environment, Sabine said the answer was to “ride him more and more from your legs.”
Olivia Lagoy-Weltz and Johnny Be Goode. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
The bend in the half-pass ended up a little too much in the reins, so the answer was to “just do a little bit leg yield and get him a little bit more on your leg.”
Making the canter pirouette bigger “so it becomes a habit and something he can rely on” avoids having him come behind the rider’s aids.
“I don’t over-collect when I get into the pirouette, carrying the hind legs forward into the collection” said Sabine, who was looking for “equal push power as carrying power.”
Olivia was pleased by the experience of being in the clinic. “I love dressage at Devon. Anything to support Dressage at Devon. It’s a great opportunity to get the horses fabulous experience and get some fabulous feedback from Sabine, who’s an amazing rider, teammate and trainer.” Olivia hopes to bring a group of her riders back next year, and perhaps compete with Johnny.
The next rider, Felicitas von Neumann-Cosel, offered a contrast to the horses that had gone previously when she presented a 12-year-old Lusitano stallion, Fantastico by Perito.
Felicitas von Neumann-Cosel on Fantastico. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Sabine pointed out while Felicitas was riding a circle that making it smaller means “you can really ride with your legs in the turn and your horse has less chance to speed up and go fast.”
The idea is “to teach the horse what it means to push through the body from the rider’s leg. I always like doing a lot of turns and bending lines.”
Turns “really help to get the horse on the leg and not so flighty from the leg.” Another piece of advice for the canter, “Be committed to the tempo.”
Alice Tarjan rode the statuesque seven-year-old Summersby II (Sezuan X Sandro Hit) who was a bit tense. Sabine put her on a 15-meter circle to relax on the leg. Then she let her stretch, but cautioned it is necessary to keep the balance even while stretching.
Alice Tarjan and Summersby II. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
It’s important to ease a horse through tension so it doesn’t become a habit, Sabine said, pointing out riders should take time for that, so they’re not putting the movements in on top of the tension.
Jim Koford was aboard Adeline, a mare he bought after seeing her advertised on Facebook. “She’s a Facebook warmblood,” he joked.
You never would have guessed she was by a Friesian stallion out of a saddlebred/paint mare.
Adeline also reflected some tension, so Sabine advised in cases like this perhaps using a short spur, which means the horse be can ridden from the leg with subtle pressure before reacting to the spur. Another suggestion: “Think ahead of the horse,” in other words, plan your ride.
Jim Koford and Adeline. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
She had Jim ride a 20-meter circle putting Adeline on a haunches-in and from there a shoulder-in to a haunches-in.
Jim called the clinic “an amazing opportunity” for schooling.
“It’s such an electric environment, and there were a lot of people there today. It was amazing to go in there and take the pressure off, let the horse take a deep breath.
“I was delighted. My mare came back to the stall so proud of herself. It was an amazing opportunity to work with Sabine and have ring familiarization in a non-pressure situation so I wasn’t over-riding. It was just what I needed and she needed,” he said of his mount,.
Jim has just started the Intermediate II with her and hopes to come back next year and compete.
Canadian rider Jaimey Irwin had quite an advanced horse in Simsalabim (Sir Donnerhall II X Akzent II) who did some nice work in piaffe and passage. Sabine discussed giving walk breaks as rewards in addition to a pat, pointing out that they can be useful in another way, too.
Jaimey Irwin and Simsalabim. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
“Every time I walk, I kind of think I’m in the test in the sense of making it really, really correct. The back opens up if the nose comes a little forward.”
She talked about rebalancing through a quarter-pirouette if the horse gets on its front end. “Push her sideways until she takes a little bit more weight.”
Make a decision based on what your horse feels like, not just what you’re being told to do.
Jaimey agreed with Jim about the value of the experience.
“It’s a perfect opportunity to bring in horses like mine who haven’t had a chance to compete under the lights in an atmosphere. Let them go in and find their relaxation and confidence in a situation like that and be guided by Sabine.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 28, 2022
Tim Price of New Zealand, the number three-ranked eventer in the world, has just joined the lineup of the Mars Maryland 5-star at Fair Hill Oct. 13-16.
The world championships double bronze medalist will face off against world number one Oliver Townend of Great Britain in the competition, which made its debut last year. The 2021 winner, U.S. world championships team silver medalist Boyd Martin, will be riding in the 3-star at the competition, not the 5-star, which means he can’t defend his title.
The FEI entries close Frida, so who knows if there may be another superstar joining these riders and Great Britain’s Harry Meade, as well as France’s Astier Nicolas.
On the U.S side, Will Coleman, star of the silver medal team at the world championships this month, is going to be appearing, along with Doug Payne, top U.S. finisher in the Olympics last year; Buck Davidson, Liz Halliday-Sharp, Tamie Smith and many other names you will recognize.
Want tickets? Go to this link.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 21, 2022
The Masters’ Chase has become an autumn tradition, offering an afternoon of amateur racing, stick pony racing for kids, an antique car exhibition and tailgating, presented by the Countryside Alliance of the Somerset Hills.
Tailgating is a fun part of the Masters’ Chase. (Photo © by Lawrence J. Nagy)
It will be held Oct. 8 at Natirar, a park that was once a private estate, on Main Street in Peapack, N.J. Gates open at noon and races start at 2 p.m. General admission is $40/car.
The mission of the Countryside Alliance is to perpetuate an understanding of the country way of life, maintaining and preserving the history and traditions of hunting with horses and hounds in the Somerset Hills and to educate the public on the proper care and breeding of hounds as well as horses.
For more information on entering the competition and reserving tailgating spaces, go to www.countrysidesh.org.
