by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 10, 2022
The Region 2 Maclay championship today went to Jordan Gibbs, a Coloradan who trains with Stacia Madden of Colts Neck, N.J.
Jordan led the top 33 from a field of 49 at Old Salem Farm who are eligibile to ride in the ASPCA Maclay Championship at the National Horse Show in Lexington, Ky., in November.
Reserve champion was Kate Egan of Glen Gardner, N.J., trained by Luke Olsen of Redfielf Farm in Califon, N.J.
Discussing her strategy, Jordan said, “I came into today just wanting to put down a smooth round and make it into the top 33 and make it to the Finals. I trust my horse and I trust myself and I am so happy with how it turned out.”
Stacia explained, “Our goal was to have what we call a `lock-it-in’ round, where we just avoid making any blatant, big mistakes. Sometimes that takes the pressure off and we get better results. Jordan has a tendency to be an overachiever, so we weren’t working on having the brilliant round, but she wound up having the brilliant round.”
Holly Orlando and Lyman T. Whitehead, who judged the class, saw it as “a nice stepping stone to the Finals at the National Horse Show.”
“The course was very well done,” said Holly,speaking of the route designed by Paul Jewell and Nancy Wallis that mimicked the look of the Alltech Arena at the National.
“In a lot of ways, the class judged itself, with the top 12 separating themselves from the others. Jordan was clearly the leader after the first round and there was no doubt that she earned the win.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 11, 2022
The $3 million (Canadian) CP International, presented by Rolex, went to German star Daniel Deusser on Killer Queen VDM after a jump-off today against Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat (Venard de Cerissy) and Gilles Thomas of Belgium (Aretino 13).
Daniel Deusser and Killer Queen VDM. (Photo© Spruce Meadows Media/Mike Sturk)
Daniel received his $1 million share of the purse with the only clear round in the tie-breaker.
McLain Ward had a seventh-place finish on HH Azur, who won a class earlier in the week. It ended the show at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta on a better note for the U.S. after the team failed to make the second round in yesterday’s Nations Cup.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 1, 2022
The Nations Cup of show jumping, a contest that epitomizes a country’s equestrian pride in its achievement, will continue as a two-round competition next year.
The International Jumping Riders Club noted the FEI (international equestrian federation) has confirmed the format for 2023, even though some organizing committees have expressed interest in making it just one round. Economically, a two-round approach is expensive for a number of reasons, including the cost of consecutive hours of media coverage.
A Nations Cup win is always a cause for celebration. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
Remember how removing roads and tracks and steeplechase from three-day eventing changed that game? Making the Nations Cup one round instead of two would have a similar effect on a different discipline.
As IJRC points out, the Nations Cup is the oldest and most prestigious class in equestrian sport. Riders wearing team colors are a symbol of the competion’s sporting importance.
In terms of its value, dropping a second round would not be in keeping with the Cup’s philosophy concerning consistency in horse and rider performance. They must prove their teamwork and freshness over longer courses involving two rounds. A second round enables a team to improve its standing in the class, or create an opportunity for redemption. A team can correct its mistakes or change its strategy in the second round.
IJRC maintains, “It is the most coveted and important competition in an athlete’s sporting career. This is underlined by the fact that riders agreed to the formation of three-combination teams at the Olympics, being assured that the Nations Cup formula would not be affected.”
Outside of the Olympics, as in last month’s world championships, four-member teams have always been the rule. IJRC contends joint solutions to the economic issues should be found in order to support the organizing committees and address their concerns.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 25, 2022
Popular combined driving competitor Bill Orth, once one of the top single-horse drivers, died at the age of 90 on August 20 at his home in Eaton, N.Y.
A native of New Jersey who once had a farm in Stockton, he did a lot of winning with a Morgan named Bentley and gained international fame in 1992 with the Morgan New-Ran’s Hawk. He and Hawk traveled to the Royal Windsor show in England and won the Single Horse title at the Harrods International Driving Grand Prix competition. The trophy and ribbons were presented by Queen Elizabeth.
His closest competitor at Windsor was another Hunterdon County resident, George Hoffman. The two were members of the Possumtown Five, a group of fun-loving drivers that also included George Millar, Joe Urso and Stan Rosania during the heyday of combined driving in New Jersey. He also was an active member of the Hunterdon County Horse & Pony Association.
Bill Orth
Born in Passaic, N.J., Bill went to work for the Noll family farm, where he met Marilyn Noll, who became his wife in 1957. After his time in the dairy industry, Bill became a long-distance driver for several trucking companies before starting his own B-Line Trucking, which he ran until his 1985 retirement.
Bill and Marilyn relocated to Southern Pines, N.C., but after her death, he moved to Eaton, N.Y., and built a log cabin on the Orth family dairy farm.
A self-taught musician who played several instruments, he also was a bird-watcher, historian, a competitive card player and quite a storyteller.
He also was known for his sense of humor. Katie Whaley, another driver who was a close friend, remembers the time he showed up with his friends at the Fair Hill, Md., driving event’s exhibitors’ party in late October. They came as Snow White and the seven dwarves. Bill was dressed as Snow White, and the other Possumtown members were the dwarves. Margie Margentino, who narrated their skit as Merlin, helped Pat Rosania make the costumes.
Margie remembered Bill as a “good mentor and great horseman who was a good supporter of the sport and always encouraged new people.”
Bill is survived by his sister-in-law, Dorothy Hostage and her husband, Michael. The family has requested that instead of flowers, those wishing to remember Bill with a gift should make a contribution to a charity of their choice.
A celebration of Bill’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Oct. 15, at the Orth family farm, 2861 Evans Road, Eaton, N.Y. 13334. Arrangements are by Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 31 Cedar St., Morrisville, N.Y.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 21, 2022
Dressage star Charlotte Dujardin is expecting a baby girl early next year with Dean Golding, to whom she has been engaged and had an on-and-off relationship, which is very much “on” at the moment.
“Our hearts are already full of more love than we thought possible,” Charlotte stated on social media.
“A new chapter in our journey will begin; one that we have always hoped for, and we cannot wait to welcome our little girl into the world. I just hope she already knows how much she has been wished for and how much love awaits her, from ourselves and our excited families.”
Dean and Charlotte at the baby’s gender reveal party. (Photo by Jess Photography)
The timing is good, as Charlotte just completed the world championships on the British silver medal team, and the European Championships aren’t until later in 2023. The Paris Olympics are in 2024, so she should be all set for competition after the baby is born.
After Charlotte took her last gold medal ride on Valegro at the 2016 Olympics, Dean was photographed with a sign that said, “Now will you marry me?” But the couple broke up in 2019 before reuniting last year.
Charlotte became Britain’s golden girl with double gold at the 2012 Olympics in London on Valegro. They continued as a winning combination through Rio, after which Valegro retired.
But Charlotte continued bringing in the medals, taking individual bronze in the Special on Mount St. John Freestyle at the 2018 world championships, and individual bronze on Gio at the Tokyo Olympics. Riding the very inexperienced Imhotep this month at the world championships in Denmark, she missed an individual medal but contributed to the team’s silver.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 20, 2022
Brendan Furlong bought a horse off a video a month ago, and what a winner he turned out to be.
The veterinarian from Pittstown, N.J., finally saw the gelding in person this week at the Dublin Horse Show, where the Irishbred Bloomfield Watergate won the Three-Year-Old Middle Weight class, then the Three-Year-Old Championship and the Supreme Young Horse Championship.
As if those weren’t enough awards, he also won the championship for horses bred by an exhibitor. Percy, as he is known, was shown by Michael Lyons.
Brendan Furlong and his new purchase, Percy, with Michaell Lyons, who showed him. (Photo courtesy Brendan Furlong)
Brendan isn’t bringing Percy home quite yet, though. He’s leaving him in Ireland to be produced for the Hunters Under Saddle Class at next year’s Dublin show.
