by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 13, 2025
Judy Hennessy was the salt of the earth, an amazing person; an inspiration, a dedicated teacher, all that and more, as expressed by hundreds of people whose lives she touched, and hundreds more who simply held her in their hearts.
They all mourned her passing on Saturday at age 89, sharing their sorrow with her son, Kevin, and daughter, Stacy, on — perhaps fittingly — the National Day of the Horse. A visitation will be held Dec. 21 from 1-3 p.m. at the Sheenan Funeral Home in Dunellen, N.J.
Judy Hennessy
A dedicated 4-H leader in Somerset County, N.J., for 45 years, Judy passed on her knowledge of horse care to so many children who, as a result, grew up learning the right way to do the best for their animals .In 2016, she was named New Jersey Horseperson of the Year, a well-deserved honor.
Judy had a varied work life. She was the first female groom to go overseas with the U.S. Equestrian Team (her favorite team horse was the tall and impressive San Lucas, Frank Chapot’s Pan Am Games medal mount).
The Bridgewater resident helped Jim Wiebe when his saddlery business was in Oldwick, assisted veterinarian Dr. John Walsh and until earlier this year, worked alongside her dog, Mollie, at Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center in Hunterdon County.
“Mom loved horses and loved teaching others about them. She has helped and taught so many through the years. Too many to name,” Kevin said on Facebook.
Stacy recalled, “She taught me to chase my dreams, no matter how far they took me. She taught me to embrace adventures. To go with the flow when it serves me well and to speak up when needed.
“She taught me to encourage others to ride and to get from this sport the many things that it can teach and the incredible experiences it affords us. She taught me to read often, to celebrate the holidays, to appreciate those that do the right thing. Always. She made sure we had the opportunities that were the good ones and pointed us in the right direction.”
Noting his mother hated the cold, Kevin stated, “to respect her love of warmer weather,” a celebration of her life will be held in the spring. Kevin suggested that to honor his mother, those who were so fond of her should “pass along anything she taught you to someone else.”
Margie Margentino, Judy’s friend for 43 years, called her “a true horseman. Not just somebody who got on a horse and rode. She knew the insides and outsides of a horse, as far as care, nutrition, lameness. She could braid a horse and not a hair out of place.”
What she learned from Judy “made me a better horseman, made me really think about the horse and what the horse’s needs are. There’s a lot more to horsemanship than riding.”
Margie added, “The word `quit’ was not in her vocabulary. Her big thing was education. She wanted the kids to learn. She taught me you’re never going to bond with your horse unless you’re there on the ground with that horse doing all the grooming, the mucking, the feeding. She instilled that in me and hundreds and hundreds of 4-H kids.”
Comments on Kevin’s social media post included one from Barbara Navatto calling Judy “an inspiration to all of us. A wonderful woman of incredible strength (and humor).”
Said Lisa Allocco, “She is a legend. Thank you to her for teaching all of us at very early age. There’s probably not one person on the East Coast she didn’t have an influence on.”
Lisas Nolte Salakian told Kevin and Stacy, “Your mom was ahead of her time and (a) trailblazer. Your mom was kind enough to braid my horse for the Maclay finals way back when. I sat on the trunk and we chatted while she braided. Her kind words eased some of the nerves and it is a memory I will always cherish.”
Ralph and Holly Caristo told Judy’s children, “Your mother was such a great person inside and out.”
Offering her condolences, Amy Butewicz said “Judy was a legendary horsewoman and touched the lives of so many. Her joyful, fun spirit was contagious. It was an honor to be part of her national 4-H Horse Bowl and Hippology teams many moons ago. We had some epic adventures on our trips to nationals in Louisville, Ky. I was so proud to be coached by her. She gave so much back to youth. Her heart was larger than life.”
Michelle Kirsch recalled that “Judy was one of my 4-H leaders, and later became one of my children’s leaders, as well — a rare and special full-circle gift. Mrs. Hennessey was truly a pillar of our local equine community and a true horsewoman in every sense of the word. She taught generations that the horse always comes first, and that lesson will live on through all of us she guided. Her impact, wisdom, and love for horses will never be forgotten.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 13, 2025
The winning Grand Prix Freestyle presented by Christian Simonson and Indian Rock Friday night at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala was performed to music with a double significance.
The tunes were from the Rocky movies, obviously appropriate since the 12-year-old Dutchbred stallion’s nickname is Rocky. But also, the Rocky story — of an underdog boxer who fights his way to the top — strikes a special chord with Christian.
He sees the series of movies as unreeling “a cool journey of a person that commits all their time and effort into one thing, and then they deal with the trials and tribulations and they end up successful.”
The 23-year-old rider certainly is committing his time and effort to dressage, on horses owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center with training provided by three-time Olympian Adrienne Lyle.
The class at WEC was an FEI World Cup qualifier, and Christian is hoping to ride in the Cup finals next April in Ft. Worth, Texas. After that, there is the goal of the World Championships during the summer in Aachen, Germany, and beyond the Worlds? Well, the U.S. will be hosting the Olympics in 2028.
Christian and Rocky doing their freestyle at Wec. (Andrew Ryback Photography)
The class at WEC was Christian’s second Cup qualifier victory with the Dutchbred son of Apache, putting him third in the standings for the finals. North America gets three representatives in the competition, the first U.S. location for the finals since Omaha in 2023.
Christian was more than three percentage points ahead of his closest competition. He scored 78.840 (with one judge giving him a remarkable 83.525), while second place went to Canada’s Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu on Jaccardo (75.115).
The USA’s Ben Ebeling, who is second in the Cup qualifier rankings with Dressage at Devon winner Bellena, finished fifth in the class (71.790). Kevin Kohmann, who leads the rankings on Dünensee, did not compete at WEC.
Rocky was ridden in the 2024 Olympics by Emmilie Scholtens of the Netherlands, who placed eleventh in the Paris freestyle with a score of 81.750. Christian came close to that in October at TerraNova with a total of 81.405. Christian keeps in touch with Emmilie, and they have shared many conversations about her former mount.
Adapting to a famous horse is no small task, but in typical Christian style, the rider was totally focused on becoming a partner with the stallion.
“I probably spent more time with Rocky than most of my family. We pushed things forward in that way. He’s truly an amazing horse,” Christian said good-naturedly.
Reflecting on his freestyle, Christian emphasized, “I’m really proud of his performance. It was kind of a little bit of a different environment for him and I. It was obviously an indoor (arena) with some modern music and a crowd. Adrienne constantly has me working on new things and giving me pieces of guidance and ways that we can improve what we’re doing. For me, the most fun is learning a lot all the time. It makes me just the happiest person ever.”
Continuing to discuss his ride, Christian said of his horse, “He felt amazing. He was with me every step of the way, I could use lighter and lighter aids. The piaffe/passage tour at the end, I could hear Adrienne’s voice in my head about where to put each step. She was really happy with that and if she’s happy, I’m happy.”
Since Christian began showing Rocky at FEI competitions in May, he has won five classes in a row.
He earned individual silver earlier this year aboard Son of a Lady in the Young Rider team competition in Hagen, Germany, where the U.S. squad claimed bronze in the Nations Cup.
Click here for freestyle results
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 13, 2025
Adrienne Ann Cotter, a former executive vice president of the American Horse Shows Association, died Friday.
She is survived by her husband, Martin, and two children, Ian and Rhea. For decades Adrienne was a staple in the horse community on Long Island and internationally with the AHSA, now the U.S. Equestrian Federation.
A funeral mass will be held at St Anthony of Padua in East Northport, N.Y., on Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) The preservation of the National Seashore has always been an important cause for Adrienne.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 12, 2025
The Evening of Equestrian is always a highlight of the USHJA’s annual meeting. The stories of those being honored are interesting and often quite inspirational.
Trainer Fran Dotoli, whose husband, Joe, is a regular award recipient (he got another honor when the President’s Distinguished Service Awards were announced during the evening), had her moment in the spotlight as one of the winners of the Jane Marshall Dillon Award.
The trophy goes to those dedicated to teaching and helping riders beginning their education with horses. It is named for the mentor of Olympic medalists Joe Fargis and Kathy Kusner. Her book “School for Young Riders” has been required reading for horse-crazy kids since 1958.
Fran researched Mrs. Dillon, learning she was “quite a character and a consummate instructor.”
Fran Dotoli and USHJA President Britt McCormick.
Working with beginners, juniors and amateurs as well as young professionals, Fran herself is “a consummate instructor,” who teaches life lessons as well as horsemanship.
The other recipient of the award was Nancy Unger-Fink, who actually rode with Mrs. Dillon and even lived in her house.
Nancy Unger-Fink.
Fran’s reference to Mrs. Dillon as a character was illustrated by Nancy’s recollection of being awakened at 11:30 p.m. to hear, “Get up, we’re going for a midnight ride.” Nancy learned how to braid a mane and wrap legs, among many other things that would serve her well as a professional.
“She taught us to be very dedicated and work harder,” Nancy emphasized.
The J. Arthur “Bucky” Reynolds Award of Merit went posthumously to Rodney Jenkins, the legendary hunter and jumper rider who died a year ago. The trophy was presented by his fellow Virginians, Bucky’s sister, Betty Oare, and her husband, Ernie Oare.
Betty and Ernie Oare.
Oliver Brown, the respected judge, breeder and handler, who received the Volunteer of the Year award, remembered as a kid in 1959 or ’60 riding in his first recognized show at Upperville, Va., where Rodney also was a competitor.
“I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t win at Upperville,” chuckled Oliver, who had collected ribbons at the county fair in Michigan. During his youth, he said, “one of my biggest competitors was Rodney. Then fast-forward a long way, I competed with Rodney a lot at the racetrack, and for those of you who don’t know, he had a heck of a career as a racehorse trainer.”
The Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to show jumping medalist, World Cup competitor and U.S. team member Debbie Stephens of Florida and Lloyd Longenecker. Saluted for his 50 years in the industry, Lloyd was a pioneer in horse show software with his Ryegate Show Services. The award was accepted by his daughter, Annette, since he couldn’t attend.
From his home in Pennsylvania, Lloyd appeared on video saying, “In all the years that I worked around the horse business, I never realized I was doing anything earth-shattering. I thought I was just doing things to make it better for the industry, better for the horses.”
He recounted a fascinating multi-dimensional history that included working in various jobs, including announcing, until he got his first set of timers and was involved with computers. A request from Linda Allen to help her write software that would help with team selection became the template for the computer list that continues to be used today.
Debbie, who was well-known for starting the great jumper Abdullah and also associated with such successful mounts as Volan and VIP, was on hand to accept her trophy, accompanied by her husband, Olympic course designer Steve Stephens. Her friend, Sherry Robertson, told everyone at the dinner about Debbie.
Debbie and Steve Stephens.
“She’s a great girl, she loves the sport, she has done amazing things. She was one of the ones who brought commercial sponsorship.”
In the process, Sherry recounted, Debbie won three cars and two motorcycles.”
Others recognized during the evening were
In addition to Joe Dotoli, Michele Hollis, Hugh Kincannon, Faith McKay-Alicea, Berry Porter, Megan Thiel, and Julie Williams won the Distinguished Service Award.
The Mrs. A.C. Randolph Legacy Owners Award when to Caroline Moran, who has been a backer of top riders and trainers in both the hunter/jumper and eventing disciplines, and has also been involved with much appreciated grooms awards.
The Amateur Sportsmanship Award was given to Isabel Baker, founder of the Kindness Movement that promotes sportsmanship and combats bullying at shows. Also receiving the award was Sheila Murphy, who has devoted her life to equestrian sport through organizing and sponsoring competitions and served on many committees and boards.
The Vital Horse Show Staff Award was shared by announcer Kenn Marash and Pat Duncan, known for his organization and problem-solving skills.
The Youth Leadership Award went to Carlota Padron, who has competed interscholastically and represented Florida in the USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships.
Maddie Shoop-Gardner, a Californian who is an IEA Zone 10 Youth Board Representative, is the USHJA’s nominee for the USEF National Youth Sportsman’s Award. She has contributed more than 350 volunteer hours at Stanford University’s Red Barn and founded her high school’s equestrian club. She also volunteers at a therapeutic riding center.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 26, 2025
A firm from the United Arab Emirates will be joining investors in Wellington Lifestyle Partners with a strategic investment as WLP builds a “landmark ultra-luxury real estate development of homes,” a hotel, commercial marketplace properties and a championship golf course.
Modon Holding PSC of Abu Dhabi also will support the long-term development of Wellington International showgrounds, already well under way at the home of the Winter Equestrian Festival.
The portfolio includes The Wanderers Club, a private family-oriented country club offering golf, tennis, swimming and dining; The Wellington, a new private residential club community comprising 253 best-in-class residences set to open in 2028 and featuring a championship-level golf course designed by David McLay Kidd. According to a statement from WLP, “these assets form a long-term master plan to strengthen Wellington’s position as the global home of equestrian sport and luxury living.”
The investment includes a strategic license agreement enabling Modon to use Wellington International’s brand and intellectual property across several key strategic markets to support the development of future lifestyle and community destinations. As part of the agreement, Modon will also become a premier sponsor of the Winter Equestrian Festival and Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) – the world’s largest and longest-running hunter/jumper and dressage competitions, attracting over 250,000 spectators and exhibitors each year.
Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Al Zaabi, chairman of Modon Holding, said: “This strategic investment reflects Modon’s ambition to invest alongside world-class partners that share our vision for excellence in destination development. Wellington Lifestyle Partners represents a unique collaboration that brings together expertise in real estate, equestrian, hospitality and sports-led communities. By extending our reach to the United States, we are furthering Modon’s role in delivering sustainable destinations that embody quality, innovation and cultural connection.”
Bill O’Regan, group CEO of Modon Holding, added: “Our partnership with Wellington Lifestyle Partners aligns with Modon’s strategy to develop integrated lifestyle destinations that combine community, sport and hospitality. Wellington International is recognized globally for its equestrian excellence, and this collaboration provides a valuable opportunity to exchange expertise in operations, master planning and design.
Mark Bellissimo, founder of Wellington Lifestyle Partners, said: “The addition of Modon Holding to Wellington Lifestyle Partners brings together an exceptional blend of expertise. With Modon’s world-class destination development experience, Doug McMahon and NEXUS’ leadership in luxury community development, and equestrian Murray Kessler as CEO of Wellington International, we are uniquely positioned to accelerate our vision to set a new standard of quality for an equestrian lifestyle destination here in Wellington.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 7, 2025
It has been an incredible season for the vastly experienced Laura Kraut and McLain Ward, who are U.S. and Major League Showjumping teammates when they’re not competing against each other.
It was the latter case Saturday night when the two senior stars went head-to-head in the 5-star $750,000 Coachella Cup at the Desert International Horse Park, where Laura, 60, gained the edge over McLain, age 50, by a mere 0.03 seconds.
Each has had their share of high-profile victories this year. Notably, Laura won the Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland in Dublin last summer with Bisquetta, who was also her mount for the Cup.
McLain last month topped the field in the Longines FEI World Cup qualifier at Santa Anita with Michael Smith’s High Star Hero. Riding that horse again at the Horse Park, McLain finished the Coachella tie-breaker in 36.27 seconds. But Laura went through the finish in a time of 36.30 to better McLain’s mark over the route laid out by Alan Wade, the 2028 Olympic course designer.
Laura Kraut and Bisquetta. (High Desert Sport Photo)
Laura was second to return in the jump-off, which put her at a disadvantage.
“The best horse and rider combinations from [Thursday’s $182,000 Qualifier] went at the end…I had made a mistake on Thursday, so I went early,” explained Laura.
“I thought, ‘It’s hard for me to beat this group on a day when I can watch them, but much less when I go early!’ I just thought, ‘I’m just going to go and go as fast as I can’ – which is normally not nearly fast enough,” she said.
“When I came out of the ring I thought, ‘Oh, I’ll be fifth, maybe fourth,’” said Kraut. “I think I put enough pressure on that they had to give it a go, and mistakes were made, I guess. I didn’t watch any of them. I’m a little superstitious that way.”
McLain gave it all he had, but he told Laura, “I’m getting a little old to go that fast. It was great sport; I think 20 of the top 50 riders in the world, someone said. So that’s a pretty strong field.
“Laura set a challenging time. I think she’s being a bit humble to say that she can’t go as fast as those ones because she can, and she regularly does.”
Of her mount, owned by Cherry Knoll farm, Laura said, “She’s careful; she’s brave; she’s quick, and she lets me tell her what to do, which is really nice, I feel like I’ve got just a really special horse, and I am very lucky every time I get to ride her.”
Laura emphasized that “Bisquetta gave me absolutely everything out there, and to come away with the Coachella Cup Grand Prix by just 0.03 seconds still has my heart pounding. The atmosphere at Desert Horse Park was electric, and feeling the crowd behind us as we turned up the pace made that final gallop even more thrilling. I couldn’t be prouder of this mare and the team that supports us every step of the way.
“Here’s to Bisquetta, to believing in the moment, and to rides that remind us why we love this sport so much.”
With the remaining podium spot going to Skylar Wireman, the future looks bright for the U.S.– even when Laura and McLain eventually decide to retire. Young star Skylar Wireman, who is only 21, was clocked in 36.43 seconds with Barclino B.
“It’s pretty crazy, and I just can’t thank my horse enough. His first real 1.60m was at Silo Ridge, and then. he just really kind of turned the corner,” said Skylar of the horse owned by her mother, Shayne Wireman.
The evidence shortly thereafter was Barclino’s second place in the $280,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Toronto.
That “really left us feeling ready for this. I felt like he was ready to take on the speedy ones,” said Skylar
Click here for results
