by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 15, 2022
Two-time Olympic eventing individual gold medalist Sir Mark Todd can go back to training racehorses after a ruling yesterday by the British Horseracing Authority that he should be suspended for four months, with two months deferred.
An interim suspension in February came after an outcry over a video showing him hitting a horse with a tree branch to convince it to go into a water obstacle during a clinic for eventers. He had been charged with conduct prejudicial to the reputation of racing in February, after the video emerged on social media.
Although the horseman issued an apology, his license was suspended in February pending an initial hearing on Mar. 24, which was adjourned due to legal issues. Panel chairman Brian Barker heard the case privately yesterday and explained “The appropriate sentence is one of four months suspension, with two months of that deferred for two months.
“That means that the eight weeks that he has already served is sufficient and that Sir Mark is able to operate under his license immediately and that further, providing that there are no transgressions” until June 14, that deferment will disappear.”
Judge Brian Barker, chair of the independent panel, said that the BHA and Sir Mark’s legal team reached a “common ground” for his punishment.
After analyzing the footage of the incident, Barker said that both parties agreed that the horse showed no “sign of fear or distress at any time” and that the well-being of the horse did not appear to have been “compromised”.
Barker noted Sir Mark was “calm in his attempt to encourage the horse to drop into the water, having first satisfied himself that the horse was capable of doing so”, while adding that the use of a “light branch” instead of a BHA-approved whip was not appropriate.
“Those who are more likely to be in the public eye must expect a greater level of scrutiny by the public,” Barker said.
Although the whip can be used in British racing for the purpose of correction, there are limits on the amount of times it can be used.
After the hearing, the BHA stated, “As Sir Mark has himself recognized in public statements since the video emerged and in accepting that he was in breach of Rule (J)19, his behavior on this occasion fell short of the standard expected of all licensed individuals and ran contrary to the values of care and respect for the horse that underpin British racing.”
Sir Mark, who was knighted in 2013 for his service to equestrian sport, became dependent on racing for his livelihood after retiring from eventing for the second time in 2019.
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 16, 2022
The gutsy mare On Cue, who took Boyd Martin to the first U.S. 5-star eventing win since 2008 with a win in the Maryland 5-star at Fair Hill last year, has been withdrawn from the Land Rover Kentucky 5-star.
“Cue pulled up a little sore in training and we’ve decided that it would be better to save her for another day,” Boyd explained.
Boyd Martin celebrates after his dressage test with On Cue at the Maryland 5-star last October. (Photo © 2021 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
“This is a heartbreaking call, as I really felt that she had a big chance of being very competitive this year.
As always, I’m grateful for Chris, Tommie, and TJ (Turner) for their support through the highs and lows with this magnificent mare.”
Fans will still get to see Boyd in action, as he will be riding Tsetserleg at the event.
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 13, 2022
More than four months after the U.S. Equestrian Federation decided not to renew the contract of eventing performance director Erik Duvander, the organization named Bobby Costello as the interim chef d’equipe and team manager for the discipline.
He will serve through the end of September, coordinating the team’s appearance at the world championships in Italy and handling preparations leading up to them.
Bobby competed as an individual in the 2000 Olympics, where he finished eighth. While continuing to teach, he has been active in governance and served as head of the USEF’s Active Athletes and Eventing High Performance committees.
Olympic multi-medalist Phillip Dutton and Bobby applied as a pair to split the technical advisor/chef d’equipe job in 2011. This time around, Phillip had been concerned about the lack of action on a replacement for Erik, and is pleased with the choice of Bobby.
So is Jennie Brannigan, another rider who competes internationally.
“Obviously, as the head selector he’s done a great job,” she said.
USEF never gave a reason why Duvander was dropped. He is still privately training many of the people he worked with on the team since he started the USEF job in the autumn of 2017. The top riders all have their own trainers.
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 10, 2022
Arno Gego
Respected show jumping course designer, teacher and mentor, Arno Gego passed away at the age of 84.
The German master designed courses all over the world, but Aachen was his mainstay, where he laid out the routes for the 1986 show jumping world championships.
The Aachen CSIO paid tribute to him by saying, “He was a horseman through and through.”
An advanced show jumper himself, he devised challenges for horse and rider that made them better. Founder of the Aachen School of Course Design, he handed his knowledge and perspective along to others.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 31, 2022
HITS has received a majority investment from Traub Capital Partners, and will continue to operate as HITS Shows with its team in place led by CEO Tom Struzzieri, who will also maintain a significant stake in the business.
“We are proud to partner with HITS, a clear leader in the equestrian event world,” said Brian Crosby, Managing Partner of Traub Capital Partners.
“HITS’ legacy and expertise align with TCP’s philosophy and approach, and we believe we are uniquely positioned to actively support them in their strategic growth plans.”
“TCP is the ideal partner for HITS as they have a history of backing companies in the sport enthusiast industry as well as expertise in the aspirational and lifestyle categories,” said HITS CEO Tom Struzzieri.
“Our new partners will provide us with strategic capital investments and will ensure that our exhibitors and their horses are supported to the highest degree.”
The investment by TCP will allow HITS, with its 40-year history, to make improvements to all five venues with the goal of not only investing in the facilities and infrastructure, but also in elevating the level of service and hospitality.
HITS operates five venues; 46 weeks of sanctioned Hunter/Jumper competitions; six weeks of Dressage events; and 65,000 horses expected to compete in 2022. Based in Saugerties, N.Y., HITS is a national company producing horse shows in Ocala; Culpeper, Va.; Wayne, Ill, East Dorset, anVt and Saugerties.
Traub Capital Partners is a New York-based strategic private equity firm specializing in building value in consumer companies using its unique combination of investment, strategic and operational expertise as well as a culture led, engaged approach. The fund targets investments in companies with revenue between $50 and $250 million.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 31, 2022
Eric Lamaze, the Canadian Olympic show jumping gold medalist has retired from competition due to his health issues, but will continue to serve as technical advisor and chef d’equipe for his country’s show jumping team.
Eric, who has been battling brain cancer since 2017, last competed at the CSIO5* Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ tournament in Calgary, where he anchored the Canadian team to victory in the $600,000 Bank of Montreal Nations’ Cup in September.
Eric Lamaze after winning gold in the 2008 Olympics.(Photo © 2008 by Nancy Jaffer)
He then took a step back from competition to focus on his health, not knowing his last competitive appearance would be on home soil at his favorite venue, where he is the all-time leading money winner with career earnings exceeding $6.7 million.
“It’s with great sadness that I am making this decision,” said Lamaze, 53, who is based in Wellington, Fla., and Brussels, Belgium.
“There’s a part of me that feels really upset that I’ve been battling cancer with the hope of riding again and I’m crushed that that won’t be the case. I’ve always said that I will retire under my own terms when the time is right. The situation with my health has forced me to make the decision earlier than I had envisioned, but the silver lining is that I still have the will to win and can contribute to the Canadian team and the sport I love through my new role as chef d’equipe,” he said.
“Now I have to turn my focus to giving my knowledge back to my fellow riders,” continued Lamaze. “I’ve always loved teaching and preparing horses and riders for major championships. I will give these riders every opportunity I ever had myself and I have great ideas for the future. I want every Canadian rider to know that their dreams are my dreams, too. When they win, I win.”
