by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 8, 2021
The Ridland Group is negotiating with the San Juan Capistrano City Council for management of the 40-acre Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park in the city for the next 20 or 30 years. An expanded program for the faciity is being planned by the group, which since 1998 has managed the park that was the scene of several Olympic trials.
“Horses have been a cornerstone of the San Juan Capistrano community for decades, and the Riding Park has played an integral role,” said Hillary Ridland, chief executive officer of the Ridland Group and Blenheim EquiSports. She is the wife of U.S. show jumping coach Robert Ridland.
“We’re thrilled to be able to keep that equestrian culture alive and to allow it to further thrive with the introduction of new events for various riding disciplines and our continued commitment to bringing world-class competition here to Southern California,” she said.
In February, the San Juan Capistrano City Council began accepting bids from potential facility managers – both equestrian and non-equestrian – who would agree to completion of approximately $7 million in environmental improvements. In a unanimous vote on Tuesday, the council directed its staff to finish negotiations and finalize details with the Ridland Group, whose proposal included an extensive engineering plan that would address the necessary environmental changes and prevent contaminated water from running off into the nearby San Juan Creek.
“We’re committed to being at the forefront of making the facility and equestrian sport as environmentally friendly as possible,” said Hillary Ridland. “We have secured the funding to complete the needed water infrastructure work and look forward to continuing to make The Riding Park better and even more accessible for the community as a whole.”
In addition to environmental improvements, the Ridland Group is already working to greatly expand the Riding Park’s event offerings. From March through September 2022, Blenheim EquiSports will host 14 weeks of top-level hunter/jumper competition, including the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ USA, to be held May 10-15. The event marks the first time the West Coast will host the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ that is a qualifier for the Cup final in Europe.
Beginning in 2022, The Ridland Group will also offer additional Western riding competitions, as well as a host of community-minded events produced in partnership with TAG Presents, including music festivals, comedy shows, free family-friendly activities, art shows, and more.
Speaking on behalf of the city council, incoming Mayor Derek Reeve remarked, “We are optimistic about the negotiations. I look forward to congratulating the Ridland Group following the final vote.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 15, 2021
Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, an Olympic and European Championships show jumping gold medalist, talked from the heart at the European Equestrian Federation meeting during the FEI general assembly today, saying the FEI wasn’t listening to the riders about the problems with the three-member teams at the Tokyo Olympics.
The FEI seems set to have the same format for Paris in 2024, with committees from all three disciplines approving the concept, which is awaiting a formal vote. Approval would mean the organization is not putting the welfare of the horse first, Steve said.
Swiss star Steve Guerdat has a collection of medals from every major championship. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Without the traditional drop score that can only used with a squad of four, “for a lot of teams, things were over after one or two riders, ” Steve pointed out.
He noted that the European Championships, which followed the Olympics, were more exciting because of their four-member teams. That format offers “much better sport,” he maintained, and there isn’t the pressure for a rider who is having problems to continue because the team can finish if he becomes the drop score. But without a drop score, even if their horse is struggling, riders may continue their rounds because they don’t want to let their country down.
The three-member teams enabled the FEI to include “more flags” in the Tokyo line-up, which is something the International Olympic Committee looks for–greater participation, with a wider range of countries appearing. There is always the threat that equestrian sports will be dropped from a Games that is featuring such trendy competitions as skate boarding and rock climing.
But it was obvious some nations at Tokyo simply weren’t up to the team test, so Steve said it would be better to have eight teams of four riders than 10 teams of three riders. Countries that are developing in terms of equestrian sport, he noted “don’t have three solid horse/rider combinations.”
He suggested, “Wouldn’t it be smarter to think and put all this time and resources into how do we help new and upcoming countries get better?” One way is to have more individual riders from countries that can’t really field a full team of athletes who are at the Olympic level.
An argument for teams of three has been that a drop score makes things difficult to understand among people unfamiliar with show jumping, but Steve disagrees. There’s nothing complicated about dropping the worst score from a team of four, and other sports do it, he pointed out.
He doesn’t believe the rules should be changed “for people who don’t follow equestrian sport.”
He had gone to the FEI to ask what could be done to make sport better and eliminate some of the ugly pictures from Tokyo. He was dismayed, however, to read a letter from the IOC to the FEI that praised the way things went in Tokyo.
Saying he was “really sad and disappointed,” Steve added “nobody is listening to the riders.” Other big names who have expressed concern include 2016 individual gold medalist Nick Skelton of Great Britain and the USA’s McLain Ward.
Steve said he felt like an idiot for his efforts in making a case that seems to have come to nothing. He wanted to give up, but other riders had begged him, “Try to save our sport.”
A group of countries, including France and the U.S., have requested a return to four-member teams. The number of riders is also a major issue in eventing, but the three-member team works well enough for dressage because of the nature of that discipline.
The general assembly continues through Wednesday in Antwerp and on line.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 28, 2021
The 2021 version of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event made an improvement over the 2020 edition, which didn’t happen due to the pandemic. But it was held without spectators this year; only cardboard images of fans were in the stands, aside from riders, horse owners and grooms. In addition to the missing crowds that create such excitement, there were none of the usual amenities, such as vendors, dining options and tailgating.
So there is great anticipation for the 2022 event April 28-May 1. Better buy your tickets early. Click on this link to get your spot for the always eagerly awaited 5-star.
The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event draws some of the best riders in the world, including world number one Oliver Townend. (Photo ©by Nancy Jaffer)
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 14, 2021
Kevin Babington has written a letter detailing his progress from the 2019 show jumping fall which resulted in a massive spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed. Through his refusal to give up and the efforts of his wife, Dianna and daughters Gwyneth and Marielle, along with hundreds of supporters, Kevin has made progress. The gains come in small increments, but he’s light years away from where he was 26 months ago, and perspective is vital in understanding how far Kevin has come. He has just released an update about how he’s doing:
“I’ve been continuing with my regular physical therapy and recently added a very good acupuncturist to my program, and I also have some exciting new rehab opportunities coming up very soon. My right arm continues to get stronger and I feel quite comfortable driving my wheelchair by myself now, using a hand control.
“In addition to having some movement in my toes, I’m starting to get a lot of new sensations in my legs and hips. It’s sometimes hard to explain what the feeling is, but it is along the line of tingling, or “firing,” and I have been getting a lot of warmth in both legs, especially my left one. I’m very fortunate that I’ve had a lot of very good therapists reach out to me, and I’m really looking forward to these new opportunities.
Kevin, who teaches from his wheelchair, with his tireless wife, Dianna. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
“When I’m not doing my therapies, my days are kept busy teaching lessons. I’m looking forward to some more of my students coming down for season and to the beginning of circuit. I still love to follow the show jumping from around the world and spend many hours on ClipMyHorse, making sure my friends and former competitors are not making too many mistakes ;).
“It obviously has not been any easy journey, but all the support I’ve had along the way has made it the best of a bad situation. I remain positive and stay focused on my goal to beat this. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has supported me, because without you, my extensive therapies and care would not be possible. I am very grateful.”
To visit Kevin’s website, click here. To make a donation, click on this link. The Babington Family Trust is another way to help Kevin.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 5, 2022
Lenore Phillips, the former president of equestrian marketing/public relations firm Phelps Media Group, has moved on to Equestrian Sport Productions as director of sponsorship.
Citing her “fresh ideas,” ESP President Michael Stone, said, “We expect that, with her help, we will be able to elevate the experiences of our valued sponsors while also promoting the equestrian sport and lifestyle in Wellington.”
As she began working with a new team at ESP and Global Equestrian Group, owner of Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (see feature story on this website), Lenore noted, “Phelps was a seminal proving ground for me.”
That firm was started in 2002 by former National Horse Show President Mason Phelps, who died last spring. Lenore explained that Mason “was a huge catalyst for change in my life. He really appreciated my drive to succeed and encouraged me to go after all the things I wanted for PMG.”
She sees a similar situation in her new job.
“For me personally, the opportunity to expand my knowledge and sphere of operations into international territory was really important to me as my next professional step,” said Lenore, who worked at Phelps for five years..
“I’m passionate about working with people, developing partnerships and sales. While that’s some of what I did at PMG, it wasn’t able to be all of it. That will be 90 percent of what I do with ESP. I’m personally thrilled about that.”
She knows she will enjoy having a new mentor in Michael, noting that he “has such a strong background and is such a good businessperson and manages the expectations of riders and spectators and everyone else. I’m going to learn a ton.”
Lenore acknowledged that leaving her previous employer was “a hard choice, because I put so much time, effort and love into
PMG, but how could I pass this up? It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Raised on her family’s horse farm in Harrisburg, Pa., Lenore shows in the jumper division and is a competitive swimmer and tri-athlete.
Jennifer Burger, president of the National Horse Show and a founder of the Brandywine Horse Shows, was named Phelps’ CEO. She is assuming Lenore’s responsibilities.
“I think Jennifer is going to be a great addition to that business. I look forward to bright futures for everybody,” said Lenore.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 30, 2021
he Tryon International Equestrian Center next year is getting a jump on its 2023-27 spring event, as it was awarded a 4-star Long and Short and a 3-star Long and Short for May 16-19 next year after the Jersey Fresh International cancelled its 2022 competition on those dates.
Tryon already was awarded Jersey’s dates for 2023-2027 after the event at the Horse Park of New Jersey bid to hold its place with its 4-stars and 3-stars, but was not awarded them under the new protocols for the eventing calendar, as you saw on this website in August and succeeding monrths.
In case you missed the series of stories we ran on what happened to Jersey Fresh, here is the reaction of Jersey organizers to news they didn’t win their bid. This is a link to their thoughts on having one last competition in 2022, and here is why they made their decision to cancel 2022 due to lack of sponsor support. And click here to read how and why the calendar was being restructured.
