by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 1, 2021
(updated)
The unpredictable nature of the Covid situation in England has led the Badminton Horse Trial’s organizers to cancel the 5-star event, even though it was to be held behind closed doors–that is, without spectators.
A statement explained, “Following consultation between Badminton, Public Health England and South Gloucestershire Council it has been deemed that due to the scale and location of the horse trials, it is not possible to secure the surrounding area in the proximity of the event site.
“The health and safety of all those involved in the event and the local community remains Badminton’s priority and the level of operational and public health risk posed by the horse trials was agreed by all concerned to be unacceptable.”
“The announcement of last October to run behind closed doors was with the optimism that it would be possible, so the decision that we are not in a position to continue to plan to run the event at the beginning of May has not been taken without significant thought and consideration,” said Badminton Director Jane Tuckwell.
“I am sorry that the 2021 event has become unworkable despite our best efforts, but I am so grateful to all those that have offered support and encouragement over the past few months.”
The Badminton development makes the Land Rover Kentucky 5-star in April even more important. Kentucky was cancelled until a grassroots fundraising effort led organizers to reverse their February decision and determine they could go ahead with the event, though likely without the spectators whose ticket purchases have funded a great deal of the cost. Last year, only one 5-star event was held, when Pau in France ran during the fall. The U.S. is scheduled to host a new 5-star in October at Fair Hill, Md.
Meanwhile, the Spruce Meadows summer series in Calgary, Canada, has been cancelled, as organizers explained the decision was made because of “the Covid-19 pandemic and its related impacts and restrictions.”
Spruce Meadows is committed to planning and organizing a series of CSI and CSIO tournaments, beginning in September. The revised calendar dates for competitions are currently scheduled to be September 2-5, September 7-12 and September 14-19.
Further detailed information will become available as the Organizing Committee continues to work with sport, health and government authorities in developing its plans.
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 17, 2021
A dispute involving the name of the Plantation Field Horse Trials in Pennsylvania may have been solved with a decision from the U.S. Equestrian Federation.
Cuyler Walker, the owner of the picturesque property where the event is held, last year cancelled his lease with the competition organizer over the implication that the name “plantation” linked his family with racism. The Eventing Nation website had stirred up a hornet’s nest by citing “troubling associations” inherent in the word, and suggested the event’s name should be changed, contending it was “insensitive at best” while working against increasing diversity in the sport.
In reaction, the U.S. Eventing Association announced it would not use the name Plantation in press releases. However, after a furor erupted on social media when Cuyler reacted to the situation by cancelling the lease, USEA reversed course.
Phillip Dutton heads through the picturesque ruins that are a feature of the Plantation Field venue. Photo © 2020 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
In a statement, USEA noted that “Having this historic competition close isn’t the right result for the sport,” adding, “this property has no known connections to slavery and was instead named after ‘plantings’ on the property.” Riders were upset at the thought that one of their favorite fixtures would be cancelled.
This week, while USEF CEO Bill Moroney emphasized the organization’s commitment to its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Action Plan, he noted in a statement that, “decisions regarding venue and competition names are ultimately at the discretion and the responsibility of individual organizers.” That means Plantation can have both its name and its licenses.
Even after Cuyler cancelled the lease, the event still had two years to run under its contract. The question now is whether the USEF position taking the pressure off the name issue will encourage Cuyler to renew the lease beyond that term.
“It may help,” mused Denis Glaccum, president of the Plantation Field Equestrian Events, which run from spring through the fall.
“Let’s see what comes out of it.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 17, 2021
U.S. Para Dressage Chef d’Equipe Michel Assouline has been named 2020 Paralympic Coach of the Year by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. He was one of eight coaches from across all Olympic and Paralympic sports recognized by the USOPC in its annual Coach of the Year program.
Michel joined the U.S. Equestrian Federation as head of Para Equestrian Coach Development and High Performance Consultant in 2017, after 12 years as head coach for the successful British para dressage program. Under his guidance, the U.S. Para Dressage Team in 2020 became the top squad on the FEI’s ranking list for the first time in the program’s history. At the same time, U.S. athlete Roxanne Trunnell is the top-ranked individual FEI para dressage athlete across all grades.
Michel has focused on building a strong foundation for the future of American para dressage through outreach to dressage and equine-assisted therapy programs, bringing new coaches and riders into the para dressage arena and improving the pipeline to the internationally competitive level. He launched the USEF Para Dressage Coach Certificate Program in 2019, which has brought 32 new qualified coaches into the mix. In 2020, he successfully leveraged virtual coaching, online judging, and other technologies to help athletes continue to work toward their goals at home during the pandemic.
“The USOPC’s Paralympic Coach of the Year’s award is a huge honor not only for me but also U.S. Para Dressage,” said Michel.
“It truly reflects on everyone’s efforts and successes: a team effort. It is also a notable recognition of the equestrian discipline among all Olympic and Paralympic sports. This could never have been achieved without the drive, involvement and vision of every single athlete, groom, owner, sponsor, and our USEF support staff. In other words, it takes the whole team. Thank you, USPOC, and thank you to the entire U.S. Para Dressage community. Let’s continue the journey and propagate our coaching excellence.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 16, 2021
A plea offer will be made to dressage trainer Michael Barisone, indicted in connection with the shooting of a former student, Morris County, N.J., Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Schellhorn said during a virtual court hearing today.
Barisone’s next appearance before Judge Stephen Taylor in Morristown is set for mid-April. The reserve rider on the 2008 Olympic dressage team has been incarcerated in the Morris County Correctional Facility without bail for 18 months, but supplemental discovery material is still being exchanged between the defense and the state. Schellhorn said he hopes to have more discovery for Barisone’s attorney, Ed Bilinkas, within six weeks.
“I also anticipate at some point before the next court appearance I will make a formal offer to Mr. Barisone, but I’m not at that point yet,” Schellhorn stated.
Barisone has been in custody since a fight at his Long Valley farm with Rob Goodwin and rider Lauren Kanarek, who lived at the facility and boarded horses there. She was hospitalized after being shot twice in the chest during the Aug. 7 incident.
Michael Barisone on Neruda in the Invitational at the World Cup finals in Las Vegas. (Photo © 2007 by Nancy Jaffer)
The trainer had been trying to get the couple evicted, but calls to the police had not resolved the matter.
Two days after the shooting, Barisone was added to the SafeSport and U.S. Equestrian Federation’s ineligibility lists. He entered a not guilty plea to a December indictment on two counts of attempted murder and two counts of possessing a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
The volume of material involved in the case meant delays as the defense dealt with mountains of evidence and social media posts.
During a hearing last March, Bilinkas said, “I want to make sure I have all the discovery before I start making any decisions” about how to proceed with the matter.
Judge Taylor said in January 2020 that were the case to go before a jury, speedy trial requirements would mean a June 2020 date for a trial. But with the onset of Covid restrictions, there have been no live trials and the courts are operating virtually, though the judge said he hoped by May that motions at least could be heard in the court.
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 11, 2021
Greg Tryon wrote a beautiful piece about the passing this week of Poggio II, the favorite horse of his late wife, Olympic and world championships eventing medalist Amy Tryon. She bought the former pack horse, a rugged thoroughbred, after spotting a classified ad about him, Pogi was a valiant and reliable mount when Amy and the team needed him. Like his rider, he never gave up.
Here is what Greg had to say:
The Old Man’s heart beats no more
On February 9th at 21:30 Amy got an early birthday present, her beloved Poggio.
The Old Man’s heart beats no more.
I met him for the first time nearly a quarter of a century ago. “See my new horse!” Calling the orange and grey, half clipped, long-haired caterpillar a horse was in my eyes a bit optimistic. Knowing what her intentions for the horse once known as Chester’s Time to Fly in the racing world were, calling him a horse was way out of the box thinking, even for Amy. You thought he was a bit unorthodox later in life, wow, you should have seen him that first day.
Poggio II, yes, there was a Poggio in the world prior. Whether he was called Poggio, Pogi, or just plain P, he left an indelible mark in your heart. There were no bad days with P, he was eager each and every day, and he usually let you know about it from the get-go.
He did not like to be last, oh how the other riders didn’t enjoy going on gallops with the effervescent P bounding by their horses’ side as they prepared for some event around the world. P thought it was a game, “please, can we go again?!?”.
The Old Man’s heart beats no more
Oh, the places Poggio showed us. Traveling across the US and Canada. From the west coast to small towns in Pennsylvania and the rest of the Eastern seaboard. A passport that would take us on journeys through England, Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Greece, Germany and China. All to return home to small towns in Washington State to live a life with his miniature donkeys.
Amy and Poggio II at Kentucky 2004. (Photo © 2004 by Nancy Jaffer)
The Old Man’s heart beats no more
He astonished people left and right. That’s the horse that jumped double clear? He’s so, so, so… downhill? He’s so short. He doesn’t have a trot, or other gaits for that matter. You’re riding him in a hackamore?!? Please have him stand still… Please make him stop cribbing, he’s teaching my horse bad behavior…
I prefer to remember the time an international show jumper walked up and offered a “blank check” for him in those early days. During Pogi’s first trip to Ocala, the rider apparently sat and watched P jump into and out of his paddock all day long, just for the sheer joy of jumping.
The Old Man’s heart beats no more
But as I hear from people around the world, some known, and most unknown, the power of Poggio was his ability to bring people together, for his personality reminded all of the beauty of horses, our “Why”. Horses are expensive, we get hurt, they get hurt, they break our hearts, but I can see why some child gets lost in the world of the horse from a very early age.
Pogi and Amy at the 2008 Olympics. (Photo © 2008 by Nancy Jaffer)
When I received the call on Friday, “hey, Pogi isn’t feeling so hot, all should be good, just wanted to let you know…” It caused me to be mindful of the old man’s age. It caused me also to think how lucky I have been to know him, and to meet all the amazing people he has introduced me to. From every starred event, to Pan Am’s, to World Games, to Olympics, to neighbors back yards, Poggio was a statesman operating far above his station in life.
The phone call yesterday came with much emotion on the other end. A decision needs to be made, or nature will make it for us. There are the details, the what ifs, but in your heart you know the first responsibility is to be as faithful and loyal a friend as he. I assure you as I sit here typing, I am unable to stop the tears that stream down my cheeks.
The Old Man’s heart beats no more
Sitting in his stall that last evening, surrounded by some of those who have loved and taken care of him over the years, was both tough and peaceful. There were tears, and there was laughter. I promised him his forelock would never have to be braided again, no dreaded dressage a
s the courses would only be x-country and show jumps. I noted of course, he could jump them in whatever particular order he chose, as he was wont to do anyways. Most importantly, Mom would be waiting for him with open arms and an endless supply of Mrs. Pasture’s cookies.
Amy and Pogi in the horse inspection at Kentucky, 2005. (Photo © 2005 by Nancy Jaffer)
The Old Man’s heart beats no more
I have left out so many of his accomplishments, and I have deliberately left out the names of so, so many people that have cared for and loved Poggio. He has become the linking point amongst a great many of us. He is neither the end all or be all… and as one person wrote: “Another chapter of life closes, but he leaves behind for us so many memories and connections he made happen”. Let us celebrate that about Poggio the Second.
Last night, I kissed his ear one final time whispering my thank you’s and telling him what a good boy he was.
The Old Man’s Heart Beats FOREVER More!
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 2, 2021
Like so many other conferences, the Rutgers Equine Science Center’s annual horse management seminar is going virtual, with a two-hour session Feb.15 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Nutrition is the focus that evening, when “Fiber and its Importance in Horses” is first on the agenda with Burt Staniar of Pennsylvania State University. It’s followed by “Forage/Pasture Practical Research you can use” presented by Krishona Martinson from the University of Minnesota. The evening wraps up with an Ask the Experts panel.
Registration is free, but it is advised that those participating watch the program as it is presented, since there will be a delay in posting archived webinars to encourage a more engaged live audience.
To register, go to https://go.rutgers.edu/td5xpzd
