by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 12, 2021
This was supposed to be the month that tickets for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event were to go on sale. But it won’t be until next month that they can be purchased–that is if they are for sale. Organizers need to get permission for spectators to attend the 5-star, and that requires coordination with the state of Kentucky and the U.S. Equestrian Federation. What will happen to the event if it is cancelled for the second year in a row.
Find out more at this link.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 30, 2020
Sparks flew in November when the U.S. Equestrian Federation reacted to the new World Equestrian Center’s announcement that 10 of its 12 winter 2021 shows would be governed by the National Snaffle Bit Association.
In response, USEF yanked the show licenses it had awarded the Ocala facility, which in turn announced that its entire January through March Winter Classic Spectacular hunter/jumper series would be part of the NSBA circuit, and that it was offering free stalls.
USEF warned that FEI registered riders, horses officials and horse owners might face sanctions from the FEI (International Equestrian Federation) if they competed in the series. The situation felt ugly, and it seemed a shame that FEI riders who wanted to show at the amazing new venue with its 5-star hotel, climate conditioned indoor rings and huge stadium might be penalized if they did so.
The World Equestrian Center in Ocala.
On.Dec. 9, USEF CEO Bill Moroney and incoming USEF President Tom O’Mara talked about the federation’s mileage rule and the WEC situation in a video forum for the general public, but there was no indication on how the controversy might be resolved.
And then, at 5 p.m. on the day before New Year’s Eve, word came (interestingly, via an independent public relations agency) that a provisional resolution had been reached. USEF and WEC “agreed to work together on a plan for WEC to host USEF-sanctioned competitions in the future. USEF and WEC agree that it is in the best interest of the sport for them to work collaboratively.”
Talks will continue as the shows run for the winter season under the NSBA banner. It’s expected to take some time to come up with a permanent answer “prioritizing horse and rider welfare and operating under the rules that govern all USEF organizers.”
In the spirit of good will and to facilitate negotiations, USEF has withdrawn its request to the FEI to declare the WEC series unsanctioned. That means riders, officials and horses may compete there this winter without being penalized by the FEI or USEF.
Tom Struzzieri, whose HITS winter series runs eight miles from WEC, said he thought the interim arrangement “seems like it was the right thing to do for the exhibitors at this point, and what’s good for exhibitors is good for us.”
Both he and Roby Roberts of WEC said they could see exhibitors going back and forth between HITS and WEC as they pick and choose the classes that suit them, although Tom mentioned, “We’ve got a pretty full horse show.”..
HITS is USEF-licensed, which means exhibitors will earn points there for Horse of the Year and qualification for indoor shows and Devon. Those showing at WEC will not get points, since the shows are not USEF-licensed. Although Tom didn’t see coordinating his schedules with WEC’s, he noted, “clients of mine have told me there’s a possibility to jump in some of their classes and not miss our big classes.”
The USEF mileage rules are geared to limit licenses for shows in close proximity to one another, but they have been bent this year with presidential modifications due to the cancellations and reshuffling because of Covid. In the announcement, USEF noted, “Assuming development of a mutually agreed upon plan, WEC has agreed not to host any other new competitions that are not authorized by USEF.”
Although Bill Moroney at one point cited “safety” reasons for originally deciding that USEF and NSBA shows should not mix in a series, the statement noted, “USEF recognizes WEC’s existing relationship with NSBA and that WEC will endeavor to include NSBA within such authorized competitions,” the statement said.
When WEC and USEF come up with a permanent plan for how to proceed, it will be made public, according to their statement.USEF already has licensed dressage shows and an eventing competition at WEC that are not affected by what happens with the hunter/jumper shows..
In agreeing to the interim measure, the USEF considered how important it was for its members to have a number of competition opportunities this winter, since so many 2020 events were cancelled because of Covid-19.
Working with the USEF,, the FEI will look at potential alternative plans for the U.S. leg of the 2021 FEI Jumping Nations Cup™, as the CSIO5* scheduled to run at the WEC from March 16-21 will now not take place…
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 15, 2020
Totilas, the legendary black stallion who changed the face of dressage, died yesterday at the age of 20 after colicking.
The son of Gribaldi never competed in the Olympics, but his performances in the World Cup finals and the European and World Championships brought many converts to dressage and made him a fan favorite. His freestyle at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games earned a mind-boggling 91.8 percent and was unforgettable for those lucky enough to be present.
Totilas at the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games, ridden by Edward Gal. (Photo © 2010 by Nancy Jaffer)
His partnership with Edward Gal of the Netherlands made him a star. After he was sold to Germany for a reported 10 million Euros, Matthias Alexander Rath took over the ride but he never quite achieved the heights of his predecessor. Totilas also was hampered by various physical problems and did not compete again after the 2015 European Championships.
Totilas lives on in his son, the 9-year-old Glock’s Toto Jr. out of a Desperados mare, who is showing brilliance with Gal aboard.
Edward paid tribute to his former partner, saying, “You will always be remembered.Together with you I experienced happiness and even grief.Time passed by and wounds healed.But my love for you lasts forever.You honored me with your trust.
You were my friend.
“My condolences to Matthias and his family and to all who had the chance to work or live with this exceptional stallion.
And my thoughts to all of you who loved him. Goodbye my friend.I will miss you until we meet again.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 7, 2020
There long has been concern that equestrian sports will not be able to continue in the Olympics as those Games continue to evolve with financial restrictions, but word came today that show jumping, dressage and eventing were formally confirmed for the Paris 2024 Olympic program in the elegant setting of Versailles, with the full quota of 200 athlete/horse combinations confirmed.
The ratification at the International Olympic Committee Executive Board meeting means there will be 75 participants in the jumping, 65 in eventing and 60 for dressage.
FEI President and IOC Member Ingmar De Vos called the confirmation “a token of appreciation for the efforts the FEI and the equestrian community have made to increase the fan base and improve digital figures for our sport. We really appreciate that the IOC didn’t touch our quota as we knew they needed to reduce the overall Games-wide quota to 10,500 athletes, but our sport has grown so much over the last decade that a reduction of our quota would have been detrimental to the universality of our Olympic competitions.”
Versailles, with King Louis XIV’s palace as a backdrop, will be one of the Paris Games’ most iconic venues. The modern pentathlon also will be there, but in a new,abbreviated 90-minute version. The time they saved by compacting it can go towards staging a new “sport” for Paris–break dancing. It was part of the closing ceremonies for the 1984 Olympics. Watching it at that time, I found it amusing, but never dreamed it would wind up as a medal event.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 26, 2020
Clipping horses’ sensory hairs on their muzzle and around their eyes is forbidden starting in July under a new FEI rule, passed during the governing body’s General Assembly last week that means disqualification for violators. There is no penalty for clipping ear hair, but since it protects against bugs, why not even it up a bit and then leave it?
The rule only applies to FEI horses in all disciplines, so if you’re not FEI, or you’re a hunter or equitation rider, it doesn’t affect you. Even so, wouldn’t it be kind to give your horse a break and let the whiskers function the way they were designed to? If a judge wants to mark you down for not having clipped your hunter’s whiskers, maybe you should do a re-think about showing in front of an official who reacts that way.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 16, 2020
The Essex Fox Hounds’ Thanksgiving hunt from Ellistan in Peapack has been cancelled for this year, due to you-know-what. Effective Nov. 17, outdoor gatherings in New Jersey have been limited to 150 people from the previous limit of 500 because of the Coronavirus surge.
For decades, the gathering has drawn hundreds on the morning of the holiday to watch the horses and hounds gather and then head out. Afterwards, many spectators stay on to tailgate in a big field at the estate.
The hunt gathering at Ellistan in 2019. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
But as Essex joint masters Jazz Merton and Karen Murphy stated, “After significant discussion and consideration, we feel it is our responsibility to help stop the spread of COVID19 and keep our community safe. With that in mind, the Essex Fox Hounds will not be going out from Ellistan on Thanksgiving morning, and access to the property will not be permitted.
Tailgating has been a popular Thanksgiving tradition at Ellistan for decades. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
“Thank you for your understanding as we navigate through these challenging times. The Thanksgiving Day Hunt is a cherished and longstanding tradition for the Essex Fox Hounds and much of our surrounding community and we look forward to hosting again in 2021.”
