by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 11, 2021
The Mercer County Park Commission’s stable, 431 Federal City Road in Pennington will mark Juneteenth (June 19th) with a special celebration from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The holiday commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in America.
There will be an opportunity to learn about the contributions of Black Americans in the West of yesteryear, as Buffalo Soldiers and Pony Express riders, as well as the history of Black jockeys. There will be demonstrations by Black equestrians, including the Crazy Faith Riders, a nonprofit, faith-based riding club in central New Jersey that brings together a diverse community with a common interest in horses. They will perform between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Admission is free.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 10, 2021
Brisbane, Australia, is all but a done deal for hosting the 2032 Olympics. The International Olympic Committee will take a formal vote next month, but the bidder has the approval of the IOC’s executive committee as of today and is the only candidate now.
Equestrian events will be at the Brisbane Showgrounds outside the heart of the city, with eventing cross-county at Victoria Park a bit further away. And the best news is that there is even going to be cross-country. Some have feared that in the far future, eventing might become an arena sport (or worse, be dropped from the Games) but apparently that won’t be happening in 2032–though maybe Brisbane also will be hosting cheerleading, kick-boxing and lacrosse competitions, among other possible sports.
Other good news is the fact that temperatures will be moderate. The Olympics, set for July 23-Aug. 8, will be held in the Australian winter, since the seasons in the Southern Hemisphere are the opposite of the Northern Hemisphere. Those who will be suffering through extreme heat and humidity in Tokyo next month now have something to look forward to, weather-wise.
To read about the background of the Brisbane bid in a story I wrote earlier this year, click here
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 9, 2021
There weren’t a lot of surprises at tonight’s first observation event for the Olympic short-listed dressage riders, with Adrienne Lyle first in the Grand Prix aboard Salvino on a personal best of 82.413 percent that is a record for a U.S. rider. She was the victor across the board with all five judges and understandably said about her mount, “I was absolutely thrilled with him.”.
Adrienne Lyle and Salvino (File photo by Nancy Jaffer)
The stallion’s suppleness was showcased as he gleamed under the lights, getting 10s for his piaffe, transition and final halt, as two of the judges gave him scores of 83 percent-plus.
Sabine Schut-Kery also had a personal best, finishing second with Sanceo on 78.878 percent, as his classic by-the-book piaffes highlighted his performance.
Olympic multi-medalist Steffen Peters was third with Suppenkasper on 77.696 percent, a personal best for the Grand Prix, but breaking his winning streak after 21 straight victories.
Those three have been such standouts that they are the favorites for the team, which won’t be named until later this month. They also have a big ask Friday night in the Grand Prix Special, the test that will determine the team medals in Tokyo.
The observation event isn’t a selection trial as such. Rather, it gives an idea of which horses are on form and ready for the fight. The competition is being held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Fla., a half-mile from the grounds of the Global Dressage Festival, where they usually show. The idea is to replicate the conditions they will find in Tokyo (heat, humidity, a new venue and competing under the lights.)
The big question has always been who the traveling alternate will be. Nick Wagman finished fourth on Don John with 75.652 percent, a personal best for the Grand Prix (he’s scored 77.319 for the Special in March). This evening’s score would have been higher for him without a few extra changes in the one-tempis. Olivia Lagoy Weltz was not far behind on 75.131 percent with Rassing’s Lonoir.
Sixth place in the field of 14 went to Alice Tarjan of Oldwick, earning a well-deserved personal best with Candescent on 74.282 percent. Her beaming face as she left the ring reflected the joy she felt in the mare’s performance.
Adrienne was overwhelmed by Salvino’s performance.
“He makes me tear up and I have no words for him,” she said of her 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games team silver medal partner.
“Every time, he is more amazing than the time before. This was a great test for us under the lights. I don’t think I’ve done more than one night class with him, so he was fresh and a little excited, which is great because I can channel all of that energy, but I’m really glad we were able to have this opportunity.
She added, “He feels great, and we’re just going to try and preserve tomorrow, just tack walk and recover, and then try to put in a repeat performance on Friday night.”
Sabine fell a bit short of her goal of achieving 80 percent, but she’s been told that score is reachable with the Hanoverian stallion.
“My plan is to always stay true to my training, but obviously show him off, too, to reach maximum scores” she said.
However, “When he’s new to a venue, he can be quite tense, so I just told myself to stick with what I would do at home and it clearly paid off tonight. I just have to hold myself to it and trust it because I can always add that little extra bit that I want in the ring, but I also want it to come from an honest place.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 7, 2021
Olympic show jumper Rich Fellers was arrested this morning in Oregon in relation to an indictment on four counts of second-degree sexual assault.
Rich Fellers and Flexible at the 2015 World Cup Show Jumping Finals. (Photo © 2015 by Nancy Jaffer)
Fellers, who gained stardom in 2012 by becoming the first U.S. rider to take the World Cup Finals in a quarter century, was being held at the Washington County, Ore., Jail today, according to a statement from the Tualatin, Ore., police. He had been placed under interim suspension in February by the Center for SafeSport and the U.S. Equestrian Federation, while in April, his wife, Shelley, was put on the USEF’s suspension list due to accusations of abuse of process, retaliation and failure to report.
Over the course of an investigation lasting several months, with witnesses in multiple states, “Tualatin Police established that Mr. Fellers had a sexual relationship with a female victim who was 17 years old. Mr. Fellers was the victim’s horse trainer and the alleged crimes occurred at the victim’s apartment, located at Eddyline Apartments in Portland,” the police statement said.
Fellers was released from jail hours after his arrest after posting 10 percent of his $40,000 bail. He is due to be arraigned next month.
The U.S. Center for SafeSport delivered the original disclosure information in the case of Fellers, 61, who was the highest-placed U.S. show jumper at the 2012 London Games. He was best known for his partnership with the gallant Flexible, a stallion he rode in both the World Cup finals and the Olympics.
The victim, Maggie Kehring, now 18, is a former student of Fellers. She has spoken out about the matter on social media, saying she originally did not want to participate in the SafeSport process, knowing it could “lead to someone America came to love to possibly be banned from the sport.”
Following the Grand Jury’s decision, Kehring said she was “relieved and grateful to see that my truth, The Truth, was heard, understood and believed. The power in me has been restored by protecting others and ensuring that no one else will be scarred by this same experience.” She expressed gratitude for the work of the Tualatin Police Department and the FBI.
Fellers did not respond to a request for comment.
The federation issued a statement in the wake of the arrest, saying “USEF strongly believes that sex abuse has no place in sport. Protecting athletes from all forms of abuse should be the collective concern of our community. USEF urges all participants to respect the privacy of the victim and her family at this time. Please be reminded that sexual abuse involving athletes under 18 must be reported to the U.S. Center for SafeSport and the authorities. Let’s stand together by supporting victims and survivors of abuse in our sport.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 3, 2021
A celebration of life will be held for Patrick “Packy”. McGaughan on Saturday, June 19 at 4 p.m. The celebration will be in the jump field of Banbury Cross Farm, 26315 Haines Rd., Clarksburg, Md.
Everyone who wants to honor Packy is invited to attend and tell their stories, pat Bandit and toast a well-lived life. There will be signs posted to direct vehicles to park. RSVPs can be sent to Judy McGaughan on Facebook messenger or at (301) 526-4241.
Packy and Bandit.
Packy died in his sleep at age 56 in March 2020. He began his career as a young rider in the late 1970s and went on to compete at the North American Young Rider Championships. He was rider in residence at the U.S. Equestrian Team from 1981 to 1982 under the guidance of coach Jack LeGoff.
In 1987, he rode on the U.S.gold medal team at the Pan American Games in Indianapolis, where he also earned the individual bronze medal. He graduated from Duke University in North Carolina and in 1991 from the University of Maryland School of Law.
A popular instructor in Area II, Packy operated Banbury Cross Farm. It developed into a top training, breeding and boarding facility, specializing in eventing, dressage, hunters, and equitation. Packy produced numerous horses and riders to the highest level of the sport. He was a well-regarded instructor in Area II for juniors, amateurs and professionals.
An award in Packy’s memory has been established through the U.S, Eventing Association Foundation. That award will include a bronze trophy. Award recipients will be recognized at the USEA annual meeting and convention. The trophy will be on display at the Celebration of Life. Donations for the Packy Prize may be made to USEA Foundation, Attn: The Packy Prize, 525 Old Waterford Road NW, Leesburg, Va. 20176.
Donations may also be made online at www.useafoundation.org/donate and by clicking the “Use my donation to support:” box and clicking the option titled “The Packy Prize (USEA Foundation).”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 2, 2021
President Biden’s budget includes record spending for roundups and removal of wild horses from our public lands. And too many go to slaughter after that. My question is, why not geld most of the stallions and let nature take its course?
Mary Irby, executive director of Animal Wellness, has his thoughts and this is a slightly edited version of what he has to say:
“President Richard Nixon signed into law the Wild Horse and Free-Roaming Burros Act, saying it embodies “the best judgment of both the Congress and the executive branch.” He added that it “permits the establishment of ranges for their use” and “makes the killing or molesting them a Federal crime,” prohibiting their sale or that of their remains.”Now 50 years later, his stirring words are long forgotten by many of today’s government bureaucrats and more than a few sitting members of Congress. Just this week, President Biden’s budget includes record spending for roundups and removals of these horses from our public lands.
It’s been a boon for kill buyers who line their pockets from the slaughter of the wild horses and burros that have been rounded up via helicopter chase and incarcerated in mass holding facilities – well over 50,000 held captive today.
Once in holding, the options are few, and many of these majestic icons are ‘adopted out’ to homes that would domesticate them and utilize them as working animals – or so we thought. The New York Times’ recent investigation into these alleged adoptions has revealed that many of the horses thought to be adopted are actually being funneled straight into the horse slaughter pipeline – shot in the head with a bolt gun, and ultimately ending up like slabs of meat on foreign dinner plates.
And while Animal Wellness Action (AWA), the Center for a Humane Economy (CHE), and the Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF) have been working for the past three years to ensure the protection of our wild horses and burros, we’re doubling down in light of the most recent news.
“Big Beef” interests such as the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) want nothing more than to eradicate the wild equids on the range so that they can utilize the lands to graze cattle on the taxpayer’s dime, paying little more than a few bucks a year for grazing permits.
In April, we were joined by more than 70 groups in a letter to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland-the first Native American in the President’s cabinet–calling for a freeze on grazing permits. There’s been no response from Haaland.
A lack of response from the Biden Administration, combined with Haaland’s testimony before the House Appropriations Committee April 20 that the Department of Interior is “in agreement with the plan of the previous Administration,” in continuing to eradicate the wild horses and burros on public lands, has amounted not only to a terrible offense against wild horses and burros but the millions of horse advocates who expected anything but the continuation of the status quo from this administration.
This week, we partnered with actress Katherine Heigl to help stop the mass round-up and removal of perhaps 80 percent of the famed and beloved Onaqui wild horses of western Utah. Our billboards draw attention to plans to reduce the herd size by 80 percent, and our new microsite, www.SaveTheOnaqui.org, details why this herd is so special and undeserving of this attempt to draw down their numbers so dramatically.
Heigl, who lives in Summit County and keeps horses at her ranch in the Kamas Valley, said in a release this week from AWA, CHE, and AWF on the Associated Press’ website:
“With their historic place on the public lands of Utah, the Onaqui horses are living treasures that contribute to the beauty of the Great Basin Desert, as well as the economic vitality of nearby communities. Instead of cruel helicopter roundups, I call on the Bureau of Land Management to leave the Onaqui horses on the land, manage them humanely with fertility control, and limit livestock grazing to protect the ecosystem.”
The roundup is scheduled to begin July 12 and will result in between 300 to 400 of the 500 horses being permanently removed from their Herd Management Area (HMA.).
We’ve appealed to Secretary Haaland to turn around this situation and to no longer keep this program on auto-pilot. We’ve also asked the President – long a champion of horses and who came into office just a year after the Wild Horse and Burro Act was enacted – to intervene. We were joined by more than 90 groups, rescues, and businesses; and more than 1,100 individuals in a letter to the President calling for Biden to immediately place a moratorium on the roundups. So many groups are deeply disappointed that this administration is attempting to liquidate so many herds and allowing them to go to slaughter.
Join us in the effort to protect the icons who blazed the western frontier by clicking here to add your name.
