by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 17, 2025
The survival of struggling national-level jumping show circuits, the places where riders can improve their skills at less cost than on the international level, is a global concern.
It was a topic last week at both the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association’s annual meeting in Florida and the International Jumper Riders Club general assembly in Geneva.
Jessica Kurten, an FEI board member and chair of the IJRC athletes committee, pointed out there is an advantage for riders to save money by competing in national classes until they are ready to move up to FEI.
She mentioned that while the national circuits have declined in some countries — it has been a real cause for concern in the U.S. — in others, they are still highly regarded. In Switzerland, for instance, most elite riders support national circuits.
Those in attendance at the IJRC session agreed, however, it would be difficult to find organizers for new or revived national shows when there already are waiting lists for the increasing number of international 2- and 3-star circuits, which are more lucrative to run.
“It’s seen as ‘cool’ to be competing alongside you guys,” Irene Verheul, secretary general of Equestrian Organisers and director of Jumping Amsterdam, told the elite riders in attendance at the IJRC session.
“Everyone wants to compete 2- star and 3-star. People like to be able to say they are going to an international show.”
The U.S. has seen a proliferation of what some at the USHJA meeting referred to as the “big box shows,” which run for weeks at a time. That means riders don’t have to travel as often to compete.
Several of the multi-week show locations, such as TerraNova and the World Equestrian Center, both in Florida have housing available that is adjacent. In Wellington, home of the Winter Equestrian Festival and the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, there long has been a real estate play, with many riders owning second (or first) homes and farms in the village.
Years ago, the major shows in the U.S. offered only major classes. The main trainer would go there with the stable’s more experienced competitors, while an assistant would take the barn’s lower-level riders to smaller, or local, shows.
The big shows now offer divisions that may go down to itty-bitty level, meaning every rider in the barn can compete there, even those who are just starting out.
As 5-star shows proliferate — often on the dates of the smaller shows — the latter often experience difficulty bringing in enough exhibitors to keep going. The situation also affects the USA’s historic boutique shows, even those with a well-known profile and FEI classes, because they run for only a week or two on the crowded calendar.
At the USHJA meeting, Louise Serio, a prominent figure in the hunter community who was involved with the former Brandywine show in Pennsylvania, noted the boutique shows “may struggle with footing. Some of them struggle with all the expenses of the horse shows. It’s amazing how much it costs to put on a horse show.”
USHJA President Britt McCormick wondered, “Are we our own worst enemy? Now we insist on having engineered footing in every single ring, from short stirrup all the way to the international derby ring, and the jumper ring. We have created a culture where if it’s not good enough, we don’t go.”
He pointed out, “Not that long ago, jumping on sand, jumping on grass, was the foundation of the sport. Have we created an unsustainable system? Once those boutique horse shows are gone, they don’t come back. And what does that do to us? This is a discussion we need to have on what does quality really mean, and what’s acceptable and what’s not.”
There has been a suggestion at the meeting that perhaps the USHJA Foundation could help boutique shows with items they need; a tractor for instance.
Britt responded, “Part of the thing we struggle with is, are we responsible (as an organization) for making sure horse shows stay in business? I don’t think so; that’s not our job.”
Another item of interest for the industry involves a new listing of maximum fees FEI organizers can charge show jumpers for services and utilities. It will be implemented in April. Eleonora Ottaviana, executive director of the IJRC described some of those charges as “fantasy costs.”
“We understand the situation is different indoors and outdoors and that times are changing,” she said, but even so, “the riders can contribute to, but not pay the full bill.”
She added there is confidence that having caps on those charges “will not cause any problems for shows that already operate in a professional and responsible manner.”
However, it was noted that a separate discussion on the subject is still needed in the U.S., “where costs are notably higher.”
Eleanora pointed out young riders cannot be asked to spend 6,000-8,000 Euros, or even more in dollars, on entry fees. Riders at 2- and 3-stars are hardest hit, with lower prize money but increasing costs.
She said it is “not fair to use the maximum cost allowed and the minimum prize money request.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 12, 2025
At a non-competition gathering of equestrians — case in point, the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association’s annual meeting — the array of issues feels daunting. Even days starting with 7 a.m. sessions hardly seem long enough to tackle them.
From horse welfare and a new hunter division, to safety issues and allowing mules in hunter classes, the abundance and range of topics was overwhelming.
But conventions like USHJA’s in Orlando, Fla., this week are designed to deal by making everyone aware of the challenges while considering solutions in an effort to move the sport forward.
“We are a participation-based organization,” said USHJA President Britt McCormick, who believes that even in the age of Zoom video conferencing, there’s a benefit for getting industry representatives together in person for discussion, debate and rewriting rules as necessary.
The range of USHJA’s responsibilities is far-reaching.
“We touch everything from the affiliate level to the Outreach level to the high performance hunters, high performance jumpers and equitation,” Britt outlined, then mentioned education safety, and horse and human welfare.
The meeting format encouraged conversation and “is getting more inclusivity, more people are stepping up, more people are speaking. The community is coming together. This is why we don’t go virtual. We are a lobbyist, but as the national affiliate, we are also an advocate for each group.”
The mission of USHJA, according to Britt, is “anything we can do, from membership to licensed officials to competition to try to make things better for the members. That’s been the driving force.”
USHJA President Britt McCormick.
He told the more than 177 members attending that his goal was “to get feedback from you on where we’re going, how we’re getting there and why we’re doing what we’re doing. ”
The Texan added, “Trying to make everybody happy is almost impossible, but I think we’re doing a pretty good job.”
Those who made the trip to Orlando certainly were not shy about having their say; lining up at the microphones to express their concerns, as opposed to sending an email or making a phone call.
A big project for USHJA involves revamping and reforming hunter and equitation judging.
By the end of April, it is expected task forces will come up with a plan for education “so we can have a clean start and best practices in place by December 2026,” Britt said. The concept is to “get training consistent across every part of the judging, from applicant to Big R.”
USHJA is the largest affiliate of the U.S. Equestrian Federation. The Federation’s CEO, Bill Moroney, and president, Tom O’Mara, were on hand to address a concern that has become a frequent topic on social media: Whether show horses are being overused. That’s important for many reasons, with animal welfare and social license to operate at the top of the list. This is an ongoing project for USEF, as it digs deeper into the subject and gets more relevant numbers.
At this point, the USEF defines overuse as a noticeably observable decline in performance, physical capability, movement or mental well-being that can be combined with resistance, exhaustion and decline in jumping style, among other factors.
The Federation honchos came equipped with charts and diagrams, as well as an explanation of why it will take a while to come up with both an answer to the question of whether overuse is widespread and then, if necessary, what to do about it. Bill cautioned that the public might believe horses are competing in shows more than the statistics demonstrate their actual level of activity .
The USHJA board disapproved a rule proposal that would have limited the number of over-fences classes in which a horse is allowed to participate during the course of one day.
The Federation CEO cited the dark side of social media, which means it’s necessary to deal with “a lot of assumptions that get made out there that become urban legends and actually are chipping away at our ability to enjoy equestrian sport.”
USEF statisticians dealt only with numbers from USEF shows, not unrecognized fixtures. Bill also cautioned, “We have no information on what your warm-up routines are,” or what activities the horses is involved in on non-competition days.
The USEF staffers found that the maximum number of classes in 2024 logged by hunters competing at heights of 3 feet and below was 348; for those jumping over 3 feet, it was 265. In terms of competition days, the maximum in the first category was 14 appearances in the ring, and seven in the second category.
Jumpers competing in 1.10 meter and below classes were in an average of 27 classes per year at a rate of one class per day. However, this group recorded maximums of 39 classes per competition and 258 for the year.
For 1.15 to 1.35 meters, the average jumper competed in 25 classes for the year, at the rate of one class per day. The average jumper competing at 1.40 meters and above competes in 26 classes per year, at a rate of one class per day.
While the average competing hunter may be attending between five and 10 competitions per year, there are horses appearing at double or even triple that rate. However, it was pointed out they represent less than 2 percent of all competing hunters and jumpers.
Dr. Steve Schumacher, the USEF’s chief veterinary officer, answered questions about drug testing. He told his audience that if they had problems during the testing process, they should contact USEF. The right people can be reached at 1-800-633-2472 or by email, medequestrian@usef.org.
At a meeting of the Safety Committee, it was noted that there still is no confirmed data on whether the inflatable vests that are so popular either help or harm those wearing them. The USEF has raised money for research on the subject, but Tom O’Mara explained the price is in the high six figures for an effective study on the subject.
Among the rules passed by the board was a vital one requiring every show to have an AED (automated external defibrillator) in working order. The device can restart the heart when it has stopped.
Will Haselden, the father of 14-year-old Ryan Haselden whose heart stopped while she was competing in a jumper class, was emotional telling the story of his daughter’s traumatic incident during the meeting. He praised Fox Lea Farm in Venice, Fla., where the incident occurred, for having an easily accessible AED that saved his daughter’s life, and noted the importance of providing the device at every show.
The board voted in favor of adding a 3-foot, 3-inch green hunter conformation division to the rulebook. Those speaking in favor of the addition think it boosts the horsemanship aspect of judging horses in terms of what should be looked for in competition prospects.
Rules passed by USHJA need to be voted on by the USEF board at its mid-year meeting in 2026 to become effective.
The board needs to have more discussion on a rule that would enable video review in hunter classes; the Hunter Working Group wanted it available only for major faults, and at the judge’s discretion.
Oh, and what about those mules? Having already earned the right to compete in eventing, jumpers and dressage, they will be able to add hunter classes to their resume, as the USHJA board voted in their favor. Although director Glenn Petty recalled an incident at a North Carolina show where ponies scattered when a mule approached, as director Charlotte Robson pointed out, mules already are on the showgrounds in the other divisions.
(To read about the USHJA’s Evening of Equestrians, click on this link.)
An often-expressed concern is the age of those in leadership, with many having been involved for decades. There were members of a slightly younger contingent being seated in key roles, but looking further ahead for a fresh take, Kameron Berry 15, and Isabella Pan, 20, have their eyes on becoming part of the governance scene. They attended with help from the Alvin Topping governance grant.
Kameron Berry and Isabella Pan.
“I really like seeing the point of view from all the different people,” said Kameron, who attends an online school, leaving him flexibility for barn time at Bee Cave Riding Center in Texas.
“You’ll think you’re on one side and then you’ll hear the other side and you’ll switch. It’s very fun to see where you fall at the end of it,” he pointed out.
“I think there should be a lot more young people coming into this, because we are the next generation to take this over Anyone can sit on a horse, but you also have to know the business side of it.”
Isabella, 20, a North Carolina State veterinary school student, was happy to be “part of the conversations” at the meeting, “learning how policies are made as well as being able to ask questions. The community in USHJA and USEF is so welcoming and so open. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to sit in and listen.”
Three friends in their 20s also made an appearance. Judging from their enthusiasm, they may well find themselves on USHJA’s board of directors at some point. They are Johanna Moseley, 27, a professional from Louisiana who came up through the USHJA ranks and is the mother of two; Emily Goodman, a 22-year-old amateur and Caroline Ritter, 27, who runs a stable in Naples, Fla. Caroline nicknamed herself “the sponge,” because she soaks up knowledge at opportunities like the USHJA meeting.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 13, 2025
Judy Hennessy was the salt of the earth, an amazing person; an inspiration, a dedicated teacher, all that and more, as expressed by hundreds of people whose lives she touched, and hundreds more who simply held her in their hearts.
They all mourned her passing on Saturday at age 89, sharing their sorrow with her son, Kevin, and daughter, Stacy, on — perhaps fittingly — the National Day of the Horse. A visitation will be held Dec. 21 from 1-3 p.m. at the Sheenan Funeral Home in Dunellen, N.J.
Judy Hennessy
A dedicated 4-H leader in Somerset County, N.J., for 45 years, Judy passed on her knowledge of horse care to so many children who, as a result, grew up learning the right way to do the best for their animals .In 2016, she was named New Jersey Horseperson of the Year, a well-deserved honor.
Judy had a varied work life. She was the first female groom to go overseas with the U.S. Equestrian Team (her favorite team horse was the tall and impressive San Lucas, Frank Chapot’s Pan Am Games medal mount).
The Bridgewater resident helped Jim Wiebe when his saddlery business was in Oldwick, assisted veterinarian Dr. John Walsh and until earlier this year, worked alongside her dog, Mollie, at Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center in Hunterdon County.
“Mom loved horses and loved teaching others about them. She has helped and taught so many through the years. Too many to name,” Kevin said on Facebook.
Stacy recalled, “She taught me to chase my dreams, no matter how far they took me. She taught me to embrace adventures. To go with the flow when it serves me well and to speak up when needed.
“She taught me to encourage others to ride and to get from this sport the many things that it can teach and the incredible experiences it affords us. She taught me to read often, to celebrate the holidays, to appreciate those that do the right thing. Always. She made sure we had the opportunities that were the good ones and pointed us in the right direction.”
Noting his mother hated the cold, Kevin stated, “to respect her love of warmer weather,” a celebration of her life will be held in the spring. Kevin suggested that to honor his mother, those who were so fond of her should “pass along anything she taught you to someone else.”
Margie Margentino, Judy’s friend for 43 years, called her “a true horseman. Not just somebody who got on a horse and rode. She knew the insides and outsides of a horse, as far as care, nutrition, lameness. She could braid a horse and not a hair out of place.”
What she learned from Judy “made me a better horseman, made me really think about the horse and what the horse’s needs are. There’s a lot more to horsemanship than riding.”
Margie added, “The word `quit’ was not in her vocabulary. Her big thing was education. She wanted the kids to learn. She taught me you’re never going to bond with your horse unless you’re there on the ground with that horse doing all the grooming, the mucking, the feeding. She instilled that in me and hundreds and hundreds of 4-H kids.”
Comments on Kevin’s social media post included one from Barbara Navatto calling Judy “an inspiration to all of us. A wonderful woman of incredible strength (and humor).”
Said Lisa Allocco, “She is a legend. Thank you to her for teaching all of us at very early age. There’s probably not one person on the East Coast she didn’t have an influence on.”
Lisas Nolte Salakian told Kevin and Stacy, “Your mom was ahead of her time and (a) trailblazer. Your mom was kind enough to braid my horse for the Maclay finals way back when. I sat on the trunk and we chatted while she braided. Her kind words eased some of the nerves and it is a memory I will always cherish.”
Ralph and Holly Caristo told Judy’s children, “Your mother was such a great person inside and out.”
Offering her condolences, Amy Butewicz said “Judy was a legendary horsewoman and touched the lives of so many. Her joyful, fun spirit was contagious. It was an honor to be part of her national 4-H Horse Bowl and Hippology teams many moons ago. We had some epic adventures on our trips to nationals in Louisville, Ky. I was so proud to be coached by her. She gave so much back to youth. Her heart was larger than life.”
Michelle Kirsch recalled that “Judy was one of my 4-H leaders, and later became one of my children’s leaders, as well — a rare and special full-circle gift. Mrs. Hennessey was truly a pillar of our local equine community and a true horsewoman in every sense of the word. She taught generations that the horse always comes first, and that lesson will live on through all of us she guided. Her impact, wisdom, and love for horses will never be forgotten.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 13, 2025
The winning Grand Prix Freestyle presented by Christian Simonson and Indian Rock Friday night at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala was performed to music with a double significance.
The tunes were from the Rocky movies, obviously appropriate since the 12-year-old Dutchbred stallion’s nickname is Rocky. But also, the Rocky story — of an underdog boxer who fights his way to the top — strikes a special chord with Christian.
He sees the series of movies as unreeling “a cool journey of a person that commits all their time and effort into one thing, and then they deal with the trials and tribulations and they end up successful.”
The 23-year-old rider certainly is committing his time and effort to dressage, on horses owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center with training provided by three-time Olympian Adrienne Lyle.
The class at WEC was an FEI World Cup qualifier, and Christian is hoping to ride in the Cup finals next April in Ft. Worth, Texas. After that, there is the goal of the World Championships during the summer in Aachen, Germany, and beyond the Worlds? Well, the U.S. will be hosting the Olympics in 2028.
Christian and Rocky doing their freestyle at Wec. (Andrew Ryback Photography)
The class at WEC was Christian’s second Cup qualifier victory with the Dutchbred son of Apache, putting him third in the standings for the finals. North America gets three representatives in the competition, the first U.S. location for the finals since Omaha in 2023.
Christian was more than three percentage points ahead of his closest competition. He scored 78.840 (with one judge giving him a remarkable 83.525), while second place went to Canada’s Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu on Jaccardo (75.115).
The USA’s Ben Ebeling, who is second in the Cup qualifier rankings with Dressage at Devon winner Bellena, finished fifth in the class (71.790). Kevin Kohmann, who leads the rankings on Dünensee, did not compete at WEC.
Rocky was ridden in the 2024 Olympics by Emmilie Scholtens of the Netherlands, who placed eleventh in the Paris freestyle with a score of 81.750. Christian came close to that in October at TerraNova with a total of 81.405. Christian keeps in touch with Emmilie, and they have shared many conversations about her former mount.
Adapting to a famous horse is no small task, but in typical Christian style, the rider was totally focused on becoming a partner with the stallion.
“I probably spent more time with Rocky than most of my family. We pushed things forward in that way. He’s truly an amazing horse,” Christian said good-naturedly.
Reflecting on his freestyle, Christian emphasized, “I’m really proud of his performance. It was kind of a little bit of a different environment for him and I. It was obviously an indoor (arena) with some modern music and a crowd. Adrienne constantly has me working on new things and giving me pieces of guidance and ways that we can improve what we’re doing. For me, the most fun is learning a lot all the time. It makes me just the happiest person ever.”
Continuing to discuss his ride, Christian said of his horse, “He felt amazing. He was with me every step of the way, I could use lighter and lighter aids. The piaffe/passage tour at the end, I could hear Adrienne’s voice in my head about where to put each step. She was really happy with that and if she’s happy, I’m happy.”
Since Christian began showing Rocky at FEI competitions in May, he has won five classes in a row.
He earned individual silver earlier this year aboard Son of a Lady in the Young Rider team competition in Hagen, Germany, where the U.S. squad claimed bronze in the Nations Cup.
Click here for freestyle results
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 13, 2025
Adrienne Ann Cotter, a former executive vice president of the American Horse Shows Association, died Friday.
She is survived by her husband, Martin, and two children, Ian and Rhea. For decades Adrienne was a staple in the horse community on Long Island and internationally with the AHSA, now the U.S. Equestrian Federation.
A funeral mass will be held at St Anthony of Padua in East Northport, N.Y., on Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) The preservation of the National Seashore has always been an important cause for Adrienne.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 12, 2025
The Evening of Equestrian is always a highlight of the USHJA’s annual meeting. The stories of those being honored are interesting and often quite inspirational.
Trainer Fran Dotoli, whose husband, Joe, is a regular award recipient (he got another honor when the President’s Distinguished Service Awards were announced during the evening), had her moment in the spotlight as one of the winners of the Jane Marshall Dillon Award.
The trophy goes to those dedicated to teaching and helping riders beginning their education with horses. It is named for the mentor of Olympic medalists Joe Fargis and Kathy Kusner. Her book “School for Young Riders” has been required reading for horse-crazy kids since 1958.
Fran researched Mrs. Dillon, learning she was “quite a character and a consummate instructor.”
Fran Dotoli and USHJA President Britt McCormick.
Working with beginners, juniors and amateurs as well as young professionals, Fran herself is “a consummate instructor,” who teaches life lessons as well as horsemanship.
The other recipient of the award was Nancy Unger-Fink, who actually rode with Mrs. Dillon and even lived in her house.
Nancy Unger-Fink.
Fran’s reference to Mrs. Dillon as a character was illustrated by Nancy’s recollection of being awakened at 11:30 p.m. to hear, “Get up, we’re going for a midnight ride.” Nancy learned how to braid a mane and wrap legs, among many other things that would serve her well as a professional.
“She taught us to be very dedicated and work harder,” Nancy emphasized.
The J. Arthur “Bucky” Reynolds Award of Merit went posthumously to Rodney Jenkins, the legendary hunter and jumper rider who died a year ago. The trophy was presented by his fellow Virginians, Bucky’s sister, Betty Oare, and her husband, Ernie Oare.
Betty and Ernie Oare.
Oliver Brown, the respected judge, breeder and handler, who received the Volunteer of the Year award, remembered as a kid in 1959 or ’60 riding in his first recognized show at Upperville, Va., where Rodney also was a competitor.
“I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t win at Upperville,” chuckled Oliver, who had collected ribbons at the county fair in Michigan. During his youth, he said, “one of my biggest competitors was Rodney. Then fast-forward a long way, I competed with Rodney a lot at the racetrack, and for those of you who don’t know, he had a heck of a career as a racehorse trainer.”
The Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to show jumping medalist, World Cup competitor and U.S. team member Debbie Stephens of Florida and Lloyd Longenecker. Saluted for his 50 years in the industry, Lloyd was a pioneer in horse show software with his Ryegate Show Services. The award was accepted by his daughter, Annette, since he couldn’t attend.
From his home in Pennsylvania, Lloyd appeared on video saying, “In all the years that I worked around the horse business, I never realized I was doing anything earth-shattering. I thought I was just doing things to make it better for the industry, better for the horses.”
He recounted a fascinating multi-dimensional history that included working in various jobs, including announcing, until he got his first set of timers and was involved with computers. A request from Linda Allen to help her write software that would help with team selection became the template for the computer list that continues to be used today.
Debbie, who was well-known for starting the great jumper Abdullah and also associated with such successful mounts as Volan and VIP, was on hand to accept her trophy, accompanied by her husband, Olympic course designer Steve Stephens. Her friend, Sherry Robertson, told everyone at the dinner about Debbie.
Debbie and Steve Stephens.
“She’s a great girl, she loves the sport, she has done amazing things. She was one of the ones who brought commercial sponsorship.”
In the process, Sherry recounted, Debbie won three cars and two motorcycles.”
Others recognized during the evening were
In addition to Joe Dotoli, Michele Hollis, Hugh Kincannon, Faith McKay-Alicea, Berry Porter, Megan Thiel, and Julie Williams won the Distinguished Service Award.
The Mrs. A.C. Randolph Legacy Owners Award when to Caroline Moran, who has been a backer of top riders and trainers in both the hunter/jumper and eventing disciplines, and has also been involved with much appreciated grooms awards.
The Amateur Sportsmanship Award was given to Isabel Baker, founder of the Kindness Movement that promotes sportsmanship and combats bullying at shows. Also receiving the award was Sheila Murphy, who has devoted her life to equestrian sport through organizing and sponsoring competitions and served on many committees and boards.
The Vital Horse Show Staff Award was shared by announcer Kenn Marash and Pat Duncan, known for his organization and problem-solving skills.
The Youth Leadership Award went to Carlota Padron, who has competed interscholastically and represented Florida in the USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships.
Maddie Shoop-Gardner, a Californian who is an IEA Zone 10 Youth Board Representative, is the USHJA’s nominee for the USEF National Youth Sportsman’s Award. She has contributed more than 350 volunteer hours at Stanford University’s Red Barn and founded her high school’s equestrian club. She also volunteers at a therapeutic riding center.
