by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 1, 2020
If there were an official title for the top hunt seat equitation horse of all time, it would go to Grappa, the appropriate namesake of the Best Horse title at the East Coast Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search.
Grappa, an equitation horse to remember.
The seven-time national champion, owned by Sarah Willeman, left us this week at the remarkable age of 34. She often posted photos of him, and he looked great in retirement, grazing with his pal, Otter.
He took his final bow for the public in 2006 at the Washington International Horse Show. Sara called the years after that, “a gift beyond what I could have expected.”
She recalled that “his extraordinary life force made him unruly and brilliant as a show horse. The wild look in his eye that used to warn us of upcoming antics reassured me in his later years: a sign that he was thriving, still himself. His beauty, grace and class were with him to the end. An extraordinary being in all ways, a horse we all felt lucky to know.”
Sarah, who thanked caretaker Nancy Shaw for her efforts, noted, “What Grappa did for me in my riding career is forever part of me. And even more than the achievements, the chance to be his person, to learn from him, to care for him over many years, has helped to shape who I am. Whenever I’m with any horse, Grappa is in my heart.”
Trainer Missy Clark remembered that “Grappa ran the show, and we had to figure out ways to fit into his playbook. There will never be another soul like Grappa.”
After Lauren Bass rode him to the Maclay title in 1996, the year that the National Horse Show returned to Madison Square Garden from the Meadowlands, Lauren also was aboard the next year for victory in the AHSA Medal Finals.
When Sarah bought him, she won the 1998 Washington International Horse Show finals with the former jumper, then went on to take the Medal and USET East Coast Show Jumping Talent Search Finals. She leased him to Missy’s stuents, including Brian Walker, who won the Maclay in 2001 while in 2002, Maggie Jayne took the Medal finals.
“I am so incredibly grateful to have had a horse like Grappa in my life,” stated Missy.
“His talent, athleticism, individualism and desire to win were the traits that set him apart. His sense of humor was unforgettable too. He not only had an impressive track record of winning national championships, but he also had quite a track record of bucking people off! Luckily I escaped that fate, but he could sure keep you on your toes!
Missy offered condolences to Sarah and her mother, Anne Meyer, on their loss of such a remarkable horse.
“Godspeed Grappa… you were one in a million and I will remember all that you taught me for the rest of time.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 30, 2020
The Essex Foxhounds Masters Chase is always a fun fall happening at Natirar in Peapack, with races for everyone, whether you have a stick horse or a thoroughbred, and lots of tailgating.
But Covid has taken another competition from us, as the chase was just cancelled. Essex Joint Master Jazz Merton explained, “Fox hunting has been incredible lately; we are so, so fortunate to have been able to get outside enjoying the countryside sport in these difficult times, where quarantines, social distancing and avoiding big group gatherings have kept us from our normal activities.
“The Natirar race day that benefits the Countryside Alliance of the Somerset Hills is a very family-oriented day,” she said. Explaining the cancellation, Jazz added, “We just felt that the family tailgating experience would be too risky with the exposure and would potentially compromise our safe enjoyment of this wonderfully social celebration of our sport.”
Instead, Essex is offering a chance for riders to enjoy another hunter pace as they have added one Oct. 25 to the schedule at Cedar Lane Farm on Homestead Road in Oldwick. For more on Essex, go to www.essexfoxhounds.org.
Other paces this fall include the Monmouth County Hunt’s themed outing starting at their hunt kennels, 50 E. Branch Road, Allentown. The final pace in its series Nov. 1 offers thoroughbred challenge awards and a tailgate contest. All jumps have go-arounds.
There are three divisions, with the fee $55 for adults and $35 for juniors. Both English and western riders are welcome, with protective headgear, of course. For more information, go to this link
The Spring Valley Hounds’ hunter pace is Nov. 1 in Allamuchy, Warren County. There are six divisions, including a “fossil” section for which the ages of the two riders on a team must add up to 110. The fee is $50 per rider. Teams go out from 9 a.m. through 12:30 p.m. For details, go to http://www.springvalleyhounds.com/hunter-paces.html
There’s a grand prize of $500 for the best performance in two of the three Spring Valley paces this year.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 30, 2020
There will be a hunter/jumper/equitation show at Duncraven in Titusville, Mercer County, Oct. 11 to raise money for Kevin Babington, who was paralyzed in August 2019 when his horse fell in a grand prix.
The show, which debuted last year, offers raffles and sales of items from bandannas to bows that will benefit Kevin and his family as he continues his rehabilitation.,
Kevin’s hard-working wife, Dianna, says that as often as possible, Kevin goes to NeroFit 360 Physical Therapy in Florida, which we are told is his best chance to get moving.
Over the last year, he has made some recovery in movement of his right arm and toes on both feet. He has started to feel areas in his body that went silent after the accident.
As Dianna noted, “The therapists tell us `if you want to get out of the chair you must get out of the chair.’ The work he does is hard for him. It’s painful and exhausting, but he never gives up. He is still a true athlete.”
She added the costs are high to give Kevin the best chance to recover as much as possible. The Kevin Babington Foundation helps tremendously but the Kevin Babington Trust money keeps everything going so he can focus on improving his quality of life and getting out of that wheelchair.
Raffle and silent auction donations are still being accepted. Click on the link below to see Kevin working hard at his physical therapy.
https://www.facebook.com/100001071221248/videos/pcb.3449083931803947/3449083281804012/
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 18, 2020
Reacting to the Eventing Nation website’s “attack” on the use of the name Plantation Field for the major eventing series in Unionville, Pa., property owner Cuyler Walker announced on Sept. 16 that he is cancelling the lease of his land for the competitions.
The Plantation Field International Horse Trials, where competition begins tomorrow, will continue through the weekend, but Denis Glaccum, president of Plantation Field Equestrian Events, said he and Walker “will not accept censoring of our First Amendment rights.”
Eventing Nation had cited the “troubling associations inherent in the name Plantation Field. Specifically, the word `plantation.’ ”
In an editorial, the website maintained that “Asking people of color to come visit, to spectate, volunteer, or compete, at a place called Plantation is insensitive at best and works against our efforts to implement more diversity in the sport.”
At the same time, it also was noted that no one associated with the event had an objective to offend with use of the name. And Eventing Nation pointed out Plantation Field proceeds benefited Work to Ride, a program for disadvantaged urban youths that offers them an opportunity to ride and work with horses.
Then after learning today that Walker was cancelling the lease, Eventing Nation posted this message: “The loss of this event is a significant one for our sport. Our intention was to open a discussion, guided by the governing organizations, to make sure diverse BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) would be welcomed and included in every area of eventing.
“We are deeply saddened that the property owner has chosen this path rather than join us in an open discussion about inclusivity as it reflects on the name of this iconic venue.”
Eventing Nation’s editor, Leslie Wylie, did not return a call seeking further comment.
A storm erupted on social media with word about why the lease was being cancelled, during a year when many events–including U.S. Eventing’s own American Eventing Championships–were not held as a result of the pandemic.
The U.S. Eventing board of governors decided in a recent meeting that it would not use the name Plantation Field in media releases or write-ups of the event. Glaccum contended the organization’s investigation found just two people who were offended by the name, neither were from the area.
USEA vice president of active athletes and board member Doug Payne, who did not attend that meeting, called the situation “demoralizing.”
He is, he said, “Absolutely dismayed with actions that have led to the removal of the venue and I think it’s a massive detriment to the sport going forward.”
Payne sent a letter to the USEA board, suggesting it should do “some serious looking inward. I think they need to about-face on this. They’re tasked with growing the sport and right now, and we’re cutting it down.
“Clearly, I want no exclusionary policies; you don’t want people getting pushed away. The impact here is a massive negative and I’m obviously disappointed between the USEA and Eventing Nation with their actions that led to this.”
The USEA CEO Rob Burk and its president, Max Corcoran, apparently took Payne’s advice, issuing a statement on Sept. 17 saying: “Having this historic competition close isn’t the right result for the sport, and the USEA is working hard to find a solution. The organizer and landowners operate exceptional events on a beautiful piece of land.”
Having seen the light, they noted, “We are deeply sensitive to the history of the word ‘plantation’ and its connection to slavery; however, this property has no known connections to slavery (the emphasis is mine) and was instead named after ‘plantings’ on the property.
“We understand that neither the organizer nor the landowners have ever intended to cause any discomfort related to the name of the event and to imply otherwise is a disservice to our organizers, landowners, and our sport. The USEA does not have the ability to require an event to change its name as we are required to carry the US Equestrian licensed name of the competition on our calendar of events. However, we are hopeful that an acceptable solution to this issue can be reached.”
Meanwhile,some of Eventing Nation’s sponsors dropped off in the fall-out of the lease cancellation. The website said it will be donating the vacated spaces to organizations doing good work in the equestrian world.
Prior to the issuance of the USEA’s statement, Glaccum said he was “extremely disappointed in the lack of leadership at the national level in dealing with this situation. This event welcomes riders from elementary to the 4* level at multiple competitions at the local, national and international level each year. It is also local to numerous professional riders including several Olympians. The loss of Plantation Field will be a huge loss to the entire equestrian community.”
So how did the iconic venue get its name?
In the 1930s, Plunkett Stewart, who had purchased the land in the early 20th century, allowed the Boy Scouts to plant hedges and trees there. The dictionary defines the word “Plantation” as “an area in which trees have been planted”. Colonial Pennsylvania considered properties less than 100 acres to be a farm, while more than that up to 1,000 acres was a plantation.
And what did the property have to do with slavery? Nothing, as was pointed out in the USEA statement. So why wasn’t that obvious in the first place?
Ironically, considering the current circumstances, the Unionville area is historically a Quaker community. The Quakers were one of the earliest abolitionist groups and fought against slavery. This area was also part of the Underground Railroad.
“What will other events think?” Glaccum wondered about the issue, which first arose in June. “This is how you treat someone?”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 17, 2020
Indoor competitions are in trouble in the Covid era, as cancellations pile up. This time, it’s the U.S. Dressage Finals.
The U.S. Dressage Federation’s premier event, scheduled for the Kentucky Horse Park in November, will not be held this year, it was announced today.
Although USDF President Lisa Gorretta explained that the board “considered every scenario and option,” she noted, “we simply could not be confident in our ability to overcome the obstacles beyond our control: the ever-changing picture of the pandemic from state to state, the requirements of the US Equestrian COVID-19 Action Plan to which the Kentucky Horse Park requires strict compliance, the stresses of deep cleaning the premises on the heels of the National Horse Show that would precede the arrival of our dressage horses, and the limitations of what we could provide for competitors, volunteers, and officials with the restrictions placed upon the Park itself.”
USDF plans to hold the finals at the park next year. Any competitor eligible for the 2020 finals, whether by placing or earning a qualifying wild card score, will be allowed to carry over their eligibility to the 2021 event. To be deemed “eligible,” competitors will still be required to complete a declaration and nomination for 2020. Declarations will remain open through the end of the 2020 regional championship season.
Prior to the announcement, trainer Heather Mason of Flying Change Farm in Tewksbury qualified her horse, Lincoln, for the I-2 class at the finals during today’s Region 8 competition. And then came the news.
“It’s disappointing for sure, but I do think it was probably the right move to make, because we don’t want to get down there and then have it cancelled, which happened to the Pony Finals,” said Heather. She pointed out that if the National Horse Show wound up experiencing Covid problems, it could have led to a last-minute cancellation of the dressage if plans were made to have it go ahead at the park.
The National is being allowed to utilize outdoor facilities at the park, but the dressage show is a week later when cold weather could really set in.
“It’s such a wonderful competition, but it’s not one you’d want to have outside,” Heather observed.
“A lot of people were torn about whether they were going or not. At least now people can focus on their Regionals and not be as stressed to try to qualify,” she noted.
Lisa stated, “I know that many of you are deeply disappointed, yet I hope that all of you will keep striving to achieve your riding and training goals. For some of you, perhaps this news will provide opportunities that were thought to be lost in the 2020 mayhem and now might allow you to plan to attend the Finals in 2021.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 16, 2020
Reacting to the Eventing Nation website’s “attack” on the use of the name Plantation Field for the major eventing series in Unionville, Pa., property owner Cuyler Walker announced today that he is cancelling the lease of his land for the competitions.
The Plantation Field International Horse Trials, where competition begins tomorrow, will continue through the weekend, but Denis Glaccum, president of Plantation Field Equestrian Events, said he and Walker “will not accept censoring of our First Amendment rights.”
Eventing Nation had cited the “troubling associations inherent in the name Plantation Field. Specifically, the word `plantation.’ ”
In an editorial, the website maintained that “Asking people of color to come visit, to spectate, volunteer, or compete, at a place called Plantation is insensitive at best and works against our efforts to implement more diversity in the sport.”
At the same time, it also was noted that no one associated with the event had an objective to offend with use of the name. And Eventing Nation pointed out Plantation Field proceeds benefited Work to Ride, a program for disadvantaged urban youths that offers them an opportunity to ride and work with horses.
Then after learning today that Walker was cancelling the lease, Eventing Nation posted this message: “The loss of this event is a significant one for our sport. Our intention was to open a discussion, guided by the governing organizations, to make sure diverse BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) would be welcomed and included in every area of eventing.
“We are deeply saddened that the property owner has chosen this path rather than join us in an open discussion about inclusivity as it reflects on the name of this iconic venue.”
Eventing Nation’s editor, Leslie Wylie, did not return a call seeking further comment.
A storm erupted on social media this afternoon with word about why the lease was being cancelled, during a year when many events–including U.S. Eventing’s own American Eventing Championships–were not held as a result of the pandemic.
The U.S. Eventing board decided in a recent meeting that it would not use the name Plantation Field in media releases or write-ups of the event. Glaccum contended the organization’s investigation found just two people who were offended by the name, neither were from the area.
Board member Doug Payne, who did not attend that meeting, called the situation “demoralizing.”
He is, he said, “Absolutely dismayed with actions that have led to the removal of the venue and I think it’s a massive detriment to the sport going forward.”
Payne sent a letter to the USEA board, suggesting it should do “some serious looking inward. I think they need to about-face on this. They’re tasked with growing the sport and right now, and we’re cutting it down.
“Clearly, I want no exclusionary policies; you don’t want people getting pushed away. The impact here is a massive negative and I’m obviously disappointed between the USEA and Eventing Nation with their actions that led to this.”
The USEA CEO Rob Burk and its president, Max Corcoran, apparently took Payne’s advice, issuing a statement on Sept. 17 saying: “Having this historic competition close isn’t the right result for the sport, and the USEA is working hard to find a solution. The organizer and landowners operate exceptional events on a beautiful piece of land.”
Having seen the light, they noted, “We are deeply sensitive to the history of the word ‘plantation’ and its connection to slavery; however, this property has no known connections to slavery (the emphasis is mine) and was instead named after ‘plantings’ on the property.
“We understand that neither the organizer nor the landowners have ever intended to cause any discomfort related to the name of the event and to imply otherwise is a disservice to our organizers, landowners, and our sport. The USEA does not have the ability to require an event to change its name as we are required to carry the US Equestrian licensed name of the competition on our calendar of events. However, we are hopeful that an acceptable solution to this issue can be reached.”
Meanwhile,some of Eventing Nation’s sponsors dropped off in the fall-out of the lease cancellation. The website said itwill be donating the vacated spaces to organizations doing good work in the equestrian world.
Prior to the issuance of the USEA’s statement, Glaccum said he was “extremely disappointed in the lack of leadership at the national level in dealing with this situation. This event welcomes riders from elementary to the 4* level at multiple competitions at the local, national and international level each year. It is also local to numerous professional riders including several Olympians. The loss of Plantation Field will be a huge loss to the entire equestrian community.”
So how did the iconic venue get its name?
In the 1930s, Plunket Stewart, who had purchased the land in the early 20th century, allowed the Boy Scouts to plant hedges and trees there. The dictionary defines the word “Plantation” as “an area in which trees have been planted”. Colonial Pennsylvania considered properties less than 100 acres to be a farm, while more than that up to 1,000 acres was a plantation.
And what did the property have to do with slavery? Nothing, as was pointed out in the USEA statement. So why wasn’t that obvious in the first place?
Ironically, considering the current circumstances, the Unionville area is historically a Quaker community. The Quakers were one of the earliest abolitionist groups and fought against slavery. This area was also part of the Underground Railroad.
“What will other events think?” Glaccum wondered about the issue, which first arose in June. “This is how you treat someone?”
