by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 26, 2025
With a mix of cavaletti exercises and sound instruction while working through a rainstorm, German Olympic medalist Ingrid Klimke offered a multi-dimensional Masterclass as a highlight during the fiftieth anniversary of Kingsview Partners Dressage at Devon.
The Thursday evening session, presented by Capital Square, was punctuated by a fierce downpour. Despite being drenched, Ingrid ignored it and continued teaching, as thousands of spectators stayed dry watching from the covered grandstands at the showgrounds in Pennsylvania.
In addition to being a dressage star, Ingrid is a world-class eventer, and as we all know, eventers ignore the weather while pursuing their goals.
She was totally soaked when she arrived at the after-class reception, where she was brought a warm shawl and went right to work greeting people.
When I asked Ingrid what she had hoped to convey during the class, she said, “That we as a rider are responsible for giving the right questions so the horse can give the right answers. We must be very patient and really step-by-step build them up, trying to have the poll the highest point, the nose in front of the vertical and make it very simple for the horse.”
Ingrid, who is also a show jumper, emphasized that “the riders (both eventers and dressage competitors) were so good from their position (to) the way they gave the aids. It was superb and the horses so lovely.”
The trainer had a good, encouraging connection with each of the riders, who came to the ring in pairs, enabling one to take a little break while she worked with the other.
Her connection extended to the spectators as well; she took note that “the audience was clapping all the time, so they realized we were really on a good way. I think even with the rain they kept listening and enjoying it.”
Silva Martin, who earlier in the day won the four-year-old dressage test with Valballa and the seven-year-old final with Farouche, was aboard Zaphir for her masterclass ride, where she was paired with JJ Tate.
Always the horsewoman, Ingrid noted the left hind wrap on JJ’s horse had come loose, so she bent down and removed it. When the same thing happened with the right one, she did it again.
“I don’t want any accidents here,” she explained to the audience.
Chatting afterwards, Silva noted that like Ingrid, she was raised in Germany, “where all the people I worked with (emphasized)` basics, basics, basics’ and that was exactly what she was trying to get across.”
Ingrid Klimke keeps an eye on Silva Martin during the Masterclass.
She picked up a good tip from Ingrid for the pirouettes, where Zaphir “always wants to lean to the left a little bit with his haunches. Silva said Ingrid told her, “`just keep turning the shoulders’ and that really made a big difference.”
Ingrid, the daughter of dressage legend Reiner Klimke (who was also an Olympic eventer), was named by the FEI as “Best Athlete of the Decade.”
She really demonstrated the link between dressage and good riding over cavaletti. Eventers Hannah Sue Hollberg and Isabelle Bosley took their horses over several different configurations, including a bending line of four cavaletti in an exercise that encouraged the horses to bend and flex.
Hannah Sue Hollberg over the cavaletti as Ingrid Klimke instructs.
After the jumping, Ingrid asked the riders to trot their horses on a loose rein so they could stretch and lengthen their necks.
Another dressage pair, Lauren Chumley and Shannon Stevens, focused on pirouettes and flying changes. Noting that Shannon’s horse needed encouragement in the second part of his pirouette, Ingrid advised that she should refresh with her seat and aids at that point. When he added some passage in his collected canter on the way to a lead change and Shannon patted him, Ingrid said, “don’t pet him, please, because he gave the wrong answer.”
Shannon Stevens picked up pointers during her ride in the Masterclass.
Anne Moss, president of Dressage at Devon, noted that Ingrid had worked individually with the riders the day before the class and presented “really helpful intuitive, suggestions of how to improve those horses.”
As she recounted her impression of the class, Anne (a dressage competitor herself) said, “I loved how she was encouraging the riders to ride more forward with softer hands and to put more forward-thinking of flying changes and to continue to rebalance and support the horse through the pirouette work. It was really quite beautiful.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 19, 2025
Fifty-one years ago, a poster for the Suburban Essex Riding Club’s Holiday Show in New Jersey proudly proclaimed it was an American Horse Shows Association local member, with a “polo-sized indoor riding hall.”
Those were the days when indoor rings were rare, and even a local show could be considered a special occasion — especially since very few riders took their horses south for the winter.
In the years since, it seems as if everything has changed; even the AHSA has morphed into the U.S. Equestrian Federation. The stable in West Orange, where thousands of people had taken riding lessons and rode in horse shows over the decades, was well past its glory days when it closed in 2022 and was put up for sale. The framed Holiday Show poster lingered forlorn among other bric-a-brac and memories in a dusty room; the horses were long gone.
The 1974 horse show poster and a poster from an earlier time in storage before the renovation. (Photo © 2025 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Located in a residential area and zoned for housing, the stable’s future seemed dim, even though so many had loved it during a history that stretched back for a century or so.
A plan for the township to buy the stable with open space funds and lease it to the Bergen Equestrian Center failed to get support.
Then Manhattan residents Romain Marteau, a real estate developer, and his wife, show jumper/trainer Brianne Goutal Marteau, decided to purchase the property.
“I was very excited about the prospect of being this close to New York City,” said Brianne. Without traffic, it’s a 20-minute drive from the Lincoln Tunnel, and access also is available by train to the Orange station, a five-minute Uber trip.
Brianne knew of the stable while growing up in the city, explaining that in those days, urban youngsters who were interested in riding generally started at either Suburban Essex or Riverdale (in the Bronx).
Brianne was a Riverdale rider before becoming a national equitation champion, so she was excited to finally visit West Orange. But when she arrived, her reaction was far from positive as she examined the aged facility.
“Had it not been for the proximity to New York, I would have looked at him (Romain) and told him he was crazy,” she recounted, then added with a smile, “I think I did, actually.”
Her feeling soon changed.
“When we got to work, once we started kind of envisioning how the whole place could look with a lot of imagination, we were very excited right away.”
The exterior of the stable as it looked nine months ago. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
As Romain explained their thought process, the question that had to be answered was, “Can we bring it to the level that we think it should be, and also be a practical enterprise, because otherwise, it is not sustainable.
“We need to make money. When you can combine those, restoring a historic facility and bringing a business sense to it, I think it’s a win/win for everybody.”
Brianne and Romain Marteau in their renovated stable. (Photo © 2025 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
The stable is what is known as a bank barn, on two levels, like a famous one of the same era built in Gladstone, N.J., by James Cox Brady that now houses the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation.
During its most recent previous iteration, the stable was owned for more than 20 years by Larry Hall, who saw it as “an institution that just needed to continue because it can never be replaced.”
The resident of nearby Verona took over the stable with his daughters in mind.
“The goal I had when I bought it was to give my girls a place to grow up that I knew would be a solid foundation for their future,” he recalled.
Once they were grown and long gone, however, it was time to sell. Remembering the people who used to come in wheelchairs for a last look at the stable where they rode years ago, Larry felt a responsibility.
“How special is this, that this is a place that has those kind of memories?” he asked.
So Larry wanted it to remain a stable.The odds were against finding the right buyer, however. Although Larry never advertised the place, he had two solid offers that would have paid him significantly more than what he got, but revealed, “My heart wasn’t there.”
Then “a white knight” came along, something Larry didn’t think could happen even “in my wildest dreams.”
Romain made him an offer and Larry said, “I’ll take it if you continue to make it a barn and raise your family here, like I did.”
Of Romain, Larry said, “he exceeded, even my greatest of dreams, in what he’s accomplished. It’s amazing.”
The multi-million dollar project, nestled into suburbia, has been crafted thoughtfully with enormous effort into a beautiful state-of-the-art venue, complete with paddocks and an outdoor ring. It goes without saying that the footing is top-flight.
An employee in a neighboring office building has a view of a paddock. (Photo © 2025 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Contractor John Rose called it “a very challenging project because of the location of the property, but we really appreciated the folks in the building department at West Orange helping us navigate through some challenges with zoning and modern issues in a 100-year-old barn.
Romain standing in the midst of the renovation in December. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
John said he appreciated being able to do the work.
“It was an absolute honor to be involved in such an iconic New Jersey horse property. Everyone I know in North Jersey has a story about riding at that barn.
“We had to renovate and update the barn within the existing physical structure. To adhere to the rules in New Jersey, we could not alter the footprint of the building in any way. That made renovating the interior a challenge, because the building is made of block and steel.”
John, who had remodeled the stalls at the USET Foundation barn, said the workers who assembled to do the West Orange job comprise “a team I would take anywhere to renovate a barn.”
The facility is now called Montclair Stables, going back to its original name which references an adjacent township.
The building’s historic touches are carefully preserved. Care has been taken with its dramatic frescoes, including one atop the front of the building that depicts a galloping herd. Another by the wash stalls is an artful rendition of a horse jumping a faux brick wall.
The dramatic fresco above the front door is a highlight of the stable. (Photo © 2025 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
“What I love the most is the marriage between the whole traditional historic part of it and the new modern, amazing footing, high level technology. Everything is brand new,” Brianne observed.
“At the same time, we tried to keep as much of the history and tradition alive in the barn. The aesthetic part is all new but the bones are totally original.”
They include the original pavers for the aisle floors, which offer an antique touch below the walls of pale treated pine wood that keep the interior bright.
The barn aisle floor is composed of the original pavers. (Photo © 2025 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
The original barn had 100 small stalls; now there 60 stalls, 14 feet wide, nearly as roomy as foaling stalls.
“The horses can put out their heads in both the aisle and the outside; we like to give them as much exposure to outside as possible,” said Romain.
The roomy stalls give horses window access, but they can also look out in the aisle. (Photo © 2025 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Wash stalls are spacious, tack rooms offer a practical setting to store saddles and bridles, and rest rooms abound. The indoor arena is heated in winter and cool in summer because small windows were replaced with garage doors, allowing for more ventilation.
The indoor arena is cool in summer, warm in winter. (Photo © 2025 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
“This facility was a lesson barn. We’ve made it into a private training facility for us and our clients,” said Romain, noting he and his wife have had interest from people from New York City and elsewhere who would like to board there.
Brianne is the main trainer, but the stable operates with multiple assistant trainers that she supervises. She travels a good deal, so assistant Jamie Stryker, who lives in Bedminster, N .J., is in residence year-round.
Like Brianne, “When we first walked through the property, I was a little bit skeptical,” Jamie reported.
“Then Romain said, `Don’t worry.’ We watched it go through demo (demolition) and then we watched construction start and I kind of stopped worrying, because I realized it’s going to be a really good product. The quality that went into this stable is exceptional.”
Yet another fresco decorates the wall above the wash stalls. (Photo © 2025 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Discussing the stable’s offerings, Romain said, “We have a secondary program for riders who are serious about their training but prefer to stay local and regional, rather than traveling to Florida and the big national shows.”
A third program offers ponies “to open doors for children interested in exploring the sport,” Romain continued.
“We think the facility is the perfect place to accommodate all levels of both skill and interest. We’ve partnered with Lauren Gredley/Grey Horse Farm. They have ponies for lease.”
Clara Propp, a student of Brianne’s, saw the stable in its original state and then came out when it was finished and rode her horse, Ingmar, in the outdoor ring.
“I didn’t see any of the work in between,” said Clara,18, who’s focusing on her riding during her gap year before going to Brown University.
“I was so impressed. I just love how it feels so historic while being new, and a really great environment for the horses and the people.”
Clara noted she and Brianne’s other students usually weren’t able to ride much during the late summer and autumn as “horses moved from indoor to indoor” during the fall circuit.
Having access to the stable “will be a huge improvement for us,” said Clara.
“It’s going to allow the horses to relax during the mid- to finals season and allow us to practice, which is really nice.”
Clara Propp rides Ingmar in the outdoor ring. (Photo © 2025 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
“We’re really excited to be here,” Brianne commented.
“It was a little bit of a process over the last two years. But when you end up in a place that looks like this and functions like this, you forget about the time. We’re just very excited to be here and experience the community and the proximity to everything, the shows and the city. It will make our lives a lot easier, that’s for sure.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 21, 2025
How do you build an equestrian city just across the harbor from Manhattan?
It was no small task for the Longines Global Champions Tour of New York, which (despite its name) actually was held at New Jersey’s Liberty State Park this weekend, at a site that was chosen for more than the view.
Jessica Springsteen, Don Juan van de Donkhoeve and the Statue of Liberty.
What is known as “the Green Ring,” normally a blank slate of grass, became a real ring. It was transformed into an arena surrounded by grandstands and VIP areas at the front of the house, which was supported by stabling under the trees, a warm-up area and offices.
The sensational backdrop involved skyscrapers and the Statue of Liberty, although that lady missed out on the action because as always, her back was turned to New Jersey
The standing-room-only crowd cheered riders such as Nayel Nassar on Little Magic d’Asschaut competing in the dramatic setting of the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix.
Planning began in November for the show — the fanciest international jumping competition in New Jersey since the National Horse Show was held at the Meadowlands from 1989-1995.
There were 17 or 18 different drafts of the design for the venue. The project was a massive effort under the guidance of GCT’s technical director, Colm McKay. With no water or electrical service, hydrants supplied the former and generators the latter. Having a show at a state facility also meant lots of paperwork and permits.
It took 12 days to create the venue, and Colm’s crew is required to have it taken down in five days.
“Until you do the event one time, you can’t really explain what it’s going to be like,” he said.
Colm McKay, GCT technical director. Note the Statue of Liberty in the background.
“We know there’s room for improvement, but the future looks bright,” noted Colm, who is talking about a long-term commitment to the site.
GCT has shows in many other landmark cities, including Paris (by the Eiffel Tower), London and Prague.
Focusing on New Jersey, Colm already is thinking about improvements for next year, including more seating (everything but standing room was sold out for the grand prix).
Guests in the GC Lounge had a great view of riders jumping a panel showing the George Washington Bridge, as Belgium’s Thibeau Spits did here on Impress-K.
Those connected with the park in Jersey City weren’t familiar with horse sports, so part of Colm’s mission involved telling them what the production involved. Aside from the competition, which also included 2-star classes, there were a number of attractions geared to pleasing the public.
Among them were a variety of other activities and attractions including dog agility, a Harlem gospel choir and classes for kids. (One little pony rider told me she was thrilled to have her photo taken with show jumper Jessica Springsteen, who by the way is a native of New Jersey.)
The competition, which began Thursday, concluded in idyllic weather on the last full day of summer with a 5-star grand prix worth 300,609 Euros ($352,000) that drew riders from Europe, South America and of course, the U.S.
The Belgians had the biggest contingent, with one-quarter of the 40 grand prix starters from the nation that won the European Show Jumping Championships in July.
Longines GCT Grand Prix winner Gilles Thomas and Qalista DN. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
So it was no surprise that five of the 11 riders who made the jump-off were Belgian, with that nation’s Gilles Thomas winning on Qalista DN in 31.03 seconds. His countryman, Thibeau Philippaerts — whose brothers Olivier and Nicola also were in the class — came in second aboard Pittman V/H Lilleveld in 31.72 seconds. The patriarch of the family is Ludo Philippaerts, a legendary rider in his heyday.
Thibault Philippaerts and Pittman v/h Lilleveld. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
The first round had a tight time allowed of 70 seconds, and designer Bernardo Costa Cabral made that factor count, with five riders having their clean trips over the fences marred by penalties on the clock
Gilles, next-to-last in the tiebreaker, nailed victory with an inspired round in 31.03 seconds aboard a 9-year-old mare, by Emerald van ‘t Ruytershof, that he has had for only a year.
“She does it so easy and is also very quick in the jump-off,” he observed.
I asked Gilles why the Belgian riders are becoming dominant, and he gave me the answer right away.
“I think at the moment we have very good horses in Belgium and now we can keep them a bit longer. Before, we always had to sell them. We have a few very good owners who want to do the sport; also the prize money is getting more and more.”
He noted, “Every good result gives a bit of confidence; if the rider is confident, the horse also gets the confidence.”
It was Gilles’ first trip to New York and, of course, New Jersey (where riders stayed in a Jersey City hotel to be closer to their horses.)
There were fun trips to Manhattan, which impressed Gilles.
“For sure it’s an amazing city. I saw it on television but when you see it in the real, it’s a fantastic city.”
Thibault smiled wearing the second place sash but noted wistfully, “I was very close to a dream. Gilles was there again.”
He was quick to add, “The horse is amazing. I’m so happy for him,” Thibault emphasized about the 10-year-old son of Diamant de Semilly.
“He deserves everything.”
Belgians Gilles Thomas and Thibault Philippaerts take their lap of honor. (Photo © 2025 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Swiss rider Nadja Peter Steiner was overjoyed to be third in 32.69 with Nice van’t Zorgvliet, a 12-year-old Belgian mare by Emerald who wasn’t being used as part of the Belgian tidal wave.
“To come here was an honor,” said the rider, adding, “it’s a real special show with an atmosphere that was amazing. We never see something like this in Europe.”
Nadja gave a big hug to Nice when she finished her round. The mare was ridden by Olympic individual gold medalist Christian Kukuk until the end of June, 2024.
Nadja Peter Steiner of Switzerland had a big hug for Nice van’t Zorgvliet after her jump-off round.(Photo © 2025 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
While she noted, “all my horses are really special,” she added, “Nice is such a fighter. She gives all of her heart each time you go in the ring.”
The U.S. contingent was thin on big names, what with the Gold Cup being contested in Michigan and the Longines League of Nations in St. Tropez, France. Natalie Dean was the only American to qualify for the tiebreaker; she finished eighth with 4 faults on Crescendo MB Z.
click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 16, 2025
The Olympic eventer who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a fall on cross-country the month after the 2024 Paris Games has made great progress in her recovery. She’s even riding again. Liz Halliday updated her many fans and supporters on social media Tuesday. Here is what she had to say:
“I’m still grinding every day in my therapy at the Centre for Neuro Skills in Dallas. Thanks to the dedicated therapists here, I have made significant progress, but it is clear that there is still a long way to go on my road to recovery. This is a slow process,” she reported.
“My injury was on the left side of my brain, which means the right side of my body is impacted. My right leg and right arm have very limited function at this stage, especially my arm. Important benchmarks: I can now walk on my own for longer and longer distances with a cane, and my balance is much improved. I am healthy and getting stronger all the time.
“I’ve now learned to write with my left hand, but my speech and writing are connected, and both are still a work in progress and something I struggle with daily. A major bright spot has been getting back in the saddle, which I’ve been able to do at a wonderful local facility. I am able to school walk and trot, and riding every week has definitely lifted my spirits.
Liz Halliday is riding again. (Photo courtesy Liz Halliday)
“I don’t know exactly what the future will look like for me, but I can promise you one thing: I will never stop working my ass off. Every day is a constant effort to walk, talk, read, write, and do all of the things we take for granted every day, but I will never give up.
“Thank you to my mom, Mark, family, and friends for their constant support. Thank you to Boyd Martin for the fantastic job he is doing with my horses. Thank you to Tamy Pollard, who keeps my dogs at her farm nearby and brings them over for regular visits. And thank you all for your continued positive thoughts, prayers, and good vibes. I’m still here, and I’ll never stop fighting. Up, up, up!”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 22, 2025
It was a jam-packed weekend for show jumping, with the Longines Global Champions Tour in New Jersey (see our lead story), the American Gold Cup in Michigan and the Longines League of Nations in St. Tropez, France.
Kent Farrington showed once again while he’s ranked as world number one by taking the Gold Cup in Traverse City with Greya, a sensational mare he developed. The victory was Greya’s sixth 5-star triumph within a year.
Kent revealed, “My biggest concern today was going to be measuring the speed it was going to take to win.You don’t want to be chasing what somebody else can do — you have to know what your horse’s best possible round is. I tried to put down a solid effort where they were going to have to do something special to beat me, and luckily, it worked out.”
His fiercest competition came from two Irish riders. Shane Sweetnam, winner of the qualifier, was second with James Kann Cruz, while Daniel Coyle wound up third on Farrel. But attention should also be paid to rising star Stella Wasserman of the U.S., who has begun training with McLain Ward. She was fourth on Precious Dwerse Hagen. (McLain was sixteenth on High Star Hero).
click here for results
In St. Tropez, the USA’s Karl Cook and Carcole de la Roque scored yet another European win for the season, topping the Longines Grand Prix over Brazil’s Stephan de Freitas Barcha and Dinozo Imperio Egipcio. The USA’s Laura Kraut was third with Biquetta.
Karl often kisses his mare, to show his affection for her.
“Every day I get to ride her is a gift, every day I get to jump her is a gift, and every day I get to show her is just the top gift,” he said.
It should be noted that the course designer was Gregory Bodo, half of the team that laid out the routes for the Paris Olympics. Karl was the only U.S. rider to be fault-free during the team competition in Paris.
Karl’s team wasn’t as lucky in the League of Nations competition, however, finishing sixth of seven countries. However, the team qualified for the finale of the League in Barcelona next month.
Click here for St. Tropez grand prix results Click this link for St. Tropez League of Nations results
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 17, 2025
Sidelines Magazine and The Chronicle of the Horse have been sold in unrelated transactions, it was announced Wednesday.
Sidelines was acquired by HITS, the company known for its horse shows around the country. Buying the Chronicle from Wellington International was the GRANDPRIX Group, which specializes in media, audio-visual and events.
Characterized by its photo-heavy interviews with top equestrians, Sidelines also features many other types of stories. Editor Jan Westmark Bauer will continue in that post.
Bob Bell, president of the Classic Company which sold the magazine, said, “I have enormous pride in what the team and I have accomplished during my tenure at Sidelines. I look forward to seeing the next phase of the magazine’s growth and wish the team at HITS the same fun and success we have enjoyed for almost a decade.”
HITS board chairman Mortimer Singer said, “The acquisition of Sidelines Magazine represents the next chapter in HITS’s commitment to holding our customers at the center of what we do. HITS being the largest national producer of horse shows makes Sidelines a perfect vehicle to showcase the many exciting equestrian enthusiast stories across the country.”
HITS was founded more than 40 years ago by Tom Struzzieri and purchased in 2022 by Traub Capital Partnres.
GRANDPRIX, a monthly magazine, also puts out news daily on line. Studforlife.com provides in-depth coverage of show jumping and breeding, and Horseman.nl is a leading outlet in Flanders and the Netherlands. The group also publishes the ASEP Stallion Guide, a reference tool for breeders.
By integrating The Chronicle, GRANDPRIX “will bring its editorial and technological expertise to this prestigious title: modernization of formats and platforms, revitalization of subscription and distribution offers, expansion of editorial content, and enhanced international coverage of major equestrian competitions,” according to a statement from the purchaser.
Sean Gagnon, chief financial officer of Wellington Interantional, said, “We are highly confident in the future of The Chronicle of the Horse under the leadership of Vincent Goehrs and the GRANDPRIX team. While the publication was no longer aligned with Wellington International’s strategic priorities, we are certain that GRANDPRIX’s vision and investment will allow The Chronicle of the Horse to continue to grow and thrive as a media of reference.”
