by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 14, 2019
New research on nutrition, pasture management, manure and other topics will go down easy with a glass of wine Aug. 20 at the Cream Ridge Winery, 145 Route 539, Cream Ridge. Wine tasting begins at 5 p.m. followed by speakers at 6 p.m.
The program will provide research-based information on how to manage diets and pasture, along with some other environmentally friendly horse farm practices directly from experts performing the research. This will also give you a chance to network with managers and owners of New Jersey horse farms. The program is free, but wine is available for purchase.
RSVP by Friday August 16 with Carey Williams at carey.williams@rutgers.edu or Mike Westendorf at michael.westendorf@rutgers.edu.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 11, 2019
Monmouth at the Team, which runs Aug. 12-19, is in its fourth year of implementing an intriguing competition concept that works. Cousins Tucker Ericson and Michael Dowling took over the faltering Monmouth County Horse Show in 2016, expanded its dates, cut it back from multiple rings to one and moved it to the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation’s Gladstone facility in Somerset County.
Riders tend to come from the tri-state area, and include many well-known names. Managed by Creigh Duncan with courses by Skip Bailey, the show has created a unique template. It was followed to Gladstone last spring by the Junior Essex Troop’s Garden State, show as it relocated from the Sussex Fairgrounds and came under Tucker’s wing.
The transformation of Monmouth, New Jersey’s oldest horse show, was an instant success. At first, when it was still in the concept stage, that was due to the appeal of riding at its historic venue. But as soon as it got going, its character added more appeal. In addition to the draw of the 124-year-old show’s setting has been the focus on upscale hospitality, complete with live music, which enables people to eat, drink and socialize ringside without missing any of the action. This year, the Aon riders’ lounge has been added to the hospitality component.
Such amenities are unusual for a show that isn’t FEI recognized or rated at the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s top levels. The show’s highest rating involves “B” days, but it also includes a day emphasizing Outreach and a Level 3 jumper mini-prix (August 18) and another with unrecognized classes featuring the Nature Conservancy’s $10,000 Bobcat Derby (August 15).
Note the rider’s helmet–see the Bobcat ears? These headbands are a popular item on Bobcat Derby Day during Monmouth at the Team. (Photo©2018 by Nancy Jaffer)
The Derby has two divisions pinned separately, with $5,000 in prize money each. The first is for non-professionals with fences at 2-feet and 2-6; the second is an open class with 3-foot jumps.
A special exhibition is scheduled for Friday afternoon before the $5,000 Welcome Stake, sponsored by Equine Billing Services. International rider and dressage coach Catherine Haddad Staller will present three riders to showcase “The Joy of Dressage.”
Catherine has represented the U.S. at two FEI World Cup™ Finals and earned more than 150 placings and wins in international competition. With her husband, Dr. Greg Staller, founder of Running ‘S’ Equine Veterinary Services, she breeds and trains international dressage talent at Khimoni, their Califon facility.
The exhibition showcases Catherine’s positive approach to training horse and rider. Those appearing will include Michelle Brady, 27, from La Grande, Oregon, who earned her USDF Gold Medal in 2018. Michelle worked cattle in the stockyards of La Grande before she became a working student for Catherine in 2012. She went from groom to top trainer for Team Haddad Staller in only a few years, producing her first Prix St. Georges horse in 2018.
Hope Beerling, 20, from Queensland, Australia, is a leading young rider there. She won the 2018 FEI Young Horse Championships in Brisbane. Her talent, seat and balance give young horses the confidence to relax and perform their best.
Katie, a 39-year-old dentist from Austin, Texas, lost her lower right leg to cancer in 2015, but her love of horses became her lifeline. The para-dressage equestrian began training in 2018 with Catherine, whose system of skeletal riding places emphasis on riding from the seat and weight, without tremendous pressure from the leg.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 9, 2019
HITS, Inc. and CEO Thomas Struzzieri announced today that the Thermal, Calif. series of horse shows and the winter circuit in Arizona have been sold so the organization can concentrate on its Ocala showgrounds in the winter.
The California series founded in 1992, fills more than 3,000 stalls in any week, and offers the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix as its feature.
“The timing of this sale is perfect for both HITS and myself. My team and I have successfully shepherded this product from just an idea to one of the largest horse show franchises in the world,” said Tom Struzzieri.
The show series were sold to a group headed by Steve Hankin, president and CEO of the Desert International Horse Park, where the Thermal series is held.
“Three ingredients made this the perfect recipe for a sale,” said Tom.
“One, it allows me to travel a bit less and spend more time with my fantastic family. Two, this allows HITS to concentrate fully in the winter on the very important HITS Ocala Circuit.” The Ocala Circuit is the oldest program in the HITS collection of shows and its facilities are also the largest, spanning 450 acres.
Tom said the sale will allow him to devote significant financial and staffing resources toward ensuring that the Ocala facility remains an essential winter hunter-jumper destination. He added his clients will now see even greater innovation at the Ocala facility.
“The Great American $1 Million Grand Prix remains the crown jewel of prize money on the East Coast and I am confident that it will only grow because of this sale,” said Tom.
The third reason for the sale, according to Tom, is his certainty that the shows in Thermal are in good hands.
“This partner group, led by Steve Hankin, is committed to continuing to offer quality events in the desert in California. They have plans to continue to improve both the property and the event to ensure a great experience for all the existing and new customers.”
Asa result of the sale, Tom will do the same in Ocala, dedicating enormous resources to his own facility.
Ocala, in central Florida, is getting to be an ever-more popular show destination. Chester Weber offers a Longines FEI World Cup qualifier at his March Live Oak show there, and the new World Equestrian Center will begin offering shows in 2021 when construction is finished at its site.
Steve Hankin noted, “The Thermal and Arizona winter circuits are centerpieces of the show schedule on the West Coast, and we look forward to building on the strong success Tom has created. Tom and his team have been incredibly supportive of efforts throughout this process. We have an enthusiastic group of California equestrians committed to supporting the sport going forward and will be announcing more about our plans soon.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 6, 2019
The New Jersey Farm Bureau is presenting an Equine Town Hall Event Aug. 15 at the Gloucester County Dream Park, 400 Route 130 in Swedesboro. This is the South Jersey version of last year’s meeting in Chester, Morris County.
Topics will include the Right to Farm for Equine/Agriculture, Legislative and Regulatory matters for the equine industry; pasture management, presented by Rutgers University’s Carey Williams and Dr. Ernest Beier on equine health.
The meeting is billed as “an evening of networking and informative presentations focused on maximizing the viability and mutual success of the equine and agricultural industries.” Arrival and networking run from 6:30-7 p.m., with presentations from 7-8:30 p.m. There is no admission charge and light refreshments will be offered.
RSVP to 609-393-7163 or Melissaw@njfb.org.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 5, 2019
The Monmouth County Hunt is offering a Hunt Clinic on Sunday, Sept, 15 at 8 a.m. This is an opportunity to get out riding cross-country and find out about a new sport. The hounds will be hunting, and this is a great time for horses not accustomed to hunting to be introduced gently. All jumps have go-arounds. The clinic price of $50 per rider include brunch.
RSVP to monmouthcountyhunt@gmail.com. For questions, call Jen Donaldson at (732) 915-0492.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 5, 2019
George Morris, the world’s most famous show jumping trainer, is in the process of disputing a lifetime ban by the U.S. Center for SafeSport on charges of violating the SafeSport Code between 1968 and 1972.
Based for years at Hunterdon Inc. in Pittstown, the 81-year-old former technical advisor for the U.S. show jumping team said in a statement today, “I contest these findings wholeheartedly and am in the process of disputing them.”
The decision, relating to charges of “sexual misconduct involving minor” is subject to appeal and not yet final.
Morris, an Olympic silver medalist and popular clinician, is “deeply troubled by the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s findings regarding unsubstantiated charges for events that allegedly occurred between 1968 and 1972.”
Now a Florida resident, he said, “I have devoted my life to equestrian sport and the development of future riders, coaches and Olympians. Any allegations that suggest I have acted in ways that are harmful to any individual, the broader equestrian community, and sport that I love dearly are false and hurtful.”
According to the U.S. Equestrian Federation, “The Center investigated the allegations against Morris, found them credible, issued their ruling, and banned Morris for life. US Equestrian and its affiliates will enforce this ban, which is subject to appeal.” Morris is listed as “permanently ineligible” on SafeSport’s disciplinary database.
The appeal process involves requesting a hearing within five days of the notice of decision. It generally takes 45 days to develop after that. Any hearing would be in front of an independent arbiter.
Morris maintained, “I share our community’s commitment to protecting the safety and wellbeing of all our athletes who need reliable guidance and encouragement at every level, of which I have provided for over 50 years. I will continue, as I always have, to proudly support equestrianism and its continued development around the world.”
Ironically, a memorial service was held today for Rob Gage, the California show jumping trainer and course designer who took his life earlier this year as he awaited an appeal on SafeSport accusations.
The federation noted that since 2013, it “has had policies and procedures in place to protect and educate our members about safe sport. We want every athlete, parent, coach, support staff, and trainer to know, if you are a survivor of abuse or suspect abuse of any kind, there are resources and people to help at usef.org/safesport.”
