From relative obscurity to being practically a household name this year (at least in show jumping households!) Eddie Blue–ridden and trained by Devin Ryan of Long Valley–has been named a U.S. Equestrian Federation International Horse of Honor for 2018
Eddie, a 9-year-old Dutchbred owned by LL Show Jumpers LLC, leaped to fame this year starting with a second-place finish in April’s Longines FEI World Cup™ Show Jumping Finals.That gave him and his rider a place on the short list for the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 NetJets® U.S. Jumping Team. During the WEG team observation period, Eddie Blue and Devin were part of the bronze medal-winning U.S. team at the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Poland in June. As part of the U.S. team at the world famous German CHIO Aachen the next month, they jumped an impressive double-clear in the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup.
With only two years of FEI-level competition on his record, Eddie competed on his first FEI WEG NetJets U.S. Jumping Team. He and Devin contributed to the USA’s first show jumping team gold medal since the 1986 World Championships. They ended a remarkable year by placing second in the $205,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto 2018 for the Hickstead Trophy.
Each year, USEF names a National and an International Horse of the Year from the Horses of Honor roster. Winners are determined based on the results of online voting, which is open through Thursday, January 3 at midnight. The 2018 National and International Horse of the Year will be awarded Saturday evening, January 12 at the Horse of the Year Awards presented by AON during the US Equestrian Annual Meeting in West Palm Beach, Fla.
“Life In the Doghouse,” the emotionally satisfying movie about Danny and Ron’s dog rescue, will come to the Cranford Cinema, 25 North Ave.,on Jan. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Danny Robertshaw and Ron Danta, both respected in the hunter industry and beyond, have gained national fame with their dog rescue that is very much a personal crusade.
They were honored with the 2008 ASPCA Humanitarian Award for their unwavering dedication and unique approach to dog rescue and adoption during hurricane Katrina.Ten years and 10,000 dogs later, their unique approach to life and dog rescue is well worth watching!
The eventing competition that was such a hit at the Winter Equestrian Festival for three years won’t be held there in 2019. It wasn’t presented in 2018 either, and for the same reason–the FEI World Equestrian Games.
“Basically, we put all our resources into the Games,” explained Michael Stone, president of Equestrian Sport Productions, which runs the WEF in Wellington, Fla., and staged the WEG in Tryon N.C., during September.
Who could ever forget the horses taking a jump while galloping through the VIP tent at the event in Wellington, as Boyd Martin did here on Welcome Shadlow.
“We didn’t do anything about it and it got too late to make it happen. Unfortunately, there isn’t a huge sponsorship interest in it. But now we have a whole year to work on it,” Michael said today, hopeful it can happen in 2020
“Basically, we didn’t start working on it until October, and that just wasn’t enough time.” After the huge expense of the WEG, and all the effort that went into it, Michael said, “We’re trying to have a year where we’re stable.”
The event drew a big crowd and new fans when it was held on the grounds of the Global Dressage Festival.
“Show jumping owners who had never even seen eventing got involved,” said Michael.
With so many types of feed on the market, it’s hard to decide what your horse should eat–or even how much–for optimum health and performance.
The mysteries of equine nutrition will be unraveled next year with a 14-week Rutgers University course, which is being given both on line and in the classroom.
This undergraduate course is offered on a non-credit basis to barn managers, horse owners, trainers, feed sales representatives or anyone who is simply interested in the topic. Those registered as a continuing education student will receive 3.6 continuing education units rather than undergraduate college credits.
The class will be taught by Dr. Carey Williams from 12:35-1:55 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, starting Jan 23 and running through May 6. At Rutgers, the course will be held in Bartlett Hall, Room 123 on the Cook Campus in New Brunswick.
To Register go to http://www.cpe.rutgers.edu/. For more information, contact Dr. Williams at carey.williams@rutgers.edu.
The Monmouth County Hunt’s Junior Day drew young people from all over New Jersey to Upper Freehold.
Photos courtesy of Doug Raynor, AJ Solomon and Bonnie Drake
Many were trying fox hunting for the first time, and the enthusiasm was such that there were two very full fields.
According to reports, the kids left with smiles on their faces after a very exciting day of hunting.
A breakfast after the hunt was organized by the parents and Cathy Brogan, regional supervisor of the NJ Region Pony Clubs. I’ll bet a lot of the kids will be back to hunt again.
The Budweiser Clydesdales’ appearance at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation Dec. 1 drew a crowd of about 600, eager to get close to the horses they know from so many creative commercials. Presented by Sergeantsville Feed & Grain and Purina Animal Nutrition, it was an opportunity for the public to see these gorgeous giants up close and in action around the arena.
The event in Gladstone, which included a demonstration of hitching the horses to their Studebaker wagon, benefited A Home for Every Horse and the USET Foundation, which raises funds for competition, training, coaching, travel and educational needs of the country’s elite and developing horses and athletes, in partnership with the U.S. Equestrian Federation.
