by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 27, 2017
If you thought you’d heard the last of Omaha when the Longines FEI World Cup Show Jumping and Dressage World Cup finals wrapped up, think again.
The Omaha Equestrian Foundation, which presented the incredibly successful Cup competition, is keeping busy.
It is offering an opportunity for anyone interested in the eight international disciplines (show jumping, dressage, para-equestrian, driving, eventing, reining, vaulting and endurance) to meet with the country’s top equestrian athletes, trainers, team managers, chefs d’equipe, coaches, veterinarians, physiotherapists and other leaders.
Lisa Roskens, who brought the Cups to Omaha and came up with the idea for the foundation, said it is committed to bringing more international-caliber competitions to the Midwest, developing opportunities for riders who aspire to perform at the highest levels of their equestrian discipline.
“We want those who are interested in these disciplines to have a chance to hear first-hand the vision held by the leaders and decision-makers of the sport,” she said, “and to be able to talk with other horsemen who share their interests in international equestrian disciplines. OEF is proud to host US Equestrian’s first-ever High Performance Review.”
Who will you see in Omaha? Show jumping coaches Robert Ridland and Anne Kursinski, dressage coaches Robert Dover and Debbie McDonald, as well as eventing individual gold medalist and coach Leslie Law.
“This will be the first time we have ever gathered representatives of all the FEI international discipline High Performance Programs together for the express purpose of determining how we can meet our goal of sustained success at the World and Games level,” said Will Connell, US Equestrian’s Director of Sport.
“We want to bring all perspectives together to determine how we are better able to meet challenges in the future, grab opportunities as they arise and ensure that we are truly focused on developing performance. If we are to be truly effective at supporting our athletes (human and equine) to deliver medal winning performances, then we must be willing to challenge the effectiveness of ourselves and our programs,” Connell said.
Those interested in attending the dinner, forums and clinic can find more information at www.omahaequestrian.com or by calling 402-930-3079.
Meanwhile, the foundation is starting the InIt2WinIt Speed Jumping Series, five nationally televised 1.40-meter speed jumping events that will culminate in the $100,000 Championship at 1.45 meters at the International Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska on April 13, 2018.
The InIt2WinIt Speed Jumping Series kicks off its first qualifying event Sept. 22 at the HITS Balmoral show in Chicago with a $25,000 Open Speed Class qualifier. The American Royal in Kansas City, Missouri will feature a $25,000 InIt2WinIt qualifying class Oct. 13. Queenie Productions will host a $20,000 InIt2WinIt Open Speed class as a qualifier Nov. 11, 2017 at the St Louis Hunter/Jumper Show in the National Equestrian Center in Missouri. The final qualifying competition will be the $10,000 Monarch Casino jumper stake at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado on Jan. 12, 2018.
“The InIt2WinIt Speed Jumping Series is part of OEF’s mission to produce international caliber equestrian events that change the way the sport is presented in this country, and to develop Omaha into a hub of the sport horse industry,” said Lisa.
“We want to attract international championships as both educational and economic development opportunities for the community.” To fulfill its strategic plan, OEF seeks to create opportunities for high performance athletes from the Midwest and develop young riders with a clear path to higher levels in the sport.
The International Omaha 2018 will also feature its signature jumping competition, the $130,000 International Omaha Grand Prix. In addition, it will host high level team dressage competition and a Dressage Showcase in conjunction with the United States Dressage Foundation.
All events will be held at the World Cup venue, the CenturyLink Center Omaha, which won rave reviews from World Cup competitors, vendors and fans. The four-day event April 12-15, 2018 is designed to be the Great Equestrian Gathering in the Midwest, according to Mike West, CEO of the foundation.
For ticket, sponsor, VIP and vendor information, call 402-932-4124 or go to.www.internationalomaha.com
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 10, 2017
Need a new helmet? Don’t put off buying one any longer. Many tack shops are offering deals for International Helmet Awareness Day, which actually has expanded to two days, Saturday Sept. 16 and Sunday Sept. 17. Locally in New Jersey, the Dover Saddlery chain (Branchburg) is offering 30 percent off helmets, and Beval Saddlery in Gladstone is doing 20 percent off and a free polo both days. Check with your local store to see what they’re doing for this important opportunity.
The “day,” now a weekend, is the result of a campaign by Riders4Helmets, founded in 2010 as a result of American Olympic dressage rider Courtney King-Dye’s near-fatal accident when she was schooling a young horse who fell. Courtney was not wearing a helmet, leaving her with severe head injuries.
More than just an occasion for a discount on a helmet, the day also is a time for education about head injuries and the importance of wearing the right headgear when riding. Learn more at this link
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 9, 2017
Several activities at the Horse Park of New Jersey this month and into the autumn will benefit the Jersey Fresh International, the park’s premier competition
On Oct. 15, the Jump for Jersey Derby and Dressage event will be held. The levels are Starter through Novice for the Derby. For dressage, it’s the fix a test of your choice. Pre-registration required, with special rates for HPNJ members.
British trainer Lucinda Green will give a clinic Oct. 12 and13 at the Horse Park.
More information is available at horseparkofnewjersey.com. or contact Jane Cory at 215-262-2870 or jane@pleasanthollow.com.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 9, 2017
Comparing the first six months of 2016 and 2017, there has been more than a 25 percent reduction in positive doping tests performed by the U.S. Equestrian Federation for the hunter, jumper and equitation divisions.
Is that a result of greater publicity about violations this year and stronger penalty guidelines that were approved more than year ago?
“Some of it very well may be,” said a spokesperson for the organization.
“We certainly hope that US Equestrian’s firm stance on intolerance of these type of violations is being recognized,” she said.
Enhancement of penalty guidelines for abuse and welfare violations were voted on in July, so there is hope that those violations will be reduced as well.
Doing all this costs money, so USEF is increasing its membership fee for the first time in 10 years from $55 to $80. For reference, the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association’s active membership is $85.
The increase “will allow us to address these issues and re-invest back into growing our sport at all levels, not just elite levels,” USEF President Murray Kessler said in a letter to members.
“A primary area of investment will be to bring unrated shows into the US Equestrian family and encourage the return of B- and C-rated shows. Our sport can’t be strong without a strong foundation. We will also continue to invest in education, learning center videos, communication tools, athlete pathways, trainer certification, and the like. Finally, developmental funds will be allocated to help grow the sport across all breeds and disciplines.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 8, 2017
Don’t be confused when you go to the Washington International Horse Show Oct. 24-29. Since 2006, the facility has been named the Verizon Center, but now it’s the Capital One Arena.
The signage and branding makeover will happen this fall, but there’s already a new logo and a third name for the venue, which opened as the MCI Center in the winter of 1997.
The previous 20-year naming rights arrangement was negotiated by former Wizards and Capitals owner Abe Pollin, and current owner Ted Leonsis has said repeatedly that he was seeking a more team-friendly deal. The Verizon deal was set to expire in 2018, but Capital One’s involvement accelerated the schedule.
Financial details were not released, but the deal is worth $100 million over 10 years, according to a source familiar with the arrangement, who confirmed an earlier Bloomberg report.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 3, 2017
Apparently, it’s not enough just to have a 4-star three-day event. The Kentucky Three-Day (formerly Rolex Kentucky before its title sponsor stepped back) is adding a $225,000 invitational show jumping grand prix to its schedule in April.
After pairing the event with reining a few years back and then dropping it, EEI, which puts on the competition at the Kentucky Horse Park, has partnered with the Split Rock Jumping Tour in the new venture. The class, with a course laid out by 2016 Olympic course designer Guilherme Jorge, will be held in the Rolex Stadium after cross-country is completed on the Saturday of the event.
“For almost four decades, equestrian sports fans have traveled from all over to see eventing’s best riders and horses and now they will have a chance to see show jumping’s best at the same time. I think it’s safe to say that the ‘Best Weekend All Year’ just got even better,” said EEI President Stewart Perry.
I’ll be curious to see how many people are looking to watch an unrelated competition for a few more hours after getting up early to miss the traffic and then putting in a tiring day walking the cross-country course. Might they prefer to hit the trade fair or go out for a drink and supper? How many of those attending the event are grand prix show jumping fans. We’ll find out next year…
After the thrill of watching some of the world’s best eventers, like three-time Rolex Kentucky winner Michael Jung of Germany, will the crowds move on from cross-country to watch grand prix show jumping at the Kentucky Horse Park? (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
