by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 26, 2017
It’s never too soon to plan for Dressage at Devon, Sept. 26-Oct.1 at the Devon, Pa., showgrounds.
The open breed show Sept. 26-Oct. 1, the largest in the world, is offering a new class for Dales ponies. They are one of the United Kingdom’s native mountain and moorland breeds, known for its strength, hardiness, stamina, courage, intelligence and good disposition.
Sadly, this breed’s population is low, so it is considered “critical” by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and “threatened” by the Livestock Conservancy.
Also featured during the breed show is a thoroughbred class. Don’t forget that Keen, Hilda Gurney’s great U.S. dressage team horse, was a thoroughbred.
The Breed Show features the future stars of the dressage world, from colts and fillies born this year and young horses up to 3 years of age. Horses age 4 and older are shown in hand and under saddle as well.
“We are very proud to be able to continue to host the largest open breed show in the world,” said Melanie Sloyer, chair of the breed show.
“In addition to our age-based classes, our popular individual breed classes showcases more than 20 breeds with a wide variety some lesser known and rare breeds seldom seen in other venues. Plus this year we are happy to welcome the Dales Pony.”
Other breeds in the 2017 line up include Akhal-Teke, American Saddlebred, Andalusian, Appaloosa, Arabian (both purebed and half Arabian), Danish Warmblood, Drum Horse, Friesian, Georgian Grande, Haflinger, Hanoverian, Iberian Horse, Irish Draught Horse, ISR-Oldenburg, Knabstrupper, KWPN-NA (Dutch), Lipizzan, Lusitano,Oldenburg (GOV) and Paint.
For more information, or to enter, visit www.dressageatdevon.org.
In addition to watching the competition, there are other things to do at the show. Visit the vendors or enjoy a gourmet meal.
Want to be a part of things? Volunteers are always needed at the show. To volunteer for one or multiple shifts, sign up at www.dressageatdevon.org under Volunteers. If you have questions, email Penny@thehorsewriter.com.
Those who interested in competing at Dressage at Devon can look at the prizelist at http://dressageatdevon.org/pdf/DADPrizeList.pdf.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 25, 2017
Fair Hill International has been nominated to be the host of a new 2019 autumn 4-star three-day eventing competition. If approved by the FEI this fall, the competition at the 5,613-acre Natural Resources Area will be the second event at that level in the country, with the Kentucky event (formerly Rolex Kentucky) in the spring at the Kentucky Horse Park (Britain is the only other country with two 4-stars, Badminton and Burghley).
The U.S. Equestrian Federation named Fair Hill as its choice after a months-long selection process that finally was narrowed down to the Maryland site and Great Meadow in The Plains, Va. Fair Hill, where a number of eventing competitions are held during the season, got the nod this week after the state Legislature awarded a $100,000 grant for development.
A concept illustration of what Fair Hill would look like for the 4-star event.
The Fair Hill tract to be developed for the 4-star is on the other side of Gallaher Road from the current site where the October 3- and 2-star competitions are held.
“Fair Hill’s nomination to host this 4-star event in Maryland is a reflection of our rich equestrian tradition and establishes our state as a premier destination for equestrian events and equine activities,” said Gov. Larry Hogan.
“We are proud that numerous private sector organizations, boards, and state and county agencies and elected officials all worked together to get Maryland to this point in the process, and we are extremely optimistic that we will secure final approval.”
Plans also call for improvement of the racetrack area and the work is good news for steeplechase races, the Cecil County Fair and the Scottish Games, all of which are held there. The location of the former DuPont estate is geared toward drawing spectators from a wide area. It is bordered by Pennsylvania to the north and less than a half-mile west of Delaware.
What remains to be seen is how things will work out for the designation of the fall event, if the FEI approves proposed changes to the rating system for eventing, which would add a 5-star and make revisions down through the levels.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 25, 2017
It’s been a busy—and successful–few weeks for five-time world championships endurance rider Meg Sleeper of Kingwood Township.
First, she won the 50-mile Muckleratz Run ride near Hershey, Pa., with her attractive gray homebred Arabian, Syrocco Cadence. Next up was the Vermont 75 in Woodstock, and again, Cadie was the winner, even though Meg was more interested in getting her horse fit rather than picking up trophies.
As a bonus, her friend Hanna Weightman of Shamong won the Vermont 50-mile competition with Meg’s Syrocco Rabia, named best conditioned. There was a (human) marathon held in conjunction with the Woodstock event, which added to the excitement for the horses and riders, Meg noted.
Next up for her, Meg hopes, is the October 2017 test event for the 2018 World Equestrian Games at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in North Carolina. No word has come down about selection criteria for the test event or the WEG, but only three riders from each country will be able to take part and scout the up-and-down terrain in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains.
Meg Sleeper and Syrocco Cadence. (Photo by Genie Stewart-Spears)
Meg said word is that the Tryon course will be like “the Biltmore on steroids,” referring to previous challenging rides at the Biltmore estate in Asheville, about an hour west of Tryon.
She noted, however, “it will be exciting to have another course” in the U.S. endurance repertoire.
According to preliminary plans for the WEG, crews will not be allowed along the trail to keep putting water on horses so they can go faster and faster. That practice has led to catastrophic injuries elsewhere, particularly in the Middle East. Crews would only be able to tend to horses during the holds at the veterinary checks along the route.
The end result “will be a lot slower than usual,” Meg said, “but it will let us take it back to horsemanship, the old cavalry test—another whole step up at the challenge level.”
The sport has had an image problem because of abuses involving one geographic segment of the competitors.
“We’re struggling trying to figure out how do we get control again and make it the sport to be proud of,” she said. Meg did note, however, there are many places where it is still run as a “clean and wonderful sport” but “sadly, there are some events where that doesn’t happen.”
Meg is in the process of bringing back another horse, Syrocco Rimbaud, her 2015 world championships ride who was injured during the competition in Slovakia. The veterinary cardiologist would like to have two horses that could be candidates for the 2018 WEG. She has ridden all over the world, from the jungles of Malaysia to the fields of France, but being able to ship her horse by trailer instead of airplane and all that involves adds to the appeal of representing her country at home.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 23, 2017
The Eventing Riders Association of North America is accepting applications for the newly created part-time position of executive director. The position involves overall operational and administrative responsibility for ERAofNA membership programs, sponsorship development, communications, marketing & public relations, financial management and governance coordination.
The executive director will work closely with the organization’s president, executive committee, and board to execute the “mission of assimilating and leveraging the collective voice of North America’s riders, equine professionals, and owners in pursuit of enhancing and growing the sport of eventing in North America.”
A full job description can be found here. Applicants are asked to submit a cover letter, resume, and references to Shannon Lilley at SPLilley43@gmail.com by Aug. 15. Learn more about ERAofNA here.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 13, 2017
The popular Monmouth at the Team show has great entries for its second year as a competitive and social landmark on the New Jersey equestrian scene.
The show moved from Monmouth County to the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation’s Gladstone headquarters on Pottersville Road last year after being purchased by cousins Tucker Ericson and Michael Dowling. It’s a friendly, fun show that demonstrates ratings alone don’t spell success.
There are only two B-rated days, Tuesday and Wednesday Aug. 15 and 16 and the highest level of jumpers is Level 3, or 1.30 meters. The biggest prize money offerings are the $10,000 purses given away for the Bobcat Derby on Thursday, Aug. 17 and the jumper mini-prix on Sunday, Aug. 20.
IBut i’s worth a visit to see what can be done at a show by utiizing some creative thinking and effort in a wonderful location. The atmosphere recalls the era when people showed more for fun than for points.
To find out more, go to www.monmouthattheteam.com.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 11, 2017
Longtime Lake Placid Horse Show exhibitor Philip Richter will be taking over the chairmanship of the show in the Adirondacks from Richard Feldman.
Richard, who was devoted to the show, shepherded it through growth and many changes. He announced his retirement last weekend as the fixture’s annual two-week run drew to a close. Philip competes with distinction in amateur-owner jumper classes and has a thorough knowledge of the show and what it involves.
Lake Placid is an exhibitor favorite for its scenic setting and relaxing atmosphere, which Philip understands and appreciates after a lifetime of competing there. A New York resident, Philip is co-chief executive officer of Hollow Brook Wealth Management.
