by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 29, 2017
New Jersey’s biggest three-day event is set for May 11-14 at the Horse Park of New Jersey in Allentown.There are plenty of opportunities for tailgating on cross-country day, May 13, with a new water obstacle likely the venue of choice.
The New Beginnings Thoroughbreds tent is one of those spots where brunch and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided. Get tickets at http://nbt-jerseyfresh17.eventbrite.com. It’s $30 for adults, $15 for kids and those under 21.
There’s an array of top riders schedule to compete, including Phillip Dutton, Boyd Martin, Jennie Brannigan and local favorite Holly Payne Caravella.
Whatever you do, don’t miss Jersey Fresh. For more info on the event, go to www.jfi3d.com.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 29, 2017
Did you miss going to the Rolex Kentucky 4-star Three-Day Event? Or even if you did go, you probably didn’t see all the action–there was, after all, a trade show to patronize.
On Sunday, you’ll have a chance to catch up or at the least, see why Rolex is called “the best weekend all year.” It’s being televised on NBC from 1:30-3 p.m. Eastern time. Don’t miss it!
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 28, 2017
A new 4-star championship trophy is being given at Rolex Kentucky in memory of Roger Haller, whose celebration of life during last year’s Rolex weekend drew scores of the biggest names in eventing to pay tribute.
The designer of the cross-country courses for the 1978 World Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park and the 1996 Olympics, he served as a judge, technical delegate, organizer and perpetual proponent of the sport, serving all its various associations. Roger was a walking rulebook and always willing to help where needed for the betterment of the sport before dying of cancer at age 70 in 2016.
Artist Kerry Millikin–who won the Olympic individual eventing bronze medal in 1996 over a course designed by Roger–is creating the trophy. Since it takes a while to produce a work of art like the Haller trophy, a surrogate silver plate was presented this year to the winner, Phillip Dutton, the top-placed American at Rolex. He was fourth with Mr. Medicott.
Ann, who was involved in the presentation at Rolex, just became the competition manager for the Fair Hill International in Maryland.
Anne Haller presents a surrogate for the new Roger Haller trophy to Phillip Dutton on Mr. Medicott. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
“We hit the trifecta with Ann. She has organized events, stewarded FEI eventing competitions, and has been the press officer at events across the nation. She has a true 360-degree view of competitions. We couldn’t have asked for a better partner to join us,” said Fair Hill International’s executive director, Carla Geiersbach, stated.
Ann will coordinating technical aspects of all of the events that Fair Hill International runs throughout the year.
Fair Hill just received a $100,000 allocation from the Maryland legislature that could help boost its chances to host a new fall 4-star. Fair Hill is one of two finalists for the designation; the other is Great Meadow in Virginia.
Discussing the legislative support and vote of confidence that will be reflected in massive upgrades to the Fair Hill facility, Carla said, “We think that speaks volumes about the support for the project. The improvements to the turf track and the grandstands will benefit all the different disciplines that use the special events zone.”
Roger Haller. (Photo by Nancy JaffeR)
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 28, 2017
It went all the way to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but Olympic veteran Adrienne Lyle will be allowed to ride Horizon and Kaitlin Blythe can ride Don Principe next week at the Dutta Corp. USEF Festival of Champions in Gladstone.
Adrienne and Kaitlin were suspended by the FEI (international equestrian federation), along with the horses, when tests showed the animals were positive for a banned substance, ractopamine.
Legally used in the U.S. for building up swine, turkeys and cattle, it is on the FEI’s prohibited list for horses. The original question was, how did the substance get into the horses? The answer was through Progressive Soothing Pink, a gastric nutritional supplement produced by Cargill. Tests showed that ractopamine, which was not on the list of ingredients for the supplement, was found in trace amounts.
Cargill issued a statement about the situation, explaining “Upon learning of this trace finding, we immediately withdrew our Progressive Nutrition Soothing Pink product from the market. At this time, we have identified and isolated the ingredient that was the source of the contamination and we have completely stopped use of the ingredient in all products.”
Adrienne and Kaitlin, who were connected only through use of the product–they did not work together–had their suspensions lifted after it was revealed the manufacturer was at fault. However, the horses remained suspended for two months, even though the substance was no longer in their systems. The FEI policy is to invoke such suspensions, regardless of the source of contamination.
That would have meant both horses would have had to miss the Festival, since their suspensions extended to June 4. That’s where the CAS came in and issued a stay of the FEI edict.
Horizon is a top contender for the national title in the Small Tour championship, while Don Principe will be ridden by Kaitlin in the Brentina Cup Under 25 championship. It’s Kaitlin’s last chance to try for the title, as she ages out after this season.
Adrienne also will be riding Salvino, a prospect for next year’s World Equestrian Games team, in the Grand Prix Championship at Gladstone. Another big name in that section is Kasey Perry-Glass on Goerklintgaard’s Dublet. Kasey is the only member of last summer’s Rio Olympics bronze medal team who will be in the Grand Prix at the Festival.
The competition begins on Thursday, May 18 at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation headquarters on Pottersville Road in Gladstone, and runs through May 21. For more information, go to www.dressagefestivalofchampions.org .
Adrienne Lyle and Horizon. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 25, 2017
Two big names have dropped out of next week’s FEI World Cup finals in Omaha due to horse health issues.
Defending champion Hans Peter Minderhoud of the Netherlands bowed out when Glock’s Flirt came up lame. Then Jessica van Bredow-Werndl of Germany–who already was in Omaha–had to send her regrets after Unee BB colicked before getting on the plane to the U.S.
While it would have been fun to see them in action at the Cup, the odds are that the winner will be Isabell Werth of Germany, the most decorated Olympic equestrian ever, on Weihegold OLD.
U.S. entries in what is now a 16-horse field are Laura Graves (Verdades), Kasey Perry-Glass (Goerklintgaard’s Dublet) and Steffen Peters (Rosamunde).
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 20, 2017
Now it’s official. Laura Kraut, Audrey Coulter, McLain Ward, Charlie Jacobs and Todd Minikus are going to Omaha for next week’s Longines FEI World Cup Show Jumping Finals, representing the East Coast.
Kent Farrington finished first in the North American League’s East Coast subleague, but said all along he wouldn’t if he didn’t think Creedance was ready. After a fall March 11 from the chestnut, it seemed he had his answer, though he and the horse bounced back Saturday to finish second in the $130,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival.
From the West Coast, Karl Cook, Jenni McAllister and Jamie Barge qualified. California-based Nayel Nassar of Egypt also qualified, as did French rider Eric Navet, who also lives in California. Texas-based Christian Heineking of Germany also will be going.
In dressage, U.S. riders are Laura Graves and Kasey Perry-Glass, who qualified through the regular process, and Steffen Peters, the 2009 finals winner, making the cut as an “extra.”
Competition begins March 29 and ends April 2 at the CenturyLink Center.
McLain Ward and HH Azur are among the favorites to win the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping final in Omaha. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
