by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 6, 2025
Talented writer, website designer and book publisher Michelle Bloch died Monday March 3 of breast cancer. She was 55.
Michelle had been a pillar of the Capital Challenge Horse Show since 1996, designing the program and prizelist and writing its daily update during the show.
Michelle Bloch at the Capital Challenge Horse Show. (Tricia Booker photo)
“It’s a big loss,” said Oliver Kennedy, the show’s manager and co-founder, said of her passing.
He noted that whenever Michelle was presented with a concept, “she ran with it and made it amazing. Whatever you asked her to do, she figured it out and did it,” he added, saying she always gave “150 percent.”
She was the “keeper of knowledge” for the show with statistics, figures, photos and winners from the past 31 years.
A successful competitor during her time in the junior ranks, Michelle taught riding and kept horses at her Branchville, N.J., farm, but eventually focused on writing and designing.
Tricia Booker, co-founder of the Ink Horse book publishing venture with Michelle, noted her friend loved nature and hiking, but was “as comfortable in a city as in the middle of nowhere.”
Michelle was an intern at the Chronicle of the Horse in 1991 when Tricia was an editor there, and went on to write many freelance articles.
“Throughout my 25-plus years at the Chronicle, Michelle was one of the writers I counted on to always provide accurate and well-written articles,” Tricia remembered.
“When they arrived in my inbox, I’d sigh with relief knowing I could relax and just enjoy the story rather than having to do a rewrite. Michelle always met the tight deadlines of our weekly magazine, and her creativity and beautiful way with words made her work stand out among the rest.”
The two went on to work together at the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association’s In Stride magazine.
“She became much more than a freelancer to me; she was my collaborator,” said Tricia, who admired Michelle’s fashion sense that was part of her flair.
At In Stride, “Although she didn’t have a title on the masthead, she should have had one,” Tricia observed.
“We spent countless hours on the phone discussing article ideas, people to interview, industry trends, horse care topics, the importance of continuing education and so much more. I lost count of the number of American Horse Publications Awards her articles received, but it has to be in the double digits.”
Public relations executive Jennifer Wood, who worked with Michelle at Capital Challenge, noted how helpful her friend was when she launched Equestrian Businesswomen and played a major role in making it successful.
“From the start, she provided her design services and her creative eye to design the logo, build the website, make all the graphics, and bounce around all the ideas for the original 2019 Summit,” Jennifer recalled.
“She continued to support EQBW through the founding of the Equestrian B2B podcast, of which she was guest on the 26th episode about “How to Be Creative and Keep Creativity Consistent” and on Episodes 63 and 51, when she helped recap the 2024 EQBW Networking Brunch and 2023 Saratoga Women In Business Spectacular.
Michelle’s written work can be seen at her website, Writersbloch.com, and on Substack.
In one piece, she elaborated on the painstaking process of putting words together to achieve what she wanted them to mean.
“And then, when it is finally complete,” she stated, “the sun shines and the birds sing and voila, I have written… Past tense.”
Michelle is survived by her parents, Phyllis and Wolf Gstattenbauer; her husband, David Bloch, and their daughter, Abigail. Those wishing to make a donation in Michelle’s memory should contribute to the charity of their choice that most reminds them of her, orThe National Parks Foundation (nationalparks.org)
A celebration of life for Michelle will be held on March 30 from 2-4 p.m. at The Conservatory at the Sussex County Fairgrounds. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.fergusonfuneralhomesnj.com
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 24, 2025
The developer of the proposed Isla Carroll development adjacent to the National Polo Center off 120th Avenue South had asked for an delay of approximately 30 days on a vote, when it appeared in January that Wellington’s Planning, Zoning and Adjustment Board was going to turn down its proposed project in the Equestrian Preserve.
But representatives of the Discovery Land Co. were not on the agenda for the PZAB’s February meeting. Tim Stillings, Wellington’s director of Planning, Zoning and Building, reported to the board that the developer was involved with a re-do of the proposal for a Planned Unit Development on the 79.171-acre property. The land is part of the Village’s Equestrian Preserve, where two-acre zoning is the norm.
The plan called for 35 houses on one-third of an acre, and five properties of 1.5 acres where horses could be kept, with room for a paddock, stalls and a sand ring.
An equestrian center would have a 24-stall stable, housed in a refurbished barn on the property, where rescue horses and retired horses would be housed. The ambitious undertaking called for them to be used for every equestrian pursuit from jumping to endurance, vaulting and dressage.
The quirky plan presented to the Equestrian Preserve Committee, which unanimously voted against the project in January, and the PZAB raised concerns about its feasibility. There were many questions that went unanswered or received answers that appeared to be unrealistic.
“We have to be convinced this is an equestrian amenity and that this isn’t just a housing community with an equestrian label on it,” said Michael Drahos, a PZAB member who formerly served on the Village Council.
Such comments prompted the developer to request a halt to the proceedings and ask for extra time to refine the plan. If it is resubmitted, it once again will have to be heard by the Equestrian Preserve Committee before it goes before the PZAB. Both panels are only advisory, however. The decision on any project is made by the Village Council.
Click here to read a previous story on Isla Carroll.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 4, 2025
What a remarkable group! The legends who gathered for the annual Show Jumping Hall of Fame dinner in Wellington, Fla., over the weekend have an incredible list of glittering achievements in the sport.
The Hall at the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association Wheeler Museum honors these stars, both human and equine, with more deserving giants of the discipline added every year.
This time it was the turn of Olympic team gold medalist Laura Kraut, who is still going strong at age 57 and competed in the Nations Cup the night before the dinner.
Laura Kraut and Baloutinue. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Buddy Brown’s versatile ride, the late Sandsablaze, was also inducted. A champion equitation horse and hunter before becoming an Olympic show jumper, this thoroughbred showed the ability and mettle of his breed–all too often overlooked today as warmbloods dominate the sport.
Sandsablaze and Buddy Brown (Hall of Fame photo)
Also honored at the dinner was Mario Deslauriers, a former U.S. team member who now rides for Canada. He received the International Award. Pancho Lopez, a great groom and manager who taught many others to excel in those professions, was a member of the 2023 Show Jumping Hall of Fame class. He wasn’t able to attend last year, so he accepted the honor at the dinner for the class of 2024.
Hall of fame members gather for a photo after last weekend’s installation dinner. (Hall of Fame photo)
Can you identify all the people in the photo? In the back row are Pancho Lopez, Norman Dello Doio, Peter Doubleday, Robert Ridland, Linda Allen, Anne Kursinski, David Distler, Michael Matz, Anthony D’Ambrosio, Dr. Dan Marks.
Seated are Margie Engle, Laura Kraut, Katie Monahan Prudent, Mary Mairs Chapot, Melanie Smith Taylor, Jane Clark, Leslie Burr Howard, Beezie Madden.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 4, 2025
In case you hadn’t noticed last year’s FEI World Cup finals in Saudi Arabia, or last month’s Longines League of Nations leg in Abu Dhabi, the Middle East is playing an ever-larger role in high-level non-racing equestrian sport.
Now a 10 million Euro (U.S. $10,541,000) tour, the largest equestrian sporting event in the region, has been announced by the Qatar Equestrian Federation and the Al Shaqab facility. Doha already hosted top show jumping, but this will be the largest equestrian sporting event when its 10 international events run Jan. 1-April 4, 2026.
It starts with the HH The Father Amir Tour, including four new five-star championships over four weeks. That will be followed by: HH The Amir’s Sword Festival, CHI Al Shaqab, Longines Global Champions Tour and Doha Equestrian Tour 2026. Although show jumping is hte focus, plans also call for inclusion of dressage and para-dressage competition.
Bader bin Mohammed al-Darwish, president of the Qatar Equestrian Federation, and vice-chairman of the Organizing Committee for International Equestrian Championships – Qatar 2025, said: “The events (in the new Qatar Equestrian Tour 2026) will make the global equestrian calendar full of competitions that will further enhance the status of Qatar as a sports capital and an ideal destination to host the largest and most important international equestrian tournaments, and a meeting place for the exchange of different cultures for horse lovers and equestrian.”
He added, “We believe that our sports facilities, where the season’s competitions are held, will be the focus of the world’s attention, and will contribute to accelerating and enhancing the growth of equestrian sports at the regional and global levels.”
The ultimate goal?
“We aspire to be the world’s premier destination for equestrian sports, and to continue to provide a role model in hosting major sporting events, especially in the field of equestrianism.”
The organizers are implementing “the highest levels” of security and safety measures in all sports facilities.
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 28, 2025
It’s no surprise.
Robert Ridland, who guided the U.S. to its only equestrian medal at the 2024 Olympics, has been signed to a new four-year contract as show jumping team chef d’equipe and technical advisor that takes him through the 2022 world championships and the 2028 Olympics in his native California.
“During my time with the U.S. Jumping program, our teams and combinations have produced tremendous results at Championships and it’s important we keep the momentum moving forward into this next quad,” said Robert, who likes to be called “coach.”
“I’m very proud of the development and growth we’ve seen in our programs and am committed to continuing that success over the next four years as we head into the home 2028 Olympic Games,” he said, as his contract was announced Friday.;
Robert Ridland has been an effective leader of the U.S. show jumping team. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
An Olympic rider himself, Ridland will still be working side-by-side with the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s managing director of show jumping, Lizzy Chesson as they develop team programs, performance and strategy.
The post Paris review process looked at all aspects of the programs, including the role of the Chef d’Equipe and Technical Advisor. This process included participation of U.S. Jumping Team athletes with a broad range of team experience, as well as program staff, and key stakeholders. Ridland will continue to work alongside Managing Director of Jumping, Lizzy Chesson, and together they will oversee the management and advisement of the team programs, performance, and strategy.
“We look forward to supporting Robert Ridland and the team in their initiative of continuing to produce sustained success across the pathways in this next quadrennial,” said USEF CEO Bill Moroney.
Under Robert and Lizzy’s direction, the team has produced top international championship results including three team Olympic silver medals (2016, 2020, 2024), two team bronze medals and team gold at the Pan American Games (2015, 2019, 2023), as well as team bronze and team gold at the FEI Jumping World Championships (2014, 2018), alongside numerous Nations Cup podium finishes.
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 21, 2025
The Dutch Party for the Animals (Partij voor de Dieren) contends the Netherlands is taking a big step forward in animal welfare in equestrian sports, following the country’s House of Representative’ vote on a ban involving “animal-unfriendly training aids.”
According to the animal party, “This means that, for example, whips, bits, tongue straps, and spurs with sharp wheels will be prohibited.”
Member of Parliament Christine Teunissen, a representative of the animal group contended, “Thanks to our proposal being passed, the state secretary must introduce a ban on all animal-unfriendly aids and training methods. This means equestrian sports will undergo a radical change.”
She continued, “It has long been known that many `common` training tools for horses are very painful and harmful. The use of a bit causes injuries in the mouth and severely constricts the tongue, often causing it to turn blue. The use of whips also causes a lot of animal suffering. No animal should have to endure this. That is why we are incredibly happy that Parliament demands a ban on these tools. A fantastic step forward! ”
Or is it? The Dutch federation did not respond to requests for comment, but an article in Horse & Hound noted “questions remain over what exactly will be restricted and how the rules will be enforced.”
Stakeholders, including horse-oriented organizations, must be consulted by the government before regulations are drafted.
One commenter noted, “Focus on education instead of bans.”
