by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 22, 2024
Noting that the eventing format for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games soon will be announced by the FEI, Olympic multi-medalist Philip Dutton stated on social media that he believes “there is a general consensus worldwide in the eventing community that it is important to modify the format if the International Olympic Committee recommends changes, so that our sport can stay a part of the Olympics.”
The biggest change under consideration is ending the team event with cross-country, similar to the way the Aachen, Germany show does with its three-day event.
Philip Dutton at the Kentucky 5-star event. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
Although Philip thinks the 2028 Olympic eventing competition “will most likely be a watered-down event, it will still keep the sport part of the general sports viewers’ eyes and will help attract sponsorship and excitement and therefore create a more sustainable sport.”
When Philip made his Olympic debut, the sport was using the long format, with roads and track and steeplechase. There has been an evolution, but the Olympic format today is at a lower level than the 5-star competitions such as Kentucky and Badminton.
Philip contends that as in other sports, such as tennis, “the gold medal winner at the Olympics is probably not remembered as well as the Wimbledon champion.”
In his view, “For eventing, the 5-star three-day events are the ultimate test of training, endurance, talent and horsemanship. It is imperative that the FEI recognizes this and puts out a statement committing to support the 5-star events and that changing the Olympic format does not mean that the (entire) sport will go the way of the Olympic format.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 28, 2024
“Gladstone.” It’s a name synonymous with excellence in the horse world, the former U.S. Equestrian Team training center at Hamilton Farm in New Jersey, now the home of the USET Foundation.
For decades, Gladstone was known around the world as the base for the U.S. show jumpers who represent the country in international competition. Eventing team members were there for a number of years as well, and it became the venue for training sessions in a variety of disciplines.
As a competition site, many of its glory days in the ‘80s and ‘90s centered around the annual Gladstone Combined Driving Event, fueled by the enthusiasm of USET President Finn Caspersen. His horses were regulars in the four-in-hand competition that usually included drivers from overseas, imported by Finn.
Combined driving involves dressage, a marathon where horses are timed as they weave in and out of obstacles (driving’s version of eventing’s cross-country phase) and concludes with the cones test. In that segment, the carriages travel around a winding layout involving pairs of road cones, trying to avoid knocking off the balls resting atop them.
The excitement of driving at the picturesque Gladstone venue culminated in the October 1993 World Pairs Championship, which drew competitors from a record 23 countries. It was the largest such competition ever held outside Europe, with 15,000 spectators watching the marathon segment.
Many of those who helped organize that competition came from the Northeast’s driving community. However, as drivers retired, died, or moved south, their ranks in the region grew thin. In recent years, driving competition continued to some extent at Gladstone, but it was low-key.
That is about to change. An invigorated Gladstone Equestrian Association Driving Committee will be putting on several competitions this year in the Pine Meadow section of Hamilton Farm. That includes a Combined Driving Trial June 29-30, as well as a Combined Test that weekend for those who don’t want to do the marathon and will stick with just dressage and cones.
Driving events have been a fixture at Gladstone for decades. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
“The place is like hallowed ground,” said John Layton, president of GEA Driving.
“The place is unbelievable, the history. It’s small compared to what it used to be, but we have the opportunity to make it great again.”
Jimmy Fairclough, who started driving at Gladstone in the 1970s, is glad the GEA group is ramping things up.
“If there is anything I can do, I’m all in for it,” Jimmy emphasized.
Jimmy Fairclough, right, with teammates Chester Weber and Misdee Wrigley Miller on the podium after winning the gold medal at the 2018 world championships. (Photo © 2018 by Nancy Jaffer)
A member of the U.S. 2018 world championships gold medal four-in-hand team, he was also part of the pairs team that won gold in the 1991 world championships. The victory gave the U.S. the right to host the 1993 championships at Gladstone.
That was during a time when Gladstone “was the heart of the sport in North America,” as Jimmy put it, with training sessions, a spring event and the Gladstone Driving Event.
Now it’s a different story.
Jimmy, who lives in Sussex County 45 minutes from Gladstone, drove his young horses there last year. He notes that competing on the winter circuit is so costly that by the time it’s finished, so are the bankrolls of many people who might otherwise enter more competitions in the north.
As a result, he pointed out, in the Northeast, “We’re struggling for shows in the summer.”
At the same time, however, the sport has changed and is more flexible than it used to be. No longer is it necessary to have a roads and tracks segment, for instance, a change which enables saving on space and labor.
“There are so many possibilities,” Jimmy suggested.
John Layton has taken advantage of that situation.
“People need an entry-level to come into combined driving without spending thousands of dollars to see if they like it or not,” he pointed out.
The resident of Juliustown in Springfield Township, part of New Jersey’s Burlington County, came up with the concept of driving derbies, one of which is set for April 7 at the Horse Park, an hour south of Gladstone, while another will be held at Gladstone Sept. 14 as part of a six-event series throughout the region.
“It’s a whole new format, an introduction to combined driving,” said John, a Horse Park board member. He noted many people intrigued by combined driving are intimidated about diving right in because a full marathon can be quite a challenge, and it’s expensive to get all the equipment needed.
In the derby, competitors try their hand at two marathon obstacles, while negotiating a series of cones before tackling the obstacles, in between them and at the end of the run.
“It really took off. It gives everybody a taste of combined driving in a one-day format,” said John, who works as a union carpenter.
That’s one answer to the big question of how to attract new drivers to the sport, enabling it to grow. Another might be a Standardbred division that debuted as an exhibition division at the Horse Park in 2022.
“In our area, harness racing is huge,” explained John, a competitive driver himself whose Eris K. was the number one-ranked Cleveland Bay driving horse in the U.S. last year.
“We have a bunch of people between 25 and 40, a lot of young women who want to do something with these horses that came off the track.”
He got permission from the U.S. Equestrian Federation for them to compete using a jog cart and quick hitch harness. Some of the obstacles were wider than regulation to allow for the size of the carts. Of the eight drivers who competed in the division, five moved up to regular combined driving classes after getting a taste of the sport.
Another way of adding to the driver ranks is by bringing in young people.
In 2023, the Garden State Driving Event at the Horse Park had a youth division for the first time, contested by eight exhibitors.
“Out of that came the USEF providing a driver development clinic at Gladstone for the youth that were at Garden State,” said John, who also is president of the DelMarva Driving Club and put on 12 driving events in 2023. The number he’s staging this year is 15.
The June Gladstone event will have a youth division, which John feels is a “huge” development as part of the event for the first time. But for permission to hold the division, the committee needed to be creative, because American Driving Society rules say young people need a navigator on the marathon. That was a problem for those who have VSEs (Very Small Equines), otherwise known as mini horses pulling their carriages, since they can’t haul too much weight. So permission was given to follow the VSEs with a navigator in a golf cart.
The driving committee is bringing life back to Pine Meadow, which has long been mostly idle.
“We want to have Pine Meadow used,” said Maureen Pethick, the USET Foundation’s communications and facilities coordinator. She assists with matters relating to the property, but doesn’t have a vote on the committee, which which also includes Christine Siracusa, a former member of the Garden State Driving Committee; competitive driver Amie Bauman, John and Diane Unger and longtime supporter Gayle Altenburg-Stinson. EllenMarie Ettenger is the competition organizer; her husband, Bruce Ettenger, is the course designer.
How cool are the pinneys with the name of the event displayed over the competitor number. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
Upkeep of the large Pine Meadow tract, which has many trees, is an issue. While the Foundation keeps Pine Meadow mowed it has other priorities as well, so more work needs to be done by volunteers.
The GEA members have been busy cleaning up marathon obstacles as stumps are pulled, while ruts are being smoothed out on footing and trails to make the optimum surface for carriages.
Maureen noted that horses coming to the driving event will be able to use the Foundation’s historic stables. That means the tents previously rented for stabling are no longer necessary, which saves everyone money.
“I think it’s going to be a huge help,” said Maureen.
Christine agreed, commenting, with that benefit, “Whatever we can bring in with sponsorship, donations and entries, we can continue to put back into the grounds.” In two or three years, she said, that could lead to staging a full combined driving event over three days.
“I’m hoping that with some of the things we’re doing this year, people are going to come and love what we’re doing and going to want to come back,” said Christine, a Clinton Township resident whose 14-year-old daughter, Kate, competes in driving with a Welsh cob.
“I’m excited that some new young blood is coming into the sport,” said Christine, who works for a pharmaceutical company.
Support from others in the community is key for the event. She noted, for instance, that veterinarian Christina Wilson and former driving competitor Sharon Chesson (a member of the 1991 gold medal pairs team) will be housing officials, Purina Equine Nutrition is sponsoring the competition’s briefing dinner and Bruce Apgar, who has competed in driving, is helping with refurbishing Pine Meadow using his excavating equipment.
This year, in addition to the competitions, drivers can also take advantage of training days at Gladstone May18, Aug. 24 and Oct. 19, which gives them an opportunity to experience the facility.
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 25, 2024
The world’s number one show jumper, Henrik von Eckerman of Sweden on the spectacular King Edward had to bow to an unsung Dutch rider, Lars Kersten, in the FEI World Cup qualifier at the Gothenburg, Sweden horse show Sunday.
Lars, whose previous best finish in a Cup qualifier was a fourth place in Oslo, Norway, two years ago, was incredulous that he and Hallilea, bred at his family’s farm, topped the class that also included Swedish gold medalist Peder Fredricson on Catch Me Not.
Lars Kersten and Hallilea. (Photo by Roland Thunholm)
“It’s a completely surreal feeling to be sitting here today, I still can’t believe that I’m standing here, in front of two legends, said the delighted winner after the class.”
Lars has had a total of nine starts in the World Cup and made it to the jump-off in just three of them.
“My whole family and our team were here, which doesn’t happen very often, so it was a fantastic feeling, said Lars.
“Maybe we didn’t think she would go this far,” he said of his 12-year-old mare.
“Even if she had the jumping ability, there is so much more that comes into play. They have to have the right attitude too – but she clearly has.”
His time in the seven-horse jump-off was 35.44 seconds a fraction ahead of Henrik, clocked in 35.72. Peder’s mark was 35.99.
Henrik said he has “a bit of mixed feelings, I thought I got a good feeling and he jumped well, maybe too well. It takes some time when you are too high above the obstacles.”
Unusually, he fell off in the warm-up.
“This was a bit atypical; it has never happened before. We were going to jump the last fence and he twists a little and I ended up on the side. I was at the chiropractor this morning and will probably visit her again, but it went well, said Henrik, who is directly qualified for the World Cup final in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, because he won the final in Omaha last year.
Peder’s mount was his ridein the European Championships,, where he took individual silver in 2021. Peder, who previously was ranked best in the world for many months, has never won a World Cup qualifier.
“It was a bit frustrating today, I didn’t quite get the turn, it was sad not to win, he stated.
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 25, 2024
Germany’s Richard Vogel, who won the first leg of the Rolex Grand Slam at Geneva in December with United Touch S, scored another big victory with this fabulous horse Saturday at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla.
Richard Vogel and United Touch S (Sportfot photo)
The top three in placings of the $385,000 5-star Lugano Diamonds grand prix are all ranked among the top 12 in the world. Richard, a great talent with a horse to match, is number 11 and will be going much higher. He had the advantage of being last to go in a four-horse jump-off over a route set by Anthony D’Ambrosio and Andy Christiansen. Richard’s time of 42.04 seconds edged world number eight, McLain Ward of the U.S., who finished fault-free in 42.39 seconds on Callas.
Shane Sweetnam of Ireland, who is ranked 12th in the world, was third on the reliable James Kann Cruz in 43.53 seconds, Fourth was Darragh Kenny, winner of the last WEF 5-star, who this time was on VDL Cartello (46.14 seconds).
Before the tie-breaker, Richard realized his place in the starting order gave him a big advantage.
“I was very lucky that I went behind all three of these guys, and I knew I had to risk it all,” said Vogel.
“If I had a rail, I was fourth and if I was a slow clear, I was fourth so there was not so much to lose.
At only 26 years old, Vogel knows he is blessed to compete on United Touch (UntouchedXTouch of Class/Lux Z).
“It’s a very, very special feeling,” noted Vogel of his time spent with the 12-year-old Westfalian he has ridden for nearly two years.
“I have been lucky enough to ride a lot of good horses in my life, but he’s outstanding. When he leaves the ground, that power and scope is something very unique and I’m very happy to be in his saddle.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 19, 2024
German rider Isabell Werth, who has won more Olympic medals than any other equestrian, issued a statement about the “discussion” among “horse lovers, riders and animal welfare activists” in the wake of the Cesar Parra controversy.
Parra has been provisionally suspended by the FEI (international equestrian federation) after videos emerged of him whipping horses and other training practices that have been widely criticized.
Here are Isabell’s thoughts, edited for punctuation and with a few explanations:
“There have been very ugly pictures, which need consequences. I am, however, worried that it is a controversy that divides us, although actually, there is one thing that combines us and that is the love of horses. That is why we should sort a few things out.
It is good that we set ourselves a high bar. I try, however, not to make quick judgments of events from afar that I have not witnessed personally. In the past 35 years, I have won many medals and have brought fantastic horses into the sport. After their careers, they have spent many years and still spend their time with me as pensioners. However, I have also made many unintentional mistakes on the way and I try very hard, through personal development and good training, to keep these mistakes to a minimum. Those who know their boundaries have more humility when criticizing others.
Isabell Werth and Bella Rose at the 2014 world championships.
I went to Andreas Helgstrand’s yard for the first time four years ago. (After videos of horses with whip and spur marks surfaced from one of his stables, the Danish equestrian federation barred him from competing on the country’s team until at least January 2025.)
Thanks to (horse owner) Madeleine Winter-Schulz , Joshua then came to me. Since then, I have been there many times. During these visits, I have never seen any form of incorrect riding or any form of incorrect behavior. Actually, the opposite is the case. In the meantime, my students and I have bought quite a few horses from him that are all healthy and some are already successful in sport. We are very happy with all of them. (Isabell has been competing the former Helgstrand mount Queenparks Wendy, now owned by Winter-Schulz and known as Wendy de Fontaine, who won at Le Mans).
I was also surprised about the published scenes and the statements (about mistreatment) made by former employees of Helgstrand Dressage. Although this did not happen at the establishment where Andreas Helgstrand trains himself, it remains his responsibility. I have spoken with him openly and in depth about this. There is, however, one thing that needs our attention: he was not pictured on any of the horses.
It was a personal, and not a financial, decision to give a clinic at Helgstrand’s establishment in Wellington (Florida) USA (in January). While I was there, I taught a few good horses with their riders and I rode one horse The video of this has been seen and commented on by some of you: No, I did not use the so called “Rollkur” nor did the horse suffer in any way. I was just not able to keep the horse, during the first time I had ridden him, properly in front of my aids and in front of the vertical. His slightly short neck did not help the situation.
At the same time as this video was being shown, a 10-year (old) video of Bella Rose (the Tokyo Olympics silver medal horse) also surfaced. Bella is now 20 years old and is enjoying her pension with me. Her son is also happily growing up with us. Perhaps she will, which last year was not the case which I quite understand, like to get pregnant again this year?
Some of you have known for a long time that the O-tone on the old video does not belong to the pictures that are shown. (O-Tone stands for original tone, often referring to interviews in less-than-ideal lighting conditions.) A chance to criticize this film was not given to me. The WDR (a member of the German public broadcasting consortium) were ordered by the court to remove this video from circulation because the wrong impression was made. This court order is still in place for anybody publicizing it.
It is important to me that in the future we can have an honest and fair discussion, which will show the difference between bad riding and animal abuse. Mistakes in riding, however, should and must be discussed — this is the core of my sport and the prerequisite for the improvement of the horse and rider. But please, it has to be factual, objective and fair.
This is not so for cases like Cesar Parra, these are — as has already happened – a case for public prosecution.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 19, 2024
When the irrepressible Australian eventer (there’s a redundant description) Shane Rose appeared practically undressed for a “fancy dress” class at a horse show, the national federation, Equestrian Australia, took immediate action.
Its leaders responded to public reaction over Shane wearing nothing but what amounted to a thong, called a “mankini.”
He was suspended while the organization looked into the situation. It finally concluded that he did not breach the code of conduct by barely wearing the item. That cleared the way for him to point toward his fourth Olympics.
“The panel took into account the community event that Mr Rose was competing at, and that Mr Rose had already made a public apology,” said a statement from the federation. Going forward however, Equestrian Australia will work with clubs and stakeholders to assess minimum dress standards for future events.
A female rider might decide to wear the equivalent of Shane’s outfit–it would have been interesting to see if anyone objected to that.
Equestrian Australian CEO Darren Gocher explained his organization “has an obligation to look into any concerns of this nature that comes from the community. Having now thoroughly reviewed the incident and spoken to relevant parties, Equestrian Australia has confirmed that there was no breach of the code of conduct by Shane Rose.
“Shane has reflected on the incident, has apologized and understands the high standards expected of everyone involved in our High Performance program.”
