by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 1, 2024
Alice Tarjan is best known as a dressage rider. Dennis Sargenti is a master of the Essex Fox Hounds. But enjoying the discipline of driving is something they have in common. And, oh yeah, they happen to be married.
The couple from Oldwick, N.J., spent the weekend near their home competing in the Gladstone Horse Driving Trials at the Pine Meadow section of Hamilton Farm, the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation property. This is their fun, a break after returning from Germany, where Alice’s horse, Jane, made the U.S. Olympic dressage team with her trainer, Marcus Orlob. Alice served as the groom for the mare she trained to Grand Prix from the time she got her as a three-year-old.
Dennis entered a Dutch harness horse in the Gladstone competition for singles, while Alice drove a pair, but decided one of the horses competing was not ready to try the marathon, so she skipped that segment.
Alice and Dennis were among 21 competitors at the event that is working to bring back popularity of the sport, which once drew international riders to the site that hosted the globally acclaimed 1993 World Pairs Driving Championship. Alice has fond memories of those championships; as a teenager, she groomed there for her neighbor, Doug Kemmerer, who drove in the parade of coaches that was part of the production.
Dennis Sargenti rode as groom for his wife Alice Tarjan in the dressage. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Since Pine Meadow’s heyday, however, many of the people who were pillars of competitive driving in the region either have died, retired or moved south. The once fancy facility now lacks the frills it used to have, but it is still a good location for a competition and attracted exhibitors from New England, Maryland and Pennsylvania, as well as New Jersey.
Rebecca Gutierrez, the technical delegate for the event, noted the organizing committee is attempting to “regrow the show and bring the facility back to the way it was in 1993, when it was fantastic.”
She pointed out, “it has a lot of good elements. Original (marathon) obstacles here are in good shape, but they had some obstacles that were not able to be used this time. So maybe there will be some benefactors who want to donate some money so we can access those.”
Event secretary Ellen Ettenger noted a golf course has encroached on part of the property since its glory days “so it’s not exactly the same as it was, but I think it makes a great venue for the lower level. Through Intermediate, it’s an excellent facility.” She mentioned that the ring can hold up to even the heaviest rain.
The event briefly was put in jeopardy last week by a tornado that left tree limbs down in three marathon obstacles and caused closure of Fowler Road, which runs alongside Pine Meadow. Luckily, a volunteer effort aided by chainsaws and the efforts of USET Foundation employees put things to rights, just as drivers were shipping in, enabling the event to get under way on schedule.
It has a relaxed feel, which means people interested in driving can enjoy a comfortable place to start pursuing their interest and learning skills.
Alice supports the organization’s initiative.
“It’s great that they’re trying. They’re putting a lot of work into it,” she said, noting she participated in one of the schooling days the committee staged.
Dennis and Alice switched places for the marathon, with Dennis in the driver’s seat and Alice as the navigator. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Alice and others, including technical delegate Rebecca Gutierrez, were encouraged by the fact that the event attracted six junior competitors, driving everything from mini horses to a Fjord horse and a senior citizen Morgan/thoroughbred cross.
“That’s where I started out. Just get around the ring and get some experience,” said Alice noting a fancy horse is not needed at this level.
“The kids are out there having a good time. To me that’s grass roots; horsemanship, that’s what it’s about. They’re actually doing the work. They have to train their horses. They don’t have the funds to go and buy a made horse. That’s how they’re going to learn and excel.” It is, as she acknowledged, the story of her early life with her first feisty backyard pony, Licorice.
“We need to grow the next generation coming along,” said Rebecca.
John Layton, president of the Gladstone Equestrian Association Gladstone Driving, who trains young drivers at his Tailspin Farm in Juliustown, part of Springfield, Burlington County, points out about the kids, “they’re the future of our sport.”
He was the navigator during the marathon for Lynden Kersten, a 12-year-old who won the junior singles section with her 20-year-old Morgan/thoroughbred cross, Splash of Chrome. Lynden, who has been driving for less than a year, trains with Laura DeFazio of Whistle Hill Farm in West Grove, Pa. Laura is the president of the Brandywine Valley Driving Club, which had a summer camp last year that got kids involved in driving.
Lynden Kersten in the marathon with navigator John Layton. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
“It turned into yearlong summer camp and I love it,” said Laura.
She brought four junior competitors, including Colette Gray, who at eight years old was the youngest person Laura had taken in an event. Tiny Colette was driving a 21-year-old warmblood mare, Victoria’s Secret.
Competing in a driving event over two days involves a lot of work.
“It’s not a horse show where you sit around and watch,” said Laura.
“It’s a family affair and everyone’s gung-ho to help, For that, I’m entirely grateful. This was a very successful event. We’re looking forward to next year.”
With an eye-catching orange-themed marathon ensemble, Ben Riesse finished third in the junior singles division driving a Norwegian Fjord horse, Isla, an 11-year-old, one year younger than Bill.
Orange is Ben Riesse’s marathon color. Totally. Check out the mane and tail on his Norwegian Fjord, Isla. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
The driver lives on a farm in Frederick, Md., where he takes care of his horse and has ambitions to compete a second time at the major Live Oak event in Florida.
His enthusiasm about driving is catching. He advises, “You should really get into it, it’s really fun.”
Part of the fun for those watching was to see the variety of horses, ponies and mini-horses (officially listed as Very Small Equines) as they proceeded through the phases.
Kaylee Angstadt, a 29-year-old professional trainer from Massachusetts’ Bradford Equestrian Center, caught everyone’s eye with Gail Wong’s black and white mini pair of 17-year-old Jewel and her son, Wicked, 11.
It was their first time doing the advanced dressage and cones course. I wondered how those tiny animals could be conditioned to pull a carriage and two passengers. Kaylee said it involved interval training and dressage work.
“The people get tired before the ponies do,” maintained Kaylee, an FEI 3-star single pony driver.
Jewel and Wicked reminded me of the mice that pulled Cinderella’s carriage in the animated feature of that name. When I mentioned that to Susan Wong, Gail’s daughter and Kaylee’s navigator, she told me I was right on target.
Kaylee Angstadt and Susan Wong with mini mother-son duo Jewel and Wicked. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
The minis, it seemed, had pulled “a winter-themed Cinderella carriage” in the local Wassail parade.
Susan belongs to the Myopia (Mass.) Driving Club, which was on the ground floor of developing the sport of combined driving in the U.S. that eventually led to a foundation that could support something like the world championships.
Raffa, a Welsh cob owned by Suzanne Johnson of Readington, is a veteran who at age 17 has done several kinds of competition.
A determined Suzanne Johnson and Raffa in the cones portion of the driving event. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Suzanne remembered that his best finish came at a pleasure show at Morven Park, where he won championship and reserve ribbons.
“So maybe I should go back to pleasure driving,” she mused, but then went on to finish second in the Preliminary Single Horse category after winning the dressage phase at Gladstone. So a change of occupation may not be in the cards for Raffa after all.
Volunteers, as always, were the backbone of the event. Perennial volunteer and organizing committee member Susan Data-Samtak has been involved for a long time and still believes it’s important to keep the competitions at Pine Meadow going.
“New drivers, new people; some of the old show committee is still around, the facility’s still here,” she commented, “so why shouldn’t local folks come and take advantage of all the beautiful scenery and facilities we have?”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 26, 2024
Britain has announced powerhouse teams for the Paris Olympics, with the dressage squad looking like a favorite for the gold, and the eventers equally as impressive.
At least that’s how I see it.
In the dressage, how can you bet against a squad led by the architect of his nation’s landmark 2012 gold, Carl Hester, set to compete in his seventh Games with the aptly named Fame.
He may be best known as the mentor of Charlotte Dujardin, who will be Britain’s most decorated female Olympian if she gets any medal with Imhotep, and she has to be a favorite in the individual ranks as well as in the team. The third member of the squad will be world champion Charlotte ‘Lottie’ Fry with the long-striding Glamourdale. The promising Becky Moody and her Jagerbomb were also chosen.
Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep.
The eventing team will be looking to defend its Olympic title from Tokyo. Two members of that squad, Laura Collett (London 52) and Tom McEwen (JL Dublin), have been selected, along with Ros Canter (Lordships Graffalo) who was the traveling reserve for Tokyo, and world champion Yasmin Ingham (Banzai du Loir).
Paris is the fifth Olympic Games for Tokyo individual gold medalist Ben Maher (Point Break), and he is joined by Tokyo Olympians Scott Brash (Hello Jefferson) and Harry Charles (Romeo). Also inthe group is Joe Stockdale (Cacherel), whose father, Tim, represented Britain in Hong Kong at the Beijing Games in 2008.
Team GB selected equestrian athletes (L-R) Ben Maher, Yasmin Ingham, Laura Collett, Scott Brash, Charlotte Fry, Rosalind Canter, Charlotte Dujardin, Carl Hester, Harry Charles, Becky Moody, Joseph Stockdale, Tom McEwen ( Photo Jon Stroud)
Helen Nicholls, the equestrian team leader, commented; “I’m exceptionally proud of the 12 athlete combinations and their connections who will travel to Paris across the three disciplines of equestrian. We have an exciting balance of experience, talent and potential, and we head to the Games in a strong position, and with medal ambitions. The hours of preparation, enormous sacrifice and total dedication will now be put to the ultimate test. The teams behind the athletes – both equine and human – have left no stone unturned in their quest to support them to their very best performances.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 27, 2024
Moving a business that has been running since 1945 isn’t easy. It’s even more difficult when that business has taken on the status of an institution among area horse people, who have relied on it for decades.
But Somerset Grain and Feed, formerly of Bernardsville, N.J., made a smooth transition this month to the Long Valley section of Washington Township, going from suburbia to farm country.
“This whole area made it feel like home right off the bat. Everybody’s been very warm and welcoming,” said proprietor Tom Milesnick.
In contrast to the smaller Bernardsville location, which was crammed with all kinds of memorabilia around the bird seed, horse feed, fly spray, dog toys and buckets, the new facility is airy and spacious.
Tom Milesnick at his oak counter. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
It’s something Tom had dreamed of for 18 years. He’s running it with his son, Jesse, and Jesse’s girlfriend, Brianna Graf. A former whipper-in with the Essex Foxhounds, she trains horses and runs a magnawave horse therapy business.
The property was dominated by an 1870s barn to match the home of Joan Hemmings, the mother of former owner John Hemmings. When the barn burned in 1970, they pushed off the top half, Tom said, and replaced it with a Morton building (the company known for its pole barns and steel construction).
Somerset Grain’s new home began with what Tom called “a gut job, right to the metal walls.”
It involved starting over in a big way.
“I drew this (the layout) on a piece of paper with a pencil. Every day, seeing what was in my head materialize, was unreal,” he said of the project, done by Ken Boucher and his son, of Ken’s Contracting LLC.
When the conversion started, “The floor was worse than any sidewalk you’ve ever walked on,” said Tom, explaining it was transformed by being cut, smoothed and polished.
“Now it’s fabulous,” he commented.
Even the mailbox is among the unique items at found at Somerset Grain.
New wiring, spray foam insulation and knotty pine everywhere (you can still smell the freshly cut lumber) contribute to the business’s fresh identity; it’s as if you’re entering a very clean barn. Adding to the atmosphere is a “live edge” countertop, a slab of 200-year-old white oak. Among other things hanging from the ceiling is an antique hay hook, a device used to scoop up hay in the days before it was baled. Bits of history like that are everywhere around the store.
One cozy corner features a stove and chairs, next to a table with free, fresh-brewed coffee.
“We encourage people to stay and not be in a hurry,” said Tom.
Jesse Milesnick and Brianna Graf relax with Cali in the coffee nook at the store. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
The coffee nook has Brianna’s imprint. Another of her touches is the toilet paper holder in the restroom that is made from an old feed scoop, decorated with a Mason jar and a little sheaf of wheat. Some customers got such a kick out of it that they were taking its photo with their cellphones, Tom said.
The much-admired feed scoop toilet paper holder
As a horsewoman, Brianna appreciates that fact that she has “found a little niche and will talk to horse people around here and find out what they like.”
The store is putting an emphasis on reasonable prices and still has its basics, but a number of things have changed. More horse-related items, including some tack, will be offered, for instance, along with clothing. Reasonably priced flat tack used by foxhunters will be available from Black Diamond Designs.
“We want to integrate with the neighbors,” said Tom, noting that with Ace Hardware, Hoffman Supply and the Mendham Garden Center nearby, “there’s no reason to lean toward shovels, rakes and lawn and garden stuff, when all that is readily available. That left us room to expand to more for horses and chickens.”
There is plenty of storage in a separate building for feed, in a clean environment that keeps it cool.
“This is the epitome of what an efficient feed warehouse should be,” said Tom.
The store at 224 East Mill Road in Long Valley will have its grand opening Saturday June 29 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Representatives of Purina, Triple Crown and other feed companies will be on hand with coupons and special deals. Ekkia, a British company that offers low-cost everyday riding breeches among other items, but doesn’t sell on line, will have a booth. So will Cowgirl East, with western tack and apparel.
Tom is making a clipboard available at the grand opening, enabling customers to write what they’d be interested in having at the store.
“I want to know people’s needs, and what they would like to see here. Now we have the facility to handle that,” he said.
This sign from the late 1800s reflects another bit of history for which the store is known. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Jesse pointed out, “It will take us a good year or two how to figure out how to make this run the best it can. It’s exciting. It’s nice being in a farm area, where it makes sense for a feed store to be. We have room to grow.”
Rose Prucina, a Bernardsville customer since 1989, made her first trip to see the Long Valley store this week.
“It was a great experience,” she enthused.
“In fact, I came out with more than I came for.”
Even though the store changed counties, from Somerset to Morris, there was no thought of changing the name “because that’s who we are,” Tom declared.
“In the history of what we are and what we do, it stays with us forever.”
When his land use application was presented to Washington Township officials, Tom—as is his way—told them a story.
“Forty years ago, I was hauling grain down this road with a couple of tons of cow feed, and I looked at this place and said, `That place would make the world’s best feed store.’
“And now, 40 years later, I’m sitting before you asking your permission to come in. Look at that, dreams do come true.”
