by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 13, 2023
It was exhilarating to see the talent on display Wednesday in the qualifier for Thursday’s FEI World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle at the London International Horse Show. How much better will the top horses perform when the music is playing and the chips are really down?
No surprise that multi-multi medalist Charlotte Dujardin distanced the field in the Grand Prix with Imhotep’s mark of 81.761 percent, but what impressed was the margin she enjoyed over World Champion Lottie Fry on Everdale with a 77.435.
Lottie Fry and Everdale. (Photo London International Horse Show/Peter Nixon)
That being said, Lottie was not on her World Championships horse, who is Glamourdale. She rode Everdale to Olympic bronze in Tokyo. Both are by Lord Leatherdale and known for their exceptional extended canter. And Imhotep is by Everdale, to complete the circle.
The order of finish was 1,2, 3 for Britain, as Becky Moody took third on Jagerbomb with 75.087 percent. (It was also 1,2,3 for KWPN (Dutchbreds), it should be noted. The only thing that marred the afternoon for the British was the elimination of Emilie Faurie, after the judges spotted blood in the mouth of his mount, Bellevue.
Charlotte had one big oops with her 10-year-old mount, nicknamed Pete, when he broke into canter before he made the transition from piaffe into extended walk in the first third of his test. Two of the five judges acknowledged that mistake with marks of 4, which was understandable. Charlotte’s total, however, was buoyed by several 10s, including her final halt. Pete’s power really showed off in his extended trot, and Charlotte’s expertise was demonstrated in her seamless transitions (except for the one referenced above).
It’s a well-deserved victory lap for Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep, better known as Pete. (Photo London International Horse Show/Peter Nixon)
Charlotte’s partner, Dean Golding, was on hand with their daughter, Isabella Rose, born in February. The two of them watched with Charlotte’s longtime mentor, Carl Hester, who was not competing.
Pete, who hasn’t been outside the top three placings in his starts this year, sparkled and enjoyed the crowd at ExCel during the class presented by Bret Willson Dressage International Ltd. and supported by Horse & Hound. The show, a London fixture at Christmas, used to be known as “Olympia” after its former home in the city.
“It’s Imhotep’s first indoor show, so for him to come here — to this incredible show with an amazing set-up and atmosphere — and perform so well with no experience is amazing,” said Charlotte.
Charlotte and Imhotep.
“I missed coming to the London International Horse Show so much last year and am so happy to be back, this time it being even more special with my daughter, Isabella, watching me.”
Charlotte, looking forward to the freestyle, added “I am so excited for tomorrow, I absolutely love the Freestyle to Music, it’s the party piece. Who knows how Imhotep will go?
“Fingers crossed, he will be okay. He’s such a fantastic horse and I love him to bits. If he needs me to hold his hand, I can hold his hand, I can feel him breathe and I can reassure him and it’s the most incredible feeling. To have the opportunity to go into that arena and do that performance is all very exciting.”
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 7, 2023
Marty Bauman and Colleen McQuay, two popular members of the equestrian community who are inspirational, influential and important to the hunter/jumper disciplines, received the William J. Moroney Visionary Award at the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association’s annual meeting in North Carolina this week.
Marty is a man of integrity who is always reaching out to help others. I speak from personal experience on that front, having known him for 40 years as a media chief for many major competitions and equestrian organizations. He is the gold standard in that profession.
The Massachusetts resident founded Classic Communications in 1979. He serves as executive director of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame and Museum. He was U.S. press officer at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games; 10 FEI Show Jumping World Cup Finals and the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games.
His expertise in public relations and dedication to horse sport has raised its profile and polished its image over the years.
Marty Bauman on the job. (Photo © by Lawrence J. Nagy)
“If I am being given this award because of what I have given to the horse show world, all I can say is: anything I’ve given to the horse show world is nothing compared to what it has given me,” he said.
He thanked not only USHJA, but also “everyone who has been part of my life and the horse show world itself.”
Colleen, a Texan who has played a key role in some of USHJA’s most popular Hunter programs, is a trainer and rider who served as a founding member of the association.
She has contributed to the success of the International Hunter Derby and Green Hunter Incentive programs, including the Rider Ranking System designed to give more prize money back to riders. She helped establish the Super Series Group in 2012 with the goal of growing the Texas Hunter industry. Her commitment to the Hunter discipline has served members across the country and advanced the sport to what we know it as today.
She is a member of a famous reining family, and the grandmother of hunt seat equitation star Carlee McCutcheon.
“I need to share this with all of the people that I was lucky enough to get to work with over all the years,” said Colleen in accepting her award.
“Thanks to the USHJA and everybody involved in creating these awards and letting us know that our work is appreciated.” She noted that “even the heavy debates are treasured memories.”
Robin Rost-Brown, of Ocala, Florida, is the Volunteer of the Year. This award recognizes volunteers behind the scenes who work long hours with a passion for bringing the sport forward and providing a safe, fair and understandable sport for fellow equestrians.
“This year’s award winner is a person I can count on 100 percent, all of the time. She is integrity through and through. She is strength. She is quiet. She is peace, she is wisdom and she is Robin Rost-Brown,” said USHJA President Mary Knowlton upon presenting the award.
Robin, co-vice president of the USHJA Board of Directors, has spent her life dedicated to the Hunter/Jumper sport. Along with training top riders, she is an “R” Hunter and Hunter/Jumping Seat Equitation judge who has presided over shows across the country. In addition to serving on the USHJA’s Board, Joint Equitation Task Force, Hunter Working Group and Rules Committee, she sits on USEF’s National Breeds and Disciplines Council and National Hunter Committee.
“I am so honored to have been selected as the recipient of the USHJA Volunteer Of The Year Award, Robin stated.
“As I read the description of this award I am humbled to learn that it is the highest USHJA honor awarded to a volunteer.” She added she is “forever grateful to Mary Knowlton and the staff for selecting me!”
The recipient of the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award was Linda Andrisani, who has excelled as a trainer, rider and judge. Her 40 years of experience includes presiding at such important competitions as the Capital Challenge, Devon and the Winter Equestrian Festival, as well as international fixtures.
She ran a show hunter barn, Monkton Manor, in Maryland with her late partner, Jack Stedding. Those who know her best describe her as “a mentor to many; an example to all.”
Her governance work includes stints on the USHJA Foundation Board of Directors, USEF’s National Hunter Committe and the USHJA Officials Education Committee.
The President’s Distinguished Service Award recognizes and honors dedication and service by members and volunteers to the USHJA and the sport. It is presented to those who have gone beyond the call of duty to bring the Hunter/Jumper sport to a new level and benefit the USHJA membership. This year’s recipients are Beverly Bedard, Jim Hagman, Connie Tramm Hunt, Liz Soroka, Cricket Stone and Peter Wylde.
Bev, a dedicated horsewoman from Pennsylvania who has been licensed as a recognized steward since 1967, also has her large R for judging Hunters, Hunter Seat Equitation and Jumpers. She has stewarded prestigious competitions including the National Horse Show, Capital Challenge, Gulf Coast Classics, Tryon International Equestrian Center, Upperville, Pennsylvania National Horse Show and many more. In 2013, she was awarded The Edna Lytle Perpetual Trophy during the USEF Pony Finals for her dedication and service to the Hunter/Jumper community.
Jim has been a professional in the Hunter/Jumper sport for more than 40 years after building a successful lesson and training program, Elvenstar, from the ground up in California. His passion is for growing the sport and helping upcoming athletes pave the way for their future, He has turned Elvenstar into not only a top hunter/jumper facility but also focuses on growing horsemanship skills. Elvenstar is host to USHJA programs including hosting MZ Farms/USHJA Emerging Athletes Regional Training Sessions, is a USHJA Recognized Riding Academy and hosts live educational sessions for the new USHJA Instructor Credential.
Connie is a large R judge for Hunter, Jumping Seat Equitation and Hunter Breeding, and a small “r” Jumper judge. The Michigan resident educates USHJA members through her involvement as a lead clinician in Licensed Official clinics, USHJA education webinars, serving as co-chair of the USHJA Officials Education Committee and a member of the Licensed Officials Committee for USEF.
Liz is well-known at horse shows in the Northeast for her impeccable skills in event coordination, organization, assisting showgrounds crew, building jumps and recently co-founding StableMaster LLC, which enables managers and exhibitors to order stable supplies at shows. The Shelter Island, N.Y., resident’s work has long been recognized, as she was awarded the Vital Horse Show Staff Award 2018 and is an integral part of making sure horse shows run smoothly, whether the task is behind the scenes or out in the ring.
Cricket is heavily involved in USHJA sports governance and educational programs. The Virginian is on the USHJA Board of Directors and holds a USHJA Instructor credential and a large “R”/C1 Steward Measurement Certification. She is a Certified Schooling Supervisor, member of the USHJA Affiliate Regional Council for Zones 3-5, vice chair of the Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Committee and member of the Zone 3 Committee. Her passion for furthering the sport and education of members is a great commitment to the association.
Peter is involved with the MZ Farms/USHJA Emerging Athletes Program, serving as National Training Session head clinician since the program’s inception in 2009. The New Yorker’s commitment to the sport, love for horses, and enthusiasm for teaching draws him back to the program each year.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 8, 2023
A veteran and a newcomer took the big classes at the Rolex Geneva Switzerland show over the weekend, with Steve Guerdat and Richard Vogel showing their prowess at one of the world’s toughest competitions.
Swiss star Steve Guerdat won the International Jumping Riders Club Top 10 final for the third time in his career on Friday in Geneva with the only double clear aboard Venard de Cerisy.
“I am very excited – it is unbelievable to win this incredible class for the third time,” Steve said after his victory.
Steve Guerdat shows love for the IJRC trophy. (Tiffany van Halle photo)
“It is truly extraordinary. I have had so much success at this amazing show – but it keeps surprising me! The crowd was amazing and the atmosphere at the CHI Geneva is exceptional, this moment means so much to me.”
He added, “Venard was incredible – he has been such a great horse for me and I am so proud of him. This win would not be possible without my team – they really deserve this win as much as me.”
The class was open to the top 10 ranked riders in the world, over a course designed by Gerard Lechat. Henrik von Eckermann of Sweden, world number one, had a rail in the second round with King Edward to finish second. His time of 48.52 seconds also was slower than Steve’s 48.13.
Third went to the only U.S. representative, Kent Farrington, who is also number three in the world. He had a rail in the first round with Greya, but recouped in the second round with a slow and careful clear in 54.80 seconds.
The Geneva show’s closing feature on Sunday, the Rolex Grand Prix, was won by the up-and-coming Richard Vogel of Germany on United Touch S.
Richard Vogel and United Touch S. (Photo by Tiffany van Halle)
The German rider said: “I am very close with McLain Ward (2022’s grand prix winner), and I watched the whole jump-off from last year last night – I knew that to win here you would have to be fast, and so even though I was first to go, I decided to really push for it.”
He topped the jump-off in 37.14 seconds, more than two seconds ahead of runner-up Mark McCauley of Ireland on GRS Lady Amaro (39.77).
The USA’s Jessica Springsteen finished sixth in the seven-horse tie-breaker on Don Juan van de Donkhove, logging eight faults. The other U.S. rider in the class, Kent Farrington, had a rail in the first round with Greya and was fourteenth.
McLain Ward qualified for the 2023 IJRC top 10. But he elected to go instead to the Desert Circuit in California where there was a $1 million class. He had no luck, however, and retired Contagious in the class. His place in the top 10 in Switzerland was taken by Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam, world number 11, who finished sixth with a 0/8 score on James Kann Cruz. He was 18th in the grand prix.
Click here for results for the IJRC top ten.
Click this link for Rolex Grand Prix results
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by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 8, 2023
Kelli Cruciotti-Vanderveen’s Isabella van de Zuuthoeve was euthanized Thursday night after an accident during a $50,000 show jumping competition at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala.
“There are no words to express the sadness I feel right now,” Kelli said on social media.She was thrown from her horse and unhurt in the incident involving the nine 9-year-old Belgian sporthorse mare.
“My heart is broken into a million pieces and I am sure I will never be the same . Last night, my beautiful Isabella went to heaven after a tragic accident at the second-to-last jump in the Grand Prix.
“Bella was a superstar from the moment she came to our stable as a green seven-year old. She was a winner, a fighter and truly one of the most talented horses I’ve ever had the privilege to ride . There are so many memories that I will never forgot, so many firsts, so many wins and so much joy,” she stated.
“Thank you to Team Cheese for always being there no matter what, for all your work in transforming us into the team we were and always believing we could do anything.”
The veterinary team at WEC Ocala, led by official veterinarian Dr. Larry Wexler and FEI Veterinary Delegate Dr.Kim Snyder, as well as veterinarians from the University of Florida Veterinary Hospital at WEC, attended to the horse immediately. She was made as comfortable as possible before being transported by equine ambulance to the on-site hospital.
The veterinary team, working in collaboration with the rider’s team, made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize the horse due to her catastrophic hind leg injury.
“Thank you to World Equestrian Center and the team of veterinarians for their professional and loving work last night in taking care of our sweet Bella,” Kelli said.
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out and sent such amazing messages. I haven’t gotten to all of them yet but I appreciate them more than you know. Finally, thank you sweet Cheese for letting me be your person, we fought together until the very end and you somehow knew to keep me safe from harm during all of it. Thank you for letting me fly with you , I will never forget it.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 7, 2023
When should competitors speak to a judge with a question about their round? How many refusals should mean elimination in an International Hunter Derby Championship? Does an oxer have to be the final fence in a hunter classic? Should riders be allowed to enter mules in hunter and equitation classes?
Those were among the rule change questions on the agenda for Thursday’s final board meeting of the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association’s annual meeting in North Carolina. They illustrate why the organization should be the body debating such matters—and even more consequential items affecting the hunter, jumper and hunt seat/jumping seat equitation divisions.
Many people in this era, however, don’t know why USHJA exists, or how it came to be. On the eve of its twentieth anniversary, let’s take a look back and see how it happened.
The American Horse Shows Association’s late Twentieth Century successor, USA Equestrian, and in 2003, the U.S. Equestrian Federation that supplanted it, decided that hunters and jumpers needed their own affiliate. After all, every other breed and discipline had one.
Lacking such an affiliate, the federation’s board traditionally spent a great amount of time dealing with hunter/jumper business, which took attention away from other breeds and disciplines.
After years of wheel-spinning by a Hunter/Jumper Council, at a 2003 meeting in Newark, N.J., a small group came up with a definitive plan for a real hunter/jumper organization.
During the new federation’s 2004 midi-year meeting, USEF President David O’Connor declared that the time was right to have an official affiliate, despite some calling for a delay. The USHJA proposal presented by Bill Moroney (now USEF CEO) got the nod over one for the National Hunter Jumper Association that was presented by Gary Baker.
This followed a turbulent time when the U.S. Equestrian Team, which once trained, funded and fielded international squads, was involved in a governance struggle with USA Equestrian. The Ted Stevens Amateur Sports Act, passed by Congress, would not allow a sport’s national governing body to delegate any of its international duties, so USA Equestrian and the USET battled for the right to be the federation.
In the process, USA Equestrian became the USEF (you don’t need more details about that unhappy time, do you?) and the USET is now a foundation raising money that enables the U.S. to fund competitors who can carry the flag internationally for horse sports.
USEF fields teams, deals with drugs and medications, licensing of competitions, licensing of officials, and numerous other duties. USHJA, which like USEF has an office at the Kentucky Horse Park, creates a wide variety of programs, including the International Hunter Derby, offers awards and education, has a museum and serves as a voice for the hunter/jumper community.
So now you know who does what, and why.
Back to the rule changes, which must be approved by USEF after being hashed out by the USEF board. The four items that led off this story were resolved this way: competitors should wait until the end of the day to meet with a judge; two refusals mean elimination in the International Hunter Derby, the course designer has the discretion to decide what type of fence will be the last one in a classic and mules should be eligible for the hunters, hunter seat and jumper seat equitation; they already are allowed to do the jumpers and eventing.
Whitney Barnard, the USHJA’s assistant managing director of education programs, didn’t feel it was appropriate for an employee to speak during the meeting on the subject of mules, but she wrote a convincing letter about why they should be allowed to compete in the disciplines.
Her mule, Alan, became an eventer because that discipline reached out to her, and she felt he and the other mules should have a chance to broaden their competitive reach. If another reason was needed, she playfully cited DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) which is a big USHJA objective on the human side.
Britt McCormick, USHJA’s president-elect, remembered how he showed mules “when I was starving” and agreed it was time “to be more inclusive.”
Among the other rules passed was one giving USEF jurisdiction over conduct violations outside the competition environment. Commenting on that, USHJA Vice President Charlotte Skinner-Robson pointed out it shows the organization cares about horses “all the time, not just when they’re at the horse show.”
Director Sissy Wickes emphasized the organization has to consider horse welfare, citing the problems being experienced by racing and the recent scandal of Danish dressage trainer Andreas Helgstrand, whose stable was cited in a TV documentary for unacceptable methods of riding, training and treating horses. Oversight by equestrian organizations is vital, with social license to operate a major issue involving public acceptance of the way animals are treated in sport.
Rule changes disapproved included eliminating Horse of the Year Awards and removing the competition mileage rules.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 5, 2023
There were a lot of important questions asked during Town Hall sessions Monday and Tuesday at the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association’s annual meeting, but they all could be boiled down to this big picture concern: “Are we doing the best thing by our horses? Are we doing the best thing by our people and our sport?”
Since USHJA was founded as an affiliate of the U.S. Equestrian Federation 20 years ago, the horse world has changed dramatically. At the same time, the universality of online videos means little goes unnoticed — or unremarked.
One of the biggest challenges involves dealing with “social license,” public acceptance of the way an organization or industry operates.
In that context, USHJA President Mary Knowlton announced she will appoint a blue ribbon commission to examine “integrity and welfare in our sport,” with a report due at the association’s mid-year meeting.
She started Tuesday’s session in Concord, N.C., by “throwing a bomb into the room,” as she put it, recounting the awful story she heard about a horse who collapsed in the stable area of an indoor show. Onlookers said people were beating and kicking the horse, throwing water on him in an effort to get him up. Mary said he had suffered an “adverse reaction to some drug” that was given to make him quiet.
“People saw this and they didn’t report it,” she said about the incident.
“Does your silence make you part of this? What are we going to do about something like that?”
Mary quoted a comment made to her a while back by Katie Benson, a member of the USHJA’s Competition Standards Committee: “When our love of winning becomes higher and more important than our love of horses, we’re in a bad place.”
Mary agreed, suggesting, “Let’s be willing to look at ourselves.”
Everyone else is looking, and that’s a problem.
Marnye Langer, who has several horse-related businesses in California, said the Los Angeles city council is seeking to ban rodeo, and along with it, use of spurs and standing martingales.
She reminded her audience of the old saying, “How goes California, so goes the rest of the country. It’s a real possibility.”
Equine welfare was discussed on many fronts, with several people mentioning the need for more drug testing at shows.
Veteran trainer Otis Brown believes “probably 30 percent of the winners” are medicated with illegal substances.
“It’s up to us to turn the people in,” he said, or to inform the Drugs & Medication Committee about “what they’re using.”
Jennifer Matts, a Zone 4 committee member, commented, “People know the drug testers leave at 2 in the afternoon and we have a $100,000 Spectacular that starts at 6.”
“I applaud the (USHJA International Hunter) Derby we have in Kentucky because they have assigned testers and vet techs to them (the horses) for the 12 hours before the competition,” she mentioned.
Jennifer has checked the trash cans around the stabling area, noting “you would be as appalled and disgusted as I am when you go through these trash cans and see what they’re doing to these animals.”
She added “We need to have some sort of tools we can use to try and curb it.”
In Canada, she said, stewards can request a drug test on a horse they suspect has been given something illegal.” But Jennifer was told that can’t be done in the U.S. because it’s considered “targeting.”
Also on the welfare front, there were comments about trying something similar to eventing’s Minimum Eligibility Requirements for riders moving up to the next level in competition. It was pointed out that would make it easier for trainers to rein in students who are eager to advance beyond their capabilities, and thus curtail the danger that presents to their horses.
The unending show schedule for many horses is a concern and the idea of mandatory retirement on course after a certain number of faults was mentioned.
USEF judge Andrea Welles suggested a “see something, say something” campaign and more severe punishment for bad sportsmanship or mistreating horses, so it affects the livelihood of the offender.
“We have to put some teeth in whatever we develop as our sportsmanship rules,” agreed Otis.
The cost of showing is an issue that sparked a dialogue. As Mary pointed out, it’s expensive to put on a horse show, and expensive to compete in one. But the point was made that to make shows more inclusive, the cost needs to be lower, and if that’s the case, more rules make the shows more costly by requiring extra people to enforce them. As Mary noted, judges and stewards may be afraid to make judgment calls; it’s easier to have rules to lean on.
Shanette Barth Cohen, who runs the Hampton Classic, suggested USHJA might be able to help shows get sponsorship outside of the usual suspects in the industry with a collective effort, or perhaps train shows on how to get sponsorship. If sponsorship increases, it might follow that exhibitors’ fees could be decreased.
As Whitney Allen, the USHJA’s director of operations pointed out, “there’s a lot of levels of complexity there” between the national and regional segments of corporations. The concept offers an opportunity to “pull together some data we’ve been lacking as an organization and as an industry” we can turn around and have these bigger national conversations about sponsorship.
Amy Center, a Florida trainer and USEF official, said “we need to mainstream our sport and make it accessible, that it’s not just for the rich little white girl. We need to make horses important to everyone. We need to change it so we have better marketing, better story lines, mass appeal.”
Active membership has remained stuck in the 36,000 range since 2008, but with Outreach for the lower levels and Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association memberships, it goes to 51,948, Mary pointed out. There was talk about how to get more people involved.
Otis figured the average age of those in the meeting room was 45.
“We are in a very bad situation. We need to figure out innovative ways to bring the younger generation into this room if we want to continue doing what we’re doing,” he said.
That concern that was brought up by others in terms of who will carry on what needs to be done for the sport after current leadership has stepped away. Otis suggested giving zone awards at a banquet during the annual meeting to get kids and their parents to attend. He also thinks giving money away for Outreach classes would help as well.
Britt McCormick, who will take over as USHJA president in December 2024, said, “One of the issues I think we have in our sport and our industry is that we have a really hard time letting go of the`what is’ and a really hard time thinking what we want this to look like in the future.
“We keep tweaking and tweaking the same old tired model that we’ve been using since the ’50s. I think this is where we as an industry voice have to stop living in the past and in some cases, stop living in the present, and start figuring out what we want this sport and this industry to look like five, 10, 20 and 50 years from now.
“We’ve reached the limits of what we can do under this current (member-driven) business model, and it’s starting to fail.”
He added, “There are barriers to entry on the participation level and people are finding other places to spend those recreation dollars and at the end of the day, that’s what we’re competing for, is that recreational dollar all the way across the country. We just happen to use horses.”
He has suggested changing the business model to something “more expansive and global, so instead of trying to fill a stadium full of members, we need to fill that stadium full of fans and sponsors and supporters who want to watch our limited number of exhibitors.
“We have to figure out a way to take the media opportunities we have,” to use those through USHJA and the federation ”to help get more people to shows, not just to compete, but to watch. Until you have butts in seats, that advertiser isn’t going to give you any money to put on that event.”
Britt said USHJA has to work with its affiliates and pool resources for the greater good. The effort also will require assistance from USEF.
“If we can get this new thought process started…it will trickle down to the competition level and that is where we’re finally going to be able to break through to the next business model.”
That needs to be done by figuring out a new business model in cooperation with the affiliates, the federation and the membership. “Otherwise,” Britt contended, “we’re done.”
