by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 18, 2023
New Jersey will get its first National Collegiate Equestrian Association team as Centenary University introduces its participation in the 2024-25 academic year.
Centenary, based in Hackettstown with an equestrian center in nearby Washington Township, also will keep fielding an Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association team. NCEA, associated with the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association), is limited to women riders. IHSA is co-ed.
Centenary will be the first NCEA school in the country that offers a degree program in equine studies. While NCEA’s highest profile is for its Division I schools, such as Auburn University or Texas A&M, Centenary’s category of Division III is growing within the organization. Centenary is offering NCEA only for jumping seat equitation riders.
Competition is an important part of the program at Centenary University. (Photo courtesy of Centenary)
Michael Dowling, who coaches the Centenary team with Heather Clark, said NCEA involvement, will “raise the skill sets of the riders that are coming into Centenary. We feel that by doing this, we are providing that opportunity for students who also want the kind of academic offerings we have.”
Kelly Munz, chair of the equine studies department at Centenary, pointed out, “the NCEA has been coming on strong and we’ve been thinking about it for a little while.”
At the same time, she emphasized, “We’re very devoted to IHSA, which is where we’ve been successful for so many years.”
But as she noted, “Division III schools are picking up the NCEA, and one of the things that has changed is they now offer a single-division championship at the finals for just hunt seat or just western. That has made all the difference,” Kelly continued, explaining Centenary does not have a western team and so could not participate when two disciplines were required.
Centenary offers the opportunity for students to come to a program where “they actually get ride time and a lot of opportunities to compete,” Kelly pointed out.
“Some of the bigger schools have a lot of power and money to offer students, but a student may go there and not be able to compete because they’re twentieth or twenty-fifth on the bench, and you can only compete so many. Some of the beauty of the Division III schools is that we’re offering students the opportunity to show and they will also be able to do IHSA as well as NCEA.”
“We’re seeing a lot more schools offering both,” said Michael, noting IHSA is the only option for male students, while women can rider in both NCEA and IHSA.
Division I schools offer scholarships for riding, but Division III schools cannot give athletic scholarships, though Kelly pointed out Centenary does provide academic scholarships.
So while a Division III school likely wouldn’t be competitive against Division I schools due to the financial recruiting advantage of the latter, with single division championships available for Division III schools, “we will be competing against other schools similar to ours,” said Michael.
“This is exciting news for Centenary University’s equestrian program,” said Dale Caldwell, president of the university.
“The success of the equestrian program is one of our highest priorities. We want students to excel, both in the classroom and in competition.”
Kelly pointed out 100 percent of Centenary’s pre-vet students have been accepted to veterinary schools. The university offers a Bachelor of Science in Equine Science, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Equine Studies with concentrations in equestrian media and public relations, equine-assisted services, equine business management and equine training and instruction. Centenary students may also choose the Bachelor of Science in Animal Health (the pre-veterinary track).
Students who are interested in riding for Centenary can contact Kelly at Kelly.Munz@centenaryuniversity.edu. They should also go to the NCEA website at https://collegiateequestrian.com and look for the questionnaire they can fill in.
“Once we get the name out, I think students are going to come to us,” said Kelly.
“They have the opportunity to ride on two teams and have an equine program if they want to become an equestrian professional. We’re a small school in a great location that has a lot of hands-on opportunities.”
In 2014, the NCAA was considering dropping equestrian, feeling the number of teams was not sufficient to continue the program. But Tom O’Mara, whose daughters rode on teams during college, led the way in trying to find a solution that would keep equestrian as part of NCAA. He was successful in that effort, and went on to become president of the U.S. Equestrian Federation. The NCEA now has 23 members across 14 states and has gained two programs within the last month.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 18, 2023
Karl Cook, who won the 2023 American Gold Cup last weekend with Caracole de la Roque, has been named with an all-star group of riders to the U.S. squad for the Barcelona Nations Cup final later this month.
The 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games gold medal teammates McLain Ward, Laura Kraut and Devin Ryan will be. traveling to Spain with 2021 Olympic team silver medalist Jessie Springsteen,
The final will offer one country qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics. No team in the Western Hemisphere has qualified for those Games. The spot will go to the highest-placing team not already qualified.
It’s the next-to-last shot for the U.S. to qualify for sending a team to Paris. If the U.S. doesn’t qualify there, the final opportunity is the Pan American Games in Chile this autumn. The three highest-ranked teams there not already qualified can get a ticket to the Olympics at that competition.
Karl was selected for the team before his Gold Cup win. His mount previously was ridden by France’s Julien Epaillard, who won a leg of the 2022 World Championships.
At the Gold Cup in Michigan, Karl turned in a dazzling time of of 32.95 seconds, easily beating a mark of 34.35 seconds set earlier in the class by Israel’s Ashlee Bond and Donatello.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 21, 2023
At the age of 24, the durable eventer Mr. Medicott left us last weekend. Retired in Virginia at the farm of Jacqueline Mars, the Irish-bred son of Cruising was a star for the U.S. with three different riders.
The first was Karen O’Connor, who took over the reins from Germany’s Frank Ostholt.
Karen O’Connor and Mr. Medicott at Rolex Kentucky 2012. (Photo © 2012 by Nancy Jaffer)
The horse, originally named Crag Cave Slieveluachra, was nicknamed Cave throughout his life. Cave was twenty-fifth with Frank at the 2008 Olympics, where he was on the German gold medal team, then came to the U.S. in 2010 for the FEI World Equestrian Games, where he was twenty-first. After that, the Mr. Medicott Syndicate, which included Sarah Broussard, Jacqueline Mars and Suzanne Lacy, bought him for Karen as a prospect for the 2012 London Olympics.
While it took some time for Cave to transition from having a male German rider to a female American rider. On the plus side, “he loved the job and continued to do his thing,” said Karen’s groom, Max Corcoran.
Karen and Cave were fourth at Rolex Kentucky in 2012 before finishing ninth as the highest-placed American entry at the London Olympics.
After Karen’s retirement at the end of 2012, a group of owners including Bruce Duchossois, Annie Jones, Stephanie Speakman, Tom Tierney, and Caroline Moran joined the Mr. Medicott Syndicate and got the ride for Phillip Dutton.
“I didn’t have a lot of time to get to know him, as I remember as we started to compete straight away, but fortunately we clicked from the beginning,” Phillip said.
In competition, Cave’s enthusiasm took “a bit of managing,” said Phillip, adding, “However, I always felt this came from Cave loving the sport and his job.”
In the spring of 2014, Phillip and Cave were third after cross-country at Kentucky, but the horse aggravated an old tendon injury and withdrew. He basically spent the next two years recuperating, with a brief return to competition in 2015 before going to the sidelines again.
Then at age 18, in the last event where Phillip rode him, he was fourth and the highest-placed American entry at the 2017 at Rolex Kentucky competition. After that, Phillip’s daughter, Olivia, began riding Cave to a series of top-10 finishes at the national Training and Preliminary levels during the latter half of 2017 and early 2018 before finishing third at Fair Hill.
“It was a big adjustment for me, but we took it one step at a time and I truly think that Cave knew he had to take care of me,” said Olivia.
“We grew a strong relationship where we could both trust each other.”
Olivia and Cave earned their qualification for the North American Youth Championship in the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event CIC 2-star, then contributed to Area II’s team gold medal at the championships.
Cave was formally retired following show jumping at the NAYC. He had quite a record, competing at 50 FEI events in a career that included five different riders. He finished in the top 10 at 30 of those competitions.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 18, 2023
Peggy Thomas, the owner of U.S. dressage star Brentina, died this month at her farm in Idaho. She was 97.
Debbie McDonald, who guided Brentina to an FEI World Cup Finals victory, as well as medals in the Pan American Games, the World Equestrian Games and the Olympics, said, “I was so fortunate to have had the opportunity to ride for the Thomas family for over 45 years
“Peggy was not just a wonderful owner, but an amazing horsewoman and human being. She will be missed by everyone who knew her.”
At Brentina’s 2009 retirement in the Thomas & Mack Center: Debbie and Bob McDonald, Peggy Thomas, Jane Sturdivant and Parry Thomas. (Photo © 2009 by Nancy Jaffer)
Mrs. Thomas was the widow of E. Parry Thomas, her husband of 69 years. A banker who helped finance development of the casino industry in Las Vegas, he died in 2016.
The couple, who owned River Grove Farm, was known for their charitable efforts. With Parry’s partner, Jerry Mack, they donated land to the University of Nevada at Las Vegas for construction of the Thomas & Mack Center. That facility hosted six FEI World Cup finals.
They also sponsored the Brentina Cup for riders 16-25 to bridge the gap between juniors and Young Riders to senior competition. Winners have included Adrienne Lyle, Debbie’s protege, who rode the Thomases’ Wizard in the 2012 Olympics..
Mrs. Thomas is survived by sons Peter, Roger, Steven and Tom, as well as a daughter, Jane Sturdivant; 13 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Services were private.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 16, 2023
“The nicest guy” is the way friends characterized Mike Polaski, who was well-known on the horse show circuit and in thoroughbred circles as well.
A self-made man “who lived life to the fullest,” Mike died Sept. 10 at age 76 after being hospitalized for a stroke. Starting as a blue-collar worker, he went on to be an insurance salesman and then began his own highly successful insurance company, Specialty Underwriters. He also owned numerous restaurants over the years, as well as being involved with breeding horses and cattle.
Mike Polaski.
The 30-year sponsorship of his Hidden Creek Farm furthered the career of show jumper Margie Goldstein Engle, who rode horses he bred and owned everywhere from numerous grands prix to international championships.
Among the best known of his jumpers were Hidden Creek’s Laurel and Hidden Creek’s Alvaretto, who made him the only owner to take the American Grand Prix Association and American Horse Shows Association Horse of the Year titles in the same year. Hidden Creek’s Cuervo Gold was part of the 2006 silver medal team at the FEI World Equestrian Games at Aachen in 2006. Hidden Creek’s Perin won a team gold and individual bronze at the Pan American Games and finished in top 10 at the 2000 Olympics.
“I was fortunate to have quite a few nice owners, but he was one of the best,” said Margie.
“His big thing was he wanted everyoneto have a nice time. He was a fun person to be around, very gregarious. He lived life to the fullest, there wasn’t any grass growing under his feet. He always liked to do things for charities and other people.”
Trainer Tom Wright observed, “He would give the shirt off his back if you were lucky enough to be his friend.”
Mike started riding to follow his pointer dogs while hunting, then went on to buy a horse, a farm and began showing. He also had racehorses with trainer Michael Matz, a former show jumper.
Being involved in church-based charity efforts in Africa and Eastern Europe was important in Mike’s life, and he financed construction of a children’s hospital in Kenya.
Viewing will be held Sept. 28 at 3 p.m. followed by a 5 p.m. memorial service at 414 Church, 1672 77th St. West Allis, Wisc.
He is survived by his wife, Catherine Jerene Polaski; children Michael John (Dreama) Polaski, Jennifer Anne (Jose) McFarland, and Sarah Marie (Joseph) McLean; grandchildren Madison (Victor) Magalhaes, Seth Polaski, Eddie McFarland, Lola McFarland, Ava McLean, Bret McLean and Graham McLean, as well as a great-grandchild, “Baby” Magalhaes.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Reach 7, P.O. Box 658, 200 E. Centennial Drive, Oak Creek, WI 53154, or through Venmo.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 18, 2023
The U.S. Junior Jumping Team made the podium and the Young Rider Team was fourth at the 2023 FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Youth Final at Sentower Park in Belgium last weekend.
“The juniors were great,” said U.S. Chef d’Equipe Anne Kursinski.
“Overall, they were amazing in getting on the podium. I’m proud of all of them—they all rode great.”
The bronze medal junior team: Tessa Downey, Laurel Walker, Elise Stephens, Stephanie Garrett, Carlee McCutcheon and chef d’equipe Anne Kursinski.(Photo©US Equestrian/Matt Turer)
Needing a clear to secure a podium placing, Carlee McCutcheon and Coco Mercedes, a 2013 Westphalian mare owned by Purple Rein Investments, delivered the key fault-free trip in 70.24 seconds.
“Carlee was amazing,” Anne said.
“She fought for it the whole way—the mare jumped clear, and it wasn’t the easiest ride. It definitely got us on the podium, and that’s what she had done in Traverse City (at the FEI North American Youth Championships), and she repeated it here.”
Carlee and Coco Mercedes’s clear-round effort kept the U.S. on a team total of 12 penalties—three faults clear of fourth-place Germany’s 15 and trailing the eight from Ireland and the Netherlands. The Netherlands ultimately defeated Ireland in a jump-off.
In the Young Riders, “It was close with all the top teams,” Anne noted.
“The U.S. did a great job. The Europeans just have a little more experience at this level of Nations Cup jumping, but I thought (we) were great and Alex (Alston on Keoki) ended up jumping a fabulous clear.”
