The year ahead, the year past

by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 1, 2020

Horse people don’t have a lot of time to reflect; we all know the demands made on us by caring for even one equine. So at the turn of the year, I always try to stop for a few minutes, put down my glass of champagne, and think about the past 12 months, while looking ahead to what awaits the equestrian world in the next 12.

Since we just made it to 2020, let’s think about that first, and what a big year it will be for horse sports. The Tokyo Olympics is in the forefront not only for riders, but also for fans.

Tokyo is 13 hours ahead of Eastern U.S. time during Daylight Savings, which means if you want to watch live, for the most part you’ll have to get up early–unless you can afford an expensive plane ticket and hotel room in Japan.

For instance, the Aug. 5 individual show jumping medal competition (which comes before the team competition, instead of after it, as usual) starts at 7 p.m. Tokyo time to avoid the hottest part of the day. That will begin airing at 6 a.m. U.S. time. You’ll get a break, though, if you want to see the eventing cross-country, which is likely to begin at 6:30 or 7 p.m. Eastern time (the exact hour will be determined this month)–that is 7:30 or 8 a.m. Tokyo time–again, in an attempt to avoid the worst heat. (See the On the Rail column of this website for more details about cross-country.)

How things will go for the U.S. at the Games is a big question mark in show jumping and eventing. All teams in the equestrian disciplines will have only three members. That’s no big deal for dressage, where it’s been done before and the chances of team members being eliminated are small. So things are likely to run close to form.

But without drop scores in the other disciplines, it’s harder than usual to calculate the odds. Remember that at the 2016 Olympics, Beezie Madden’s horse, Cortes C, could not compete on the day the show jumping medals would be decided because he had sustained an injury in the previous round. The U.S., left with a three-member team, claimed silver. But without a fourth team member, anything can happen. That being said, the U.S. has plenty of good prospects for a medal-winning squad.

Doraemon, the blue cat beloved in Japan, pops up in various logos as an Olympic athlete in a number of sports. Here is this character as a rider.

The U.S. eventers did not clinch an Olympic berth at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games, so the pressure was on at the Pan American Games in Lima last year. The gold medal there was the American ticket to Tokyo. But only two riders, Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton, are on the “elite” list at the moment, though more will rise based on their performances at such events as the Land Rover Kentucky 5-star and Jersey Fresh International. That’s a plug to come out May 6-10 to Jersey Fresh (http://www.jfi3d.com/) at the Horse Park of New Jersey and see the Olympic hopefuls in person. Since cross-country is full of opportunities for mishaps (even a shortened course like the one in Tokyo), it’s hard to predict exactly what will happen in Tokyo.

In terms of Para Equestrian, the U.S. made quite a mark in that discipline at the 2018 WEG, so we should have good medal chances there.

Can’t afford to go to Tokyo? If you want to see great international show jumping and dressage live, how about a much less expensive trip–to the  FEI World Cup Show finals in Las Vegas. This will be the seventh time it is being held in that city, and the glitter always adds something to the excitement. For tickets, go to https://www.worldcuplasvegas.com/. The dressage freestyle may be a sellout, so buy your seats early. Qualifying for the finals is continuing, but you can be assured such big names as Isabell Werth of Germany (the winner of the last three finals) will be on hand.

The U.S. becomes only the second country in the world to have two 5-star events when the Maryland 5-star at Fair Hill debuts Oct. 15-18, joining April’s Land Rover Kentucky fixture on the calendar of eventing’s top sport. The new Fair Hill Special Event Zone offers eventing a home at a location that also includes racing.

Taking a last look back at 2019, the biggest U.S. equestrian story was the impact of SafeSport. For 2019, the U.S. Equestrian Federation began requiring all competing members age 18 and over (as well as horse owners) to get SafeSport training in an effort to protect athletes from abuse. The sport was stunned as hunter/jumper icon George Morris was charged with sexual misconduct involving a minor and in November, permanently banned from attending recognized shows and participating in anything to do with the USEF or FEI (international equestrian federation). Earlier in the year, former American Grand Prix Association Rider of the Year Rob Gage committed suicide after receiving a SafeSport ban for sexual misconduct involving minors.

Athletes for Equity in Sport was formed in the wake of the Morris matter by a group concerned about fairness and the legal equity of the SafeSport process. It seeks to have Congress reform the way the program operates as the conversation over SafeSport continues.

The other story that jolted U.S. equestrians was the indictment of dressage trainer Michael Barisone on charges of attempted murder and gun law violations, after he was accused of shooting rider Lauren Kanarek twice in the chest during an August landlord/tenant dispute. A non-riding member of the 2008 Olympic dressage team, he remains in the Morris County Correctional Facility.

On the plus side, the USEF resolved continuing drug testing issues in a new partnership with the University of Kentucky. And after research and years of discussion in the veterinary committee, the USEF acted to ban use of Medroxyprogesterone acetate, which is believed to have a calming effect, in horses competing in its licensed competitions. A report cited 23 fatalities in connection with use of the substance, which has no therapeutic purpose in competition horses.

The World Equestrian Games, which too often had organizational problems after a brilliant inception in 1990, will not be held in 2022. The jumping, dressage, vaulting and para world championships will be staged in Denmark that year; eventing and driving are set for Italy. Reining and endurance championship sites have yet to be decided. Will we ever see a WEG again? I’m guessing it’s not happening in the new decade; it just takes too much in resources to present, and the benefits of putting all eight disciplines together are outweighed by the cost and effort involved.

As always, on New Year’s Day we remember those pillars of equestrian sport who have left us in the preceding year. One of the losses was Maj. Gen. Jonathan Burton, a veteran of the cavalry teams who went on to become instrumental in developing eventing in this country. He worked for the U.S. Equestrian Team, was an outstanding official and made contributions that improved the sport in so many ways.

Maj. Gen. Jonathan Burton

Ann Haller, an amazing official and volunteer, did so much for so many eventing competitions, as well as Pony Club, which was a special interest of hers. Her death during the summer caused shock waves across the sport in which she was beloved.

Those in New Jersey we lost included Jane Gilbert, a past president of the Horse Council of New Jersey, who was instrumental in helping ex-racehorses find new careers; Helen Gordon, a supporter of the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation and Mane Stream; dynamic driving community member Louis Piancone, and Patricia Murphy, the widow of former U.S Equestrian Team President Vince Murphy who was a supporter of the USET Foundation in her own right.

We remember as well the great horses who left us. In eventing, they included Custom Made, David O’Connor’s 2000 Olympic individual gold medal mount and Winsome Adante, Kim Severson’s 2004 Olympic individual silver and team bronze medal partner, the first horse to win Rolex Kentucky three times.

Among the show jumpers who departed in 2019 were Anne Kursinski’s 1996 Olympic team silver medal ride, Eros and Glasgow, who won the American Invitational and numerous international prizes with Norman Dello Joio (look at the On the Rail section of this website for details.)

For me, the biggest milestone of the year was the publication of Riding for the Team. (https://www.uset.org/) Working on this project for two years gave me the opportunity to speak with many of those who have made a big mark on U.S. horse sports in eight disciplines since 1990. Hard to figure out what I can do for an encore that will be as inspiring and rewarding as this special project. But I’m sure I’ll find something, and of course, I’ll be continuing my efforts with Nancy Jaffer Equestrian Sports.

Happy New Year!

MARS Essex Horse Trials has a new date and is looking for sunshine

by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 15, 2019

The MARS Essex Horse Trials is moving to a new date for 2020, hoping that a switch from June to July will offer better weather for the event.

“We’re really just trying to improve the odds,” said Ralph Jones, who co-chairs Essex with cross-country course designer Morgan Rowsell.

The sun finally shone for the Mars Essex Horse Trials after days of rain, but organizers are hoping for more good weather with a date change.

A wet spring and an unusual amount of rain during the week of the 2019 competition at Moorland Farm in Far Hills drenched the ground. That was disappointing for the debut of the Advanced division at Essex, a longtime New Jersey fixture which was revived in 2017 after an 18-year absence from the calendar.

Organizers did what they could to deal with the mud, postponing the Advanced stadium jumping from Friday evening to Saturday so the turf could dry out a bit. But it was still difficult going for dressage and show jumping, while the cross-country route also had deep spots, prompting some riders to scratch.

For 2020, Essex takes over the dates of the Fitch’s Corner, N.Y., event, which was discontinued. The new July 18-19 date “fits in better for the riders in sequencing different competitions,” according to Ralph.

“The one pickle we have is the lack of an all-weather arena at Moorland Farm. If we don’t have an all-weather arena, we are limited to what we can do,” said Ralph.

Essex co-chairs Ralph Jones and Morgan Rowsell.

While 38 riders entered the Advanced this year, 26 scratched after assessing the conditions.

Ralph thinks the riders will be willing to have another try at Essex.

“Essex was dealt a bad straw,” said Lauren Kieffer, the Bates U.S. Eventing Association’s Leading Lady Rider of 2019.

Ralph commented, “My instinct is they give us a pass because of the weather, but they’re not going to give that to you forever,” he said.

Philip Dutton, who ran a lower-level horse at Essex this year, scratched his Advanced mount, Z, who this weekend at the U.S. Eventing Association convention was named the Standlee Western Forage USEA Horse of the Year and Advanced Horse. The Olympian said the cross-country going was heavy.

Although July can be hot, he likes the idea of the new date, noting, “It’s the weaker time for Advanced events, so it could work well on the calendar, especially if they can aerate the cross-country so it doesn’t get too hard.”

The problem with grass for the other phases is that, “In dressage, everyone goes in the same spot, and the same with the show jumping.”

When it rains, that makes the footing difficult. In the future, he said, events are “going to have all-weather surfaces at some stage. If they want to stay relevant and stay competitive, they’re probably going to have to do that, and it’s not easy to do.”

Guy Torsilieri, who co-chairs the October Far Hills Race Meeting at Moorland, said about trying to solve the footing situation for dressage and jumping, “We have multiple options. We understand there’s a need for consistent footing when it gets wet. We’d like to keep the turf, but that may not be realistic.”

He explained there is consideration of improving the turf with a long-term project, but observed, “in some cases, that might not work.” Another possibility involves discussing partnering with the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation in Gladstone, a five-minute drive from Moorland, so the Advanced show jumping and dressage could be held there.

While the ring behind the Foundation’s stables is what first comes to mind when the facility is mentioned, Guy brought up the arena at Pine Meadow, part of the Foundation property which has been used for driving over the years.

“Should we look at renovating Pine Meadow,” he wondered. Using a ring at the Foundation would mean trailering the horses, albeit for a short distance, which is not always popular with the riders.

But he also mentioned the idea of an all-weather ring at Moorland, although that is not a solution for this year. But Guy noted for that concept, “it’s not the capital to put it in; it’s the business plan to make it work going forward. All options are on the table and I think you have to approach it that way.”

Ralph noted, “We’re trying to figure all this out. The riders don’t really like to go to two locations,” he pointed out, adding, however, “We could probably do it in a transition year.”

Moving the event into July makes it a little more predictable. If the turf stays dry, Morgan said, Advanced will go first, and get the best footing as a result.

Will Coleman and Obos O’Reilly handled the footing to win the Advanced division at the Mars Essex Horse Trials.

“For our purposes this year, we will irrigate, we will aerate, we will sand it–whatever we can do to get the best turf possible. We’re concentrating on having a successful event at Moorland, but we’ve got to have a backup plan.

“We had 14 inches of rain in June. Three years in a row we had rain, that’s just the way it works now in June in New Jersey.”

Even if it’s hot, the ground won’t suffer. “We can make hard ground soft,” said Morgan, but the corollary is that no one can do the opposite with wet ground.

Morgan noted the entire Preliminary division ran cross-country last year “and it was great. But when you get to the 4-foot level, you’re asking a horse to jump out of some soft footing and the consequences are quite a bit different than jumping 3-foot-6.”

Chris Barnard, who designed the Essex show jumping courses, thinks July will work.
“It might be a little warm, but I think it’s warm everywhere. When the ground gets that wet for the show jumping in the field, it’s tricky.” On the other hand, he pointed out “If it’s too hard, they (the Essex contingent) have the equipment and staff to get the equipment better.”

Boyd Martin, who won the featured Preliminary Essex section on Luke 140 this year but scratched Advanced, said of scenic Essex, “It’s a phenomenal event, everything we dream of in an event as a rider.”

Boyd Martin on his winning Preliminary mount at Essex.

The U.S. Eventing Association’s Rider of the Year likes the date,. He also commented, “If Essex could come up with an all-weather surface, it would really guarantee a sensational event. Everyone wants to go to Essex because it’s one of the best events in the country. We all want the best for our horses, too. To be able to compete with dressage and jumping on a synthetic footing would surely make it an international venue.

“I feel terrible for the event because they put on the greatest of great shows but the footing was bottomless. We love these horses and they’re worth so much money now, we can’t chance riding them in knee-deep mud. We had unbelievable amounts of rain. That’s uncontrollable. You get that amount of rain at any event and it really changes things.”

Ralph was asked by Morgan, who co-chairs the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event at the Horse Park of New Jersey, to join the board of that event.  Jersey Fresh was started to fill the gap after Essex bowed out following its 1998 edition. It will be part of the selection process for the Tokyo Olympics, where the discipline gets under way on the last day of July–when conditions there will be a lot hotter than in New Jersey.

To find out more about Essex or volunteer, go to www.essexhorsetrials.org.

Rutgers Equine Science Center makes strides with its landmark research

by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 26, 2019

Making things better for horses: Doesn’t everyone who is involved with these special animals want to see that happen? But the Rutgers Equine Science Center translates the desire into action. The research with which it is involved makes a difference in the well-being of horses and in turn, those who have dedicated their lives to them, whether for sport, work or pleasure.

The Center, funded by public and private contributions, also promotes best management practices that pay off in horse health and benefits for the environment– as well as recognizing those who have made contributions to the industry.

Dr. Michael Fugaro receives the Spirit of the Horse award from Rutgers Equine Science Center Founding Director Karyn Malinowski as Amy Butewicz,, co-chair of the leadership bord, looks on. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)

The Center’s purpose was highlighted this month in New Brunswick during its Evening of Science & Celebration, where the keynote presentation dealt with research related to exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (bleeding) in horses. The talk was delivered by Professor Ken McKeever, who holds a doctorate in animal physiology from the University of Arizona.

He is involved in researching a new drug, a Type-5 phosphodiesterase inhibitor (PDE 5), that could be an alternative to furosemide (Lasix), extensively used in racing, ostensibly to counteract respiratory bleeding. The company that put up $1.4 million for the research doesn’t want to go public at this point, and the name of the drug isn’t being revealed, since there is more research to be done.

However, the professor said, “It’s very promising, where things are going. The bottom line is that it’s a drug that reduces pulmonary artery pressure, the pressure that may be causing the capillaries to break. The next step is to see if it can actually prevent bleeding.”

After that, “It has to go to field trials and other questions the FDA (federal Food and Drug Administration) may ask,”  noted the Center’s associate director of research.

He explained, “The controversy that’s out there is that Lasix (administered to bleeders on race day) doesn’t work very well. It doesn’t stop bleeding. It’s mixed as far as reducing the severity,”

The professor added, “It’s controversial, because it enhances performance.”  He pointed out that in a study of 22,000 thoroughbred racehorses, the ones that were on Lasix won a greater percentage of the time.

“The best thing is to have a drug that works and doesn’t enhance performance,” he noted.

With his research into the unnamed drug, “We’re showing it has the potential to work and doesn’t affect the markers of performance.”

One of its pluses is the potential for giving it 24 hours out from a race. In most states, Lasix is administered four hours before the race.

The center’s executive director, Karyn Malinowski, cited the pressure on racing with all the breakdowns that have made headlines over the last year. She believes at some point, same-day medication will be banned “which would make this drug even more useful.” Discussing the prospect of a drug that can be given 24 hours out, she commented, “To me that’s really exciting as we continue to come under scrutiny of administering medication on race day.”

Ken McKeever called Lasix administration “the biggest controversy right now, other than the breakdowns.” He added scientific studies “strongly suggest Lasix enhances performance.”

As he pointed out, “If you lose a substantial amount of weight, you’re going to enhance performance,” and weight loss is one of the effects of using Lasix, a diuretic.

In addition, he said, it’s an alkalizing agent, functioning in the same way as a milkshake. (The milkshake used in racehorses involves several ounces of sodium bicarbonate dissolved in a gallon of water.).

“It changes the acid base status of a horse,” the professor stated.

“When you exercise really hard, people going for the burn (are) working their anaerobic side of the system. Anaerobic metabolism generates a lot of acid and so you get more acidotic. The way to counter that is by the body’s natural buffers or an alkalizing agent,” said Ken, who mentioned Lasix has a function like a milkshake.

If a horse is tested to see if it has been dosed with a milkshake, an allowance is made in the results if the animal has been given Lasix, he noted.

According to a report by veterinarian Sid Gustafson, writing about the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission’s hearing on race-day medication, Lasix alkalinizes horses. “The more Lasix, and the closer it is administered to the race, the more intense the alkalinization effect of Lasix.”

He reported that creates, “a competitive metabolic advantage similar to milkshaking, rendering the drug Lasix a clear and present doping agent. Lasix has significant potential to alter and enhance racehorse performance.”

Other research presented at the Evening of Celebration and Science included a study by 4-H members Skylar cooper and Morgan Wordleman, offering a little scientific drama (very cute) on whether home-made fly spray or pharmaceutical fly spray is more effective. The pharma version won. Another presentation on warm season grasses by Jennifer Weinert was part of a work in progress. The next step in the research involves the effect different grasses have on horses with metabolic conditions, such as Cushing’s Disease.

Mark Mullen and the 600-acre Fair Winds Farm in Upper Freehold Township received the Gold Medal Horse Farm Award. Although it has 40 trotting and pacing mares on the property and consigns yearlings to the Harrisburg sales, this award was presented for dedication to environmental sustainability and management. Fair Winds was cited for a number of protocols, including a well-maintained manure storage area, following state guidelines and beautiful vegetative buffers around its waterways.

Carey Williams, equine extension specialist, with Mark Mullen of Fair Winds Farm and Karyn Malinowski. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)

The Spirit of the Horse Award, presented to someone who has made a difference for horses, went to Dr. Michael Fugaro, who has a veterinary practice in Long Valley and was recognized for his “lifelong commitment to horse care and education.”

“I was a kid who grew up in Cherry Hill, N.J., and wanted to be a small animal veterinarian,” Michael told his audience after accepting the award.

Taking a step toward pursuing his ambition, he made a cold call to a veterinarian whose name he found in the phone book.

” I’d never seen a horse or touched a horse,” recalled Michael, who remembers that Dr. David Meirs, a well-known large animal vet and Standardbred breeder, answered the phone himself.

“I said, I don't know anything about horses, but I want to go to vet school.' So he said, `Come and work with me for the summer. We’re going to halter-break babies and muck stalls,'” Michael recalled.

“We–I did that, he didn’t do that,” Michael chuckled, but that job made a difference in his life.

“It was somebody like that who just took a random cold call and offered that mentorship and guidance. I’ve tried to emulate that, I think, through my career,” he said.

“I’ve always enjoyed getting involved with the Rutgers Equine Science Center. They’ve been so supportive of allowing me to give my two cents when students would like to learn or hear what I have to gab on about,” he continued, saying when that happens, “I always think back to my start.”

Want to get involved with what the Equine Science Center has to offer? Next up, starting Jan. 21, is Carey Williams’ 14-week online equine nutrition course, which can be taken by barn managers, horse owners, trainers, feed sales reps or anyone who wants to know more about feeding their horses. To register online, go to https://ce-catalog.rutgers.edu/coursedisplay.cfm?schID=78458. For information, call 848-932-9271.

On Feb. 9, the Center’s annual in-person horse management seminar in New Brunswick will focus on race horse/sport horse care and rehabilitation.

Good news about Kevin Babington!

by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 6, 2019

Kevin Babington’s wife, Dianna, shared an exciting update today about the New Jersey-based Irish show jumper, who suffered a critical spinal cord injury in a fall during a competition at the end of August. He is being treated at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange

“Yesterday he was able to feel my hand when I held his right hand. He also managed to generate slight movement in his right elbow which is not spasm or shoulder-generated,” Diana stated on Facebook.

“What might seem to be a minor achievement, to me is like an open gate to a road that was once completely impassable. My understanding is hand and elbow are generated from nerves below the site of injury, C6 C7 C8–I believe is hand, I could easily be wrong–but it’s definitely below where the contusion is.

“So my deduction is this shows connection from brain to below ‘the traffic jam’ at C3C4. This has given me hope. Today is the first day I have actually enjoyed looking at fall leaves while driving my daughter to the dentist, I actually noticed them.”

She added, “Tears have been from joy instead of frustration and sorrow. I am afraid to be happy, but I can’t help clinging onto this small moment in such a long process. Kevin was so happy to demonstrate this for us and I could see in his eyes he was lifted in his spirits. He has been so amazingly strong and brave to date.

“I am in amazement of his personal fortitude. He never breaks. He just takes each day like a champion and speaks of returning to horses. If you are a doctor and feel the need to correct my analysis, please don’t. I have swallowed so much negative information I’ve had enough to last a lifetime. Let us have this moment because it is the boat we are clinging to in this storm. We believe, and so does he, that he will recover. We must believe it or we have nothing. Please keep praying and sending positive energy. I think it matters.”

On barn night at the National Horse Show, members of the Kevin Babington Fan Club showed their support. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)

Meanwhile, the shows at Ketcham Farm in Allentown, N.J., where Kevin Babington has been based, will offer a special fundraising opportunity for Kevin’s foundation each day of every horse show in its series, starting with Nov. 16-17,. The judge will be on the lookout for a rider who exemplifies good horsemanship and they will be the winner of the “Ride of the day”. It will cost a $20 donation to the Babington Fund to enter. Prizes will be awarded.

The other dates for the Ketcham shows are Dec 28-29 and in 2020, Jan 11-12, Feb. 1-2, Feb. 29-March 1. The hunters will go on Saturday and jumpers on Sunday. there is a huge indoor arena with GGT footing and the same footing is in the outdoor schooling area.

The board of directors of the Kevin Babington Foundation is accepting donations.

To obtain bank instructions for wiring money or an address to which checks can be mailed, send an email to kevinbabingtonfoundation@gmail.com. All information will be shared through the email address in order to keep the wire information secure.

Be sure to make it clear who is making the donation when you send a check or money wire so organizers can keep track of contributions. All donations are tax deductible.

“We will continue to update everyone about our long term goals for the KBF,” organizers stated.

“Last but not least,” they said, “we’d like to extend heartfelt thanks to all who are supporting Kevin on his journey towards rehabilitation.”

The Dutta Fair Hill International shines through the sun and the rain

by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 20, 2019

I was soaked this afternoon, which was not surprising and something to which I’ve become accustomed after 31 years covering the Dutta Fair Hill International  three-day event, where rain has never been a stranger.

But you come to expect that while writing about and photographing a sport where inclement weather is looked on as just another challenge among many. And my state of drenching was nothing compared to the sodden jackets and slick tack that the riders had to deal with. Besides, compared to the incredibly sunny skies and moderate temps we enjoyed for yesterday’s cross-country test at Maryland’s scenic and hilly Fair Hill Natural Resources area, I couldn’t complain. No one would have wanted it the other way around.

Umbrellas and rain gear were part of the spectator dress code for those watching the awards ceremony at Fair Hill. Photo©2019 by Lawrence J. Nagy

So when the skies opened, that became part of the event’s final show jumping test for both the 3- and 4-star L divisions, though no one had to enjoy it.

“I really, really dislike show jumping in the rain, said Erin Sylvester, adding, “I just tried to hold on.”

She had a good grip, winning the 4-Star on Paddy the Caddy, a performer who’s been waiting in the wings to a certain extent. He finally took a big bow on center stage, cashing in with a clean show jumping round when overnight leader Waylon Roberts toppled four rails with Lancaster to drop to eighth place.

“It’s been my goal to get this event done, and done well,” said Erin. “We’ve hit a few bumps in the road during the season, so it was great to kind of put that all behind us and have a good weekend.”

A perfect show jumping round capped a winning weekend for Erin Sylvester and Paddy the Caddy. Photo © 2019 by Lawrence J. Nagy

Eighth in the dressage phase Friday, Paddy moved up the standings after acing the cross-country segment yesterday with just 0.4 penalties, the fourth best performance over the route laid out by Derek di Grazia.

This afternoon, after finishing fault-free over designer Marc Donovan’s course in the big arena, Erin said of her mount, “He felt a little bit tired, but he has endless heart and tries to do the best every time he’s in the ring.” Before the awards presentation, she got a visit from USEF eventing performance manager Erik Duvander, who is always scouting talent for his team. He was enthusiastic about Paddy, saying with delight, “Look at that face” indicating that the horse’s lovely expression says it all.

Erin Sylvester, winner of the 4-star with Paddy the Caddy at the “A” part of the Chesapeake water complex. Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer

And how nice that Paddy is a thoroughbred, the breed that used to dominate eventing in the era of the classic format, when the “L” that stands for long today really meant long, before warmbloods  became the fashion.

The horse was bred in Ireland by owner Frank McEntee, but his time at the racetrack with trainer Graham Motion demonstrated he wouldn’t have a future in that sport. Erin, a professional based in Pennsylvania, happened to be teaching Frank’s daughter when a new career was sought for Paddy, and the two were able to establish a relationship.

And what about the horse’s weird name? Frank told me he had asked the guys at the racetrack to name him. They were Irish, hence the Paddy part, and they liked to play golf, so there you have the Caddy.

Erin trains with Phillip Dutton and Boyd Martin. The latter has been sidelined from the saddle by a broken pelvis, but he was on foot to help at Fair Hill as needed.

The top five in the 4-star all jumped fault-free, but Erin had a rail in hand with 34.3 penalties over BGS Firecracker (38.3) ridden by Mia Farley, a Californian who moved to Virginia to train with Karen and David O’Connor.

Kentucky-based Jenny Caras, had the biggest jump in the standings, going from 29^th after dressage to third with 40 penalties on Fernhill Fortitude. Fourth was Sydney Elliott on QC Diamantaire (40.2) while Phillip Dutton was fifth with Fernhill Singapore (42.4).

Mia Farley, runner-up in the 4-star-L with Fair Hill sponsor Tim Dutta, winner Erin Sylvester and Jenny Caras, third. Photo © 2019 by Lawrence J. Nagy

D.A. Duras, who was third after cross-country, did not appear for the horse inspection this morning. Rider Lauren Kieffer yesterday had expressed concern about horses being stung by hard ground (the area was going through a drought until Thursday) and worried the ground jury wouldn’t be lenient at the trot-up.

Mara DuPuy, who won the dressage with Congo Brazzaville C, took a tumble near the end of the cross-country course and was eliminated.

The 4-star standings got another shakeup yesterday when four riders were assessed 15 penalties for violating the flag rule, which involves what percentage of a horse’s body must go over a narrow fence as originally flagged in order to avoid a charge of 15 penalties. In cases where there is a question, it becomes a “let’s go to the videotape” moment to reach a conclusion. Martin Plewa, president of the grounds jury for the 4-star, said the jury had a discussion with the riders last night about the decision to penalize them, but that and watching the official videotape delayed the posting of results.

The obstacle involved for all four was the B section of the Farm House Corners, where the fence could be approached off a bending line for those taking the option of going the fast, direct way.

“It’s not the ground jury’s fault. They’re following the rule, but the rule is a stupid rule and they need to change it before the Olympics or else our sport will be in the courts for months afterwards,” said Phillip Dutton, who was second with Z after cross-country and dropped to ninth with the penalty. After producing a show jumping clear, he finished seventh.

“The course designers have to look at it so it doesn’t become more of an issue If the rule isn’t changed. They need to make it so a horse can get to them (a corner fence) on a straight line.”

Derek noted, however, “there were a lot of people who took the short way who did fine.”

Phillip benefited from the old rule on the issue at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where his horse’s entire body did not pass through the flags, but things have changed since then.

“As long as it’s very clear, I don’t think the riders would mind what kind of rule it is. At the moment you can knock down a flag and not get penalized, but then you (the judges) have to decide how much of the horse was inside the flag (ie, where the flag was posted originally). Most of the crowd left yesterday and they didn’t know who was in the lead,” pointed out Phillip. He mentioned that both Singapore and Z knocked down a flag, but the former wasn’t penalized and he latter was.

In the 3-star, Woods Baughman, who had been second in dressage with his parents’ C’est La Vie 135, won on 27.6 penalties, one penalty less than Canada’s Colleen Loach on Vermont.

Smiling broadly as he cleared the last show jumping fence, the 23-year-old noted, “I could finally breathe for the first time since yesterday.”

“Overjoyed” is the only way to describe Woods Baughman after finishing his clean show jumping round on C’est La Vie 135. Photo©2019 by Lawrence J. Nagy

Woods, who lives in West Virginia where he trains with Sharon White, spent a year working with Dirk Schrade in Germany. It’s no surprise, then, when he states his ambition: “I’d like to get on a team.”

Woods Baughman, the 3-star-winner on cross-country with C’est la Vie 135. Photo©2019 by Lawrence J. Nagy

The standings for the top four did not change penalty-wise from Saturday, but a tie on 29.8 penalties for third place between Caitlin Silliman (Ally KGO) and Holly Payne Caravella of Oldwick, N.J., (Charm King) was resolved with Holly dropping to fourth because Caitlin won the tie-breaker, finishing closest to the optimum time on the cross-country course (and it was only a difference of three seconds between the two.)

This was the last time the Fair Hill event will be held on the grounds off Gallaher Road. Next fall, it will be the Maryland 5-star at Fair Hill, on property a short canter away, where new arenas and grandstands are being built. The course designer will be British Olympian Ian Stark.

“I was a little sad, thinking I’m not going to go around this track again,” said Erin, echoing a sentiment expressed by many as an era ends.