by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 26, 2020
Boyd Martin decided to take it a little easy at the Horse Park of New Jersey’s Horse Trials II yesterday.
For the Iron Man, that means he only rode three horses as heat soared into the high 80s and beyond, winning the FEI 3-star on Fernhill Prezley (40.10 penalties) and finishing second on Penhill Celtic (42) while ending up third in the Open Intermediate section with Long Island T (38). Then he let assistant Mike Pendleton take Bonito in the OI division at the Horse Park of New Jersey rather than riding that horse himself..
“I wimped out on Bonito,” Boyd said.
But there’s no need for apologies. This was just a few days after he rode five horses at the mid-week Virginia Horse Trials, and three months following surgery to repair various bone spurs and muscle tears. He was still experiencing some hip and groin pain.
“To be quite honest, I’ve probably bitten off a little more than I can chew,” he said of his workload as he continues to recover.
“At the moment, my body can only take so much. I want to do more, but the body’s screaming at me to take it easy and slow down a bit,” Boyd explained, reporting he’s “still a bit stiff and sore in my hip joints and still a little bit rusty, to be quite frank.”
And then, four days after competing at the Horse Park, he had surgery to remove a bit of bone from his groin muscle where it was stabbing his inner thigh. He’ll be out of action for a few weeks before coming back to finish the season, most probably in a big way, as is his style. But injury has been a fact of his life in eventing, so he has plenty of experience dealing with it..
“I love competition and riding and trying to find that balance where I can keep going for the second half of my career here. I’ve got to understand I’m not 19 years old anymore,” said the Olympic veteran, who turns 41 next month.
“I’ve got a great and decent rider (Mike) that helps with the young horses and also the upper level horses when I’m out of commission. I’m just trying to limit myself at the events at how many I can ride and try to do a very, very good job, rather than just spinning them around.”
Boyd Martin and Long Island T finishing up on cross-country at the Horse Park of New Jersey. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
Prezley has done only one intermediate previously, while Boyd is pointing Celtic at a long-format 3-star. Long Island T won his dressage phase with a score of 38, went clean in show jumping and had 10 time penalties cross-country, where Boyd wasn’t pushing him.
At these trials, “I never try and go flat out. I use them as training,” said the Pennsylvania resident, who is aiming the horse for the American Eventing Championships in Kentucky next month.
“This was more of a fitness run. It’s good to win, but you can’t try and win every step. It’s more a building-him- up type of event.”
The Open Intermediate, which with 23 starters was bigger than the FEI 2- and 3-star combined, went to a delighted Jennie Brannigan on FE Lifestyle, a horse she has been touting.
After finishing on her dressage score of 30.20 penalties with no time faults cross-country, a challenge on such a warm day, an excited Jennie called U.S. Eventing Performance Director Eric Duvander, who is in Montana at the Event at Rebecca Farm.
Jennie Brannigan was all smiles as she took FE Lifestyle around the cross-country course at the New Jersey Horse Park, where she won the Open Intermediate section. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
Lifestyle, she said, is “One of my really exciting ones coming up. I was planning to run him at the 4-star at Morven in the fall and God willing, if that went right, the way that horse is on cross-country, I would aim him at Kentucky next year. That’s what Eric and I talked about.
“He’s a really bold cross-country horse. He jumped around Fair Hill as a 7- year-old and ended on his dressage score. He’s quite a careful show jumper as well. In dressage, he’s a beautiful mover. That judge was judging pretty stiff; it was great to have Boyd’s horse…in the class to gauge off of the scores,” Jennie continued.
“Eric’s helped me completely change the way I’m riding him and it’s really paid off. He actually sat on him a couple of times, which was really great. I tend to be a little too sympathetic in my riding, going with the way the horses want to go, instead of saying, `No, be really through.’
“The quality of his connection is so much better and his brain is so much better since I’ve been putting him in the box and telling him exactly what to do.”
The German Sport Horse she got from Clayton Fredericks, who imported him five years ago, “is every bit of a chestnut warmblood, sensitive and very hot. He ends up winding himself up when I give him too much freedom, I realized. Normally, it would take me quite a bit to get him in the zone.”
This time, her work has paid off and “he was just all business at the beginning (of cross-country).
“I actually quite liked the course. The footing was fantastic,” the Pennsylvania resident said of the route designed by Morgan Rowsell at the facility in Monmouth County.
“He’s doing a good job of slowly building everybody back up,” she added about the test, where she finished two seconds under the 5-minute, 24-second optimum time.
Like Jennie, Boyd was pleased with what the Horse Park had to offer. Both commented on the “fantastic” footing.
“The course design by Morgan was absolutely spot-on. It was a great event, I’m glad we went.”
Of Morgan, a trustee of the Horse Park, Boyd said, “He’s got a real good feel for the property. It had good flow, every question you can imagine; turning questions, accuracy questions, bravery questions. I felt like the horses finished with their ears pricked and really felt like I’ve learned something.”
A determined Boyd Martin has his eye on his spot aboard Long Island T. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
The event went even more smoothly than the June Horse Trials, which were well-regarded.
“Ellen Clarke (a trustee) and the horse park board really worked hard on refining our Covid plan,” said Morgan. “We were much better prepared.”
When he designed the course, Morgan took into consideration, “Nobody had a legitimate spring to get ready,” since the U.S. Equestrian Federation stopped all competitions from March 20 to June 1 because of the pandemic.
“I went for a very straight-ahead, very basic, approach to the design, knowing that at the low end of the spectrum, it was still going to be hard for some riders, because at the end of the day, they’re not ready.”
“I was happy to see the horses comfortable with the footing, comfortable with what they’ve been asked and now they’re ready for whatever the next step is.”
Boyd said, “I take my hat off to the New Jersey Horse Trials.These events that are running have every reason in the world to cancel. They have to abide by all these new rules and I can’t tell you how grateful the competitors are that the organizers are putting on these great shows with this added extra headache of dealing with the Corona plague.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 7, 2020
As fear of the Covid-19 pandemic began to spread early in March, Jaime Potkalesky, the senior events manager for Reeves International, was getting nervous about the prospects for BreyerFest.
Breyer is the signature brand of Pequannock-based Reeves, which annually stages the popular July gathering that brings 30,000 model horse fans to the Kentucky Horse Park for a three-day celebration.
Enthusiastic crowds have flocked to the Kentucky Horse Park for BreyerFest over the last 30 years. (Photo courtesy of Breyer)
By the end of March, Reeves Vice President Stephanie Macejko, Jaime and their team “started to realize this virus is affecting the country in a way we’ve never seen before.”
It was decision time. One of Stephanie’s favorite things to do on Saturday afternoons at BreyerFest involved walking through the Kentucky Horse Park’s parking lot and seeing license plates from nearly every state and Canada on cars decorated with slogans such as “Breyerfest or Bust” and hashtags like “Ponies from Pomona.”
Suddenly this year, the obvious question was, “Even if things were opened up, would people want to travel?”
The company had a few choices.
“Do we cancel, postpone to September or pivot to a virtual event? It was an emotional decision,” said Stephanie explaining “the ability to connect with our fans on site is such an incredible experience that it felt really like, `Oh no, how are we going to do this?’”
“We were all devastated and there were a lot of tears shed,” Jaime recalled.
The team soon realized the right strategy for the 31st edition of the event July 10-12 was to go virtual and “rewrite the playbook for BreyerFest.”
As soon as the concept was announced, it clicked.
“We had such a great reaction that it was very affirming,” Stephanie reported.
“People were so excited they’d still have something to look forward to. Ticket sales increased immediately. We are providing as much as we possibly can all of the benefits of the real event being live,” said Stephanie.
The theme this year for Breyer’s 70th anniversary is Celtic Fling, which ties in with the salute to BreyerFest’s special Celebration model of Ballynoecastle RM, the Irish-bred gelding who is the U.S. Eventing Association’s all-time high point earner.
Ballynoe Castle RM at his 2017 retirement ceremony with rider Buck Davidson.(Photo © 2017 by Nancy Jaffer)
The eventer, known to his friends as Reggie, retired three years ago to the Pottersville Farm of his owners, Cassie and Carl Segal, after a stellar career with rider Buck Davidson, who can be seen with the Seals in an interview on the website when BreyerFest gets under way.
Reggie in retirement with his pal. (Photo © 2017 by Nancy Jaffer)
Advance sale tickets are no longer available, but tickets will be sold during the event at this link
The company headquarters in Pequannock is being turned into a live broadcast studio for BreyerFest, with host Kimber Goodwin bringing 15 years of on-camera experience in racing and horse shows. Her interviews with horse people will be interspersed among special demos, workshops and seminars. Topics range from how to draw horses to repainting your models and making a miniature bridle or saddle.
A feature will be model horse shows, with the virtual approach enabling more people to participate than normal in a live experience, where classes might be limited to 25 or 30 people.
The Celebration model of Ballynoe Castle RM. (Photo courtesy of Breyer)
An auction and shopping also are available, as they would have been at the horse park. The traditional evening celebration show has been pre-recorded and will feature Irish step dancers, bagpipers and an exhibition of horse breeds with roots in the British isles.
As Kimber noted, the great thing about the virtual BreyerFest is that “we can reach a whole new audience.”
She collects stories about the horses to make them “relatable” to her audience, which enjoys hearing tidbits about their preferences, such as the horse that liked apple pie.
Kimber, the first graduate of the University of Louisville equine management program, was recruited for her BreyerFest gig by Jamie Saults, who is the producer of the show and the floor director as well.
The idea, Jamie said, “is to make it as similar as possible to the live experience.”
Jamie, who worked 10 Olympics as a researcher and statistician for TV, got involved with Breyer horses in 1995 when she was employed by the U.S. Equestrian Team and suggested the organization sell a Breyer horse for a fundraiser at a competition. Despite some raised eyebrows, the USET went ahead with 500 models of Pieraz, Valerie Kanavy’s endurance world champion. They sold out in a half-hour.
Super hobbyist Jane Steinkamp started collecting Breyers in 1973, when she got the Man O’War model and named it Secretariat, after the Triple Crown winner that year.
Jane Steinkamp and some of her Breyer horses. (Photo courtesy of Jane Steinkamp)
She and her daughters, who played with Breyers instead of Barbie dolls, have been going to BreyerFest on a “girls’ vacation” roadtrip from her Indiana farm since 2002. “It was awesome. The kids had a great time and I had a great time, so we made it an annual event,” Jane recalled.
Naturally, she was “really disappointed” when she heard her 19th BreyerFest had to go virtual this year. But after switching gears, she decided, “We’re going to have Breyerfest in our basement.” Jane will share it with daughters Melissa Steinkamp, 28, and Molly Steinkamp Bates, 26, who had already asked for time off from work for their annual trip before the live event was cancelled.
They’ll have plenty of company–Jane displays “at least 1,000” models, though she doesn’t have an exact count of how many she owns. They’ll be coming off the shelves in her Breyer room to share the virtual experience with the family.
This is only one wall of Jane Steinkamp’s Breyer Room at her Indiana home. (Photo courtesy of Jane Steinkamp)
Nothing can replace the live fest for her, though.
“People come from all over,” explained Jane, a saddlebred owner who works in human resources. “There might be someone from California or Connecticut that you won’t get to see this year, but thank goodness for the internet, because it’s easier to keep in touch.”
By next year, it is hoped that things will be back to normal and BreyerFest once again can be live at the Kentucky Horse Park. But it also will have a virtual component that enables those who can’t travel to enjoy the experience.
Just having a live show won’t be sufficient in the future.
“The model horse hobby exists so well on line,” explained Jaime. As she noted, “The chances are that your closest hobby friend doesn’t live in your town. We’re bringing BreyerFest to where the hobby exists. I can’t see ever see having an on-site only event ever again, we will always have a virtual component too.”
As bad as the pandemic has been, on the flip side, it has made it necessary to think about doing so many things a different way. In the process, as Jaime noted, that has “opened up a lot of people’s lives.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 6, 2020
Melissa Murphy Rafano and two of her amateur rider friends have come up with an antidote for “stir crazy” after months of Covid lockdown.
With the horse show circuit in disarray, answering the question, “What are we going to do this summer?” became a priority. She and Alison Ward, a teacher, and Daria Kissenberth, a graphic designer, decided to start a retreat for riders who might be skipping the shows.
It’s interesting how often the very difficult virus situation has been the mother of invention for new ideas, and this is another one.
EQ Retreat, an entrepreneurial concept that debuts Friday July 10, offers three days of horse-oriented R&R with both fun and learning components. It is being held at the stable in Readington owned by Melissa and her husband, Chris Rafano. Called Promise Farm, the facility formerly was known as River’s Edge when perennial hunter champ Scott Stewart was based there.
With the Covid situation disrupting things this year, it was uncertain what horse shows would be doing and how they would be doing it, leading the friends to brainstorm about activities for the season when they normally would be at competitions.
“We wanted to explore other things,” said Alison.
Alison Ward, Melissa Murphy Rafano and Daria Kissenberth came up with the idea for EQ Retreat.
The thinking ran along the lines of, “This is such a lovely property, maybe we could start some kind of retreat for riders.”
When they did a test run, Charity Paashaus taught natural horsemanship the first day. The next day, they went to Horseshoe Bend Park in Kingwood for a trail ride and the third day, trainer Michael Dowling, came and gave them a clinic.
“Now we’re inviting the public to participate,” Alison said.
“The whole vision is that we want a clinic atmosphere, but with things for both the horse and rider,” she continued. Alison noted horse owners spend so much time doing things for their mounts that “we want to make sure the riders have a little spoiling time too.
Charity will be back for the July 10-12 session with natural horsemanship on the first day, followed by a barbeque. Next up is “a day of indulgence.” It starts with yoga and then breakfast, which is special because Melissa owns Sweet Melissa Patisserie in Lebanon, voted New Jersey’s best bakery on nj.com. It’s a place where you can get everything from truffled cremini mushroom quiche to the gamut of tempting sweets and pastries, so the catered meals will be quite memorable.
Riders can have their horse photographed by Susan Kozlowski, and then go for a ride in the arena or around the property, followed by a catered lunch and a visit from a massage therapist (while the horses get a magnawave treatment) before a wine-tasting with snacks. To cap off the day’s proceedings, animal communicator Armand Egidi will offer insight into the thoughts of the participants’ horses. The final day will involve equine bodywork, a clinic with grand prix trainer Nona Garson and an ice cream social.
The organizers are aiming to have an EQ Retreat every two weekends. One to be held at the end of July is still a work in progress, but for August, they are planning “a three-day three-day,” as in eventing. The first day will be dressage, the next cross-county and the third day show jumping with a clinician. An idea for another retreat might feature working with a judge.
The groups will be small, from six to 10 people “to make it feel like a retreat, not like a clinic where you’re just riding and going home.” The fee of $1,075 covers a stall for the weekend, with Thursday night arrival if participants wish, or they can come for the day at $350. Next time, there will be an option to enroll at a lower price for those who don’t need stabling and commute from home with their horses. There’s also an option to lease a horse for those who want to participate but don’t bring their own ride.
Even when shows come back in their usual format–hopefully next year–Melissa said the group intends to keep the retreats going. As she noted, “it’s like all these things you wanted to do, but never got around to doing. We just want to create an atmosphere where new friendships can be formed. I’m really looking forward to meeting new, like-minded people and just enjoying the horses.”
There is a Covid protocol, of course, but it’s not intrusive because as Melissa noted, the ring is big, the barns are open air and chairs can be set six feet apart.
“It lends itself naturally to something that’s conducive to the Covid rules,” she said. “You can take a breath, it’s nice.”
Those who want to sign up can go to eqretreat@gmail.com or call Alison at 908-872-5159.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 28, 2020
The Covid lockdown hit the Horse Park of New Jersey hard at the beginning of the season, after the gates were closed March 18.
The park’s finances were impacted by cancellation of its signature event, May’s Jersey Fresh International (which was meant to be an observation event for the 2020 Olympics); its usual opener, the Four Seasons Show, and this month’s Middlesex County Horse Show, although the latter may be rescheduled. Schooling shows and barrel racing also were called off. The loss of Jersey Fresh really hurt, since the park board anticipated it would generate its highest revenue ever, $250,000 at a conservative estimate.
Here’s what being at ringside means in the Covid era–masks for everyone, except those who are in the saddle. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
Dealing with a shortened season is tough for the park, but Adam Furlong, president of the board of trustees, characterized the mood as “hopeful,” and at the same time being “pragmatic,’’ adding, “we have a long road ahead of us” while the park copes with “a condensed version of a full calendar.”
He added, however, “there is no immediate reason to be concerned about long-term viability. We’re optimistic about what the park is going to look like and optimistic about what we can do with the park.”
An events committee and a facilities committee have been created within the board to achieve those goals.
During the lockdown, rainy day accounts were depleted, but expenses were deferred where possible and the park got a loan (that may be forgiven) from the federal Paycheck Protection Program, which enabled the park to bring back employees after three months. Adam cited longtime board member Donna Yukens (who is moving out of state) for devising a detailed Covid response plan that has been shared with the state Department of Agriculture as a possible template for how state parks and similar venues should prepare for reopening.
“It was a tough start, but it’s going to be a great finish,” predicted Ellen Brindle-Clark, the board’s vice president, chatting as the facility’s rings were full of riders warming up, doing dressage and show jumping before they headed out on cross-country at the season’s first horse trials this weekend.
“The down time we utilized to make improvements and sharpen the park up a little bit. I’m excited about this season,” she said.
Social distancing is a must while watching equestrian competition, like the show jumping phase of the Horse Park of New Jersey’s horse trials. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
The successful horse trials at the Allentown facility will be followed by Dressage at the Park July 4-5 and the American Saddlebred Horse Association of New Jersey’s Jersey Classic show July 10-12, for which stalls have been sold out. Sadly, under current USEF rules, spectators are not allowed, but by the time the park’s FEI horse trials come around at the end of July, that may change.
An enthusiastic group of nine candidates for trustee positions on the park board gave impetus to optimism after elections this week.
Two-time Olympic judge Marilyn Payne was one of those elected. She has been on the board previously, and ran again because, “I just think the Horse Park is so important for the horse industry and I want to keep helping make the horse park more successful and make more people aware of what it offers.
“I think it will all come back. We just have to be patient and behave ourselves so we can keep going,” she said.
Morgan Rowsell, course designer and co-organizer of the horse trials, also was chosen for a board spot.
He is looking for more sponsorship to upgrade footing and improve the stabling. If that can be achieved, “I think it’s a world class facility,” said Morgan, who will concentrate on trying to find a way to make those improvements.
The park, he noted, “has a lot to offer the horse community; it just takes time.”
He would like to see “showcase opportunities” in the different disciplines “to get people to take notice” and facilitate upgrades. Citing the positives, he commented, “It’s got a great secretary’s stand, good trailer hook-ups, a great location with hotels. The sky’s the limit.”
The cross-country footing is also a plus, but he mentioned there isn’t the space for a track like the one at the former Fair Hill FEI event, which enjoyed thousands of acres.
Some twists and turns are necessary for cross-country courses at the Horse Park because of the size of the property, but he pointed out that revered German show Aachen has, “plenty of (cross-country) tracks that turn back. We’re not Aachen, but we can provide really good cross-country that will help FEI riders get ready for whatever.”
He said the changes that Covid has brought about offer a great opportunity to rethink things, echoing the comments of U.S. Eventing Performance Director Erik Duvander in the main story on this website.
“Let’s rediscover ourselves,” Morgan advised.
Also elected to the board were executive assistant Diane Sigafoos, a teacher of special needs children, and Rich Clark, a mechanic who has volunteered at the Horse Park four days a week. Two unexpired terms on the board were filled by Rosanne Vaccarro, who has worked for Rutgers University and served as a 4-H leader and Kathryn Adams, a graduate of Morven Park who started 1996 Olympian Jill Henneberg and her mount, Nirvana, on their journey to the Games.
Weekend horse trials co-organizer Jane Cory noted that “the Covid protocol is extensive but it is doable and everyone is cooperating quite nicely. It just takes more preparation and more thinking through things and more supplies.”
But it may be paving the way for change in the future, when the pandemic is (hopefully) history.
“One of the remarkable things we noticed is that something like 99.7 percent of the entries ended up complete; never happens, normally,” she mentioned.
“We want that to carry on.”
Looking around her, she was pleased.
“The Horse Park is in a state of total beauty right now,” she said, even though the park’s furloughed maintenance men didn’t come back until 10 days before the horse trials.
In the interim, “A large amount of work was done by volunteers,” said Jane, mentioning “groups of people painting, mowing fields, cutting grass.”
So many who care have come together on behalf of the park, and to make sure the event runs as it should.
As Jane said, “It’s really cool that it’s working.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 12, 2020
Trainer Bob McDonald today denied an allegation involving sexual misconduct with a minor in 1973, following a decision by the U.S. Center for SafeSport that resulted in a lifetime ban from the U.S. Equestrian Federation.
The husband of U.S. dressage technical advisor Debbie McDonald is appealing in an effort to get the decision overturned through arbitration.
“It is beyond heartbreaking to see the reputation that I have painstakingly built throughout my career be tarnished by an allegation of misconduct from 47 years ago,” stated Bob, who became involved as a professional in the hunter/jumper industry more than half a century ago.
SafeSport is the “exclusive authority” investigating and prosecuting allegations of sexual abuse within Olympic and Paralympic sport.
Bob’s punishment means he is prohibited from participating in any activities or competitions licensed, endorsed or sponsored by the USEF. The sanction prohibits him from going to shows, which he often attends with his wife of 42 years, who once was the USA’s top dressage rider.
Bob McDonald
He noted it is “gut-wrenching” to watch “my loved ones being dragged through this as well. It is a terrible reality that we are living in a time when allegations alone would lead to the imposition of such a harsh public sanction.
“Unfortunately, the system in place does not allow for individuals to be given the opportunity to effectively defend any of the allegations prior to a ban, which is why I have requested for an independent arbitration on the matter.”
He added, “It would be inappropriate of me to comment more, other than to simply say that I categorically deny the allegations that have been made against me.
“Throughout my 50-plus year career in the sport, I have always acted in a professional and respectful manner towards all individuals that I have come in contact with, which is why I am shocked at the allegations that were made.
“While it is paramount for the sport to have a thoughtful and thorough avenue for our riders and trainers to address complaints and areas of concern, it is of equal importance that the process be fair and balanced,” Bob continued.
“That certainly has not been the case here. I am looking forward to the opportunity to present the facts and a fair defense at an independent arbitration. I stand firm on the reputation I have built over half a century and am confident that I will be fully exonerated when the arbitration is complete.”
Debbie is beloved, known for being as generous and warm-hearted as she is talented. Bob has guided her career and played an enormous and supportive role in her success.
Many people have come to Bob’s defense on social media, and he responded by saying, “I am humbled by the outpouring of support that Debbie and I have received during these past few days. It would be impossible to deal with this matter without your warm kindness and I wanted to thank you all for it. Your support has carried us the last couple of days and will continue to do so.”
On Facebook, dressage riders Laura Graves and Lauren Sammis called for change in the way SafeSport handles its cases.
“SafeSport has to go,” said Lauren, a Pan American Games team gold and individual silver medalist.
“Without due process, it is literally a witch hunt.”
Laura, who was trained by Debbie and is the only U.S. dressage rider to have been ranked number one in the world, noted, “I have spent a great deal of time with Bob and he has always been a supportive part of my career. I’m heartbroken to see them go through this.
“What can we do?” asked the Olympic team bronze medalist.
A group called Athletes for Equity in Sport, which involves representatives from other sports as well as equestrian, is seeking “to reform amateur sports’ disciplinary processes as well as the current inequity in SafeSport policy and procedures.”
Prominent equestrians who have gone through the SafeSport process and been banned include legendary hunter/jumper trainer George Morris and American Grand Prix Association Rider of the Year Rob Gage, who committed suicide last year.
The McDonalds, who have a son and one grandchild, worked together even before they were married. Debbie originally was a hunter rider but after a jumping accident in which she was badly injured, Bob suggested she switch to dressage.
Known for being a great spotter of equine talent, Bob found the promising Hanoverian Brentina. She was purchased by Parry and Peggy Thomas, who were clients of Bob’s and Debbie got the ride on the chestnut mare.
Debbie and Bob McDonald with Brentina at her retirement in Las Vegas. (Photo © 2009 by Nancy Jaffer)
Debbie and Brentina rose to become the top U.S. combination in dressage before the turn of the century, taking double gold at the 1999 Pan American Games and going on to be part of the silver medal team at the 2002 FEI World Equestrian Games. They also were on the bronze medal team at the 2004 Olympics, along with earning many other honors. Debbie was the first U.S. rider to win the FEI World Cup Dressage title.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 31, 2020
Organizers of the MARS Essex Horse Trials at Moorland Farm in Far Hills have made the “agonizing decision” to cancel the 2020 edition, due to the complications of running it under Covid-related restrictions from the state and the U.S. Equestrian Federation.
Essex was greeted with great enthusiasm from competitors and spectators when it was revived during 2017 after an absence from the calendar of nearly two decades. Even though it moved from its original June dates to July 18-19 this year, a call on whether to hold it had to be made six weeks beforehand because of logistics.
“It’s a big production,” explained Ralph Jones, who co-chairs Essex with course designer Morgan Rowsell.
“It’s so uncertain, that’s the problem. Even though you know it’s loosening up a little bit…I can’t know in a month what the rules will be. Enforcing the rules is a big part of the challenge.”
Concern for the 300 riders, 182 volunteers and “the inability to invite spectators to such a big community event” also figured in postponing the event until 2021.
Will Coleman was the winner of the Advanced section at the MARS Essex Horse Trials last year. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Marilyn Payne, an international judge who has competed at Essex, said it is “very disappointing” that the event isn’t going, but understands why.
While other events, such as one planned for the Horse Park of New Jersey at the end of June, “can live without spectators,” Essex “is more of a community thing,” said Marilyn, who has a training stable in Tewksbury.
Marilyn Payne competing at Essex. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
Citing the success of the Essex revival, she commented, “I’m sure it will come back just as strong next year, if everything’s normal.”
Marilyn mentioned that having events coming up in Maryland and Virginia will put more pressure on governors to reopen elsewhere.
“Everyone wants to just get out and do something,” she pointed out.
Marilyn’s daughter, Holly Payne Caravella, who runs an eventing training business in Chester, agreed that “it would be hard to do Essex without community involvement.” While Holly noted, “it’s sad,” she added, “it’s gotten such a good reputation and everyone wanted to come back. But it’s such a weird year and they wouldn’t be able to run it the way they’d want to run it, so it’s probably best to wait until next year.”
Since some of her students are working from home, they have more time to ride and are “super eager to do anything at this point; they’re very motivated.” She hopes they can compete at Plantation Field in Pennsylvania June 6 and 7. However, she added, those organizers won’t get word from that state until Tuesday as to whether their competition is a go.
Megan Kepferle, who had a blast riding Anakin in the Advanced section at Essex last year, was hoping the event could go; she was looking forward to running there again.
“We were all crossing our fingers and toes; we were getting a little excited,” said the trainer who runs a stable in Long Valley. Then came the letdown.
“Now that Essex is gone, she said, she doesn’t know what to prepare for.
“I think at this point, we’re all just rolling with the punches.”
The cancellation of Essex brings up the question of what will happen with the Far Hills Race Meeting, which is also held at Moorland. The October 17 steeplechase draws 30,000 people to a fixture that is as much social as it is sporting.
Guy Torsillieri, who co-chairs the race meeting with Ron Kennedy, said a decision will be made by Labor Day on whether the races can go this year.
He noted half of the reserved parking places already have been sold: “Everyone’s looking to have some sense of normalcy,” Guy pointed out.
If the races aren’t held, those who bought spots can get a tax deduction for letting the races keep the money (the event benefits six charities), the space can be held for next year, or a full refund is available.
Guy noted that “some sponsors have bailed, which is disappointing to me.” He said they were concerned about putting a lot of people closely together.
It will be decided by Labor Day if the Far Hills Races can go. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
He and Ron are looking at options to use Moorland more than twice a year, so they are considering both horse-related and non-related activities. Stay tuned on that one.
Meanwhile, Princeton Show Jumping in Skillman has had to cancel its June 7 and June 21 shows, because the state isn’t allowing outdoor non-contact organized sports until June 22. Demand is such that they got 750 entry requests for the June 7 date (the show can only handle 325 in one day).
So Princeton’s season now starts with June 24-28 and July 1-5 Level 4 jumper shows with outreach hunters and equitation. Pending USEF approval, AA Premier, C- Rated hunters, and National Equitation classes will be added to those shows.
The opening of hunter/jumper showing in New Jersey had been eagerly awaited. Colts Neck-based trainer Max Amaya was set to ship 29 horses to the June 7 Princeton show.
“It is unfortunate, because everybody is waiting to get going, and some states have loosened their restrictions and are allowed to do some showing. It is a little discouraging, but we want to keep positive and do more training at home.”
Max Amaya at Stonehenge Stables in Colts Neck. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
He feels badly for Princeton organizer Andrew Philbrick, citing the effort his crew has put into the show. Now Max will start the summer season for his riders at the Tryon, N.C., International Equestrian Center in June and come back to the Princeton shows in July.
“It’s a little bit of a setback, but the reality is there will be some obstacles on the way back to showing. It’s just the reality we’re living in. We just have to find solutions and do in a positive way what is the best in the situation we’re in,” Max said.
Princeton’s Summer Classic Charity Horse Shows begin with a welcome July 8-13, followed by shows July 15-19, July 22-26 and July 29-Aug. 2.
Andrew said he thought his June 7 show would be good to go because the governor’s stay at home order expired June 6. Once word about the June 22 date for organized sports came out, however, he said of the June one-day shows, “I couldn’t figure out how to make it comply,” even though competing on a 110-acre property, “is probably putting you at less risk than grocery shopping.”
He added the shutdown of showing has affected the entire industry.
For stable owners, he noted, “it’s incredibly hard to pay bills off (horse) board alone, and added some people aren’t even paying for their horses’ care.
Andrew pointed out that everyone from judges, water truck drivers, course designers, ingate people and many others have been out of work for more than three months in most instances.
So he’s looking forward to “getting the sport up and running in a safe and rational way.”
