by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 7, 2019
Call it Dr. Meg Sleeper’s version of the trifecta–or maybe just a self-styled hat trick.
Last weekend, the veterinary cardiologist rode three different home-bred horses, who are all related, to win 75-mile, 100-mile and 50-mile endurance competitions over the course of three days.
Meg Sleeper and Syrocco Madrigal, her up-and-coming horse. (Photo by Becky Pearman)
It was a total of 23 hours, 27 minutes and 27 seconds worth of riding for the 51-year-old equestrian from Kingwood Township. She was, understandably, “a little tired,” but had no after-effects from her long hours in the saddle, except for slightly sore abdominal muscles. And that was a good thing, she said, because it was proof she was “riding fairly balanced. I felt better than I thought I would, that’s for sure.”
Of course, she’s in fine shape, riding every day, as well as working out with weights and doing yoga to stay fit.
The event was former endurance world champion Val Kanavy’s Fun in the Sun FEI (international equestrian federation) fixture in Williston, Fla. Followers of the discipline suspect that no one has won endurance competitions three days in a row, but the records aren’t geared to searching for that kind of information.
At any rate, you don’t need the record books to know what Meg and her mounts did is a special achievement.
“I thought the horses were competitive and might go well, but I didn’t necessarily expect to win,” Meg revealed.
“I’ve done a 75-mile ride and a 100-mile ride back-to-back once before. That’s a lot of mileage, and I wasn’t sure could I do a 50 on the third day. But that’s what I did.”
She won the 75 with Syrocco Cadence, a 15-year-old. In the 100, it was Syrocco Rimbaud, a 13-year-old who is a veteran of the 2016 world championships in Slovakia, and for the 50, her winner was 8-year-old Syrocco Madrigal, “the horse I hope will be my up and coming horse,” said Meg.
Meg and Syrocco Rimbaud, her 100-mile winner. (Photo by Becky Pearman)
“This was the first time I asked her to see what she could really do,” she observed about Maddie.
“She has done 75-mile rides twice before, but I never asked her to do much more than trot. She was great. It was a really hot weekend (in the low 80s) down here. It required some pacing and being cognizant of the humidity (which was 100 percent one day). She cantered the last loop and was happy to do it, so I was really pleased.”
Meg noted it was interesting “when you compare it to something like Tryon,” the aborted 2018 world championships at the FEI World Equestrian Games in North Carolina.
These are unsettled times on the endurance scene, following the disaster of that WEG endurance, which eventually was cancelled because of weather conditions but had all sorts of problems, beginning with mass confusion at the start.
In terms of the weather, in countries such as the U.S., Australia and South Africa, “We’re used to these conditions, the heat and humidity, and you ride accordingly,” Meg observed.
“One of the things that happens in those kind of events, depending on the country, some riders are used to cantering from point A to point B. Then you give them a rest and go from Point B to Point C. You really can’t really do that in the Southeast. Most U.S. riders don’t ride that way. To me, the goal of endurance is to ride as fast as you can, safely. Depending on the conditions, it may be mostly walk-trot. I think it’s interesting how different the sport is depending on where you are in the world.”
Syrocco Cadence, the 75-mile winner. (Photo by Becky Pearman)
There were three loops. For the 75, riders did two of them twice and for the 100, they did three of them twice .
“We’ve had a very wet year here, so there were sections of trail that were wet, and then a lot of sections that were quite nice,” said Meg.
“Val designed the trail and did a nice job making it as good as it possibly could be.”
She added, “There’s a lot of luck that goes into it. Each horse had a good day and it doesn’t get any better than that. I had a lot of support and a lot of well-wishes since, and that’s been really mind-blowing.”
Meg is usually pointing toward a world championship, but with the current uncertainty in the sport, it’s a different story. The FEI has a “temporary committee” that is trying to figure out what to do with endurance, while the American Endurance Ride Conference has voted to terminate its affiliate relationship with the U.S. Equestrian Federation at the end of the year.
Meg Sleeper’s immediate goal is to enjoy her horses. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
So as Meg sees it, “Right now, my main goal is just to enjoy the horses and have fun riding and competing. I’m just going to sit back, at least for the next few months, and see what happens.”
However, she was just named to the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Endurance Sport Committee. That appointment will remain in place until, or if, a new endurance affiliate is approved by the federation’s board, at which point the it would revert to the affiliate.
Areas of focus for the committee include clearly defining pathways for athletes within the sport, growing the sport of endurance within the U.S., and building a strong base at the national level for endurance athletes to expand into international levels of competition.
Meanwhile, USEF announced it will offer its inaugural Endurance National Championships at the 2019 North American Endurance Championship, hosted by Central Florida Horse Shows Nov. 14-16 at the Broxton Bridge Plantation in Ehrhardt, S.C.
Top U.S. endurance combinations will vie for USEF national champion and reserve honors at the event, which offers open 1- and 2-star competitions, along with junior and young rider divisions at those levels. There also will be an unofficial FEI team competition open to squads from the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 9, 2019
WELLINGTON, Fla.—Watching a 20-year-old horse competing in the Western Hemisphere’s only 5-star-rated dressage show is pretty impressive, but when he does more than just participate, it’s really remarkable.
If you didn’t know the age of Elmegardens Marquis, you never would have guessed it from the way he performed last night in the Grand Prix Special at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival.
Joanne Vaughan and a youthful 20-year-old Elmegardens Marquis in the Special. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I always say he’s like a wine, he just keeps getting better,” enthused owner/rider Joanne Vaughan from atop her lively bay gelding, whose neck was draped with a huge yellow third-place ribbon. His total was 66.511 percent, scoring impressive marks of 8 for passage and transitions.
“I bought him as a 7-year-old and I said `this is a horse of a lifetime.’ I would like to tell all your readers, `never give up.’ Everyone told me, `Sell that horse, he’s crazy, he’s mad, you’ll kill yourself.’ But we kept going and I’m so glad we did. Things like tonight make it all worthwhile.”
Early on, the Danish-bred son of Michellino was such a wild child—his first rider fell off nearly every day–that putting him down seemed like the only option for his future. But then the owners decided, “let’s just sell him” and luckily for Max, as he’s known, Joanne came along to purchase him.
“No one would get on him, not even my trainer,” she recalled, but Joanne was not discouraged. The way he felt when she rode him intrigued her and she said, “I love him, I have to have him.”
In the end, persistence paid off, though it was rough in the beginning.
“They know me at Wellington Memorial (Hospital),” she chuckled.
He’s still a firecracker with a reputation to match, however. In fact, Joanne confided before going into the victory ceremony she had worried about what he would do during his first experience under the lights in front of a crowd. “I thought we might end up back at the stable,” she admitted.
He was a perfect gentleman, though she wisely skipped the honor round when he got a little antsy during the awards ceremony.
But she said he’s a different horse since he’s been on a feed program from Kentucky Equine Research, and over the years put together the pieces of her jigsaw puzzle, the right trainer (Ulf Möller), the right bitting, the right tack.
Joanne, who rides for Georgia (the Republic, not the state) is hoping to qualify for this summer’s European Championships. Max was ridden on the gold medal British team in the 2011 Europeans with Emile Faurie. He also was reserve for the British team in the 2012 London Olympics, until it was decided “he was too unpredictable.”
How long can Max keep going?
“I always say I’m ready to retire him as soon as he tells me he doesn’t want to do this anymore,” said Joanne, but at the moment, it doesn’t look as if he’ll be heading out to pasture anytime soon.
The Special was won by Adrienne Lyle with Salvino, her mount from the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games silver medal team. Why, you might ask, was he in the Special instead of the freestyle? She needs the practice because at the 2020 Olympics, the Special will determine team medals. The Grand Prix, which comes before the Special on the schedule, will only be used as a qualifier.
We did it! Adrienne Lyle let Salvino know he was a winner after his performance in the Grand Prix Special. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I’m so happy with his attitude,” said Adrienne, contending Betsy Juliano’s stallion is “enjoying every minute of it.” That was reflected in her score of 73.574 percent as she finished ahead of Shelly Francis on Danilo (70.468).
“He’s a very athletic horse with a ton of scope, which is wonderful, but I need to learn how to keep it exactly where I want it,” she said, pointing out that his scope and the looseness of his movement have both pluses and minuses.
“At times, it’s been like riding an octopus, trying to get all the legs underneath you in one place. He’s starting to really understand his work and feel confident that he can do what I ask every time,” she said.
It definitely was Adrienne’s day at Global, as she also won the qualifier for the 3-star Grand Prix Special (the show offered 1-star, 3-star and 5-star classes) with Harmony’s Duval in his first CDI (international competition). He came out of a field in Colorado, selected by Bob McDonald, husband of U.S. dressage coach Debbie McDonald, who is Adrienne’s mentor.
“We’ve had him since he was five years old and just getting saddle-broke. It’s been quite a journey He has super talent, he does all the hard stuff really easily. It’s just getting him a little more relaxed and rideable and getting him more exposure in these big stadiums,” said Adrienne, who won the 3-star Special itself this afternoon with Duval on 72.851 percent..
Harmony’s Duval can handle a pirouette nicely under Adrienne Lyle’s guidance. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
The American-bred Dutchwarmblood by Rousseau, who is owned by a syndicate, got a grant to go and compete in Europe this summer.
The freestyle, the featured event last night, drew only six horses, since many riders are trying to figure out a way to do the new requirement of three qualifiers for the FEI World Cup finals and still ride in other classes at Global.
Canada’s Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu won the Grand Prix Freestyle, as she did with the qualifier the day before on All In. The freestyle is the last competition for Brittany until after she has her baby in June.
The timing means she won’t be available to help her teammates at this summer’s Pan American Games qualify for a place at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. But she’s hoping to go to Tokyo if Canada makes the cut. She has demonstrated a style that would make her a must for the Tokyo team.
Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu wasn’t riding alone when she won the Grand Prix Freestyle on All In. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Her freestyle had a high degree of difficulty, highlighted by as many combinations as she could do, along with a lot of transitions in an effort to get more bonus points.
She was marked at 76.250 percent, to 75.705 percent for runner-up Katherine Bateson-Chandler on Alcazar (75.705), who has been a long-running project for his American rider. Third place went to a horse that is still developing, Ballentines 10, ridden by Christoph Koschel of Germany. It was the horse’s first freestyle and first time under the lights.
“I’m so proud of him that he was behaving so well and was so with me. I think there’s a lot of potential for the future,” Christoph said.
Ballentines 10 and Christoph Koschel. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
I agree. I see the potential in the 11-year-old Hanoverian. I asked Christoph if he’s thinking about Tokyo, and he pointed out that for him, it’s not so easy, because he’s from Germany and there’s such an abundance of talent there that also will be trying for a team spot.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 8, 2018
By Nancy Jaffer
December 8, 2018
While the holidays are an occasion for celebration, at the same time, they offer an opportunity to polish memories. We think of those who are no longer with us, recall cherished moments with our horses and reminisce about eras that live on only in our hearts.
Few are better at calling up times gone by than Judy Richter, whose new book, “The Kitten’s Cooler and Other Stories,” is a real treat. While it’s filled with tales that include a variety of big names—both human and equine–that you’ll recognize, from George Morris, Bertalan de Nemethy and Norman Dello Joio to Johnny’s Pocket, Gaelic and Glasgow, Judy’s mastery as a storyteller also is evident in pieces about the many quirky folks she’s met along the way. You may not have heard of such characters as Bootstrap Jerry and Floyd van Alstyne, but you’ll never forget them after reading Judy’s treatment. She finds the humor in situations, but also tends to treat her subjects with respect.
If you’re a hunter/jumper person, you need no introduction to Judy. She’s a noted rider/trainer as well as an author with several other books to her credit. Horses are her heritage. Her father, Philip Hofmann, was a noted four-in-hand driver who became a founder of the U.S. Combined Training Association and her sister, Carol Hofmann Thompson, enjoyed a reputation as a stellar show jumper who rode for the U.S. Equestrian Team.
Judy Hofmann Richter and her sister, Carol Hofmann Thompson at the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame dinner. (Photo©by Nancy Jaffer)
The book’s title comes from the time Judy visited Carol’s widower, J. Willard Thompson, after his wife’s passing. To make her feel at home, Willard put a wool cooler on the brass bedstead in the guestroom at Quiet Winter Farm in Colts Neck. The cooler had belonged to The Kitten, one of Carol’s great horses, and was always by the bed when Judy came to stay with her sister. Willard, who sadly left us last month, had put out the cooler so Judy could sleep under it and bring back the past in her dreams. And now she brings back the past for her readers.
Although Judy had written the “Between Rounds” column for The Chronicle of the Horse, her writing really took off when she enrolled in a course taught by Steve Schnur at Sarah Lawrence College. She has taken the course from Steve, a magazine editor, for 20 years, missing only two semesters.
Early on, she received an A-minus on a story about a horse who had a “93” brand on his shoulder.
“The class loved the story and that got me going,” she recounted.
While those familiar with the Somerset Hills of New Jersey where Judy grew up will particularly enjoy the book, she also goes into great detail about the horse country of Westchester County, N.Y., the location of her Coker Farm, and details her time in Vermont, another place where she has spent a lot of time over the decades.
Judy acknowledges in her new book’s final chapter, “Lamington Farm Remembered,” that the days are long gone when she galloped around with her sister and friends at one of her favorite spots in Bedminster. Not only is Lamington Farm now the site of the Trump International Golf Club, but as she ruefully noted, “We are no longer carefree girls, but careful old ladies.”
The entrance to the Trump National Golf Club at what used to be Lamington Farm. (Photo©2018 by Nancy Jaffer)
As she points out, “`Progress’ has dictated that open countryside become suburbia or even urban sprawl, but nothing can spoil the view from the top of the hill where the double white chicken coops used to be. If nowhere else, it’s in my mind’s eye forever.” And also in the mind of the reader, who can ride with her in the chapter, jumping back and forth over the post and rail fences, as well as dozens of those chicken coops.
With this book, available at www.amazon.com, Judy said she was trying to bring readers “an appreciation of the horses and the life we enjoy with horses. How great it is.”
Another book perfect for reading while there is some down time from the shows over the holidays is Frank Waters’, “The Golden Age of Show Jumping.” While it’s heavy on British riders, such as Harvey Smith, Caroline Bradley (who developed the great Milton before her death), David Broome, and many others that the horse show announcer knew personally, he also was well-acquainted with plenty of Olympic medalist Americans who were stars in the past, among them Mary and Frank Chapot, Bill Steinkraus and Neal Shapiro.
Frank Chapot in a familiar pose–as a winner.
Frank, who also has a background in riding and training, always has the inside scoop and makes those he writes about come alive. So even if all the names are not familiar, their stories will capture your attention and you’ll get a fascinating equestrian history lesson.
This one also is available at Amazon—what isn’t? Think books when you’re shopping for someone who appreciates the equestrian scene.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 25, 2018
By Nancy Jaffer
Nov. 25, 2018
Joining the ranks of such legends as eventing stalwart Giltedge, Olympic double-gold medal show jumper Touch of Class and dressage star Brentina on the pages of history is a tall order for any horse. But joining their ranks in the historic stable at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation (uset.org) is easier to do—for those who can afford to make it happen.
Naming a stall at the barn in Gladstone after a favorite horse runs $100,000 for the top floor of the building and $50,000 for the lower floor, but the tax-deductible charitable contribution goes for more than just a bronze plaque. While paying tribute to a horse, the donation–payable over a multi-year period–is put toward the foundation’s mission. That involves funding competition, training, coaching, travel and educational needs of the country’s elite and developing horses and athletes for international competition, in partnership with the U.S. Equestrian Federation.
Madison pauses with Kent Farrington in the rotunda of the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation stables on the way to a stall that will bear her name. (Photo©2018 by Nancy Jaffer)
The stall-naming program has been going for a while, but the foundation wanted to highlight it as part of the organization’s current fundraising campaign.
“It’s a wonderful way for people to honor and celebrate special horses in their lives and be a part of the team at the same time,” explained Bonnie Jenkins, the foundation’s executive director. Any horse can be honored by a donor who feels they are deserving of recognition, even if they simply were a great friend and had never won a ribbon. There is no requirement for them ever to have been ridden on the team or stabled in Gladstone.
But to kick off the program’s revival, the stellar former grand prix show jumper Madison visited the stall named in her honor this month, trailering down from her retirement home in Connecticut with her owners, the Weeks family. It set the stage for a fond reunion with her former rider, Kent Farrington, who has been ranked the number one show jumper in the world.
Madison searches for carrots on the table where her stall plaque is displayed. (Photo©2018 by Nancy Jaffer)
Bill Weeks feels a connection with the stable from which the U.S. fielded so many medal-winning teams. He recalled bringing his daughters, Whitney and Alexa, there for the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals East.
“I love the building and history,” said Bill, who is vice president of the foundation’s trustees.
He noticed in the past when he walked around the stable that horses had been honored with stall plaques, and the concept clicked with him.
“I thought it was fitting to do for Madison and Kent and to support the USET Foundation at the same time. The first time I came here, I was kind of in awe of the facility. The young riders who compete here in the Talent Search get their first exposure to the facility and I think it stays with them,” Bill observed.
Madison, now 22, has an interesting back story.
“She was not bought as a grand prix horse. She was bought to do the junior jumpers,” Bill noted.
But when Kent’s grand prix horse went lame while he was at a show in Raleigh, N.C. he turned to then- seven-year-old Madison, who went on to win both grands prix at the show. He was, he conceded, “a little surprised,” but that started her career in the big time.
“Every day she showed us she could do more all the way up until competing at the highest level representing the U.S. It’s amazing how high she went with Kent,” Bill said.
Kent and Madison took a moment for a selfie. (Photo©2018 by Nancy Jaffer)
“No matter what, she always tried,” Kent commented after getting into the stall at the foundation with Madison, who obviously remembered him. The two even got close for a selfie.
While Madison was funny about her mouth when Kent started with her, often throwing her head up at an awkward angle, he found a way to bring her to her full potential.
“A lot of it was slow work, and taking the time to train and practice,” he said.
She was, he explained, “a trier, a real fighter in the ring. Horses can overcome a lot of other faults just because they have heart.”
In 2005, he and Madison took the grand prix at the Devon Horse Show and then topped the President’s Cup at the Washington International, where Kent also was leading jumper rider during his first time in the professional ranks there. He ended 2005 by winning the American Grand Prix Association Trainer of the Year title, as Madison won the AGA Horse of the Year honors.
Kent Farrington and Madison on their way to winning the 2005 U.S. Open Jumper Championship. ((Photo©2005 by Nancy Jaffer)
Madison competed for the U.S. at the 2006 FEI World Cup Finals in Kuala Lumpur, but she wasn’t herself after the long trip there. So Kent dropped out after the first leg, opting instead for an extra day’s rest and then the non-Cup grand prix, which she won in typical style.
Since her retirement at age 16, Madison had two fillies via embryo transplant. Both are now four and jumping little courses; Elsa is by Elvis ter Putte and Nadia is by Nabob de Reve. Madison, who had been living in Belgium, returned to the U.S. this autumn.
“We felt very fortunate she was able to retire safely and happily,” said Alexa, who is married to Brazilian Olympic individual gold medalist, world champion and three-time World Cup titleist Rodrigo Pessoa, now coach of the Irish show jumping team. He rode Madison at the end of her career.
Madison, handling retirement as easily as she handled competition, “is a great herd animal,” said Alexa.
“She absolutely loves being out in the field with all of her buddies. Some show jumpers don’t retire well. She’s retired really well.”
As far as naming a stall for her, Alexa said, “She definitely deserves the recognition, because she was such a special horse for both Kent and I. We each won grands prix on her,” she pointed out, noting it’s unusual for a horse to do well with both an amateur and a professional.
Kent flew up from Florida for the day to see Madison get her stall plaque. He’s incredibly busy, as always, and about to take off for Europe, but was happy to take the time to pay tribute to her.
“She was the first horse I rode on the U.S. team, (my) first horse to win a 5-star grand prix and it was sort of a catalyst for my career,” he explained after greeting the mare fondly.
“Whenever anyone asks about my most significant grand prix win, I always say it was winning my first 5-star grand prix with her. It was the only five-star in America then and it was on the grass. She was a horse I brought up from when she was young and had gone all the steps with her to get to that level. At every level, she was always competitive and a winner with multiple riders. That says a lot about the horse. Every time we asked her to do something bigger, she always answered.
Madison is escorted to her stall by Kent Farrington with Alexa Weeks Pessoa and Olivia and Bill Weeks. (Photo©2018 by Nancy Jaffer)
He pointed out, “I started with my own business when I was 21, it was a lot to take on at such a young age. I had an amazing horse who could win and really put me on the map. Her intelligence was probably her strongest attribute. When you taught her something, she retained it. She knew the job, she figured out the sport, like a lot of the great horses. She was always super reliable.”
Kent rode at the foundation headquarters a couple of times in his youth, once in the Talent Search, once in a George Morris clinic, and has visited on several occasions since.
“It’s an amazing place. I’m still really impressed when I walk in here now. There’s a lot of history here and it’s a beautiful stable,” he said, before looking at the historic photos archived in the stable’s upstairs trophy room.
Kent is generally all business. To do what he’s done, you have to stay focused. But he is not one to forget a good turn, and he got a bit sentimental as he talked about Madison and her owners.
“The horse and the Weeks family were really an amazing start to my career. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to get where I am today; certainly not as fast. They took a big chance on me when I was really young to give me that kind of opportunity.
“I’m very proud about what it evolved into and very grateful for all the support and the relationship that we still have today. They were always very generous, that was always their approach,” he said, when asked about their decision to donate for a stall on the stable’s top floor.
“That’s also why they were so supportive of me,” Kent mused. “They saw that I worked hard and they wanted to give me a chance.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 22, 2018
By Nancy Jaffer
November 22, 2018
It was 23 degrees this morning when the Essex Fox Hounds started assembling for their Thanksgiving hunt. I expected a small field of riders and figured only a few spectators would show up. Wrong and wrong.
The folks who drove out to Ellistan in Peapack to watch appeared in their usual number; there were several hundred on hand.
Here’s another view.
The riders came out in force, though several wore scarves over their faces to ward off the chill.
Watching the hunt is a tradition that started decades ago when Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was a member of Essex, and people gathered to catch a glimpse of her. She has been gone for decades, but habits are hard to break. For many people in the area, a visit to the Essex meet is as much a part of the day as the turkey and stuffing. As for the cold? “It’s fine when you’re in the sun,” one bundled woman told me.
And then there were the hot toddies, with folks lined up to get a cup of the steaming beverage. For the kids, there was hot chocolate, and they took advantage of it.
Many of those who attend don’t have a chance to spend time with horses. Some may never have even been close to a horse. So it’s a nice opportunity to reach out and touch a friendly equine. Essex works with the Countryside Alliance of the Somerset Hills, which encourages conservation and an appreciation of nature.
The hunt moved off, led by Huntsman Bart Poole and a pack of eager hounds. Although the area is less than an hour from New York City, it is beautifully preserved, with lovely fields, stunning homes that fit into the landscape and plenty of places to gallop.
There’s always a four-in-hand as part of the festivities. It adds to the elegance of the occasion.
Starting off with a little jump gives bystanders an opportunity to take out their cellphones and catch the moment on video.
Look at this horse’s breath. You can tell it’s a frosty day.
Wild turkeys have made a comeback in the Northeast. This one was spending a peaceful Thanksgiving, nowhere near cranberry sauce or stuffing.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 18, 2018
November 18, 2018
New Jersey riders and trainers made their mark at the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan®, winning an array of championships and reserves across a wide range of divisions. The show at the Kentucky Horse Park drew an impressive 387 competitors from 42 states for a shot at $100,000 in prize money and end-of-season glory.
Bridget Hay, who breeds her own mounts at her Hunterdon County farm, took the Intermediate II Open Championship on Faolan, an Oldenburg stallion. Faolan (Freestyle x Wyoming by Weltstern) is the full brother of Bridget’s Fitzhessen, who sadly died young. Faolan has proven to be a worthy successor, who took his title with a score of 67.794 percent.
Bridget Hay on Faolan. (Photo copyright 2018 by Susan J. Stickle)
“We’re both new to this level and we’re still gaining experience, but he’s unflappable so the atmosphere wasn’t really a concern for me,” said Bridget.
“He tries his heart out in the ring, and I was thrilled with him. He gives me everything. I don’t think I’ve ever smiled so much in a ride in my life. I just love this horse.”
Bridget’s close friend, Alice Tarjan of Oldwick, was a big winner. She earned the Intermediate II Adult Amateur division with a 69.069 percent on her 8-year old Hanoverian Candescent (Christ x Farina by Falkenstern II), then went on to take the Grand Prix Adult Amateur Championship (64.203 percent) with the mare.
“I’m thrilled, because she’s a young horse and the quality keeps getting better and better,” said Alice.
She bought Candescent with the idea of joining her friends who do show jumping, eventing and fox hunting. She was looking for a black horse with white socks, a favorite combination since her Somerset Hills Pony Club days with her quirky first horse, Licorice, who was marked that way. Candescent, who came out of the Hanoverian auction as a four-year-old, “she was quite sour when I got her and not so easy to ride,” she recalled.
“Then as we got going, it became clear she would be best as a dressage horse, so here we are. Even though it’s her first year at this level, so it’s still a work in progress, she does all the movements really well and now it’s just improving the transitions and consistency,” Alice said.
Alice Tarjan had many wins this year on Candescent, including Dressage at Devon, where she competed six weeks before the U.S. finals. (Photo©2018 by Nancy Jaffer)
She rode different horses in the Third Level Adult Amateur Championship. Alice was champion with a mark of 75.043 percent on her seven-year-old Oldenburg mare,m Donatella M (Furstenball x Dorina by Jazz Time) and reserve at 74.017 percent with her six-year-old Dutch warmblood stallion, Harvest (Connaisseur x Naomi by Ulft).
Donatella started her day by taking offense to a Kentucky Horse Park police horse and got so upset she was rearing in the warmup.
“But then once she was in the ring, she was fine,” commented Alice. “Harvest is such an incredibly good boy and very different from Donatella. He’s like a computer: whatever you put in is what you get out. There’s nothing lost in translation. He’s so straightforward – you just kick, he grunts, and off he goes.”
Alice is an extremely well-educated amateur, who knows how to pick young horses and bring them along.
“When I look for a horse, I have a certain type and presence that I like, and I know it when I see it. Then I enjoy teaching them how to show off the brilliance that’s inside of them, and I do it by focusing on bringing out movement, not necessarily dwelling on correctness of technique. It may be a little different way of approaching things, but it works for me.”
Reserve in the Grand Prix Open Freestyle Championship went to veteran trainer Heather Mason of Lebanon with her 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Warsteiner (Riverman-ISF x Welona by Roemer) on 71.542 percent.
“He was super, I’m so happy with him,” Heather noted. “He’s just a lot of fun. His energy level was good – we did 22 one-tempi’s, and I stopped counting the two’s.”
Heather took the Intermediate I Open Championship with a score of 72.157 percent on her 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding Romantico SF (Romancero H x Wesermelodie by Wenzel I), a fighter who won a battle for his life.
“He was laid up for a year with an injury, and I only had about two rides on him when he went in for colic surgery the week after I returned home from last year’s Finals,” Mason remembered. “But amazingly, here we are. He’s not an easy horse, which is how I originally ended up with him for just $1. He’s back and better than ever.”
In addition, Romantico won the Prix St. Georges open with a score of 69.926.
Heather also owns homebred Nicene (Nimbus x Pamela by Portofino) ridden at the championships by Alexsandra Krossen of Basking Ridge. Alexsandra was there when the now-six-year-old Oldenburg mare was foaled, a relationship that has matured to great effect. She won the reserve championship in the Second Level Adult Amateur Freestyle with 69.533 percent, and the championship in the First Level Adult Amateur Freestyle with 72.700 percent.
Alexsandra Krossen on Nicene. (Photo by Jennifer Keeler)
“We’ve choreographed her freestyle to suit her strengths,” said Alexsandra.
“She was the first foal I ever saw born, but I never thought I’d ride her because she was not an easy baby. She is a chestnut mare in every sense of the word. But she is also a worker when you ride her and usually doesn’t put a foot wrong.”
The points Heather’s horses earned at the championships put her at the head of the class in the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Leading Dressage Owner standings—even in front of Betsy Juliano, who owns Adrienne Lyle’s FEI World Equestrian Games mount, Salvino, among her other horses.
Amy Gimbel of Tewksbury made a triumphant return to the championships with the U.S. bred mare, Eye Candy (UB-40 x Wednesday by Weltmeyer.)
“After Regionals two years ago, I was looking forward to coming back to the Finals after doing so well in both 2014 and 2015. But one day she came in from the field and wasn’t quite right. What we thought was cellulitis ended up being a much bigger issue, with a serious injury to her foot. We spent the winter hand-walking and she was laid up for eight months. It took so much time and patience, all the while wondering if she’d ever be able to come back. But here we are finally, and I feel so lucky to be here,” she said.
They won the Fourth Level Freestyle Adult Amateur Championship with 71.467 percent and also took reserve in the Fourth Level Adult Amateur Championship with 67.407 percent. “She can be a little sassy and sometimes I never know where that sass will come out, so we built our freestyle to allow for some flexibility,” Amy pointed out about the Dutch warmblood.
