by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 20, 2021
The Jersey Fresh International three-day event will not be held in 2022, even though the Horse Park of New Jersey trustees had voted to stage it one last time.
Under the new U.S. Equestrian Federation eventing calendar process, it lost its 4-star Long and Short designations for 2023-2027 as it was not granted those divisions, or the 3-star Long it previously hosted.
“Understandably, it was hard for our incredible sponsors, who have been so critical to our event over the years, to commit to supporting an event that they knew was quite literally on its last legs,” stated Adam Furlong, president of the park’s board of trustees.
“If the governing body of our sport has determined that this event should not be permitted to continue, what message does that send to our sponsors about the value of their investment in our sport,” he asked.
“The Park does not have the financial flexibility to operate the event at a loss, nor are we willing to compromise the integrity of the event by drastically cutting expenses,” he observed.
“It went so well in 2021, why run something less good in 2022,” wondered Jane Cory, co-organizer of the event with cross-country course designer Morgan Rowsell.
USEF didn’t waste any time following the Jersey Fresh cancellation–it has opened a one week bid process that runs through Oct. 29 to fill Jersey’s space on the calendar for an event that could host an East Coast 4-star L May 17-19, in 2022 only.
The Tryon, N.C., Spring International, one of only six events in the U.S. to be awarded a 4-star Long for 2023-27, will be on the May weekend before the dates USEF is seeking to fill. Many competitors who previously came to New Jersey obviously will be going south instead. Venues with more bells and whistles than the Horse Park had an edge, and that includes not only Tryon, but also the new TerraNova facility in Myakka City, Fla., east of Sarasota, which has never held a horse trials but whose management is investing heavily in its event.
“This is the trend. It takes a lot of money to do it,” observed Jane.
She acknowledged the Horse Park has some weaknesses, but noted organizers worked hard to overcome them. The footing is not the artificial material that is found at the “name” facilities, and the stabling is far from fancy. But a footing expert was hired for Jersey Fresh to show how to maintain the rings with the footing they have. She noted there have been no complaints from others using the facility, including dressage riders who are known for being picky about where their horses tread.
Carol Kozlowski, a former president of the U.S. Eventing Association and a member of the USEF board, observed “these riders get so wrapped up in footing and then go to Europe and you’re competing on grass.”
She noted that while many consider it “a cool thing to run FEI events, the lower levels become something of an afterthought,” though they can pad the budgets of a big event with their fees.
Adam mentioned that the trustees have “been enthusiastic in approving new investments into the Park as we can afford them, and will continue to meet the needs of all equestrian sports that operate at our facility. We recognize that the Horse Park is in need of improvements in the ring footing and stabling, and we are actively working to raise the funds necessary to make these investments.
“In recent years, JFI has had enough success to allow profits to be invested back into the park and into the event. Had the process of awarding dates played out differently, we may have still been able to operate the event in 2022 and make more money to be invested back into our facility.”
The park was granted an Advanced designation by USEF for its horse trials at the end of June, and Jane doesn’t know if something special might be done for that competition in lieu of Jersey Fresh. Will Connell, the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s director of sport, said he hopes “Jersey Fresh stays on the calendar in some form or another.”
Explaining the need to reorganize the eventing calendar, he said it was in such a state that the only option was to “call a half-halt” and closely examine what needed to be done by a committee under the leadership of Olympic cross-country designer Derek DiGrazia.
The 4-star Long is “a major qualification to go 5-star,” Will pointed out, noting that a horse “can only compete in so many in a year.”
The 5-stars, in turn, are crucial in preparing teams for global competitions such as the Olympics and world championships. The committee had to look at the spacing between competitions to make sure high-level competitions did not flood the calendar . The events need to know they can get enough riders to make their events viable.
There are fewer top-level competitors in eventing than show jumping, where there are huge numbers of entries in Florida during the winter, with enough exhibitors to fill three major circuits and a couple of minor ones. Show jumpers also can compete more often than eventing horses.
Will said the choice of location for the 4-star Longs have “nothing to do with elitism. We want all of our events at that level to be the very best.”
He said an event with the 3-star Short division and below was not affected by the calendar change and “carries on,” which is an option for the Horse Park.
The Horse Park event, known for its great footing on cross-country, definitely has its fans. Pennsylvania-based Boyd Martin, winner of the Jersey Fresh 4-star L this year with Luke 140, maintained, “Jersey’s always been a special event, especially for everyone up in this region. It would be sad to see Jersey go, but I still think it’s a venue that could thrive on a championship event, horse trials, there’s been so much hard work put into developing the course.”
Boyd Martin on his victory lap at Jersey Fresh 2021.
Erik Duvander, the USEF eventing performance director, said, “I think the venue has a real good purpose for the short formats. They do a really good job there. It was always a little hard for them to get the distances and so on in the long format. I really, really wish they keep going, because I love the venue myself and in the short format, it’s a very important part of what we do.”
Jersey Fresh was started in 2003 by Debbie Adams, a professional from Medford, because a 2-star (now designated as a 3-star by the FEI) was needed in the area following the demise of the Essex Horse Trials in Gladstone after its 1998 edition (Essex was revived four years ago in Far Hills.)
“The Horse Park is a multi-purpose place with so many activities during the year; that’s why we picked it,” Debbie said. But she noted as the sport is evolving, it gave rise to Tryon, the Jockey Club in Ocala and other more glamorous locations, including Morven Park, that were able to invest a lot of money in their facilities.
Debbie said coming up with the event’s name was easy, because it reflected the importance of agriculture in New Jersey. She bowed out of the event management after two years when the Horse Park took over running it, but she often attended the competition.
“It’s tough putting a 4-star together because of the distance and length of the course; it’s hard for smaller properties to host it,” she commented. .
Adam Furlong believes that the Horse Park “will adapt and overcome. We have already had some really exciting conversations about what we plan to do in the future years, and we hope to be able to share that good news soon.
“We remain committed to developing and growing the larger sport of equestrian within the state of New Jersey, and that certainly includes eventing. We are confident that our next actions will reflect that commitment, and the Park will continue to be a facility that sees former, current, and future world champions compete on the property.”
Toward that end, Adam said, “We are going to follow up with USEF directly about the process and hopefully find a solution that is committed to developing the sport of eventing in the U.S., and particularly in the Northeast and insuring there is that pipeline for that next generation of world championship riders.”
He offered “one final thank you to the organizers, volunteers, and sponsors that have (been) integral to Jersey Fresh. The event could not have been possible without the love, grit and determination that went into JFI for the past 20 years. We know that we will make the supporters of JFI proud of what comes next.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 7, 2021
There is concern about the future of Dressage at Devon, though you might not have thought so after seeing the crowd that packed the grandstands for Grand Prix night last Saturday
The U.S. Equestrian Federation Heritage Show is always popular with spectators from the area along Philadelphia’s Main Line, but in recent years, Dressage at Devon has sought help with financial issues.
“As a non-profit, we operate on a very strict budget. Given several hardships the show has weathered in the past decade, we are now in a position (where) we must ask you and our community for help,” stated a 2019 appeal for assistance from DAD.
Then came Covid. It made the situation even more difficult because the show, which started in 1975, couldn’t run in 2020.
This year, entries in some divisions were light due to a variety of circumstances, including the postponed 2020 Olympics and Aachen’s move from June/July to September, with the German show ending just nine days before Dressage at Devon began.
I asked D at D President/CEO Lori Kaminski whether there is any danger the show won’t continue.
“I don’t know, to be totally honest,” she replied, then quickly added, “I hope this show continues well into the future. It’s a well-loved show, especially to spectators and our breeders for the breed show.”
Dressage at Devon President/CEO Lori Kaminski. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
She pointed out it takes $750,000 annually to administer and run the show, which offers 1-star and 3-star international classes, as well as national competition and a breeding division, but she also offered a hopeful sign. For the first time, DAD had a title sponsor, the ShowPlus benefits program designed to reimburse equestrians for out-of-pocket costs that may not be covered by insurance.
Lori also was enthusiastic about the new “Shoppin’ in the USA” initiative for breeders to sell horses in a showcase after the breed show competition ended. It’s a way for people to see a number of horses in one place, as opposed to driving long distances to look at just one, and then going elsewhere to scout another. Lori also noted, “If you say your horse won the filly class (at DAD), that filly is going to command a little more money than one that either wasn’t shown or was shown at some little breed show.”
Canadians, usually a key contingent at DAD, won the featured Grand Prix Freestyle three years in a row through 2019. But this year, only two Canadians competed at the Grand Prix level, both in the Grand Prix Special, rather than the Freestyle that is a qualifier for the FEI World Cup final.
The Aachen date change “had us worried and it kind of proved itself true,” commented Lori. The Canadian team moved on to Aachen after the Olympics, and none of those riders appeared at Devon.
The Covid regulation situation that affected border crossings between the U.S. and Canada also probably played a role. That certainly was the case for Tanya Strasser-Shostak, who found herself dealing with her mother’s two horses as well as her own mount when her mom, Evi Strasser, couldn’t get across the border because of Covid red tape. (Click here for a link to her story).
Grand Prix Special winner Diane Creech of Ontario noted Covid made things more complicated and expensive for Canadians traveling to Pennsylvania, because of testing requirements and dealing with the timing of those test results.
Meanwhile, the strength of the Wellington, Fla., circuit and shows in Tryon, N.C., both presented by the same management, have meant a change in the dressage show calendar. Some people from the Northeast have moved south permanently; others leave earlier in the year than they used to, and may be preparing for an October getaway just when it’s time for Devon.
While DAD’s Small Tour classes filled very well, others–such as the juniors and Young Riders, had few entries. The Special attracted only four starters and the Freestyle had just six horses dancing to the music.
But for many of the spectators, 10 horses made for a full evening, when coupled with shopping and a vaulting exhibition.
Fans always turn out for the Freestyle on Saturday night at Dressage at Devon to watch combinations such as Jannike Gray and Giraldillo Cen. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Although the big names who once competed in the DAD freestyle, when the likes of a Lars Petersen (Succes), George Williams (Rocher) and Adrienne Lyle (Wizard), were no longer on the start list, the crowd came anyway.
Dr. Mary Stapleton, who has been meeting with 10 of her friends at the show “for at least 20 years,” called DAD “a seed of continuity amidst constant change. I’m not even aware of the big names anymore the way I used to be. It keeps me from having any preconceived notions. I’m enjoying the movement of the horses and I think you recognize excellence. This is poetry in motion.”
But U.S. Dressage Federation President Lisa Gorretta thinks it’s important for elite riders to participate.
She believes that at DAD “growth in the CDI (international classes), support from the high performance riders, is what has sustained it and been the shoring-up. The thing that makes Devon, Devon, and fills those stands are the international riders.
“When you have the World Cup in the U.S., you have to support it. When you have Dressage at Devon, to me, if you’re in this sport, you have a certain level of responsibility.”
It’s a complicated issue; U.S. Technical Advisor Debbie McDonald sees it a little differently.
“I understand where Lisa is coming from,” she said.
At the same time, Debbie pointed out, “Lisa has to understand with our top riders, they can only do so many shows in a year.”
With the postponed Olympics in the mix, “This was a very busy, hard year on our top horses. The timing of this show and where it is located makes it very difficult. I do not think riders have a responsibility to shows, only to their horses and what is right for them.”
From Lisa’s perspective, “Devon represents everything in the history of dressage in this country. It is one of our few really significant Heritage Competitions; other divisions (disciplines) have a lot of them. If you look at the photos of old Devon, the people who have been the movers and shakers in developing dressage in the U.S. all came through Devon. Even if they were from the West Coast, they still at some point competed at Devon.”
She added, “Everyone I have talked to without exception has said how important this competition is for the sporthorse breeders, for the CDI riders and exposure to international dressage in this part of the country. I would really hate to see not having Devon happen.”
Maryland-based Michael Bragdell, who won the Freestyle last weekend with Qredit Hilltop, loves the response of the crowd, part of the reason why DAD is special to him.
DAD Freestyle winner Michael Bragdell on Qredit Hilltop. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
“There’s so much history here, and under the lights, there’s no other place like it. It’s always a treat.”
International judge Linda Zang agrees, saying,.“I think it’s important to keep Devon. It’s the only CDI in this area.”
She thinks the absence of high-performance riders for the freestyle “has a lot to do with the strength of the Florida circuit. A lot of top trainers have gone south, that slowly takes away the base of making our riders. Everything’s there now.”
Even so, she emphasized, “There has got to be a way to keep this show going. It stands for the Northeast,” calling it part of the “inspiration cycle.”
She would like to see more sponsors, and have them increase prize money to help defray riders’ expenses “and give it (DAD) importance.”
But in any case, the importance of the show to its regular competitors can’t be overestimated.
Exhibitor Lauren Chumley, who brought nine horses to compete in both the breed and performance classes, called DAD “a destination. This is just the place to be; to show here and do well in this atmosphere, with the crowds and the vendors. Devon’s got a magic to it. It’s been around for so long and so many great horses have gone under those lights.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 4, 2021
New Jersey dressage competitors made quite an impact at the U.S. Equestrian Federation national championships last summer, and they proved over the weekend during ShowPlus Dressage at Devon that was no fluke.
Even though multiple national champion Alice Tarjan of Oldwick wasn’t riding in FEI classes at Devon, since her top horse just came home from the Aachen, Germany, show, the Garden State’s dressage strength was evident at the Heritage competition on Philadelphia’s Main Line. (Alice’s Ice Princess did win the Materiale Three-Year-Old Fillies and the USDFBCS Filly Final during the breed show.)
The busiest Jerseyan during D at D was trainer Lauren Chumley, who rode in 14 classes. She brought nine horses from her Pittstown stable, and handled eight of them, while her groom, Jessie Hayes, rode the other one. Lauren and Jessie split the chores involved with the care and grooming of the horse at the showgrounds.The workload doesn’t faze Lauren.
These are only some of the ribbons Lauren had on display by her stalls at Devon. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I have more energy than anyone I know,” stated the 37-year-old, who is also an eventer and competed in the American Eventing Championships during the summer.
At Devon, she had to get up at 4:30 a.m. in order to fit everything in. The array of ribbons by her stalls showed how successful she was, with big wins in the breeding section of the show, and nice prizes in the performance section.
“I love Devon. It’s my favorite show,” said Lauren, who has been coming to the iconic location for 14 years. Discussing some of the horses she brought, Lauren said, “They’re a little green but I thought they were ready to try this, dip their toe into the bigtime. I think it’s a really good place to take young horses under saddle.
“It’s a lot of atmosphere, but they have to get used to that if they’re going to go on to FEI and do big things. I can’t hide in my backyard.This is a destination. This is just the place to be, to show here and do well with the crowds and vendors…Devon’s got a magic to it.”
Lauren and Kyro. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Lauren just returned from her first trip to Aachen, where she groomed for Alice.
“That was amazing, but I’m still so excited about Devon. It’s a completely different kind of show.”
Lauren was thrilled about getting her first ribbon in a CDI, when Santa Barbara Dash took fourth in the Prix St. Georges.
“That’s a big deal to me,” she said
She won the Three-Year-Old Geldings Under Saddle with Notorious H20, bred by Kendra Hansis’ Running Water Warmbloods in Stockton (another Running Water horse, Fortunato H2O, won the Grand Championship and USDFBCS Five-Year-Old Materiale Championship for owner Lehua Custer).
Lauren also took the Materiale Four-Year-Old Test for stallions and geldings with Masterful Dream, who was the USDFBCS Four-Year Old Materiale Champion and won the USEF Four-Year-Old Test; the Materiale Five-Year-Old Mares with Leeloo Dallas and was second in Fourth Level Test 2 with Kyro, among other notable placings.
Lauren’s “life goal” is to compete at Devon in both the three-year-old class on the Tuesday and the Grand Prix under the lights on Saturday night.
“I think that would be so cool. You go to Europe, and you see the German A-team also showing in the stallion shows and the young horse shows,” she explained.
“That’s not how it works here. Europe has this formula riding three, four and five year olds and doing the Grand Prix at Aachen. I think it’s really cool to be a horseman and trainer, not just a rider of Grand Prix (horses) that somebody else trained. That’s what I’m trying to do, but I’ve got a long way to go.”
Other Jerseyans stood out in performance classes. Cesar Parra of Whitehouse Station won a very competitive 3-star Intermediate 1 class with a total of 70.981 percent on Belle Ami, by Bellissimo M. Marks over 70 percent were not freely given at this show, and two of the three judges put him at more than 71 percent for his efforts with the 12-year-old Westfalen mare owned by Brooke Centrella. He then went on to win the I-1 freestyle with 73.575 percent as the show came to an end..
He’s number one: Cesar Parra and Belle Ami. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Cesar worked with the mare when she was five, six and seven before Brooke took over. Then she passed the horse back to him this year. He qualified for Devon a few weeks ago at the Horse Park of New Jersey and noted proudly that Saturday’s class was only the third time he had ridden Belle Ami in a CDI.
“This is a good one,” he said, adding, “When she’s ready, I’m going to move her up.”
But he doesn’t want to rush, noting “at the very end for me, I’d rather have a wonderful sound Prix St. Georges (horse) than a nice Grand Prix lame. I can truly say it’s about the journey. At one point I think I was too much into the score. I care about scores, who doesn’t care, but it’s secondary to my horse is happy.”
He also won the FEI Young Horse Six-Year Old Finals with Fanta, scoring an 83.
Second place in both the 3-star I-1 and its freestyle went to Kim Herslow of Stockton with the Lusitano Elvis HI. She was marked in the first class on 68.921 percent for the horse she owns with Aileen Cascio.
Kim Herslow rocking with Elvis HI. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
At the USEF championships she learned that “definitely less warm-up is better. That’s huge. That’s the key to him.”
Replaying the first class, she said, “I wish I didn’t have the bobbles but I was trying to go for a little more expression, so you have that risk. In the freestyle, she earned 72.725 percent for her ride accompanied by–what else?–the music of Elvis Presley.
That was to be Elvis HI’s last start at Small Tour. Now she’s aiming him for Grand Prix.
Other New Jerseyans in the ribbons include Katryna Evans, who works for Cesar and won both FEI Young Horse Finals for Five-Year Olds with Mollegardens Fashion.
Bridget Hay of Ringoes was second and third with Shanahan in the Six-Year-Old Finals. She also was second in the Grand Prix Freestyle qualifier with Faolan, who was fourth in the freestyle itself. Third in the freestyle went to Shannon Stevens of Annandale, a CDI newcomer on Ferrari. Allison Nemeth of Flemington was a winner aboard Tiko in the FEI Young Riders category.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 3, 2021
The grandstands were packed with enthusiastic spectators cheering each ride in the featured Saturday night classes of ShowPlus Dressage at Devon, and the competitors rose to the occasion for their expectant audience.
The group that had ridden in the qualifiers for the Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle the previous evening really stepped it up to put on memorable performances at the venerable showgrounds, where everyone felt the excitement of being back a year after the pandemic had cancelled the 46-year-old show on Philadelphia’s Main Line.
Michael Bragdell, who repeated his victory in the freestyle Short Grand Prix qualifier with Qredit Hilltop, savored the stallion’s recognition of the appreciative fans.
Michael Bragdell waves to the crowd. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
“He’s really good with the electricity,” said Michael, the head trainer at Hilltop Farm in Maryland. He couldn’t stop smiling as he talked about the Oldenburg, who was grand champion at Devon in the performance division as a yearling 12 years ago. The memory brought tears to his eyes.
“From the day he came to the barn as a weanling, I felt like he was really special. He was so well-behaved.”
In the midst of a sea of European imports, Qredit who was bred by Judy Yancey, stands out for being born in the USA. (In case you’re wondering, the odd spelling of his name pays tribute to the breeding stallion’s sire, Quaterback),
“I loved how he felt in the ring and how electric he felt in the ring, in a good way,” Michael observed about his eager mount.
“It’s always fun when you do the freestyle and enjoy the music, we have so much history here, there’s no other place like it.”
A native of Sweden who has been in the U.S. for decades, Michael started as “purely a jumper rider” saying, “I never thought I’d do what I did tonight. To be here and wear the blue ribbon, it’s very special; especially on him.
Qredit Hilltop performs his one-tempis. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Michael earned a personal best of 72.995 percent from the five judges. His test in the World Cup Finals qualifier was heavy with marks of 7 and 7.5 for the various movements, but he got a bevy of 8s for his entrance, choreography and interpretation of the music from Blurred Lines and Coldplay.
The “dit, dit, dit” on his soundtrack reflected the rhythm of his horse’s piaffe and passage, and the music swelled appropriately for his powerful one-tempis along the diagonal as the crowd went wild.
Susanne Hamilton, who came all the way from Maine, moved up from fourth in the qualifier to second last night with 71.075 percent on Leseth, earning 8’s and a few 8-pluses for her bouncy music–“Puttin’ on the Ritz,” and its interpretation, degree of difficulty/calculated risks and choreography. She knew she had nailed it with her 12-year-old Hanoverian, flinging up her arms in triumph after her final salute, then pointing down to her horse as she gave him credit.
Susanne Hamilton gave credit to her horse for his “awesome” freestyle performance. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
“My horse is very young at the grand prix right now,” said Susanne.
“He had a little bit of trouble with the stadium the first few days he was in here,” she noted, but Puttin’ on the Ritz is his inspiration.
“He loves his music,” explained Susanne, who emigrated to the U.S. from Germany in 1984.
“The first time I played his music to him, he said, `This is it.’ I said, `Okay, we’ll go with that.’ And so today he let me ride him. Which was awesome.”
Third place on 70.990 was Shannon Stevens with the aptly named Ferrari. Shannon, who is married to trainer Marcus Orlob, works out of their stable in Annandale, N.J. Ferrari came in as a sales horse, but she took to the gelding and kept him.
It was Shannon’s first CDI with her “heart horse,” noting both she and Ferrari are green.
“We have a big operation at home,” said Shannon, noting there are 33 horses in training.
“Riding a horse like this kind of keeps that spark.”
There were only six starters in the freestyle, although it made for an evening that was just long enough, coupled with the preceding Grand Prix Special and a vaulting exhibition.
The show was lacking its usual contingent of Canadians due to difficulties crossing the border because of Covid regulations, and the burden of additional expenses involved. As a dual American/Canadian citizen, however, Special winner Diane Creech had no problems.
Her 18-year-old Chrevis Christo, a Danish warmblood she owns with Louise Leatherdale, received a score of 68.761 percent in the qualifier, then moved up to 69.659 percent, over second-place finisher María Alejandra Aponte Gonzalez of Colombia on Duke de Niro (66.745). There were four in that class.
Diane Creech and Chrevis Christo. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Between Diane and her daughter, Vanessa Creech-Terrauds, they gathered six blue ribbons.
“It was a perfect weekend for us,” Diane said.
She called Christo “a very young senior,” who got a little wild when he returned to the ring for the presentation. Maria, who came into the arena without her horse, immediately took hold of his reins and he settled down.
“He felt like a 12-year-old,” said Diane.
“The atmosphere—he rises to it.” He is so trained, she noted with a smile, that in the qualifier “I was preparing for the pirouette and all of a sudden, I was in the middle of the pirouette, because he knew what we were doing.”
Diane spoke for all the riders when she said, “We are so grateful to the organization of Devon despite all the challenges and everything that’s going on in this crazy world to still be able to make this go and come together in our community is even more special.”
There was a tribute in the arena to retiring steward and technical delegate Elisabeth Williams, as the Dressage at Devon crew, friends and admirers crowded around to wish her well.
Elisabeth Williams is honored on her retirement by the Dressage at Devon group. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
“Throughout her career,” observed U.S Dressage Federation President Lisa Goretta, “Elisabeth has brought a level of professionalism and vision for both dressage in the U.S. and our participation on the international front that is not duplicated by anyone else in the country. She’s been to multiple Olympics, World Cups, World Games, Pan Am Games, CDIs in this country and abroad. No one will be able to duplicate her experience.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 20, 2021
“Awesome!” “Excellent!” “Beautiful!” So much fun!” “A blast!”
Those comments and similar remarks were expressed by happy riders crossing the finish line at the Tewksbury Trail Association’s Trail Pace on a sparkling, almost-autumn Sunday at Christie Hoffman Farm Park.
Mike Knowles leads his group across the finish line. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
It was a treat to see riders out simply enjoying their horses, the scenery and like-minded equestrians. Too often, we tend to think of equestrian activities in terms of serious competitions at shows or events, where there is no time to take a deep breath, relax and take in another side of riding that focuses on the horse and the surroundings, rather than the ribbons.
“Wonderful, great people, beautiful scenery,” said Karen Taylor-Broughton, a former Tewksbury resident who now lives in Pittstown.
“I miss Tewksbury, it’s a treasure. I’ll never move too far,” she added after wrapping up her ride.
It’s true that the township’s landscape is among the most scenic in New Jersey, and the terrain was at its best as the competition drew a field of 151 trying to match the optimum time of 1:21.42 in the trail division, set by experienced endurance rider Melissa Lenter of Boonton.
In the pleasure section, the mark was a more leisurely speed of 2:05.29 set by TTA board member Margaret Korgul and her husband, John Esposito.
Bethany Selage and Jenna Kremp schooled their horses in the water during the pace. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Janelle Parker of Atlantic Highlands and her 15-year-old daughter, Emma (making her pace debut), won a section of the trail pace on Furman and K-Man, horses borrowed from her best friend from college, Elissa Allen of Evenstride Farm in Califon.
Janelle Parker and her daughter, Emma, who was making her pace debut. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
“We had a blast. It was a beautiful day, it was fabulous, and all the staff was so nice and so helpful,” said Janelle, referring to the fleet of enthusiastic volunteers who made the experience possible for those participating..
The association’s mission statement explains it is “dedicated to preserving green space, open land, and the natural beauty of Tewksbury Township and the surrounding areas of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The TTA is committed to cultivating and maintaining agriculturally-sensitive bridle paths for horseback riding and community enjoyment.”
What could be a better goal?
Stephen Hagan and Louisa Sargent kept track of the starters. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
TTA President Louisa Sargent said the pace, the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year, attracted generous sponsors. In 2020, the Covid situation meant the ride was limited to association members only; the organizers didn’t feel comfortable dealing with a big crowd at that time.
But for 2021, with isolation and lockdowns in the rearview mirror, riders were thrilled about the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors among fellow equestrian enthusiasts.
“People were really excited,” Louisa recalled about the reaction when it was announced this summer that the pace would be back.
And they also had a chance of winning a generous array of prizes, everything from saddlepads to hats, a vest, backpacks and a horse toy.
Standing proudly by the prizes offered at the pace were Gia-Raquello Esposito, Margaret Esposito, Roxanne Soroko and Joy Custer. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
A variety of breeds were competing, and a few western saddles were spotted in the mix. Although many riders wore breeches and boots, the dress code was casual, although of course, proper helmets were required.
“It was great,” said Mike Knowles of Neshanic Station, who was riding his quarter horse mare western. He comes to the pace every year.
This was the first trail pace for Annette Montgomery and her friend Sandra Foster of Pittstown. Annette summed up the experience as “a lovely time” riding Helga Wirth’s Icelandic horses, Blakkur and Muggur.
Sandra Foster and Annette Montgomery on the Icelandic Horses. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
While there were a number of first-timers, many familiar faces were seen among the entries.
Alexis Madiara and her husband, Derek Chimel, of Pittstown are regulars at paces.
“This is what we do,” she explained.
“We look forward to hunter pace season every year. Tewksbury does such a nice job with the prizes.”
After the couple won fourth place in the trail category, they were off to camp out with their horses for the night. So cool!
Trail Pace winners: Ideal Time: 1 hour, 21 minutes, 42 seconds.
Juniors
1,Jordan Jonach, Jen Stevenson
2, Bronwyn Carr, Caitlin Carr
3, Camryn Downey, Saffron Bessler
4, Haley Ronaghan, Sofia DeCastro, Kennedy Davidson
5, Leeci Rowsell, Olivia Hicok, Elise Tansey
6, Lorna Phillips, Autumn Phillips
Sixth-place Lorna Phillips, a Dubliner living in Chester, came prepared with a little backpack stocked with water and carrots. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Alexis Madiara and her husband, Derek Chimel, were fourth in the adult trail pace division with Sonoma and Calypso. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Adults:
1, Maryann Gruda, Al Gillen
2, Larry Riley
3, Karen Taylor, Amy Snyder
4, Alexis Madiara, Derek Chimel
5, Olivia Lauezzari, Diane Schneider, Jackie Gattoni
6, Allison Malenfant, Michelle Morges
Pleasure Pace Winners: Ideal Time 2 hours, 5 minutes 29 seconds
Juniors:
1, Janelle Parker, Emma Spagnolo
2, Rashi Desai, Sarah Esterly
3, Brian Thompson, Emma Schien, Brooke Wakefrose
4, Brooke Toth, Savannah Toth, Annie Homtz
5, Alexandra Allen, Olivia Allen
6, Chrystal Rielly, Aislinn Howell, Gianna Balut
Adults:
1, Julie Tanis, Adrienne Peck
2, Hannah Kerr, Brianna Bryne
3, Jessica Manna, Helen Mengher
4, Maris Rosenberg, Lori Rocker, Mary O’Mealia
5, Heather Coyne, Lisa Bowman
6, Carol Cenussi, Jodi Kreizer
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 1, 2021
Catherine Haddad-Staller wanted to salute the outstanding success of New Jersey dressage riders and trainers during the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Festival of Champions, so she borrowed a tradition from Europe for a celebration at her Califon home last night.
All the prizes won by competitors from the Garden State at Lamplight Equestrian Center in Illinois last week were displayed in the international competitor’s barn, with the colorful ribbons arrayed on twine above tables covered with trophies and championship coolers. It was quite an impressive sight.
Outside, there was a big bonfire and Catherine’s husband, Dr. Greg Staller, presided at the barbeque grills cooking sausage, pork tips and peppers for guests waiting at a row of picnic tables. It was a time to relax after a week of very hard work.
Catherine Haddad-Staller and her husband, Dr. Greg Staller, by the bonfire during the party at their farm. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Catherine felt it was important to have a party for those who had done so well.
“It reminds me of when I lived in Germany, because any time we went to a horse show, there would be 10 or 12 riders right from the town I lived in who would be successful.”
Prizes were displayed and food and drink was abundant for the achievers.
“But this time, we went to the national championships, there were seven or eight riders from this county that brought home all of that swag. It’s incredible.
“I think Hunterdon County is a really strong county for equestrian sports, and in particular, dressage. We had so many people there. This area close to Gladstone (the home of the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation in neighboring Somerset County) is rider-rich. So it’s kind of exciting.”
The lion’s share of the booty belonged to Alice Tarjan of Oldwick, like Califon, a part of Tewksbury Township. Alice took nine horses to Illinois and had five helpers to take care of them.
Would she want to transport three-quarters of her barn like that again?
“I don’t know if we ever try to top that and just say we did it and we’re done,” Alice revealed with a smile.
She won two championships and two reserve championships herself, along with several high ribbons in other divisions while her trainer, Marcus Orlob of Annandale, won the five-year-old title on her stallion, Glory Day, earning several scores of 10.
Marcus, who rode another of Alice’s horse’s, Maximus, to sixth place in the four-year-old competition at the show as well, was concerned about the atmosphere affecting the two stallions.
“I was just hoping they’d behave, because there were obviously much more horses than at our local shows in New Jersey,” he noted.
Marcus Orlob, Jaime Dancer, Kim Herslow, Bridget Hay, Hope Beerling, Alice Tarjan, Krystian Evans and Cesar Parra all rode at the championships. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
But it worked well, because the horses “get a little more pumped and you have a little more power in the ring,” which was helpful during an extremely hot and humid week.
Even while her achievements accumulated during the show, Alice wasn’t focusing on them.
“I was just so busy all week, you don’t really have time to process it, you just ride, ride, ride and concentrate on riding the next test and try to give every horse the ride they deserve.”
Her conclusion about the show? It was a typically modest Alice observation: “I have a lot to go home and work on.”
She doesn’t operate on expectations, explaining, “We just train the horses and put them in the ring and see how it shakes out. The scores are going to dictate what we do or don’t do. If the horses are happy and sound, then that’s good enough for me.”
As she pointed out, “It’s a little surreal when you see the names on the trophies. All those people were on teams. I don’t think I really quite belong there.”
She is still getting used to the idea that she is going to the world’s greatest dressage show, Aachen, this month to ride her Grand Prix champion, Candescent, in the 4-star at that venue.
Here’s the same group clowning around, with Alice Tarjan as the centerpiece. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
“We definitely don’t belong there either,” Alice feels (that’s the modesty coming through again), but she took the advice of Marcus and U.S. Dressage Development Coach Charlotte Bredahl about making the trip.
“I guess we’ll just go for the experience. The horse has two CDIs on her and we’re going to Aachen, I don’t know if that’s what you’re supposed to do,” mused Alice, who has never even been to a European show to watch.
While dealing with her string at the championships was a tall order, she noted, “I had five girls working everything back at the barn and all I had to do was ride horses. They took care of almost every aspect. Without them, I don’t think it would have been possible. When people see me in the ring it’s just like the tip of the iceberg.”
Beneath the surface were Desi Altland, who works for Alice full time; Kimberly Kotch, who used to work for Alice and took a week off from her job to lend a hand; Kimmy Pullen, who was competing at the championships, and Allison Nemeth, who worked for her last summer. Alice’s husband, Dennis Sargenti, played a big role as well. He toted all the saddlepads, polo wraps and towels from everyone in their barn aisle to a laundromat he discovered in nearby Elgin Ill, where he made good use of the 50-pound washing machines.
“I bring so much laundry the guy gives me the dryers for free,” Dennis revealed.
The helpers also included Lauren Chumley of Pittstown, Alice’s best friend, who was showing her pony Nikolas, in the Developing Grand Prix and missed Catherine’s party because she’s riding in the American Eventing Championships in Kentucky this week.
Alice and Lauren are pals with Bridget Hay of East Amwell, who took ribbons with her homebreds at the Illinois show, and Kim Herslow of Stockton, who competed in the Intermediaire I championship with the Lusitano Elvis. Guess what kind of music she used for her sixth-place freestyle?
Another New Jersey champion was Katryna Evans, taking the four-year-old title with Fontenay, from the stable of Cesar Parra in Readington, while Alice was reserve with Ierland’s Eden in that division.
Katryna, who grew up in Colorado and trained in Germany, admitted to being a bit skeptical when she was invited to work in New Jersey.
“I didn’t know what Jersey was like, I’d never been here. I didn’t know what to expect,” she said.
As it happened, though, “It was the best thing I could have done. We got to compete around here and there are so many (dressage) people in this area.” She said Catherine’s farm and places like it “remind me a lot of Germany.”
Katryna also was third with Møllegårdens Fashion in the five-year-old category. Cesar, meanwhile, finished fifth in the six-year-old division with Fanta 4.
“Everybody learns when you go to that show,” Cesar said.
“The competition at Lamplight was awesome.”
Of Fontenay, he said, “We believe in him a lot and he keeps giving (to) us.”
While Catherine feted the entire group of ribbon winners, she also deserved personal acknowledgement as the breeder and trainer of Vianne, ridden by her assistant trainer, Hope Beerling, to the reserve title in the Markel/USEF Young Horse Championship for five-year-olds.
Hope Beerling and Catherine Haddad-Stallers with the “Congratulations Jersey Strong” cake. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Catherine, a decorated breeder in Germany, sold Vianne to a client last week, but will keep her in her program, with Hope doing the riding.
“We have very high hopes for the horse. She’s only five, so we have to wait and see what time brings,” said Catherine.
The only non-Hunterdon County Jerseyan in the mix was Jaime Dancer of Dancer Dressage in Millstone, Monmouth County, who brought along her 11th place ribbon from the Markel/USEF Developing Horse Championship (Prix St. Georges) with Supremont “the love of my life,” owned by E.G. Sporthorse.
Jaime noted the championships were “really competitive. I feel like in the last five years, we have stepped up our game as a country. I learned a lot; it was great.”
To read about the championships, go to this link for the On the Rail section of this website.
