by Nancy Jaffer | May 31, 2024
Ireland reigned supreme for the third time this week in the Dixon Oval, as Jordan Coyle took the $226,000 Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon with a bold performance on an equally determined For Gold while a standing-room-only crowd cheered him on.
The crowd salutes Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon winner Jordan Coyle and For Gold. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
“My horse isn’t that fast. He always looks like he’s going really fast, but actually he’s not that fast,” said Jordan, as Lillie Keenan, the runner-up in Thursday’s class, chimed in, saying, “I don’t believe that at all.”
And you could easily understand her comment.
For Gold appeared to be simply flying around the route set by Alan Wade (another Irishman!), a performance reflected in a time of 37.45 seconds, ahead of Lillie’s Kick On in 38.12.
The top two finishers had the same odd circumstance propelling their trips. Both executed iffy jumps at the first fence, which worked in their favor.
“A few horses didn’t jump it good,” Jordan said of the unimposing vertical that was set heading toward the outgate.
“But after that, it got me and the horse’s blood up, and from then on, everything came on pretty good.”
Noting that Kick On also wasn’t show his best form at that obstacle, Lillie contended, “that’s almost like a kick in the butt.”
Her mount is relatively inexperienced; this was only his second 4-star.
Lillie Keenan and Kick On. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I had planned to be a bit quicker than I was,” Lillie conceded. She is familiar with Jordan’s penchant for beating the clock.
“I knew he would be hard to catch,” she said.
“I did what I could without taking too much risk,” added Lillie, who finished in 38.12 seconds,
“In hindsight, there’s definitely a few things I would have changed,” observed the rider, whose initial visit to Devon came 20 years ago, when she was seven and looking for her first pony. Many of the show’s treasured silver trophies have her mother’s name engraved on them, “so I’m honored to be here,” said Lillie, whose own name now will be inscribed on the Style of Riding award trophy.
(UPDATE: Lillie finished Devon on Saturday as its Leading Jumper Rider, while Kick On was Open Jumper Champion. Reserve Open Jumper Champion was Cashew CR, ridden by Alex Matz to victory in the final jumper class, the $145,100 Idle Dice Stake,, where Kick On was second.)
Third place went to Colombia’s Mark Bluman, a member of the family that includes Olympian Daniel Bluman and Ilan Bluman, both of whom were also in the class but failed to make the seven-horse tiebreaker. Mark, who has a friendly rivalry with them, had the only other clear trip in the jump-off, but lost the $74,580 first prize purse on an exceedingly wide turn with Ubiluc to the third fence, a Liverpool. His horse, he explained, has trouble turning to the right, and his time of 38.67 could be explained by that peculiarity, even though he went like blazes around the rest of the course.
Mark Bluman at the Liverpool after his difficult right-hand turn with Ubiluc. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Still, he was just happy to make the podium at a show where he considers the atmosphere is “one of the best ones there is in the world. It’s nice to have the motivation of an educated public to make us do our job better and make a show out of it.”
The fastest jump-off round was turned it by Mimi Gochman on Inclen BH in 36.54 seconds, but it came at the price of two rails, which put her sixth.
Jordan is the brother of Daniel Coyle, a mainstay of the Irish team that could well be favored in this summer’s Olympics. Competition for spots on the Irish team is intense, but Jordan isn’t going for it, saying he’ll leave that to the others because he thinks the squad is “done and dusted.”
Another Irish rider, Darragh Kenny, won both the Tuesday and Wednesday classes with different horses.
However, Darragh’s slim Paris Games hope rested on yet another mount, the 17-year-old VDL Cartello, whose slow 4-fault effort in the first round at Devon put him tenth. Darragh’s top horse, Amsterdam, is on the injured list and he said the other night that he thought Irish chef d’equipe Michael Blake might consider Cartello too old for an Olympic spot in any case.
Jordan rode at Devon for the first time because his wife, Kimberly, qualified to ride in the adult jumpers and had always wanted to come.
“I wanted to go elsewhere,” he confessed, “but that won’t happen again.”
Jordan now plans to return annually. He’s glad he accompanied Kim and brought For Gold along.
Jordan Coyle and For Gold. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
“This is what America’s losing. This is a proper horse show. The crowd here is amazing, the whole atmosphere. We can jump 5-star grands prix, and there’s 50 people there,” he pointed out.
“This show, for sure, I will be back. I can’t say enough good things. I already told my parents that they have to come here next year.”
Jordan dotes on the very consistent For Gold.
“He’s an unbelievably genuine horse. Maybe he doesn’t have all the talent in the world, but he’s so genuine that he can do anything.”
He had tried to buy the horse three times, but it didn’t work out.
“I’ve never been lucky buying horses.”
However, this time “it was all meant to be.”
Jordan said, “This horse, you couldn’t not love him. If it was possible for a horse to live in the house, he would live in the house and sleep in the bed. He’s the closest thing to a dog that has ever been.”
Lillie Keenan, Jordan Coyle and Mark Bluman. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
When I met Jordan in February during the Florida circuit, he revealed that his wife had wondered if he loved the horse more than he loved her. As he recounted the story, Jordan said (with a grin) “it is possible.”
Jordan noted For Gold For FashionXHeraldik) was treated more like a pet than an athlete until he started training with 2002 world show jumping champion Dermott Lennon. He explained everything comes so easily for the beautifully balanced horse that he found it hard to make him actually work.
Crowd favorite McLain Ward’s quest for a thirteenth Devon grand prix victory ended when Contagious had a rail fence 6-C, the last part of the triple combination. He had the fastest 4-fault round to end up ninth.
click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | May 29, 2024
The Devon Horse Show is one of a kind.
With its unlikely location outside Philadelphia, where suburbia and commerce have shouldered in around its 17-acre parcel, 128-year-old Devon is a relic of the past that is still beloved in the present—and likely will be in the future as well.
Even for those who aren’t involved with horses during the rest of the year, it is an annual “must stop.” The Devon tradition is handed down in families, whether they are drinking champagne in ringside boxes or hustling to secure a seat on one of the Devon blue benches flanking the arena. You’ll see lots of manicures finished with Devon blue polish, and not just among the kids.
For the riders, Devon has a special meaning in an industry that is being dominated in this era by multi-week shows in purpose-built facilities.
Hunt Tosh and Cannon Creek, High Performance Hunter Champion (also pictured in the featured photo) (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Nick Haness, a Californian who took the Leading Hunter Rider title for the second year in row, noted, “once was good enough for me for my life, but twice is even better.”
He called his experience here, “an exciting, exciting week.”
As he mentioned, it’s the first time of the year where west coast and Florida winter circuit riders meet.
Those experiences “accumulate and add up to this moment here this week,” said Nick.
“It’s always fun to put on a show in this big arena, and it’s always my favorite show because it really invites you to gallop. I love riding in this ring. There’s something really special about the atmosphere here.”
He gave credit for a big contribution in getting his name re-inscribed on the Leading Rider trophy to “my favorite girl, Circa,” a stunning grey Holsteiner owned by Glade Run Farm and named the show’s top hunter mare. She was reserve champion in the Green Hunter division over 3-foot, 6-inch fences.
“I absolutely adore that horse,” he said.
Scott Stewart, who had been a perennial winner of the Leading Rider honors, didn’t go away empty-handed. Ever After, “the consummate show horse” who was Scott’s ride in the Green Hunter 3-9 section, earned the Grand Hunter Champion title with 38 points. An Oldenburg by Arko who belongs to Biko Equestrian, Ever After spent a little time as a jumper in Europe before being imported. Rey Mayorga, who cares for Ever After, earned the leading groom trophy.
Ever After, Devon Grand Hunter Champion, with Nancy Ciesluk. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Nancy Ciesluk, Scott’s right-hand person and “mood elevator,” is still thrilled to be a part of Devon, 71 years after she first rode there.
She is viewed as both a morale officer and sort of a horse show mom to a variety of riders.
“It’s important to be supportive of each other in the highs and the lows,” said Nick.
“She’s always there to lift us up.”
Nick Haness and Nancy Ciesluk. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Nancy knows tragedy. Her son, Jamie, died of cancer eight years ago. Before he passed away, “he kept saying to me, `Mommy you have to promise me to be happy.’ ”
She recounted, “I thought that was the stupidest thing I ever promised.”
But it worked out.
“I have a lot of sons now. This is my family, however dysfunctional at times,” she said with a grin as Nick put his arm around her.
Darragh Kenny, a pillar of the Irish show jumping team, made his first ride ever at Devon a winning one in the Tuesday night Welcome stake that drew 44 entries. He was aboard Serendepty to be unbeatable with a clocking of 55.52 seconds. Second was last year’s winner, Alex Matz (son of longtime Devon star Michael Matz) on Cashew CR in 57.16.
After riding on the Irish squad at the Rome Nations Cup last weekend, Darragh flew to Devon with little in the way of sleep.
The effort was worth it.
“I think it’s a great show and supporting it is really important. I’m mostly based here in America now. I think they do a super job and it was a brilliant crowd. Everyone has always told me how great this show is, but it was fun to see it for myself,” said Darragh.
Darragh Kenny on his first Devon victory lap. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
His mare is “very, very competitive. She’s stepping up into this level really well. She is one that definitely understands the game. She’s just a really cool horse.”
The second Wednesday of Devon is the Ladies’ Hat Day contest, when women show up in fanciful creations. Some have friends make their hats, others put together the headgear themselves.
Kari Godorecci of Wayne, Pa., proudly wore a towering creation accented with black feathers and rhinestones, shipped to her from Jacksonville, Fla., by her mother, Brenda Ryan who has a collection of derby day hats.
Her friend, Tracie Adkison from Berwyn, Pa., is a first-grade teacher who is creative. She made the hat for a pal’s wedding with a peacock theme and decided it could do double duty at Devon.
Kari and Tracie modeling their hat. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
A bugler who sounds the call to the post at Churchill Downs, Phil Thomas, is working his art at Devon for the first time.
“I’m loving it,” he said with enthusiasm. Asked why, he replied, “it’s mainly the atmosphere; the history, the old wooden stands and the county fair atmosphere. Devon is unlike any horse show I’ve played before.”
Bugler Phil Thomas at work. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
A retired middle school band teacher, he fills in at the track, but has not played the call to the post for the Kentucky Derby because the main bugler never misses that race. But Phil has plenty of work, and does a number of horse shows and wedding receptions in Louisville—where the call to the reception is often the call to the post.
For the hunters, he played “Off we go, into the wild blue yonder” before they jumped.
The Shetland pony racers were serenaded with “If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.” The crowd responded as you would expect, by clapping.
Devon is proud of being a multi-breed, multi-faceted show, where you can see everything from coaches with four-in-hands and fine harness horses, to roadsters and breeding classes, but the saddle horse and hackney classes don’t fill. This year, too many had only one exhibitor.
Show co-manager Phil DeVita said delays involving the Budweiser Clydesdale exhibition last year led to a boycott by some saddlebred exhibitors, who didn’t like riding late at night while the grandstands were being swept clean. Phil said the show sent a letter to the saddlebred group after what happened in 2023, and two new barns did come.
I’ve often wondered if they should still be part of the show (though the hackney pony is Devon’s symbol, so it would be hard to drop them.) The Clydesdale situation has been remedied by rescheduling this year, so that may help going forward.
“All I want is for them to be successful,” said Phil.
“We’ll see what happens.”
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | May 30, 2024
The backdrop for the press conference following the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at the Devon Horse Show was a wall covered with photos of riders who have been inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame.
John French, one of those Hall members, took the featured competition Thursday morning, but Nick Haness, who was second (and third!) likely will have his picture on that wall in the exhibitors’ lounge one day soon. I spotted a blank space that would be perfect for it.
The Derby was competition at its best in the Dixon arena, where 34 exhibitors rode a classic round, over the type of course you would see in any top hunter class, decked with flowers and brush. Then the 12 best returned over a handy course, as competitors sought to impress the judges with their horses’ ability to handle twists and turns (as well as a trot jump).
John French and Paradigm in the classic round of the USHJA International Hunter Derby. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
John had only a 0.5 point lead with 2023 Derby Finals winner Paradigm over Brian Feigus and Four Aces after the first round. In the handy, he played it cool to earn 189.5.
“If you’re sitting on top, I don’t want to try something too daring,” he said, explaining why he was a bit conservative.
Noting Paradigm was a jumper in Europe before being imported, he needed to ensure that a dose of speed and some sharp turns wouldn’t trigger the horse’s memory of going for it in a speed class. (Though once Paradigm handled the trot jump, John said his horse figured out at that point that he wasn’t going against the clock.)
And he didn’t do an accelerated gallop to the final fence because he saw several horses swap leads when trying that.
John French and Paradigm in the handy round. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
His score wasn’t the best in the handy (that belonged to Nick on C’est Jolie with 190). But added to Paradigm’s first round, he claimed a total of 378. That was five points ahead of Nick’s mark of 373 on Estimated Prophet, the runner-up. C’est Jolie (like Estimated Prophet, her sire is Cornet Obolensky) had scored only 180 in her first round, so she wound up with 370 to finish third. Fourth was Four Aces (366.5), with a second round that earned only 178.5.
It was John’s only Derby win at Devon, and it meant a lot.
“This whole horse show has so much history and is so prestigious. It was a good way to end the week,” he said, in his modest style.
Nick, who was the show’s Leading Hunter Rider, agreed.
“It’s the best of the best. This derby was full of horses that ribboned at Derby Finals,” said Nick. He rode three horses in the class, including the developing Golden Road, who finished tenth.
“This is a really great class,” said Nick.
Nick Haness and Estimated Prophet. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
“When you have a field of that many competitive horses and great riders, it’s an exciting day to be here, to be showing and to be putting on your A-game,” he commented.
“I put in as good a round as I could have ridden. My horses went well. John is an exceptional rider and the horse went beautifully for him. I’m pretty thrilled to be in second place behind him.”
Nick realized he had to step it up if he wanted to finish near the top in the class, so he went for an inside turn on Estimated Prophet.
Nick Haness with his dog, Hunter (love that name!) and John French. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I think it did pay off for me and I moved up, I think, a spot. The harder I make it for Estimated Prophet, the better he is. That’s the risk you take in the handy. The first three jumps came up real quick…the horses ddin’t quite get into the groove until after that third jump and then you could really gallop.”
click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | May 24, 2024
Germany won the Nations Cup at the scenic Piazza Di Sienna in Rome with zero penalties Friday, as powerhouse Ireland finished second on 4 penalties, while Belgium was third with 8.
German chef d’equipe Otto Becker with Jana Wargars, Jorna Sprehe, Kendra Claricia Brinkop and Daniel Deusser. (Photo: Sport e Salute, Ferdinando Mezzelani)
The U.S. and Mexico also had 8, but slower cumulative times than Belgium to wind up fourth and fifth respectively based on their clockings over the course designed by Uliano Vezzani.
Sports technology company EquiRatings, which is a partner with the show, used data analysis to give the best odds for victory to Ireland, a 26 percent win chance, but put Germany next-best at 13 percent, tied with Sweden pre-competition.
The Swedes, however, wound up seventh of the 10 countries that started, with a 16-penalty second round on Alcapone des Carmilles by Peder Fredricson after a disastrous 25-penalty trip in that round by Petronella Andersson claimed drop score status. Rolf-Goran Bengtsson’s Zuccero HV had a meltdown at the chariot jump with its white horses, ending his first round on the 54 penalty drop score. But he came back in triumph with a clear effort in the second round.
The USA and Belgium were both predicted to have an 11 percent chance of winning by EquiRatings.
But the U.S. was redeemed as the show came to a close with a victory by Karl Cook in the Rolex Gran Premio Roma on the speedy Caracole de la Roque, the former mount of French rider Julien Epaillard. Karl was one of six riders double-clear in the two-round class, clocked in 38.27 seconds. Max Kuhner of Austria was second on Electric Blue P in 39.58, ahead of Sweden’s Petronella Andersson on Odina van Klapscheut (39.78). The class was the first in a new Rolex multi-show series that will end in Wellington, Florida, next March.
Having an advantage as last to jump, Karl said, “I was going to win it. Not like I was actually going to win, but in my head I went in there to do it. I’d seen Max go, and how crisp and clean all his turns were, I wasn’t thinking I could shave two strides off anywhere. I just had to be quick, clean and do the strides I hoped were possible. I didn’t leave any strides out different to Max, but Caracole is just so fast along the ground and over the jumps, she looks where she’s going, she gets very square right out of the turn and she’s just so fast.”
When he mounts up, Cook said, “it’s a bit like lighting a rocket, and you can’t turn it off so you just have to point in the right direction.”
Karl Cook and Caracole de la Roque. (Photo Fotografi Sportivi)
“I started riding her in the middle of February last year so it hasn’t been very long and we’ve made some mistakes but we’ve learned a lot and it feels like we are almost there putting it all together.”
The other U.S. riders in the class, Lillie Keenan (Argan de Belliard) and Aaron Vale (Carissimo 25) were twenty-second and twenty-fourth respectively after having a single rail in the first round.
This show marked the eleventh time Germany had earned the Rome Nations Cup title on the spacious grass field in the heart of the city. Its riders — three of whom were women– finished double-clear, with the exception of anchor Daniel Deusser. But that was because he did not have to go a second time on Killer Queen VDM after his side had already clinched the honors under the guidance of Chef d’Equipe Otto Becker.
Germany’s anchor man, Daniel Deussser and Killer Queen VDM. (Photo: Fotografi Sportivi)
“This was absolutely brilliant with three double-clears from the three girls,” said Otto.
“I think we never had this before in Germany. And to win here in Rome at this special show, this special place, is something very special and I’m totally happy.” Otto wanted to celebrate the moment and declined to discuss German prospects for Paris in the wake of his country’s victory.
Germany’s Kendra Brinkop was thrilled with her young stallion Tabasco de Toxandria Z, noting, “Our day was great and we shouldn’t forget that my horse is only nine years old and jumping in his first Nations Cup. And also he showed how good the course was. He has not all the experience, but he gained experience on that course. It was a brilliant course.”
The only rider who achieved double-clear for the U.S. was Aaron Vale, who has risen in prominence as an Olympic contender since being paired last September with Carissimo, an 11-year-old Holsteiner. Two others on the U.S. short list for Paris finished with 4 penalties: Karl Cook (Caracole de la Roque) and Lillie Keenan (Argan de Baliard).
Aaron Vale and Carissimo 25. (Photo by Mackenzie Clark)
“Overall, I think there are a lot of positives to take away from the result today. To be tied for a podium position and just get bumped by a few tenths of a second is a tough pill to swallow, but we really had to fight to stay in it and everyone learned something today,” said U.S. Coach Robert Ridland.
“Aaron and Carissimo were impressive as a combination and put in our only double clear of the class, and both Lillie and Karl had an unfortunate rail in the second round after very strong, clear efforts in round one. Alise (Oken) bounced back to improve on her score in her second go, so I think all in all, it’s a good start to a very competitive few weeks for us here in Europe and sets the tone for us to be in the hunt for podium finishes at these major Nations Cup events.”
For complete Nations Cup results, click here. For complete grand prix results, click on this link
by Nancy Jaffer | May 23, 2024
During the two decades since the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association was formed, Britt McCormick has served it in various capacities as a volunteer. But since becoming the organization’s first president from west of the Mississippi, he is working on developing a different perspective.
The Texan, who operates a training and showing business with his family outside of Dallas, was president-elect until last month, when former president Mary Knowlton resigned.
At his first Town Hall this week, Britt said he is looking for feedback on ways to improve service for members and stakeholders, “how we can do a better job at what we do to help drive participation in various USHJA programs to add a value to your membership and showing at every level.”
He explained, “One of the first things I wanted to do was kind of look under the hood of USHJA on the business side.”
Britt McCormick during the Town Hall.
USHJA is a nonprofit, and Britt pointed out, “if we don’t maintain the integrity of the business side, we’re not going to be able to function properly and serve our members.
“What is the foundation of our business model? It’s participation. Not just by people joining and recording horses, but by participating in various programs USHJA offers.”
The organization must make it easier for people to do that, in his view, removing barriers to participation.
“We need to encourage people to show in a recognized environment,” he believes. That includes having riders starting in Outreach, “but hopefully growing and for those people who have a goal of showing recognized, we need to show them the way to get there.”
Britt also wants to strengthen brand identity and “figure out a way to communicate with those in the system and those who are yet to become members. My goal is, if you ride a horse and jump a horse, that eventually you become a member of USHJA.”
Communication is vital.
“We have to make sure we’re not siloed in our own little worlds and we don’t look at things through our limited perspective,” he emphasized.
Britt wants to keep things fresh, and is ready to implement change where it’s needed.
“I feel like we’ve stagnated a little bit. We had this spark 20 years ago and we were really excited…we were creating all these things. Now we’re kind of in the maintenance phase,” he maintained.
“One of my goals is to have us take a look at all of our properties, take a look at all of our products, make sure they’re relevant, make sure they’re still exciting, that we still have a spark out there.”
That involves “a moment of self-reflection and seeing where we are, seeing what we created and making sure we’re still relevant. If we’re not, we need to address those issues and correct them.”
Citing the changes in the hunter/jumper world in the last five or six years, he noted, “we have some products that people are not that interested in. At some point, we’re going to have to cut those loose and make room for something new that nobody…has even dreamed up yet. That’s going to be my focus for sure for the foreseeable future; taking a look inward and making sure we’re doing the best job that we can.”
The process requires input from USHJA’s constituency.
“I’m relying on the membership to be vocal and let us know when we have it right and let us know when we don’t have it right,” he emphasized.
For the next six months, Town Halls will feature different topics, including the education side and its relation to the sports side. He envisions bringing in judges and other key players, including show managers, to discuss what they do and connect with members during the webinars.
A goal is to “try to inform the members and listen to the members, as well as to what we do what we offer and how we can do that better.
The Town Hall concept offers the chance to ask questions directly and get immediate answers.
For instance, Nancy Jones, a horse show judge from Arkansas who is on the USHJA amateur task force, asked what was happening with a measure that would permit amateurs to teach.
Britt explained the U.S. Equestrian Federation passed a rule across its breeds and disciplines allowing amateurs to teach for a limited number of hours weekly as a sport growth initiative, but not having amateurs involved with teaching for a living. Although USHJA’s board had no problem with the rule, the amateur task force wasn’t in favor of it, so USEF executed a carve-out for hunters and jumpers. The discussion on the subject isn’t over, with the new president calling it a “work in progress.”
The format of Britt’s Town Hall was different than the way it was done in the past. Those wishing to comment had to speak and give their names; previously members were permitted to type anonymous comments on the chat line.
Also, Britt brought in two USHJA department heads for the session. They were Lauren Klehm director of education who handles the instructor credential program, gold star clinics, the Emerging Athlete Program and also is involved with the very interesting Wheeler Museum. and sport director Katie Patrick. Her department handles competitive programs from Outreach through the higher levels and the International Hunter Derby, as well as jumpers and equitation.
There will not be a Town Hall in June because of Britt’s travel schedule. The next one is scheduled for July 15 at 7 p.m.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 19, 2024
She was outspoken, determined and totally devoted to three-day eventing. The sport lost one of its most ardent advocates last week, when Trish Gilbert died at 83.
Doing it all, and doing it well, was the trademark of a very practical woman who was one of a kind. While in this era she might be identified by most as president of the Fair Hill International, and the emergence of the new Maryland 5-star, her contributions were far more numerous.
From Pony Club District Commissioner to involvement with governance at the national level, designing cross-country courses, organizing competitions, becoming a technical delegate and selector, as well as officiating at the Olympics, Trish knew every aspect of the sport and served it well. For her contributions, she was made a member of the U.S. Eventing Association Hall of Fame.
Trish Gilbert
“She was a remarkable individual and without ego,” said Sally Ike, who had been a friend of Trish’s since the mid-1960s when both were eventing at the USA’s highest level.
Their paths crossed often, beginning with their early days as riding colleagues. Sally became managing director of eventing when Trish was in charge of the discipline for the U.S. Equestrian Team. Then Sally designed show jumping courses for Fair Hill while Trish was at the helm.
“All she wanted to do was do the best for the sport,” Sally, emphasized.
Fair Hill event secretary Mary Coldren understandably still can’t believe she won’t be having her frequent phone calls with Trish, which were a big part of the mission they served together.
“I truly admired her knowledge and her practicality and her love of the sport. It was always for the good of the sport. That was always where her heart and focus was,” said Mary.
“The events at Fair Hill, the horse trials and everything else, have stood the test of time because of Trish.”
Jim Wolf, Trish Gilbert and Tim Dutta with Jan Byyny during a Fair Hill trophy presentation. (Photo © 2013 by Nancy Jaffer)
Mary noted Trish passed her love of eventing along in her family, first to her daughter, and more recently, her granddaughters.
“She was a great supporter of her granddaughters Ryan and Carlin who event also,” said one of Trish’s daughters, Rumsey Keefe.
“If she couldn’t make it to watch them ride, we would send her videos of competition and lessons, which usually was quickly followed up by a phone call to them or me to comment on what she saw and thought.”
Rumsey recalled that Trish would listen to people who sought her counsel, then she would “look at at the big picture and try to figure it out,” even if it involved “taking in people who needed a little more guidance and security in their life.”
A native of Virginia who was involved in running the Blue Ridge Horse Trials during the 1970s, Trish moved to Churchville, Md., in 1983 and became involved with equestrian activities at the Fair Hill Natural Resources Area. When the U.S. fall championship held at Chesterland in Pennsylvania ended its run after the 1988 edition, Trish was a member of the group that found it a new home as the Fair Hill International the next year. Those events always included a lively party.
In 2017, Trish headed the effort to bring a 5-star to Maryland. And in 2021, the USA’s second 5-star event debuted at Fair Hill. Although it is not run by Fair Hill International, Trish remained involved with the event.
On Facebook, Shelley Page conjured an image that brings to mind with a smile the thought of other eventing greats we have lost, and eases the pain somewhat.
“There is a bar in heaven with Roger Haller, Ann Haller, and Jimmy Wofford sitting at a table…. In walks Trish. Oh, the laughs they will have.”
Jane Thery, expressing her condolences on social media, stated, “Trish Gilbert. Now that is a woman who left a positive mark on our world. As she said in my Pony Club cross-country clinic many years ago, “Go forward. Do not stop.”
Trish’s husband, Bill, a racehorse trainer, died in 2011. She is survived by her daughters, Mary Elizabeth Looney (Gregg), Rumsey Gilbert Keefe (Tim) and Samantha Gilbert Brennan (Pete); a son, Raymond Richard Guest (Mary Pat); and stepson William Pepper Gilbert (Alice). She is also survived by her brother David Donovan (Teresa) and sister, Deirdre Donovan; 12 grandchildren, and seven step-great grandchildren.
Contributions in her memory may be made by check to Fair Hill International. 378 Fair Hill Drive, Elkton, Maryland 21921or online at fairhillinternational.org.
A celebration of life will be planned at a later date, possibly at the time of the Maryland 5-star.
