by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 2, 2024
Slices of American life, from surfing to Barbie, cowboys, cheerleaders and even the Statue of Liberty (not the real one, of course) were on display during the energetic opening ceremonies of the Aachen World Equestrian Festival Tuesday.
A view of the arena during the opening ceremonies.
The USA is Aachen’s “partner country,” for 2024. The role was filled last year by Great Britain, which brought over its Household Cavalry for the occasion. That prompted the query. “How can you top it?”
Here’s how: with 800 performers and 200 horses; a chorus line in pink tutus and riders in pink shirts holding pink balloons (Barbie), inflatable shark pool floats (accompanying surfers who dangled their feet in the Aachen lake), a stagecoach carrying Mrs. Universe and a football team. Did I mention the bubbles let loose to dance around in front of the packed grandstands, where spectators waved little American flags?
“A Perfect Match,” was the slogan of the partnership, appropriately inaugurated in speeches by German dressage star Isabell Werth and U.S. show jumping star Laura Kraut before the festivities really got under way.
A sign from the opening ceremonies; NRW is North Rhine-Westphalia, where Aachen is located.
Bald eagles, the symbol of America, were among the cast of characters that appeared in the ring. The list was a long one, including a country singer from Texas, a covered wagon complete with pioneers, a lariat artist who also was proficient with two whips and in-line skaters towed by a horse. They jumped off a ramp as fireworks exploded from their skates in several “wow” moments.
Will Connell, the U.S.-based Partner Nation project consultant, said “the Aachen team did an outstanding job producing a fun, entertaining program that I hope all Americans present and watching enjoyed.”
He added, “It was a privilege to be involved in a very small way. Tonight, the USA arrived in the Soers, Aachen.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 1, 2024
Alice Tarjan is best known as a dressage rider. Dennis Sargenti is a master of the Essex Fox Hounds. But enjoying the discipline of driving is something they have in common. And, oh yeah, they happen to be married.
The couple from Oldwick, N.J., spent the weekend near their home competing in the Gladstone Horse Driving Trials at the Pine Meadow section of Hamilton Farm, the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation property. This is their fun, a break after returning from Germany, where Alice’s horse, Jane, made the U.S. Olympic dressage team with her trainer, Marcus Orlob. Alice served as the groom for the mare she trained to Grand Prix from the time she got her as a three-year-old.
Dennis entered a Dutch harness horse in the Gladstone competition for singles, while Alice drove a pair, but decided one of the horses competing was not ready to try the marathon, so she skipped that segment.
Alice and Dennis were among 21 competitors at the event that is working to bring back popularity of the sport, which once drew international riders to the site that hosted the globally acclaimed 1993 World Pairs Driving Championship. Alice has fond memories of those championships; as a teenager, she groomed there for her neighbor, Doug Kemmerer, who drove in the parade of coaches that was part of the production.
Dennis Sargenti rode as groom for his wife Alice Tarjan in the dressage. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Since Pine Meadow’s heyday, however, many of the people who were pillars of competitive driving in the region either have died, retired or moved south. The once fancy facility now lacks the frills it used to have, but it is still a good location for a competition and attracted exhibitors from New England, Maryland and Pennsylvania, as well as New Jersey.
Rebecca Gutierrez, the technical delegate for the event, noted the organizing committee is attempting to “regrow the show and bring the facility back to the way it was in 1993, when it was fantastic.”
She pointed out, “it has a lot of good elements. Original (marathon) obstacles here are in good shape, but they had some obstacles that were not able to be used this time. So maybe there will be some benefactors who want to donate some money so we can access those.”
Event secretary Ellen Ettenger noted a golf course has encroached on part of the property since its glory days “so it’s not exactly the same as it was, but I think it makes a great venue for the lower level. Through Intermediate, it’s an excellent facility.” She mentioned that the ring can hold up to even the heaviest rain.
The event briefly was put in jeopardy last week by a tornado that left tree limbs down in three marathon obstacles and caused closure of Fowler Road, which runs alongside Pine Meadow. Luckily, a volunteer effort aided by chainsaws and the efforts of USET Foundation employees put things to rights, just as drivers were shipping in, enabling the event to get under way on schedule.
It has a relaxed feel, which means people interested in driving can enjoy a comfortable place to start pursuing their interest and learning skills.
Alice supports the organization’s initiative.
“It’s great that they’re trying. They’re putting a lot of work into it,” she said, noting she participated in one of the schooling days the committee staged.
Dennis and Alice switched places for the marathon, with Dennis in the driver’s seat and Alice as the navigator. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Alice and others, including technical delegate Rebecca Gutierrez, were encouraged by the fact that the event attracted six junior competitors, driving everything from mini horses to a Fjord horse and a senior citizen Morgan/thoroughbred cross.
“That’s where I started out. Just get around the ring and get some experience,” said Alice noting a fancy horse is not needed at this level.
“The kids are out there having a good time. To me that’s grass roots; horsemanship, that’s what it’s about. They’re actually doing the work. They have to train their horses. They don’t have the funds to go and buy a made horse. That’s how they’re going to learn and excel.” It is, as she acknowledged, the story of her early life with her first feisty backyard pony, Licorice.
“We need to grow the next generation coming along,” said Rebecca.
John Layton, president of the Gladstone Equestrian Association Gladstone Driving, who trains young drivers at his Tailspin Farm in Juliustown, part of Springfield, Burlington County, points out about the kids, “they’re the future of our sport.”
He was the navigator during the marathon for Lynden Kersten, a 12-year-old who won the junior singles section with her 20-year-old Morgan/thoroughbred cross, Splash of Chrome. Lynden, who has been driving for less than a year, trains with Laura DeFazio of Whistle Hill Farm in West Grove, Pa. Laura is the president of the Brandywine Valley Driving Club, which had a summer camp last year that got kids involved in driving.
Lynden Kersten in the marathon with navigator John Layton. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
“It turned into yearlong summer camp and I love it,” said Laura.
She brought four junior competitors, including Colette Gray, who at eight years old was the youngest person Laura had taken in an event. Tiny Colette was driving a 21-year-old warmblood mare, Victoria’s Secret.
Competing in a driving event over two days involves a lot of work.
“It’s not a horse show where you sit around and watch,” said Laura.
“It’s a family affair and everyone’s gung-ho to help, For that, I’m entirely grateful. This was a very successful event. We’re looking forward to next year.”
With an eye-catching orange-themed marathon ensemble, Ben Riesse finished third in the junior singles division driving a Norwegian Fjord horse, Isla, an 11-year-old, one year younger than Bill.
Orange is Ben Riesse’s marathon color. Totally. Check out the mane and tail on his Norwegian Fjord, Isla. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
The driver lives on a farm in Frederick, Md., where he takes care of his horse and has ambitions to compete a second time at the major Live Oak event in Florida.
His enthusiasm about driving is catching. He advises, “You should really get into it, it’s really fun.”
Part of the fun for those watching was to see the variety of horses, ponies and mini-horses (officially listed as Very Small Equines) as they proceeded through the phases.
Kaylee Angstadt, a 29-year-old professional trainer from Massachusetts’ Bradford Equestrian Center, caught everyone’s eye with Gail Wong’s black and white mini pair of 17-year-old Jewel and her son, Wicked, 11.
It was their first time doing the advanced dressage and cones course. I wondered how those tiny animals could be conditioned to pull a carriage and two passengers. Kaylee said it involved interval training and dressage work.
“The people get tired before the ponies do,” maintained Kaylee, an FEI 3-star single pony driver.
Jewel and Wicked reminded me of the mice that pulled Cinderella’s carriage in the animated feature of that name. When I mentioned that to Susan Wong, Gail’s daughter and Kaylee’s navigator, she told me I was right on target.
Kaylee Angstadt and Susan Wong with mini mother-son duo Jewel and Wicked. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
The minis, it seemed, had pulled “a winter-themed Cinderella carriage” in the local Wassail parade.
Susan belongs to the Myopia (Mass.) Driving Club, which was on the ground floor of developing the sport of combined driving in the U.S. that eventually led to a foundation that could support something like the world championships.
Raffa, a Welsh cob owned by Suzanne Johnson of Readington, is a veteran who at age 17 has done several kinds of competition.
A determined Suzanne Johnson and Raffa in the cones portion of the driving event. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Suzanne remembered that his best finish came at a pleasure show at Morven Park, where he won championship and reserve ribbons.
“So maybe I should go back to pleasure driving,” she mused, but then went on to finish second in the Preliminary Single Horse category after winning the dressage phase at Gladstone. So a change of occupation may not be in the cards for Raffa after all.
Volunteers, as always, were the backbone of the event. Perennial volunteer and organizing committee member Susan Data-Samtak has been involved for a long time and still believes it’s important to keep the competitions at Pine Meadow going.
“New drivers, new people; some of the old show committee is still around, the facility’s still here,” she commented, “so why shouldn’t local folks come and take advantage of all the beautiful scenery and facilities we have?”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 27, 2024
Moving a business that has been running since 1945 isn’t easy. It’s even more difficult when that business has taken on the status of an institution among area horse people, who have relied on it for decades.
But Somerset Grain and Feed, formerly of Bernardsville, N.J., made a smooth transition this month to the Long Valley section of Washington Township, going from suburbia to farm country.
“This whole area made it feel like home right off the bat. Everybody’s been very warm and welcoming,” said proprietor Tom Milesnick.
In contrast to the smaller Bernardsville location, which was crammed with all kinds of memorabilia around the bird seed, horse feed, fly spray, dog toys and buckets, the new facility is airy and spacious.
Tom Milesnick at his oak counter. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
It’s something Tom had dreamed of for 18 years. He’s running it with his son, Jesse, and Jesse’s girlfriend, Brianna Graf. A former whipper-in with the Essex Foxhounds, she trains horses and runs a magnawave horse therapy business.
The property was dominated by an 1870s barn to match the home of Joan Hemmings, the mother of former owner John Hemmings. When the barn burned in 1970, they pushed off the top half, Tom said, and replaced it with a Morton building (the company known for its pole barns and steel construction).
Somerset Grain’s new home began with what Tom called “a gut job, right to the metal walls.”
It involved starting over in a big way.
“I drew this (the layout) on a piece of paper with a pencil. Every day, seeing what was in my head materialize, was unreal,” he said of the project, done by Ken Boucher and his son, of Ken’s Contracting LLC.
When the conversion started, “The floor was worse than any sidewalk you’ve ever walked on,” said Tom, explaining it was transformed by being cut, smoothed and polished.
“Now it’s fabulous,” he commented.
Even the mailbox is among the unique items at found at Somerset Grain.
New wiring, spray foam insulation and knotty pine everywhere (you can still smell the freshly cut lumber) contribute to the business’s fresh identity; it’s as if you’re entering a very clean barn. Adding to the atmosphere is a “live edge” countertop, a slab of 200-year-old white oak. Among other things hanging from the ceiling is an antique hay hook, a device used to scoop up hay in the days before it was baled. Bits of history like that are everywhere around the store.
One cozy corner features a stove and chairs, next to a table with free, fresh-brewed coffee.
“We encourage people to stay and not be in a hurry,” said Tom.
Jesse Milesnick and Brianna Graf relax with Cali in the coffee nook at the store. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
The coffee nook has Brianna’s imprint. Another of her touches is the toilet paper holder in the restroom that is made from an old feed scoop, decorated with a Mason jar and a little sheaf of wheat. Some customers got such a kick out of it that they were taking its photo with their cellphones, Tom said.
The much-admired feed scoop toilet paper holder
As a horsewoman, Brianna appreciates that fact that she has “found a little niche and will talk to horse people around here and find out what they like.”
The store is putting an emphasis on reasonable prices and still has its basics, but a number of things have changed. More horse-related items, including some tack, will be offered, for instance, along with clothing. Reasonably priced flat tack used by foxhunters will be available from Black Diamond Designs.
“We want to integrate with the neighbors,” said Tom, noting that with Ace Hardware, Hoffman Supply and the Mendham Garden Center nearby, “there’s no reason to lean toward shovels, rakes and lawn and garden stuff, when all that is readily available. That left us room to expand to more for horses and chickens.”
There is plenty of storage in a separate building for feed, in a clean environment that keeps it cool.
“This is the epitome of what an efficient feed warehouse should be,” said Tom.
The store at 224 East Mill Road in Long Valley will have its grand opening Saturday June 29 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Representatives of Purina, Triple Crown and other feed companies will be on hand with coupons and special deals. Ekkia, a British company that offers low-cost everyday riding breeches among other items, but doesn’t sell on line, will have a booth. So will Cowgirl East, with western tack and apparel.
Tom is making a clipboard available at the grand opening, enabling customers to write what they’d be interested in having at the store.
“I want to know people’s needs, and what they would like to see here. Now we have the facility to handle that,” he said.
This sign from the late 1800s reflects another bit of history for which the store is known. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Jesse pointed out, “It will take us a good year or two how to figure out how to make this run the best it can. It’s exciting. It’s nice being in a farm area, where it makes sense for a feed store to be. We have room to grow.”
Rose Prucina, a Bernardsville customer since 1989, made her first trip to see the Long Valley store this week.
“It was a great experience,” she enthused.
“In fact, I came out with more than I came for.”
Even though the store changed counties, from Somerset to Morris, there was no thought of changing the name “because that’s who we are,” Tom declared.
“In the history of what we are and what we do, it stays with us forever.”
When his land use application was presented to Washington Township officials, Tom—as is his way—told them a story.
“Forty years ago, I was hauling grain down this road with a couple of tons of cow feed, and I looked at this place and said, `That place would make the world’s best feed store.’
“And now, 40 years later, I’m sitting before you asking your permission to come in. Look at that, dreams do come true.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 22, 2024
Incredible! Or as the Germans like to say, “Wow, wow, wow!”
That sums up the personal best (by far) performance of Marcus Orlob and Jane at the Schafhof Dresseur Festival in Germany, the final competition for Olympic hopefuls before the U.S. team is named next week.
After winning the 4-star Grand Prix on Friday, Marcus and the 10-year-old mare went one up on themselves with a victory in the Grand Prix Special on a score of 75.930 percent for a test that was smooth and effortless, yet correct. The duo earned marks of more than 77 percent for several movements, including transitions and half-pass.
Second place on 73.319 percent went to Adrienne Lyle with Helix, a horse she started showing for Zen Elite Equestrian in March, at the same time Marcus made his competition debut with Jane, who he had started riding only at the beginning of that month.
Adrienne Lyle and Helix in the awards ceremony.
Jane is owned by Alice Tarjan, who had trained her up through the levels to grand prix, but acted as the groom during her KWPN mare’s European sojourn after thinking Marcus would be a better fit for the mount.
Groom and owner Alice Tarjan led Marcus Orlob and Jane into the ring for the victory ceremony after the Grand Prix Special
Marcus originally was just hoping to be among the eight riders on the list of prospective Olympians who made the trip to Europe for observation competitions.
To think that he likely has made the Olympic team is beyond a dream come true for the native of Germany who is a naturalized American citizen.
Endel Ots, another U.S. team contender, would seem to have lost his chance for the team with a 69.872 percent Special performance on Zen Elite Equestrian’s Bohemian, who was behind the vertical at times and seemed to have less spark than in the Grand Prix, where he was fourth with 72.587 percent.
Pan American Games team and individual medalist Anna Marek on Fire Fly was eighth in the Special with 70.404 percent. In the Grand Prix for the Freestyle, however, she was second with Fayvel on a very respectable 73.131. Adrienne’s second horse, Zen Elite’s Lars de Hoenderheide, finished sixth in that class with a score of 69.109 percent. Both will compete Sunday in the freestyle. At the Olympics, that is the test that decides the individual championship medals.
Adrienne notes that her two horses “are very different rides. Lars is a big, powerful kind of pedal-to-the metal type ride and Helix is more like a ballerina, very light and dainty through the test. It’s fun to have two different types of horses.”
Veteran Olympian Steffen Peters, who headed the U.S. Olympic ranking list with Suppenkasper, was excused from the observation events and will compete as an individual next month at Aachen, where Marcus is on the team. Steffen’s best score in the Special this year was 73.234 percent.
It seems more than likely that he will be joined on the U.S. squad for Paris by Adrienne, his teammate on the 2021 Tokyo Olympic silver medal squad with the now-retired Salvino. And after Marcus’ performance at Schafhof, who could deny him a place on the team?
Ashley Holzer, a late addition to the Olympic short list with Hansel, put herself out of contention with a mark of 59.004 last week in Rotterdam, where the team finished last. The other Olympic hopeful on that squad, Katherine Bateson-Chandler, had a score of 67.848 percent on Haute Couture in the Rotterdam Grand Prix, and was twelfth Saturday in the Grand Prix Special on 70.021 percent.
Click here for results of the Special
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 11, 2024
The death of Chromatic BF shortly after a brilliant performance at the FEI World Cup Show Jumping Finals in Saudi Arabia April 18 was a devastating development that seemed unreal.
The 13-year-old Oldenburg appeared to be in great condition as he flew over the fences under the guidance of rider Jill Humphrey, and his third-place finish in the class that evening was the best performance by a U.S. entry thus far in the competition that would wrap up three days later.
But 90 minutes after the class ended at 9:30 p.m., the horse was dead.
Jill Humphrey and Chromatic get their third-place trophy at the World Cup finals.
The loss of Chromatic as jubilation dissolved into tears cast a pall over the first World Cup show jumping final presented in the Middle East.
A report on the necropsy performed at King Faisal University in Saudi Arabia included information that the horse had been treated at 10:41 p.m. with 4 milliliters of Legend, 5 of Adequan, 20 of Traumeel, 20 of arnica and 20 of Selevit, a selenium/vitamin combination.
At 10:44 p.m., Chromatic returned to his stall. A minute later, he began to stumble. Chromatic received dexamethasone at 10:48 p.m. He was pronounced dead at 10:59.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Equestrian Federation revised a statement about the situation that it had released on Monday.
“We have received the final necropsy report for Chromatic BF who passed away at the FEI World Cup Finals in April. The cause of the death was severe diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage and edema, which could be attributed to multiple causes, including disseminated intravascular coagulation (most commonly observed in severe sepsis and septic shock, according to the Medscape website); cardiopulmonary failure, shock, and exercise-associated fatal pulmonary hemorrhage. The report further indicates that the histopathologic findings raise the suspicion of fatal equine exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, despite Chromatic BF not exhibiting any overt signs of such condition. According to the final report, the administered medications were not identified as the cause of death.”
Dr. Stephen Schumacher, USEF chief veterinary officer, indicated the necropsy report is not conclusive as to the cause of the hemorrhage and edema.
Branscomb noted there was “some really upsetting information” in the necropsy report.
“It’s significantly different than what I believed to be true, and potentially (has) much more extensive consequences.”
She said the manufacturer’s label on Selevit says it can “cause anaphylactic shock and sudden cardiac death in horses. You have to have corticosteroids and epinephrine standing by and it’s contraindicated to ever give it intravenously.
“It’s only given to horses documented for selenium deficiency, which my horse was not,” she mentioned.
“Now I’m finding out there was more and that I was not told the truth.”
Branscomb said that originally, “I had thought it was just an honest mistake and that everyone was being transparent and forthcoming and genuinely interested in both the truth and preventing it happening again. Now I’m not so sure about any of that.”
She believes the horse was killed by a “shock reaction to the IV injection of unecessary and risky medications, done without anyone on my team’s knowledge…more than 90 minutes after my horse performed perfectly and returned healthy and fit to the stables with his lifetime groom. That is my truth and I stand by it.”
Branscomb noted, “This is unbelievably upsetting and I don’t even know where to go with it. Thirty-five years of breeding, the first American-bred horse in 37 years to contest the World Cup final. He was the flagship of my breeding farm.”
The Californian explained, “I kept him the whole 13 years and developed him so we could show the world what American breeding could produce. He was doing the job and he would have podiumed. They robbed me of it and that’s not okay.”
In the wake of Chromatic’s death, she had worked with USEF to come up with the draft of a revised horse participation consent agreement that said “no substances will be administered to the horse unless the USEF-appointed veterinarian first obtains written consent from the athlete,” unless it’s an emergency situation.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 10, 2024
When was the last time you went to a show where there were smiles all around, with exhibitors who weren’t scrambling for points or fretting about trying to qualify for a bigger show?
For me, it was yesterday–at the Alumni Tournament of Champions, presented by Alumni Equestrian Events. The show at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation in Gladstone, N.J., was open to hunt seat and western riders who had competed on their Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association teams. Competitors who ranged in age from 21 to their 60s rode horses drawn by lot, just the way it’s done in IHSA competition.
The 80 participants, who had attended a variety of schools including the Ivy League, state universities and small colleges, were thrilled not only to have a chance to compete, but also to enjoy riding while making new friends and spending time with those they rode with or against in the past. It’s particularly special for alumni who can’t afford to have their own horses, because it gives them a chance to ride and show without spending beyond their budgets.
Camaraderie is a big part of the Alumni Tournament of Champions. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
The Tournament of Champions has been held since 2012, but Alumni Equestrian Events is a new group, formed last year after IHSA decided not to offer competition for alumni anymore, maintaining the association needed to put all its focus on undergrads. AEE stages alumni competitions across the country from August through April.
“What’s been great is we’ve had people who had never been exposed to us before coming and saying, `Ohmigosh, I didn’t know I could ride all year long,’ ” said AEE Chairman Lena Andrews.
A number of IHSA coaches also dropped by the championship show to see what was going on.
AEE, which has more than 100 members, would like to see 50 percent growth in the next year. Judging by the enthusiasm level, that seems likely to happen.
Meggan Rusiewicz, winner of the Alumni Flat championship, is a fan of how the new group has handled the alumni desire to compete.
“I love it. I think it’s great what they’ve done with it. I’m really happy that they’ve been able to carry on the legacy that was alumni IHSA riding and I’m happy to be able to participate still,” said the 26-year-old chemical engineer, who was on the team at the University of Pittsburgh.
Meggan Rusiewicz, winner of the Alumni Flat class, with Lena Andrews, AEE chairman. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
IHSA was “the only way I was able to continue riding through college,” said Meggan, citing finances and the fact that her own 20-year-old horse was five hours away near Philadelphia.
“I hope I am able to continue doing this. It’s been really a blast and I enjoy it, especially the catch riding and all the great horses we’re able to have here today.”
Noting she was disappointed that IHSA dropped the alumni, she added, “I’m glad we were able to keep it going with this organization.”
AEE Treasurer Jessie Ann Green, a Hofstra University alum, was active in IHSA and a finalist in the prestigious IHSA Cacchione Cup competition as an undergrad. The special events coordinator of Desert Horse Park in California, she also worked for the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association.
Jessie, who flew up to New Jersey for the show from her summer home in Kentucky, feels, “It’s always special to be here at USET. I love this show, the horses are great, I always have a great time and see my friends and it’s always a special weekend for me every year. I can’t believe how many members we have this year and I can’t believe how much we’ve grown in just a short time and how many shows we’ve had. We’re only going to expand next year.”
Among the featured offerings at the show were the reunion classes, for non-members of AEE, and the Future Alumni Cup, for recent graduates who just officially took on alumni status.
Emily Yonkes, second in the Cup, is planning to join AEE. She called the show, “a blast. It was an immense experience for me.”
The 21-year-old, who last month got her diploma from Long Island University, is planning to join AEE in order to continue pursuing her favorite pastime and having the opportunity to show.
“Riding is a very expensive sport,” she explained.
“Being a student who is in an immense amount of debt, I still get to do the things I love while transitioning into the adult world.”
Emma Venanzi, 22.who won the Future Alumni Cup, rode on the University of Pittsburgh IHSA team and wants to join AEE.
Emma Venanzi competing in the Future Alumni class. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
“It’s a great opportunity for young adults who are in that weird in-between to still be able to ride,” said Emma, who works at a psychiatric hospital as a therapist on a child and adolescent floor.
“The horses are my break,” she said, noting she bonded with so many people when she was on the IHSA team.
Her aunt, Blanton Goll, who is 10 years older and works in human resources, inspired her niece to become involved with IHSA.
For Blanton, a Westchester University grad, the alumni shows are “a great opportunity to get another chance to put on show clothes, if you don’t have your own competitive horse.”
The initials of Alumni Tournament of Champions spelled out in horse show ribbons against the backdrop of the USET Foundation stables. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
After three years at the USET Foundation, the 2025 show will be at Mt. Holyoke College in Massachusetts, which has its own riding program and horses, which means mounts won’t have to be rounded up from area stables as they were this year.
Tammy Cranouski, AEE national director, discussed the effort that keeps AEE operating.
It’s a sisterhood that “runs on the enthusiasm that we all have for alumni competitions; and to ensure it keeps going forward is amazing,” she said, noting “we just built upon what Bob Caccione started. (He was the founder of IHSA).
“We’re continuing that legacy and making sure it’s available for alumni riders on a go-forward basis. A lot of times, this is their only opportunity to ride and compete, they may not have horses at home, they may not be able to maintain that type of lifestyle. So they get to create wonderful friendships and enjoy themselves.”
Tammy, a Connecticut resident who attended Westfield State University, wound up as reserve national champion in western horsemanship.
The tournament started when Lena, one of the IHSA zone chairpeople, and her friend, Jamie Windle, another chairperson, wanted a show where their riders could compete against each other.
” It’s a lot of work. It’s been worth it 110 percent,” said Lena.
The trophies presented are memorable, and the winners get to take them home but must bring them back the next year.
Emma Venanzi and Lena Andrews with one of the organization’s many trophies. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
“A lot of them are eBay finds,” Lena revealed, noting one is part of her old kitchen sink, sanded down and fitted with a silver cowboy boot for the western division.
“My dad made some of these pieces. Some of the trophies over the years were smaller and grew,” Lena said.
“We had to put bases on them. I love awards and ribbons and I want everything to look beautiful for everyone. It’s a passion of mine.”
And so are AEE and the Tournament. As Lena explained, ““I call it my labor of love.”
(For more information on the alumni opportunities, go to https://www.alumnitoc.com.)
