by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 4, 2024
The speculation about Salvino’s future is over.
The 17-year-old Hanoverian stallion who was a lynchpin of so many U.S. dressage teams will compete no more. He’s headed for a breeding career in Florida and Colorado.
Owned by Betsy Juliano and ridden by Adrienne Lyle, he had been a part of many successful international efforts, including the 2018 world championships silver medal squad in Tryon, N.C., then the Tokyo Olympics silver medal effort in 2021. In 2022, he was part of the sixth-place world championship team that qualified the U.S. for this summer’s Paris Olympics. He also placed sixth individually in the 2022 world championships and was named the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s International Horse of the Year as Adrienne was voted in as the International Rider of the Year.
Adrienne and Salvino competing in Wellington. (Photo © 2018 by Nancy Jaffer)
The last time he competed was in January 2023, when he won the FEI World Cup qualifier in Wellington, his fourth victory in a little over a month. Prior to that, he was absent from the arena for four months. Salvino was set to take part in the 2023 FEI World Cup Finals in Omaha until he popped a splint and was withdrawn.
Salvino’s long absence from competition made it seem unlikely he’d be a candidate for Paris, so Thursday’s announcement of his retirement was not unexpected.
Meanwhile, Adrienne is still pointing toward Paris, but with two new horses. She is showing Lars van de Hoenderheide and Helix, owned by Zen Elite Equestrian, with the idea of qualifying for the Games–even though she only got the ride on them earlier this year.
At the TerraNova equestrian center in Florida this weekend, she won both the 4-star Grand Prix for the Special and the Special with Helix. He was marked at 72.021 percent and 73.979 percent respectively in those classes.
Explaining the decision to retire Salvino, Betsy said he is “still quite fit and energetic, but Adrienne and I feel the rigors of the qualifying process, in addition to the leadup to the Olympics would not be in his best long-term interests.”
Adrienne pointed out, “There has always been a great deal of interest in Salvino as a breeding stallion. We feel it’s time to explore this as the next phase of his career. Salvino has far surpassed any expectations we ever had for him.
“This has been a very difficult decision to make, but more than anything we feel it is the right decision for him,” she added.
“He continues to be ridden at home; he loves to work and show the other horses how it should be done. He has given us so much, and Betsy and I are committed to making sure he keeps on living his best life.”
Adrienne Lyle at the 2022 Smartpak USEF Horse of the Year awards with Betsy Juliano, USEF President Tom O’Mara and Adrienne’s mentor, Debbie McDonald. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Writing on social media, Adrienne gave her thanks to Betsy and offered this tribute to Salvino: “You are the best friend, teammate and partner anyone could ever have, and you were an absolute warrior in the ring. You had my back every time we went down center line… if I was nervous you took the lead and showed me there was nothing to be afraid of… if I messed up, you picked up the slack and did it right anyway… if I doubted myself, you reminded me that we could make it happen, and when we turned up the final center line and I would whisper under my breath, “Take it home, buddy”… I could always feel you rise another foot off the ground and give it your absolute everything.
She added, “You taught me that if you really believe in something, keep your head down and work until the rest of the world believes in it too. I am so glad I get to still greet your beautiful face every morning and saddle up for fun rides together, for years to come.”
Adrienne began competing Salvino internationally in March 2017. Previously he had been ridden in Young Horse classes by Spanish riders. Originally named Sandronnerhall, the son of Sandro Hit and a Donnerhall mare was rechristened when he came to the U.S. He was purchased in 2015 by a syndicate, of which Betsy was one of the original members. She became the sole owner in 2017.
In her social media post, Adrienne emphasized, “Betsy Juliano, none of this would have been possible without your vision, dream, dedication, and unwavering commitment to Salvino. I am so thankful for your amazing support! And to Debbie McDonald for the years of expert guidance and help. None of this would have been possible without such an amazing team.”
Adrienne Lyle and Salvino in the Grand Prix Special.
Salvino and Adrienne were always crowd favorites. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 30, 2024
The 5-star finale of the Winter Equestrian Festival was worth every penny of its $500,000 purse in excitement, as a nine-horse jump-off ended with Germany’s Christian Kukuk wresting victory in the Rolex Grand Prix from U.S. favorite McLain Ward by less than a half-second.
The Saturday night feature, playing to a packed house at Wellington International, featured a field of 39 riders who had earned their way into the competition as 13 weeks of showing came to an end. Guilherme Jorge designed a course where every fence tested, though an oxer/oxer/vertical triple combination, uncharacteristically early in the course at number four, took the biggest toll.
Christian Kukuk and Checker 47.
The jump-off course also presented a unique test, as the triple was cut to its B and C elements, after which riders had to make a rollback turn to a new fence, an oxer decorated with horseheads.
McLain, who has only been riding Ilex for seven weeks, made an incredibly neat approach to that obstacle, and went on to finish in 36.24 seconds on a partner who may well be carrying him at the Paris Olympics. But two riders later, Christian and the lovely gray Checker 47 somehow managed to squeeze through the finish line in 35.82 seconds.
Christian, who is part of the Ludger Beerbaum team, Christian said he believed in the jump-off, “If there is any chance for me, I have to have a really tight rollback to that oxer. That went really, really well and Checker tried unreal. Then I jumped out; okay, stay on the distance now you get. I did it. I was flying home. Incredible.”
This was Christian’s first time competing in Wellington, and he had been told how exciting the Saturday night grands prix are, especially the Rolex class.
Christian Kukuk blazing his way through the jump-off with Checker 47. (Photo © Sportfot)
“Checker was in unbelievable shape and he did his job today,” said Christian of the 14-year-old Westfalen gelding by Comme Il Faut 5, who earned $165,000.
“I am so proud of him and it really means a lot to win here the first time in Wellington and beating McLain in front of his home crowd.”
McLain Ward and Ilex.
Then Christian grabbed his blue ribbon in his teeth, raised his helmet over his head and enjoyed his victory gallop.
The third place on the podium went to Karl Cook of the U.S. who went a bit wide on the rollback with Kalinka van’T Zorgvliet and wound up with a time of 36.62 seconds.
Karl said his mare has “been energetic since day one and I think there’s something about her where she knows what the event is.”
McLain reported about his trip, explaining, “I didn’t leave much on the table,” with a blazing jump-off round, but he thought he may have lost a “a touch of time” when his horse bucked after the double. It was the first time he competed in a tiebreaker with the 11-year-old Dutchbred by Baltic VDL, previously shown by a Brazilian rider.
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by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 26, 2024
The loss of boutique shows, the “crazy expensive” cost of showing, reporting horse abuse, and of course, social license to operate were among the topics at the most recent Town Hall in a series offered by the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association. The Zoom format enables members to air their concerns—and in some cases, suggest possible solutions.
Held monthly, the Town Halls don’t necessarily generate answers, but they can be a first step toward getting them.
Audrey Petschek, a realtor who lives in New England, stated during the Monday forum that the big box shows have bought out many dates. The one- and two-week shows that remain in her area “are really suffering,” she contended.
“People set up shop at HITS (Saugerties, N.Y.), for example, and just stay.”
HITS in Saugerties, N.Y., has undergone massive renovations that make it even more of a destination for competitors. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
On the other hand, moving from show to show is expensive, she pointed out, noting “even setting up a tack room display takes time and money. It all adds up fast and trainers are looking for the easiest way and the most cost-efficient way to show and do business.”
Creative thinking can help devise solutions to issues like these and other perennial problems.
In an interview on Tuesday about the Town Halls and their mission, USHJA President Mary Knowlton noted, “From USHJA’s perspective, we are always trying to foster interest in and breathe some life into some of these smaller shows.”
An example she gave involved the North Carolina Hunter Jumper Association, which runs one show a year and found itself facing two U.S. Equestrian Federation mileage exemptions that enabled shows to run against NCHJA in 2023.
“They were terrified because this is their one show. They use it to fund their scholarship program for their riders and their big banquet. Some of the bigger shows sort of horned in.”
Mary got a panic call from NCHJA, asking “What do we do?”
She replied, “You get really busy talking to your people who have shown with you for years and make it really clear to them that supporting you is necessary if they want to see you continue.”
It worked.
“They did that and actually had a good, strong year,” she reported.
The rise of the fancier shows tends to leave people with high – if unrealistic—expectations for their own competition experiences.
As Mary noted, “People have to be willing to have a more generous standard toward these one-time shows.”
The World Equestrian Center in Ocala, which hosted the FEI Longines League of Champions last weekend, brought in riders from Europe and South America for a stellar competition with a 5-star hotel as a backdrop. The venue has set a remarkable standard, and the question is, how do other shows keep up with something on the order of a WEC?
“The answer is, they can’t, really,” said Mary.
The atmosphere of the World Equestrian Center Ocala isn’t replicated elsewhere. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
(Riders at the elite Winter Equestrian Festival have even complained about conditions at Wellington International three hours south of Ocala, as they compared the facility where they are riding with WEC.)
Mary acknowledged that while rising costs are an industry-wide concern, questions about such matters are the province of management rather than USHJA itself. But she advised that Glenn Petty, who heads USHJA’s Competition Management Committee, could handle queries about management practices. He can be reached at glenn@trianglefarms.com.
The Town Hall format allows people to get their voices and issues heard.
“Most people feel unheard,” said Mary. She permits participants to write in questions during the Town Hall as “anonymous attendee,” which enables “real feedback” from those who are hesitant to put themselves out there by name.
“We get a chance to hear a lot of ideas and then test those ideas a little bit and then come back and refine them through that lens, which is super helpful.”
At the same time, she mentioned, “It’s a way for us to disseminate information. One of the comments that comes back is, `I feel better-educated after being on the Town Hall.’ That’s huge.”
She added, “I very much appreciate hearing people’s point of view.”
USHJA President Mary Knowlton
This month’s Town Hall had 124 participants at one point.
“So many people’s opinions are pouring into this hopper. People like DiAnn Langer, who heads the Commission on Equine Welfare, are listening. (The commission will make a report to the USHJA board in May.)
“They’re getting to understand how people think, and how could we mold a solution?”
On the subject of horse abuse, amateur rider Tamara Doloff of Maryland, who has experience as a horse show mother, expressed concern about a proposed U.S. Equestrian Federation horse welfare rule, “brought on by the social license to operate issue.”
The rule would enable the organization to discipline those involved in horse abuse incidents, even if they happened elsewhere than at a sanctioned show. The USEF board will vote on the rule in June.
“I’m concerned about USEF’s ability to take action against someone outside their purview,” she said. Issues Tamara mentioned are how to define abuse, if parents or trainers could be held liable for actions of their children and whether an animal rights organization could overwhelm USEF with complaints.
She also asked, “If someone is caught on camera in the presence of another person abusing a horse and they don’t report it, is the observer now subject to sanctioning?”
Steward Cricket Stone noted there are many things going on at shows that are “not doing the sport any good.” They include the presence of boxes for sharps that are overflowing with needles by the end of the week, longeing done so improperly that horses are injured and cantering horses in the warm-up rings until they are huffing and puffing.
Debbie Bass, a member of the USEF hearing committee, said she thinks expanding the jurisdiction of USEF involving horse abuse is “the most empowering rule change” for owners and riders, enabling them “to have a further say about what they see in the care of their horses.”
She added, “It not only empowers, but also obligates them to speak up if they see horse abuse.”
Being obliged to report takes the onus off an owner who sees something that’s unusual or abusive and maybe historically they would not have responded because “it’s just too hard’ and “it’s my trainer.
“But if you’re in fact obligated to report…it puts it in a whole other power dynamic. It gives cover to the witness of `an injustice to the horse,’ ” Debbie mentioned.
“It gives them more eyes on the problem, it gives them more advocates. It does include things like over-showing a horse, which we’ve all witnessed. With this rule change. I would be empowered to say something because, oh my gosh, I have to say something. It is cover to come out from behind the curtain and adjust the power struggle in favor of the horse.”
She noted that USEF does due diligence and “the hearing committee doesn’t see anything unless it’s been pre-vetted.”
As well as dealing with big-picture items, people have a chance to bring localized concerns to the Town Hall. That’s what Betsy Checchia from Zone 8 did, with an issue about the contiguous zone rule enabling riders to show outside their home zone to accumulate points for a zone award. She noted that in her zone of Utah, New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona, the first two states no longer have rated shows, and attendance at shows elsewhere in the zone is dwindling, as people show in the contiguous zone states of California and Texas. She mentioned as a possible solution the idea of only counting points earned at shows in a zone, as opposed to those awarded in contiguous states.
What side of the issue people are on, however, depends on where in the country they’re located. For instance, Allison Fisher of Maryland in Zone 3 likes showing in Pennsylvania, which is Zone 2, because it is closer to her home than some other locations in her zone.
Zone 6 also has a wrinkle because Wisconsin does not have rated shows, so people go to Illinois in Zone 5 to compete.
In 2025, USHJA will be responsible for handling zone points, and one suggestion was to award double points for ribbons earned in a rider’s home zone to encourage showing there, rather than in a contiguous state. Zones can come up with their own criteria for how points will work.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 25, 2024
A little more than two years ago, professional rider Cassandra Kahle of Redfield Farm suffered a TBI (traumatic brain injury) when her horse fell during a jumper class at HITS Ocala’s Post Time Farm.
On Sunday, the last day of the 2024 winter series there, she returned to the ring where she had her accident and rode around a small course built so she could chase her demons by clearing those fences.
After her fall, she was in a coma for 18 days and had lost her ability to walk and talk. She recovered only after endless physical therapy and extreme determination, with her mother, Natasha Brash, always at her side to help.
Handling that special course at HITS was an incredibly emotional moment, not only for her, but also for her family, friends and fans at ringside who knew what she had been through, and what it took to bring her back to her life’s work.
Cassie at Devon several years before the accident. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
Her employer, Emil Spadone of Redfield, was among those who had helped the 31-year-old native of British Columbia along the way.
On her Facebook page, she recounted what it was like to return to the scene of such a life-changing event and conquer her demons.
Cassie explained, “I have been struggling and find myself at a loss for words to warrant the gravity that this post deserves.”
She thanked announcer and judge Matt Brayman for his support, and the team at HITS “for organizing this incredible momentous moment for me. I have dreamt of the day I could return to the show ring since my fall two years, one month and 25 days ago.
“But I have had the goal of this particular class and this particular moment for the past five months. Since I set this goal, I have had this burning desire inside me that I knew I had to complete it.”
Cassie and her supporters. (ESI Photography)
She continued, “I can talk about the struggle and work I have done every day to achieve this moment, but that is another story. What feels important in the moment now is to simply say thank you. First of all, to the team at HITS and what you did for me was so much more than what I had hoped this moment would be. At the end of the last day of the 10-week circuit, a .65-meter course was built in the stadium where I had my fall. It has been my personal goal to overcome such a traumatic event but also to change the way I look back at the ring that has symbolized my home base for the past 10 years. I did not want my last ride in that ring to be a tragedy.”
“When I stepped through the ingate and saw the crowd that had gathered to support me and heard Matt’s voice announce my name and my longtime partner’s name, Pyrenes De Louzes, like so many times before, a realization came over me that was singular to that moment. I couldn’t be nervous because I had already won.
“I was riding the most important horse of my career through the gate where my life had so changed, with a crowd of the most amazing supporters backing me. To the team at HITS, I thank you.
“To everyone who was there and to everyone who has offered their support one way or another over this long journey, my gratitude is forever yours. To my family for flying out to be here with your unwavering support so you could be there to experience this with me, I am filled with so much love for you. To Emil, Darby and Maari, thank you for caring for my Pie so he was ready to carry me to another major victory. To my boyfriend Willem, thank you for being my lighthouse and lighting my way on this journey. And to the Pie. I have wondered what I would do when we landed off the last jump and crossed the finish line, would I pump my fist in the air? Would I cheer?”
Actually, she simply hugged her horse’s neck.
“The only feeling I had was a heartfelt gratitude and a knowing that it was all for you. You have seen me through thick and thin, taught me the ups and downs of the game and what it takes to be a true horsewoman and a good sport. We experienced my lowest lows in competition but you also carried me to my most precious victories. Thank you, Pyro. for being my horse. I can’t imagine a more beautiful moment to wish you a happy retirement.
And so, one book of my life is closed and it is time for another to open.”
Cassie Kahle has a special smile. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
Cassie had cited what Matt Brayman wrote, so here it is: “Sometimes we get to remember why we do what we do. I remember judging a class a couple years ago when Cass had her accident. I remember thinking nothing but `get up, Cassie. Get up.’
“That moment will never leave me. I quit judging for a month or two after that, but never stopped following her story. Every day. `Get up, Cassie, get up.’
“I don’t mean to compare my struggle with hers. I’m a millionth, at best, of the struggle and the fight she’s endured. I’m not sure there’s anyone I admire more following the road back. And the courage this lady showed coming back in the ring where it all happened. And here I was judging it again.
“Cassie, I can’t comprehend the work, the courage, the persistence it took for you to do what you did today. I’m not going to lie. Going across the ring in that area (fence 3) stopped my breathing, stopped my heart. I didn’t think it would be as emotional as it was. I had a great speech planned but couldn’t speak after word three or so. But in the end, it was all worth it.
“Understand in the end you not only chased your demons, you chased all our demons. Thanks for your will, thanks for your work, thanks for being you.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 24, 2024
The Longines League of Nations’ debut in the U.S. crackled with excitement from beginning to end, as teams from 10 countries that included 18 of the world’s 20 top-ranked show jumpers offered what might be a hint of the action in this summer’s Olympics.
While Ireland took center stage on the podium Saturday, there were other winners — the spectacular World Equestrian Center venue in Ocala, and the new system used by the League.
The Irish team of Cian O’Connor, Darragh Kenny, Daniel Coyle, Shane Sweetnam and chef d’equipe Michael Blake. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I like the format a lot,” said U.S. Coach Robert Ridland, who then added, “I love the new format. I think it’s great for spectators who don’t know our sport well.”
The U.S. was the leader halfway through the two-round competition, but dropped to third after the suspenseful second round.
Coach Robert Ridland leads the U.S. team into the arena before the Longines League of Nations. With him are Aaron Vale, Kent Farrington and McLain Ward (Laura Kraut was warming up her horse.) (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
While the format allows the traditional drop score for teams of four in the first round, only three riders from each squad compete in the second round, where every score counts.
That heightens the drama, and the standings changed radically during the class. At half-time (following the afternoon round) the U.S. led on zero penalties because its three fault-free riders, pathfinder Laura Kraut on Baloutinue, Kent Farrington (Landon) and anchor McLain Ward (Callas), had gone faster than those from Ireland and the Netherlands, who also had a clean slate. The USA’s hometown favorite, Aaron Vale, who toppled a rail at an airy vertical with Carissimo 25, had his score dropped and he did not ride in the second round.
McLain Ward met a fake flamingo after his first round in the League of Nations, to the dismay of his mount, Callas. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
By the end of the evening, the crowd packed into the stands around the Grand Arena saw a different order of merit, with Ireland taking the top prize on 5 penalties, followed by Switzerland—which rose from seventh in the first round—to finish on 8 penalties and the U.S. in bronze position with 12 penalties. The Dutch score was 12 as well, but the U.S. riders had a faster time to break the tie.
As Robert noted, almost every other sport doesn’t allow you to throw away one of your scores that you don’t like.
With no drop score, “Where the teams are at any given minute is very clear.”
At the Paris Olympics, teams will consist of only three riders, so that’s why this competition could be considered a preview of sorts. And as Robert pointed out, “being on the podium when it’s the top 10 (teams competing), there’s nothing wrong with that.”
Then he said with a grin, “We’re giving them a little bit of a head start and a false sense of security.”
Last month in Wellington, Fla., Ireland won the Winter Equestrian Festival’s traditional Nations Cup, with drop scores allowed in both rounds. That nation had no trouble, however, transitioning to the new system. The deciding round in Ocala was produced by Cian O’Connor on Maurice.
He had enough leeway to allow a single penalty for going over the 72-second time allowed set by course designer Alan Wade.
Cian O’Connor and Maurice were airborne over the fences. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Cian did not need to ride in the first round because of perfect trips from his teammates, Shane Sweetnam (Otis Blue), Daniel Coyle (Legacy) and Darragh Kenny (Amsterdam).
Cian O’Connor clinched victory for the Irish. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
“You can only deliver last to go if the team have done their job,” he explained.
“So my job is easy, right, with these three guys’ amazing clear rounds. They had set the whole thing up for me, really.”
Chef d’equipe Michael Blake told Cian he could afford a time fault, but Cian waited until finishing the triple combination three fences from the end of the course before exercising that option.
When Maurice jumped out of the combination, Cian said, “I just decided to take a breath. I just gave the horse a moment. I think that’s where he picked up a fraction of time, but I was happy. We had the job done, so it was fine.”
Will Ireland be the favorite to win in Paris?
Hard to say, since the other countries on the podium in Ocala will present a challenge, along with Germany and the Netherlands, if you’re looking for a short list of possibles.
But Michael Blake cited as an asset “the depth that we have – there’s 29 riders last year and 13 podium finishes and it’s pretty okay. I’m really, really lucky to have the bunch of people that we have.”
Daniel Coyle and Legacy were double-clear for Ireland. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Others may get a chance to prove themselves, “but you know, it’s looking not too bad,” Michael observed with a little smile. Bertram Allen was supposed to be on the team until he was injured in a fall; Shane replaced him with an inexperienced horse. And in Wellington Saturday night, Daniel Coyle’s brother, Jordan, won the $150,000 Hermès CSI4* 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Final with For Gold.
In the second Longines round for the U.S., Kent’s horse had a foot in the water jump and a rail, while McLain faulted at the middle element of the triple. Robert noted Kent’s horse is young and still relatively new to him, though he came off a double-medal winning effort in the Pan American Games last year. Aaron, who rode in the League’s debut in Abu Dhabi last month, is also dealing with a new mount.
“I’m very pleased with his progress,” Robert said.
Laura Kraut may have earned a permanent job as U.S. pathfinder, commenting, “I much preferred it to being the clean-up rider.” That was her job in the crucial Pan Am Games, where the U.S. qualified for Paris.
Pathfinder Laura Kraut had the best score of any rider in the competition. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Her double clear was not only sensational, but also faster than other riders who were double clear. They were Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs on Leone Jei and Steve Guerdat (Is-Minka), as well as Daniel Coyle, and the Dutch pair of Harrie Smolders (Uricas v/d Kettevennen) and Maikel van der Vleuten (Beauville Z NOP).
“I have so much confidence in my horse and I feel like we’ve got a good partnership now, versus the year of Tokyo (2021Olympics) when I didn’t really know what to do with him. Now I have a good idea,” said Laura.
She was also free of jumping penalties in Thursday’s $330,000 Lugano Grand Prix, but one time fault kept her from inclusion on the jump-off list. She said she wouldn’t have gone into a tiebreaker anyway, though, because her plan involved using the class as a warm-up for the Longines League of Nations.
“He had not jumped any class stronger than a 1.50 (meters) since July and knew this was going to be tough with Alan building and I wanted to make sure I had the best prep I could,” Laura explained about her choice to compete in the grand prix.
She felt the time allowed in the team competition for the “straight-forward course” was “very lenient,” on a route that “wasn’t so technical.”
Laura believes the League debut enabled people “to see this sport the way it is and not on television, but to actually see it live is not only exciting, but educational. I think it’s wonderful and WEC did an amazing job. I don’t think there could be one complaint.”
Cian praised the venue, which really shone during its time on the world stage this week. The riders were housed in the 5-star Equestrian Hotel, which served as the glamorous backdrop for the jumping.
“It’s one of the great wonders of the world. It’s the most amazing place,” said Cian of WEC.
“The facility is fantastic, and we’re delighted to be here. Sometimes the unsung heroes of our sport are the grooms, and for them, the way they’re looked after, plus the stables and the level of detail here, is second to none. We’re absolutely delighted to be here, and big thanks to the Roberts family for building this wonderful facility for us.”
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by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 22, 2024
When is a $330,000 grand prix not the featured attraction at a horse show?
Answer: When it’s held during a week that offers the only U.S. leg of the Longines League of Nations, a new version of the traditional Nations Cup series.
Teams from 10 countries will face off Saturday in that much-anticipated two-round contest at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, where all the seats were sold out days ago. But on Thursday evening, the Lugano Diamonds Grand Prix did shine in the spotlight, with 49 starters taking on the dare of an Alan Wade-designed course that yielded only one clear round—from Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam–among the first 37 starters.
Would this class be deprived of a jump-off? The very tight 80-second time allowed resulted in time penalties for five riders who otherwise were fault-free, including the USA’s Laura Kraut on Baloutinue, who finished sixth with a single time fault.
No, happily several of the field’s biggest names conquered the demanding route so spectators could anticipate the tiebreaker. First to join the clean round list was France’s former European Championship gold medalist, Kevin Staut on Beau de Laubry Z, followed by another former European champion, Martin Fuchs of Switzerland with Leone Jei. Then Steve Guerdat, yet another Swiss star, and the winner of individual Olympic gold, the European Championship and the FEI World Cup finals produced a clear with the untested Albfuehren’s Iashin Sitte.
Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
But the real surprise was the last to go, the USA’s relatively unheralded Callie Schott, who unlike her clear round predecessors in the class won’t be riding on a team for the League competition.
She was aboard Garant, Beezie Madden’s former mount, to complete a jump-off field of five accompanied by the heartfelt cheers of the crowd as she cleared the last fence. The list for the tie-breaker soon became four, however, as Kevin bowed out to keep his mount fresh for the French team’s efforts two days later in the League competition.
Callie was on the American squad for the League’s debut in Abu Dhabi last month, where she reported Garant had the first fence down in both rounds. There would be no such mishaps in this class.
Callie Schott and Garant. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Shane produced a respectable trip with RR Combella in 39.44 seconds. Martin went after that clocking with his magnificent grey son of Baltic VDL, finishing in 36.68 seconds after a mad dash to the final fence. No one would be able to beat that. Steve tried, but as he noted, “it’s the very first time that this horse has seen a ring like this, that he has seen jumps like tonight, the first time he jumps under the lights.”
He was clocked in 37.54 seconds, good enough, as it happened, to be runner-up. (Interestingly, the dam sire of Steve’s horse was Tinka’s Boy, ridden to great acclaim by Martin’s uncle, Markus Fuchs).
Steve noted, “I thought the time was just maybe one or two seconds too short, so I knew it was going to be a tough ask. He responded beautiful to everything I asked him. It couldn’t have been any better, and it made me very proud tonight.”
Steve Guerdat goes for it at the finish. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Callie gave it her all to finish in 37.88 seconds, strides ahead of Shane to make it onto the podium in third place.
Coached by Beezie’s husband, John Madden, Callie received this advice before the jump-off “Go enjoy yourself.” And she did, as evidenced by her wide smile on the podium while lifting a bouquet next to Steve and Martin.
I wondered whether as a relative newcomer to the top level of the sport she was intimidated by riding against such major stars. She is ranked 229th in the world, while Martin is sixth-ranked and Steve third-ranked.
“Actually,” she replied, “I think it was really exciting to be able to compete with them.”
Callie Schott raises her arm in triumph after her clean jump-off round. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Steve won’t be riding his grand prix horse on the Swiss team Saturday, but Martin will be aboard Leone Jei and doesn’t think the extra outing in the grand prix will affect his Dutch-bred mount.
Martin Fuchs understandably was all smiles on Leone Jei. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
“He jumped fantastic both rounds, he felt really good. He was really working with me, and I felt like he enjoyed both rounds a lot. When you’re in a grand prix like this, you really want to win, and you try your best in the jump-off. You don’t think too much about the Nations Cup yet. Leone Jei has so much experience already at this level, and I really trust him that he can go fast in a jump-off like today, and then still be focused and at his best on Saturday for Team Switzerland.”
The course laid out with the assistance of Colm Quinn and Bobby Murphy was showcased against the backdrop of the columned 5-star Equestrian Hotel, where lucky fans got to watch the action in the Grand Arena from the front porch.
Asked how she prepared to tackle the awesome route, Callie said she and John, “broke down the course and stuck to the plan, we did it piece by piece and put it all together.”
Callie Schott was thrilled to stand on the podium with Steve Guerdat and Martin Fuchs. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Garant, known as Junior around the barn, was withdrawn from consideration for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics when Beezie was riding him because she and his owner felt he wasn’t ready yet.
But he’s ready now and Callie noted, “If I make the short list for the Olympics, I think we are going to try to pursue that, and if not, we’re going to do the best for all of our horses and go from there.”
She has quite a relationship with Garant.
“He is a goofball who is playful in the barn. It’s taken a while for me to get to know him in the ring because he turns into a different horse and has so much energy. Day to day, he’s a very relaxed, very low-key animal then you go into that first jump and then you’re off.”
Nine competitors were eliminated or retired in the class. Aside from Laura, U.S. team riders didn’t fare well.
McLain Ward had the last fence down with Ilex to finish thirteenth, which was good enough to be in the prize money. Kent Farrington had two rails with Landon to wind up twenty-seventh. Aaron Vale, a local crowd favorite because he’s based in Ocala, was thirty ninth with 20 penalties, but Ovi Wan is not his team horse, so don’t read too much into that for the League contest.
Melissa Brandes of Lugano called the class, “an unbelievable night of sport. I have been looking forward to this week for a long time. As a founding sponsor of WEC, to see a competition like this take place here is unbelievable.” I’m awe-struck.”
