by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 12, 2023
More information has emerged about what was behind Tuesday’s abrupt postponement — with an hour’s notice — concerning the Wellington Village Council’s consideration of an application for the Wellington North development.
Details of the thinking behind changes to the application have been made public in a 39-page “justification statement.”
It deals with the proposal that would develop Equestrian Village, home of the Global Dressage Festival, and the neighboring White Birch property into a residential club community. Its 96 dwelling units across the parcels would include 48 single-family and 48 multi-family units, none higher than 35 feet. At present, Equestrian Village and White Birch could build just four and two units respectively without any Council action.
For the development, the Equestrian Village property would require a change of land use from Equestrian Commercial Recreation to Residential. But in order to construct more housing, 96.17 acres also would have to be removed from the Village’s Equestrian Preserve, which can only be done by a vote of four of the five Council members. The development has been opposed by many Village residents, who express concern about traffic, overcrowding and losing the community’s equestrian ambience.
The Adequan Global Dressage Festival grounds has attracted crowds for the Friday Night Lights freestyles.(Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
The statement from developer Wellington Lifestyle Partners describes the fundamental strategy as switching residential land at nearby Wellington South to an Equestrian Commercial designation for expansion of the overcrowded Wellington International showgrounds, in exchange for 96 acres of what in effect would be new residential land at Equestrian Village (Wellington North).
But the Wellington South acreage that could expand the showgrounds has yet to be sold to the owners of Wellington International. Jane Cleveland, chairman of the Village’s Equestrian Preserve Committee, points out “it has been made clear” that the land could be purchased only if the housing development is approved for the Equestrian Village site. The entire Equestrian Preserve is 9,000 acres, which is composed of showgrounds, polo fields and bridle trails. Those who are against the development fear removing any land from the Preserve could have a domino effect, resulting in the loss of other acreage designated that way.
In making its case, Wellington Lifestyle Partners stated, “By the expansion of the showgrounds from 90 acres to 190 acres, there is an ability to create a single integrated venue, which is critical to Wellington’s long-term success,”
If the Wellington International showgrounds expands, plans call for dressage to move there from Equestrian Village. The developer contends establishing jumpers, hunters and dressage for the horse shows on a contiguous piece of land would cut back on traffic generated by having competition on two showgrounds separated by busy roads.
The developer called Wellington — known as “the Winter Equestrian Capital of the World”– the trailblazer in creating an integrated equestrian community, and a model for other communities. But Wellington Lifestyle Partners maintains that the market is competitive, and continuing to grow, with the addition of the World Equestrian Center in Ocala and TerraNova outside Sarasota, as well as popular winter circuits in Europe.
“To preserve the Village’s stake in the equestrian industry and establish our community as the true Equestrian Capital of the World, the showgrounds and related lifestyle amenities must be expanded and enhanced, and high-end residential opportunities must be available to support those equestrian facilities. Wellington must take the next step forward or be forced back,” the developer contends.
“The Wellington” is designed as a private community with several tracts of land linked by a common design
philosophy. It would include The Wellington North; The Wellington South, proposed in a separate concurrent petition, and The Wellington Market, a commercial project open to the public which will be submitted in a separate future petition.
The Council’s first reading of the ordinance has been postponed to Nov. 14, 15 and possibly 16, the dates already reserved for the second reading.
The meeting room Tuesday was filled with disappointed people, some of whom had flown in, to attend the first reading of the application, only to find the session was cancelled on short notice.
“Staff supports this (postponement) request and recommends the request be approved to allow more time for staff to review the most recent modifications to the application and allow the applicant time to continue to address issues raised by interested parties and the community,” stated a Wellington website post from Village Manager Jim Barnes.
The Wellington Council meeting Tuesday night.
“This is one of the most important votes, if not the most important vote, in the history of Wellington,” emphasized Councilman Michael Drahos.
“So I do not want to rush it through. We’ve received a massive amount of information recently. We want to take time to digest that so I’m fully prepared to handle every aspect of this application. We’ve also had a lot of residents ask us to slow down and take a little bit more time as this information has been coming in lately.”
The councilman added, “So from my point of view, this was the prudent thing to do tonight, as much as it is frustrating. We want to get on with it, We want to vote, we want to decide Welllington’s future once and for all. Let’s do it the right way…so when it does come time to vote, we’re all ready to do that.”
The vote of the Village Council is the only decision that counts in terms of the Wellington North and South projects being accepted. Although the Equestrian Preserve Committee and the Planning, Zoning and Adjustment Board recommended against the proposals, they are simply advisory panels.
The changes to the proposals, however, are “significantly based on the board’s and committee’s comments, the comments that were made at the boards that did review this?” Mayor Anne Gerwig asked Barnes, who answered in the affirmative.
People were allowed to comment at the Council meeting, but they were warned that because the matter was not being taken up at that session, their comments could not go in the record or be considered by the Council next month when it deals with two items involving the projects that are legislative, and one that is quasi-judicial.
Wellington resident Richard Sirota took advantage of being allowed to speak, even though he couldn’t make an official comment.
Richard Sirota speaks to the Council.
A real estate developer, who was chairman for six years of the Battery Park City Authority in New York, said during his time in real estate and government, he had “never seen a process so anti-democratic as this. Normally, you couldn’t cancel a meeting on an hour’s notice. That’s implicitly giving a plus to the applicant.
“It’s supposed to be a level playing field…This to me is an unconscionable process. I’m saying nothing about what the zoning should be…I’m saying for process, you should all be embarrassed, because it implicitly says they control it, it’s not a level playing field.”
After concluding his remarks, he got a round of applause from the audience, who had expected to hear the Council discuss the proposals but will just have to wait some more.
Karen Holland got up to say she received a flyer from a new entity called, “Preserving Wellington,” noting the name is “very clever.”
It is putting forth the case for what the developer wants to do. Its website states: “Without New Investment, Wellington’s Equestrian Venues And Stature As The Horse Sport Capital Of The World Will Begin To Diminish.
Support The Wellington Equestrian & Golf Club Proposal.The modified plans will create a pathway for the showgrounds to double in capacity, preserve our equestrian lifestyle, invest in essential infrastructure, ease traffic challenges, and generate vital revenue for our Village – all without burdening taxpayers.”
But Holland said, “I kind of resent getting this in the mail.
“It doesn’t seem fair that the other side, which has a lot of money, is able to flood mailboxes, flood articles in the papers and just be out there and present something without people really getting an idea of what the other side is. My thoughts are, let’s put it to a vote and let people in the community decide.”
It was mentioned during the meeting, however, that Florida statutes prohibit submitting land use decisions to a public referendum.
Another group, Protect the Equestrian Preserve, has more than 7,000 people who don’t want the development.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 10, 2023
Just when the Wellington, Fla., Village Council should have gotten its first crack at evaluating the controversial development proposals from Wellington Lifestyle Partners Tuesday night, the applicant asked for a postponement after additional material was submitted involving reduced density impact.
On an hour’s notice, the first reading of the ordinance was put off. It now will be Nov.14, 15 and possibly 16. the dates already reserved for the second reading.
The meeting room was filled with disappointed people, some of whom had flown in, to attend the first reading of the application. Opposition to the development plans include concern about overcrowding and traffic, but most of all, losing the equestrian ambience of the Village.
“Staff supports this (postponement) request and recommends the request be approved to allow more time for staff to review the most recent modifications to the application and allow the applicant time to continue to address issues raised by interested parties and the community,” stated a Wellington website post from Village Manager Jim Barnes.
The Wellington Council meeting Tuesday night.
“This is one of the most important votes, if not the most important vote, in the history of Wellington,” emphasized Councilman Michael Drahos.
“So I do not want to rush it through. We’ve received a massive amount of information recently. We want to take time to digest that so I’m fully prepared to handle every aspect of this application. We’ve also had a lot of residents ask us to slow down and take a little bit more time as this information has been coming in lately.”
The councilman added, “So from my point of view, this was the prudent thing to do tonight, as much as it is frustrating. We want to get on with it, We want to vote, we want to decide Welllington’s future once and for all. Let’s do it the right way…so when it does come time to vote, we’re all ready to do that.”
The vote of the Village Council is the only decision that counts in terms of the Wellington North and South projects being accepted. Although the Equestrian Preserve Committee and the Planning, Zoning and Adjustment Board recommended against the proposals, they are simply advisory panels.
The changes to the proposals, however, are “significantly based on the board’s and committee’s comments, the comments that were made at the boards that did review this?” Mayor Anne Gerwig asked Barnes, who answered in the affirmative.
The applicant wants to build housing on the Wellington North parcel, which means that 96.17 acres would have to be removed from the Equestrian Preserve, part of 9,000 such acres in the Village. It requires a vote of four of the five Village Council members in order to remove land from the preserve, which is composed of showgrounds, polo fields and bridle trails.
There would be housing as well on the South parcel, but an extension of the Wellington International showgrounds is also planned for Wellington South. However, an application for the showgrounds expansion, which is not a Wellington Lifestyle Partners project, would have to be submitted and evaluated separately. That process has not yet begun.
Wellington North is the home of the Global Dressage Festival, which would move to the current Wellington International facility if the showgrounds expansion is approved. The additional acreage for the showgrounds would alleviate overcrowding, offer a stadium to showcase sport and include permanent hospitality facilities.
People were allowed to comment at the Council meeting, but they were warned that because the matter was not being taken up Tuesday, their comments could not go in the record or be considered by the Council next month when it deals with two items involving the projects that are legislative, and one that is quasi-judicial.
Wellington resident Richard Sirota took advantage of being allowed to speak, even though he couldn’t make an official comment.
Richard Sirota speaks to the Council.
A real estate developer, who was chairman for six years of the Battery Park City Authority in New York, said during his time in real estate and government, he had “never seen a process so anti-democratic as this. Normally, you couldn’t cancel a meeting on an hour’s notice. That’s implicitly giving a plus to the applicant.
“It’s supposed to be a level playing field…This to me is an unconscionable process. I’m saying nothing about what the zoning should be…I’m saying for process, you should all be embarrassed, because it implicitly says they control it, it’s not a level playing field.”
After concluding his remarks, he got a round of applause from the audience, who had expected to hear the Council discuss the proposals but will just have to wait some more.
Karen Holland got up to say she received a flyer from a new entity called, “Preserving Wellington,” noting the name is “very clever.”
It is putting forth the case for what the developer wants to do. Its website states: “Without New Investment, Wellington’s Equestrian Venues And Stature As The Horse Sport Capital Of The World Will Begin To Diminish.
Support The Wellington Equestrian & Golf Club Proposal.The modified plans will create a pathway for the showgrounds to double in capacity, preserve our equestrian lifestyle, invest in essential infrastructure, ease traffic challenges, and generate vital revenue for our Village – all without burdening taxpayers.”
But Holland said, “I kind of resent getting this in the mail.
“It doesn’t seem fair that the other side, which has a lot of money, is able to flood mailboxes, flood articles in the papers and just be out there and present something without people really getting an idea of what the other side is. My thoughts are, let’s put it to a vote and let people in the community decide.”
It was mentioned during the meeting, however, that Florida statutes prohibit submitting land use decisions to a public referendum.
Another group, Protect the Equestrian Preserve, has more than 7,000 people who don’t want the development.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 8, 2023
Luke Jensen was second last year in the Platinum Performance/U.S. Equestrian Federation Show Jumping Talent Search Finals East, but for 2023, the determined rider could not be denied the top spot.
The championship, which enjoys extra prestige because it is held at the historic U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation in Gladstone, N.J., drew 46 riders for three days of intense competition.
A working student for trainers Missy Clark, John Brennan and Maggie Gampfer at North Run, Luke’s junior days are behind him, but he picked the right way to end his equitation experience Sunday before going on to “step up to a higher level” and a career as a professional.
Luke Jensen and Calina M. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Riding at the USET Foundation made his victory even more important.
“I love coming to this facility,” explained Luke, saying he has “a great affinity for the history of the sport. I enjoy watching and trying to learn from what people have done before me. It’s very special to be successful here. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
Luke, who last year won the Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Finals, was second in the ASPCA Maclay and also owns a team silver from the North American Youth Championships, vied with Joe Craver, a Talent Search first-timer, for honors in the initial two phases, the flat and the gymnastics.
Joe, who rides with Stacia Madden at Beacon Hill, earned 91 points for each of the first two segments aboard Franco, while Luke was just a point away, on a score of 90 with Morgan Wilsberg’s Calina M, who is only seven years old but certainly was up to the challenge.
“She never didn’t answer the questions we asked,” said Missy, who initially heard about the mare from Christian Coyle and was so impressed she is in the process of buying her.
“I had a really good feeling about Luke’s partnership with Calina. Even though the mare is green and had never done equitation before joining our stable a month ago, I didn’t focus on that because it never entered my mind she wouldn’t do it,” Missy noted.
The gymnastics phase is often a deal-breaker for some riders in the Talent Search, but that was not the case this year. The course had been designed by judge Ronnie Beard and U.S. Show Jumping Coach Robert Ridland, who was supposed to judge but got sidelined with Covid after coming back from the Barcelona Nations Cup final by way of Paris to visit the Olympic venue at Versailles. He was replaced by his assistant, Olympic medalist Anne Kursinski.
“What we tried to do was make it so it wasn’t so trappy, so we could get a little bit of their style and how they would present things,” said Ronnie about the gymnastics, referencing some previous editions of the Talent Search.
“This time, the gymnastics were not so controversial, they were just very easily done. That actually made today (Sunday) much more important. It’s amazing how close a lot of the scores were.”
In the Sunday morning jumping segment, Luke moved up to a score of 94, but so did a fellow Texan and friend since childhood, Carlee McCutcheon, who had been marked at 85 in the first two phases.
Carlee McCutcheon and Chacco Star. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Carlee, a member of the famous reining family, does both sports but is focusing on jumping going forward.
“I’d like to do this at the highest level and I’m ready to go to work for it,” declared Carlee, whose mother, Mandy McQuay McCutcheon, won the USET’s Rolex Talent Derby when she was a teen.
Noted Carlee, who plans to turn professional, “just having a family that is in the horse business makes a huge difference. It’s a big advantage for me. They understand what I’m doing, they understand the ups and downs of it.”
Joe, a high school senior from North Carolina, had a 92 for the morning jumping and Amira Kettaneh of New Hampshire, who is headed for the University of South Carolina’s riding team, was marked at 92.5 with the grey mare, Gossip SA.
Luke’s total after three phases stood at 413, while Joe’s was just two points lower. Carlee was on 400.5 and Amira, 403.8.
The water obstacle on the jumping course stood on its own going into a line, so riders had to catch it just right, yet it was not the problem it often has been in previous Talent Search finals. The time allowed was snug, but fair, and you could say the same for the deciding Final Four rounds, with a 60-seconds TA.
“All three phases asked questions that were going to improve the riders who participated,” said Missy.
David Distler has been involved with the Talent Search since 1982 and managed it since 1986. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
The Final Four is the unique test that determines the top order of finish. It is modeled on the way it used to be done at the show jumping world championships, where the four best-scoring riders would take each others’ horses over the same course.
The world championships dropped the format, but it’s still alive and exciting at the Talent Search.
“To ride a horse for two minutes and prepare to jump a course, it’s tricky, but that challenge at the same time makes it my favorite part of the week,” said Luke.
All the riders, who started on a clean slate, did fine on the new, shorter course aboard their own horses. But when Amira switched to Carlee’s Chacco Star, she had a knockdown and a refusal, which added up to 8 jumping faults and 19 time faults.
Joe ran into trouble with Luke’s Calina M, also in the second round, having a knockdown at the third fence and a couple of tight approaches to wind up with a 4-fault total.
There were no other mishaps, but it was obvious that Amira, who rides with her mother, Leigh Kettaneh and Andre Dignelli of Heritage, would be fourth and Joe third, though he got a bonus when his mount, the perky gray, Franco, won the title of Best Horse of the finals.
Franco, the Best Horse of the Talent Search, and Joe Craver. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
So it was between Luke and Carlee, who is trained at Stonehenge by Max Amaya and T.J. O’Mara (a previous Talent Search winner).
There turned out to be just three points between them, with Luke finishing on 375 and Carlee on 372. The mistakes by Joe and Amira were expensive; Joe’s total was 324 and Amira’s 310.
Talent Search winner Luke Jensen, runner-up Carlee McCutcheon, third place Joe Craver and Amira Kettaneh, who was fourth. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Ronnie and Anne were pleased by the way the riders performed.
“Overall, the level of all them was higher than it’s been in the past. I thought it was wonderful to see everyone handle the water much better than ever before,” said Anne.
Judges Anne Kursinski and Ronnie Beard with DiAnn LAnger, Missy Clark, John Brennan and Luke Jensen. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I also thought that they’ve learned to make the time allowed a lot better. There used to be so many more time faults and now everybody was being very efficient. That’s very important in today’s world with show jumping.”
To that point, a single time fault kept the U.S. from qualifying for the Paris Olympics during the Nations Cup final last weekend in Barcelona, with the team’s last chance to make the 2024 Olypics coming later this month at the Pan American Games.
The purpose of the Talent Search is just what the name says; to recruit talent for U.S. teams going forward.
Robert Ridland, who was finishing his Covid quarantine at a hotel by the Newark, N.J., Airport, watched the Talent Search on the livestream.
He said it “looked great, and succeeded in doing exactly what its purpose has always been…to seek out potential riders for future international teams.”
On Sunday, he “judged” while watching the competition on his laptop.
“I ended up with exactly the same Final Four riders and in exactly the same order as Anne and Ronnie pinned them. And Anthony (D’Ambrosio) did an excellent job as the technical delegate. Overall, it was a great Talent Search Final!”
Missy, whose students now have won the Talent Search eight times, appreciated the judging, noting “the whole event was overseen by two of the best. I really thought all three phases asked questions that were going to improve all the riders who participated here, whether they won or didn’t.”
Discussing Luke, she said, “he’s very understated. His compassion and genuine love for the horses always comes shining through, because the horses all respond to him in such a positive way.” He’s such a hard worker, she noted, that sometimes in the evening she has to tell him it’s time to go home.
Another of Missy’s working students, Callista Smith, won the Hollow Brook Wealth Management Sportsmanship Award.
DiAnn Langer, Callista Smith and Hollow Brook Wealth Management CEO Alan Bazaar. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Callista finished last in the Talent Search because her horse wasn’t quite right when he came out of the stall Sunday mornning, so she scratched. But she spent the rest of the day helping other riders.
“I can’t say enough about how awesome she is,” said Missy.
“She’s an incredible human being, the hardest worker, has the best attitude and disposition, is a wonderful student a complete team player and is always appreciative. She’s truly one in a million.”
The Talent Search Finals West in California last month went to Camilla Jerng, trained by Susie Schroer.
Click here for complete results of the Talent Search.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 3, 2023
Who could have predicted this?
In an incredibly happy twist of fate, an iconic New Jersey stable property that seemed destined for a housing development has been purchased to continue as a home for horses.
It gets even better. Top jumper rider/trainer Brianne Goutal-Marteau and her husband, real estate developer Romain Marteau, are refurbishing the former Essex Equestrian Center (aka Suburban Essex, Montclair Riding Academy) with an eye toward preserving its heritage and making it a top-class facility.
In December, it seemed like the end of the line for the double-decker stable, which dates back to the early 20th Century. Owner Larry Hall announced its imminent shutdown, saying the school horses would be rehomed.(Click here for a link to the original story)
As for the property’s future, it seemed there was only one answer.
It is in an R-1 (residential) zone. The minimum lot size is 80,000 square feet per lot for potential single-family homes. So more housing appeared to be in the cards for already well-developed West Orange Township.
The exterior of the equestrian center.
But there were no buyers, and Romain kept his eye on the parcel. He made a deal and in September, it was purchased from R & L for $1,150,000, according to public records.
The 100 stalls are being trimmed to 60, enlarged and improved for the horses’ comfort. Brianne’s clients will have between 20 and 40 horses on site in the spring and the fall. In the winter, she operates out of Wellington, Fla., and in the summer, at Two Trees, the property she and her husband own in the Hamptons.
At least one, or perhaps two, trainers are being sought to take the other stalls on a permanent basis, so the stable is occupied year-round.
A native of New York City who still lives in Manhattan with her husband and their children, Brianne discussed the attraction of the former Essex Equestrian Center on Woodland Avenue.
And no surprise, it is that well-worn real estate axiom: “Location, location, location.”
Brianne, who won all the major equitation championships as a junior, commuted as a teenager from the city to Colts Neck, N.J., in Monmouth County to ride with Frank Madden, Stacia Madden and Max Amaya at Beacon Hill. It was not a short trip.
Brianne had been looking “since I can remember” for a place that was commutable from the city. I could never really find it.”
When her husband learned of the stable, he asked Brianne if she’d ever heard of it.
“Of course I’ve heard of that place,” she told him.
The stable is 15 miles from the Holland Tunnel. It was best known as a lesson barn, a home away from home for many horse-crazy kids. Although it hosted shows over the years and had many riders who competed, it couldn’t really be called a show stable.
But the building had “beautiful bones and original parts,” as Brianne put it, and once her husband looked at it, he saw the potential was evident while “trying to keep it as original as possible.”
The indoor arena at the stable will be getting new footing.
In addition to work on the building itself, footing is being replaced in both the indoor and outdoor ring and the limited turnout is being transformed into 10 paddocks, probably measuring 40 by 60, after clearing away underbrush. A house on the property also is being rebuilt.
There are many possibilities to what will happen when the stable opens for business, which likely will happen in May.
“This checks a lot of boxes for us. In the fall and spring training, I’d like to always be doing more,” said Brianne.
Quality will remain a priority as the couple gets to know the property.
“I want to make sure it stays really high-end and a great place for horses. We have a major goal of keeping it true to its foundations and not changing too much of the structure. A lot of the time, it’s a lot cheaper to knock something down and build it new, but that’s definitely not what we wanted to do. We’re trying to restore it to its former glory.”
What else will happen in addition to having a place for Brianne’s clients is still up for discussion
“It could be a very nice place for a couple of operations,” she mentioned. “The goal is to have one person who’s there all year and then figure out the rest of it. I think everything is on the table. There is a lot of room for creativity.” She has thought about a therapeutic riding program, which the stable hosted previously.
“I would love to see what the community interest is first. It’s very, very open,” she commented.
“We bought it because it’s something that really excites us and works for us and is very convenient for us. We have a very deep attachment to history and we want to restore it to what it was. I’m very interested in the community outreach and desires.”
Romain noted, “We want a certain standard in the way the place is kept and the way the business is run.”
He said the community has been both welcoming and excited, noting “It’s great.”
Brianne and Romain are interested to hear from trainers and others who have an interest in what’s happening at the facility, which will be getting a new name. They can be reached at info@bgrmdev.com.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 3, 2023
Dressage at Devon is a one-of-a-kind horse show, a unique celebration which this year elevated its offerings with additional exhibitions and learning opportunities to reach a bigger, more varied audience. The organizers put in an incredible amount of work to make it a creative multi-dimensional happening, and they succeeded.
There was a time when Devon was the goal of many top riders in the autumn. But now it’s competing with regional shows, the Florida circuit, a different calendar and a new migration pattern that has evolved over the years since it was a “must” destination. So it needs some added attractions to insure it remains relevant.
But its core attraction has never changed. Everyone who has ridden in the Dixon Oval under the lights rhapsodizes about how special it is. Some compare it to what they encounter in Europe, with the crowds and a heightened since of excitement. It’s a special opportunity conveniently located in a suburb of Philadelphia.
Marcus Orlob, who won both the 1-star FEI Prix St. Georges (72.010 percent) and the 1-star FEI Intermediate I (73.725) with Alice Tarjan’s stallion, J.J. Glory Day, said his biggest goal for 2023 was to show at Devon “because of the electric atmosphere.”
Marcus Orlob and J.J. Glory Day. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
He’s preparing to do the Intermediate II next year, and after that “this horse I think, has the talent to go all the way.”
To the Olympics?
“Probably,” he smiled.
Alice also was a double winner with Jane, taking the 2-star FEI Intermediate A (71.814 percent) and the 2-star FEI Intermediate II (71.088).
Jane was bouncing around waiting for the awards ceremony, which Alice attributed to an abundance of tension for a horse who hasn’t been shown much recently.
Alice Tarjan and Jane (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Asked for a comment on her mare’s performance, Alice said with a laugh, “it’s a work in progress. She’s here for the experience.” And in the ring, anyway, “She’s always a good girl.”
Horses showing in the same venue week after week, as they do in Florida at the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington or at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala get used to those surroundings, which can take the edge off. If they move on to foreign shows or championships, however, they will have to adjust to a new experience in a short amount of time. Dressage at Devon offers good practice for that, with not only the competition, but also the bells and whistles of the trophy presentation ceremony and victory lap.
Kim Herslow had a good ride at Devon on Elvis HI in 2021, but it took her until this year’s edition of the show to take that victory lap after collecting her ribbon. She and the horse’s co-owner, Ailene Cascio, finally got their moment in the winner’s circle after a frustrating journey.
Elvis was second in both the 2021 Intermediate I and I-1 freestyle to Cesar Parra on Belle Ami. But as part of an agreement with the FEI (international equestrian federation) connected to an “Equine Controlled Medication Rule Violation” involving Benzocaine, Belle Ami was disqualified late in 2021.
Kim missed being able to ride victory passes on Elvis in front of the crowd two years ago (Parra got that honor). Disqualification didn’t happen until months after the show. Even then, there was a long delay in receiving the redistributed prize money. While that finally came this summer, the big moment in the arena and the ribbon were not part of it.
But Devon made good on the ceremony in this year’s edition, with Kim, Ailene and Elvis in the ring at last to get their photo op.
Elvis HI’s owner Ailene Cascio with presenter Paul Eason and Kim Herslow on Elvis HI at their long-delayed victory ceremony. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
The trophies that accompanied the victories already had been engraved with the names of Parra and his mount, but they went back to the engraver after the show was notified of the FEI decision. The word “disqualified” now stands next to their names.
“It was nice to see; to get some credit for what Elvis did back two years ago. It was nice for Ailene too, she’s been on this journey with this horse longer than I have. To see her get that credit is a wonderful thing,” said Kim.
As Ailene noted, “It makes me happy that our sport is clean; that the recognition is going where it should go and people aren’t getting away with things. And Dressage at Devon stepped up and made it right.”
(Cover photo is Adrienne Morella on the 26-year-old Arabian King’s Ransom)
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 1, 2023
The race to Riyadh is on.
Benjamen Ebeling took the 2023-24 season’s first U.S. FEI World Cup Finals qualifier with a decisive victory during Dressage at Devon on Indeed.
The Danish warmblood added an exclamation point to her name on Saturday night with a beautifully calibrated performance that underlined her star quality.
The energy of the crowd that filled the boxes and seats around the Dixon Oval for the six-day show’s feature could be intimidating or encouraging, depending on a horse’s mood under the lights, but Indeed definitely was up for it.
“We can really rely on her experience to come through in big environments like this,” said Ben.
The crowd is one of the things that makes the Dressage at Devon freestyle so special, as Ben Ebeling learned first-hand on Indeed. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
“This is the first step in qualifying for the World Cup. She really pulled through for me tonight. We’re one step closer.”
Ben came to the show from Europe, where he has been training with Germany’s Christoph Koschel. It was a stop on his way to Florida, where he will compete in more freestyles during his quest for a place next spring in the first Cup final to be held in the Middle East.
His score of 77.325 percent was a freestyle personal best for him with the 15-year-old mare by Hofrat, a sleek beauty he has been riding for two years.
Earning four marks over 9 for his carefully crafted test’s degree of difficulty made a big contribution to his definitive victory. Runner-up Tanya Strosser-Shostak of Canada executed a smooth presentation on Fidelis Tyme to earn a personal best of 74.280 percent,
Hope Cooper, who also trains with Christoph, was close behind on 74.115 percent with the 17-year-old stallion Flynn PCH. They put up consistent 7’s across the board that drew in the crowd, which really got into her lively music.
Ben Ebeling knew he had nailed it with Indeed after his ride in the Dixon Oval. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
If the 24-year-old winner’s last name sounds familiar, it’s because he is the son of California trainer Jan Ebeling.
Although it was Ben’s first time competing at Devon, it’s not his first visit to the venue.
“I came here years ago with my dad and watched him show his Olympic mount, Rafalca, here,” said Ben.
“I remember it now, 15 years later. This was just so special to come back. It was a trip down memory lane. I got to be in the shoes of my hero, my dad.”
Although his father couldn’t be on hand for the class, he was present via Facetime to offer encouragement.
Ben’s preparation for Indeed included a hands-on half-hour of currying and massaging.
“I hoped it was enough,” chuckled Ben. And Indeed was indeed ready for her music, which included Beyonce and Gwen Stefani.
“It’s all female diva roles, which would suit her perfectly,” he said of the tunes for the mare, owned by Vantage Equestrian Group.
“I feel spending time with them in the stable before the ride continues to develop a partnership,” said Ben.
“I want to not just shake hands with her and get on, I want to be in the know about her and have a deep conversation.”
That approach can also mean he sings and dances in the stall.
“I spent a lot of time with this horse, trying and failing. You know, failing is part of the journey to get to success.”
And there will be more success with this horse in the future. Her next stop is the World Cup qualifier at TerraNova in Sarasota, Fla. When I asked if he’s also looking ahead to an Olympic start, following his father’s lead, Ben replied, “Everything’s on the table, knock on wood.”
Yvonne Losos de Muñiz of the Dominican Republic, who won the qualifier for the freestyle with Aquamarijn, lost her chance to claim the big prize when her horse trotted into the arena, then broke into the canter almost immediately, earning her marks of 3 and 4. She finished sixth on 72.195 percent.
Tanya understandably couldn’t stop smiling as she considered how well she had done with her 13-year-old Oldenburg in only their second freestyle competition in their first season at Grand Prix.
“I’m over the moon. It was quite daunting when I saw everybody. I said, `Ooh, I think I put a tall order on for him,’ but he really rose to the occasion.”
Canadian Tanya Strasser-Shostak put in a personal best with Fidelis Tyme to finish second at Devon. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
He got 8’s for his pirouette and 8.3’s across the board for the degree of difficulty and calculated risks.
The music, which had been recorded with a live orchestra, was by legendary Dutch composer Cees Sling. Tanya’s mother, Evi Strasser, had used it in the 2007 World Cup Finals with her Quantum Tyme. When that horse retired, the music got put on the shelf.
“It’s always been a piece that we love. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with him.” She rode him to it once and it fit.
“It really feels like a full-circle moment to have the opportunity to have that music and ride it with this horse,” mused Tanya.
She won her last freestyle in the final Pan American Games qualifier at Bromont, but Tanya noted this time, “I’m about four percent higher.”
Watching the ribbon presentation from the ingate, Evi Strasser called the music used by her daughter, “a very, very high-end freestyle. But I never could use it because none of the horses were going like this.”
Evi, who finished seventh herelf in the freestyle with 71.675 percent on Disney Tyme, won the Grand Prix Special earlier in the day with Déjà Vu Tyme.
Grand Prix Special winner Evi Strasser and Déjà Vu Tyme. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
For Hope, Devon was her first venture into the freestyle with the Hanoverian by Falsterbo 11.
The music, from Beyonce’s Coachella album, was raucous and got the crowd going. Flynn’s four white legs made it easy to follow his metronome piaffe, and he really got into his soundtrack.
The 26-year-old rider has only been working with the stallion for 18 months.
“He’s going really well,” she said, then added, “we’ve had some ups and downs.” You never know, I was just hoping he’d feel good. The scores and the placing were the cherry on top.”
Hope had been part of the NorCordia Master Class on Thursday night with Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour, so her trip to Devon, presented by Kingsview Partners, has been quite an experience.
Hope Cooper and Flynn PCH impressed with their dynamism. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
“This is my first time here and every second of it was really a blast. I will be back next year,” she vowed.
It was exciting to see two talented members of the USA’s next generation performing at such a high level. The future for America on the international scene looks bright.
