by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 2, 2023
The Adequan Global Dressage Festival, the nation’s premier circuit in the discipline, came to an end last week after a run that began in early January. Going forward, there’s always curiosity about what’s next for exciting up-and-coming riders who earned special notice during the shows in Wellington, Fla.
One who attracted attention is Christian Simonson, the 20-year-old busy making a name for himself not only in the Under 25 category, but in open classes as well. He’s got the ability, he’s got the horses and most important, he’s got the work ethic. His dedication is paying off in many ways. In January, the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation presented him with its Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy, given to a junior or young rider in an Olympic discipline who exemplifies the Team’s ideals of sportsmanship and horsemanship.
Christian Simonson and Zeaball Diawin. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Being in Wellington, he believes, has been important for his career.
“You feel a little bit in a bubble. Every time you go out to dinner, you see someone you know professionally. It’s kind of a privilege to be here, to be in an environment that coaxes you to perform better,” he pointed out, saying he likes “to be around good people who push you.”
Under the guidance of Olympic medalist Adrienne Lyle, Christian won the Intermediate 1 Freestyle at the end of February on the 12-year-old Danish warmblood Son of a Lady (Soreldo X Welt Hit II), with an impressive 78.445 percent. He led the U.S. team to silver behind Germany in the Nations Cup, where a combination of Big Tour and Small Tour riders were featured on the squads.
His other star, 11-year-old Danish warmblood Zeaball Diawind (Furstenball OLD X Zardin Firfod), topped the Prix St. Georges at the beginning of March with 72.500 percent. He finished the festival with starts in another PSG and two Intermediate I classes, earning scores ranging from 69.902 percent to 71.912. When he was 16, Christian began riding Zeaball, who was seven, and their partnership developed from there.
Christian said his horses are similar in several important aspects, noting “they have so much quality, elasticity and most of all, an incredible willingness to work.”
Christian Simonson warming up Zeaball Diawin. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
At the same time, they display their differences.
“Zeaball has a much more chilled-out demeanor,” Christian observed, while Son of a Lady has a “24/7 Energizer bunny demeanor about him.”
No matter which horse he’s riding, he has one principle in mind.
“Adrienne promotes harmonious riding. You do it because you’re trying to bring out the best in your horse and your horse is trying to bring out the best in you. That’s how it should be. It shouldn’t be this one-way street of `You have to do this.’ ”
Instead, the better approach is telling the horse, “This is what I’d like to do; let’s do this together,” while making sure “they’re as comfortable as possible.”
Describing Christian as “endlessly tactful and patient with the horses,” Adrienne called him “an information sponge,” always trying to soak up knowledge.
“I cannot say enough good things about him. He’s an incredible rider. It’s just a joy to get to work with him. His dedication to the sport is really admirable.”
Christian gets a pre-ride pep talk from Adrienne Lyle. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Christian began training with Gail Hoff-Carmona and then Jan Ebeling until he started riding with Adrienne four years ago. He calls her “the ultimate horsewoman. She has such an amazing ability to have a holistic environment that promotes horse performance from the hooves up. She puts so much time and effort into each one of her students.”
The rider, who is 50th in the world in the 1-star rankings, describes her training style as “intelligent,” noting “she’s such an in-tune horsewoman. It’s what really puts her above the rest.”
Each time his horses do well, he said, he gives credit to support from the team Adrienne has assembled, singling out groom Monica Stanke for her contributions to his endeavors.
Christian has always loved animals and used to volunteer at an animal shelter. That was where he met Cesar Milan of the “Dog Whisperer” TV show, who invited Christian to spend a weekend at his ranch to train with his dog.
Christian learned that “all animals have a big willingness to try to please. You have to learn to nurture that as much as you can in any animal, whether it’s a horse or a dog or anything, and you have to be really patient, trying to explain things in the kindest way possible.”
Although Christian is a professional horseman, he is multi-dimensional, having gotten a student pilot’s license and participating in other sports, including skiing and scuba diving. He is involved with Monaco Sport Horses with his mother, Christina Morgan; his father, Cliff Simonson, and Misha Knoll, who sources the horses.
Busy as he is, Christian manages to balance everything with his on-line studies as a business major at the University of Texas at Austin. This summer, he will go on a European tour; the highlight of his trip last year was a third place in the Young Riders Freestyle at Aachen on Son of a Lady, marked at 74.930 percent.
After the summer, Adrienne said, Christian is looking at the Oct. 20-Nov. 5 Pan American Games in Chile, if there is a mixed Big Tour/Small Tour team, as there usually is in the Pan Ams. But she won’t be going with him.
Adrienne, who is married to veterinarian Dr. David DaSilva, is 3 and 1/2 months pregnant and scheduled to give birth Oct. 3. As she noted, though, if Christian goes to the Pan Ams, he would be in good hands with her mentor, Debbie McDonald, the U.S. dressage team’s technical advisor, and U.S. Equestrian Federation Director of Sport Hallye Griffin, formerly the managing director of dressage.
Debbie called Christian and his horses in the ring “a beautiful picture.” But beyond that, she emphasized, “The thing about Christian is he’s very hands-on in the care of his horses.”
Meanwhile, Christian also has the ride on Adrienne’s former mount, Harmony’s Duval, and hopes to get Grand Prix experience with him. The plan is to ride him this summer in the Festival of Champions at Lamplight in Illinois.
“He’s learning a ton on him, which is the main point of him leasing him,” said Adrienne of Duval.
The highest-ranked U.S. rider at number 10 in the international dressage standings, she had hoped to be in the FEI World Cup Finals in Omaha this week, but her Olympic and world championships mount, Salvino, popped a splint and couldn’t compete in the final qualifier. Although Vinny is back in light work, he won’t be going to Europe this summer. The big goal for him is the 2024 Paris Olympics, but like all veteran riders, Adrienne knows plans don’t always work out. The 2023 World Cup is exhibit A in that regard for her.
Adrienne will keep pointing Vinny to Paris “providing he’s doing well and feeling well. I’ve always said he will dictate what he does. He’s given us so much. If he’s healthy and happy and wants to go, we’ll go, and if he shows signs of not wanting to, then he’s earned that right.” She doesn’t have a back-up mount at this point.
“If I don’t go, I don’t go. There will be more Olympics,” said Adrienne, who rode in the 2012 London Games as well as in Tokyo.
She had been training Nexolia Feodoro, with whom she made his Intermediate II debut in March. It looked as if he might be her back-up horse for Paris. But the owner moved him to Olympic veteran Lars Petersen, who runs the Helgstrand stable in Wellington.
Adrienne called the move “very much okay. I prioritize the camaraderie and team spirit in my barn. If you’re going to be in our barn, you’ve got be a team player. That’s my priority over any one horse.”
She is working with two young horses who could be championship mounts further down the road. They are Heidi Humphries’ Zen Elite’s Top Gun, a seven-year-old son of Totilas, and Furst Dream, who won the four-year-old championships last year. The five-year-old Hanoverian belongs to Betsy Juliano, the owner of Salvino and a great supporter of Adrienne.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 22, 2023
Graeme Thom, the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s director of FEI/High Performance Sport, has stepped down after six months in the post to attend to “personal obligations” with the countdown to the Paris Olympics less than 17 months away, and the Pan American Games set for this autumn.
But don’t worry. Filling the role he held will be Hallye Griffin, who has served as USEF’s managing director for dressage since 2015. She has a long history with the federation. Hallye was the competition department’s assistant for the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games, which were staged at the Kentucky Horse Park, home of the USEF. The following year, she became USEF’s director of national dressage programs.
Hallye, who now also will serve as chef de mission at the Olympic, Paralympic, and Pan American Games as well as the FEI World Championships, cited how fortunate she has been “to work with a great team at US Equestrian over the last 10-plus years, and I am grateful for the knowledge and experience that has been shared with me.
“We have busy months ahead readying for the many events on the calendar for the FEI disciplines. We have a strong staff at the US Equestrian office, and we will be working closely on not only the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games but also focusing on the home Olympics and Paralympics –- Los Angeles 2028 –- which are on the quickly approaching horizon.”
Hallye Griffin.
Hallye managed U.S. dressage team efforts at the 2016 Olympics in Rio and the 2021 Games in Tokyo. which yielded team bronze and team silver medals respectively. She also served as team leader through two world championships, several Nations Cups and national championships, providing leadership, oversight and support for medal-winning teams. Beyond dressage, she was team leader for para dressage and vaulting teams at the 2014 WEG.
Laura Roberts, who worked with Hallye for five years as dressage performance and event support director, has been promoted to managing director of dressage.
It is great to see USEF promoting from within for important jobs. There are a number of people in key positions at the federation who have not only talent, but also great familiarity with the organization as well as the various disciplines, and can easily move up.
Lizzy Chesson, the USEF’s respected managing director of show jumping, said of Hallye’s promotion, “I’m super supportive and excited for her. I think we’ll be a great team. We’ve worked together as team leaders since 2016. We have a great relationship and we both are very focused on performance and growing the sport.”
Dressage technical advisor Debbie McDonald noted that over the years, she and Hallye “have shared many memories together” and in terms of their day-to-day dressage working relationship, “I am really going to miss her.”
At the same time, Debbie noted, “But she is still a part of the team. Laura is great, so I am sure we will be fine.”
Olympic medalist Adrienne Lyle posted about Hallye: “While all of us dressage folks would selfishly love to keep you to ourselves forever, I can’t think of a better person in the world to step up to this role than you. You have been the reason behind countless achievements for USA dressage and I feel fortunate to have had the privilege to work with you.”
Graeme, who competed in eventing, served as chair of the Canadian High-Performance Committee and as a chef d’equipe for Canada and New Zealand at major championships over the last 15 years.
He was appointed when Will Connell, USEF’s director of sport for eight years, resigned in 2022 to pursue other opportunities. At the same time, David O’Connor, a former USEF president and eventing individual Olympic gold medalist, was named the federation’s chief of sport
In explaining the decision to leave his position, Graeme said, “Over recent months, I have encountered some evolving personal obligations that are limiting my ability to commit the necessary time in my role as director of FEI and high-performance sport. It is out of great respect to the United States Equestrian Federation, the sport department, and most importantly, to the athletes, that I am stepping aside.”
He will, however, remain in a consulting role to ensure a smooth transition and continue as a resource for the federation.
“I welcome and look forward to staying on over the next few months to assist in special projects with a particular focus on Major Games preparedness,” said Graeme, adding, “I am confident that Hallye will do an excellent job and represent the federation and its athletes admirably.”
Hallye will report to David, who noted, “I am very enthusiastic about Hallye coming on as the Federation’s Director of FEI Sport. Hallye’s experience with the Olympic successes that dressage has achieved in these past eight years is a testament to her leadership qualities.
“Coming up the ladder from within the USEF family places Hallye in a position that will allow for a seamless transition and keep USEF athletes focused on the path toward the 2023 Pan American Games in October and the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games next summer. We are fortunate to have someone with these qualities step into this important role.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 15, 2023
After months of competition, the entries for next month’s FEI World Cup Dressage Finals in Omaha are finally set, and we will be there to bring you all the news in that discipline and the show jumping.
The roster is led by Cup defending champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl of Germany, the 2021 Olympic gold medalist who scored 91.732 percent in the freestyle to earn that honor in Tokyo on TSF Dalera. Who will be able to approach that kind of score to take the title away from her?
Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera.
Her compatriot, Isabell Werth, won the Cup three times in a row after earning the honor in Omaha in 2017, and will be aboard DSP Quantaz. Another German, Ingrid Klimke, who is better known as an Olympic eventer, has qualified with Franziskus FRH.
Jessica’s brother, Benjamin Werndl (part of the German team at the 2022 world championships when his sister was pregnant and out of action) had a good qualifying score but can’t compete. Only three riders from one country are allowed to participate.
There is, however, no rule that everyone on the podium can’t be from the same country. Yet it is likely that a place will be taken by another western European.
Perhaps it will be Dinja Van Liere of the Netherlands with Hermes. She is ranked fourth in the world, and her stallion is the number two horse in the world.
The number one rider in the rankings, World Champion Lottie Fry of Great Britain, qualified for the finals but is not coming because her mount, the stallion Glamourdale, will be breeding at that time.
The others from the Western European League who made the cut include Dinja’s countrywomen, Thamar Zweistra on Hexagon’s Ich Weiss and Marieke Van der Putten with Torveslettens Titanium RS2.
The Danes will be represented by Nana Skodborg Merrald on Blue Hors Zepter,. Morgan Barbancon, who in the past has ridden for Spain, will be aboard Sir Donnerhall II OLD competing for France.
The three U.S. riders are Steffen Peters, who won the Cup in 2009 on Ravel. He will be riding his Olympic and world championships veteran Suppenkasper. Anna Buffini (FRH Davinia La Douce) and Cup first-timer Alice Tarjan (Serenade MF) will be gaining good experience as they point for places on future international teams.
Anna Buffini and FRH Davinia La Douce. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Representing the Central European League are Justina Vanagaite of Lithuania on Nabab and Alisa Glinka of Moldova on Aachen.
The non-league representative is Caroline Chew of Singapore on Tribiani.
Australia’s Simone Pearce on Fiderdance got one of the extra starting places. The other extra places went to Western Europeans, Sweden’s Johanna Due Boje on Mazy Klovenhoj and Belgium’s Jorinde Verwimp with Charmer.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 20, 2023
The North American League of the Longines FEI World Cup will field a bunch of heavy hitters against the best Europe has to offer when they go to Omaha for the finals next month. The League wrapped up Sunday in Ocala, where the final points for the standings were distributed.
The European contenders are headed by world number one and world champion Henrik von Eckermann of Sweden with King Edward, while defending titleist Martin Fuchs of Switzerland on Leone Jei is another key challenger. Marcus Ehning, a former Cup winner from Germany, qualified with Stargold but after that horse was scratched, will be competing on Priam du Roset.
This continent will be seeking the title with the likes of headliners McLain Ward–who took it in 2017, the last time the final was in Omaha. Can he do it again? McLain is on a roll, having won two of the three legs of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping over the last four months, but this time, he won’t be aboard HH Azur. Callas is his ride.
And then there’s Aaron Vale (Prescott), who’s been on a winning streak of his own recently..
Others from the East Coast competing are Hunter Holloway (Pepita con Spita and Eastern Jam), Ailishe Cuniffe (Vivaldi du Theil), Devin Ryan (Eddie Blue) of Long Valley, N.J., and Nicholas Dello Joio (Cornet’s Cambridge). Nick is the son of 1983 Cup winner Norman Dello Joio.
Hunter Holloway earned more points than any other North American rider to qualify for the World Cup finals. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
From the West Coast, the contingent is Natalie Dean (Acota M), Elisa Broz (Kardenta Van ‘T Meerhof) and Simonne Berg (Cooper). The Canadians are represented by Erynn Ballard (Gakhir and Hero).
The “extra athletes,” who competed in North America to qualify but hail from other parts of the world are Daniel Coyle of Ireland and Israel’s Daniel Bluman. Conor Swail, another Irish rider who looked as if he had a good chance at making his mark in the final, qualified but is not competing as Count Me In was scratched.
Even so, there should be some pretty fancy jumping in Nebraska, where 19 nations will be represented. Click here for the complete list of entries.
Omaha also is hosting the Cup finals in vaulting and dressage (click here to read this story).
Don’t forget, there won’t be another Cup finals in the U.S. until 2026 in Fort Worth. Want to watch in person? Click here to buy tickets.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 14, 2023
Are you happy with the conditions for horse-keeping in your state? Or are you thinking of relocating to a more horse-friendly environment?
It’s a tough decision, but a company called Lawn Love has made it a bit easier by ranking the Best States for Horse Lovers. They compared all 50 states based on 27 metrics, such as equestrian programs, riding trails, horse shows and museums.(Not sure why museums would be a vital factor, but maybe some of the horse lovers referenced in the title of the study take the cultural aspect of their equestrian fixation seriously.)
Also considered were the availability of horses for sale, boarding facilities, veterinarians, trainers and affordability.
In case you’re wondering why Lawn Love cares about the Best States for Horse Lovers, it’s because grass is an essential component of equine diets, and pastures need horse-friendly grass types for safe foraging. Makes sense, right?
The rankings were put together to mark National Horse Protection Day earlier this month. Number one is California, ranked first for equestrian activities and equine care. Its overall score is 77.46, which puts it 13.71 points ahead of Texas, number two but with a number one ranking for equestrian education. Number three Florida has a score of 53.51, followed by Kentucky (39.92–number one in equine access) and New York (38.66),
New Jersey is 18th with a score of 23.56. Oddly, it was third-best in terms of affordability, which experience told me didn’t seem right, so I contacted the Lawn Love people about that. John Schmidt explained that New Jersey has the third-highest cost in the country, tied with California, but the metric was adjusted by income.
“We took the average salary of each state, as well as the average care cost, and figured what the average percentage of one’s salary would be used for equine care,” John said.
In relation to the average income, it has the third-lowest percentage, so it’s ranked third for that metric. I’m sure from most horse owners’ point of view in New Jersey, it may not feel like that.
It is 24th in equine housing and care, 15th in equine access and 12th in equestrian education.
The worst states? Delaware is at the bottom of the list, with Mississippi second worst, then West Virginia, Alaska and Hawaii. Why were they the worst? An overall lack of equestrian attractions and equine resources.
To look at the rankings of every state, click on this link.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 10, 2023
Beloved veterinarian Dr. Meg Mullin, “dedicated her life to what she did and had fun doing it.”
That comment, from Will Connell, former U.S. Equestrian Federation director of sport, sums up the essence of Dr. Mullin, who died Thursday after weeks in a coma following a riding accident.
A sports medicine clinician at the B.W. Furlong and Associates veterinary practice, Dr. Mullin was the U.S. team veterinarian in several disciplines. Much admired for both her professional expertise and upbeat personality, she had an abundance of friends who mourn her loss.
Dr. Meg Mullin was an enthusiastic polo player. (Photo courtesy B.W. Furlong Associates)
“She meant everything to us,” said Dr. Brendan Furlong, who had worked with her since 1997.
“Meg was a force to be reckoned with. Her love of life and her dedication to the practice and to her colleagues and to the horses was phenomenal. She leaves a huge hole, certainly in our lives and practice, and also in the horse industry.”
Dr. Mullin, known to her friends as “Muggy,” had experience with all types of horses, but her favorite equestrian pastime became playing polo. She enjoyed it at the Cypress Polo Club in Lake Worth, Fla., during the winter, and during the summer at Tinicum Polo Club in Pennsylvania, near her home in Clinton, N.J.
Carolyn McKay, the Cypress club manager, was watching as Dr. Mullin mounted Antojito last month and began walking the horse at the beginning of a casual ride. Suddenly, the mare reared up, then fell to the ground dead, hitting her rider in the face with her head.
McKay rushed to the unconscious Dr. Mullin’s side after calling 911, holding her hand and talking to her until the ambulance arrived.
“I had the feeling Meg never knew any pain or discomfort; she was just riding until she wasn’t,” McKay said.
Shortly before her accident, Dr. Mullin was interested in buying another horse to add to her string, which also included Leona and Contessa. But ironically–considering what would happen a few weeks later–when the animal was vetted and determined to have a heart murmur, she decided not to buy it, McKay related.
Recalling the delight with which Dr. Mullin would enjoy getting out on her horses and letting her rough-coated Jack Russell, Scooby, run around at the club, McKay said, “She had it all here when she came out to ride. She just enjoyed every minute of being with the animals and being outside. She was smiling from ear to ear until she was done.”
Dr. Meg Mullin. (Photo courtesy B.W. Furlong and Associates)
Her charisma was felt by the club members as well, said McKay, noting she “gave encouragement and smiles to everyone, both on and off the field. She just made it fun.”
Dr. Mullin was known for her work with the USA’s youth show jumping teams, driving horses, occasionally event horses and most particularly, the para-dressage team horses.
“She was very much part of the team behind the para-dressage team that helped it go from out in the wilderness in Rio (Paralympics 2016) to the podium in Tokyo (2021). That’s without doubt part of her legacy,” said Connell.
“She was completely dedicated to her job,” he continued.
“She got on with people and was the right person for the para-dressage environment.”
Lizzy Chesson, the USEF’s manager of show jumping, called Dr. Mullin’s passing, “a huge, huge loss for us, the team and the industry.”
Dr. Mullin’s private clients also were tremendously fond of the veterinarian.
“All of us at Ashmeadow Farm are devastated about the loss of our dear friend, Meg,” said top hunter rider Amanda Steege.
“She was kind, smart, hard-working, upbeat and always put the needs of the horses first. She made me strive to be a better horsewoman. I will miss her dearly.”
A native of Philadelphia, Dr. Mullin fulfilled a long-held ambition when she was able to attend the Super Bowl and root for the Philadelphia Eagles this winter.
She attended Chestnut Hill College and the University of Virginia for her undergraduate studies, then received her veterinary medicine degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
“She was always a horseman,” said her sister, Jennifer Kovacich, who wrote,”The night sky has one more star as Meg makes her way to heaven. Please carry forward a bit of her sparkle with you to share in abundance.”
In addition to Jennifer, Dr. Mullin also is survived by her brother, Raymond (Miriam Pugh); her sister, Kumari (Kumara Frank), and her nephews, Mitch and Nicholas Kovacich.
Arrangements will be made in the future for a celebration of Dr. Mullin’s life. Those who want to donate in her memory may go to a GoFundMe page put up by Pam Wildman for Dr. Mullin, which will expand into funding for equestrian sport safety.
