In Part One last week, we talked about how New Jersey’s hunt clubs are adapting, becoming more welcoming, even offering options for people who just want to walk and trot while following the hounds. Here is a link to that story. This week, we discuss the future for these clubs.
Hunt clubs are about more than the chase. They play an important role in the equestrian community, often supporting Pony Clubs and a variety of activities such as hunter paces and small shows. That’s in addition to helping keep land open while encouraging an appreciation for the countryside and its way of life.
The beauty of horses and hounds running together could kindle admiration in those unfamiliar with equine pursuits, which might inspire them to explore an equestrian connection after glimpsing hunters in action.
So it is important that the clubs continue, but they face challenges in terms of sufficient membership and land on which to operate. Can they survive? It depends on the club, the area where they are located and the determination of their leaders and members.
“We’re in a spell now because of the changing times and changing economy where some hunts can’t stay viable,” said Andrew Barclay, director of hunting for the Masters of Foxhounds of America Association.
He called it, “A funny time for foxhunting, we are losing some hunts right now because of money or a change in the way people view outdoor country sports. It’s happening all around. People aren’t doing as much outdoors like they used to. Too many other things we’re competing against.”
Even so, he pointed out “There are other hunts that are trying to start.”
The most significant issue faced by many hunt clubs across the country is how to deal with a loss of territory as development continues its march. This is particularly an issue in densely populated New Jersey.
In Hunterdon County, the Amwell Valley Hounds’ Cindy Hoogland Nance, who serves as joint master with Dan Wasserstrom, worries that “We are on our last 10 to 20 years of foxhunting in New Jersey.”
She observed, “New Jersey is becoming slowly not a horse community, as it used to be. The farms are being bought up.”
Members of Amwell, founded in the 1960s, ride across farmland, not estates, as the Essex Fox Hounds often do, and not on state land, as the Monmouth County Hunt, with roots in the 19th Century, does at the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area.
“In the valley, our farmers are real farmers,” the Amwell master explained.
“They’ve owned the land and farmed it, normally for two generations. Some three.”
The younger generation, however, is not going into farming.
“These lands are getting sold off to people coming out of New York and taking 100 acres of our territory,” Nance said, noting newcomers often get bad legal advice amid fears that someone will get injured on their property if they allow the hunt to ride there. Although New Jersey has an equine liability law to protect them, they and their attorneys may not be aware of it, she suggested.
Amwell, Nance explained, is “getting encroached by suburbia. Once we lose a 10-acre slot, we tend to lose the coherence of being able to get to the 100-acre field on one side and the 100-acre field on the other side.”
The Amwell Valley Hounds hunt across farmland.
There are people coming in who don’t farm, and don’t want the hunt on their property. But the hunt can be a plus for landowners, she pointed out, since Amwell mows where it hunts and will clear fallen trees.
Similar issues with territory affect Essex in Somerset County and the New York-based Windy Hollow Hunt, which at times also meets over the state line in Sussex County.
Farmers like the hunt because the area is “infested,” as Nance puts it, with bold coyotes, pests that can attack goats, lambs and pets, in addition to children–sometimes when adults are just feet away.
“Almost every pack in the country is hunting coyotes,” the MFHA’s Barclay said.
The Essex hounds operate wearing GPS collars, which joint MFH Jazz Johnson notes is particularly helpful with puppies who could stray, as well as when hounds are following coyotes.
“Because coyotes run in a straight line, they can get way outside of our allowed hunt territory very quickly,” she noted. If one or two hounds start following them and are headed out of bounds, the GPS makes it easy to “go and retrieve them.”
Coyotes offer “a cracking run” but they can get so far so fast that the proximity of Routes 78 and 206 could mean danger.
She noted that hunts elsewhere are coping with coyotes too, and “a lot of coyote pressure means much fewer foxes.” She doesn’t think that’s the case around the Essex territory, but rather “it is a problem in other hunt countries where there’s a lot of open space.”
“Nowadays in the sport,” she said, “the aim is not really to be killing game, it’s really just the pursuit and the… sporting (aspect) of it.”
Nance coordinates New Jersey hunts’ fundraising event schedules, so one hunter pace doesn’t conflict with another, for instance. Could more such cooperation mean mergers as an answer to problems facing the hunts?
“We’ve been starting conversations on how we’re going to do it,” she said, emphasizing they are in the “very preliminary” stage.
She believes, “the future of us is coming together with the different hunts, combining these packs with each hunt responsible for a particular territory.”
That, she explained, would mean “we can move around a little bit more versus doing the same five or six fixtures and going around in a circle.”
Windy Hollow MFH Lindie Scoresone agreed, “the biggest problem is losing land.”
Windy Hollow rotates around its territory, spending one-third of the time in New Jersey, the rest in New York.
“You don’t want to over-hunt the area, you can’t be there every couple of days,” she pointed out.
The Windy Hollow Hunt setting out.
Vernon, N.J., is “one area where we’ve been very lucky. There are a lot of farms that have been preserved and are friendly to the hunt. Further down in Sussex, they’re putting in fancy horse breeding farms and saying, `Sorry, we don’t want you to come through here anymore.’ That makes it difficult to get around.”
All hunts need to make concessions to landowners, but as long as it’s a two-way street, it often can be done.
One farm where Windy Hollow hunts “has cows in there and we have to work around where the cows are,” Scoresone said.
They also had an issue with a deer hunting club that didn’t want Windy Hollow to come through their leased land. It was “touchy,” but such matters can sometimes be solved with negotiation.
At one point, Windy Hollow considered additional acreage that looked promising for hunting, but it was “close to Route 94 and sort of a dangerous area to hunt.”
With the Vernon option, “we can back away from 94 and into those areas that have been preserved. It’s much better than we ever thought,” Scoresone commented.
In terms of increasing membership, she noted Windy Hollow’s Pony Club kids are very young,” but “we’re hopeful that’s the next step.”
Lynn Jones, an MFH from the Essex Fox Hounds, feels the same.
“One of our real priorities is to get the interest of young riders in the sport. We’ve engaged with the Somerset Hills Pony Club and encouraged those members to come out with us for a very nominal fee. It’s been great to have these young kids out hunting with us. It’s actually one of my favorite things, to teach them the sport,” she said.
Children are the future for the Spring Valley Hounds, as they are for the other hunts seeking to expand membership. (Photo courtesy Scott Mickelsen Photography).
The Spring Valley Hounds decades ago adjusted to the suburbanization of its territory in New Vernon, just outside of Morristown in Morris County, by splitting time between that area and Allamuchy in more rural Warren County, where the kennels were located.
Now it visits New Vernon on only a few occasions, since that area is far less horse-oriented than it used to be, despite retention of its trail system and small showgrounds. But in the northwest part of the state, Spring Valley, which also hunts territory in Sussex County, has “a bunch of landowners who like to see us,” said Dr. David Schroepfer, who serves as joint master with Dr. Louise Barbieri.
Spring Valley has another edge. Unlike the New Jersey hunts that chase foxes and coyotes, it is a drag hunt, with hounds following a line laid out in advance. Rather than using messy fox scent, Spring Valley’s hounds sniff anisette; yes, the liquer. It also smells better to humans, should one happen to spill it.
Schroepfer notes an advantage of a drag hunt is its ability to be more nimble than a live hunt.
“If there are crops in one section, I can direct hounds around that. Usually, that takes care of some people’s issues,” he said.
The hunt has “a fair amount of young members,” while partnering with a stable means people can ride horses out from there. Schroepfer believes in a focus on youth and families. Spring Valley’s “Coffee and Cars” is an event that attracts people who may not want to hunt, but still like to be a part of things.
“My thought is, if I get the whole family involved, then everyone is involved,” he said. With a drag hunt, he pointed out, if new or novice people are out, it’s easy to control certain situations.
“We can just stop for a little bit and do something else and modulate things,” he explained. It also enables Spring Valley to avoid areas that host deer hunters on a private basis. By the time Spring Valley gets to those sections, the hunters usually are finished for the day.
The Spring Valley Hounds, led here by Dr. Dave Schroepfer, enjoy their location in northwest New Jersey. (Photo courtesy of Scott Mickelsen Photography)
The masters of the New Jersey hunts meet once a year for dinner and to talk over common issues as a group. One of those issues is the question of mergers.
“Spring Valley has no interest in merging,” said Schroepfer, though like the other hunts, Spring Valley does joint meets with other clubs.
“We just do our own little thing; things seem to be going along okay,” he said.
Could drag hunting provide an answer for clubs feeling the territory pinch?
Windy Hollow’s Scorsone notes, “We really enjoy live hunting and having a live view”
With drag hunting, she contends, “You draw a different group of people who just want to go out for a couple of hours and run and jump. We’ve talked about it, and maybe use one territory? Everyone says, `No, we’re not interested.’ But if it ever got to the point where we couldn’t hunt at all unless we do that, it’s probably the solution.”
“Tally ho, ho, ho” a Christmas-spirited rider joyfully called out as a merry group on horseback set off to sing carols at three farms in Bedminster, N.J., today.
The event was organized by the Somerset Hills Pony Club, which invited others, including members of the Essex Fox Hounds, to join them. The group met at the farm of Jean and Peter Clark, where they were braced against the chill with hot cider.
The caroling concept had lots of appeal, both for the singers and those for whom they sang.
“It’s a nice thing to do, so I think everyone’s really excited to be out in the neighborhood,” said Peter, serving gingerbread and other goodies from a table on his front lawn.
“It’s really in keeping with the spirit of the season, and just another great expression of community around here, the neighbors going out and doing things with one another,” he added.
The horses were decked out for the occasion in (fake) holly, felt reindeer horns and glittering garlands. Riders favored red and white capes and Santa caps.
The procession of 20 or so riders included everyone from children to a grandmother. They rode along at the walk for four miles, stopping to serenade delighted members of the community who came out to watch and listen.
The tunes they sang sounded pretty good, considering each rider was an amateur and there were no rehearsals.
Doug Tansey, husband of Pony Club District Commissioner Brita Tansey, enthusiastically played Santa Claus, leading from the back of a pickup truck as the group wound its way around the unpaved roads.
The lineup of songs they offered included “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,” “Jingle Bells,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and their favorite, a heartfelt, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
Hester De Voogd, who rode with her friend, Joy Custer, is from the Netherlands and noted that a similar caroling ride wouldn’t take place there. Christmas celebrations involving equines are confined to the stable. But as she pointed out, until she came to this country she had never experienced hunter paces or tailgating afterward.
“Completely new for us,’ she said, and called the experience, “amazing. It’s so much fun.”
Rebecca Casey, who was the main organizer, “really did an awesome job,” said Brita.
A friend of Rebecca’s “had planted the seed a few years ago. We have a lot of fun pony clubbers and a lot of people who enjoy getting out and spreading good cheer,” Rebecca said, explaining the genesis of the concept.
Frank Crisola, who greeted the singers at his house, was obviously enjoying himself.
“Loved it. It’s a great tradition. I hope everybody keeps it up.”
Lizzy Chesson and her mother, Sharon Chesson, gathered with their family at Bailiwick Farm to welcome the singers with cider and candy.
“It’s such a great tradition to have everybody out and celebrating Christmas and part of the countryside. Having the kids here singing, it’s just wonderful.”
Here’s a short video of the caroling:
The new Channel System that went into effect this month for the 2023 season has nothing to do with TV. It’s an initiative for restructuring horse show competition licensing that takes some explaining, which is just what happened today during a forum at the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association’s annual meeting in Washington State
Britt McCormick, a member of the USHJA board, sees the system “as a way to broaden our sport, to grow the grassroots, a way to put something out there that is innovative; something different, something new.”
USHJA President Mary Knowlton, presiding at the State of the Association meeting, said the concept, implemented through the U.S. Equestrian Federation, started with the USHJA as an answer to the eternal question about showing, “Can we make a more affordable experience for exhibitors?”
The idea is “to open the competition calendar to more horse shows and to provide a robust program of awards for the regional level–an awards program equal to the program that exists now for the top of sport,” said Sissy Wickes, who served with Britt on the USEF Competition Task Force that created the Channel System proposal. It eases the mileage rule, which for decades had been an impediment to the growth of new shows.
Britt McCormick and Sissy Wickes. (USHJA photo)
Some find the Channel System a concept that they just can’t get their heads around, however.
“I would definitely say that there are moments when people are struggling with feeling overwhelmed and pushed down by the Channel System,” noted Mary.
It likely won’t be everyone’s choice, mused Britt, chair of the USEF’s National Breeds and Disciplines Committee.
“We’re going to have a lot of people that jump on board and go, `Yeah, we love it.’ We’re going to have people that just say, `This isn’t for me and I’m going to go somewhere else.’ ”
He added, “We’re not trying to be all things to all people. We’re trying to encourage people to collaborate in their area… the idea is that organizers…figure out how to do circuits….and how to share the limited pool of exhibitors that is in their area, if that’s the case.”
USEF President Tom O’Mara assured those at the meeting that they “can’t find a smoke-filled room where people sit making rules to make other people’s lives miserable.”
He noted the Channel System generated “huge feedback. thousands of surveys came back.” He called the effort to devise the rule “supercollaborative. If there are things that need to be adjusted, they will be adjusted.”
Shelley Campf, chair of the USEF’s Member Services Council, is concerned that the system could “really affect the viability of shows.” She noted that in her home zone in the Pacific Northwest, “there are not that many people to go around.”
“When the weather is such that you can show locally,” Shelley said, she would like “USHJA help foster local programs, even if it’s at the Channel 1 level.”
A rotating team of presenters commented on other matters at the meeting. Joe Dotoli, who shepherded the Helmet Ratings initiative, noted that with sponsorship from Jacqueline Mars, USEF and U.S. Eventing Association, the project wound up costing USHJA only 75 center per member.
“That’s a pretty good return,” said Joe.
“It is a huge jump forward in the safety of our sport,” he continued, noting USEF has come a long way since the first helmet safety rule in 2001.
To read about the helmet study, click on this link. For the helmet manufacturers’ reaction, click here.
So what safety project is on the horizon now? That would be a study of the air vests riders are wearing in increasing numbers.
“Many of us think the next logical step is airbags, which is what air vests are,” said Joe, who had compared the helmets to automobile seatbelts in the way they progressed. He noted, however, there is less information available on the effectiveness of the vests than there was on the helmets, so he expects that study “will take longer and probably be more expensive. But that’s the route I”m sure our safety committee is going to be promoting next.”
Another important development is the growth of the Outreach program, which introduces riders to USHJA and the USEF.
In 2014, there were 93 Outreach competitions with 318 riders. In 2022, with “Outreach 2.0,” that had swelled to 654 competitions and 7,500 riders. Some Outreach classes are part of a show; others are stand-alones.
“Outreach for us is a give-back to our the sport,” Mary said. “It’s not a money-making endeavor. It’s our way of reaching out to the unrecognized (show) world,” she explained.
“It’s a way to make connections.”
The USHJA is reaching out in many ways. As Mary put it, “We’re offering a lot of success to people across many, many platforms.”
The answer to the question above became even more obvious this evening, as world show jumping champion Henrik von Eckermann of Sweden won the Rolex International Jumping Riders Club Top Ten Final on the amazing King Edward.
The excitement level was over the top for the competition, held in Geneva, Switzerland’s Palexpo, the world’s largest indoor arena.
It was packed to the brim with enthusiastic spectators, who were offered a view of a spectacular jumping test set in a landscape highlighted by a lake and trees. That brought a countryside ambience into the city, courtesy of designers Gérard Lachat of Switzerland and Louis Konickx of the Netherlands.
Henrik was clear in both rounds, and his time of 48.42 seconds in the final leg just edged France’s Simon Delestre on Cayman Jolly Jumper in 49.35 seconds. That horse, who looked marvelous jumping his two fault-free rounds, is a son of Hickstead, Eric Lamaze’s 2008 Olympic individual gold medal ride.
Recalling his thoughts upon watching the class in the past, Henrik had said, “I just wish one day I could do this,” then added in awe “and I’m standing here today.”
The world’s top-ranked rider collected $171,000 (160,000 Swiss francs) for his victory.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Henrik, who admitted he was nervous as he watched Simon, the last to go. The Swede thought perhaps he had made a mistake by not taking one less stride to the final fence, but was able to breathe again when Simon fell just short, finishing in 49.35 seconds.
“The luck was on my side today and the whole year,” mused Henrik.
“An incredible horse, King Edward, just a fantastic feeling,” he said of the Belgian warmblood superstar by Edward 28.
His countryman and Olympic and world championships gold medal teammate, Peder Fredricson on Catch Me Not finished third after taking a gamble and going slowly, but carefully.
His plan worked, and the fault-free trip he took in a leisurely 57.30 seconds within the 60-second time-allowed got him on the lower level of the podium with just his 1-penalty time fault from the first round.
The winner, Henrik von Eckermann, and the man who is his regular teammate, Peder Fredricson, shake hands on the podium.
McLain Ward was the only U.S. representative in the field that included riders from seven countries. Making his third appearance in the competition, he came in as number 10.
One of only four riders who were fault-free in the first round, McLain moved up to fourth with Contagious for the second round, but there a turn that didn’t pan out to the third-to-last fence flanked by clock towers gave him a 4-fault total and an amazing time of 46.89 seconds —which would have enabled him to win the whole thing, had he jumped clean. As it was, he finished in fourth as the fastest of the 4-faulters.
McLain Ward and Contagious.
Discussing the mishap, McLain said, “It’s the one place I tried to slow down and got a little too rough. Rider error. I should have just trusted my horse.”
Several riders had a difficult time. Chief among them was Olympic individual gold medalist Ben Maher of Great Britain riding a new horse, Exit Remo, but his lack of familiarity with his mount meant he wound up with 31 faults in the first round.
He came back in a big way, however, jumping clean in the second round. The penalty burden from the first round, however, put Ben 10th and last. He said he’ll once again be aboard his Olympic ride, Explosion, in February.
The Essex Equestrian Center in West Orange, N.J., where thousands of riders were introduced to horses over the decades, is closing this month.
The stable, built in the early Twentieth Century, has been known by several names over the years, including the Woodland Riding Club, the Montclair Riding Club and the Suburban Essex Equestrian Center.
It also has been run by many different people, among them William Dunn, Marge Francis, Ben Purifoy, Marvin Ruddy and for the last 20 years, the Hall family.
Those who fondly remember their years riding at the facility are wondering what will happen to the property. Larry Hall did not respond to an email request for comment.
Joe Fagan, a spokesman for the township of West Orange, said the Essex Equestrian Center is in an R-1 zone. The minimum lot size is 80,000 square feet “per lot for potential single-family homes. It does not have to be used exclusively for recreational use. There currently are no pending applications for this property.”
In a statement, the Halls said, “We have been the starting place for kids and adults alike to find a passion and form irreplaceable bonds with other riders, trainers, and horses. From the very start of meeting the riders, pairing them together with our amazing horses, and watching the breath-taking growth and success they all achieve, has made our hearts so full. It breaks our hearts to announce that Essex Equestrian Center will be closing its doors for good on Monday December 19th.”
Word of the closing prompted an outpouring of memories from those whose lives had been touched by their time at the unique stable in a densely developed area.
Its location on Woodland Avenue in the heart of urbanized Essex County, just a few miles from Newark, offered an opportunity for people who didn’t live near farms to take their first riding lessons, then go on to improve their skills.
Stephanie Siegel, whose mother, Vicki Siegel, managed the facility for a few years in the 1970s when it was Suburban Essex, recalls riding with her friends to Pal’s Cabin restaurant a few blocks away. While one person held the horses, the others went in to get a take-out order they could enjoy when they were back at the stable.
Limited space meant there was, as she recalled, just one paddock for 100 horses, and access for trail riders to nearby Eagle Rock Reservation came through a concrete tunnel.
Starting in 1981, Ann Sullivan Scher spent nine years at Suburban Essex as a trainer and manager who imported horses from Europe, working with Olympian and former U.S. show jumping team captain Frank Chapot. The stable’s location helped make it very popular.
“We had 40 to 60 boarders at any one time,” she said.
Kim Hewitt Bonstein rode in shows there as a junior in the mid-1970s and as a trainer, gave lessons at the facility during the winter in the days when indoor rings were few and far between in New Jersey, except for private stables.
There was plenty of demand for the ring on cold days, so several lessons would be going on at once and self-defense was foremost in the mind of the trainers.
“We would grab jump standards to stand behind them so you wouldn’t get run over,” she chuckled.
Kim met opera star Luciano Pavarotti, and taught his daughter there. She remembered her trepidation one day as the hefty tenor set out for a trail ride on a questionable mount.
“He’s got two or three bandannas around his neck. He said, `Nothing should be happening to my throat,’” but as she noted, on the horse he was riding, that would be the least of his worries. Happily, he came back in one piece.
As a teen, John Walker III took lessons at the stable with noted instructor Walter White, and his mother, Maryl Walker, ran the Girls Mounted Troop there. The uniformed troop members were part of the Junior Cavalry of America that included the Thomas School of Horsemanship on Long Island and the New Canaan Mounted Troop in Connecticut. The Junior Essex Troop of Cavalry had a farm in West Orange, but it was sold in the 1970s, following the demise of several other stables in the area during an earlier era.
On Facebook, Morgan Jenkins called EEC “my favorite place in the whole world growing up and still holds a special spot in my heart. I remember my first ever lesson on Lots of Dots, school shows, lessons, the sound of melting snow falling in sheets from the roof on a sunny winter day and spending every free weekend moment there with friends as one of the resident barn rats.”
Bridget Eklund Carlson termed the closure “Just devastating…this place and the people here are so special, with so much history… a huge loss to the community and suburban kids who will no longer have a place to connect with horses.”
EEC offered everything from camp to showing and an Interscholastic Equestrian Association team. Lola Fennimore, managing director of Rocking Horse Rehab, which is based at the stable, said her equine therapy organization will be moving after Jan. 1, but she could not reveal the new location at this time.
The Halls’ statement emphasized that, “All of our horses will be rehomed to only the best of homes and our older herd of ponies and horses will be going to retirement to enjoy a big grass field that they so deserve.
“Although this era is ending, we look forward to following and watching all the success of our trainers, staff, riders, horses, and lifelong friends that we have met over the years.”
The family thanked its staff and clients, while saying, “We owe the utmost of thanks and love first and foremost to our cherished horses, as we would not be able to make Essex such a special place without them. We owe them everything for all they have done for so many of us, what they have taught us in and out of the saddle, and for the love and healing they provide us every day.”
A true horsewoman with high standards and a generous soul, Judy Hofmann Richter always did whatever she could for those who crossed her path, whether they were people or animals. A great deal was lost when she died today, because, as her longtime friend Jimmy Lee said “There will not be another.”
Judy, 83, was hospitalized in Greenwich, Conn., after complaining about trouble breathing and double vision, dying peacefully a week later, November. 30.
On her Facebook page, she described herself as “author,” and indeed, she wrote several popular books, including the wistful memoir, “Some Favorite Days.” Judy also shared her vast equestrian expertise in “Horse and Rider: From Basics to Show Competition” (1979) and “Pony Talk: A Complete Learning Guide for Young Riders” (1993).
Judy was recognized by the horse industry many times. She was named American Horse Shows Association Horseperson of the Year in 1974 and in 2020, she received the U.S. Equestrian Federation Pegasus Medal of Honor from the AHSA’s successor organization.
Judy was multi-faceted, a USEF judge and successful trainer who had been a private school teacher after graduating from Smith College.
Andre Dignelli, a star student of Judy’s who won the 1985 U.S. Equestrian Team Talent Search Finals and a team bronze in the 1991 Pan American Games, described his mentor as “a strong person, a tall woman with real presence about her. She exuded strength and was giving of her time.”
Both Andre and his brother, Michael, who runs Heritage Farm in New York with him, considered Judy “very special.”
Judy and her late sister, U.S. Equestrian Team member Carol Hofmann Thompson, grew up in New Jersey and attended Kent Place School in Summit, where Jimmy was Judy’s prom date. He recalled that after the prom, he and Judy and their friends went down to Union County’s Watchung Stables a few miles away “because I had just gotten a new horse, and of course, we had to ride him in the dark. Judy mentioned that so many times over the years.”
The Hofmann family was very involved with horses, not only hunting with the Essex Fox Hounds, but also competing in top-level showing. The girls’ mother, Mary, was joint District Commissioner of the Somerset Hills, N.J., Pony Club and their father, Philip, the CEO of Johnson & Johnson, drove a four-in-hand.
Judy married Max Richter and the two bought Coker Farm in Bedford, N.Y., named after Mr. Coker, the horse who brought the couple together. (Max was invited to ride Mr. Coker by Judy’s mother, and then asked Judy out on a date.) Judy lived at the farm until her death.
Over the years, she had a number of famous horses, including American Invitational winner Glasgow, ridden to great success by Olympic medalist Norman Dello Joio and subsequently by Judy’s son, Philip.
Ellie Raidt, who rode with Judy as a junior, went on to become at trainer at Coker and compete on such wonderful horses as Johnny’s Pocket.
Among the other riders who excelled as juniors at the highest level under Judy’s tutelage were Alex Dunaif, Peter Lutz and Kara Hanley. Judy had a great deal of influence on many lives, including Ellie’s
“She was so encouraging and loyal. I wouldn’t be anything without her,” Ellie said. She recalled how Judy “insisted I learn to become a judge.” When Ellie received a pin from USEF commemorating her 40th year as a judge, she sent the photo to Judy.
Johnny’s Pocket was ridden to fame in jumper competition by Norman Dello Joio, who knew Judy.for half a century.
“When she picked me to ride her horse, there were a lot more well-known, qualified riders,” said Norman, who went on to become an Olympic individual medalist..
“She stuck with me and believed in me and that was a game changer for me,” he continued, noting how they had interacted over the years.
“I’m going to miss that more than anything. She always said what she thought, and so do I. Sometimes it was great, sometimes there were fireworks,” he chuckled then added what so many knew about Judy, “She was one of a kind, that’s for sure.”
Expressing many common sense and thoughtful opinions made Judy an interesting conversationalist. Judy definitely was a person of character, as Jimmy remembers her.
“Judy stood up for what she thought was right, regardless of whether it was popular at the moment or not,” he said.
“Above all that, she was a good, good person. We’re very lucky to have known her.”
In addition to Philip, Judy is survived by another son, Hans (Jennifer), and two granddaughters, Maxine and Margot, as well as Richard Ten Dyke, her loving partner of the last few years.
A celebration of her life will be held at Coker Farm at a date to be announced in May.
