The Essex Horse Trials has a special character. It’s not just the fact that it’s held at two unique venues, it also has great footing and as an added attraction, a car show. Really. There’s nothing else quite like it.
When Sara Kozumplik saw that upper-level entries were a little light at the event this weekend, she knew what she had to do.
“I love this event and want to support it,” said the Virginia and Florida-based trainer, explaining why she brought 19-year-old Rubens D’ysieux to the New Jersey event.
As those who knew the history of Rubens D’ysieux might have expected, the Selle Francais demonstrated his usual prowess by taking the featured Open Intermediate title convincingly. He finished ahead of eight other starters in dressage with 28.9 penalties; then aced the show jumping and larked around the cross-country course designed by Morgan Rowsell without adding anything to his score.
Sara had been second to Boyd Martin and Miss Lulu Herself two weeks earlier in the $50,000 Arena Eventing at the Devon Horse Show, a competition Rubens won twice before.
Sara wondered if going cross-country at Essex would mean too many jumps in a short period of time, and was ready to withdraw if her mount didn’t feel right, but Rubens was up for it.
He isn’t doing any more international competitions, having completed his last 4-star in April. But the Intermediate provided a nice opportunity for him to show off what he does best.
Open Intermediate winner Sara Kozumplik and Rubens D’ysieux. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
“The horse likes to do stuff like this. This kind of thing, he kind of lives for it,” Sara said, comparing it to “a nice cross-country school.”
Her enthusiasm for Essex was shared by riders in all 10 divisions offered.
Lillian Heard Wood, second in the Intermediate with the Irish import Dassett Olympus, was glad she came.
“The tracks were amazing, and I think they really were developed to give the horses confidence,” she said.
Lilllian Heard Wood on Dassett Olympus in the dressage phase. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Her husband, Ryan Wood, had said she couldn’t move Dasett Olympus up to the Advanced level until she was able to go at the Intermediate speed, and that’s what she did.
“I didn’t quite make the time, but I went fast and it felt really good,” said Lillian.
Ryan wasn’t able to attend this weekend, but Lillian said, “I’ve been reporting back how wonderful it’s been here, so hopefully next year.”
Lillian, who won the Open Preliminary with another Irish horse, Bellines Quality Lady, (also known as Foxy) added, “It was probably the best footing I’ve been on all year. It’s like running on a cloud. It was crazy incredible.”
Lillian Heard Wood and Open Preliminary winner Bellines Quality Lady. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Essex is part of the fabric of New Jersey’s Somerset Hills, having started on the Haller family’s farm in Bedminster in 1968 before moving to the U.S. Equestrian Team headquarters in nearby Gladstone 11 years later. Construction of a golf course there ended the Essex run after 1998, but it was revived in 2017 at Moorland Farm in Far Hills, a short drive from the Team. Now the dressage and show jumping phases are held at the USET Foundation, while cross-country is at Moorland, home of the Far Hills Race Meeting.
A popular addition to the weekend has been the Peter Chesson Memorial Car show adjacent to the cross-country course. Fox news host Jesse Watters, who lives in the Somerset Hills and attended Essex, had publicized the show on his program. It drew 500 cars (including the Batmobile), and some of those who came to see the autos wandered over to the equestrian competition to get a glimpse of genuine horse power.
The car show drew more than 500 vehicles to Moorland Farm. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Hannah Sue Hollberg, who won the Intermediate last year with Hachi, likes the fact that the event reaches non-equestrians.
“It’s very rare in that way,” she said.
She’s quite a fan of Essex.
“Being able to come to USET headquarters is so cool. The two locations concept is the best of both,” said the rider, who was sixth in Open Prelim with Hachi this year.
“Both venues are to die for,” agreed Marilyn Payne, who won the Open Novice section with Rock Me Mama (the name of the song that’s the ring tone for calls from her son, Olympian Doug Payne.)
“To be able to ride at the team and jump in that arena, it’s unbelievable,” said Marilyn, an international judge who has officiated at two Olympics.
A resident of nearby Tewksbury Township, she is planning on moving up to Training level after her successful run at Essex on her mare, which she bought off a video from the family in England who raised her—the first time she ever purchased a horse without riding it first.
Lauren Chumley and Atlanta B in the show jumping against the backdrop of the historic USET Foundation stables. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Lauren Chumley, a Pittstown, N.J., trainer whose specialty is dressage, decided to take a busperson’s holiday by competing at Essex. Her horse, Atlanta B, is 19 years old and “I feel like she’s jumping the best she’s ever jumped,” said Lauren, who was second in Open Preliminary.
Lauren admitted to feeling a bit nervous to be eventing after a layoff from the discipline, but observed, “When you have the right horse, the jumps don’t matter.”
Atlanta had a baby by Sea Lion, a filly that is a carbon copy of her dam. Lauren plans to compete her through Preliminary, then let fellow professional Meg Kepferle take over.
Essex was a favored destination for Lauren for several reasons, but one stood out.
“I love that they have the tailgating because all the people from my dressage barn come. I always tell them, `You have a 50-50 chance of me falling in the water. So it will be entertaining either way’,” she chuckled.
Essex is a great showcase for a variety of horses and riders, from the most experienced down to beginner novice. It seems as if nearly every horse has a story to tell, like Littlebitadominic, who was purchased by Carleen DeVincenzo for $600 from a rescue after the thoroughbred’s racing career ended.
With the help of Carleen running to every jump and cheering him on so he could hear her, the gelding was third in Prelim with Arielle Aharoni, who taught him how to jump.
Arielle Aharoni and Littlebitadominic. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
“He’s brave and adjustable. He probably thought it was a walk in the park,” she said.
“I think he’s ready to move up to Intermediate.”
Essex offers several special awards, including the Jean and Elliott Haller Perpetual Trophy for Horsemanship in memory of the former owners of Hoopstick. It went to Sara Kelson, who works for Sara Kozumplik.
Sally Ike, Essex chairman, consulted officials about who should get the honor and reported, “They all were in unanimous agreement that Sara was an extraordinary person. They said she is kind, she is always there to help when help is needed.”
Morgan Rowsell and Sally Ike with award winner Sara Kelson. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Sally added that when Sara Kozumplik was told the other Sara had gotten the award, “she broke into tears because it was such a worthwhile award and would mean so much to Sara Kelson.”
The Golden Nugget award, given by Clarissa Wilmerding, goes to the best-scoring member of a Pony Club in any division. It went to Olivia Hicok, third in Beginner Novice B on Huckleberry with a score of 29.1.
Blessed by fabulous weather and safe competition, Essex 2024 was a great success.
For the riders, “It’s worth making the trip,” Morgan believes.
“You’re going to get international horses ready for international competition, you’re going to get amateurs to have a really special time to help support and bring new generations forward, because it’s such a cool place to be.”
Tailgaters at Essex have an up-close view of the water complex on cross-country. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
“It’s such a community activity,” Sally observed.
The beneficiary is the Greater Newark LifeCamp, which gives Newark-area children an opportunity to participate in an enrichment program in the country each summer.
“I think it was a phenomenal weekend,” said Guy Torsilieri, a member of the Essex board.
“With the synergy of the car show and the cross-country, there’s a lot of potential there.”
Between the car show and the horse trials, Sally said, “I think we hit it out of the ballpark.”
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