Monmouth at the Team horse show adapts in a new location

It’s been a crazy year in the equestrian world, as in every part of the globe, but Covid and the Olympics combined for an especially challenging situation on the competition front. Those who rose above it had to make a lot of compromises and be nimble enough to change direction as necessary.

No one knows that better than cousins Tucker Ericson and Michael Dowling, the owners of Monmouth at the Team, a show that was a big hit at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation in Gladstone starting in 2016, after it moved there from the Horse Park of New Jersey. Riders and their families enjoyed being at the iconic location in Somerset County for a fixture featuring hospitality at a competition that Tucker once described as “half horse show, half social event”

Then in 2020, it was cancelled, as so many shows were, because no spectators would have been allowed under pandemic restrictions. Aside from that, gathering people in a ringside tent didn’t seem like the best idea, even if it would have marked the competition’s 125th anniversary.

This year, the state’s oldest horse show was all set to return to Gladstone until it was determined that the U.S. Olympic eventing and dressage squads, as well as the Paralympic dressage team, would be doing their pre-export quarantine at the historic stables before flying to Tokyo. There also was a question about whether they would have to quarantine at Gladstone upon their return. The Foundation’s priorities involve international competition, so the quarantine plan obviously would have meant no one else could be on the premises. Left with a difficult decision, the Monmouth at the Team organizers decide to relocate rather than cancel two years in a row.

They chose to go to the Centenary University Equestrian Center in Long Valley, about 15 miles from Gladstone, where Michael is on the faculty and involved with coaching the intercollegiate team.

As it happened, the Olympic and Para horses didn’t quarantine in Gladstone because there was a problem with suitable flights from the U.S. to Japan, but that decision came long after there had to be a commitment for Monmouth in a new venue.

Although the show is not in Monmouth County (Long Valley is Morris County) and not at the Team, it has kept its name for its run that ended today. Manager Creigh Duncan and course designer Skip Bailey stayed on board and the hospitality side was bustling as a gathering place for families and friends, with plenty of food and sunflower arrangements atop the tables to keep it festive.

Entries in some divisions were down; Tucker wasn’t sure if that could be attributed to the change of venue or the fact that so many people spent much of the summer away on the big circuits, eager to get out and show extensively after more than a year with many restrictions, and were taking a break when they came home.

Many schools are also opening or getting ready to start, so that could be a factor, since the show was slated to end on Aug. 23, four days later than it did in 2019. However, in yet another twist of fate, it came to an early end when classes for Sunday and the final Monday had to be cancelled due to safety concerns because of impending Tropical Storm Henri.

The big question now is whether the show will go back to Gladstone next year or stay at Centenary. The drawback of Gladstone is that there is only one ring, so entries are limited. At Centenary, having an outdoor ring and an indoor stadium means more entries can be taken than at Gladstone without the threat of classes having to be postponed as darkness descended. It also meant post entries could be accepted.

“Everyone has different opinions, and we want to digest them all,” said Tucker, who has been surveying exhibitors about their venue preferences.

“Every facility has its pros and cons and we’ve always wanted to differentiate ourselves with something that stood out and was different for New Jersey and Zone II.”

He and Michael likely will “take a month to reflect and discuss and figure out what the next step is for the future. Every option is on the table.”

At the same time, Tucker said, “I bet if you took a vote of past and current exhibitors, it probably would be 50-50.”

I wondered if part of the show could be held in Gladstone with some select classes at Centenary, perhaps on the derby field that wasn’t being used after a big rainstorm last week.

“It’s fairly overwhelming getting one facility set up,” laughed Tucker, who is always hands-on working with Michael, dealing with anything that comes up.

“We run ourselves ragged just doing one facility. I can’t even imagine two.”

He noted, however, “that Centenary, just like the Team, has been extremely supportive.” The show is “an opportunity for the Team and Centenary to show what they’re all about and get people on their property.”

Looking at the big picture, Michael said, “It’s not the same as being at Gladstone, that’s so iconic, but we really do feel we’re giving exhibitors a really nice show and we’re getting awesome feedback.”

The National Professional Horsemen’s Association held its Medal Finals at the show for the first time.

“We are very excited to be a part of this horse show,” said PHA representative Lynne Peters. “It is truly fantastic, top notch, and first class.”

The finals was won by Kathryn Blount, whom Michael trains in conjunction with Michael Meyers. Her prize money of $1,500 was donated to Danny & Ron’s Rescue, which has saved so many dogs.

Those at the show were happy to share their opinions about its location.

Stephanie Desiderio, whose Desiderio Ltd. in nearby Chester has been part of the show since it began in Gladstone, is very positive about this year’s venue.

“I think they did a heck of a job bringing it up here. I know a lot of people were a little skeptical,” she said, but noted, “We’ve been here since Monday and it’s picked up every day.”

Stephanie sees the venue as horse-friendly and observed, “the footing is great, the jumps are great, the courses are great. If they keep this going the way it’s been going, either place is fine.”

Added Stephanie, whose son, Michael, won the $5,000 USHJA Hunter Derby last week on Deborah Bianco’s Cromwell, “I know everybody loves to ride at the Team, but it’s one ring and this is two rings.” She said that means barns can bring more horses, noting there wasn’t enough time to work horses in the ring during the mornings at the Team.

Centenary senior Madison Myro first rode at the USET Foundation two years ago.

“I absolutely loved it there. It was an amazing experience, the feeling it gives you, the history behind it,” she said. At the same time, Madison observed, since she goes to school at Centenary, “It’s really nice to be here and show.”

My favorite class of the show, the Nature Conservancy’s $10,000 Bobcat Derby, was well-filled and fun as usual. There were 29 starters in the 2-foot/ 2-6 division and 20 in the 3-foot section, with the prize money divided between the two.

It raises funds for Bobcat Alley, an area on the border of Sussex and Warren counties, where buying more land will enable the endangered bobcats to move safely between the New Jersey Highlands, the Kittatinny Ridge and the Appalachian Mountains.

“I think they’ve done a good job in making it feel welcoming and keeping the attention on the ring, like we need for the Bobcat Derby,” said Nature Conservancy Marketing Director Mary Conti, who said of the preservation effort, “it’s a long term project but we’re making good progress. We’ve protected about 1,500 acres over the last couple of years. We’re in it for the long haul.”

The cool thing about the derby is the must-have headbands sporting bobcat ears with their cute little tufts that riders put on their helmets. Wearing them meant an extra point on the score for each round. Riders who didn’t have a good enough score to advance from the first round to the handy round could take a quiz about bobcats, with the best effort (which included an essay) getting  a free ride into the handy for each section.

Kelley Norton came all the way from Massachusetts to compete in the 2-foot/2-6 division with the 19-year-old Urlala, who wound up as the winner for owner Terry Maloomian. Her scores were an 82 for the first round and an 83 for the handy round.

The Dutchbred mare specializes in derbies, so when Kelley saw that there was a Bobcat Derby in the prizelist, her reaction was “Got to do it.’’

“I’ve never won a derby before, so this was very exciting for me,” said Kelley, an amateur who works in her family’s funeral home business.

Eleanor Kunsman, a professional who runs Glen Eden Farm in Chester with her mother, Kathy, rode a “take no prisoners” round on Premium Blend in the handy for the 3-foot division. She took “quite a technical” direct line over the first three jumps in the handy round and didn’t stop coming until she had achieved a score of 90 for her trip. On top of that, she finished second on Bettina, a seven-year-old mare she owns with her mother. Since it was the mare’s first derby, Eleanor “took a little more of a conservative track”  with her.

Premium Blend was second at Lake Placid and Princeton before he came to Eleanor’s barn. This was his first show with her, and he also earned a championship in the pre-children’s division with his owner, MacKenzie Teasdale.

“He’s very fun, very smart, very quiet, very brave,” Eleanor said.

She was also a winner in the jumper division, taking the welcome class with Callia Bergad’s Hilltop van het Gavershof, over Devin Ryan and his Ascalitta SBK Z. The winning horse wore a bobcat-spotted saddlepad that was one of the prizes Eleanor collected in the Derby. The same horse won the $2,500 Children’s/Amateur High Jumper Stake with his owner aboard.

Asked what she thought of the venue, Eleanor said, “It’s always so fun to ride at the Team, but Michael and Tucker did an amazing job transforming this facility and putting the same amount of effort in at the new location.”