EQ AM Summer 2019

EVEN MORE PASSION . SUMMER 2019 . $12

Volume 08 . 2018

VETS OF THE FUTURE - TELEHEALTH DER DAU AND EQUUS GO VEGAN THE NEXT PARA STAR DAVID BOTANA

MORE NEW CONTRIBUTORS CAVALETTI CROSSFIT GOOD READS

SNAFFLE OR DOUBLE? RUTLEDGE FARM SESSIONS STEPHEN BRADLEY CONQUERS NERVES MUCH MORE!

OUR EDITOR ON LIFTING THE VEIL

INTERVIEW WITH STEFFEN PETERS

NE WPORT BE ACH | ASPEN | PALM BE ACH | 866. 584.2666 | LUGANODIAMONDS.COM

EQ AM MAGAZINE UNITED BY THE PASSION FOR HORSES . VOLUME 11 . 2019.

publisher

CLR Media, LLC editor

Carina Roselli Editorial Assistants

Lays Coutinho - Afonso Westphal Contributing Writers

Jean French - Bob Grisel, DVM - Lisa Hellmer Olivia Lagoy-Weltz - Ilana Cramer Carina Roselli graphic designer

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Equestre Americas became EQ AM Magazine in Spring 2018. EQ AM is published four times a year and is distributed at select equestrian locations, shows, newsstands, and is available by subscription for home delivery or online viewing.

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Publisher accepts no responsibility for advertisement errors beyond the cost of the portion of the advertisement occupied by the error within the advertisement itself. Publisher accepts no responsibility for submitted materials. Publisher is not responsible for the opinions and statements expressed in signed articles and paid advertisements. Such opinions are not necessarily the opinions of CLR Media, LLC and its staff. While Publisher makes every effort to avoid errors, we assume no liability to anyone for mistakes or omissions. Publisher will announce corrections when warranted. Kindly direct any corrections to the Editor, Carina Roselli, at carina@eq-am.com.

All submitted materials are subject to editing.

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4 | EQ AM MAGAZINE

EQ AM MAGAZINE UNITED BY THE PASSION FOR HORSES . VOLUME 11 . 2019.

CONTRIBUTORS Bob Grisel, DVM Dr. Bob Grisel graduated from the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine with honors and having received multiple awards. Bob’s recent publications focus on lameness, especially the correlation between abnormal gait characteristics and specific sources of pain in the horse. His new book, “Equine Lameness for the Laymen” is excerpted in this issue.

Jean French Jean French is the Owner/Instructor/Trainer of The Natural Connection, Inc. located in Linden, Virginia. In operation for over a decade, training in both western and English disciplines, her life has been dedicated to helping thousands of people learn the language of the horse.

Accomplishments are measured in the many dozens of horses whose journeys led them to help and growth through Jean’s program.

Lisa Hellmer Lisa Hellmer is a USDF bronze and silver medalist on her Oldenburg, Aniko (“Sneaks”), currently competing at Intermediate I. She graduated summa cum laude from Johnson & Wales University with a degree in equine business management and riding. She is now a USEF Silver Para Dressage Coach and recently formed LCH Equestrian in Ocala, FL.

Ilana Cramer A lifelong equestrian, Ilana’s passion for telling untold stories has taken her from the backsides of racetracks to the steeplechase fields and to the eventing, show jumping and dressage worlds.

Ilana resides in Baltimore, Maryland, where she enjoys all things equine in the Mid-Atlantic.

Olivia Lagoy-Weltz Olivia Lagoy-Weltz is a USDF bronze, silver, and gold medalist. Her earlier experience includes working for and riding at several top barns in Holland and Germany. Olivia is currently competing her own Rassing’s Lonoir (“Lono”) on the CDI circuit in Wellington, Florida and throughout Europe. Most recently, USEF selected Olivia as Team USA’s traveling alternate for the World Equestrian Games, Tryon 2018.

6

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The property boasts an Olympic caliber 3.5 acre Grand Prix Field, indoor & outdoor rings with drained & tiled all weather footing and manicured ngrass paddocks.

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PROLOGUE

dear reader, Welcome to EQ AM’s third issue! We’ve gone all-out with this one and I think it strikes a beautiful balance between the joyful and the serious.

You’ll see fun photo spreads of hunter/jumper shows from both coasts and read the fairly intense conversation Steffen Peters and I had about our battles with mental illness. This issue runs the gamut; I promise you an emotional rollercoaster, so strap in!

On the lighter side of things, we’ve got a great story on the

Event Horses from Champion Riders, Equine Scientists and Vets,” by

history of America’s oldest horse show, the Upperville Colt and Horse

Dr. Cecilia Lönnell. The piece we get to peek at helps us understand

Show, held every spring in EQ AM’s stomping ground (Upperville,

whether our own horse and rider combinations are a good fit, and

Virginia). The sepia-tone photos and artwork that go with this

provides some surprising examples of top riders and their mounts.

piece are incredible! Among other shows featured, you’ll find the

Finally, I’m so excited to tell you how Der Dau has officially

upcoming Hampton Classic and the wildly successful Temecula

gone vegan for the EQUUS Foundation! Together, with the help

Valley National Horse Show series hosted by Nilforushan Equisport

of #EQUUStars Georgina Bloomberg and Clementine Goutal, this

Events. For more pretty pictures, check out Eileen Johnson’s ultra-

team has cracked the code on vegan riding boots! These beauties

detailed metalwork in our Equine Arts section. She’ll tell you how

look and feel like real leather, except maybe better. And, being made

her career making dental crowns dovetailed nicely into making you

of recycled materials, they’re sure to become your new ethically

gorgeous, custom pieces of wearable art.

sourced earth friendly favorites. Come with us to their unveiling

This issue’s discipline in focus is Para Dressage, and we can’t wait for you to meet The New Kid on the [Mounting] Block, sixteenyear-old David Botana. He and his new mount, Locksley, owned by Margaret Stevens and campaigned in the FEI Grand Prix by David’s

at the upcoming Hampton Classic Annual Horse Adoption Day on Monday August 26th. We’re excited to meet you there!

As always, thank you so much for welcoming EQ AM into your lives, and I wish you a great read.

coach, Susanne Hamilton, are obviously destined for greatness, but my inspiring conversation with David illustrates a modest young man wise well-beyond his years. Also among our Para content, you’ll learn about the para grading system and opportunities available for disabled military veterans—obviously a topic near and dear to my heart.

P.S. I want your feedback! Contact me at carina@eq-am.com or DM me on social media @eqammag.

Other hot topics include the debate on snaffle vs. double bridles in the dressage arena, and new contributor, Ilana Cramer, brings us eventer Stephen Bradley’s take on conquering nerves on the cross country course. Our other new contributor is Dr. Bob Grisel, DVM., who you might remember is the author of last issue’s featured book, “Equine Lameness for the Layman.” Now, as a world-renowned expert in equine telehealth, Dr. Grisel permanently joins EQ AM to teach us about cutting-edge innovations in equine health, science, and tech.

Speaking of book extracts, don’t miss “Sport Horse Soundness and Performance: Training Advice for Dressage, Showjumping and

Self-portrait at home. Artwork by Doug Finstad

8 | EQ AM MAGAZINE

Carina Roselli - Editor

a better world for horses, pets and people.

www.marsequestrian.com

Divine

equine

The finest equestrian goods, curated for you by the Editor.

OVATION

BEDAZZLED ZOCKS These may be a small, seemingly insignificant addition to Divine Equine, but anyone who’s got open eyes can tell that sock designs are extremely important to living your most authentic life. This particular “model” of this all American brand are our new favorite boot socks! These gem-encrusted Zocks make you feel like a glamourous equestrian as soon as you pull them on (and they’ll pair perfectly with our glittery gloves). Made of hosiery thin material and bedazzled knee to toe, they fit comfortably under tall boots and you can feel good about that post-ride, boot-sock-sneaker look we all know too well.

These Made in America socks are model number 1935, “Bedazzled Black.” Find them at your local tack shop or online at www.

Her Riding Habit Green Dragon

ovationriding.com, $9.95.

fabric, it’s anti-microbial, easy to wash, and dries fast.

Roeckl USA Flag Gloves from Adams Horse Supplies

The underarm mesh extends down the side for a breezy

I know Roeckl isn’t an American

armpit. The shirts have a flattering, fitted style thanks to

brand (Yeah Germany you make the

tailored back darts, but the four-way stretch fabric allows

best gloves!), but Adams Horse Supplies

for easy movement in the saddle. The long sleeve version

happens to be the ONLY American carrier

has extra-long cuffs that stay in place. The polo collar has

of these seriously awesome, patriotic

a five-button placket with logo engraved buttons. Each

stunners. Are you brave enough to represent the USA—whether at

shirt is finished off with a curved hemline long enough

home in your arena or at Aachen next season? If so, these gloves

to stay tucked in, but stylish enough to wear untucked.

are the quality we all expect from Roeckl, but with an added bit of

Her Riding Habit offers both long and short sleeve styles

American flare. Interestingly enough, they’re called the “Maryland”

in three patterns of multiple colors: Dragons, Appaloosa

glove, no matter what flag is on them (go us!).

Molly McGinness designed Her Riding Habit Athletic Polos with all the details she wanted in a shirt. Constructed of lightweight, moisture-wicking, UPF rated technical

Spots, and Flying Insects. More prints and styles are in

Adams Horse Supplies has been repping the USA since 2003 at

development so follow @herridinghabit on social media

their privately owned tack shop in Winthrop, Maine. Their “Contact

to stay in the know. This new collection is available online

Us” is highly responsive and all in-stock orders ship within 24 hours.

at www.herridinghabit.com, $98.

Get the gloves. Navy or white. Adams Horse Supplies, 1318 US Route 202, Winthrop, ME 04364, or 877-322-7387, or shop online at www.adamshorsesupplies.com, $89.95.

10 | EQ AM MAGAZINE

REBECCA RAY DESIGN MARY ANN FANCY RIBBON HORSE TOTE AND BURGHLEY HORSE TOTE Rebecca Ray creates bench made, equestrian inspired bags and accessories that combine everyday utility with our kind of style. Her Mary Ann Fancy Ribbon Horse Tote comes in an array of beautiful colors on washable, water repelling duck canvas featuring a vintage image of an old retro grain bag—the graphic reads “Fancy Blue Ribbon Race Horse Oats.” You can wear this roomy tote across your body or carry it by its supple, double leather-trimmed handles. It’s a perfect weekend tote, travel bag, beach bag, or barn bag—perfect for summer. It’s also machine washable (delicate cycle), making it incredibly versatile and hardy. All hardware is equestrian-grade nickel; features one interior pocket and a full zipper top.

Height 17” Length 20” Depth 5” with 31.5” flat cotton cross-body strap.

Rebecca Ray’s Burghley Horse Tote Bag is lightweight and roomy with an elegantly simple design. It’s an ideal bag for carrying everything around the horse show or around the office. The classic “Burghley Horse” print stands out against the natural tone duck fabric. Cotton web rein straps with a 10” drop are crafted with genuine leather stops and equestrian-grade nickel hardware, all hand sewn by master harness makers. Features a top zipper closure, water repelling, heavy cotton duck exterior, and a crisp contrast lining with an interior drop pocket for your keep-handy necessities. Height 16” Length 15.5” Depth 4”. All Rebecca Ray products are bench made in America by Amish artisans. Shop at https://rebeccaraydesign.com or call (844) 852-4627, bags each $198.

RIATA Designs Hats RIATA was born in 2014 as a favor to a trainer who asked Jill Slater to “decorate some hats for her riders.” As a former flower shop owner and floral designer, adornment came naturally to Jill, and working with a plastic surgeon helped her realize the importance of sun protection.

The large hats and visors, now known as “RIATAS,” are standout favorites for stylish sun protection. Jill’s inspiration has always been to “BE YOU” and she can help you with that by designing your very own custom RIATA with vintage and exclusive designer fabrics. Just like people, no two RIATAS are ever the same. Jill says, “I hope we can design together soon.” Visit riatadesigns.com or contact Jill directly at riatadesigns@gmail.com. $85.00 +$25.00 shipping in the USA.

Eq Am Magazine | 11

turnout

helmet hype With the incredible influx of helmet brands and styles over the last few years, there is absolutely no reason why you can’t combine safety with style! But, the U.S. hasn’t really caught up to the helmet design game, so this is an international selection.

Charles Owen Pro II Plus Skull Cap in Rose Gold (Britain) This luxurious and feminine rose gold skull cap is more than just a twist on the norm and a pretty face… The groundbreaking Pro II Plus is the only triple-standard, precision-fitting, cross-country skull cap with a removable cup headband to increase lifespan. It features a sized liner, front and rear ventilation slots for superior cooling, and a GRpx® harness for unsurpassed stability and comfort. www.charlesowen.com/products/pro-ii-plus, $270.

Charles Owen Ayr8 Leather Look Helmet in “Patriotic” (Britain)

KASK Swarovski on the Rocks Star

We’re calling this color combo “Patriotic” for obvious reasons and we think Charles Owen should consider

Lady in Navy (Italy)

adopting the name (it works for both countries!). The Leather Look model has all the features of the popular Ayr8® like centrally located front and rear ventilation slots and the GRpx® harness, but this model features the exclusive leather look side panels as well. Since they aren’t real leather, maintenance is minimal; you can maintain its sophisticated appearance with a simple wipe down. www.charlesowen. com/products/ayr8-leather-look/, $449.

This

beauty

features

un-cut

genuine

Swarovski crystals and is individually handcrafted (upon request). On top of being exclusive and gorgeous, the Star Lady packs a technical punch: molded ABS outer shell that’s shock resistant and light, soft faux leather chinstrap that’s hypoallergenic and washable, a 100% Merino Wool inner padding that’s naturally antibacterial and thermoregulating, and two honeycomb aeration grids that provide exceptional airflow. If that isn’t enough, KASK’s FIT System provides a perfect fit by gently cradling the back of your head. You pick your helmet model and crystal color. www.kask.com, $1699.

GPA First Lady 4S Concept in Full Carbon (France) GPA’s 4S technology provides a futuristic look and advanced head protection from a carbon shell that adds more rigidity to the helmet while maintaining lightness. The combination of 4S technology and the new rigid Global-Concept harness provides additional cervical protection, better helmet stability, and an improved fit. Its machined aluminum magnetic buckle provides easy fastening. And if this look isn’t cool enough for you, it’s customizable upon request. www.gpa-sport.com, $1882.

| EQUESTRE AMERICAS MAGAZINE

*All helmets featured meet ASTM/SEI F1163-15 standards.

Samshield Miss Shield One K™

Shadowmatt Brown

Defender Glamour

Sparkling Greige (France)

in Grey Matte (USA)

The Greige Dorado is a subtle mix of gold and bronze that creates that winning feeling! Inspired by ladies’

This helmet has enough features to appeal to riders

classic hats, the Miss Shield Shadowmatt has an extended

seeking sleek style and/or advanced technology. Case

visor and customizable band above. The outer shell is

in point, the Defender is now available with a sparkling

polycarbonate and anti-scratch matte paint; the inner shell

stone top that, when combined with grey matte color,

is variable density polystyrene that better dissipates impact

appears standout silver! On the technical side, it has a

energy. The liner is washable memory foam, ensuring

Polycarbonate and Advanced ABS Composite outer shell;

stability during violent movement. A powerful internal

injection molded shell design; one back, two front, two

airflow system eliminates the need for “unsightly” air

side, and two center stripe air vents; a washable, quick

vents. You can even configure it with a “dressage chin

dry, moisture wicking, antimicrobial liner; and a comfort

strap,” if the helmet’s harness intrudes on your perfect

padded harness with synthetic suede lining, hook and

bun. www.samshield.com, $720.

loop adjustment, and Fastex buckle. Go shine bright like a diamond! www.onekhelmets.com, $399.

TOP

PICK!

Samshield Premium in Alcantara Black with Custom Swarovski Crystals

Nothing beats Laura Graves’s Samshield Premium in Alcantara Black with Custom Swarovski Crystals because she was really waving the flag at the 2018 World Equestrian Games—literally and figuratively. This helmet has all the features expected of a Samshield, plus Laura’s patriotic details.

We couldn’t even configure it at www.samshield.com/configurator/eng/ because that color combo wasn’t available (hint hint Samshield). At least $899, but only she knows.

E q u i n e A rt s

Rex McDonald

I met an attendee at an equestrian trade show who chatted with me about a design for her gift shop. This was not just any gift shop—it was the American Saddlebred Museum at the Kentucky Horse Park. I dove in and the work began in the spring of 2018. This piece is named after Rex McDonald, the black, five-gaited, stallion born in 1890 in Missouri who is historically considered to be the all-time champion of the American Saddlebred breed. This photo illustrates the piece in three metals: sterling silver, ancient casting bronze, and a yellow jewelry alloy I named “Golde.” I love designs that don’t quite fit on the shape, so here a hoof and muzzle wander just beyond the perimeter. Rex’s tail is suspended and rests on the hock of his hind left leg.

You are just waiting for it to swish to the right.

14 | EQ AM MAGAZINE

EILEEN JOHNSON

TEMPI DESIGN STUDIO Art and technical design have always been a part of Eileen Johnson’s life. Raised in Connecticut, her father was a naval architect and her mother was a gifted artist; one could say that artistry and technical design was in her blood.

As a young girl, Eileen had an intense passion

of millimeters on a regular basis. Additionally,

to create. At the age of six she received her first

she was a dental ceramist, so matching natural

sewing machine as a Christmas gift and her

colors was part of her talents.

little hands became busy creating clothes for

After 25 years as an expert in dental

all her dolls. A few years later she discovered

technology, Eileen decided to retire. It made

her other love—horses. The desire to create

perfect sense that, as she decided to change

and her deep passion for horses has remained

direction, she’d redirect her skills into jewelry

a constant throughout her life. As a teenager,

making. In preparation for the shift, Eileen took

Eileen began to dabble in jewelry design and

classes with the American Gemological Institute,

took classes that ensured the development of

including classes like platinum fundamentals

her art. After school, one could always find her

and basic stone setting. When the time came,

at the stables.

she kept whatever dental equipment she could

Eileen later attended the University of

use for her art and sold the rest.

Kentucky where her interest in metalwork and

Tempi Design Studio was born from the

soldering led her to the field of Dental Technology.

word “Tempi,” an equestrian term meaning

Trained as a dental laboratory business owner,

“change,” to signify the great change Eileen

she was able to successfully meet the needs of

was making. With Tempi Designs, she is

her clients and continue to dabble in her jewelry

able to combine her two loves—horses and

creations. Although dental prosthetics paid the

metallurgy—to create magnificent, near 3D

bills, Eileen always dreamed of the day when she

works of wearable art. Recently, her portfolio

could become a full-time artist.

has expanded, almost taking on a mind of its

The skills she used daily as a dental technician

own. Her designs have grown beyond the

dovetailed well into jewelry making. A dental

original equestrian theme to include other

crown (or bridge) with metal substructure is

animals, nature, and nautical themes. Tempi

custom made, built in wax, and cast by the “Lost

Design Studio offers jewelry, buckles, buttons,

Wax Method.” It is centrifugally cast, metal sand

and many accessories (beautiful cuff links!).

blasted, and then hand finished and polished.

Additionally, Eileen can create custom works of

She always completed her work by checking

art from a photo of a beloved horse, as she did

the fit under a microscope, working in fractions

with her Rosenthal design.

15

E q u i n e A rt s

The Pharoahs Horses Medallion

John Frederick Herring, an English artist, made the original painting called “The Pharaoh’s Horses” in the 1880s. It sold through Sotheby’s for $1.5 million in the 1990s. The horses are three Arabian stallions pulling a chariot, galloping.

This pocket watch key fob is a family heirloom of my grandfather’s that my aunt/Godmother passed down to me in 2003. The engraving on the back is dated April 1909. She knew I was planning to retire from my dental career and that I had hopes of designing and creating equestrian jewelry. She asked me to do something with the piece. I reworked the design into many variations (this was the first). This medallion design went on to have smaller pendant, charms, earrings, buckles, and a more contemporary offset square shape series. I still give a story card with any Pharaoh’s Horses purchase, giving a brief rendition of my grandfather’s life, and how this piece arrived to me.

I still get emotional when I tell his story.

16

Dressage Horse Classic

Dressage Horse Classic earings

I had seen a photo of Courtney King-Dye riding and used her horse as my guide. I wanted to capture the cooperative, yielding horse, ears tuned to the rider, in soft head carriage. This design became insanely popular. It also developed into many sizes and versions, all the way down to a right and left facing earring, ½-inch, round.

Rosenthal I do try to keep informed of local happenings in the horse world, and follow the horses and annual champions. I had seen this photo of Rosenthal and was intrigued by his presence and jowl. He had passed away suddenly in May (2018) and his legacy made me anxious to create him in my medium. As luck would have it, last fall I ran into Rosenthal’s owners, High Point Hanoverians’ Klaus Schengber and Larissa Barilar, ringside at Dressage at Devon. I asked if they could stop by my booth to see my work in progress. They were very enthused and within the hour their entire barn crew arrived! They were very happy and surprised to see Rosenthal remembered so. They invited me to their farm to see the stallion’s last offspring. Rosenthal is the start of a series dedicated to stallions who have contributed to the sport.

UNITED BY THE PASSION FOR HORSES |

17

E q u i n e A rt s

Water Jump

Driving Pony

The “airtime� a rider feels while jumping is

I designed this piece from a photo I found in

unique, but the suspension of taking a water

a local monthly paper. I worked the near 3D

drop fence can be especially exhilarating!

piece into a brooch. It was another home

Here I wanted to show the moments of

run! I continued with this design to create a

suspension you feel just before landing, here

pendant, earrings, and then a buckle. Driving

with a splash. I rode cross country (at lower

people were thrilled and it kept me hungry for

levels). This design gets many people to just

more ideas and all the time it would take to

hold it in their hand and feel the details. I still

create them.

need to develop this design further for a medallion and pendant series.

Paso Fino I created this piece for a private company who has exclusive rights to the design. It was a difficult creation to capture with all the tack and all the mane. I wanted to be certain there was no question on the breed or tack represented in my work. Pieces went from paper photo to hours of wax carving, to prototypes, mold making, and production. My immediate audience does not really include the Paso crowd, but I was thrilled to make him—a personal favorite.

18

Foundation Friday 10/18 Therapeutic Riding Championships

© RogerThatPhotography

Family Fun Day - 10/12 1 to 4 pm

© RogerThatPhotography

Daily Shopping

© C.Mann Photo

© BrittanyOliverPhoto

10 Days of International Competition, Entertainment, Shopping & Fun!

The Pennsylvania National Horse Show October 10 – 19, 2019 Farm Show Complex • 2300 N. CameroN Street • harriSburg, pa

Day and Evening Performances Tickets & Schedule at www.PAnational.org • 717-770-0222 @panationalhorseshow

@PA_NationalHS

@pa_nationalhs

Benefits The Pennsylvania National Horse Show Foundation Supporting Therapeutic Riding and Equine Rescue Programs

Free Parking!

19

E q u i n e A rt s

Lipizzan Tempel Lipizzan Farm in Wadsworth, IIllinois has partnered with Tempi Design Studio. Tempi will design and create exclusive, breed specific designs for the Tempel Farm Gift Shop, along with certain chosen designs from Tempi. Tempel Farms celebrated their 60th Anniversary in 2018 and serves as a Lipizzan breeding farm and classical dressage training center. They promote the art form and educate the public through farm tours and performances throughout the year.

After “Dressage Horse Classic,” I was getting verbally nudged by customers that my next design had to be a jumper. It made sense to me to start representing all the disciplines I could. The original jumper was a large oval medallion that also served as a brooch or stock pin (I then made this belt buckle from the same cast). I remember keeping track of my time spent to create him and counted 22 hours, then I went back to add the tack. The result was another top performer. People who

Fancy Jumper

saw the jumper would often say, “I don’t wear jewelry, but I will wear this.”

You will often find Eileen locked away in her studio, molding her next vision (or your’s) into life.

20

21

goo d rea d s

by Dr. Cecilia Lönnell - Published by Trafalgar Square Books / HorseandRiderBooks.com

notes from

ARE YOU A GOOD MATCH? An excerpt from Sport Horse Soundness and Performance: Training Advice for Dressage, Showjumping and Event Horses from Champion Riders, Equine Scientists and Vets. By Cecilia Lönnell.

Breeding, conformation and how the horse was raised

and dealer, pointed out in an interview that it is important

can be suspected to affect soundness. But how the future

that you like your horse as a “person”. If you are going to

career of the horse will work out is also determined by

work with a horse every day without a natural liking for

the rider. It is important that the horse has a character/

him, it is more difficult to get good results.

personality and a level of experience that fits your profile

Franke Sloothaak also pointed out that you must realize

as a rider. How and whether a horse and rider fit together

that the perfect horse with no faults does not exist, just

is sometimes as instant as the chemistry between two

as the perfect rider or human does not exist. If you have

people, but the experience of each also needs to match.

bought a horse who you soon realize is not right for you,

Xenophon recommended 2,400 years ago that an amateur

you should either give up straight away and sell him on,

owner should not attempt to train a young horse, but

or be prepared to put work in if you cannot afford to find

should send the horse to a professional (and spell out

another one, Franke said.

carefully in a contract what the horse should have learnt

In Sweden, where this book was first released, there are

when returning!). Fitting the right horse with the right

consumer laws that are very generous to the buyer, but not

rider is often also a question of safety, and potentially of

necessarily in the interest of the horse. They allow a buyer

soundness. If, for example, you feel nervous about going

to make mistakes with the horse and yet demand to have

out hacking because the horse is more spooky or more

the deal canceled even two years later.

“explosive” than you are comfortable with, it will be

If you find that you and a horse do not make a good

difficult to get the variation in training which champion

match there is no shame in that. There are plenty of

riders recommended in the previous chapter.

examples of famous riders who said “no” to horses, who

Beezie Madden’s husband, John Madden, a top coach 22 | EQ AM MAGAZINE

then went on to have great success with another top rider.

“

“

“The price of mistakes in horse buying is eventually paid by the horse and this is unfortunate.” Dr. Malin Axel-Nilsson said in an interview..

There are also examples of famous horse and rider combinations where the riders first thought they had

“That the horse and rider make a good match is important for the well-being of the horse.”

a problem, but in the end had great success with

There is increasing focus on scientific study of

the same horse. Olympic champion Eric Lamaze and

horse behavior and welfare, including at the Swedish

Hickstead are one example – the stallion was a very

University of Agricultural Sciences.

difficult ride when Lamaze first had him, but they

“Consider carefully what you want to do with

became world-beaters together. We are, of course,

your horse; concentrate on how it feels when

talking here about super-talented riders whose

you ride and handle him and try several different

profession is to be able to ride almost any horse,

horses before buying.” This advice about buying

and who spend their working days doing that. For

horses was given by Dr. Malin Axel-Nilsson in her

someone who does not ride full-time and only has one

doctoral thesis presented in the autumn of 2015.

or two horses, and maybe gets their own horse for the

She wants to underline the importance of having

very first time, it is both easier and more enjoyable if

realistic ambitions when buying a horse and, like

the horse and rider “fit” right from the start.

insurance vet Dr. Charlie Lindberg at the end of this

Apart

from

considering

temperament

and

chapter, gives the advice to get input from coaches

rideability it is also important to be honest with

and other knowledgeable persons who can give a

yourself whether your physical talent fits the horse’s.

more objective view of your scope as a rider, and

There is not much point in choosing a horse with, for

of the temperament of both you and the horse.

example, spectacular gaits or huge scope over fences,

“Sadly, it happens that riders buy horses that really

if you have to struggle to follow the movement or to

do not suit them. Most people, of course, have

stay on over the fence.

dreams of what the horse should be capable of—for

The sensitive Warum Nicht with Isabell Werth is another such example of a horse who was lucky to get the right (in effect, skilled and with a lot of feel) rider. Their trainer Wolfram Wittig has said: “In the beginning people asked why we even bought him. It worked, but only with Isabell in the saddle. He is a fighter, absolutely, but he needed a

Photo Alois Müller

leader. He needed Isabell.”

23

goo d rea d s

example, in showjumping—that not always are realistic or

horses than the other way around. Riders with a more

achievable,” she said.

anxious temperament felt more comfortable with the

Modern sport horse breeding has resulted in horses who are more sensitive and lively than those bred in the

horses who were calmer and independent,” Malin said.

past for the cavalry or farm work. Today’s horses have a lot more natural talent for the sport, but in many cases

Was it love at first sight or the first try?

their talent requires an experienced rider. This is not

Rodrigo Pessoa and Baloubet du Rouet (won three

always obvious at the first test ride.

World Cup Finals and individual Olympic gold)

“The price of mistakes in horse buying is eventually

“I had already had about five or six horses by Baloubet’s

paid by the horse and this is unfortunate.” Malin Axel-

sire Galoubet, and was not overly impressed by this last

Nilsson said in an interview. Her advice about repeated

one. Sure, Baloubet had scope, but I thought “Oh, well,

“dates” echoes the advice by Dr. Charlie Lindberg “That

not another Galoubet (son) who is hot and runs to the

the horse and rider make a good match is important for

fence.”

the well-being and welfare of the horse, for the safety of the rider and to get the best possible performance,” Malin Axel-Nilsson said.

Malin specifically warned riders not to buy a young horse if they had not already had previous experience of training young horses.

Her PhD research included mental tests of a group of horses at the National Equestrian Centre

Rodrigo said, “What a s**t horse,” his father Nelson “Neco” Pessoa disclosed in a profile about the famous stallion, “But that was many years ago, when Rodrigo himself was young and used to older horses. If Rodrigo were to see such a youngster today, he would also realize what it could become.”

Isabell

Werth

and

Warum

Nicht

(World

Cup

Champions 2007)

at Flyinge. They were faced with a number of

“You must come and see him. I think he could be a

challenges, such as being left alone in an unfamiliar

world-class horse.” This was Isabell Werth’s evaluation on

stable and approaching unfamiliar objects in an indoor

the mobile to her horse owner Madeleine Winter-Schulze

arena, such as open umbrellas, that could be perceived as

after being shown a large, gangly son of Weltmeyer at the

frightening. The tests were standard in equine behavioral

warm-up in Verden. It was Warum Nicht (‘Why Not’), at seven years old.

research.

Study riders were also classified

When Isabell spots a new horse she either gets a ‘wow’

based on personality profiles into

feeling, or not. With Warum Nicht she immediately thought

“emotionally

stable”’

or

more

unstable, that is, in simple terms, more “chilled” or more anxious.

“We found that some of the horses were quite easy to handle

“Wow, what a talent.” He was a good model, with a large frame and big movement. He could, at the same time, do with a bit more muscle and he was easily frightened, but Isabell was convinced about his potential and prepared to spend the time to let him develop. In the beginning he was very spooky: he could spook at anything, whether a flower or a shadow.

while others became both more

His maternal grandsire Wenzel was known to produce spooky

explosive and negatively affected

offspring. It was because of that, when Warum Nicht was

by the challenges. Riders with a

a youngster, people asked the previous owner: “How can

cooler temperament had a better

you buy a foal by Weltmeyer and Wenzel I?” and he replied

feel with the more explosive

“Warum Nicht” in German, and so the horse was named.

For Rodrigo Pessoa it was not love at first sight when he first tried Baloubet du Rouet as a young horse. But his father Neco saw the potential in the chestnut stallion who, when more mature, won Olympic gold and three World Cup Finals. For a non-professional who is buying their own horse it is important to find a horse you really get on with straight away. (Nelson Pessoa also predicted years ahead that Baloubet would be a top breeding sire, and he was right on that score, too).

24

Photo Roland Thunholm

F O U N D A T I O N

Where they go next is up to us All horses, even champions of the racetrack and the show ring, are only one unlucky sale away from abuse, neglect and slaughter.

Tens of thousands of horses become atrisk each year. Over 81,000 horses shipped across our borders to be slaughtered in 2018. Most were young, healthy and had untapped potential.

Horses contribute positively to the cognitive, physical, emotional and social well-being of all people - with and without special needs.

However, with the expense and time required for competition becoming unrealistic for most people, and 84% of the US population living in cities of 50,000 or more, access to horses is decreasing.

The EQUUS Foundation is the only national animal welfare charity in the United States which is 100% dedicated to protecting America’s horses and strengthening the bond between horses and people.

At the core of our mission is that horses involved in any role and in any capacity - as athletes, companions, teachers and healers - are treated with dignity as partners.

We are committed to not only increasing adoptions of at-risk horses and providing a safe haven for aged horses, but also increasing opportunities for all people to engage and partner with horses in new, innovative ways.

For the Love of Horses Contact Us

203-259-1550 | mail@equusfoundation.org

Learn More www.equusfoundation.org

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E Q U E ST R I A NS A ND M E NT A L H E A LT H

lifting

the veil Last issue, in my Letter from the Editor, I mentioned that I suffer from severe anxiety and depression secondary to fibromyalgia. I did that to open up a dialogue within EQ AM’s pages and to contribute to the discussion going on in our equine community. In this editorial, I’ll share some of my experiences with you and hopefully educate you a bit on mental health in the sporting world. In the conversation that follows this, Steffen Peters and I share more of ourselves than we probably ever have. I ask that you read these pieces with an open mind and a supportive heart, and if you or someone you know suffers from mental health concerns, please tell someone—it’s the first step towards happiness.

NOTE: The views expressed in this editorial are merely

utterly crash from the energy it sapped to pull it off. And

the personal opinions of the writer and do not constitute

it goes on like that, one day at a time, until the exhaustion

medical advice. If you are experiencing any mental health

becomes all-consuming and I’m physically too weak to hold

concerns, please seek medical advice from a licensed

the mask up anymore. That’s when I crash and might not

practitioner. If you find yourself in a mental health

get up again.

emergency, please dial 911 or contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

It’s been on and off like this for a while now—years— battling anxiety and depression. And it is a battle. Behind

You know those pharmaceutical commercials where

the mask, or under the [super fem birdcage] “veil” as I

the person is going through their day holding up a smiley-

prefer to call it, is a personal war of logic vs. emotion vs.

face mask? That’s an accurate representation of how a lot

physical pain vs. chemistry.

of people with anxiety and depression feel every day. It’s

Logic fight’s on the basis that I truly have nothing to

certainly how I often feel. I spend each day acting like I

be sad about; I have a great family, great home, great car,

have the world in the palm of my hand so that no one

great dog, great horse, and a very successful career. Logic

will notice I’m quietly dying inside. Then I come home and

is of course correct; all those things are true, but emotion

26 | EQ AM MAGAZINE

We need to look after each other like we do our horses.

“

“

fights back with unrelenting sadness and a hopeless

Narrative Systemic Review,” Rice, Purcell, and De

feeling that my life somehow got away from me

Silva recognized that injured athletes, those who are

and I’m never getting it back so I might as well quit.

experiencing performance difficulty, and those who

Emotion floods my senses until I become so full of

are on the verge of retirement tend to experience

them that my defenses buckle. Then pain—physical

greater risk of mental disorder. They also noted that

pain—appears seemingly out of nowhere and sets up

athletes tend not to seek support for mental health

forts all over my body, with at least two battalions

problems because of social stigma, a belief that

in my head and chest. Finally, my brain chemistry is

seeking help is a sign of weakness, and because of

supposedly calling the troop movements, which my

their own lack of understanding about how mental

doctor calls a chemical imbalance in my brain that’s

health can influence performance.

not my fault. That’s nice to know, but it doesn’t end

Anxiety and/or depression can also cause or

the war. Pardon the military metaphors… It’s all I

result from perfectionism in its negative, critical, and

know.

obsessive forms that tend to cause problems of self-

When things are really bad, my anxiety keeps

esteem. In “Self-esteem and Perfectionism in Elite

me from leaving the house and my depression keeps

Athletes: Effects on Competitive Anxiety and Self-

me from getting off the couch. It feels like I’m going

Confidence,” Koivula, Hassmen, and Fallby found

through my days in slow motion, and every trip

something that I personally experience: self-esteem

from the couch to the kitchen is exhausting. Taking

based on self-respect in its own right resulted in more

a shower is exhausting. Seeing my horse or playing

positive patterns of perfectionism, whereas self-

with my dog feels like a literal impossibility, and then I

esteem based on competence resulted in more negative

realize I don’t even want to do that anymore because

forms of perfectionism. I have a more maladaptive form

those things that once brought me joy no longer do;

of perfectionism that grows out of self-critical views

they’re just more sources of exhaustion (anhedonia).

of my own competence—to fly, to “lawyer,” to ride,

Starting to feel hopeless is the worst because

to be a good spouse… to run a magazine. My views

hopelessness without cause feels like insanity, and

on my own (in)competence are definitely bricks in the

insanity feels like I’ve lost control of the situation—

foundation of my mental ill-health.

and that’s when things get scary.

Anxiety and depression in the sporting world are more than feeling down after a bad day of riding, preperformance jitters, fear after an injury, or even loss of a beloved partner. Those are all very real feelings, but not ones that typically result in chronic anxiety or major depressive disorder.

Anxiety and depression are common in highperformance athletes and everyday riders. You can be a super high-achieving individual, but still have a predisposition to a mood disorder. There are incredibly successful people, in competition and in life, who have been chronically plagued with depression. A bright smile isn’t always indicative of an unencumbered soul, but some athletes feel driven to suffer in silence in case it affects their careers.

In “The Mental Health of Elite Athletes: A

It’s a personal war of logic vs. emotion vs. physical pain vs. chemistry.

27

E Q U E ST R I A NS A ND M E NT A L H E A LT H

Young riders are particularly at risk for post-concussion mental health issues.

Two things that have not truly afflicted me are body image anxiety and eating disorders, but many of our peers suffer badly

to seek help from a crisis hotline or website, and to take medications for anxiety and depression.

from these conditions. The tight fitting breeches and clinging

This, of course, applies to all ages of riders suffering such

tops typical of our dress code lend themselves to sport-specific

an injury, but is of exceptional concern for young riders whose

pressures to achieve a particular weight, shape, or appearance.

brains are still developing and who are often tossed from

In “Eating Disorders and Body Image Anxiety Current Issues In

horses. Much of the attention given to concussions focuses on

North American Sport Psychology: Identification And Prevention

return to play rather than potential long-term effects to mental

Of Weight Pressures And Body Image Concerns Among

health. In the weeks and months after head injury, parents,

Athletes,” Reel noted that sports where appearance and clean

trainers, and friends should be vigilant looking for signs and

lines have a perceived advantage can cause unhealthy behaviors,

symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting,

including eating disorders (EDs) like anorexia nervosa, bulimia

sensitivity to light, emotional and behavioral problems,

nervosa, and eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS).

irritability or anger, changes in affect, and unexplained loss of

Similarly, in “Elite Athletes: Effects of the Pressure to be

interest.

Thin,” Byrne and McLean suggested that “athletes have a

Bottom line, equestrians are just as susceptible to mental

higher prevalence of EDs, especially in sports emphasizing thin

health issues as anyone else, if not more so. In an October 2018

shape (leanness) or low weight. Rates of EDs were higher in

piece by Horse & Hound, sport psychologist Michael Caulfield,

female athletes. Athletes competing in sports that emphasize

chief executive of the British Professional Jockeys Association,

the importance of a thin body shape or low body weight

and performance psychologist Charlie Unwin discussed the

appear to be particularly vulnerable.” These conditions can

several factors believed to contribute to our increased risk of

materialize alone or in concert with other disorders like anxiety

mental ill-health:

and depression, in fact it is not uncommon for someone to be railroaded by all three. If you know a rider, male or female,

•“It’s a losing sport. You get beaten a lot and you start to question everything.”

who appears to have body image issues that border on clinical

•“The lifestyle is incredibly demanding. In other walks of

disorder, I implore you to say something, hand them “The Little

life, you have a pattern, a forecast, but with horses, it can all so

Breech Book” by The Hunt & Friends, and then take them out

easily go wrong. So much is out of your control—you can put

for a meal to talk about it. That’s a good first step.

three years into preparing for one day and then on the morning

Another major issue quietly attacking our community is

of the horse treads on a stone.”

mental illness second to concussions or traumatic brain injury

•“It’s difficult to get to the top and stay there. There are a

(TBI), especially in young riders. Dr. David Geier, an orthopedic

multitude of things you can get depressed about, such as your

surgeon and sports medicine specialist in South Carolina,

riding ability, the quality of your horses, financial support—

explains that a survey of 5,000 seventh through twelfth-

these things could really get you down.”

grade students in Ontario, Canada indicated that head-injured

•“Feelings of isolation are common. A sense of progress can

students were more likely to admit to psychological distress,

soon become distorted with too long working at home alone.”

28 | EQ AM MAGAZINE

•“We’ve always known that social comparison is a factor in increased anxiety, the difference now is that social media provides a distorted view of others’ achievements and can create a twisted perception of their realities.”

•“Sheer financial pressure. I’ve seen people sell their house to buy a horse, only to lose everything when the horse goes lame.”

At the very least, the thing to keep in mind is that when the bad days outnumber the good, and the bad days last for weeks or months—or God forbid years—it’s time to ask for help. Anxiety and depression are not fleeting; pay attention to any sticking changes in yourself or those around you. If you or someone you know is experiencing sustained changes in emotional or psychological behavior, do not look the other way because you think it’s rude or taboo to mention. I think most people would agree, I’d rather you be rude than me be dead.

FURTHER READING: Rice, S.M., Purcell, R., De Silva, S. et al., The Mental Health of Elite Athletes: A Narrative Systematic ReviewSports Med (2016) 46: 1333.

Koivula N., Hassmen P., Fallby J., Self-esteem and Perfectionism

Trade-In Program ASK A BOUT OUR

Only 4-6 Weeks Delivery

in Elite Athletes: Effects on Competitive Anxiety and SelfConfidence, Pers Individ Differ. (2002) 32(5):865-75.

Reel, Justine J., Eating Disorders and Body Image Anxiety Current Issues In North American Sport Psychology: Identification And Prevention Of Weight Pressures And Body Image Concerns Among Athletes, Current issues in North American Sport Psychology, University of Utah (2011).

Byrne S., McLean N., Elite Athletes: Effects of the Pressure to be Thin, J Sci Med Sport. (2002) 5(2):80-94.

E Q U I TAT I O N , H U N T E R , JUMPER & DRESSAGE 800.DER.DAU6 · www.derdau.com

29

C O N V E R S A TI O N

Photo: Mary Adelaide Brakenridge for PSdressage

A CONVERSATION WITH

STEFFEN PETERS In my conversation with Olympic dressage rider, Steffen Peters, he and I open up about our mental health issues and share with you how they have affected us, him for the last several months and me for the last several years. Steffen’s been battling chronic anxiety and I suffer from fibromyalgia, chronic anxiety, and atypical depression. I use the terms “battling” and “suffering” because that’s exactly what it is—it’s a personal war.

Because of our shared situations, we were able to have a

Carina Roselli: In my last Letter from the Editor (spring

very candid and supportive conversation. We hope that what we

issue- Epilogue), I outed myself as having anxiety and

said here will inspire readers to open up about any mental health

depression so much so that I was unable to publish a winter

concerns they may have and that the equestrian community will

issue. So when I learned that you were suffering from anxiety,

respond with compassion and support.

I wanted to talk.

NOTE: The views expressed in this conversation are merely

Steffen Peters: Really? Wow. How long have you dealt with it?

the personal opinions of the speakers and do not constitute

30

medical advice. If you are experiencing any mental health

Many years. I was doing my best to camouflage it from

concerns, we recommend you seek medical advice from a

the Army so that I could maintain my career, but it became

licensed practitioner. If you find yourself in a mental health

too hard to hide so I‘m medically retiring now after 17 years

emergency, please dial 911 or contact the National Suicide

of service. I imagine the situation might be similar to your

Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

feeling the need to conceal your anxiety from the equestrian

community, until you just couldn’t anymore.

“

“

It’s ok to seek help - Steffen Peters.

example of that, and it’s a true story. I won the World

Oh my god, that’s crazy! That’s very impressive

Cup in Las Vegas in 2009, and I watched the video

actually. And, yes it sounds very similar, although for me

recently on a terrible, anxious day. I recognized the

it’s been for a lot shorter time.

horse, the rider looked familiar, and I’m not kidding you, I had so much self-doubt that I did not believe that the

How long have you been dealing with it?

rider was me.

Eight months. Basically after the World Games things weren’t going that well. It was great to make the team,

Wow.

and the first day of the competition went well, but the

After I watched it a few times, I sat there crying my

second day didn’t go so well. I had an amazing horse

eyes out because I just very nonchalantly took my hat off

(Suppenkasper by Spielberg x Upanoeska). So at that

at the end and saluted the judges. If I would have had

time I put way too much pressure on myself. It was an

a ride like that today, I would have jumped on top of

expensive horse, I felt I needed to deliver much better,

the horse and galloped around and thrown my hat into

and Rosie (Rosamunde by Rock Forever x Fidermark)

the air. Because at that time, winning was awesome. It’s

wasn’t going that well, so every single day I felt so much

actually what you said, “Did I peak at that time?” And

negativity and self-doubt.

then constantly that pressure, especially with a really,

I was never really good enough. I constantly questioned myself. ‘Am I getting too old? Am I not

really good horse. ‘Can you make it there again? Are you still good enough?’

good enough anymore?’ Before I knew it, I took on

But, it’s a true story—I did not believe that it was me.

that identity of being simply not good anymore and

I could have smacked myself for being so nonchalant

everything became negative. I could not get out of that

about it; just accepting that it was a good test. It was a

rut, and I don’t need to tell you how that feels.

hell of a test! It was a great score, and winning a major championship like that nowadays—I think I would flip

In my career, I’ve experienced a lot of fear of not

out! I would lose it.

being good enough. But, I’ve had a very, very successful

But you don’t want to think—because it’s not

career: I flew helicopters in Iraq, I’m a lawyer, I went

true—that you’re never going to be as happy or as

to Yale, I even spoke at the damn United Nations!

proud as you were in that moment. You might have

Those things should make me incredibly proud and

to do some self-analysis and figure out what might

should provide me with a lot of self-assurance—but

make you feel as good as that, that isn’t that, and

they don’t. They actually tend to have the opposite

then go for it. At least that’s what I’m working on.

effect, and I think that might be something you’re also experiencing.

I get you. Long story short, I started taking CBD oil

Once you get to such a high level in your career,

and I think it did help a bit initially to quieten my brain

like you after four Olympic Games, I think two things

down. As you know, your brain goes a million miles an

happen: (1) you realize you have to maintain this

hour with negative thoughts. So that did help quite a

standard somehow, and you have no idea how the hell

bit. I learned more and more about how to try to break

you’re going to pull it off, and (2) you live with the fear

habits, each and every day, so I’m not just getting up

of, “Did I peak?” You find yourself kind of emotionally

and going into the same routine. Meditating in the

reeling, thinking ‘Where do I go from here?’

morning, trying to really put my brain into a positive

Yeah, definitely. I’ll give you a really interesting

path. Everybody has 60-70,000 thoughts a day, and if 31

C O N V E R S A TI O N Photo: Reuters/Tony Gentile

Steffen Peters on the podium with the Bronze Medal US Dressage Team at the 2016 Rio Olympics

say 59,000 thoughts are negative, of course your brain is

read “You are the Placebo,” by Dr. Joe Dispenza; I highly

almost entirely working in the negative. I really trained my

recommend the book to you. It is absolutely fascinating.

brain really, really hard every single day to not just catch a

He talks about retraining your brain, restructuring your

toxic sentence, but to catch a toxic word.

brain, and simply getting out of your routines that might be

Wow. That’s really breaking it down.

Breaking it down every single day. And again, the CBD

creating negative thoughts.

I’ll have to look into that too. Thank you.

oil helped me with meditation. Any time I wanted to run to the gym to burn off some energy, I just sat my body down,

Coming back to the CBD oil, I talked so much to Deborah

like a dog. I told my body “Sit and listen, we’re not just going

Carter (of Trove CBD) that I was primed (so to speak) to

to go to the gym. We’re going to do that later, and later I’m

believe this product could really work. I do believe in the

going to feed you, but right now we’re going to meditate,

placebo effect, but I also believe in the non-placebo effect

and we’re going to settle down and come up with a positive

because all those selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

brain map for the next day, for the next week, for the next

(SSRIs) like Prozac, Lexapro, Trintellix, etc. simply didn’t work

month, for the next year.”

for me. I felt awful just taking those for a week or two. The

It took at least three months before I thought meditation made a difference, because without the CBD oil, my brain

simply can’t handle SSRIs and I’m one of them.

was still wandering away all the time. I like those guided

The worst one for me was Prozac, because I was so

meditations that they have on YouTube. My favorite one is

sensitive to it, I had to go to a liquid form. My doctor said

actually “The Mindful Movement.”

if you only take 0.5 milliliters you’re not going to feel it.

I haven’t seen that one; I’ll have to look it up.

Knowing how sensitive I was, I took 1 milliliter and, I’m not

You have to check it out. It’s just awesome. The guide is

kidding you, I was throwing up all night. So that was not

named Sara Raymond. It is 20 minutes long. It’s not hours

an option for me. I tried Trintellix for a little while, which is

and hours because that’s really hard to follow. But I started

$10 a pill. Thank God my doctor had some free samples that

with that, with 20 minutes of meditation, and now I know

I could try, because that didn’t work for me either. So I’m

every single word and it really helped me to gather my

using the CBD oil and that’s helping quite a bit.

thoughts.

And then I had another big breakthrough when I

32

side effects were just terrible. It’s pretty simple; some people

Yeah, it’s unfortunately quite expensive to try to get well in this country. I’m very, very fortunate and thankful

Photo: Nicole Ardito-Ng

Photo: Adobe Stock

CARINA RIDING HER HALF DRAFT “KING CORNBREAD” AT MOUNTAIN CREST FARM IN HAYMARKET, VA.

Photo: Reuters/Tony Gentile

Steffen finds meditation incredibly helpful for his anxiety.

to have Army medicine, so the Department of Defense pays for my care and medications.

Yeah, that’s amazing. That’s a blessing.

Steffen Peters riding Legolas 92 at the 2016 Rio Olympics

My problem wasn’t just that I’d have an anxiety attack during or after a bad ride, but that even when I’d get so excited about a good ride, I’d start to settle down after the honor round and that’s when my anxiety went

I haven’t tried CBD at all because I’m not allowed

absolutely crazy!

to until I’m out of the Army. How do you actually take

Really, after you’d been successful?

the oil? Is it something you put on your skin or under

Exactly. It got to a point where it didn’t matter whether

your tongue? How is it administered?

it was a good or bad ride, my body could not differentiate

You put the CBD oil under your tongue, and then

good excitement from bad excitement, and that was

there’s regular CBD oil that you can use on your skin,

terrible. It’s finally getting better, but there was a point

like after a shower. I feel like that relaxes the nerves

last November when my anxiety was at its worst and I

quite a bit. This is of course the non-THC product. It’s

made contact with some clinics and considered being an

batch tested for THC. About a month ago, after I’d been

inpatient there for 45 days. Leaving my wife behind for

taking the CBD oil for about two months, I was drug

45 days…

tested from USADA (U.S. Anti-Doping Agency) and my

I looked into a place in Arizona and I learned that

tests were all negative. Unfortunately it’s banned for the

Michael Phelps had actually gone there twice, and that

horses.

helped a lot. Knowing that top athletes like him go

The Army has a very cut and dry ban on

there, go through things like this, really helped me a

cannabis products. I can’t consume any products

lot. We’re not alone. He’s said very correctly a few

that have hemp in them, not even off-the-shelf

times, everybody prepares you for the Olympics, but

granola bars or shampoos… nothing!

nobody prepares you for after the Olympics. Thank

That’s crazy! So you do get tested for it?

God, from there it did get a little bit better so I didn’t

Yes, we have regular no notice tests in the

end up going.

Army. You have to be tested at least once a year,

Similarly, they prepare us for war, but they don’t

but I’ve been tested as many as three times a year.

prepare us for after war. At some point you just sort

When I officially retire, I’m definitely trying CBD.

of hit your limit where you don’t know what to do.

Anyway, back to your story.

I’ve experienced that terrible fear of not knowing.

33

co n ver s a t i o n

“

I really trained my brain really hard to

“

not just catch a toxic sentence, but to

Photo: Carina Rosseli

catch a toxic word – Steffen Peters

It’s terrible. You’re already dealing with the anxiety that you mentally and physically feel, and now you’re dealing with the anxiety of being told by licensed professionals that you’re a crazy

Steffen Peters & Suppenkasper - weg 2018

hypochondriac and that’s the only thing that’s There’s also this compounding fear of ‘Is this how it’s going to be for the rest of my life?’ I find that to

wrong with you.

I dealt with that the whole year I was going through my fibromyalgia diagnosis. A lot of

be more terrifying than almost anything else.

You’re absolutely right. Because I was there too,

people don’t even believe that it exists, let alone

where nothing is working and thinking, ‘Do I have to

that I’m afflicted with it. Fibromyalgia, anxiety,

live with this?’

and depression are invisible disorders. Like you

Thinking scary things like, ‘How long can I live Exactly.

as a four-time Olympian who couldn’t possibly have anxiety, I look like a very fit, happy, healthy,

with this?’

I

just

didn’t

understand

what

was

happening. I did four Olympic Games, and dealt with

collected 36-year-old, but if you lift the veil, you’ll see I’m wrangling a lot of monsters.

a lot of stress. There’s so much stress from delivering for your team, for the nation, and after four Olympic

Do you find the horses therapeutic, or are

Games I thought, ‘How could it possibly be that I get

they a source of anxiety for you now? When my

anxiety now after all these years?’

depression was at its worst, I didn’t want to see

And, I didn’t understand the symptoms of anxiety,

my horse. I had a lot of the telltale symptom “loss

so I ran to every single doctor because I thought for

of enjoyment in things that used to bring me the

sure I had some life threatening illness. I was convinced

most joy.”

I had a brain tumor because my brain felt so terrible.

The horses are extremely therapeutic, of course.

It was always foggy. I didn’t understand the nausea. I

And working with my coach, Debbie McDonald is...

simply never experienced anxiety before. And besides

at the moment I don’t really have words for it because

all the anxiety, now I am thinking I’m turning into,

she is so positively reassuring every single day that it’s

what is it called, a hypochondriac?

good enough. There’s that self-doubt. We’ve watched

Yes. I’ve been accused of that as well.

videos together, and so far honestly she has been not just my best riding coach ever, but she’s honestly been

At that point I didn’t understand what all of this

an incredible mental coach here in training camp. I’ve

is, and I’m not kidding you, I saw eight doctors and

known Debbie for 30 years, and that we finally get

everybody sent me home saying, “You’re perfectly

to work together, that she’s coaching me, is amazing.

fine; there’s nothing wrong with you.” My bloodwork was fine, all my vital signs were fine, and I couldn’t really explain to them how awful I felt all the time.

34

I think that’s an important point for riders in particular—if you’re struggling with anxiety

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Steffen Peters & Suppenkasper - weg 2018

or mental health in general, and your trainer is

can change the chemistry of our brain with positive

making it worse, you need a new trainer.

thoughts. As easy as that sounds, that was definitely

Yes. You’re absolutely right. Trainers need to have a

the hardest thing for me to do.

basic understanding of psychology, like how you come

What advice would you offer other riders who

across, how you use your words, how reassuring you

might be experiencing anxiety and/or depression

need to be once in a while, and how much feeling you

and

need to have for the rider to help the rider overcome

community?

trying

to

hide

it

from

the

equestrian

the negative. Anybody can look at the horse and

There is a big negative stigma about having anxiety

say, “do this and this and this,” but those who really

in our community because we as riders are supposed

communicate with their students and get a mental

to be calm and so unemotional. We’re supposed to

picture of who they are and what they need to help

go into the show arena unfazed by everything, but

them mentally along, I think those are the best trainers.

sometimes that’s just not possible.

Of course the stigma goes away as soon as

You said you have some coaches that you work with now, too. Have they helped?

Yeah, for sure. I work with an anxiety specialist, Dr. Sara Gilman. I work with her quite a bit, and with another psychologist Dr. Michael Bard. And then with another dressage rider, actually. I call her Dr. Tammy.

36

you’re the person experiencing it, and then you think, ‘I can’t believe anyone ever gave someone a hard time about this.’ We don’t need stigma— we need support!

Exactly. It is okay to seek help. I have two very good mental coaches. That’s why I’m so open with

Of course it was very helpful, but the biggest

this. I don’t mind if people know that finally, after 54

breakthrough was basically me getting up in the

years, it’s hit me. It’s okay to speak up, and it’s okay

morning and really putting my mind in a positive place

to mention words like “psychiatrist,” “psychologist,”

and creating a brain map that’s going to be positive

“hypnotherapist,” etc. I think it’s perfectly fine to talk

for the next day, the next week, the next month. That

about it, and if I only motivate one person who’s dealing

makes the biggest difference. I really believe that we

with this to seek some help, then my job is done.

n a t ural e q u i n e Photos: Lauren B. Murphy of Handcrafted In Virginia

Rebuilding Cruisetown – PART II

The Natural Connection, Inc. About 49% of my interactions with Cruise are just plain hard (of course we all treasure that other 51%). Cruise and I have had serious conversations, battled even, and completely worn each other out. But, I will say that this 17+hh of pure beauty has opened my eyes and my mind to thinking more like a horse… essentially, putting myself in his very large shoes.

All horses speak to humans. They speak to us using their

What was I doing wrong? Not listening to him was what I was

bodies, their actions, their sounds, and of course their souls.

doing wrong. Cruise had been telling me very loudly what he

Cruise was talking to me, and he kept asking, “Are you

needed, and I simply ignored his requests. His excessive leaning

hearing me?” Let me explain what Cruise told me over and

on my hands and overreactions to my legs, combined with

over again—some things I heard, listened to, and accepted;

over-the-top spooking were Cruise’s way of swearing at me.

other things I heard, ignored or denied—which simply made Cruise scream louder. He’d even use profanity on occasion.

Cruise was stressed, rushing through the bit, resisting my seat, leaning on my hands, and seriously overreacting to my leg aids. He’d find something in the arena worth a spook at every opportunity. Everything I just described was Cruise screaming at me. And yes, he had worked in that arena dozens of times; although objects were occasionally moved around, there was nothing new in the arena that day. Yet, he was suddenly incapable of doing the simplest of tasks. Stopping, walking, and maintaining a gait were beyond his capability, although the day before he had seemed considerably better…

Was he reading something in my body language? Was I nervous? Was I sending mixed signals? Was I confusing him?

38

SER IOUS BOOTS FOR

As a great equestrian once told me,

“

“

SER IOUS R IDER S

“Sometimes you have to get through the ugly to get to the pretty- Jean French

M A DE IN THE US A FOR OV E R YEARS

50

Prior to this, the first of many terrible rides, all our sessions started with groundwork. I would lunge him because every time I rode him he

wanted to lean on the bit or overreact to my legs. My logical side said this horse is “high energy” so let’s lunge him to work out some of that energy (mind you, when I lunged him he barely ever broke a sweat). That age-old debate of whether lunging helps a horse is completely relative to the person and the horse. I find lunging can be helpful for numerous reasons. For horses with high energy, I’m eventually able to teach them transitions to two different speeds, trot and canter at both working and medium.

Practicing those transitions on the lunge line can only help the horse understand maintaining rhythm and balance and eventually apply that learning to each gait under saddle.

Then we’d move from lunging onto desensitizing, body part isolation exercises, and skill sets that would help him move from the reactive side of his brain to the thinking side of his brain.

Desensitizing was always excellent; I could slap the ground quickly, loudly, and a foot away from him and he’d barely blink an eye. But isolation exercises, such as turning on the forehand and hindquarters would often meet with resistance. His head would go in the air, or he’d anticipate the exercise and rush. After we’d completed his groundwork acceptably (meaning he’s relaxed, licking and chewing, softer in his body, and lowering his head), we would bridle up, do some lateral flexions, and start riding… at my peril.

E Q U I TAT I O N , H U N T E R , JUMPER & DRESSAGE 800.DER.DAU6 · www.derdau.com

n a t ural e q u i n e

“

No matter how pretty, ask yourself if the horse is

pretty doesn’t matter. Nor do breed or bloodlines..

Jean French

I had Cruise in my

hour. And I thought—“He’s winning.” So I decided we

western gear for his first

needed a lesson. The instructor said that Cruise did

month under saddle. At

fine, but that he was “an older horse who knows better

that

and needs to be restarted.” Again.

time,

we

worked

on flexions and one-rein

The next day we did groundwork. While I was

stops at walk and trot, and

working on desensitizing him, I realized that all of his

I introduced vertical flexion and stretching so I would

behaviors pointed to ULCERS. I went home feeling like

have a connected horse with two hands, learning to be

a bad mother. I couldn’t believe that I had overlooked

long and low. He’d mastered that, so we transitioned to

the potentiality of ulcers and just kept working him.

my dressage tack.

His grouchiness when saddling, excessive spooking,

This too-sudden transition to dressage was where I

inability to focus, a frazzled brain, bolting at the trot

went wrong. I went from one-rein stops at walk and trot

and canter all made sense. How could I have missed

to using two reins and asking him to be long and low

this? Well, thanks to that terrible dressage lesson

and then lifted in a frame. And when I moved to my

telling me to take a step back and think, I knew what

dressage gear, I got all concerned about what I looked

was probably wrong and I knew exactly what

like and how I wanted his body to look. I pushed us into

to do about it. I’m not one for going the

this vicious cycle where I’m trying to correct EVERY little

traditional route of getting a horse

mistake, which only made him make more mistakes for

scoped.

me to correct.

showed many of the symptoms of

At this point, my rides typically included a handful of the same behaviors. He’d try to walk off as I mounted, we’d correct that, then once we were in motion Cruise

40

“

a willing and safe partner. If the answer is no, then

In

my

opinion,

Cruise

ulcers so it was worth trying something new.

I

switched

Cruise

from

was basically screaming at me from start to finish. And

Essential K feed to Ultra GH, a

even though I “heard” and “felt” what he was saying,

fabulous feed made by Tribute

I was clearly answering him in the wrong way. He was

that

leaning on the bit, getting behind the bit to evade

support. I then added Vitalize

it, throwing his head in the air, spooking, changing

High Performance, a supplement

directions without my asking, and lunging forward at

to enhance his digestive health,

a trot or canter when simply asked to move forward.

and Alimend, an all-natural blend

I was constantly correcting him for all these things,

that relieves gastric issues 24/7

being too aggressive and too quick with my one-rein

(and yes these are some of my

stops.

amazing sponsors). I also put

provides

gastrointestinal

It was a vicious cycle of nitpicking, and even though

Cruise on Ranitidine for three

I tried to end each session on a positive note, trot sets

months to assist with any hindgut

without pulling or charging were simply not happening.

ulcerations he might have had.

I’d leave most of our sessions tremendously tired and

After a couple weeks of this new

unhappy with him having dragged me around for an

regimen, I decided to restart

Red Sole

the the limited limitededition edition

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“

Take the next step to find out what your

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“

horse needs medically, physically, and

emotionally. Don’t wait until you’re scared or hurt. Jean French

Cruise—again—from the beginning.

After attending a Clinton Anderson Walkabout Tour in North Carolina, I was inspired. I went back to my western gear and started doing Clinton’s Fundamentals Method, both the groundwork and under saddle. I realized that I had a horse who was healing from ulcers but who was also still carrying around a lot of baggage (read, bad behavioral habits) from his past. Who knows how long Cruise had been acting like this before I took him on? I remembered the original ad that listed Cruise said he was “a very difficult horse to ride.”

But, feeling reinvigorated, I walked into our new workout sessions realizing that I needed to address the biggest problems first, and remember that I am simply redirecting his feet when he spooks. It was time to teach Cruise to trot and canter on a completely loose rein. Mileage was the name of the game now, particularly at the lope, and that’s precisely what we did. Little did I know that some of Cruise’s most challenging negative habitual behaviors had yet to bubble to the surface.

EE QQ UU I TAT I TAT IO IO NN , ,HH UU NN TT EE RR , , JU JU MM PP EE RR&&DD RR EE SSA SA GG EE 800.DER.DAU6 800.DER.DAU6· ·www.derdau.com www.derdau.com

d re s s age By. Olivia Lagoy-Weltz

Snaffle or Double?

For a long time, dressage required that we ride in a double bridle once we reached a certain level of competition. Now, nationally we can ride at all levels, including the FEI, in the snaffle if we choose to.

At the FEI levels in international competition, however, this topic is still under debate with the argument being:

start training in the double bridle? If not by age, how do you know when your horse is ready?

“Why should a horse have to go in the double if it’s

Recently, one of my working students asked me

happier in a snaffle?” and the counterargument being:

this exact question. My answer: “Oh you know, it has

“It requires a higher level of skill to ride in the double,

to do with the rotation of the earth, the alignment

and it has long been a requirement to compete in the

of the stars, and the direction of the wind, and then

double bridle at FEI levels Prix St. Georges to Grand

generally it comes to me in a dream… but it seems to

Prix.” How things shake out internationally remains to

generally coincide with a horse getting more powerful

be seen. Regardless of the outcome, double bridles will

and me suddenly feeling like I can’t keep them on the bit

long remain a thing of upper-level dressage, so the many

anymore.” I was being sarcastic of course, but there is a

questions surrounding their use are worth answering.

small element of truth to my witticism. Basically, I see it

The transition from the snaffle to the double is

in the horse and I feel it in how they are going, but we

almost like a rite of passage for some riders, and a little

try to keep it light and everyone had a good laugh and

bit for the horses as well. So how does one go about

it’s now a running joke in the barn… All joking aside,

making the leap? And once the leap is made, how do

there is no exact science or exact age that equates to

you develop and maintain a good relationship between

when a horse “should” or “must” go in a double. This,

you, your horse, and your double? Here are my best

like almost everything with horses, depends on the horse

answers and anecdotes to help the aspirational rider:

itself.

Is there a certain age at which your horse should

at third level and in the FEI 6-year-old classes. If your

In dressage, the double is first allowed in competition

42

horse is on track developmentally, these two levels

horse and rider? Yes. Do I often put 5-year-olds in the

generally coincide. I find, however, that regardless of

double? No. But, it very much depends on the horse and

age, the right time is usually sometime around when a

rider combination.

horse starts learning the flying changes. Of course there are outliers, both younger and older.

There are several horses in my barn right now who

Can/should you use the double to fix connection problems with your horse?

are in this transitional place, yet one is 6-years-old, one

As a rule of thumb, No. Whenever possible, I try not

is 7-years-old, two are 9-years-old, and one is 10-years-

to use the double to fix connection problems. Before you

old. Using them as examples, my 6-year-old is not yet

introduce the double, you should have the feeling that

ready for the double, but probably will be by the end of

you can truly ride your horse back to front (throughness)

the summer. The 7-year-old just started in it for the first

and that they will happily hold hands with you in the

time this week. One 9-year-old is still working on her

contact and reach to the bit. If your horse is having

overall connection in the snaffle, and isn’t ready for the

connection issues, I would first check its mouth and

double yet. The other 9-year-old started in it a couple

teeth, check your bit fit, and I would look closely at your

weeks ago, and actually connects better in the double

training. Also, double-check your saddle fit because how

then the snaffle. I put the 10-year-old in the double a few

your saddle fits can greatly impact how your horse is in

months ago, and I’m so happy I did because he’s a big,

the connection.

sweet, powerful dude, and it helped to counterbalance some of that power.

My assistant trainer, Nicole, had a horse who at 5-years-old was starting to experiment with his strength

If a horse is good in the connection and going from back to front over the back, why do we put them in the double if everything is “working” well?

and began to use it against her to come out of the

There are some horses who won’t ever give you the

bridle. This wasn’t because she was doing anything

feeling that they need the double. With these horses,

wrong, but because he was five, and testing boundaries,

we generally just “pick” a good time and start to teach

and the work was getting harder. Nicole is a very correct

them to go in it so that they can get used to it and learn

and effective rider who’s only 4’11” tall and a weighs

to go in it as a part of their education. In this case, you

about 85 lbs. Her horse was 16.2+hh and about 1,200

should just determine a time at which you think your

lbs. with a big barrel, and he wasn’t the most sensitive

horse is ready to learn how to go in a double and try

critter either. She says she remembers the day I called

it out. You should think of the double as a step in their

her over to me at this farm we were both at in Florida

education rather than a tool to correct a problem.

(well before she ever worked for me) and I said to her,

Also, sometimes, as the horses develop (particularly

“Nicole, it’s time to put your horse in the double.” Is

the warmbloods) and become stronger in their bodies

5-years-old slightly younger then we generally put a

and more expressive in their movements, introducing

horse in the double? Yes. Was it the right thing for this

the double can be a great help to having more control,

d re s s age

particularly when starting to teach the changes. And please

just so they can get used to the way it feels in their mouth. How

don’t confuse the word “control” with the word ”restrain;”―

the horse accepts it will lead me in the direction of what to do

it’s about managing the horse’s power and finely tuning their

next. It’s important to use it gradually so that you give the horse

skills. Additionally, as the horses come more and more up in

a chance to get used to it.

their carriage, the double can help them to find a place in the contact that is both up and round.

Once a horse goes in the double, how much do you use the snaffle?

How do you pick the right double bridle bits?

The number of bits and bridles on the market in the last few

This is a great question, and once again, it very much depends on the horse! Generally, I like to alternate

years has greatly increased, as has the research and interest in bit

between the two bridles, even on a very schooled

and bridle fit. In many parts of the country, there are qualified

horse. The majority of horses are going to do

bridle and bit fitters that can help you, but you generally need

best working in the snaffle at least one or two

a starting point. Most FEI trainers have at least a few bits in

days a week, and then working in their

their collection, and we all usually have basic bits that we start

double the other days. The exact formula

with and then make adjustments from there. You want to start

is going to depend on your horse.

with your most “vanilla” bits and let the horse simply get used

Some horses genuinely connect better,

to it. Then, once you have a frame of reference, you can make

carry themselves better, and are happier in

adjustments. Bits really do matter, and every horse’s mouth is a

the double bridle. When that is the case, I will

different shape, so don’t be afraid to experiment and/or ask a

ride them in whatever I feel is most productive

professional for help.

for the horse. But, if you have a horse that gets dull to the double bridle, taking them

How do you introduce the double bridle?

out of it can make a real difference,

Again, it depends on the horse. Generally, we put it on and

and days in the snaffle can help you

do a normal, basic workout making sure to ride mostly on the

make sure your basic contact is

snaffle, trying not to use the curb. Sometimes, we’ll first put it

staying correct. You don’t want the

on and have the horse wear it on a hack without really using it

double to create a false frame; the

44 | EQ AM MAGAZINE

Snaffle Bridle

Double Bridle

correctness of your connection needs to be the same in the double and the snaffle. And if you start slipping into using the double as a crutch, you can start down the slippery slope of your horse feeling duller and duller to the double and you feeling like you need stronger and stronger bits.

As a rule of thumb, once your horse feels established in the double, do your basic training days

in

the

snaffle.

Work

walk-trot-canter

transitions over the back in your snaffle and use your double when you want to pick up and train at the level your horse is schooling. If you start having trouble in the connection, try going back to the snaffle and seeing if you can improve it there, and then go back to the double and see if you can improve it there too. Every horse is different, but this is a fairly universal approach.

When I was at WEG last year, I had the opportunity to hang out and watch the warm up arena the day after the Grand Prix Special, when everyone had a day off from competing. Not everyone was in their snaffle, but a lot were as they worked the horses over the back, doing up and down transitions.―Even at the highest level, it all comes back to basics.

Photo: Courtesy of the UCHS Archives

Photo by Sportfot

166 years of the Upperville Colt and Horse Show They came in buggies, carriages, and farm wagons. Others came riding McLain Ward and Clinta captured the title in the 2018young $382,200 astride and more than a few of them led their favorite workhorse.

Longines Masters Grand Prix of New York.

They came from all over Fauquier and Loudoun counties in large numbers.

Under the shade of the old oak trees, the ladies spread

England and greatly admired the farmers and their horses.

their blankets and set up makeshift tables, preparing picnics.

After returning to his home at Wellbourne, he started a

The day was warm, mid-June 1853, and the turnpike that

pack of foxhounds in 1840 that would someday become

passed just beyond the oak grove was dusty. The children

the Piedmont Hunt. He found that the draft crosses available

ran through the trees playing and were admonished to stay

were too heavy to stay with hounds in the open country

away from the young horses so that neither would be hurt.

around Upperville. The thoroughbreds of the day were too

There was much excitement among the men as they

light and fine boned to carry a man on a day’s hunting,

separated the contestants into the two classes offered: one

when a day’s hunting meant just that—sunup to sundown.

for colts and the other for fillies. They had come from all

He needed to do something that would entice the farmers

corners of Loudoun and Fauquier counties, and there were

near his home to take better care of their young stock and

a lot of them.

to produce a better quality animal.

The judge for this event was Richard Henry Dulany,

On a trip to New York, where his family had business

an avid horseman and farmer, and the driving force

holdings, Dulaney met and impressed Charles Lewis Tiffany.

behind this—the first exclusive horse show in America. It

In 1853, Mr. Tiffany had assumed control of Tiffany and

was something he had long thought was needed to give

Young, a stationery and fancy goods emporium, which he

farmers more of a reason to care for their stock during

later renamed Tiffany & Company. He liked Dulany’s idea

Virginia’s winters.

so much that he agreed to donate, design, and craft the

Dulaney was a staunch and devoted horseman who rode nearly every day of his life. He had lived for a time in 46

first trophies and only charge for the silver used. Perhaps he sensed a new market for his burgeoning new silver trade.

H i s t or i cal

As years passed, a club was formed to continue the event. Mr.

around Upperville she writes: ‘’Your Grandpa’s carriage horses, grey

Dulany was elected president and his neighbor, Welby Carter, was

mare, John DeButts’ grey Celeste, mule and cart have all gone from

appointed secretary. The “Upperville Union Club for the Improvement

here—at Oakley no horse is left for them to go anywhere.” Oakley is

of Horses’’ was to have many name changes in the future, but the

next door to the Horse Show grounds.

location of the show would remain the same: the oak grove on “Number Six,” later to become Grafton Farm.

Scrivington, the imported Cleveland Bay, was sent north with his slave groom, Garner Peters. The two spent the war in Pennsylvania

Bolstered by the success, Dulany and a friend, Robert Carter,

making their way by breeding Scrivington to the Yankee farmers’

toured the New England fairs and shipped a Morgan stallion of the

mares. Both would return to Welbourne after the war to live out their

Black Hawk line to Upperville. In the fall of 1856, they imported a

days. Scrivington became a successful sire of driving as well as riding

four-year-old Cleveland Bay stallion, Scrivington, from England. Both

horses.

stallions stood at stud free of charge to area farmers. There was no

Dulany formed a troop of local young men, outfitting and

better way to foster good relations with landowners than to breed their

supplying them with horses at his own expense. Although he did not

favorite mare for free, and in some instances, buy the offspring, giving

believe in secession, he decided to defend his home from the northern

the farmer an added income. The two stallions were award winners

invaders. His troop became part of the Virginia Seventh Calvary and

at both the Maryland and Virginia State Fairs, and their offspring were

he served throughout the war, suffering several wounds. His arm

winners at the 1859 Horse Show and the ensuing years.

was crippled at the Battle of Tom’s Brook, but he continued to serve

The records of the earliest shows were likely lost in a fire that

until the war ended, retiring at the rank of Colonel. Black Hawk, the

destroyed the original house at Grafton, but the Southern Planter

Morgan, went to war with Dulany as officers of the Confederacy had

Magazine reported in its August 1857 edition that the show had

to furnish their own mounts. In a letter home he requested that his

grown to three divisions: Riding Stock, Quick Draft carriage horses,

father find him a Calvary horse saying, “I dislike the thought of even

and the Heavy Draft fieldwork horses. The article lauds the formation

a chance of losing Black Hawk when I may get another at one-fourth

of the club and stresses the importance of improving the riding horse;

his value that will answer every purpose.” Unfortunately, although

it also pushed for the show to be held before the pastures became

the horse was not wounded in war, he foundered and was lost before

lush, “Any man can get a colt into pretty fair order on blue grass and

Dulany could send him to a safe haven.

clover, but it takes some little skill and care to bring him into the ring

Because of extensive business holdings in the north, Colonel

in good condition by the first of June.” There was personal interest in

Dulany was soon to get Wellbourne back on its feet. The horse

the editor’s suggestion as he was usually cutting wheat in the middle

show began again as soon as it was feasible, and in 1869 the club

of June when the show was held and could not attend. It seems no

reorganized, dropping Union from its name (for obvious reasons). In

one wanted to miss the Upperville Show.

1872, the club added an auction at the end of the show, charging a $5 commission on horses sold. In 1894, the club adopted a new

grove at “Number Six” became a good spot to ambush travelers along

charter declaring that its object is “the thorough development of

the Winchester Turnpike instead of a quiet place to look at young

horses and colts, the formation of the pursuit of raising high-grade

horses. An excerpt of a letter from Mittie Herbert, a Dulany cousin, to

horses and establishing a better market for the same. Annual shows

another cousin, Julia Whiting, explains why there was no gathering of

and Exhibitions testing the speed, gaits, and jumping powers of the

horses under the oaks. After the northern troops captured the area

various breeds or classes of horses.” Colonel Dulany was reelected

Photo: Courtesy of the UCHS Archives

The show flourished until the coming of the Civil War. The oak

Spectators admiring a conformation class

47

president, a post he would hold until just before his death.

1897, the race was “open to gentlemen riders and horses that

trend that would carry it throughout the years. As the role of

had participated in the show and have never previously won

the horse in the community changed so did the type of classes

a race. Horses to carry the same weights as they did in Hunter

offered. The original two classes, “heavy draft” and “colts and

Classes.” In 1908, the distance for the steeplechase had increased

fillies,” had grown into a weeklong, over two-hundred class,

to 2 1/2 miles and was sanctioned by the National Steeplechase

international event. The early shows concentrated on the working

and Hunt Association.

horse, the heavy draft, the quick draft, high steppers in harness,

Classes in 1901 included four-horse teams of heavy draft that

and four in hand. There were also classes for park horses and

were required to draw a load of 3 tons. Also, a class was added

gaited horses.

“for horses that have been regularly hunted with the Piedmont

Dulany was a foxhunter who loved, second only to his family,

Hounds. The members of said club to subscribe for a cup, the

nothing more than following hounds “cross country and jumping

horse show to add $20 dollars, entrance fee $5, 8 entries or no

whatever barred his way.” In a letter home during the war, he had

show.”

complained that the horses they sent him wouldn’t jump anything

A rapid expansion of the horse show facilities began according

over three feet while he was being chased by the Yankees near

to the existing minute books. In May 1895, J.W. Carpenter was

Berryville. This close escape may have been the inspiration behind

awarded a contract to move the grandstand and build a judges

the addition of the Hunter Improvement classes at the rejuvenated

stand on a bid of $35. He must have worked quickly because

show after the war.

the club held its first meeting in the new grandstand on June

In 1896, classes were offered for “hunters carrying 130 lbs.,

15, 1895. The grandstand was lengthened to 32 feet in 1896.

150 lbs., and 180 lbs.; horses to be judged on conformation 40%

By 1901, the back of the grandstand had been enclosed and

and 60% general promise, owners to furnish their own weights.”

permanent stalls were built on the opposite side of the grounds.

There was also a division open to all at a minimum weight of 140

Foxhunting and the development of the thoroughbred

lbs. and all would jump fences 4 1/2 to 5 feet. By the early 1900s,

breeding farms in the area grew hand in hand. Thoroughbred

hunter classes were divided into “Green Hunters, Four-Year-Olds,

breeding classes were added in 1902 and were strongly

Lightweight, Heavyweight, and open to all” with jumps 4 1/2 to

supported through the years by the local and nationally famous

5 feet.

racing stables Rokeby, Brookmeade, Llangollen, Blue Ridge, and

For a number of years beginning in the 1890s, the horse show 48

closed with a steeplechase “in the field around the grounds.” In

Under Dulany’s direction, the Upperville Colt Club began a

Newstead, to name just a few who regularly sent young stock

Artist’s rendition of the Battle of Upperville, Loudoun County, Virginia on June 21, 1863 during the Gettysburg Campaign of the American Civil War - Harper’s Weekly, July 18, 1863

to make their public debut beneath the oaks. Brookmeade and

50% and performance 50%. The class is still held today, but has

Llangollen often times lead their yearlings down the Winchester

been opened to horses bred in Virginia. To recognize the 150th

Turnpike (what is now John Mosby Highway, Rt. 50), making the

anniversary of the show, the Dulany’s descendants donated

first steps on a journey that would lead some to sales rings in

a silver trophy created by Tiffany & Co. to become a perpetual

Saratoga, others to racetracks, and still others to hunt fields and

trophy in his memory.

show rings across the country.

In 1911, a class for Chargers was introduced and held until

In 1905, Dulany stepped aside and Willie Fletcher, vice

after the First World War. The introduction to the class read: “In

president since the adoption of the charter, became president.

order to stimulate the raising of horses for the army as well as

Dulany remained on the board and was still active. The great

to acquaint horse breeders with the type and kind best suited

sportsman of the day, Harry Worcester Smith, noted that when he

for army purposes, The Cavalry Association of the U.S. Army

judged the 1905 show, “the dear old Colonel (Dulany) was here,

donates a handsome silver cup to the horse considered the best

there, and everywhere, welcoming family and friends to another

type of charger suitable to become an officer’s mount.” The

gathering beneath the oaks.” Mr. Smith also noted that he was

class was open to “stallion, mare or gelding shown to halter on

happy that the “Turnpike” had been cemented to keep down the

conformation only; breeding, at least 50% thoroughbred; age,

dust. “Without a doubt the Colonel (Dulany) was the driving force

three or four; color, any but grey or white; height, 15.2hh to

behind the horse show, but he always sought and got willing help

16.2hh.” Later, when the Calvary Remount Station was opened

from his neighbors and friends.” The membership included many

in Front Royal, Virginia, classes were offered for horses by stallions

of the men he fought alongside in the war, including one Colonel

standing at the Remount. The Horse Show was held during both

John Mosby from Warrenton (joined in 1872) for which the road

wars with the proceeds during World War II going to the War

between the oaks is now named.

Relief Fund.

The Colonel died after a morning ride in October 1906. In

As Upperville became more of a rural farming community,

1910, the Upperville Colt Club began a class to honor the memory

there was a definite shift away from the flashy high steppers,

of the Colonel—The Founder’s Cup—for horses born and bred in

hackney, and gaited horse classes that may have suited a more

Fauquier and Loudoun, to jump 4 feet, judged on conformation

urban area. As foxhunting became more and more popular, the 49

Photo: Photo: Courtesy Courtesy of of thethe UCHS UCHS Archives Archives

Kathy Kusner on Freckles Ladies record high jump of 7 feet 3 inches, 1959

utility horse that could pull the wagon to the mill to have the grain

large as ten-thousand. Dignitaries and diplomats from Washington

ground and the next day go foxhunting was the one more in

and abroad traveled to Grafton to see the finest horses Fauquier

demand.

and Loudoun counties had to offer.

Today, there are more than a dozen fox hunting packs within

High jumps were regularly held, beginning in the late 1890s.

an hour of Upperville, and while the show is given credit by some

In 1896, the class was “open to all horses, over one jump 3 trials

for establishing this area as an important horse country, foxhunting

for each horse, jumping only to count. Beginning at 4 1/2 feet,

was an important influence on the development of the show.

but will not be raised to a greater height than 5 1/2 feet.” It was

Beginning with Dulany, who was master of the pack that later

discontinued for a time, but brought back in 1958. In its first year

became the Piedmont Hunt, five Masters and three Presidents of

back, Kathy Kusner, who would go on to Olympic fame, and a

the Hunt were among the twenty presidents of the horse show.

little flea bitten gray mare owned by Thomas E. Jones’s New Hope

Cricket Bedford, daughter of Erskine Bedford who was a Master

Farm, set a lady’s high jump record of 7 feet 3 inches.

of the Hunt and president of the show, said “Daddy wasn’t a horse

The hunters held sway in the main ring for years, giving way

show person; he thought it (being president) was like being in the

to jumpers—grudgingly—on occasion. In 1982, the jumpers took

PTA, and you were just supposed to do it.”

up residence across from the original show grounds on Rt. 50 at

By the 1920s, hunters and jumpers dominated the show; the

50

Salem Farm, owned by Mrs. A.C. Randolph.

breeding divisions were still held, but more classes were invented

Upperville was a charter member of the American Grand Prix

for hunters. In 1928, there was a class for Handicap Hunters.

Association when it was formed in 1972 to promote Olympic-style

“Performance only to count. Three-year-olds to jump 3 1/2 feet,

jumping. The Upperville Jumper Classic has been the finale of the

horses that have never won a blue ribbon at 4 feet or over prior to

show every year since. It is an important stop for many Olympians

the close of this show to jump 4 feet, blue ribbon winners at 4 1/2

past, present, and future. George Morris, an Olympian himself and

feet, and horses that have won a championship or competed in a

now a top trainer, said after seeing the Grand Prix after a long

high jumping contest to jump 5 feet.”

absence, “You have brought Europe to Upperville, VA.”

Upperville was to become an important social and sporting

The longevity of the horse show is an amazing fact, but to

event. In the 1930s, The Fauquier Democrat reported crowds as

be held in the same location all these years may be even more

Photo: Barre Dukes of Phelps Media

H i s t or i cal

McLain Ward and Contagious, Winners of 2019 $208,200 Upperville Jumper Classic CSI4*, sponsored by Lugano Diamonds

amazing. Of course in the early years the grounds were owned by

and High Noon—the horse that Kathy Kusner took to her first

Colonel Dulany and his heirs. During that time, a three-quarter-

Olympic team trials—to name but a few.

bred gray mare, Kathleen, foaled a gray colt under the oaks at

In 1995, the board awarded her a lifetime achievement

the old horse show grounds. Silver Crest would become one of

award for her service to the show. She passed away the

the top show horses of the 1920s. After hunting and showing

morning after the 1996 show, while serving as vice president.

until the age of eleven in Virginia, he began his national horse

She was a guiding light behind the scenes before and after

show career. His record at 46 shows, according to the Official

her tenure as president, and her influence is still felt in the

Horse Show Blue Book, was 14 championships, 14 reserves,

conduct and character of the show.

171 firsts, 92 seconds, $6769.45 in prize money, and $1350

Today, the Robert Smith Family owns the original grounds

worth of plate. In 1922, he jumped 100 consecutive jumps

and are strong supporters of the horse show; under their

without a fault and won every class he was entered in. When

watch, the old grounds have taken on major renovations. The

he retired from the ring, Silver Crest returned to Grafton where

jumper side is now owned by Shelby Bonnie, the grandson of

he lived out his days grazing beneath the oaks where he was

Mrs. A.C. Randolph (himself a Master of the Piedmont Hunt).

born. He was buried there on the outside course, what is now

Now a 501(c)3 organization, the Upperville Colt and Horse

Ring Two on the hunter side.

Show, Inc. is still very much a community affair.

Later Dr. and Mrs. A.C. Randolph owned the property.

Sources: The National Sporting Library; The Dulany’s of

Both would be Masters of the Piedmont Hunt and horse show

Welbourne; A Family in Mosby’s Confederacy by Margaret

presidents. She joined the board in 1961 and was the first

Anne Vogtsberger; Fauquier Loudoun Magazine, C. J.

lady to be elected president, serving for nearly twenty years. A

FitzGerald; A manuscript by Harry Worcester Smith; Kitty

horsewoman of some note, she supported nearly every phase

Smith’s History of the Upperville Colt and Horse Show: the

of equine competition. She was an avid foxhunter, raced

Fauquier Democrat

both on the flat and over fences, and produced a champion

Edited and reprinted with permission from the 2019

steeplechaser. She bred and campaigned many champion

Upperville Colt and Horse Show Official Program. Learn more at

show horses: Black Atom, Quiet Flight, Nereus, Southside,

https://upperville.com/history.

51

G O O D R E A DS

EQUINE TELEHEALTH:

It’s Just Beginning By. Dr. G. Robert Grisel, DVM Installment 1 of EQ AM’s Equine Telehealth Series Most horse owners, trainers, and veterinarians have at

telehealth tools to communicate with a second (remote)

one time or another contributed to the telemedical practice

veterinarian for the purpose of gaining insights and

of veterinary medicine, whether they realized it or not. If

advice regarding the medical care of a specific patient.

your veterinarian has ever communicated with you via a

Teleconsulting is a key ingredient in the appropriate

phone call, text message, FaceTime dialogue, WhatsApp,

practice of telehealth, because it provides the horse owner

email, etc. about a specific problem with your horse, than

with access to specialists who may be better equipped to

that doctor has practiced telemedicine.

help their horse.

Nowadays, it is so easy to communicate via smartphone,

So what exactly is telemedicine? We should review a

and that includes communicating with your vet. If the

few definitions at the onset of our discussion:

smartphone trend continues, as much as 30% of equine

• Telehealth is a broad term that refers to the remote

veterinary medicine may be practiced through telemedical

administration of medicine through technological means.

means within a few years. This is a good thing, because

In other words, practicing medicine while being physically

telemedicine provides a variety of benefits for both the

removed from the patient.

equestrian and the equine professional.

• Telemedicine is a subcategory of telehealth and refers to the use of a tool, such as a smartphone or smartphone

Benefits of Equine Telemedicine for the Horse Owner

app, to provide telehealth services.

and Horse Trainer:

• Teleconsulting is another subcategory of telehealth

1. The equestrian doesn’t have to assume the burden

that occurs when a primary (local) veterinarian utilizes

of making medical decisions regarding the health and

52 | EQ AM MAGAZINE

“

“

Our horses are counting on us to recognize performance problems. - Dr. Bob Grisel, DVM

soundness of the horse. By directly accessing your

wherever you and your horse are. You don’t have to

veterinary team, you pass the burden onto them.

wait for the vet to show up. You also don’t have to

If they need to see the horse they can request that

take the time to load your horse up and haul it into

you schedule an appointment. If they don’t need to

the vet clinic. In the case that your horse does need to

see the horse, they can still provide you with instant

be evaluated on-site, pre-emptive telemedical review

guidance regarding what to do next.

can shorten your appointment time considerably.

2. Address small problems before they become big

5. Save money. Finally, we can save money. In fact,

problems. The quickness and ease with which you can

telemedicine allows you to have your horse assessed

solicit professional guidance enables you to procure

much more frequently, but at a fraction of the cost.

medical assistance relating to every concern that you

This is because your professional team does not have

have, no matter how casual or trivial it may seem.

to spend the time, energy, and money to evaluate

Current technology allows us to proactively seek-

your horse in person each and every time.

out potential cases with the intention of detecting problems during their “window of treatment

Benefits

of

Equine

Telemedicine

opportunity,” aka the phase when treatment will still

Veterinarian and Farrier:

for

the

be curative or at least highly-effective. As you know,

1. Professionals can be more vigilant in the way

recognizing a problem after it has already reached the

that they practice. Your professional can be far more

advanced and/or chronic phase can make successful

attentive to your horse’s health and soundness. A

management more difficult and in some cases

typical veterinarian or farrier can physically evaluate

impossible. If nothing else, it certainly makes the

8-10 horses per day on average. The majority of time

process more expensive.

is spent traveling between barns. By contrast, a typical

3. Improve your horse’s prognosis. By addressing

professional can evaluate as many as 40 animals per

problems earlier, you improve your chances of

day through telemedical means. In theory, he or she

realizing a successful outcome. The goal is to reverse

can evaluate whichever horse they want at anytime

pathology (disease processes) while they are still

they want. Your vet can check your horses on a

reversible.

weekly or daily basis if desired.

4. Save time. Imagine the time you could save

2. Improves the horse’s prognosis. More attentive

by instantly beaming your veterinarian or farrier to

care enables the veterinary professional to detect

53

G O O D R E A DS

problems promptly, thereby hastening diagnosis and improving

indicated that they communicated through a phone call.

the chances that ensuing treatment will be successful.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the results was that

3. Improves case success rate. Of course every professional

78% of the survey participants communicated via the use of

wants to be good at what they do; professional success is

their smart device, while only 21% communicated face-to-

measured by the quality of life and performance that your

face. In theory, therefore, 3 out of 4 of equestrians see the

horse exhibits on a regular basis. Keeping ahead of problems

veterinary professional as a resource at the other end of their

is critical to achieving this and is now possible through the

phone as opposed to someone they are expecting to meet out

implementation of telemedicine.

at the barn.

4.Permits steady tracking of visual parameters. Professionals

My veterinary practice, The Atlanta Equine Clinic, has

are also better equipped to recognize patterns with respect

been providing telehealth services for over 20 years, albeit the

to the health and soundness of your horse. This is especially

process has been somewhat rudimentary and cumbersome.

useful when trying to discern the effects of treatment

When we started reviewing cases remotely back in 1998, we

modalities over time. Accordingly, telemedical assessment will

were primarily just trying to make life easier on ourselves. Like

become integral in the collection and analysis of research data

many equine practices nowadays, we are licensed to practice

over the coming years.

veterinary medicine in multiple states and intermittently travel professionals.

to these states to administer care. Likewise, our out-of-state

Veterinary professionals can easily reach out to other

5.Improves

communication

among

clients oftentimes ship their horses to our facility in Georgia

professionals for consultation and collaboration. We can look

for evaluation and treatment.

forward to improved colleague-to-colleague dialogue on

We began asking our clients to send photos or videos so

behalf of your horse. This form of communication is known

that we could keep visual tabs on our patients in between

as “teleconsulting” and is an essential part of providing horse

our in-person appointments. The concept was extremely

owners and trainers with the best overall telehealth service.

attractive: our doctors could evaluate as many horses as

6. Saves time. Telemedicine also saves the professional

often as necessary and our clients felt as though they were

time. Remember, not all cases require on-site examination.

constantly connected to our staff. Accordingly, our practice

In fact, only between 10-15% of telemedical reviews actually

went from averaging 6 video reviews to almost 300 during

prompt on-site visits. The professional can use telemedical

the first half of 1999. Since the time that we started offering

assessment to decide if and when your horse needs to be

consultation services, telemedical traffic has increased more

seen. Moreover, as stated earlier, preemptive video review can

than 3600% within our practice.

dramatically expedite the examination process in the event that on-site assessment is warranted.

In 2017, we decided to officially integrate a formal telehealth platform into our business model. As a starting point, we elected to summon our clients for feedback using

The Horse.com conducted an online survey directed at horse owners back in 2015. The survey comprised only one

54

an online survey platform. Our study revealed a number of illuminating facts:

question: “How do equestrians usually communicate with

• Approximately 70% of all of the survey participants

their veterinarian?” Out of 690 total responses, over half

had already summoned telemedical review by a professional

FROM FROM THE THE FROM FROMTHE THE

LEADING LEADING PUBLISHER PUBLISHER LEADING LEADINGPUBLISHER PUBLISHER OF OF EQUESTRIAN EQUESTRIAN OF OFEQUESTRIAN EQUESTRIAN BOOKS BOOKS && VIDEOS VIDEOS BOOKS BOOKS& &VIDEOS VIDEOS

at some point in the past. This suggests that the majority of equestrians have been attempting to utilize a veterinary service that most veterinary practices aren’t yet offering.

• Email and text messaging are the most popular methods for video submission, presumably because they provide direct access to veterinary counsel and can be sent from a smartphone.

Of course, email and text messaging methods require that the client acquires the veterinarian’s email address and/ or cell phone number, respectively.

• The smartphone is the device-of-choice for submitting video clips (preferred by 75% of survey participants).

• The most popular telemedical service is pre-appointment evaluation, which has historically served to shorten appointment times considerably. By pre-emptively reviewing video footage, the veterinarian has already established the visual and mental portions

“An “Anequestrian equestriandream dreamteam teamininaabook.” book.”

“An “Anequestrian equestriandream dreamteam teaminina abook.” book.”

USDF USDFCONNECTION CONNECTION USDF USDFCONNECTION CONNECTION

of the exam before he or she has even arrived at the barn. This service may be especially useful in a teaching environment, where a large part of the conversation with the students could take place without the client having to wait.

• Telemedical guidance provided by the consulting veterinarian must be informative and (preferably) beyond what a friend or trainer could provide, but survey participants were rarely seeking a specific diagnosis.

• Ninety-eight of the survey participants stated that they would be willing to pay for telemedical services.

Now that we know equine telemedicine is coming and that it will be a valuable resource in our industry, how do we go about optimizing its implementation? The primary objectives of successful telemedical employment are two-fold:

CORE CORE CORE CORE CONDITIONING CONDITIONING CONDITIONING CONDITIONING “Unlock” “Unlock”areas areas “Unlock” “Unlock”areas areas that thatmay maybe beaalittle little that thatmay maybe bea alittle little “rusty,” “rusty,”improve improve “rusty,” “rusty,”improve improve core corefitness, fitness,and and core corefitness, fitness,and and even evenrelieve relieve even evenrelieve relieve pain painrelated relatedtoto pain painrelated relatedtoto conditions conditionssuch suchasas conditions conditionssuch suchasas kissing kissingspine. spine. kissing kissingspine. spine.

1. Give equestrians (the horse owner and/or trainer) what they want with respect to instant professional guidance, and 2. Provide veterinary professionals with a platform that enables the convenient, ethical, and legal practice of remote veterinary medicine.

Discussion on these points will be in the next installment of EQ AM’s Equine Telehealth series.

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55

eve n t i n g

Photo: Charlotte Harris

Controlling Your Nerves on Cross County A Conversation with Stephen Bradley - By Ilana Cramer Stephen Bradley knows a thing or two about nerves. This Olympian won England’s prestigious Land Rover Burghley CCI4*, becoming one of only two Americans ever to do so. Stephen also won Canada’s Checkmate International CCI3* an unprecedented

pushing yourself a bit more. Nerves are part of the game, they are normal.”

For most people, nerves help us ride better, energizing us to attack the task at hand.

three times in a row. He is a two-time Pan American Games Gold

“If a rider’s nerves are getting to the point where they stop

medalist and was named 1993’s Equestrian Athlete of the Year

thinking and go on automatic, to me that is when fear steps in,”

by the U.S. Olympic Committee. He is a Rolex Kentucky Three-

Stephen cautions. “That’s where you have to draw the line. We

Day Event Champion, and Stephen has been named to one U.S.

all get nervous, but if you mentally shut down and you cannot

Olympic team, one World Equestrian Games (WEG) team, and

think through how to rectify mistakes, to me that is when riding

has been shortlisted for 3 out of 5 U.S. World Equestrian Games

becomes dangerous. The number one priority is that you always

teams, and 4 out of 5 U.S. Olympic teams.

have to be safe.”

Whether competing on the world stage or training in his

For most, the best way for people to address their nerves is

backyard, Stephen has worked over the years to control his

to talk through the situations they might find themselves in and

nerves. As a clinician and trainer, he helps his students to use

find different solutions for those potential problems.

those same techniques to maintain confidence in training and competing in cross country.

Talking through Your Nerves

Nerves vs. Fear

I always tell them to let me know; talk to me about how you

“In a clinic situation where I have someone who is nervous,

56

“Bottom line, we all get nervous; it’s not a matter of if, but

are feeling,” said Stephen. “We will talk through what they are

a matter of when,” said Stephen. “Everyone gets nervous the

nervous about and how they are feeling. I’ll tell them that if there

morning before cross country, and if you aren’t getting nervous

is a particular jump they are nervous about, I want them to tell

then maybe you need to think about moving up a level and

me. We are still going to jump it, but we’ll talk about it first.”

Stephen stressed the importance of not looking at a fence as something to jump, but rather focusing on the canter and

your horse’s breathing because that will tell you a lot about how they’re feeling and if they’re nervous or not.”

its consistency. As a trainer, he tries to redirect what the rider is nervous about so they’ll focus on something else.

Taking Your Nerves to the Next Level

Stephen deals with the nerves of young riders and

As Stephen mentioned, nerves can be a good thing.

adults a bit differently. “With an adult amateur, I really see

They can help propel you forward and challenge you both

an importance in talking things out and reasoning with the

mentally and physically. If you are getting bored heading into

rider,” said Stephen. “They have to have a plan. If they are

a show, it’s probably a time where your nerves are telling you

getting nervous, they have to think about how they are going

to move up a level.

to deal with it. Verbal communication is always important,

For Stephen, nerves are all about having a plan. “If you

but I think it becomes even more important as we get older.”

get nervous about something when you go out to do cross country and compete, you need to always have a plan,”

Schooling Your Nerves Away A growing theme in the eventing world is the prevalence of schooling shows and schooling days. With the cost of recognized and unrecognized shows increasing, riders are forced to attend fewer shows to control their

Stephen said. “Granted, we can’t always have a plan for the odd things that happen with horses, but you have to have a plan to cover your bases.”

Maybe we should all have a plan for when things happen that we don’t have a plan for…

budgets. Stephen suggests that attending more schooling opportunities will help produce a similar atmosphere to a formal show. This gives riders a great chance to practice controlling their nerves.

“Just as in a recognized show, I’ll tell people to take

Meet the Master Currently, Stephen trains out of Hickory House Farm in The Plains, Virginia where he trains a contingent of off-track thoroughbreds and world-class eventers.

things one step at a time,” said Stephen. “If at any point,

Would you like the opportunity to train with Stephen

especially if going cross country and things are starting to

Bradley and get your own masterclass in eventing essentials,

go downhill quickly—just pull up. Take it one phase and one

tips, and tricks? Visit www.EventClinics.com to see when

jump at a time. There will always be another day.”

Stephen’s teaching at a farm near you.

If schooling shows aren’t in the budget, try riding around people at your barn. “I ride in front of owners and students more often than I don’t,” said Stephen. “That itself is very helpful. I think the one-on-one lessons are useful from time to time, but riding with other people is a great learning experience. I’m trying to emphasize practice. Put yourself in situations where your nerves might kick in and just practice— practice—that’s the only way it will get better.”

Just Walk it Out So it’s all fine and great practicing and trying to simulate a nervous environment, but what happens when you get to the show and you still freak out?

“Number one, I would say take a break and just walk,” Stephen suggested. “I think that we can accomplish more at the walk than people realize. That will help you calm down and begin to think through things and, for lack of a better word, “mathematically” ask yourself what is it I need to do to help myself through my nerves.”

Another suggestion: focus on your breathing. Sounds basic, but it works. “This is going to sound really weird, but when riders get nervous, I always tell them to breathe and to breathe in rhythm,” said Stephen. “It also helps to listen to

Photo: Stephanie Bradley.

p i c t or i al

Photo: Emma Miller / Phelps Media Group

Teammates Emma Lindstrom and Alexandra Murray congratulate each other after receiving their scores in the $10,000 NEE Hunter/Jumper Team Challenge. Lindstrom rode the hunter portion of the class, while Murray piloted her horse over the jumper half of the competition.

Temecula, California

Temecula Valley National Horse Show Run by Nilforushan Equisport Events (NEE), the

With the self-proclaimed goal to make California

Temecula Valley National Horse Show celebrated its

a top show jumping and horse show destination, the

second year this spring at Galway Downs. The horse

Nilforushan Equisport Events management team treated

show expanded from 2018 to 2019, adding a World

exhibitors and spectators to an unrivaled VIP space,

Champion Hunter Rider week to bring the series to four

gourmet catering, and weekly themed exhibitor parties

weeks, one in April and three in May (concluding in early

with performances such as aerialists, singers, piano

June). In addition to weekly grand prix competition, the

players, and magicians, in addition to a casino night and

series featured a number of unique classes, including

weekly game nights. A ringside sports bar provided food

the $10,000 NEE Hunter/Jumper Team Challenge and the

and cocktails throughout the day and hosted after-parties

$5,000 Open Equitation Championship, which were both

following afternoon classes.

open to junior, amateur, and professional riders.

58

Photo: Allyson Lagiovane / Phelps Media Group

Photo: Emma Miller / Phelps Media Group

Ashlee Bond pats Contefina following a successful round that won them the $10,000 Voltaire 1.35m Classic in the Audi Grand Prix Arena, presented by Evergate Stables.

Lindsay Archer and Jarpur qualifying for the jump-off in the $40,000 MediVet Equine National Grand Prix during the third week of the horse show.

Photo: Ryley Ingram / Phelps Media Group

Photo: Elaine Wessel / Phelps Media Group

Jamie Barge and Fioretti S on their way to a clear round in the $40,000 Snapbac National Grand Prix.

Francie Nilforushan and Foreign Exchange compete in the $40,000 Snapbac National GP during the final week of the four-week series.

Photo: Allyson Lagiovane / Phelps Media Group

Thanks to generous sponsors and vendors, Nilforushan Equisport Events was able to give away rider bags and prizes to weekly exhibitors.

Photo: Elaine Wessel / Phelps Media Group

During Premier Week in April, Kindred Bio sponsored a dog and puppy adoption event at the horse show, with the proceeds benefiting the Rancho Coastal Humane Society.

Photo: Tamara with the Camera

THE NEW KID ON THE [MOUNTING] BLOCK Meet 16-year-old David Botana, a Grade I international Para Dressage rider.

He competes on the US Para Dressage Team with his partner Locksley, the 17-year-old Trakehner stallion owned by Margaret Stevens and campaigned

by Susanne Hamilton in the FEI Grand Prix for the last nine years.

Locksley had no experience as a para horse and no one had ever considered him for para riding before. Susanne is there trainer, and their sites are set on Tokyo 2020. This is how it happened:

45 minutes away, which was a palpable change from the fiveminute drive they enjoyed in Indiana.

At Carlisle, David met Canadian para dressage coach Clive Milkins. He persuaded David to make the switch from western

David has VATER Syndrome (see page 64 for details). He

pleasure to para dressage. David had never even heard of it, but

started riding at age 10 in a small town in Indiana. His journey

he was game and Rocky was all for it… He didn’t much enjoy

began in the local 4-H program riding western pleasure. One

the strenuous activity required in western pleasure:

day, while helping out at a food pantry, David’s mother, Suzanne,

“I sensed that Rocky liked the pattern aspect of dressage.

struck up a conversation with a woman wearing horse earrings

Western pleasure is a lot of riding along the rail and it’s a lot of

(Suzanne was a polo groom after college). It turned out that

work; the horses are sweating. Rocky does not like to be sweaty!

woman had a pony for sale. The next day, David met his new

He does not like to work too hard. When he realized we do a

12hh partner, Rocky.

pattern for four minutes and then we’re done, he was all for

When David’s family moved to Portland, Maine in 2016, Rocky came with them, or rather they came with him…

dressage. He preferred the lighter saddle and I sensed he liked that para dressage is more mental than physical.”

Rocky’s accommodations were settled long before his human

Eventually, Coach Milkins left Carlisle Academy and David

counterparts, as is the way of course. Rocky moved to Carlisle

and Rocky moved to Susanne Hamilton’s Crystal Spring Farm.

Academy Integrative Therapy & Sports in Lyman, Maine, about

Susanne is a USDF Gold Medalist, FEI trainer, and R judge. She

60 | EQ AM MAGAZINE

P A R A D R E SS A G E

worked with David and Rocky that spring and into the fall

of training later, the pair was selected as an alternate on the

(2017).

US Para Dressage Team for the January 2019 CPEDI in Florida,

One day, David was competing Rocky at a national para

David really cherishes this time he spent with the Team:

dressage show and he had a thought: “You know, it would

“I got to work with Michel (Assouline, US Para Dressage

be pretty cool to go to the Para Olympics for para dressage.”

Coach) and the other team members. I learned a lot and got

Knowing Rocky sadly wasn’t the mount to get him there,

more comfortable with Locksley. I gained more trust, learned

Susanne believed if they found the right horse, David could

where to push him and where not to, how to get his walk really

definitely make it all the way. So, David and his family started

big, and basically how to get a grand prix horse to do a Grade I

horse shopping. “We began looking at all these horses, but

test, which is not something that a lot of horses can do.”

they were SO MUCH MONEY and we realized there was no way we could ever afford the type of horse I’d need.”

They had a bit of a breakthrough heading into the spring when David understood how to keep Locksley going forward,

Meanwhile, Susanne began packing for her annual winter

more regular, and balanced. It paid off; he was selected for

pilgrimage to Florida (2017). One day, during Susanne’s last

the US Para Dressage Team for the March 2019 CPEDI. This

week, David was at the barn to ride Rocky when she said,

competition was an exciting one for the Team because several

“What if you try Locksley?” Again, Locksley is the 17-year-old

team members scored their personal bests. David was most

Trakehner stallion that Susanne competes in the Grand Prix.

excited about continuing to work with Michel. That excitement

“I remember watching her take this ginormous stallion out of the stall and thinking, ‘You’re big. You’re REALLY REALLY

led right into the June 2019 CPEDI in California, and it hasn’t stopped.

BIG.’ I’d only ever seen him from afar before, across the arena.

When asked what it’s like being on the Team, David says:

And then I thought, ‘I’m just going to say hi and then go ride

“It was just so much fun! In Florida, it was great to work

my tiny little pony.’” But, Susanne wanted to give it a try, so

with Michel and have his different set of eyes watching and

they tacked Locksley up and headed into the arena. David

working with me. I also really liked watching my teammates

remembers, “I climbed the mounting block and realized ‘I can’t

from the rail. I got to know Kate [Shoemaker] and Michel a lot

do this from here!’ And, when I was finally on him, I remember

more. I had no idea how absolutely brilliant Kate is outside the

thinking, “these trees are tiny!’”

para world.

Susanne had them on a lead line walking around for the first time. David was “blown out of the water” by how much

Photo: ©susanjstickle.com

ground Locksley covered in a single step. He recalls a funny story from this first ride: “My first ride on him reminded me of when a parent teaches their child to ride a bike and they hold on to them and say ‘I promise I won’t let go’ and then the child looks down and the parent isn’t holding on anymore. Susanne did that to me; we’re walking along and I looked down and she had quietly unclipped the lead line. And we just kept on walking!”

Right after this very successful first ride, Locksley was headed down south with Susanne. Despite having no initial plans to do so, David followed. On New Year’s Day, he made the trip to Florida, where he did all of the training for his first CPEDI (Concours Para-èquestre de Dressage International) in January 2018. “All things considered, given the short amount of time I’d worked with Locksley, it went a lot better than I expected, but I really still had no idea what I was doing,” says David.

“We left Florida, we didn’t do fantastic, but we did ok, and we just kept practicing. The sheer amount of knowledge I took in during that short time in Florida was amazing.”

David and Locksley were officially a team. Many months

61

para d re s s age

Photo: Tamara with the Camera

Locksley, Susanne Hamilton, David, David’s mother Suzanne at the California CPEDI.

“She’s an amazing veterinarian. It was over 100 degrees in California, so she designed an ingenious sprinkler system

regardless of whether I figured out my schedule.”

out of little garden hoses and other tools from the local

Luckily, David’s school is extremely flexible and supportive.

hardware store. She ran the hoses along the stalls to keep

“I’m fortunate that my high school is very supportive of

the horses and us cool; she probably saved our lives on those

para dressage. One of the most important things I’ve learned

really hot days!

about balancing the two is that, as long as we plan it, we

“Michel is extremely supportive. He gave me a lot of

can make it happen. I started riding my sophomore year and

advice and advocated for me with stewards and judges. On

I have taken so SO many extra classes to make sure that I

the last day of the CPEDI in California, there was a long delay

can go to Tokyo 2020. I have just about all of my credits to

in my starting time, and I can’t stay in the saddle very long.

graduate.”

Michel was a huge help literally running around trying to

This school year, David is going down to Florida for the

find out when my ride time was and helping me in and out

winter season for the first time. His school has allowed him

of the saddle—without a mounting block. It was just great to

to combine a mixture of in-class and online courses so that

know that I had all of that support there. I also got to know

he’ll be able to spend December through April down south

Laureen and the other USEF para staff and supporters. It was

and still graduate on time with his class. Of his school, David

nice to see how Laureen and Michel balance the coaching

says, “They are the nicest community of people that I’ve

and the more administrative side of para.”

ever worked with.” “Besides the US Para Dressage Team?” I

The next big CPEDI is in September at the Tryon

asked. “Of course! But, I don’t see them every day. They are

International Equestrian Center in Tryon, NC and David

all very nice and super helpful, but I’m not seeing them every

obviously hopes he’ll be selected for the US team again. In

day of my life.” To that I replied, “Well, not yet.”

the meantime, he’ll be training with Locksley while working with his physical therapist and a new sports psychologist.

And then he’ll move down to Florida for the winter season and continue the work down there.

62

knew it would be difficult, but I knew I was going to Florida

David’s Disability Explained David has VATER Syndrome, a set of birth defects that often occur together so they are therefore thought to be

All of this is happening while David is still in high school,

causally linked. VATER stands for vertebrae, anus, trachea,

and unlike a lot of competitors who use tutors, David has

esophagus, and renal (kidneys). One doesn’t need to have all

stayed in his Portland public school.

five characteristics to be classified under VATER syndrome,

“We realized early on that there would be an overlap

but most diagnosed as such have a constellation of problems

between high school graduation and Tokyo 2020. We

involving many of these areas of the body. VATER is not

Photo: Paige Bassett of Spotted Vision

David on his first mount Notorious Rockstar (AKA Rocky) genetically transferred, but it is thought to be a genetic

nerves and muscles. Although his right arm appears better

abnormality that develops very early on in pregnancy.

than his left, he is actually impaired in both.

David has the following characteristics:

Because VATER impacts the development of the whole

Vertebral: Just about every vertebral body is misshapen,

body, it is common for people with VATER syndrome to have

resulting in spinal fusions at ages two and six. The fusions

an overall different appearance. David is quite small and it’s

impact trunk, hip rotation and neck rotation, and can cause

likely he will remain under five feet tall. David has also been

pain when walking. David has scoliosis and an unbalanced

in occupational and physical therapy most of his life to learn

walk. He also experiences unusual weakness throughout his

and condition his adaptations.

body. It is difficult for him to walk, so he uses a scooter most

For his adaptations in riding, the US Equestrian Federation

of the time. Because David can’t turn his head very much, his

permits David certain dispensations. A “dispensation”

scooter is fitted with a rotating, adjustable seat.

is a certificate that allows for and lists all appropriate

Trachea and Esophagus: When David was born, his

compensating aides and adaptive equipment that a para

trachea and esophagus didn’t go anywhere in his body, so

athlete is permitted to use in competition. The aids are

on the first day of life he had surgery so that he could eat

compensatory in nature and do not provide any advantage.

and breathe.

Renal: David is missing his left kidney. His right kidney is healthy and it is fine to have just one kidney.

David also has misshapen bones in both arms. He is

David has the following dispensations: • Voice commands • Not required to wear gloves • Looped reins

missing his left arm radial bone and has a four-fingered left

• Double bridle adapter

hand. Because his left arm is weaker than his right, David

• Minimal salute

wears a brace to keep his left arm in good position. David’s

• No stirrups

left arm is about a third shorter in length than his right. Not

• 1-2 whips

related to VATER, but for the double whammy, David was

• Left wrist brace

born with an amniotic band severing his right bicep, so he

• Seat saver

had surgery very early in life to release a restriction on his

• Sitting or rising trot

63

para d re s s age

Photo: Tamara with the Camera

Conversation with

david on Being Grade I EQ AM: What does it mean to be Grade I? David: Para Grade I is a walk-only test. For all the tests, the best way to think about it is that as you scale down from Grade V to Grade I, it doesn’t become any more or less difficult necessarily, but each time you take away a gate or a movement, the remaining gate(s) and movements are looked at that much more closely. At Grade I, nearly everything is taken out of the test, so the walk is evaluated with a lot more scrutiny; the judges expect that the walk will be extremely

David after a very successful ride at Rancho Murieta, California CPEDI in 2019

high quality. Maintaining an extremely high quality walk for a 4-minute test is just as hard mentally, if not physically, than competing at the other grades. You can’t not know how to ride, no matter what grade you are.

Para Dressage Grading System The competitor’s mobility, strength, and coordination

The grades are broken down and tests are designed

are assessed in order to establish their Classification Profile.

such that there’s a very strong balance between the degrees

People with similar functional ability Profiles are grouped into

of difficulty from the upper to the lower grades. At higher

competition Grades. The Grades range from Grade I for the

grades, you have to do a lot more movements at different

most severely impaired, to Grade V for the least impaired. The

gates, but that also means you have a lot more to work with

competition within each Grade can therefore be judged on

to show the judges. At the lower grades, you don’t have

the skill of the individual competitor on their horse, regardless

much to work with to show your abilities to the judge, so it

of the competitor’s impairment.

has to be an amazing walk!

Explanation of Para Equestrian Grades, per the FEI Para Equestrian Classification Rules: (pages 48-49, January 2018,

This may be a hard question… How do you feel about

Updated January 2019)

the fact that you don’t ride the other gates? Is that a

Grade I Para Equestrian Dressage: Athletes in Grade I have

disappointment for you?

severe impairments affecting all limbs and trunk. The Athlete

I would absolutely love to be able to do all the other

usually requires the use of a wheelchair. They may be able to

movements and the other gates, but I can’t, I just physically

walk with an unsteady gait. Trunk and balance are severely

can’t, and I accept that.

impaired.

Grade II Para Equestrian Dressage: Athletes in Grade II

64

Did it take you a little while to be ok with that? I ask this

have either a severe impairment of the trunk and minimal

because I know some top riders who say, “If I couldn’t

impairment of the upper limbs or moderate impairment of

compete, I wouldn’t ride at all.” So I imagine it might

the trunk, upper and lower limbs. Most Athletes in this Grade

be possible to feel that if you can’t trot or canter, you

use a wheelchair in daily life.

might not want to do this at all. Have you ever had to

Grade III Para Equestrian Dressage: Athletes in Grade III

fight with yourself about that?

have severe impairments in both lower limbs with minimal or

(Without blinking an eye) No. Not really. My disabilities

no impairment of the trunk or moderate impairment of the

have been with me forever, so I’ve always been like this and

upper and lower limbs and trunk. Some Athletes in this Grade

adapted. And, while I’d love to be able to do the things that

may use a wheelchair in daily life.

Charlotte Dujardin can do—I can’t. I still have a lot of fun

Grade IV Para Equestrian Dressage: Athletes in Grade IV

doing para dressage and I’m still working at the highest

have a severe impairment or deficiency of both upper limbs

and most challenging level that I can do. I enjoy watching

or a moderate impairment of all four limbs or short stature.

everyone ride and am happy at my level.

Athletes in Grade IV are able to walk and generally do not

You’re a very evolved young person, David.

require a wheelchair in daily life. Grade IV also includes

para d re s s age

Athletes having a visual impairment with very low visual

things differently. I guess I always thought of our

acuity and/or no light perception.

sport as one where you’ve trained for many, many

Grade V Para Equestrian Dressage: Athletes in Grade

years to get to a competitive level, but seeing that

V have a mild impairment of movement or muscle

there were things for beginners—someone who is

strength or a deficiency of one limb or mild deficiency

just on the other side of a life changing injury—that

of two limbs. Grade V also includes Athletes with visual

they could start with sports right away. I thought,

impairment with a higher visual acuity than visually

“This is a good thing.”

impaired Athletes competing in Grade IV and/or a visual field of less than 5 degrees radius.

I agree with you completely. After an injury or illness takes a veteran out of the fight, I think it’s incredibly helpful to start focusing on the things we can do instead. Military personnel are trained and conditioned to be mission-

Paralympic Equestrian Sport Initiative for Veterans

A NEW MISSION Back in 2013, The United States Equestrian

A conversation between EQ AM Owner/Publisher,

Federation (USEF) announced that the United States

Carina Roselli, and USEF Director of Para Equestrian

Olympic Committee (USOC) and U.S. Department of

and Vaulting, Laureen Johnson, revealed a little-

Veterans Affairs (VA) would recognize para equestrian

known Paralympic Equestrian Sport Initiative for

dressage athletes as eligible for the Veteran Monthly

Veterans:

Assistance Allowance Program (VMAA).

Carina: I’m a disabled veteran, but I don’t

The VMAA for Disabled Veterans Training in

know if I’d qualify for the para program; and

Paralympic and Olympic Sports Program, in tandem

I wonder if some of my peers might have the

with the VA National Veterans Sports Programs &

same question, but are too afraid to ask. For

Special Events Office, provides a monthly assistance

me at least, I’m a little uncomfortable talking

allowance for disabled military veterans training in

about it. And I know I don’t feel comfortable

a Paralympic sport, as authorized by federal law (38

asking, “Hey, am I ‘broken’ enough for this?”

U.S.C. § 322(d) and section 703 of the Veterans’

So where can my peers go for more information

Benefits Improvement Act of 2008).

about qualification?

The VMAA pays a very generous monthly stipend

Laureen: Well, we’re always trying to grow the

to service-connected and non-service-connected

sport and identify new talent. One of my goals is

disabled veterans that qualify for the program and

to get it out there into the veteran world and build

are in the competition circuit, including emerging

a program around disabled veterans who excel at

athletes. The program was once high performance

riding.

only, but now it includes emerging athletes, as long

What made you think of creating a program to attract veterans?

Although this is not how I ended up Director of Para Equestrian, my stepson had a motorcycle accident and became a quadriplegic. When he was in the rehabilitative center, I never knew much about para sports—I certainly didn’t know the extent of para sports—and they were showing him a video of para basketball called Murderball.

I thought, “Look at all these opportunities for disabled people!” It just made me do a lot of research and learn. It was so inspiring. It made me look at

66

oriented—we need a new mission.

as they’re competing with a goal of making it to a national championship or a world championship.

To that end, athletes must have established

WHAT GOALS WILL YOU ACHIEVE THIS YEAR? Photo: KTB Creative Group

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training and competition plans and are responsible for turning in monthly and/or quarterly forms and reports in order to continue receiving the monthly assistance allowance. Additionally, an athlete must be U.S. citizen or permanent resident to be eligible.

Lastly, in order to be eligible for the VMAA athletes must undergo either national or international classification evaluation (and be found Paralympic sport eligible) within six months of being placed on the allowance pay list.

From USEF: “The United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. (USEF) supports Paralympic-eligible military veterans in their efforts to represent the USA at the Paralympic Games and other international sport competitions. Veterans who demonstrate exceptional

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the

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and coaching needed to qualify for Team USA and achieve their Paralympic dreams.”

To learn more about the USEF’s VMAA program, qualification standards, or sport pipelines, contact USEF Director of Para Equestrian, Laureen Johnson at 859-225-7693 or lkjohnson@usef.org.

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PARA RIDERS RESOURCES:

for accreditation, and a detailed list of currently accredited

FEI Main Para Dressage https://inside.fei.org/fei/disc/

Centers of Excellence across the U.S. USEF and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans

para-dressage Serves as the FEI hub for all information on events, rules,

Monthly Assistance Allowance Program (VMAA) https://

FEI classification, tests, calendars, and rankings. Also includes

www.usef.org/compete/disciplines/Para

information on the history of Para Equestrian sport within

dressage-programs-forms/veterans-monthly-assistance-

the FEI.

allowance-program

FEI Para Equestrian Forum https://inside.fei.org/fei/disc/

Equestrian/para-

Provides a detailed explanation of the USEF-endorsed U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs program to support

para-dressage/forums Provides full records on the FEI-hosted Para Equestrian

Paralympic-eligible military veterans by providing monthly

Forums occurring around the world that create an opportunity

assistance allowance for disabled Veterans of Armed Forces

for open dialogue, consultation, and information sharing

training in a Paralympic sport, like Para Dressage.

on Para Equestrian topics (open to all members of the Para Equestrian community). The most recent forum occurred May 25th – 26th, 2019 in Lamotte-Beuvron, France.

USEF Para Equestrian Dressage https://www.usef.org/

USDF Para Equestrians competing in Dressage FAQs https://www.usdf.org/faqs/paraequestrians.asp Provides a list of 14 frequently asked questions about Para Equestrians competing in dressage, ranging from “How do I get involved?” to “How do I get on the USEF Dressage

compete/disciplines/Para Equestrian Provides a detailed overview of the US Equestrian

Para Equestrian Ranking List?”

Federation’s Para Equestrian Program and a fantastic video featuring USEF Director of Sport Will Connell, Paralympian rider

Points of Contact:

Becca Hart, and Paralympic hopeful Annie Peavy discussing

USEF Director of Para Equestrian, Laureen Johnson at 859-

and demonstrating what Para Dressage means to them.

225-7693 or lkjohnson@usef.org

USEF Para Equestrian Dressage Programs and Forms https://www.usef.org/compete/disciplines/Para

Equestrian/

USEF Center Of Excellence Coordinator, Laura Roberts at 859-225-6986 or lroberts@usef.org

Para Equestrian-dressage-programs-forms Provides a central location for downloading Para Dressage

Current Accredited Centers of Excellence:

information like Para Equestrian webinars, the 2019 CPEDI

• Carlisle Academy (Lyman, ME)

calendar, classification forms, USEF dispensation certificates

Contact:

program information, etc. USEF Centers of Excellence www.

carlisleacademymaine.com

Sarah

Armentrout,

sarmentrout@

usef.org/compete/disciplines/ParaEquestrian/para-dressageprograms-forms/centers-of-excellence.

Provides an overview of what USEF Centers of

• Healing Strides of VA (Boones Mill, VA) Contact: Carol Young, carol@healingstridesofva.org

Excellence are, the 2019 calendar of events, application • HorseAbility (Melville, NY) Contact: Katie McGowan, KatieMcGowan@HorseAbility.org • North Texas Equestrian Center (NTEC) (Wylie, TX) Contact: Kai Handt, Kaihandt@yahoo.com • Ride On Therapeutic Riding Center (Chatsworth, CA) Contact: Megan McQueeney, jrsporthorses@gmail.com • Therapeutic Riding, Inc (Ann Arbor, MI) Contact: Jennifer Beyer, volunteer@therapeuticridinginc.org • Thorncroft, Therapeutic Horseback Riding, Inc (Malvern, PA) Contact: Sallie Dixon, sallie@thorncroft.org • Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center (Loxahatchee, FL) Contact: Susan Guinan, info@vinceremos.org • Wheatland Farm Equestrian Center (Purcellville, VA) Contact: Muriel Forrest, amurielforrest@gmail.com 70

Paralympic Paralympic Equestrian Equestrian Sport Sport Initiative Initiative for for Veterans Veterans Paralympic Equestrian Sport Initiative for Veterans PIPELINE DEVELOPMENT Paralympic Equestrian Sport Initiative for Veterans PIPELINE DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE DEVELOPMENT Athlete •• Coach Education •• Classification Opportunities Athlete Development Development Coach Education Classification Opportunities PIPELINE DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE DEVELOPMENT Athlete Development • Coach Education • Classification Opportunities Athlete Athlete Development Development •• Coach Coach Education Education •• Classification Classification Opportunities Opportunities

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The Paralympic Equestrian Sportand Initiative for Veterans is a national initiative designed sports (specifically para-dressage para-driving).

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Grant under the U.S.Equine Department of Veterans Affairs, partnership with the United States Para refers to parallel to able-bodied sports, Academy Integrative Therapy & Sports, and is in funded by a Federal Adaptive Sports Participating USEF/USPEA International Para-Dressage Centers of Excellence (COE) ing a competitive track.

Athletes may pursue permanent, and visual disabilities seekthe independent rider/driver with Academy Integrative Equine Therapy & Sports, and is funded by a Federal Adaptive(COE) Sports adesigned nationalfor orphysical international sport classification Participating USEF/USPEA International Para-Dressage Centers of Excellence Equestrian Federation and the Professional Association of ongoing Therapeutic Horsemanship. designed for the independent rider/driver with Grant under the U.S.centers Department of Veterans Affairs, inand partnership with the United States and other approved will offer clinics, outreach, education to emerging a national or international sport classification ing a competitive track.

Athletes may pursue permanent, visual disabilities seekGrant under the U.S.centers Department of Veterans Affairs, inand partnership with the United States which allowsphysical them toand compete at recognized and other approved will offer clinics, outreach, education to emerging Participating USEF/USPEA International Para-Dressage Centers of Excellence (COE) permanent, physical visual disabilities seekEquestrian Federation the Professional Association of ongoing Therapeutic Horsemanship. athletes and coaches toand develop the sport pipeline. which allows themtrack. toand compete atshows recognized a national or international sport classification ing a competitive Athletes may pursue Equestrian Federation and the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship. national and international horse in Paraathletes and coaches to develop the sport pipeline. and other approved centers will offer clinics, outreach, and ongoing education to emerging ing a competitive track.

Athletes may pursue Participating USEF/USPEA International Para-Dressage Centers of Excellence (COE) national and international horse indriving.

Parawhich allows them to recognized a national or international sportatshows classification Participating USEF/USPEA International Para-Dressage Centers of Excellence (COE) Equestrian dressage orcompete Para-Equestrian PIPELINE DEVELOPMENT GOALS INCLUDE: athletes and coaches to develop the sport pipeline. aEquestrian national or international sport classification and other approved centers will offer clinics, outreach, and ongoing education to emerging dressage or Para-Equestrian driving. national andare international horse in ParaPIPELINE DEVELOPMENT GOALS whichsports allows them to compete atshows recognized and other approved centers will offer clinics,INCLUDE: outreach, and ongoing education to emerging Both governed by USEF (national) which allows them to compete at recognized athletes and coaches to develop the sport pipeline.

Both sports are governed by USEF (national) • Utilizing gold-medal coaching experts to provide para-dressage and para-driving Equestrian dressage or Para-Equestrian national and international horse shows indriving.

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• Utilizing gold-medal coaching experts to provide para-dressage and para-driving similar fashion togoverned their conventional counterpart sport classification, and awareness-building opportunities.

PIPELINE DEVELOPMENT GOALS INCLUDE: and (International) and conducted a BothFEI sports byare USEF (national) (dressage andare driving), but within riders classification, awareness-building opportunities.

Both sports arecombined governed

by USEF (national) clinics andgold-medal symposiaand at COEs and other select national locations aspara-driving training, (dressage and combined driving), but with riders • sport Utilizing coaching experts to provide para-dressage and similar fashion to their conventional counterpart and FEIinto (International) and are conducted in a divided different competition sport classes/ Providing a National Para-Equestrian Development to • Utilizing gold-medal coaching experts toCoach provide para-dressageProgram and para-driving and FEIinto (International) and are conducted in a sport classification, and awareness-building opportunities. divided different competition sport classes/ clinics and symposia at COEs and other select national locations as training, • Providing a National Para-Equestrian Coach Development Program to (dressage and combined driving), but with riders similar fashion to their conventional counterpart grades based on their functional abilities.

Paraenhance coaching support of eligible veterans. clinics and symposia at COEs and other select national locations as training, similar fashion totheir theircompetition conventional counterpart grades based on functional Parasport classification, andPara-Equestrian awareness-building opportunities. coaching support of eligible veterans. divided into different sport classes/ • enhance Providing a National Coach Development Program to (dressage anddressage combined driving), but with riders Equestrian is the onlyabilities. equestrian classification, and awareness-building opportunities. (dressage and combined driving), but with riders • sport Creating a strong foundation of Para-Equestrian education through online Equestrian dressage is the only equestrian grades based on their functional abilities.

Paraenhance coaching support of eligible veterans. divided into different competition sport classes/ discipline recognized at the Paralympics.

Providing National Para-Equestrian Coach Development Program to •• Creating a aastrong foundation of Para-Equestrian education through online divided into different competition sport classes/ workshops/webinars.

Providing National Para-Equestrian Coach Development Program to discipline recognized at the the only Paralympics.

Equestrian dressage is equestrian grades based on their functional abilities.

Paraenhance support of eligible veterans. education through online • workshops/webinars.

Creatingcoaching a strong foundation of Para-Equestrian grades based on their functional abilities. Paracoaching supportveterans of eligible veterans. with the VA’s Monthly Assistance For more information on Para-Equestrian Sports discipline recognized at the Paralympics.

• enhance Encouraging para-eligible to participate Equestrian dressage is the only equestrian workshops/webinars.

For more information on Para-Equestrian Sports Equestrian dressage is the only equestrian Creating a strong foundation of Para-Equestrian education through online •• Allowance Encouraging para-eligible veterans to participate with the VA’ s Monthly Assistance or to access the application for the VA Allowance, Program to fund training and competition.

Creating a strong foundation of Para-Equestrian education through online discipline recognized at the Paralympics. or to access the application for the VA Allowance, discipline recognized at the Paralympics. workshops/webinars.

Program to fund training and competition.

For more information on Para-Equestrian Sports • Allowance Encouraging para-eligible veterans to participate with the VA’s Monthly Assistance visit www.usef.org or contact Laureen Johnson, workshops/webinars.

• Coordinating with veteran-oriented competitions and games to promote visit www.usef.org or contact Laureen Johnson, or to access the application for the VA Allowance, Allowance Program to fund training and competition.

For more information onDiscipline Para-Equestrian USEF Para-Equestrian DirectorSports at Encouraging para-eligible veterans to participate withand the VA’s Monthly Assistance •• Coordinating with veteran-oriented competitions to promote For more information onDiscipline Para-Equestrian Sports inclusion of Para-Equestrian sports.

Encouraging para-eligible veterans to participate with thegames VA’s Monthly Assistance USEF Para-Equestrian Director at visit www.usef.org ororcontact Laureen Johnson, or to access the application for the VA Allowance, lkjohnson@usef.org (859)225-7693.

Allowance Program to fund training and competition. inclusion of Para-Equestrian sports.

• Allowance Coordinating with veteran-oriented competitions and games to promote or to access the application for the VA Allowance, Program to fund training and competition. lkjohnson@usef.org or (859)225-7693.

USEF Para-Equestrian Discipline Director at For more information, contact Sarah Armentrout, Carlisle Academy Head of School & visit www.usef.org or contact Laureen Johnson, inclusion of Para-Equestrian sports. visit www.usef.org ororcontact Laureen Johnson, • Coordinating with veteran-oriented competitions and games to promote For more information, contact Sarah Armentrout, Carlisle Academy Head of School & lkjohnson@usef.org (859)225-7693.

National Coordinatorwith of theveteran-oriented Paralympic Equestrian Sport Initiative fortoVeterans • Coordinating competitions and games promoteat USEF Para-Equestrian Discipline Director at USEF Para-Equestrian Discipline Director at inclusion of Para-Equestrian National Coordinator of the Paralympic Equestrian Sport Academy Initiative Head for Veterans at& For more information, contact Sarah sports.

Armentrout, Carlisle of School sarmentrout@carlisleacademymaine.com or (207)985-0374. inclusion of Para-Equestrian sports. lkjohnson@usef.org or (859)225-7693. lkjohnson@usef.org or (859)225-7693. sarmentrout@carlisleacademymaine.com or (207)985-0374.

National the Paralympic Equestrian Sport Academy Initiative Head for Veterans at& For more Coordinator information, of contact Sarah Armentrout, Carlisle of School For more information, contact Sarah Armentrout, Carlisle Academy Head of School & sarmentrout@carlisleacademymaine.com or (207)985-0374.

National Coordinator of the Paralympic Equestrian Sport Initiative for Veterans at National Coordinator of the Paralympic Equestrian Sport Initiative for Veterans at Part of aorUSEF/USPEA International Para-Dressage Center of Excellence Program sarmentrout@carlisleacademymaine.com (207)985-0374. sarmentrout@carlisleacademymaine.com (207)985-0374.

Part of aorUSEF/USPEA International Para-Dressage Center of Excellence Program Part of a USEF/USPEA International Para-Dressage Center of Excellence Program PartDept. of aofUSEF/USPEA International Para-Dressage Center of Excellence Program Support funding provided Veteran Affairs PartDept. of aofUSEF/USPEA International Para-Dressage Center of Excellence Program Support funding provided Veteran Affairs Disclaimer: This program is funded in part by a grant from the Disclaimer: This program isoffunded in part by a The grantopinions, from the United States Department Veterans Affairs.

Support funding provided Dept. of Veteran Affairs United States Department of Veterans opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein areAffairs. those ofThe the author and Disclaimer: This program is funded inare part by a grant from and the findings, and conclusions stated of the author do not necessarily reflect those ofherein the United States Department Support funding provided Dept. ofthose Veteran Affairs Support funding provided Dept. of Veteran Affairs United States Department of of Veterans Affairs. opinions, do not necessarily reflect those the United StatesThe Department of Veterans Affairs.

Disclaimer: This program is funded in part by a grant from the findings, andAffairs. conclusions stated herein are those of the author and of Veterans Disclaimer: This program isoffunded in part by a The grantopinions, from the United States Department Veterans Affairs. do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department United States Department of Veterans opinions, findings, andAffairs. conclusions stated herein areAffairs. those ofThe the author and of Veterans findings, and conclusions statedofherein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those the United States Department doVeterans not necessarily of Affairs.reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

e d i t or i al

By Allyson Lagiovane / Phelps Media Group

Photo by Rebecca Walton

Paige Cade making a picture perfect promotion.

Rutledge Farm Brings Elite Clinicians to Historic Middleburg Virginia It’s no secret that Middleburg, Virginia is one of the top equestrian havens in the United States. Tucked away there, in the hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is Aleco Bravo-Greenberg’s Rutledge Farm―an equestrian oasis stretching across more than 120 acres that’s been in the Bravo-Greenberg family since the 1980’s.

After growing up in Washington, D.C. followed

the potential in Rutledge Farm after the countless

by a decade spent in Los Angeles, Aleco has settled

hours that his family put into it. Today, after

into farm life in the heart of Virginia’s horse

an extensive two-year renovation, the historic

country and after a two-year renovation, Rutledge

property boasts five barns, an all-weather outdoor

Farm is a dream destination for equestrians.

arena, a spacious indoor arena, and both a grand

Built in 1740, and rooted in equestrian tradition,

72

prix and polo field.

his parents bought Rutledge Farm in 1985 and

In August of 2017, Aleco invited his childhood

turned it into a world-class thoroughbred breeding

friend and 2008 Olympic team gold-medalist, Will

facility. Rutledge Farm has a history of producing

Simpson, to host a boutique show jumping clinic at

top racehorses. Most notably, Rutledge produced

the farm. “The idea to start a clinic series was born

the winner of the 1993 Belmont Stakes, Colonial

after the renovations were made to the farm in

Affair. Julie Krone was at the reins: the only woman

2017,” Aleco explained. “Will [Simpson] is a good

ever to win a Triple Crown race!

friend of mine, and we have known each other

After officially relocating to Rutledge Farm in

since we were kids. We decided to bring Will here

2015, Aleco took ownership of the property with

to host a clinic here at Rutledge Farm for riders in

the goal of eventually opening up the facility for

the area, and everyone loved it! The clinics have

local and regional equestrians to enjoy. Aleco saw

only grown from there.”

Photo by Rebecca Walton

“

Will [Simpson] is a good friend of mine,

and we have known each other since we were kids. We decided to bring Will here

to host a clinic here at Rutledge Farm for The clinics have only grown from there.”

Aleco Bravo-Greenberg.

“

riders in the area, and everyone loved it!

Just one year after Simpson’s clinic, Aleco

continued the clinic series by bringing back

officially launched the annual “Rutledge Farm

Simpson in August of 2018. Of the Rutledge Farm

Sessions” clinic series in June 2018. Kicking off

Sessions, Simpson said, “Everything here is just

with style, Aleco invited two-time Olympic gold-

first-rate. My experience here at Rutledge Farm

medalist McLain Ward for a masterclass clinic.

has been top-notch. Aleco is doing a great job

Ward touched on various aspects of training

orchestrating these Rutledge Farm Sessions and I

during his clinic, emphasizing the importance

am really honored to be a part of it.”

of simple, classic training, and slowly building

To round out 2018, Aleco brought in two more

upon basic skills. Ward said, “It was a wonderful

Olympic gold medalists, international eventing

experience. Aleco is an extremely enthusiastic

champion Phillip Dutton and show jumping legend

and professional gentleman to work with, and

Leslie Burr-Howard. “We were thrilled with the

his facility is first-class―it’s really quite spectacular

turnout for the first official year of the series,”

here!”

Aleco said. “I think everyone really enjoyed having

As

a

four-time

Olympian

and

three-time

these clinicians come to Middleburg. It is an

Olympic medalist for the United States, Ward

invaluable experience watching the country’s top

is consistently one of the top ten riders on the

professionals share their wealth of knowledge,

Longines FEI World Ranking list. Shortly after his

and at Rutledge Farm we are proud to play a role

clinic, Ward was a member of the triumphant gold-

in being able to offer that.”

medal team at the 2018 Tryon World Equestrian

This year, the Rutledge Farm Sessions clinic

Games (WEG). Ward’s clinic was a unique and rare

series is slated to feature even more clinicians,

opportunity for Middleburg locals to partake in,

with an expansion into new disciplines, offering

confirming Aleco’s decision to run the clinic series.

something for everyone to enjoy. In addition to

“McLain is an icon,” Aleco said. “Here at

bringing in new clinicians for show jumping and

Rutledge Farm, we always want to be first-class

eventing, Rutledge Farm is now offering clinics for

and work with the best of the best―that’s how we

equitation and dressage riders.

present ourselves. And with that in mind, McLain

Aleco said, “My vision for the Rutledge Farm

was a natural fit. He’s a great clinician, and he

Sessions has always been to actively support the

was able to teach in a way that was very concrete,

development of U.S. equestrians and to provide

understandable, and important.”

them with access to these elite-level athletes,

Following

Ward’s

clinic,

Rutledge

Farm

right here in Middleburg. By expanding the series

73

Photo by Taylor Rains

McLain Ward having a good time instructing at Rutledge Farm

to more disciplines, I look forward to being able

McDonald, comes to Middleburg in September.

to open our doors to even more people that would

In addition, Olympic dressage bronze medalist

like to learn from the best.”

Ali Brock will host a two-day clinic in October.

He added, “It is also a really unique opportunity

To conclude the year, revered equitation trainer,

for eventing athletes, professionals and amateurs

Stacia Madden, will host a two-day equitation-

alike, to take advantage of multi-disciplinary

focused clinic.

training. There is something here for everyone to hone their skills.”

On the future of the series, Aleco said, “I am thrilled to continue welcoming both new

Rutledge Farm’s exciting 2019 series stepped

and returning clinicians to Rutledge Farm. We’re

off in June with Olympic gold-medalist Peter

dedicated to bringing the country’s top athletes to

Wylde. Looking ahead, Simpson and Dutton plan

Middelburg and promoting education within our

to return as clinicians in August and October,

community. The series that we have developed

respectively. New to the series, three-day eventing

here is unlike anything else in the country, perhaps

champion Boyd Martin joins Rutledge Farm’s list

even the world, and I look forward to watching it

of elite clinicians this fall.

continue to grow.”

In addition, dressage enthusiasts are in for a treat as Olympic bronze medalist and U.S. Dressage

Photo by Allyson Lagiovane

Technical Advisor and Chef d’Equipe, Debbie

For more information about Rutledge Farm Sessions, visit www.rutledgefarm.com.

Spectacular equestrian artist Santi Serra will enchant the crowd with his remarkable liberty performances of horse, human, and dog.

Looking to deepen your horsemanship knowledge?

Want free FEI-approved courses?

Free & certified equestrian e-learning

Photo: Shawn McMillen

Bloomberg on Paola 233 winner of Boars Head Open Jumper

Hampton Classic Horse Show Featuring Top Prize Money and Five FEI Classes at 44th Annual Event Thrilling Competition to Culminate with $300,000 DOHA.INC Grand Prix

The 2019 Hampton Classic Horse Show, one of the country’s largest outdoor shows and a prominent fixture on the hunter-jumper circuit, will welcome back the nation’s elite horses and riders to compete for more than $800,000 in prize money and prestigious titles. From August 25-September 1, in Bridgehampton, NY, the 44th annual event will feature

are also kid-friendly activities including pony rides, petting zoo animals, daily special attractions, and more!

This year’s event will feature five FEI classes in the grass Grand Prix ring to showcase elite riders from around the world.

• $10,000 Palm Beach Masters Open Jumper – Wednesday, August 28 at 1:00pm

five International Equestrian Federation (FEI) classes this year,

• $40,000 Speed Stake – Thursday, August 29 at 2:00pm

culminating in the thrilling $300,000 DOHA.INC Grand Prix that

• $75,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier – Friday,

will showcase the biggest names in the sport, including Olympic, World, and National Champions.

August 30 at 2:30pm • $72,000 LONGINES Cup - Saturday, August 31 at 2:00pm

Each year approximately 50,000 people―including many

• $300,000 DOHA.INC GP - Sunday, September 1 at 1:00pm

A-list celebrities―come to watch the nation’s best equestrian

“As we are unveiling our new grass Grand Prix field

athletes compete at the Hampton Classic. The world-class event

following a $1 million renovation, we are expecting an even bigger

showcases more than 1,500 horses competing in 200 hunter,

number of entries, which will make our 44th annual event even

jumper, and equitation classes. There are classes for horses and

more exciting!” said, Shanette Barth Cohen, the Classic’s Executive

riders of all ages and abilities and the broad spectrum ranges

Director.

from leadline classes all the way up to grand prix show jumping.

The Hampton Classic also hosts classes for riders with disabilities.

76

Schedule Highlights

The meticulous 65-acre venue also boasts six show rings, a

Sunday, August 25: Leadline classes, Opening Day Ceremonies,

high-end Boutique Garden with more than 80 vendors, and a

$30,000 Land Rover Jumper Challenge Presented by Jaguar,

dozen international food options and exclusive VIP areas. There

$10,000 Marders Local Hunter Derby

e d i t or i al

Monday, August 26: Finals of the Long Island Horse

admitted free and receive a FREE pony ride. Parking

Show Series for Riders with Disabilities Presented by

is FREE.

BNB Bank, Animal Welfare and Adoption Day Tuesday,

August

27:

$10,000

Open

Grandstand tickets for the $300,000 DOHA.INC Jumper

Grand Prix CSI4* on Sunday, September 1 are $45

class, $10,000 7 & Under Jumper class, Platinum

per person for bucket seating in all sections and are

Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search

on sale now. Go to http://www.hamptonclassic.com/

Wednesday, August 28: $10,000 Wölffer Estate

grandstand-tickets to book your seats today!

Open Jumper class, $10,000 Palm Beach Masters Open Jumper class

VIP - The Hampton Classic is also famous for its

Thursday, August 29: $40,000 Speed Stake, $2,500

celebrity guests throughout the week. In recent years,

Adult Amateur Hunter Classic

we found Jerry Seinfeld, Kelly Ripa, Sofia Vergara,

Friday, August 30: $10,000 Junior/Amateur Welcome

Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen, Julianne Moore, Jon Bon

Stake, $10,000 SHF Enterprises 7 & Under Jumpers

Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Brooke Shields, and

Championship,

Jennifer Lopez mingling in the VIP and watching from

$15,000

Speed

Derby,

$75,000

Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier

the sidelines.

Saturday, August 31: Kids Day presented by News

VIP tables are located in three separate areas that

12 Long Island, $10,000 Equitation Championship

surround the Grand Prix Ring. All Chalet tables and

presented by Palm Beach International Academy,

ringside tables include passes for 14 guests. Tables in

$15,000 Carolex Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic,

the hunter side of the Grand Prix tent and upper level of

$72,000 LONGINES Cup

the USET tent include 8 passes. Tables are available for

Sunday, September 1: $10,000 Hermès Hunter

the week (Tuesday, August 27 – Sunday, September 1)

Classic, $25,000 Jumping Derby, $300,000 DOHA.INC

and come with a table cloth, chairs, and centerpiece.

Grand Prix

Catering is not included but may be booked in advance.

Tables may not be purchased for individual days,

Admission - Daily admission is $10 per person or $20

with the exception of Opening Day (Sunday, August

per carload (children under six are admitted free). Free

25). Tables must be booked in advance and require

General Admission on Monday (limited competition

a minimum total contribution, including sponsorship

day). Seniors are admitted free Tuesday, Wednesday,

and a table fee. Credit toward the sponsorship portion

and Thursday. On Saturday, children under 12 are

of the fee will be given to barns with significant entries Photo: Shawn McMillen

Photo Sportfot

In the $40,000 SOVARO® FEI Speed Stake presented by Lisa & Mario Deslauriers and Lynn Tarnopol, two-time U.S. Olympic medalist Leslie Burr Howard blazed to victory with Donna Speciale.

77

e d i t or i al Photo: Victor Cangro

Photo: Victor Cangro

Actress Brooke Shields

Photo: Kiley Bates

Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay

Teamwork

for up to one table. The maximum credit given for entries will

competitions air on the Hampton Classic website, produced

be $10,000. The minimum total contribution for each type of

by ShowNet and courtesy of LONGINES. Complimentary

table is: ringside - $20,000, hunter side and USET Upper Level

live webcast of all Anne Aspinall ring competitions also air

- $10,000, and Chalets - $12,500. Centrally located tables

on the Hampton Classic website, produced by ShowNet and

require significantly larger contributions than these minimum.

sponsored by RideTV. In addition, WVVH-TV, the official Long

Tables usually sell out by mid-July. For further details call (631)

Island television station of the Hampton Classic, broadcasts up

537-3177 or email Reyna@hamptonclassic.com.

to five hours of competition and highlights each day during the Classic. These broadcasts can also be seen online at www.

ShowNet Live Webcasts The Hampton Classic is pleased to continue its relationship

Further information on the Hampton Classic Horse

exhibitors! Services include Orders of Go, Live Ring Status,

Show is available at the Hampton Classic website at www.

Live Results, and Post Round Video.

hamptonclassic.com or by calling 631-537-3177.

complimentary live webcasts of all Grand Prix ring

Photo: Shawn McMillen

on ShowNet.biz.

with ShowNet by offering its services FREE to all 2019

For those who can’t make it to the show grounds,

78

wvvh.tv. Most of the Classic’s other classes are also available

Photo: Kiley Bates

Horse Adoption Day 2018 (Left to Right Lynn Coakley, Georgina Bloomberg, and Valerie Angeli)

DER DAU GOES VEGAN

FOR THE EQUUS FOUNDATION All horses, even champions of the racetrack and the show ring, are only one unlucky sale away from abuse, neglect, and slaughter. Tens of thousands of horses become “at-risk” each year. In 2018 alone, over 81,000 horses were shipped across our borders to be slaughtered. Most were young, healthy, and had untapped potential. These horses need our help in whatever way we can give it. For Joe Der of Der Dau boot fame, that meant developing a line of stylish, functional, durable, and completely vegan riding boots with a generous portion of proceeds going to the EQUUS Foundation.

The EQUUS Foundation (EQUUS) is the only national animal welfare charity in the United States that’s 100% dedicated to protecting America’s horses and strengthening

EQUUS focuses their efforts on: • Increasing adoptions of at-risk and transitioning horses, and providing a safe haven for aged horses;

the human-equine bond. At the core of their mission is that all

• Vetting and investing in equine charities that undergo a

horses engaged in human activities—as athletes, companions,

comprehensive and unique verification process to ensure donor

teachers, and healers—are safe, protected, and treated as

confidence in the organizations receiving EQUUS Foundation

partners with dignity.

financial support;

As a 501(c)3 public charity, they are strong proponents for increasing opportunities for all people to engage with

• Inspiring horse lovers to become “horse protectors” by stimulating advocacy and volunteerism; and

horses in innovative ways that will help ensure horses naturally

• Educating the public on the positive impact horses have

transition from one chapter of their life to the next without

on our lives by sharing stories of their amazing achievements

risk of abuse, neglect, or slaughter.

and contributions.

EQUUS believes that an updated human-equine model— one based on collaborative relationships—offers boundless

80

HOW DID THE EQUUS FOUNDATION COME TO BE?

opportunities for horses to contribute positively to the

When EQUUS Foundation founder Lynn Coakley’s youngest

cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being of all

daughter headed off to college, it came time for her daughter’s

people.

competitive hunter/jumper career to come to end (or at least a

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hiatus). That also meant it had come time for her beloved

and trendy market of discerning millennials. Caring about

horses to transition to their next chapters.

the environment and all creatures great and small has now

While Lynn was fortunate to provide her daughter’s

become mainstream. Designers and entrepreneurs are now

horses with a comfortable and safe environment to enjoy

busy creating more environmentally conscious and ethical

the remainder of their lives, the process of exploring

products, some that even give back to great causes—enter

options taught her that many horses in transition find

the idea for the new #RideForHorses EQUUS Foundation

themselves at risk of abuse and neglect when their owners

vegan boot line by Der Dau!

can no longer care for them.

This eye-opening experience inspired Lynn to establish the EQUUS Foundation in 2002 to provide financial support to a handful of equine charities in Connecticut and New York. The program expanded from there.

OK, SO HOW DID THESE BOOTS ACTUALLY COME TO MARKET? Valerie had seen Der Dau boots at horse shows for many years and was impressed by their beautiful tailoring and stunning styles. She had long admired #EQUUStar Georgina

WHERE DID THE IDEA FOR VEGAN BOOTS COME

Bloomberg’s taste, and her choice of Der Dau custom tall

FROM?

boots was quite an endorsement. Val kept wondering what

Many years ago, Valerie Angeli (EQUUS Foundation

those boots would look like in faux leather. So last winter,

Vice President of Engagement and Special Projects) started

at the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival—after rescuing

ruminating on the idea of developing vegan boots. As a

a cow (and unbeknownst to them, a calf) from slaughter

long-time equestrian and horse owner, and a lifelong

together—Val asked for Georgina’s thoughts on high-style

vegetarian by her own choice at age five, Val struggled

Der Dau boots made of faux leather that would also benefit

with all the leather tack and gear required for a life riding

horse welfare through the EQUUS Foundation.

horses. She wished there was an alternative.

Georgina loved the idea, but she was understandably

But, when leather alternatives first appeared on the

doubtful that functional and durable boots could be made to

market, they didn’t seem to have the look or functionality

her taste level out of non-leather materials. Val’s rebuttal was

that a discriminating equestrian would require to even

that she’d already spoken with Joseph Der about this very

consider

idea, and he was intrigued and up for the challenge. He had

buying.

Attractive,

functional,

and

high-

performance non-leather materials still weren’t available.

a few R&D requirements though. First, he had to find the

In the past few years, however, the rise of both faux

right materials. Second, Georgina and other #EQUUStars

meat and faux leather alternatives of much higher quality

would help him design them to their exact specifications.

have sprang onto what is now a much more demanding

And third, as elite riders, the #EQUUStars had to test them.

81

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Photos courtesy of Joe Der

Joe developing a vegan masterpiece at his shop in Brooklyn, New York.

Once the plan was in place, Val’s idea was off to the races.

vegan boot represents one of those big, innovative steps toward

Joe and Val exchanged information about vegan and faux

animal welfare that EQUUS promotes and the #EQUUStars love.

leather materials for months. #EQUUStar Clementine Goutal, who

Der Dau boots are a Cuban family tradition that was “Made

also has a discriminating taste in equestrian style, jumped in to

in America.” After his uncle taught him the trade in Cuba, José

help with the aesthetic decisions and testing. She expressed her

Der (Joe’s grandfather) came to the US at age 26, started Der

desire for the boots’ materials to be gentler on the environment

Dau boots in Flatbush, New York, and the rest is literally 50

than real leather. Adding this extra challenge for Joe, he reworked

years of history. The company built its exceptional reputation

the boots with fabrics made of paper-thin panels of recycled

by offering fantastic customer service and using master leather

rubber and other more environmentally conscious fabrics.

artisans’ traditional techniques.

Joe then made a prototype that was “mind-blowingly

Now, Joe is a third-generation boot maker (if you only count

beautiful,” but the sizing needed to be tweaked a bit. With that

the American generations), and even with the advent of robot-

feedback, Joe found the perfect combo of materials that make

craftsmanship, Der Dau remains passionately dedicated to its legacy

the boots look and fit like they’re painted on. They have all of

of hand building the finest riding boots to the exact specifications

Der Dau’s signature high styling, are completely functional, and

of each customer, and there’s no asterisk for vegan boots.

wear well—even for full-time competition riders—#EQUUStar approved!

WHERE AND WHEN CAN PEOPLE GET THESE AWESOME BOOTS?

WHAT’S AN #EQUUSTAR?

The new “#RideForHorses EQUUS Foundation Vegan Tall

The EQUUS Foundation has several #EQUUStars who

Boot by Der Dau” is set to officially unveil during the annual

serve as inspirational icons and role models for horse

Hampton Classic Animal Adoption Day on Monday, August 26,

lovers and equestrians. They are top riders who aren’t

at 12:00 PM. Der Dau will be taking boot orders and measuring

just impressive in the show ring, but who “walk the talk”

for custom sizing at their beautiful Hampton Classic boutique.

when it comes to horse welfare—like #EQUUStars Georgina

At the conclusion of the Hampton Classic, Der Dau will

Bloomberg and Clementine Goutal—and understand the

take orders at their Brooklyn store (1885 McDonald Avenue)

importance of taking action. They are compassionate people

and at their pop-up shops at horse shows across the country.

who help EQUUS promote horse welfare projects and serve

Der Dau will give 20% of the purchase price of each pair

as “influencers” of kindness toward horses.

to the EQUUS Foundation to help at-risk and transitioning horses find hope across the United States.

WHY DER DAU?

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PS: The “Dau” in the company name “Der Dau” comes

To put it simply, “… to make sure that it’s the best, most

from the Spanish tradition of incorporating the grandmother’s

comfortable boot someone has ever had.” But, for a company

maiden name as part of the last name. If you’re like me, you

that once said, “We only work with the finest leather,” this

were wondering.

our w orl d Photo: Seth Chandler

Conversation with #EQUUStar

Georgina Bloomberg Georgina Bloomberg is one of the EQUUS Foundation’s original #EQUUStars. Longtime supporter of animal welfare and longtime friend of the vegan boot’s impetus, Valerie Angeli, we caught up with Georgina to get her take on the final product.

84

EQ AM: Can you tell me a little bit about how and why you got involved with the EQUUS Foundation?

Georgina:

Absolutely!

Valerie

(Angeli,

The horse show world will always be a little bit traditional, and leather has always been a part of that

EQUUS

tradition. Everything has always been leather, from boots

Foundation Vice President of Engagement and Special

to saddles to tack. Heading into the future, if there’s a way

PRojects) and I’ve been friends for a long time. I met her at

to avoid that, I think that’d be great. Hopefully, as new

the Hampton Classic when she was working at the ASPCA,

technology keeps getting better and better it will become

and we hit it off on a personal level. She’d been there for

easier to avoid.

27 years and was running their equine welfare program.

And, I think any company that helps those who ride do

Then, I actually joined the ASPCA as a board member and

it in the most environmentally conscious and animal friendly

was on the board for a little while until they no longer

way is great. A lot of companies are starting to provide

had a position for Val. So I left at the same time she did.

people with different options and are choosing not to go

When she joined up with the EQUUS Foundation, it was

with the norm simply because that’s the way it’s always

just a perfect fit and I definitely wanted to be involved in

been. There’s technology now that can give us options, so

anything she was doing because I believed in her and her

it’s great.

work.

What would you say to people who think, “There’s Unfortunately, with the advent of the internet and

no way these boots are going to be as good as real

social media, it’s way too easy to be misinformed

leather boots?”

and misled. It’s more important than ever that donor

I think that it will take some time to develop products

dollars be directed to equine charities that are fully

that are not real leather that will hold up the way real leather

transparent and operating at the highest standards

does. But maybe they don’t necessarily have to. Der Dau

of horse care. Is that where the EQUUS Foundation

has made my boots for years, and I know that the majority

comes in?

of their products have always been pig skin. Since I have

The EQUUS Foundation enables riders to give back to

a pig myself, I don’t use any pig products, so Joe Der has

animals that give us so much. We all love these animals

always made my boots without pig skin. And to be honest,

and we want to help them, but many of us feel there are

they don’t normally last as long as his pig skin boots last

few options for riders to do so. And sometimes riders just

for other people, but that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make

don’t know what issues are surrounding equine welfare. I

to be able to keep true to my morals and beliefs. That’s not

think the EQUUS Foundation is wonderful at bridging that

something I’m willing to compromise, and he’s always been

knowledge gap and giving riders an opportunity to give

very conscious of my beliefs and my personal take on things.

back. So, on a personal level I would support anything that Val did, but I really genuinely believe in the organization and the work that she’s doing with it.

What are your regular Der Dau boots made out of?

They’re made of cow. But… I know… now I have cows.

Yeah.

Val was telling me about how you two now have joint custody of cows…

So this is good timing for Der Dau’s vegan boots?

Yeah, we adopted a cow that was headed for slaughter

Yes! It’s nice that companies are now starting to realize

and she turned out to be pregnant, so now we have two, a

some people who want the look, feel, and quality of real

boy and a girl, and we are co-parenting them.

leather don’t want to have to kill animals for it. I think a

So you are quite an animal person.

lot of companies are starting to make this great step in the

I am an animal person. I am not a vegan, but I try to be

right direction.

animal conscious in all aspect of my life. As a rider though, I do think you need to be comfortable around leather.

What do you think of the quality of the boots that you’ve received from Joe?

What would you say to those people who’d agree with

I think they look beautiful. We’ll see how long they hold

you that riders need to be comfortable around leather,

up, but at the end of the day, if it’s something that lets you

so leather boots just come with the territory?

stay true to your morals (and maybe they can figure out

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Photo: Seth Chandler

EQUUS is doing so many wonderful things with horses, which have obviously given me so much. Supporting any organization that is doing something that I really believe in really brings me joy. Georgina Bloomberg

a way to make them less expensive than real leather

I remember when we last talked at Washington

boots), than maybe they don’t need to last as long.

International Horse Show, you had on some beautifully embossed leather boots. Style-wise,

How do they feel out of the box?

what do you think of their vegan counterpart?

They are incredibly comfortable! They feel very soft.

These are just the first design so they’re plain black.

They were easy to walk in right off the bat, which isn’t

If you want a plain pair for everything, this would be a

the case with real leather. They are comfy to ride in and

great choice. But sure, down the road people might like

felt great on my leg. Given the amount of time that

more personalized ones so we’ll see what Der Dau can

I spend in riding boots every day, comfort has always

come up with.

been a big concern for me. So, that’s a bonus with these boots.

What about those who would rather stick with real leather for the sake of tradition?

You have the rubber panel in the inner calf

There are so many products used in the riding world

of your regular boots and these vegan boots.

that are always being made the same way just because

They’re made of recycled tire rubber, which is also

that’s the way it’s always been done. It seems like very

environmentally positive. I assume the rubber

few companies ever ask themselves, “That might be the

must be great at keeping your leg in place, and

way it’s always been done, but is that the way it always

then you don’t have to use those sticky sprays that

has to be done?” If there’s technology that can improve

have a habit of destroying your tack.

products, then I think tradition only goes so far.

Yes, the rubber inner calf is a great feature that Der Dau offers!

Right, especially if the product keeps true to the original style and purpose, than there’s no reason

I know Joe’s made you some beautiful leather boots.

86

not to embrace it.

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our w orl d Photo: Valerie Angeli

Conversation with #EQUUStar

CLEMENTINE GOUTAL Clementine

Goutal

is

an

EQUUS

Foundation

#EQUUStar and a member of the Der Dau vegan boot line’s research and development team.

EQ AM: How did you get involved with the EQUUS Foundation?

Clementine: I’m a partner at Upper Echelon Academy in Wellington, FL, which offers academic support to young athletes, so I’m constantly looking for ways to help riders achieve a more well-rounded life. I spoke to Lynn (Coakley, EQUUS Foundation President) and Valerie (Angeli, EQUUS Foundation Vice President of Engagement and Special Projects) a couple of years ago and we all agreed that partnering with

How do they look and feel?

the EQUUS Foundation would be a wonderful way to increase

I admittedly had never worn vegan “leather” before, which

awareness among equestrian youth. I’ve been riding since I was

is a shame because it’s much softer! They are really luxurious.

seven years old and I’m a passionate horse welfare advocate,

Because of the soft material, they’re even more form fitting

so this was a no brainer.

and tapered than other boots. They are so flattering because they hug the calf and ankle. These boots are more comfortable

How did you hear about the new vegan boots?

than any other pair I’ve ever worn—and beautiful!

Val approached me about the vegan boots this Spring and suggested I speak to Der Dau about what I would want them

What was it like to ride in them?

to look and feel like. I was slightly skeptical at first because.

The material is paper thin, so you feel very connected to

Although the cause is laudable, I didn’t want to commit to

the horse and saddle. I was surprised that the material held up

wearing boots that might be uncomfortable or unattractive

so well—it didn’t wear down at all. I ended up using the boots

because I basically live in my boots at shows! But, Georgina

in the high amateurs on the first day I wore them!

(Bloomberg) and I went ahead and gave our stylistic input: classic, elegant boots that junior riders would want to wear

Do you think you could spend your whole day wearing

even in equitation classes.

them and be perfectly happy and comfortable?

Yes, without a doubt.

Beyond being an #EQUUStar, what made you decide to be an ambassador for these boots?

88

Are you proud to wear these boots?

When I first spoke to Der Dau about them, Joe explained

Of course! I’m so proud to do anything that advocates

that—beyond being vegan—these boots would be made from

for equine welfare. I love telling people just how special these

recycled materials and could look however we wanted them

boots are every time they compliment me on how beautiful

to. I was blown away! The first prototype I tried on sealed the

they are. I love to see peoples’ reactions when they hear that

deal.

proceeds benefit the EQUUS Foundation!

ep i logue

#itsoknottobeokusa While researching “Lifting the Veil,” I came across the site “Equestrian Australia,” run by the Equestrian

to on www.eq-am.com).The press release states:

Federation of Australia, the down under version of

“As part of our commitment to members and

the US Equestrian Federation. At www.equestrian.

their wellbeing, US Equestrian is partnering with the

org.au/mental-health, I found the graphic above.

McLaughlin Young Group to offer free, confidential

The

hashtags

really

struck

me.

I

love

counseling services for mental health first aid.

#itsoknottobeok and I propose we start our own…

“US Equestrian members will now be able to

#itsoknotobeokusa (amazingly it’s not taken and IT

access professional counseling services for emotional

RHYMES!) Start posting your questions, concerns,

or other personal issues for up to three visits or

advice, photos, graphics, memes, etc. to spread the

sessions through a third-party licensed provider. All

message that mental illness is no longer a stigma in

providers are state-licensed, with a graduate degree

our community.

and five years of post-graduate clinical experience.

But, it also struck me even harder that the Aussies

These experienced professional clinicians are available

have an entire Mental Health in Equestrian Sport

24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a

Awareness and Action Program and, as far as I can

year. Members can reach a counselor by calling 1-800-

tell, we don’t (hint hint, nudge nudge USEF). But wait!

633-3353.”

Literally the next day, I received an email blast from

With one giant step in the direction of a happier,

US Equestrian stating that they added the member

healthier equestrian community, I ask you to go to

benefit of free mental health “first aid.”

#itsoknottobeokusa and continue to destigmatize

If you haven’t seen it yet, visit https://www. usef.org/media/press-releases/us-equestrian-adds-

90

member-benefit-free-mental (which I’ll also post a link

mental illness in all your equine weird, wonderful, creative ways!

Bracelets • Rings • Necklaces www.mantraband.com 91

The Hampton Classic August 25 - September 1, 2019

featuring the $300,000 DOHA.INC Grand Prix

hamptonclassic.com