Ringside

The Great Equalizer

Whether we’re royalty or regular folks, we’re all equal in the eyes of our horses

Imet HRH Prince Philip at the 1994 FEI World Pairs Driving Championships in Gladstone, New Jersey.

Well, not exactly. What actually happened was that, tramping enthusiastically around the marathon course at our first time attending a combined-driving competition, my mom and I paused to watch a few pairs navigate one of the obstacles. Standing not far from us, and seemingly all by himself, was Prince Philip, looking like everybody else with his outdoorsy attire and his wellies or some other sort of sensible footwear.

I may have smiled and nodded timidly; I don’t recall. I do remember thinking that it was pretty cool to encounter royalty out there in a field in New Jersey, just enjoying horses and horse sport without any fanfare.

On another occasion, when Mom and I were in the Gladstone area for some equestrian event, we stopped at the venerable nearby Beval Saddlery. I was soon absorbed in the rows of fragrant leather goods and equine paraphernalia while Mom casually browsed. That’s why she was the first to spot the notable fellow tack-shopper while I remained oblivious—that is, until Mom began whispering my name from the other side of the display rack.

“It’s Jackie Onassis! It’s Jackie Onassis!” Mom hissed, her attempts to keep her voice quiet failing utterly. She was so excited, I thought she was going to have a stroke or get us kicked out of Beval’s, or both. I finally looked up and, sure enough, there was Jackie O., looking exactly as she did in the magazines and on TV, outsized sunglasses and all. I had more or less the same reaction that I’d had to my close encounter with Prince Philip—Gee, it’s a kick to see these famous horse lovers just doing their thing with the rest of us horse people—while Mom, being of the generation that could tell you exactly where they were when President John F. Kennedy was shot, said later that seeing Onassis in the flesh was overwhelming, a blinding history-before-your-very-eyes moment.

It’s an inescapable fact that horses are expensive, and so it follows that the equestrian world attracts more than a fair share of the wealthy and privileged. But the horses, of course, don’t know and don’t care whether their humans are rich, famous, or titled. Regardless of whether you are a captain of industry or the nobility, if you can’t ride well, you’ll look just as inexpert as any other struggling equestrian, albeit perhaps in nattier attire.

That’s the wonderful thing about horses: They are the great leveler. Not only are they just as likely to misbehave or to fall on the forehand with royalty aboard as with anyone else; they also serve to unite anyone who shares a love for them. A passion for horses can break the ice and evaporate socioeconomic differences. (I like to imagine that Queen Elizabeth II would enjoy chatting with me about horses more than making receiving-line small talk about things like hats and the weather.)

Prince Philip wasn’t one of us, yet he was one of us. At his passing, which we memorialize on page 15, we mourn the loss of a horseman who did much to advance the sport. And we marvel at our equine partners’ ability to strip away social distinctions and to illuminate what really matters: our common passion for horses.

Jennifer O. Bryant, Editor @JenniferOBryant

Bits and Pieces from USDF and the World of Dressage

Tokyo Dressage Short List Announced ★ Remembering John Boomer ★ Little Makes History at Kentucky

IN THE FRAME

Marilyn Little and the 16-year-old Oldenburg mare RF Scandalous (Carry Gold x Lario), owned by Jacqueline Mars and by Phoebe and Michael Manders, got some impressive air time on their way to winning the dressage at the 2021 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*. Story, p. 14.

OLYMPIC GAMES

US Dressage Short List Announced

US Equestrian on April 28 announced its dressage short list—12 riders and a total of 15 riderhorse combinations—for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games:

Katherine BatesonChandler, Wellington, Florida, and Alcazar, a 2005 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Contango x Ferro) owned by Jane Clark

Susan Dutta, Wellington, Florida, and Don Design DC, a 2010 Hanoverian gelding (Der Designer x Sir Donnerhall); and Figeac DC, a 2009 Oldenburg gelding (Fackeltanz x Diamond Hit), both owned by Tim Dutta and the rider

Ben Ebeling, Moorpark, California, and Illuster Van De Kampert, a 2008 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Spielberg x Contango) owned by Sasha Cutter for Nuvolari Holdings and Amy Roberts Ebeling

Jessica Howington, Wellington,

Florida, and her own 2007 KWPN mare, Cavalia (Sir Donnerhall x Gribaldi)

Charlotte Jorst, Reno, Nevada, and Kastel’s Nintendo, a 2003 KWPN stallion (Negro x Monaco) owned by Kastel Denmark

Olivia LaGoy-Weltz, Haymarket, Virginia, and Rassing’s Lonoir, a 2004 Danish Warmblood gelding (De Noir 3 x Loran) owned by Mary Anne McPhail and the rider

Adrienne Lyle, Wellington, Florida, and Salvino, a 2007 Hanoverian stallion (Sandro Hit x Donnerhall) owned by Betsy Juliano LLC; and Harmony’s Duval, a 2008 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Rousseau x Riverman) owned by Duval Partners LLC

Steffen Peters, San Diego, California, and Suppenkasper, a 2008 KWPN gelding (Spielberg x Krack C) owned by Four Winds Farm and Akiko Yamazaki

Jennifer Schrader-Williams, Olympia, Washington, and Millione, a 2003 Danish Warmblood gelding (Milan x Rawage Quintus) owned by Millione Partners LLC

Sabine Schut-Kery, Napa, California, and Sanceo, a 2006 Hanoverian stallion (San Remo x Ramiro’s Son II) owned by Alice Womble

Alice Tarjan, Oldwick, New Jersey, and her own 2010 Hanoverian mare, Candescent (Christ 3 x Falkenstern II)

Nick Wagman, San Diego, California, and Don John, a 2008 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Johnson x Goodtimes) owned by Beverly Gepfer; and Ferano, a 2010 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Scandic x Parcival) owned by Elizabeth Keadle.

Given pandemic-related travel and other restrictions, in lieu of mandatory competition in Europe preceding final team selection, US Equestrian instead organized a US Dressage Short List Mandatory Observation Event, June 8-12. The venue, the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida, was chosen in part because the temperatures and humidity during the evening classes are expected to be similar to conditions in Tokyo.

The final team selection— three team spots plus a traveling reserve—were to have been announced by June 21. Tokyo Olympic dressage competition commences July 24. Get the latest Olympic and Paralympic news at Tokyo2020.jp.

THE CONTENDERS: The 2020 US Olympic dressage team will be selected from this talented group

OBITUARY MEET THE INSTRUCTOR

John Boomer

John Boomer, who took the reins of The Dressage Foundation (TDF) after his father, TDF founder Lowell Boomer, stepped down, died March 21 in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was 92.

The Boomer family—Lowell, wife Gladys, and sons John and Jim—all rode, and Lowell Boomer was instrumental in the founding of the USDF in 1973. Seeing a need for a philanthropic organization to offer financial assistance to those wishing to advance their dressage involvement, Lowell Boomer established TDF in his home city of Lincoln in 1989.

Raised in Lincoln, John Boomer earned a BS in business administration from the University of Nebraska. He had a successful career in business, starting out at his father’s Boomer’s Printing Company in Lincoln (which also was home to the original USDF office). He went on to work for Business Week magazine in New York City and for United Technologies Corporation in Hartford, Connecticut. Later, back in Lincoln, Boomer and his wife, Lynn, founded John Boomer Consulting Services Inc., which helped clients with fund-raising, corporate communications, advertising, PR, and advocacy. Boomer was also a US Army veteran and an active participant in civic affairs in and around Lincoln.

TDF was a significant project for both John and Lynn Boomer, who together managed the organization for more than a decade during their retirement years. To date TDF has awarded nearly $3 million in scholarships and grants.

“John Boomer had big shoes to fill,” said TDF president and CEO Beth Baumert, “but he made his father’s dreams his own, carrying the ball well into his own retirement. He had amazing organizational abilities that he passed on to me, and I’m grateful for that. The Dressage Foundation will continue to grow and support the sport we love, but for those of us who knew John well, there will always be an invisible little force—that familiar little nudge—that says, ‘Go for it.’ We’re all fortunate to have had him in our lives, and he will be missed.”

Boomer is survived by his wife of 66 years, Lynn; sons John Jr., David, and Mark; and their families.

TIRELESS PROMOTER: Representing The Dressage Foundation with wife Lynn at the 2004 USDF convention Sheila Buschette, Billings, Montana

Sheila Buschette is a USDF-certified instructor/trainer at Training and First Levels. She holds a BS in equine studies, is an Eagala Certified Equine Specialist, and was the first person from Montana to become a USDFcertified instructor/ trainer.

How PIONEER: Buschette is the I got started in first USDF-certified instructor/ trainer from Montana dressage: I have loved horses all my life and grew up ranch and “back yard” riding. I participated in 4-H and all its education possibilities. Getting a degree in equine studies was logically the next step. I met a wonderful instructor, Katrina Tiensvold, who introduced me to dressage, and I was hooked!

I wanted to become certified because: I think of USDF certification as ensuring that my students are getting the best in classical education. The certification process stepped me way out of my comfort zone, but I gained so much confidence. I received affirmation of what I was doing well and learned so much more. I also made some very good friends.

Training tip: Never stop learning! Dressage is a journey, not a destination. My dad used to say, “When you stop learning, hang up your spurs.”

Contact me: (406) 672-9378 or crazeyhorselady@yahoo.com.

USDF BULLETINS

L Program Accepting Faculty Applications The USDF L Education Program is accepting applications for new faculty members who meet the following requirements: • USEF “S” dressage judges for two or more years • Experience in teaching in a classroom/lecture-style environment • Willing to serve on the L Education Program

Committee and to assist in working toward the committee’s goals.

Please contact the L Program Committee liaison at lprogram@usdf.org for an application and additional information. The deadline to apply is November 15, 2021.

See You at the Great American/USDF Regional Championships! Check the Regional Championship Competitors page on the USDF website to verify that you’ve qualified for the 2021 Great American Insurance Group/USDF Regional Championships.

Have You Qualified for the USDF Regional Adult Amateur Equitation Program? To qualify for a USDF Adult Amateur Equitation Regional Final class presented by Big Dee’s Tack and Vet Supply, riders must earn a score of 70% or above in an applicable dressage-seat equitation class or qualify at any level (excluding freestyles) for the Great American/USDF Regional Championships. A USDF Adult Amateur Equitation Regional Final class will be held in conjunction with each of the nine Great American/USDF Regional Championship competitions.

Planning to Compete at the US Dressage Finals? Be sure to visit USDressageFinals.com as you begin your preparations to compete in the 2021 US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan®. The Finals prize list is now available online, and declarations are open. Horse/rider combinations must declare their intention to participate by completing the Declaration of Intent form by midnight on the day prior to the first day of their Regional Championship competition (including any open-class day before the start of championship classes). There is no fee to declare, but horse/rider combinations must declare at the level(s) and eligible division(s) in which they intend to compete.

If you qualified for the US Dressage Finals in 2020, in order to utilize your carryover eligibility for the 2021 Finals, the nomination process must be completed between July 1, 2021 and August 31, 2021. All-Breeds Declaration Deadline Approaching The deadline to declare a horse for the 2021 USDF All-Breeds Awards Program is August 1. Submit your horse’s breed-registry papers and completed All-Breeds Awards Declaration Form to the USDF office prior to August 1.

Check Your Scores Check your scores on USDFScores.com. If you spot an error, e-mail scorecorrections@usdf.org or call (859) 971-2277. Score corrections must be reported by October 15 at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Nominate for the USDF Regional Schooling Show Awards Program The USDF Regional Schooling Show Awards Program offers yearly regional recognition for nominated horse/ rider combinations. Four award divisions (open, junior/ young rider, adult amateur, and non-professional) are available for USDF group members. Nominate now on the USDF website under Awards / Regional Schooling Show Awards.

USDF Benefit Classes USDF benefit classes support dressage education in the US though USDF educational programs. Winners receive special USDF awards! Ask competition management to host a USDF benefit class.

Scores Do Not Expire for USDF Horse Performance Certificates Even if your horse earned the scores last year, you can still submit an application for a USDF Horse Performance Certificate. Easy online application is available on the USDF website under Awards. See the USDF Member Guide for complete award requirements.

Youth Recognition Congratulations to the following USDF members, who achieved US Pony Clubs (USPC) dressage specialty ratings in 2020:

A Dressage: Anna Douglas; CT; H-A Dressage: Maija Liisa Luttinger, IA; Elizabeth Morgan, FL; C-3 Dressage: Quinn Gilman, HI, Lily Koorejian, CT, Julia Magsam, KY, Geri Messinger, NC, Camille Pitre, MS, Savannah Ranes, CA; C+ Dressage: Sierra Kuzmeski, MA; Marin Roth, IL.

And congratulations to these adult USPC members, who earned USPC dressage specialty ratings in 2020:

B Dressage: Joan Leuck, WI; C-3 and C+ Dressage: Cass Crandall, AK.

For more information about this recognition program, visit the USPC website at PonyClub.org.

PARALYMPICS

Collier Featured at Team USA Media Summit

Para-equestrian dressage competitor Sydney Collier represented her sport at the Tokyo 2020 Team USA Media Summit. The April 7-9 virtual event, organized by the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), gave sports journalists the opportunity to interview Olympic and SPORT SPOKESPERSON: Paralympic hopefuls as Sydney Collier represented well as USOPC officials and para-dressage at April’s Tokyo service providers about their 2020 Team USA Media Summit plans for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Collier, 23, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a past US national para-dressage champion. She rode for Team USA at the 2016 Rio Paralympics and was the youngest competitor at the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy.

Naturally, many questions concerned the 2020 Games’ postponement as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Asked how she’d coped, Collier said that at first she was “very upset” by the delay, “but I have kind of reframed my mindset toward it and taken the time to reflect on things that, if I hadn’t had this extra year, I might not have had time to do, just regarding my mental mindset and my physical preparedness…. I kind of see it as the silver lining to the whole situation, and I’m deciding to treat it as an asset to me, going into Tokyo.”

Tokyo para-dressage hopefuls continued to train virtually in 2020, said Collier, adding that she was lucky to be living in an apartment at the barn where she rides so that she didn’t lose any saddle time during the pandemic lockdowns. She said she’s also learned the importance of mental training: She meditates, does visualization, and has weekly sessions with a sport psychologist to help her stay mentally resilient, “no matter what’s going on in the world or what uncertainty is happening. That’s something that I definitely neglected in Rio,” she said, “and it was the missing piece when I was on the team there, and it’s something I want to do better.”

The US 2020 Paralympic dressage mandatory observation event was set for June 17-20, 2021, at the CPEDI3* Tryon, North Carolina, with the nominated entry to be announced by July 5. The 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games commence August 24; learn more at Tokyo2020.jp. THE NEAR SIDE

EVENTING

Townend Wins Third Consecutive Kentucky Crown

It was a very different kind of Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian this year. COVID-19 restrictions meant that there were no huge crowds cheering on their favorites and no spectators wandering through a large trade fair at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

One aspect of the competition did remain the same: Great Britain’s Oliver Townend rising to the top, making 2021 his third victory in a row. He took the title not aboard his previous winning mount, Cooley Master Class, but with his “backup” horse, Ballaghmor Class.

At the 2021 event, held April 21-25, a CCI4* was held in conjunction with the CCI5*, which brought the total number of horses presented at the first horse inspection up to 63. Those who followed the action online via the USEF Network were treated to two very competitive events. According to US Equestrian, online viewership was up 2.5 times over 2019, with about 301,700 plays by more than 43,000 site visitors.

The first day of CCI4* dressage ended with a three-way tie among three Americans: Tamra Smith on Danito, Doug Payne on Starr Witness, and Elisabeth HallidaySharp on Cooley Moonshine, all on a score of 28.1. In the CCI5*, the USA’s

Marilyn Little on RF Scandalous posted a dressage score of 21.7— the best at the event since 2009, when Bettina Hoy and Ringwood Cockatoo scored 19.2 (as adjusted for the modern scoring system).

On day two of dressage, Smith and Canadian Colleen Loach broke the CCI4* three-way tie. Riding EnVogue, Smith produced an accurate, flowing test despite a challenging warm-up with the mare spooking at a video camera to score 25.4. Loach scored a 27 on Vermont for second place. Then, aboard Mai Baum, Smith scored just 0.1 point behind Little to finish the CCI5* dressage in second place with 21.8.

With rain predicted for Saturday’s cross-country, the five-star entries were given the morning times to afford them the best run. Townend ran clear on both of his mounts, finishing in first place with Ballaghmor Class and eighth with Cooley Master Class, despite the fact that both horses lost a shoe on course amid rain-slicked footing. Finishing in second, Boyd Martin on On Cue was the highestplaced American after cross-country. New Zealander Tim Price on Xavier Faer rounded out the top three.

The CCI4* contenders then took to Derek de Grazia’s course. Of the 40 starters, 15 were eliminated on course and 14 finished without jumping penalties. No one finished under the optimum time. In the final trip of the day, dressage leaders Smith and EnVogue jumped clear with 9.6 time penalties, good enough to maintain their lead.

Townend’s Sunday had an unhappy start when Cooley Master Class was eliminated at the second horse inspection, meaning that the rider now needed a fault-free show-jumping round on Ballaghmor Class—which he achieved—to win. Martin also needed to jump clear to retain second place, but a rail at the first element dropped him to fourth, which still secured him his second Land Rover/USEF CCI5* Eventing National Championship. Price and his wife, Jonelle Price, finished second and third, respectively.

An unlucky rail plus 1.2 time faults cost Smith and EnVogue the CCI4* win. The title went to the USA’s Alyssa Phillips on Oskar, who had been tied for fifteenth after dressage on a score of 32.3, then incurred 5.6 time penalties but no jumping penalties on cross-country. Phillips produced one of only five fault-free show-jumping rounds. HallidaySharp on Cooley Moonshine rounded out the field to finish third. —Emily Koenig

THREE-PEAT WINNER: 2021 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5* champion Oliver Townend on Ballaghmor Class

OBITUARY

HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh

HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, died April 9 at Windsor Castle in England. He was 99.

The husband of Queen Elizabeth II, to whom he was married for 73 years, Prince Philip was known in the equestrian world as the longest-serving president to date of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the international governing body of horse sports. He led the FEI from 1964 to 1986 and was succeeded by his daughter, Princess Anne, who served as FEI president for the following eight years. Princess Anne’s sport of choice was HE TOOK THE REINS: HRH Prince Philip, a eventing, but Prince medal-winning combined-driving competitor, helmed the FEI for a record 22 years Philip preferred polo, which he played with great success until the age of 50. When he decided to retire from that sport, he sought another equestrian discipline and decided to give combined driving—which parallels eventing with its dressage, marathon, and cones phases—a try. He became enthralled by the sport and within a few years had risen to the international level, winning team gold at the 1980 World Driving Championship and bronze in 1978, 1982 (placing sixth individually), and 1984. During his tenure as FEI president, he brought combined driving into the stable of FEI disciplines and helped to standardize international rules.

Prince Philip was also instrumental in the creation of the FEI World Equestrian Games, having lobbied for such a competition for many years before it was staged for the first time in Stockholm in 1990, according to the FEI.

Online Extra

Watch The Royal Family Channel’s video celebrating Prince Philip’s enthusiasm for combined driving.

OBITUARY

Idocus

The international dressage competitor and noted sire Idocus (Equador – Eretha, Zonneglans) died March 23 at DG Bar Ranch in Hanford, California. He was 31.

Christine McCarthy Wemyss, who also owned Idocus’s dam, imported the Dutch Warmblood stallion from the Netherlands as a weanling and raised him at her Royal Starr Farm in Bedford, New York, sporthorse expert THE COMPLETE PACKAGE: Idocus with Scott Hassler Courtney King-Dye recounted in his July 2009 USDF Connection article, “Idocus: All-Around Sport-Horse Champion.” Hassler met Idocus at his stallion testing as a three-year-old and rode him for the next three years, after which Olympian Lendon Gray took over and trained and competed Idocus through the FEI levels. Gray’s then working student Courtney King (later King-Dye) occasionally rode Idocus, and eventually King and Idocus became a competitive pair.

With King, Idocus won the Grand Prix at Dressage at Devon (Pennsylvania) in 2006, competed at the 2007 Rolex FEI World Cup Dressage Final, and contested the 2008 US Olympic dressage selection trial (at which King made the team aboard Mythilus). During a break in their partnership in the early 2000s, Idocus returned to Europe and was paired with Dutch rider Marlies van Baalen, who rode him for the Netherlands at the 2004 FEI World Cup Dressage Final and on the Dutch team at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games before the stallion returned to the USA in 2005 and resumed competing with King.

Later in 2008 Idocus moved to DG Bar Ranch to stand at stud and to serve as a schoolmaster for the then junior rider Ashlyn DeGroot, a granddaughter of DG Bar’s founders. The stallion, who was sought after for breeding throughout his career, sired many outstanding offspring, including the licensed stallions Olivier and Opus.