The events that shaped the last equestrian year and what to expect in this one
The Alltech National Horse Show's debut at the Kentucky Horse Park was one of the highlights of 2011Even if you just compete locally or ride for pleasure, what happens in the bigger picture affects you.
The pre-Christmas deal to keep racing going in the state, for instance, was a gift to all equestrians. Without racing, the ranks of veterinarians, farriers, feed and tack stores, hay farmers and other services that every horseperson uses would be diminished.
Similarly, the federal measure that opens the door to resuming horse slaughter in the U.S. will have an impact. Though there are no new slaughterhouses as yet, horse rescue groups whose resources already are stretched will have to be on the alert.
And on that topic, the last of the horses that remained at the Camelot auction house in Cranbury following the final sale of the year has been sold. The question for 2012 remains whether Camelot will get a new license from the state, which contends the business has not abided by its regulations, so the Camelot Horse Weekly on Facebook can continue efforts to re-home animals.
The biggest item on the equestrian agenda for 2012 is the Olympics in London. As a country with a great horse tradition, Britain will host what promises to be the most memorable Games for dressage, show jumping and eventing.
Riders have been marshaling their forces to make the U.S. team, with lots of last-minute high profile horse purchases.
Equestrian competition at this pinnacle of sporting events will be more widely viewed than ever before. The Olympic influence is mighty; it broadens the base of the sport by inspiring star-struck kids (and adults as well) to take part, whether they have a chance of standing on a podium someday or simply like to dream about it.
And now, remembering 2011:
Safety: Canada just stepped up with a rule requiring protective headgear across all levels of dressage. Top hats were on sale for cut-rate prices at last year's World Dressage Masters; they'll likely be even cheaper in 2012. Canada's Jacqueline Brooks said she was making hers into a planter; other riders doubtless will be finding lots of new uses for them. They should consult hunter riders who stopped using them for formal attire years ago. Those who like the look, however, can drop several thousand dollars on a new protective version.
The acceptance of protective headgear is all part of a groundswell that gathered steam after the near-fatal fall of dressage Olympian Courtney King-Dye in 2010.
The FEI plans to implement a headgear rule for all its disciplines in 2013. Give the concept another couple of years and every breed and discipline likely will follow suit.
Dressage: Construction by Equestrian Sport Productions is under way on a major dressage facility in Wellington, Fla., which is expected to attract riders from Europe and the West Coast. It also, however, has raised objections from an environmental group for a portion of the project that includes a hotel and shopping.
The area's status as a center of the discipline is enhanced as well by the Wellington Classic Dressage presentation of this month's World Dressage Masters, which was a big success in 2011 after ESP decided not to host it and the Classic group revived it with the sponsorship of the International Polo Club in March at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center.
The National Horse Show: The venerable competition that had become a shadow of its formerly prestigious self was revitalized by a new home at the Kentucky Horse Park and title sponsorship from Alltech, which also will back the 2014 World Equestrian Games. This company may well do even more on the equestrian scene under the enthusiastic direction of its founder, Dr. Pearse Lyons.
The unfortunate part of this success story was the demise of the Syracuse, N.Y., show that had hosted the National and couldn't compete with it as an independent entity.
Those who recall the glory days of the National in New York City will have another chance to watch horses in the Big Apple when the Masters comes to Brooklyn's Barclays Center in 2013, an initiative that was announced last month.
Horse Park of New Jersey: The 2012 Jersey Fresh three-day event marks its 10th anniversary in May at the Park, where it will serve as an Olympic selection trial after a very successful run in 2011.
A new "Friends" group formed to enhance the park with volunteers and a fresh approach that has the potential to take what happens there to another level.
Driving: The sport was fading from the scene in New Jersey until the Gladstone Equestrian Association revived its event, absent from the calendar for a few years, as a horse driving trials. Meanwhile, enthusiastic volunteers kept the Garden State Driving Event going at the Horse Park a few months later. Continuation of these two competitions will help boost the discipline in this area, following an exodus of many participants to the south.
Pan American Games: They were not only a gold rush for the U.S., but Americans also cashed in on silver and bronze as well, dominating the hemispheric competition as expected. Most important, victory in the show jumping qualified the U.S. for participation in the discipline at the London Olympics.
Wild Weather: Tropical Storm Irene in August and the pre-Halloween snowstorm wreaked havoc on the competition calendar; postponing some shows and trail paces and cancelling others, while causing damage to trails and farms.
Changing of the Guard: Two long-time coaches are leaving at the end of this year. We can only hope the selection of show jumping's successor to George Morris is handled in a less controversial fashion than the way the choice of an eventing replacement for Mark Phillips was done last year. In what seemed an inevitable result, the job went to Olympic individual gold medalist David O'Connor, but there were some stumbles and hurt feelings along the way.
As O'Connor moves into the coaching spot, he will be leaving his position as the only president the U.S. Equestrian Federation has ever had. He did an awesome job that will be a hard act to follow; so far, there has been only speculation about who might fill the post.
Sad News: Every year has its tragedies, but for pathos few can match May's True Prospect stable fire in Pennsylvania, where six horses died. Eventers Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton risked their lives to save Neville Bardos, who matched their determination and went on to finish seventh at the 4-star Burghley, England, event in September. He also earned a nomination as the U.S. Equestrian Federation's International Horse of the Year.
The sudden, shocking death of Hickstead in November was a terrible way for the world's number one show jumper to leave the scene. The Olympic individual gold medal ride of Canada's Eric Lamaze collapsed at the end of his round at an Italian show after suffering a ruptured aorta.
Gone Away: The death of Horse Park of New Jersey Board President Stephen Dey in March was the loss of an energetic and beloved volunteer, as dedicated to the park as he was to his veterinary practice.
Shelley Zlotkin of Bernardsville, a founder of the Driving for Surviving program, died in November. Even as she fought disease, she helped young people battling potential lethal conditions gain empowerment through driving mini-horses.
Lazelle Knocke of Readington who helped build the base of American dressage, died last Sunday at the age of 94.
A founder of both the U.S. Dressage Federation and the Eastern States Dressage Association, which became the Eastern States Dressage and Combined Training Association, she emerged as an inspirational figure for the sport.
"She was a pillar of the dressage community from the very beginning when dressage was just getting started in this country," recalled Grand Prix rider and trainer Cathy Morelli.
"Lazelle worked tirelessly, giving her time and support, as well as use of her farm, to various groups of dressage enthusiasts. She was a wonderful judge and always so encouraging to fellow competitors.
"We are seeing the last of a great era of dressage pioneers in America," observed Morelli, acknowledging also the death in November of longtime USDF president and founder Lowell Boomer in Nebraska at the age of 100.
Lazelle Knocke at the 50th anniversary of her farm, Hobby Horse Hill, in 2003Mrs. Knocke, who started her equestrian involvement at the Claremont Riding Academy in New York City, was an orthopedic nurse who married Dr. Frederick Knocke and wrote a book on orthopedics with him. The couple moved to Readington in 1953, where they owned Hobby Horse Hill.
In New Jersey, she was involved in a variety of equestrian activities, from foxhunting to the U.S. Equestrian Team and helping with Pony Club. She passed on her love for horses to her children.
"We all grew up riding and playing with horses," recalled her daughter, Dorothy Maxfield, who followed her mother's lead and became a dressage judge.
"Her strong personality, exceptional organizational skills and bright mind helped her accomplish much," Maxfield noted.
"Her contacts were many and she gave of her time and love of dressage willingly."
Mrs. Knocke, who served as president of the U.S. Dressage Federation, earned many awards and became the first member of the Dressage Foundation's Century Club (the age of horse and rider performing a dressage test must add up to 100) riding her beloved Don Perignon.
Services will be next Sunday at 4:30 p.m. in the Readington Reformed Church on Readington Road under the direction of Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, Flemington. Go to holcombefisher.com for further information or to send condolences.
In addition to Maxfield, she is survived by two other daughters, Diane Kohout and Martha Hoffarth; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Gifts in her memory may be made to The Dressage Foundation, 1314 'O' Street, Suite 305, Lincoln, Neb., 68508 or to the ESDCTA Don Perignon Educational Fund, c/o Marsha Montgomery, 11 Indian Run, Whitehouse Station, N.J. 08889.
ON THE RAIL -- Beyond Just Riding, a series of five winter unmounted clinics beginning Jan. 15, is being offered on Sundays at Union County's Watchung Stable in Mountainside.
The sessions are open to participants from age 9 and up, with adults included. The first clinic deals with grooming and tacking up, while the next involves horse behavior, followed by basic tack and its care, advanced grooming and what it takes to own a horse.
In-person pre-registration is required at the stable, 1160 Summit Lane. For information, call the stable office at (908) 789-3665 or e-mail stablequestions@ucnj.org
ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE
Today: West Milford Equestrian Center Holiday Show, 367 Union Valley Road, Newfoundland.
Friday: Snowbird Winter Show, Hunter's Crossing Farm, 121 E. Valley Brook Road, Long Valley (through next Sunday).
Saturday: Black River Farm Hunter Show Winter Tour, 20 Boss Road, Ringoes; Palermo Show Stable Winter Festival, 1555A Burnt Mills Road, Pluckemin (through next Sunday).
Next Sunday: Black River Farm Jumper Show Winter Tour, 20 Boss Road, Ringoes.
Nancy Jaffer may be reached at nancyjaffer@att.net.