With last year's weather problems behind them, Garden State Horse Show organizers are expecting a big turnout and even have added a preview show as they mark the 60th anniversary of the Junior Essex Troop
The Garden State Horse Show, canceled partway through its 2010 run because of weather, is back this year with its featured $50,000 grand prix, won by Leslie Burr Howard on Lennox Lewis when it was last held in 2009A day and a half of the show, including its $50,000 grand prix, had to be canceled as a tent collapsed, jump rails blew out of their cups and the focus turned to getting horses and exhibitors safely out of the Augusta venue
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"It was a difficult year," acknowledged Rodney Seelig, the show's chairman.
But the organizers, alumni of a defunct cavalry-style riding program that helped form their values, work ethic and Band of Brothers camaraderie, didn't consider giving up on their show. In fact, buoyed by the response of exhibitors, they're going even bigger this spring.
"Everybody was just remarkable. They reached out and said, `Hey, you guys, you've got to go on, if you need anything, let us know. We'll do fund raisers, we'll get money together for you. Whatever it takes," recalled Garden State's manager, Tim Cleary of Port Murray.
The organization was solvent without the fundraisers; it just was a little short on the donations it made to its beneficiaries, according to Cleary, who was the troop's director of horsemanship before its West Orange farm was sold for development in 1983.
The 2011 show's prizelist, which just came out, also includes an innovation. A C-rated preview show, to run April 30-May 1 before the AA-rated May 4-8 main event, will offer equitation classes in the spacious main ring to help competitors warm up for the prestigious Devon, Pa., show at the end of May. By the time the organizers are through preparing the ring, it will look special, they contend.
``We're going to decorate the heck out of it,'' said Seelig, a native of North Caldwell who now lives in New York and, like 75 percent of the show's management team, is a former trooper.
The pre-show also will include a variety of hunter/ jumper classes, with a lot of emphasis on the lower levels.
"For all the work we do up there, we wondered if we could get two weeks out of it, so we decided to give it a shot this year," said Cleary, explaining the genesis of the preview show, noting organizers hope that eventually it, too, can be rated A or AA.
The main show is being billed as a reunion for troop alumni on the 60th anniversary of the organization's founding. The Garden State crew has heard from people who have moved away from New Jersey, and hope to attract many more who were in Troops A and C in West Orange and Troop B, which rode at Watchung Stables, then in Summit.
The organizers want to insure the future of the show. They are getting older (``We don't do jump crew anymore,'' chuckled Seelig) and while a few of their children have shown interest, they'd like to spread a wider net and bring in some of the younger troopers from the organization's last days.
There is always the dream that somehow troop can be revived, and show proceeds could go toward that. Given the era and the economy, is it a realistic aspiration?
"I believe it is if an old trooper is willing to put in the time,: said Seelig. "But at this point, we don't have that person and it would be a real challenge."
The main show is expected to draw about 1,200 horses, and if necessary, there will be waiting lists in divisions that are over-subscribed, so the committee is hoping people will make a point of pre-entering.
The highlight of the show, the $50,000 grand prix that in the past has drawn such big names as McLain Ward, Brianne Goutal, Chris Kappler and 2009 winner Leslie Burr Howard, is set to go after 4 p.m. May 7. Other highlights include a $5,000 hunter derby over 3-foot, 3-inch fences presented by Devoucoux on May 8, with a saddle for the winning rider and prizes for the owner and trainer as well.
Cleary said he was speaking for the show committee in noting, "how grateful we are for the support for the show from all the people in New Jersey and surrounding states. We've been blessed."
ON THE RAIL -- On the heels of her victory in the Platinum Performance U.S. Equestrian Federation Show Jumping Talent Search class last weekend at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla., Elizabeth Benson of Whitehouse Station took an even bigger prize on Friday night, the George Morris Excellence in Equitation Championship.
The award was presented by Morris, the U.S. show jumping coach, and it had special meaning for the 16-year-old victor because he was friendly with her father, the late Jack Benson, who ran Briarwood Farm in Readington.
"It was a dream come true. George is awesome," said Benson, after her three-round test.
"My dad passed away last year, and one of the things George said to me was, `I used to go to your dad's horse shows.' They were friends, so it was amazing to actually win," she commented.
Benson, who is trained by Stacia Madden of Beacon Hill in Colts Neck, rode her San Remo VDL in the class, but had to switch to another mount as part of a test before the competition was pinned.
The American Veterinary Medical Foundation is still trying to get a handle on the needs of horses caught in Japan's earthquake and tsunami.
Americans who are concerned about the horses' fate want to contribute or help, but there has been a paucity of information about how to do that.
"We're just now beginning to unravel what we can or should do there,'' said Mike Cathey, the AVMF's executive director, noting there has been a recent "surge" of e-mails between the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Japanese veterinary association.
Cathey's organization is poised to help, but is awaiting word on what it should do.
"The day will come; we just don't know what that is yet," he said.
ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE
Sunday: Lord Stirling Stable Dressage Show and Carriage Drive, 256 S. Maple Ave., Basking Ridge; Palermo Show Stable Show, 1555A Burnt Mills Rd., Bedminster; Woodedge at the Park, Horse Park of N.J., Route 524, Allentown.
Saturday: Tewksbury Farm Show, Hidden River Farm, 745 Amwell Rd., Neshanic Station (through next Sunday); Changewater Stables Schooling Series Show, 483 Route 519, Uniontown Road, Lopatcong; Winter Snowflake Show Series, On Course Riding Academy, 210 Beaver Run Rd., Lafayette; Princeton Winter Circuit Finals, Hunter Farms, 1315 The Great Rd., Princeton (through next Sunday).
Next Sunday: Horse Park of New Jersey Dressage Show, Route 524, Allentown.
Nancy Jaffer may be reached at nancyjaffer@att.net.