The Plaid Horse - April 2018 - The Equine Business Issue

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 1

2 • THE PLAID HORSE

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 3

4 • THE PLAID HORSE

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 5

6 • THE PLAID HORSE

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 7

8 • THE PLAID HORSE

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 9

10 • THE PLAID HORSE

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 11

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 12

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 13

14 • THE PLAID HORSE

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 15

16 • THE PLAID HORSE

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 17

18 • THE PLAID HORSE

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 19

20 • THE PLAID HORSE

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 21

22 • THE PLAID HORSE

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 23

24 • THE PLAID HORSE

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 25

26 • THE PLAID HORSE

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 27

28 • THE PLAID HORSE

THE EQUINE BUSINESS ISSUE

Publisher

PIPER KLEMM, Ph.D.

P. 30 PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Piper Klemm, Ph.D.

Editor-in-Chief

P. 34 VERMONT SUMMER FESTIVAL

Lindsay Brock

SISSY WICKES Art Director

P. 38 NCEA: SMU V. UTM

Grace Salmon

LISA DALY

P. 51 BREAKING TRADITIONS

Irene Elise Powlick

Web Director

P. 54 HONG KONG MASTERS

Lindsay Brock

BETSY KELLEY Advertising

CONTACT THE PLAID HORSE

NANCY HALVEY

WRITE Piper Klemm, Ph.D., 14 Mechanic St,

LIZ DAVOLL

CALL 541-905-0192 WEB theplaidhorse.com EMAIL piper@theplaidhorse.com FACEBOOK facebook.com/theplaidhorsemag TWITTER @PlaidHorseMag

MICHELLE DECKER RUMANES Blog Editor

LAUREN MAULDIN Digital Directors

AVERILL PESSIN JILL BELLUCCI ESTELLE KRAFT

Canton, New York 13617

twitter.com/PlaidHorseMag

INSTAGRAM @theplaidhorsemag instagram.com/theplaidhorsemag

PINTEREST pinterest.com/theplaidhorse GOOGLE + The Plaid Horse Mag TUMBLR theplaidhorsemag.tumblr.com SNAPCHAT theplaidhorse ISSUU: issuu.com/theplaidhorsemag

P. 58 COVER STORY: WILL SIMPSON

Sissy Wickes P. 65 COACHELLA

Jennifer Taylor P. 67 BABINGTON MILLS

Sissy Wickes P. 71 CROSSWORD

Sissy Wickes P. 73 WINTER EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL

Vyla Carter P. 74 A POP OF COLOR

Betsy Kelley P. 78 NCEA: ABBIE HOPKINS

Grace Salmon ON THE COVER: 2008 HONG KONG OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST AMERICAN WILL SIMPSON. PHOTO © IRENE ELISE POWLICK.

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 29

30 • THE PLAID HORSE

THE DAILY GRIND

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Many of these columns are devoted to my own riding because, well, it’s a wonderful thing in my life right now. After spending a lot of time involved in this sport in some manner, I am having success in the show ring for really the first time. And, it is exciting to me on so many levels – all of the emotions in me, as well as all the people I want to tell to hang on just a little bit longer – it can happen for you at any time.

In reality, my life (like most people’s) is the daily grind. I wake up to a steaming hot cup of coffee and a mountain of work every morning and tackle it until I drop in the evening. Most things I do are repetitive, sometimes monotonous, and it can be a challenge to stay motivated, disciplined, consistent, and ensure that the same level of perfection and enthusiasm goes into each project the hundredth or thousandth time I do it as it did the first dozen.

When Adam went on a research sabbatical last year from January to July, we traveled to California knowing our sojourn would entail a lot of hard work for both of us. From his research (late nights and early mornings) to my publishing, we also

PHOTO BY @COFFEEANDACURRYCOMB

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 31

GOOD LUCK TO ALL COMPETITORS AND ENJOY THE RIDE! Please come visit GGT Footing™ in vendor row booth 172 during the Landrover Kentucky Three Day Event this April 26-29.

We have arena builders and consultants around the globe waiting to help you with your specific needs.

• FAIRFIELD, VIRGINIA •

Producing quality young ponies for the hunter breeding and performance rings.

CONTACT CHERYL MAYE mayeshowponies@gmail.com • 703-431-9096

Photo credit: Tim Nichols.

SHOW PONIES

GGT-Footing™-sponsored rider Clayton Fredericks with horse Bendigo.

Photo credit: Michelle Dunn.

Maye

Good Footing is SAFE FOOTING!

GGT-Footing™-sponsored rider Bobby Meyerhoff with horse Dunlavins Token.

Accept NO IMITATIONS!!

Call Cynthia at GGT Footing™ for arena builders and dealers near you: 864.804.0011 Call Carrie Adams for product purchase without a builder: 864.804.8664

www.GGTFooting.com Follow us on

32 • THE PLAID HORSE

tried to experience everything California had to offer – visiting old friends, eating all the food, and making day trips available to us.

We expected work, excitement, challenges, but what we didn’t expect was to find new role models. Adam has always has an easier time than I have in the role models department because he has a lot in common with what you think of when you hear the word “scientist.” I never found great role models – Berkeley didn’t have any female chemists in my field while I was there.

While gender is certainly not a prerequisite for being a role model, this tells you how many women wanted to work with the men in that department. But fundamentally, I simply didn’t find people who I wanted to be like.

As I experienced more of life and immersed myself in the equine industry, I kept on my quest – what am I looking for in a role model and how can I be inspired?

As I experienced more of life and immersed myself in the equine industry, I kept on my quest – what am I looking for in a role model and how can I be inspired? Neither of us realized what we were looking for in a role model until we found it. We knew many people who aged and got lazy, sloppy, and stopped putting in the hours. When we found our role models, they accomplished, they advanced, they progressed, they moved up the ladder, and then they… kept coming into work every day.

Kept working, kept advancing, kept finding wonder in what they were doing into their golden years.

These were people who “could” slow down. But why would you do that and not continue with your life’s passion and work?

These people didn’t have the goal of getting on top and spending time lording from the summit. These people were process driven and found the process every bit as interesting, satisfying, and creative into their later decades as they did earlier in life.

Our first time around, in our early 20s, perched on top looked pretty good to both of us. We aspired, we ground ourselves down at an unsustainable pace, we published, and we had fun while we learned. Now, as we cross into our 30s, treasuring every step, completing work ourselves, and building sustainable models for life, for health, and for our platforms look better than ever.

◼

BY TPH PUBLISHER PIPER KLEMM, PHD

(FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM AT @PIPERKLEMM)

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 33

34 • THE PLAID HORSE

“Look at that view! How could I not enjoy myself when I’m surrounded by that?” A response like this one, coupled with a motion toward the rolling mountains of southern Vermont, is the response from most Vermont Summer Festival riders, trainers, and visitors when asked what they like most about spending their summers at the event.

When the weather warms and the days lengthen, the North American hunter/jumper community heads north. For those who go as far as Vermont, the Vermont Summer Festival is a nod to everything that a season on the road should be; a relaxed summer with exciting competition, all in a family-friendly environment. For these and many other reasons, the Vermont Summer Festival continually ranks among the shows at the top of any “must-visit show” bucket list for hunter, jumper, and equitation riders.

Take a look at all there is to love about the Vermont Summer Festival, running July 3 through August 12, 2018, at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT:

Location, Location, Location Nestled into the foothills just south of the Green Mountain National Forest, the Vermont Summer Festival shares a home with ample opportunities for entertainment that charms children, adults, and everyone in between. The Manchester area mirrors the all-inclusive vibe of the horse show itself and is local to attractions that range from public swimming holes to mountain biking and much more.

Then there’s the food—dining while at the Vermont Summer Festival is a treat. Home to restaurants spanning the gamut of food options, Manchester and its surrounding areas are a foodie’s paradise. The perfect opportunity to test drive the options is to attend the weekly exhibitor parties hosted by a different venue each Wednesday throughout the six-week show.

Perhaps one of Manchester’s biggest claims to fame is the Manchester Designer Outlets, which are considered a shopping getaway for locals and visitors alike. Located in the heart of Manchester, the outlets at the Manchester

Vermont Summer Festival

Bucket List

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 35

Designer Outlets offer boutique shopping opportunities from more than 40 brands, including iconic names like Bass, Overland, Theory, and Vineyard Vines.

IF YOU GO: Dine out! Take a stroll through the streets of Manchester, VT, and indulge in the restaurant options.

Also, don’t miss the exhibitor party at Bromley Mountain Adventure Park.

While the mountain doesn’t have white peaks during the summer months, it is far from boring during the summer with zip lines, miniature golf, the big splash waterslide, and more.

Points Palooza The Vermont Summer Festival is a hotbed for points-chasing. Qualifying opportunities span the disciplines, but the most exciting offerings are served up to hunter and equitation riders by way of a World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) week and ‘Equitation Tuesdays.’

MATTHEW METELL WON HIS FIRST CAREER GRAND PRIX RIDING DONCHALANT AT THE VERMONT SUMMER FESTIVAL IN 2017.

PHOTO © JUMP MEDIA. AMANDA STEEGE AND PLAYMAKER CHASING POINTS DURING WCHR WEEK. PHOTO © ANDREW RYBACK PHOTOGRAPHY.

36 • THE PLAID HORSE Some of the country’s top hunter competitors make the pilgrimage to the Vermont Summer Festival for WCHR week, held annually during the third week of competition. After gaining points at member horse shows across the nation, including the Vermont Summer Festival, the top ten nationally-ranked riders and top six regionally-ranked riders in each category go head-to-head in the WCHR Finals at the Capital Challenge Horse Show in Upper Marlboro, MD. It doesn’t stop there for hunters. The weekly $5,000 3’3” NEHJA Hunter Derby makes its return in 2018 to highlight the Thursday schedule and culminates with a $15,000 offering on August 9 during the sixth and final week.

Additionally, any rider with equitation finals on his or her “to do” list can check off all the boxes at the Vermont Summer Festival, which runs for six weeks in the scenic Manchester-area each summer. Thanks to weekly equitation offerings, as well as the extremely popular ‘Equitation Tuesdays’ introduced in 2013, the Vermont Summer Festival has quickly made a name for itself among equitation riders and trainers as an “Equitation Bootcamp” of sorts. With opportunities to qualify for all the major finals, Tuesdays at Vermont are host to a big group of young riders and national champion hopefuls, all with the goal of preparing for prestigious year-end goals.

The Sport Saturdays are full of action at the Vermont Summer Festival. The show peaks each week with a $30,000 Grand Prix, held the first five Saturdays of the sixweek circuit, before the season culminates with the $50,000 Grand Prix on the final weekend. The show serves as the perfect environment for tomorrow’s stars to be born with young horses and up-and-coming riders often pocketing the first grand prix wins of their careers at Vermont Summer Festival. The jumps are bigger, the riders are hungry for a win, and the sport is nothing short of thrilling!

It’s not just the riders and the horses who steal the show. The course designers at the Vermont Summer Festival are some of the best in the world.

The list includes the likes of Alan Wade of Ireland, who has the prestigious appointment of course designer for the 2018 World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, NC, in September. In addition, Mexico’s Manuel Esparza, was part of the course building team at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, while Michel Vaillancourt has the 1976 Olympic individual silver medal to his credit. All three will bring their talents to Vermont this summer.

IF YOU GO: Make it a Saturday outing! Purchase a ticket for one of the weekly grand prix events to benefit the Manchester Community Library, Meals on Wheels of Bennington Country, and Rotary Club of Manchester, and join the conversation by using tags #VSF2018 and #summerinvermont on social media.

Want to find out more about the Vermont Summer Festival? Visit www.vt-summerfestival.com, or find it on Facebook and Instagram.

◼

BY LINDSAY BROCK/JUMP MEDIA

IF YOU GO: Watch hunter riders cash in during the $15,000 NEHJA Hunter Derby on Thursday, August 9.

CLARISSA WILMERDING AND LUNA JUMPING AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE MOUNTAINS OF VERMONT. PHOTO © ANDREW RYBACK PHOTOGRAPHY.

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 37

38 • THE PLAID HORSE 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

NCEA Meet - SMU vs UTM, The Dallas Equestrian Center, Dallas, TX, March 2018. 1. Randi LaChance on Leo over fences. 2. Abbie Hopkins on Rosie on the flat. 3. Monika Zoromski on Andrew on the flat. 4. Megan Aiosa on Butter in reining. 5. Lindsay Anderson on Dillion over fences. PHOTOS © GRACE SALMON.

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 39

40 • THE PLAID HORSE

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 41

42 • THE PLAID HORSE

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 43

PERFORMANCE COACHING FOR THE EQUESTRIAN

OPTIMIZE YOUR RIDE

Captured Moment Photography.

Let me give you and your family a Leg Up!

www.darbybonomi.com

415.713.4234 • darby@darbybonomi.com Sign up for my newsletter!

44 • THE PLAID HORSE

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 45

46 • THE PLAID HORSE

LISTEN ONLINE TODAY!

THEPLAIDHORSE.COM/LISTEN

Weekly topics include: NCEA Updates, Inside Your Ride Coaching from Tonya Johnston, MA and interviews of Top Equestrians with Piper Klemm, Ph.D. and Sissy Wickes!

NEW EPISODES WEEKLY ON

1.

2.

Jumping Internationals, Tranquility Manor Farms, Monkton, MD, February 25, 2018. 1. Kelsey Miller & Ernesto. 2. Meredith Simmons & McDuff.

3. Lily Kuhr & Johnny Cash. 4. Caitlin Phillips & Francois. 5. Meaghan Lynn & Tanya. PHOTOS © JULI PHILLIPS, VISPERA PRODUCTIONS.COM.

3.

1/2 PG

4.

5.

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 47

48 • THE PLAID HORSE

1.

2.

IHSA Doubleheader at Elsa Gunnison Appleton Riding Hall, St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY, February 25, 2018 1. IHSA includes flat classes for beginning riders.

2. Over fences. 3. Horse and rider reading TPH. 4. Merle Beach checks on the order.

5. Watching from the stalls’ gate. PHOTOS © ADAM HILL.

4.

5.

3.

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 49

HITS Coachella Desert Circuit AIG $1 Million Grand Prix, HITS Desert Horse Park, Thermal, California, February 2018. Charlie Jayne & Tou La Moon.

PHOTO © SIERRA JANSEN.

50 • THE PLAID HORSE

Live Oak International Combined Driving and Show Jumping, Live Oak International, Ocala, FL, March 2018.

PHOTOS © REBECCA BERRY / Horse Sport Destinations; a travel site for the horse enthusiast / www.horsesportdestinations.com

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 51

Breaking Traditions to Be A Better Rider

52 • THE PLAID HORSE

PREVIOUS PAGE: WINNING AT WEF WAS A HIGHLIGHT OF MY RIDING CAREER… AND I WON THERE WEARING WHAT MAKES ME PERFORM MY BEST! PHOTO © PIPER KLEMM. ABOVE LEFT: RIDING IN THE PRODUCTS THAT MAKE ME RIDE MY BEST. PHOTO © STELLA GRIPPE. LEFT: SARA SOMECK RIDING IN THE HUNTERS IN THE ALESSANDRO ALBANESE MOTIONLITE MECH SHOW JACKET. PHOTO © LAILA KLINSMANN. ABOVE: LOUISE SERIO COMPETING IN THE ELITE HUNTER CLASSES IN HER FREEJUMP STIRRUPS. PHOTO © VYLA CARTER. ABOVE RIGHT: SPUR TECH SPUR STRAPS AND FREEJUMP STIRRUPS BEING USED IN THE EQUITATION RING. PHOTO © SOPHIA CIARDULLO.

There is no question that equestrian sport is deeply rooted in tradition.

sometimes breaking the tradition is necessary for the safety, comfort, and well being of competitors.

In the hunter/jumper world, everything seems rooted in tradition. Why do we mount only on the left side?

It was necessary for a soldier to mount with a sword.

Why are our hunters braided? It’s traditional to have them braided on the hunt field. And yet, so many things that don’t have a specific traditional root are still simply “the thing to do.” Why do you use an ear bonnet on your jumper? Well, because that’s just what you do. But, what about when these traditional ideals impact a performance negatively?

Since the age of eight, I have struggled with my eyes because of an auto-immune reaction that affected my mucus membranes. As a result, I have heightened sensitivity to light, forcing me to wear sunglasses anytime the sun is shining.

However, as an equitation rider, I struggled to get people to understand that I need my glasses to see, and that it’s not really a choice for me to wear them. This year at the Winter Equestrian Festival, I was getting ready to go into an equitation flat class when the stable manager of the horse I was riding asked if I should take my glasses off for the class. It wasn’t meant to be mean, but it’s an uninformed question that I get often. I replied, “No, I can’t see without them,” and he asked no more questions. Before that same class, I also noticed a big-name equitation trainer giving me looks and clearly judging me for wearing sunglasses- something most juniors simply don’t do. I even heard them say that I couldn’t possibly be

Anyone who knows me knows that I love the hunters; I am the first to speak up if something doesn’t belong in the traditional hunter and equitation rings. I turn my nose up to colored piping on show coats in the equitation and trim on saddles in the hunters. But,

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 53 successful in the equitation wearing them. I’ve gotten that comment often enough that it didn’t upset me, I just rolled my eyes. And, luckily, my eyes were hidden behind my shades.

It turns out I can be successful wearing my glasses! I won the 15-17 Equitation Flat class at one of the most prestigious shows in the country, right in front of this top equitation trainer who had her own riders up against me.

My glasses are just one way that I push the boundaries for my safety. For more than a year, I have been using FreeJump Soft’Up Pro Stirrups, a high-tech safety stirrup that features a flexible outer branch that frees the foot, should it get stuck in a fall or drag-like situation. While I hope to never need it, having a stirrup that is safer than a traditional version seems like a no-brainer. And, can the judge actually tell that it’s different from a standard stirrup? And if they can, do they care? From my experiences, they don’t care, and I have had just as much success with the FreeJump stirrups than without.

My stirrup choice is for safety and my glasses are necessary for me to ride. But how many options that help to keep riders healthy are considered taboo? After I hurt my knee in a fall, I never thought about riding with my knee brace because you just can’t do that in the equitation. It took a severe fall for prominent hunter rider Sandy Ferrell to wear a protective vest in the show arena. At first, many people disparaged her choice, but then she was Champion at The Devon Horse Show. All of a sudden, people are more conciliatory about wearing a vest in the ring. Some people have severe sensitivity to heat, and want the lightest, most breathable jacket possible. Oh, but the Alessandro Albanese Motionlite Jacket isn’t appropriate for the hunter ring? Well, top hunter riders such as John French have been known to wear it and win in it at HITS Coachella, a show that can get extremely hot, and is also one of the biggest shows in the country.

Down to the smallest details, traditions can be broken tastefully to make for a safer, more productive ride. I have recently started riding in Spur Tech Spur Straps that provide greater stability by using strong Velcro, creating a more precise fit as compared to traditional leather straps. Just a week after installing them, I had someone question whether they were “appropriate” for the equitation ring. Whether they’re appropriate or not, they give me the best ride possible, and I’m not going to turn my back on that for a weakly perceived tradition.

TKEQ 1/3 V

www.tkeqtheshop.com

So, I propose this: Horse shows are not beauty pageants. At least not for the riders.

Ultimately, horse shows are for showing off your skill in the saddle, whether in the hunter, jumper, or equitation ring. Use of safer, healthier products should not be punished. Within reason, I ask for everyone to be more open and less skeptical of the products that help us ride better. Just because I have vision challenges or have had an injury doesn’t mean that I can’t compete. I have proved this and now you can too. ◼ BY IRENE ELISE POWLICK

@tkeqtheshop

54 • THE PLAID HORSE

Bright Lights, Big City: Patrice Delaveau Thrills at Longines Masters of Hong Kong as All Eyes Turn to New York

By Lindsay Brock/Jump Media • Horses in iconic cities is a phenomenon that has taken show jumping by storm in recent years, and none do it better than the Longines Masters. Traveling to Hong Kong in early February, the third season of the Longines Masters includes a final stop in New York on April 26-29, 2018, after an opening event in Paris in December 2017. As the star-studded event took up its place at the helm of the inaugural Asia Horse Week, it wasn’t ‘over ‘til it was over’.

At the peak of competition, Patrice Delaveau claimed the Longines Grand Prix for his home country of France riding Aquila HDC. The victory came over Austrian Max Kühner on Cielito Lindo 2 by just 0.07 seconds in a 12-horse jump-off, and unseated Germany’s Daniel Deusser from his Grand Slam Indoor track. Finishing third aboard Cornet D’Amour, Deusser clinched the Longines Grand Prix of Paris at the end of 2017 and was inevitably eyeing the Grand Slam Indoor title and the super bonus of €2.25 million, achieved by winning three consecutive Longines Grand Prix in Paris, Hong Kong and New York in the same season.

“It was great today, and my horse was fantastic,” said Delaveau, who won the $382,800 purse in front of a packed house at the AsiaWorld-Expo in the heart of Hong Kong. “I love it here in Hong Kong.”

Behind the top three, Australian Jamie Kermond placed fourth on Yandoo Oaks Constellation, while British legend Michael Whitaker piloted Calisto Blue to fifth.

The focus now shifts to Delaveau, who has a chance to collect the Grand Slam Indoor bonus of €1 million if he can win the Longines Grand Prix at the final leg of the current season of the Longines Masters Series in New York, and follow it up with a win in Paris at the start of the 2018-2019 season.

Throughout three days of exhilarating competition, the Longines Masters of Hong Kong also saw victories from Emanuele Gaudiano of Italy aboard Einstein in the Table A competition of the Masters One AsiaWorld-Expo, Clarissa Lyra and Vincent Ho of Team Dash from Hong Kong in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Race of the Riders, Germany’s Philipp Weishaupt on Chacon in the prestigious Longines Speed Challenge, Michael Whitaker riding Valentin R in the Maserati Masters Power, and fellow countryman Robert Smith atop Cimano E in the event’s penultimate class, the Masters One DBS. Also competing in the Masters One DBS was American Olympian Reed Kessler, who took home fourth place and also finished ninth in the Longines Speed Challenge.

Kessler will be traveling to all three continents this season as the only American to compete in each leg of Season III of the Longines Masters Series.

The weekend not only saw world-class riding from veteran show jumpers hailing from around the world, but was also the stage for future stars of the Hong Kong equestrian sport. Leung Oi Man took home the trophy on Day 2 in

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Junior Challenge and Nathaniel Chan came out victorious with The Hong Kong Jockey Club Junior Trophy on the competition’s final day.

“It is fantastic to see riders from China, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, and Australia are able to compete at the Longines Masters of Hong Kong alongside the best riders in the world,” said Christophe Ameeuw, Founder & CEO of EEM and the Longines Masters Series.” On the occasion of the first edition of the Asia Horse Week, the participation of these riders shows how the sport is developing in this region and globally.”

Speaking specifically about Asia Horse Week, Ameeuw continued, “We want to create an annual rendezvous for the international equestrian players to bridge the knowledge, interests, and know how between Asia and the rest of the world, an event where ultimately the entire equestrian culture and all horse-related professions and sports are represented.”

Throughout the one-of-a-kind event, nearly 200 hundred equestrian experts attended the forum and it was broadcast and translated live on social media and EEM.TV, with many influential media outlets present. Held alongside the Longines Masters of Hong Kong, the summit has already rightly earned its place on the calendar, assuring it will be a staple on the international equestrian stage for many years to come.

With the Longines Masters of Hong Kong in the books, Season III of the Longines Master Series will host its grand finale in New York on April 26-29, 2018, as the world’s top riders travel to compete in in a debut New York event at NYCB Live, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. It will be the largest indoor event in New York since the National Horse show left Madison Square Garden. Notably, after a successful launch at the Longines Masters of Paris, the second leg of the inaugural Riders Masters Cup, presented by EEM and EEF, will be staged in New York. A brand-new type of equestrian competition, the Riders Masters Cup pits the United States and Europe against each other in an exhilarating head-to-head team matchup. Europe took the glory in Paris, but the United States team is stacked and ready for a comeback on home soil this spring.

Tickets for the 2018 Longines Masters of New York are available for purchase at ticketmaster.com. Fans can stay updated on the news from each team at RidersMastersCup.com and show their support on social media with the hashtags #WaveYourFlag and #WeRideTheWorld.

Set in the three of the world's most symbolic cities – Paris, Hong Kong, and New York – the Longines Masters series is recognized as one of the most prestigious events in the equestrian world. Created by EEM and known as the “Grand Slam of Indoor Show Jumping”, the Grand Slam Indoor is the ultimate challenge for the world's elite show jumping riders. For more information, visit longinesmasters.com.

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 55

56 • THE PLAID HORSE

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 57

58 • THE PLAID HORSE

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 59

“So, I finish my warm-up and all of a sudden, George and McLain coming running up and say, ‘All you gotta do is jump clean and we got the gold!’” Just another jump off for 49 year old Grand Prix veteran, Will Simpson? Not so much.

WILL SIMPSON CAPTURES THE BLUE RIBBON IN THE $30,000 SMARTPAK OPEN PRIX ABOARD CHACCO P AT COACHELLA. PHOTO © ESI.

This is 2008, this is Hong Kong, and, yes, this is the Olympic Games. If Simpson and his mount, Carlsson vom Dach, execute a fault free round in the jump off versus Canada, they seal the deal for the U.S.A. Gold. Thirty eight years after Simpson’s riding journey began on a farm in Illinois, he was about to ride into the ring for the moment of dreams. “The first thing that came over me was ‘Wait a minute, these fences are like houses.’ But, my second thought was ‘I got this. Jump offs are my favorite part of the sport.’”

And so began a ride into destiny.

60 • THE PLAID HORSE

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 61

62 • THE PLAID HORSE

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 63 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Winter Equestrian Festival Week 6, Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, Wellington, Florida, February 2018.

1. Scott Stewart & Catch Me in the WCHR Hunter Spectacular. 2. Britta Stoeckel & William Hill. 3. Julia Stone in the National Horse Show 3’3 Medal.

4. Private Life & Scott Stewart in the WCHR Hunter Spectacular. 5. Charlise Casas & Rembrandt Blue. PHOTOS © EMY LUCIBELLO.

64 • THE PLAID HORSE 1.1.

3.

3.

2.

2.

4.

4.

5.

5.

HITS Coachella Desert Circuit Weeks 4 & 6, HITS Desert Horse Park, Thermal, CA, February 2018.

1. Cheering on the moms. 2. Social media expert Piper Klemm documenting her win.

3. Merlin the Magnificent. 4. All smiles. 5. The moms take over the Walk/Trot division. PHOTOS © JENNIFER TAYLOR.

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 65 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

HITS Coachella Desert Circuit Weeks 4 & 6, HITS Desert Horse Park, Thermal, CA, February 2018. 1. Minty and Del Ray. 2 & 3. Maci and Wish List.

4. Catina. 5. Out of the Blue. PHOTOS © JENNIFER TAYLOR.

66 • THE PLAID HORSE

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 67

Babington Mills it…

Better Feed, Better Bedding Kevin Babington thinks outside the box. A career that includes an Olympic appearance (4th individually in Athens, 2004), a European Championships Gold Medal, and too many Grand Prix victory gallops to mention has created no complacency. Just the opposite, Babington relentlessly seeks to know more about how his sport ticks. Whether ending his long days by watching Grand Prix rounds from events around the world to improve as both rider and trainer to researching new and better feed and bedding alternatives, Kevin pushes himself to a higher level of horsemanship both in the ring and in the barn. His desire to provide horses with a healthier feed and cleaner bedding led to the development of his Babington Mills and a line of custom based feeds and chopped straw bedding.

slowly and produce more saliva as they eat, increasing a buffer for the stomach. “Our feed results in slow release energy. It should not take horses just minutes to eat. With our feed, they eat slower – like they are chewing on hay,” Babington states.

“I wanted to develop better options that what were currently available at the feed stores, so I started researching organic grains, mixing feeds, and developing better bedding choices,” Babington explains. With the help of an expert feed consultant from England’s Pure Feed Company, Babington developed the Babington Mills Feeds, a low sugar, low starch product.

Babington Mills feeds are a combination of chopped hay, grains, and balancer vitamin and mineral pellets. Because of the forage characteristics, horses chew the feed more

BedEdge is an exciting new dust free bedding product offered by Babington Mills. Made from chopped wheat straw, the soft, allergen free bedding is significantly more absorbent because of the chopping process. The bedding uses the inside of the straw shaft rather than the coarse, non-absorbent ends of straw in a typical bale. With BedEdge in stalls, your barn will not have the pervasive smell of urine that many straw bedded barns endure. Horses with respiratory issues are healthier and less reactive to the product. Further, disposal of BedEdge bedded manure is easy as it is a great compost accepted by mushroom farms and nurseries. BedEdge is sustainable, renewable, and a green alternative for horsemen conscious of the harmful environmental effects of traditional wood shavings.

Babington Mills offers feed options for all horses. Their Babington Hunter mix is high fiber, low fat, low starch, and low sugar. Horses will gain weight and shine without a boost in energy. In addition, the feed is suited for horses experiencing the harmful effects of Cushing’s Disease because of its low sugar component.

Babington Performance Feed is ideal for horses needing a high energy source. Jumpers, eventers, and racehorses benefit from this high fat, high fiber feed containing whole oats, carbohydrates, and fermentable fiber. Babington emphasizes the ease of digestion of his feeds. “We note that our feeds are great for horses with sensitive stomachs or ulcer issues. Our horses ship and compete all over the country without any resulting gut issues.”

68 • THE PLAID HORSE

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 69

BedEdge is available in bags and similar in appearance to bagged shavings. The price is comparable to shavings although fewer bags of BedEdge are necessary to bed a stall and fewer bags are needed to rebed after mucking because less is removed on a daily basis.

“BedEdge is a great product, “ Babington beams. “It is economical, the horses love it, and it is virtually dust free.” The bedding is perfect for all indoor pets as an alternative to cedar or pine shavings. Babington Mills hopes to see BedEdge in every pet’s home as well as every horse’s stall.

From feed to bedding, Babington Mills offers superior products for enhanced performance and animal care. Pleasure horses, high performance competition horses, and horses suffering from sugar sensitivity or gut issues benefit from carefully designed, forage based feed choices. BedEdge is the perfect answer to all bedding needs. Low dust, allergen free, and highly absorbent, BedEdge works for horses and pets alike. ◼ BY TPH EDITOR SISSY WICKES, PHOTOS BY HILLARY OSWALD & VYLA CARTER

Babington Mills products are available to be shipped to local feed stores or directly to consumers. Visit BABINGTONMILLS.COM for more information, or email

kevinbabington@yahoo.com.

70 • THE PLAID HORSE

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 71

Crossword inspired by the

CROSSWORD BY TPH EDITOR SISSY WICKES

The Horsemanship Quiz Challenge encourages education and recognizes young equestrians who have exceptional horsemanship knowledge.

Learn more at ushja.org/HQC – and be sure to register for HQC 2018!

Post your completed crosswords and tag @theplaidhorsemag on Instagram for a chance to win cool prizes!

Clue for 5 across.

Clue for 1 down.

ACROSS 3 5 7 9 10 13 14 16 18 19 20 21

The first cervical (neck) vertebrae Coat color that is dark with white hairs Type of exercise that raises heart rate Belly pain Narrow, deep wound prone to tetanus Type of hay # of gallons of water a normal horse drinks in a day Type of bar shoe Common name for an ascarid Area between hock and stifle Number of feet in a horse’s stride Bone in jaw that connects larynx, pharanx, & jaw

DOWN 1 2 4 6 8 11 12 15 17

Artificial aid Brand name wormer Bottom rein Degenerative disease of the foot Household item used to bandage feet Age when ponies may receive permanent measurement card Large bone in front leg Teeth in front of molars Method of restraint

See page 72 for answers!

ANSWERS FOR CROSSWORD ON PG 71: ACROSS 3. ATLAS 3. ROAN 7. AEROBIC 9. COLIC 10. PUNCTURE 13. ALFALFA 14. TWELVE 16. HEART 18. ROUND WORM 19. GASKIN 20. TWELVE 21. HYOID DOWN 1. SPUR 2. PANACUR 4. CURB 6. NAVICULAR 8. DIAPER 11.

EIGHT 12. CANNON 15. WOLF 17. TWITCH

© 2018 Manejane, Inc.

72 • THE PLAID HORSE

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 73 1.

Winter Equestrian Festival, Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, Wellington, FL, February 2018.

1. Christina Serio & Discovery-O. 2. Rubens ls la Silla & Conor Swail. 3. Darragh Kenny & Babalou 41.

4. Eugenio Garza & Armani SL Z. PHOTOS © VYLA CARTER.

2.

4.

3.

74 • THE PLAID HORSE

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 75

76 • THE PLAID HORSE

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 77

78 • THE PLAID HORSE

Abbie Hopkins Thrives in the NCEA Format

Three Most Outstanding Player Awards.

One National Collegiate Equestrian Association Rider of the Month.

One United Equestrian Conference Rider of the Month. Seventeen year old Abbie Hopkins has excelled in the format of the National Collegiate Equestrian Association.

THIS PHOTO AND ABOVE: ABBIE HOPKINS COMPETING AGAINST SMU AT THE DALLAS EQUESTRIAN CENTER.

A native of Seekonk, Massachusetts, Hopkins is a Freshman at the University of Tennessee at Martin. “I choose UTM because I was looking for a school in the south to get away from the New England winters and wanted a school with a riding team. When I came to visit, I immediately fell in love with how friendly everyone was, the campus, and the riding program.

Everyone I met was nothing but friendly which made the choice easy.” Before making the move to Martin to start her collegiate equestrian career, Hopkins rode in the the 3'6" equitation and High Children’s jumpers. Although she also qualified and went to Maclay regionals this past year, she has found that the jumpers are her favorite classes to compete in.

“The best thing about being part of the team is instantly having your own family. It’s a bit nerve racking to move out and away from all your family and friends from home and start a new college life. [The team] is like having 30 sisters you can fall back on.” All of the girls that join a NCEA team must make the adjustment from a strictly individual sport to having teammates. Hopkins says, “We are like one big family and are always happy for everyone’s success which has got to be the best thing. No matter if I have a good or bad day everyone is always there to cheer me on or pick me back up.”

Hopkins has been a working student for trainers Annie Dotoli and Aster Pieter, riding sale horses in all 3 rings. “For the past two winters, I worked and rode every day with my trainers for the entire HITS Ocala show circuit.”

When asked how the transition from the “A” Circuit lifestyle to the NCEA was for her, Hopkins explains, “I was very used to riding a new horse everyday and having to figure out how to work with each one to get them to do what I needed.” Being a working student “not only gave me experience showing many different horses, but also on how to care and work with them. Because I was able to ride so many different horses, the transition to [the NCEA] format was not too difficult.”

“My favorite horse on the team hands down is my own care horse Finn.” Much like Hopkins herself, Finn is relatively new to the program but has already become a valuable asset to the team. “Because he is a bit younger than some of the others, there was definitely a small adjustment period for him. Now that he has been with us for a few months, he has become such a solid citizen who not only wants to be competitive, but will do anything you ask of him and will take care of you when you need help.” Since the horse’s arrival late in the semester last year, Abbie has found a place in her heart for Finn, “He has the best personality and is just the sweetest horse. We are all so lucky to have him on our team.”

Starting in eight meets for the 2017-2018 regular season, Hopkins has been an integral part in the UTM Equestrian Team’s success - which holds the eighth spot in the national regular season team rankings. With a career high of 93 points on the flat, Hopkins secured both UEC and NCEA Rider of the Month titles for the month of October. Hopkins became the first Skyhawk to receive the NCEA Rider of the Month honor since the NCEA initiated the title. Abbie Hopkins has used her horse show experience to launch a successful career in the collegiate equestrian arena.

◼

ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY GRACE SALMON

theplaidhorse.com • April 2018 • 79

80 • THE PLAID HORSE