On the Line

Thanks for all the feedback on my previous post, The Definition of Prix. It’s good to know that people are watching, learning and talking about the new Hunter Prix series taking place this year. One day, I hope to write about a hunter class taking place in front of thousands, contested by riders known around the world, and treated with all the pomp and circumstance that a top class deserves. But until then, I give you those qualities currently being enjoyed by top show jumpers on both coasts:

Show jumping continued to shine last night during the $78,000, CSI 2** Grand Prix at WEF. The warm weather (still 75 degrees at 8pm, natch) brought out the crowds, and McLain Ward brought another new horse to the top of the  class after going double clear and besting a seven horse jumpoff.

He’s only been riding the horse with the ten-dollar name, Pjotter Van De Zonnehoeve, for about a year, but the gelding has already won a few WEF Challenge Cup classes this season.

And, surprise surprise, McLain really wanted to win the class tonight. Last year McLain told me that with his father Barney, he studies video of himself at the end of each day, analyzing and picking apart his every ride, his courses, his decisions. And if he’s second, as he was a few weeks ago during the $150,000 Spy Coast Farms CSI-W GP, he files that “mistake” away in his mind, and works to prevent it the next time out. The man is methodical to a fault, and as always, it was inspiring to watch him rule that grand prix course like an equitation round. Complete class results are here.

The showgrounds stayed alive after the class had wrapped last night, and Lé Club was the place to be for everyone from non-horse spectators to our star of the night. Reviews are still mixed for this showgrounds nightclub, but it’s undeniable that Mark Bellissimo’s ambitious plan to bring more people to WEF is, indeed, working.

That's right McLain, you're #1 Photo ©Kym Ketcham

Photo ©Kym Ketcham

Beezie Madden and Margie Engle placed 2nd and 3rd, and used the class to get their horses ready for the upcoming Nations Cup competition. They’ll be riding Coral Reef Via Volo and Indigo for the U.S. team, and if this was their “warm up”, we can all feel pretty confident about the U.S. team’s chances next Friday!

Beezie and Coral Reef Via Volo Photo ©Kym Ketcham

One more notable moment from WEF last night – Marie Hecart and her father Michel Hecart both rode in the class last night. Marie is a regular on the WEF circuit, but her father hadn’t ridden in four months! Both riders, natives of France, jumped clear in the first round and made the jump off. Michel was 4th, Marie 6th. Many thanks to photographer Kym Ketcham for capturing these moments.

Marie and Michel Hecart Photo ©Kym Ketcham

And with that, we take it to the West Coast. The crowds may not be quite as large in number at HITS Thermal, but in intensity and enthusiasm, the support for show jumping back “home” is there in spades.

This weekend, Selena Frederick has been busily shooting the 2011 USA World Cup, Modern Pentathlon series (taking place near Thermal in Rancho Mirage), but lucky for us, she stopped by the HITS Indoor on Thursday night for the $31,000 HITS Welcome Classic Grand Prix.

Each week this season, I’ve ended up texting Selena, of the fabulous Cheval Photos, the same question after the Thursday night GPs; did Rich win it again? Rich Fellers is one of the most consistent riders on the West Coast, and on Thursday he won a fast and wild class with Flexible, the amazing little chestnut stallion owned by Harry and Mollie Chapman.

Rich is a man of few words (at least, when he talks to reporters), but I suspect that he doesn’t over analyze his rides, not too much. He just goes fast, really fast, and in Flexible he’s got a willing partner, time and time again. Thursday night was the fourth big win for Rich and Flexible this season. World Cup Finals, here they come!

Rich and Flexible jump to VIP eye level in the HITS Indoor. Photo ©Cheval Photos

. . . and on to the next. Photo ©Cheval Photos

Rich and Flexible, victory galloping on Thursday night. Photo ©Cheval Photos

Last night, Rich was edged from the top spot during the $50,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix CSI-W by Mark Watring (remember Mark? He’s the owner of Sapphire, the cloned gelding that I’ve written about several times). Mark is a great rider and a super nice guy who hasn’t had another big horse since Sapphire retired. So it’s nice to see that he may have found another top partner with Green Sleeps Vioco.

Rich and Flexible had to “settle” for 2nd place, and Susie Hutchinson was 3rd with Cantano. Complete results from both classes are on the HITS site here.

On to next week!

Are we surprised?

Of course there are real alligator skin half chaps for sale in the WEF Vendor Village. Of course. Given the oxygen bar, the designer clothing on display, and the booth that sells nothing but fur rugs, these half chaps are almost commonplace.

We-ell, let’s not go that far. I was passing through the village this morning and these chaps stopped me in my tracks. The very nice gentleman selling them and other custom leather trappings is Chuck Pinnell, of Pinnell Custom Leather Goods. Chuck informed me that yes, these custom-made half chaps are made entirely from alligator hide. Yes, you can really wear them while riding, and they’re actually very tough. Ok, well that part I can understand.

And yes, he has already sold two pairs.

They “only” cost $6,500 per pair!

“Anytime you create buzz around the hunters it is good for the sport.”

That’s what trainer Hope Glynn told me when I asked her about the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final. During the first three weeks of Thermal, Hope placed in the top three of all three $5,000 Devoucoux 3’3” Hunter Prix classes that have been offered, and is currently leading overall qualifying standings for the Final.

This winter circuit, there has been no lack of buzz surrounding the Hunter Prix. It’s a brand new class that came out of nowhere last fall, generating intense attention because of the unheard of prize money amount attached to it. Half a million dollars in the hunters? Riders started planning their entries right away.

Hope is a well-known West Coast hunter rider who has enjoyed success in almost every hunter division that California shows have to offer. But if she were a jumper, she’d likely have pocketed at least a couple $75,000 grand prix classes, given live interviews to Show Jumping TV, and maybe even picked up a sponsorship deal from a well-known equestrian vendor.

If she were a jumper.

But Hope acknowledges that hunters as a whole don’t get the exposure or attention that the jumpers do, and that’s why she’s so excited about the Hunter Prix.

“You hear there’s a big purse at the end of it, and people get excited. People who weren’t all that interested in the hunters start taking an interest in it,” Hope says. “I think any big prize money at any height is a good thing for the hunters. Prize money, even at this level, is a good thing.”

Key words there: “at any height”. Hope is referencing the 3’3” height that the Hunter Prix qualifiers and Final are offered at. The class was designed to be friendly to amateurs, as well as professionals, which is another reason that Hope and trainers like her, with large barns of elite hunter riders, appreciate the class. “Juniors and amateurs can compete in the class too and have a very legitimate chance of qualifying for the Final,” she explains. “I have two students who are currently trying to qualify.”

Entries have been way up in the $5,000 and $10,000 Hunter Prix qualifying classes at HITS Thermal (shown) and Ocala. Photo ©Cheval Photos

Trainer Nick Haness won the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix during HITS Thermal Week 3. Photo ©Cheval Photos

Even though the class was the brainchild of the same people who pulled off the wildly successful Pfizer Million Grand Prix last year, half a million dollars attached to a hunter class shot way past anyone’s expectations.

But to be great, someone’s got to shoulder the inevitable criticism that comes along the way. And it has been the height of the Hunter Prix that has attracted the bulk of criticism this winter; many have wondered how the good of the sport is affected when the biggest reward isn’t attached to the highest level of difficulty.

Why? Because by definition, “prix” signifies the top of a sport; the highest level of difficulty. In the hunters, that currently means the high performance working hunter divisions (which I had the pleasure of watching last week during Hunter Week here in South Florida) or the USHJA Hunter Derby series. Hunters don’t get any more difficult, or elite, than that.

Peter Pletcher and Garfield compete in the 4' high performance working hunter division at the Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo ©Bruce Jones

It’s unlikely that anyone would have objected, in fact, it’s possible that even more excitement may have been generated, if specifications for a half-million dollar Hunter Prix had been set as a derby, at 4 foot heights and spreads with 4’3” options.

However, HITS President Tom Struzzieri is very clear about why he designed the HITS Hunter Prix series the way he did. I had a great interview with him recently for a profile in Sidelines’ March issue. During the interview, Tom told me, “The goal of this class is to open it up to as many riders as possible. I don’t think the derby format would work as well for the great majority of my customers as this format.”

Ah. No one ever said that Tom Struzzieri wasn’t sharp as a tack, and he proved it again with the Hunter Prix. The series was designed in the best interest of HITS competitors, said Tom.  He explained that, “everybody has an agenda that works well for their business and the customers they attract.”

In that case, mission accomplished. The Hunter Prix qualifier held at HITS Ocala last week attracted more than 70 entries, and was won by accomplished grand prix (and multi-talented) rider Tracy Fenney. Hope tells me that by holding the Hunter Prix classes before the grand prix at Thermal, more people have been watching. While she admits that the USHJA Hunter Derby is regarded as the most elite class in the country because of its fence height, she hopes that the Hunter Prix will encourage more sponsors to get behind all hunter derbies.

“But I don’t think one class should deaden the other,” Hope added. “I think you have two great hunter finals this year.”

There are many ways to define what is “good for the sport.” Is buzz good for a sport? Always. Are higher numbers of participants, and spectators, good for a sport? Of course. Will a bit of healthy criticism generate a stronger sport outcome, if it gets people talking, thinking about and discussing an issue? I think so.

And so it seems that there are many ways to define “prix.” What’s your definition?

Riders at HITS Thermal have not been shy about complimenting the course build outs during Hunter Prix classes. Nick Haness said that decorations like the one above gave the course a bigger feel. Photo ©Cheval Photos

You northerners can have your snowboarding and skiing. If you ask me, there’s not much that tops a jumper derby in the sunshine on a Sunday afternoon in late February. And when a world class show jumping event takes place a stone’s throw from where yours truly calls home, it’s hard not to brag, a little. The Stadium in Wellington, FL is a woefully underused venue, but when Equestrian Sport Productions holds a jumper class on “the field”, you can count on me to be there. Especially when it’s mid-circuit, temperatures have settled to an afternoon high of 77 degrees, and I’ve spent the morning inside, chained to my trusty laptop. What better excuse is there for a work-break than walking over to the Stadium to watch the $50,000 G&C Jumping Derby for a few hours this afternoon?!?

Twenty-two starters tried to make it over 20 jumping efforts unscathed, but only the top five riders were able to finish the course without fault. One fall, many refusals and quite a few retirements knocked about half of the class out of the running for top placings.

Beezie Madden won the class with Prima, Ben Maher was 2nd with Oscar, and Pablo Barrios placed 3rd with G&C Sinatra. Full results here.

I wasn’t officially on the job today, but I did use the opportunity to practice my photography skills. As you can see from the following photos, it was a glorious day to be a show jumping fan.

Pablo Barrios and G&C Sinatra clear jump 20.

Beezie Madden and Prima.

Love this fence! Shane Sweetnam and Belle Bleu S placed 4th.

It was not Rodrigo's day. . . he and Champ 163 retired after a rearing episode.

The very wide white gate. Four faults for this rider - can you see the top plank rolling?

Fittingly, Pablo over the G&C wall. But he retired later on course with G&C Blanchee.

Hey ESP - hold more classes here, it is a GREAT venue!!!

All quiet on the stabe row; 5:45am at WEF

It says something in itself that here it is Week 6 at WEF, and I’m just getting around to posting my 4th “weekly” photo. I’ve lost track of time here and there; getting up to ride horses in the very early morning will do that to you.

But it’s hard to trade a few quiet minutes in the show barns, which are a racket of horse sounds, loudspeakers, people and trucks as soon as the sun rises and all day long. The constant din of stable row sounds almost makes a person wish that the earliest hour of the morning, when the moon is low and still shining bright over the lightening sky, lasted a little longer.

(yes, you read that right)

Let’s take a moment to stand back and admire all that is the sport of reining. This may be an English discipline-leaning blog, but reining is doing a hell of a job to bring me and every other horse enthusiast into its fold.

Example A: Last Thursday, USEF announced that reining has been added to the list of disciplines at the 2011 North American Junior and Young Rider Championships in August. Held, of course, at the Kentuccky Horse Park. Reining has been a part of the Young Rider division since 2008, but this is the first year that the Juniors will also have a reining championship. No word on whether NAYRJC will be holding a championship for freestyle reining, but here’s hoping. Why? Keep reading. . .

Example B: A week ago Tuesday, it was announced that reining will appear at the 2011 Rolex Kentucky CCI**** in April. No, that doesn’t mean that the eventers will be adding a fourth phase, rather, the Kentucky Reining Cup and first ever World Championship Freestyle will be held in conjunction with Rolex, at the Kentucky Horse Park. The KY Reining Cup is rated a CRI5* (That’s the Concours de Reining International to you!) and as the only CRI5* in the western hemisphere this year, management guarantees it will attract reining competitors from all over the world.

And the Freestyle, oh, the Freestyle. Upon my arrival at the Kentucky Horse Park last fall for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, I ended up inside the Alltech Arena watching the reining freestyle competition. It’s hard to describe (wait, I tried here) a reining freestyle; to me it looks a little like Halloween at the barn, when all the kids dress their horses up in costumes and gallop willy-nilly around the arena. Yes, it’s a lot like that.

Photo ©Cheval Photos

Photo ©Cheval Photos

Photo ©Cheval Photos

Because the ultimate DQ doing her reining thing will never get old. Photo ©Cheval Photos

Not that I’m trying to take anything away from the rider with airplane . . .err. . . angel wings coming off the sides of her horse, the Pancho Villa reiner, the bridleless reiner or the trick rider that competed (performed?) at WEG. The whole production was dramatic, entertaining, and the capacity crowd loved it. My jaw never left the ground, not once. And Anky van Grunsven’s surprise reining freestyle at the end clinched the whole thing.

She never had this much fun in that "other" discipline. . . .did she? Photo ©Cheval Photos

They may wear slightly outlandish costumes, and they may whoop and holler their way through their routines, but as reining has risen in popularity, it has brought unlimited amounts of something that other equestrian disciplines often lack: enthusiasm. ENTHUSIASM! ! ! Don’t you wish there were more packed arenas of screaming fans at equestrian competitions in this country? I do.

In the March issues of Sidelines, I wrote about a handful of hunter/jumper show managers around the country, and they all had one thing in common. They are all working their tails off to improve their facilities, amenities and class offerings. Because what they all want more of are spectators. Equestrian Sport Productions has reported “healthy crowds” at WEF so far this season, but I haven’t seen a Saturday night yet when every blue seat’s been filled. And don’t ask about how half the audience got up and left before the class was even over during the Battle of the Sexes two weeks ago.

Instead, let’s mull over the fact that reining has found the secret ingredient that attracts crowds, and show jumping has not. At least not in this country.

In any case, the upcoming year at the KHP brings a high potential of eventing/reining crossover, and makes for some fun scenarios during Rolex and Young Riders. Cowboy hats peppering the stands during the dressage phase of Rolex. Die hard eventers wondering just how that winged horse was convinced to not bolt away from the appendages attached to his saddle. Thousands of eventing fans meeting their cowboy match. And more of this:

Seen during WEG, boots and spurs on the x-country course at the Kentucky Horse Park. Photo ©Erin Gilmore

Here’s hoping that the secret ingredient isn’t sequins and angel wings. I don’t think McLain would go for that. . .

Somehow, I blinked and the weekend was over! We are officially deep into the winter circuit(s) and so much is happening in the show jumping world that On the Line simply can’t keep up! But never fear, I didn’t say that I wouldn’t try…

Despite a very busy weekend of horse showing and thinking about how much work I had waiting for me at home, I did take the time to watch the very exciting $150,000 Spy Coast World Cup Qualifying CSI3* Grand Prix on Saturday night, held conveniently in my backyard (more or less) at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

It was the battle of the grey horses, as McLain Ward’s Antares F almost ~almost~ caught Laura Kraut’s Cedric in the jump off. Check out Jennifer Wood Media’s press release about the class for full coverage. . . let’s just say that THIS is why I’m in Wellington for the winter. Show jumping truly doesn’t get any better.

"I don't think I can go faster than that," said Laura about her jump off pace. Photo ©Kym Ketchum

McLain Ward graciously accepting 2nd place, and I finally get to watch the gorgeous Antares jump in person. Smiles all around! Photo ©Kym Ketchum

Or does it? It’s not as if WEF was the only place where show jumping was enjoying a big night of World Cup Qualifier jumping under bright lights. Lest we forget about a shiny white tent in a big open desert called Thermal, the talented Selena Frederick shares her shots from Saturday night’s $50,000 HITS CSI-W Grand Prix during Week III at the HITS Thermal circuit.

And while it’s thrilling to watch the pair of superstar, gold medal-winning Olympic athletes mentioned above duke it out for first place over a fantastically huge meter 1.60 course, there is something else that comes close to possibly topping it.

It’s the look on a lesser known rider’s face when he wins his first big feature grand prix! That’s right Eduardo Menezes, I’m talking to you! Forgive me if all of you out there know Eduardo well, but I don’t frequent the Oaks Blenheim shows in the summertime, and this is the first time he’s made a blip on my radar. But from his results so far this circuit, he seems to be one to watch. He finished 4th in Thursday’s $31,000 Welcome Prix and 3rd in the $50,000 Grand Prix last week. Seems he was gearing up for the big win on Saturday night with his string of fantastic horses. Eduardo lives in Southern California’s Carlsbad (my old backyard) and now he can say he’s beaten Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (she was 2nd).

Eduardo and Tomba sail around the HITS Thermal Saturday night grand prix. Photo ©Cheval Photos

All smiles at HITS Thermal! Eduardo during the awards ceremony. Photo ©Cheval Photos

Read about the HITS Thermal WC Grand Prix in detail here.

You may not believe this, but the upcoming week might just be even more exciting than last. This despite the fact that it’s the off week out in Thermal! Why come, you ask? Well, I do believe that there’s a grand prix this weekend that is actually taking place . . . In. My. Actual. BACKYARD. Oh, how I love Wellington.

More on that later. Check back here this week for more slightly serious and always entertaining moments from the show jumping world. In the meantime, enjoy Cheval Photos‘ “awwww” pic of the week. It’s Markus and baby Brianne! Now that’s the picture of a perfect horse show husband!

Photo ©Cheval Photos

Fear not, West Coasters. On the Line has not completely defected to the East Coast. Although I’m stuck in the Florida sunshine all winter (poor me), I’m still paying close attention to the goings on in California, and at the moment in Southern Ca, at HITS Thermal.

Thermal, where the winter circuit is in full spring, and thanks to the boundless talents of Cheval Photos (onsite in Thermal all winter long, contact them for all your photography needs), we can peek in on some top Thermal moments.

Which, of course, begins with a certain defector we all know and love, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum. When I heard she was traveling to Thermal for the entire winter circuit, I cheered for show jumping in my home state. Such a global superstar bringing a truckload of young horses all the way from Germany to compete in little old Thermal, CA is a big vote of confidence for that still-new HITS venue.

And almost immediately, I began begging for paparazzi shots of the great MMB:

Meredith Michaels Beerbaum can't hide from our photographer's lens during the course walk for Saturday night's World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix. Photo ©Cheval Photos

With Kismet, Meredith placed 3rd in the Open Classic on Friday, and 6th in this GP. Photo ©Cheval Photos

This time it's the horse doing the peeking. Photo ©Cheval Photos

MMB goes over her course one last time and watches a few riders before her round. Photo ©Cheval Photos

Anyone at HITS Thermal with the nerve to go ask Meredith exactly what her hair care regimen is and report back here wins a free year’s subscription to Sidelines. I mean, seriously. Her head has never heard of helmet hair. No wonder she’s a big time celebrity in Germany, championship show jumping record notwithstanding.

Moving on. Featuring a not-too-shabby head of hair himself, Rich Fellers was the real superstar of the weekend. In classic Fellers style, he tag teamed his top two horses to win the Saturday night $50,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix CSI-W with Flexible, and the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix on Sunday with McGuinness. Many wonder why Rich chooses to base his operation all the way up in the deep forests of a high performance show jumper’s no-man’s-land (otherwise known as Oregon), but Rich never fails to make his destination worth the trip, every time.

Another contender for "Best Hair" at Thermal: the unstoppable Rich Fellers. Photo ©Cheval Photos

Victory galloping on Saturday night with Flexible. Photo ©Cheval Photos

And bringing you the biggest difference between WEF and Thermal: proximity of VIP tables to jumps. Photo ©Cheval Photos

More from Thermal is on the way. If you recall my previous thoughts on the subject, you know that I’ve been watching the beginning of the Devoucoux Hunter Prix season, from afar, and with interest. So far the two Hunter Prix classes at Thermal have been full of entries . . . and trainers have swept the top placings. Let that resonate for a little while, as I leave you with this last shot of Thermal at night. Once again, many thanks to Selena Fredericks and Cheval Photos for bringing Thermal to life for all of us who can’t be there!

Photo ©Cheval Photos

4pm, Friday afternoon. A 1.45m class is going on in the International Arena and the sun has dipped just low enough to shade the tables at the Tiki Hut. With a cold drink in hand and nothing to do but sit back and enjoy the view, life doesn’t get much better than this. Just saying.

(P.S. Just ask On the Line, Instagram is the coolest new mobile app there is. It’s for all you iPhone users, and it’s the reason this photo looks like it’s from 1973. Not so – it’s simply been Instagram-ed. Check out Instagram here.)

Who's ready to take a deeeeeep breath?

Der Dau is!

Der Dau. Now offering more than just boots.

Let’s face it. If anyone was going to come up with the idea of an oxygen bar at a horse show, it was going to be Der Dau. Known for their custom tall boots, tall boots with bling, and tall boots that venture into the outrageous, it wasn’t enough for Der Dau to deck out their vendor tent at WEF with a red carpet and shiny brass poles. To take posh to a whole new level, isn’t an oxygen bar the natural next step? In the name of investigative reporting, On the Line decided to experience the bar firsthand.

Introducing the first horse show oxygen bar in Florida!

“It’s very popular with riders,” explains Tawny Wolf, who works the Der Dau tent when she’s not riding with Debbie Stephens. “When they’ve been competing and are feeling tired, they like coming in here for a boost of oxygen.” Ok, a boost of oxygen is kind of like a hit of caffeine to the brain, right? Except healthier. . . right? No harm in that. I settled into the leather couch facing the “bar” and perused my choices. Scents of energy, Lavender stress relief, invigorating. . . eucalyptus? Interesting.

It had been a long, hot and dusty day so I chose to be “invigorated”, and tried not to feel too ridiculous as the clear blue oxygen tube was affixed round my head and into my nose. But passers by were slowing their walk and starting to stare, so Tawny joined me on the couch so I wouldn’t be the only one looking like I’d just come out of intensive care. And so together we breathed in, breathed out.

We thought sunglasses completed the oxygen look.

The oxygen was crisp and sinus clearing, it smelled a little bit like trees and as I took deep breathes in and out the boots surrounding the bar came into focus a bit more, and the world took on a new crispness. Even the brass poles and the Der Dau sign began to look shinier.

Ok, maybe I’m exaggerating a little bit. I know for certain that my nose felt nice and eucalyptus-y for a good hour after, and I did feel slightly invigorated. “Oxygen is always a good thing,” said Tawny, as she took one last breath and pulled the tube off her head.

Indeed it is, Tawny, indeed it is.

See Tawny in the Der Dau booth at WEF if you're looking for boots, bling, or oxygen!