I survived the armed guards, airline trips, anthrax scare, New York City Marathon, high hotel prices, and more to go to the National Horse Show (p. 7), only to return home to California to bridges being protected by armed tanks, long airport lines, good weather and cheaper, fresher health food than in New York City. But my trip was more than worth the effort.
Making my annual pilgrimage to the National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden showed me, first-hand, how the world has changed since Sept. 11, and how we must go on with our lives and not let the terrorists scare us!
I always meet my sons and grandkids in New York, and visiting the Statue of Liberty this year took on a special significance, as did seeing “ground zero” from the Staten Island Ferry. Television diminishes the 16-plus acres of devastation and rubble and fumes, I discovered.
I was so pleased to see so much patriotism and so many happy faces throughout the city. What with the World Series and the election two days later, and the marathon and the balmy weather, and of course the horse show, there was lots to be thankful for.
Even the guards frisking us before entering The Garden were so courteous, yet meticulous, making my granddaughter empty her plastic bag of presents she had brought for her siblings and herself, and nicely telling her that no packages could be taken inside. It made me feel very safe, although I`m not foolish enough not to realize “where there`s a will there`s a way.”
The show is under new management by Gene Mische and Stadium Jumping Inc., and there were many changes–most were good, and we must give them time to learn from their first try. I hope it is only their first try and that the show will continue.
The most obvious change hit you square in the eye upon entering. The footing–brand-new and a light beige sand color–brightened the ring well and, more importantly, it made for superb jumping. It has always seemed a tradition that jump crew, management and even the president of the show used to walk through the dark, wet dirt that had been stored under tarps for a year to pick out the glass, rocks and beer cans that had accumulated therein. No more. This footing was a revelation, and all the horses–whether hunters, jumpers or tired equitation mounts–jumped out of their skins! Thank you, Harry Gill, who procured it.
How great it was to have the hunters back after their forced absence last year. It was only the best of the best, with 10 in each division. A new scoring system was introduced, and–with two glaring exceptions–it worked well.
The format required six judges to separate into three pairs and judge separately. In the two jumping classes for each division, each team of two judges gave a single score, and the three teams` scores were then averaged together. Then, two of the judges evaluated the under saddle class, from which the average score was added to the two scores from the jumping classes. Then the top 14 horses contested the $50,000 National Horse Show Hunter Championship. This was a good concept, and with refining it should work well.
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Here are the two exceptions. How can a horse (Most Wanted in the large junior division) win two of the three classes and be fifth in the other and end up reserve champion? Because the under saddle counted for one-third of the championship points instead of one-fifth, which gave the advantage to good movers. Also, the judges didn`t understand this scoring nuance, and the scores they gave the under saddle class winners were equivalent to the scores they gave over fences class winners.
The second, and most glaring, was the omission of conformation judging in the conformation divisions. The model was the only class in which conformation was scored. And, for some reason, they ran both the green and regular conformation horses together. It was the very first class of the show, and there was no explanation and no music. Just jumps in the ring, along with jump crew, ringmaster and six judges. It resembled Penn Station at rush hour.
The judges signed their cards and left the ring, and nothing happened for what seemed an eternity. Just quiet, dead time with no music or explanation. Finally both classes were pinned with the volume so low that the boxholders couldn`t hear the results.
I understand the management was trying to save time by not lining them up for conformation judging, but they need to develop a system using points from the model class so that conformation plays its part in each class. If not, it will be the death knell for these divisions, and we certainly don`t want that. The breeding divisions would go next. Also we don`t want horses with bog spavins, curbs, bowed tendons and the like winning classes in the conformation divisions.
The hunters jumped magnificently, and Blake Alder gave them courses they could keep galloping over. And, for the most part, riders did. How refreshing it was to see pace as a factor again. The course for the stake was a masterpiece, and horses and riders rose to the occasion. The judges are to be commended for giving scores in the 90s when warranted.
I must also note the change of costume for the judges. No more rented morning coats or tails for the men; suits and blazers looked just fine. On the distaff side, Betty Oare and Susan Humes were impeccably and stylishly turned out for each performance.
The good jumping and great courses carried over to the jumpers and the ASPCA Maclay Final. Steve Stephens made courses for the speed classes that provided great audience appeal because they were never over until the last horse went. Half the juniors and the amateur-owners weren`t up to the tests, but they`re the tops in the country and there was no excuse.
I have never seen such good jumping over a tough course as in the World Cup-qualifying grand prix. Due to the excellent footing and top horses, 11 went clean and eight had 4 faults over a very long and testing course. The large audience–with free tickets given to the New York police and firemen–loved it. (This should have been done every session).
The thrilling jump-off ranks with the very best I`ve ever seen. Since our people have gone to Europe to compete a lot, they have come to learn what true speed and spectacular turns mean, and did they show us how they`ve learned. When the dust cleared, Lauren Hough had displayed what classic good riding is. She could have won the Maclay with her solid, beautiful style–she didn`t seem the fastest, as it was so smooth. She reminded me of Rodrigo Pessoa at the Las Vegas World Cup Finals. High praise indeed.
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I can`t find enough superlatives to describe the Maclay. The whole class was excellent–from the well-designed courses, with options to allow any type of horse to be shown to its best advantage, to the excellent riding, to the careful and scrupulously fair judging. Riders needed to have really done their homework and know their horses. And then they need luck to be rewarded.
This was, without a doubt, the best ASPCA Maclay Finals I have ever seen–and I`ve only missed one (at the Meadowlands) since 1946.
The level of riding was so high, the 50 percent on the flat used so well, and the tests incorporated in the final round so well thought out, and the competition so intense. Yet the placings were obvious to all except those with prejudiced eyes. For once, I agreed there was no need for further testing.
It was Brian Walker`s to lose when he entered the ring, having been on top throughout. When he finished his round, which I gave a 94, the applause was thunderous. It was the single most outstanding last Maclay round I`ve ever seen. Billy Steinkraus said the same thing later at the wonderful press conference, where both Brian and second-placed Travis Lubow and their trainers spoke so well, along with Brian`s mother.
When Billy was introduced to the two young men as the 1941 ASPCA winner and first American Olympic gold medalist, even the press gave them all a standing ovation! But I digress.
There were seven boys in the top 30 brought back for the flat phase. Five moved on to the second round, and three placed in the top four, all with excellent positions and style. There were five Californians also with great position and style in the top eight ribbons.
I saw lots of riding “out of hand” in the top group, and the crest release wasn`t as predominant as usual. Depth of heel and solid bases prevailed. For an equitation aficionado like me, it was a joy. May this good riding continue and continue to be rewarded. I believe our national level is improving and pushing the envelope again.
In closing, I have a list, in random order, of things I liked at the Garden this year.
Lots of camaraderie and smiling; wonderful singers of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and Gloria Gaynor singing “I Will Survive” before the grand prix; the Budweiser commercials on the big-screen TV with Clydesdales and Jack Russells; the Olympics montage shown on the big screen; the “Horses in the Movies” montage on the big screen; the moment of silence for “Angel” Sallie Wheeler, accompanied by Bill Venditta`s wonderful horn blowing; the quality of the hunters in all divisions; the consistency of Georgina Bloomberg, deservedly named best child rider; the giving away of free NHS clocks, baseball caps and umbrellas; the level of riding of Tracey Weinberg and Dawn Fogel in the amateur-owners and Erin Stewart and Cody Baird in the juniors; the presentation of David O`Connor and Custom Made, galloping with the American flag (the audience went wild!); the individual introduction of all the grand prix riders as they marched in on foot; the flowers and ring decoration; the good music finally played by Sunday; the great riding throughout; the wonderful horses; the addition of a dining area (posh) at the funereal end of the ring.
With a new century we are losing lots of traditions, but I certainly hope we won`t lose our National Horse Show. This was the 118th year, and I`m looking forward to coming back next year.