We are sad to announce the passing of Mr. John "Jack" Fritz".  I had the privilege of working at the USET when Mr. Fritz was still there back in the late nineties and a few years afterwards.  He loved working around the young staff and kept us on our toes with his wry comments and clever observations about equestrian sport and life in general.  Lynn Lopez, my former assistant and I still reminisce about some of the funny, off the wall comments Mr. Fritz would come up with.  When he moved back to the Midwest to be closer to his family in his later years we really missed his presence.  Just prior to leaving he brought in some of his possessions he offered to his local "family", the staff.  After his departure, his desk had been memorialized with a portrait of the man himself hanging on the wall above it.  He did manage to come back to Gladstone during the Festival of Champions several times even though his health was declining. My last contact with Mr. Fritz was assisting him up the stairs which he insisted he climb without help to get to the treasured Trophy Room where lunch was being served to the officials, where he rightfully belonged.  His soul and contributions to the sport will always be part of Gladstone along with other equestrian greats.

John "Jack" Fritz 1924-2012 (USEF Archive)

Lexington, KY - We mourn the loss of a great leader in equestrian sport in the United States. John "Jack" Fritz passed away the morning of February 9, 2012. 

Fritz was on the forefront of developing the disciplines of dressage and eventing in the US. He served as the Chairman of the American Horse Show Association (present day USEF) Combined Events and Dressage Committee. Additionally, Fritz filled the roles of Secretary Treasurer and Director of the United States Equestrian Team and served as the Vice President of the United States Combined Training Association (present day USEA). Fritz was also instrumental in the founding of the United States Dressage Federation.

With great faith in the future of the sport Fritz was a proponent of expanding the North American Young Rider Championships in to a multiple discipline competition. He also played a large role in the development of the United States Pony Club and its programs.

In addition to being a leader in all aspects of the sport, Fritz was a respected official, serving as a USEF Dressage and Eventing Technical Delegate and an FEI judge.

"Jack has been an icon for generations of equestrians. A true inspiration in the sport, he will be missed." said John Long, USEF CEO.

http://www.uset.org/viewarticle.php?id=343

While a horse show hasn’t been held in New York City since the National held its last show in 2001, plans are beginning to move forward to host a Masters of Show Jumping  tournament competition in an NYC arena once more.

The Masters tournament, organized by the European Equestrian Masters group, will include competitions in Paris, Brussels, and Hong Kong in addition to the New York venue. This high-profile showjumping circuit is designed to bring the sport global exposure at the highest level, and has enlisted the cooperation of top sponsors such as Gucci, Rolex, and Audi. Top jumper riders from across the globe are expected to participate in this landmark event.

Plans are in the works to hold the competition at the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, which is still under construction at this time. The state-of-the-art facility plans to stable 270 horses during the competition, which is slated to be held October 3-6, 2013, pending USEF and FEI approval.

The Masters will be an exciting opportunity to bring international showjumping competition back to the east coast. This historic competition is sure to draw jumping fans from across the country, and its location in New York makes it an accessible event for eastern PA showjumping enthusiasts. Stay tuned for more information as the Masters draws closer!

STROUDSBURG, PA - Allison Stitzinger of Buckingham, Pennsylvania has joined the equine realty firm, Cindy Stys Equestrian & Country Properties, Ltd. as marketing and administrative assistant.  Allison holds a B.S. in Equine Studies from Delaware Valley College, Doylestown, PA  and had worked for the US Equestrian Federation, Gladstone, NJ for over three years where she actively participated in Olympic Games preparation.

“Allison’s strong background in high level horse sport and exceptional communication and organizational skills will help achieve our company’s goal of increased market share and take our customer service to an even higher level of excellence” says Broker/owner, Stys.

Cindy Stys Equestrian & Country Properties, Ltd. is the only real estate firm that focuses 100% on marketing and selling horse properties across Eastern Pennsylvania.  For more information visit www.cshorseproperties.com

June 8-10, 2012 and June 13-17, 2012 will mark this year’s USEF Dressage Festival of Champions, which will be held at the USET Foundation Headquarters in Gladstone, NJ.

This year’s Festival of Champions holds a special significance. Not only is it the national championship for several divisions, from ponies up to Grand Prix, but it will also serve as the selection trial for the 2012 United States Olympic Dressage Team. Top dressage riders from across the country will gather at the historic barn in Gladstone, NJ to face off for national titles and a chance at a spot on the Olympic team.

The event’s convenient location in Gladstone makes it a perfect destination for eastern PA dressage enthusiasts! Dressage fans can witness top-notch competition within easy driving distance from home. For more information on this event, visit www.usef.org.

Gladstone, NJ has been a mecca for equestrians for years. The beautiful stable is steeped in the history of the nation’s greatest horses and riders, and today’s athletes consider it an honor and a privilege to be able to train and compete on the Gladstone grounds. Once the training center for America’s best and brightest equestrians, it now serves as the headquarters of the United States Equestrian Team Foundation and the NJ branch of the United States Equestrian Federation, as well as the site of national championships, High Performance team training, selection trials, and horse shows.

Despite Gladstone’s rich history and prestigious presence in the world of equestrian sport, rumors have been circulating about the closure of this landmark facility. The truth is that the  USET Foundation will continue to be stationed at Gladstone, keeping this beautiful stable open for area equestrians to use and enjoy.

This news comes as a sigh of relief for riders and supporters of equestrian sport all over the east coast! The USET’s presence at Gladstone means that the highest levels of training and competition are only a stone’s throw away from eastern Pennsylvania equestrians. National championships, team training, and the staff that makes it all happen will continue to be only a little over an hours’ drive from eastern PA horse farms. Gladstone will continue to exist as a valuable resource for equestrian athletes and fans of the sport in NJ, PA, and across the country.

In just a few short years, Boyd Martin has risen to the top of the sport of eventing in the United States, and become a hometown hero for riders and horse lovers  in Chester County, PA. Boyd, a native of Australia, relocated to the U.S. in 2007 and has since become a fierce competitor at events across the nation, a well-respected trainer, and an integral part of our international-level eventing program.

The future looked bright for Boyd and his string of talented horses when disaster struck this past May, and one of the barns at True Prospect Farm in West Grove, PA burst into flames. Six horses perished in the blaze, and those that survived were seriously injured. Among the survivors was Neville Bardos, the gutsy horse that had carried Boyd to a tenth-place finish at the 2010 World Equestrian Games. Neville had such severe smoke damage to his lungs and windpipe that vets were unsure of whether he would live through his injuries. Boyd and his staff had also lost thousands of dollars worth of equipment in the fire, and the rider and trainer also suffered the loss of a large part of his income after the death of the horses that were not able to be rescued. And as if that wasn’t enough to deal with, soon after the fire Boyd’s father and father-in-law both passed away.

The situation seemed insurmountable, but within hours of the fire that began Boyd’s roller-coaster ride of bad luck, riders of every discipline reached out to help. Money was donated, fund-raising raffles were held, professionals offered their services for free, and thousands of people sent encouraging words to Boyd, his family, and staff. The Delaware Valley Combined Training Association raised hundreds of dollars at one of their shows to help fund the fire relief, The Plantation Field Horse Trials raised $8,000 to help Boyd rebuild, and local eventer Jane Sleeper and her students organized a bake sale which raised $2,000 to donate to the effort. The outpouring of support from Pennsylvania equestrians was astonishing, and thanks to their generosity, soon Boyd’s business was up and running at full speed. It was an unprecedented show of compassion and giving from the horse community.

Neville also bounced back more quickly than anyone could have imagined, and made an amazing comeback. The horse recovered fully, and Boyd competed him just a few short months later at the Burghley CCI**** in England, one of the toughest tracks in the world, and rode to a miraculous 7th place finish. Neville was recently recognized as the 2011 USEF International Horse of the Year, a fitting tribute to this Chester County hometown hero. Warner Brothers has even approached Boyd to discuss making a movie about Neville’s incredible story! Maybe soon we will be seeing Boyd and Neville on the silver screen as well as the cross-country course.

This past year was a trying one for Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos, but with the help and support of their fellow eastern Pennsylvania equestrians they came out on top. While their successes certainly speak to the perseverance and tenacity of the pair, things would certainly have turned out differently if not for the generosity and compassion of the unique Pennsylvania horse community.

Ann, his wife! Mrs. Rommney is a dressage rider and owner of a very talented mare by the name of Rafalca.  When I worked at the US Equestrian Federation, I had talked with Ann once or twice on the phone about entering her horse at Oldenburg and other European CDIs..  Her trainer, German born Jan Ebeling, had planned on taking the horse to Europe to give her some exposure to indoor shows in the fall. I remember it was hinging upon how Mitt did in the primaries during his Presidential run in 2008.  Gorgeous horse that has the talent to make a team I recall Klaus Balkenhol, the then US National Coach for Dressage say.  They seem to be well on their way since in 2011 they were the highest placed US combination in the World Cup Final in Leipzig (GER) and were later chosen to represent the US at prestigious CDIO Aachen (GER). Keep on eye on this pair this year!

http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/dressage-makes-ann-romneys-soul-sing

A few weeks ago while in New Hope, PA I had the pleasure of meeting, Leigh Robertson who owns an academy in Lambertville, NJ where she teaches Capoeira, a form of martial arts combined with music.  Capoeira was developed in Brazil by African slaves to resist oppression 400 years ago.  Her description of it intrigued me and prompted me to view the many videos posted on her website http://www.newhopecapoeira.com/live/.  I couldn’t help but think how this sport/art form could enhance fitness, balance and strength for equestrians.  It could also improve the sense of rhythm which is important for all riders. I can remember my trainer, the late Jean-Claude Racinet, giving me lessons devoted to trying to feel the beat of a correct 3 beat canter vs a 4 beat canter, something I thought was a lot easier than it actually was. 

Have a look yourself and contact Leigh if you would like more information. info@newhopecapoeira.com

What a great way to keep fit and have fun (especially during the winter months!)