Hildegard Frostbite's Hunter/Jumper - January 2005 Issue

Mary Phelps- photo © Flashpoint Photography

There seems to be one horse show mom who manages to pass gas every time she is in the Stadium Jumping horse show office.  Hey MOM, for the sake of the people in the office, how about picking a better time to settle up your entries or declare?

Dean Rheinheimer is shifting his work load during his winter stay in Florida.  You won’t see him driving the Stadium Jumping rigs around the rings anymore.  We hear he has bought his own equipment and is just doing the private work at the local barns and private rings adjacent to the Winter Equestrian Festival grounds. 

Tim Bolton - photo © Phelps Media Group

Talk about cutting a rug!  Check out Tim Bolton, a.k.a. Peaches, when he hits the dance floor.  He is a wild man, but one of our favorite writers, Mary Hilton, kept right in step.  

My goodness!  Does Judy Berens have anytime to ride these days?  Everywhere you turn, she’s out there with her exotic cats.  She has been at local schools, children’s fairs and the National Horse Show.  If she keeps this up, she won’t make it to the amateur ring this year and that will give the rest of the class a shot at some good ribbons.

 

Judy Berens - photo © Phelps Media Group

The AIDS virus has struck again.  So sorry to hear about the passing of horse judge and personality, Mark Gregory.  It was a long battle and Mark remained in good spirits until the end.  This is big loss to the equestrian community and leaves a big void. 

Denis Quinlan - photo © Jamie Konrady

Did you catch who handled the velvet rope at the Studio 54 party during the National?  Yes, none other than Robert Dover!  He was great at it and stayed right to the bitter end, opening and closing the rope for everyone who came and went.  

Oh boy, didn’t Palm Beach Illustrated do a fabulous job on the photo spread and story about Salamandar Farm here in Wellington?  The exquisite barn, built by Denis Quinlan’s Tara Corp. is a stand out in Grand Prix Village and it is nice that Denis and his crew got the much recognized attention. INSERT PHOTO Denis Quinlan. Photo by Jamie Konrady. 

Did you catch the Wellington Show Stables drill team during the 121st National Horse Show?  Well, Hildy saw the dress rehearsal – oh my!  I think a few of the team members got their lefts and rights mixed up.  But when it came to show time, they were terrific.  Hats off to all of them. 

Bruce Duchossois and Scott Culp - photo © Linda Wirtz

It was a Blue Moon in Palm Beach recently, when Bruce Duchossois and Scott Culp entertained aboard the Duchossois family yacht.  At least 80 horse show swells and personalities were there.  It was a fabulous evening and a great beginning to the upcoming and highly anticipated Winter Equestrian Festival.  

Hey,  everybody out there with an opinion on the Syracuse Show and the Metropolitan - Give it a rest!  Everyone knows the good and the bad of both shows and certainly management is well aware.  Give them a chance!  Both shows made improvements this year and will again next year, so move on. 

Congratulations to Caroline Clark Morrison and husband, Steve.  They are expecting their first child in April.  Yup, due date is during the Charlotte Jumper Classic, which Caroline is co-chair with Bob Johnson. 

I hear one of our top hunters might become a Breyer horse.  Wow, this is exciting and just as soon as it is official, count on Hildy to be the first to tell. 

Beezie Madden - photo © Randi Muster

Beezie Madden was in Albany recently as an honoree by the New York State Senate for her Silver Medal performance as part of the United States Show Jumping Team at the Summer Olympics. Madden and her husband, trainer John Madden, were on the Senate floor at the invitation of Senator Nancy Larraine Hoffmann. Isn’t it nice that some of our equestrians are getting the recognition they so often deserve?

Hildegard congratulates Amanda Rivera!  Remember equestrian Amanda Goldstein? Towerheads kept track as she fought the fight during the beginning of the Iraq war…..?  Amanda and TJ Rivera are both 1st Lieutenants.  Amanda is in the 3rd Military Police Battalion, and TJ is in 19th Field Artillery Battalion.  Both were in Baghdad and Fallujah from March 2003 through September 2003 during the initial invasion. Previous to that they were stationed in Kuwait for four months. They both returned in September to Fort Stewart in Savannah Georgia. They were married in August 2004. TJ returns in January to Baghdad in the same Battalion. Amanda has been moved into Personnel Management and her title is now Adjutant for the Military Police Battalion. TJ is expected to be in Baghdad for a year.  

Lindy Esau - photo © Linda Wirtz

Lindy Esau didn’t waste anytime getting herself organized for a winter in Wellington, Florida.  She has judging and stewarding jobs and she posted her bio on “Match.com” and in three weeks she had over 400 hits.  And, she has booked her calendar with lunches and dinners all over South Florida.  Boy, isn’t she a brave girl.

Alison Firestone just bought a new horse from France.  "Intrepide du Valon," by Oberon du Moulin, is an eight-year-old mare and won a big young horse competition in Fontainebleau a couple of years back.  Good luck Alison, we look forward to your Winter Equestrian Festival debut.

Don and Nancy Stewart went to the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas recently.  They tell us it was fantastic! There was Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Usher, Nelly, and Destiny’s Child to name a few, and guess who else showed up?  Robert and Hillary Ridland, Peter Pletcher, and Shane George.

Karen Healy tells us that her former personal trainer has been conducting botox parties for the horsey set in Southern California.  Only problem is:  this trainer has been peddling bogus botox and posturing herself as a doctor.  Well not anymore!

If you are officiating in Wellington and get an invitation to stay with Sue Ashe, you had best know that she will take your housing money as compensation.  This is no secret, at least not to the horse show managers, but there are some people out there who really think Sue has gone “over the top” with this.  Hildy has to agree!

Move over “big boys,” here comes Meredith. The 34-year-old American-born rider, Meredith Beerbaum recently became the first female rider to lead the FEI rider rankings and her flying form was clear for all to see. She produced two rounds of pure magic at a recent European show to force the defending champion, Rodrigo Pessoa from Brazil, into the runner-up spot leaving Marcus Ehning to finish third.

Grant Williams & David Orlando - photo © Ken Kraus

Show Net, created by David Orlando and Grant Williams, is a company that is dedicated to improving equestrian efficiency through advanced time management tools. The wireless information system will help both management and exhibitors reach a higher level of efficiency using modern technologies that have no boundaries or restrictions. Check their web site for all the info at www.shownet.biz. INSERT PHOTO  Grant Williams and David Orlando. Photo by Ken Kraus.

Wow, Ken and Emily Smith really stepped up to the plate by hosting the Ashland Farm Christmas party at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.  It was a great event, cocktails at poolside and dinner in the Mallet Grill.  I bet this set them back a bit.

Congratulation to Chris Kappler!  He was just signed by IMG out of Cleveland, Ohio.  Now Chris joins the ranks of the very high profile athletic celebs.  Hope this bring him lots of attention, corporate endorsements and new clients.  There is nobody nicer in the business than Chris and his wonderful wife, Jenny.  

Rich Faver from Happy Endings Farm and James Lala are starting a mare and stallion quarantine barn at James Lala Stable in Wellington.  This is a new venture for them, best of luck.

Buck Brannaman is coming to the Winter Equestrian Festival for a demonstration.  You might remember that he was part of the “Three Masters” some years back at the Buffalo Equestrian Center when he was joined by George Morris and Rodney Jenkins.  This is a “must attend” event so keep your eyes peeled for information or call the Stadium Jumping offices for the particulars.

Isn’t the Winter Equestrian Festival press conference looking like something straight out of Athens?  We hear the Olympic team will be on the dais, joined by Georgina Bloomberg and Aimee Aron.  Wow, what a panel.  And we don’t even know who the dressage representatives will be yet, but we have to assume it will be Robert Dover, don’t you think?

Jamie Krauss and Robert Ross - photo © Phelps Media Group

Jamie Krauss is everywhere these days.  She is so busy with her public relations commitments for Crobar in New York, that we never see her around the horse shows anymore.  She tells us she would love to get back to riding just as soon as she has the time.  We caught her with Robert Ross recently at one of those “not to be mentioned” events.