HIldegard Frostbite's Hunter/Jumper - February 2005 Issue

Sheila Johnson – Photo Credit, Linda Wirtz

The Jockey Club at the Winter Equestrian Festival was in for a treat during their first WEF Grand Prix.  Sheila Johnson was passing samplings of her finger food from her Market Salamandar.  Sheila is getting ready to open a second market in Palm Beach.  The food was really great, the gift bags of cooking oils were wonderful and Sheila is great at the promotion. 

Elizabeth Locke and her high end jewelry will be back at the Winter Equestrian Festival again this year.  All the ladies look forward to this booth in the courtyard.  Nancy Stewart, once again will be on hand to manage the booth,  so stop by for a little conversation and some shopping. 

Condolences to the Hulick family.  We are so sorry to hear about the death of Gail Hulick, Marion and Hank’s daughter.  Gail was a top junior hunter rider winning many championships around the country including junior hunter champion at Madison Square Garden on Good Boy Dee.  Gail has been plagued with diabetes for many years and it finally got the best of her.  A tragic loss to everyone who knew her.

Say it’s not so!  One of our top trainers has been evicted from his Wellington based rental facility and the customers were asked to pay for their stall for the year, in advance.  Oh boy, this is going to cause a little havoc for everyone involved.

Can you imagine being on the License Officials Committee for our governing organization?  It is a very serious job.  But, if you are on the committee, I believe that holding court at the recent clinic at the Winter Equestrian Festival about over weight people is in poor form!  Yes, this really happened and the culprit who mouthed off should be removed from her position.  This was very inappropriate behavior.

Michael and Paige – Photo Credit, Linda Wirtz

If you looked really hard at your TV during the Super Bowl, you might have spotted Paige Johnson, Michael Morrissey, Brian Lenehan, Don Stewart Jr. and Senior.  And there were others that we couldn’t find on the TV screen. 

Can you imagine being issued media passes for the Winter Equestrian Festival and then having your media passes “pulled”.  Ouch!  It really did happen to two local photographers/reporters.  Mason Phelps had to pull their passes and ask them not to return, due to unattractive conduct during a Sunday Grand Prix.  Mason tells us it wasn’t easy, but with the blessing of management, he got it done.

Leo Conroy Stables is in for a wild weekend towards the end of the Winter Equestrian Festival.  We hear that Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie will be spending a weekend with Leo and Samantha Conroy while they film “The Simple Life.”   Oh my God, can’t you see those two “rich” girls grooming a horse and then being sent to the ring.  I hope they find the right ring to go to and poor Leo doesn’t go to nuts on them! 

No more Vicky Moon writing the Ingate column for Sidelines magazine.  Oh boy, that has to hurt.  Wonder why she quit doing it?

Mort Janklow, one of the biggest literary agents in the business, has been communicating with Mason Phelps on some kind of book and movie deal.  Mason won’t tell us what it is all about other than to say “It is big!”  I guess we will have to wait for a formal announcement as to what is going on, but Mason does tell us that it involves movie producer/director Oliver Stone and appearances on talk shows like Oprah!  I wish we could find out more, stay tuned. 

Susie Humes– Photo Credit, Ken Kraus

Susie Humes has found her way to the TV cameras in the Palm Beach market.  She dressed a TV host for a day at polo and the horse show and it was all filmed.  If you caught it on TV, it was sure to make you laugh out loud.  Now we hear Susie is taking the cameras on shopping spree at vendor row at the WEF show grounds. 

We are so sad to hear that John Perry is not doing well.  He is quite sick and unable to fill his contractual duties at the horse shows these days.  Chin up John, we are all pulling for you.

Frank Chapot– Photo Credit, Linda Wirtz

Noticeably absent from the Winter Equestrian Festival is Frank Chapot.  Frank is spending the winter at Indio as part of the judging staff.  Wow, isn’t this a change.

Great news – Karen Golding has been nominated to the Show Jumping Hall of Fame. If she gets nominated she will be inducted at the Budweiser American Invitational on April 2. Be there to join in the celebration. 

Laurie Pitts is getting back into the horse business.  She won’t be going to the shows, but will be managing a 200 acre farm for a very nice lady, Rebecca Galbraith, near Charlottesville, Virginia.  Good luck Laurie, nice to have you back in the business.

Molly Ashe– Photo Credit, Linda Wirtz

The Panther Ridge fund raiser was full of surprises but the stand out was Eric Hasbrouck buying the riding lessons offer by Molly Ashe.  That did make a few heads turn. 

John Roper has a new customer showing this year.  Madison Miller, daughter of the Sawyer Brown’s lead singer Mark Miller is now showing in the pony division.  Mark and his daughter are the nicest people showing and it is great to have them on the scene.

You must have read all those great Dick Francis books on murder and mayhem in the English horse world.  Well now we have his daughter showing under the Hunterdon banner this season.  Another great addition to the show scene.

Mark and Madison Miller – Photo Credit, Linda Wirtz

Kelly Klein and Georgina Bloomberg are tried their hand at Polo.  These two personalities were part of the Phelps Media Group team for the Tribal Cup All Women’s Polo Tournament on Feb. 14th at the new International Polo Club Palm Beach. And they were winners, beating out The Morning Line team – four goals to zero. 

Did you know that Mary Shirley has tied the knot?  Yes, she married Edwardo Villagomez at a casual wedding in Acapulco, Mexico, just before Christmas.  The wedding invitation was quite something – probably designed at Kinkos or somewhere similar.  Shortly after the New Year, they shipped eight horses to Florida for the winter under the guidance of Leslie Howard.  Good luck to the Rocky Mountain Warmblood camp on a successful circuit and marriage.

Looks like the only US Nations Cup is really shaping up for March 11th in Florida.  So far the teams expected to participate will be Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Mexico, Switzerland and the US.  If all of this actually happens it is going to be one huge international night in Wellington.

Don’t believe everything you read on those silly chat rooms.  Recently we saw something about the All Season Farm’s Strapless being for sale.  Where do these people come up with this stuff?  I can tell you that after talking with the All Seasons people, this is NOT true.

Pony rider, Alexandra Arute broke an arm in a fall at the Winter Equestrian Festival last week. This will sideline her for a bit, but she will be back soon in winning form.

Janet Read’s Woodbine Stables used to be located in Michigan.  But sadly, that is no more.  But, good news – Janet has bought two lots in Grand Prix Village in Wellington and is planning on building a new facility for her horses and trainer Tim Goguen.  Good luck to both of them on this venture.  Tracey Topping has been charged with the design.  I am sure that this will be a spectacular facility when it is finished.

David Orlando & Grant Williams– Photo Credit, Ken Kraus

Shownet.biz has really taken off.  David Orland and Grant Williams have had inquiries from events in Germany, Canada and Italy.  Looks like they are getting ready to take the show on the road.  These guys have worked hard to make their state of the art system a must for all exhibitors.  It is a great service to the industry and we wish them well.