Hildegarde Frostbite - Hunter/Jumper May 2005 Issue

Hildegard and Buffy and Nell had a chance to sit down and compare notes.  The end result is a collaboration on this new column.  Looks like these gossip sisters might have a big future and between all of them, nothing will go unnoticed or unreported.

Hildy! We can't believe with all your contacts that you haven't heard about Bill Clinton and Frank Stronach's daughter. They have been seen having dinner at a certain Maryland racetrack, which we think her father owns.  “We do love to get one up on Aunt Hildy,” chided Buffy and Nell.

Janet Jackson's stylist Wayne Scot Lukas, who lessons with Jonathan Soresi four days a week, spent this week at the Garden State Horse Show with Jonathan, Peter Leone and company.  When he wasn't watching the show ring, he was off shopping for Ms. Jackson at Der Dau, ordering custom riding boots and  half chaps that lace up the back - to go over four inch stilettos!  Rumor has it she may even mount up...WHOA - Now that's Equestrian Chic!

Keep your eye on Hap Hansen this summer.  He is only four grand prix wins away from hitting the one hundred mark.  Hap plans on achieving this goal before the summer is out and we wish him luck.  You will hear it first from us when it happens.

Ainsley Vince has moved into Jeurgen von Buttlar's 15-stall barn in Newmarket, ON.  Jeurgen was Eric Lamaze's business/training partner, left for a year to train Alison Firestone, and hooked back up with Eric last fall.  His wife, Martina Pracht (1992 Canadian dressage Olympian), was sick of living in the U.S. when Jeurgen was in Europe all the time with Alison.  Ainsley is operating her own training and sales business.  Good for her- this is the first time she has gone out on her own in Canada.

Missy Clark’s North Run has turned into a barber shop, if you want to be bald!  Andrew Welles has become a skin head! 

Remember Ken Smith’s sister Shauna, AKA Smuggy?  She tied the knot recently in upstate New York.  Congratulations to Shauna and her new husband, Steve Vatter.

Actress and animal activist Stephanie Powers flew in from California to spend time horsing around in New Jersey with her boyfriend Tom Carroll - literally!  Stephanie, who is working on a new DVD for the Hart to Hart series, joined her beau for a day of riding with Jonathan Soresi at Soresi Show Stables at North Jersey Equestrian Center.  Carroll has called upon Soresi, who taught such stars as Uma Thurman, Tom Cruise and Jerry Hall, to hone his skills in the saddle so he'll be able to keep up with Ms. Powers and her slew of polo ponies!

So you suppose there is any truth to the rumor that one of Canada’s top grand prix riders is about to lose a big owner?  If this owner and his stable of big time jumpers make a move, this will be big news. We will keep you posted on this.

Rusty Holzer and Kelly Klein really got the royal treatment while in Las Vegas for the World Cup.  They got invited to a private tour of Steve Wynn’s new hotel, prior to the opening.  And the tour was conducted by Steve and his wife in person.  Wow, this is special and both Kelly and Rusty were very impressed.

Have you had a chance to meet Ken and Emily Smith’s new customers, Mark and Katherine Bellissimmo?  They have just moved into Palm Beach “NO” Polo and Country Club and we hear that they have a stable full of new horses and ponies.  These guys are a great family and a huge asset to the equestrian community and they all ride very well.  Look for a big future with all of them.

Prime Restaurant is one of the best steak eateries at the Bellagio Hotel, but they sure were in a frazzle one night during the World Cup.  The place was loaded with Republicans fresh from the horse show and the United States Equestrian Team Foundation Gold Medal Brunch – Mike Zuccini, Pat Hayword, Gerry and Robin Parsky, Jane Clark, Mason Phelps, Bonnie Jenkins, Ron Neal, George Morris and many others!  But, when Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton and friends decided to dine there at the same time with a bus load of security, it did complicate the evening.  It was funny watching President Clinton go to the bathroom followed by four secret service guys.  Do you suppose these “men in black” had to watch Bill as he stood over the urinal?

Mrs. Sylvester Johnson, known to her horse show friends as Liz, was sporting a cane while in Las Vegas.  Seems she went hunting on her favorite six year old Clydesdale/Thoroughbred cross and got run away with.  Liz crashed and burned and suffered multiple broken ribs and other injuries.  She is a trooper, but at her age, maybe she needs to slow down a bit and give up all those ski trips to Aspen and modify her riding.  At least that is what her friends would like to see her do.

Also about to be new to the pony business is Celine Dion and husband Renee.  They are on the hunt for the perfect first pony for their son and plan on hitting the short stirrup show scene just as soon as they get the nod from their trainer.  Everyone wants to know who their trainer is going to be.  Hildy hears that when Celine’s contract is up in Las Vegas and they move back to South Florida, they will be riding at Ken and Emily’s Ashland Farm. Can this be true?

The United States Equestrian Team Foundation has a new editor for their newsletter.  Of course, we have told you already that Ken Braddick of Horse Deals US is in charge.  But just wait, this newsletter is going to more informative with a new look.  Should be out by the end of June and if you are looking to advertise in this widely circulated and well read piece of equestrian literature, send Cynthia Keating an email at cbk@phelsmediagroup.com. 

It is a shame that some of the local papers in Las Vegas couldn’t seem to pick up the presenting sponsor’s name of the World Cup.  It was a Budweiser sponsored event and their name was in the official title.  Most all the media outlets around the world used the corporate name when reporting on this fabulous event; sorry Las Vegas didn’t seem to want to use the correct title.  Made for some unhappy sponsors!

French Bull Dogs seem to be in fashion these days.  Marion Hulick took some time off from her duties with Bill Cooney and entered the show ring with her nine month old canine companion.  As only as Marion could do it, she had a band of “merry men” to help with this adventure, which awarded her a reserve championship.

The Fusscas family from Colorado have purchased the old Split Creek Farm in Wellington, Florida.  Sounds like another equestrian transplant has joined the Wellington scene.

The battle of Harrisburg vs. Syracuse as a location for the ASPCA Maclay continues.  There were a host of meetings during the Budweiser World Cup.  Boy, we all wish this issue would get sorted out so everyone could move forward. 

Laura Kraut has a big fan in sports writer Dunn Neugebauer from the Palm Beach Post.  He has been tracking her very successful season all during the Winter Equestrian Festival.  It is thanks to his interest in Laura that he got the assignment to cover the Budweiser American Invitational.  Thanks Laura, you have helped get the sport into to the mainstream news and you probably didn’t even know the role you played. USEF’s Equestrian Magazine has really jumped to the forefront with national coverage of the equestrian sport.  It is nice to see that they are listing some to the top equestrian web sites.  Horse Daily, Towerheads and Phelps Media Group all got a mention, to name just a few.  But in reality, those sites are pretty “Johnny on the Spot” with information, results and stories.  Big thanks to Sara Lane and Brian Sosby at USEF for a great magazine and Jackie Freudlich bringing attention to theses web sites.

What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas!  That is the accepted slogan for Sin City, but one of our underage grand prix riders found out that trying to get money off his credit card with a fake ID won’t fly.  Seems this gentleman was caught gambling and drinking in one of the big hotels and got nailed.  In the end, no harm was done, but it did cause some concern for a few of his buddies.

The Las Vegas World Invitational, which takes place at the Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV, on October 14-15, 2005, has opened its box office for ticket sales. This inaugural event offers a world record purse of $1 million to 25 of the world’s best show jumpers competing in four events, including the richest ever Grand Prix worth $750,000.  Billed as ‘The Ultimate Equestrian Event’ in the entertainment capital of the world, the Las Vegas World Invitational is a new and exciting concept designed to attract the top riders and appeal to a wider audience by hosting just four different competitions over the two days and providing innovative entertainment for its audience.  This is the current information on this event, but one wonders if they can really pull it off this time around.  Good luck to them, as everyone wants to go back to Las Vegas after the successful Budweiser World Cup.

Jamie Krauss has taken a house on Fire Island for the summer and she is looking for a few people to share the rent.  Jamie was one of our top junior riders in her day and the daughter of Joan Lunden.  She is a terrific host and this is sure to be a fun time, but to Jamie’s credit – the house is a drug and alcohol free residence.  Won’t that be a little tough in the summer community?

Laura King and her Summit Dynamics took a booth at the Budweiser World Cup and she did a booming business.  Her self help tapes and book were flying off the shelves and it would appear that people are really taking note of Laura’s product.  Congrats to Laura on her dedication and hard work, she seems to have made it.

Do you remember Chris Lindsey from California?  She was a top junior and amateur rider under the guidance of Richard Keller.  If you don’t remember her from those days, maybe she is best known as the mother of Olympic rider, McLain Ward.  I am sorry to report that Chris passed away recently.  We hear that she was in her house along with her dog, but the details of this unfortunate death are not fully known at this time.

Rick Eckhardt is finally getting himself back in circulation and out of Virginia.  He has taken an apartment in Wellington, Florida, and is changing his permanent residence.  Good luck on your move Rick, we welcome you back into the Wellington horse community.

Huge “kudos’” to Karen Healey for masterminding the hunter class in Las Vegas.  It was a great event and the European boys sure gave the Americans a riding lesson.  It was great to watch and was an education for many of the spectators.  Sorry the American hunter riders didn’t do a little better, but it wasn’t for lack of trying.  The judging panel was great and they did a wonderful job of sorting it all out.  (Photo of Karen Healey)

If you were to poll exhibitors around the country, I think everyone would tell you that the Garden State Horse Show is one of the most exhibitor friendly shows going today.  It is certainly New Jersey’s largest horse show and the staff goes out of their way to be helpful.

Did you catch those pants that Garden State Horse Show chairman George Uniss was wearing during the Grand Prix?  He sure wasn’t hard to find in the crowd. 

And speaking of Karen Healey – she has been contacted by a production team from the Animal Planet cable station.  They are shooting a piece on junior riders and are filming in the Los Angeles area.  What a great project for Karen.  It is great that she has gotten the nod to be point person on this equestrian program.

Don Stewart and Melanie Taylor did a great job of commentating the hunter class at the World Cup.  They kept everyone amused and it was a terrific addition to the class.  I am so sorry that the American riders didn’t seem to think the judging was going their way and they sure made a fuss about it.  Hey guys, this was a fun event and there is no room for poor sportsmanship, which I am afraid some of you demonstrated.  Look for some big changes the next time Karen puts this class together.  Let’s not forget the huge effort made on the part of the American Hunter Jumper Association and Michele Perla for a job well done.

Peter Leone was sporting a sling on his right arm during the Garden State Horse Show.  Nothing serious, but one of his horses did get the better of him.

Now what is the real story about Leslie and Peter Howard’s truck and trailer and the crash with the electrical pole and light post getting to Garden State?  Seems the driver cut the corner a little sharp, pulling wires down on the trailer.  The local electric company came to the rescue and all was well, but there were some very tense moments.

Have you ever sat in on a major press conference during a horse show?  Las Vegas press conferences were huge, but as usual, nobody wants to sit in the front row.  Not so for PMG staffer, Jennifer Wood!  There she was, every time in the front row and quick to grab the microphone and ask those questions everyone wanted to ask but was afraid to.  Good job Jennifer, your material makes for great reading.