February 2021 Issue

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EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN February 2021 Page 27 East Coast Equestrian P.O. Box 8412, Lancaster, PA 17604-8412 (717) 509-9800 E-mail: PAEquest@aol.com www.eastcoastequestrian.net Published by Pennsylvania Equestrian, LLC Stephanie Shertzer Lawson, Editor and Publisher Contributors Marcella Peyre-Ferry, Suzy Lucine, Suzanne Bush, Amy Worden, Lois Szymanski, Sylvia Sidesaddle Advertising Manager Debbie Reid Advertising Sales Manager Phyllis Hurdleston Published 11 times a year. Submissions of articles, events and photos are welcome and should be received by the 10th of the month preceding publication. Please call (717) 509-9800 for advertising rates or visit www.pennsylvaniaequestrian.com. We cannot accept copyrighted photos without permission from owner. You must have permission before reprinting anything from East Coast Equestrian. For permission please call (717) 509-9800 or email steph@eastcoastequestrian.net Hall of Fame Trainer Jonathan Sheppard Retires of training of letting horses be horses and I am looking forward to continuing that. He has been an incredible mentor and although quite tough at times, has molded me into the horsewoman I am today. I have some of the fondest memories of my time under him at Ashwell. I was lucky enough to go to the Eclipse awards three times, with two winners and one runner-up, which I actually rode in races (All the Way Jose). I have had some amazing oppor- tunities and experiences over the past 11 years, but what I am most proud of is our team coming together in 2020 to put in a bang- up season, capturing the leading trainer title and sending him out on top, as he deserves. He is the greatest of all time, a living legend.” What will Sheppard miss most? Besides the daily interac- tion with the horses, the trainer said it will be the “sport” of steeplechasing itself. “The word ‘sport’ is the biggest attraction,” he said. “It is a sport, unlike flat racing, which is a business. I love the com- radery, the getting together, the social aspect. It’s not just for the money. “It means a lot to me every spring to see the people you know after a long winter. We’re just one big happy, albeit compet- itive, family.” (Continued from page 25) The Brandywine Valley chapter of the Professional Horsemen’s Association recent- ly presented a check for $1,000 to the Large Animal Protection Society. Due to Covid precau- tions, the check was presented by mail. The nonprofit BVPHA, founded in 1993, exists to serve the needs of professional horse- men and exhibitors and to aid members and local horsemen in need. It also provides schol- arships to the children of pro- fessional horsemen, promotes interest in the horse industry and aids in the protection and care of horses through education. The organization holds two paper chases and a horse show as fund- raisers each year, the proceeds of which are used for club expenses and donated to horsemen and Brandywine Valley PHA Donates to LAPS horse related organizations in need. The Large Animal Protection Society was established in 1988 to stop cruelty to large animals in the community. The all-vol- unteer, state chartered humane organization has state authority to investigate cruelty complaints and prosecute offenders in order to enforce Pennsylvania cruelty laws in Chester and Lancaster Coun- ties. LAPS’ state-trained, court-au- thorized, badged Humane Society Police Officers provide a valuable community service by intervening in suspected cases of animal cruel- ty involving large animals. To learn more about the BVPHA, its paper chases or horse show, visit phabrandywinevalley. com. To learn more about LAPS visit largeanimalprotectionsociety. org. By Sylvia Sidesaddle Well, hello again darlings!! It’s been a long vacation for Syl and she is happy to be back to catch her darlings up on all the scoop!! The production company that produces the HBO series Succes- sion was clamoring for copies of the August issue of East Coast Equestrian to be overnighted to NYC to use as props in the series filming in December. Then, just before the FedX package went out, plans changed. Syl has never watched Succession (too similar to 2020 real life in her estima- tion) but she may have to tune in to watch for the horsey theme that seems to be in the works. Or if any of her darlings is a regular viewer, please let her know! The PA Hunt Cup was held without spectators (who dodged a truly nightmare weather day) but still managed to raise $50,000 for its beneficiary, the Chester Coun- ty Food Bank. The perfect cause for a pandemic year. Meanwhile the Maryland Five Star , which at this point appears to have a very good chance of happening as a normal event, has designated the Maryland Food Bank as its beneficiary. The event will be held October 14-17, but of course you knew that, you sweet things. Syl’s condolences to the fam- ily and friends of Radnor Hunt’s Huntsman John Dean , who passed in January at age 55 from COVID. It appeared he was on the mend when his maladies re- appeared, Radnor Hunt reported. The third generation of his family to carry the horn, “his uncanny sense of where Charlie might be lurking and his knack for breed- ing just the right mix of hound attributes, provided subscribers, guests, and car followers with countless hours of superb sport.” A few locals recently par- ticipated in the US Equestrian Robert Dover Horsemanship Clinic week in Wellington, FL. Abby Fodor (Bloomsbury, N.J.), Hannah Irons (Queenstown, Md.) and Allison Nemeth (Flem- ington, N.J.) were selected as candidates for the next generation of U.S. Dressage Team talent. Participants received expert instruction from former U.S. Dressage Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover, U.S. Dressage Youth Coach George Williams and oth- ers on a variety of topics related to riding, competing, and equine care. Congratulations ladies! Adria Schlesman , University of Pennsylvania Class of 2021, has been awarded a $4,000 Zoetis/The Foundation for the Horse Schol- arship. The scholarships reward graduating veterinary students for their academic excellence, leader- ship in their school and American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) student chapter, and their long-term goals in equine practice. Well done Adria! 2021 is an Olympic year and local eventers are in serious training for competition. Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) and Z and Boyd Martin , (Cochranville, PA) and Tsetserleg TF have been named to the USEF Elite Training squad. Pre-Elite program athletes, considered to have the ability to reach Elite status in the next two to four years, include Jennie Brannigan (West Grove, PA) and Stella Artois, Erin Sylvester (Cochranville, PA) and Paddy the Caddy, and Boyd Martin and Luke 140. Caitlin Silliman (Cochran- ville, Pa.) has been named to the Development List. In Tokyo, eventing will follow the Olympic format of three combinations with no drop score over an eight-min- ute cross country course. But wait! There’s more! The 2021 Emerging Athlete Eventing 25 Assessment Sessions were held in January, and among the 24 up and coming, under-25 invitees were several locals: Ari- elle Aharoni (Bedminster, N.J.) Amanda Beale Clement (Phoe- nixville, PA), Alexa Gartenberg (Gladwyne, PA), Meg Pellegrini (Wayne, PA), Danielle Poulsen (Newark, DE), and Sydney Solo- mon (Dayton, Md.). The FBI investigation into corruption at Penn National Race- course continues. Trainer Murray Rojas , convicted on 14 counts of misbranding prescription drugs in 2017, lost an appeal to overturn her conviction and sentence, which included 27 months in prison. Wit- nesses testified that Rojas instruct- ed veterinarians to administer drugs to her horses within 24 hours of a race in violation of Pennsylvania law or that she did it herself. Rojas has the right to file for a rehearing before the Court of Appeals. If that fails, she may petition to the United States Supreme Court. The New York Times reported Chinese scientists have dedicated more than a decade to investigat- ing why giant pandas smear their bodies with vast quantities of horse manure. They sniff out fresh horse droppings and roll, even using their paws to really make sure they are totally covered. Ten years of study revealed that a chemical in manure may short-circuit a cellular thermo- stat that makes pandas sensitive to cold. Other research has found that the chemicals might also decrease inflammation and perception of pain. Who else would tell you these things darlings!?! And that will have to do it for Syl for another month. Until next time, remember to S.S.S. (Send Syl Scoop) at PAEquest@ aol.com . And…be careful where you step!!!!