February 2023 Issue

The News East Coast Horse Owners Need To Know OUR TH YEAR 199 - PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT 280 LANC., PA 17604 Vol. 30 No. 1 February 2023 (Continued on page 23) By Marcella Peyre-Ferry For a big segment of the population, horses are something they only see on television or possibly in a parade. Each New Year’s Day, horses are the stars as troops of equestrians take part in America’s perennially popular Tournament of Roses Parade, in Pasadena, California. This year, American Sad- dlebred CH Winsdown Edgecliff of Wentz Stables in Orefield, PA made his appearance on the west coast in the Tournament of Roses Parade. Jasper, as he is known to his friends and fans, was one of a dozen horses in the troop of American Saddlebreds led by Michele Macfarlane of Scripps Miramar Saddlebreds, in San Di- ego, California. Among the riders was Lehigh County, PA native and Saddlebred exhibitor Carson Kressley, a television personality, actor, and designer. “I got the call from Michele Macfarlane in the fall. She said ‘this is kind of a crazy request, but I have always been such a fan of that horse and have watched his career and I think he just has that special look. I think he would be wonderful in the parade’,” Tara Wentz Goosley said. “She could have any horse she wants, and she wanted him. I thought he would do a good job.” Jasper has been with his trainer Tara Wentz Goosley since he was a four-year-old and has been with her throughout his entire show career. Now in his late teens, Jasper was owned by Lynn Finelli who passed away in summer 2021. “She asked that I look out for Jasper for the rest of his life. I promised her to try to do what was in his best interest,” Tara said. “Jasper’s been a very special horse for me. I’m grateful that Lynn trusted me to make the de- cisions for him. I think she would be proud looking down at him.” Pennsylvania Saddlebred Chosen to Appear in Tournament of Roses Parade Throughout his show career Jasper has done saddle seat, driving, and particularly western pleasure, where he earned his Champion designation and World Championship titles. He has also been a part of many programs and performances promoting the American Saddlebred breed. Being able to adapt to the excitement and stress of a parade environment came easily to Jasper. “I don’t think there’s any- thing that horse hasn’t done,” Tara said. “He has a huge personality. I guess he thought that parade was there just for him.” To get to the Tournament of Roses Parade, Jasper traveled to the American Royal Horse Show in Kansas City, MO with other entrants from Wentz Stables. From there he was shipped the re- mainder of the way to San Diego, arriving in November. Tara was asked to come out to California in December to take Jasper through his first set of parades in California. She traveled there with her 12-year- old daughter Alexa who helped her prepare. “Alexa helped get my horse ready. Usually it’s me helping get horses ready for her,” Tara said. “We did the parade, and he was absolutely wonderful.” There are stiff regulations for riders in the Tournament of Roses Parade, including a record of suc- cessful rides in other parades in California. Because of this, Tara was not able to ride Jasper in the New Year’s Day parade. Instead, Melissa Moore of Kentucky , who has ridden in the parade in past years, would be Jasper’s rider that day. “I knew Melissa would look absolutely gorgeous and do great with him,” Tara said. Even though Tara could not be Jasper’s rider in the parade she was in touch with all of the parade day preparations. As she relates it, the horses arrive at the staging point about 10 pm the night before the parade. That area is a highway un- derpass with the highway blocked to traffic. Around 2 a.m. they bring out the horses and start to get ready for the parade, including gluing fresh flowers in their manes and placing floral garlands around them. As start time approaches, the horses and riders walk about a mile to the beginning of the parade route. “Then you wait. It’s kind of like a horse show - you hurry up and wait,” Tara said. “The part we get to see on TV is the beginning Tara Wentz Goosley, Orefield, PA, rides CH Winsdown Edgecliff in a ‘practice’ parade in California in advance of his appearance in the Tournament of Roses parade. A dozen riders dressed as kings and queens rode American Saddlebreds in the charged atmosphere of the country’s second largest parade. Photo credit: Alexa Goosley ...and much more! Helmet ratings released but questions remain … pg. 20 Chincoteague Island loses oldest stallion … pg. 4 Inside... Barns, Arenas, Footing feature…pgs. 6-18