September 2025 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN September 2025 13 Mai Baum Went Out a Winner At the age of 19, Mai Baum was still showing his class over the weekend at the Event at Rebecca Farm, winning the 4-star Short before taking a bow and retiring from competition in the same place where he won his first 3-star. With Tamie Smith aboard, the aptly nick- named Lexus broke the Montana event’s dressage score record with 22 penalties, did a solo turn on cross-country so everyone could watch and turned in a show jumping double-clear to earn his final trophy. He was ridden in the victory gallop by his own- er, Alex Ahearn, who also did the honors in the retirement ceremony, where he received a wreath of flowers. Mai Baum was the first U.S. horse since 2007 to win the Kentucky 5-star when he tri- umphed there in 2023, making him an instant hero who will be missed. BIO Author and journalist Nancy Jaffer is one of the best-known writers specializing in equestrian sports. She has covered nine Olympics in person, along with every World Equestrian Games and many World Cup Finals, in both dressage and show jumping. For more than four decades, she produced the equestrian sports column for The Star-Ledger of New Jersey. At the time, it was one of the country’s 10 largest newspapers and the only one offering weekly equestrian coverage. Beginning in 2016, Nancy’s stories moved online to the Nancy Jaffer Equestrian Sports website. A rider herself, she has written for many web- sites and publications worldwide, including Horse & Hound, Horse Sport, Practical Horseman and In Stride. Her books include “Riding Through” with Debbie McDonald, “Life in the Galloping Lane” with Karen and David O’Connor, “Riding for America,” and “Riding for the Team.” Visit her website and sign up to get regular news at www.nancyjaffers.com . Or email her at nancy@ nancyjaffer.com and follow her on Facebook at Nancy Jaffer Equestrian Sports, Instagram or Twit- ter: @nancyjaffer. Did you know that East Coast Equ estria n gives you a Ca lenda r of Events coveri ng 3 months of a ction a nd horse commu nity? Retired show horses welcomed with care in Lancaster County, comfortable stalls, gentle routines, and a quiet place to call home. Now Boarding Retired Horses! Contact Daniel by call or text +717-419-2259