Stable Owners Talk About The 2007 Hampton Classic

By Lon S. Cohen

At the end of August in the Hamptons there are two things that you can count on. The first is that there will be some sort of drenching rainstorm. The second is the Hampton Classic. Usually they happen at about the same time and the crew tending the event has to quickly make up for what Mother Nature has done her best to rend asunder. Fortunately for us they haven't let us down yet.

While the event itself is relatively ubiquitous on the calendar of almost anyone who is anyone, we tend to forget with all the glitz and glamour that there are some real honest to goodness hard working folks out there trying to compete in a good show. From the riders to the stable workers to the trainers no one works harder to entertain the late summer crowds, except of course the horses themselves.

I have been able to secure the exceptional opportunity of catching up with some the various folks in front of and behind the scenes during the Classic so far. There is an impressive list of athletes competing at a multitude of levels at the Hampton Classic including junior amateurs, Olympians, and professionals riders.

Missy Clark of North Run Stables with Chili.

From the start, the dreams of these young (and not so young) women and men are fostered by the trainers who help them perfect their skills so that they can make it look so easy out there every year.

North Run

Missy Clark and John Brennan are co-owners and co-trainers (and just happen to be husband and wife) at the North Run Stable. They have a litany of names on the Hunter/Jumper Show Circuit including Hillary Dobbs, four-time Grand Prix winner this year, Heather Dobbs, who works as a professional at North Run, Julie Welles, who won last year as a junior, shares the same birthday as Hillary, and works for North Run as well, Kimmy McCormack, Cortie Wetherill, Zazou Hoffman, and many more!

Fortunately I was able to coral Missy Clark to ask her a few questions as she was preparing to leave her New Jersey based stable.

Lon: Can you tell me a little about your background with horses?
Missy: My mom is Doris Clark and she actually rode professionally as a kid up in Toronto. I grew up just outside out Buffalo in Williamsville, NY. She wasn't Canadian but she rode up there professionally and then she got married and had five daughters, yours truly being the youngest. She taught us all how to ride but I was the only one who really took to it and loved it and on we went. She taught me to ride in the beginning on a little backyard pony, amusingly enough I grew up riding at Mason Phelps grandmother's Peach Taylor, at her barn, which she had in the front of her beautiful estate. So I kept my pony there and when I got older I actually showed some of her horses for her. That was in Williamsville, NY. That is where I grew up. As I got older my mom taught me everything I knew up until I was 14 and then I rode for a local professional named Chuck Graham. I was his working student I guess you could say he saw that I had some ability so I rode all his green horses.

L: Do you remember anything about your first horses?
M: My first pony I remember vividly and her name was Mecca and she there was a little Arab in her. She was black and her birthday was May 27th. And Peach had actually purchased her for her grandson who is named Mike Mann but she ran away with him on the first day and he didn't want to deal with her so we got to buy her at a bargain price. I trained her to jump. I spent hours and hours riding poor Mecca. I didn't show, I was riding in the back yard and teaching her how to jump - we taught each other.

L: How did you begin on the show circuit?
M: It began with the local circuit and I remember George Morris (US Team Captain) came to Buffalo to take give a clinic and I took it, and he was so nice to me, as time went on and I was no longer a junior rider, actually one winter I went with Rodney Jenkins (famous Grand Prix rider and US Team show jumping veteran) and rode with him and went to Florida and showed with him. I took a semester off of college and amongst that time there was no set specific time but I rode with George and I had a nice jumper that I did in some Grand Prix and so I was with George when I could. I rode with him for several years off and on with my jumper.

L: When did you turn pro?
M: Actually it was right after I was a junior rider I spent one year and rode as an amateur with Rodney and then the next year I became a professional. I was still in college, which was kind of interesting because I traveled back and forth from college. I was probably 19 then.

L: Who was the first Big Name for you as a student?
M: Sheila Burke. She was my first student to get a ribbon in the medal finals. She was star in the making. Interestingly enough she went on to ride for the USET, my first student to do that, and then two years ago won the Dublin Grand Prix, Style of Riding Award at Hickstead. It's been a great relationship and we continue to work together to this day, which is cool.

L: Where have you competed?
M: We've shown all over the country really. In Connecticut for sure, in fact we have had kids show in Orion Winter Fair and showing up there absolutely and also went to Europe and competed two summers ago which was neat. I am probably penciling in doing that again next summer to go to Europe with a group of jumper riders.

L: Who influenced you the most in your philosophy on show jumping?
M: I think that George Morris (the US Team Captain in Show Jumping) has influenced me in my teaching the most. In riding, just working, with Rodney Jenkins was amazing for my own personal riding, as it was with George. Influences on my teaching, all of it would be Peter Wylde and watching Ian Millar and Marcus Enning, Federico Pessoa who I have worked with a bit. It's been great to be around them.

L: What is in the future for North Run?
M: I have been most interested in the jumper and the jumper ring and I am not saying I am not going to continue doing equitation and hunters and what have you but I see us doing more of the other arena. Maybe doing some more showing in various places like Europe. We took 4 kids to Belgium two summers ago, next year I have a group that will be ready to go for sure. We usually stay about a month.

L: Your next stars?
M: I think for next year, 2008, junior riders for sure. I would say Kimmy McCormack and Zazou Hoffman on the top of the list of Juniors. In the Grand Prix ring it is absolutely Hillary Dobbs and Julie Welles.

Jessica Springsteen and La Movida. Photo by Jennifer Wood

Beacon Hill

When I first contacted Frank and Stacia Madden I asked them if they were going to the Hampton Classic with their Beacon Hill Show Stable.

"We are attending the Hampton Classic with approximately 40 horses," Stacia said. That would be a yes.

Frank and Stacia Madden are two of the most successful trainers of young and developing show jumping talent in the United States having trained several of the most promising junior equitation and amateur jumper riders.

According to the Maddens, 2007 is going great, winning the Ronnie Mutch Equitation Championship for the fourth consecutive year, and the second year in a row for rider Maria Schaub. Jessica Springsteen (that's right folks – Springsteen – as in daughter of Bruce Springsteen) captured the Christy Conard Perpetual Trophy. This is an overall award for the rider accumulating the most points during the Winter Equestrian Festival in the junior equitation division.

Beyond the training ring Frank and Stacia Madden contributes to the development of American Show Jumping. Their efforts have been recognized in various awards and honors such as Frank's prestigious "Developmental Coach of the Year" awards from the United States Olympic Committee in 2004 & 2006 and Beacon Hill's designation as "Show Hunter Horseman of the Year for 2005" by The Chronicle of the Horse.

I spoke with Frank briefly just as he was getting the horses ready for the trip out to Southampton. In the background I heard the horses and the various sounds as he walked the horses around.

Lon: What will you do with the horses when you get to the Hamptons?
Frank: We have to get them used to the grounds. We walk them and get them warmed up.

L: How long have you been doing the Classic?
F: We've been here since the beginning. We were here for the Hurricane!

L: How was that?
F: They got everything back together very quickly. We had to round up the horses but it wasn't too bad.

L: What do you expect this year?
F: We're looking forward to it. This is one of our favorite shows and a good way to end the summer. It's very competitive. The Hampton Classic is always a challenge. We will look forward to a good competition and a good showing.

Charles Brown and Michelle Grayson of Sassy & Company.

Sassy & Company

Sassy & Company, elite Hunter and Jumper Show Stable, is co-owned by Michelle Grayson and Charles Brown. Both will be participating in the 2007 Hampton Classic both riding and training during the week event. Over the last seven years Michelle and Charles have developed a very successful business with Sassy & Company in Northern New Jersey, instructing riders from short stirrup, junior hunters and adult competitors, taking them on the A-rated circuit year round with some qualifying for the national finals.

Sassy & Company will be showing throughout the week with other horses. The Hampton Classic is one of their favorite events and way to wrap up the summer season.

Michelle Grayson was nice enough to answer some of my questions, even though she was busy at another show before packing it all up to head Out East for the Classic. She has a lifetime of experience with horse shows. She grew up in Connecticut and rode at one of the top show barns, Cedar Lodge Farm, under famed trainers, Victor Hugo-Vidal and John Linden.

Lon: What is your background in horses? Inspiration?
Michelle: I grew up riding in the pony and junior hunters at Cedar Lodge in Connecticut under the tutelage of John Linden and also with the Lenehans of Barely Able Stables in Pennsylvania.

L: When did you begin on the show circuit?
M: I began showing at the 6 years old.

L: Can you tell me some of the locations that you have competed?
M: Over the years I have competed everywhere from Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Virginia Washington, Pennsylvania, Wellington in Palm Beach and of course one of my favorites the Hampton Classic.

L: What do you see yourself doing over the next few years with your stable?
M: As for Sassy & Company, my partner Charles Brown and I want to continue developing new riders and horses. It is always rewarding to see both riders and horses mature and progress.

L: How is it being the owner and the competitor?
M: I love being an owner and a competitor. Having grown up riding it has always been such a significant part of my life. I am fortunate to combine my career with my passion of riding. Being an owner/competitor simply makes you strive for more. As an owner and trainer I love watching the success of seeing my clients horses win.

L: Is it unusual for an owner of the stable to be a competitor too?
M: It isn't that uncommon for business owner to be competitors as well. It's just a lot more work.

L: What is your history/background with the Hampton Classic?
M: I have always come to the Hampton Classic. I love being there. My clients love it and it is the perfect way to wrap up the summer season.

L: What are your feelings for your performance in this year's Classic?
M: This summer has been fantastic for all my clients and horses at Sassy & Company. I am hoping for the best in Bridgehampton. I am coming off some wins this week in Monmouth so I am excited to see and prepared for this years Classic.

L: What horse will you be riding for this competition?
M: My mounts this year are Tom Ford, Robin Hood, and Signature. I currently own one horse, named Buddakan. He has been champion at almost every show this summer with Charles showing. I am looking forward to moving him up next year and watching him win some more!

From just this sampling of the Stables and Trainers attending the Hampton Classic this year, it's obvious that everyone looks forward to this event as a great way to end their summer.

Next we look at many of the riders attending the event this week as they compete in the individual events and give their feelings about the horses and the Classic.

For more information, click here.

Lon S. Cohen has been a short order cook, a Generation X slacker (aka artist), a fence installer, a marketing designer and once he was the only Jewish kid working on a Christmas Tree lot. There is no order to the aforesaid list. He currently works full time but only to pay the bills for a McMansion, beautiful wife and three lovely children. What he really wants to do is write, podcast, blog and drink a really good IPA. Again, not in any order of importance. Visit him at www.lonscohen.com and contact him by email at lon@lonscohen.com.