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To Our Athletes and Friends, Thank You for Your Trust and Dedication; Davis McCullough Foundation support enables the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament to stand alone as a different experience for horse and rider
From the outset, year three of the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament, like every year before it, was planned and executed to honor the horse, the riders and our sport. That mindset permeated everything that made up the collective experience. Amongst the many expectations and consistent with what the show’s founders promised, entries this year, were capped at 450 horses. This meant, in the end, well over one hundred entries were turned away.
That decision lead, as expected, to superb jumping surfaces in both the CMJ Sporthorse all-weather and the Unicorn Landing Grand Prix field, where the grass held up beautifully. Additionally, there was an abundance of space for riders to work their horses without being crowded all week, similar was the case in our ample and dedicated warm up rings. In the end, our mission’s statement was lived up to and while we were far from perfect, we strived at every turn to create the industry’s greatest hospitality and the very best in recognition and facilities, for our all-important horses.
Show Chairman Dr. Jeff Papows was delighted with the continued progress of the tournament as it continues its march to be the best boutique jumper show in the nation. “This was a great year for the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament. I was overwhelmed and humbled by the hundreds of riders and owners that approached me with accolades this year,” he said. “But, to me, while those compliments are a great reward for the hard work we’ve put in here, I’m most excited that each year, we’ve done our job better and in each instance recognized the improvements that can still be made. It’s something we have to do to stay ahead of so many excellent horse shows this country has to offer. We’re already looking ahead to next year,” he smiled. “A special thanks to Victoria McCullough of the Davis McCullough Foundation for her continued vision and support.”
NESN’s TV coverage of our $75,000 Agero Grand Prix that aired on Saturday August 22, was stunningly well produced and so important for our sport, given that it reached some five million homes. We had an ample crowd in the grandstands and surrounding the Unicorn Landing Farm Grand Prix Field, something the show works very hard at every day of the year and something that is often found lacking in so many of the horse shows in this country.
“Our desire has always been to get this event in front of as many eyeballs as possible,” laughed Papows.
We also had plenty of time for some fun and to let off some steam. The first ever Farm Volleyball Tournament and barbeque Friday night was a great success. Thanks to our partners at Farm Family for sponsoring that. “We have received rave reviews on the quality of the Classic Champions Young Jumper Program, added this year through the generosity of Cynthia Hampton which was well populated with many of the very best young horses in the country,” noted Papows. “Our sincere thanks to our hosts Fieldstone Show Park which labored mightily to ensure the very best of jumping surfaces in our industry bar none and from every report succeeded.”
Papows continued, “Nothing is perfect and we noted a list of items we will strive to further improve as work for the 2016 edition of the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament is believe it or not, already beginning. We need to thank all of our sponsors, so numerous it would be untimely to list them here. For us this has and always will be a labor of love for our sport, our horses and you our customers and fellow equestrians,” he said.
“Our congratulations to Paul O’Shea our Grand Prix Champion, Molly Ashe-Cawley who rode one of Darren Graziano’s horses ironically in a win of the DG Ventures Mini Prix, and to so many other champions, one of whom, Sima Morgello, went home with the annual Herb Chambers Silver Oak Jumper Tournament scooter for their efforts and the luck of the winning key on Sunday,” said Papows. “Once again, Olaf Petersen Jr. and Michel Ismalun, who joined us to set the tests for our young jumpers and the CMJ Sport Horse Jumper Annex, for an outstanding job as always. I heard nothing but compliments all week with regards to the intelligence and fairness of the courses set for us all week.”
So from all of us at the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament to all of you, thank you for your belief in us and for making this year’s tournament the best to date.
See you next year at Fieldstone!
Getting set up for Sunday in the Davis McCullough Riders Tent
