Coming Home

Dressage championships return of Gladstone.

- Nancy Jaffer

I t’s like coming home,” observed former USEF Technical Advisor and FEI 5-star judge, Anne Gribbons, expressing her feelings about the 2017 USEF Grand Prix, Intermediaire I and Brentina Cup Championships returning to the U.S. Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation headquarters in Gladstone, New Jersey, May 18–21.

For decades, the facility known around the world simply as “Gladstone” was respected as the USET’s training center, where revered coaches such as Bertalan de Nemethy, Jack Le Goff and Bengt Ljungquist presided over teams that brought glory to America on the international equestrian scene. Although these days the focus of the foundation, based at the 99-year-old stable, involves raising funds for international competition, the charm and reputation of Gladstone still have cachet.

The stately trees and landmark building, with its tile floor and brass finials on the stalls, offer the sense of a very special location. A visit to the upstairs trophy room reveals a history of the U.S. squads in all disciplines, going back to the days when the Army was in charge of fielding teams for international competition. “I really love the place and appreciate the intimacy of it,” said Gribbons, a member of the USEF High Performance Dressage Committee who has been to Gladstone as both a competitor and coach. Her enthusiasm is shared by many others, including George Williams, also a member of the USEF committee and president of the USDF—which has its own set of championships.

“I really do like Gladstone for its history,” said Williams, who became part of it when he rode Rocher to the national Grand Prix championship there in 2005. “It’s a beautiful spot. When you go there you feel the history—it affects everyone. You think about the people who have ridden there before.”