Marilyn Payne’s down-to-earth demeanor is one of several attributes that make her a gold mine of good stuff for Galway Downs exhibitors.
The New Jersey resident will serve as the President of the Ground Jury for the 4* and 2* divisions at this month’s International Horse Trials, March 27-30. She held that role for the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2010 World Equestrian Games and was a member of the 2008 Beijing Olympics Ground Jury. Marilyn continues to officiate and educate throughout North American and well beyond.
A long-time Galway Downs official, Marilyn comes with expertise that ranges from developing and judging young horses to educating riders and judges. She enjoys sharing that knowledge and seeing the positive ripple effect of having well-educated, experienced officials help exhibitors improve their game.
All members of the Ground Jury have many responsibilities throughout a competition – especially the President.
Per the International Equestrian Federation, the President of the Ground Jury “has the overall responsibility to ensure that all FEI Rules and Regulations, conditions of the schedule, technical requirements for the running of all Competitions, and the continuous cooperation between all Officials and other principal stakeholders are respected and upheld in order to achieve the best possible outcome of the Event.”
(You can read the entire job description here.)
Marilyn encourages riders to introduce themselves and ask questions. “The riders who’ve been around for a while will come up to us, but others are leery,” Marilyn shares. “Please, if you ever have questions or concerns, we would love to hear from you.”
Always A Horse Girl
Marilyn was horse crazy on arrival. She pursued her passion however she could growing up in New Jersey, including earning her “B” Pony Club rating. Developing Applewood Farm in Califon, NJ, into a premier training and breeding program realized many of her childhood dreams.
She and her husband Dick are the proud parents of two star equestrians: Doug Payne and Holly Payne Caravella. Based in North Carolina, Doug had a brilliant 5* event career before recently switching fulltime to his 5* Jumping endeavors, which he had been doing with amazing success while also eventing. Holly is a 5* eventer and FEI dressage rider who runs her business in Oldwick, NJ.
Marilyn continues to compete herself, in both eventing and dressage. She teaches students and trains horses at Applewood and gives clinics as her judging schedule allows.
Young Event Horses are another of her passions. She was Chairman of the USEA’s Young Event Horse Committee for several years and continues to provide guidance and encourage more events to host YEH classes. She would especially love to see more YEH classes in the West. The quality of young horses produced in the West is growing apace with the quality of riding, older event horses and competitions in the region. Staging more YEH classes would help extend that trend.
She’s equally passionate about educating more eventing judges. While teaching at a USEA Dressage Session Training Program in Texas in mid-February, Marilyn was thrilled to see California professionals Andrea Baxter and Helen Alliston there in pursuit of their credentials.
“The more officials you have out there the better, because, the better the dressage judges are, the more they will educate the riders and help them improve their dressage,” Marilyn says. “Dressage is the big thing. We’ve got to improve our dressage to be competitive with the best in the world. The top nations – like England and Germany – are winning because they excel in dressage and are also very good in the jumping phases.”
Organizational Matters
Marilyn’s diverse resume includes organizing schooling shows, “mini” events in dressage and eventing, and USEA-recognized Young Event Horse shows at Applewood. This year, she’s taking that role up a notch as volunteer organizer of the Essex Horse Trials on June 1.
Having ridden or judged at Essex every year since it started, Marilyn couldn’t let it end when its former organizer and several committee members resigned. “There was no one to lead the ship, so I came up with a plan for a 1-day event and the board accepted it.”
Her first-hand exposure to the many moving parts and expenses involved in staging a larger event increase what was already strong appreciation for Galway Downs organizer, Robert Kellerhouse.
“It’s amazing what Robert has done with Galway Downs and it’s only going to get better,” she asserts. “Flat” and “brown” described the venue when Marilyn first started traveling out here. “But every time I came out they had made changes to the terrain, there was more grass growing, and a lot of work done around the water jumps.”
“The quality of the riding in California has also improved tremendously from when I first started judging there,” Marilyn continues. “I credit Robert for putting on these events, giving people places to ride and to set and reach their goals.
“I’ve got to hand it to the people in California,” she adds. “They really put their heart and soul into their events, and they don’t get that much return in terms of monetary profit.”
Marilyn offers another “hats off” to Robert for his commitment to bringing in judges from Europe and elsewhere. “You need a minimum of four FEI judges at every FEI competition. He’s wonderful about bringing in European judges. It’s costly but he knows he has to get these people, because riders have so much respect for what they say.
“At the upcoming show, I’m working alongside a judge from India, 3* Ground Jury President Sukhdev Rathore, and that’s great!”
An Olympic Perspective
Marilyn’s experience working two Olympics gives her a unique perspective on what’s ahead for Galway Downs as the proposed site of equestrian and para-equestrian events for the LA28 Olympics.
“It’s exciting and it’s a big job and I’m sure you can handle it. Every country that hosts tries to show off their country and culture. So, it’s more than just running the competition. You are opening your arms to the world, inviting them to come see your place and having them enjoy it and talk about it afterwards. You want it to be a great experience for the riders, and the officials and volunteers, too.”
It’s an opportunity to show off equestrian sports, often to spectators who were previously unfamiliar with them. “You want everybody to feel welcome and that they are really a part of it, rather than just watching it.”
The tradition of incorporating local landmarks and cultural references in the cross-country and show jumping courses will be something to see at Galway Downs, Marilyn adds.
California sunshine is surely another Olympic attraction, but nobody needs to wait for LA28 to enjoy that. Speaking from a long, snowy winter in New Jersey, Marilyn looks forward to Temecula’s typically warm and lovely days.
“And the people are great,” she concludes. “It’s like a second family. Everybody works hard to get it all done and you get that teamwork feeling.”
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