Julie Welles Taking 2005 USEF Show Jumping Talent Search–East Title

Animal Planet Feature

Talk about home movies to memorize the weekend—both Welles of West Simsbury, Conn. and Schaub of Homdel, N.J. will have ones that they better set their tape recorders to catch the action when the Animal Planet program airs early next year. The idea to follow several young riders through their daily lives on “The Road to the Maclay” came from Maureen Smith of Maryland. The executive co-producer of the program, she initiated the idea because she is horse lover.

Crews were assigned to film and interview young equestrian from the barns of New Jersey trainers Frank and Stacia Madden of Beacon Hill as well as New York professional Andre Dignelli. The story starts with the daily routine of the youngsters and follows them through the regional qualifiers for the Maclay championship at the Syracuse (N.Y.) International in November.

“They came to my school, my house, even to my hotel room when we were getting up a t 5 a.m. to prepare for a class,” said Schaub.