Violent Thunderstorm Mangles Two Tents at Princeton Show Jumping in Skillman

By Barbara A. Preston | Posted July 24, 2024

More than 70 show jumping horses relocated.

A severe storm mangled two large tents — each larger than a circus big top — that sheltered temporary stalls for fancy sport horses at the Princeton Show Jumping (PSJ) grounds off Burnt Hill Road in Skillman on July 16 at about 9 pm.

“The tents were rated for up to 125 mph winds. I think we had 150 mph winds from a micro-burst or a tornado," Andrew H. Philbrick, who owns and created Hunter Farms and Princeton Show Jumping, told The Montgomery News.

THE ROCKY HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT provided lighting at Princeton Show Jumping in Skillman after a violent thunderstorm with strong winds mangled two of their tents. (Photo courtesy of the Rocky Hill Fire Department).

“The wind tore one tent right down the middle, severed it as if a giant truck and had driven through it. The two tent ends were still standing, as were the stalls that protect the horses," Philbrick said. “There was not a scratch on a single horse.”

There were people in the tents at the time of the storm too, and no one was hurt, he said.

The giant tents can hold up to 500 horses. During the storm, there were about 400 horses scheduled to compete. 

Philbrick said first responders and the equestrian community moved 70 horses new stalls. They were in the dark, since the storm had knocked out the electricity, until Rocky Hill firefighters were able to provide lighting so that people and horses could see where they were going.

Montgomery Fire Company No. 2, the police, and first aid squad helped with moving the horses, clearing debris, and ensuring no one got hurt.

“The first responders could not have been any better,” Philbrick said.

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Some horses were trailered to Hunter Farms’ stables on The Great Road, others where walked to fresh stalls in other tents.

High Stakes

Andrew H. Philbrick has been a presence in Montgomery for more than 40 years, beginning with his Hunter Farms Riding & Jumping Club, then adding Princeton Show Jumping (both located in the Skillman section of the township.) He has competed at the highest level of his sport — representing the United States Equestrian Team in international and national competitions, and vying in the arenas at CSIO Rome, Italy, CSIO Dublin, Ireland, and the 1988 USA Olympic Team Trials. These are the Super Bowl championships of the equestrian world.

PSJ has a record of attracting high caliber equestrians such as  Caroline M. Pamukcu — a 5-star event rider recently named to the Paris Olympics team.

Superstar Boyd Martin, who competed in three consecutive Olympic Games (2012, 2016, 2020) and now is competing in his fourth in Paris, also has appeared at PSJ.

Most Montgomery residents know little about the highly accomplished equestrians drawn to the township by Princeton Show Jumping. PJS shows are rated by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). “We are part of the equestrian team pipeline,” Philbrick said. “This is a big deal.”

PRINCETON SHOW JUMPING in Skillman during a competition.

The Show Goes On

Once the storm had passed, Philbrick and his team took down the two mangled tents and replaced them with brand new ones.  “We also had to rebuild 160 stalls,” he said. 

The Princeton Classic Preview National Hunter, Jumper 4 show scheduled to run from July 17 to 21 was delayed by one day. The accomplished equestrians who had trailered horses to the show grounds from all around the country to compete, did so.

The show went on, with Dana Escales out of Wellington, FL, winning the $30,000 prize on Bono Ter Linden, an Anglo-European (AE) horse born in Belgium. AE is a relatively new horse breed, created by crossing horses of different European origins. They are known for their correct movement, soundness, and exceptional trainability.

PSJ Shows Are Open to the Public for Free

Members of the public are invited observe the horse shows. Bleachers are available for guests at the show grounds, 246 Burnt Hill Rd in Skillman.

See dates below, or visit princetonshowjumping.com for more information.

August 21-25

Princeton Summer Encore

National Hunter, Jumper 4

USHJA National Hunter Derby

Regional Championship

September 18-22

Jumper 4, Princeton Young Jumper Championships

USHJA Outreach Festival

September 25-29

Jumper 4, National Hunter

October 3-6

Princeton Show Jumping Classic

Jumper 4, National Hunter ■