The Horse Park of New Jersey has its fans

In the nation’s most densely populated state, the Horse Park of New Jersey is a tree-shaded oasis. I think of all the places where I used to compete not so long ago that have been developed or no longer stage shows—Coppergate in Basking Ridge, Tewksbury in Hunterdon County, Gill-St Bernards in Somerset County, to mention only a very few.

So the concept of a showgrounds that is safe from development is very important, especially if you are aware of the multi-breed constituencies it serves. From hunters and jumpers to Standardbred pleasure horses, saddlebreds, Arabians, eventers and a variety of schooling activities, the Horse Park stays busy.

Of course, it can’t be compared to lavish venues such as Wellington International or the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, where private entrepreneurs have spent many millions. There are, however, plenty of other facilities across the country that have state-of-the-art footing and some amenities without the bells and whistles of the big players. But while those involved with the Horse Park never stop trying to do their best, it remains a 30-year-old non-profit that could use some updates.

The Horse Park is awaiting word on a request for $2.5 million from the state that would pay for footing and stabling improvement. But it will be waiting for a while. The legislation for that spending, submitted by Assemblyman Ron Dancer, is now in the state Assembly Agriculture and Food Security Committee for review. According to a spokesperson for Assembly Deputy Majority Leader Roy Freiman, who chairs the committee, the panel will not resume its work until September. Then it has to come out of committee, go to the Assembly and Senate for approval and finally make it to the governor’s desk. It’s a long process, and who knows at this point how the legislation will fare.

Meanwhile, the Kentucky Horse Park has been granted $10 million from the Blue Grass State’s politicians to renovate its stabling. It is seeking feedback from those who have stabled horses there as to what improvements they would like. In Kentucky, there is an understanding of the importance of its horse-related constituency across the board, even as national attention focuses mainly on its racing, highlighted by the Derby and this year’s Breeders Cup. Horse-related activities bring in out-of-staters, helping all kinds of small businesses in addition to hotels and restaurants. New Jersey politicians should pay attention to what Kentucky has done, and why.

Despite the Horse Park of New Jersey’s shortcomings that have kept some trainers away, there are many who enjoy the facility and what it has to offer. I talked to competitors, officials and others during last weekend’s Dressage at the Park show to find out their opinion of the venue.

Trainer Marcus Orlob says, “I love it here,” citing the amount of space at the venue, but he was not happy with the puddles that distracted the sensitive stallion, Spirit of Joy, in his Developing Grand Prix test. Depending on who is managing the rings at the park, Marcus observed, the footing “gets at times deep, or really hard.”

On Sunday, the surface was generally okay, aside from the puddles, he said. But he wondered why the East Ring was watered after a big rain two days earlier. At the same time, he said, the warm-up ring was fine. But the first group of riders bore the brunt of the water mishap.

Co-manager Kathy Grisolia approached Marcus for an assessment and apologized to him, he said. She noted that with the sun coming out, the footing dried up, they would do a drag during the break and “it gets better.” In terms of watering, “it’s a fine balance,” she commented.

Emily Wyman of Hudson, N.Y., a professional who rode her test with Chigali after Marcus had finished, also noted the puddles bothered her horse.

“I know he needs to go wherever and do whatever,” she said, but it presented a problem “especially because it wasn’t consistent.” There was a big puddle at one end and “a bit of puddling” on the long side of the ring, was a factor, she noted.

“They watered a little bit much,” Elisabeth Williams, a former steward who was working at the show as a volunteer, said on Sunday.

“It was a little bit deep this morning, but there is a bottom to it,”

Even so she mentioned, “They’re not slip-sliding around anywhere, even with the heavy rains we had going into Friday.

The show was supposed to have an FEI component, but the 2-star CDI was cancelled when entries were low and there was a problem getting a veterinary official with the required credential.

The July show traditionally is lighter in entries than the Eastern States Dressage and Combined Training show in September. Jennifer Bateman, co-secretary with Monica Fitzgerald, estimated there were approximately 124 entries. Initially, she had expected about 150. Unlike a hunter/jumper show, however, a dressage competition is valid for participants no matter how light the entry because competitors are marked the same way by the judges whether there is only one in the class, rather than 10, and the test comments are a good barometer of where a horse is in its development.

Some competitors were disappointed about the CDI situation because they needed an FEI result to qualify for next month’s national championships in Illinois. Marcus, who received 70 percent in the Developing Horse Grand Prix, is qualified for the championships because that division does not require a CDI score.

Emily entered the show when it was a CDI, with qualifying for the national championships as a goal, and is applying for a waiver to that competition after the CDI was scrapped.

Marcus rode just after 9 a.m., but as the morning went on and the ring was dragged, puddles disappeared and the footing was not the subject of complaints.

“It’s not fancy footing, but it’s not dangerous, it’s safe. I don’t mind the footing here at all. It’s not slick,” said trainer Lauren Chumley of Pittstown after her 10:55 a.m. ride in the  Intermediate I freestyle on Santa Barbara DASH.

Elisabeth observed, “No it’s not the wonderful Global (Dressage Festival) felt footing, but it’s totally rideable. None of the horses are sucking back. There’s enough give in it so they can extend and do all that good stuff. To me, they’re doing a good job on it.”

Marcus, based in Annandale, Hunterdon County, responded to a question about what should be improved at the park in addition to footing by saying he would appreciate more food trucks  (“better food” was mentioned by several people) and more vendors. And of course, upgraded stabling, which is what everyone would like. He sees the potential of the park with improvements as a place with the potential of a place “to hang out” for chats and socializing with clients and other professionals

Young Rider Morgan Colliti, 22, a Newtown, Pa., professional, who also did not need a CDI to make it to the championships in her division, is a fan of the park.

“I really like it here. It’s really open. The horses like it because they can see everything,” she said after completing her first freestyle, and noting her Donatalla CF is “pretty okay with water  (in the ring) most of the time.”

Another who appreciates the park is Mia Mata Blake.

“Even though the CDI was cancelled, we decided to come anyway, it’s been really good so far,” she said mid-morning.

“The footing’s been fine. They’re doing a great effort for trying to drag it between rides, which we really appreciate. It’s important for horses to stay sound,” said Mia, the head rider for Silva Martin’s stable.

Mia rode 12-year-old Hannah Lu W while Pamela Murphy rode Hannah’s dam, 18-year-old Rosa Cha W.

As is often the case with pre-teen daughters and their mothers, the two mares have their issues. “They have similar personalities,” explained Mia, so the only time they spend together is when they’re trailering to shows. Hannah showed Rosa who was in charge–she was first in the FEI Prix St. Georges while her dam finished third. I can only imagine their horsey conversation on the trailer ride home to Pennsylvania. I heard the remark of equine outrage after they touched noses when they stood together for photos in the Horse Park awards area.

The level of satisfaction seemed to focus on the competitor’s ride time. Those who rode after the early morning classes seemed pleased.

“It’s been a terrific show, the ring’s been fine, the rain helped a lot, they’re dragging it regularly. It’s very well-organized. I’m super happy,” said Sandra Cohen, an amateur who came from New York with her 11-year-old Dutch warmblood, Grace Jones, to ride in the Prix St. Georges.

The park often draws people who are just curious about the horses and their activities,  so important in terms of an opportunity for exposing more people to horses. The Garret family of nearby Manalapan, for instance, dropped by to watch because their daughter, 6-year-old Brielle, likes horses. They were unfamiliar with dressage, so one of the very nice volunteers answered their questions. Brielle’s parents, Lindsay and Scott, decided to come after Brielle’s  grandparents made a trip to the park and recommended it.

Lori Kelly of Hillsborough, N.J., was among the several vendors in the park’s pavilion with her booth of Waldhausen products. The brand sponsored the Brentina Cup at the show.

“The quality of the rides was great, but I don’t think the exhibitors showed appreciation for us being here. It’s not that they need to buy something, but just walk through and humor us,” said Lori. She mentioned, however, that one exhibitor did just that saying “Thank you so much for being here,” and the sponsorship.

“That means a lot to us,” Lori observed.

Elisabeth Williams feels the park has potential. She’d like to see better judges’ booths for the dressage, since it rains into the current open-sided booths, and mentioned the need not only for better stalls, but also for a few that are 12 by 12 for the bigger horses, instead of 10 by 10.

She feels that acting park president Ellen Brindle Clark “has the vision and runs enough shows to know what’s needed. Management is great and they’re really trying. There are different groups here running different competitions, and I think maybe a little more cohesiveness might be nice.”

Former U.S. Dressage Federation President Lisa Gorretta of Ohio, who was the show’s technical delegate, commented after the competition ended that she was impressed by her first visit to the park.

“It has a wonderful atmosphere. I love the `chi,’” she said, referring to its energy.

“It has extremely dedicated horse show and professional staff that do everything they can with the facility they have. The volunteers have been awesome to work with. These guys I think are doing a remarkable job, looking at the footing, trying to figure out what the weather is going to do They really are dedicated to making Mother Nature as cooperative as possible.”

As Lisa noted, it is important to stage 2-star level shows where horses, riders, officials and volunteers all can develop their skills.

“We have to have the farm team of horse shows,” she stated, explaining, that offers “opportunities for people to compete at approximately the level where they are comfortable and bring the standards up all around that.”