The Covid lockdown hit the Horse Park of New Jersey hard at the beginning of the season, after the gates were closed March 18.
The park’s finances were impacted by cancellation of its signature event, May’s Jersey Fresh International (which was meant to be an observation event for the 2020 Olympics); its usual opener, the Four Seasons Show, and this month’s Middlesex County Horse Show, although the latter may be rescheduled. Schooling shows and barrel racing also were called off. The loss of Jersey Fresh really hurt, since the park board anticipated it would generate its highest revenue ever, $250,000 at a conservative estimate.
Here’s what being at ringside means in the Covid era–masks for everyone, except those who are in the saddle. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
Dealing with a shortened season is tough for the park, but Adam Furlong, president of the board of trustees, characterized the mood as “hopeful,” and at the same time being “pragmatic,’’ adding, “we have a long road ahead of us” while the park copes with “a condensed version of a full calendar.”
He added, however, “there is no immediate reason to be concerned about long-term viability. We’re optimistic about what the park is going to look like and optimistic about what we can do with the park.”
An events committee and a facilities committee have been created within the board to achieve those goals.
During the lockdown, rainy day accounts were depleted, but expenses were deferred where possible and the park got a loan (that may be forgiven) from the federal Paycheck Protection Program, which enabled the park to bring back employees after three months. Adam cited longtime board member Donna Yukens (who is moving out of state) for devising a detailed Covid response plan that has been shared with the state Department of Agriculture as a possible template for how state parks and similar venues should prepare for reopening.
“It was a tough start, but it’s going to be a great finish,” predicted Ellen Brindle-Clark, the board’s vice president, chatting as the facility’s rings were full of riders warming up, doing dressage and show jumping before they headed out on cross-country at the season’s first horse trials this weekend.
“The down time we utilized to make improvements and sharpen the park up a little bit. I’m excited about this season,” she said.
Social distancing is a must while watching equestrian competition, like the show jumping phase of the Horse Park of New Jersey’s horse trials. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
The successful horse trials at the Allentown facility will be followed by Dressage at the Park July 4-5 and the American Saddlebred Horse Association of New Jersey’s Jersey Classic show July 10-12, for which stalls have been sold out. Sadly, under current USEF rules, spectators are not allowed, but by the time the park’s FEI horse trials come around at the end of July, that may change.
An enthusiastic group of nine candidates for trustee positions on the park board gave impetus to optimism after elections this week.
Two-time Olympic judge Marilyn Payne was one of those elected. She has been on the board previously, and ran again because, “I just think the Horse Park is so important for the horse industry and I want to keep helping make the horse park more successful and make more people aware of what it offers.
“I think it will all come back. We just have to be patient and behave ourselves so we can keep going,” she said.
Morgan Rowsell, course designer and co-organizer of the horse trials, also was chosen for a board spot.
He is looking for more sponsorship to upgrade footing and improve the stabling. If that can be achieved, “I think it’s a world class facility,” said Morgan, who will concentrate on trying to find a way to make those improvements.
The park, he noted, “has a lot to offer the horse community; it just takes time.”
He would like to see “showcase opportunities” in the different disciplines “to get people to take notice” and facilitate upgrades. Citing the positives, he commented, “It’s got a great secretary’s stand, good trailer hook-ups, a great location with hotels. The sky’s the limit.”
The cross-country footing is also a plus, but he mentioned there isn’t the space for a track like the one at the former Fair Hill FEI event, which enjoyed thousands of acres.
Some twists and turns are necessary for cross-country courses at the Horse Park because of the size of the property, but he pointed out that revered German show Aachen has, “plenty of (cross-country) tracks that turn back. We’re not Aachen, but we can provide really good cross-country that will help FEI riders get ready for whatever.”
He said the changes that Covid has brought about offer a great opportunity to rethink things, echoing the comments of U.S. Eventing Performance Director Erik Duvander in the main story on this website.
“Let’s rediscover ourselves,” Morgan advised.
Also elected to the board were executive assistant Diane Sigafoos, a teacher of special needs children, and Rich Clark, a mechanic who has volunteered at the Horse Park four days a week. Two unexpired terms on the board were filled by Rosanne Vaccarro, who has worked for Rutgers University and served as a 4-H leader and Kathryn Adams, a graduate of Morven Park who started 1996 Olympian Jill Henneberg and her mount, Nirvana, on their journey to the Games.
Weekend horse trials co-organizer Jane Cory noted that “the Covid protocol is extensive but it is doable and everyone is cooperating quite nicely. It just takes more preparation and more thinking through things and more supplies.”
But it may be paving the way for change in the future, when the pandemic is (hopefully) history.
“One of the remarkable things we noticed is that something like 99.7 percent of the entries ended up complete; never happens, normally,” she mentioned.
“We want that to carry on.”
Looking around her, she was pleased.
“The Horse Park is in a state of total beauty right now,” she said, even though the park’s furloughed maintenance men didn’t come back until 10 days before the horse trials.
In the interim, “A large amount of work was done by volunteers,” said Jane, mentioning “groups of people painting, mowing fields, cutting grass.”
So many who care have come together on behalf of the park, and to make sure the event runs as it should.
As Jane said, “It’s really cool that it’s working.”
