by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 31, 2019
As was the case with the eventing at the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, the cross-country course for the 2020 Tokyo Games is being shortened due to horse welfare concerns. The route will be 4,500 meters instead of the regulation 5,700 meters, with eight minutes instead of 10 the optimum time.
August in that part of the world is extremely hot and humid. In Hong Kong, the optimum time was also eight minutes, and none of the horses made it, even though eventing caught a break when that segment was held on an overcast day instead of in bright sunshine.
The plan is for the Tokyo competition is to finish by 11 a.m., after which time the potential is for the highest Wet Bulb Globe Temperature readings (a measure of the heat stress in direct sunlight, which takes into account temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and cloud cover.)
But have you ever been to a major eventing competition where there wasn’t a delay of some sort on cross-country due to a fall or other mishap? Even shortening the optimum time might not be able to beat the 11 a.m. witching hour. In an effort to avoid that, the start for the Tokyo cross-country will be earlier than originally scheduled, to between 7:30 and 8 a.m., with an announcement of the exact time expected in January.
The decision was made in view of findings from the 2019 Olympic test event.
“The welfare of both human and equine athletes is at the heart of the FEI’s decision-making process and these decisions have been taken to allow competing nations to optimize their performances in the Tokyo summer climate,” according to a statement from the FEI (International Equestrian Federation).
Summer heat, which led to more than 50 deaths in Tokyo in 2019, has made for some big changes in the Games. The marathon and walking race, for instance, are being moved 500 miles north as a way of easing conditions for those competitors.
Two sessions of eventing dressage run from 8-11:10 a.m., but all the other equestrian competitions start no earlier than 5 p.m. and run into the night. Everything is being held inland at the main equestrian venue except cross-country, which is at the Sea Forest location on the water.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 20, 2019
A service will be held at 11 a.m. Feb. 8 at St. Luke’s Church, 182 Main Street, Gladstone, for Helen Griffith Jones Gordon, a longtime supporter of the Essex Fox Hounds and the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation, who died Dec. 18 in North Branford, Conn.
“She was a wonderful supporter of both groups,” said Sally Ike, a former USET employee and chairman of the Essex Fox Hounds.
“She always there when you needed help, whether clearing trails, stuffing envelopes and everything in between,” recalled Sally, who now is the managing director of licensed officials for the U.S. Equestrian Federation.
“My fondest memories are the Christmas parties for USET staff she hosted for us at her house. She will be missed.”
Helen Gordon had a great rapport with both horses and horse people.
The daughter of Helen and Frank C. Jones and sister of Frank C. Jones Jr. (all now deceased), Helen was born on March 27, 1924. She grew up in Montclair and Pine Orchard, Conn. She attended the Kimberley School in Upper Montclair and graduated from Bennett College in Millbrook, N.Y.
Helen was the great-great granddaughter of Brevet Brigadier Gen. Archibald Henderson, the longest-serving commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps. She was also the great-great= granddaughter of Commodore Jacob Jones, the eleventh commander of the USS Constitution.
Formerly married to Kenneth T. Gordon while living in Essex Fells, Helen later resided in Bedminster and Southern Pines, N.C. As an avid equestrian, she was very involved in fund raising for both the USET and the Somerset Hills Handicapped Riders (now Mane Stream in Oldwick). She was a Trustee Emeritus for both the Berkshire School in Sheffield, Mass., and the USET Foundation.
Helen is survived by her children, Suzanne Helen Gordon of Charleston, S.C.; Pamela Gordon duPont (Benjamin duPont, husband) of Chester, Conn.; Kenneth Jones Gordon (Regina Woods Gordon, wife) of Stamford, Conn., and grandchildren Samantha Danahy Ludwig (Christopher Ludwig, husband), and Brooke Jones Danahy both of Jackson Hole, Wyo.; Ana Cazenove Gordon of New York City; Liliana Ellen Gordon and Jacob Jones Gordon of Stamford and great-grandson Cooper John Ludwig.
In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to:
United States Equestrian Team Foundation
1040 Pottersville Road
Gladstone. NJ 07934 (Designate The Gladstone Fund)
or
Mane Stream
P.O. Box 305
Oldwick, NJ 08858 (Or on line at www.manestreamnj.org)
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 20, 2019
Dressage trainer Michael Barisone has been indicted in Morris County in connection with the August 7 shooting of rider Lauren Kanarek.
He was charged with two counts of attempted murder, which are crimes of the first degree, and two counts of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, crimes of the second degree. He remains in the Morris County Correctional Facility in lieu of bail, as per the judge’s order, and no trial date has been set. Arraignment is scheduled for next month.
The shooting incident involved a scuffle between Barisone, Kanarek and her fiancé, Rob Goodwin, who were living on Barisone’s farm in Washington Township. Kanarek was hospitalized after being shot twice in the chest.
Barisone was a member of the 2008 Olympic dressage team, but did not ride in the Games because only three members of the squad competed. He coached Allison Brock on the bronze medal team at the 2016 Olympics.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 15, 2019
The MARS Essex Horse Trials is moving to a new date for 2020, hoping that a switch from June to July will offer better weather for the event.
“We’re really just trying to improve the odds,” said Ralph Jones, who co-chairs Essex with cross-country course designer Morgan Rowsell.
The sun finally shone for the Mars Essex Horse Trials after days of rain, but organizers are hoping for more good weather with a date change.
A wet spring and an unusual amount of rain during the week of the 2019 competition at Moorland Farm in Far Hills drenched the ground. That was disappointing for the debut of the Advanced division at Essex, a longtime New Jersey fixture which was revived in 2017 after an 18-year absence from the calendar.
Organizers did what they could to deal with the mud, postponing the Advanced stadium jumping from Friday evening to Saturday so the turf could dry out a bit. But it was still difficult going for dressage and show jumping, while the cross-country route also had deep spots, prompting some riders to scratch.
For 2020, Essex takes over the dates of the Fitch’s Corner, N.Y., event, which was discontinued. The new July 18-19 date “fits in better for the riders in sequencing different competitions,” according to Ralph.
“The one pickle we have is the lack of an all-weather arena at Moorland Farm. If we don’t have an all-weather arena, we are limited to what we can do,” said Ralph.
Essex co-chairs Ralph Jones and Morgan Rowsell.
While 38 riders entered the Advanced this year, 26 scratched after assessing the conditions.
Ralph thinks the riders will be willing to have another try at Essex.
“Essex was dealt a bad straw,” said Lauren Kieffer, the Bates U.S. Eventing Association’s Leading Lady Rider of 2019.
Ralph commented, “My instinct is they give us a pass because of the weather, but they’re not going to give that to you forever,” he said.
Philip Dutton, who ran a lower-level horse at Essex this year, scratched his Advanced mount, Z, who this weekend at the U.S. Eventing Association convention was named the Standlee Western Forage USEA Horse of the Year and Advanced Horse. The Olympian said the cross-country going was heavy.
Although July can be hot, he likes the idea of the new date, noting, “It’s the weaker time for Advanced events, so it could work well on the calendar, especially if they can aerate the cross-country so it doesn’t get too hard.”
The problem with grass for the other phases is that, “In dressage, everyone goes in the same spot, and the same with the show jumping.”
When it rains, that makes the footing difficult. In the future, he said, events are “going to have all-weather surfaces at some stage. If they want to stay relevant and stay competitive, they’re probably going to have to do that, and it’s not easy to do.”
Guy Torsilieri, who co-chairs the October Far Hills Race Meeting at Moorland, said about trying to solve the footing situation for dressage and jumping, “We have multiple options. We understand there’s a need for consistent footing when it gets wet. We’d like to keep the turf, but that may not be realistic.”
He explained there is consideration of improving the turf with a long-term project, but observed, “in some cases, that might not work.” Another possibility involves discussing partnering with the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation in Gladstone, a five-minute drive from Moorland, so the Advanced show jumping and dressage could be held there.
While the ring behind the Foundation’s stables is what first comes to mind when the facility is mentioned, Guy brought up the arena at Pine Meadow, part of the Foundation property which has been used for driving over the years.
“Should we look at renovating Pine Meadow,” he wondered. Using a ring at the Foundation would mean trailering the horses, albeit for a short distance, which is not always popular with the riders.
But he also mentioned the idea of an all-weather ring at Moorland, although that is not a solution for this year. But Guy noted for that concept, “it’s not the capital to put it in; it’s the business plan to make it work going forward. All options are on the table and I think you have to approach it that way.”
Ralph noted, “We’re trying to figure all this out. The riders don’t really like to go to two locations,” he pointed out, adding, however, “We could probably do it in a transition year.”
Moving the event into July makes it a little more predictable. If the turf stays dry, Morgan said, Advanced will go first, and get the best footing as a result.
Will Coleman and Obos O’Reilly handled the footing to win the Advanced division at the Mars Essex Horse Trials.
“For our purposes this year, we will irrigate, we will aerate, we will sand it–whatever we can do to get the best turf possible. We’re concentrating on having a successful event at Moorland, but we’ve got to have a backup plan.
“We had 14 inches of rain in June. Three years in a row we had rain, that’s just the way it works now in June in New Jersey.”
Even if it’s hot, the ground won’t suffer. “We can make hard ground soft,” said Morgan, but the corollary is that no one can do the opposite with wet ground.
Morgan noted the entire Preliminary division ran cross-country last year “and it was great. But when you get to the 4-foot level, you’re asking a horse to jump out of some soft footing and the consequences are quite a bit different than jumping 3-foot-6.”
Chris Barnard, who designed the Essex show jumping courses, thinks July will work.
“It might be a little warm, but I think it’s warm everywhere. When the ground gets that wet for the show jumping in the field, it’s tricky.” On the other hand, he pointed out “If it’s too hard, they (the Essex contingent) have the equipment and staff to get the equipment better.”
Boyd Martin, who won the featured Preliminary Essex section on Luke 140 this year but scratched Advanced, said of scenic Essex, “It’s a phenomenal event, everything we dream of in an event as a rider.”
Boyd Martin on his winning Preliminary mount at Essex.
The U.S. Eventing Association’s Rider of the Year likes the date,. He also commented, “If Essex could come up with an all-weather surface, it would really guarantee a sensational event. Everyone wants to go to Essex because it’s one of the best events in the country. We all want the best for our horses, too. To be able to compete with dressage and jumping on a synthetic footing would surely make it an international venue.
“I feel terrible for the event because they put on the greatest of great shows but the footing was bottomless. We love these horses and they’re worth so much money now, we can’t chance riding them in knee-deep mud. We had unbelievable amounts of rain. That’s uncontrollable. You get that amount of rain at any event and it really changes things.”
Ralph was asked by Morgan, who co-chairs the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event at the Horse Park of New Jersey, to join the board of that event. Jersey Fresh was started to fill the gap after Essex bowed out following its 1998 edition. It will be part of the selection process for the Tokyo Olympics, where the discipline gets under way on the last day of July–when conditions there will be a lot hotter than in New Jersey.
To find out more about Essex or volunteer, go to www.essexhorsetrials.org.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 6, 2019
Fear of temperatures that could go higher than 100 degrees is prompting some schedule reshuffling of the Tokyo Olympics, with just seven months to go until the Games get under way.
It’s odd, when you consider that the summers in Tokyo are typically very hot and humid, so the International Olympic Committee knew what it was facing in 2013 when it awarded the Games to the city for dates in July and August. That was six years ago–why are they waiting until practically the last minute to make changes, especially since more than 50 people died in the city last summer due to high temperatures?
When I went to the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, which is in the same part of the world, the Games were in September and October, when it is much cooler. But of course, the fall is prime time for football and the World Series on TV, and TV is the big player in the Olympics.
One of the competitions that will be affected is the three-day eventing cross-country, which will have to start between 7:30 and 8 a.m. in order to finish by 11 a.m., because after that time, heat could rise to a level that is dangerous for the horses. Despite provisions for misting sprays and cooling tents, horses can’t avoid stress from the conditions. And with delays usual due to falls and other mishaps on cross-country, the last rider may go past the finish line later than the optimum ETA.
In other sports affected by the heat, the marathons already have been moved to Sapporo, about 500 miles north of Tokyo. The men’s and women’s triathlon races at Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo were moved up and will start at 6:30 a.m., an hour earlier than initially planned.
The FEI (international equestrian federation) undertook a study to collect data on how the horses did in the heat and humidity during last July’s Olympic test event, and a change in time zones as well as the stress of travel was also taken into account.
“High level equestrian competitions are increasingly taking place in parts of the world where the climate poses health challenges for both humans and horses,” FEI veterinary director Göran Akerström said.
“The study plays a crucial role in guiding Tokyo 2020 and other Organizing Committees on appropriate facilities and support, and will be used to advise and guide athletes and National Federations on the preparation of their horses in the build-up to and during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 1, 2019
The Kevin Babington Foundation has set up a Facebook page to update people on the injured show jumper and his progress, share information regarding fund raising and to keep everyone current on what is needed for Kevin as he continues on his journey towards rehabilitation in the wake of his accident that left him with a critical spinal cord injury.
Here is a message from the Foundation: “As many of you know Kevin’s rehabilitation is going to be a long process. The KBF has been created to assist in generating funds so the large task of providing the best possible care for Kevin is viable.
“All of us at the KBF wish to extend a heartfelt thanks to the many people who have already donated. With the contributions received we were able to recently purchase a van for Kevin so he can easily be transported to and from physical therapy once he is released from Kessler and is down in Florida. Currently the date for Kevin’s arrival in Wellington is on or around December 5.
“If anyone has any questions, please send your inquiries here via private message on Facebook, or you can send an email to kevinbabingtonfoundation@gmail.com
if you need bank details for donations.
Kevin Babington Foundation board member Shane Sweetnam wears a green ribbon on his jacket signifying his commitment to Kevin. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
“Additionally, the KBF hopes to be a platform where riders can access resources to obtain information on innovative safety equipment to aid in the prevention of catastrophic injury. Arguably our sport is behind the eight-ball in this area, and it’s time we look more closely at the many cutting-edge options in safety vests and riding coats, which are readily available.
“Many thanks for your continued support for Kevin. He and his family, and all of us at the KBF are so incredibly grateful for your interest and generosity.
We hope we can continue to count on all of you as Kevin faces his brave battle to recover.”
Missy Clark
John Brennan
Shane Sweetnam
Colm Mcguckian
Darragh Kerins
Maarten Huygens
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 26, 2019
Making things better for horses: Doesn’t everyone who is involved with these special animals want to see that happen? But the Rutgers Equine Science Center translates the desire into action. The research with which it is involved makes a difference in the well-being of horses and in turn, those who have dedicated their lives to them, whether for sport, work or pleasure.
The Center, funded by public and private contributions, also promotes best management practices that pay off in horse health and benefits for the environment– as well as recognizing those who have made contributions to the industry.
Dr. Michael Fugaro receives the Spirit of the Horse award from Rutgers Equine Science Center Founding Director Karyn Malinowski as Amy Butewicz,, co-chair of the leadership bord, looks on. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
The Center’s purpose was highlighted this month in New Brunswick during its Evening of Science & Celebration, where the keynote presentation dealt with research related to exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (bleeding) in horses. The talk was delivered by Professor Ken McKeever, who holds a doctorate in animal physiology from the University of Arizona.
He is involved in researching a new drug, a Type-5 phosphodiesterase inhibitor (PDE 5), that could be an alternative to furosemide (Lasix), extensively used in racing, ostensibly to counteract respiratory bleeding. The company that put up $1.4 million for the research doesn’t want to go public at this point, and the name of the drug isn’t being revealed, since there is more research to be done.
However, the professor said, “It’s very promising, where things are going. The bottom line is that it’s a drug that reduces pulmonary artery pressure, the pressure that may be causing the capillaries to break. The next step is to see if it can actually prevent bleeding.”
After that, “It has to go to field trials and other questions the FDA (federal Food and Drug Administration) may ask,” noted the Center’s associate director of research.
He explained, “The controversy that’s out there is that Lasix (administered to bleeders on race day) doesn’t work very well. It doesn’t stop bleeding. It’s mixed as far as reducing the severity,”
The professor added, “It’s controversial, because it enhances performance.” He pointed out that in a study of 22,000 thoroughbred racehorses, the ones that were on Lasix won a greater percentage of the time.
“The best thing is to have a drug that works and doesn’t enhance performance,” he noted.
With his research into the unnamed drug, “We’re showing it has the potential to work and doesn’t affect the markers of performance.”
One of its pluses is the potential for giving it 24 hours out from a race. In most states, Lasix is administered four hours before the race.
The center’s executive director, Karyn Malinowski, cited the pressure on racing with all the breakdowns that have made headlines over the last year. She believes at some point, same-day medication will be banned “which would make this drug even more useful.” Discussing the prospect of a drug that can be given 24 hours out, she commented, “To me that’s really exciting as we continue to come under scrutiny of administering medication on race day.”
Ken McKeever called Lasix administration “the biggest controversy right now, other than the breakdowns.” He added scientific studies “strongly suggest Lasix enhances performance.”
As he pointed out, “If you lose a substantial amount of weight, you’re going to enhance performance,” and weight loss is one of the effects of using Lasix, a diuretic.
In addition, he said, it’s an alkalizing agent, functioning in the same way as a milkshake. (The milkshake used in racehorses involves several ounces of sodium bicarbonate dissolved in a gallon of water.).
“It changes the acid base status of a horse,” the professor stated.
“When you exercise really hard, people going for the burn (are) working their anaerobic side of the system. Anaerobic metabolism generates a lot of acid and so you get more acidotic. The way to counter that is by the body’s natural buffers or an alkalizing agent,” said Ken, who mentioned Lasix has a function like a milkshake.
If a horse is tested to see if it has been dosed with a milkshake, an allowance is made in the results if the animal has been given Lasix, he noted.
According to a report by veterinarian Sid Gustafson, writing about the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission’s hearing on race-day medication, Lasix alkalinizes horses. “The more Lasix, and the closer it is administered to the race, the more intense the alkalinization effect of Lasix.”
He reported that creates, “a competitive metabolic advantage similar to milkshaking, rendering the drug Lasix a clear and present doping agent. Lasix has significant potential to alter and enhance racehorse performance.”
Other research presented at the Evening of Celebration and Science included a study by 4-H members Skylar cooper and Morgan Wordleman, offering a little scientific drama (very cute) on whether home-made fly spray or pharmaceutical fly spray is more effective. The pharma version won. Another presentation on warm season grasses by Jennifer Weinert was part of a work in progress. The next step in the research involves the effect different grasses have on horses with metabolic conditions, such as Cushing’s Disease.
Mark Mullen and the 600-acre Fair Winds Farm in Upper Freehold Township received the Gold Medal Horse Farm Award. Although it has 40 trotting and pacing mares on the property and consigns yearlings to the Harrisburg sales, this award was presented for dedication to environmental sustainability and management. Fair Winds was cited for a number of protocols, including a well-maintained manure storage area, following state guidelines and beautiful vegetative buffers around its waterways.
Carey Williams, equine extension specialist, with Mark Mullen of Fair Winds Farm and Karyn Malinowski. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
The Spirit of the Horse Award, presented to someone who has made a difference for horses, went to Dr. Michael Fugaro, who has a veterinary practice in Long Valley and was recognized for his “lifelong commitment to horse care and education.”
“I was a kid who grew up in Cherry Hill, N.J., and wanted to be a small animal veterinarian,” Michael told his audience after accepting the award.
Taking a step toward pursuing his ambition, he made a cold call to a veterinarian whose name he found in the phone book.
” I’d never seen a horse or touched a horse,” recalled Michael, who remembers that Dr. David Meirs, a well-known large animal vet and Standardbred breeder, answered the phone himself.
“I said, I don't know anything about horses, but I want to go to vet school.' So he said, `Come and work with me for the summer. We’re going to halter-break babies and muck stalls,'” Michael recalled.
“We–I did that, he didn’t do that,” Michael chuckled, but that job made a difference in his life.
“It was somebody like that who just took a random cold call and offered that mentorship and guidance. I’ve tried to emulate that, I think, through my career,” he said.
“I’ve always enjoyed getting involved with the Rutgers Equine Science Center. They’ve been so supportive of allowing me to give my two cents when students would like to learn or hear what I have to gab on about,” he continued, saying when that happens, “I always think back to my start.”
Want to get involved with what the Equine Science Center has to offer? Next up, starting Jan. 21, is Carey Williams’ 14-week online equine nutrition course, which can be taken by barn managers, horse owners, trainers, feed sales reps or anyone who wants to know more about feeding their horses. To register online, go to https://ce-catalog.rutgers.edu/coursedisplay.cfm?schID=78458. For information, call 848-932-9271.
On Feb. 9, the Center’s annual in-person horse management seminar in New Brunswick will focus on race horse/sport horse care and rehabilitation.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 15, 2019
Patricia Duffy Murphy was always an elegant presence, beautifully turned out whether in a formal gown at Madison Square Garden for the National Horse Show; riding her favorite horse, Sean, with the Spring Valley Hounds, or while welcoming guests to her home at Spook Hollow Farm in Bedminster, which traditionally has hosted the Essex Fox Hounds’ opening meet each season for 40 years.
But more important, she was a warm person with a quick smile, who made sure you knew she was glad to see you. That’s how we’ll remember Patricia, who died Wednesday at age 89, surrounded by her family, the focus of her life.
Patricia Murphy with her daughter, Karen, in 2012 at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation. (Photo © 2012 by Nancy Jaffer)
Patricia, the widow of U.S. Equestrian Team President Vincent B. Murphy Jr., was always there for her six children: Vince Jr., Patricia Stuebe; Michaela (Mikey) Hoag, a former grand prix show jumper; Dan, Karen, who is the joint master of the Essex Fox Hounds, and Kevin, who died in 2013.
Born in Germantown, Pa., Patricia graduated from the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Eden Hall and attended Pratt Institute in New York City. Patricia was one of the first women invested with the American Sovereign Military Order of Malta. She was also a long-time supporter of the Summit Speech School and the Midland School.
She was known for her devout faith, kindness and high moral standards. Oma, as she was affectionately called by her 20 grandchildren and Grand Oma by her 11 great-grandchildren, was the glue that kept the Murphy family together. Every child and grandchild spent holidays at the farm, where they felt her love, warmth and support. Family was paramount in her eyes and she instilled that deeply across the generations.
Like her late husband, Pat suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, which inspired Mikey to become involved in raising funds for research into this devastating condition. She started an organization called Part the Cloud, which works with the Alzheimer’s association, raising money for early stage human trials to find a drug that can slow, stop or ultimately cure Alzheimer’s.
The organization has had 39 trials around the world, with applications from 29 countries. The idea is to get a drug on the market as fast as possible, Mikey said. It took seven years to raise $30 million, which includes a $10 million donation from Bill Gates. She hopes that by April, another $30 million will be raised.
Mikey has staged Silicon Valley fund raisers every other year featuring celebrities performing pro bono, including Tony Bennett, Jimmy Buffet, Chris Isaac and Idina Menzel.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that gifts be made to Part the Cloud at alz.org/partthecloud or the Countryside Alliance of the Somerset Hills (https://greatnonprofits.org/org/countryside-alliance-of-the-somerset-hills).
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 13, 2019
Jane Gilbert’s contributions to New Jersey’s equine industry were eclectic and embracing, from eventing and showing, to thoroughbred racing and breeding.
She was all about being involved, leading the way for so many organizations while serving as president of the New Jersey-Bred Hunter Association, the Eastern States Dressage and Combined Training Association, the New Jersey Equine Advisory Board, ReRun Inc. and the Horse Council of New Jersey.
In addition, she was involved in organizing the old Essex Horse Trials, had been secretary of the Horse Park of New Jersey and was a U.S. Equestrian Federation “R”-rated judge in the hunter, jumper and hunter equitation divisions.
So it was a shock and a tremendous loss when word arrived that Jane died Nov. 4 after a short illness. The 73-year-old Pennington resident gave freely of her time to insure a safe and useful future for former thoroughbred race horses.
Jane was a former president of the multi-state ReRun thoroughbred adoption group, but in 2012, she and Laurie Lane, its former executive director, decided to narrow the scope of what they were doing to concentrate on New Jersey.
“ReRun was focusing more on New York, we were already doing a lot of work at Monmouth Park,” Jane said at the time, so the women decided, “Why not become a whole new entity?”
The Second Call Thoroughbred Adoption & Placement program took off just a few months after its founding and is still going. Second Call’s mission is to find new careers for the racehorses, who are evaluated for soundness and potential, then re-acclimated and retrained.
Laurie Lane, and Jane Gilbert of Second Call with thoroughbred breeder Eileen Munyak of Millstone. (Photo courtesy of Laurie Lane)
“She was a visionary. She brought the horse community together,” said Laurie Lane, noting Second Call will continue because, “I’m sure Jane wouldn’t want it any other way. Jane’s legacy will live on in the work we do. We’re going to keep fighting the fight and make sure these thoroughbreds have a place to go post-racing.”
Karyn Malinowski, director of the Rutgers Equine Science Center, knew Jane since 1965, when she was president of Karyn’s “Boots and Saddles” 4-H horse club.
“The New Jersey horse industry owes Jane much for her decades of dedicated service,” said Karyn.
“She opened many doors for all of us with wisdom and humor. Just an amazing person and top notch horsewoman,” stated Dan and Nancy Wolek of Millstone Township.
Survivors include Jane’s husband, Charles Gilbert, and her sister, Laurie Bradshaw. Those who wish to make donations in her name may do so to Second Call at https://sctap.com. A tribute to Jane is planned for the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event at the Horse Park of New Jersey in May.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 6, 2019
Kevin Babington’s wife, Dianna, shared an exciting update today about the New Jersey-based Irish show jumper, who suffered a critical spinal cord injury in a fall during a competition at the end of August. He is being treated at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange
“Yesterday he was able to feel my hand when I held his right hand. He also managed to generate slight movement in his right elbow which is not spasm or shoulder-generated,” Diana stated on Facebook.
“What might seem to be a minor achievement, to me is like an open gate to a road that was once completely impassable. My understanding is hand and elbow are generated from nerves below the site of injury, C6 C7 C8–I believe is hand, I could easily be wrong–but it’s definitely below where the contusion is.
“So my deduction is this shows connection from brain to below ‘the traffic jam’ at C3C4. This has given me hope. Today is the first day I have actually enjoyed looking at fall leaves while driving my daughter to the dentist, I actually noticed them.”
She added, “Tears have been from joy instead of frustration and sorrow. I am afraid to be happy, but I can’t help clinging onto this small moment in such a long process. Kevin was so happy to demonstrate this for us and I could see in his eyes he was lifted in his spirits. He has been so amazingly strong and brave to date.
“I am in amazement of his personal fortitude. He never breaks. He just takes each day like a champion and speaks of returning to horses. If you are a doctor and feel the need to correct my analysis, please don’t. I have swallowed so much negative information I’ve had enough to last a lifetime. Let us have this moment because it is the boat we are clinging to in this storm. We believe, and so does he, that he will recover. We must believe it or we have nothing. Please keep praying and sending positive energy. I think it matters.”
On barn night at the National Horse Show, members of the Kevin Babington Fan Club showed their support. (Photo©2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Meanwhile, the shows at Ketcham Farm in Allentown, N.J., where Kevin Babington has been based, will offer a special fundraising opportunity for Kevin’s foundation each day of every horse show in its series, starting with Nov. 16-17,. The judge will be on the lookout for a rider who exemplifies good horsemanship and they will be the winner of the “Ride of the day”. It will cost a $20 donation to the Babington Fund to enter. Prizes will be awarded.
The other dates for the Ketcham shows are Dec 28-29 and in 2020, Jan 11-12, Feb. 1-2, Feb. 29-March 1. The hunters will go on Saturday and jumpers on Sunday. there is a huge indoor arena with GGT footing and the same footing is in the outdoor schooling area.
The board of directors of the Kevin Babington Foundation is accepting donations.
To obtain bank instructions for wiring money or an address to which checks can be mailed, send an email to kevinbabingtonfoundation@gmail.com. All information will be shared through the email address in order to keep the wire information secure.
Be sure to make it clear who is making the donation when you send a check or money wire so organizers can keep track of contributions. All donations are tax deductible.
“We will continue to update everyone about our long term goals for the KBF,” organizers stated.
“Last but not least,” they said, “we’d like to extend heartfelt thanks to all who are supporting Kevin on his journey towards rehabilitation.”
