by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 20, 2020
On Thursday April 23 at 6 p.m., Extension Horses will present a webinar on”Fine-Tuning Equine Boarding Contracts”.
It involves a discussion on the importance of having well developed equine boarding contracts. Julie Fershtman, an Equine Law practitioner and author, will cover the key components Time for questions will also be included. Julie Fershtman’s practice crosses all equine breeds and disciplines and serves stables, insurers, professionals, associations, businesses, show management, trainers, and clinicians across the U.S. Registration is free, but required. To register, visit https://pub.cce.cornell.edu/event_registration/main/events_landing.cfm?event=EquineBoardingContracts_225. Once registered, individuals will receive a link to join the webinar.
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 15, 2020
Although the 2020 Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event was postponed from its original date next month, the event’s Organizing Committee found after looking at alternative dates that rescheduling the event is not possible for this year.
“When the crisis caused by the coronavirus made it impossible to hold our event as scheduled, we looked into possible dates where we could hold it later in the year,” said Morgan Rowsell, co-organizer of Jersey Fresh.
“However, no suitable date was possible and it simply is not going to work out. Unfortunately, we will not be able to hold the event this year. Without the Olympics (Jersey was an observation trial for the U.S. Olympic team), without a reason to do the 4-star, you’re not going to necessarily get a lot of riders. You can’t bring the sponsors in without a lot of hoopla; you can’t have hoopla without a lot of riders. It’s unfortunate, so we’ll just circle our wagons and make a big deal out of next year,” said Morgan..
Top rider Will Coleman was a regular at the Jersey Fresh International event. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
The Saumur event in France found itself in the same position as Jersey Fresh. After deciding it couldn’t run May 21-24, it is hoping to postpone, but is still looking for the right date in the “second semester” of 2020, as it also prepares its 2021 edition as a qualifying event for the Olympics..
Jersey Fresh had been scheduled to take place at the Horse Park of New Jersey, May 6-10. Featured would have been CCI Four-Star and Three-Star divisions featuring top eventing horses and riders in addition to a new Preliminary Division for future stars in the sport.
“With the Olympics also moved to next year, we anticipate our event holding its usual place of significance on the eventing calendar,” added Morgan.
“We thank all our sponsors – especially major sponsors B.W. Furlong & Associates, Zoetis, AIG and Boehringer Ingelheim – for their support and we look forward to returning with a great event in 2021!”
An event is also planned for the end of June at the Horse Park of New Jersey, which is shuttered for the time being. The Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event/Horse Park of New Jersey is a 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit, Charitable and Educational organization. Further information about JFI is available at www.jfi3d.com. Further information about the Horse Park is available at www.horseparkofnewjersey.com.
Meanwhile, the Mars Equestrian Essex Horse Trials at Moorland Farm in Far Hills, is still on for July, a new date for the fixture which previously was held in June. Rowsell, who is also co-chair of Essex, said any changes would be up to the board, which doesn’t meet until May.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he anticipates the statewide lockdown going on into June, but didn’t say anything yet about July.
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 15, 2020
Years of rotational deworming have led to an increased resistance to wormers. The American Association of Equine Practitioners updated its deworming guidelines and are stressing the importance of fecal egg counts and the appropriate use of commercially available dewormers.
B.W. Furlong and Zoetis have teamed up for an educational WebEx on “Parasite Control: Deworming Your Horse” to take place on April 16 at 10 a.m.
Click here or call (877) 309-3457.Then enter access code 742 543 653.For questions, contact Caitlin at cfurlong@bwfurlong.com.
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 14, 2020
Although the 2020 Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event originally was postponed from its original date next month, the event’s Organizing Committee found after looking at alternative dates that rescheduling the event was not possible for this year.
“When the crisis caused by the coronavirus made it impossible to hold our event as scheduled, we looked into possible dates where we could hold it later in the year,” said Morgan Rowsell, co-organizer of Jersey Fresh International.
“However, no suitable date was possible and it simply is not going to work out. Unfortunately, we will not be able to hold the event this year.”
Top rider Will Coleman was a regular at the Jersey Fresh International event. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
The event, which was to serve as a qualifying selection trial for the United States’ Eventing team for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, had been scheduled to take place at the Horse Park of New Jersey, May 6-10. Featured would have been CCI Four-Star and Three-Star events featuring top eventing horses and riders in addition to a new Preliminary Division for future stars in the sport.
“With the Olympics also moved to next year, we anticipate our event holding its usual place of significance on the Eventing calendar,” added Rowsell. “We thank all our sponsors – especially major sponsors B.W. Furlong & Associates, Zoetis, AIG and Boehringer Ingelheim – for their support and we look forward to returning with a great event in 2021!”
The Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event/Horse Park of New Jersey is a 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit, Charitable and Educational organization. Further information about JFI is available at www.jfi3d.com. Further information about the Horse Park is available at www.horseparkofnewjersey.com.
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 1, 2020
Among the most recent cancellations of New Jersey equestrian competitions are the Flora Lea spring horse trials in Medford, the Princeton May 6-10 hunter/jumper/equitation show in Skillman and the Garden State show in Asbury.
Organizer Debbie Adams stated, “After careful consideration, Flora Lea has decided to cancel their spring horse trials, originally scheduled for May 23-24. It seems the responsible thing to do with the pandemic looming over all of our existences. Flora Lea has been running a USEA event since 1975 and has only cancelled one time, due to a ‘100 year flood’ that hit NJ. We hope that all is well by September and that we can be up and running our Fall horse trials. We will also cancel our June 21 Youg Event Horse competition but will hope to run the August competition.”
While the May Princeton show won’t run, plans are still on for one-day shows June 7 and 21 and the three July Princeton Summer Classic shows.
Meanwhile, April and May were going to be an exciting time for the crew at the Ridge, as the Garden State Show and its pre-show were set to be staged for the first time at its showgrounds in Asbury, Warren County.
Garden State’s dates were April 28-May 3. The U.S. Equestrian Federation, however, is asking for competitions to be suspended through May 3–and there’s a chance that will go on longer. While USEF can’t ban show organizers from putting on their competitions, exhibitors will not be able to get qualifying points or points for award programs.,
Garden State previously was run by the Junior Essex Troop, a military-style organization for boys that had its own farm in West Orange. At one time, the organization presented the largest junior show in America. It became an open show in 1972, known for its challenging outside course, which involved crossing a stream and going up and down a hill. After the property was sold, the show went to Chubb Park in Chester, then the Sussex County Fairgrounds and finally last year to the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation in Gladstone.
But the troop alumni who ran it were getting older and decided to sell the license to Nona Garson and her partner, George D’Ambrosio.
“We were happy to do it,” said Nona, who isn’t giving up on the show despite the problem of the pandemic.
“Hopefully, it’s postponed,” she noted. “We’re trying to figure out what would be best,””
But when will the show season resume?
“Nobody can really say when it will start to pass into a state of normalcy,” she observed.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 30, 2020
The pandemic has taken a toll on two more major shows in a season that has vanished.
The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair has decided to cancel its 2020 edition seven weeks out from its planned May 21-31 dates.
“This decision was made only after significant evaluation of the far-reaching operational and financial implications,” according to a statement from the show, one of the most important in the U.S.
“The organizers evaluated many options including postponement.”
Devon officials say the decision made “In fairness to the competitors, vendors, volunteers and all others involved…is the best for everyone under the circumstances.”
The only other time this iconic show has been cancelled was for three years during World War II.
Old Salem Farm on Tuesday canceled its Westchester County, N.Y., shows scheduled for May 5-10 and May 12-17.
A statement from the show said, “This decision was prompted to do our part to flatten the curve of the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Our No. 1 concern is for the safety and well-being of exhibitors, sponsors, spectators, vendors, staff and the community. We will continue to follow updated recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), New York State and local authorities as it relates to public events.”
Scott Hakim, Old Salem Farm president, commented “Being back at Old Salem Farm after being away for the past seven years, my team and I had been working hard to make this year’s show extra special. It was deeply disappointing for all of us to make the decision to cancel the first Old Salem Farm Spring Horse shows in over 40 years. However, I am confident that we made the right decision. The health of our community is our priority. We are already looking at additional dates to add to our schedule and will be back as soon as the time is right.”
The Kentucky spring horse shows in May also have cancelled, but as of now, their summer shows in July and August, which include the U.S. Pony Finals, are on.
Meanwhile, north of the border, Equestrian Canada has said it will suspend sanctioned competitions through June 1. Points earned in any events held during that time will not count, and the same applies to qualifications and rankings.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 25, 2020
Aachen, the world’s most prominent horse show, will not be held in early June as scheduled. The organizers of the German show, which includes jumping, dressage, eventing and driving, say they will be looking at a date later in the year to run the competition.Aachen draws competitors from all over the world, who won’t be able to be there under the current circumstances, which may well last into the summer.
The Tryon Equestrian Center also has stopped all competition until mid-May, as per the orders of the North Carolina governor.
The Horse Park of New Jersey has closed until April 13, according to Adam Furlong, president of the park’s board of trustees.
“We do not take this decision lightly; but we recognize our social responsibility to be part of `flattening the curve,’ he stated.
“As a result of the guidelines provided by the USEF, FEI, and local and state officials, we have seen almost all equestrian events cancelled for the foreseeable future. As such, we must temporarily cease operations in order to be fiscally responsible and to ensure the safety of all those who use the park. It is our sincere hope that everyone will do their part in reducing the spread of COVID-19, and that will be able to return to operations in one month.
“The Board will work diligently with all impacted events to find suitable alternative dates when it is safe to operate those events.”
In other virus-related changes and closings:
Tack sales scheduled for the weekend of March 28 at Riding for Heart in Pittstown and April 4 at Mane Stream Therapeutic Riding in Oldwick are being postponed. Riding with Heart doesn’t have a date yet, but Mane Stream will be combining the spring sale with its autumn sale.
Meanwhile, the New Jersey Region Pony Club has reshuffled its schedule of events.
The Quiz Rally originally scheduled for March 14 in Goshen, N.Y., was cancelled and will be rescheduled before June 22, the closing date for entries for the U.S. Pony Club Championships and Festival in July at the Kentucky Horse Park.
The April 5 dressage schooling show originally scheduled to be held at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation in Gladstone, is being moved to the Horse Park of New Jersey. The new date is May 30. The May 17 Dressage Rally (open just to Pony Club members) has been rescheduled and moved from the USET to the Horse Park of New Jersey. The new date is April 25, sharing the weekend with the show jumping rally already scheduled for April 26 at the HPNJ.
Manhattan Saddlery is not open for in-person shopping, but will accept orders by phone and internet. Dover Saddlery remains open, but check hours. It is offering curbside pickup.
Further from home, the New Zealand Equestrian Federation has shut down the Olympics disciplines, para and endurance for three months. They’ll take another look at the end of April, however.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 24, 2020
As the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee last night added its voice to the chorus of national Olympic committees calling for postponement of this summer’s Tokyo Games, the International Olympic Committee bowed to pressure and moved the Games to next year. The joint announcement by IOC President Thomas Bach and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came, a day after saying it would take four weeks to come up with a plan that might have included going ahead with competition on its July 24-Aug.9 dates this year.
Bach and Abe “expressed their shared concern about the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, and what it is doing to people’s lives and the significant impact it is having on global athletes’ preparations for the Games.”
Calling the Olympics a “beacon of hope to the world during these troubled times,” they stated that the Olympic flame “could become the light at the end of the tunnel in which the world finds itself at present. Therefore, it was agreed that the Olympic flame will stay in Japan. It was also agreed that the Games will keep the name Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.”
There are many questions to be answered in the wake of the postponement, from what to do about the Olympic village–whose apartments were being sold to private owners after the Games, to dealing with hotel reservations, travel arrangements, sponsorship and more. At this point, with the threat of the virus still strong and while we don’t even know when sports will go back into action,making plans for the future has to be on hold.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 18, 2020
The Horse Park of New Jersey has closed until April 13. I think you know why, but here’s the explanation:
“We do not take this decision lightly; but we recognize our social responsibility to be part of `flattening the curve,’ stated Adam Furlong, president of the park’s board of trustees.
“As a result of the guidelines provided by the USEF, FEI, and local and state officials, we have seen almost all equestrian events cancelled for the foreseeable future. As such, we must temporarily cease operations in order to be fiscally responsible and to ensure the safety of all those who use the park. It is our sincere hope that everyone will do their part in reducing the spread of COVID-19, and that will be able to return to operations in one month.
“The Board will work diligently with all impacted events to find suitable alternative dates when it is safe to operate those events.”
In other virus-related changes and closings:
Tack sales scheduled for the weekend of March 28 at Riding for Heart in Pittstown and April 4 at Mane Stream Therapeutic Riding in Oldwick are being postponed. Riding with Heart doesn’t have a date yet, but Mane Stream will be combining the spring sale with its autumn sale.
Meanwhile, the New Jersey Region Pony Club has reshuffled its schedule of events.
The Quiz Rally originally scheduled for March 14 in Goshen, N.Y., was cancelled and will be rescheduled before June 22, the closing date for entries for the U.S. Pony Club Championships and Festival in July at the Kentucky Horse Park.
The April 5 dressage schooling show originally scheduled to be held at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation in Gladstone, is being moved to the Horse Park of New Jersey. The new date is May 30. The May 17 Dressage Rally (open just to Pony Club members) has been rescheduled and moved from the USET to the Horse Park of New Jersey. The new date is April 25, sharing the weekend with the show jumping rally already scheduled for April 26 at the HPNJ.
Manhattan Saddlery is not open for in-person shopping, but will accept orders by phone and internet. Dover Saddlery remains open, but check hours. It is offering curbside pickup.
Further from home, the New Zealand Equestrian Federation has shut down the Olympics disciplines, para and endurance for three months. They’ll take another look at the end of April, however.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 17, 2020
The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair issued an announcement today saying that while organizers are keeping an eye on the latest concerning the virus pandemic, the show is still on from May 21-31.
The situation is “fluid,” they noted, adding, “Our committee continues to review the communications on this illness issued from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, USEF, FEI and other regulatory organizations.”
