Okay, he didn’t have eight tiny reindeer and a sleigh. His transportation was a propeller-driven airplane that landed at an airport, not on a rooftop. But Matt Kiener might as well have been Santa Claus this Christmas Eve.
After a five-hour flight, the pilot arrived yesterday in his single-engine Piper at Sky Manor in Pittstown with a load of puppies and a few older dogs, 26 canines in all. It was a special delivery from Mississippi by FlyPups to Puppy Love Pet Rescue, serving Union, Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex counties.
The area from which these dogs came isn’t prosperous. Many of the residents cannot afford to spay or neuter their animals, leading to overpopulation. Shelters often have no choice but to euthanize some dogs to make room for others. Puppy Love offers a solution, with its volunteers fostering the dogs that FlyPups brought north.
Patty Gilmore of Union, whose sister, Joan leads Puppy Love, had volunteers go down south to clean up shelters. Using adoption fees, they also pay for spaying and neutering dogs that remain in Mississippi.
“There are very few organized rescues there,” explained Patty, noting Puppy Love volunteers last summer picked some dogs they wanted to bring to New Jersey.
“It’s very difficult to get the dogs up here. We’re so grateful to be able to get these dogs flown up. Some of them are so little; the 22-hour drive is so difficult for the puppies, versus a five or six hour flight,” she pointed out.
Patty recalled that when her organization contacted Matt, “he responded instantly. He can handle so many more than we can in a car. We are so grateful for Matt, especially at holiday time.”
The video below shows the arrival of the dogs at Sky Manor Airport.
You may know Matt’s name, because he has a connection with the horse world. The Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event at the Horse Park of New Jersey this year hosted a 5-K run to benefit Fly Pups. Many equestrians have adopted dogs that arrived in New Jersey via FlyPups. Matt also works for Cassie and Carl Segal in Pottersville, where he takes care of retired eventing stars My Boy Bobby and Ballynoe Castle RM (Reggie), Buck Davidson’s former ride, who took his final bow before the public at Rolex Kentucky in 2017.
Matt got involved with dog rescue when a friend whose plane was grounded asked him to fill in bringing five dogs to New York State. At the time, Matt had an aerobatic plane without much room for cargo, but he was able to handle the five puppies involved.
“I flew the mission and it was an awakening, if you will. I hadn’t known that something like this needed to be. I didn’t understand that there were so many dogs that were in dire situations and would ultimately be destroyed if they were not relocated.
“On the flight home, I ended up naming the one dog I adopted Piper, knowing I’d have to sell my Cessna and buy something bigger that would allow me to do this more effectively and efficiently. It was one of those pivotal days when you just knew things were going to change,” Matt recalled.
“Five months later, I was deep in debt with this plane—it’s a mortgage payment—but look what I get to do. So it’s worth it.”
Matt was assisted by student pilot Liz Alexander of Rhode Island. Liz, who has been working with rescues for three years, flew the whole way to New Jersey with a five-week-old hound mix on her lap.
Explaining why she is so devoted to the rescue process, Liz said, “It’s good to see the puppies come out of disaster situations and go to foster homes and be happy and clean and healthy and not on the streets. And be home for the holidays.”
Cris Schoefer, who has five dogs, went to Mississippi in August to check out dogs who would be likely candidates and fell in love with Leyland. He was an unusual case, because he had been in a shelter for four years, since he was a puppy. When he arrived, Leyland seemed a bit overwhelmed, but stoic. Cris, however, was crying. Those were tears of joy, as she thought how happy she would be “just to see him sleeping on the bed tonight” at her home in Brick.
There were two blind dogs in the Christmas eve shipment. Pearl was an adorable blind and deaf 8-week old Aussie. That’s familiar territory for Cris, who owns a blind and deaf dog, Aspen.
She taps on his butt or nose to communicate with him, “but everything else, he does by himself,” she said. When her house lost power one day, he was operating without a problem; he’s used to being in the dark.
People had told her it was cruel to keep Aspen alive, but she is so glad she took him, and he’s happy.
“This dog makes me laugh more than any dog I’ve ever had,” she observed.
“If you’re in a bad mood, just him being his goofy self will bring you out of it.” And having Leyland around will make her even happier.
Joyanna Gilmore, Joan’s daughter, grew up with the rescue group, which has regular adoptions on Sundays at Petco in Toms River.
“I always thought it was interesting,” said Joyanna.
“I find it good for myself, volunteering and being able to help out animals. I love doing it.” She and her mother have three dogs of their own, but they still “foster whatever needs to be fostered.”
The 18-year-old Union County Community College student noted, “It makes my heart feel warm. I have my Christmas, and this is a Christmas present to them, because we’re giving them somewhere to be instead of a shelter. We’re giving them another chance at life.”
The Mississippi flight that saved the Puppy Love volunteers 22 hours of driving each way was certainly easier on the dogs. But it’s an expensive proposition for Matt, who spent $1,500 on operational costs, including gasoline, hotel and landing fees, and not including insurance or maintenance. He operates on donations, which can be made through his website www.flypups.org. The rescue takes contributions on its website www.Puppylovenj.com.
Listen to Matt and Joyanna talking about their mission.
I was so inspired by the efforts of Matt and the Puppy Love rescuers that I was in the right mood for Christmas Eve when I got home. I turned on my favorite movie, “The Bishop’s Wife,” with Cary Grant and Loretta Young, really taking to heart the final scene, the Christmas Eve sermon by David Niven, who plays the bishop. It’s about what Christmas should mean. Here it is:
“All the stockings are filled, all that is, except one. And we have even forgotten to hang it up, the stocking for the child born in a manger. It’s His birthday we’re celebrating. Don’t let us ever forget that. Let us ask ourselves what He would wish for most, and then let each put in his share. Loving kindness, warm hearts and the stretched-out hand of tolerance. All the shining gifts that make peace on earth.”
From relative obscurity to being practically a household name this year (at least in show jumping households!) Eddie Blue–ridden and trained by Devin Ryan of Long Valley–has been named a U.S. Equestrian Federation International Horse of Honor for 2018
Eddie, a 9-year-old Dutchbred owned by LL Show Jumpers LLC, leaped to fame this year starting with a second-place finish in April’s Longines FEI World Cup™ Show Jumping Finals.That gave him and his rider a place on the short list for the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 NetJets® U.S. Jumping Team. During the WEG team observation period, Eddie Blue and Devin were part of the bronze medal-winning U.S. team at the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Poland in June. As part of the U.S. team at the world famous German CHIO Aachen the next month, they jumped an impressive double-clear in the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup.
With only two years of FEI-level competition on his record, Eddie competed on his first FEI WEG NetJets U.S. Jumping Team. He and Devin contributed to the USA’s first show jumping team gold medal since the 1986 World Championships. They ended a remarkable year by placing second in the $205,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto 2018 for the Hickstead Trophy.
Each year, USEF names a National and an International Horse of the Year from the Horses of Honor roster. Winners are determined based on the results of online voting, which is open through Thursday, January 3 at midnight. The 2018 National and International Horse of the Year will be awarded Saturday evening, January 12 at the Horse of the Year Awards presented by AON during the US Equestrian Annual Meeting in West Palm Beach, Fla.
“Life In the Doghouse,” the emotionally satisfying movie about Danny and Ron’s dog rescue, will come to the Cranford Cinema, 25 North Ave.,on Jan. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Danny Robertshaw and Ron Danta, both respected in the hunter industry and beyond, have gained national fame with their dog rescue that is very much a personal crusade.
They were honored with the 2008 ASPCA Humanitarian Award for their unwavering dedication and unique approach to dog rescue and adoption during hurricane Katrina.Ten years and 10,000 dogs later, their unique approach to life and dog rescue is well worth watching!
The eventing competition that was such a hit at the Winter Equestrian Festival for three years won’t be held there in 2019. It wasn’t presented in 2018 either, and for the same reason–the FEI World Equestrian Games.
“Basically, we put all our resources into the Games,” explained Michael Stone, president of Equestrian Sport Productions, which runs the WEF in Wellington, Fla., and staged the WEG in Tryon N.C., during September.
Who could ever forget the horses taking a jump while galloping through the VIP tent at the event in Wellington, as Boyd Martin did here on Welcome Shadlow.
“We didn’t do anything about it and it got too late to make it happen. Unfortunately, there isn’t a huge sponsorship interest in it. But now we have a whole year to work on it,” Michael said today, hopeful it can happen in 2020
“Basically, we didn’t start working on it until October, and that just wasn’t enough time.” After the huge expense of the WEG, and all the effort that went into it, Michael said, “We’re trying to have a year where we’re stable.”
The event drew a big crowd and new fans when it was held on the grounds of the Global Dressage Festival.
“Show jumping owners who had never even seen eventing got involved,” said Michael.
The Budweiser Clydesdales’ appearance at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation Dec. 1 drew a crowd of about 600, eager to get close to the horses they know from so many creative commercials. Presented by Sergeantsville Feed & Grain and Purina Animal Nutrition, it was an opportunity for the public to see these gorgeous giants up close and in action around the arena.
The event in Gladstone, which included a demonstration of hitching the horses to their Studebaker wagon, benefited A Home for Every Horse and the USET Foundation, which raises funds for competition, training, coaching, travel and educational needs of the country’s elite and developing horses and athletes, in partnership with the U.S. Equestrian Federation.
The lack of “any realistic bids” for the 2022 FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2022, has led the international equestrian federation to open bids for individual world championships “with preference being given to multi-discipline bids.”
Instead of eight separate world championships, there are now seven, with dressage and para dressage being combined at the same venue. The championships are key for the Olympics disciplines and Para because they qualify countries for the Olympics and Paralympics.
Considering the problems involved in running a WEG, well-illustrated by the 2018 edition in September, it is surprising to note that FEI President Ingmar De Vos said the call for individual or multiple championships does not necessarily mean the end of the WEG, and the organization will consider WEG bids for 2022 and 2026, along with the individual/multi-discipline world championship bids.
Accepting a bid for WEG 2022, which seems unlikely to appear anyway, would be unwise because the winner couldn’t be awarded until November 2019, which would be less than three years before the Games. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
It’s time to be realistic and just scrap the WEG concept for 2022, focusing instead on the separate or multi-discipline world championships.
The horrendous fires in California have created life-threatening havoc for everyone, animals and humans alike. Help is badly needed to rescue, treat and relocate horses.
Meanwhile, Devon Maitozo,, head of the FACE vaulting club, is creating a fund to provide feed and veterinary support to horses affected by the fires, as well as support for the local trainers who have lost their place of business and are struggling to support horses and do business until they find a new home.
“I know so many who have been affected,” said Devon.
“FACE Vaulting Club (www.facevaulting.com) is also currently in need of a new location to operate, and in the wake of the current fire, this effort has become exponentially more difficult. Local ranches that were in consideration to be our potential new home have now been destroyed or cut off, and with access to our current location becoming very difficult, as well as continuing fire danger, we have had to halt all operations indefinitely. I am asking for help to not only support our horses in this very difficult transition, but to assist me in helping other horses and desperate horse trainers/owners who have been effected by this devastating fire storm.
“Any support from the equestrian community and horse lovers in general would be so appreciated,” he continued.
“My first payment will go to local feed suppliers to provide support to those in greatest need, as well as our local equine veterinarians to support their effort to treat horses injured by the fire and smoke.
“There have been numerous equine casualties in the wake of this fire, and I want to do my part to help prevent any more. I also want to ensure the continued top care for our two horses Maximillion and Corentine in our relocation efforts. Thank you for your help however big or small. It takes a village!”
Melanie Smith Taylor, who won a 1984 Olympic team gold medal on the famous Calypso, will be giving a clinic with Master Horsemanship Clinician Greg Eliel Nov. 16-18 at Bow Brickhill Stables in Milford.
Melanie Smith Taylor is an expert on groundwork as well as show jumping and flatwork. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
The program, being presented by 3 Pillars Equestrian, will offer participants a chance to combine groundwork with flatwork and jumping.
Registration for the clinic is $650 per person, with those taking part having the choice of a cavaletti class during the morning and jumping in the afternoons each day. Spectator auditing is $25/day at the facility at476 Milford-Mt. Pleasant Road, Milford.
In addition to Melanie’s show jumping record, which included victories in such major competition as the American Gold Cup and the American Invitational, she also is an author and a broadcaster who has commentated on the Olympics and FEI World Equestrian Games.
In June, Greg Eliel [EE-lee-ul] co-founded 3 Pillars Equestrian, along with master horseman and clinician Peter Boglioli [Bo-yo-lee] and director/trainer Donna Vroom on Route 519 in Baptistown, Hunterdon County. For more information, go to 3pillarsequestrian.com, email 3pillarsequestrian@gmail.com or call 908-328-4999.
The Turkey Trot pleasure ride, a fall fixture at the Horse Park of New Jersey for 20 years, will be held Nov. 18. The event is sponsored by the Horse Park and the Eastern States Combined Training and Dressage Association.
The closing date for mail and email entries is Nov. 11, but post entries are accepted on competition day. The ride runs from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., with awards at 3:45 p.m.
The divisions offered are Senior (55 years and over), Junior (18 years and under), Family (those in that section must be related to each other), or Open (to be ridden in pairs). There is a choice of Long or Short course for each
There is a new Open division for those who are new or whose horses are not fit enough for the longer courses.
Entries must include the names of riders (the course is to be ridden in pairs) at $45 per rider. Post Entries (entry received after Nov 11, 2018 or on competition day)are $60 per rider. Entry forms are available from the secretary, the Horse Park at this link or ESDCTA’s website at ESDCTA.org. Those interested can also call the Horse Park at (609) 259-0170 or via email at HorseParkOfNJ@aol.com. There is a $5 discount for members of the Horse Park or ESDCTA.
Draw checks to “Horse Park of NJ” or provide credit card information. Fax entries will not be accepted.Entries MUST be legible and include credit card information or check.Entries must include current negative Coggins. Include your cell phone number and carry their phones on the course in case they get lost and organizers need to contact them.
The short course will be about 5 miles and the long course about 6.5 miles. The new Intro course will be 2-3 miles.The courses will all start and finish from the Horse Park and will travel in and around the Horse Park and the Assunpink Wildlife Management. Area.
There are awards for first place and eight ribbons for each division.
There are lots of clinics for hunter/jumper riders, eventers and dressage enthusiasts in New Jersey, but it’s rare to find one that focuses on western, trail and pleasure riders.
The Alexandria Equestrian Association is taking care of that group on Nov. 17 with a clinic on trail, patterns and cones. It will be given by Heidi Bergmann-Schoch at the Alexandria Township Park Indoor Riding Arena, 242 Little York Mount Pleasant Road, Milford. Private lessons are $50, while semi-private lessons are $35 and auditors are welcome.
Complete the registration form at https://aeanj.com/clinics. For more information, contact Bonnie Beasty at 908-303-9392.
