by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 30, 2017
The Essex Horse Trials, making a comeback after 19 years, is looking for volunteers to do everything from fence judging, dressage scribing and decorating to handling hospitality June 24-25 at Moorland Farm in Far Hills.
It’s a great way to meet people and become involved with an iconic event at the same time. Go to the website at www.essexhorsetrials.org or call Lisa at 201-838-5164 or Mary at 201-787-3795.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 30, 2017
| Mylestone Equine Rescue’s Help a Horse Day will be held from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. April 22 at Horsemen’s Outlet, 37 Molasses Hill Road, Lebanon.
Warren County-based Mylestone has a chance to win a grant awarded by the ASPCA to equine rescues that highlight the plight of horses in urgent need. Mylestone was a winner in 2014.
You’ll find all the details here, including how you can get a special discount on Horsemen’s Outlet merchandise just by signing the Mylestone roster. Even if you are unable to attend, you can still make a difference with a donation earmarked “Help A Horse Day”.
Featured will be a silent auction (can you supply an item for this?), bake sale and tack swap. Mylestone merchandise, refreshments and more will be provided. Want to get in touch with Mylestone? Here’s the link: contact us. |
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by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 30, 2017
Here’s a new competition that may suit you as you get ready for the competition season. The Jump for Jersey Eventing Derby, presented by Rowsell Equestrian Design to benefit the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event, will be run April 23 at the Horse Park of New Jersey over a combined show jumping and cross-country course.
Set up in the park’s grand prix ring, it offers fences for novice at 2-feet, 11-inches; 2-7 for beginner novice and 2-3 for starter.
The fee for the first round is $65, which includes a jump-off round. A second full round at the same level or another level (same horse and rider combination) is an additional $20.
There will be a cash pot for each division, utilizing $10 from each first-round entry. Cash will be divided among the top three competitors, while ribbons to eighth place will be awarded.
The closing date for entries is April 15. Click here for entry information.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 29, 2017
The B.W. Furlong & Associates veterinary hospital in Oldwick has reopened, after closing last week, when it was discovered that a patient tested positive for the neurologic variety of Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1).
“The patient is in our isolation unit, removed from our main facilities and is under the care of (Dr.) Rachel Gardner…and her team of veterinarians and technicians,” according to a statement. Seven other horses who did not show symptoms but had contact with the infected horse remain in isolation as well.
“The index horse has no history of recent travel, therefore no other horses in the area are expected to be at increased risk at this time. The potentially exposed horses have been transported via closed commercial carrier to a separate quarantine facility and will continue to be cared for by B.W. Furlong & Associates veterinarians and technicians,” according to the statement.
“The established quarantine area has been reviewed by the state veterinarians and they have confirmed that it exceeds expectations put forth by the Department of Agriculture,” the statement continued.
The practice has concluded multiple rounds of cleaning and disinfecting in the hospital, and began accepting patients again April 8.The intention of the practice was to exceed the state’s recommended biosecurity protocols.The quarantine was not imposed on Equine MRI of NJ or Furlong’s Soundness Center and ambulatory veterinary services continued without restriction.
Jeff Wolfe, a spokesman for the state Department of Agriculture, said there have been no other cases reported around New Jersey.
More information can be found on the American Association of Equine Practitioners website, here, and the memo from the Department of Agriculture can be found here.
For questions or concerns, clients are advised to contact B.W. Furlong & Associates or Dr. Gardner at (908) 439-2821.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 29, 2017
Olympic show jumping individual gold medalist Nick Skelton always said he’d retire when Big Star did, but his farewell is coming earlier than planned.
Although he had hoped to show this summer, plans to compete at Geneva and Olympia last December were scuttled when the horse came up with a slight injury. Although word was Big Star would be jumping again this past January, it was decided he didn’t owe anyone anything and it was time to bow out.
The retirement ceremony for both Nick, 59, and the stallion will be held at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May. Their last competition was the Royal Winter Fair, where I was lucky enough to see them jump.
Nick Skelton and Big Star at Toronto’s Royal Winter Fair last year, their final show together. (Photo copyright by Nancy Jaffer)
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 29, 2017
Mane Stream, which offers a program of equine-assisted activities, including therapeutic riding, is having a tack sale from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. April 8 at 83 Old Turnpike in Oldwick.
Want to accumulate riding clothes, tack and other equine-related paraphernalia? This is your go-to. Rather de-clutter? Drop off donations or call 908-439-9636 to arrange a pick-up of items.
On April 9, Mane Stream is hosting an open house from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. It’s an opportunity to get insight into all that Mane Stream does by meeting the horses, talking to therapists and chatting with volunteers–maybe you want to become one.
There also will be activities for children as a preview of what goes on at Mane Stream’s summer camp.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 29, 2017
New Jersey’s biggest three-day event is set for May 11-14 at the Horse Park of New Jersey in Allentown.There are plenty of opportunities for tailgating on cross-country day, May 13, with a new water obstacle likely the venue of choice.
The New Beginnings Thoroughbreds tent is one of those spots where brunch and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided. Get tickets at http://nbt-jerseyfresh17.eventbrite.com. It’s $30 for adults, $15 for kids and those under 21.
There’s an array of top riders schedule to compete, including Phillip Dutton, Boyd Martin, Jennie Brannigan and local favorite Holly Payne Caravella.
Whatever you do, don’t miss Jersey Fresh. For more info on the event, go to www.jfi3d.com.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 29, 2017
Did you miss going to the Rolex Kentucky 4-star Three-Day Event? Or even if you did go, you probably didn’t see all the action–there was, after all, a trade show to patronize.
On Sunday, you’ll have a chance to catch up or at the least, see why Rolex is called “the best weekend all year.” It’s being televised on NBC from 1:30-3 p.m. Eastern time. Don’t miss it!
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 28, 2017
A new 4-star championship trophy is being given at Rolex Kentucky in memory of Roger Haller, whose celebration of life during last year’s Rolex weekend drew scores of the biggest names in eventing to pay tribute.
The designer of the cross-country courses for the 1978 World Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park and the 1996 Olympics, he served as a judge, technical delegate, organizer and perpetual proponent of the sport, serving all its various associations. Roger was a walking rulebook and always willing to help where needed for the betterment of the sport before dying of cancer at age 70 in 2016.
Artist Kerry Millikin–who won the Olympic individual eventing bronze medal in 1996 over a course designed by Roger–is creating the trophy. Since it takes a while to produce a work of art like the Haller trophy, a surrogate silver plate was presented this year to the winner, Phillip Dutton, the top-placed American at Rolex. He was fourth with Mr. Medicott.
Ann, who was involved in the presentation at Rolex, just became the competition manager for the Fair Hill International in Maryland.
Anne Haller presents a surrogate for the new Roger Haller trophy to Phillip Dutton on Mr. Medicott. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
“We hit the trifecta with Ann. She has organized events, stewarded FEI eventing competitions, and has been the press officer at events across the nation. She has a true 360-degree view of competitions. We couldn’t have asked for a better partner to join us,” said Fair Hill International’s executive director, Carla Geiersbach, stated.
Ann will coordinating technical aspects of all of the events that Fair Hill International runs throughout the year.
Fair Hill just received a $100,000 allocation from the Maryland legislature that could help boost its chances to host a new fall 4-star. Fair Hill is one of two finalists for the designation; the other is Great Meadow in Virginia.
Discussing the legislative support and vote of confidence that will be reflected in massive upgrades to the Fair Hill facility, Carla said, “We think that speaks volumes about the support for the project. The improvements to the turf track and the grandstands will benefit all the different disciplines that use the special events zone.”
Roger Haller. (Photo by Nancy JaffeR)
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 28, 2017
It went all the way to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but Olympic veteran Adrienne Lyle will be allowed to ride Horizon and Kaitlin Blythe can ride Don Principe next week at the Dutta Corp. USEF Festival of Champions in Gladstone.
Adrienne and Kaitlin were suspended by the FEI (international equestrian federation), along with the horses, when tests showed the animals were positive for a banned substance, ractopamine.
Legally used in the U.S. for building up swine, turkeys and cattle, it is on the FEI’s prohibited list for horses. The original question was, how did the substance get into the horses? The answer was through Progressive Soothing Pink, a gastric nutritional supplement produced by Cargill. Tests showed that ractopamine, which was not on the list of ingredients for the supplement, was found in trace amounts.
Cargill issued a statement about the situation, explaining “Upon learning of this trace finding, we immediately withdrew our Progressive Nutrition Soothing Pink product from the market. At this time, we have identified and isolated the ingredient that was the source of the contamination and we have completely stopped use of the ingredient in all products.”
Adrienne and Kaitlin, who were connected only through use of the product–they did not work together–had their suspensions lifted after it was revealed the manufacturer was at fault. However, the horses remained suspended for two months, even though the substance was no longer in their systems. The FEI policy is to invoke such suspensions, regardless of the source of contamination.
That would have meant both horses would have had to miss the Festival, since their suspensions extended to June 4. That’s where the CAS came in and issued a stay of the FEI edict.
Horizon is a top contender for the national title in the Small Tour championship, while Don Principe will be ridden by Kaitlin in the Brentina Cup Under 25 championship. It’s Kaitlin’s last chance to try for the title, as she ages out after this season.
Adrienne also will be riding Salvino, a prospect for next year’s World Equestrian Games team, in the Grand Prix Championship at Gladstone. Another big name in that section is Kasey Perry-Glass on Goerklintgaard’s Dublet. Kasey is the only member of last summer’s Rio Olympics bronze medal team who will be in the Grand Prix at the Festival.
The competition begins on Thursday, May 18 at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation headquarters on Pottersville Road in Gladstone, and runs through May 21. For more information, go to www.dressagefestivalofchampions.org .
Adrienne Lyle and Horizon. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
