by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 17, 2023
A “manure link” website, set to go live in March, will list manure and compost availability by geographic location within New Jersey.
It will also will enable those seeking manure or compost to sign up for notification when the resource they are looking for becomes available. The project will give smaller farms with limited land capacity a way to distribute their manure to composters and farmers who can use it to benefit their operations.
The state Department of Agriculture is partnering with Rutgers University, the Office of Research Analytics and the New Jersey Compost Council to develop the New Jersey Manure Link website. The intent is to connect livestock farms (manure generators) and composters with farmers seeking these resources to provide an alternative option from purchasing fertilizer.
The NJDA’s Division of Agricultural and Natural Resources received a Conservation Innovation Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service to fund creation of the New Jersey Manure Link project. The concept is designed to be “where to find what feeds your field” for Garden State farmers. The website is designed and hosted by Rutgers University’s Office of Research Analytics.
“We believe this website will be a valuable resource for farmers and composters,” state Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Joe Atchison said.
“The ability to provide a clearer pathway to make connections between these operations will benefit all involved.”
The Compost Council will provide outreach and educational components, including two hands-on composting field days and resources for the website. The field days will be scheduled for livestock farmers and composters, as well as producers across all agricultural sectors, including urban farming, to demonstrate the importance of composting, nutrient management and how to effectively incorporate organic materials into farming practices.
The goals of New Jersey Manure Link include recycling valuable nutrients, generating accessibility to organic materials, reducing animal waste excess and protecting waterways adjacent to livestock farmland.
The project will allow urban farmers to gain access to raw feedstocks, as well as finished compost. The project falls within the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Global Warming Response Act 80 x 50 Report from 2020. It identifies the need for the reduction, recycling and reuse of agricultural organic waste materials, as well as increased education and adoption of composting practices.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 14, 2023
Cortes C was a real trouper. This was a horse who gave his all at some of the world’s biggest show jumping events.
When Beezie Madden announced this week that he had died at the age of 21, I remembered the way he always crossed his front legs when he jumped. I’d call it his trademark.
Beezie Madden at Cortes C at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in France. (Photo © 2014 by Nancy Jaffer)
Nicknamed “Tiny,” because he wan’t, after joining forces with Beezie, this Belgium warmblood by Randel Z was on many Nations Cup teams, including the 2013, 2014 and 2015 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Finals in Barcelona.
In 2013, he and Beezie won the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Chantilly in France. A back-to-back winner of the Longines King George V Gold Cup in 2014 and 2015, he also was in great form in 2014 at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in France. There, he was on the U.S. team bronze and was named Best Horse in the individual final, where Beezie was third.
He contributed to the U.S.silver medal in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, but he was sidelined by injury before the team final and retired from competition in 2017.
Beezie recounted on social media that Clark Shipley, his late former groom, called Tiny,“the friendliest horse you’ll ever meet in your life. He’s all over you at all times, mauling you. He loves attention. You could pretty much do anything to him.
“If you walk him around, he mauls every person standing around. He drags you over there. He’s always had this personality. He’s been friendly from the start.”
In retirement, Tiny loved to greet tours at the Madden farm in Cazenovia, N.Y.,and have his picture taken with fans.
Beezie mentioned, “We have no doubt Clark was waiting for Tiny with bags of carrots on the other side.”
As she revlected, “Tiny was one of a kind. With top results as a young horse with (Belgian rider) Gregory Wathelet and then years of being at the top of the sport with our team, I was blessed to have him in my life. I will forever be thankful to Tiny and (owner) Mrs. (Abigail) Wexner for our years together. His passing leaves a hole in all our team’s hearts.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 11, 2023
Eventer Jane Sleeper usually is the one who offers a helping hand, whether as a volunteer or by training horses and riders, drawing on the wisdom learned in her long career.
But Jane, 73, had a bad fall in late May, noting with her usual sense of humor, “I just don’t bounce anymore.”
Four days ago, she returned home from rehab and is “slowly making progress,” revealing she “got stepped on when I fell off!.”
While she noted, “kind, encouraging words keep me motivated,” more than that is needed to get her through this difficult time.
A GoFundMe has been set up to handle some of the many expenses Jane is facing. Click here to access the GoFundMe page.
Direct contributions can also be made through PayPal via janeesleeper@gmail.com or via checks payable to her at Jane Sleeper, 130 Buck Run Road, East Fallowfield, Pa. 19320.
An auction also has been organized by Niamh O’Connell to benefit Jane. Niamh said so many in the equestrian world have been motivated by Jane, and now are coming to her aid.
“The amount of people who reached out to me and said, `I want to help’ has been pretty amazing,” Niamh reported.
To participate in the auction through 8 p.m. July 24, click here .
Items up for bid include lessons with 5-star riders, a tailgating package for the Maryland 5-star evebt, a package of studio portraits from Niamh, who is a photographer, and a breeding contract to one of Gem Twist’s clones.
Kennett Brewing Company in Kennett Square, Pa., is the site of a benefit for Jane July 23 from 4-7 p.m., featuring equestrians, such as Lillian and Ryan Wood, as celebrity bartenders. There will be a raffle that evening as well. The bar is at 109 S. Broad St., suite 2.The Phone is 610-444-0440. There will be a similar benefit at the Whip Tavern in Coatesville, Pa., Aug. 13 from 3-6 p.m.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 12, 2023
Rich Fellers, a show jumping Olympian and World Cup champion, pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court in Portland, Ore., to a count involving interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.
Rich Fellers on Flexible at the 2012 Olympics. (Photo © 2012 by Nancy Jaffer)
Now 63, Fellers had been involved with a 17-year-old who was his student. He was arrested in 2021 in connection with his relationship with Maggie Kehring, who has appeared on network television discussing her experience.
Fellers is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 12, and is not incarcerated at present.
On Wednesday, he pleaded guilty in Washington County, Ore., to two counts of second-degree sex abuse.
KOIN 6 News in Oregon stated Fellers agreed in the plea deal to spend 30 months in prison on Washington County, Ore., charges at the same time he serves a four-year sentence on the federal matter.
Fellers, who was high-profile as the rider/trainer of the late, great stallion Flexible, had been on the SafeSport suspension list since July 2021. His wife, Shelley, was suspended by SafeSport in April 2021 until February 2027 for abuse of process, retaliation and failure to report.
In collaboration with the Kehring family and Wrigley Media Group, Horse Network launched the site #WeRideTogether, designed to air survivor stories, provides resources to report abuse and get help, and offer educational information for athletes, coaches, and families.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 15, 2023
The Village of Wellington’s planning and zoning board will hold a hearing this week on requests for zoning changes that would enable construction of an expansion to the existing Wellington International Showgrounds.
The concept would refurbish the current grounds where the Winter Equestrian Festival is held, making it a base for dressage and hunters. The new 90-acre section would host the jumpers and a stadium, nine rings (two indoors) and stabling are part of the package, which would also allow for more parking and make the showgrounds contiguous. Currently, dressage is held at the Equestrian Village, a three- or four-minute drive (depending on traffic) from the current facility.
Diagram of the existing and new showgrounds.
Before the expanded showgrounds can become reality, however, action must be taken on a larger zoning change application relating to the Wellington North and South developments that Wellington Lifestyle Partners is leading to create an “equestrian lifestyle community.”
The Village’s Equestrian Preserve Committee last month rejected the zoning changes for housing because of encroachment into the preserve. Members also observed that they had seen no plans for the new showgrounds footprint. Without that, they were skeptical about the entire project, and there is great opposition to the rezoning that would allow for more housing in the Village.
Wellington International President Michael Stone has explained in a letter what is going on,the importance of the rezoning, what it means for the showgrounds, and how the two projects are intertwined. Click here to read what he has to say.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 11, 2023
Interested in exploring the benefits of equine-assisted psychotherapy to improve parent-child relationships? How about the importance of understanding what horses are telling us through their “wanted and unwanted behavior.”
The Horses and Humans Research Foundation will be examining those topics and many more, including fine points of equine nutrition and the importance of horses’ sleep patterns, during its summer conference at Centenary University in Hackettstown, N.J., July 22-23.
The organization serves as a catalyst to advance global knowledge of horse-human interactions and their impact on the health and well-being of people, horses, and other equines.
For more information or to register for the conference sponsored by Zoetis, click on this link.
