by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 26, 2023
Two saddlebreds at the Virginia Horse Center for the Shenandoah Classic competition tested positive for Equine Herpesivrus-1(EHV-1) last week. Both were taken to a veterinary clinic where one was euthanized and the other was stable after receiving medical care.
Approximately 80 horses were under quarantine after being stabled in the same barn as the two positive horses at the Lexington, Va., facility. They were prohibited from competition and were placed in isolation by the State Veterinarian’s Office of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Each was monitored twice daily for fever (temperature over 101.50° F) and other clinical signs.
None of the 80 quarantined horses remained on the grounds after Sunday, June 25. Starting June 26, the State Veterinarian’s office put a special team on the grounds, disinfecting every stall and grounds equipment such as Bobcats, tractors, muck buckets, rakes, etc. Dr. Abby Sage has stated that after June 26, the Virginia Horse Center will have the “safest stalls in the country”.
Glenn Petty, horse center CEO stated “The Virginia Horse Center cannot state enough how appreciative we are for the professional and common sense leadership of Dr. Abby Sage and Dr. Tabitha Moore, State Veterinarian’s office; Dr. Ginger Reagan, show veterinarian; Dr. Hugh Behling, Kalarama Farm veterinarian; Dr. Katie Flynn, USEF BioSecurity Veterinarian; and R H Bennett, show manager.
“We had a great team and thoughtful management of the situation worked. Also, the trainers and exhibitors could not have been more supportive and cooperative. At the end of the large trainer meeting, the team was given a round of applause for the handling of this situation.”
Moving onto the grounds this week will be the Arabian Horse Association Region 15 and 16 Championship and the Vaulting Region IX Championship. The House Mountain Hunter Jumper Show scheduled for this week has been moved to July 18-19.
For more information on EHV-1 or the latest on disease outbreaks visit https://equinediseasecc.org/.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 22, 2023
Tamie Smith, the heroine of Land Rover Kentucky less than two months ago, now is facing tragedy as her Luhmühlen 5-star mount, Solaguayre California, was euthanized in the wake of a cross-country injury at the German event last weekend.
The mare sustained a knee fracture after hitting the third element of the water obstacle.
In a social media statement, Tamie said, “My heart is broken as I write this and say that Solaguayre California was humanely euthanized after a planned surgery to repair a slab fracture to her knee.
“As California jumped out of the C element of the water at the Luhmühlen CCI5L, I felt her hit the jump and what seemed to be just a sting and disappointing moment of having to pull her up to save for another day. Initially the assessment of her recovery was favorable as we stopped when we did and it seemed to be a simple fix. However it has turned out much more extensive and the damage was irreparable.
Tamie Smith and Solaguayre California. (Photo courtesy Tamie Smith)
“This is devastating to our team; her owners and I cannot quite imagine life without our girl, however her tenacity and grit was the complete example of how we get through times like these.
“I find comfort knowing we were able to get her to the best surgeon with the best medical team. There were so many amazing people who helped facilitate this and no stone was unturned on trying to find a perfect plan to having her make a full recovery.”
Tamie continued, “California was a star in the making and showed the world, especially this season, how incredibly gifted she was. Our hopes and dreams for her were so high. Our hearts are broken.”
Tamie, who will be riding her Kentucky star, Mai Baum, on the U.S. team at Aachen next week, added, “I have to reflect at the incredible honor it is to have these partnerships with our horses. How lucky are we to experience such a bond with these athletes. I know that living……means you take the good with the bad. Life’s uncertainty can’t disable your life because you are afraid of the risk of living. It isn’t easy, but it is better to have experienced the moments and memories and to live for every moment than to just sit and be safe.
“California was the epitome of “Carpe Diem”…….so I take this meaning of living life to the fullest in her memory.
My brain is spinning, my heart is broken, but I know I have you all to keep me pushing on.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 30, 2023
Take the results from April’s Land Rover Kentucky 5-star, mix in a couple of more big names and you have the standings from the dressage phase of this morning’s Aachen, Germany, eventing competition.
It’s run in the same format as a horse trials, with show jumping following dressage (later today) and cross-country as the finale tomorrow, rather than show jumping as the finale, the way it is in the 5-stars.
Kentucky winner Tamie Smith on Mai Baum is fifth with 26.9 penalties, the top American in the standings. Leading are two British riders, world champion Yasmin Ingham (Banzai du Loir,23.5) and Tom McEwen (JL Dublin, 24.3), who was second at Kentucky.
Mai Baum struts in the eventing dressage at Aachen. (Photo courtesy USEF)
Michael Jung, of whom you may have heard, stands third for Germany with 75.56 on fischerChipmunk FRH, while Tim Price, winner of last year’s Maryland 5 star with Coup de Couer Dudevin, is fourth on Falco (26). Another U.S. rider, Liz Halliday Sharp, third at Kentucky, is right behind Tamie in the standings with Miks Master C (27.3). Will Coleman, who won Aachen for the U.S. two years ago, is seventh on Off the Record (28.1).
So you see how it sets up. The U.S. is looking good for this Nations Cup, although you should know it is not part of the league in which nations are vying for a chance to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. And the U.S. already qualified with silver at the 2022 world championships.
Tamie said the cross-country course is “Non-stop,” citing its technicality and noting, “you’ve got to be really smart and on your A game.”
For dressage and jumping, the Aachen stadium is “like no other atmosphere. The first time is a little awe-inspiring. It’s a really unbelievable magical feeling to be on that grass.”
Note that she said “grass.” Think of all the complaints you’ve heard from riders when they don’t have state-of-the-art artificial footing. And then see how well they do on Aachen’s grass, which admittedly is maintained beautifully, though that might not be the case elsewhere.
Phillip Dutton and Z were fault-free in show jumping.
With half the jumping finished, Phillip Dutton went clean on Z. He was the first U.S. team rider to compete in this phase, and was twenty-fourth after dressage.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 23, 2023
Dr. Karyn Malinowski, founding director of the Equine Science Center at Rutgers University, received the 2023 Distinguished Service Award at the 2023 Equine Science Society Symposium in Grapevine, Texas.
The Distinguished Service Award in Equine Science recognizes outstanding contributions in the field. Award recipients must also have a record of significant accomplishments in teaching, research and extension or service as it relates to the advancement of the equine sciences and horse industry.
Karyn has served as a faculty member at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences since 1978 and in various roles, including extension specialist in equine sciences, animal sciences professor, founding director of the Equine Science Center and the director of Rutgers Cooperative Extension.
Her research and extension programs concentrate on improving the equine athlete’s well-being and quality of life, while ensuring the equine industry’s vitality and viability, both statewide and nationally.
After having the opportunity to drive the famous Niatross, she got interested in racing and spent several summers learning how to drive harness horses. In 2001, she acquired her first Standardbred racehorse, Could Be Magic, who took her to victory in her amateur debut in 2003 at Freehold Raceway.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to receive this prestigious award from the Equine Science Society,” said Karyn.
“It has been my extreme pleasure to have worked for over four decades with top-notch young people and horses.”
At the same meeting in Texas, Dr. Kenneth Harrington McKeever, FACSM, FAPS, a professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at Rutgers and associate director of research at the Rutgers Equine Science Center, was elevated to the rank of Fellow of the Equine Science Society. The rank of Fellow is an elite member status reserved for recognizing distinguished service to the horse industry and to the Equine Science Society over the member’s many years of service.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 25, 2023
New Jersey’s Essex Horse Trials earlier this month turned out to be a good warm-up for the 4-star Strzegom, Poland, eventing Nations Cup, as Caroline Martin Pamucku finished second individually to lead the U.S. team to the silver medal.
Caroline Pamucku on cross-country aboard HSH Blake at Strzegom, Poland. (Photo courtesy FEI)
Caroline, who won the Essex Combined Test competition with HSH Blake, was first after dressage in Poland with a score of 28.1 penalties. But time penalties with Blake on the cross-country course designed by Marcin Konarski boosted her total to 35.7. She was clean in show jumping to end on that score behind the winner, Lea Siegl of Austria on van Helsing P (33.3).
The Dutch team won on 133.8, even though the fourth member of the squad was eliminated on cross-country. The U.S. had 142.8 penalties under the guidance of Emerging and Developing Eventing Coach Leslie Law. The total was 166.1 for bronze medal Belgium.
The Dutch are hoping to win the Nations Cup series when it concludes this fall in order to qualify for the Paris Olympics. One Olympic slot is available for the highest-placed team that hasn’t otherwise qualified for the Games.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 14, 2023
The Governor’s Award for New Jersey Horseperson of the Year is plural.
It went to a the Wunderlichs, a Sussex County family involved in the horse industry for three generations. The trophy was presented at the 66th Annual New Jersey Breeders Awards Celebration at the Horse Park of New Jersey to mark the Month of the Horse in the state.
The Wunderlich family.
The family’s passion and dedication over 50 years has built a successful training business in Lafayette, at the same time as they have been busy volunteering in many locations across the state and country.
Since 2008 Amy, Emily and Lori have worked to build Amy Wunderlich Performance Horses into a successful lesson, training, and breeding facility. They have coached and trained over 40 National and World Appaloosa Champions. They teach more than 70 lessons weekly and have started more than 700 students with their innovative Mommy, Horsey and Me program, which has provided many families hands-on experience, especially throughout the COVID -19 pandemic.
Lori Wunderlich has been a 4-H leader in Sussex County for over 35 years, while Amy and Emily have been leaders for the past 20 years. The family has been involved at all levels of the 4-H program from local club events, officiating at state events, coordinating various contests and competitions, and acting as national team coaches and assistants.
Emily is a program assistant with the state 4-H equine program. In addition, Lori has been a director of the Garden State Appaloosa Association since 1988 and is currently a National Director for the Appaloosa Horse Club. She has served as the National President of the Club since 2020.
Other family members not directly related to the equine industry but integral parts to this successful family include Dan Gurick, Amy’s husband; Travis Vail, Emily’s husband; John Wunderlich, and Daniel Wunderlich. Daniel served for 14 years as a director of the Horse Park of New Jersey, and chairman of the Jersey Fresh Three-Day Event for three years.
The third generation of Ryan and Nathan Gurick, and Mason and Wyatt Vail have started to followtheir parents’ lead, doing daily chores on the farm and competing in the show ring, where they have already earned year end awards in New Jersey and nationally.
After the trophy was presented, the family stated, “Today was a very special day. We can’t thank the members of the New Jersey Equine Advisory Board enough for this award. Many people don’t know how involved our entire family has been in the horse industry. We moved to New Jersey in 1988, and from that point on, we hit the ground running.
“In addition to operating the horse farm for the last 15 years, we have a combined 75 years of being 4H leaders, and volunteering countless hours at many different horse show venues, series and regional clubs across the state and Northeast. We can’t thank all of our current and past clients enough for your trust in us. We never would have had the chance at this award if it weren’t for you all.”
Other awards presented included New Jersey Standardbred Horse of the Year, Special Way, New Jersey Sire Stakes Premier Horse of the Year, owned by Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, and Al Libfeld.
Also: the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey Horse of the Year is Oh Well, owned by the SRF Stable of Lighthouse Point, Fla. The New Jersey Thoroughbred Horse of the Year He’spuregold , owned by John Bowers Jr. Breeder of the Year is Dr. Seven Dey III of Heritage Hill Farm, which bred the winners of over $3.3 million in 2022, ranking 11th overall in North America.
The Horse Park of New Jersey Volunteer of the Year is Nancy Frenick, who has been a ring steward, jump starter, jump judge, dressage scribe and show assistant for many horse show organizations. Since the Horse Park of New Jersey opened in 1987, she has shown there, sponsored show classes, volunteered in many capacities, donated needed items and offered her professional services for many events. Nancy is the Volunteer Sponsorship Coordinator for the Horse Park and is working on obtaining corporate sponsors.
The New Jersey Youth Horseperson of the Year, Agriculture Achievement Award Winner is Gianna Tanzi, a sophomore at Howell High School, who competes on the 4-H circuit and at open dressage shows. She also volunteers at a riding program for people with disabilities.
The Bell Scholarship went to Alejandra (Sasha) Burns, whose passion for horses began at a young age when her family relocated to a small town in the countryside of Spain. With no prior exposure to horses, they took on three Andalusians and a Dartmoor pony. As a teenager, she began teaching riding to young children lessons with her Dartmoor pony to young children and as she got older her dream of pursuing a career in equine veterinary medicine began to solidify.
Sasha’s academic career at Rutgers University includes doing research work with Dr. Carey Williams and Dr. Karyn Malinowski. In addition to her academic curriculum, Sasha has worked at Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center (MAEMC) as both a surgical and treatment technician. She hopes to get a degree in veterinary medicine and pursue an equine surgical residency. Additionally, Sasha aspires to create a non-profit equine rescue organization, combining her knowledge of veterinary medicine and equine-assisted therapy to better assist horses and people.
Superior Achievement Awards have gone to Entirely Smooth Movin and Sonnys Music Man. Entirely Smooth Movin is a 12- year-old Paint owned by Ava Stanker of Bridgeton. His accomplishments include Novice Youth Register of Merit (ROM), Western Horsemanship and APHA Youth Champion, among others.
Sonnys Music Man, a 17-year-old Paint is owned by Dawn Edmonds. In 2021, Sonny received numerous awards in Ranch Pleasure, Youth Color, and other classes.
The New Jersey Agricultural Achievement Award went to Ashley Presgraves of Millville, a senior at
Our Lady of Mercy Academy and an active member of Cumberland County 4-H.
