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 10, 2020
Is it possible Covid-19 will wreak havoc on plans to hold the postponed Tokyo Olympics in the summer of 2021?
The virus is spreading in Japan, where major restrictions on residents have been enacted. Japan has reported about 5,000 cases and 100 deaths. The country has the world’s oldest population and COVID-19 can be especially deadly for the elderly.
“I don’t think anyone would be able to say if it is going to be possible to get it under control by next July or not,” stated Tokyo Organizing Committee CEO Toshiro Muto, adding, “We’re certainly are not in a position to give you a clear answer.”
“We have made the decision to postpone the games by one year,” Muto said during a press conference reported by the Associated Press..
“So this means that all we can do is work hard to prepare for the Games. We sincerely hope that come next year, mankind will manage to overcome the coronavirus crisis.”
Muto was asked if there are alternative plans to the 2021 dates.
“Rather than think about alternatives plans, we should put in all of our effort,” he said. “Mankind should bring together all of its technology and wisdom to work hard so they can development treatments, medicines and vaccines.”
Meanwhile, travel restrictions imposed by the Japanese government have led to cancellation of next month’s visit to Tokyo by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, who had been scheduled to look at preparations for next year’s Games. The restrictions were designed to curb the spread of the virus, which has infected more than 6,000 people in Tokyo.
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 8, 2020
Are you aware of the new insurance benefits the U.S. Equestrian Federation is offering for members–even those who pay only for a $20 fan membership? They include discounted individual and group medical plans, which takes on extra importance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Individuals can purchase discounted plans that are Affordable Care Act-compliant. Additionally, Teladoc insurance gives members the option to have consultations with licensed physicians by phone or video chat, as opposed to having to travel to doctors’ offices.
Other benefits include dental, vision, disability, accident and critical illness coverage; mental health first aid; group plans for small businesses; medical transportation coverage; and more.
To obtain a discount and receive a fan membership for $20, go to https://www.usef.org/join-usef/health-insurance and use the promo code RELIEF.
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 2, 2020
Darry Lou, the stallion who won the world’s richest grand pix last year at Spruce Meadows with Beezie Madden in the saddle, has been sold to rising show jumper Jennifer Gates.
The Dutchbred chestnut, owned by Abigail Wexner, had been tried and was under contract for after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but “the postponement of the Games changed the timeline of the sale,” according to a statement from John Madden Sales.
Beezie Madden and Darry Lou. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I have been very lucky to have Darry Lou in my life and I will always cherish the incredible moments we had together,” said Beezie, who will be switching her focus to bringing along developing grand prix horses and riders rather than focusing on international competition.
But in a statement from John Madden Sales on Friday, the word was, “Beezie and the whole team at JMS are still completely committed to doing the best we can to try to represent our country at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021.” Yes, she has other top horses, including Garant and Breitling LS (her pick for the 2020 World Cup Final if it hadn’t been cancelled).
For her part, Jennifer said, “I have admired this wonderful horse and his partnership with Beezie, one of my biggest idols in equestrian sport, for a long time. While we were saddened not to see Darry and Beezie at the Olympics this year, we are looking forward to getting to know him at home while the competition restrictions stay in place and continuing to give him the love and care her deserves.”
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.
