by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 15, 2019
The Pineland Riders Pony Club is planning an eventing fun day Oct. 13 at Flora Lea Farm, 20 Branin Road, Medford.
Competitors can ride as many as three dressage tests, three stadium rounds and two cross-country courses. It is a chance to try a new dressage test, a new height in stadium and a new cross-country route, all in a relaxed, non-competitive setting. Bring your trainer and enjoy the day. Feel free to mix and match the levels of the three phases in eventing.
For non-eventers, USDF and USEF dressage tests from Introductory Level through First Level will be offered. The closing date for entries is Oct. 10. Questions? Contact Pineland Riders DC Tara DiSalvo.Cell: (609) 668-9328; taramdisalvo@gmail.com
Or go to: https://www.njregionponyclub.org/eventing-fun-day—oct-13-2019.html
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 15, 2019
The most challenging of the equitation finals, the Platinum Performance/U.S. Equestrian Federation Show Jumping Talent Search Finals East, is set for Oct. 5-6 at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation.
The judges are Sue Ashe and Molly Ashe-Cawley, the first mother-daughter combination to officiate in the Talent Search. They will test the 59 riders on the flat at 8 a.m. Oct. 5, with competitors going over a gymnastics route at 1 p.m. The next day, everyone rides a jumper-style course, starting at 8 a.m. The top four come back at 1:30 p.m. to jump a shorter course and switch horses with the other competitors, in a format borrowed from the way the World Show Jumping Championships decided the individual title until 2018.
Those who are really interested in equitation can see more of the riders than they would at the ASPCA Maclay or USEF Medal finals, where the exhibitors compete on only one day. Admission is free at the facility off Pottersville Road.
The Show Jumping Talent Search program dates back to the 1950s, when it was held during the National Horse Show in New York City for nine years until 1963. The Harry T. Peters Trophy class, the predecessor of the Talent Search Program, was a combined test. It consisted of dressage, held in the old Squadron A Armory, and a jumping test in Madison Square Garden. Early winners included Wilson Dennehy, Patti Heuckeroth, and Carol Hofmann Thompson.
What became the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search was started in 1965 by the USET as its equitation class, designed to fill the gap for juniors who qualified for the Medal and Maclay early in the year and had no further incentive to keeping showing in horsemanship.
The USET Medal Classes encouraged Young Rider development through the awarding of Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals for wins earned throughout the United States. At the end of the competition year, two riders who accumulated the most wins were invited to spend a week with the team in Gladstone the following year.
In 1982, the program incorporated year-end finals as a further goal. In 1994, the USET decided to change the name of the USET Medal Program to the USET Show Jumping Talent Search Program. This change better reflected the focus of the program by asking developing riders to meet a more difficult set of standards than required in other competitions, thus helping to prepare them for future international Show Jumping Teams.
In 2003, the USET became a foundation for the purpose of raising funds for equestrian high performance programs, and the newly formed United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) emerged as the National Governing Body for equestrian sports. The Show Jumping Talent Search Program became a part of USEF’s Show Jumping High Performance Department and continues to serve as the pipeline for future stars on their way to the high performance world.
Winners have included McLain Ward, who became an Olympic double gold and silver team medalist.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 12, 2019
In 2010, Riders4Helmets hosted the first national event designed to educate equestrians on the benefits of wearing a properly fitting, secured and certified helmet. The event brought over 300 U.S.-based retailers and eight helmet manufacturers together, to help educate customers on topics such as correct helmet fit and why wearing a helmet is important.
In succeeding years, Riders4Helmets expanded the event globally. Riders4Helmets International Helmet Awareness Day 2018 received support from 19 helmet manufacturers and hundreds of equestrian retailers in twenty six countries.
The original one-day event has become a weekend, which will be held Sept. 14 and 15, when most retailers offer discounts on helmets.
For all participating retailers, visit here: https://www.riders4helmets.com/international-helmet-awareness-day-participating-retailers/
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 8, 2019
Amateur horse-racing, tailgating, boutiques and demonstrations of field sports are part of the Essex Fox Hounds Masters’ Chase, a highlight of the Weekend in Gladstone festivities Oct. 4-6.
The Oct. 5 chase is held at Natirar, the county park on Main Street in Peapack. Gates open for activities at noon with post time at 2 p.m. In addition to races on horseback, there’s also stick pony racing for the kids. The atmosphere is old-fashioned fun.
Tailgating spaces are $500, but parking on the hill overlooking the activities is $40 per car. No alcohol is allowed outside of tailgating spaces, however. Those who park in Natirar’s regular public lots are admitted free to the Masters’ Chase.
The weekend kicks off Friday, Oct. 4, with a 6 p.m. cocktail party at the Fox’s Den at the Essex Stables, 48 Holland Road, Peapack. On Sunday, Oct. 6, the hunt gathers at 8:40 a.m. at Spook Hollow Farm, 461 Spook Hollow Road, Far Hills (the address for GPS). Hounds move off at 9 a.m. Those who wish to ride with the hunt should contact the hunt secretary at info@essexfoxhounds.org. The capping fee is $100 for juniors and $200 for adults.
The weekend benefits the Countryside Alliance of the Somerset Hills, with a mission “to perpetuate an understanding of the country way of life, maintaining and preserving the history and traditions of hunting with hounds and horses in the Somerset Hills of New Jersey, and to educate the public on proper care and breeding of hounds and horses.”
Reserve a spot at the party or a tailgating space by Sept. 25. The Countryside Alliance is at P.O. Box 314, Gladstone NJ 07934
$50 of each party ticket and $490 of the tailgate pass are tax deductible.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 6, 2019
Be sure to sign your horses up for fall shots if you haven’t done it already.
Five more horses in New Jersey have been diagnosed with Eastern Equine Encephalitis during the last two weeks, bringing the total of 10 animals in New Jersey contracting the virus in 2019.
The latest cases are an 18-year-old gelding horse in Morris County, a 4-month old gelding in Salem County, a 4-year old gelding and a gelding of unknown age in Ocean County, and a yearling filly in Atlantic County. None were vaccinated for EEE and had to be put down. The 10 cases this year include nine horses and one alpaca.
“As more cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis are reported, we strongly encourage horse owners to check their records to verify that their animals are protected from this disease, or to know if vaccination is needed,” state Department of Agriculture Secretary Douglas Fisher said.
“Animals that have been vaccinated are much less likely to contract deadly diseases such as Eastern Equine Encephalitis.”
EEE affects both horses and camelids, such as alpacas. EEE causes inflammation of the brain tissue and has a significantly higher risk of death in horses and camelids than West Nile Virus infection. West Nile is a viral disease that affects horses’ and camelids’ neurological system. The disease is transmitted by a mosquito bite. The virus cycles between birds and mosquitoes, with horses, camelids and humans being incidental hosts.
EEE infections in horses and alpacas are not a significant risk factor for human infection because horses and camelids (like humans) are considered “dead-end” hosts for the virus.
For more information about EEE, visit the New Jersey Department of Agriculture web site at: http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/ah/diseases/diseaseworksheets.html
EEE and West Nile virus, like other viral diseases affecting horses’ neurological system, must be reported to the state veterinarian at 609-671-6400 within 48 hours of diagnosis. The New Jersey Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory is available to assist with EEE and WNV testing and can be reached at 609-406-6999 or via email – jerseyvetlab@ag.state.nj.us.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 3, 2019
The Somerset County Park Commission’s Lord Stirling Stable in Basking Ridge will mark a half-century of operation Sept. 22 in the hunter pace field from noon-4 p.m.
There will be a live band, hay rides and activities for the kids, For an extra fee, children can take a “lead-line” pony ride through a designated course. Also featured for an extra fee are 30-minute guided trail rides for riders 12 and older.
Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children 3-12. Tickets for a barbeque were sold in advance and will not be available the day of the celebration.
For more information, go to www.flss.org/50th-Anniversary.
