by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 3, 2019
Endurance rider Meg Sleeper’s barn in Hunterdon County burned down during a violent hail storm last month. Luckily, her horses were turned out and all animals are safe, but she lost most of her equipment, hay and feed.
She praised “the selfless work and caring of the fire fighters, rescue squads and troopers who were here that awful night,” saying it “was inspiring, and actually a foreshadowing of the wonderful, kind offers from countless people to help that have poured in since then.”
Meg Sleeper
The veterinarian, who has been a regular on the U.S. endurance team in international competition, doesn’t like to ask for help. Those who want to donate could contribute hay and used girths. Her address is 32 Horseshoe Bend Rd; Frenchtown, NJ 08825, but anyone who wishes to donate should contact her first to set it up. Her phone is (352) 392-2235, email is margaretmsleeper@ufl.edu .
She has little room for storage, so she can’t take a large amount of hay, but has been trying to get along on a smaller number of bales. Meg is grateful for the help she has received so far, including from Triple Crown.
“I have to say, our horse community can be crazy at times but it is pretty wonderful too!” she noted. “When things seem to be collapsing around you, it is amazing how friends (known and unknown) can do so much to put things back together.“
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 29, 2019
Riding with Heart is looking for new and gently used tack, barn equipment, horse sheets and blankets and riding clothes for its sale Sept. 28-29 at its facility, 639 Route 513, Pittstown.
Bring items to the farm from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. Call (908) 735-5912 before you come, or for pick up of larger items within an hour’s drive. All donations are tax deductible. The sale benefits Riding with Heart’s therapeutic programs and horses.
The sale will run 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 28 and noon-3 p.m. Sept. 29 for the half-price bargains on most items.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 22, 2019
Whether you’re an equestrian or a member of the public, there is a lot happening at the seventh Annual Devon Fall Classic, presented by Bryn Mawr Hospital Sept. 12-15 on Route 30 in Devon, Pa.
A benefit for the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair Foundation, the event wasn’t held last year but is back this time with plenty to offer riders from the zone, which includes New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
Competition, which runs through the evenings, starts at 8 a.m. daily except Sept. 14, which begins at 7:30 a.m. That evening is the high point for riders, with the featured $25,000 Devon Fall Classic at a maximum height of 1.45 meters.
A fair offers carnival rides, more than 35 retail vendors, crafts, live music, food and drink, and a variety of entertaining events. They include:
● Yappy Hour: an opportunity to drink and dine with your dog in the picnic grove Sept. 13 from 5–7 p.m., featuring local beer, wine and spirits from Tattered Flag Brewery & Still Works, White Horse Winery and Thistle Finch Distillery. Bar Spoon Beverage Co.will also offer special tastings of their craft mixers.
● Live entertainment that day includes classic rock with party band Knock One Back. The ticket includes free admission and special seating in the picnic grove.
● The next day, amateur chefs are invited to enter a Classic Chili Contest. More live entertainment will be presented in the picnic grove.
● Sunday brunch is available on the final day.
Special event tickets can be purchased online at http://www.devonhorseshow.net/fall-classic/. Admission tickets start at $5 for adults and $3 for seniors and those ages 6-18. Children 5 and under are free all week, and admission is free for all on Sunday. Pre-order tickets on the website, via email at tickets@devonhorseshow.org, or by phone at (610) 688-2554. Visit the website for the full schedule of events.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 17, 2019
The Spring Valley Hounds will present the SVH Polo Cup Aug. 31 at Grayfields Farm, 80 Long Bridge Road, Allamuchy (exit 19 off Route 80), with 50 percent of the proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.
Gates open at 10 a.m. so you can get a start on the tailgating, with the match set for noon. There will be a champagne toast and half-time divot stop (it’s traditional), along with a contest for the best hat and best tailgate spread.
Admission is a suggested donation of $20 for those over 12. Rain date is Sept. 1. Call (973) 300-7742 in case of inclement weather. For more info, go to www.springvalleyhounds.com.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 14, 2019
Dressage trainer Michael Barisone, charged in the shooting of a former student, will remain in custody after a Superior Court judge expressed concern during a pretrial detention hearing today about what might happen if he were allowed to go free pending resolution of his attempted murder case.
Lauren Kanarek is still in the hospital after authorities say Barisone shot her twice in the chest Aug. 7 during the culmination of an ongoing dispute that had resulted in police being called to his Long Valley farm several times in the preceding week.
Kanarek and her fiancée, Rob Goodwin, who was injured when he wrested the gun from Barisone, were at odds with the trainer, who was trying to evict them from his home on the farm.
Wearing a yellow prison jumpsuit for his hearing in Morristown, with his left arm in a sling, Barisone heard Judge Stephen Taylor say, “There are procedures in place by civil society in resolving those disputes and if Mr. Barisone had followed those procedures, we wouldn’t be here today.”
Citing a police report that stated Barisone said after his arrest, “I had a good life,” the judge commented that he thought Barisone did pose a danger and “perhaps to himself as well.”
Kanarek’s attorney, Edward David, noted in a press release, “While there may have been a civil disagreement between Lauren and Mr. Barisone, such things never justify the use of a gun.” He noted that her family “expects that he (Barisone) remain in custody pending his trial.”
Barisone’s lawyer, Jeffrey Simms, said that prior to the incident, his client had contacted another attorney about starting civil proceedings against Kanarek and Goodwin in order to evict the couple. Simms said Kanarek and Goodwin refused to obey fire marshals who came to the house and told them to leave. Calling Kanarek a “grifter,” Simms contended she is “more of a villain than a victim,” and asserted the couple was harassing his client.
He noted the altercation took place after an investigator from the state Division of Child Protection and Permanency came to investigate a call about possible abuse involving two youngsters, the children of Barisone’s girlfriend, after the agency was contacted. Simms believes that call was made by Kanarek.
As for the abuse charges, Barisone’s attorney said “there is no substantiation whatsoever to that.”
Simms said Barisone, his girlfriend, who is also a trainer, and her children were living in the house with Kanarek and Goodwin at one point. But noting Barisone felt “extraordinarily threatened” by Kanarek and Goodwin, Simms said his client moved with his girlfriend and her children into a barn office/apartment away from the house.
While investigation into the case is continuing, the next step involves referring the matter to a grand jury. Simms is planning to ask that the detention hearing be reopened within the next few weeks in an effort to get Barisone out of jail.
Kanarek is still hospitalized in serious condition recovering from her wounds. Doctors have performed several procedures to enable her to breathe, since her lungs were damaged in the assault. Her fiancé underwent surgery to repair the hand that was broken when he disarmed Barisone, who was also injured in the incident.
Barisone, who faces two counts of attempted murder and weapons offenses, was an alternate for the 2008 Olympic dressage team. He also trained Allison Brock, who was a team bronze medalist at the 2016 Olympic Games on Rosevelt.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 14, 2019
New research on nutrition, pasture management, manure and other topics will go down easy with a glass of wine Aug. 20 at the Cream Ridge Winery, 145 Route 539, Cream Ridge. Wine tasting begins at 5 p.m. followed by speakers at 6 p.m.
The program will provide research-based information on how to manage diets and pasture, along with some other environmentally friendly horse farm practices directly from experts performing the research. This will also give you a chance to network with managers and owners of New Jersey horse farms. The program is free, but wine is available for purchase.
RSVP by Friday August 16 with Carey Williams at carey.williams@rutgers.edu or Mike Westendorf at michael.westendorf@rutgers.edu.
