The Tewksbury Trail Pace is coming back

by | Jul 26, 2019

The Tewksbury Trail Pace, one of the most popular paces in the state, is returning this year for its silver anniversary. It will be held Sept. 15 at the Hill & Dale Preserve to benefit the NJ Conversation Foundation.

Last year, the pace took a break and a pleasre ride was held instead. But the 25th promises to be as good as previous editions of this competition.

The foundation and the TTA continue their efforts to develop the Ten-Mile Trail.  Once completed, the Ten-Mile Trail will form a cohesive greenway throughout northern Tewksbury, which will connect the following preserves:

  • Tewksbury’s Hell Mountain

  • NJCF’s Hill & Dale Preserve

  • Hunterdon County’s Cold Brook Preserve

The Ten-Mile Trail traverses some of the most spectacular areas and natural preserves the township has to offer!  Significant work is still needed to secure some of the key pieces to form a continuous Trail.

To highlight the beauty of the trail, the TTA’s annual pace will incorporate several miles already acquired for the project.

The pace offers adult and junior short (6 miles) and long (9 mile) divisions. The fee is $45 for TTA members and $55 for non-members.

The action runs from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the corner of Hill & Dale Road and Parsonage Lot Road. Helmets and Coggins tests are required. Participants are asked to bring water for their horses.
Go to www.tta-nj.org for more information.

EEE strikes horse in Ocean County

by | Jul 26, 2019

The year’s first reported New Jersey case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), a serious, mosquito-borne illness, was found in a mare vaccinated against the disease in April. The mare, who was about 12 years old, was euthanized this week.

“Horse owners need to be vigilant in vaccinating their animals against diseases spread by mosquitoes,” state Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher said. “Vaccinated animals are much less likely to contract deadly diseases such as EEE and West Nile Virus.”

Unfortunately, that was not the situation with the mare in this case. EEE causes inflammation of the brain tissue and has a significantly higher risk of death in horses than West Nile virus infection. West Nile virus is a viral disease that affects horses’ neurological system. The disease is transmitted by a mosquito bite. The virus cycles between birds and mosquitoes, with horses and humans being incidental hosts. EEE infections in horses are not a significant risk factor for human infection because horses (like humans) are considered to be “dead-end” hosts for the virus.

In 2018, New Jersey had five cases of EEE and one case of West Nile.

 

The College Preparatory Invitational is coming to NJ this autumn

by | Jul 23, 2019

 

Young riders will have a chance to experience the college equestrian competition format and win scholarships at New Jersey’s College Preparatory Invitational Sept. 21-22 at The Ridge at Riverview in Asbury.

Founded in 2010, CPI not only educates hunter seat student-athletes about competition, it also provides them with resources to make connections and weigh options that can enrich their college experience. In addition, participants in grades eight through 12 can participate in clinics and educational presentations led by top competitors and leaders in the equine industry.

Academic excellence and social integrity are part of the equestrian experience through the CPI Scholarship and Educational Fund. Student riders can earn scholarships via equitation competition at a CPI event, academic achievement and community service. CPI also produces CPI College Spotlight events for colleges and universities seeking to recruit equestrian students.

The CPI Horse Show requires that all participants have a trainer on site to coach them during a CPI competition. If a student’s trainer is not available to coach the participant, the CPI provides the option for an experienced coach such as Heather Clark, co-coach of the Centenary University equestrian team and assistant professor of equine science.

She will serve as clinician and CPI “Hire-a-Coach” at the New Jersey show.

“I feel CPI is a wonderful program,” Heather said. “It gives the students insight into what the colleges and universities have to offer in their equine programs. Being a coach for CPI, I will be able to share my approaches to and experience of catch riding.”

Since joining Centenary in 2007, Heather has helped coach its Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association team to three national championships, and a reserve title and helped produce three Cacchione Cup champions.

Earlier in her career, she was a show and sales barn rider/trainer for dealer Alan Waldman in the Netherlands. Heather served as the assistant rider, trainer, and road manager for Andre Dignelli of Heritage Farm, and also as the assistant rider/trainer for Nona Garson, who runs The Ridge at Riverview.

To learn more about the CPI, visit collegeprepinvitational.com.

How about a fun competition with the Pittstown Trail Association?

by | Jul 23, 2019

The Pittstown Trail Association is presenting its Trail Obstacle Challenge Aug. 17 at  Finn Park, 36 Perryville Road, Pittstown from 8-11 a.m.

The course of approximately 3.5 miles will offer several fun and unique trail obstacles. Children are welcome. The event is beginner- horse and -rider friendly, with go-arounds for all obstacles.

You may ride alone or in groups of up to five, but  riders are judged individually.

All finishers will get one raffle ticket for each completed obstacle. Raffle tickets will be used for prize raffles. The drawing is at noon. Winners must be present or have someone available to  pick up the prize.

To pre-register (optional) or for questions, email Sandy at SANDY.HOWLS@GMAIL.COM or call 908-303-7955.

Try to beat the heat

by | Jul 19, 2019

 

We’re all feeling the heat, but don’t just duck into the air conditioning and fail to consider your horse.

The Liberty Side-Saddle Network cancelled its shows this weekend, which were set for the USET Foundation in Gladstone, because of concerns over horse and human welfare.

Princeton Show Jumping in Skillman sent an email advising that while its show this weekend will continue, there will be adjustments to the schedule “as dictated by weather and conditions. The decision whether to compete will be left to individual riders and trainers. Please use good judgment and consider the health and welfare of your horse first. Don’t forget to take good care of yourselves too!”

Princeton also passed along some tips from the Running S Equine veterinary clinic in Tewksbury:

  1. Be aware of the temperature and heat index. Try to work in the cool of the day. If your class is in the heat of the day, it is wise not to compete, unless you know your horse is very fit and handles the heat well. Some horses are very stressed by extremes in heat and humidity.
  2. Provide plenty of cool, fresh water and shade to your horse as often as you can.
  3. Sponge baths with a little alcohol in the water in front of a fan are a great way to cool your horse down. Remember to remove the water with a sweat scraper as you sponge or hose your horse off. Ice water is fine to use, especially on the head and neck and between the back legs.
  4. Provide electrolytes, either free choice in a block or granular, or with a good-quality paste. Horses lose a great deal of sodium and chloride in their sweat and these need to be replaced.
  5. When riding or exercising your horse, pay close attention to whether they are sweating. If they are not, stop exercising and get them to shade and cool conditions quickly.
  6. Pay close attention to your horse in the heat and do not continue if your horse appears stressed or tired.

Manhattan Saddlery put out a recipe that could give your horse a cooling boost with frozen treats.It’s easy enough for you to grab a slushie, popsicle, ice cream cone or frozen margarita, but what about your horse?

It’s a snap to make horse popsicles, and any help with hot weather hydration is a plus, so why not give it a try. There are myriad recipes online (and some really bad videos on YouTube…), but it is this simple: Fill a plastic cup or food storage container with some apple and carrot chunks, add a bit of gatorade or unsweetened apple juice diluted with water, freeze, remove cup and serve.

Mix it up the way you want–grate the carrots/apples and add some oats, include a dollop of unsweetened applesauce, a couple of peppermints or a spoonful of molasses. Just make sure the ingredients are all horse-safe, and not too sugary. You can put the popsicle in your horse’s feed tub, or hand feed (freeze a carrot in the center as a “stick” to hold).

If your horse doesn’t engage with the popsicle, he/she will likely eat all the chilled fruit and veggie chunks after it melts.

There’s a new look for this website

There’s a new look for this website

by | Jul 13, 2019

Dear Readers: We’re revamping this website to improve its appearance and readability. It’s a bit of a process, so we’re still doing some tinkering. But you probably won’t notice, and everything — On the Rail, New Jersey Activities Schedule and features — are all available. We will be having two features instead of one on the front page now. I hope you like what we’ve done.