by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 16, 2016
The Rutgers Equine Science Center’s “Spirit of the Horse” award was presented to Jeanne Vuyosevich, who doesn’t believe in giving up on any horse.
Her Sunset Meadow Farm in Farmingdale is a sanctuary for horses in need of care, treatment or a good home. She was nominated by Dr. Cathy Ball, who said of her, “Jeanne is a consummate professional horsewoman. She has an innate feeling for a horse and what it needs to be happy.”
She has re-homed many ex-race horses on her own and established organizations such as Re-Run using networking to find hard-working horses forever homes.
Jeanne’s award was presented during the Evening of Science and Celebration in New Brunswick, where the Gold Medal Horse Farm award went to Hidden Hills Farm in Hillsborough, owned and operated by the Nienart Family.
The Nienarts have made a commitment to conservation and worked with the Natural Resource Conservation Service for planning, technical assistance, and grants to make their idea a reality. They developed a comprehensive nutrition management plan for their 40 acres, developed a soil erosion/water reclamation plan and used “rotational grazing” to insure the farm is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also an example of environmental sustainability and management.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 10, 2016
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 26 in St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 182 Main St., Gladstone, for Barbara Caspersen of Hobe Sound, Fla., the widow of former U.S. Equestrian Team Chairman Finn Caspersen.
Mrs. Caspersen, 71, is a former Bernardsville resident and was active with the driving community during her time in New Jersey. Her husband founded the Gladstone Equestrian Association and became the key player in the growth of driving in the U.S. The Caspersens owned four-in-hands that competed in a number of world championships.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 1, 2016
The American Horse Council has told the U.S. Department of Agriculture that proposed changes to the regulations governing the Horse Protection Act–which has the goal of ending soring of certain breeds of horses– should be applied only to Tennessee Walking Horses, Spotted Saddle Horses and Racking Horses in shows, sales and auctions.
Some trainers in those industries have used cruel methods to emphasize the gaits of their horses. But the proposed changes would include a ban on pads used in shoeing, as well as action devices, weighted shoes and foreign substances.
As AHC and other equestrian organizations have pointed out, soring is not a problem in other segments of the horse industry and over-broad regulation could have unwanted effects.
“The AHC strongly opposes soring and believes action is needed to stop the soring of “big lick” Tennessee Walking Horses, Racking Horses and Spotted Saddle Horses,” said AHC President Julie Broadway.
“However, the AHC believed it was necessary to voice concerns that certain provisions of the proposed rule are too broadly written, not sufficiently defined and could cause confusion for the horse show industry.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 27, 2016
At last week’s Pennsylvania National Horse Show, former U.S. Equestrian Team member Mary Chapot of Neshanic Station was inducted into its hall of fame. Her late husband, U.S. team captain Frank Chapot, was inducted in 2013.
A double gold medalist at the 1963 Pan American Games, she also won both the AHSA Medal and the ASPCA Maclay in her equitation days. Mary and Kathy Kusner were the first women to ride on a U.S. Olympic show jumping team when they competed in the 1964 Olympics.
A year later, Mary won the first grand prix held in the U.S. when she took first place in the Cleveland Grand Prix. In 1967, she won the Grand Prix de Penn National on Anakonda and later would go on to judge the Medal at the show, completing a rare double.
Her daughter Laura is a top grand prix rider, while her other daughter, Wendy Nunn, is an accomplished amateur-owner jumper rider, both young women having benefited from coaching by Mary and Frank.
Also inducted with Mary was the late Harry Gill, best known as the owner of the great jumper Idle Dice. Those who rode for him included Rodney Jenkins, Michael Matz, McLain Ward and Todd Minikus.
Harry was a sponsor of many shows and also an active board member of some of the country’s most prestigious competitions.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 26, 2016
The Rutgers Equine Science Center will host its annual update, an Evening of Science & Celebration, on Thursday Nov. 17 from 6-10 p.m. at the Cook Campus Center in New Brunswick.
Sponsored by Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center, its keynote presentation will be “Protein Needs for Equine Athletes,” given by Dr. Kristine Urschel, an associate professor of equine science in the Animal & Food Science Department at the University of Kentucky. Her research focuses on studying protein and amino acid requirements and metabolism in horses of all ages and physiological states, especially during and after exercise..
The Evening of Science and Celebration brings together equine professionals, horse owners, farm owners and barn managers, educators and students, 4-H members, and all equine enthusiasts to learn about current projects and research initiatives being conducted at the Equine Science Center. The Center’s mission is to address horse industry issues and challenges through sound-science and research.
Jeanne Vuyosevich, a thoroughbred trainer from Sunset Meadow Farm in Farmingdale, will receive the 2017 “Spirit of the Horse Award” for her contributions to the welfare of horses. According to ESCC Director, Karyn Malinowski , “Jeanne’s long-time care and rehabilitation of thoroughbred horses make her a worthy candidate for the award, which is given to people whose lives have been impacted by horses and who continue to give back to horses and the equine industry.”
The Center will present its annual Gold Medal Horse Farm award to the Nienart family from Hidden Hills Farm in Hillsborough. The award, part of the New Jersey Equine Environmental Stewardship Program, recognizes outstanding horse farms for their dedication to environmental sustainability and management. It also underscores the efforts of the New Jersey equine industry to maintain the beauty of the Garden State. The program is a collaborative initiative by the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers University, the Rutgers Equine Science Center, and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.
Prior to the beginning of the event, the Equine Science Center will present a demonstration of the high-speed equine exercise physiology treadmill at 5 p.m. at the Red Barn on College Farm Road.
An Evening of Science & Celebration will begin with dinner at 6 pm. After dinner, Madison Whiting, a New Jersey 4-H Horse Project member will present her award winning presentation, “What’s for Dinner?” about the odd things that horses eat.
The event requires registration that can be made online at: http://www.goo.gl/xEANWt . The fee for the event, which includes dinner, is $35 for adults and $15 for full-time students.
For additional information, contact the Equine Science Center at 848-932-9419 or Kyle Hartmann at hartmann@aesop.rutgers.edu.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 25, 2016
Andy Kocher of Stockton won the prize for the best costume in the $35,000 Accumulator Class at the Washington International Horse Show Thursday night.
Andy Kocher and Ciana won the prize for best costume at the Washington International Horse Show. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
He was quite a clown, and even his horse, Ciana, got into the act with a big red nose (slightly lopsided). Andy finished fourth (Laura Kraut, sweetly dressed as Little Red Ridinghood won on Andretti S) but the cheers of the barn night crowd were with the clown.
Andy made a great effort to entertain spectators, which really is what this class is all about. So we salute him.
