by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 20, 2016
Question 1 on Tuesday’s election ballot asks whether two casinos should be allowed in North Jersey, at least 72 miles from Atlantic City. One possible location is the Meadowlands racetrack, which is lagging in competition with tracks in neighboring states that have “racinos” boosting purses and hence, attracting more horses.
Although revenue from the measure would go to a variety of beneficiaries,it is specified that “not less than two percentage points in each State fiscal year would be dedicated for programs designed to aid the thoroughbred and standardbred horsemen in this State.”
Racing is a major player for supporting businesses such as blacksmiths, tack shops, farmers growing hay, feed stores selling us grain, etc. All of the above are needed by the non-racing horses also. What would you do if your veterinarians left the state because their practices lost a high percentage of the horses they served when the animals moved elsewhere?
New Jersey’s horse industry is in trouble. If Question 1 passes, it will give an incentive for racing interests to stay in the state and boost the industry as a whole, including sport horses. Vote “yes” for your own self-interest.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 12, 2016
Equus, the biggest fundraiser of the year for Mane Stream, is billed as a glamorous evening “celebrating the many triumphs of Mane Stream, its riders, clients, donors, volunteers and staff.”
Chaired by Wendy Waters, Equus is marking its 25th year. It will be held at the Hamilton Farm Golf Club in Gladstone Oct. 29 from 6:30-11 p.m. with a gourmet dinner, open bar, live band, dancing, and live and silent auctions.
As always, the highlight of the evening will be the stories of progress and accomplishments shared by several of the participants in Mane Stream’s therapeutic and adaptive horsemanship programs.
To buy tickets or make a donation, go to http://www.manestreamnj.org/equus-xxv/
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 11, 2016
The Califon Book Shop at 72 Main St. in Califon is hosting a multi-author horse and dog book signing, “Of Horses and Hounds,” from 1-4 p.m. Oct. 29. The session will showcase the work of six authors, as well as paintings by animal portrait artist Andrea Gianchiglia of Califon.
Children are encouraged to attend the signing, as there will be numerous juvenile titles available.
Horse book authors include Lisa Holderby of Middletown, Lucy Friedland of Martinsville and Loren Spiotta-DiMare of Tewksbury.
Working through the government’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wild Horse Adoption Program, Lisa Holderby adopted, Soleil a wild mustang through an on-line adoption auction. While Holderby has owned other horses, the bond she has developed with Soleil is like no other. Their special relationship is captured in Holderby’s young adult novel, Soleil: A Mustang’s Story.
The author fictionalized the story by adding a young female character to make the book more appealing to young adults. However, 60 percent of the story is based on actual experiences with Soleil.
Several years later Holderby penned a sequel, Soleil’s Journey Home. In this volume, Soleil is taken back to where she was captured. The fictionalized characters ride through the back country of the Rockies in search of Soleil’s herd.
In a surprising moment, Soleil breaks free and joins the wild mustangs. Through dangerous terrain and unpredictable weather, the small group searches for the beloved Soleil.
Fifteen year-old Lucy Friendland wrote and self-published a hardcover picture book, Take A Tall Walk With Me ,based on the experience of her brother, Adam, with physical therapy at Mane Stream, a therapeutic riding center in Tewksbury.
With Adam by her side and contributing ideas, Friendland penned the story. She hired an illustrator, designer and printer to bring the book to life. Proceeds from the sales of Take A Tall Walk with Me benefit Mane Stream.
Quarter Horse owner Loren Spiotta-DiMare has been writing animal books for adults and children for 40 years, with seven horse books to her credit. Beyond The Finish Line: Stories of Ex-Racehorses, is a coffee table book highlighting 22 New Jersey equestrians who have adopted Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds off the track and retrained them for other disciplines and activities.
Men & Horses and The Women Who Love Them is a collection of stories by women writers and riders. The author’s juvenile titles include a picture book, Madeline‘s Miracle and a series, Horses That Help with The American Humane Association.
A disabled pony able to walk only on three legs, Madeline is taken in by Mylestone Equine Rescue in Pohatcong. Hearing of Madeline’s plight, area children raise funds for surgery and a brace to restore the pony’s mobility. Horses That Help highlights horses with special jobs: Police Horses, draft horses, performing horses and therapy horses. Spiotta-DiMare is working on a collection of stories about wild Mustang adoptions.
For more information about the event, call the store at 908-832-6686 or visit: www.califonbookshop.com
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 10, 2016
The Horse Park of New Jersey is presenting Horse Health Day Oct. 23 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. to showcase information on optimal equine performance at all ages.
Presentations will cover Lyme disease, respiratory disease and hoof care to minimize injury and correct problems.
The speaker is Dr. Mark V. Crimson an adjunct faculty member at Virginia Tech who is a Zoetis veterinary expert contributor.
RSVP early to: info@foundationequinenj.com or call 609-291-0535 to reserve a gift bag. Lunch and refreshments will be based on the RSVP count.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 9, 2016
He’s been trying since 2012, and today T.J. O’Mara finally won the Platinum Performace/U.S. Equestrian Federation Show Jumping Talent Search Finals East.
Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search Finals East winner T.J. O’Mara of Rumson and Kaskade on their victory gallop. (Photo copyright 2016 by Nancy Jaffer)
Riding his reliable Kaskade, the mare with a heart of gold, the University of Kentucky freshman moved up from third after three phases to finish on a score of 355, ahead of Sophie Simpson (daughter of U.S. Equestrian Team veterans Will Simpson and Nicki Simpson), Vivian Yowan (347) and Daisy Farish (246). Daisy, who was at the head of the rankings after all three initial phases over two days, had a refusal with her own horse in the first round of the final four, and then the low score in every round thereafter.
Each of the top four competed over a shortened course on their own horses, then rode each of the others’ mounts over the same route.Simpson won the first three rounds of the final four competition until she got on Daisy’s Ganjana, then cross-cantered at the end of the ring and met the in-and-out in less-than-optimal fashion.
T.J., trained by Stacia Madden of Beacon Hill and Max Amaya of Stonehenge, said winning the Talent Search “has been one of my dreams for my junior career. I’m so proud of my horse.”
Vivian’s mount, McLain Ward’s Clearline, won the Grappa Trophy as Best Horse. The 2015 ASPCA Maclay winner, Mckayla Langmeier, finished fifth.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 9, 2016
A unique opportunity for cross-promotion of horse racing and equestrian sports is being aired Saturday via a variety of websites in connection with the livestream of the Far Hills Race Meeting, highlighted by the $350,000 Grand National.
Guy Torsillieri, a key player in both the steeplechase races and the revival of the Essex Horse Trials next year, said race organizers realized they needed to fill in the time between races on the livestream at the jumbotron at Moorland Farm, where the Far Hills meeting is held. They saw it as an opportunity to give exposure to horse sports beyond racing.
Horses head for the finish line at the Far Hills Race Meeting. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
So they will be using videos about Essex, the Monmouth at the Team horse show at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation, the women’s Professional Golf Association Championship to be held in July at the Trump National club in Bedminster, the U.S. Golf Association and the ARC of Somerset County. ARC, which serves individuals with disabilities and their families, is being paid to handle clean-up at Moorland the day after the races.
“We’ve opened it up to a lot of groups in the area, so it’s really cool,” said Guy.
“The video feed will be available internationally, and jump-racing fans in Ireland, England, and Europe will have an opportunity to watch our championship-level races.”
The presence of horses from Britain, Sharp Rise, trained by Charles Longsdon and Days of Heaven, trained by Nick Henderson, sparked international interest.
Guy invited Murray Kessler, who will take over as U.S. Equestrian Federation president in January, to come to the races as his guest. That could lead to even greater exposure to horse sports from the connection with the race meeting, which draws more than 30,000 people and next year will offer parimutuel betting.
The cross-promotion offers opportunities for both equestrian activities and business in the area. The race meeting received the economic championship award for 2015 from the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce.
Sites on which the livestream will appear include farhillsrace.org, the National Steeplechase Association (nationalsteeplechase.com), the Chronicle of the Horse (chronofhorse.com) and racing sites in the United Kingdom.
“It’s going to reach a lot of the markets to bring knowledge and exposure to all the things we’re collaborating on,” Guy pointed out.
“It’s exploding in a good way.”
