The Horse Park of New Jersey has been a golden thread holding New Jersey’s horse industry together since 1988, but now the once solid strand has started to show signs of fraying.
Ashley Kehoe rides Mazetto as they compete in show jumping during the Jersey Fresh, held at the Horse Park of New Jersey, Upper Freehold Township, in May. FILE PHOTO The economic downturn has taken its toll on the world-class equine exhibition facility on Route 524 in Upper Freehold Township.
If the Horse Park cannot raise $50,000 by March 2011, the venue will not host the Jersey Fresh Three-Day Event, which would be devastating to riders with Olympic aspirations and the park alike, according to Allyson Jeffery, of Millstone Township, the newest board member at the Horse Park.
While the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) owns the 189-acre park that borders the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area, it leases the land to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDOA), which contracts the operation and maintenance responsibilities to the nonprofit board of trustees.
The trustees organize equine and agricultural events at the show facility — with stabling for more than 200 horses, an indoor arena and four rings of various sizes — and rent the pavilion for other events.
“The way the Horse Park makes money to maintain itself is through letting clubs and groups pay a fee to rent the park for their events,” Jeffery said.
The Horse Park also sponsors judged horse events. Since the economic downturn, the park has had decreased entries in its shows, according to Jeffery.
“Riders are selecting shows more carefully and not entering as many classes,” Jeffery said. “The lack of participation affects us greatly. Shows can lose money, and if they lose too much, we cannot run the show.”
The Horse Park has not had to cancel any shows thus far, but it is seeing such a decline in entries that it is considering doing so in the near future.
“The Jersey Fresh is extremely threatened this year,” Jeffery said.
Riders who compete in the Jersey Fresh three-day event collect points to compete in world equestrian games.
“Riders from the United States and Canada and other countries use the Jersey Fresh to accrue points to get to the Olympics,” Jeffery said. “Those riders would have to travel to other venues if they can’t collect points here.”
With $50,000 to raise to ensure the Horse Park can keep hosting the Jersey Fresh, Jeffery said the situation is dire.
“If we don’t raise this money, yes, the Jersey Fresh will be canceled,” she said.
The trustees get no financial support from the state for the park’s maintenance and operations. To raise money, the trustees have been offering more low-level competitions and have planned the park’s first fundraiser.
The Good Ol’ Fashioned Country Hoe-Down will be held Sept. 25 at the Horse Park of New Jersey. The event will begin at 5 p.m. with live bands featuring Jet Weston and His Atomic Ranch Hands, DJ Mark Country, horse-drawn hay rides, and line dancing instruction.
A Wild West Show by Cowboy Larry and Brave Beth will include trick roping and other stunts. Food, drinks and western barbecue will be available.
Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 at the door. Tables of 10 may be reserved at a cost of $350. Proceeds will benefit the 2011 Jersey Fresh Three-Day Event, one of the nation’s top eventing competitions, held at the Horse Park annually.
“People should support the Horse Park because young riders come here with a goal, and we offer them a place to achieve that goal of moving from the national level to the international level of competition,” Jeffery said. “We not only offer this steppingstone, but we offer young riders without Olympic aspirations a place to watch top riders.”
In July 2004, the Horse Park hosted the final mandatory outing for horses and riders competing for a place on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team for three-day eventing. Of the 15 horses from around the country that participated in the competition, four horses and an alternate were chosen for the Olympic team, which participated in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece.
In 2005, the Horse Park hosted three international-level events, three national championships, four regional championships and countless other shows.
In 2007, the U.S. Eventing Team that attended the Jersey Fresh event was the gold medal winner at the Pan-American Equestrian Games. The 2007 Jersey Fresh had an economic impact of $4.1 million to Monmouth County and surrounding counties, according to the Department of Agriculture.
The Horse Park not only contributes to the New Jersey economy, but also holds the state’s horse industry together by offering a venue for breeders who sell equines for racing that are ultimately resold and retrained for show at the Horse Park.
Beyond trying to collect the funds necessary to continue hosting the events so integral to the stability of New Jersey’s equine industry, which the Rutgers Equine Science Center has valued at more than $4 billion, the park trustees and their grounds crew continue to focus on providing competitors and their horses the best possible conditions to compete under, which comes with additional demands of time and money.
“We need a pickup truck, an air conditioner and donations for certain items, as well as volunteer participation to keep costs down,” said Jeffery, who volunteers as the stable manager during Horse Parksponsored events. “I do think that with help we can definitely continue to host world-class events in the future.”
To purchase tickets for the Sept. 25 country hoe-down, call 609-259- 0170. For more information about the Horse Park, visit the website www.HorseParkofNewJersey.com.