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Gandolfos’ love for horses began in childhood

EXPLORING WEST AMWELL’S FARMLAND

By Betty Jane Hunt
   The Gandolfo family journey has taken Sal and Veronica from childhood homes in New York to Nashville, Tenn., back to New York and for the past year and a half to 244 Rocktown-Lambertville Road. They live on the 14½ acre-property they purchased from the Mundhenks.
   Ms. Gandolfo was born in Elmont, N.Y., near the Belmont Park racetrack — the home of the Belmont Stakes (the third leg of the Triple Crown). When she was 10, her parents took her on a family vacation to a dude ranch. They loved the horses, so when they returned home, they all took riding lessons. Ms. Gandolfo has been riding ever since and has made a career of teaching others to ride.
   Her specialty is hunters and equitation, and working with beginners through advanced riders. She gives lessons to approximately 25 students in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. Anyone interested in lessons, should phone her at 631-603-4993, the farm at 460-4104 — or just stop by the farm.
   Mr. Gandolfo grew up on a ½-acre lot on Long Island. When he was 3½, his uncle gave him a horse, much to his parents’ chagrin. They found a place nearby to keep the horse and when he was 12, he built it a small barn on their property. He rode Western, did roping in rodeos, and then learned to ride English. He also learned construction and formed his own business to support his “horse habit,”
   Mr. Gandolfo was managing a horse farm when his future wife came in one day looking for a place to board her horse. He told her she could keep it there if she would marry him. Six months later they were married and are still together 25 years later.
   They trained and sold quarter horses on Long Island and then went to Nashville with their young son, Sal, when pari-mutuel (legal) gambling was being considered in 1987. They had a breeding and race horse operation there for four years and their son, Mike, was born in 1989. Nashville didn’t pass pari-mutuels and they moved their young family back to Long Island in the early 1990s where Ms. Gandolfo built up his construction business. They all stayed involved in the horse industry.
   After much searching for a place in the country to settle, they landed in West Amwell. Today, Mr. Gandolfo still has construction projects mostly on Long Island, but is looking to have more and more of them in or closer to West Amwell He also trains horses and is involved in breeding imported horses from all over the world — mostly from Germany, Denmark, and Sweden.
   Their two sons are actively involved with the horses and also help their father with construction projects. Sal, Jr. rides, teaches and shows horses. Mike manages the farm, maintains it, feeds and works with the young horses.
   The Gandolfos help support other farms and businesses by buying their hay and other supplies locally.
   The main obstacle they have experienced since moving to West Amwell has been the weather — with all the snow and the current mud after so much rain.
   As to the future of their farming operation, they want a family-oriented business. They want to give lessons, raise nice show animals, and run a horse camp in the summer.
   When asked what they believe will be the future for the NJ horse racing industry, Mr. Gandolfo said he doesn’t think the state will let it go under because it employs too many people and supports many local farmers and businesses — from buying hay to eating at the corner deli.
   He thinks New Jersey will get slots to make the industry competitive with surrounding states. They just need to regroup, he said. He believes all the players involved will do just that before it is too late.
   The Gandolfos can’t say enough nice things about their neighbors and West Amwell. They love the friendliness they’ve experienced from everyone and the peace and quiet. The Gandolfos are the kind of people who are welcome in West Amwell, because they are anxious be get involved with the Country Fair, the County 4-H & Agricultural Fair, and other community events.
   To contact the Gandolfos, e-mail [email protected] — or just stop in and say hello. They enjoy meeting people, especially their new neighbors.
    Betty Jane Hunt is a member of West Amwell Agriculture Advisory Committee.