UPPER FREEHOLD: Olympic qualifier draws thousands to Horse Park

By Jane Meggitt, Special Writer
   UPPER FREEHOLD — A real 10th anniversary. That’s what Lynn Mathews, equine specialist at the state Department of Agriculture, called this year’s Jersey Fresh International Three Day Event held May 10-13 at the Horse Park of New Jersey.
   Drawing national and international competition, the Jersey Fresh was a qualifier for the London Olympics for eventing riders. Phillip Dutton, of West Grove, Pennsylvania, and the warmblood gelding Mystery Whisper had the best scores in all three sections of the CCI ***, qualifying them for London in August.
   More than 2,000 people a day attended the event, an unusually strong turnout.
   ”This one was for Doc,” Ms. Mathews said, referring to the late Dr. S. Perrine Dey, a lifelong Upper Freehold resident, equine veterinarian and president of the Horse Park of New Jersey. Dr. Dey, who died suddenly last year, was a passionate supporter of the Jersey Fresh. Perhaps it was just coincidence that the weather over the weekend was absolutely perfect — or maybe Doc had some influence.
   For non-horse people, eventing might best be described as “extreme horseback riding,” as it consists of three phases. The first phase, on the initial day, is dressage, followed on the second day by the rigors of the cross-country course. The final day consists of the show jumping phase.
   The names of some of the jumps on the four-mile cross-country course indicate their appearance, such as the Quail Feeder, the Duck Blinds, the Picnic Table, the Produce Table and the Apple Brandy Barrels. Others, with names like Cardiac Hill, indicate terrain and difficulty.
   Many of these jumps were sponsored by local companies and farms, including Rick’s Saddle Shop in Cream Ridge and Golden Gait Farm in Millstone.
   The course was designed by John Williams, one of the country’s top course designers, who has been with the Jersey Fresh since its inception. Last year, he designed the courses for the Pan-American Games.
   This year’s event offered plenty for the general public, including vendors and exhibitions. The latter included a patriotic musical quadrille performance by the Delaware Valley Combined Training Association and a jousting demo.
   An event of the magnitude of the Jersey Fresh runs on volunteers, and dozens of people donated time, performing a multitude of task to ensure it ran smoothly. The majority of these volunteers live locally, including Millstone residents Dan and Nancy Wolek and Allyson Jeffery, as well as Kathy Culler, of Upper Freehold.
   The Jersey Fresh International Three Day Event is run under the rules of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), the governing body of international horse sports.
   Those competitors making the short list for the Olympics had to remain on Monday for veterinary inspections. Veterinarian Diane Simoncini, of Upper Freehold, drew the blood for drug testing.
   Dr. Simoncini explained that under FEI rules, absolutely no drugs can be in the horse’s system. Eventing horses just receive “hay, oats and water,” she said.
   Dr. Brendan Furlong, of Oldwick, the veterinarian for the United States Equestrian Federation, the national governing body for equestrian sports, performed a full examination of each horse.
   Dr. Simoncini recalls competing at the Horse Park when it first opened, roughly 30 years ago. Back then, it consisted of a ring surrounded by snow fencing.
   "Seeing its progress over 30 years is just incredible,” Dr. Simoncini said.