Equine Science Center
esc.rutgers.edu
ASB II, Room 149
esc@aesop.rutgers.edu
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
57 US Highway 1
Tel:
848-932-9419
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8554
Fax:
732-932-2658
Equine Science Center Stakeholder Meeting
Key Identified Issues & Announcements
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Rick’s Saddle Shop, Cream Ridge, NJ
The Equine Science Center’s Stakeholder Meeting was a tremendous success as horse
owners and farmers, businessmen, breeders, students, and equine enthusiasts gathered to
address issues within the equine industry in New Jersey. The annual event was well
attended with more than 30 stakeholders focusing their attention on horse health, integrity
of equestrian sport, land use and environmental stewardship, the future of the equine
industry and other areas of concern. This also marked the first time that the Stakeholder
Meeting, combined with the Equine Advisory Board (EAB), in an evening session. Many
new faces attended the meeting and a spirited discussion led to the following key
identified issues and announcements.
Horse Health
 Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM)
 Older Horse Care/Aging
Specifically in relation to kidney failure in older horses
 End of life decisions/when to euthanize:
With the new website, the Center will try to address this topic possibly in the
responsible horse ownership section.
Dr. Malinowski will reach out to Dr. Stull from U.C. Davis who has done some
work on this topic and to obtain a document or Power Point on the topic.
Dr. Malinowski postulated that this might be a possible question set for a
NAHMS Survey.
 Lyme Disease Vaccine
It was asked if this was a safe and effective vaccine for horses. Some of the
Stakeholders were wondering about old rumors that it was better to not vaccinate
against this. Dr. Leslie Bulaga stated that this was an old wives tale and that the
vaccine was safe.
 Joint Health
Preventive care for your horse’s joints, as well as post exercise/joint straining
activity recommendations is needed. Dr. Ken McKeever will attend a future
meeting of the NJEAB and present a short seminar on the topic.
Land Use and Environmental Stewardship
 Helping Farmers to Develop Nutrient Management Plans is still ongoing
 Multi-State project on “Horses and the Environment”
 Where can the manure go?
Conversations took place about composting on your farm vs. having a company
remove it.
Dr. Westendorf mentioned a company that is now turning the manure into pellets
that you are then able to burn for fuel.
 Size and cost of compost facilities (too expensive)
Fact sheets are available online, the Center will e-mail these to everyone
Centralized composting was talked about.
 Gold Medal Horse Farm
The Center will look into the possibility of partnering with these farms to start
tours to explain why these farms were picked.
 Stakeholders were wondering what the criteria for Farm Land Assessment was? Send
document electronically to the board members.
Value of pasture land, equine pasture land, what is the other Ag value practiced
on the land needs to be updated.
 Reach out to Bill Sciarappa, RCE county agent in Monmouth County who
might assist.
 Number of Horses per Acre guidelines – Residential Agriculture Guidelines will be
available in 2015. Commercial Agriculture Guidelines are available on ESC Website:
"Agricultural Management Practices for Commercial Equine Operations"
Integrity of Equestrian Sport
 Dr. McKeever spoke a little bit about the research being conducted by him and Dr.
Malinowski, as well as Dr. George Maylin, on Cobalt administration in racehorses.
 Exercise tolerance of horses and lack of proper conditioning
Read recent post by John Strassberger on the topic of the World Equestrian
Games white paper "It's Time To End The World Equestrian Games:".
Papers are also hosted on the website of the Rutgers University Equine Science
Center.
Dr. McKeever will come up with a fact sheet, which will be posted on the
website, as well as presentation.
Dr. Malinowski will look into the creation of web content “how conditioned is my
horse”, or possibly a phone app, to help assess horses.
 Integrity & Safety at 4-H or youth shows
Examples were given of previous shows where parents and young riders
displayed poor sportsmanship.
Future of the Industry
 Governor's Committee Report on Horse Racing
Dr. Malinowski is currently writing a follow up white paper that will access
recent impact in NJ. Data points in the paper include: preserved farms by county,
farms that are for sale, and horse farms.
 Leadership Class
o Night EAB meeting annually, or occasionally
Other
 Identifying a new person that stakeholders would be able to bring with them to EAB
meetings.