Wow! It seems that the folks at the Rutgers Equine Science Center have certainly been keeping themselves busy this summer! In June, you heard about how they went to Texas for the 2023 Equine Science Symposium, but this time they’re staying a bit more local. Last week, they attended the 2023 Hambletonian Continuing Education Seminar in East Rutherford, NJ.
There has been some exciting research happening at the Equine Science Center! You may remember I have talked about a research study being conducted with veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and equine assisted activities (EAA) in the past. Well, the results are finally in and they are exciting!
I’m back with my series on careers in the equine industry! This week I interviewed Mr. David Meirs and his family (Robin & Julie), owners and operators of Concord Stud Farm. They have 250 acres in New Jersey along with farms in Pennsylvania and Kentucky. The Meirs own between 30 and 45 mares which they breed and the remainder of the 400 hundred mares are ones they breed and foal out for clients. Whew, sounds like they stay busy! Keep reading to find out what it’s like to be a Standardbred breeder.
The 4th of July is right around the corner, so that means there’s lots of planning to be done! Besides prepping for your BBQ or party, there’s some things you need to consider for your horse too. The holiday comes with a lot of new, and potentially stressful, experiences for your horse, so I’d like to provide some advice for y’all.
Oh my! What an exciting week last week was! The folks at the Equine Science Center traveled to Grapevine, Texas for the 2023 Equine Science Society Symposium. This symposium is hosted every two years by the Equine Science Society and brings together the best equine scientists to share the most exciting research being conducted in the field.
Whew, it feels like summer is here. I’ve been hanging out under the shade tree by the water trough these last few days. Warm weather always makes me sleepy and a doze in the shade is the perfect cure for those droopy eyelids! Summer brings more than just naps under the shade tree, though. It also brings the Equine Science Center’s Annual Summer Showcase! This year we’ll welcome you through our front doors on Thursday, July 13th. As always, the event is free, but we do ask that you register ahead of time. You can register at go.rutgers.edu/ESCShowcase2023.
Do you know what next month is? The Month of the Horse! We celebrate the horse and its contributions to society for the entire month of June. The horse has a very special place in New Jersey history and is the state animal. How do you plan to join in the celebration?
With spring grass shooting up all over the place and making the pastures green, I thought it would be interesting to learn more about the nutritional value of those green shoots. I decided to enlist a little help from our very own Dr. Carey Williams and her recent graduate student, Dr. Jennifer Weinert-Nelson. After all, they are the resident experts on horse nutrition and pastures! Dive in with me and see what you can learn about forages for your horse and what role they play in your horse’s diet.
I’ve been watching the activity on the farm here at Rutgers and I can tell you our students and faculty have been busy! One of the things they’ve been busy preparing for is Ag Field Day at Rutgers Day. Rutgers Day will take place on Saturday, April 29th from 10AM to 4PM. The festivities on our part of campus kick off with the Animal Handling Shows in the morning. The students have been busily preparing themselves and their animals over the semester. I’m sure they would appreciate your support and cheers as they take part in the shows. The rest of the farm will be open and we’ll have fun activities going on in the Red Barn, so make sure you stop by to collect some goodies and say hello!
There are green grass shoots popping up across my pasture and it makes me excited! I have to kick up my heels and frolic across the pasture on these beautiful spring mornings. The only downside of spring is the arrival of the veterinarian for my spring vaccinations. I have to stand quietly while I get my shots to impress the ladies and make sure I get a sweet treat at the end (I prefer doughnuts, of course!), but it sure is hard sometimes. Have you ever wondered why you and your horse need vaccinations? Well, join me on an investigative journey and we might just figure out the answer.
My first job at Rutgers University was on mounted patrol. I also carried the Scarlet Knight mascot at football games. One day I became famous when I got excited, stepped onto the field and became the only horse in history to receive a penalty in a football game! And I’m curious and mischievous! I love to be outside, so don’t ever leave my stall door open. I love all kinds of food – just about nothing at a picnic is safe. I also don’t like cheese puffs. That cheetah on the bag scares me to death! After 22 years on mounted patrol, I’m proud to be back, working for the Rutgers Equine Science Center and telling everyone what I know.
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