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.
We are in the middle of Rutgers Giving Days at the moment! As you might imagine, our office has been busy and will be through the end of the week. This year we are raising funds for the Ronald S. Dancer Memorial Scholarship. Any money you donate this week will be put directly towards the scholarship fund.
This busy spring continues! Don’t forget that our New Jersey Equine Industry Summit is next week on Thursday, March 16th. You can look back at the previous blog post, if you somehow missed it. The next event on our calendar is the Junior Breeder Symposium on Saturday, March 25th! The event begins at 8:30AM and runs through 3PM.
Boy! This winter and spring are a busy time for the Equine Science Center. I’ve been having to sneak in a few extra naps and doughnuts to keep my energy up. As you know, we’re finishing out our series of Virtual Horse Management Seminars focusing on equine nutrition. The next big event on our calendar is the 2023 New Jersey Equine Industry Summit. The Summit will be Thursday, March 16th at the Cook Student Center in New Brunswick, NJ.
It’s time for the Horse Management Seminar again! This year we’ll be sticking with the virtual format as it allows people from across the country (and world) to join us. Log on from 6:30 to 8:30 PM ET on Wednesday, February 8th, 15th and 22nd. This event is free, but you will need to register if you plan to attend one or all of the evenings. You can register at https://go.rutgers.edu/2023HMS.
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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