New Jersey Department Of Agriculture Celebrates Month Of The Horse:
Agriculture Secretary Highlights State Horse Breeding Industry
(EAST AMWELL) – New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher and other state and local officials celebrated the Month of the Horse today with a visit to Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center.
Governor Philip Murphy signed a proclamation declaring June 2019 the Month of the Horse in New Jersey. The horse also is the official animal of New Jersey as equine-related services add an estimated $3.2 billion annually to New Jersey’s economy.
“New Jersey’s equine industry remains one of the key sectors of the agricultural industry in New Jersey,” Secretary Fisher said. “There is a wide range of equine-related activities that New Jersey residents can participate in or watch throughout the year. Whether you are someone who has a new interest in learning to ride horses for pleasure or eventually competitively, or if you are experienced in one of the many types of horse programs, there is something to suit your level of interest. Pleasure riding, horse shows and horse racing occur throughout the year in New Jersey. We are thrilled to celebrate our State Animal.”
The Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center first opened its doors in 1986 and has become one of the premier equine veterinary hospitals in the country. Over the years, the dedicated staff has worked with horses of various breeds and disciplines, including Kentucky Derby and Hambletonian winners and Olympic athletes. The Center is staff with more than 40 dedicated individuals, including board certified specialists in the fields of surgery, internal medicine, cardiology and soon to be ophthalmology.
“It’s been an honor to serve New Jersey’s equine industry for more than 30 years and we continue to strive to be on the cutting edge of equine veterinary medicine,” said Dr. Rodney Belgrave, President of the center and an internal medicine specialist. “We take pride in having our services available to top race and show horses as well as the everyday equine enthusiast and owner who may have a horse with a medical need. Our highly trained staff truly loves what they do and takes great pride in giving our patients the greatest opportunity to return to full health during their stay here.”
(Pictured left to right) Dr. Karyn Malinowski joins New Jersey Department of Agriculture Secretary Doug Fisher to present the Proclamation from Governor Murphy to Dr. Rodney Belgrave, President of Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center, who is joined by Hunterdon County Freeholder Susan Soloway.
The Center has a field service department, whose veterinarians work closely with the specialists as a team, providing quality care at home. The technical staff includes 16 qualified individuals and the Center features diagnostic imaging that includes CAT scans and emergency care.
There are approximately 42,500 horses in New Jersey.
New Jersey has many top equine centers, facilities, and events. The Equine Science Center at Rutgers University, a valuable resource for everything equine in the Garden State, is dedicated to better horse care through research and education. The United States Equestrian Foundation headquartered in Gladstone funds programs that train and support top athletes and horses to compete at the Olympics, World Championships, Pan American Games and other top international competitions. The Horse Park of New Jersey at Stone Tavern in Allentown is a world-class equestrian destination, attracting equine enthusiasts of every discipline. And, the Gloucester County Dream Park is a state-of-the-art equestrian complex created to provide opportunities for horse owners to participate in shows and competitions and for the public to experience horse events firsthand.
To learn more about New Jersey’s equine industry, visit www.jerseyequine.nj.gov.
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To learn more about the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NJDeptofAgriculture and www.facebook.com/JerseyFreshOfficial or Twitter @NJDA and @JerseyFreshNJDA.