New Jersey Horse Council - Long Valley Trail Association

NJ Horse Council
OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER
SUMMER 2012
WWW.NJHORSECOUNCIL.COM
CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO OR
ACTIVITIES
The Annual Meeting of the New Jersey Horse Council
will take place on Thursday June 7, 2012 from
7pm at High Brass Farm in Pittstown NJ. High
Brass Farm is a commercial member of the NJ Horse
Council and is a unique rehabilitation facility featuring
an Aqua Pacer Underwater Treadmill.
One of the meeting’s speakers will be Dr Sarah
Ralston representing a new group : New Jersey
Horse Information url: njhorseinfo.com
Tagline: Horse owners helping horse owners
NJHI was formed to help provide research-based
information to the New Jersey equine industry,
recreational owner and horse enthusiasts. Work is
underway to establish an information network to
disseminate information to educate and aid in the
development of the New Jersey horse community
High Brass Farm is conveniently located near Route 78 in Clinton NJ. Take exit 15 of Route 78 onto Route
513 and head toward Pittstown NJ. In Pittstown the road changes to Route 615 (513 turns right at the light –
you continue straight) and travel about 1.5 miles to the next right turn onto Sky Manor Road. The road turns
back sharply and there is an old red barn on the right just before the turn. Go for about ½ mile – the road will
make another sharp turn to the left. Turn right into the Sky Manor Airport. Go about 1000 feet to the High
Brass Farm driveway.
We will meet at High Brass Farm for the annual Horse Council Meeting and Refreshments at 7pm and then
take a tour of the facilities at the farm which include the Aqua Pacer Underwater Treadmill and other
rehabilitation therapies. The facility is home to one of the few underwater treadmills in the country. Whether
rehabilitating an injury, or looking to build strength, flexibility, balance and endurance for your equine athlete,
the state of the art Aqua Pacer Underwater Treadmill can be an important part of your program.
In addition, the High Brass Farm Rehab Facility provides:
* Laser and Magnetic therapies
* European exercise walker (under construction) and hand walking
* Short and long term lay-ups
* Managed pasture turn-out
* Heated Stable
Acupuncture, massage, chiropractic, ultrasound and shockwave therapies are all available through certified
professionals/Veterinarians. For more information look up www.highbrassfarm.com
GO GREEN
NJHC Members Please forward your email address to [email protected]
If you would like to get your quarterly newsletter by email and NOT by hardcopy
This could save us $5 or more per year per member in printing and postage costs
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Got Olympic fever?
I spent Mother’s Day weekend at the Horse Park of New Jersey. Jersey
Fresh International Three Day Event, celebrating its tenth anniversary, was
named an Olympic Qualifier, 2012. What an exciting weekend for attendees
and for those following results remotely via press reports and the internet. Go
New Jersey!
So many of us New Jerseyans are “transplants” that we tend to focus on the
where-we-live-now rather than on the where-we’ve-lived-before aspect of life.
However, eventers Holly and Doug Payne are actual, native New Jerseyans!
Both competed at Jersey Fresh International (JFI) and had a large and
enthusiastic cheering section at the water jump tailgate area on cross country
day, Saturday.
Another NJ resident/competitor, USEF A-list eventer Sinead Halpin, also had
a significant cheering section among the water jump tailgate folks. Many seemed focused on her performances
at Jersey Fresh as it looks like she will indeed be London-bound. (We have faith!).
For any with “Olympic Fever” not able to actually attend the 2012
London Olympics but who are looking forward to watching televised
presentations, be sure to check NBCOlympics.com for schedules.
Looking ahead, I strongly encourage all NJHC members to put
Jersey Fresh 2013 on their calendars. Yes, it’ll be Mother’s Day
weekend again and I’m sure the JFI Committee has put in their order
for a repeat of this year’s glorious weather!
Shelly Liggett
Pres., NJHC
Other local riders on the long list for the Olympic Team Selection:
For Dressage - Lauren Sammis with Sagacious HF from South Orange. She trains at Hyperion Farm in
Wellington FL
Jessica Springsteen from Stone Hill Farm in Colts Neck with Vornado Van de Hoendrik is on the long list for
the show jumping team.
New Jersey Horse Council
President:
Vice President:
Shelly Liggett
Dottie Allen - 25 Beth Drive, Moorestown, NJ 08057-3021
(H) 856-234-6117
(Fax) 856-234-1081
Email: [email protected]
Recording Secretary:
Susan Data-Samtak
Corresponding Secretary:
Janice Elsishans
Treasurer:
Miss Gwen Stableford
Directors:
Michele Adams
Barbara Haertlein
Rich Osborn
Carolyn Penna
Patricia Ratner, Esq
Sue Rothermel
Special Advisors:
Carey Williams, Ph.D. - Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Dr. Mike Ochsner
Past President:
Maggi Romano
What is alsike clover, and is it toxic to horses?
Both of my horses are being treated for presumed alsike clover toxicity – a danger which many horse owners
are unaware of. From my experience, alsike clover is extremely common in northern NJ pastures. I think this
year's weather patterns have made it more toxic than usual at this time of year. It is usually more of an issue in
April (lush growth) and September (stressed plants). It would be extremely helpful if you could help raise
awareness of this extremely critical problem.
The goal of this reply is to educate the horse public on the potential problem with horses consuming alsike
clover:
Alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum) is found most frequently in Canada, but has been included in some
commonly used pasture mixes in the US.
This plant is adapted to cool climates and heavy, poorly drained clay soils.
It grows 15-30 inches tall, and has a small ½-inch diameter pink flower that forms at the
ends of secondary branches from the main stem. It should be differentiated from red
clover, which has a larger flower, hairy stems and leaves and a white inverted "V" on the
leaf.
Alsike clover is known to cause two syndromes, photosensitization (short-term exposure)
and "big liver syndrome" (long-term exposure). There is also a potential for nitrate
poisoning. The more common and acute lesions related to photosensitization are
characterized by:
• reddening of the skin exposed to sunlight, followed by either superficial or deep
dry necrosis of the skin
• edema swelling and discharge, resulting in crusty inflamed areas. This occurs
specifically in the unpigmented pink-skinned areas of the face.
Possible symptoms of nervous and digestive disorders, including colic and diarrhea and
oral lesions related to alsike clover poisoning may also be observed.
The long-term consequence of alsike clover consumption is "big liver syndrome,"
appearing as a progressive destruction of the liver with increased connective tissue
(appears as an enlarged liver). It appears that this is related to the accumulation of a stillunknown toxin. The primary tests for evaluating liver function and hepatic disease
measure the serum enzyme activity of aspartate amino transferase (AST), gamma
glutamyl transferase (GGT), sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) and lactic dehydrogenase - 5
(LDH-5). Liver biopsy may be required to characterize the degree and type of liver
damage and provide a prognosis.
Alsike clover poisoning does not appear to occur every time it is consumed. It is thought
that the toxicity may be caused by a mycotoxin which is either created by a fungus growing on the plant, or
created/accumulated by the plant under stressful growing conditions. However, horse owners should still take the
following precautions:
1. Alsike clover should not be fed to horses in amounts greater than 5% of the feed.
2. Seed mixes intended for horse pastures and hay should not contain alsike clover.
3. Horse owners should be able to recognize the different red, white, and alsike clovers so that poisoning can be
prevented.
For more information, see Fact Sheet #062, "Odd Things Horses Eat".
Answer provided by Carey Williams, Ph.D., Rutgers Cooperative Research and Extension.
Horse Keeping Businesses and the NJ Sales & Use Tax
When is it a farm and when is it a business? What gets taxed and what does not? These are complex issues
whose answers are in the NJ tax code as part of farming. The full information can be read here:
http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/pdf/farmingsalesandusetaxguide.pdf
But a brief synopsis follows. Any business that breeds and raises horses for sale or sells horses raised by
others must register as a seller and must collect and remit sales tax on the sale of its horses.
Such a business is considered a “farming enterprise” for sales tax purposes and the horses involved are
considered an “agricultural commodity”. This business would be eligible for farm-use exemption on qualified
tangible purchases such as feed and services such as shoeing if these items are used in raising its horse for
sale.
The business of boarding or training horses, or of renting horses to customers is NOT farming enterprise (not
agricultural production) and therefore these businesses cannot claim farm-use exemptions.
While boarding horses may be considered agricultural use for purposes of local tax law and may qualify for
Farmland Assessment, it does not qualify under the meaning of producing an agricultural commodity under the
Sales and Use Tax Act.
A business that boards horses needs to register as a seller and many of its transactions will be taxable, and it
will be required to collect sales tax. Charges for boarding horses is taxable. An exemption is boarding horses
for a horse dealer who is in the business of selling horses, or boarding horses for a horse breeder. In both
these circumstances the horse seller or breeder can claim an exemption from sales tax.
Providing horses for rental is a business that must register as a seller and collect & remit sales tax.
Charges for training horses are not taxable because training services do not fall within any categories of
services enumerated in the Tax Act. Additionally if grooming and feed is an inconsequential lelment of the
training services, these would not be taxable. However, if boarding, grooming, feed, or horse accessories are
a significant part of the cost of training, then that must be stated and taxed.
Resale exemptions may apply if a horse boarding business purchases feed and medicines for the horses it
boards. These items would be deemed re-sold as part of the taxable service of boarding. Horse rental
businesses may also claim resale exemptions when it purchases horses for use as rentals. This does not
apply to horses used to give riding lessons. In this example, the new horse would be tax-free purchase but
rental of the horse is taxable.
Sale of a horse in New Jersey is taxable (unless the horse is specifically purchased for resale, or for breeding,
are as a draft animal used in farm production, or the purchaser is an exempt entity.
Medicines and supplies used by veterinarians is subject to sales tax. The veterinarian must charge sales tax
for such items to their clients, and then claim a resale exemption.
Charges for veterinary services, (ie exams, diagnostic tests, etc) do not fall in any categories as taxable in the
Tax Act.
Charges for boarding are taxable. If the use of a stall is charged separately, then it is taxable as well and
considered storage space. However rental of a pasture for grazing, without a stall, is not taxable unless it is
considered an enclosed, assigned, individual space – in which case it is taxable.
A horse owner selling a horse to another person for their own use, it can be considered a “casual sale” and not
taxable, if it is an isolated or occasional sale made by a person not regularly engaged I the business of making
sales.
For more information of for clarification, contact the NJ Division of Taxation 609-292-5995
American Horse Council
Copyright © 2012 American Horse Council
How Congress Can Affect Your Ability to Show Your Horse
Submitted by admin on Tue, 05/15/2012 - 15:37
If you are competing in a horse show this weekend, you might not realize it, but
decisions made in Washington, D.C. impact you and your ability to show your horse.
The American Horse Council (AHC) believes it is important everyone involved in
showing horses at any level or in any discipline understands that federal legislation and regulations affect
them.
A notable example of federal policy directly impacting horse shows is the amount of funding the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) receives to prepare for and respond to contagious equine disease
outbreaks. Contagious diseases are a major concern for every segment of the horse community, but they can
really negatively affect horse shows. “Remember the recent equine herpes outbreak at a reining event in
Ogden, Utah,” said AHC Director of Health and Regulatory Affairs, Dudley Hoskins. “State and federal vets and
organizations responded quickly to the outbreak. Even with quick action, horse shows and events were
canceled in 36 states and it could have been worse. That incident was the most recent reminder that there is
not a comprehensive federal plan, sufficient funding, or personnel to deal with contagious equine disease
outbreaks. The AHC is working to change that and make sure USDA has the resources it needs to safeguard
the horse industry.”
Federal policy also impacts competitors and horse shows in numerous other ways. For example, many
trainers, barns, and breeders depend on temporary foreign workers for grooms and farm hands and need the
H-2B (non-agricultural) and H-2A (agricultural) foreign worker programs to work efficiently.
“Many people who participate in horse shows don’t understand how important foreign guest workers are to the
showing community.” said AHC president Jay Hickey. “Without these workers, who often have years of
experience caring for horses, there would be a major shortage of skilled labor in the showing industry.
Unfortunately, right now we are fighting new H-2B rules that could make the program too difficult and
expensive to use.”
Additionally, quarantine regulations impact equestrians who compete internationally. In January, the AHC
requested the USDA allow U.S. horses to travel to CEM-affected regions for up to 90 days before more
burdensome re-entry requirements kick in; currently it is 60 days. “Making this change would reduce the stress
on U.S. competition horses, reduce the expenses for owners, and provide a more level playing field against our
international competitors without increasing the risk of future incursions of CEM,” said Hoskins.
The AHC encourages members of the horse show community to visit its website at www.horsecouncil.org to
learn how federal legislation and regulations impact them, and how they can get involved and support the AHC
by becoming a member.
“Everyday we are here in Washington talking to Congress and the regulators to make sure they are aware of
the concerns and needs of the $ 102 billion horse community. This is the only way to make sure equestrians
will continue to have the ability to compete in their chosen equine discipline now and in the future,” said Hickey.
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Horsing Around in New Jersey
It’s a common belief that all rail trails are a straight line,
and if you want to get back to where you started you
have to just turn around. But in Sussex County NJ, this
is now not the case.
There is a new LOOP trail
connecting portions of the Sussex Branch Trail in
Lafayette and Frankford townships, portions of the
former Lehigh New England RR in Frankford and
Hampton townships and the Paulinskill Valley Trail in
Hampton and Lafayette townships. This new route
makes a loop of approximately 13 miles without retracing
your steps.
The State of New Jersey, Green Acres program received
a donation of the former LNE property from Tennessee
Gas and Pipeline that owns the natural gas pipeline
beneath the former railroad. Volunteer services to clean
the trail were tendered by Kittatinny Valley State Park
through the Trails Partnership Committee (part of the
Sussex County Chamber of Commerce). In cooperation
with the maintenance staff of KVSP, four volunteer
workdays were held in 2010 and 2011 with volunteers
from various trail user groups. People were out there
picking up trash, removing dead falls and downed limbs,
and cutting brush to reveal the LNE trail and joining it
with the PVT and the Sussex Branch.
At this years National Trails Day in June, the trail had its first National exposure with hikers and horseback
riders enjoying it. Riders also got to enjoy the trail in late May on a planned trail ride put together by Janice
Elsishans, who helped dig out this trail.
Taken from an article by Rocky Gott retired Park Superintendant from the Kittatinny Valley State Park
# ###
We invite all members to send in photos of horse-related activities to be featured on this page. Please identify
person, horse, activity and date of activity.
Send photos in jpg or other usable format to
[email protected] with HC newsletter in title. It is NJHC policy to only print photos of mounted riders
wearing helmets. No helmet? We are sorry, but we can’t include your photo.
We welcome news from any members or organizations. Please send your announcements or
press releases to [email protected]
News submission dates are by Aug 18, Nov 17
Dates to cover the next 3 months
2012
JUNE
24
Readington Trail Assoc Judged Trail Challenge [email protected]
24
Thompson Park Hunter Pace – Holmdel NJ
JULY
7-8
Gladstone Equestrian Assoc Horse Driving Trials www.gladstonedriving.org
21
Bucks Mill Park Poker Ride & Rutger's Reunion (Rutger's Graduate Horses) www.cntrc.org
25-27
Camp Leaping Horn Sidesaddle Camp at USET [email protected]
28-29
Sidesaddle at the USET Sidesaddle Show [email protected]
AUGUST
10-12
Extreme Mustang Makeover – NJ www.extrememustangmakeover.com/emmnewjersey.php
SEPTEMBER
7-8
NJQHA All Breed Benefit Overnight Trail Ride at Lusscroft Farm Sussex County
www.njqha.org
7
Spring Valley Hounds Hunter Pace New Vernon NJ www.SpringValleyHounds.com
15-16
NJ WILD Outdoor Expo at Colliers Mills Ocean County
16
Tewksbury Trail Assoc Annual Trail Ride at Christie Hoffman Park www.tta-nj.org
23
HC Rescue Benefit Ride Shelly Liggett 908-722-3665
23
Schooling Dressage Show to Benefit Pony Clubs at USET Cathy Brogan 908-510-7999
23
Tatum Park Ca$h Hunter Pace www.cntrc.org
OCTOBER
7
NJQHA Benefit Trail Ride “Pigs in the Park” Morristown NJ www.njqha.org
20
HRH/Special Olympics Horse Show at Horse Park of NJ www.hrhofnj.org
21
Readington Trail Assoc Halloween Poker Ride [email protected]
21
Bow Brick Hill Ride for the Cure Milford NJ www.komencsnj.org
28
Thompson Park Halloween Hunter Pace
www.cntrc.org
NOVEMBER
4
Spring Valley Hounds Hunter Pace New Vernon NJ www.SpringValleyHounds.com
More Horsing Around in New Jersey
Suffolk Stables in Lumberton NJ will be holding their
Summer Horse Camp from June through August.
The camp runs in biweekly session from Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm. Sessions are limited to 14 campers
and the goal is to provide maximum saddletime. Check www.suffolkstables.com for details and for dates of
sessions.
Camp Leaping Horn Sidesaddle Camp
will be held on July 25-27 at the USET HQ in Gladstone
NJ. This unique camp is open to all for Lessons, Presentations, and Vendors. Multiple instructors are
available and clients are welcome both mounted or auditing. For info contact Shelly 908-722-3665 or
[email protected]
The Harness Horse Youth Foundation Summer Camp will be held at Gaitway Farm,
Englishtown on July 24-28. The camp is limited to 12 teens aged 12-14 years, so everyone gets time caring
for their trotting bred pony and time on the track. Camp fee is $150 (lunch included) For an application or more
information Contact [email protected] or 317-867-5877
Spring Valley Hounds 2012 Hunter Paces
Sunday October 7 * 9:00 - 12:30 New Vernon
Sunday November 4 * 9:00 – 12:30 Allamuchy
Spring Valley Hounds invites you to join the 2012 Hunter Pace Season in New Vernon and Allamuchy.
The marked course covers approximately 8-10 miles with numerous fences to be ridden at a hunter pace in
teams of 2-3 horses. Fences have go-arounds. Ideal time established by a SVH team riding the course with
closest time to ideal wins. Entry is $45. Bring water for horse. Food available at Allamuchy. Protective
headgear requ ired and ratcatcher preferred. For info check www.SpringValleyHounds.com
The Second Annual Horse Council Equine Charities Benefit
Ride on Sept 23 at the
Mercer County Equestrian Center in Pennington NJ. The trail ride will be at least 5-6 mile over groomed trails,
plus there will be ring games and a silent auction of horse related items and services. Food available on site.
For more information check the horse council website www.njhorsecouncil.com or [email protected]
We need your help!
The Rutgers
Planning for Equestrians initiative.
Equine Science Center is beginning a new Business
Our goal is to ensure the sustainability of the New Jersey
equine industry by making sure that all equine-related business owners have the tools they need to develop or
update a written business plan. Business planning can help an operation cope with unforeseen circumstances
as well as better analyze markets. To begin, we want to get an idea of what the industry thinks about business
planning. If you own or manage an equine-related business (e.g. horse farm, trainer, professional rider, tack
shop, in-home horse treat business, etc), then please go to or click the link below to fill out an anonymous
survey. The survey will take no more than 5-10 minutes of your time. Your answers will help us determine
how we can best serve your needs.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GHC7L26