SPRING 2013 Equine Science Center UPDATE “Better Horse Care through Research and Education” In this Exercising HorsePower – Issue Let’s Play! From the Clubhouse ............... 2 Spring is here and the time is right to horse around (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) using the online and have some fun while learning all about best models for human medicine - horses.” New Advisory Board Chair ..... 3 equine exercise physiology! After months of anticipation, the Equine Science Center recently The game features three loveable and adorable Gold Medal Horse Farm ......... 4 launched its new game, “Exercising HorsePower”. animated horses: Lord Nelson, the mascot of The game is available through the youth portal Equine Science 4 Kids, along with Frankie and Equine Business of the Center’s website, Equine Science 4 Kids at Snowdrift, two mares from the Horse Hero research Planning Course ..................... 6 esc.rutgers.edu/kids. and teaching herd at the Center and New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. Horses are depicted Jersey Roots, Global Reach ..... 7 “Exercising HorsePower” was created as an exciting with a brief biography which includes fun facts teaching tool which introduces highly academic and unique abilities depending on age and prior scientific research and concepts to youth ages condition. Players will have a different experience 10 – 14 in a manner that is fun, interactive, and with each horse; therefore, to add to the fun, the effortlessly intuitive. player should complete it in its entirety with all three horses. “We set out with blind ambition to make the best representation of the Equine Exercise Physiology lab The game has three well-designed levels which as possible,” said Karyn Malinowski, director, Equine represent the stages of a standard equine exercise Science Center. “Exercising HorsePower exceeds study: Horse Prep, Treadmill, and Laboratory. Each our expectations and is just as educational as it is level gets progressively more challenging. fun. Specifically, as a scientific center, a bonus for us is that we are advancing youth STEM education Continued on page 5 From The Clubhouse Happy spring! new Equine Business Planning Course, which debuted on February 5; and to young aspiring animal scientists from Other than the return to eastern around the northeast when the Department of Animal Sciences daylight time there has been hosted the 2013 NESA competition (North East Student nothing about the past few months Affiliate of the American Society of Animal Sciences) that would indicate that spring on February 22-23. I personally will is just around the corner. I am be extending our outreach with chomping at the bit to get back to three upcoming lectures: one a regular riding/driving schedule. to the ACE Women’s Network Lord Nelson has survived another in Higher Education - Rutgers cold, wet winter and is “itching” affiliate, another to the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, for his pasture to turn ‘green’ again. and third as the luncheon lecture for this year’s Colonel Henry Rutgers See his Blog post on the subject at Society luncheon. http://lordnelsonsblog.blogspot.com/. I was thrilled to launch the new game. “Exercising HorsePower” on Even in inclement weather we stay busy at the Equine Science Center “Equine Science 4 Kids.” See the cover story for more details. This conducting “Better Horse Care through Research and Education.” We’ve truly has been a labor of love for Tiffany Cody, Avani Palikawahla, spent time celebrating with fellow New Jerseyans who were recognized and Center staff members who have been working on this project for for success in the equine industry. Congratulations to our own School several months. We will be celebrating the launch of the game on of Environmental and Biological Sciences student Monica Smetts who Ag Field Day at Rutgers Day on April 27. I hope to see many of you there! won this year’s Ernest Bell Memorial Scholarship from the New Jersey With the generosity of Center supporters we will be able to fund Equine Advisory Board. Kudos to Linda Toscano, our 2013 “Spirit of another round of Equine Initiative grants this year. Colleagues are the Horse” award recipient who was recognized as “Horseperson of the Year” by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and as “Trainer of also engaged in several exciting contract research projects which will the Year” by the United States Harness Writers Association at the Dan financially support our work, provide new insight into better horse care Patch awards banquet held in conjunction with the Harness Racing and management, and fund a good portion of the per diem costs of our Congress on March 1-3. I was in attendance to hear the latest on a Horse Hero mares. Thanks to those who are currently sponsoring a wide range of topics influencing the harness industry from experts research mare in our herd. As our research plate increases in size more in their respective fields. I was especially interested in hearing how horses have been added to the herd. We will be highlighting several the horse racing industry can, with limited funds, best address the of the new mares on April 27 during Ag Field Day at Rutgers Day. medication issue. Come on out, say “hello,” and think about becoming a sponsor of one of the research ‘heroes.’ We continue our outreach to horse owners and equine enthusiasts through the successful Horse Management Seminar, held on February 10; the Bestest, Karyn New Jersey Farm Established in 1961, the Standardbred Bureau’s primary Breeders & Owners Association purpose is to represent of New Jersey [SBOANJ] has a the overall interests membership comprised of horse and improve the breeders, drivers, trainers, owners, financial well-being of Partners farmers and our $800 and backstretch personnel, and its million industry. NJFB mission is to support and promote the activities are supported through voluntary standardbred industry in New Jersey. membership and annual dues. Members The Board of Directors authorizes have access to: stallion, mare and foal registrations, • Staff assistance on farming issues and negotiates with track management, regulatory problems. actively oversees and administers • Educational workshops on topical a benefits program, and advances issues such as farm labor, wildlife legislation favorable to the horse racing damage, and zoning. industry. For more information, please • Weekly updates on legislation news and regulations affecting all aspects visit www.sboanj.com. of farming. It pays to be a NJ farm Bureau member! For a full list of membership levels and benefits, or to sign up, visit www.njfb.org. New Advisory Board Chair by Ryck Suydam It is my honor and privilege to serve as the newly appointed Chair of the new special fundraising events to cultivating the veterinarian Rutgers University Board for Equine Advancement. My family’s legacy is horse memorial program to lobbying in Trenton and strategically deeply rooted in New Jersey farming, since 1713. As a 12th generation working toward securing an endowment. Additionally, members farmer, I am proud that Suydam Farms remains a vibrant agricultural recommended that we identify and cultivate relationships with cornerstone in Somerset County. As we celebrate our 300th anniversary, industries that are supported by horses such as real estate, farm we recall what has enabled our farm to survive three centuries and the equipment, and equine supplies. Members are eager to get to work answer is threefold: 1) being proud stewards of the land, dedicated to and produce positive results. hard work; 2) good and healthy soil to grow varieties of hay and field crop production; and 3) our equestrian friends throughout our great state. Raising money for a nonprofit organization in this current I also wear the professional hat of being co-owner of the Suydam Insurance We are counting e c o n o m i c c l i m a t e i s Agency located in Somerset, specializing in equine liability, mortality, and difficult regardless of the farm property insurance. on the entire charitable cause. RUBEA members know that I accepted this position as Chair of RUBEA knowing full well that horse community, this is not an easy task. to see the equine industry thrive in the Garden State, it will take a However, we stand firm firm commitment from the New Jersey equine industry and a strong, and supplemental in our convictions and fully sustainable Equine Science Center. committed to the mission industries, to rally of RUBEA and the Equine The New Jersey horse industry has benefited greatly from the Center’s Science Center. RUBEA cutting edge research which has generated applied scientific advancement together to help is counting on the entire in areas such as: exercise physiology, metabolism and digestion, equine horse community, and pharmaceuticals, nutrition, and aging. This invaluable research the Center supplemental industries, contributes to horses and the equine industry, related industries, including to rally together to help the agribusinesses like hay and field crop production also continue to thrive. Equine Science Center in its endeavors to conduct impactful equine Under my leadership as Chair of RUBEA, I plan to move the board research. You can contribute to the success of the Center by making from its original mission of assisting the Center in its decisions regarding a donation. No gift is too small. To learn more about supporting the equine teaching, research, and outreach programs to that of fundraising Center, visit Giving at esc.rutgers.edu, or contact Center Director, in order for the Center to continue to be a recognized globally as a leader Karyn Malinowski at [email protected]. in equine research. With your help, and the combined efforts of RUBEA, together we The reorganizational board meeting was held on March 27th with a lively will usher the Equine Science Center into the next chapter of its yet rigorous dialogue which yielded new ideas to improve the financial remarkable success toward fulfilling its mission of “better horse care outlook for the Center.