November 2021 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN November 2021 Page 29 Calendar of Events Submit events by the 10th of the month preceding publication to steph@eastcoastequestrian.net or P.O. Box 8412, Lancaster, PA 17604-8412 NOVEMBER 2 Stephen Bradley Clinic Series. Waredaca Farm, Laytons- ville, MD. sarahgonzalezeventing @ gmail.com . 4-8 Mid Atlantic Autumn Classic (A). Swan Lake Stables, Littlestown, PA. (717) 359-5357 or swanlakestables.com . 5 Horse & Tack Auction. RSD Horse Auctions, Kear- neyville, WV. (304) 876-8326 or rsdhorseauctions.com. 5-7 Eastern Pennsylvania Reining Horse Association Show. Gloucester County Dream Park, Logan Twp., NJ. Dreamparknj. com. 5-7 USEF National “A” Horse Show. Horse Park of New Jersey, Allentown, NJ. Horsepark ofnewjersey.com. 5-7 Above the Standard Show Series Finals. Ludwig’s Corner Horse Show Grounds, Glenmoore, PA. ludwigshorse show.com . 6 Frank Burns Dressage Clinic. Burns Dressage, Spring City, PA. ovcta.org. 7 Hunter/Jumper, English, Western Driving Show. Suffolk Stables, Shamong, NJ. (609) 346- 7093 or suffolkstables.com. 10 Stephen Bradley Clinic Se- ries. Covered Bridge Farm, Wood- bine, MD. Stephenbradley.com. 11-14 Swan Lake Harvest Classic (A). Swan Lake Stables, Littlestown, PA. (717) 359-5357 or swanlakestables.com. 11-14 Appalachian Cutting Horse Circuit Show. Gloucester County Dream Park, Logan Twp., NJ. Dreamparknj.com. 12-13 Pennsylvania Equine Council Annual Meeting & Issues Forum. Holiday Inn Her- shey/Harrisburg, Grantville, PA. pennsylvaniaequinecouncil.org. 12-14 Large Animal Emergency Rescue Training. Walls Hall at Fair Hill Natural Resources Area, Elkton, MD. (443) 553-6184 or fairhillera@ gmail.com . 12-14 Iron Horse Ranch Sorting. Keystone Horse Center, Bloomsburg, PA. 877-539-4677 or keystonehorsecenter.com. 13 In Gate Eventing. Bucks County Horse Park, Revere, PA. (610) 847-8597 or buckscounty horsepark.org . 14 Making Strides Hunt- er Jumper Show #8. Breezy Run Farm, Church Hill, MD. Breezyrunfarm.com. 14 French Creek Equestrian Veterans Day Paper Chase. Great Marsh Farm, Elverson, PA. (610) 349-3221 or frenchcreekequestrian. org. 14 CJL Horse Show. Cen- tenary College, Long Valley, NJ. Cjlhorseshows.com. 18-21 Partridge Run Fall Classic (A). Swan Lake Stables, Littlestown, PA. (717) 359-5357 or swanlakestables.com . 19 Horse Auction. Wolfe Agricultural Auctions at The Eyler Stables, Thurmont, MD. (301) 748-2924 or wolfeauctions. com. 20 Thanksgiving Hunter Pace. Bucks County Horse Park, Revere, PA. (610) 847-8597 or buckscountyhorsepark.org. 20-21 USEF National ‘A’ Show. Duncraven, Titusville, NJ. Cjlhorseshows.com. 21 Jumper Show Series. The Stables at Fox Crossing, Co- chranville, PA. (443) 866-5375 or thestablesatfoxcrossing.com . 21 Turkey Trot. Horse Park of New Jersey, Allentown, NJ. Horseparkofnewjersey.com. 26-28 USEF National ‘A’ Show. Duncraven, Titusville, NJ. Cjlhorseshows.com. 27 Barrel Race. Horse Park of New Jersey, Allentown, NJ. Horseparkofnewjersey.com. 27-28 Swan Lake November Local Show. Swan Lake Stables, Littlestown, PA. (717) 359-5357 or swanlakestables.com . DECEMBER 1 Stephen Bradley Clinic Se- ries. Covered Bridge Farm, Wood- bine, MD. Stephenbradley.com. 3 Horse & Tack Auction. RSD Horse Auctions, Kear- neyville, WV. (304) 876-8326 or rsdhorseauctions.com . 3-5 USEF National ‘A’ Show. Duncraven, Titusville, NJ. Cjlhorseshows.com. 4 USEA/USEF Horse Trials/ P-ST. Sporting Days Farm. Aiken, SC. Sportingdaysfarm.com. 4-5 Donation Derby. Loch Moy Farm, Adamstown, MD. (301) 514-0111 or themaryland horsetrials.com . 5 Holiday Jumpers. Swan Lake Stables, Littlestown, PA. (717) 359-5357 or swanlake stables.com . 10-12 Iron Horse Ranch Sorting. Keystone Horse Center, Bloomsburg, PA. 877-539-4677 or keystonehorsecenter.com. 11-12 Garden State Appaloo- sa Breed Horse Show. Gloucester County Dream Park, Logan Twp., NJ. Dreamparknj.com. 12 CJL Horse Show. Horse Park of New Jersey, Allentown, NJ. Horseparkofnewjersey.com. 12 CJL Horse Show. Dun- craven, Titusville, NJ. Cjlhorse shows.com. 19 Jumper Show Series. The Stables at Fox Crossing, Co- chranville, PA. (443) 866-5375 or thestablesatfoxcrossing.com . By Amy Worden For six years Lori Zeigler boarded her draft cross mare, Willow, while living in Chester County (PA), but she longed for an arrangement where she and her horse could live on the same property. When the opportunity arose to purchase a small farm in neighboring Berks County she jumped on it, investing in a new barn and fencing for her four-acre farmette. The only downside? Willow would no longer have pasture companions. Zeigler didn’t want to add another riding horse, so she tried two goats and adopted a donkey from a rescue, but those options didn’t work out. Then she discovered the Stan- dardbred Retirement Foundation just as the New Jersey-based group was launching a new adoption pro- gram for companion-only horses. Believed to be the first of its kind – at least in the mid-Atlantic region - the Companion Horse Assistance Program (CHAPS) waives the adoption donation request and provides funding for annual vaccinations, dental care, and veterinary bills. The program is aimed at finding forever homes for hundreds of companion-only standardbreds in the foundation’s care, many of which were saved from slaughter. “Every horse needs a bud- dy,” said Judith Bokman, the foundation’s executive director. “But with the expenses owners may think twice about it. This helps them and helps us because another horse has a home.” Under the terms of the adop- tion contract, the foundation will reimburse caregivers up to $150 for Eastern/Western encephalitis, tetanus and rabies inoculations administered by a licensed veter- inarian and up to $100 annually for dental care. Caregivers may also receive up to $350 annually for any pre-approved care admin- istered by a licensed veterinarian for injuries or illnesses. “I had been thinking about adopting a companion horse but when I learned the program helped financially and I knew I could give the horse a good home, it was a no brainer,” Zeigler said. So Zeigler drove to New Jersey to pick out a horse. While she was checking out all the bay horses in a field, one stepped out of the herd and walked toward her. It was a 21-year-old mare whose registered name is Prestidigitation Prestissimo, but whom everyone calls Kate. She arrived at the foun- dation in 2006 from an auction where she had been tagged for slaughter. Kate was adopted that year, but was returned to the foun- dation last year when her owner could no longer afford to keep her. “She just came up, let me scratch her head and love on her,” said Zeigler. Foundation staff member Aubrey Marcantonio, who was with Zeigler told her, “She picked you.” Of the 425 horses in the foundation’s care about half are suitable only as companion horses. Bokman says she’s discouraged by the race trotting horse industry which she says is trying to promote new careers for standardbreds, but does not recognize that not all hors- es coming off the track or pulling Amish buggies on the highways can have new careers in the show ring. Many horses at the foundation suffered from career-ending track injuries and others endured injuries and neglect as buggy horses. Among the foundation’s most notable companion horse adopters prior to the CHAPS pro- gram was comedian Jon Stewart and his wife, Tracey, who run Bufflehead Farm animal rescue in New Jersey. “Their horse had lost his companion and they needed a new companion,” Bokman said. So far Zeigler is one of six people who have adopted companion horses under the new program. Every horse adopted clears the space for new horses moving through auctions every week, said Bokman. “We never intended to be a sanctuary,” she said. “We’re trying to think out of the box and trying to find solutions.” With an early November ar- rival date for Kate, Zeigler spent part of October getting her barn ready for the new addition. “I cannot wait to bring her home,” she said. SRF Launches Program for Companion Adoptions