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The Rutgers Equine Science Center offers an invaluable
variety of programs, products and services to students, enthusiasts, owners,
breeders, trainers, veterinary practitioners and more throughout the Garden
State.
The Equine Science Center is an approved unit of the New
Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers, The State University of
New Jersey. Its mission is better horse care through research and education
in order to advance the well-being and performance of horses and the equine
industry. It accomplishes this by:
- Identifying issues affecting the horse industry
- Finding solutions through science-based inquiry
- Providing answers to the horse industry and horse owners
- Influencing public policy to ensure the viability of the horse
industry
Stable Management Program
Equine Business Development Program
- Scientific testing and validation of innovative equine products and
processes
- Marketing opportunities
- Financial management and planning
- Horse and farm owner networking events
Equine Performance & Well-Being
Workforce Development and Training Programs
- Courses in horse management, nutrition, physiology and leadership for
credit and through the
Office of Continuing Professional
Education
- Certification program through Annual Horse Management Seminar and
Short Courses
- Providing future labor force through undergraduate and graduate
degree programs
- Student internships through the
Cooperative Education Program
- Annual Equine Science Update
- Online Horse Management, Physiology and Nutrition courses
- Hands-on horse handling and scientific techniques for future veterinary students
- Pre-veterinary education
Regulations and Compliance Support
- Development of tests for performance-altering substances
- Assistance with nutrient waste management planning
- Assistance with Farmland Assessment, Right to Farm policies for
horse farm owners and local government
- Assistance with horse racing/sport horse regulatory agencies
- News of CAFO (concentrated animal feeding operations) and AFO
(animal feeding operations) regulations
- AMPs (agricultural management practices) for commercial equine
operations
Youth Programs
-
Statewide 4-H
Horse Program
- Involvement with therapeutic riding programs (research and volunteer
staffing)
- Education and character development
- Middle school and high school outreach programs
Impact on the Equine Industry in New Jersey and
Nationally
The Equine Science Center provides over 200 nutritional
consults per year, locally and throughout the U.S. Conferences, seminars,
short courses, and lectures
are routinely developed and offered to industry novices, experienced owners, breeders,
veterinarians and others, resulting in better horse care.
Examples of specific impacts:
 Nutritional research on glucose/insulin levels of young
horses resulted in the establishment of new lines/feed products for younger
horses by major feed manufacturers, and research on nutritional needs of
geriatric horses resulted in development of “senior” feed formulas.
Faculty at the Equine Science Center are worldwide leaders in the area of
aging and care for older horses, which resulted in presentations of
management recommendations globally. Pivotal research resulted in the
development of hormone therapy for older horses.
A major
new study of the impact of the equine industry on the New Jersey economy and
on traditional agriculture and the preservation of open space was initiated
in 2006 and reported in 2007.
Research and support to the racing industry resulted in
the New Jersey Supreme Court decision to uphold the accuracy of the blood gas
machine which is used to detect horses treated with performance-enhancing
agents. A total of 54 pending cases will be tried based on this decision.
Confirmed
research explores equine stress - its causes, effects and preventative
measures.
Research into the study of the hormone relaxin resulted
in assistance for Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome (a $500 million economic
loss in Kentucky in 2001).
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