Privatization of Union County's Watchung Stables remains a possibility, but not a certainty, county officials said last week as they met with more than 250 passionate partisans who want the county to continue running their beloved 84-year-old institution.
The session at the Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside brought out parents, grandparents and generations of troopers, some wearing the powder blue shirts and yellow ties that for generations have been the uniform for young riders at the stable.
They mobilized because of fears that tradition will be trashed, fees will skyrocket and elderly school horses will be in jeopardy if a private entity takes over management of the stable in Mountainside. Leaders of the stables' volunteer groups announced they have 3,300 signatures on a petition to keep the stables county-run.
Freeholder Chairman Daniel Sullivan said that while the stables generate $500,000 in revenue, they cost the county $1.2 million, of which $700,000 involves employee costs.
Watchung supporters contend the county has not acted on numerous suggestions of ways to increase revenue, while citing problems in the way the stables were run and maintained over the last decade.
"The county has been deficient in keeping up this facility," agreed Sullivan, noting fees have not been raised in a long time.He did emphasize the stables aren't viewed "as a profit center like a golf course" The county golf courses have been privatized.
But several people in the audience said that without an indoor ring, the stable isn't utilized year-round as it should be, and some indicated that raising private funds to pay for such a structure would be possible without putting an extra burden on the county, and it would enable the facility to produce more revenue.
Officials and those attending all agreed that acting manager Rachel Baris is doing a good job, but while the partisans felt she should be given more of a chance to make a difference before privatization is considered, officials are going to continue exploring their options.
It was hard for some in the audience to pin down exactly why the county would consider privatization, since Baris was praised and various improvements are being considered or have been made. The motivation puzzled a number of those who spoke.
"A lot of this does not make sense," said Bethie Walters Dayton, who got her start at Watchung and now runs Red Oak Stable in Somerset County.
"You've got a manager who's doing a great job _ what are you missing here?"
Interviewed after the session, Sullivan said, "it's really not a budget issue. There's been a legacy of bad management over the course of the years and all we're trying to determine is, is there a change necessary...to correct some of those things? This is a time when you evaluate what's going on now and try to balance that against, does it make sense" to have a private company run things.
"We understand that there are a lot of things that need to be done at the stables," Department of Parks & Community Renewal Director Al Faella said in an interview, noting that appointing Baris and redoing the main ring were deemed the most important things to accomplish first and have been achieved.
"The question is how to run it in the most efficient manner and provide the services we need to do in the most cost-efficient way. One potential answer is a public/private option."
Sullivan said he misspoke during the meeting when he indicated that continuing troop lessons was only a certainty through 2010.
"The troop program will continue on...all I was trying to say was based on what I know it will go forward, and I don't know what privatization means. What I'm saying is the troop program will continue on as long as we're here."
He also noted that using a consultant for recommendations might be a possibility.
Officials said they have not gotten to the point of deciding whether to put out an RFP (request for proposal) to have the stables run privately. They have, however, spoken informally with Marc Schumacher, whose company runs Morris County's Seaton Hackney Stables.
Asked by The Star-Ledger if he would consider bidding to run the stable, Schumacher stated, "I can only say that I will certainly be interested in looking at it, and looking at it would determine whether or not I would be interested in running the operation."
One of the volunteer leaders, Nancy Scileppi of Summit, felt the meeting achieved its purpose as the officials, "gave us the opportunity to present our concerns and issues for consideration before moving forward with the recommendation to privatize.
"Yes, there are questions that still remain unanswered, but we did our homework and brought forth credible information for them to consider and to share'' with the county manager and freeholders.
County stables around the state have a mix of public and private management. Somerset County, for instance, runs its busy Lord Stirling Stable in Basking Ridge, which has an indoor ring and offers a wide variety of activities.
At Seaton Hackney, Schumacher said, "What we like to do, and, I believe, are very good at, is take a rank beginner rider and bring that young aspiring equestrian safely and efficiently to a point where that rider can decide whether or not upper level competition is in her/his future, be it in Dressage, CT (combined training) or HJ (hunter/jumper). When that time comes, we will saddly but understandingly "surrender" that adequately prepared rider to the fancier -- and more expensive -- facilities whose main purpose is to take their riders to shows."
Offerings at the Morris County stable include camps, trail rides and the stable's own version of troop.
In Bergen County, the county equestrian center in Overpeck Park, Leonia, should reopen this spring after being closed for $5 million in reconstruction since May 2009. The Bergen County Improvement Authority is reviewing all governance options with regard to privatizing the facility. The stable's previous private operator defaulted on a balloon payment and Bergen County sued and won a judgment on what he owed.Saddle Ridge, a smaller Bergen County facility in Franklin Lakes, is privately run.
Passaic County's Garrett Mountain equestrian center also is under private management.The previous operator stopped paying rent in June 2009, so the county called in the bond that guaranteed the lease and a new operator took over.
A SAD FAREWELL
A trip to the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival last weekend was a final pilgrimage for
Jack Benson
, who rallied near the end of his long fight against cancer to watch his daughter,
Elizabeth
, compete in the world's biggest horse show.
Sitting at ringside in a golf cart, he saw the 16-year-old fulfill a dream, his and hers, as she rode a borrowed mount to win the Pessoa/U.S. Equestrian Federation Medal hunt seat equitation class against top company.
"It was a Cinderella weekend," said Mr. Benson's wife,
Katie
, who recounted how he came home to Readington from Wellington, Fla., and died peacefully at 71 on Thursday, surrounded by his family.
Thursday night's first U.S. show jumping team selection trial in Wellington for this fall's Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games was dedicated to Mr. Benson.
"His house was in order," said his wife, the president of the New Jersey Horse Shows Association. She and her husband put on the award-winning Briarwood series of shows at their stable, as well as other successful fixtures elsewhere.
"I always remember him being a rock of Gibralter," recalled trainer
Frank Madden
, who realized he was saying goodbye to his friend when he saw him over the weekend.
"The horse community in New Jersey will really miss him," he added, noting many riders who have gone on to successful careers got their start at Briarwood.
Sally Ike
, the U.S. Equestrian Federation's show jumping manager, observed, "Jack's passing is a real loss to the horse show community in New Jersey. He had a passion for the sport not found in many. He was enthusiastic about everything he did, or anything anyone else did."
Mr. Benson came late to the horse world, getting involved at the age of 28. He went on to become a state jumper champion several times with his best horse,
Toy Commander
, and won the NJHSA's
Vic Goines
trophy for the highest scoring jumper. Nearly three decades later, his daughter had her name engraved on the same trophy.
A memorial service will be held Monday at 5 p.m. at the Stanton Reformed Church, 1 Stanton Mountain Rd., Stanton. Arrangements are by the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home in Flemington.
In addition to his wife and daughter, Mr. Benson is survived by two sons,
John William
and
Christopher Benson
. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center, 2100 Westcott Dr., Flemington, 08822.
ON THE RAIL
Lord Stirling Stable in Basking Ridge is having its annual "Friend"ship Trail Ride next Sunday, with check-in at 1:30 p.m. The ride got its name because it is scheduled so those involved may attend the 4 p.m. Friends of Lord Stirling Stable general membership meeting if they are interested.
For more information, go to
or
.
ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE
Sunday:
All Seasons Show, Duncraven, 1300 Trenton-Harbourton Rd., Titusville (through Sunday); Princeton Circuit Show, Hunter Farms, 1315 The Great Rd., Princeton.
Next Friday:
Woodedge at the Park, Horse Park of New Jersey, Route 524, Allentown (through next Sunday).
Next Saturday:
Duncraven Show, 1300 Trenton-Harbourton Rd., Titusville (through next Sunday); Black River Farm Show, 20 Boss Rd., Ringoes; Used Riding Clothes Sale, Watchung Stables, 1160 Summit Lane, Mountainside (8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., for information call 908-789-3665 or email stablequestions@ucnj.org)
Next Sunday:
CJL Winter Series Show, Baymar Farms, 38 Harbor Rd., Morganville.
Nancy Jaffer may be reached at nancyjaffer@att.net.
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