The following article, “Wild Horses Are Running Out of Room, On and Off Range,” appeared in the New York Times on Saturday December 14th, 2012.  Once again, I commend the New York Times for its reporting on the regrettable treatment that horses are subjected to daily by humans.  The article brings attention to a very disturbing situation with our wild horses that roam vast stretches of federal lands of the rural west.  The Bureau of Land Management appears to be engaged in a systematic relocation and destruction of our wild horse population.

The NYT has brought to light many dangers that horses face in the United States: drug use and other abuses at the race track and other equine training and performance facilities (see NYT article, “Sudden Death of Show Pony Clouds Image of Elite Pursuit,” 12/27/12); the selling and transport to slaughter houses (NYT 10/23/11, “Slaughter of Horses Goes On, Just Not in U.S.”); and the situation involving our wild horse population.  It’s not the first article that we have read about this situation and regrettably it will most likely not be the last.  Hopefully, institutions like the New York Times will continue to bring these situations and abuses to the public’s attention and raise consciousness to the abuses that horses are subjected to on a daily basis.

Below are the links for each of the articles I mentioned above.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/15/us/wild-horses-are-running-out-of-room-off-the-range.html?_r=0

http://www.horsenation.com/2012/12/28/news-sudden-death-of-show-pony-clouds-image-of-elite-pursuit/

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/24/us/Horse-Slaughter-Stopped-in-United-States-Moves-Across-Borders.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

I read another interesting article in the New York Times on Saturday, December 8th.  The article, “Racetrack Drugs Put Europe Off US Horse Meat” is another in a series of articles the NYT has reported on this subject in recent months and years.  I applaud their efforts to report and raise consciousness on this issue and other stories about the mistreatment and handling of horses.

This story has both a positive and negative outlook.  First, I think it is constructive that the issue is raised and reported.  I hope it has the positive effect of pushing the US racing industry to enforce current anti-doping laws and work to eradicate the use of performance enhancing drugs on horses.  I am encouraged by the decision taken by the European Food Industry as reported in the article.

My only concern is if it does have the positive effect of eliminating performance enhancing drugs in racehorses in the US, the European Food Industry will drop its ban with the result being an increase or resumption of the slaughter of horses in the US for consumption.

Though there could ultimately be a down side to the reduction of drug use, I am pleased at the decision of the European Food Industry and hope the various racing associations in the US take more of an active role in outlawing and enforcing current laws against performance enhancing drugs in the racing industry.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/09/sports/drugs-injected-at-the-racetrack-put-europe-off-us-horse-meat.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

One of the more enjoyable parts of my work designing horse farms, beyond the satisfaction of seeing it built and come to life, is the excitement expressed and seen in the faces of a satisfied client.  That is often demonstrated in how they use the barn and the farm and that is certainly the case at Great Road Farm.  On September 29th, I attended “The Agricola Barn Dinner at Great Road Farm”, located on the outskirts of Princeton, NJ.  What a “tasteful” event it was.

Great Road Farm is the home of Jim and Ann Nawn and their four sons.  Not only is it their home but a farm where they both have been able to combine their passion for horses and farming with their profession.  Ann, who is an equestrian and a licensed social worker,  has developed a therapeutic riding facility on the farm.  Jim, a former owner and operator of 37 Panera Bread franchises, sold his successful business, went back to school at the Institute of Culinary Education and after addition training in the kitchen of Veritas in NYC became a farmer and will open Agricola Eatery (www.agricolaeatery.com) in Princeton in January 1013.

The party was an introduction of his new restaurant concept to a large group of family, friends and invited guests (such as the likes of their equestrian architect). Dinner prepared by Agricola executive chef Josh Thomsen with food grown on the farm by farm manager, Steve Tomlinson, and served in the agricultural barn was fantastic.  Most of the natural ingredients were grown locally and on the farm (see menu below).  It was a perfect Fall evening and we were all treated to the fruits of a very successful harvest and what promises to be a unique and exciting new restaurant to be located in “downtown” Princeton (the site of the former Lahiere’s restaurant that occupied that location for generations.)

Blackburn Architects developed the overall master plan for the farm, designed a 12 stall barn and enclosed riding arena for Ann’s horses that was completed in 2011.  The arena was designed to serve as a riding arena for Ann and friends to enjoy but also to serve as a therapeutic riding and teaching facility for her work.

The farm appears to be serving both Jim’s and Ann’s needs well, and, as the architect for the farm, that brings me a great satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. One of the reasons I have pursued my career.

If you find yourself in or near Princeton, anytime after January 2013 (check their web site for exact opening date), do yourself a culinary favor and stop in at Agricola Eatery.

I hope many of our readers where able to get to the Washington International Horse Show this year.  I was there last Saturday evening.  We had a table in the Acela Club overlooking the arena and the view of the events that evening, not to mention the great food, wine and conversations among friends, was fantastic.  I will not bore you with a recount of the events as you can find an excellent write up on the WIHS web site (www.wihs.org/news). I thought the WIHS staff including the participants, sponsor, vendors all contributed to an excellent show as they do every year.

I have included a few photos below taken by myself and staff at this years show.  I’m not sure how many of you are aware that Blackburn Architects has been providing pro bono services to the WIHS every year since it moved from the old Capital Center in Landover to the Verizon Center (former MCI Center) in 2001. In it’s first year we helped with the modification of the arena floor, modifying the side walls including removal of the penalty box areas and removing the end walls of the ice hockey rink to transform it into an indoor riding arena.  What would have been a daunting task in 2001 turned out to be fairly simple having previously accomplished similar modifications at Madison Square Garden for the National Horse Show during the mid 1990′s.

The challenge came with trying to squeeze as many horse stalls inside the arena (under the grandstands) and in the streets surrounding the arena.  Though the arena modifications remain relatively unchanged from year to year, the street scene around the Verizon Center changes every year.  The requirements from the City, especially the fire department and EMT needs change plus there is always construction of some kind going on in that area which require revisions and modifications every year.

We are always pleased to offer our assistance as the horse show is a very exciting event in downtown DC.  Even if you never attend the horse show (which is your loss by the way if you haven’t), it brings a special excitement to the streets of Washington. For me it reminds me of when the circus used to come to town and parade the animals through the town (yes, I’m old enough to remember it) and though they don’t do that with the horse show, the excitement and memory is still there.  Having horses stabled on the streets of the city is a great introduction to the non-equine public to the sights, sounds and yes, the wonderful “aroma” of horses. If you haven’t experienced it, you are missing out on what is a unique Washington annual event.

Last year we were able to assist the WIHS with the design of additional VIP seating platforms on one end of the arena and this year they were able to add another VIP area to the opposite end.  The success continues.  So, if you missed the show this year, remember it comes around every October and next year there may be something special in the air.  I hope to launch my new book, Healthy Stables by Design, at the WIHS next year.  A very special event for me and I hope that you will attend and enjoy.

I hate to see these kinds of news stories: Last week there was news of another barn fire that took the lives of 14 horses in Bedford, NH.  It’s a terrible tragedy and sadly, is something that happens far too often.  While the cause of this fire remains undetermined, it is important to know that there are many ways that the risk of fires in a barn can be reduced.  News of these types of events should provide a wake up call for all barn owners, managers and horse owners to pay special attention to your daily maintenance routine, your operation and to look for long term design improvements that begin to reduce the risk of fire.  There are lots of things that can be done to maintain a healthy and safe environment for horses.

Thorough cleaning procedures, i.e. removal of cobwebs from light fixtures, removing excess hay and bedding where it accumulates, removing of trash and isolation of cleaning fluids and other flammable products are just some of the areas to focus on.  Others are more long term and permanent such as keeping all electrical equipment in good serviceable working order, running all electrical wires through conduits (to prevent those pesky barn mice from chewing through the plastic lined wiring), and proper hay and bedding storage can all significantly reduce the risk of fire in a barn.

Furthermore, do not store motorized equipment in or around your hay storage. I recall a barn fire a few years ago when a barn worker cranked up a small mower to mow around the barn, the mower back fired, ignited a bale of hay siting close by and before anyone could do anything about it, the barn went up in flames.  So it pays to always remain conscious of the hazards that exist in a barn and make sure fire extinguishers are posted at least at each end of the barn and another at the center. Though I’ve seen many locations where fire extinguishers were improperly or poorly mounted, I don’t recall a case where there were too many.

These are just a few of the issues to always remain aware of.  There are so many more. I could go on and on….

http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120906/NEWS07/709069877

Over the years, I have come across many less than ideal conditions for the health and safety of horses in barns. So I thought we would have a little fun with our readers. See the photo below of a wash stall in a barn that I visited a few years ago. Can you identify the potential hazards in the photo? To give you a hint and get you started there are at least 20 hazards. Click on the image to see a larger version, and send me your list of all those you can find.

Our goal at Blackburn Architects has always been to create an environment that promotes a safe and healthy environment for the horse.  From selecting flooring materials that are comfortable for a horse to eliminating potentially dangerous conditions such as sharp edges, trip hazards, and excess clutter, we are always looking at ways to make the equine spaces function as safely as possible for the horse and the handler.

I have lots of photos of similar unsafe conditions and we will periodically post them for your viewing entertainment. Stay tuned for more in the weeks to come.