Horse Park of New Jersey facts for kids
The Horse Park of New Jersey is a special park in New Jersey, USA. It's about 185 acres big, which is like 140 football fields! This park is a popular place for all kinds of horse-related activities and competitions. You can find it in Monmouth County, near a town called Allentown.
The Horse Park's Story: How It Started
The idea for the Horse Park of New Jersey came from people who really loved horses and horse riding. They were worried that there wasn't enough land left for horse activities.
So, in 1987, the park officially opened. The land was bought by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. They used special money called "Green Acres funds" to protect open spaces. The park was placed in the middle of Monmouth County, which is known for its horse farms. This location was chosen with help from a group of horse experts called the state's Equine Advisory Board.
What You'll Find at the Horse Park
The Horse Park of New Jersey is easy to get to. It's located on County Route 524. It's about seven miles from exit 7A of the New Jersey Turnpike. It's also just one mile from exit 11 of I-195.
The park has many great facilities for horses and riders:
- There are 276 stalls in permanent buildings for horses to stay in.
- It has two main show rings for competitions.
- There's a special arena for grand prix jumping and carriage dressage.
- A fenced and lighted ring is available for practicing.
- There's also a warm-up ring specifically for dressage.
- An indoor arena means events can happen no matter the weather.
- A multi-purpose pavilion offers a covered space. It's used for watching events, trade fairs, horse auctions, and training clinics.
- The park also has an office for event secretaries. This office includes a lounge, a press room, and a booth for announcers.
