Devoted to horses and the land, the Bedminster resident has made a difference in the Somerset Hills and beyond
Betty Merck on Smokey in the days when she rode with the Essex Fox Hounds These have been typical activities for Mrs. Merck over the decades, but they rise to the remarkable category when you consider that she's 93 years old.
While lesser souls might be taking a more relaxed stance at this stage, the great-grandmother of six makes it her business to keep going. Her only concession is to use a cane. When she walks through the stable on her property, her step is light as the horses stick their heads out of their stalls to greet her, while she woos them with carrots and soft greetings.
Mrs. Merck's horses greet her in the barn Her association with horses began when her mother, an avid rider, sat the little girl in front of her in the saddle. Despite her years, the enthusiasm for what she holds dear has never dimmed. In addition to horses, that's an appreciation of the land.
"I'm a natural conservationist," she said.
Nearly a third of her scenic estate, The Fields, is in farmland preservation. Remembering how much open space there used to be in the Somerset Hills has fueled her commitment to saving what is left.
She has been a board member and officer of the Upper Raritan Watershed Association, now part of the Raritan Headwaters Association. A member of the Bedminster Open Space/Farmland Advisory Committee, she also has served on the township committee.
A former master of the Essex Fox Hounds, Mrs. Merck last rode out with Essex only a few years ago. She still follows the hunt in a car and remains on the hunt committee.
In 1949, she moved to New Jersey with her late husband, George Merck, a vice president of pharmaceutical firm Merck & Co. and an officer and supporter of the U.S. Equestrian Team (now the USET Foundation). That was long before Routes 78, 287 and development started cutting away at the land. Mrs. Merck remembers when the Essex contingent would gallop across what are now the greens of the Fiddler's Elbow Country Club.
"When you have a good run and a good horse, that's exciting," she said. "We used to have 100 (riders) on a big day, it's not near that now."
She knows times have changed, and a lot of the reason for less in the way of subscribers is economic.
"But people who love to hunt always find a way," she said, at the same time noting many young people today are more interested in showing or eventing their horses.
In addition to hunting, her passion when she was younger was riding in point-to-point races, which she called, "the first step toward steeplechasing. Anyone who hunts is naturally drawn to steeplechasing." Mrs. Merck campaigned her top horses, Midnight Secret and Dandy Token, doing all the training, working with Jill Slater who was the Essex master of foxhounds at that time.
"We'd gallop up River Road," she reminisced, noting it was all dirt then, but to make sure it was soft enough for conditioning the horses, "we had to wait until it rained."
Point-to-points and the hunter trials were held on what is now the Trump National Golf Club. Mrs. Merck still remembers the course she used to ride there for the hunter trials; she can name every fence and the approach,
A prominent steeplechase owner, she partners with her son, Laddie, in The Fields Stable, and also has a co-owner and supporter in Mimi Voss, wife of The Fields' trainer, Tom Voss. They've had many successes, including Wanganui, the 2011 national three-year-old champion, and novice champions in 2009 (Left Unsaid), 2005 (Guelph) and 1998 (Approaching Squall). In 2009, they had two winners at the Far Hills races, just a few miles from home.
That was quite special for the Mrs. Merck.
"I was in a daze," she remembers.
Some of the retired racehorses are broodmares, such as Guelph (also the 2008 and 2004 filly/mare champion) and Distant Drumroll, the dam of Guelph, Wanganui and Kingdom, while others have been donated to Essex for use by the staff, or like Squall, live at The Fields.
Sally Ike, chair of the Essex Hunt committee and the U.S. Equestrian Federation's managing director of education and licensed officials, admires Mrs. Merck.
"She's sharp as a tack; nothing gets by her. She is not afraid to tell it like it is," said Ike.
"I'm impressed with her interest and her generosity. She has a sense of community."
Her Jack Russells keep Mrs. Merck company at The Fields "She's the epitome of a true horsewoman," observed Mary-Ann Musal, who worked part-time for her and used to hunt with her when Mrs. Merck was in her 80s and still riding enthusiastically. She recalled that Mrs. Merck liked being aboard the thoroughbreds and would hunt Squall in a hackamore, a bitless bridle.
"She knew each horse as an individual and knew their personalities," Musal noted.
"She is extremely knowledgeable about horses," agreed Mimi Voss.
And when it comes to racing, "she's very savvy about all this stuff." Voss and Mrs. Merck get to be "nervous wrecks when our babies are running, because they are running over hurdles and she loves them and I love them. So she and I have a glass of wine before we go to the racetrack."
She commented that Mrs. Merck is so devoted to the sport, she goes up to Saratoga on Thursdays during the summer for the steeplechasing, even if she doesn't have a horse competing. But she always makes a point of seeing her horses compete, no matter where.
"If she has a horse running in a point-to-point, she goes to it. Everyone who knows her is in awe of her. She is a great sportswoman, and the horse is the most important thing to her."
ON THE RAIL -- If you want to see hunters dealing with substantial fences for a change, the class to watch is the USHJA International Hunter Derby Championships.
Last night's finals, a handy round with high options and extra points given for tight turns, didn't disappoint at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.
Brunello, who finished second last year by 0.25 points, was the winner this time with 577.75 points under the guidance of Liza Boyd. The 2012 victor, Jersey Boy, was one of many high-profile entries who dropped rails. He wound up 22d. As was the case last year, Scott Stewart of Flemington led after Friday's classic round, but he dropped to eighth on Garfield, who was third in 2012.
Kelley Farmer, who just became the first hunter rider to win $1 million in prize money, was second on Mythical with a score of 571.75...
Roddy Chadwell, a third-generation huntsman, died Aug. 7 at his retirement home in Stockbridge, Vt. He followed his father, William "Buster" Chadwell, as the huntsman for the Essex Fox Hounds in Peapack. His grandfather was huntsman of the Orange County Hunt in Virginia. He is survived by his wife, Leslie, and four daughters.
A celebration of his life is being planned, but those who want to make a donation in his memory may do so to the Sharon Academy Development Office, P.O. Box 207 Sharon, Vt., 05065...
No Worries, who rose through the jumper ranks to finish third in the $100,000 Wells Fargo Grand Prix at Devon in May, was put down in June after breaking his leg in a paddock accident. A third-generation homebred owned by Barbara Rowland of Long Valley, the horse was a winner in several divisions under the guidance of rider Devin Ryan of Long Valley.
Ryan said no one knew what caused the spiral fracture of No Worries' left front leg between his knee and his elbow.
"He was an amazing horse, a super horse," said Ryan.
ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE
Today: Delaware Valley Horsemen's Association Western, Drafter and Very Small Equines Show, DVHA showgrounds, 299 Ringoes-Rosemont Road, Sergeantsville; Monmouth County Horse Show, Horse Park of New Jersey, Route 524, Allentown; Princeton Show Jumping Series, Hunter Farms North, 246 Burnt Hill Road, Skillman; Spotted Toad Equestrian Show, Hunter Farms North, 246 Burnt Hill Road, Skillman; Autumn Riders Show, East Freehold Showgrounds, Kozloski Road, Freehold; High Point Equestrian Center Dressage Show, Combined Test and Horse Trials, 20 Birchtree Road, Montague; Good Times Farm Dressage Schooling Show, 278 Jackson Mills Road, Freehold; Briarwood Farm Show, Pleasant Run Road, Readington.
Tuesday: The Ridge at Riverview Show, 3 Wolverton Road, Asbury.
Wednesday: Princeton Show Jumping Series, Hunter Farms North, 246 Burnt Hill Road, Skillman (through next Sunday); Applewood Farm Dressage Show, Combined Test, Clear Round Jumping, Fox Hill Road, Califon; Suddenly Farm Dressage Show, 325 Main St., Lumberton.
Thursday: Smoke Rise Riding Club Show, 1 Talbot Dr., Kinnelon.
Friday: Duncraven Show, 1300 Trenton-Harbourton Road, Titusville (through next Sunday); State 4-H Show, Horse Park of New Jersey, Route 524, Allentown (through next Sunday).
Saturday: Spotted Toad Equestrian Show, Hunter Farms North, 246 Burnt Hill Road, Skillman (through next Sunday).
Next Sunday: Delaware Valley Horsemen's Association Hunter Show, DVHA showgrounds, 299 Ringoes-Rosemont Road, Sergeantsville; Palermo Schooling Show Series, 1555A Burnt Mills Road, Bedminster; Oxbow Dressage Show, Combined Test and Horse Trials, 39 Orts Road, Hamburg; Autumn Riders Show, East Freehold Showgrounds, Kozloski Road, Freehold.
For more equestrian information plus photos on the internet, go to nj.com/jaffer.
Nancy Jaffer may be reached at nancyjaffer@comcast.net.