skip to main content skip to main navigation
Photo of Ann Dorsett, Gracie Allen, Bob Allen, and Nancy Hutcheson - Click to enlarge
For Immediate Release: January 26, 2009
Contact: Lynne Richmond
(609) 633-2954

(TRENTON) - Robert W. Allen has spent his life showing horses, judging competitions, teaching horsemanship and sharing his love of anything equine with thousands of others. This commitment to a thriving equine industry in the state earned him the title of 2008 New Jersey Horseperson of the Year from the Equine Advisory Board.

Allen, owner and operator of Woodedge Equestrian School in Moorestown, was presented with the 2008 Governor's Trophy on January 25 at the 52nd Annual New Jersey Breeder's Dinner in Freehold, which celebrates the state's best in the equine field.

"Robert Allen is respected not only in New Jersey for his many skills, but all over the nation," said Acting New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Alfred W. Murray. "He is charitable with both his knowledge about horses and the needs of others, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for Philadelphia and New Jersey area hospitals and other causes through equine events."

Allen began riding at an early age and competed in the New Jersey 4-H program. He was New Jersey's first all-found horse judging champion. After attending Glassboro State Teachers' College, he worked with Monte Foreman, author of Horse-Handling Science and inventor of the "Balanced Ride Western Saddle." He also showed appaloosas, quarter horses and thoroughbreds, winning state and national championships in many disciplines.

Allen is a licensed United States Equestrian Federation judge and is a course designer. He has managed more than 600 horse shows, many of which benefited various charities. He certifies riding instructors through the American Riding Instructor Association, serving as national panel chairman for the organization since 1984.

All styles of riders throughout the country and Canada have benefited from clinics given by Allen. At Woodedge, he and his staff teach horsemanship to more than 240 students week.

Other awards presented at the Breeder's Dinner were:

Secretary of Agriculture Award for the New Jersey Standardbred of the Year: Deweycheatumnhowe, known as "Dewey," was the winner of the 2008 Hambletonian and all but three of his 25 career starts. The three-year-old colt, sired in New Jersey by Muscles Yankee, completed his career with earnings of more than $3.1 million, of which $2.2 million was earned in 2008.

Secretary of Agriculture Award for the New Jersey Thoroughbred of the Year: In 2008, Wild Gams captured two stakes races, becoming the fourth highest New Jersey-bred earner of all time with $1.2 million in earnings. The mare finished the year winning two of her five starts, with two second place finishes, earning $490,000. The winner of nine races in 23 career starts was trained by Ben Perkins Jr. She was sold at the Keeneland November Sale as a racing/broodmare prospect for $1 million.