Kyle S. hartmann

Making Science Accessible

Public Relations

Press Releases

Lord Nelson, Award-winning Rutgers Horse, Passes Away at the Ripe Old Age of 42

An article about Lord Nelson, an award-winning horse associated with Rutgers University, who passed away at the age of 42. The image shows Lord Nelson with a rider at an event, alongside a banner.

The (internationally covered) press release I wrote for the passing of Lord Nelson, the first and only horse to ever receive an official football penalty in an NCAA football game, was a bittersweet story. I had met Nelson a few months prior, as I only started at the Equine Science Center in September of 2014.

During my interview with Dr. Karyn Malinowski, the Founding Director of the Equine Science Center, and owner of Lord Nelson, I was able to cover a really unique and interesting story of a truly once-in-a-lifetime equid.

“Originally a part of the Rutgers University Police Department for 10 years, he served as the first police horse at the university, eventually transitioning to the student-run mounted patrol unit at Rutgers, the only such program in the U.S. As a mounted patrol horse he patrolled for over 20 years and worked with an estimated six police officers and hundreds of students over his long and illustrious career.”

“Lord Nelson will also be remembered as the first, and only, horse to ever receive an official football penalty in a NCAA football game. In addition to his time with the student mounted patrol, Nelson also served as the horse that was ridden by the Scarlet Knight at Rutgers football games. During a close game against Army in 1994, Nelson broke onto the field and raced all the way down the sideline to the opposite end of Giants Stadium. Receiving a yellow flag for his “un-sportsHORSE-man like conduct,” he almost cost Rutgers the game.”

“Lord Nelson retired from Rutgers in 2000, moving to Gales Way Farm to be cared for by a former Rutgers mounted patrol student, Wendy Gale-Hale (class of ’89). After nine years, the Equine Science Center brought him out of retirement to be the figurehead of Equine Science 4 Kids.”

(Excerpts from “Lord Nelson, Award-winning Rutgers Horse, Passes Away at the Ripe Old Age of 42” press release.)

Nelson is also credited as Rutgers’ “Equine Professor Emeritus” for his posthumous work as the mascot of the “Equine Science 4 KIDS!” program. He lives on through an online presence and blog, interactive games, and activity books that bring equine science to our younger equine scientists.

Horse-Caring Helps Veterans With PTSD

A U.S. Army veteran interacts with a horse during a therapy session aimed at helping veterans with PTSD, alongside an equine specialist who offers guidance.

I coordinated with Kitta MacPherson, Senior Public Relations Specialist for the Rutgers University – Rutgers Communications and Marketing division, for this story. Kitta captured the story of the research conducted by the Equine Science Center, and I provided her with the pictures to bring it to life.

Throughout Ellen Rankin’s doctoral work, I made numerous trips to Special Strides Therapeutic Riding Center to photograph her research on the horse-human bond and how both parties are affected through Equine Assisted Services.

This story led to a feature on NJ News 12, which included video I shot during my time with the horses and the study participants: https://newjersey.news12.com/rutgers-university-study-focuses-on-military-vets-with-ptsd-shows-different-approach-to-easing-symptoms (video that included the participant with a mask on was shot by me, the video of the participant with the cavalry hat was shot by a NJ News 12 reporter).