Bridlewood Farm’s General Manager George Isaacs, accepted the Robert N. Clay Conservation Award on behalf of John and Leslie Malone on Saturday 9/11/21 at the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) 35th National Awards Dinner. The award was given by Holley Groshek, executive director of Equine Land Conservation Resource (ELCR). The award was established in 2014 to honor a member of the community to help increase awareness of the importance that is land conservation. The award demonstrates how significant the cause is to the Thoroughbred industry and to hopefully inspire others. “The world will be a better place because of the Malone’s commitment to land conservation and their stewardship to Bridlewood’, says George Isaacs.
Here is an excerpt from American Horse Publications written by Holley Groshek, “”John Malone, the largest landowner in the United States, is no stranger to the conservation world. A well-respected philanthropist and supporter of land preservation, John is the founder of the Malone Family Land Preservation Foundation and a member of the board of The Nature Conservancy, one of the largest land-conservation nonprofit organizations in the country. Leslie Malone, a horse lover since childhood, is a well-known equestrian and major supporter of the U.S. Olympic Dressage Team.
The Malones purchased the 800-acre historic Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Florida in August 2013, and spearheaded its revitalization as a working thoroughbred operation. It now covers 2,000 acres. The Malones also demonstrated their commitment to protecting Central Florida’s prestigious horse lands as founding members of the nonprofit land protection advocacy organization Horse Farms Forever in Marion County, Florida. Their Bridlewood farm manager, George Isaacs, serves on the board of Horse Farms Forever, which was also the 2020 recipient of the Robert N. Clay Conservation Award. The Malones’ leadership led to other local farms joining the movement to protect the unique heritage and culture of Central Florida horse farms.
“I have had the pleasure of working for the Malones since the fall of 2013, and since traveled to many of the properties they own,” said Bridlewood farm manager George Isaacs. “There is a common interwoven philosophy that binds them all together. Stewardship, commitment, and perpetuity for the land, animals, and people.” Among the Malones’ many conservation achievements was the permanent protection of Riveredge Farm, the prestigious thoroughbred horse farm previously known as Sycamore Hall Farm in Maryland, which was on track to become a residential development before the Malones purchased the property and protected it with a 532-acre conservation easement. Riveredge is now maintained as a 600-acre world-class sport horse facility.
According to the Bangor Daily News, in addition to preserving land in Florida and Maryland for thoroughbred operations, John Malone also owns large expanses of land in Maine, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and New Hampshire and has earned a reputation as a conservation-minded buyer who maintains the traditional uses of the properties he buys.
“The Malones’ long-term commitment to land conservation serves as an impressive example for not only the Thoroughbred community but our equine community at large,” said ELCR President Ken Haddad. “We are thrilled to honor them with the 2021 Robert N. Clay Conservation Award.””
To read more:
John and Leslie Malone Honored with the Robert N. Clay Conservation Award
Bridlewood was also honored with the TOBA award of National Broodmare Of The Year for Drumette (Henny Hughes), Dam Of Monomoy Girl, named 2020 Kentucky Broodmare Of The Year. National Broodmare Of The Year is the highest honor that any broodmare can have bestowed.
G.M. George G. Isaacs at the TOBA Awards Dinner with Holley Groshek.
Photo courtesy of TOBA.
