second-place winner, Crystal Maturo, who logged in with 113 hours. Gary Samperi took home $140 in the 50/50 raffle. The CTRA would like to thank all of the corporate and business sponsors who generously donated to our door prizes: Tractor Supply, Nutrena Feed, Pyranha Corporation, Blue Seal
Kowboy Ken Forcier riding Red at the “Big Bang – An Introduction to Mounted Shooting” at Equine Affaire.
Ruth Strontzer
Connecticut Trail Rides Association More than 80 members, friends, and families attended the CTRA’s annual banquet and elections to celebrate 75 years as a trail-riding club. The event was held at the Litchfield Fire Department Hall and was cohosted by our president, Lynn Gogolya, and our treasurer, Ruth Strontzer, who both did an outstanding job. The hall was transformed by member Sue Reznak for a beautiful fall-themed hoedown. Thank you to member and volunteer firefighter Ross Adkins for donating and making it possible for us to use the hall. The food was catered by Scarpelli’s Restaurant, of Torrington. Guests danced the night away to the music of Jim Irving. Jim recently married lifetime member Holly Adkins; best wishes to them! Congratulations to Ruth Strontzer, whose 140 hours earned her first place in Carrie Torsiello’s Hours Ridden Challenge, and to
camp director, Bud Dore. A heartfelt thank-you goes to everyone who contributed to make this year’s banquet a successful celebration. An executive board meeting will take place January 7 at 11 A.M. at the Harwinton Library. Lunch will be at 12:30, followed by a general membership meeting at 1:30. We encourage
Jeanne Lewis Images
such a fast, smooth course! Heather continued her “new horse and rider” persona by showing how to ride the course in a slow and steady manner that lets new horses get accustomed to the gunfire. Other riders who demonstrated their levels and skills were Alan Green, of Bethany; Christine Boudreau, of Belmont, Vermont; Stephanie Shaw, of Granby; and Gus Carlson, of West Granby. Our last two runs were a demo of a rifle run by Bruce and a shotgun run by Kowboy Ken Forcier, of Oxford. Between each ride, we explained how spectators could learn more about the sport and how to get involved. For more information about the CR and the sport of cowboy mounted shooting, visit ctrenegades.com. 7Allison Forsyth
Volunteers Sue Reznak, Lynn Gogolya, and Robin Marrotte at the Connecticut Trail Rides Association’s annual banquet and elections.
Feeds, Lakeside Feed Store, Liberty Bank, Shagbark Lumber & Farm Supplies, Anderson Farm Supply, Featherlite Trailers, Purina Feed, Straight Arrow Corporation, USRider, and equine dentist Shelly Wysocki. Congratulations to the newly or reelected club officers: president, Lynn Gogolya; vice president, Kowboy Ken Forcier; treasurer, Ruth Strontzer; secretary, Patti Crowther; and
you to attend, as this is when we plan our ride schedule for the year. Please RSVP to President Lynn Gogolya, (860) 485-9092, and bring a dish to share. To learn more, join our Facebook page or visit cttrailridesassoc.org. Warm winter wishes! 7Gigi Ouellette
Granby Horse Council The year 2015 was an activities-packed one: First of all, every monthly meeting fea-
tured an educational or entertaining program. Then, during the annual banquet, in February, we took the opportunity to thank all the members who contributed time and energy to the GHC’s events and to socialize without horses. Members and guests enjoyed dinner, followed by dancing and fun with friends new and old. The last Sunday in April was the day of an annual event, the Blessing of the Mounts, and a trail ride at Holcomb Farm, which kicked off the trail-riding season. May always brings parade practices, which involve desensitizing horses to many situations in preparation for the Granby Memorial Day Parade. Eleven horse-and-rider teams and 13 other members participated in the parade, and presented professionally in their blue-and-black uniforms. The GHC parade team is available for parades from April through November. In July, the club sponsored its Equine Obstacle Play Day at Salmon Brook Park, in Granby, and the Steep Rock Ride, in Washington Depot. August activities were the Poker Ride and the Scavenger Hunt Ride, both in Granby. In September, club members traveled to White Memorial, in Litchfield, for a trail ride. In October, it was off to Robinson State Park, in Agawam, Massachusetts, for the St. Jude Benefit Ride; to East Beach, in Rhode Island, for the Bill Strain Memorial Ride; and to Granville, Massachusetts, for the Breakfast Ride at Maple Corners. The Last Hurrah Ride and the Pot Luck Lunch were held in November at Evans Farm, in Granville. For the second year, the parade team made an impressive appearance in the Hartford Veterans Day Parade. To cap off the year, the council celeConnecticut Horse
43