Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

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HORSE

Helmets: tHe Hard-Headed facts case mountain

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trail guide

farm feature

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H.o.r.s.e. of connecticut

Horseperson feature

lend a Hoof

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Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

Paulina Kania

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16

Stacey Stearns

January/February 2020

Carey Lee Photography

contents

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20

18

features 8

Helmets: The Hard-Headed Facts

16

Tara Kassey-Kędzia

20

Équilibre Cosmetics

Case Mountain

18

Trail Guide

Generations of Farmers Farm Feature

Horseperson Feature

22 14

Pleasant View Farms

Using Radiographs to Trim and Shoe Grand Prix Guidance

H.O.R.S.E of Connecticut

Lend a Hoof

24

Property Taxation of Horses Above the Bar

in every issue 5

From the Publisher

28

Partners

36

The Neighborhood

7

Your Letters

32

Nutmeg State Events Calendar

37

Happenings

Overherd: News in Our Community

35

This Olde Horse

38

Is This Your Horse?

26

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

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Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

From the Publisher

W

hen I was 19 my friend

Helmets are my “soapbox” issue

you ride, there’s great information about

Sheila went off her horse,

when it comes to everything equestrian. I

while trail riding, at a gallop

hope you’ll give the lead feature a read

fit and when to replace your helmet.

Here at Pocketful of Ponies Farm we

(he was bolting) and she had one

have a new addition. Pequeniño is

of the “helmets” on that we wore

a seven-month old Palomino

in the early ‘80s. She was brain

Miniature horse. He’ll be just 28

dead instantly.

inches tall when he’s done grow-

It’s had such a huge impact

ing. Right now, he only weighs 90

on my feelings about helmets, as

pounds! He’s tiny and full of per-

you can imagine. Almost turned

sonality. I’m so enjoying his halter

me away from horses, almost . . .

training and ground work (play).

Everyone at Pocketful of

I hope you’ll put up your feet

Ponies Farm must wear a helmet

with a cup of something hot and

when riding and when working

delicious and enjoy this issue. We

with horses on the ground, includ-

certainly have enjoyed putting it

ing grooming. My 4-H’ers wore their helmets when doing projects

Six-month-old Pequeniño being welcomed into the herd by Belfie, our kitty herd mediator and guard.

together with you in mind.

May your winter be snowy

with my Miniature horses. It’s just not

and maybe it will encourage you or some-

enough to enjoy and not so snowy and icy to make barn chores arduous.

worth taking the chance — the people in

one you love to wear a helmet. After all,

my life are precious to me and to so many

we’re here for such a short time as it is.

others.

And, if you already wear a helmet when

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

5

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CON N EC T ICU T

HORSE vol. 5, no. 4 January/February 2020

ISSN 2378-5721

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Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

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The Hard-Headed Facts

Kit Cat Photogrpahy

Helmets

T

his isn’t a magazine article. It’s an intervention. If you do not absolutely, always, every single time, wear a riding helmet each millisecond that you are mounted five feet in the air, on a free-thinking, free-moving, horny-hooved, half-ton animal so powerful that engine strengths are rated for it, then you need our help.

Connecticut Horse wants to save your beautiful brain.

Some Scary Facts In 2016, the Journal of Neurosurgical Focus published a study revealing that equestrian sports account for 45.2 percent of traumatic brain injury in adults — more than double the number for all contact sports combined. This means that, statistically speaking, your head would be safer if you gave up riding to become a linebacker on your local, adult football team.

Furthermore, the American Medical Equestrian Association reports, “The rate of serious injuries per number of riding hours is estimated to be higher for horseback riders than for motorcyclists and automobile racers.”

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And, they add, “The use of riding helmets can decrease the incidence of traumatic brain injuries.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cites that nearly half of all traumatic brain injuries are caused by falls; 15 percent are caused by being struck by a blunt object (such as a lacrosse stick, or a horse’s hoof); 14 percent are caused by motor vehicle accidents, and 10 percent are caused by assaults. For the concussion-conscious, this means that barreling down Route 91 at 70 mph while telling your older brother that you gave your parents the security code to his phone that time they read his text messages is less risky than hopping on ol’ Dusty for an afternoon trail ride.

The CDC defines traumatic brain injury as “a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that disrupts the normal function of the brain.” Short- and long-term effects include headache, nausea, vomiting, and slurred speech. A traumatic brain injury can also impair thinking, memory, movement, vision, hearing, and emotional functioning. For individuals hospitalized for traumatic brain

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

injury, the CDC reports that 43 percent still suffer a related disability a full year after the event.

Guess what’s been shown to decrease both the number and severity of traumatic brain injuries in equestrians? You got it. Wearing a helmet!

Top Ten Helmet Facts and Myths

Facts 1. Horseback riders have more accidents than motorcycle riders.

Because the hospital admission rate for injured riders (0.49/1,000 hours) is greater than for motorcycle riding (0.14/1,000 hours), football, and skiing, it’s definitely considered a high-risk activity. (Read more about the Equestrian Medical Safety Association study at EMSAonline.net.)

2. Your horse doing something unpredictable, such as spooking, bucking, or bolting, is how most head injuries occur, but 20 percent happen when you’re simply around horses.

The majority of head injuries are caused by unpredictable events, such as your horse spooking. And even more

surprising, one in five people who are seriously injured weren’t even riding — they were just hanging out around horses or watching someone else ride.

3. The most common reason among riders for admission to a hospital and death is a head injury.

About 70,000 people go to the emergency room each year for equestrianrelated injuries. Some 12,000 of those have suffered a head injury.

5. Most riding injuries occur during pleasure riding.

Myths 1. Bike or skateboard helmets are fine for riding horses.

Cycling and equestrian standards are very different. Bicycle helmets are similar to horseback-riding safety helmets in appearance, but are not subject to the design specifications and standards that a riding helmet must adhere to in order to provide adequate protection. An equestrian helmet offers additional protection to the back of the head and the sweatband area. Equestrian helmets are tested by the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI) for chinstrap retention, penetration by a sharp object, and impact absorption. These tests are specifically for horseback-riding-related accidents.

2. Horseback riding isn’t dangerous as long as you aren’t riding fast.

Actually, the risk of injury is more closely tied to your distance above the ground than to speed. Falls from only over two feet high can cause serious injury, no matter how slow your horse is. The risk of injury is also correlated to how much you ride, not how good you are.

3. The more expensive your helmet is, the better it will protect you.

You can spend $500 on a helmet, but that won’t make it any safer. As long as it’s SEI/ASTM-certified, you’re buying a certified protective helmet. Spending more might get you different padding and fancier decorations or materials, but it doesn’t translate into more protection.

Shutterstock

4. Helmets work.

Most deaths from head injury can be prevented by wearing an ASTM/SEIapproved helmet that fits correctly and has the harness firmly applied. To get the most protection out of your helmet, it needs to fit you well, including a snug chin strap, and be properly adjusted every single time you ride.

4. If you don’t have a helmet, borrow a friend’s.

Avoid lending your helmet to others. As a savvy rider, you want to know exactly what kind of treatment your helmet has experienced during its lifetime so you can knowledgeably assess its integrity over time.

5. After a fall, if your helmet took the impact, it’s fine unless you see a crack in it.

You need to replace your helmet if you’re ever in a fall. It could have a defect that’s invisible, and if you fall on that same part of the helmet again, you won’t have the protection you should. And even if your helmet never takes a hit, it’s a good idea to replace it at least every five years (sooner if you ride often), just because the helmet material can take a beating from all the sweat, heat, dust, and rain.

FEI Rule Change In November 2019, the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) National Federations Delegates voted unanimously to make it mandatory for all riders to wear approved protective gear on their heads any time they are mounted on FEI show grounds.

“This applies to ridden disciplines only, and to the marathon phase of driving,” says Frank Kemperman, chair of the FEI Dressage Committee. “As for vaulting, based on studies, and especially considering that these are often children on these horses, we know that with protective headgear, the balance might be thrown off because of the weight, and so their use could be counterproductive. So, like in gymnastics, (the vaulters) are trained to fall.”

This rule is effective January 1, 2021.

Now a Scary Story “It’s just sad that it takes something awful happening to get people to wear helmets,” says Peter Whitmore, a horse trainer and owner of It’s a Pleasure Training in Orange.

Peter says there have been three or four incidents when a helmet has allowed him to walk away from bad news (a horse rearing and slamming him into an arena wall, for example).

But an accident in January of 2010 stole eight weeks of work from his life, forcing him to send the horses that were in training with him back to their homes, and making him intensely grateful he’s still around to kiss his kids.

“Ironically enough, I wasn’t even on a horse,” Peter says.

He and an intern were both riding when the intern’s horse slipped in the mud. The horse went down, pinning the intern beneath him. “The horse was on one of [my intern’s] legs, so he couldn’t get up, and the horse wouldn’t get up,” says Peter. He leapt off his own mount and began coaxing the fallen animal off of the rider.

“The horse lunged forward with one leg and caught me right square in the temple with his hoof,” Peter says. “I can only imagine what would have happened if I hadn’t been wearing my helmet. As it is, I spider-fractured my skull.

The specialist was shocked that I wasn’t blind or deaf, or both, because it was right over my optic nerve.”

“I was blessed,” he says.

Like many adults, Peter didn’t grow up wearing a helmet. In fact, it wasn’t until his mother, Sandy Whitmore, was going through her instructor’s accredi-

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

9

Two years ago I was about to go ride a client’s filly I’d started under saddle.

She’d been cantering under saddle for about two weeks at that time, and we were riding in the big arena — finally out of the round pen. I tacked the filly up like any other day and led her out of the stall, I looked at my helmet and said to myself, “This filly is quiet as can be, doesn’t even spook. I could start riding her without a helmet now.” But I had a gut feeling, couldn’t figure out what it was, and I grabbed it anyway.

After about 30 minutes of riding, I decided to lope her one last time and call it a day. She loped off perfectly, I guided her around the arena. As I turned and started down the long side, all I saw was her shoulders drop. The next thing I knew I was on the ground watching her fall toward me, and instinctively I flinched out of the way right as she landed next to me.

She’d tripped and her hind end flipped over her front. She landed on her side, almost on her back. I had gone over her shoulder and would have been crushed if I hadn’t moved. It was a freak accident.

I jumped up immediately, helped the filly up (who was very afraid at this point) and one of the instructors ran up to me and said, “Are you all right? You need to sit. You landed on your head.”

The filly was fine. She had a scuff on her knee but other than that she was just a little nervous and sore. I, however, had a moderate concussion (I landed on the back of my head), dislocated collarbone, torn tendons/ligaments in my shoulder and neck, and my neck was being pulled straight by tight tendons, causing a spasm.

Take it from me, helmets can save your life. I wouldn’t be living my dream of training horses full time if I didn’t wear my helmet that day.

Alyssa Plack

Helmets were always a necessity growing up and absolutely still are today. I rode plenty of green ponies throughout high school, and I’m sure helmets saved me from trips to the hospital on more than one occasion.

The one time that stands clearly in my mind, however, is when I was competing in Pony Club Nationals at the Kentucky 10

Local Lives Saved Horse Park for mounted games. My 25year old pony (who was my first pony) and I raced down to the end of the arena for the sock race. I vaulted off to grab a sock from the ground. As I vaulted, she went one way and I went the opposite. I didn’t let go of the reins. She yanked me off balance. I landed on the ground. As my head hit the arena footing, everyone in that arena could hear my helmet crack. The helmet definitely saved my head that day.

Kristin Connell

Wearing a helmet has saved my brain several times! I’ve been riding for more than 40 years and didn’t always wear a helmet when I was younger. I’m not sure they even made them then.

I have an Arabian mare I purchased as a two-year-old. I’ve done all her training myself. She’s currently 13 but remains a hot little forward horse.

Several years ago, I was trail riding her with a friend. We were riding down a steep and rocky hill, my mare spooked, and I went off. I hit my head on a rock but because of my helmet my head was saved.

I always wear my helmet [when riding] because I don’t want another concussion.

I want to ride well into my old age so it’s important for me to keep my brain safe.

Laurie Plourde

While on a trail ride, my horse bucked me off over her head and promptly ran me over. I took a hoof to the center of my forehead as I started to get up. I can’t believe the amount of force — it threw my head backward to the ground. I would have been dead twice — once from the hoof and again from the back of my head hitting the ground —if I hadn’t been wearing my helmet. Thanks to my helmet, I was able to get right up and chase after my horse. I’m a lucky woman who always wears her helmet!

Hannah Gossett

In 2005, I was exercising my 18-hand Canadian Thoroughbred Mr. Big over a few fences. We went over a jump and as I was coming back into my seat, he was coming up with a buck. When we connected, it was

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

the perfect storm. I was catapulted 20 feet up into the air. When I came down, I landed straight on the top of my head, which broke my neck at C1, and then my body twisted breaking my back at T4 and T5. I also obliterated my spinal cord at T4, which left me paralyzed from the chest down, and now I live my life in a wheelchair.

I came to terms with this quite early because the surgeon who operated on me said that had I not been wearing my helmet I would have either died from the hit my head took or I’d have been a vegetable needing 24/7, 365 care. He said that my helmet absolutely saved my life!

Without my helmet I wouldn’t have been around to enjoy my granddaughter who was born after my accident. I would have only been stories and pictures to her. In just a single split moment your whole life can change.

I don’t want anyone feeling bad for me because so much good has happened from the outcome of this accident. While in the hospital, I learned that I had a knack for making jewelry. So, now I create and sell jewelry. I donate some of the proceeds to two different organizations that help people who are paralyzed.

I can still do everything now that I used to do when I was able bodied, I just do it a little slower.

Brenda Murphy

I was warming up in the ring when a clap of thunder erupted behind my lesson horse totally out of the blue as it was clear out but a storm did hit five minutes later. I was told that I fell like a rag doll, like I was taught for just that situation.

I had a medium concussion and was bruised along the entire right side of my body. I was out of work for two weeks because of being so body sore. My doctor said that it was an absolute miracle I didn’t break anything and that the helmet saved my life. I lost about 16 hours of that day. I never regained the memories. The last thing I clearly remember is driving up to the barn for my lesson and then I woke up in my bed with one heck of a headache.

Anne Migone

tation that he began strapping one on.

The examiners had failed her — not because of any errors on her part, but because Peter was in the background riding without a helmet. It was then that he understood that every time he rides he’s a role model for other equestrians.

“How can I expect my students, my clients, to wear helmets if I don’t?” he says. “We don’t lose dignity because of it. We don’t look less professional. It just becomes more and more accepted.

Once people make that choice that it’s going to be every time, then it becomes automatic. Now it feels awkward to be without one.”

Now That You’re Convinced . . .

Finding a good helmet is a cinch, but weeding through all the choices can be confusing. In a nutshell, here’s what you need to know: Get a helmet that is certified by ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials), SEI (Safety Equipment Institute), or Snell (Snell Memorial Foundation).

According to information posted on charlesowen.com, “While some standards look closely at preventing the most severe types of head injuries a rider may experience, others protect from the more commonplace. No one

What’s Your Excuse?

I grew up without wearing a helmet.

Back in the 1970s, Tab was health food, school playground equipment was mounted over asphalt, Richard Nixon was popular, and Christopher Reeves was leaping tall buildings in a single bound. Professional ice hockey players didn’t wear helmets back then — now they do. We’ve learned a lot in the last 40 years. Be like the Bruins.

It’s my right to choose.

It’s your right to choose to go barefoot while leading your horse, but do you?

Riding bare-headed should also make you cringe.

Helmets are ugly.

Fencing helmets are ugly. Space suit helmets are ugly. British police helmets are ugly. Equestrian helmets are really not that bad.

I can’t be bothered.

One Granby, Connecticut, reader recently fractured four vertebral processes while riding her Quarter Horse in her back yard. She was wearing a helmet, so her head was fine. But she did spend a week using an assistive device to put on her own socks. Now that was a bother . . .

Helmets are uncomfortable.

Today’s helmets are cushioned, padded, highly adjustable, and ventilated. Fitted correctly, they are less annoying than the average bra.

There’s no concussion-proof helmet

True. There is also no burglar-proof house — but I bet you lock your doors at night.

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

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Your instructor isn’t the only one who wants your helmet to be a good fit; the Centers for Disease Control cares too.

Here are some of its suggestions for picking the safest helmet to protect your beautiful, oh-so-fragile brain.

• Do your homework. Visit area tack shops to learn about and try on the helmets they carry. If you choose to shop online, check the manufacturer’s helmet fit instructions and sizing chart.

And be prepared to return the helmet for another size.

• Choose a helmet that is ASTM, SEI, or Snell certified. No single certification can protect against every type of accident on every type of footing, but these allow you to play to the odds. If your helmet has more than one of these certifications, then all the better.

Get Fit!

• Equestrian helmets should cup the head, fitting snugly all around.

• Side straps should make a V directly under your ears.

• Fit your helmet with long hair either tucked in or left down, and then always wear your hair that way when you use the helmet. Some people keep a training helmet fitted to “hair down,” and a separate show helmet fitted for “hair up.”

• Once all adjustable areas are fitted for maximum comfort, shake your head.

The helmet should not move.

• Watch for any pressure points. These will likely translate into headaches after long-term wear.

• The front rim of the helmet should extend to about one inch above your eyebrow, and the back of the helmet should not touch the top of your neck.

• Adjust the chinstrap by giving a big yawn. If the helmet does not pull down, then the chinstrap is too loose.

• Equestrian helmets are like jeans: Sizes vary according to manufacturer and style. As with jeans, go for a good fit rather than the number on the tag.

• Look for a helmet that has a generous impact replacement policy. Your helmet really will need to be replaced after a hard hit. This isn’t a sales gimmick invented by profit-hungry helmet companies. Impact compromises inner cushioning (imagine sitting on a piece of Styrofoam). It collapses essential air pockets in areas you can’t see.

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Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

standard can accurately predict the specific type of accident or fall a rider may experience as there are too many variables to take into account: if the fall is on concrete, grass, or in an arena; whether the rider is kicked when he or she falls; whether the horse is wearing studs/caulks; or if a horse falls on the rider, causing a crush injury. Therefore, a helmet that meets multiple standards has been proven to provide the most comprehensive protection and cover a wider range of the potential accident scenarios a rider might experience.”

When comparing two helmets with the same safety standards, however, “They are safety approved and they either pass or fail; there’s no one that’s better than the other,” says Leah Yaylaian, manager of the Saddle Shed, a horse supply and equipment store in South Grafton.

Five-hundred-dollar helmets do exist, but most of Leah’s customers are more economically minded. After safety, they hone in on price, comfort, and adjustability.

“Customers usually like the helmets with the dial adjustment in the back. It tightens the band inside the helmet for [an adjustable] fit,” Leah says. “They’re inexpensive and they look good.” These

helmets are most popular for young riders who are still growing.

Leah says IRH Elite helmets are also popular. Retailing at about $260, “They’re very breathable and secure.

Those do well for someone who shows or for the rider who’s not going to grow any more.” Another benefit is that IRH (as well as other helmet manufacturers) will inspect a helmet after impact. A hearty knock on the noggin can compromise protective elements inside the helmet, rendering it unsafe even though it looks perfectly fine. If the company finds the helmet to be damaged, they will replace the helmet at a significant discount.

Peter Whitmore’s Dream “The Northeast is ahead in helmet wearing,” Peter says. “But it’s crazy in a world where we expect kids to wear helmets on a scooter or a bicycle that people would ride a horse without a helmet. What’s more important than a child’s safety?

“My dream is that, twenty years from now, people will just put a helmet on,” Peter says.

To him, the helmet question is a no-brainer.

Literally.

Heads Up for Traumatic Brain Injury!

Seek immediate medical assistance if you observe any of these traumatic brain injury symptoms following an equestrian accident: • Persistent or worsening headache • Nausea or vomiting • Weakness or numbness • Poor coordination • Slurred speech • Confusion or agitation • Unusual behavior • Marked drowsiness • One pupil larger than the other • Lack of consciousness • Convulsions or seizures

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

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Trail Guide

Manchester

by Stacey Stearns

A

Case Mountain

lbert Willard Case and Alfred Wells Case were twin brothers who opened a paper mill in the Highland Park section of Manchester in 1861. The Case family owned a considerable amount of land in Manchester.

They built a stone bridge over the waterfall on the western end of Case

Case Mountain is a short drive from Interstate 384. Put 68 Birch Mountain Road in Manchester into your GPS. There are four parking areas in Manchester; however, most aren’t horse trailer friendly. The Line Street Trailhead is small; arrive early if you

Pond, numerous stone walls, a log cabin on the edge of the pond that was their summer cottage, and a carriage path that leads from the present day parking lot on Spring Street to the top of Lookout Mountain and down to Case Pond. Descendants of Albert and Alfred sold the paper mill to Boise Cascade Corporation in the 1960s.

Today the land is Case Mountain Recreation Area, a 640-acre park that includes Case Mountain, Lookout Mountain, and part of Birch Mountain, situated in southeastern Manchester along the Glastonbury border. The Manchester Conservation Commission and Connecticut Forest and Park Association (CFPA) manage trails and the recreation area. Case Mountain is the name for the entire trail system, named after one of the hills in the area.

Dr. Jenifer Nadeau of Andover is the Equine Extension Specialist in the Department of Animal Science at the University of Connecticut and frequently visits Case Mountain. “It has beautiful, well-maintained trails and a great view from the summit,” she says.

“It seems to never be buggy and is fun in any season. It’s really beautiful when the mountain laurel is in bloom.”

choose this parking area. The Case Pond Trailhead on Birch Mountain Road is the best choice for horse trailers.

The parking lot at the Case Pond trailhead fits about 30 cars, and you can pull through. It was full on a mild November afternoon, and I parallel parked along the island in the middle, leaving enough room for cars to exit on the other side. I have a two-horse trailer and full-size truck, and I wouldn’t want to come here with a larger rig.

The parking lot is in a very busy area: Interstate 384 is close by, and you can hear the cars whizzing past. There’s a signboard with the map and a history of Highland Park at the trailhead. The map box was empty, but I had saved a copy to my phone before heading out. I saw lots of other trail users, including hikers, people walking dogs, and mountain bikers.

There are approximately 33 miles of trails in Case Mountain Recreation Area, although not all are open to horses. Terrain is rocky and hilly. The Carriage Path is 2.8 miles, marked with white blazes. The Highland Trail is 1.8 miles and marked with pink blazes. The yellow trail has some really steep sections and isn’t appropriate for horses.

Five miles of the blue-blazed Shenipsit

Trail, managed by the CFPA, runs through Case Mountain and is for foot travel only.

The trails are technical, and not for the faint of heart. Even on the Carriage Path, a blanket of oak leaves over rocks and roots made the trail slippery and tough. I was grateful for my horse’s

Stacey Stearns

A Leg Up

14

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

shoes as the trail has gravel on it, and roots stuck out in precarious places.

A short distance in from the parking lot is a narrow but sturdy bridge over Birch Mountain Brook. I got off and led my horse over the bridge. You can carefully cross the stream in a section in the woods nearby if you prefer not to use the bridge.

I dismounted and kicked the manure my mare left to the side of the trail. I also cleaned up around my trailer before leaving, per my usual routine.

Out Riding It Case Mountain is a nature lover’s dream despite the proximity to the city.

Mountain laurel grows in the park, and blooms in May and June. Birch Mountain Brook runs through the Birch Mountain section. Areas near Case and Lookout Mountains are home to vernal pools in the winter and spring.

Black bears and other wildlife call the area home.

Lookout Mountain is 744 feet and accessed from the Carriage Path. From the summit of Lookout Mountain, you can see Manchester and Hartford, as well as the western hills of Connecticut.

Huge boulders and rocks on the side of the trail are evidence of the gla-

ciers that created the landscape. I found the twin boulders, marked on the map, as we approached the lookout area. I saw lots of openings between rocks while riding that I imagine the small wildlife call home. Squirrels and birds were abundant on our ride.

As we approached the lookout point, the trees began to thin, allowing more daylight and sky to peek through.

It was a gray November afternoon, but even with the grayness settling over the horizon, the view from the lookout point was spectacular.

Blazes and numbered signs on trees throughout the trails help with finding your way; however, I did consult the map frequently while I was on the trails.

I didn’t see any of the stonework that I’d read about online until we were past the lookout point and headed toward Case Pond.

It was otherworldly riding along the Carriage Path with the stone wall along the side, thinking that more than a hundred years ago, the Case brothers and their family had done the same thing. It was definitely another era, one I caught a brief glimpse of while out on the trail.

As we approached the pond and the Spring Street parking area, there was a large stone on the end of a wall engraved with A.W.C. 1903, and I wondered which of the brothers the stone was for, or if, as twins with the same initials, it represented both.

We didn’t ride down to the Spring Street parking lot to see Case Falls but continued along the Carriage Path, staying on the pond side when the trail forked. There was a washout and steep drop-off down to the pond shortly up the trail, so we turned around and headed back to the fork, and took the upper trail.

It connected to the lower trail a short distance further up, and then we headed down a little hill, and could see the abandoned cabin coming into view.

My mare thought the cabin was haunted and was on high alert while we rode past. I think it had something to do with the squirrels scampering up the side of the exterior, and into holes in the plywood and beams.

Albert and Alfred used chestnut trees to build the log cabin in 1917. The cabin is falling down now, but you can still tell it was something in its day.

Fences keep people from getting close.

The stonework under the porch has given way, and I don’t think it will be

much longer before the entire building starts caving in. Across the pond was a small boathouse that looked like it matched the cabin, although it could have belonged to one of the private residences on that side of the pond.

We followed the Carriage Path along the pond, and away from the cabin. Soon we heard the familiar sound of cars whizzing down Interstate 384, and I knew we were getting close to the Case Pond trailhead again. Then a truck or some sort of vehicle backfired, and our quiet reflection while out on

the trail was over as we headed back down to the parking lot to pack up and head home. This was my first visit to Case Mountain and certainly not my last.

Happy trails!

Stacey Stearns, a lifelong equestrian from Connecticut, enjoys trail riding and endurance with her Morgan horses.

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at connhorse.com Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

15

by Kara Noble

Tara Kassey-Kędzia Équilibre Cosmetics Horseperson Feature

either of Tara Kassey-Kędzia’s parents were horse people. Her brother, Michael, was allergic to hay, so horses definitely weren’t his thing.

But Tara was a born animal lover. Even as a young girl growing up in Southington, she was determined to make horses part of her life and career.

“There was a barn called Hidden Horse Farm not far from my parents’ home,” she says. “We drove by it all the

“Every day in the summer, Dad would drop me off at the barn on his way to work and pick me up on his way home,” she says. “I was there all day every day. I was a total barn kid.”

After a few years, Tara decided she wanted to move up in the horse show world and enter more advanced classes than Tilly could manage. She sold the mare and bought an athletic young gelding named Noah.

time. Every time we did, I bugged my mom about riding. She finally gave in and I took my first lesson when I was seven years old. I never stopped.”

Tara’s parents, Frank and Barbara Kassey, supported her commitment to equestrian sports and became exemplary horse show parents. On weekends during show season, they rousted their daughter at 4 a.m., got her to the barn to get her horse ready, trailered to shows, and stood at the rail and cheered her on, whether her rides ended in the ribbons or not.

When Tara was 10 years old, her folks bought her a Thoroughbred mare named Chantilly Lace.

“We called her Tilly,” says Tara.

“She didn’t have papers or anything, but she had my heart. She wasn’t the greatest show horse, but she had the best disposition. She was so patient with me as a kid.

She’d do whatever I wanted. She was a sweet, sweet mare.”

Tara boarded Tilly close to her father’s business, Terryville Auto Parts.

Équilibre Cosmetics Hand Cream.

Tara and Noah in 2005.

16

Unfortunately, within a short time, Tilly’s new owner abruptly quit riding, leaving Tara’s beloved mare with an uncertain future.

“I couldn’t bear the thought of her ending up as an unwanted horse,” Tara says, “so I bought her back and ended up with two horses while I was still in my teens. My parents helped me financially with Noah, but they said I had to pay Tilly’s bills on my own.”

To pay for Tilly’s board and care, Tara worked as a veterinary assistant, first at Southington Veterinary Associates and later at Wolcott Veterinary Clinic. She also cleaned stalls at her boarding barn and let the barn owners use Tilly as a lesson horse to help cover expenses.

Juggling those jobs and bearing that financial responsibility turned out to be valuable training that would serve her well in the future — although Tara didn’t realize that when she was a teenager struggling to take care of two horses.

After graduating from Southington

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

High School in 2002, she considered several horse-related careers.

She entered Central Connecticut College in New Britain with an eye toward possibly attending veterinary school. Then she decided she might want to pursue horse training and gave that a try during a semester at Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, Virginia.

Ultimately, though, Tara decided she wanted a broader education that would

afford her more wide-ranging career choices. She enrolled at the University of Connecticut to pursue a degree in animal science.

UConn offered her the opportunity to study abroad and Tara couldn’t resist the allure of riding and learning in Europe.

She and a friend spent a semester during their junior year riding horses and studying animal science at Writtle University College near Chelmsford, Essex, in England.

It was there that Tara met a Polish food science student named Bartosz Kędzia. The two hit it off while they were at school together, but she didn’t expect their relationship to last after she returned to the U.S. But it did.

When Tara graduated from UConn a year later, in May 2006, she and Bartosz were still in touch. After her post-graduation job search in the U.S. failed to turn up any interesting career opportunities, she started considering her options in Poland more seriously.

Tara and Luis and Wladziu.

Paulina Kania

N

Southington

At the time, native English speakers were in high demand there and Tara’s Polish heritage made emigrating easy.

“Mom was born in Poland,” she says.

“Through her, I was able to get Polish citizenship, which made it simple to move there and find work.” Tara decided to make the leap and follow her heart.

She moved to Poland in October 2006 and settled in Poznań, the capital city of Wielkopolskie province, located on the Warta River in the west-central part of the country. “I was in my twenties and my future husband was there,” Tara says.

“It was exciting to move halfway around the world.”

She began teaching English privately and in local language schools. In 2009, she landed a job at Państwowa Wyższa Szkoła Zawodowa, a state vocational university in the nearby town of Leszno. To expand her training and career options, she enrolled in Adam Mickiewicz University, where she earned a master’s degree in English philology in 2012.

(Philology is the study of language in oral and written historical sources.)

Moving to Poland did nothing to dim Tara’s love of and commitment to horses.

As soon as she saved enough money, she flew her gelding, Noah, from New York to Amsterdam, then drove him from there to a barn near her new home.

While Tara was settling into her new country, Bartosz was establishing his career in the cosmetics industry, selling ingredients for a variety of products and making important connections in the business.

By 2009, the couple felt ready to start their first joint venture. They married that year and welcomed their first child, Frank, the following year. A second son, Edward, was born in 2013, and their daughter, Elena, joined the family in January 2017.

Tara and Bartosz began discussing the possibility of starting their own company after she left her teaching job in Leszno in 2016. “We talked about it for a long time and realized there weren’t any cosmetics on the market specifically for equestrians,” she says. “The horse world has a lifestyle all its own and people who live that lifestyle have unique needs.”

They considered specific types of equestrian skin-care requirements, such as having non-greasy products to avoid slippery hands that might fumble tack or reins. They discussed how to keep dirt and dust from accumulating and making a rider feel grimy. They thought about ways

to protect and nurture skin exposed to various weather conditions during long hours outdoors or in the barn.

After two years of discussions and planning, the couple decided to launch Équilibre Cosmetics, initially offering three core skin-care products equestrians could use daily, year-round: a body lotion (Smooth Ride), a face cream (Strong Start), and a hand cream (Firm Grip).

“Our idea was to start with skin care products people already use and to make it easy to switch to our products,” Tara says. “But we plan to expand our product line in the future.”

While Tara concentrated on the legal and business aspects of starting the new company, Bartosz approached trusted colleagues in the cosmetics industry about the formulation process. They enlisted the help of Bartosz’s brother, Kuba, a marketing and advertising specialist, to develop packaging, print and online materials, and a social media strategy.

From the outset, they made a commitment that all their products would be safe, effective, and 100 percent horse friendly. They selected vegan, organic ingredients and adopted a cruelty-free testing program, evaluating products on themselves and cooperative friends rather than on animals. They chose organic essences rather than heavy fragrances so their products would not irritate or overpower riders or horses, and they selected recyclable packaging.

Tara also wanted Équilibre Cosmetics to give back to the equine community in Connecticut that had nurtured her own love of horses and riding. She reached out to Patty Wahlers, president of H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut (The Humane Organization Representing Suffering Equines) in Washington. The two women arranged to have a portion of the proceeds from Équilibre sales support the nonprofit equine rescue. Équilibre Cosmetics officially launched in 2018 and Tara and her two sales representatives have already established a network of retail distributors across the United States and the United Kingdom. She spends a portion of each day contacting potential retail outlets to expand the company’s presence in Europe, and within just a single year in business, she’s already shipping products to retailers as far away as Australia.

Starting a business has been equal parts exciting and worrying, Tara says.

“There have been ups and downs. I know

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you don’t just succeed overnight. We’re getting good reviews and everybody who tries our products loves them. Even so, it’s hard not to worry, to wonder, ‘Is it going to work?’ ” Tara is determined to do everything she can to make sure Équilibre Cosmetics succeeds and grows. She’s on the right course with reviews like this one from the Sand Arena Ballerina Equestrian Blog. “I recently had the opportunity to review Équilibre Cosmetics Strong Start Face Cream and I absolutely love it. Équilibre is explicit in its values, from packaging, which is one hundred percent recyclable, to creating vegan products. Care is taken to ensure that the formula is non-irritating to both horse and rider. Another distinguishing feature is that the products are completely cruelty free. At Équilibre, no animal testing whatsoever takes place; instead products are tested on riders.”

Kara Noble has worked with horses for most of her life. She and her husband, Jerry, keep an Icelandic horse, a Shetland pony, and two mini donkeys on their farm in Montgomery. She’s a professional writer and editor who holds an MFA in creative nonfiction.

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

17

Lend a Hoof Washington

by Sally L. Feuerberg

H.O.R.S.E of Connecticut

H

.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut (H of CT) has always held a very dear place in my heart. H.O.R.S.E. stands for the Humane Organization Representing Suffering Equines. Patty Wahlers is the founder and president of this nonprofit organization that has been in existence since 1981.

When the day of my visit arrived, it was a one of those rare days in November

lives in the comfort and tender loving care of H of CT. Ahead of me and to the right in the farm’s outdoor ring was Sassafras, a lovely 18-year-old, 13.2-hand Mustang mare with a flaxen mane and tail. I remembered her immediately from a past visit. She came over to greet me the same time that Chris Zanella, who works with Patty, came over to say hello.

Half Pint that make you question the calendar as well as the season. The weather was more appropriate for a day in early September, with abundant sunshine and temperatures well into the 60s. As I opened the main gate of the property, a feeling of contentment came over me.

To the left, in a paddock, was my old friend Duke, an impressive 13-year-old registered Belgian draft. Although he towers over me at 19 hands, there’s a gentleness that’s instantly felt as I approach this noble and kind horse.

In the same paddock with him, as always, was the beautiful Fiona, greatgranddaughter of Secretariat. Fiona is a Thoroughbred mare born in 2007, but due to complications from previous neglect, she continues to be treated for a series of lung issues. The graceful elegance and stunning coat of this beautiful mare reflect the undisputable proof of H of CT’s dedicated care and attention over the years. Some refer to her as Princess Fiona. She and Duke have remained the ultimate paddock mates for four years. Both are eligible for sponsorship, but not adoption or lease.

Because of the constant maintenance and expert medical care they require, Duke and Fiona will live the rest of the 18

Patty Chris and I hopped into the golf cart and drove up to the upper fields where Patty was attending to some of the herd.

I found Patty with Mack, a 31-yearold Tennessee Walker gelding that was headed for auction when he was rescued

by Patty. Mack’s been at H of CT for about two years. He definitely seemed to be enjoying Patty’s grooming and attention, as she brushed his legs and soft thick winter coat. Although Mack’s losing his eyesight, his sense of smell is still working quite well. He knows she has treats stashed somewhere in her pockets and snuffles around for them.

While Patty was finishing up with Mack, she and I caught up on the new rescues at the barn and chatted about the horses’ backstories and how each arrived on the farm. As Patty led Mack back into his paddock, he trotted off to join a smaller herd grazing on the hill. I couldn’t help but think how fortunate this splendid old horse was to spend the rest of his life in such a safe and loving environment.

I wanted to meet a few of the new rescues and say hello to some of the horses that I’ve a special attachment to.

I’d met many of them on previous visits and they’d left quite an impression.

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

Even though I follow the organization on Facebook and receive its monthly newsletter, nothing surpasses having the opportunity to interact with the horses.

We walked past a few of the spacious paddocks located on top on the hill overlooking the peaceful surroundings. I had met the sweet and strong Bronson on my very first visit and I make sure to always follow up on his sta-

Victory tus on subsequent visits. He’s a solid and impressive 14-year-old, 17-hand Belgian Quarter Horse cross. I’ve seen him put on quite a show during one of H of CT’s Open Houses held throughout the year. I still recall the feeling of power generated by his thundering hooves as he cantered past me along the fence line. “He was born and handraised here on the farm,” says Patty.

He’s family to her.

There are currently 25 horses on the property H of CT calls home. It’s located on 47 acres in Washington on a property with rolling hills, grass pastures, multiple run-in sheds, a large restored barn, and Patty’s home. There are also miles of accessible trails and an outdoor lighted riding ring.

Sixty volunteers devote whatever time they can to the organization. Patty appreciates and understands the significance and impact of their involvement and devotion. “Volunteers are the most important aspect of our work,” says Patty. “Horses are creatures of habit and they get used to and look forward to seeing the volunteers.”

As we made our way back down the hill toward the main house and barn, our first stop was a large paddock with

several horses grazing on the hillside.

As soon as we parked the golf cart, the group trotted over to say hello and see if Patty had those special treats with her today. There was no tension or positioning among the herd, just a delightfully peaceful coexistence. Gus was the first horse in the group Patty introduced me to. This extremely friendly, gorgeous 16.1-hand chestnut Thoroughbred is only eight years old. He was the first to come running up to us.

“He loves people,” Patty says. “He’s an ‘in your pocket’ kind of horse. He has lots of energy and was born and bred to work. He needs mileage and a steady routine.” Gus rides English and is most content when moving forward on the trails, which he’ll go out on alone or with others. “He’s great on the trail, not spooky,” she says. “His only limitation is the weight of the rider — under 150 pounds. He has kissing spine. “Horses living with kissing spine may not be able to return to high-intensity sports like jumping or barrel racing,” Patty says, “but can function very well with trail or pleasure riding if given the right care.”

The next to approach us was Half Pint, a 19-year-old, 14.3-hand chestnut and white Arabian Appaloosa gelding.

Half Pint was adopted from H of CT when he was four years old. The woman who’d adopted him recently surrendered Half Pint back to H of CT after she had gone through several surgeries and could no longer devote the proper time needed for an animal that thrived on a steady and consistent work program.

“Half Pint is happiest when he’s working,” Patty says. “He’ll do work in the ring and loves to be ridden on the trails. He goes out solo or in a group.

He loves water and is traffic safe. He’d do best with an intermediate rider. If I had to describe him in one sentence, I would say Half Pint is a big personality in a small package!”

I never tire of meeting a new horse.

It’s like starting a new book that grabs your interest from the first paragraph and you can’t wait to read on. It was now time to meet Victory, a 14-year-old, 15.2-hand Quarter Horse gelding. His story was different and as for an ending, it’s still be written, but his future looks bright.

Due to a spinal injury, H of CT is teaching Victory to drive. He’s been sent out for more than 60 days of professional groundwork and driving instruction. “I believe he’s more of a man’s horse than a woman’s,” Patty

says. “He bonds quickly and is eager to join up when we work with him in the ring. He’s an easy keeper, barefoot, and loves to gallop in the field. He even comes to you when he’s called!”

As we arrived back at the main barn, I met one of the volunteers, Jo Farrell.

The smile on her face and the joy in her eyes showed me how much she loved being on the farm. She told me how she got involved with the program.

“My 2014 Christmas gift from my daughter was a one-month sponsorship to groom and trail walk a horse at H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut,” says Jo. “I found it nearly impossible to choose just one until I met Fiona. Despite her reputation as a ‘challenging’ horse, I felt an immediate, unexpected connection with her, and have sponsored her ever since.

It’s this unique relationship that develops with each horse that led me to volunteer three days a week. Whether I’m laughing and running with Coco in the ring or taking deep breaths and massaging Niki’s legs, it’s the relationships that holds my heart here.”

Sarah Sullivan also volunteers at H of CT. “I primarily work with Zeus who’s loveable and easygoing,” says Sarah.

“He’s kind to everyone he meets. His buddy Gus always makes me laugh when he gets into my things while I’m grooming Zeus. I enjoy spending time with all the horses on the farm. In fact, whenever I’m done with what needs to be done, I take a walk around to each paddock and say hello to all the horses.

And, on top of that, I’ve met some really wonderful people who share the same love for horses as I do.”

My visit was over much too quickly, but I felt both rejuvenated and hopeful.

I admire Patty’s dedication and perseverance for 38 years, making a difference in a horse world that can be both heart-wrenching and rewarding. I had to ask her how she does it.

“The horses in my care get me out of bed early to feed them and keep me busy every day,” Patty says. “I tell people part of rescue and rehab is selfish. I get to see them at their worst, and afterward, at their best.”

To learn about adoptions, leases, sponsorships, and how to lend a hoof, visit horseofct.org.

Sally L. Feuerberg is the president of the Middlebury Bridle Land Association and a longtime resident of Newtown. Trail riding and continuing her lesson programs are her passions, along with the care of her family, horses, and farm.

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19

Somers

Farm Feature

by Lara Rudowski

Pleasant View Farms Generations of Farmers

Y

ears of commitment, knowledge, and integrity are the foundation of a successful business that earns a valued place in the community.

Pleasant View Farms in Somers is just such a business with four generations of experience in providing customers across Connecticut and the Northeast with high-quality hay, feed, and bedding.

The farm is now in the hands of brothers Jacob and Louis Lipton, who together manage all aspects of the operation and carry on the tradition of

works more in the bulk grain side of the business. He also works with dairy farmers on supplying feed for their cows.

Jacob works with equine customers on the hay, shavings, and bagged feed side of the business and focuses on sales and marketing.

“We both share a lot of the same tasks and put a team effort in to get done what has to get done,” says Jacob.

The brothers expanded crop growth on the farm and on rented land in other towns, as well as production of

chicken feeds and the towering silos can’t be missed among the many large, hay-filled barns. Bulk feed delivery trucks with multiple compartments can hold large quantities of various feeds in one load, allowing for more time on the road and faster service to customers. A new hay-baling machine cuts cost, time, and manual labor by more than half, producing bundles of twined hay bales ready for distribution.

Most of Pleasant View Farms’ sales are done by delivery and customers can

livestock feed. For years, they worked with the Central Connecticut Farmers Cooperative Association, a large, local feed mill supplier in Manchester, but when the co-op suddenly shut its doors, they purchased some of the trucks and equipment to re-establish much of the business at Pleasant View Farms.

The 300 acres of land at Pleasant View Farms stretch into a scenic landscape of gold fields and familiar New England red barns.

“We grow about 1,200 acres of crops and 700 acres of grass hay,” says Jacob, who can be hard to find out on the expansive property. “We grow corn, soybeans, small grains like wheat, rye, and barley. We sell bagged shavings and make our own straw.”

The Liptons have invested in stateof-the-art technology and equipment, which allow them to carry a wide inventory of products to fit people’s needs.

Rows of moisture-control holding bins are filled with horse, livestock, and

also stop by the farm Monday through Saturday and fill up on necessities.

“It’s very convenient for people to come here and be loaded up with a bundle of twenty-one bales that fit perfectly in the bed of a pickup truck, so customers are in and out of here in minutes,” says Jacob.

The farm office doubles as a small storefront, but Jacob laughs that you won’t find aisles of farm or horse supplies stocked on shelves.

“We’re really focused on the essentials — high-quality feeds, bagged and bulk bedding, and hay,” says Jacob. “It’s one-stop shopping for the things that matter the most to people.”

Pleasant View Farms’ aim and the core of its business has always been on producing and brokering first-rate hay.

They offer first and second cutting from their own farm and bring in hay from as far away as Wyoming.

“The biggest challenge to conquer in a feed business is good-quality hay,”

Jacob and Louis

hands-on work to ensure the high standards of their products.

The family business began in 1918, when Jacob and Louis’ great-grandfather emigrated from Poland. He began by working on a neighboring farm, while saving money to buy land of his own. On his first piece of farmland, he grew some small crops and brought in a handful of milking cows. The dairy enterprise grew with the next two generations until 1987, when a large dairy business buyout switched the family’s gears solely into crop and hay production.

Jacob and Louis learned the workings of the farm from a young age, but their dad also valued their experience off the farm and stressed the importance of an education. Louis gained practical experience at Crop Production Services in Broad Brook, while Jacob attended an agricultural program in high school and Cobleskill College in New York for agricultural business.

Louis is the crop specialist and 20

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

says Jacob. “The reality is, if you have the best hay, people will naturally follow with their feed and bedding purchases. That’s where we really focus most.”

In 2016, Pleasant View Farms took a big step by becoming an official horse feed distributor. They have a close partnership with Kalmbach Feeds, the manufacturers of Tribute Equine Nutrition.

“Tribute is the only brand of horse feed that we sell, that’s how much we believe in it,” says Jacob. “The quality of ingredients that they use and how much they care about it really means a lot to us.”

Both Jacob and Louis are passionate about equine nutrition and assisting customers in finding a well-balanced, custom diet for every horse.

“In selecting the right feeds and nutrition program for horses,” says Jacob, “we first start by analyzing the

different horses that our customer has — if they have certain metabolic challenges, if they’re easy keepers or hard keepers, or if they’re prone to ulcers.

“We look at the types of activities and workload of each horse. This helps us determine the proper feed to suit the needs of the horse and provide the proper amount of calories that the horse will need in its diet to maintain a healthy weight, appearance, and to perform great.”

“The majority of the horse’s diet should be composed of forage,” Jacob says.

“Good quality hay is very important as the base of nutrition. Pairing quality hay with the highest quality concentrated feeds will help provide the horse with all the essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids needed to complete the diet. This will continued on page 35 . . .

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G. M. Thompson & Sons 54 Middle Tnpk., Mansfield Depot (860) 429-9377 . gmthompson.net H. H. Stone & Sons 168 Main St. S., Southbury (203) 264-6501 hhstoneandsons.benmoorepaints.com Litchfield Blue Seal Store 99 Thomaston Rd., Litchfield (860) 482-7116 . blueseal.com Lock, Stock & Barrel 770 Amity Rd., Bethany (203) 393-0002 lsbfarmsupply.com Norwich Agway 217 Otrobando Ave., Norwich (860) 889-2344 norwichagway.com Valley Home & Garden Centre 16 Railroad St., Simsbury (860) 651-5646 valleyhomeandgarden.com Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

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Grand Prix Guidance

Using Radiographs to Trim and Shoe

This article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered, or used as a substitute for, veterinary medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

W

hether you know it or not, your horse has experienced hoof-related pain during his or her athletic career. We all know that the horse’s hooves, especially the front hooves, are vulnerable to many external and internal forces. In short, it’s where the rubber meets the road.

Fortunately, we can control how these forces act on the hoof with a careful look at the relationship between the skeleton of the lower limb and the hoof.

How do you know your horse’s hooves are causing a problem for you or your horse? Most obviously when your horse is lame, and the source of the lameness is isolated to the hoof with diagnostic nerve blocks. Does your horse lose shoes for no apparent reason? Does your horse trip or stumble periodically? How about forging?

(Forging occurs when the toe of the hind hoof strikes the heel or bottom of the front hoof on the same side, just as the front hoof is leaving the ground.)

All of these are indications of a potential imbalance in the horse’s hoof.

Radiographs of your horse’s hooves can be an invaluable guide to determine the best way to trim or shoe your horse. This process is reliable, and the X-rays are easily obtained.

Let’s start with a few definitions: • Sole depth: This is measured from the tip of the coffin bone to the bearing surface of the hoof (the ground). Ideal sole depth is 15 mm give or take a couple mm. Too little sole depth and the hoof is vulnerable to bruising. Too much sole depth and the hoof is likely too long, causing tripping, lameness, and other problems.

• Heel height: This is measured from the back of the coffin bone to the bearing surface of the hoof. Ideal heel height is compared to sole depth. If it does not measure longer than the sole depth, there’s a negative coffin bone angle and if there’s less than 10 mm of heel height, the digital cushion is possibly injured. We also measure the height of 22

the medial (inside) and lateral (outside) heels to determine if they are uneven (commonly referred to as hoof balance).

•Negative coffin bone angle: Ideally, the coffin bone has a slight upward angle compared to the hoof (usually two to Sally L. Feuerberg

by Mark R. Baus, DVM

five degrees). A negative coffin bone angle is usually caused by inadequate heel height.

•Breakover: The most important measurement is how far forward the toe is.

Breakover defines when the hoof starts to breakover with each step. This is critical for horses that forge or pull shoes, but it’s even more critical for horses with problems in the coffin joint and navicular region. Breakover is measured by dropping a vertical line down from the tip of the coffin bone and by measuring from this point forward to the front of the toe or shoe. The ideal breakover with this measurement is between 0 and 15 mm ahead of the tip of the frog.

So we’ve decided we have a hoofrelated problem with our horse and are determined to make some changes.

What have we neglected? Our farrier.

It’s all well and good that we come up with suggestions for improving your horse’s hoof, but the farrier will also have a valid opinion about this.

Undoubtedly, your farrier will want to be a part of this discussion and plays

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

the key role when it comes to trimming the hoof and applying the correct shoe.

Before proceeding with hoof radiographs, it is important to know how your farrier wants to be involved in the process. Ideally, he or she is present when the radiographs are taken.

Alternatively, the radiographs can be emailed to the farrier or even printed off and left at the farm. Either way, it’s important that the farrier and veterinarian talk to each other to determine the best course of action before any final decisions are made.

What is our most common hoofrelated problem? The horse with low heels, low hoof angles, and long toes.

The cause of this problem goes beyond the hoof wall conformation that the horse was given by his dam and sire.

Conventional horseshoes work well in most situations, but they tend to preserve the hoof wall at the toe and not so well in the heels.

In active horses, the natural movement of the heels cause the heels to wear much faster than the toes. The horse with low heels is much more prone to bruising of the heels. If the heels are really low, the digital cushion is compromised, another source of heel pain.

Since the toe does not tend to wear down, the worn heels cause a negative coffin bone angle. Negative coffin bone angles create added strain on the deep digital flexure tendons. This added strain takes a toll on the navicular bone and associated structures. Negative coffin bone angles also put compressive forces on the front of the coffin joint.

Although we tend to regard issues of the coffin joint and navicular bone as manageable or inevitable problems, we can prevent these conditions with close attention to hoof angles, sole depth, heel height, and breakover distance. If you’re wondering if your horse needs help with his hooves, contact your veterinarian and farrier to see if radiographs would be helpful.

Mark R. Baus, DVM, of Grand Prix Equine, founded Grand Prix Equine in 2009. He’s provided care to horses in the same region and for many of the same clients for more than 30 years. Mark began the Connecticut Equine Podiatry Group to foster relationships between farriers and veterinarians.

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

23

Above the Bar

Property Taxation of Horses

This article is for educational purposes only, so as to give the reader a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. No attorney-client relationship exists between the reader and the author of this article. This article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney.

A

s residents of the State of Connecticut, we’re accustomed to paying personal property taxes on real estate and automobiles to our local taxing authority. Under Connecticut law, horses owned and or boarded in the state are also subject to a property tax. This is news to many horse owners and stables, who may be unaware of this or their statutory obligation to report horse ownership and value to their local tax assessor.

Some municipalities with smaller horse populations are unaware of the boarding of horses within their towns, whereas towns with historical horse operations are consistent in their approach to assessing horses.

Connecticut has historically treated horses as personal property. In the 1957 case of E. Ingraham Co. v. Bristol, the Court traced the history of a municipality’s right to assign a percentage of value to property for personal property taxation. “For example, in 1821 the statute provided that ‘all horses, asses, and mules, one year old or more, shall be valued, and set in the list at ten percent of such value.’ ” Statutes, 1821, p. 446, § 2.” See E. Ingraham Co. v. Bristol, 144 Conn. 374 (1957).

Connecticut is not the only state to assess horses for personal property tax purposes. Our neighboring New England states of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire all have a property tax on horses. In Connecticut, local municipalities assess horses at 70 percent of their fair market value.

An individual, group ownership 24

entity, and/or boarding facility is required to report the ownership information, breed, age, and fair market value of the horse to the assessor’s office by November 1.

Horses are assessed in the town in which they are boarded.

When horses are leased, this can create a dilemma as to who’s responsible for the assessment. An out of state

The final exemption applies to horses used exclusively in farming activities. Farming activities are those where an individual or group derives at least $15,000 in gross sales from farming or incurs at least $15,000 in farming expenses. To be eligible for this exemption from local property tax, a horse must be owned and boarded in Connecticut, used exclusively in farming, and the application for exemption must be submitted within 30 days of the town’s assessment date.

See CGS §12-91.

Although there doesn’t appear to be any movement toward the repeal of a municipality’s right to tax horses, it’s worth noting that equestrian organizations, including the Connecticut Horse Council (CHC), have taken notice and offered opinions on the matter.

The CHC “supports a repeal of the law allowing taxation of horses in the state of Connecticut. We believe that the current law is arbitrary and discriminatory. A horse is defined as livestock, and other livestock groups are not taxed on the individual animal as horses are, and pets are not taxed on their value either. Additionally, the majority of other states do not have a state property tax on individually owned equids.”

In 2014, Killingworth was the first town in Connecticut to vote to stop taxing horses as personal property. As of December 2019, only 30 towns exempt horses from personal property tax in Connecticut. istockphoto

by Sean T. Hogan, Esq.

owner/lessor would be responsible for the tax assessment on a horse(s) boarded in Connecticut by a lessee.

The allocation of responsibility for any tax should be addressed in the lease agreement.

There are, however, three exemptions available to the horse owner or stable owner.

The first exemption applies to all horse owners regardless of usage: Any municipality may, by vote of its legislative body or, in a municipality where the legislative body is a town meeting, by vote of the board of selectmen, exempt from property taxation horses or ponies of any value. CGS §12-81gg.

The second exemption relates to the value of the horse: Any horse or pony shall be exempt from property taxation up to its first $1,000 in value.

See CGS §12-81(68).

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

Sean T. Hogan is an attorney in Westport and licensed in New York and Connecticut, where his practice focuses on estate planning and assisting trainers, owners, and investors in equine-related transactions and litigation in Connecticut, New York, and before the USEF. He is a Governor of the Fairfield County Hunt Club and co-chairs the Fairfield County Hunt Club June Benefit Horse Show.

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Overherd

News in Our Community Twin Pines Equine Winter Lecture Series Mark your calendars! Twin Pines Equine Veterinary Services in Jewett City is once again offering its annual Winter Lecture Series at the Jewett City VFW. The Equine Respiratory System is up first on January 22, with Joint Disease and Therapies on February 4, and Antibiotic Resistance on February 19. The Antibiotic Resistance Lecture will feature guest speaker Dr. Margaret Riley.

All lectures will be held at the Jewett City VFW, 263 Taylor Hill Road. Each lecture will run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and refreshments will be provided.

The lectures are free.

Attend all three lectures and you’ll be entered to win a free basic wellness package!

To learn more about the lectures, call (860) 376-4373 or visit twinpinesequine.com.

Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show and Silver Oak Jumper Tournament Combine Forces The management of the Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show and the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament have decided to merge the two events. The June 2020 Show will be a combined event taking place at Ox Ridge in Darien, Connecticut.

The events’ ideologies, wishes, and desires for the sport are very closely aligned.

The Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show organization has long hosted an historical horse show since 1926 and is designated as a United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Heritage Competition.

The Silver Oak Jumper Tournament was founded eight years ago by Jeff Papows on the premise of quality in 26

everything from footing to course designers to relaxed schedules and hospitality being of great importance.

It’s been recognized by the North American Riders Group as one of the country’s finest jumper shows.

Both organizations are registered 501(c)3 charities.

Silver Oak’s support of animal rescue has been a mainstay of its mission as has been the case at Ox Ridge. There’s

acclaim, quality, and great reviews of Silver Oak,” says Flavia Callari, Ox Ridge show committee member. “The heart and soul of something designed for riders by riders and in support of the horses we all love — it’s perfect.”

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut The Humane Organization Representing Suffering

H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut residents Gus and Abby sharing the love in anticipation of the upcoming Valentine’s Day Celebration on February 8 in Washington.

almost a cosmic justice to this marriage.

“I’ve shown at Ox Ridge for years and realize not only is it located closer to many of our international athletes, but more important, the management philosophies and mine are wildly simpatico,” says Jeff Papows.

“I’ve so enjoyed my time there as a competitor, and the place is just beautiful and at the same time very intimate. I was blown away last year with all the property improvements. I’ve learned that working with nice people of a common mindset is key to motivating everybody involved, which is the reason for the move.”

“We at Ox Ridge have long admired the great production value, national

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

Equines (H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut), now celebrating its 38th year, will hold a special Valentine’s Day Celebration on Saturday, February 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., an event you won’t want to miss!

There will be hourly tours of the farm where you will meet many of the wonderful horses, ranging from a 30-inch Miniature horse to a 19-hand Belgian draft. The tack shop is open and filled with everything from blankets to bridles and grooming equipment. There will be a large assortment of baked goods and many great gifts, such as gift bags with stuffed animals, candy, handmade bracelets and necklaces, all from $5 to $25. Fifty-dollar sponsorships, which include

four visits where you can groom and hand walk the horse of your choice, will be available. We’re sure you’ll find something for your special someone, while helping a great cause.

The featured horse will be Legend, a stunning 16.1hand chestnut Appendix Quarter Horse gelding that was rescued last spring when his owner could no longer care for him. A former racehorse, Legend is 16 years young and is good to trail ride with other horses or be ridden in the ring. He’s very gentle and affectionate; he would make a great family horse.

Legend hopes you’ll visit him during the Valentine’s Day Celebration. Legend is available for adoption, lease, or sponsor.

All funds raised go directly to the horses — from feed and blankets to farrier, dental, and veterinary expenses. What better way to celebrate your sweetheart than to show your love and support to a local equine rescue?

H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization funded entirely by charitable contributions.

Located at 43 Wilbur Road in Washington, you can call (860) 868-1960 or email horsectinfo@gmail.com to learn more.

Volunteers Needed at Manes & Motions Manes & Motions Therapeutic Riding Center is a nonprofit volunteer-supported organization and part of the Hospital for Special Care community. Its mission is to serve children and adults with physical, developmental, and emotional challenges through the benefits of equine-assisted activities.

Manes & Motions is

UConn’s Horse Symposium The University of Connecticut’s College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resource’s Department of Animal Science Annual Connecticut Horse Symposium will be held Saturday, March 28, at the Horsebarn Hill Arena on the Storrs campus.

Join Rebecca Howard of Sandy Hook Equestrian Center, who will teach a Natural Horsemanship/ Positive Reinforcement Clinic featuring both in hand and under saddle components that will run from 9 a.m. to noon. You can choose to audit or participate in the clinic either with your own horse or a UConn horse.

Sign up early; UConn horses and space is limited but do check for availability.

Rebecca integrates natural horsemanship and positive reinforcement into a system of training for her own and clients’ horses.

Rebecca is also deeply interested in human and animal psychology and is halfway through a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a focus on animal-assisted therapies.

She has advanced training and certifications as an equine specialist for personal development and mental health and is the equine specialist for the nonprofit Embrace Hope - Sandy Hook Equine Assisted Therapy.

Rebecca’s clinic will have three sessions. The first session, Equine as a Second Language, involves understanding principles of prey animal intelligence. You will

learn to understand and speak the horse’s language.

There will be unmounted foundation patterns, great for Miniature horses, young horses, and those who prefer to do in-hand work with their horse.

The second session, The Clarity of a Paycheck, answers the horse’s question, What do humans want? For example, the horse does not know or care about the dres-

p.m. there will be a Cowboy Mounted Shooting demonstration followed by Hands On Horse Science in which you will get to do hands-on activities involving body condition scoring, fire safety with the Connecticut Horse Council, and more!

Proceeds from the symposium will be used to fund equine extension programs, equine research, and equine teaching.

Dressage4Kids Weekend Equestrian Program

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seeking dedicated and compassionate community members, 14 years of age and older, with horse experience to assist in its therapeutic riding program.

For more info on upcoming January 10 and February 8 trainings, call (860) 685-0008 or email mmvolunteercoordinator@ hfsc.org.

Rebecca Howard of Sandy Hook Equestrian Center will teach a Natural Horsemanship/Positive Reinforcement Clinc at the UConn Horse Symposium on March 28 in Storrs.

sage scoring system, but he does want to understand what we are asking him to do. We will begin to give the horse clarity around our intentions, and what’s in it for him. Positive reinforcement can make a 180-degree improvement in a horse’s motivation, performance, and relaxation.

Session three, Natural and Positive Under Saddle, is designed for riders of any discipline, applying principles of natural horsemanship and positive reinforcement to work under saddle. When the horse is first allowed to release tension, stretch his topline, and lower his head he can psychologically accept our leadership.

The Vendor Fair begins at 8:30 a.m. and takes place all day in the Horsebarn Hill Arena. At noon there will be a UConn Dressage Team demonstration followed by a UConn Morgan Drill Team demonstration. From 1 to 2

The event is organized by Dr. Jenifer Nadeau, Equine Extension Specialist in the Department of Animal Science at UConn, and her independent study students.

For information regarding sponsorship or having a booth at the vendor or camp fair, call (860) 486-4471 or email jenifer.nadeau@uconn.edu.

This event is open to the public. The cost is $20 for adults for an all-day auditor pass and $10 for those ages 9–18, 4-H leaders, and UConn students. Children nine and under are free!

The cost to participate in the clinic is $30 for 4-H members or leaders, UConn students, and UConn Horse Practicum participants; for all other participants the cost is $35. There is an additional $20 fee to use a UConn horse in the clinic.

To learn more and register for the clinic, visit horsesymposium.uconn.edu.

The Dressage4Kids Weekend Equestrian Program will feature a mix of unmounted presentations and active sessions January 25 and 26. As always, Dressage4Kids is sponsoring this event, but the program is open to horse lovers of all ages, levels, and riding disciplines, along with instructors and judges.

Dressage4Kids is a nonprofit organization with the express purpose of providing educational and competitive opportunities for youth riders and the adults who support them.

Those interested in horses and wishing to increase their equine knowledge will enjoy this unique program, which will be held at the newly renovated Nonnewaug High School in Woodbury. (All classrooms are ADA accessible.)

On Saturday, Olympian Lendon Gray will mastermind an Instructors’ Track, which will offer professionals the chance to discuss teaching methods and gather ideas from top instructors.

On Sunday, United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) “S” judge Margaret Freeman will lead the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Region 8 Judges’ Forum. (The Judges’ Forum is USDF accredited and counts toward continuing education requirements for USDF “L” graduates.)

There are sessions on horsemastership on both days, covering important basics of horse care and training, including practical sessions. Also, well-known experts will speak on a variety of topics, including different aspects of veterinary care, tips on best training practices, important business updates, and designing and judging musical freestyles, providing a large range of choices for all interests and experience.

To learn more, visit dressage4kids.org.

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

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Partners Our goal is to foster connections within the horse community throughout the Nutmeg State, and one of the ways we do this is with our Partners Program. Connecticut organizations that partner with us receive a free one-year subscription for each member; space in the magazine for news, events, and photographs; and a link from connhorse.com to its website.

Interested?

CDCTA is proud to announce its participation in the United States Dressage Federation Regional Schooling Show Awards Program. We’re also updating our website to allow

Connecticut Morgan Horse Association For the past ten years, the CMHA has held its annual Turkey Trot the Sunday before Thanksgiving at Bluff

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Kaylee Woods won the Connecticut Horse Youth Award through the Connecticut Dressage and Combined Training Association. This young lady is truly one of the most active members of the club. She’s a passionate equestrian who’s regularly participated in club clinics and shows, and Kaylee has also worked hard all year to support the less glamorous, behind-the-scenes preparations that make a club event successful. As the daughter of the CDCTA president, Kaylee is often one of the first people to arrive (and last to leave) at events. All year she’s pitched in — scrubbing equipment, assembling and dissembling arenas, hauling ice, baking treats, prepping prizes, delivering lunches, running score sheets, and many other tasks. At the October 6 show, Kaylee was running tests all day, took a break to compete, and then went right back to work. CDCTA is fortunate to have such a well-rounded, hardworking, terrific young person as part of the membership.

Stacey Stearns

CDCTA would like to congratulate its members on their phenomenal achievements in 2019. Julia Lamotte is our 2019 Ernie Award recipient, earning the highest dressage score of an adult amateur or junior rider, with an impressive 84.688 percent. CDCTA is also proud to award 50 year-end awards to its members for the 2019 show season. Members competed in schooling and recognized dressage; combined training; schooling and recognized eventing competitions; and western dressage from the introductory levels through FEI. CDCTA thanks its dedicated volunteers who have given more than 540 hours in 2019. All CDCTA events are organized and executed by volunteers, and CDCTA could not do it without them!

It’s going to be a very exciting year as it’s CDCTA’s 30th anniversary! March 8 will be CDCTA’s Second Annual Tack & Tag Sale at the East Lyme Community Center. Mark your calendars for May 10, July 12, and October 4 for CDCTA’s three schooling dressage and combined training shows.

The board of directors is planning additional events and clinics, as well as other exciting opportunities. As another offering for our members and participants,

Tracey Woods

Connecticut Dressage and Combined Training Association

Twenty-one riders enjoyed the Connecticut Morgan Horse Association’s Turkey Trot at Bluff Point State Park in November.

for online clinic, horse show, and membership registration.

See you down the center line!

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

n Tracey Woods

Point State Park in Groton.

This ride is a fundraiser for the Sue Brander Sport Horse Scholarship. Sue was a Morgan enthusiast, writer,

and owner, as well as a past member of CMHA and its show committee.

The forecast for heavy rain and high winds prompted us to move this year’s Turkey Trot to the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Although we lost a few riders with the date change, none of us would have ridden in the wild weather that Sunday brought.

We had 21 riders head out on the trails and enjoy the sunshine and views of Long Island Sound. All of our trail rides are open to any breed, and we had Morgans, Arabians, draft horses, Appaloosas, as well as other breeds at this year’s ride.

Each year, our generous sponsors make the day more fun by donating door prizes for our riders.

Sue Brander Sport Horse Scholarship applications are due by February 1.

We will recognize the award winner at the CMHA banquet on Saturday, March 7, at Zandri’s in Wallingford. We thank all of our riders and sponsors for making it another successful event.

Plans are also well underway for the 60th anniversary of the Connecticut Morgan Open Horse Show, held June 3–6 at the Eastern States Exposition Grounds in West Springfield. Judges are Missy Hanover, Tina Porter-Rovers, Susan Koso, and Carol Bishop. Thursday evening will feature a Chinese food party after the last class of the evening session; the People’s Choice Amateur Saddle Championships will be on Friday, the 60th Anniversary Party and Annual Hall of Fame induction will also be on Friday; and the popular Therapeutic Lead Line class will be held during the evening session on Saturday.

For more information,

n Stacey Stearns

Connecticut Renegades Cowboy Mounted Shooters

Jeanne Lewis Images

More than 40 Connecticut Renegades members, friends, and family gathered at the Old Well Tavern in Simsbury,

recognized for their successful riding season and for their club support. Winners at the Connecticut State Championship in September received their beautiful buckles that evening. Kayla Davis was recognized as the 2019 Sharpshooter for having the most accurate season. Robert Puzacke and his horse, Dakota, were awarded the

Connecticut State Cowboy Mounted Shooting Championship buckle winners.

on Saturday, November 23, to celebrate another successful competition season. Several hard working members were

most-improved horse and rider team of the season. The Eternal Sorrel Bar award, given to a horse that has had

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Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

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The Connecticut Renegades will be meeting soon to plan the 2020 riding season. Clinics for new riders and horses will be scheduled for the spring. Stay in touch through the Facebook page at CT Renegades - Mounted Shooters or ctrenegades.com.

Ruth Strontzer

n Allison Forsyth

Naples, Jimmy Clouse, and Christel Maturo for doing an excellent job managing the ballot table at the annual banquet and 79th annual general membership meeting. Thank you to all who attended. The food was great and there were many prizes.

Thanks to all who donated

Officers for the Connecticut Trail Rides Association for 2020 include Peggy Robinson, Diana Naples, Christine Mard, Ruth Strontzer, and Pat Gogolya.

will be held on January 5, with a snow date of January 19, at the Harwinton Library.

This is the meeting when the calendar for the year is created. Tentative dates are chosen at this meeting, and the calendar will be finalized at the March executive board meeting. We need new faces to host rides, help with camp breakfasts, dinners, barbecues, and auctions. This club owes its success to all the wonderful members who step up to help.

This will be my last article. I will continue to assist the newly elected secretary, Christine Mard, with her duties as she transitions into the job. Chris lives in Oxford and enjoys riding her horse, Dakota, and raising dogs to help the blind. She’s also a grandmother and a member of the Volunteer Horse Patrol with the Connecticut Horse Council.

n Patti Crowther

Pomfret Horse and Trail Association

Darcy Johnson

a significant impact in the shooting arena, was earned by Jet, owned by Sabrina Beckman. Jet has carried many riders of all levels both near and far. Deb Sommers earned the Silver Spurs award for her continued commitment and support of the club.

Several nonriding members, whom we rely on significantly at our matches, were also recognized: Trish Davis, Steve Pino, and Michelle Szmajilo.

The Connecticut Renegades also acknowledged the top riders of the season. The overall cowgirl for the Northeast region was our very own long-standing member and club secretary Sabrina Beckman. Sabrina and her husband, Tom, traveled all over New England and as far as western Pennsylvania chasing the points that earned her that great title. The club bought her a beautiful Connecticut Renegades jacket embroidered with her name and her 2019 Northeast Overall Cowgirl title. She and Tom were also the top riders for the state, so they received certificates for a free Connecticut Renegades match in 2020.

The top 10 riders in the club received some engraved prizes as well. Our three youth wranglers, Willow Hicks, Patty Groht, and Mackenzee Gelinas, were recognized with trophies for another successful season.

The awards portion of the evening ended with the induction of another Connecticut Renegades Hall of Fame member. Paige Forsyth, a club member since 2008, has served in a number of roles and earned many accolades over the years. She was not only presented with a plaque and her picture on the cake, she was also surprised by a slide show of photographs showing just how she earned this status. Everyone enjoyed seeing her journey that included several humorous memories as well.

The Pomfret Horse and Trail Association Fall Foliage Ride had 185 riders for peak foliage and nine miles of marked trails.

Connecticut Trail Rides Association Happy New Year! Wishing all fellow members a wonderful year filled with many trail rides, good friends, and bright, happy campfires.

We start the year with new executive board officers.

Peggy Robinson was voted in as president, Diana Naples as vice president, and Christine Mard as secretary. Re-elected were Ruth Strontzer as treasurer and Pat Gogolya as camp director. The board would like to thank Peter

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

an item and congratulations to those who won.

I am sorry to report that our annual barbecue and auction hostess, Shirley McClary, lost her battle with cancer on October 29. She will be dearly missed. Our 2019 auction was one of the most successful we’ve had in many years. Shirley’s smile and laughter would fill the pavilion with light. Everyone loved her cowboy-themed decorations.

The first general membership meeting of the year

On a warm October Sunday, PHTA held its biggest trail ride ever with 185 riders.

“The Fall Foliage Ride has become the most popular riding event in Pomfret,” says Penny Foisey, PHTA president. “Every year it gets bigger. It’s well run, the food is great, and we offer many raffle items from generous donors. Best of all, the trail is scenic and historic. Parts of the trail date back to the 1700s.”

Foliage colors were at their peak as riders meandered nine miles of marked trails through fields, woods, and dirt roads on private land. “We owe the popularity of this ride to the spectacular open space preserved by landowners and the town of Pomfret,” Penny says.

“We maintain more than twenty-five miles of trails in town,” says Penny. “It requires a professional chain-saw crew working year-round to keep

the trails clear. Most importantly, we owe a debt of gratitude to the many landowners who give us permission to cross their land.

Without them, the ride would not have the variety of terrain or the length. We start in the northwest part of Pomfret and cross into Woodstock.”

Landowners include Doris B. Townshend and Raynham, Inc., Joann Potrzeba, Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Townshend, Preston Abbott, Chris Cyr, Lindsay Philips, Edward Graff, and John and Jeff Cartier. “They’ve ensured that our rural character will be passed on to future generations. The ride gives families a perfect way to enjoy that land together,” Penny says.

Credit goes to volunteers Joann Potrzeba, Sue Jackson, and Lu-Ann Cunningham who worked long hours in preparation

for the day. David Foisey and his crew worked for months before the ride to clear fallen trees and resurface several bridges. On the day of the event, volunteers made sure things ran smoothly from parking two large fields of horse trailers to registering riders, providing desserts, and selling raffle tickets. The Rolling Tomato baked wood-fired pizzas on-site for lunch.

Funds raised from the ride support open space organizations, including the Windham Land Trust, the Last Green Valley, and Audubon. PHTA is a nonprofit established in 2007 to preserve horseback riding and trails in Pomfret.

To learn more, visit pomfrethorseandtrail.com.

n Lisette Rimer

spring tack auction!

Got manure?

Containerized Manure Removal Large Manure Pile Removal Containers Left on Site

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Custom Made Jumps, Tack Trunks, Bit Boxes, and More!

View photos at saltydawgequine.com and on Facebook.

march 21 • saturday, 6 p.m. middlesex livestock auction House 488 cherry Hill rd., middlefield, connecticut New English & Western Tack . Saddles . Pads . Turnout Sheets Grooming Tools . Buckets . Feeders . Snaps . Dewormers Amish brooms . Halters . Leads . Draft, Pony & Mini Tack Quality name brands. Great selection!

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SaltyDawgEquine.com Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

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Connecticut

Events January

3 TRAIL OF LIGHTS WALK FUNDRAISER to benefit Hay Burr Inn Equine Rescue, Plainfield. 5 to 8 p.m. Meet the horses and walk the lighted trail. hayburrinn.org.

4 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, ABF Equine, Coventry. rideiea.org.

4 – 5 PINES OPEN, South Glastonbury. pinesfarm.com or marie.foohey@gmail.com.

10 MANES & MOTIONS VOLUNTEER TRAINING, Middletown. mmvolunteercoordinator@hfsc.org or (860) 685-0008.

11 USEF HORSE SHOW, Fairfield County Hunt Club, Westport. huntclubonline.org.

11 BLUE RIBBON VENTURES SHOW, Epic Farm, Middlefield. bhcmanagement.info.

5 KEN WHELIHAN CLINIC, Westbrook Hunt Club, Westbrook. bhcmanagement.info.

12 BLUE RIBBON VENTURES SHOW, Magnolia Run Equestrian Center, Willington. bhcmanagement.info.

5 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, Mystic Valley Hunt Club, Gales Ferry. rideiea.org.

12 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, Mystic Valley Hunt Club, Gales Ferry. rideiea.org.

32

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

18 JOYCE PRZEBOWSKI CLINIC, Westbrook Hunt Club, Westbrook. showbrv@gmail.com.

18 CHSA SHOW, TerryAllen Farms, Terryville. terryallenfarms.com.

18 ETHEL WALKER SCHOOL SHOW, Simsbury. ethelwalker.org or jseaver@my.ethelwalker.org.

19 REINDEER SHOW, Westbrook Hunt Club, Westbrook. bhcmanagement.info.

19 CJHA SHOW, Fairfield County Hunt Club, Westport. huntclubonline.org.

19 CABIN FEVER SHOW SERIES, Shallowbrook Equestrian Center, Somers. shallowbrook.com.

8 THE HILL AT GRAYWALL FARMS SHOW, Lebanon. thehillgf@yahoo.com.

19 FOLLY FARM WINTER SHOW SERIES, Simsbury. amy.kriwitsky@gmail.com or follyfarm.us.

19 CDCTA AWARDS LUNCHEON AND ANNUAL MEETING, The Spa at Norwich Inn, Norwich. cdctaonline.com.

22 EQUINE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM LECTURE, 6:30 p.m., Jewett City VFW, Jewett City. twinpinesequine.com.

8 H.O.R.S.E. OF CONNECTICUT VALENTINE’S DAY CELEBRATION, Washington. horseofct.org.

a Febru

Traditional & Western Dressage Tests

9 STEPPING STONE FARM USEF SHOW, Ridgefield. steppingstonefarmct.com.

26 BLUE RIBBON VENTURES SHOW, Westbrook Hunt Club, Westbrook. bhcmanagement.info.

Sale Tack ry 29!

2020 Dressage Schooling Shows

9 FOLLY FARM WINTER SHOW SERIES, Simsbury. amy.kriwitsky@gmail.com or follyfarm.us.

25 – 26 DRESSAGE4KIDS WEEKEND EQUESTRIAN PROGRAM, Nonnewaug High School, Woodbury. dressage4kids.org.

nnual 8 th A

8 MANES & MOTIONS VOLUNTEER TRAINING, Middletown. mmvolunteercoordinator@hfsc.org or (860) 685-0008.

8 BLUE RIBBON VENTURES SHOW, Halcyon Equestrian, Litchfield. bhcmanagement.info.

25 BLUE RIBBON VENTURES SHOW, Halcyon Equestrian, Litchfield. bhcmanagement.info.

February

Independence Stable

15 BLUE RIBBON VENTURES SHOW, Magnolia Run Equestrian Center, Willington. bhcmanagement.info.

1 – 2 PINES OPEN, South Glastonbury. pinesfarm.com or marie.foohey@gmail.com.

16 CABIN FEVER SHOW SERIES, Shallowbrook Equestrian Center, Somers. shallowbrook.com.

4 EQUINE JOINT DISEASE AND THERAPIES LECTURE, 6:30 p.m., Jewett City VFW, Jewett City. twinpinesequine.com.

16 USEF HORSE SHOW, Fairfield County Hunt Club, Westport. huntclubonline.org.

May 3 June 7

August 2 Sept. 13

Check our Facebook page for updates!

404 S. Washington St. Belchertown, Mass.

(413) 284-0371 independencestablellc.com

New New England’s Largest Quality Sales Stable Celebrating 50 Years.

England’s Largest Quality Sales Stable

562 S Main St., Middletown, CT (860) 347-2531 www.midstatetractor.com Dressage is our Specialty Board . Lessons . Training All Breeds Welcome (especially Morgans)

Boarding Training

USDF certified instructor . USDF bronze medalist . British Horse Society certified

Mansfield Center, CT . Just 10 minutes from UConn foxfirestables.net . (860) 543-1399

Leasing

Trails

2 Outdoor Arenas

Indoor Arena

Gretchen Geromin, trainer

Lessons

Covered Round Pen

Clinics

Parties

Group Lessons

Show Coaching

239 Sand Hill Rd., Portland, CT 06480 (860) 581-0307 wbfllcct@gmail.com Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

33

Fox Ledge Farm Dressage Training with a Winning Tradition

Ann Guptill

USET Pan Am Dressage Team Silver USDF Instructor & Certification Examiner USPC Graduate A . USDF “L” Judge Graduate

Offering:

Board . Training . Lessons . Clinics All Levels Welcome . Exercise & Layup Conditioning Show Prep & Coaching . Indoor and Outdoor Facilities Competitions . Wooded Trails and Open Rolling Fields Staff On Site 24/7

29-A Daniels Road, East Haddam, CT (860) 873-8108 . eqarts@snet.net www.foxledgefarm.net

How about a nice massage?

For your horse!

Ridgefield, CT (203) 297-3008 kathy.curran@snet.net

16 BLUE RIBBON VENTURES SHOW, Westbrook Hunt Club, Westbrook. bhcmanagement.info.

19 EQUINE ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE LECTURE with guest speaker Dr. Margaret Riley, 6:30 p.m., Jewett City VFW, Jewett City. twinpinesequine.com.

28 CMHA HOT CHOCOLATE HAMMONASSET TRAIL RIDE, Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison. ctmorgans.org.

19 BOARD AND PAINT NIGHT FUNDRAISER to benefit Hay Burr Inn Equine Rescue, Putnam. hayburrinn.org and boardandpaint.com.

28 BLUE RIBBON VENTURES SHOW,New Canaan Mounted Troop, New Canaan, Easton. bhcmanagement.info.

22 END OF HUNT SHOW, Suffield. endofhunt.com.

28 – 29 PINES OPEN, South Glastonbury. pinesfarm.com or marie.foohey@gmail.com.

23 BLUE RIBBON VENTURES SHOW, Epic Farm, Middlefield. bhcmanagement.info.

29 OX RIDGE USEF SHOW, Ox Ridge Riding and Racquet Club, Darien. oxridge.com.

29 HOOF STOMP DINNER AND DANCE FUNDRAISER to benefit Hay Burr Inn Equine Rescue, French Club, Griswold. hayburinn.org.

April

March

1 BLUE RIBBON VENTURES SHOW, Westbrook Hunt Club, Westbrook. bhcmanagement.info.

7 CMHA ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET, Zandri’s, Wallingford. ctmorgans.org.

7 – 8 PINES OPEN, South Glastonbury. pinesfarm.com or marie.foohey@gmail.com.

8 STEPPING STONE FARM USEF SHOW, Ridgefield. steppingstonefarmct.com.

8 CDCTA TACK AND TAG SALE, East Lyme Community Center. cdctaonline.com.

Subscribe Today!

14 BLUE RIBBON VENTURES SHOW, Westbrook Hunt Club, Westbrook. bhcmanagement.info.

15 CHJA SHOW, Shallowbrook Equestrian Center, Somers. shallowbrook.com.

21 SPRING TACK AUCTION, 6 p.m., Middlesex Livestock Auction House, Middlefield. bluebirdmeadowsfarm.com.

34

4 MYSTIC VALLEY HUNT CLUB SPRING SHOW, Gales Ferry. mysticvalleyhuntclub.com.

4 ETHEL WALKER SCHOOL SHOW, Simsbury. ethelwalker.org or jseaver@my.ethelwalker.org.

5 BLUE RIBBON VENTURES SHOW, Fair Hill Farm, Easton. bhcmanagement.info.

5 THE HILL AT GRAYWALL FARMS SHOW, Lebanon. thehillgf@yahoo.com.

Send us your events for the Annual Events Issue

by February 1, 2020!

Email events@connhorse.com.

15 USEF HORSE SHOW, Fairfield County Hunt Club, Westport. huntclubonline.org.

21 FOLLY FARM WINTER SHOW SERIES, Simsbury. follyfarm.us.

connhorse.com

28 CONNECTICUT HORSE SYMPOSIUM, UConn, Storrs. Clinic with Rebecca Howard Hathaway and much more. horsesymposium.uconn.edu.

21 CHJA HORSE SHOW, Fairfield County Hunt Club, Westport. huntclubonline.org.

22 BLUE RIBBON VENTURES SHOW, Fair Hill Farm, Easton. bhcmanagement.info.

22 CABIN FEVER SHOW SERIES, Shallowbrook Equestrian Center, Somers. shallowbrook.com.

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

Request a free Youth Award for your event at connhorse.com/youth-awards.

. . . Pleasant View Farms continued from page 21

give them a full top line and excellent coat shine.”

There’s a mutual appreciation between the Liptons and the farmers who supply ingredients for feed mixtures to the farm.

Ed Kasheta, of Kasheta Farms in East Windsor, regularly supplies Pleasant View Farms with his harvested, dried, non-GMO corn that the Lipton’s grind and mix into livestock feeds.

“We’ve been doing business with the Liptons for a long time,” says Ed. “They’re one of the finest farms in Connecticut. Bryan Hurlburt, the Commissioner [of agriculture] has the highest respect for them. Their peers all look up to them. When they start something they finish it. They take care of the smaller farmers that need it.”

“On Saturday this place is buzzing,” Ed says, standing in the parking area of Pleasant View Farms. “People come in for hay and grain. Pleasant View Farms provides good service at a fair price.

They’re very good business people and they’ve got the respect of all their friends and customers.”

Of Pleasant View Farms’ roughly 1,500 customers, hay, grain, and shavings for horses accounts for nearly 70 percent of total sales.

Danielle Laudeno, owner of Twin Brook Stables in Clinton, has been a happy customer for two years. She’s worked closely with Jacob in selecting the right diet for her horses and trusts that their daily nutritional balance is in good hands.

“Jacob has been super accommodating and is very knowledgeable,” says Danielle. “I have a couple horses that have special needs when it comes to their diet and I rely on Jacob as far as helping me out with the Tribute feed that he would recommend. He’d give me a couple options to try and was always quick to say, ‘If this doesn’t work, I’ll come right away and bring you something else.’ I know that I can count on them.

“The hay is the foundation of our horses’ diet, so I don’t mind investing in good quality hay, says Danielle. “Right from the get-go Jacob said, ‘Okay, we’ve got you!’ They brought over a couple samples of hay and I liked it. Now I just place my order for the second-cut grass hay. They really do put a lot of work

Somers

This Olde Horse

Pleasant View Farms in Somers first generation in 1927. Louis and Beatrice Lipton are on the horse. Their children are below left to right Simon, Freida, and Herman. Louis and Beatrice did all the field work by horse from the time they started farming in 1918 up until the early 1930s when they began using tractors.

Louis and Beatrice had one more daughter, Anita, who wasn’t born at the time of the photo and is now 92.

Have a photo for This Olde Horse? Email into getting the nice, good quality hay.”

“Customer service is the number one thing that stands out in my mind and also just the quality of the products they carry,” Danielle says. “In my opinion, it’s really top notch. We’ve had weanlings, babies, all the way up to seniors of thirty-plus years old and every single horse looks fantastic!”

The sentiments of appreciation and satisfaction seem to echo throughout the equestrian community.

“We get our grain, hay, and dog food from Pleasant View Farms,” says Kelly Haluch, owner of Shallowbrook Equestrian Center in Somers. “They’re very thorough, they absolutely care about quality, and whenever I need them, they’re always there. Just great people.

“Jacob takes the time to meet and discuss ideas with you. He’s always willing to listen and come up with ideas to make everybody happy and healthy.

They’re down-to-earth, hard working, and care about their products. I recommend them to people every day!”

editor@connhorse.com.

A CENTURY LATER, family is still at the forefront of every day and that’s not about to change anytime soon.

“We have a whole Lipton community within a quarter mile,” says Jacob, laughing and pointing at several of the houses within sight of the front drive, where his mom and dad, grandma, and uncle live, to name a few.

“Family means a lot to us and it’s nice being pretty close,” he says.

Rumbling down the gravel road, supplier Ed honks his truck horn as a friendly see-you-later, while another loaded farm truck pulls in to drop off feed. ”We’ve been here for a while and we really try to do our best,” says Jacob, as he waves hello to the passing farmer.

“It’s a lot of work and it’s worth it.”

Singer/songwriter Lara Rudowski enjoys performing, spending hours at her piano composing, and writing stories and spoken-word poetry. Inspired by travel and the everyday details of life, she can often be found, camera in hand, at equestrian events capturing her love of horses and riding since childhood.

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

35

the

neighborhood

ARTISTS

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PORTRAITS BY SHAWNALEE Middlebury, CT, (203) 598-0065 shawnalee.com Charcoals, oils painted by hand.

BARN CATS

nnnnnnnnnnnn

TEAM MOBILE FELINE UNIT (888) FOR-TEAM everyanimalmatters.org Mobile spay, neuter, and vaccination clinic for cats.

BARN CONSTRUCTION

nnnnnnnnnnnn

THE CARRIAGE SHED (800) 441-6057, carriageshed.com Custom-built barns, shed rows, arenas, run-in sheds, Amish-crafted.

KING BARNS (888) 354-4740, kingbarns.com Custom barns, arenas, outbuildings, living quarters, complete design services, fine Amish craftmanship.

BOARDING AND TRAINING

nnnnnnnnnnnn

BRYAN PENQUITE REINING HORSES Enfield, CT, (614) 562-6352 bryanpenquite@yahoo.com Reining, ranch riding, training lessons, sales/leases, and clinics.

WHITE BIRCH FARM Portland, CT, (860) 581-0307 wbfllcct@gmail.com Boarding, training, trails, lessons, leasing, clinics, indoor arena.

WINDHORSE INTERNATIONAL Bethlehem, CT, (203) 710-5809 windhorseinternational.com Mindful practices for adult amateurs; boarding, training, lessons.

EQUINE-ASSISTED ACTIVITIES

nnnnnnnnnnnn

MANES & MOTIONS Middletown, CT, (860) 223-2761 manesandmotions.com Therapeutic riding for body, mind, soul.

EQUINE MASSAGE

nnnnnnnnnnnn

EQUINE MASSAGE BY KATHLEEN Ridgefield, CT, (203) 297-3008 kathy.curran@snet.net A nice massage, for your horse!

EQUISSAGE NE/NY CT, MA, RI, (860) 564-7759 equisportmt@sbcglobal.net Integrated body work for performance horses: reiki, Masterson Method, sport and therapeutic massage, myofascial release, craniosacral therapy.

FEED AND PET STORES

nnnnnnnnnnnn

DAWN BONIN HORSEMANSHIP Coventry, CT, (860) 985-7611 babcockhill.com Natural horsemanship, lessons, training, boarding, sales/leases, clinics, versatility competitions, group lessons, and seminars.

G.M. THOMPSON & SONS Mansfield Depot, (860) 429-9377 gmthompson.net

FOXFIRE STABLES Mansfield Center, CT, (860) 543-1399 foxfirestables.net Dressage specialty, board, lessons, training, all breeds welcome.

LITCHFIELD BLUE SEAL STORE Litchfield, (860) 482-7116

FOX LEDGE FARM, ANN GUPTILL East Haddam, CT, (860) 873-8108 eqarts@snet.net Quality dressage instruction and training; beginner to Grand Prix.

SHALLOW BROOK FARM Bridgewater, CT, (203) 788-2122 shallow-brook.com Event, hunting, and pleasure horses; boarding, lessons, sales; 4,000 acres of trails, cross-country fences.

WHIMSY BROOK FARM Redding, CT, (203) 938-3760 whimsybrookfarm.com Boarding, lessons, training, equine therapies, Pony Club.

36

H. H. STONE & SONS Southbury, (203) 264-6501 hhstoneandsons.benmoorepaints.com

LOCK, STOCK & BARREL (203) 393-0002, lsbfarmsupply.com Feed, pet food, tack, farm supplies, and power equipment.

Your Everything Equine White Pages nnnnnnnnnnnn

HORSES FOR SALE

TACK

STRAIN FAMILY HORSE FARM Granby, CT, (860) 653-3275 strainfamilyhorsefarm.com New England’s largest quality sales stable celebrating 50 years.

SMITH-WORTHINGTON SADDLERY Hartford, CT, (860) 527-9117 smithworthington.com Fine English saddlery and tack.

INSURANCE

nnnnnnnnnnnn

nnnnnnnnnnnn

DON RAY INSURANCE (781) 837-6550 donrayinsurance.com Competitive rates, great service, farm packages, event insurance, liability, mortality and major medical.

MIDSTATE TRACTOR AND EQUIPMENT COMPANY Middletown, CT, (860) 347-2531 midstatetractor.com Kubota, John Deere, Scag Power Equipment, Stihl, Honda.

LEGAL ADVICE

nnnnnnnnnnnn

nnnnnnnnnnnn

SEAN T. HOGAN, ESQ. Westport, CT, (203) 221-3250 seanhoganlaw.com Assisting owners, riders, and trainers with equine litigation, equine taxation, land use, ownerships, sales, leases, and USEF and FEI hearings.

PAUL CONGELOSEI TRAILER SALES Montgomery, NY, (888) 310-2246 congelositrailersales.com Finding just the right trailer? At Congelosi Trailer Sales, it’s easy!

nnnnnnnnnnnn

FARM CREDIT EAST (800) 946-0506 farmcrediteast.com Loans for equestrian facilities, farms, bare land. Equipment loans, leases.

Payroll services, farm business consulting, record keeping, appraisals.

MANURE REMOVAL,

nnnnnnnnnnnn

LE MAY, INC. Newtown, CT, (203) 426-2497 (475) 529-8567 (mobile) agrimixmulch.com We buy manure. Containerized manure removal, many options/sizes.

PHOTOGRAPHY

nnnnnnnnnnnn

JEANNE LEWIS IMAGES Wallingford, CT, jeannelewisimages.com Western events, barn shoots, portraits. Serving New England.

SARAH GROTE PHOTOGRAPHY Cromwell, CT, (860) 301-6647

VALLEY HOME & GARDEN CENTER Simsbury, (860) 651-5646 valleyhomeandgarden.com

RETIREMENT SANCTUARIES

HAY AND SHAVINGS

PLEASANT VIEW FARMS Somers, CT, (860) 803-2777 pleasantviewfarmsinc.com Quality hay, straw, and grain.

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

TRACTORS/EQUIPMENT

TRAILERS

VACATION

LOANS AND FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS

NORWICH AGWAY Norwich, (860) 889-2344 norwichagway.com

nnnnnnnnnnnn

nnnnnnnnnnnn

sarahgrote.com Lifestyle, event, pet, and nature. nnnnnnnnnnnn

MITCHELL FARM Salem, CT, (860) 303-8705 mitchellfarm.org Permanent sanctuary for senior horses.

TAYLOR FARM New Hartford, CT, (860) 482-8725 taylorfarmct.com Horse retirement is all we do!

nnnnnnnnnnnn

MOUNTAIN TOP INN AND RESORT Chittenden, VT, (802) 483-2311 mountaintopinn.com Vermont’s premier equestrian resort with miles of trails.

VETERINARY

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BROOKLYN-CANTERBURY LARGE ANIMAL CLINIC Canterbury, CT, (860) 546-6998 bclargeanimal.com Serving eastern CT and RI. Equines, farm animals,and camelids.

GRAND PRIX EQUINE Hawleyville, CT, (203) 733-0789 grandprixequine.com Focused care for the performance horse. Johanna Kremberg, DVM, Mark R. Baus, DVM. CARA KNESER, DVM Bozrah, CT, (860) 823-8951 kneserveterinary.com Mobile 24/7 equine veterinary service.

TWIN PINES EQUINE VETERINARY SERVICES Griswold, CT, (860) 376-4373 twinpinesequine.com Quality, compassionate care.

East Hampton

Happenings

Sarah Grote Photography

Connecticut Draft Horse Rescue Holiday Open House

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

37

Groton

Is This Your Horse?

Connecticut’s own Smith-Worthington Saddlery is the proud sponsor of Is This Your Horse?

275 Homestead Ave. Hartford, Connecticut 860 . 527 . 9117 smithworthington.com

Stacey Stearns

Crafting fine English saddlery and tack since 1794.

Available at fine tack shops throughout the U.S.

Is this your horse?

This photo was taken at Bluff Point State Park in November. If this is your horse, contact us at win@connhorse.com for a Smith-Worthington Saddlery leather halter and a two-year subscription to Connecticut Horse!

Subscribe Today!

connhorse.com

38

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

Connecticut Horse January/February 2020

39

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BRIDGEPORT, CT PERMIT

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