Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

M A S S AC H U S E T T S

HORSE

PLAYING IN THE SNOW FUN WINTER ACTIVITIES WITH HORSES

February/March 2019 mahorse.com $4

BEARTOWN STATE FOREST TRAIL GUIDE

A CURIOUS HORSE IS A GOOD HORSE HORSE LOGIC

MISTY MEADOWS EQUINE LEARNING CENTER LEND A HOOF

2 Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

contents

February/March 2019

columns 14 Misty Meadows Equine Learning Center Building Relationships, Making Connections

Alessandra Mele

Lend a Hoof

8

16

20 A Curious Horse Is a Good Horse Horse Logic

26 Events Calendar

12

Stacey Stearns

Massachusetts Only

18

features 8 Playing in the Snow Fun Winter Activities with Horses

in every issue 16 Sam VanFleet

5 From the Publisher

Learning from the Horse

7 Your Letters

Horseperson Feature

22 Overherd

Lead Feature

24 Partners

12 White Horse Hill It’s All About Learning Farm Feature

18 Beartown State Forest Trail Guide

31 This Olde Horse 32 The Neighborhood 33 Bay State Happenings 34 Is This Your Horse?

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

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FARMFAMILY. COM

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Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

From the Publisher

I

’m writing to you from sunny Florida where manatees

and dolphins are my daily companions as I work from

my mom’s home on the Caloosahatchee River where it

meets the Gulf of Mexico. How lucky am I that I have a friend who provides the best animal care for me while I’m away? Thank you Jamie!

I fly home in a few days. A big snowstorm and super cold temperatures will welcome me to Pocketful of Ponies Farm in the foothills of the Berkshires. I’ve missed my little herd and the kitties. It will be good to be home.

The days are getting longer and spring is just around the corner. The upcoming April/May issue is the Annual Events Issue. Email upcoming events to events@mahorse.com for inclusion in our comprehensive Bay State–only Events Calendar. It’s free!

Enjoy the bright blue skies of February as the snow melts faster and the days continue to lengthen!

The Youth Mustang Challenge Applications Are Open!

Presented by Peter Whitmore of It’s A Pleasure Training in Orange and the Mustang Heritage Foundation.

Selected youth trainers get to gentle and train a young wild Mustang! ey compete August 31 with other youth trainers in a variety of in-hand classes for prizes, awards, and title of Youth Trainer of the Year! Youth Division Open to Ages 8-17.

r an o f d e n u Stay t ivision Adult D ement! c announ

Mustang pickup is June 1; competition is August 31 Both take place in Orange, Massachusetts

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Applications due May 1, 2019!

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HORSE vol. 17, no. 5 February/March 2019

ISSN 1945-1393

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the fine print The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Massachusetts Horse staff or independent contractors, nor can they be held accountable. Massachusetts Horse will not be held responsible for any misrepresentations or any copyright infringement on the part of advertisers. Massachusetts Horse will not be held responsible for typing errors other than a correction in the following issue. All letters addressed to Massachusetts Horse, its publisher, editor, and staff are assumed for publication. Photos, stories (verbal or printed), notifications, news items, and all other material that is submitted, including all materials and photos not specifically solicited by Massachusetts Horse, are assumed to be legally released by the submitter for publication. Massachusetts Horse assumes no responsibility for damage to or loss of material submitted for publication. Reasonable care will be taken to ensure the safety and return of all materials.

Your Letters To the editor: I just got my copies of Massachusetts Horse. Thanks for sending them. Thank you so much for including me in Massachusetts Horse. [December/January 2019; Dana Goedewaagen: Horses Come Full Circle] I loved meeting Kara [Noble} and she did a terrific job. I hope your readers enjoyed it and find my story of some interest. Have a wonderful winter!

Dana Goedewaagen, Glendale

To the editor: The article is fantastic! [December/January 2019; Heroes, Horses, and Hounds: Saving Two Lives at Once] It captures everything I wanted to say! Thank you so much.

Let us know your thoughts!

Colleen Campbell, Heroes, Horses, and Hounds president, Sunderland

We’ll enter you to win a $75 Cheshire Horse gift card!

All letters received by March 5 will be entered in the drawing. Send your letters to: steph@mahorse.com or Massachusetts Horse, 99 Bissell Rd., Williamsburg, MA 01096.

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Writer Alessandra Mele skijoring behind her sister Brooke riding Ten, a retired polo pony owned

by Lucy Manos.

Fun Winter Activities with Horses

by Alessandra Mele

I

t’s early February. You’re chipping away at the millionth frozen ice bucket of the winter, your horse’s blanket is downright stiff, the paddock is a minefield of frozen, ankle-twisting manure, and the dust on your saddle is steadily accumulating much like the snow still falling outside. Green grass is a distant dream from the past, and it’s a ways to go before this deep frost melts away. Things may seem bleak this time of year, and that’s when you know it’s time to get creative with your winter barn routine.

Winter in Massachusetts can be fun with horses when you consider the possibilities. Ever tried skiing with your horse? Norwegians have been doing it for centuries! How about hooking up a sleigh? New England is known for its festive sleigh rallies. For the competitive, there’s snow polo — pick up a mallet!

And let’s not forget the simple pleasure of just bundling up and riding fuzzy horses through a fresh coating of fluffy snow, bounding through drifts. Taking a look at some of the winter sporting options available to equestrians, there’s no reason not to savor these cold days of the Bay State winter wonderland.

Snowing? Saddle up!

If you don’t have access to an indoor arena, it can be easy to throw the heavy 8

winter blanket on your horse and stash the saddle away until spring. While there’s nothing wrong with a little seasonal off time, there’s no reason to forgo riding completely once winter sets in. With small modifications, taking your horse out riding in the snow is fun and a great way to keep him in shape.

If you are going to be riding regularly through the winter, you’ll need to take your horse’s hooves into consideration, particularly if he’s shod. Talk to your farrier about winter shoeing options. Hoof care in the winter gives horse owners many horseshoe options including ice calks, snow rim pads, drive-in calks, borium, bubble pads, or even going barefoot. Your farrier may recommend snow pads, or “poppers,” that prevent snowballs from building up in the sole, which can be dangerous.

There are some instances where riding in winter is unfortunately a nogo. Regular workouts should not be executed on hard, frozen ground. The concussion will affect your horses hooves, legs, tendons, and joints, and will result in soreness and risk injury.

Always be sensitive to the quality of the footing when venturing out in the winter. Very icy and slippery conditions should be avoided completely; it’s not worth the risk of slipping and falling.

Ice can be very dangerous and a tricky

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

situation to get out of once the slipping and sliding starts, especially if a horse is shod in regular shoes.

When conditions are right though, winter riding is a blast. A soft, fluffy snow is ideal for saddling up, and you will find your horse has excellent traction at all gaits. If the snow is deep, there’s nothing quite like urging your horse into the canter and feeling him leap up beneath you, moving in bounds that are sure to send you into a belly laugh. Follow his motion with your hands and keep a tight leg! Deep snow tends to bring an unexpected dose of rider confidence as well; it’s pretty amazing to have a big, fluffy “pillow” right under your horse, ready to catch you should disaster. Seize the opportunity to let loose and gallop! Be sure to keep in mind that it’s much harder going in deep snow for your horse so be sure to be considerate and not exhaust him.

Ski Bums Skijoring has a long history and was originally a very practical method of winter transportation. Originating in Norway in the 19th century, skijoring roughly translates to ski driving. It was first used as a way to speed up transmission of army dispatches, but quickly became popular in other snowy parts of the world as a simple recreational thrill.

Jake Corbett

Playing in the Snow

Sean A. Cruz at Boston Polo

Snow polo at Boston Polo in Georgetown.

These days, skijoring in America can look more like an extreme rodeo.

Competitions out West, where skijoring is most popular, require horse, rider, and skier to maneuver courses of 1,000 feet or more, 12 slalom gates, six jousting rings, and multiple jumps that can be as high as six feet, all at top speed!

The sport requires strength, speed, balance, and a certain level of fearlessness.

In Massachusetts, however, skijoring attempts are typically a bit more tame. Harnessing up a steady horse, or attaching a rope to the saddle and pulling a friend for a glide through the glistening pasture is a lovely way to spend a winter day.

Rose Blomgren of Brimfield loves strapping on skis with family and friends; skijoring is a winter activity enjoyed by all at her barn.

“Whether we’re skijoring with our Miniature horse or the larger horses, we traditionally use a driving bridle and harness with the breeching and loin straps removed,” Rose says. “In terms of how we’re pulled, it tends to depend on the horse we’re using. We have used quick release systems and longe lines to hold on to with both hands. No matter what though, we always wear helmets!

While the Miniatures have little hooves, the bigger horses have a tendency to throw snowballs back. It’s also a good idea to use a cheap set of skis that are just for skijoring! They are bound to get a little beat up eventually. Bundle up, hang on tight, and have fun!”

For horses that are more comfortable under saddle than in harness, skijoring with a rider is double the fun.

Brooke Mele and her family tack up their most trustworthy gelding whenever a fresh blanket of snow arrives.

“When we skijor, we use our bravest

horse, Ten, a Thoroughbred who doesn’t mind a hitchhiker at all!” says Brooke.

“He doesn’t drive, so we put a rider on his back and attach a rope to the D rings at the pommel of the saddle. He wears a breastplate to make sure everything stays in place. The skier grabs the end of the rope, and Ten goes to work!

It’s actually not particularly difficult work for him; the skis slide well enough across the snow that it’s an easy pull.

We’ll get him going at a good gallop across the pasture, and the skier will fly!

It’s so much fun, and Ten loves the job.

It’s a great change of pace for him, and us, when winter gets boring.”

One Horse Open Sleigh Few scenes are more quintessentially New England than a sleigh being pulled across a frosty rural landscape, jolly passengers wrapped in velvet blankets. The history of sleighing in New England is rich, with sleigh races being held as far back as the early 1800s. In fact, the everpopular holiday tune Jingle Bells was written by a Massachusetts man, James Pierport, inspired by the many jingling sleighs out and about on the streets of Medford when the song was first published in 1857.

Sleigh racing was a popular thrill in New England throughout the 19th century. When the roads were packed with snow, sleigh races were regularly organized and highly anticipated by spectators, and friendly challenges often arose spontaneously. Local newspapers would report on races and publish the results, which were closely followed by fans.

Although the popularity of sleigh racing has dwindled ever since the introduction of the automobile, sleighing culture and its significance to the New England region has been kept alive

by dedicated equestrians. It’s hardly a Massachusetts winter without a sleigh rally or two, and we’re lucky to have several held annually in the state. Old Sturbridge Village is known to put on an antique sleigh rally that celebrates historical traditions of yore, and the Colonial Carriage and Driving Society in Stockbridge exhibits their sleighing skills yearly when snow falls on Orleton Farm.

If you’ve got a great driving horse, consider hitching up. Sleighing is a fun winter alternative to traditional driving that will keep your horse fit.

No sleigh on hand? Don’t have a horse that drives? No problem. Revisit the section on skijoring, and replace “skis” with “sled,” or even better, “inflatable tube.” This approach is perhaps not as charming as the ornate sleighs of Colonial Massachusetts, but is certainly just as fun, maybe more. Strap on a pair of goggles, buckle your helmet, and hold on tight!

Snowy Chukkers The game of polo can be pretty intense on its own, but just imagine adding the elements of crisp, cold air and snow into the action of horses barreling and bumping toward a tiny ball, riders swinging mallets at full speed.

It’s been known to happen! Snow polo officially originated in 1985, when the Swiss polo team played a tournament on the great frozen Lake St. Moritz, which turned out to be a lot of fun. It started a global trend, as polo players around the world tried stick-andballing on snow-covered fields. The Snow Polo World Cup is still played annually on Lake St. Moritz, and offers the world’s most elite players the highest prize money of any snow polo competition. The 2018 tournament attracted more than 15,000 spectators who took in an exciting match filled with action, emotion, and plenty of flying snow.

Here in Massachusetts, we are also proud hosts to a prestigious snow polo tournament. Each year, Boston Polo in Georgetown hosts a snow polo event that attracts the area’s best polo players, as well as many enthusiastic spectators.

Mark Tashjian is the polo manager of the club, and organizes the annual snow game. “The Snow Polo Tournament is something we like to do once a year,” he says. “It’s a lot of fun and we always have a great turnout. It’s something a little bit different to do in the winter.”

Mark brings a fair amount of snow

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

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We have your horse.

polo experience to his home state of Massachusetts, having spent time out in Aspen, Colorado, where he played polo and managed Aspen’s World Snow Polo Championship. Snow polo may be more common in the mountains out

West, but Mark brings all the same excitement to Boston.

“Snow polo is pretty similar to a standard polo match in terms of how it’s played,” Mark says. “We do groom the snow to make sure it isn’t too deep, and

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Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

the field is a bit smaller because the horses are working harder running back and forth in the snow. The ball is also a bit bigger, so it doesn’t get stuck in the divots made by the horses’ hooves.”

Players really enjoy the change of pace, and the challenging elements make for an exciting game for the crowd.

“If we’ve had a nice soft New England snow, it makes for great conditions,” says Mark. “The footing is actually really nice to play on and the horses generally have plenty of traction. It’s definitely a bit of an added challenge playing on snow and it makes it a lot of fun.”

Want to try your hand at snow polo? It’s as easy as grabbing a mallet and hitting the ball around a bit on a smooth surface of snow. Check out this year’s Boston Polo Snow Polo match for inspiration, and if you really want to learn the game, Boston Polo offers a full menu of polo lessons. Winter is a great time to pick up a new skill, especially when it is as fun as snow polo.

Winter is perhaps the most overlooked season for excellent trail riding in the Bay State. With a blanket of clean snow, trails are clear and even for riding.

When the trees are bare of leaves, views open up and new perspectives are discovered. On sunny days, bundling up and venturing out on the trail with friends is an exciting way to take in the winter scenery.

The openness of winter trails may lead to new discoveries, such as a new favorite route. Lauren Bardsley of Springfield loves winter trail riding, and remembers a particularly peaceful moment out in the frozen woods on horseback.

“Trail riding in the winter and galloping through snow are some of my favorite things to do with horses,” Lauren says. “I remember once riding a horse named Nemo out to a trail in West Brookfield that I wasn’t very familiar with. Nemo and I got to the top of a hill, and discovered a gorgeous, snowy

Sarah Grote

A new take on a one horse open sleigh — tubing with Spencer at the Connecticut Draft Horse Rescue. CDHR founder Stacey Golub, DVM, at the reins and a line of volunteers in snow tubes bringing up the rear.

view expanding before us. That trail became a favorite that I returned to many times after that!”

Sharon Cochran of Monson has felt that same sense of peace when out on the winter trails, and looks forward all year to quiet moments in the snowy forest.

“There’s nothing more beautiful than being out on your horse the day after a snow storm, no one having been out on the trail yet,” Sharon says. “The powdery snow resting on the pine trees falling gently on you as you ride under [them]; it’s so quiet. I love that.”

Heading out on your own adventure, you’ll want to take precautions: be sure footing at all points on the trail is suitable for riding, make sure your horse is appropriately shod to keep him surefooted and snowball-free, and keep in mind that working in the snow is more tiring than regular workouts for your horse.

A GOOD WARM-UP and cool-down is essential here. Start slowly, and make sure your horse is appropriately stretched out and settled into his environment before going above a walk. Be mindful of your horse’s breathing rate, and watch that he doesn’t get too sweaty, which will chill him if he has a thick winter coat. Cool down thoroughly

after your trail ride, with plenty of hand walking under a warm cooler if needed.

There are lots of opportunities for cold-weather trail riding in the state, making for great day-trip adventures when conditions cooperate. State forests and public trails that allow horses are typically open year round, such as Myles Standish State Forest in South Carver, Robinson State Park in Feeding Hills, and Douglas State Forest in Douglas. All offer glittering views from winding trails in the wintertime.

Out toward the coast, beach riding is another option that is unique to the wintertime, when the seashore is free of bathers. A favorite is Nickerson State Park in Brewster, which offers riding along the shore, trails in the woods leading to freshwater ponds, and a rail trail. Crane Beach in Ipswich is another great beach destination, although you’ll need to be a member of the Trustees of Reservations and pay a trailer permit fee. The sprawling, sandy shoreline, perfect for galloping, may be well worth it though!

Whether you’re venturing out for an off-season beach ride or exploring the quiet, snow-covered forest in the wintertime, be sure to go with friends. Your horse will be more confident, and you will be safer. Plus, it’s always more fun!

Winter may seem never-ending at times, there’s no denying it. We all know the feeling of numb toes and wow-those-buckets-froze-AGAIN. But if we’ve learned anything from repeatedly weathering Massachusetts winters, it’s that we need to find the fun in it all.

Whether it’s strapping yourself to a pair of skis and telling your horse to giddyup, creating a train of friends in inner tubes pulled along by a cooperative steed, taking in a game of snow polo, or gliding peacefully along in a horsedrawn sleigh, there’s plenty of fun to be had in the winter, so long as our horses are near.

Alessandra Mele is a freelance writer and designer in Wilbraham. She enjoys spending time with the horses on her family’s farm, especially riding her Quarter Horse, JoJo. To see more of her work, visit thehomegrownstudio.com.

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

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Farm Feature

Richmond

White Horse Hill It’s All About Learning

by Kara Noble

n a typical Saturday morning at White Horse Hill in Richmond, owner and instructor Judy Sprague can be found in the center of the farm’s indoor arena doing her favorite thing — teaching.

She’s also multitasking.

“Think soft,” she says, encouraging her student. “Separate your hands and be soft through the air.”

O

youngster growing up in a neighborhood of horse-crazy girls in Pittsfield. “I was the youngest,” says Judy. “The other girls were starting a beginner riding group with Norma [Chauvet] Greenfield at Aspinwall Farm in Lenox. I tagged along.”

After a short time, the girls switched to riding with Sally Hart at Overmeade Farm in Lenox. That’s

the horseback riding program at Undermountain Farm in Lenox (which is owned and operated by Steven’s parents).

Within a few years, Judy and Steven decided it was time for them and their two daughters, Lexi and Sara, to have a farm of their own. In August 2000 they bought 70 acres in Richmond.

“There were woods everywhere,”

“Can this mare go out naked?” asks Jennifer Burns, the flatwork guru at White Horse Hill, from across the ring.

Jenn points to the young mare she just finished schooling. “It’s really nice out,” Jenn says. “Mine are all out naked.”

Judy flicks an eye toward the mare.

“She’s kinda sweaty,” says Judy. “Take her out and see how she does. There are lightweight coolers near the door if she needs one.”

As Jenn exits the indoor arena, two more students enter to school their horses over the jumps set up for the next day’s horse show. Judy greets both, and returns her attention to her student. “Your mare got a little crooked over that jump, but you didn’t overreact,” says Judy. “That’s good. Come again. Keep your calf on and don’t pick at her with your hands.”

As the student picks up a canter, Judy’s phone rings. It’s her husband Steven. She finishes their conversation about a car repair before the student makes it back to the jump.

Judy didn’t come from a horsey family. She discovered horses as a

where Judy really got hooked. “By the time I was ten years old, I basically lived at Overmeade,” she says.

Judy credits Sally with igniting in her a passion for teaching. “She was wonderful to me,” says Judy. “She gave me lots of opportunities to ride a variety of horses, and she was always incredibly helpful. Sally was all about the flatwork.

She instilled in me that your horse has to go well on the flat to jump well.”

While studying genetics and animal science at Cornell, Judy honed her riding, teaching, and multitasking skills, giving riding lessons and running the college’s equestrian team. “It was a daunting task,” she says. “The college expected me to teach group lessons that included twelve to fourteen total beginners. It was a trial-by-fire experience. But it was a great job. I learned to handle a lot.”

After graduation from Cornell in 1986, Judy and then-boyfriend Steven Sprague returned to the Berkshires and married. Initially, Judy worked at the cytogenetics lab of Berkshire Medical Center, but she was lured away to run

Judy says. “The property had a house with two nearby pastures where the previous owner kept sheep, and a garage/ shed built on the foundations of an old cow barn. We cleared thirty to thirty-five acres of pasture and built everything else here ourselves.

“At first, we just had the indoor arena with some stalls walled off at one end,” says Judy. “Then we built the center part of the barn, then the wings, and a small breeding barn.”

By the time construction at WHH was finished, the Spragues had created a facility custom-designed for an active lesson and boarding program. The main barn includes 36 eleven-foot by twelve-foot box stalls, each with an automatic waterer. It also houses two wash stalls, a farrier/vet stall, and a grooming stall; there’s a medical pen nearby. The smaller barn, which can be used for special situations, has four large stalls with an adjoining grass paddock.

The facility includes two separate, heated tack rooms, one for lesson horses and the other for boarders.

Boarders and students who lease (or

12

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

half-lease) horses get a secure tack locker for their gear and equipment.

The heated 83' x 180' indoor arena has dust-free footing to keep the air inside respiratory-friendly for horses and riders. There’s also a 95' x 200' outdoor arena with a covered judge’s stand and gazebo with plenty of room for spectators.

About half of the 30 horses currently at the farm live outside. “All the horses get as much time outside as they or their humans agree to,” says Judy.

“We have large and small fields with grass in the summer and round bales in the winter, and we use small-hole NibbleNets in the stalls, so the horses have hay as close to twenty-four-seven as possible.”

The farm’s name was inspired partly by White Horse Hill in Uffington, England, where an enormous prehistoric image of a white horse is carved into a chalk hillside overlooking the Berkshire Downs. A store in Lenox with a similar name (owned by a friend of Judy’s) brought that inspiration closer to home.

Judy brought the first horses to the property in May 2001 and quickly built a thriving hunter/jumper/equitation lesson program for riders of all ages and ability levels. “My daughter Sara started a riding team at Miss Hall’s School,” says Judy. “That meant as many as sixteen girls riding here four days a week. There was a lot going on. I could teach from morning to night every day.

I loved that part.”

Managing a large stable of lesson and boarder horses, as well as supervising the many employees required to care for them, is a huge job. It gradually grew overwhelming — especially after Judy developed an autoimmune disease that made walking uncomfortable. In 2015, it was time to downsize at bit.

“It was time to step back,” Judy says.

“But I don’t want people to think we’re a closed loop here. We have an active riding community of 20 to 25 people and a barn staff of five. Jennifer and I still do a bunch of teaching. We have just shifted focus a little.

“Our goal now is to have mostly people who either lease or half-lease our horses and take lessons on them, or who board their own horses here and take lessons on them. We welcome new students who ride our lesson horses and who are not leasing yet, but we like stu-

dents who have made leasing or owning a horse one of their goals.”

Many riders at White Horse Hill include horse showing among their goals, and the farm maintains an active show schedule. The barn runs a halfdozen Western New England Professional Horsemen’s Association (WNEPHA) shows, two in the winter and four during the spring and summer, and their riders often travel to nearby shows.

Students typically spend a lot of time at the barn, which helps them achieve whatever goals they have set for themselves. Their enthusiasm and hard work pay off. In 2018, White Horse Hill riders earned WNEPHA honors including Rider of the Year, Reserve Rider of the Year, Horse of the Year, Baby Green Hunter Champion, Champion and Reserve Adult Equitation and Medal, Champion Adult Hunter, Junior/ Amateur Hunter and Low Hunter, Champion of Jumpers, Champion of Open Working Hunter, and Champion and Reserve of Pleasures as well as numerous riders with other year-end ribbons. White Horse Hill also had a horse/rider combination that were United States Equestrian Federation Reserve Champion Zone 1 in the 1.40M/1.45M Amateur Owner Jumper.

Judy also offers students the opportunity to A-level shows in Northampton and Vermont; Wellington, Florida; Saugerties, New York; Princeton, New Jersey; and the World Equestrian Center in Ohio.

But riding in horse shows is not a goal for everyone at the farm.

Tary Johnson, an adult boarder who has kept horses there since 2005 and who showed extensively as a junior, says she’s not a horse-show person anymore. “My goal now is to ride and have fun,” she says. “Everyone here is relaxed and friendly. The staff is great, and Judy is really flexible. I bought my horse from her when he was three or four. He’s 15 now and he’s been here the whole time. They take great care of him, and they tolerate me when I can’t resist texting to check on my baby boy.”

Sara Rawson, a teenager who has been riding at White Horse Hill since she was seven years old, also values the farm’s warm, comfortable atmosphere.

“Everyone here is nice, and we all support each other,” she says. “It’s like a big family.”

For Judy, that sense of support extends beyond camaraderie.

“Everyone at the barn is competent, so they can help each other and me,” she says. “That allows me to relax a bit.”

Now that the pressure has eased off, Judy has more time to socialize with her students and boarders. She can concentrate on the teaching she loves and savor the supportive learning community she has built at White Horse Hill.

Kara Noble has a pair of Icelandic mares and a pair of mini donkeys at her farm in Montgomery and has ridden for most of her life. She’s a professional writer and editor and holds an MFA in creative nonfiction.

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Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

13

Lend a Hoof

Misty Meadows Equine Learning Center

by Kara Noble

hrough connections with horses, we provide innovative learning experiences that inspire personal growth and transformation for people of all ages and abilities.” This is the mission of Misty Meadows Equine Learning Center on Martha’s Vineyard.

“We formed a new lesson group with three long-time therapeutic riding clients this December,” says Emily

T

Fellowship in the 1990s. That program included an internship on Martha’s Vineyard. She fell in love with the both island and her future husband. She settled there and became the manager of Cronig’s Market.

Early in 2015, Sarah met Carol Kenney while the two were serving on the board of a local educational nonprofit. Sarah was between jobs, and she

farm to Martha’s Vineyard Community Horse Center. They also contributed funds to launch its initial programs, which began in January 2017.

From the outset, planning for the programs at Misty Meadows focused on meeting needs within the local community and supporting existing horse programs on the island. Instead of pursuing a traditional program of lessons,

Wilmot, instructor and barn manager at Misty Meadows Equine Learning Center.

“At the beginning of their first lesson together, they told me their goal was to jump,” says Emily. “They did great trotting over ground poles. By the end, all three jumped a raised ground pole. It was the first time jumping for one of them. They were just glowing. It was huge for them. They told everyone in the barn.”

Every day brings many such victories to Misty Meadows, a two-year-old equine nonprofit on Martha’s Vineyard.

Misty Meadows got its start when Sarah McKay, now the nonprofit’s executive director, had an unexpected career change in 2014.

Sarah, a native of Northern Ireland, grew up riding, but had stepped out of the horse world by the time she came to the University of Massachusetts Amherst on a Fulbright

told Carol she wanted to get back to working with horses. As it happened, Carol and her husband Jerry were selling their private equine facility on Misty Meadows Lane in West Tisbury.

The two women talked about creating a community horse facility at the Kenneys’ farm. They invited local farm owners and other professionals to a meeting in the spacious hayloft, and continued discussing the potential for a new equine nonprofit for the better part of a year.

Early in 2016, those conversations culminated in a series of extremely successful pilot programs run at the farm with volunteer staff and borrowed horses. Martha’s Vineyard Community Horse Center incorporated as a nonprofit a few months later.

Carol and Jerry were impressed with those initial programs and with Sarah’s business savvy; they believed in her vision for the fledgling nonprofit.

In November 2016, they donated their

boarders, and leased horses, they chose to concentrate on programs that would bring horses and people together to promote connections and inclusion.

One of the first people Sarah invited to the planning table was Rebecca Miller, a certified mental health counselor with a Master’s degree in applied psychology. Rebecca has extensive equine and nonprofit experience. She had helped found Island Grown Initiative, a community-supported agriculture program, and Rising Tide Therapeutic Equestrian Center.

Rebecca became the new center’s program director; she brought with her a strong interest in Equine Assisted Learning (EAL).

“A lot of light is shined on disorders,” Rebecca says. “I wanted to get in front of that. I wanted to focus on preventative mental health through work with horses. We knew early on that we wanted to offer programs to build com-

Randi Baird

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Building Relationships, Making Connections

14 Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

munication skills, social skills, relationship skills, and resiliency skills.”

She reached out to local schools, where many students were anxious to have horse experiences but didn’t have the resources to do so. Rather than trying to explain what EAL is by talking about it, Rebecca and Sarah decided it would be more effective to invite people to come experience it.

“I would say, ‘Hey, there’s this great thing going on at the barn,’ ” Rebecca says. “We’re giving a free demo. Why don’t you come try it? When they did, they loved it.”

Their EAL programs follow the Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy and Personal Development Model created by the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (eagala.org).

Each session involves a mental health professional, an equine specialist, a group of participants, and a small herd of horses loose in their indoor arena.

Participants watch the horses silently for five to ten minutes, then organizers ask reflective questions such as, “Who is the leader in this group of horses?” and “Which horse are you most like?”

Next, participants are given an activity, a challenge, usually one that offers a choice between putting the task first or the relationships with the horse and other people first. “For instance, we might tell them to work as a group to move a horse from point A to point B, and to get there, the horse has to go over a jump,” Rebecca says.

“We take away aids like halters and instead give them something weird, like a pool noodle, to do it,” she says. “Everyone has to work together and be creative to figure it out. People expect answers from the organizers. Instead, we encourage them to try things, to find the answers within themselves.

There’s usually some frustration at first, but then there’s a magic moment when the people and horses settle into the experience and start to be able to read one another. It’s wonderful.”

The staff at Misty Meadows applied EAL principles to develop Girl Power, a six-week program for 11- to 13-year-olds that builds empowerment skills. They have also created custom EAL programs to meet the needs of other community organizations, including mental health professionals, veterans, substance abuse treatment programs, corporate groups, native populations, and first responders.

Soon after the center opened, Sarah began negotiations to incorporate Rising Tide Therapeutic Equestrian

Center into the facility. The two organizations merged in February 2018, allowing them to expand their programming to include comprehensive services for physically, emotionally and learning-disabled children and adults. The merger also added therapeutic riding instructor Linda Wanamaker to their team.

Everyone agreed a new name was needed to complete the integration of the two nonprofits. In July 2018, the nonprofit legally became Misty Meadows Equine Learning Center.

As part of their commitment to therapeutic riding, Sarah McKay, Emily Wilmot, and riding instructor Susie Buck began working toward therapeutic riding certification through PATH, the Professional Association of Therapeutic

“The horses and the people at the center are teaching my daughter much more than riding skills,” says Heidi. “ . . . They’re teaching her how to become a magnificent person with the strength, grace, and dignity of a horse.”

Horsemanship. All three hope to complete their certification in spring 2019.

The therapeutic riding program added a new emphasis to Misty Meadow’s mission: Inclusion. Staff participated in inclusion training, learning best practices for integrating various constituencies within their programs.

“We now have a lot of crossover between programs,” Sarah says. “Recreational kids and therapeutic clients ride together in the same lessons. Everyone volunteers to help in the barn and in lessons. It’s unique and really powerful.”

“It’s like everyone grows wings when they come here,” Emily says.

“Everybody can share their love of horses equally, regardless of ability or disability, whether they ride or work with the horses on the ground. At Misty Meadows, we’re all on the same playing field together.”

As part of its commitment to community, Misty Meadows participates in as many local horse shows as it can, and they carry their inclusion practices to those shows. The success of their efforts was particularly clear when Misty Meadows was asked — on short notice —to host the Martha’s Vineyard Horse Council’s November 2018 Fall Fuzzy Horse Show in its indoor arena due to inclement weather.

Misty Meadow’s therapeutic clients rode in many of the show’s classes; everyone was impressed with the performance of the center’s horses and riders. Maggie Bernard, one of Misty Meadow’s teenage therapeutic riding clients, took home the championship ribbon in her walk trot class.

Even though it’s a young organization, Misty Meadows has already had a big impact on everyone who’s walked through its doors and on the tight-knit island community around it.

Sarah credits teamwork for that accomplishment. “I’ve been fortunate to have fantastic people by my side all the way,” she says. “The Kenneys. The staff. The volunteers. We have an amazing team.”

She’s also excited about the many opportunities before them. “We’re always talking to people, exploring new ideas,” says Sarah. “One volunteer suggested we try mounted archery. We did, and now it is one of our most popular programs. We’re considering the possibility of running retreats here. We could expand into therapeutic carriage driving. We could introduce vocational programs. We have lots of options.”

Sarah sees professional development and a solid business plan as keys to the financial stability that will enable Misty Meadows to reach its full potential and continue its work long into the future.

No matter which options they choose to pursue, Misty Meadow’s ultimate goal is clear: to create connections, to help people grow physically and mentally, and to inspire great friendships.

Heidi Ganser deeply appreciates the impact the center has had on her 12-year-old daughter, Cameron.

“The horses and the people at the center are teaching my daughter much more than riding skills,” says Heidi.

“They’re teaching her how to be resilient, how to stay connected to herself and the world around her on a very deep level. In essence, they’re teaching her how to become a magnificent person with the strength, grace, and dignity of a horse.”

Want to lend a hoof? Visit mvhorsecenter.org and click on the GIVE or VOLUNTEER button.

Kara Noble has a pair of Icelandic mares and a pair of mini donkeys at her farm in Montgomery and has ridden for most of her life. She’s a professional writer and editor and holds an MFA in creative nonfiction.

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

15

Horseperson Feature

Wilbraham

by Alessandra Mele

Sam VanFleet Learning from the Horse

am VanFleet remembers well the first lesson she learned from a horse, and it was a very big horse at that. “I was a twelve-year-old, fourfoot-tall twig when I started volunteering at a local horse rescue and was asked to halter a draft horse,” Sam says.

“I’d never put a halter on a horse by myself before and had no idea where to start. I approached the 19-hand horse and spent ten minutes trying to figure it out! Finally, the horse shoved his

S

Star Equiculture, Sam gained confidence working with draft horses that towered over her, learning how to care for them, and meeting other people who loved horses as much as she did.

Blue Star was also where Sam would meet the mare that would become her best friend for life: a draft-cross PMU foal named Calliope. “I adopted Calliope when I knew absolutely nothing about horses, and she was a wild seven-year-old terrified of everything,”

ing her. “Calypso knows tricks and does great with liberty work, and is turning into a fantastic riding horse,” Sam says.

“She’s very serious about her job, so there are many directions she could go in. She’s special to me since I’ve had her since she was a baby; I can stand at a gate hundreds of feet from her, whistle, and she’ll come galloping up.”

In the same year she adopted Calypso, Sam was also introduced to the Mustang Heritage Foundation and

muzzle through the right hole. I’ve really been learning like that ever since — from the horse.”

Today, Sam is 19 and spends most of the year miles away from her home in Wilbraham. She works in sunny Williston, Florida, training young performance horses while also pursuing her own interests in training Mustangs and rescuing PMU foals. Watching her work with horses at liberty, it’s hard to imagine a time when she struggled with the logistics of a halter. Her body language is confident, the horse always looking to her for the next challenge. She approaches and pats with approval, taking stock of today’s lessons learned.

Sam says, smiling. “We learned together, and she really shaped me into the person I am today.” They progressed as a team quickly, and competed in A-circuit jumper classes when Sam was in high school. “She’s the best horse I could ask for,” Sam says, beaming.

Partnering with Calliope fueled Sam’s interest in helping PMU foals.

She became an advocate for these horses that are a product of hormonereplacement drug manufacturing, for which the urine of pregnant mares is collected and sold. The resulting foals are usually separated from their mothers and become destined for auction and slaughter. Sam looks at Calliope and all she has become, and struggles knowing the circumstances under which she was born, and that many are not so lucky to end up in loving hands.

“I want to help change the fates of these horses and give them a chance to be amazing partners,” Sam says.

In 2014, Sam rescued another PMU foal, straight from a production farm in Canada. She adopted Calypso as a threemonth-old, and has taken great joy in watching the filly grow up and in train-

Extreme Mustang Makeover events.

There was a Youth Mustang Makeover competition being held in Massachusetts that year, and a friend suggested, in jest, that Sam enter it. Sam laughed, but began learning more about the process and found herself very interested, despite still never having taken a formal riding lesson. She signed up, had a lifechanging experience, and became hooked. She’s participated in at least one makeover each year since 2014, and is planning on participating in at least five all over the country in 2019.

By the time Sam graduated from high school in 2017, she had become a strong rider, thoughtful trainer, and passionate horsewoman, and couldn’t envision a life without horses. Sam and her horses moved down to Florida to focus on training full-time, and she began work starting young horses at Prosperity Farms Sport Horses.

Sam hasn’t looked back, and continues to learn all she can from every horse that comes her way. “They teach me so much, not only about horsemanship, but about life in general,” Sam says. “Horses have taught me to be

Blazing Her Own Path Sam’s love for horses first blossomed when signed up for horseback riding camp as a young girl. Her mother still has a letter Sam wrote home that summer, foreshadowing the lifelong commitment to horses Sam was about to make.

It read, “P.S. I’m going to volunteer at the horse rescue when I get home.”

She did just that, and so began her equine education. Volunteering at Blue 16

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

strong for myself, and in return I can be strong for them.” It shows. Sam’s fiercely independent and is forging her own path in the equestrian community.

Mustangs and a Mission Sam’s been fascinated by Mustangs since the age of 15 when she first met one. Mustangs have become a huge part of her identity as a horsewoman.

“Mustangs are so different from all other breeds, not only because they start out totally wild, but because once they trust you they will do anything with you,” Sam says reflecting, thinking back on the range of Mustangs she’s had the opportunity to work with. “I’ve decided I want to get as many as I can gentled, tamed, trained and into forever homes.

They require a lot of patience, but it’s really worth it.”

This is an important cause Sam has taken on, because the issue of overpopulation of wild mustangs in America is a complicated situation that leaves wild horses in a difficult position. Sam briefly explains the problem. “There are currently more than 40,000 mustangs just in holding pens, and many more out in the wild. It’s necessary for them to be captured because there just aren’t enough resources for them out on the land. However, they then stay in corrals until someone comes along and adopts them, or hopefully they’ll be picked for a adoption event.”

Extreme Mustang Makeovers, organized by the Mustang Heritage Foundation, are an excellent option for these Mustangs, with the goal of increasing adoptions and getting the horses placed in good, caring homes. Sam loves the way the organization promotes the versatility and trainability of Mustangs, and remains a strong advocate for their work. “As of now, I’ve been able to get ten Mustangs out of holding, most of them through Extreme Mustang Makeovers,” says Sam. “I’m planning on getting several more out this year, taking on five or six Extreme Mustang Makeover competitions!”

Sam has excelled at these competitions year after year. In her second Youth Mustang Challenge, she claimed reserve champion with a chestnut gelding named Chile. The following year, she won it all with a gray called Lynx, who she decided to keep as her own.

She has placed in the top 10 with several other horses consistently in the years since, and is routinely recognized for her training skills.

But, for Sam, winning is hardly the

goal. Helping horses toward better futures, and witnessing the transformation that takes place to get them there, is what makes this all worthwhile. “The excitement I feel before I pick a Mustang up is indescribable,” Sam says, with a big smile. “Seeing them in those pens, all shaggy, matted, and scared, and knowing that in just a few weeks they’re going to feel confident gives me such an adrenaline rush!”

That excitement was particularly strong with Lynx, who was her draw for the 2016 Youth Mustang Makeover Challenge. “From day one I knew he was something special!” Sam says, remembering. “Lynx wasn’t the most athletic and didn’t have the best conformation, but he has the biggest personality I’ve ever seen. I couldn’t let that one go! He started riding bareback and bridleless easily after only a few weeks of real working rides, and now at five years old he is my main liberty and trick horse. He helps me be an ambassador for Mustangs, showing what incredible horses they can be and how they can excel in just about any discipline.”

When Sam can show others what Mustangs are capable of, she’s working to spread the message of the Mustang Heritage Foundation and hopefully get more of the horses adopted. When that happens, she feels she’s really made a difference.

Learning from Every Horse When others observe Sam working with her horses, they can’t help but recognize her natural ability to connect with these animals. Brittany Mayer of Cumberland, Rhode Island, first met Sam when they were both competing in the 2017 Extreme Mustang Makeover, and remembers being blown away the first time she saw Sam ride. “Sam had explained to me that she hadn’t been working with horses very long, and hadn’t taken formal riding lessons, so I was pretty dumbfounded when I saw her ride!” Brittany says. “She has a very natural gift with horses, and looks like someone who has been riding her entire life. Over the next year I learned more about how she trains her horses, and I’ve been amazed. The first time she gets on her horse, it’s usually bridleless! She’s throws herself wholeheartedly into this and is always trying to expand her knowledge and improve.”

Spending day after day gentling horses and gaining their trust under the hot Florida sun, there’s no doubt

Sam is fully immersed in her element, and deeply in tune with the horses at liberty in front of her. “I always want the horse to have an option,” says Sam. “They can tell or show me how they are feeling, and I will respond. It’s important that I’m aware of what each horse is telling me, and that I interpret correctly. My focus is always on making that connection.”

It’s easy to see the kinds of deep connections Sam is forming with the horses in her care, whether it’s a onceneglected PMU foal, a sensitive and fit young warmblood, or a shy Mustang learning to trust. With each connection made, Sam learns something new about horses and herself.

“The horses are my best teachers, and I learn so much just by listening to them,” Sam says. “They’ve shaped me into who I am.”

Alessandra Mele is a freelance writer and designer in Wilbraham. She enjoys spending time with the horses on her family’s farm, especially riding her Quarter Horse, JoJo. To see more of her work, visit thehomegrownstudio.com.

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

17

Trail Guide

Great Barrington

by Stacey Stearns

Beartown State Forest

G

est headquarters. From there, continue down Blue Hill Road, following the brown DCR signs, to the Benedict Pond boat launch parking area. The drive in was a bit precarious on steep and narrow roads, and I later realized that was the only route with a GPS signal. I took Main Road on the way home, traveling east until I had GPS signal again.

Benedict Pond’s parking area is 1.5 miles from headquarters. I stopped and

vehicles with permits have limited use of these trails from May 1 through the last Sunday in November. They also have their own parking area in the middle of the forest. Hunting is prohibited in Arthur Wharton Swann State Forest but allowed in Beartown. Wear blaze orange during hunting seasons. I saw three dogs, all off-leash, but well-mannered.

A 7.5-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail runs through the eastern

Beartown State Forest is in the southwest corner of Massachusetts, hugging the New York and Connecticut borders in the towns of Great Barrington, Monterey, Lee, and Tyringham. This section of the Berkshires is rugged, remote, and beautiful. Beartown is 12,000 acres, and envelops the Arthur Wharton Swann State Forest.

It’s named for the black bears that inhabit the forest. Other wildlife that can be seen are deer, bobcat, beaver, and fisher. Beartown is a deciduous forest, with two sections of old-growth forest. There are flowering shrubs and wildflowers in season, and foliage blankets the area in the fall.

The 35-acre Benedict Pond is a key attraction in the forest, as are the yearround campsites located on the western edge of the pond. The state purchased 5,000 acres to create the forest in 1921.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) worked in the forest from 1933 until 1940, creating the forest roads, and the earthen dam that formed Benedict Pond.

picked up a trail map from the box, and then drove to the Benedict Pond parking area. There were no trail maps at Benedict Pond. I didn’t check the restroom or campsite areas for trail maps.

You can also print one at home from dcr.gov.

There’s an $8 parking fee for Massachusetts residents, although on a Saturday afternoon in December there was no parking attendant or fee. Campsites have a fee and must be reserved.

The bathrooms were closed, but a sign on the door said that the composting toilets at the campground were open.

There are some trash cans around the beach area that have bears painted on them, and it’s those little touches that make this forest welcoming.

Only a few other cars were in the boat launch parking lot, and I easily pulled in and looped my trailer around, pointing back out toward the forest access road. I used the bench of a picnic table near the top of the parking lot as a mounting block.

As expected, most other trail users were around Benedict Pond. The deeper I rode into the forest, the more I had the trails to myself. Motorized

side of the forest. A couple of lean-tos are also available for the through hikers.

Stacey Stearns

ray days of winter offer a stark contrast to the forests we know and love, and share other secrets we don’t normally see. Don’t get me wrong, I love the beautiful days spent in the saddle with the sun on my back staring off into blue skies dotted with white puffy clouds. But there’s a quiet sense of peacefulness that comes with embracing what each season has to offer, and accepting it as is.

A Leg Up Use 69 Blue Hill Road in Monterey in your GPS. That’s the address for the for18

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

Out Riding It My ride started on Old Campground Road, to the left of the boat launch parking lot when facing the forest access road. Nature is slowly reclaiming Old Campground Road. Fallen leaves blanket the sides, and moss grows up through the cracks in the pavement.

At the beginning of Old Campground Road, close to the pond, there are random picnic tables placed here and there in the woods, with small grills for visitors. The forest service (or someone) has been leaving small stacks of firewood placed on the grills and on the side of the trail, presumably as they’ve been clearing the trails.

Since Beartown is located in the Berkshires there were hills and inclines throughout the ride, and my gelding had to work a little given the fuzzy winter coat he’s sporting. Beartown Mountain and Livermore Peak are both more than 1,860 feet, and the trails and roads we rode in the woods rose and fell as we worked our way around the sides of these mountains.

Many times as I rode along the trails and roads in the park there were large rock outcroppings rising up on one side of me, with drop-offs down to lower elevation areas on my other side.

Trails are a mixture of woods trail, gravel, and paved roads. Rocks abound, and sections of trail were technical — I recommend hoof protection.

I was always close to a stream or a babbling brook while riding on the roads and trails near Benedict Pond. I saw several beaver lodges along these trails, although the running water from nearby streams alerted me that the beavers aren’t very active in December.

From Old Campground Road you can connect to Mount Wilcox Trail, a bridle and mountain bike trail. There are a couple of old cemeteries in the woods; one is on the Mount Wilcox Trail. I followed this trail north to where it connects to Benedict Pond Road, near the site of the old CCC camp.

If you head south (take a left) onto Benedict Pond Road you can immediately connect to Beartown Mountain Trail, another bridle and mountain bike trail. I followed this trail back down toward Benedict Pond. I came around a

bend in the trail and startled a hawk off its perch, and it gracefully glided away to another obliging tree. A few other smaller birds flitted about as I rode through the forest.

Horses aren’t allowed on the Lookout Vista Trail, but you can get to the scenic vista on the multi-use Wildcat Trail. (Another scenic vista is located on the Appalachian Trail, which isn’t open to horses. The third scenic vista, Laura’s Tower, is also on a hiking only trail in the far northwest section of the forest.)

The trees were bare, offering glimpses of the Berkshire hills and mountains in the distance, although the colors of my ride were muted shades of gray. I imagine that coming back and exploring when the forest is green or foliage is at its peak will be spectacular.

I only skimmed the surface of the trails open to horses on this ride, and I’m eager to come back to Beartown State Forest and explore deeper into the heart of the woods.

Happy trails!

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

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Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

19

Horse Logic

A Curious Horse Is a Good Horse

by Nicole Birkholzer

I

n recent months, the term learned helplessness has been circulating

among horse lovers online and in equine magazines. Behaviorist Sue M. McDonnell, Ph.D., from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine says, “Most often in psychology, the term learned helplessness is used to describe a generalized shutdown or depression and apparent inability to act. A lot of horses become helpless and unmotivated because of the way we desensitize the horse to new things.”

Horses, just like us, want to be seen and heard. When we don’t pay attention to the communication cues the horse offers as we work with him, when we override those cues, the horse eventually loses interest in communicating with us.

At that point, the horse feels we’re no longer connected to him and shuts down emotionally, mentally, and at times also physically.

It’s my goal to share alternative ways to communicate with our horses so we don’t “make the horse feel less” when he’s with us, but instead, enjoys life more when he interacts with us.

Horses are highly sensitive, sentient prey animals that need to take in their environment to make good decisions for their well-being. And, because they are so sensitive, it’s a common belief that horses need to be desensitized in order to be handled and ridden.

Here’s a rhetorical question: How does a horse learn best? Under pressure, when balls, ropes, and plastic bags on sticks are pushed into his space? Or, when the horse has a chance to explore the object in his own time and in a supportive environment? The answer seems obvious — a horse will always learn more when he feels safe and relaxed.

This answer leads to more questions. How can we get the horse used to new things without dulling him emotionally, mentally, and physically? And

20

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

how can we support the horse when he is unsure about something?

Push Versus Allow For horses, the trouble usually starts when we push them to do or accept things they’re not yet comfortable with by bringing something new into the

afraid of long enough and often enough that he eventually surrenders to the bombardment — we can utilize the horse’s curious nature and give him a chance to go on an adventure where he can make up his own mind with our guidance.

The following activities are ideal for equestrians in Massachusetts winters, when snowstorms and icy paths often leave us looking for new ways to connect with our horses. Next time you go to the barn, put a halter and lead rope on your horse, and take him on an adventure, inviting your horse to explore his environment.

Barn Exploration

horse’s space, or “making” the horse go into a space they are not familiar with.

When we push our horse to accept a ball, a tarp, or a rope, or push them into a trailer, the horse has to suppress his instinct to investigate the object and that can lead to learned helplessness.

It’s so much more effective to allow the horse to explore the pile of ropes or the tarp or trailer. Horses love to explore. They use their nose to sniff it, their muzzle to wiggle it, and sometimes their hooves to paw it. Once the item has been thoroughly inspected and deemed safe, the horse usually exhales and licks and chews, both clear signals that he has made up his mind that the item is safe.

Instead of “sacking out” the horse — exposing the horse to a stimulus he’s

Let your horse loose in the barn aisle and allow him to explore the saddle racks, stall doors, blankets, and saddle pads. (Tidy up first, if needed, to keep your horse from getting into something that could cause trouble.) Follow him around and guide him when necessary. Allow him to sniff the saddle, but set boundaries when he starts nibbling on it. Use verbal direction, “Lips only.” When the horse listens, praise him. If he doesn’t respond, tell him, “Move on,” redirect him, moving his hooves, gently but purposefully.

If he snorts at a plastic bag holding the polo wraps, take a deep breath for your horse and encourage him to, “Have another look, it’s only a bag.” If he seems unsure, touch the bag gently and offer to have him check it again.

Don’t push the bag into his space! Let the horse enter the space of the plastic bag; this will help your horse decide the bag is safe and help him gain confidence with new experiences. You’re not looking to desensitize your horse; instead, you want him to be curious and learn to be courageous by giving him a chance to make up his own mind as he

moves around in the barn with you by his side.

Property Exploration Take your horse, back on the halter and lead rope, out of the barn to explore other areas of his environment. Let your horse direct the way unless he pulls you immediately over to a frostbitten patch of grass. Be curious and watch. Does he want to sniff fence posts, the equipment shed, the horse trailer? Many horses have issues entering the trailer because they aren’t allowed to explore the trailer on their own time. It’s much more comfortable for a horse to step into a trailer once he’s had a chance to get to know it.

Perhaps there’s a snowblower in the equipment shed that your horse wants to investigate. Take nice deep breaths as he nuzzles the snow blower handle. He might spook when it moves, but if you stay calm by his side as he gets unsure about the moving parts you’re teaching him that nothing fazes you and he can feel safe standing next to you.

If your horse wants to stop at the patch of grass, or shies away from the tarp that’s flapping in the wind, imagine yourself as a driving school instructor. You’re the co-pilot who has access to the gas and brake pedal when needed. You’re there to ground your horse through your breath and reassuring voice, and you’re there to gently move him along when he needs some direction. This type of leadership and guidance helps build your relationship on the ground and translates into the saddle.

Arena Exploration If you have an arena, indoor or outdoor, let your horse explore it, preferably letting your horse move around in the arena at liberty while you hang out and watch. As the teaching opportunities — a.k.a. jump standards, mirrors, poles, and other interesting objects — present themselves, look for ways to participate, offering guidance and encouragement.

Is there a “no horses at liberty” rule in your arena? Use a longe line so you can give your horse more freedom than a lead rope and a chance to poke his nose into all the corners he wants to explore.

If your horse’s nervous system is fairly balanced, he will sniff and paw around and occasionally show a sign of relaxation by exhaling loudly through

his nose, licking and chewing, dropping his head, resting a hind hoof, and maybe rolling. If your horse’s nervous system is jazzed up, you may notice how each exploration — sniffing the poles, sniffing some manure, looking in the mirror — adds to the arousal and eventually leads to a release in form of a buck and a roll.

If you feel comfortable, allow your horse to go through these releases, even if only on a longe line. Remember you are the co-pilot with the brake pedal — you can always rein the horse in through a deep conscious breath, a soothing voice, and a gentle hand on the line.

Most often after these little outbursts (releases), the horse emits a sense of joy that’s followed by a big breath and blowing through the nose as he gets comfortable with his own actions and starts making his own decisions. There’s a good chance he’ll go back and recheck some initially scary areas to get another read on them.

Those are the confidence-building moments when your horse realizes there’s nothing to fear. Allow him to recheck if he wants to. Don’t make him do it, let him direct the action.

AS YOUR HORSE explores the barn, the property, and his workplace, you’re the grounding rod by his side. You take a deep breath when he feels worried, you encourage when he’s unsure, and you redirect him when he needs guidance.

These mindful activities create curiosity (desire) and confidence in your horse and that’s the opposite of him tuning out and shutting down due to desensitization.

Youngsters learn to be self-assured.

Working horses get to be off the clock and adventurous. Anxious horses get to

learn how to be inquisitive, confident, and content. You’re educating your horse not to shut down in his environment; instead you’re giving him the opportunity to be content in his environment.

These little adventures will teach you a lot about your horse as you observe his explorations and will benefit both of you when you’re in the saddle.

Nicole Birkholzer is on a mission to understand the logic behind our horses’ behaviors. Contact her and learn more at mindful-connections.com.

Brands we carry Abady Alpo Poulin Blue Seal Precise Canidae Pro Plan Diamond Purina Eukanuba Purina Mills Friskies Science Diet Iams Sensible Choice Kaytee Solid Gold Merrick Triple Crown Natural Balance Triumph Nature’s Recipe Wellness Neura Whiskas Nutrena Nutro Wild and caged bird Wysong and small animal feed.

Old Mother Hubbard Kakadu Oilskin Coats.

Pedigree Pinnacle

Country Corral 35 Main St., rear, Rte. 9, Williamsburg, MA (413) 268-0180 countrycorral@aol.com M-F 9:30AM - 5:30PM, Sat 9:30AM - 4:00PM Right behind A-1 Hilltown Pizza in Williamsburg center.

Are you and your horse having problems?

Would you like your horse started under saddle and/or in harness?

Peter specializes in starting young horses correctly. 100% customer satisfaction using natural horsemanship techniques. More than 20 years experience starting horses as well as fixing existing problems. References available. The cost of the one-month training is $1,200, including board.

It’s a Pleasure Training with Peter Whitmore (978) 652-2231 . ItsaPleasureTraining.com Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

21

Overherd

News in Our Community Chris and Larry Cassenti’s Chrislar Farm in Rowley hosted one in a series of three United Professional Horsemen’s Association (UPHA) Chapter 14 Winter Tournaments held during the winter season on Sunday, December 2.

“Chrislar’s location is welcoming and convenient, attracting many UPHA-14 riding instructors and trainers from New England,” says Kristin Logan, tournament secretary. “Participants, instructors, and trainers are always graciously accommodated for a day of winter showing. Chrislar Farm is a perfect location just off I-95.

The Chrislar staff and clients go all out for everyone who attends.”

Jennifer Sullivan officiated as judge. The facility was busy with eager and enthusiastic participants who enjoyed riding in the heated indoor arena. Chrislar’s Kevin Hios was announcer for the event. Chrislar’s staff and youth assisted in the ring and presented awards. The Chrislar staff worked all week preparing for Tournament Day. Instructors Ann Walker, Carly Cibelli, and Debbie Nichol efficiently moved riders in and out of the ring all day with the help of many students and other staff members. Larry Cassenti and Chuck Jenkins enjoyed meeting, greeting, and parking attendees. Heading up the great feast offered all day were Jan and Kate Jenkins.

Attending farms included Broadfields, CPM, Chase Farm, High Tail Acres, Northgate, Rocking Horse Farm, Taylor River, and Wrightway.

22

The UPHA Winter Tournaments are winter schooling shows originally organized by the UPHA in Kentucky to promote saddleseat riding across the country, primarily with Saddlebreds

along family members and friends, and the event also attracts many spectators. The attire is informal: Kentucky jodphurs for saddle seat, breeches for hunt seat, boots, gloves, a turtleneck,

courtesty of Chrislar Farm

Chrislar Farm Hosts Winter Tournament

Chrislar Farm in Rowley hosted a United Professional Horsemen’s Association Chapter 14 Winter Tournament on December 2.

and Morgans. In response to an increased interest, hunt seat classes have been added.

The UPHA National Chapter provides insurance for the host facility for the day, as well as trophies and ribbons.

The winner in each class victoriously sports a neck ribbon and medallion similar to the style awarded at the Olympics.

The UPHA Chapter 14 consists of the professional membership in the New England area, where, one day each month during the off-season for horse shows (November to March), a professional trainer donates the use of their indoor facility to accommodate the day of showing. Other participating professional instructors/ trainers attend with their students of all levels, preparing them for larger show competition, sharpening their skills, or to give them a feel for what competition is like.

The exhibitors bring

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

and sweater. Exhibitors are not required to own a horse, because those competing must ride horses used in lesson programs.

The UPHA Chapter 14 holds the first USEF A-rated show of the season, the Spring Premiere Horse Show, in April at the Eastern States Exposition Center in West Springfield. To learn more about the winter tournament program, visit facebook.com/upha14winter tournament.

n Chris Cassenti

MFBF Horse Farm of Distinction Farms Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) announced 36 recipients of the organization’s 2019 Horse Farm of Distinction award during its annual meeting in Framingham.

This award was developed more than 20 years ago by MFBF’s equine committee to recognize Massachusetts

horse farms that achieve a level of excellence in overall horse health, farm management, and compliance with public safety.

“I would like to congratulate this year’s winners of Horse Farm of Distinction,” says MFBF president Mark Amato, who manages Verrill Farm in Concord. “These stables go above and beyond what’s expected of them and enhance the positive image of the equine industry in Massachusetts. I look forward to seeing these operations all apply again for this honor next year.”

This year’s award winners, by county, are: Berkshire County Undermountain Farm; Bristol County - Blackhorse Farm, Bristol County Agricultural High School, Chipaway Stables, Johnson and Wales Equestrian Center, Teaberry Farm, the Big Red Barn, and Ventura Stables; Cape and Islands - ForgetMe-Not Farm, Holly Hill Farm, Pond View Farm, and Smithfield Farm; Essex County - Back Bay Farm, High Tail Acres, Hunters Haven Farm, Indian Rock Stables, Lalobarun Ranch, Sons of the Wind, the Barnyard Maples, and Windrush Farm Therapeutic Equitation; Hampden County - Silvercryst Farm; Hampshire County - Greene Acres Equestrian Center; Middlesex County Berryfield Farm, Harmony Horse Stables, Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Program, Pompositticut Farm, Sterling Riding Stables, the Ponderaia, and Wildstar Farm; Norfolk County Yankee Stables; Plymouth County - Briggs Stable, Creek

program are now being accepted with judging expected to take place June through August of 2019. To learn more, visit mfbf.net.

Bay State Equine Rescue Bay State Equine Rescue’s Tatiana, a registered Haflinger, went to her live with her new family in December. Tatiana is a beau-

Karin Orsi

Crossing Farm, Lazy Stallion Friesians, and Whit Acres Farm; and Worcester County Holly Hill West and Walking High Farm.

The farms were judged upon the following criteria: horse health management, including appearance of the horses and the equine health program; farm management, including overall condition of

Bay State Equine Rescue alum Tatiana at her new home.

the farm and facilities, condition of stalls, turnouts, pastures, riding surfaces, tack, and equipment; and public standards compliance. Those that scored 85 percent or higher were considered a Horse Farm of Distinction and received the award.

Applications for the 2020 Horse Farm of Distinction

tiful, gentle mare who’s very easy to work around. She’s highly intelligent and quickly learns new skills. The family has two young girls who smother her with love on a daily basis. Christmas wishes do come true!

n Karin Orsi

Camp Nashoba Day

• Boys and girls ages 5 to 15 • 2, 3 ,4, and 8 week summer sessions • Hunt seat riding lesson daily • Sail, waterski, wakeboard, windsurf, row, canoe, kayak, and fish • Art, pottery, dance, woodshop, candle shop, basketmaking shop • Tennis, softball, soccer, basketball, dodge ball, kick ball, mini golf, volleyball, tetherball, and archery

campnashobaday.com • 978-486-8088 • campnashoba@gmail.com Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

23

Partners Our goal is to foster connections within the horse community throughout the Bay State, and one of the ways we do this is with our Partners Program.

Massachusetts organizations that partner with us receive a free one-year subscription for each member and space in the magazine for news, photos, and event listings.

Bay State Trail Riders Association Prime trail riding season is nearly here!

Last year BSTRA held 19 rides attended by 707 riders. We enjoyed seeing the big smiles on riders’ faces as they returned to their trailers after a glorious day on the trail.

BSTRA’s first scheduled ride, the Nancy Maenzo Memorial Ride, is March 30 at Douglas State Forest. The short, five-mile route offers a great opportunity to help get your pony trail-fit.

Lunch will be served. Trailer space is limited, so be sure to sign up early to reserve your spot.

BSTRA does much more than rides. Last year volunteers logged more than 203 hours of trail work. Trail maintenance is vital to ensure our trails are safe and open for all users. In these times of limited public funds, our help is needed. This year five trail work days are scheduled, starting March 23 with the campground clean up at Douglas State Forest. April 13 is the West Hill Dam Trail Work Day, which is always a fun event. There are two park services days: on April 27 the focus will be Upton State Forest and on April 28, Douglas State Forest. Please plan to come and help us with this important work. And remember, volunteer hours count toward eligibility for year-end awards!

For more information about volunteer opportunities and upcoming rides, visit bstra.org.

See you on the trails!

7 Shipley Allinson

we will again offer a versatility and obstacle-training clinic with Peter Whitmore to work on the skills required to guide your horse through various obstacles. There will be instruction in the ring and our woodland obstacle course will be open for practice.

Participation will be open to the public and club members.

Last fall we held our first TREC clinic with Bob Hatch and Stephanie Frend of Burnshirt Hills Equestrian Facility. TREC is a trail/obstacle/orienteering sport with European origins, which features specific trail riding skills at an informal or competitive level. It’s a perfect opportunity, especially for trail riders, to be introduced to new skills. We will be scheduling a TREC clinic with Bob and Stephanie at our club this summer. To learn more about TREC, visit trec-usa.org.

Monthly trail rides, open to members and their guests, the July 4th parade, and camping weekends round out our schedule. Our grounds remain available to members and guests for ring use (including obstacles, gymkhana equipment, and jumps) and impromptu rides. Our riding season kicks off in April with our annual Pancake Breakfast Ride to the Red Bucket Sugar Shack. Other rides will be scheduled for the Chesterfield Gorge, Hawley (Kenneth Dubuque) State Forest, and Northfield Mountain Recreation Area. Watch for the addition of rides at new locations, including a beach ride. Camping weekends will be scheduled for the Wagon Wheel Campground in Warwick and a weekend with the Barre Ride and Drive Club at Felton Field in Barre.

To learn more and to see our complete calendar of events, visit hampshire countyridingclub.org and follow us on Facebook.

7 Diane Merritt

Hampshire County Riding Club The HCRC activities committee is planning an exciting year of rides and events to be held at our club grounds and elsewhere. The club grounds, consisting of a large field with parking and two large rings along with two miles of wooded trails, can be found just off Route 9 in the town of Goshen. Our 48acre property is host to numerous events every year ranging from clinics and horse shows to woodland obstacle competitions and trail rides. This year 24

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

Massachusetts Quarter Horse Association New year greetings to all of our members and friends!

Our website, massqha.com, is now working and has been updated with all of our show information for 2019. The MassQHA AQHA Novice and Open Show runs April 12 to 14, the MassQHA Annual Spring Show runs May 15 to 19, and the Connecticut Quarter Horse Classic is June 13 to 16. (Shows are in

West Springfield.) Rounding out the shows is the Region Six Super 6 AQHA Show in July, dates to be announced.

Take a look at our show schedule, become a member, and review our bylaws. Members are required to attend two general meetings by October 31 in order to qualify for year-end awards.

The meetings are updated throughout the year so be sure to check the website.

We’re looking forward to the wonderful show season that is just around the corner. Work hard and ride plenty!

7 Lori Mahassel

New England Equestrian Center of Athol Happy New Year horse lovers! We’re excited for 2019 and what this new year will bring. NEECA is already in full swing to bring members and nonmembers another exciting, fun, and educational year. Here’s the NEECA schedule of events we have in place so far so you can start planning ahead and marking your calendars.

A Listening to the Horse Film Series is tentatively scheduled for February 2, 9, and 16. The location will be announced at neeca.org. The series was created by Irish filmmaker Elaine Heney and in it she explores the question, “If horses could talk, what would they say?”

Ken Wildman’s Barefoot and Shod Options seminar is tentatively scheduled for February 23. Check neeca.org for the location and finalization of details. Ken is a farrier in central Massachusetts who will be discussing the pros and cons of having your horse barefoot or shod.

The General Membership Meeting will be March 20 at the Millers River Environmental Center in Athol.

The dates for the NEECA Gymkhana Series are April 14, May 19, June 23, July 20, August 17, September 15, and October 13. These popular events attract participants from across the state as well as Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York. Jump in on the action!

April 13 is our Spring Cleanup Day at the NEECA Park in Athol. This is always a fun and exciting day as volunteers gather to refresh the park after the winter months.

Lise Krieger from New England Saddle Fit will be giving a seminar on saddle fit April 20 in Athol. This will be

a two-hour clinic to show participants proper saddle fitting on a volunteer’s horse.

The annual Poker Ride is scheduled for April 27 at the NEECA Park.

Ride through the park as part of an organized poker card ride — you find cards along the route. There will be prizes for the best hands!

There will be a Trailer Tune-Up Clinic on May 4 at the NEECA Park.

The Traveling Horseman will provide a one-hour personal session to tune-up your horse trailer! The tune-up will include checking the flooring, frame, lights, exposed wiring, and tires; checking brakes for function and wear; and repacking the bearings. Cost is $150 and preregistration is required. The clinic has only six spots!

A Trailer Safety and Skills Clinic is scheduled for May 11 at the NEECA Park. This is another session with the Traveling Horseman and will be a fullday educational and hands-on seminar focused on horse trailer safety and skills.

Susan Harris returns for a clinic May 18 and 19 at Windswept Farm in Petersham. This two-day Centered Riding Clinic focuses on the mind, body, and the horse.

The Spring Trail Ride will be June 1 at Lake Dennison Recreation Area in Winchendon. This is always a fun ride.

Short and longer trail rides will be available as well as lunch.

The annual Equestrian Showcase is scheduled for June 8 at the NEECA Park. This is a full-day event that will offer a little of everything including a drill team competition, versatility competition, various vendors, and so much more!

A Working Equestrian Clinic with Stephanie Hayes will be June 29 at the NEECA Park. This will be an under-saddle clinic to introduce English and western riders to the growing discipline of working equitation.

The NEECA Barre Horse Show will be July 14 at Felton Field in Barre. This horse show is part of the annual Barre Riding and Driving Club Horse Show Series. This is a wonderful show, loads of fun, with excellent judges, and great sportsmanship!

Our annual Youth Fun Day will be August 10 at the NEECA Park. This is a great chance to meet horses, learn about safety and basic veterinary care,

grooming, saddling and bridling, and other skills when working with a horse.

The Libby Lyman Trail Versatility Clinic will be August 10 at the NEECA Park. Come work with Libby and her gentle approach to horsemanship.

Libby focuses on helping people help their horses.

The Campout Versatility Weekend is scheduled for September 6 to 8 at the NEECA Park. Ride during the day and camp under the stars!

Our annual Elwin Bacon Memorial Fun Day will be October 19 at the NEECA Park. This event remembers one of the founding members of NEECA and is a great day of fun games with fun people and fun prizes!

The Fall Social is scheduled for November 2 at the Ellinwood Country Club in Athol. This event is such a wonderful end to an exciting year for NEECA. A live auction, silent auction, and buffet in the company of friends and family always make for a very enjoyable evening.

To learn more about NEECA and all these events, visit neeca.org.

7 Ann Marie Zukowski

The Northeast’s Premier Trailer Dealer Family owned for 42 years!

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11 West Mill Street, Medfield, Mass.

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(508) 359-7300 YeredTrailers.com Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

25

events Massachusetts

February

2 4-H REGIONAL WINTER WORKSHOPS, Kingston Intermediate School. plymouthcounty4h.org.

2 NEECA LISTENTING TO THE HORSE SERIES, location TBA. neeca.org.

2 WNEPHA AWARDS BANQUET, Stationery Factory, Dalton. wnepha.com.

2 – 3 EQUESTRIAN TALENT SEARCH,Mount Holyoke College Equestrian Center, South Hadley. mhcriding.com or jimarrigon@hotmail.com.

3 WNEPHA DRESSAGE SHOW, Mount Holyoke College Equestrian Center, South Hadley. wnepha.com.

3 BEGINNER VAULTING INTRODUCTION, Meghan Hamilton Dressage, Dartmouth. ridinginspired.com.

26

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

3 TRICK TRAINING CLINIC, Crimson Acres, Orange. crimsonacres.org.

3 DRESSAGE/OPEN SHOW, Camp Marshall Equestrian Center, Spencer. campmarshall.net.

3 BSTRA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND AWARDS BANQUET, Bellingham. bstra.org.

9 NEHC YEAR-END BANQUET, Doubletree by Hilton, Milford. nehc.info.

9 MHC HUNTER SHOW, Saddle Rowe, Medway. saddlerowe.com.

6 VITAMIN E DEFICIENCY — SO THAT’S WHAT’S WRONG! Winter Equine Health Lecture Series, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine campus, North Grafton. ce.vet.tufts.edu/program/ equine-health-lecture-series.

10 IHSA WESTERN SHOW, Mount Holyoke College Equestrian Center, South Hadley. ihsainc.com.

9 STATE 4-H EQUINE SEMINAR, Walpole. mass4h.org.

14 – 17 SMARTPAK RETAIL STORE VALENTINE’S TREAT, Natick. smartpak.com/retailstore.

9 NEECA LISTENING TO THE HORSE SERIES, location TBA. neeca.org.

16 JUMPER SHOW, Stoneleigh-Burnham School, Greenfield. sbschool.org.

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

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WNEPHA JOIN US! The Western New England chapter of the Professional Horsemen’s Association of America has a full schedule of shows planned for 2019!

HUNTER/JUMPER EQUITATION SHOWS Mar. 10 Mar. 17 May 5 May 12 May 19

White Horse HIll SJH Equestrian Muddy Brook Farm rds White Horse Hill Awa et qu SJH Equestrian Ban 2 .

Feb

16 NEECA LISTENING TO THE HORSE SERIES, location TBA. neeca.org.

23 IHSA HUNT SEAT SHOW, StoneleighBurnham School, Greenfield. sbschool.org.

16 MHC HUNTER SHOW, Saddle Rowe, Medway. saddlerowe.com.

24 WINTER SCHOOLING SHOW SERIES, Stoney Hill Farm, Barre. stoneyhillfarm.org.

16 JASON DRESS HORSEMANSHIP CLINIC, Clover Creek Farm, Rochester. (508) 454-1281.

17 OPEN DRESSAGE SHOW, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley. mhcriding.com.

17 BEGINNER LONG LINING, Meghan Hamilton Dressage, Dartmouth. ridinginspired.com.

17 WINTER SCHOOLING JUMPER SHOW, Cutter Farm, Dracut. cutterfarm.com.

23 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, Four Winds Farm, North Oxford. rideiea.org.

Scott Porter

23 NEECA KEN WILDMAN BAREFOOT AND SHOD OPTIONS SEMINAR, location TBA. neeca.org.

DRESSAGE SHOWS

23 INDEPENDENCE TACK SALE, Belchertown. independencestablellc.com.

23 IEA REGION 10 FINALS, Mount Holyoke College Equestrian Center, South Hadley. rideiea.org.

English and Western Tests

Feb. 17 Apr. 14 Apr. 21 Apr. 28

Mount Holyoke College Mount Holyoke College Heritage Farm Higher Ground Farm

Year-end awards in many divisions.

Full schedule can be found at

WNEPHA.com An organization for horsemen, by horsemen.

28

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

March

2 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, Four Winds Farm, North Oxford. rideiea.org.

3 DRESSAGE/OPEN SHOW, Camp Marshall Equestrian Center, Spencer. campmarshall.net.

10 ADVANCED LONG LINING, Meghan Hamilton Dressage, Dartmouth. ridinginspired.com.

10 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, White Horse Hill, Richmond. wnepha.com.

10 WINTER POLO BALL, location TBA. bostonpolo.org.

10 – 11 HANOVER HUNT AND RIDING CLUB ANNUAL USED TACK SALE, Briggs Stable, Hanover. briggsstable.com.

16 MHC HUNTER SHOW, Saddle Rowe, Medway. saddlerowe.com.

16 BSTRA VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION LUNCHEON, location TBA. bstra.org.

17 WESTERN IEA SHOW, Hillside Meadows Equestrian Center, Grafton. rideiea.org.

Independence Stable

17 WINTER SCHOOLING JUMPER SHOW, Cutter Farm, Dracut. cutterfarm.com.

17 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, SJH at Berkshire Equestrian Center, Richmond. wnepha.com.

2019 Dressage Schooling Shows

20 NEECA GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING. Millers River Environmental Center, Athol. neeca.org.

24 WINTER SCHOOLING SHOW SERIES, Stoney Hill Farm, Barre. stoneyhillfarm.org.

30 IEA HUNT SEAT ZONE 1 FINALS, Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield. rideiea.org.

Saturday, April 27, 2019 . 9-3 Large vendor marketplace selling new and used items! Plus services for the horse, rider, and driver.

Demonstrations All Day! $5 Admission . children under 10 free

Check our Facebook page for updates!

Held in the Arena Building at the

30 – 31 DOM SCHRAMM CLINIC, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. appleknoll.com.

April

Equine Expo Paraphernalia Sale

May 5 June 2 August 11 September 8

24 WINTER WARM-UP MHC/NEHC SHOW, Grazing Fields, Buzzards Bay. grazingfields.com.

30 BSTRA NANCY MAENZO MEMORIAL RIDE, Douglas. bstra.org.

Presents the 24th

Traditional & Western Dressage Tests

Topsfield Fairgrounds, Route 1, Topsfield

404 S. Washington St. Belchertown, Mass.

Vendor Spaces Available . Free Parking

Contact Kay at: 978-768-6275 or kljoreo@aol.com

(413) 284-0371 independencestablellc.com

7 TWO PHASE, Millis, appleknoll.com.

25 Forest Lane, Millis, MA ~ (508) 376-2564 Dom Schramm Clinic

Lucinda Green Clinic

Two Phase April 7

USEA Area I Schooling Horse Trials Championships

April 14

Halloween Hunter Pace

March 30 & 31

Poker Run

To be announced!

August 18

October 27

North Bridge Equine Jumper Challenge Series June 12, 19, and 26 July 10, 17, 24, and 31 August 7, 14, 21, and 28 September 4 and 11 Finale

Miniature Horse Shows

May 26 . June 22 & 23 . Aug. 11 nemhs.org

Charles River Dressage

Adult Dressage Camp - April 27 & 28 Shows - May 5 . June 2 . Aug. 4 . Sept. 29 crdressage.org

New England Dressage

Marilyn Heath “L” Clinic - October 6 Lois Yukins “L” Clinic - November 24

Prize lists and entry forms at:

appleknoll.com. Check the website often as new events are added!

© Aryta Anny Photography

Lucky Finn Photography

Training with Adrienne Iorio Three-Day Eventing Competitor and Trainer . Millis, Mass. & Winter Training in Aiken, South Carolina Show Jumps For Sale . Horses and Ponies For Sale/Lease

Rent our facilities for horse shows, clinics, and other equine activities. Our cross-country course is open for schooling by appointment, weather permitting.

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

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DRESSAGE

Susan Rainville

Dressage Training, Groundwork & Response Training for a more confident partnership.

USDF bronze & silver medalist Dressage Schooling Show Series Weekly Lessons Affordable Training & Boarding Off-farm Clinics Adult Camp Competition Camps

White Spruce Farms Central Massachusetts (978) 257-4666 whitesprucefarms.com

Linda Parmenter

USDF Bronze & Silver Medalist USDF “L� Judge Instruction . Training . Clinics . Sales

Hanover Equine Dental 91 Lombard Rd., Hubbardston (978) 928-5492 pinehaven@charter.net parmenterdressage.com

Barefoot Hoof Care Rehabilitation of Laminitis/Founder & Other Hoof Pathologies Transitions from Shod to Barefoot Maintenance Trims

Terry Paul

Graduate of the American School of Equine Dentistry

Performance floating for all disciplines.

Serving all of southern New England.

eqdent1@verizon.net . (781) 630-0741

saddles . chaps belts . halters bridles . reins harnesses dog collars & leashes

Total Body Health

Natural Horsemanship Training Connection & Communication

Classical Dressage & Work-In-Hand Balance, Strength, & Agility

Holistic Equine Services . Kathleen Ladendecker

(413) 310-4692 . Achaina.com kathy@achaina.com

30

saddle assessments fitting evaluations flocking . repairs consignments . sales

newenglandsaddlefit.com newenglandsaddlefit@comcast.net 203 . 685 . 2308

Tack Repairs Got Manure?

M R & Restoration L &S F

Diet & Nutrition Analysis

Achaina

Lise Krieger

Certified Saddle Fitter

Blue Dog Leather 64 South Shore Dr., Orange, Mass.

978.544.2681 bluedogleather.com

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

Open by appointment, please call ahead.

ANURE FOR ARGE

EMOVAL MALL ARMS

Roll-off containers 10 to 30 yards on call or scheduled service. Full stock pile removals.

978-425-6181 MitranoRemoval.com Proud sponsor of Bear Spot Musical Freestyle and Oakrise Farm Shows.

Boston

This Olde Horse

Dressage Schooling Show Series For more information, reach out to Suzanne Mente at xenophonshows@gmail.com

May 19 - Kathryn Hitzig “L” judge June 23 - Karen Roberts “L” judge July 21 - Crystal Taylor “L” judge September 8 - Krystal Wilt “L” judge October 6 - Ann Gupthill “L” judge

Dressage Clinics Bill McMullin Verne Batchelder

Boston 1901.

Like us on Facebook to see who’s coming!

Stalls Available

Stalls available in the 16-stall barn with attached indoor arena. Nestled at the base of Mt Toby this “Massachusetts Horse Farm of Distinction” provides outstanding care for you and your horse.

Lessons 5 Training Clinics 5 Drill Team Horse Shows Games Nights Summer Camps

XENOPHON FARM

35 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING CLINICS, LECTURES & COMPETITIONS! Recovery . Maintenance . Performance

JANICE

& ELAINE KACHAVOS

Therapeutic Massage . Bodywork . Reiki

80 SUNDERLAND RD., RTE. 47 MONTAGUE, MASS.

(413) 320-7690

413.367.9828 X ENOPHON FARM @ AOL . COM

jobunny@comcast.net

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

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the

neighborhood

ASSOCIATIONS •••••••••••••••••••••••••• BAY STATE TRAIL RIDERS ASSOCIATION bstra.org Keeping trails open for equestrian use; organized trail rides; volunteer opportunities for trail clearing and maintenance.

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY RIDING CLUB Goshen, MA, (413) 268-3372 hampshirecounty ridingclub.org Monthly trail rides, woodland obstacle course, scavenger hunt, and clinics.

BARN CATS •••••••••••••••••••••••••• PAWS WATCH P.O. Box 7005, Warwick, RI 02887 cats@pawswatch.org, pawswatch.org Barn cats need homes! Healthy, fixed, vaccinated barn cats provide rodent control. Delivered!

Your Everything Equine “white pages”

NORTHEAST EQUINE VETERINARY DENTAL SERVICES LEAH LIMONE, DVM Topsfield, MA, (978) 500-9293 nevds.com Licensed professional veterinary dentistry.

Routine preventive care, maintenance, diagnostics, extractions.

EQUINE ENTERTAINMENT •••••••••••••••••••••••••• DALE PERKINS/MESA FARM Rutland, MA, (508) 886-6898 daleperkinshorseshow.com Trick riding and much more.

EQUINE MASSAGE •••••••••••••••••••••••••• HORSEBACK AND BODY Northampton, MA, (413) 320-7690 jobunny@comcast.net Massage therapy for horses, humans.

BARNS •••••••••••••••••••••••••• CARRIAGE SHED Serving the Northeast, (800) 441-6057 carriageshed.com Barns, arenas, shed rows, custom buildings.

EQUINE THERAPY •••••••••••••••••••••••••• HIGH HORSE HILL THERAPEUTIC HORSEMANSHIP Middlefield, MA, (413) 961-9311 highhorsehill.com Therapeutic horsemanship for all ages.

DRESSAGE •••••••••••••••••••••••••• BRADFORD EQUESTRIAN CENTER Haverhill, MA, (978) 374-0008 Dressage for all disciplines and driving.

Keith Angstadt, USEF dressage judge.

FINANCING, LOANS, TAX PREP •••••••••••••••••••••••••• FARM CREDIT EAST (800) 562-2235, farmcrediteast.com Financing, loans, tax preparation, business consulting, financial planning.

CATHY DRUMM Pittsfield, MA, (413) 441-5278 cathydrumm.com Clinics, lessons, training, western and English dressage, hunter/jumper.

HAFLINGERS •••••••••••••••••••••••••• SOMMER HILL FARM Adams, MA, (413) 743-9301 sommerhaflingers@yahoo.com One Haflinger is never enough.

FAIRFIELD FARM Rochester, MA, (508) 763-8038 dressageatfairfieldfarm.com Boarding, instruction, training, indoor.

LINDA PARMENTER Hubbardston, MA, (978) 928-5492 parmenterdressage.com USDF bronze and silver medalist, USDF “L” judge; instruction, clinics, training.

WHITE SPRUCE FARMS New Braintree, MA, (978) 257-4666 whitesprucefarms.com Dressage shows, instruction, all levels/ages.

XENOPHON FARM Montague, (413) 367-9828 xenophonfarm@aol.com Dressage schooling shows, clinics, lessons, boarding, training, trails, owners on site.

EQUINE DENTISTRY •••••••••••••••••••••••••• WENDY BRYANT, EQDT Northampton, MA, (413) 237-8887 wbryantnatrualbalancedentistry.com Natural balance equine dentistry.

Improved topline, maximized performance, increased flexion. Serving New England.

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HORSES FOR SALE •••••••••••••••••••••••••• HERITAGE FARM Easthampton, MA, (413) 527-1612 farmheritage.com Sale horses, boarding, lessons, and training.

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

Forty family, trail, and show horses to choose from. New loads every week. We buy horses, take trade-ins, and consignment horses. Great three-week exchange guarantee. Find us on Facebook.

INSTRUCTION/TRAINING •••••••••••••••••••••••••• BACK BAY FARM Ipswich, MA, (978) 356-0730 backbayfarm.com Lessons, boarding, training, and sales.

INSURANCE •••••••••••••••••••••••••• DON RAY INSURANCE Marshfield, MA, (781) 837-6550 donrayinsurance.com Farm, mortality, major medical and surgical, clubs, shows, instructors.

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

FARM FAMILY INSURANCE farmfamily.com Boxborough: (978) 467-1001 Carver: (508) 866-9150 Centerville: (508) 428-0440 Easthampton: (413) 203-5180 Great Barrington: (413) 528-1710 Marlborough: (508) 485-3800 Middleborough: (508) 747-8181 Northborough: (508) 393-9327 Southwick: (413) 569-2307 Wilbraham: (413) 887-8817 Williamstown: (413) 458-5584 Worcester: (508) 752-3300 JUDGES •••••••••••••••••••••••••• ED GOLEMBESKI Gill, MA, (413) 863-2313 riker119@comcast.net 4-H, open shows, clinics, lessons.

NORWEGIAN FJORDS •••••••••••••••••••••••••• BLUE HERON FARM Charlemont, MA, (413) 339-4045 blueheronfarm.com Quality, purebred registered Fjords.

REAL ESTATE •••••••••••••••••••••••••• ALTHEA BRAMHALL HOMETOWN REALTORS North Quabbin region, (617) 678-9300 althearealtor@gmail.com Real estate is more fun with horse people!

EQUINE HOMES REAL ESTATE LLC MA and NH, (800) 859-2745, ext. 704 equinehomes.com. sally@equinehomes.com Sally Mann, Realtor, MA and NH. STABLES, FARMS, BOARDING •••••••••••••••••••••••••• APPLE KNOLL FARM Millis, MA, (508) 376-2564 appleknoll.com Eventing training, lessons, schooling trials, clinics; facilities available for events.

CARRIER’S FARM Southampton, MA, (413) 527-0333 rcarrier0333@gmail.com Indoor, outdoor arenas, round pens, fields.

GLENCROFT FARM Southampton, MA, (413) 527-8026 kraymond24@hotmail.com Boarding, pastures, ring, trails, fields.

SANDYHILL FARM Florence, (413) 320-1881 sandyhillfarm@yahoo.com Boarding, ring, trails, lessons available.

STRAIN FAMILY EQUESTRIAN CENTER LLC Southwick, MA, (413) 569-5797 strainfamilyequestrian.com Boarding, lessons, training, sales, therapeutic riding.

TACK •••••••••••••••••••••••••• CHESHIRE HORSE Swanzey, NH, (877) 358-3001 cheshirehorse.com English, western, feed, supplies, trailers.

SMARTPAK RETAIL STORE Natick, MA, (508) 651-0045 smartpak.com/retailstore Tack, equipment, supplements, blankets, apparel, gear, gifts, clearance outlet.

TRANSPORTATION •••••••••••••••••••••••••• J.R. HUDSON HORSE TRANSPORTATION West Bridgewater, MA, (508) 427-9333 jrhudsonhorsetrans.com Serving the lower 48 states and Canada.

VETERINARIANS •••••••••••••••••••••••••• FAMILY VETERINARY CENTER Haydenville, MA, (413) 268-8387 famvets.com Traditional and alternative care for dogs, cats, exotics, and horses.

SOUTH DEERFIELD VETERINARY CLINIC DR. ROBERT P. SCHMITT S. Deerfield, MA, (413) 665-3626 sdvc@aol.com Equine medicine, surgery since 1969.

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Bay State Happenings Western New England Professional Horsemen’s Association 2018 Champions

Ella Caproni

Sandra Fischer Bryan Nigro

Emily Spinner

Abigail Haupt

Shawn McMillen Photography

Scott Paul

Kailey Paul

Irene Elise Powlick

Caroline Palmer

Tracy Spinner

Ali Jenkins

facebook.com/MassachusettsHorse

Hailey Vadakin

Pamela Caproni

Diane DeRosa

Scott Porter

Just some of the Western New England Professional Horsemen’s Association 2018 champions. To learn more about the WNEPHA, visit wnepha.com. Follow us on Facebook to see more event coverage!

Jane Fischer

Ruby Hauck

Kenna Labeau

Sarah Sprague

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

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Brimfield

Is This Your Horse?

Large and Small Animal Medicine & Surgery Serving the North Shore since 1951 Helen Noble, VMD . Robert Orcutt, DVM Derek Cavatorta, DVM PhD Kirstin Anderson, DVM . Ashley Taylor, DVM Mary Ann Montesano, DVM

295 High St, Ipswich, Mass.

978-356-1119 (ph) . 978-356-5758 (f)

srhvets.com

Is this your horse?

This photo was taken in Brimfield. If this is your horse, contact us at win@mahorse.com for a $50 gift certificate from the Bay State’s very own SmartPak, smartpakequine.com, and a two-year subscription to Massachusetts Horse.

A & B INSURANCE GROUP Insurance for All Your Equine Needs

RER Ponies Training, Lessons & Sales

by BHS trained, USDF “L” Graduate & Bronze Medalist

Farm & Equine . Equine Mortality . Horse Owners Liability

Heather Reynolds Dostal Available for Judging & Clinics U.S. Pony Club Riding Center offering boarding, training, pony starting, and tune-ups. Professional, well rounded, goal-oriented lesson program for riders of all ages beginner through advanced.

Accepting new clients with 2017 expansion!

54 Plain Rd., Hatfield, MA 413.427.2026

RERponies.com . rerponies@gmail.com 34

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2019

Our agents have been serving the equine community for a combined 50+ years.

Call Richard, Wendy, and John for a competitive quote with one of our many equine insurance carriers.

978-399-0025 | ABInsGroup.com Richard@abinsgroup.com Wendy@abinsgroup.com . John@abinsgroup.com Licensed in MA, NH, VT, ME, CT & RI

Amherst Farmer’s Supply 320 South Pleasant St., Amherst (413) 253-3436 amherstfarmerssupply.com A.W. Brown Pet & Garden Center 144 Shaker Rd., E. Longmeadow (413) 525-2115 . awbrown.com Brattleboro Agway 1277 Putney Rd., Brattleboro, VT (802) 254-8757 . achilleagway.com

Bridgewater Farm Supply 1000 Plymouth St., Bridgewater (508) 697-0357 . bridgewaterfarm.com Country Corral 35 Main St., Williamsburg (413) 268-0180 . countrycorralonline.com Dodge Grain Company 59 N. Broadway, Salem, NH (603) 893-3739 . dodgegrain.biz

Essex County Co-op 146 S. Main St., Topsfield (978) 887-2309 essexcountycoop.net

Hoosac Valley Coal and Grain 2 Gavin Ave., Adams (413) 743-0163 hoosacvalleycoalandgrain.com

Greenfield Farmers Co-op Exchange 269 High St., Greenfield (413) 773-9639 greenfieldfarmerscoop.com

Sweet Meadow Feed & Grain 111 Coolidge St., Sherborn (508) 650-2926 sweetmeadowfeedandgrain.com

Hardwick Farmers Co-op Exchange Rte. 32, Gilbertville . (413) 477-6913 hardwickfarmers.net

Thibault’s Poultry 92 N. Spencer Rd. Spencer (508) 612-1907

Massachusetts Horse

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