Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

C O N N E C T IC U T

HORSE

TICK DISEASES IN CONNECTICUT KNOWLEDGE, PREVENTION, TREATMENT

CHANIN MILLER, DVM HORSEPERSON

AIR LINE TRAIL STATE PARK July/August 2019 connhorse.com $4

TRAIL GUIDE

SUMNER BROOK FARM EQUINE RESCUE AND RETIREMENT LEND A HOOF

TERRYALLEN FARMS FARM FEATURE

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Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

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Sally L. Feuerberg

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Stacey Stearns

July/August 2019

Š Dusty Perin / www.dustyperin.com

contents

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features 8

Tick Diseases in Connecticut

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Chanin Miller, DVM Horseperson Feature

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Farm Feature

Knowledge, Prevention, Treatment

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Air Line Trail State Park

TerryAllen Farms

Close Comradery

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Trail Guide

Sumner Brook Farm

Equine Rescue and Retirement

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What Can I Do

To Protect Myself When My Horse Is On Trial?

Above the Bar

Lend a Hoof

in every issue 5

From the Publisher

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Partners

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The Neighborhood

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Your Letters

36

Nutmeg State Events Calendar

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Is This Your Horse?

Overherd: News in Our Community

39

This Olde Horse

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Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

From the Publisher

Wynatte Chu

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s we start our fifth year of providing the Nutmeg State equestrian community with a publication covering everything horse related, I’d like to tell you about our community service work.

We’ve donated more than 450 Connecticut Horse Youth Awards to competitions in the Nutmeg State. Why? I want to acknowledge and reward the youth who are not winning and are exhibiting excellent horsemanship and sportsmanship. Many of our junior riders and drivers don’t have their own horse or a horse that’s going to be able to win. Yet, I see them and I want them to continue learning, trying, and putting their horse first. These young equestrians are the future for our horses and community so acknowledging their efforts benefits everyone.

Help me recognize these inspiring young equestrians by requesting a free

Features writer and reporter Sally L. Feuerberg presenting the Connecticut Horse Youth Award to Sienna Keane, 13, of Fairfield at the Fairfield County Hunt Club’s June Benefit Show. Request a free Youth Award for your upcoming event at connhorse.com/youth-awards

Connecticut Horse Youth Award for your upcoming competition. To learn more, visit connhorse.com/youth-awards.

We support Connecticut equestrian clubs and associates with our free Partners’ Program that offers each

member a free annual subscription to the magazine. Our goal is to help these clubs grow membership and get each organization’s upcoming events out to the community In every issue we focus on a local nonprofit with our Lend a Hoof feature. Highlighting the nonprofits in our community helps you know how to lend a hoof and get involved.

Additionally, we provide free magazines to 4-H clubs, Pony Clubs, Interscholastic Equestrian Association teams, public libraries, nonprofit horse programs, and equine rescue volunteers.

I work with a fantastic group of talented and awesome writers, reporters, editors, and photographers who help put together each issue with skill and dedication. How lucky am I? I hope you enjoy their efforts in every issue.

Enjoy the summer!

Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

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CON N EC T ICU T

HORSE vol. 5, no. 1 July/August 2019

ISSN 2378-5721

99 Bissell Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096 phone: (413) 268-3302 (voice/text) • connhorse.com Connecticut Horse magazine is an independently owned and operated all-breed, all-discipline equestrian publication for the Nutmeg State.

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© 2019 Connecticut Horse All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this magazine or portions thereof in any form without prior written permission.

publisher Stephanie Sanders • steph@connhorse.com • (413) 268-3302

editor Kathaleen Emerson

feature writers Sally L. Feuerberg, Sean T. Hogan, Esq., Alessandra Mele, Lara Rudowski, Stacey Stearns

contributors Noreen Blaschik, Chrissy Capacchione, Patti Crowther, Joan Davis Kathy Diemer, Allison Forsyth, Sarah Griffin, Heather Hicks Raymond Hill, Jeanne Lewis, Susan E. Mitchell, Howie Schatzberg MaryAnn Smith, Ruth Stronzer, Kristina Vine, Kara Waldron

public relations & advertising sales Lara Rudowski . lara@connhorse.com . (860) 841-9070

reporters Sally L. Feuerberg . sally@connhorse.com . (203) 339-0357 Sarah Griffin . sarah@connhorse.com . (203) 560-4419 Linda Morton . linda@connhorse.com . (860) 822-3006

questions Main Office: info@connhorse.com, (413) 268-3302 (voice or text)

©Kendra Abramove

Connecticut Horse is printed with soy-based ink on recycled paper.

the fine print The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Connecticut Horse staff or independent contractors, nor can they be held accountable. Connecticut Horse will not be held responsible for any misrepresentations or any copyright infringement on the part of advertisers. Connecticut Horse will not be held responsible for typing errors other than a correction in the following issue. All letters addressed to Connecticut 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 Connecticut Horse, are assumed to be legally released by the submitter for publication. Connecticut 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.

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Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

Your Letters To the Editor: I was thrilled to have you send reporter Sally Feuerberg to cover the Fairfield Bridle Trails Association Rebecca Howard Hathaway Clinic in June. The Fairfield Bridle Trails Association brought me in to give the clinic after reading my article in the November/December issue of Connecticut Horse.

Thank you for everything you do to promote the well being of horses and create these great connections in our community!

Rebecca Howard Hathaway, Newtown

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To the Editor: A draft-sized thank you to Connecticut Horse for your coverage of Connecticut Draft Horse Rescue’s Denim, Diamonds, and Drafts, our largest fundraiser of the year! We’re so grateful of your support of CDHR for this event and in so many ways throughout the year.

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Tick Diseases in Connecticut

© Dusty Perin / www.dustyperin.com

Knowledge, Prevention, Treatment

by Stephanie Sanders

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ou bring your mare out of her stall and notice she’s slightly favoring her right front. Instead of riding, you give her the day off. The next day, she’s stiff in her left hind. You decide on a good grooming and wait to see if another day of rest resolves the lameness. You know your mare and she loves a good curry, but today she’s pinning her ears at you and swishing her tail. What’s going on?

A tiny tick could be the cause of your mare’s problems. Ticks, bloodfeeding relatives of spiders and mites, can transmit serious diseases through their bites.

Horses are susceptible to two serious tick-borne diseases that are widespread in the United States — Lyme disease and equine anaplasmosis.

Ticks have been around for at least 100 million years. You can’t eliminate them from your horse’s environment, but we have tips for protecting her from their bites and, if infected, what treatment is available.

Ticks Are Hitchikers Ticks can’t travel far on their own; as horses, deer, and other hosts increase in number and move into new areas, the ticks ride along. They drop off and become established wherever they find conditions to their liking — for instance, former farmland that’s reverting to brush and forest or the shrubby borders of fields and yards.

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Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

Ticks are blind and find their equine hosts by detecting ammonia, which is given off by a horse’s breath and body during sweating or by sensing heat, moisture, and vibrations. A tick waits for a host by resting on the tips of grasses and shrubs with its first pair of legs outstretched. When a horse brushes by, the tick quickly climbs aboard.

Some ticks attach immediately while others wander around the horse’s body, looking for the areas where the skin is thinner. That’s why ticks are most often found on a horse’s chest, underbelly, mane, tail, or inside the flank.

The result of a tick bite is often a local skin reaction that appears as a small, firm nodule.

Tick Bite Prevention Disease prevention requires diligence to locate ticks on your horse and remove them, application of tick-specific repellents, and environmental controls.

Coumaphos spray or powder, zetacypermethrin dusting powders, and permethrin applied as a wipe, spray, or spot-on are the most common repellents, which should be applied to the horse’s mane, tail head, chest, and underbelly. You don’t really need to cover the entire horse. Read the labels on these products and use accordingly, protect the environment when using and disposing. There are also tick repellents that are safe for you, your horse,

and the environment. A Google search will bring up many choices.

Local vets have had good results with off-label use of the Frontline Spray for dogs and cats. It’s active ingredient is fipronil and it’s available over the counter.

Whichever repellent you choose to use, check the label to make sure it is effective against ticks, as many insect repellents are not. Apply repellent before trail riding or turning your horses out on pasture.

Check your horses for ticks thoroughly after a ride and at least daily if they are out on pasture. Often it’s easier to feel ticks than see them. Run your fingers over the horse’s skin in areas where ticks like to attach, feeling for small bumps that may indicate smaller immature ticks.

Should you find a tick on your horse, follow these guidelines and remove it immediately: • Do not crush or twist the tick, as it causes the tick to regurgitate blood back into your horse, which increases the chance of infection or disease transmission.

• Do not apply baby oil or petroleum to smother the tick, or force it to detach with a lit match. Those methods do not work and can cause injury to your horse.

• Wear gloves and use tweezers to gently remove the tick.

• Grasp the tick firmly by the head

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A flock of chickens, allowed to free range, can significantly reduce the amount of ticks, mosquitoes, and fleas on your farm.

where it enters the horse’s skin.

• Do not squeeze or yank. Instead, pull firmly and steadily straight away from the skin until the tick’s head comes free.

• Drop detached ticks in a small jar of rubbing alcohol to kill them. Wash the attachment site with a mild antiseptic and then wash your hands.

From a pasture management perspective, you can decrease the number of ticks your horse may pick up by making ticks unwelcome in your horse’s turnout space. Get rid of their favorite hangouts by keeping the grass mowed, clearing brush, and trimming low branches. Additionally, Guinea fowl or free-range chickens do an excellent job of finding and eating ticks around the barnyard.

The best way to protect your horse from Lyme disease is to limit his exposure to the ticks that carry it. Currently there’s no approved equine Lyme disease vaccine “At Grand Prix Equine, we vaccinate horses for Lyme disease using the vaccine for dogs,” says Dr. Johanna Kremberg. “In my hands, the vaccine bestows some protection for a disease that can be debilitating once contracted.”

Deer Ticks Many kinds of ticks carry disease, but blacklegged ticks pose a serious danger to horses because they carry both Lyme

disease and equine anaplasmosis. These ticks are widespread in Connecticut where they’re commonly known as deer ticks.

Ticks go through three life stages — larva, nymph, and adult — and need a blood meal before molting from one stage to the next. They pick up diseasecausing bacteria as larvae and nymphs by feeding on infected mice, and they can pass the bacteria on to their next victim, be it horse or human, dog or deer, or some other mammal or bird.

Ticks overwinter in leaf litter and emerge again in spring or whenever the temperature is above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Sunny days in the middle of winter can bring ticks out to look for a meal. Because the ticks attach tightly when they bite and then stay in place, feeding slowly for days, the bacteria have plenty of time to move into the new host’s bloodstream. Once filled with blood, ticks drop off to molt and progress to the next stage of their life or in the case of adult females, lay eggs.

Ticks are expanding their range, potentially putting more horses, dogs, wildlife, and people at risk. This is based on ecological studies as well as serology (blood tests) for infection with Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.

Researchers have noted correlations between climate change and the ticks’ spread farther north. Warm winters are also helping them emerge ear-

lier in spring and stay active longer in fall. That translates to greater risk of infection.

Lyme Disease Lyme disease is a serious threat to horses, with long-term complications that can include chronic lameness and damage to the horse’s nervous system, heart, and vision. The disease takes its name from Lyme, where it was first identified in the 1970s. It’s now the most common tick-borne infection in the United States.

There are no national statistics on the incidence of Lyme disease in horses, but the increase in positive blood tests shows more exposure to the Lyme organism, Borrelia burgdorferi.

(Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control also show a steady increase in human cases.)

Infection is the first step, when the causative agent (bacterium that causes disease) enters the body. Disease occurs when the agent replicates in the body, damaging tissues and producing symptoms.

Because deer ticks are so tiny (an adult is the size of a sesame seed) and generally drop off after feeding, if your horse develops Lyme disease you may never see the guilty tick.

How will you know and what should you do?

Vague and variable symptoms are a calling card of Lyme disease. These Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

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symptoms generally appear weeks after the bite and may include: • Sporadic lameness, typically involving large joints, such as the fetlock, knee, hock or stifle, and often affecting multiple sites or moving from one site to another • Lack of energy • Behavioral changes, such as a sour or depressed attitude • Hypersensitivity to touch or other stimuli • Muscle soreness • Low-grade fever • Over time, chronic weight loss, leg swelling, and other problems Many of these symptoms can be caused by a number of problems — even something as simple as overwork — thus make diagnosing Lyme disease a challenge.

Your veterinarian will start with a physical exam and a thorough history to assess the horse’s risk of infection. If Lyme disease seems likely, blood tests may turn up evidence of infection.

The simplest test is the C6 SNAP, a quick stall-side test that detects the presence of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). It provides an instant result

tall One s ow! n able avail mp er ca m m Su ings! n e p o

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Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

but doesn’t tell much about the level of antibodies or the stage of the infection.

Laboratory ELISA tests measure antibody levels with high levels (200 to 300 units and above) suggesting infection. This test doesn’t always discriminate well between antibodies to Bb and those produced in response to certain related organisms. A Western blot test, which detects antibodies produced against certain proteins in the Lyme bacteria, is more specific.

While these tests have long been used to diagnose Lyme disease, they share two limitations. First, because the horse’s immune system can take several weeks to produce antibodies to a new infection, tests run soon after exposure may yield false negative results. Second, because antibodies can continue to circulate long after the bacteria are gone, a positive test may indicate past exposure to the bacteria, not active infection.

A multiplex test developed at the Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University helps overcome the second limitation. While it’s more expensive than the other tests, it gives a more accurate overall picture for correct diagnosis and treatment with three

titers in one test. It measures antibody levels, like the ELISA, to three different outer surface proteins, while identifying different antibodies to specific outersurface proteins of the bacteria. Bb changes the expression of its outer-surface proteins depending on its environment, much as you might change clothes to suit the weather, so the presence of different antibodies can help determine if a Lyme infection is new or old.

For example, during initial infection the bacteria express outer surface protein C (OspC). Antibodies to OspC are thought to develop about three days to three months after infection and disappear after six months. Because OspC antibodies indicate recent infection, some veterinarians suggest treatment based on positive test results even if the horse isn’t showing signs of active Lyme disease. The goal is to prevent the disease from developing, although the value of this practice hasn’t been determined in horses. The horse may not develop Lyme disease, in which case treatment would not be necessary; however, it may make sense to consider preventive treatment if the horse is in an

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Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

area of proven tick activity and has been exposed.

Once infection is established and after three months of infection, antibodies to a different protein, OspF, appear. OspF may be present for a very long time — years in some cases — whether the horse is treated or not. A positive test for OspF, then, doesn’t necessarily indicate active disease that must be treated.

Horses that have had the off-label dog Lyme disease vaccine will have the bacteria express outer surface protein A (OspA). OspA is a response to tick saliva.

Most cases of Lyme disease respond to tetracycline antibiotics such as doxycycline or minocycline (both oral) and oxytetracycline (intravenous). Intravenous oxytetracycline is known to get the best results yet this often means that the horse must stay at a clinic or have the veterinarian visit daily, which can be expensive. Oral treatments can achieve the same results and many veterinarians use the oral products and see an improvement. Intravenous treatment may be recommended if the horse doesn’t respond to oral medication or relapses after treatment.

Although many horses show improvement within days of starting antibiotics, the bacteria won’t be eliminated that fast. Treatment continues for 30 days or more.

When Lyme disease is recognized and treated early, the outlook for recovery is good. Some horses suffer recurring attacks of Lyme disease, and it’s not clear whether they’re re-infected or are harboring the bacteria between attacks.

The longer the disease goes untreated, the greater the risk of lingering effects and lasting damage to joints and other areas.

Anaplasmosis The bacteria that cause equine anaplasmosis, Anaplasma phagocytophila (formerly Ehrlichia equi), take the same route as the Lyme disease bacteria — picked up from mice or other small animals by ticks in the nymph stage and passed on when the ticks seek their next blood meal. As with Lyme disease, the risk is highest in the areas and at the times when the ticks are active — and as those areas and times increase, so do reports of the disease.

More cases of anaplasmosis are

being seen in horses, and veterinarians are finding it in areas that have not seen the disease before. Since ticks are often co-infected with Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophila, sometimes both Lyme disease and anaplasmosis are transmitted in the same bite.

Once in the horse’s bloodstream, the bacteria attack white blood cells called granulocytes. Symptoms of anaplasmosis typically appear a week or two after a tick bite and include: • Fever, which may be high (103–104 degrees Fahrenheit) for the first one to three days • Depression and lethargy • Loss of appetite • Reluctance to move • Swelling in the lower legs • Muscle stiffness Older horses may be more severely affected. Any horse with a high fever and no appetite is at risk for serious problems, including dehydration and colic, so call your vet promptly if you see these signs.

If the horse’s history and physical signs point to anaplasmosis, blood tests

can confirm the infection. A PCR test detects segments of Anaplasma DNA; other tests check for levels of antibodies produced to fight the infection.

The tetracycline antibiotics used to fight Lyme disease are also effective against anaplasmosis without the need for prolonged treatment. Treatment with intravenous oxytetracyline often causes a very quick resolution of clinical symptoms within 24 to 48 hours. Many veterinarians will treat anaplasmosis for two to three days intravenously and then switch to one of the oral tetracyclines, such as doxycycline or minocycline, for a longer course of seven to ten days.

With treatment, horses generally recover promptly without lingering effects and they seem to develop a natural immunity that protects them from this disease for up to two years.

As with Lyme disease, there’s no vaccine against this disease. Reducing exposure to ticks is the best defense.

ONE OF MY Haflinger mares was infected with anaplasmosis while stabled in a nearby town. A high fever and

lack of appetite (In a Haflinger!) were her symptoms that helped lead to a diagnosis confirmed with a PCR test.

She was given two days of intravenous antibiotics and then continued with a course of oral antibiotics. Within 24 hours she was eating and her fever was abating.

She was checked daily for ticks — deer and dog ticks were often found — yet, there she was, infected with anaplasmosis. I’ve doubled down on tick checks for my horses and wear my reading glasses! And, brush, tall grass, and low-hanging branches are kept to a minimum in the horses’ pastures. It doesn’t feel like it’s enough, but it will have to do.

Thank you to Johanna Kremberg, DVM, of Grand Prix Equine for her assistance with this article.

Stephanie is the publisher of Connecticut Horse and Massachusetts Horse. A lifelong horsewoman, she’s been a riding instructor and a breeding manager at an 80-horse Arabian farm. Stephanie currently lives in the foothills of the Berkshires on Pocketful of Ponies Farm, a 12-acre farm she envisioned and built 28 years ago.

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Trail Guide

Colchester

by Stacey Stearns

Air Line Trail State Park

L

I arrived at noon on a beautiful Sunday, and pulled straight into the Bull Hill Road lot. The parking lot is on a corner and a hill, so the approach by oncoming cars is slow. Ideally I would have backed in, but would have needed to arrive earlier in order to do so. I backed out into the road and then pulled out when it was time to leave.

iron and wood, then buried by 20 acres of sand and gravel from 1912 to 1913, rather than replace the aging structure.

Today, equestrians can enjoy the views using the southern section of Air Line Trail State Park, 22 miles of recreation for Nutmeg state residents that is owned and maintained by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). In the March/April 2018 issue, we rode the Hop River State Park Air Line Trail section in the northern part of the state.

Several years ago, I saw photos of equestrians riding horses over the Lyman Viaduct and was intrigued. It’s been on my trail-riding bucket list since then, but had eluded me. I finally made it happen over Memorial Day weekend, and the Lyman Viaduct did not disappoint.

Colchester is also home to Day Pond State Park and Salmon River State Forest. If you park at Bull Hill Road, your first few miles on the Air Line Trail in either direction will be flanked by Salmon River State Forest, especially if you ride east, away from the Lyman Viaduct. Both are managed by DEEP and open to horses. We’ll explore these areas in more detail in a future issue.

The Air Line Trail is extremely popular in the southern section of the state.

East Hampton and Hebron are the two areas that see the greatest number of trail users. On a beautiful Sunday afternoon we saw countless other trail users, predominantly bicycles, but also a few runners, dogs, and walkers. Be prepared to share the trail and courteously greet other trail users if you ride this section.

There are no trail amenities available, and you’ll need to bring water for your horse. I also recommend a healthy dose of fly spray. Although our horses have shoes, you may choose to ride the Air Line Trail barefoot as it’s smooth gravel.

If you cross the street (using the crosswalk) you can head east into the Colchester section of the Air Line Trail and Salmon River State Forest. The Salmon River State Forest is home to another bucket list location for Nutmeg trail riders — the Comstock Bridge — a covered bridge that you can ride your horse through, thanks to the efforts of

A Leg Up Visit ct.gov/deep for parking information and trail maps. I used the East Hampton map for this ride. Horse trailer parking in Colchester is available on Bull Hill Road and on Smith Street in East Hampton, although Smith Street is a smaller lot. Lyman Viaduct is only a half mile west of the Bull Hill Road parking lot, and this lot is also where you’ll find a sign board with trail information.

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Out Riding It We started our ride by heading west toward East Hampton and the Lyman Viaduct. The trail is on the same side of the road as the Bull Hill Road parking lot.

Stan Malcolm

Stacey Stearns

yman Viaduct was a 1,112' long, 137' tall railroad bridge in Colchester built in 1873 to carry trains over Dickinson Creek. (A viaduct is a long bridge-like structure carrying a road or railroad across a valley or other low ground.) The name comes from one of the principal project investors, David Lyman. It was built with wrought

the Connecticut Horse Council over a five-year period. (Remember, if you do ride the bridge, you must remove any manure from it.)

Some of the attractions of the Air Line Trail are the pristine footing, wellgroomed trail, and inability to get lost.

It’s a linear trail — you go out, and then come back. While I consulted the map from home prior to the ride, I did not need it while riding. As we rode west toward East Hampton, the trees growing alongside the trail shaded our path and helped keep the horses cool.

A half-mile goes by quickly, and I soon recognized the approach to the Lyman Viaduct from the photos I’d seen. The trees are growing up below the viaduct, eclipsing some of the views, but it’s still spectacular. I want to return in the fall, and see the foliage from this vantage, and again in the winter when the trees are bare and we can enjoy the entire view.

Benches are placed along the edges of the Lyman Viaduct for trail users to stop and enjoy. Off on the sides of the trail, the old wrought iron railroad ties were peeking out in numerous places.

Although it’s only a little over 1,000 feet long, this section of Air Line Trail is taller in all locations than what I’m used to riding in the northern part of the

state. We were often looking down over the sides at what was beyond the trail.

We rode through sections where the railroad had blasted rock to get the train tracks through, and the blast lines were still evident in the rocks. The water dripped down the side of the rocks and pooled slightly on the trail; I reached out and touched the cool rocks as we walked past.

In East Hampton, multiple side trails lead off into the woods, and we rode through land managed by the Middlesex Land Trust.

“I used to ride there a lot back when I was boarding not too far from the Air Line Trail and would jump on a bit closer to the cranberry bog,” says Edna Liberty, a trail rider from Portland with thousands of miles accumulated on the trails. “I used to spend a lot of time on the trails that are off both sides of the Air Line Trail. I’m more of an ‘in the woods’ person.”

After two miles, we turned around and headed back toward the Lyman Viaduct. Had we continued on the East Hampton section we would have come to Flanders Pond, an old cranberry bog, and the large gateway to the Air Line Trail in East Hampton, as well as the parking lot on Smith Street. We’ll have to explore these on another ride, as I was eager to head east into Salmon River State Forest, and over to the Salmon River on this ride as well.

Heading east, riding back toward the parking lot, we had better views while crossing the Lyman Viaduct. At the parking lot, we crossed the street, and continued down the Air Line trail deeper into Salmon River State Forest.

The bugs were more persistent on this side of the street, likely in direct correlation to our proximity to the river and surrounding wetlands. We could hear the river, and spot it far below us as we started off on this section. Little waterfalls and tiny streams crossed under the Air Line trail as we progressed further east.

We found some pink wildflowers growing on the side of the trail, near a rock shaped like a chair or a giant cupped hand. If I hadn’t been riding my horse, I would have stopped and sat in it for a few minutes. We rode 1.5 miles down to River Road, where we exited the Air Line Trail, and rode under the giant stone bridge and down to the Salmon River. Many people were swimming and fishing; we rode alongside the river for about a half-mile and then found an area where there were

no other trail users so we could water our horses.

We then turned around, rode back past the river, under the stone bridge, and to the Air Line Trail. We arrived back at the trailer after a perfect 7.5mile trail ride. It may have taken me a long time to finally ride the Lyman Viaduct, but I know it won’t be my last visit.

Happy trails!

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

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Horseperson Feature Roxbury

by Sally L. Feuerberg

Chanin Miller, DVM

s I travel a little way down Baker Road in Roxbury, I find a charming Cape Cod house painted vibrant yellow, adorned with traditional black shutters. The path leading to its front door is adorned with a white post with a wrought iron bracket, on which hangs a small sign identifying this as the home base for the Roxbury Animal Clinic. The entire scene reminds me of a perfect setting for a James Herriot novel.

A

erinary school, Chanin had worked as a veterinary assistant.

“I was originally from Long Island and moved to Connecticut in 2012,” Chanin says. “I attended Tuskegee University in Alabama in 2008, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in animal, poultry, and veterinary sciences, with a minor in biology. I received my doctorate from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012.”

says. “Our practice does both house and farm calls, and we do routine vaccinations for horses, dogs, cats, cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. We can perform routine surgical procedures for both large and small animals, and some of our larger animal patients can be attended to in the field. We have digital radiography, both in-clinic and mobile, and we offer in-house laboratory services and reference laboratory services. Except for emergencies, our work week is Monday

I’m here to meet with Chanin Miller, DVM, and as I walk into the reception area, I’m greeted by a small, black short-haired dog that I later learned is named Colt. Colt has a very important job as greeter, and seemed quite happy to welcome me to his workplace. Down the hall, numerous photos on a bulletin board display cats, dogs, goats, and horses — clients of the practice. Music plays in the background, and the atmosphere is warm and inviting.

As I began my interview with Chanin in one of the clinic’s immaculate exam rooms, her confident, capable, and amicable demeanor immediately impresses me. She handled each of my questions with poise, composure, and a sense of wisdom and insight beyond her years.

Chanin’s love of animals led her pursue veterinary medicine. “A love of animals, especially cats and dogs,” says Chanin. In veterinary school, she started to work on the larger animals like cows, goats, sheep, and horses and it was then that she knew she wanted to be part of a mixed practice. Prior to vet-

Chanin is one of four veterinarians at this clinic, which serves the greater Litchfield County area, as well as several other towns in the Fairfield County region. “There’s Dr. Mark Carlson, who’s the owner of the practice, Dr. Sarah Timm, and Dr. Paul Elwell,” Chanin says.

Dr. Elwell has been practicing as a mixed practice veterinarian for more than fifty years, and although he’s now semi-retired, he still works at the office one day a week.

“Dr. Carlson opened the Roxbury Animal Clinic in 2015, after transitioning the practice from its original location at Dr. Elwell’s office, which was also located in Roxbury,” Chanin says. “It was actually Dr. Elwell who hired me right after graduating from veterinary school.”

through Saturday, and every afternoon, one of our vets will be on the road.

“About twenty percent of our practice is bovine and equine. The majority of our equine clients are backyard and small, family-owned farms. We do, however, also care for a wide variety of clients from upscale competition horses to the backyard retired ‘lawn ornament.’ We treat lameness issues, colic, and deal with general skin, bone, muscle, and health issues. For extreme equine conditions or ailments that require more advanced or specialized veterinary care and facilities, we work in conjunction with Fairfield Equine and New England Veterinary Practice.”

Dr. Miller’s clients acknowledge and applaud the advantages that a mixed practice can offer.

“Currently, with thirteen horses, two miniature donkeys, two pot belly pigs, one cat, and four dogs, the animals of Iron Bell Farm and Rescue in Southbury have required the services and expertise of Roxbury Animal Clinic and Dr. Miller on multiple occasions,” says Beth Tarby, farm owner. “In the

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Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

All Creatures Great and Small “We’ve tended to such a large variety of animals, including the animals at Stew Leonard’s Petting Zoo in Danbury, and Dr. Carlson even treated a camel living on an animal farm in Woodbury!” she

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past several years, Dr. Miller has been called out to our farm for everything from scheduled routine spring shots to on-call events such as colic, stitching and stapling, choke, and even the euthanasia of one of our old rescued horses. At one time or another, she’s evaluated or examined the many rabbits, goats, alpacas, donkeys, dogs, and horses that have been fostered here at our farm. She once even examined a pigeon that my mother rescued, although that visit took place in the office.”

“Dr. Miller is always terrific to work with,” Beth says. “She’s kind and compassionate, and brings an abundance of knowledge and experience to her clients and patients. She’s extremely thorough in her approach and is always very practical about her recommendations for treatment and care. She’s an effortlessly balanced blend of new technology and modern methods combined with an old-school country veterinarian’s tactics and style. We’re always confident in her skills and her abilities, and we know that our animals are in good hands when she’s working with them.”

Chris Smith, a horse, donkey, and dog owner, says, “Dr. Miller and her colleagues at Roxbury Animal Clinic are unusual, I believe, in that they take care of both small and large animals. Dr. Miller has come to my farm to vaccinate and look after all the various problems that arise with seven horses and two donkeys. She’s also cared for my Australian shepherds and was especially helpful in diagnosing my twelve-year-old [dog] Halle as she became ill at the end of her life.”

“I first met Dr. Miller when she was

new at the clinic and on call one Sunday,” says Chris. “I called the service because one of my horses was unable to put any weight on his front leg and was in considerable distress. He had broken his front leg and there was really only one humane thing to do. What a way to meet new member of the team. Dr. Miller’s compassion and caring for both my horse and for me at this hard time still brings tears to my eyes.”

But it’s not only Chanin’s clients, both four-legged and two-legged, that appreciate her skills, dedication, and conscientiousness.

“She’s truly a perfect fit for our practice,” says Dr. Mark Carlson. “It can be difficult to find a veterinarian who’s willing to take on the variety of different animals we see in a mixed practice. Dr. Miller is quiet, funny, and a very hard worker. It’s a high point of my day to see her come in every morning.”

A Day in the Life of a Country Veterinarian “You would think being a veterinarian, it’s all about the animals,” Chanin says.

“Most days, it’s as much about the people as it is the animals. Strong communication skills are vital to this job. We need to be sensitive and aware of the owner’s concerns while carefully balancing with what is best for the animal’s health.

“Becoming a veterinarian can be an emotional roller coaster at times; there can be rewards, joys, losses, heartbreaks, miracles, and everything between,” she says. “That’s why I’ve made it a priority not to become mentally and physically fatigued. You have to remember your own welfare as well. Yes, you want to help as many animals as possible, but if you

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“Helping patients and clients in a time of stress or emergency is one of the most rewarding aspects of veterinary medicine,” Chanin says, unequivocally.

“It’s always important in an emergency to be calm, collected, and efficient while communicating clearly. I realize when a beloved companion is injured or not feeling well, it can be stressful and hectic. The best feeling is when I respond to an emergency situation and provide complete and comprehensive care. I take comfort that I’ve helped my patient become more stable and that the owner is happy as well.

“Then, the cherry on top is getting an update the next day saying they are still great. The power to help a patient and an owner through a crisis is an indescribable joy that nothing can match.”

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

Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

17

Lend a Hoof Middletown

by Sally L. Feuerberg

Sumner Brook Farm Equine Rescue and Retirement

E

veryone involved with horses has learned about or witnessed a predicament in which a horse or group of horses has been abandoned, neglected, or mistreated. You’ve looked through the hundreds of photos and read the heart-wrenching stories in the media. Wanting to help, you’ve contem-

“I started out with every intention of training and competing ‘fancy’ horses, but I don’t really fit into that world very well,” Amy says. “I spent many years training horses for therapeutic riding programs and learned to see the value that every horse has, and that every horse can have purpose and meaning in

say I have lived in pain for many years is an understatement.

“It was six weeks after my surgery that I rescued Caleb. The aged gelding was part of a group of nineteen horses in Lyme suffering from severe neglect.

At this point I was an emotional wreck; I was still physically recovering, but also

Left: Sumner Brook Farm’s board of directors and advisors. From left to right: Bob Daniels, owner of Daniels Farm where Sumner Brook Farm is located; Ray Anderson, treasurer; Marissa Maturo, secretary; Heather Rhoades, adoption committee advisor; Diane Kallaugher, board member; Melissa Hill, board chairperson; Amy Anderson, founder and executive director; and Sally Barrett, board member. Not pictured, board member Jill Bonnin. Right: Caleb and Amy.

plated adopting a horse that’s been rescued, and considered the possibility of providing that equine with its forever home.

Myriad questions race through your mind. Are you ready? Are you capable of this and are you willing to take on the inevitable challenges? What if you’re not a good match? But then again, you’ve also heard some wonderful stories with happy endings. Could it work for you?

The decision to adopt a horse that’s been rescued can be one of the toughest commitments an equestrian can make. Amy Gardner Anderson has faced these difficult situations and in 2016 it became her life’s mission to not only give these deserving horses a second chance, but to also provide the direction, education, and support necessary for a lasting partnership between horse and human, and to do all she could to help those wishing to adopt be successful with the horse they’re bringing home.

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Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

their work. Training horses to be good at that job is harder than you might think and the level of safety standards and good manners they have to meet is even higher than any show horse.

“I’ve taken that idea to my training with horses that have been rescued because they’re adopted by ‘average’ horse people, those looking for a companion or a fun, safe horse to ride. So, horses that have been rescued have to be safe and fairly easy to handle, with some guidance provided to the adopter for adoptions to be successful long term.”

Amy is the founder and executive director of Sumner Brook Farm, a nonprofit organization in Middletown.

“I knew this was the path I was supposed to follow,” Amy says. “My story is pretty personal but I’m fairly open about these things and it’s important for people to know how it began, so they know how important the work is to me on a personal level. In March of 2016 I had a hysterectomy. This was after years of trying unsuccessfully to have children. To

mentally reeling from the last ten years of my life. I asked myself, ‘If I wasn’t meant to have children then what am I supposed to be doing? Is this really it?

Teaching other people’s children to post the trot and to love the pony I had thought would be for my own kids someday? To watch all the kids and moms have a life I would never know?’

That part got to be overwhelming and I stopped teaching young kids. I had to shift my focus for my sanity.”

“When I saw Caleb, I was just heartbroken,” Amy says. “He was nearly dead from starvation and I wasn’t sure he would survive the trip in the trailer or his rehabilitation, but I had to try.”

Amy’s recollections are raw and deeply embedded in her memory. They are as clear as if it all happened yesterday.

“We were one of the last trailers to leave the property, and on our way down the road the neighbors waved and flashed the peace sign to me,” says Amy. “It was on that drive home that I knew what I needed to do. This was the right

choice and this was where my heart was now. I had the knowledge and the skills to do the work and there were horses, right here, who needed me.”

It was this experience that sparked the pivotal decision to create Sumner Brook Farm. The nonprofit was established at Bear Paw Barn, a stable that Amy owns and manages on the Daniels Farm property. The farm’s primary mission is to reduce the number of horses being sent to auction or slaughter by offering the rehabilitation, retraining, and re-homing of horses that have been abandoned, neglected, or mistreated.

Amy and the staff at Sumner Brook Farm are dedicated to providing care for horses unable to work due to illness, injury, or age, as well as offering education to the community about proper equine care and management throughout the lifetime of the horse.

The commitment to this monumental undertaking is not without its challenges. Many of the horses come to Amy with behavioral and health issues.

Upon arriving at Sumner Brook Farm, horses are evaluated for their veterinary and dietary needs. After any necessary treatment, a rehabilitation and training plan is developed.

“It all depends on where the horse is starting from physically and mentally,” Amy says. “The first thing is to address any medical issues, get them up to date on vaccines, dental, shoeing, and get them in good weight and body condition. Then I start ground work to see what they know. I assume that every horse knows nothing because they need to learn what I am going to ask them to do. A little free lunging in the indoor to evaluate fitness and voice commands, then adding lunge equipment, then saddle, and lot of ground driving or long lining. This helps to get the horses fit and gives me a good feel of how they will be under saddle. Plus, it’s an excellent method for rehabbing horses with physical challenges because they build topline, suppleness, and better strength.

They learn to use their bodies in a balanced, correct way, exactly as I need them to when I ride. Then, I’ll start riding when the horse is ready.”

As for behavioral issues, Amy has seen it all. “I’ve started twenty-year-old horses that have had minimal to no handling. I’ve trained babies who would rather strike at you and run you over than walk beside you. I’ve seen bucking, rearing, bolting — all of it,” she says.

“The main thing I see is that many of

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The key components that make Sumner Brook Farm different from other rescue organizations are Amy’s 20-plus years of experience, her extensive knowledge as a trainer, and her deep understanding of horse–rider communication as an instructor of both able-bodied riders and riders with disabilities. Amy’s high training standards for each horse available for adoption and ongoing support post-adoption help to ensure the best, most appropriate home for both horse and person.

“To find a good match, the adopter has to meet some basic horse ownership criteria and have a good working knowledge of care that is required and/or be working with a trainer who can help them,” says Amy. “Once we’ve established that the adopter has the understanding and the resources to be a horse owner, we can look at skill required for a particular horse, the expectations the adopter has, and the ability of the horse to meet those expectations.”

Sumner Brook Farm also offers a Retirement Program and a Guardian Care Program. For retirees, the farm offers lowcost board. If your horse is accepted as a retiree, they will receive all of the benefits of full-care board, in addition to veterinary and dental care, farrier services, and any other essential care required for their health and happiness.

“We also have a Guardian Care Assistance program for horse owners who face temporary hardship, like loss of income or illness, or military deployment, where they can surrender the

horse and then adopt them back later if they are able,” says Amy. “This is a unique program and as we’re a new organization, people don’t really know about it yet.”

Amy’s work with the horses she rescues is rewarding, though sometimes the results are long in the making.

“Watching the transformation happen,” she says, “can be a very lengthy process of many months and even years for horses to heal mentally and physically from neglect. There’s also a moment during training when I see the switch flip for the horse. They start to make good decisions when I ask for things. They actually learn the right thing to do instead of resisting, and things get easier from there. It’s a moment that may not be really obvious to someone watching, but after many hours with these guys I can see the change happen, at least for that day, for that moment. I hope they remember it the next time we go to work, or that it’s easier to get there the next day and the day after that.”

As for Caleb, he’s still at Sumner Brook Farm. Because of his dietary needs and age, he’ll live out the rest of his life at the farm.

“He’s fat and sassy, and goes for gallops around the pasture with such gusto that I’m sure he will hurt himself . . . but he doesn’t,” says Amy. “Tail flying, head high, snorting at the mares, he’s loving his life.”

To lend a hoof, visit sumnerbrookfarm.com or reach out to Amy at (860) 365-6755 or sumnerbrookfarm@gmail.com.

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

Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

19

Terryville

by Lara Rudowski

Farm Feature

TerryAllen Farms Close Comradery

T

horse when you were a kid,’ ” says Caroline. “They’d seen the pictures and heard him talk about it.”

The interest in horses only grew for both daughters as young teenagers.

“We used to go to a lot of fairs with our oxen and do 4-H with them,” says Sam. “I would always end up near the horse show ring, watching the show and just always wanted to get into riding. I ended up looking into riding lessons

Riley Babb

Abby Krudwig

green woodland that wraps around the entire farm. Among the trees, guinea hens call to each other, while keeping down the tick population, and horses contentedly graze or bask in the sun in rows of roomy paddocks.

TerryAllen’s owners, Mark and Caroline Borkoski, live in one of the three family homes scattered across the property. The family-owned farm started several generations ago with working oxen, when Mark’s father bought 45 acres of land after returning from service in World War II. He sold off some of the land, but passed on the 20-acre farm to Mark and his sister.

They each built a home there and Mark continued to work the oxen farm after he and Caroline were married.

Of Mark and Caroline’s three children, it was their daughters, Melissa and Samantha, who shifted Mark and Caroline’s focus and TerryAllen Farms’ future to horses.

“When my husband was a kid, he used to be in horse 4-H, so when our girls got to be eleven and twelve they said, ‘Dad, we want a horse. You had a

and my parents didn’t really want to pay for it, so I worked off my lessons and did some showing.”

Inevitably, Mark and Caroline saw Sam and Melissa’s passions develop.

Melissa soon began to train in dressage and later, to be a farrier. Sam lessoned and competed in hunter/jumper and equitation.

“Sam wanted to have her own horses and maybe do a little boarding,” says Caroline of what followed. “Melissa had a horse too.”

The transition of TerryAllen Farms into an equestrian facility began in 1991 when the farm opened to boarders with 11 stalls.

“In 1994, we added on the west wing that has seven stalls and then a year later, we added on five outside stalls in the back,” says Caroline. “Boarding was increasing, more people were interested. We only had one outdoor ring at the time.”

“It was tough teaching in the winter because we didn’t have an indoor [arena] and we’d have to drive off premises,” Caroline says.

Fortunately, the farm completed its biggest project in 2013, with the addition of a beautiful indoor arena, adjoined with a viewing room and an office that Caroline, noting with a laugh, still hopes to claim as her quiet workspace.

TerryAllen also recently purchased 30 acres of adjoining land both to preserve the natural space and provide more trails for riders to explore. The

Lara Rudowski

he simplest way to get a feel for TerryAllen Farms in Terryville is to walk down the main aisle of the big, tan barn where a warm breeze drifts from one sunlit doorway to the other.

The sound of riding boots drums on stairs up to the tack room in the loft and a voice giving lesson instructions carries from the indoor arena. Duck under a few cross ties and step outside the other end to an outstanding, serene view of

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Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

Linda Sullivan

farm is now nestled on 50 acres, which feature a lighted, 100' x 200' outdoor arena and a full-size dressage arena. A 20-stall barn sits up on a hill and is home to a group of sweet lesson horses that often double as mounts for the flood of competitors that the farm draws.

The farm hosts several horse shows on the idyllic property. Word gets around about the well-run, friendly shows and entry spaces often quickly run out.

“We host about four regular Interscholastic Equestrian Association [IEA] shows a year,” says Sam. “We also host regionals and two Connecticut Horse Shows Association and Connecticut Hunter Jumper Association shows.”

TerryAllen Farms is recognized for its own outstanding and strong IEA program. Sam’s single-handed dedication is the greatest credit behind its success.

She’s a patient, caring teacher by nature and there’s no pressure to be perfect in the ring. She encourages her students with a smile and assurance that every step is a step forward.

“I always wanted to go to school for

horses and since we have our own facility, I wanted to teach lessons,” says Sam, who graduated from Southern Virginia University with a degree in equine studies.

“I did Intercollegiate Horse Show Association shows in college and really enjoyed it, so I was looking for another way to get kids involved. We originally tried 4-H, but it never really took off. I was looking through a magazine and saw an ad for the IEA and I figured I’d give it a shot.”

Sam introduced TerryAllen’s first team into the IEA in 2005, three years after the IEA’s inception. She stood behind the program’s approach for young riders to gain confidence in the saddle and feel in control during every ride regardless of knowing their mount or not.

“I find that it really helps the kids by riding different horses, that they become better riders,” she says. “The IEA really encourages the different change in horses.”

Twenty-two students make up TerryAllen’s IEA team this year. Both high school and middle school team members regularly qualify for regionals, move on to zones, and have even competed at IEA hunt seat nationals. The team members are energetic and sup-

portive of each other’s successes in friendships that extend beyond the ring.

Riley Babb had his determination, his teammates, and Samantha’s training helping him win his national title in 2018 when he won the Varsity Intermediate Over Fences Individual class at IEA Nationals. This year, sixteen-yearold Riley won the IEA Nationals Leading Hunt Seat Rider, the first male rider to earn this title.

“I started riding here seven years ago,” says Riley, who was eight-years old when he stopped by TerryAllen Farms interested in lessons. “I did a year of western and then I switched over to hunter/jumper.”

Riley joined the IEA team in middle school when he became eligible.

“My sixth grade year is when I started, he says. “I’ve been doing it since I was old enough.” “[Sam] has given me a lot of opportunities to ride different horses, so it’s been a really good experience,” says Riley. “I didn’t think I would be where I am, seven years later.”

Abby Krudwig just wrapped up her freshman year of college and is back at the barn to ride with her friends. She loves to show thanks to TerryAllen’s tight community and Sam.

“I’ve been riding here for about six years,” says Abby, as she rinses off one of the lesson horses after her ride. “I love it here! I was on the IEA team from seventh grade to when I was a senior. IEA was such a blast! All my friends here are basically family — we’re so close and it’s like home.”

“Sam is very patient and she really believes in every one of her students,” says Abby. “She never gives up on anyone and that’s awesome. Coming from a different barn and taking my first lesson here, even that first lesson I took, I learned so much. She really takes her time with each and every one of her students and that’s my favorite part of working with her.”

“I completely trust her,” says Abby.

“She makes me feel completely comfortable riding and I learn something new every single lesson. She’s such a good teacher!”

Lifelong rider Linda Sullivan throws in a word as she grabs her tack from a locker. “We’re just pleasure riders,” Linda says. “I’m still riding and I’m here every day. Caroline and Mark are just awesome!”

The turnaround of TerryAllen Farms has been tremendous over the years, but it’s all about horses for the continued on page 39 . . .

Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

21

Above the Bar

by Sean T. Hogan, Esq.

What Can I Do To Protect Myself When My Horse Is On Trial?

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

H

orse owners in the process of selling a horse are often faced with a dilemma, whether or not to let the horse leave the farm and be sent on trial to a perspective buyer or farm for purposes of effecting a sale. Three considerations, including having a written trial agreement, a release and indemnification agreement, and insurance coverage, may limit a seller’s liability.

tations during the trial period they would be entitled to a full refund.

(e.g., rider collides with a third party riding their horse).

Release and Indemnification Agreement

Insurance Coverage

A seller should also have a prospective buyer sign a release and indemnification agreement for the term of the trial period, since the seller is most likely

Trial Agreement Perhaps the most important thing to have is a written record of the terms of the trial arrangement in a trial agreement. Although many sale transactions are increasingly being arranged via social media outlets and text messages, having a written summary, acknowledged by both the seller and prospective buyer, puts all parties on notice as to what their obligations are with regards to the horse.

The term of the trial period can be set forth along with any special care requirement (e.g., turnout and tack requirements) and riding guidelines (e.g., maximum height the horse can be jumped and number of days/hours ridden) the seller requires.

The trial period should be treated as a short-term lease, with an option to purchase at the expiration of the lease.

Should the prospective buyer decide to purchase the horse at the conclusion of the trial, the seller, upon receipt of payment, can transfer any breed and organization registration papers to the buyer.

To avoid the potential theft of the horse when shipping to an unknown farm or prospective buyer, the seller can require the buyer to pay the purchase price in its entirety up front, and in the written trial agreement have the seller acknowledge that in the event the horse does not meet the buyer’s expec22

Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

unfamiliar with the prospective buyer’s riding abilities or how they will ride/test the horse while in their possession.

A release and indemnification agreement can be either part of a written short-term lease agreement or a separate document. The release and indemnification agreement serves two purposes.

First, a well-written release may potentially limit the seller’s liability in the event the prospective buyer is injured or killed during the trial term.

Second, the indemnification portion of the agreement will shift the obligation to pay for any damages to third parties by the horse while in the care of the prospective buyer to the prospective buyer: (e.g., horse bites a boarder at buyer’s farm) or resulting from the prospective buyer’s riding of the horse

From a practical standpoint, it’s recommended that a seller carry major medical and mortality insurance coverage on the horse. Additionally, the seller should include the insurance policy number and the carrier’s contact information in the written trial agreement. In the event that the horse is injured while in the prospective buyer’s custody, some policies have strict notification requirements that need to be met for the policy to cover a claim. A seller should confirm with the insurance agent that the policy will remain in effect if the horse is not in seller’s control.

Finally, a seller may wish to consider the purchase of a personal horse owner’s liability insurance policy. This type of policy is designed to respond in the event legal action is taken against you by a third party for bodily injury or property damage caused by a horse that you own or lease, and you are found legally negligent and liable for the claimed third party damages.

KEEPING YOUR HORSE at your stable while on trial is the most efficient way to ensure that the horse is being maintained and ridden appropriately by a third party; however, this may not always be feasible if the potential buyer is not nearby. Should your horse leave your farm to go to a third party stable for trial, the use of a trial agreement, release and indemnification agreement, and proper insurance coverage will protect both your horse and you in the event of any dispute or injury to horse or rider.

Sean T. Hogan is an attorney in Westport and licensed in New York and Connecticut, where his practice focuses on estate planning and assisting trainers, owners, and investors in equine-related transactions and litigation in Connecticut, New York, and before the USEF. He’s a governor of the Fairfield County Hunt Club and co-chairs the Fairfield County Hunt Club June Benefit Horse Show.

Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

23

Overherd

News in Our Community The Humane Organization Representing Suffering Equines (H.O.R.S.E.) of Connecticut, now celebrating its 38th year, will hold its annual Basic Horse Care Clinic on Saturday, July 20, from 10 a.m. to noon in Washington.

Thinking about getting a horse or are a new horse owner? This horse care clinic is the perfect opportunity to learn the basics of horse care. You will be working hands-on with some of our horses while learning about proper handling and grooming, taking a horse’s temperature, deworming, hoof and dental care, and diet requirements. There will also be a discussion on fencing and

proper shelter. The cost for the clinic is $10.

In addition to the clinic, you can have a tour of the

our BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Mustang mare Sassafras, the petite mini Molly, the giant 19-hand

Sally L. Feuerberg

H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut’s Basic Horse Care Clinic

Joe Santos demonstrates Glue-U Adhesive’s Glushu for the Connecticut Equine Podiatry Group Meeting at All in Farm in Woodbury. The horse assisting Joe is Sadie, owned by Lesley Corrone.

farm and meet our many wonderful horses, including

Belgian draft Duke, and many more. You will also

meet many of the knowledgeable volunteers who will be happy to answer all of your questions.

The tack shop will be open for those looking for saddles, blankets, and other equipment. H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of abused and neglected horses. H.O.R.S.E. is located at 43 Wilbur Road in Washington. To learn more, visit horseofct.org, call (860) 868-1960, or email horsectinfo@gmail.com.

n Kathy Diemer

Connecticut Equine Podiatry Group Meeting Farriers, equine veterinarians Mark Baus of Grand Prix Equine and Robert Neff of Fairfield Equine, and guests

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attended the second meeting of the Connecticut Equine Podiatry Group’s (CEPG), which included a Glue-U Shoe hands-on demonstration and wet lab hosted by Joe and Missy Santos at their All In Farm in Woodbury on June 1.

All In Farm’s spacious and hospitable gathering area above the main barn was the ideal location for the well-attended event that started at 8 a.m. with registration, coffee, and a light breakfast. The meeting portion of the event started with opening remarks from Mark Baus, DVM, in which he initiated a group discussion regarding how the CEPG would function going forward, and the scheduling of meetings. It was decided that meetings would be held when the group had a worthy topic and they would strive to hold the events bimonthly. Dr. Heather Beach of Atlantic Equine Services in Ashford and Mark are currently working on the creation of a CEPG Facebook page.

Joe Santos followed Dr. Baus’ comments with an overview of the Glue-U Adhesive’s Glushu, its associated product line, and components. The Glushu is a flexible cuff bonded to a specially designed aluminum horseshoe that gives the horse a light, hoof-supporting, cushioned shoe. The Glushu eliminates the stress or damage caused by nailing a shoe into a thin white line with poor hoof wall, thus preventing further damage to the hoof wall. These shoes are non-invasive, completely eliminating the risk of hoof injury due to nailing.

After the discussion, the group gathered on the ground level of the main barn for Joe’s hands-on demonstration and wet lab, which included the step-bystep application of the Glushu on Lesley Corrone’s 26

16-year-old Quarter Horse mare Sadie. A series of radiographs were taken by Dr. Baus and Dr. Neff to establish a baseline of hoof condition prior to the start of the application of the Glushus.

“This shoe allows for immediate sole elevation and extreme breakover with the ability to rehabilitate hoof wall structure, while putting longevity on a horse’s rotation. Most important, all these goals can be achieved while the horse stays in his normal work program,” Joe said.

“This is a unique glue-on shoe because it allows for bringing the breakover much further back than other glue-on shoes,” said Dr. Baus. “It also allows for additional frog pressure with an insert into the shoe.”

After Joe finished fitting Glushus on Sadie, guests enjoyed a generous lunch hosted by Missy Santos. Great food and conversation dominated the afternoon break, which was followed by an opportunity for participants to try their hand at the application of the Glushu under the supervision and instruction of Joe and farrier Roy Verocay, owner of Worldwide Farrier Supply.

As the day came to a close, Dr. Baus shared his thoughts about the genesis of the CEPG. “I’ve been able to work with many farriers over time and I’ve always marveled at the broad range of skills among those farriers,” he said. “I was motivated to start this group for many reasons but my main reasons were twofold. First, I wanted to foster relationships between farriers and veterinarians.

There’s a fuzzy line between the responsibilities of farriers and veterinarians so it makes sense that the better we work together, the clearer it becomes about who’s responsible for what. My second reason for starting this group

Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

was to help farriers advance their farrier skills and to also develop their skills as business owners. Based on the enthusiasm at these first two meetings, I’m optimistic this group will take off and offer benefits for both farriers and veterinarians.”

n Sally L. Feuerberg

Second Annual CDHR Benefit Cut-A-Thon You’re invited to join the Connecticut Draft Horse Rescue (CDHR) for its second annual Cut-a-thon to benefit the CDHR on Saturday, August 10, from 11 a.m. to 2pm. The Cut-a-thon has been generously sponsored by the Scissor Happy Salon at 864 Portland-Cobalt Road in Portland. For a $25 donation you can get your hair cut, styled, or braided.

No appointments necessary!

There will also be a silent auction and CDHR retail items. A very special thank you to Tony’s Package Store in Haddam for sponsoring the wine pull (drawing)!

To learn more, visit ctdraftrescue.com or facebook.com/ctdraftrescue.

n Noreen Blaschik

Ox Ridge Charity Show The 88th annual Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show was held June 11–16 on the grounds of the newly renovated equestrian center, which encompasses a remodeled stables complex, a third outdoor ring, and a new state-ofthe-art indoor riding arena.

The six-day event was packed with excitement, an abundance of gracious hospitality, and pure enjoyment. This highly anticipated and wellattended show was brimming with an incredible array of activities, including a cocktail party, a Father’s Day Brunch, an Ice Cream Social, and of course, the show’s premier event and crowd favorite, the $50,000 Grand Prix.

Classes ranged from the

youngest of equestrians taking part in their first Lead Line class to riders from all around the world competing in a range of hunter/jumper and equitation classes, including a $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, a $5,000 Jumper Classic, a $5,000 1.40M Jumper class, and the Grand Prix.

One of the charities supported by this show include the Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Program, an organization that provides many equine-assisted activities and therapies to people with special needs, veterans, and atrisk individuals. This PATH International premier accredited center serves more than 300 participants, ages four and up, each year at their chapters in Darien, Greenwich, and Brewster.

Boutique tent and trailer vendors at the show included equestrian-themed jewelry, home decor, and clothing, along with a wide assortment of horse tack and rider needs, as well as expertly crafted saddles and leather goods. There were also a number of food trucks with offerings that were sure to tempt any type of refreshment or epicurean craving.

Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show’s Grand Prix took place on Saturday, and drew a contingent of 28 riders from five nations. Fifteen pairs had clear rounds and returned to compete in the final jumpoff. Ireland’s Kevin Mealiff and BKS Horse Farm’s Viper Vrombautshoeve Z took home the Michael S. Griffin Memorial Grand Prix Trophy, donated by McLain Ward. Kevin and second place finisher, USA’s Alexandra Pielet, were the fastest of only two doubleclear pairs out of the initial field. Sydney Shulman, representing Israel, finished third in the ribbons.

n Sally L. Feuerberg

U.S. Horse Welfare and Rescue’s National Coalition It’s time to come together as one cohesive coalition of Americans taking action, speaking for the voiceless, and demanding the humane treatment of America’s horses. It’s time to end slaughter.

In April, U.S. Horse Welfare and Rescue (USHWR) of Nod Hill in Avon launched the USHWR National Coalition with one goal: to stop the inhumanity suffered by our equines through abuse, neglect, discardment, and slaughter.

(Read more about USHWR in the November/December 2016 issue of Connecticut Horse at connhorse.com/ read-online.)

Most Americans know nothing about horse slaughter. USHWR’s goal is to educate Americans and do right by our horses.

We can’t save every horse, but we can provide those whose time has come with a safe, pain-free, humane ending to their lives. We can no longer allow the horse slaughter pipeline to remain hidden from the public, let our politicians pass the buck, and fail to pass the SAFE Act. (The Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act (H.R. 961) is federal legislation that would prevent the horse slaughter industry from reestablishing operations in the U.S. and prohibit the export of American horses abroad for slaughter.) No longer can we allow the shipping of our horses to slaughter.

My life as a rescuer started in 2013 after foot surgery landed me with a foot in the air and little to do.

Over the next several weeks I became educated about horse slaughter. I had no idea how much that surgery would change my life, bringing with it a new passion. But

this is beyond a passion, this is a moral responsibility, an obligation to educate Americans about the plight of our horses.

In March, USHWR paid to rescue Jake at the Gate, an older Thoroughbred, from an auction lot in Pennsylvania.

Twenty-four hours later, Jake died on that lot, on a cold floor, alone, in agony. It turns out that Jake had colic for all those 24 hours and never saw a vet.

I have come to know several fellow rescuers well.

They’re a wonderful group of ethical, like-minded rescuers that are now some of the governing members of the new USHWR National Coalition.

Together, we’re making a difference. Join us and lend your voice to our horses. To learn more and get involved, visit ushorsewelfare.org.

n Susan E. Mitchell, USHWR President and Executive Director

A Calmer and More Responsive Horse Fairfield Bridle Trails Association (FBTA) hosted a spring clinic at Machamux Farm in Redding on Sunday, June 2 — A Calmer and More Responsive Horse — with Rebecca Howard Hathaway. Rebecca is a riding instructor, horse trainer, and the manager of Sandy Hook Equestrian Center in Newtown. She was also featured in the November/ December 2018 Connecticut Horse.

Ariane Mermod, president of the FBTA, welcomed fellow members and guests to her farm with an array of refreshments prior to the start of the clinic. After socializing for a bit, everyone gathered in the center aisle of the barn for Rebecca’s opening comments relating to the theme of the clinic and an overview of what the demonstration would cover.

The exercise instruction

portion of the clinic took place in the outdoor ring. It focused on teaching both the participants and auditors how to restore calm to their rides by using simple techniques to lower your horse’s head and therefore reduce adrenaline. Rebecca explained that these techniques are great for anyone to learn, but especially useful if you have a young or hot/anxious horse. She worked individually with each horse and rider team, assisting them with not only how to read the horse’s body language, but how to employ and practice various methods to relax both horse and human.

To further corroborate the results of the calming methods and exercises demonstrated by Rebecca, two participants in the clinic utilized the Hylofit real-time performance tracking system for horse and rider. This sys-

tem monitors heart rate and other metrics to improve training results and understand the physical and emotional state of the horse.

Hylofit representative Rosalina Yap Thomas attended the event and, working in conjunction with Rebecca, assisted the riders with the proper application of the system. She explained that Hylofit helps validate the “gut feel and instinct” used by equestrians through measurable data and actionable insights. Hylofit incorporates wearable technology with an easy-to-use training app on a smartphone or Apple Watch, which allows the rider to quickly and safely monitor the horse’s heart rate, distance, and zone intensity to make training adjustments from the saddle.

n Sally L. Feuerberg

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

Interested?

shows run smoothly and is always concerned about making the experience the best it can be for participants. Thank you, Kathy. You rock!

We are always looking for volunteers, and invite you to experience the benefits that spending time in the company of like-minded people can bring into your life. See

year was no exception. Horse show chairperson Kristina Vine and show manager Sandy Sessink planned a funfilled show with great competition throughout the week.

Contagious, our 2019 Hall of Fame Horse, helped set the atmosphere for the week. Contagious was a Morgan world champion

28

Connecticut Dressage and Combined Training volunteers setting up dressage rings for the May Dressage and Combined Test Schooling Show.

Howie Schatzberg

Did you know that the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event has approximately 2,000 volunteers? All play a vital part in the competition, and without them the event would not be possible.

Smaller organizations such as CDCTA also depend on volunteers, board members, and officers for their existence. Our board is passionately dedicated to keeping CDCTA thriving for many years to come. We strive to provide welcoming, educational, and affordable opportunities for both our members and nonmembers.

The CDCTA is fortunate to have a wonderful group of folks donating their talent and time. We wish to thank all our volunteers for their contributions to the club this year, and in years past. Please know that your time is truly appreciated. Without volunteers, the club would not be able to provide all of the wonderful opportunities for its members and the surrounding community. Consider volunteering your time at an event or by becoming a board member.

In addition, this month we would like to give special recognition to Kathy Ross, CDCTA’s show secretary and board member. Kathy always brings a warm positive attitude to any situation. She works hard to ensure that our

MaryAnn Smith

Connecticut Dressage and Combined Training Association

A Therapeutic Lead Line rider from Camp Care in Columbia receiving their ribbon in center ring from ringmaster Jerome Parker at the Connecticut Morgan Open Horse Show in June.

what goes into keeping your sport or hobby alive.

Socialize, make friends, network, and find a place in the world where you can enjoy life.

n Chrissy Capacchione

Connecticut Morgan Horse Association The 59th annual Connecticut Morgan Open Horse Show (CMOHS) was held June 5 to 8 in Massachusetts, at the Eastern States Exposition grounds in West Springfield.

The show is a favorite of many in the region, and this

Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

many times over, guiding numerous New England equestrians to their first world championships. The retirement ceremony for Contagious was heartfelt, as the many people who had a role in his career joined Braeburn Equestrian, his current home, in recognizing him in center ring.

The Therapeutic Lead Line class is a favorite of exhibitors, spectators, and the show committee. This year, the class featured a people’s choice award, which raises

funds for the therapeutic program of the people’s choice rider. The rider also received a special director’s chair recognizing them as the people’s choice winner.

CMOHS raised $700 in donations from the people’s choice and private donations. Two riders from Camp Care in Columbia participated and made a donation to their program, and the Scanlon Boys (Mike and Ryan), no strangers to the show ring, also rode.

CMOHS gave them each gift cards to buy new riding boots.

CMHA covers all costs for the horses and riders in the Therapeutic Lead Line class through the silent auction and other initiatives of the show committee.

The Youth of the Year Contest was held on Saturday, and consisted of four parts — the written exam, horsemanship pattern, oral presentation, and horse evaluation. Megan Lockery of Hamden was senior champion and has qualified to represent CMOHS at the Morgan Grand National and World Championships in Oklahoma City in October.

Seven-year-old Charlotte Boulier of Meriden received a special sportsmanship award in the Youth of the Year Contest.

Plans are underway for the 60th annual CMOHS June 3 to 6, 2020. It will be a show to remember, so be sure to save the date and please join us.

CMHA hosted a pleasure trail ride for members and nonmembers on Saturday, June 15, our second of three trail rides this year. This ride was held at Arcadia Management Area in Escoheag, Rhode Island, and was coordinated by club member Linda Krul. Equestrians from Connecticut and Rhode Island enjoyed 10 miles of trails through the forest.

n Kristina Vine & Stacey Stearns

The Renegades are well into the heat of the competition season with several spring practices, clinics, and matches behind them.

Members are ready to go after some cash and bling as the state championships for multiple states stand out on their calendars.

The Renegades kicked off its competition season with Smokin’ Guns in Bethany on Saturday, May 11. Once again, the club welcomed riders from the Northeast. The top rider from Connecticut finishing second overall was men’s level 3 rider Tom Beckman on his magnificent mount Chip.

The top Connecticut cowgirl was ladies’ level 2 rider Kayla Davis, finishing seventh on her equally magnificent mount Cherokee. The Connecticut reserve spots went to Alan Green on Trigger, and Sabrina Beckman on Jet. When a rider reaches a certain number of wins in their level, they move up to the next class. At this event we had two move-ups. Boz Pultz earned his final win in his senior men’s level 1 (SM1) class, which moved him to an SM2. Stefanie Fecteau earned her final win in her Ladies level 1 (L1) class, moving her to an L2 after competing for less than one year!

Memorial Day weekend was the annual Border Wars competition, held with the Northeast Six Shooters. The Six Shooters include riders from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire.

Although the Renegades lost the “war,” the weekend was a great example of how our two clubs can come together to put on great matches. The Laurel Riders 4-H Club served up great food all weekend for us and Boy Scout Troop #931 of Bethany reset our balloon targets.

On Saturday, the top Connecticut rider, finishing third overall, was L4 rider

Sabrina Beckman. The top Connecticut cowboy was Bill Riel on Blue. Bill and his fiancée Emma Reichart hadn’t competed with us in years but came to spend the day with old friends and help the Renegades battle for the win.

If want to get involved with a great group of people, we’re always looking for help at our matches, including keeping score, helping with gates, balloons, and more.

Horse ownership is not required! To learn more, visit

Connecticut Trail Rides Association

Jeanne Lewis Images

Connecticut Renegades Cowboy Mounted Shooters

Kayla Davis of Granby on Cherokee at the Connecticut Renegades Smokin’ Guns competition on May 11 in Bethany.

The Connecticut reserve spots went to Tom Beckman’s horse Chip who carried Ali Forsyth of West Granby to the seventh overall spot and Tom to the eighth overall spot.

Class winners were Andrea Galuska (L2) on Blaze, Sabrina Beckman (L4), Janet Samperi (SL1)on Hot Rod, and Alan Green (SM2). We also had two Wranglers (kids 12 or under) — Patty Groht on Jet and Mackenzee Gelinas on Cinnamon joined their fellow shooters with their cap guns.

Sunday saw a few more class wins, including Kayla Davis (L2), Ali Forsyth (L4), and Zachary Pion (M1). The top riders from Connecticut on Sunday were Ali Forsyth on Sabrina’s horse Jet, Tom Beckman, Sabrina, and Gus Carlson on Missouri.

The Renegades will be busy with several more events this summer, including a horse and rider clinic with multi-world champion cowboy mounted shooter Kenda Lenseigne. Matches for the remainder of the year include the July 14 Summer Sizzler, the August 3 Showdown at the Airport, and the September 14 State Championship.

ctrenegades.com or our Facebook page at CT Renegades - Mounted Shooters.

n Allison Forsyth

Riding and camping season is at full speed now and the CTRA has enjoyed some great weather for both.

We had a good turnout for the Memorial Day weekend campout. Saturday evening we had a wonderful potluck dinner in the pavilion hosted by Denise Clark.

So much food to choose from! Our second general membership meeting for 2019 was held after dinner. It was a great night of socializing and catching up with everyone. Sunday morning, we were treated to a great breakfast hosted by CTRA president Lynn Gogolya and treasurer Ruth Strontzer.

Vice president Peggy Robinson was stationed at the grill, and boy she knows how to cook. A group trail ride followed breakfast.

A wonderful day was had on May 19 at the annual Blessing of the Mounts Invitational held by the

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On Saturday, campers enjoyed breakfast, some riders marked the trails for Sunday’s ride, and all ended the day with a potluck dinner. Sunday’s Poker Ride was

team was Madeline Condil and Mzzz Gill. The weather was picture perfect for the entire event.

For the Fourth of July weekend vice president Peggy

Ruth Strontzer

Cheshire Horse Council and hosted by area vice president Cathy Clouse, her husband Jim, and area vice president Christel Maturo. Christine Zinnert Barry and John Barry of Barry Farm graciously hosted the event again this year. Riders set out in one of two groups — fast or slow — for the approximate two-hour ride. This was followed by a wonderful blessing of the mounts by Pastor Mark Valigorsky, who also took time for those who couldn’t bring their horse but came with bridles, halters, pictures, and even tail hair. A big thank you to the Cheshire Horse Council for providing hot dogs, hamburgers, and all the fixings.

Thank you also to grill masters Jim Clouse, Philip Testa, and Ed Levin.

The weekend of June 7–9 the club hosted a campout and poker ride at Machamoodus State Park in East Haddam. Friday began with a pizza take-out dinner.

Connecticut Trail Rides Association past president Gigi Ouellette and her newly acquired Mustang, King, at the May 19 Cheshire Horse Council’s Blessing of the Mounts Invitational.

a combination of obstacles and events on the trail. The riders worked as teams, and the winning adult team was Laurie Plourde and Patricia Hill. The winning junior

Robinson and area vice president Stacey Dionne are hosting Sunday’s breakfast. Stacey will also be hosting a poker ride from camp at 11 a.m. On July 14, John Barry will be

EARTH DYNAMICS

hosting a trail ride from his beautiful farm in Cheshire.

The Reddington Rock Riding Club has invited our members to its campground for a trail ride on July 28.

Our August 4 ride will be held at Salmon Brook in Granby with ride host Olga Agostini.

Our annual barbecue and auction will be August 11. Executive board members Shirley and Dennis McClary will be hosting the barbecue again this year.

This is our only fundraiser for the club, and our camp has many expenses, so please mark your calendars and join in the fun! It would be great to see every member attend, donate items to be auctioned, and also purchase treasures.

Treasurer Ruth Strontzer has been busy selling engraved glasses, cups, horse brushes, and cutting boards. Proceeds from these sales will go directly to the barn roof repair fund.

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shirts and saddle blankets.

Riders are always accompanied by uniformed walkers whose job is to keep spectators, horses, and riders safe.

Heather Hicks

On August 25, Lynn Gogolya will be hosting a ride at Steep Rock in Washington.

Follow us on Facebook to learn about our activities.

Granby Horse Council members at the Granby Memorial Day Parade.

Wishing you all very happy trails!

n Patti Crowther

Granby Horse Council The GHC Parade Team continues to impress! They participated in the annual Granby Memorial Day Parade with nine horses, including the mini, Lucky. Everyone looked sharp in royal blue

They keep the little ones away from the animals and help riders with their equipment and flags. We always bring along our own sanitation engineers too.

On June 8, 13 horse and rider teams rode to Salmon Brook Park in Granby for the Share the Road event. Riders wore high visibility clothing for safety as they travelled the

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Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

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roads to get to the trails. Several other members were on hand at the park to distribute Connecticut Horse Council brochures and teach the visitors about interacting with horses on foot, on a bicycle, and in a motor vehicle. The children enjoyed a stick horse obstacle course and pony rides. Adults and children took part in an interactive demonstration of arm signals. Many people enjoyed petting the horses, asking questions and learning about horses, their behavior, and care.

We provide interesting programs at every monthly meeting. At a recent meeting we taught some fire and police personnel how to capture and halter a loose horse. Previous meetings include a presentation on equine ulcers by Karen Roberts, an introduction to Equilete supplements by Tony Roswell, and Cara Greaney taught us mane and tail braiding techniques. Coming up, we look forward to visiting the U.S. Horse Welfare and Rescue in Avon and enjoying a liberty demo with Rachel Fleury.

A fun trail riding season is just getting started. Ride destinations include Amenia, New York, Steep Rock, East Beach, and White Memorial. Closer to home, some of the rides include the Poker Ride, Scavenger Hunt, Strain Ride, St. Jude Ride, Mystery Ride, and the Last Hurrah Ride.

To learn more, find us on Facebook at Granby (CT) Horse Council or visit granbyhorsecouncilct.com.

n Joan Davis

Middlebury Bridle Land Association The months of April, May, and June have been very busy for the MBLA, beginning with our annual membership dinner meeting held at Jesse Camille’s Restaurant in Naugatuck on Friday, April 12.

The meeting followed a social hour mixed with the collection of membership fees and the distribution of new saddle tags for the upcoming riding season.

Opening comments by MBLA president Sally Feuerberg included welcoming of new and returning members and their guests, the status of the club’s spring ride, trail clearing dates in April and May, an upcoming horse/human massage demonstration, as well as a review of the present condition of the private MBLA trail system on the Larkin Farm property.

Additional meeting topics discussed were a reminder that the MBLA’s Annual Fall Hunter Pace will be held on 32

Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

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n Sally L. Feuerberg

Tanheath Hunt Club

Hound Show in May was a great success. The show was sponsored by Norfolk Hunt Club and was held in Medfield, Massachusetts. Each hunt club is responsible for sponsoring the event for two

Sally L. Feuerberg

In April, a group of our members travelled to Aiken, South Carolina, to attend a drag hunt seminar sponsored by the Master of Fox Hounds Association (MFHA). The

On June 8, Sue Kasmin gave a human/equine massage demonstration at Jennifer Donovan and Ezra Dottino’s farm in Bethany for the Middlebury Bridle Land Association. Kinesio Tape application was part of the demonstration.

MFHA is the governing body for hunt clubs nationwide. As mentioned in previous articles, our club and many others lay a scent for the hounds to follow as opposed to chasing a fox. The placement and manner in how the scent is deployed is critical to the work of the hounds and the success of the hunt. Members who attended the seminar said they learned a lot and that much of what was covered confirmed what we already do.

The May 12 Hunter Pace at Douglas State Forest was a wet one, but amazingly we had 15 riders. It was sunny and mild the day before the pace, and initial weather reports indicated rain later in the day on Sunday, but the morning arrived with rain and it rained all day. Many people have asked, “Why can’t you just postpone it?”

Unfortunately, with all the preparation and permitting necessary to use the park, other groups competing for time slots, lining up the food for the day, and the scheduling of members and other volunteers for various tasks, it really is a one shot deal.

Our participation in the New England Hunt Clubs

Kara Waldron

Sunday, September 15, and that a pace preparation meeting (to be scheduled) will be held sometime in early August.

Per membership feedback, the MBLA will be doing something similar to our membership dinner meeting for the End of the Year Meeting. Members will be notified via email when details are finalized. An excellent buffet dinner and dessert, accompanied by great conversation and comradery, concluded the night’s meeting.

On Saturday, June 8, Sue Kasmin, who manages Connecticut Equine Therapy, gave a human/equine massage demonstration at Jennifer Donovan and Ezra Dottino’s farm in Bethany.

Sue demonstrated the techniques and explained the importance of healthy muscle, how to keep it that way in both humans and equines, and how massage benefits muscle tissue. She also did a posture analysis, massage demo, and a Kinesio Tape application to supplement the massage work she did on Jennifer’s five-year-old Irish Sport Horse Blue. Jen was also the lucky recipient of a chair massage. Jen said it was the perfect therapy for both her and Blue after their previous week’s attendance at an eventing clinic in Vermont.

Sue completed the fun and educational clinic over refreshments with a question and answer period and a brief overview of some essential oils for both human and equine applications.

Attendees lingered long after the event was finished and it was quickly determined that Sue would be invited back to share her knowledge and expertise with the club again in the summer.

Six-year-old Roanin Waldron Murray and the Tanheath Hunt’s North Country Wonder at the New England Hunt Clubs Hound Show.

years in a row, and Tanheath will sponsor in 2020 and 2021.

We participated with 13 hounds, and it was a lucky number as they all performed exceptionally well. We had hounds place first through fourth in various classes.

Roanin Waldron Murray, daughter of member Kara Waldron, was celebrating her sixth birthday and showed hound North Country Wonder. The two of them were adorable. Accolades go to our huntsman, whippers-in, and the cadre of volunteers who worked to get the hounds in shape for this once a year show. Working with the hounds is a year-round project.

Huntsman Sherri Colby

will be taking a break this summer and into the fall.

One of our newer members, John Ryan, has graciously agreed to be the interim huntsman. John, who recently retired, says, “I have the time and would be glad to help.” He has been working with the other hound staff and the hounds are already looking to him as a leader. The huntsman is critical to the maintenance and direction of the hounds and without one there would be no hunt. John has proven to be an excellent leader and we are truly grateful he agreed to be the interim huntsman.

Summer is generally a quieter time for the hunt club. Our new officers have been elected and are ready to continue moving the club forward. We have a number of events planned for later this summer. August 17 is our Summer Pleasure and Barbecue Ride at Legrand Reynolds Horse Camp in Exeter, Rhode Island. August is also when we start roading with the hounds. Volunteers will be on horseback and foot working with them preparing for hunt season. September 7 is the Intro to Foxhunting Clinic at Tyrone Farm in Pomfret. It’s an easy and informal introduction to the fun and tradition of foxhunting. September 22 is our Fall Hunter Pace at Natchaug State Forest in Hampton.

We’ve made several changes to tanheathhunt.com including the ability to register and pay online for events.

Please consider joining us as a participant or an observer. We’re always looking for volunteers. To learn more visit tanheathhunt.com, follow us on Facebook at Tanheath Events, or call Cathy Leinert at (860) 8677063.

n Raymond Hill

Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

35

Connecticut

Events July

4 – 7 CTRA HOLIDAY WEEKEND RIDES, Camp Boardman, Goshen. cttrailridesassoc.org.

5 – 6 CROSS-COUNTRY DERBY, Canterbury. horsepowerfarm.info.

5 – 7 WHC SHORELINE “A” SHOW, Westbrook. bhcmanagement.info.

6 POLO, Farmington. farmingtonpologrounds.com.

6 VOLUNTEER DAY, H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut, Washington. horseofct.org.

6 CHRISTMAS IN JULY OPEN BARN AND LIGHTED WALKING TRAIL, Hay Burr Inn, Plainfield. hayburrinn.org.

6 – 7 FALLS CREEK FARM OPEN SHOW SERIES, Sterling. fallscreekfarm.com.

7 SCHOOLING HUNT SEAT SHOW, Mystic Valley Hunt Club, Gales Ferry. mvhchorse.com.

7 ABACUS EVENTS SCHOOLING SHOW, R Folly Farm, Morris. rfollyfarm.com.

7 BRV SHOW, New Canaan Mounted Troop, New Canaan. bhcmanagement.info.

10 DRESSAGE SHOW, Sperry View Farm, Bethany. centerlineevents.com.

13 POLO DREAM RIDE CUP, Farmington. farmingtonpologrounds.com.

13 – 14 CTR KENDA LENSEIGNE CLINIC, Bethany. ctrenegades.com.

13 BAROQUE GAMES SHOW, Old Lyme. baroquegames.net.

14 SNEHA SHOW, Falls Creek Farm, Oneco. snehassociation.com.

14 POLO, Greenwich. greenwichpoloclub.com.

10 – 13 WHC SHORELINE “A” SHOW, Westfield. bhcmanagement.info.

11 CCBA OPEN SHOW, Glastonbury. connecticutcolorbreed.com.

14 SCHOOLING DRESSAGE AND COMBINED TRAINING, Colchester. treasurehillfarm.com.

14 USEA COMBINED TEST, Riga Meadow Equestrian Center, Salisbury. rigameadow.com.

12 3D BARREL RACING, All in Farm, Woodbury.

(203) 948-3374.

Middlebury Bridle Land Association’s Annual

FALL HUNTER PACE A place where adult amateurs can be with their horse in an environment that practices mindfulness with both the horses and their owners.

This quiet, no drama barn has a few openings beginning July 1.

A Member of the Associated Bridle Trails Fall Pace Series

Sunday, September 15 (Rain or Shine) Larkin’s Farm, South Street, Middlebury, Connecticut

Windhorse International is the best facility for my horse! My horse is moving better than he has in years due to the wonderful footing and the most attentive care and vigilance from barn owner Sharon Knies and her staff. They are always concerned with the well being of all the horses. Truly a gem! ~ Ginny Kerwick Gartland

Full Time On Site Supervision • StableComfort Mats • Heated Wash Stall Grooming Stalls • 70 x 200 Indoor Dressage Arena with TravelRight Dust free Footing Heated Tack Room with Kitchen, Full Bath, and Individual Tack Lockers Outdoor Arena • Round Pen • Rubber Aisleway Pavers • Fire Alarm System

184 Todd Hill Road, Bethlehem, CT (203) 710-5809 . windhorseinternational.com 36

Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

Four Divisions: Hunt, Pleasure, Junior, Western 1st-10th place ribbons awarded in each division Prizes for 1st place team in each division.

Points earned toward trophies in Associated Bridle Trails Series

For more information: Shawnalee at (203) 598-0065 or info@middleburybridle.org.

14 SPRING/SUMMER SERIES II FINALE SHOW, Ridgefield. steppingstonefarmct.com.

27 POLO PORSCHES AND PONIES, Farmington. farmingtonpologrounds.com.

28 USHJA CHJA CHSA OPEN SHOW, Suffield. endofhunt.com.

14 CDCTA DRESSAGE AND COMBINED TRAINING SCHOOLING SHOW, Treasure Hill Farm, Salem. cdctaonline.com.

27 CJHA NEHC CHSA RATED SHOW, Windcrest Farm, Hebron. windcrestfarmct.com.

28 OX RIDGE SHOW, Darien. oxridge.com.

14 CMSA SUMMER SIZZLER, Bethany. ctrenegades.com.

17 BRV SHOW, New Canaan Mounted Troop, New Canaan. bhcmanagement.info.

18 OX RIDGE HUNT CLUB SHOW, Darien. oxridge.com.

19 –21 TSHA OPEN SHOW, Falls Creek Farm, Oneco. tristatehorsemen.com.

20 DRESSAGE SCHOOLING SHOW, Fox Ledge Farm, East Haddam. foxledgefarm.net.

20 BASIC HORSE CARE CLINIC, H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut, Washington. horseofct.org.

20 FCHC NEHC USEF SHOW, Fairfield County Hunt Club, Westport. huntclubonline.org.

20 POLO TUNXIS CUP, Farmington. farmingtonpologrounds.com.

20 SUMMER PREMIERE SHOW, Mystic Valley Hunt Club, Gales Ferry. mvhchorse.com.

28 SCHOOLING SHOW, White Birch Farm, Portland. (860) 581-0307.

28 CROSS-COUNTRY DERBY, Connecticut Equestrian Center, Coventry. ctequestrian.com.

28 FALLS CREEK FARM OPEN SHOW SERIES, Sterling. fallscreekfarm.com.

August

3 CHJA CHSA NEHC SHOW, Folly Farm, Simsbury. follyfarm.us.

3 CMSA SHOWDOWN AT THE AIRPORT, Bethany. ctrenegades.com.

3 SCHOOLING SHOW, Hidden Brook Stables, Lebanon. hiddenbrookstables.com.

EQUESTRIAN OUTFITTERS YOUR SOURCE FOR ANYTHING TO DO WITH A HORSE. RIDERS HELPING RIDERS SINCE 1986!

Your Source for All Things

Grooming Supplies

Equine

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21 POLO, Greenwich. greenwichpoloclub.com.

Treats

21 CHJA CHSA NEHC SHOW, Folly Farm, Simsbury. follyfarm.us.

21 SCHOOLING SHOW, Frazier Farm Training Center, Woodbury. frazierfarmct.com.

21 BRV SHOW, Fair Hill Farm, New Milford. bhcmanagement.info.

21 CHSA SCHOOLING SHOW, Litchfield. foxcrossingequestrian.com.

24 – 25 DOM SCHRAMM SUMMER CLINIC SERIES, Colchester. treasurehillfarm.com.

24 TWILIGHT JUMPER SERIES, Harwinton. oakendalefarmct.com.

24 OX RIDGE HUNT CLUB SHOW, Darien. oxridge.com.

26 3D BARREL RACING, All In Farm, Woodbury.

(203) 948-3374.

27 SCHOOLING DRESSAGE AND COMBINED TRAINING, Colchester. treasurehillfarm.com.

Supplements Blanket Cleaning

English r Western r Saddle Seat r Dressage 23 Eleanor Road, Somers, CT . (860) 749-4420 Tues. - Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Sun. & Mon.

B uILdERS OF TRadITIONaL NEW ENGLaNd BaRNS Our timber frames are great for studios, work shops, horse barns & much more. I keep prices low, so I can work locally.

Brendan Matthews 860-478-0405 barnraisers@comcast.net 178 Petticoat Lane, East Haddam, CT

www.traditionalbarnraisers.com Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

37

3 POLO NEW ENGLAND PRO-AM, Farmington. farmingtonpologrounds.com.

10 TSHA DRESSAGE SHOW AND TWO PHASE, Falls Creek Farm, Oneco. tristatehorsemen.com.

18 CCBA OPEN SHOW, Glastonbury. connecticutcolorbreed.com.

4 SCHOOLING SHOW, Magnolia Run Equestrian Center, Willington. magnoliaruneqcenter.com.

10 LITCHFIELD COUNTY HORSE SHOW SERIES, Harwinton Fairgrounds. lchorseshow@gmail.com.

18 SCHOOLING SHOW, Frazier Farm Training Center, Woodbury. frazierfarmct.com.

4 CTRA RIDE, Salmon Brook Ride, Granby. cttrailridesassoc.org.

10 POLO MAB APPRECIATION CUP Farmington. farmingtonpologrounds.com.

21 TWILIGHT JUMPER SERIES, Harwinton. oakendalefarmct.com.

4 ABACUS EVENTS SCHOOLING SHOW, R Folly Farm, Morris. rfollyfarm.com.

10 – 11 CTRA ANNUAL AUCTION AND BARBECUE WEEKEND, Camp Boardman, Goshen. cttrailridesassoc.org.

22 CHSA FINALS, Westbrook Hunt Club, Westbrook. chsaonline.com.

4 CHSA SHOW, Terryville. terryallenfarms.com.

11 SCHOOLING DRESSAGE SHOW, Weatogue Stables, Salisbury. weatoguestables.com.

4 SNEHA SHOW, Falls Creek Farm, Oneco. snehassociation.com.

11 HORSE TRIALS, Frazier Farm Training Center, Woodbury. frazierfarmct.com.

4 ANN JAMIESON ASK THE JUDGE CLINIC, Middletown. stablesatwestfield.com.

11 TSHA DRESSAGE SHOW AND TWO PHASE, Falls Creek Farm, Oneco. tristatehorsemen.com.

4 NBHA BARREL RACING, Brooklyn Fairgrounds, Brooklyn. ctnbha01.com.

23 3D BARREL RACING, All In Farm, Woodbury.

(203) 948-3374.

23 USEA HORSE TRIALS, Town Hill Farm, Lakeville. townhillfarm.com.

25 DRESSAGE SCHOOLING SHOW, Connecticut Equestrian Center, Coventry. ctequestrian.com.

25 POLO, Greenwich. greenwichpoloclub.com.

11 NBHA BARREL RACING, Harwinton Fairgrounds, Harwinton. ctnbha01.com.

7 FCHC NEHC CHJA SHOW, Fairfield County Hunt Club, Westport. huntclubonline.org.

9 3D BARREL RACING, All In Farm, Woodbury.

(203) 948-3374.

15 – 18 CHJA FINALS, Fairfield County Hunt Club, Westport. huntclubonline.org.

16 – 18 TSHA OPEN SHOW, Falls Creek Farm, Oneco. tristatehorsemen.com.

9 – 10 CROSS-COUNTRY DERBY, Canterbury. horsepowerfarm.info.

25 FALLS CREEK FARM OPEN SHOW SERIES, Sterling. fallscreekfarm.com.

25 CTRA RIDE, Steep Rock, Washington Depot. cttrailridesassoc.org.

30 – September 2 CTRA LABOR DAY WEEKEND RIDES, Goshen. cttrailridesassoc.org.

Boarding

Lessons

Training

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

England’s Largest Quality Sales Stable

Leasing

Trails

2 Outdoor Arenas Indoor Arena

Covered Round Pen

Clinics

Parties

Group Lessons

Show Coaching

239 Sand Hill Rd., Portland, CT 06480 (860) 581-0307 wbfllcct@gmail.com

Dressage is our Specialty Board . Lessons . Training All Breeds Welcome (especially Morgans)

Gretchen Geromin, trainer USDF certified instructor . USDF bronze medalist . British Horse Society certified

Mansfield Center, CT . Just 10 minutes from UConn foxfirestables.net . (860) 543-1399 38

Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

562 S Main St., Middletown, CT (860) 347-2531 www.midstatetractor.com

Newtown

This Olde Horse

“Jimmie” Newtown 1906.

31 POLO PATRIOT PONY CLASSIC, Farmington. farmingtonpologrounds.com.

1 POLO, Greenwich. greenwichpoloclub.com.

5 – 8 CQHA FALL CLASSIC, Sterling. cqha.com.

31 MYSTIC SUMMER FESTIVAL, Mystic Valley Hunt Club, Gales Ferry. mvhchorse.com.

September

6 3D BARREL RACING, All In Farm, Woodbury.

(203) 948-3374.

1 HADDAM NECK FAIR HORSE SHOW, Haddam Neck. (860) 344-1804.

7 POLO PAWS AND PONIES, Farmington. farmingtonpologrounds.com.

1 CDA DRESSAGE SCHOOLING SHOW, R Folly Farm, Morris. rfollyfarm.com.

7 NBHA BARREL RACING, Saddleview Farm, Bethany. ctnbha01.com.

Subscribe Today!

Fox Ledge Farm Dressage Training with a Winning Tradition

Ann Guptill

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

Offering:

connhorse.com

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

. . . TerryAllen Farms continued from page 21

family now. Caroline throws a Frisbee to her border collie, Kate, as she watches Mark unhitch a pretty white mare from a dainty carriage. Mark is an avid driver, taking his Andalusian horse and carriage out every day to practice various forms of the sport. He and Caroline train and compete in combined driving events together to much success. It’s their horse niche.

“I’m happy to see that [TerryAllen] is flourishing now with the indoor,” says Caroline. “You take in boarders and they come from all walks of life. It’s nice to see the young, little kids starting with the lessons and going through the years.”

Caroline is impressed with every rider that participates in the IEA and enjoys watching them grow. The examples of success are all around her.

“Riley started here when he was seven,” Caroline says. “Just to see him develop over the years and his helping out here, you see the changes and his dedication. You see the kids that have ridden in IEA and they still come back for lessons. Even though they’re young, in their twenties, and busy, they still come back. It’s quite satisfying to see all of that.”

The equal love for horses resonates through a close comradery at the barn and strengthens every rider’s aspirations both on a competitive and personal level. It’s what draws people in, makes it easy for them to stay, and keeps TerryAllen Farms prospering.

Singer/songwriter Lara Rudowski inspired by travel and the everyday details of life, she can often be found, camera in hand, at equestrian events capturing her love of horses and riding since childhood.

How about a nice massage?

For your horse!

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

29-A Daniels Road, East Haddam, CT (860) 873-8108 . eqarts@snet.net www.foxledgefarm.net Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

39

the

neighborhood

Your Everything Equine White Pages

ARTISTS

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EQUINE-ASSISTED ACTIVITIES

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INSURANCE

TACK

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

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

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

BARN CATS

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EQUINE MASSAGE

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

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

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

BARN CONSTRUCTION

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

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

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

FEED AND PET STORES

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

BOARDING AND TRAINING

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

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

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

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

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

40

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

LOANS AND FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS

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

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

MANURE REMOVAL,

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

ASSOCIATED REFUSE HAULERS Newtown, CT, (203) 426-8870 associatedrefuse.com Containerized manure removal in southwestern Connecticut.

NORWICH AGWAY Norwich, (860) 889-2344 norwichagway.com SHAGBARK LUMBER & FARM SUPPLY East Haddam, (860) 873-1946 shagbarklumber.com VALLEY HOME & GARDEN CENTER Simsbury, (860) 651-5646 valleyhomeandgarden.com HAY AND SHAVINGS

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

HORSES FOR SALE

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

TRACTORS/EQUIPMENT

LEGAL ADVICE

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

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

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

PHOTOGRAPHY

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

SARAH GROTE PHOTOGRAPHY Cromwell, CT, (860) 301-6647 sarahgrote.com Lifestyle, event, pet, and nature.

RETIREMENT SANCTUARIES

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

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

Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

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

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

TRAILERS

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

VACATION

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

VETERINARY

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

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

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

Fortunato Farm 552 North Roast Meat Hill Road, Killingworth, CT 06419 860.209.7044 (call or text)

Born to Run, Trained to Win

r 24 Heated Stalls r 180 x 172 Outdoor Sand Ring r 140 x 60 Indoor Riding Arena r 26 Acres and Abuts Cockaponset State Forest r Porta - Grazer Distributor r Western Alfalfa Distributor r Owners Live on Premises r Specialize in Retirement Care r Join us for our fun Barrel Lessons! r Open to the Public

All In Farm

Melissa & Joseph Santos 48 North Forty Rd., Woodbury, CT . (203) 948-3374

Brittany O’Hara State Director (860) 819-5429

3D Barrel Racing Join us for fun-filled evenings!

May 10 . May 17 . May 31 . June 7 June 21 . July 12 . July 26 . Aug. 9 Aug. 23 . Sept. 6 . Sept. 27 Oct. 4 (make-up run) . Oct. 11 (make-up run) • Membership fee of $25 (per horse and per division) is due

by May 17 in order to qualify for year-end awards.

• Entry fee: $25 Open and Youth; $5 Pee-Wee. • Entries close 7 p.m.

• Rain dates will be posted.

• Follow us on Facebook at All In Farm Arena for updates.

• Contact: Missy Santos (203) 948-3374, Kacey Fortier (203) 996-5577, Jan Crotta (203) 988-9685 • Directions: Use Lighthouse Road to 48 North Forty Road.

Do NOT use Saw Pit Road as it’s inadequate for trailers.

CTNBHA01.com May 4, Saturday $500 Added Money Saddleview Farm, 192 Schaffer Rd., Bethany, CT May 19, Sunday Run ’N Gun, 123 Seekonk St., Norfolk, MA June 9, Sunday Brooklyn Fairgrounds. 15 Fairgrounds Rd., Brooklyn, CT June 22, Saturday Jackpot State Fundraiser Harwinton Fairgrounds, Locust Rd., Harwinton, CT July 12, Friday All In Farm, 48 North Forty Rd., Woodbury, CT August 4, Sunday Brooklyn Fairgrounds, 15 Fairgrounds Rd., Brooklyn, CT August 11, Sunday Harwinton Fairgrounds, Locust Rd., Harwinton, CT September 7, Saturday Saddleview Farm, 192 Schaffer Rd., Bethany, CT September 20 to 22 NE State Championship Show Falls Creek Farm, 368 Bailey Rd., Oneco, CT October 5 Awards Fundraiser Jackpot Harwinton Fairgrounds, Locust Rd., Harwinton, CT Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

41

Willington

Is This Your Horse?

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

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

Sarah Griffin

Crafting fine English saddlery and tack since 1794.

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This photo was taken June 16 at Magnolia Run Equestrian Center in Willington at the Dom Schramm Eventing Clinic. If this is your horse, contact us at win@connhorse.com for a Smith-Worthington Saddlery leather halter and a two-year subscription to Connecticut Horse!

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Let an equestrian help you buy and sell your horse property. www.CtHorseHomes 860 .748 . 1680 Ashley.Backman@cbmoves.com 42

Connecticut Horse July/August 2019

myAGWAY of Bethel 74 South St., Bethel (203) 743-3232 . myagway.com

myAGWAY of North Haven 66 State St., North Haven (203) 239-1687 . myagway.com

Litchfield Blue Seal Store 99 Thomaston Rd., Litchfield (860) 482-7116 . blueseal.com

myAGWAY of Manchester 33 Adams St., Manchester (860) 643-5123 . myagway.com

myAGWAY of Southington 1198 Queen St., Southington (860) 410-1726 . myagway.com

Lock, Stock & Barrel 770 Amity Rd., Bethany (203) 393-0002 lsbfarmsupply.com

myAGWAY of Middlefield 147 Meriden Rd., Middlefield (860) 347-7229 . myagway.com

G. M. Thompson & Sons 54 Middle Tnpk., Mansfield Depot (860) 429-9377 . gmthompson.net

myAGWAY of North Branford 11 Whitewood Ln., N. Branford (203) 483-7800 . myagway.com

H. H. Stone & Sons 168 Main St. S., Southbury (203) 264-6501 hhstoneandsons.benmoorepaints.com

Norwich Agway 217 Otrobando Ave., Norwich (860) 889-2344 norwichagway.com

Shagbark Lumber & Farm Supply 21 Mt. Parnassus Rd., E. Haddam (860) 873-1946 shagbarklumber.com Valley Home & Garden Centre 16 Railroad St., Simsbury (860) 651-5646 valleyhomeandgarden.com

Connecticut Horse

43

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BRIDGEPORT, CT PERMIT

#140