Massachusetts Horse August/September 2015

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

HORSE

THREE PHASES, TWO HEARTS, ONE PASSION

EVENTING’S HORSE-AND-RIDER BONDS page 8

APPLE KNOLL FARM

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ORCHARDS, LAND PRESERVATION, AND EVENTING page 16

MARCUS RHATIGAN IRISH INTUITION page 20

CHESTER-BLANDFORD STATE FOREST TRAIL GUIDE page 30

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August/September 2015

contents

August/September 2015

columns 22 Bella and Sunny A Girl and Her Horse

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courtesy of Marcus Rhatigan

Kamal Souccar

Stable Devotion

24 Eventing Safety Andrew Hoy

Guest Column

18

26 Barn Hunt Rat Wranglers and Canine Competitors Barn Dog Diaries

28 Chester-Blandford courtesy of Apple Knoll Farm

State Forest

16

Melissa Root

Trail Guide

20

in every issue 5 From the Editor

features 8

Three Phases, Two Hearts, One Passion

7 Your Letters 27 This Olde Horse

18

Marcus Rhatigan

30 Overherd: News in Our Community

Irish Intuition

36 Partners

Horseperson Feature

Eventing’s Horse-and-Rider Bonds

40 Massachusetts Events Calendar 47 The Neighborhood 48 Advertiser Index

16 Apple Knoll Farm Orchards, Land Preservation, and Eventing

20

Winslow Farm

48 Is This Your Horse?

Animal Sanctuary

49 Massachusetts Marketplace

Lend a Hoof

Farm Feature

Massachusetts Horse

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from the editor

T

he competition season is in full swing. Every day, when the office mail arrives, I look forward to another Massachusetts Horse Junior Horsemanship Award winner’s photo and the note that describes her horsemanship.

Who may earn one of these awards? It goes to a junior exhibitor who has shown outstanding sportsmanship at a competition in our state. Although this junior is not winning, she (or he) is working hard and has a fine attitude. She takes good care of her horse and is an all-around enthusiastic equestrian.

Want to give out a free Massachusetts Horse Junior Horsemanship Award at your upcoming event? Just email award@mahorse.com. Absorbine and I partner to make these awards possible.

Stephanie Lexi Ross

Maggie Rose MacKenzie

Mia Nagle

Carly Worton

Madison Berkeley

Massachusetts Horse

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M ASSAC HUS ETTS

HORSE vol. 14, no. 2 August/September 2015

ISSN 1945-1393

99 Bissell Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096 phone: (413) 268-3302 • fax: (413) 268-0050 • mahorse.com Massachusetts Horse magazine is an independently owned and -operated all-breed, all-discipline equestrian publication for the Bay State. © 2015 Massachusetts Horse All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this magazine or portions thereof in any form without prior written permission.

publisher/editor Stephanie Sanders • steph@mahorse.com • (413) 268-3302 copy editor Doris Troy feature writers Christina Andersen, Andrea Bugbee, Patricia Lalli Alessandra Mele, Mari Passananti, Melissa Root, Stacey Stearns contributors Lisa Cenis, Elizabeth Goldsmith, Holly Jacobson, Becky Kalagher Judy Lorimer, Suzy Lucine, Diane Merritt, Karen Morang, Jennifer Moreau Laurie Neely, Lynn Paresky, Abigail Powell, Liz Russell, Laura Solod Molly Watson, Lisa Wohlleib county desk liaisons Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire Counties Alessandra Mele • (413) 949-1972 • alessandra@mahorse.com Bristol County Melissa Root • (508) 863-0467 • melissa@mahorse.com Essex County Holly Jacobson • (978) 356-5842 • holly@mahorse.com Norfolk and Plymouth Counties Laura Solod • (617) 699-7299 • laura@mahorse.com Worcester County Karen Morang • (508) 797-2828 • karen@mahorse.com

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advertising main office • (413) 268-3302 • ads@mahorse.com

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August/September 2015

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

your letters To the editor:

To the editor:

My daughter Maggie Rose MacKenzie received the Massachusetts Horse Junior Horsemanship Award at the July 5 Central Massachusetts Horse Show Series Show at Camp Marshall, Spencer. What a great surprise! The Junior Horsemanship Award means more than blue ribbons. What an honor! Maggie Rose and Storm have worked diligently over the past few months and have become a wonderful team.

Heather Smith, Springfield

Thank you to Massachusetts Horse for doing an article on Eight Fences Farm!

Anna Huggins Porter, Canton

To the editor: My horse(s) and I were featured in the April/May Massachusetts Horse. The article is a little a bit about me, my disease, and the horses that inspire me. Thank you!

Heather Smith, Springfield

To the editor: Thank you, Massachusetts Horse, for sharing your photo of my daughter Amy driving my Morgan, Garland Rising Star, in the road cart. We’ve enjoyed your magazine for some time now.

Carol Janson LaRose, Hanover

Let us know your thoughts . . . and we’ll enter you to win a $25 Cheshire Horse gift card. All letters received by September 5 will have a chance in the drawing.

Send your letters to: steph@mahorse.com or Massachusetts Horse 99 Bissell Rd., Williamsburg, MA 01096

Subscribe Today! at mahorse.com

Massachusetts Horse

7

Three Phases, Two Hearts, One Passion

Eventing’s Horse-and-Rider Bonds

Kamal Souccar

by Alessandra Mele

Indra Rapinchuk-Souccar and Abby at the 2014 North American Junior and Young Rider Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park.

S

itting by the gate of a cross-country course, it’s fascinating to watch each horse and rider pair take their last 30 seconds to prepare for the journey ahead. As the gatekeeper begins counting backward, there are quick adjustments to tack, the gathering of reins, fleeting words of encouragement from rider to horse, and much champing at the bit. Every ritual before the timer sounds and a pair launch off in pursuit of their first obstacle is just a little bit different.

It’s in these moments that you can see the hours of schooling over fences, the careful conditioning, and even the quiet bareback rides at sunset that took place in preparation. Physical training alone is not enough for the demands of eventing; a true partnership will be brought to the test.

Six eventers from across the state explain just how significant those bonds are.

Indra Rapinchuk-Souccar and Abby, Cheese Fry, and Taxi You could say Indra Rapinchuk-Souccar, of Cummington, has a thing for chestnut horses with white faces: all three of the eventing horses she’s owned sport this look. More likely, though, she has a thing for sweet-mannered, talented eventing horses — the three have that in common as well.

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August/September 2015

At 17 years old, Indra experienced a very successful eventing career with her once-in-a-lifetime horse and best friend, Dream Girl, known as Abby.

Sadly, Abby passed away in February after a terrible accident that left Indra with a broken femur.

“Abby and I went a lot farther than anyone expected,” Indra says. “She loved her job and made eventing so much fun.” Abby, a Quarter Horse cross, was given to Indra in 2010, and she began eventing her the next year.

“We moved up to Training level and then to Preliminary in the winter of 2014,” Indra says. “She was barely fifteen hands, but had so much heart. She was always game for cross-country, and I could go out on any course and feel absolutely confident.”

As it goes with the most special horses, Abby was much more than a good ride. “She was never super outgoing, but she was always just very sweet,” Indra says. “We did a lot of tackless riding, jumping, and trail riding; she would go western if I asked her to; and she was an excellent lead-line horse.

She would let five-year-old kids take rides, always calm and patient.” When Abby suffered an aneurism, during competition, Indra lost her best friend.

“Abby was the most special horse I’ve ridden,” she says. “We had a truly special partnership.”

In the wake of the accident, two geldings entered Indra’s world, and have helped her to move forward. The first is Cheese Fry (Stay Gold Z), a tall, four-year-old off-the-track Thoroughbred (OTTB) she bought from Suffolk Downs last year, when the venue closed. “His personality won me over,” Indra says. “Just two weeks off the track, I was able to ride him bareback and in a halter. He’s very willing and calm, a sweet horse in the barn.”

He also shows great promise in eventing; Indra says she has hopes that he’ll be her next upper-level eventing horse within the next five years. “He’s enormously talented, very honest, and a hard worker,” she says. “He has a bright future, although I’m still getting to know him and he’s still a baby.” At 17.2 hands, he’s quite a jump-up for her in height. “I just hope he doesn’t grow anymore,” Indra says, laughing.

The second horse is Taxi (West Wind Z), a 10-year-old off-the-track Thoroughbred. A generous woman offered him to Indra after her accident, knowing Indra would help him reach his potential. “He’s kind of a goofball,” Indra says affectionately. “He’s always sticking out his tongue and playing with his lips, and he’ll even play tug-of-war with sticks.” Indra has started competing Taxi at the Novice level, and their first event of the season went well. “Taxi

Joan Davis/Flatlands Foto

Cindy Lawler

Paige Montague and Ping at the Red Hills International Horse Trials in Tallahassee.

has been a great confidence-booster after my accident,” Indra says. “He’s a phenomenal cross-country horse — we have a blast out there.”

After the accident and the loss of Abby, Indra approached her situation with grace and optimism, and now focuses her love and efforts on Cheese Fry and Taxi. “They’re both so sweet and willing, and I have big hopes for their futures. I’d love to get back to the One-Star, and I hope to pull up to the Two-Star with one or both of them in a couple of years.”

Paige Montague and Ping Paige Montague, of Belchertown, and Lucky Dreamer, known as Ping, have a deep understanding. “I instantly loved Ping,” Paige says. “In 2012, my trainer was helping me hunt for a new horse and he found a handful of prospects for me to test-ride in Florida. Ping stood out among them. He was very well mannered and athletic, and had spunk. I had him shipped home a week later.”

At the time, the bay off-the-track Thoroughbred had no eventing experience. He had raced until the age of eight and was a dressage horse when Paige found him. “Having little experience jumping was our first obstacle,” she says. “We started off with the basics and he progressed very quickly. He has

Cora Shillinglaw and Braveheart at the 2014 King Oak Farm Spring Horse Trials, Southampton.

a natural talent for jumping.” That talent and Paige’s hard work have resulted in the pair’s eventing success; in a short three years, they’ve risen to the OneStar level. “I’m proud that we’ve been able to accomplish that together,” Paige says.

The success, however, is secondary to the bond the two have developed.

“What makes our partnership unique is how intuitive we are with each other,” says Paige. “I suffer from cystic fibrosis, and Ping always seems to know when I’m having an off day or if I’m not feeling quite myself.”

Ping’s keen sensitivity to Paige is apparent on the cross-country course.

“He’s the definition of a butt-saver,” Paige says, laughing. “If I see a wrong distance or ride a fence poorly, he jumps to my rescue like it’s just another day at the office. He forgives my mistakes.” His courage and the heart he brings to each obstacle are qualities Paige admires. “Cross-country is Ping’s favorite phase,” she says. “He’s very brave, and will jump anything I point him at.”

Ping lives contentedly on Paige’s farm with her other eventing horse, and they ship out for regular lessons with Torrance Watkins, at Morningfield Farm in Hardwick. Last winter, the pair went down to Ocala, Florida, to com-

pete, training with Leslie Hicks. They plan to return south in January.

“My goal for the winter show season is to compete at the Intermediate level,” Paige says, “and then to move up to the Two-Star level the following fall.”

Cora Shillinglaw and Braveheart “Every time Braveheart and I cross the finish line in cross-country, I just can’t help myself — my eyes well up,” says Cora Shillinglaw, of Wellfleet. “I know it sounds dramatic. But the pride and the sense of accomplishment I feel at that moment are overwhelming. I couldn’t ask for a better partner than Braveheart.”

That partnership began 12 years ago in a muddy springtime paddock in Vermont, when Braveheart was just a scraggly 10-month-old. He was a PMU foal (PMU stands for “pregnant mare’s urine”; the urine of pregnant mares is used in the manufacture of Premarin, the female hormone replacement) originally from Canada, and when Cora went to see him, he stole her heart. “I took one look and said, ‘You’re coming home with me,’” she recalls.

She soon discovered that he lived up to the name. “I brought him home and we started right away with tons of groundwork,” she says, “and he progressed quickly from there. Now, we just Massachusetts Horse

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have an incredible relationship. Our bond is like no other.”

Their connection is evident when the two are on the cross-country course.

Braveheart’s big Canadian Sport Horse build and reaching stride carry Cora over any and all terrain. His ears are pricked, ever in tune to Cora’s signals.

“He gives me a hundred and fifty percent every day,” she says. “I couldn’t ask for more.”

The pair started eventing in 2007 and had a bit of a rocky start. “I remember our first event at Valinor Farm like Hand Built Saddles starting at $2,500

it was yesterday,” she says. “We were in the Beginner Novice [level] and were eliminated at fence one. I couldn’t get him over it. We needed a new game plan.” They began lessons with Tom Davis at Flatlands Equestrian Center in Rehoboth, and this gave them the discipline and confidence they both needed — they soon moved up to the Novice level.

Last year, they started training with Kay Slater, and Cora now keeps Braveheart at True North Farm in Harwich. The consistent training has

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enabled the pair to excel in 2014. “We had an amazing year,” Cora says. “We ended up number one in the country in the Adult Amateur Novice Senior Rider division; I was blown away! We were also first in the United States Eventing Association Area 1 Novice Amateur Adult division and placed fifth in the Open Senior Novice division. We came off the winter really well this year and had a couple of great schooling shows, and now we’ve officially moved up to Training level.”

The success came at a time when Cora needed it most. “I was going through some difficult things in my personal life,” she says, “but my riding got stronger and stronger as I focused my efforts on training. There were mornings where I felt like I couldn’t get out of bed, but Braveheart kept me going. I would just think of him, and it would push me through.”

Cora says she’s always impressed by the gelding’s ability to learn new skills and capacity to progress and excel, even as he enters his teen years. Goals she never dreamed of attaining are beginning to seem not so far out of reach. “I was at GMHA recently, watching the Preliminary riders go,” she says. “That

was never a place I thought we could get to, but in that moment, I felt a glimmer of hope.” She flashes a bright smile. “With Braveheart,” she says, “it could happen.”

Briana Blomstrom and Escarda If you saw Briana Blomstrom, of Webster, and Escarda approaching the water obstacle in a May clinic with Boyd Martin, you’d never know the mare wouldn’t so much as get her hooves wet just weeks earlier. “We were galloping in and out of the water, going up and down the bank — she was a superstar!” says Briana, beaming. Getting to that point required patience and persistence, and the training strengthened their bond. “We’ve had to overcome many hurdles,” Briana says, “and have learned to trust each other. And that’s what a horse–rider relationship is all about, right? Respect and trust . . .”

Escarda, a 16-year-old state premium Hanoverian mare, belongs to Beth Ziegler. When Briana met her, Beth, who owns Stone Rose Farm in Sturbridge, let her give Escarda a try.

“Escarda hadn’t been ridden outside of a ring very often, as she was primarily a dressage horse,” Briana say, “so I began

introducing her to fields and trails gradually, taking her out a little farther each time. A few months later, we took her on her first cross-country schooling.

She absolutely loved it, and took every jump in stride without hesitation.”

Now, Briana and Escarda compete together at the Novice level, with a goal of moving up to Training level by the end of the summer. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity to work with this horse,” Briana says. “She has lovely movements, which enable us to do well in the dressage scores, but then once we

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get out on the cross-country course, her ears prick forward and she just eats it up, looking for the next jump, always wanting more.”

Now Briana feels that same eagerness from Escarda at the once challenging water obstacles. “Water was a huge issue for us,” she says. “We’d score really well in dressage, go double clear in the stadium [jumping], and then get eliminated at a water jump.”

After many lessons and schooling sessions that didn’t produce results, Briana found the solution out on the

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AUCTIONS

Summer Wrap-up Auction Sunday August 23, 10 A.M.

SHOWS

New England Stock Horse Show August 30 . September 20 Five individually judged classes for western horses and riders in four divisions: Green, Novice/Youth, Non-Pro, and Open.

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trail. “One day we were on a trail ride and decided to try a new route,” she says. “Lo and behold, I found a stream we could walk through. Escarda didn’t want any part of it at first, and we just stood there for about half an hour.

Eventually, I decided to hop off and hand-walk her through the water. Once she saw I was fine, she went right through. My boots were waterlogged, but I got back on and we practiced walking through the stream several times, then did it at least once a week after that.”

At the Groton House Farm Horse Trials, the pair conquered water crossings with ease, and Briana knew those troubles were over. “The trials went great,” she says. “We scored a 23.0 in dressage and went clear in cross-country and clear in stadium [jumping], which kept our score of 23.0, and we won first place.”

Emily Martin-Lockard and White Wash

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August/September 2015

Emily Martin-Lockard, of Hamilton, went in search of her eventing partner across the country: she hopped a plane to New Mexico to meet a particular Quarter Horse. “My friend has a breeding ranch there and told me all about a quiet, sweet young horse she had named White Wash,” she says. “I flew out, stayed there for ten days, and rode him every day. I fell completely in love with him. At only three years old, he was such a good boy, and I had to take him home.”

The journey to Canter Brook Equestrian Center, in South Hamilton, was worth every mile, as Emily knows she brought home her partner for life.

Now White Wash is an eight-year-old learning the ins and outs of eventing, and Emily is enjoying every minute.

“Getting him so young, he’s always been my baby, and we’ve bonded because of it,” she says. “Rather than put him in an intense training program when he was young, we went on a lot of trail rides, went foxhunting, went riding on the beach, and had a lot of low-pressure fun that got him used to a variety of situations. Now that we’re eventing more seriously, we’ve developed a great trust in each other.”

So far their eventing career has shown great promise, but more than anything it has been a joy for both Emily and White Wash. “He’s a talented jumper,” Emily says. “I’ve never been on a horse quite like him where jumping is so much fun, smooth, and relaxed.”

This makes him perfect for a cross-

country course, which is their favorite phase. “We’re not the fastest, but White Wash is consistent and steady, so we have fun and do our best,” she says.

Dressage is what they’re concentrating on now: White Wash is becoming accustomed to the more rigid structure.

“He’s used to being out on the trails or jumping in the field, so learning to do a twenty-meter circle is a challenge,” Emily says, smiling.

Emily and White Wash started out at the Elementary level, getting a feel for the eventing world, and quickly found that it was a passion for both of them. “We just did our first two-phase event at Groton House Farm [in Hamilton], at the Beginner Novice level,” she says. “This is our first year of combined tests, and it’s going really well.” For Emily, it’s all about having a good time on the horse she loves. “It doesn’t matter so much what level we get to, but it’s important to me that I have a fun, safe eventing horse who I can enjoy the ride with.”

White Wash is certainly living up to that expectation, and Emily says she’s excited to make progress with him.

“He’s still young and spooks at silly things here and there,” she says. “Plastic bags are scary, but his weakness is deer.

Massachusetts Horse

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saw he was such a cute mover.” Sara knew he was the horse for her, even without a chance to sit on him.

“The program doesn’t allow adopters to ride at the facility, so it was a bit of a gamble,” she says, laughing.

“However, it was his first time in an indoor arena, his first full day Sara Esthus and at that barn, and Hobbes there was conFour years ago, when struction going Sara Esthus, of on. The odds Granville, adopted a were against him shaggy bay but he didn’t Thoroughbred fresh place a foot off the racetrack, she wrong — I was knew she was betting convinced.” on a long shot.

Hobbes has Looking back, she come a long way says she’s glad she did. Briana Blomstrom and Escarda schooling at the Scarlet Hill Farm cross-country course, Groton. since then and is Teenage King, known as now a fit, gleaming eight-year-old comworth a visit.

Hobbes, was her eventing project, and peting at the Beginner Novice level.

“I drove ten hours round-trip with now he’s her best friend.

Training has been an exciting challenge my father-in-law to see him,” she says.

Sara had been keeping a hopeful for both Sara and Hobbes, but through “We got there and he had a super long eye on the New Vocations that they’ve formed a strong bond. “I coat with slightly odd-looking feet, but Thoroughbred Adoption Project, and had never worked with a young OTTB then a woman rode him for me and I was finally ready for a horse of her own in 2011, when she submitted an adoption application. When Hobbes came up as a possibility, she thought he was

courtesy of Briana Blomstrom

When we come across one, he’s gone the other way.”

Despite, or perhaps because of, the challenges, Emily feels a commitment to White Wash. “I’ve known him since he was a three-year-old, so in a way I feel like I’m his mom,” she says.

“We have a very special bond.”

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eventing career, but I’d definitely like to do a few recognized events before this season is over,” Sara says. “I’m aiming for good, quiet rides that we can both enjoy.”

Her steady approach to bringing Hobbes along has already paid off in a beautiful partnership, and Sara says she considers success in eventing just a bonus. “I spent so much time just grooming him and practicing groundwork from the start, and as a result we know each other really well. He trusts me,” she says, “and I understand his personality.”

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advantage in the cross-country phase, before Hobbes, and had never really which is where Hobbes is at his best. trained a green horse on my own, “He loves it as much as I do,” Sara says, either,” says Sara. “It’s been a learning “and I love that he always tries his best.” experience for me, but with the help of some good lessons along the way, I’m working to train him in the most effective way I can. He learns very quickly, so trying new things is always fun.”

One of their challenges was figuring out how to put his Thoroughbred energy to good use. “Hobbes started out pretty easygoing,” says Sara, “but as he got stronger, his Emily Martin-Lockard and White Wash at the 2014 Sara Esthus and Hobbes. energy level went Myopia Hunt Fall Hunter Pace. up, and over time Sara and Hobbes plan on making he’s become more horse to handle. progress in eventing in the same way Sometimes his over-exuberance can be tough, although he’s mostly very good.” they always have: one step at a time.

“We’re really just starting out in our His get-up-and-go works to their

Alessandra Mele, who lives in Wilbraham, works in marketing at W. F. Young/Absorbine. She enjoys spending time with the horses on her family’s farm, especially riding her Quarter Horse, JoJo.

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Farm Feature

Millis

Apple Knoll Farm

Orchards, Land Preservation, and Eventing

by Mari Passananti

L

Norfolk Hunt Club all have a long and happy history of running events on the Iorio family’s property.

Adrienne is especially delighted and excited to host the Schooling Horse Trials Championships on the property this August. She says the week-

Laura Solod

ess than an hour from downtown Boston, world-class event rider and trainer Adrienne Iorio stands in the large, airy barn she designed and built at Apple Knoll Farm, Millis.

Horses large and small stick their heads over stall guards and knicker as she gazes out on green pastures flanked by woods. Riders can gallop, or stroll, over eight miles in Apple Knoll’s woods, which are crisscrossed with trails and cross-country obstacles of all sizes — a rare delight east of Route 495.

“I spent hours walking the land and trying to picture how to make it best for the horses, truly ‘horse centered,’” Adrienne says.

The barn features large box stalls with big windows, high ceilings, and a lovely cross breeze. The horses look out on a courtyard in the back and their grassy pastures down the hill. “It’s extremely important that they get to go outdoors every day and get to be horses” she says, “not pace in tiny paddocks.”

“A key thing about the barn’s design is that the show grounds and indoor arena are separate, which keeps the horse-show noise and dust out of the barn,” says Betsy Maling, a manager at Apple Knoll for eight years. A lifelong horse lover, she’d given up riding when she had her kids, though she says she “never fully left” the barn. “I was a Pony Club mom with the Norfolk Hunt Pony Club for years, and one Mother’s Day the kids bought me a riding lesson.”

Hiatus over: Betsy was back in the saddle. Now she rides almost every day — that is, “when we don’t have an event,” she says, laughing.

Apple Knoll Farm hosts a busy calendar, from high-stakes trials to just-forfun hunter paces. Adrienne started putting on horse shows two decades ago, bucking the usual weekends-only formalities by hosting Wednesdayevening jumper shows, a tradition that continues this season. The farm regularly welcomes other groups to hire its facilities. The Charles River Dressage Association, the New England Miniature Horse Society, and the 16

August/September 2015

end should attract more than 150 participants. “Frankly, these days we need events to keep the farm intact,” she says.

“We’d love to run even more, and host other groups, and though we’re an eventing barn, we’re always open to other disciplines. It’s fun to have different groups here.”

Adrienne recounts the story of the farm’s purchase by her parents: Her mother, Dot Iorio, she says, hoped to find “a small farm, something just big enough to squeeze an indoor arena onto the property,” when an advertisement for 27 acres in Millis caught her eye. That parcel turned out to be part of a proposed subdivision. The Iorio family visited the farm and fell in love.

Shortly after that first tour, they purchased the entire property that was to be subdivided — 250 acres of what was mainly apple orchards and included a farmhouse. They built stalls for up to 40 horses, as well as two dressage arenas, a large indoor arena, a jumper ring, and a cross-country course with obstacles to challenge all levels of horses and riders.

Adrienne’s parents moved their family onto the farm; they continue to live there to this day. Over the years, Adrienne, along with two of her four

adult siblings, has made the farm home, building houses tucked away from the barn’s lines of sight.

Adrienne was the daughter who, like her mother, always loved horses; she never dreamed of a career doing anything that didn’t involve them.

Adrienne grew up in Pony Club, and after graduating from UMass Amherst, she taught countless little kids to ride, first in Holliston, then at Apple Knoll.

Adrienne is tall and lean, with long legs and immaculate posture. A casual equestrienne observer might easily mistake her for a dressage rider — until she saw Adrienne’s blue eyes light up at the sight of a huge jump, preferably one constructed on a sweeping hill. “I was always drawn to eventing,” Adrienne says. “I found my niche bringing beginner and intermediate riders up through the levels, because back then, there wasn’t anyone doing that locally.”

At the same time she was building her client base, Adrienne rose steadily through the ranks of the sport, successfully competing at the international four-star level until 2007, when a serious medical condition sidelined her temporarily.

“Now I have a great niche teaching and bringing along young horses,” says Adrienne. “I look first and foremost for good hooves and good legs (soundness), but temperament is a close second factor, and then movement — the quality of the gaits. If you have a sound horse who’s a beautiful mover but lacks trainability, it’s pointless. I start careers for a variety of horses, for myself and for clients, at a variety of levels, and the variety makes it fun.

“I’ve always got my eye out for the horse that could be my next Rolex horse,” she says, “even though I’m happy bringing along young horses and teaching. I love teaching kids crosscountry.” She points out a formidable log-and-stone obstacle: “I love the way young riders’ eyes boggle when they see the cross-country course for the first time,” she says. “Some of these riders have never left the ring. They come out

here and see this whole new world, and they look at me and say, ‘Wow. I can do that?’”

Her teaching roster is busy, with clients shipping in from all over New England and Canada. Her students tend to be serious riders, regardless of level. “They want to work hard and learn,” Adrienne says.

Most have horses of their own, though Adrienne keeps a few school horses, and she allows some of her more advanced students to ride her personal horses during lessons.

“Sometimes it’s best to have the experienced horse teach the rider the movement, so then the rider can go back and teach her own horse,” she says.

She also regularly takes on working students. Julia Grella, who currently fills that position, competes at the beginnernovice level aboard up-and-comer Freedom Fall (his friends call him Birdie), a flashy mount with a promising future.

Adrienne keeps a brisk schedule, often booking her first lesson of the day at 6:30 A.M., riding several horses before lunch, and hosting an event in the evening. Late afternoon on Wednesdays, the trailers start to roll in for the weekly jumper shows.

Every two or so weeks, she also commutes seven-plus hours to

Pennsylvania, where she has another farm — and another jam-packed client roster — on 50 acres in the heart of Amish country. And she often tows six horses on these trips: the equines traveling and training with Adrienne now are Dancing Queen, a sleek bay she calls Dani, who competes successfully in the open novice division; Smithwick, a client’s horse (“running beautifully”) in the preliminary division who she says “may be ready to move up to the OneStar level in the fall”; and Finch Hatton, a dashing five-year-old German Sport Horse novice (“needs to mature”).

During the winter, Apple Knoll Farm’s equine population drops to about 15 horses, when Adrienne goes to Akin, South Carolina, to ride out the snow in more favorable weather.

And she does it all while mothering three energetic little boys, ages seven, five, and three. Her sons all participate in the Norfolk Hunt Pony Club when they’re in Massachusetts. Her three-yearold “canters with confidence” on board his veteran pony, Squishy, Adrienne notes with the smile of a very proud mama.

What’s her secret?

She doesn’t miss a beat. “I don’t sleep,” she says, “and I guess I’ve slowed down a little . . . I don’t go to Europe regularly anymore.”

She’s quick to add this: “It takes a village to keep a farm this size intact in terms of time, money, and energy. I’m very grateful to my fantastic staff and my great managers Betsy Maling and Sarah Monroe, who keep things running whether I’m here or in Pennsylvania, and the equally great Erin Yoder, who manages the farm in Pennsylvania. I’d like them to know that I’m thankful every day to have them.”

The Trustees of Reservations owns the development rights to a portion of the land, which helps ensure that Apple Knoll will exist many years into the future. “I’m also thankful,” Adrienne says, “that my parents and siblings and the Trustees of Reservations share my goal of preserving the farm for the long term.”

Mari Passananti, the author of The Hazards of Hunting While Heartbroken and The K Street Affair, is a lifelong horse lover and rider. She lives in Boston with her family and is writing her third novel. For more about Mari and her work, visit www.maripassanantibooks.com.

Upcoming Shows and Clinics at DeCarli Farm Aug. 2 Combined Training Show Aug. 17&18 Christina Schulsmeyer Clinic

Sept. 13 Hunter/Jumper Open Show Sept. 19-21 Kelly Mills Horsemanship Clinic

Oct. 3&4 Anna Twinney Clinic Oct. 18 Hunter/Jumper Open Show

Boarding Facility Large Indoor and Outdoor Arenas . Miles of Trails with a Cross-country Course Under Construction 12 x 12 Stalls with All-day Turnout . Hot-water Wash Stall . Slow-feed Hay Nets in Stalls and Pastures

Training Head Trainer Marcus Rhatigan -

arli Farm DeC

Specializing in training the horse from the ground up with a focus on long lining, dressage, and gymnastic work before progressing through advanced course work.

Instructors: Danielle DeCarli - Hunter/Jumper . Gretchen Geromin: Dressage Jaime Kinnear: Eventing . Marcus Rhatigan: Everything, with a fondness for Jumpers

189 Sadds Mill Road, Ellington, CT . DeCarliFarm.com 860.878.9274 . decarlifarm@gmail.com Massachusetts Horse

17

Horseperson Feature

Huntington

by Andrea Bugbee

Marcus Rhatigan

M

on the wrong side of a ditch (or hedge or stream) miles from home.

Being on the wrong side of that ditch is what gave Marcus his foundation as a trainer. Acknowledging that it’s impractical to try to make a half-ton animal do anything against its will,

courtesy of Marcus Rhatigan

arcus Rhatigan is an Irish horse trainer, but his story isn’t the stereotype of a poor farm boy born with the Gaelic gift of persuading horses. Marcus is the third son of a welding wholesaler who loved nothing more than galloping across the fields on Sunday hunts with his four boys and some of their friends.

“We started off seven guys out to do something together,” says Marcus, grinning. “Horses were something we all wanted to do, and Dad wanted to do it with us. We jumped ponies in the summers and field hunted in the winters. We’d go out for five hours at a time.”

Growing up in an equestrian family in Ireland was different from growing up in an equestrian family in the United States. For one thing, in Ireland horseback riding isn’t the predominantly female sport it is here. For tall, athletic 15-year-old Marcus, there was no disconnect in the fact that he competed at rugby, then swapped cleats for breeches on the days that he had a horse show or worked riding horses for an area dealer.

Marcus points out another difference between Ireland and the United States: “Everybody hunted at some point,” he says. “Not only was hunting a good weekend out, but sheep are big in Ireland, too. The reason there was hunting was to help the farmers cull the foxes. Showing wasn’t year-round, so a lot of people would leave their show horses and go hunting with the young horses they were bringing up, to get them brave and forward.”

Nor was Irish field hunting like riding New England’s groomed and planned cross-country courses. Rather, it was typically a bunch of guys galloping on miles of open land over ditches, often on green horses. “It definitely taught you patience and the ability to get the job done,” Marcus says. For example, he says, if a mount panicked at an obstacle, there was no option but to solve the problem and move on, because the alternative was being stuck

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August/September 2015

Marcus began noticing — and using — more and more of the subtle elements of what each horse would do willingly, which, he found, was quite a lot.

“When you’re on horses that are learning, you learn their hearts,” he says. “You get yourself into some scary situations and you put the trust into them, and they take you along for the ride. You have to find the goodness in them or you’re going to get stuck in the field.”

As time went by, Marcus discovered that he has a natural talent for finding that willingness, that “goodness.” This young man who had struggled reading words throughout school because of dyslexia suddenly found he could read horses.

“What I’ve always had the innate ability to do is watch the body language of horses. That’s something that I’ve been able to utilize as a trainer,” Marcus says. He, and the people he works with, sums up this talent for interpreting subtle shifts in energy, tension, poise, and expression with one word, intuition, and

Irish Intuition

Marcus bills himself as an “intuitive trainer.”

“One of the things that’s different about Marcus is, yes, intuitive — looking at the horse, asking what’s going on with him. He has a way of connecting with the horse. It’s more than just figuring out the horse; it’s more like really understanding him,” says Lynn Guelzow, of Granby, Connecticut.

Lynn’s horse, Apollo, went into training with Marcus at a private Massachusetts stable this spring. Marcus describes Apollo as an “excitable” Quarter Horse who had embraced some dangerous fear responses. “He’d run right through you if he didn’t like what was happening,” he says. Indeed, Lynn’s last fall from Apollo landed her in the hospital with broken ribs and a punctured lung.

“There’s no miracle cure for a horse that’s had bad experiences,” Lynn says. “Apollo was in a place where he really needed to understand what his job was.

Marcus definitely did that. It was very hard, patient work, but Marcus has a lot of tools, and he’s shown himself to be endlessly patient with a horse that has tried everybody’s patience.” After Apollo had about ten weeks with Marcus, Lynn was thrilled to see “a huge, huge change” in the horse she loved but rightly feared.

Apollo, who had been accustomed to 24-hour turnout, had been stallbound for two days because of inclement weather. “We took him out of the barn and went straight to work. He was frisky, but Marcus had him on a long rein. That’s not something anyone had ever been able to do,’’ Lynn says.

“The change was in his attitude, his willingness. It was phenomenal. It was really, really wonderful.”

Lynn had started Apollo with Marcus knowing that he was not a safe horse for her and that she would very likely have to sell him. “Now,” she says, “it’s a lot easier to imagine someone wanting him — and keeping him.”

Holyoke equestrienne Christina

Stone also found Marcus as she was about ready to sell a horse. Christina had ridden only 50 or 60 times, and Eiffel — the powerful young Dutch Warmblood given to her by an Olympic hopeful — was extremely talented.

However, Christina says, “I was intimidated by how much lift and speed she has.”

Like Apollo, Eiffel had explosive moments, but unlike Apollo, hers were born of undirected athleticism and exuberance rather than fear. “Marcus wrote out the alphabet for her,” says Christina.

“When she was rearing and bucking and being very naughty, instead of disciplining or punishing her, he used that energy. He put a ground pole in front of her.”

Now, says, Christina, “I feel empowered and safe riding with Marcus. He’s extremely adaptable from lesson to lesson, and even between lessons. He listens to the horses. He listens to the rider, and he’s adaptable to that. He’s got intuition about the people and the horses he works with.”

“Marcus has a broad versatility,” says Lynn. “Most trainers have a lot of things they do that work well, but I’ve never seen that with Marcus. I more see him adapting, asking ‘What does this horse need right now?’”

Marcus says he does approach all training within a certain frame. He begins all his work from the ground, at liberty. There, he looks for any physical issues. He observes the horse’s hooves, its gait, and its teeth, often recommending chiropractic or acupuncture to eliminate sources of discomfort. During these early sessions, he also observes the horse’s temperament: Is it athletic, clever, quiet?

Next, Marcus spends unmounted time desensitizing a horse so it isn’t intimidated by new things. For this, he uses a creative cache of tools such as tarps, pool tubes, and flags. He also spends quality time long-lining.

“This is one of my strongest suits,” he says. “It’s getting the horse to supple, to recognize the aids and respond to them. It’s teaching a horse to come into pressure, and that’s the really important thing because the horse learns only when he’s moving forward. Once you open a horse in that way and it trusts you,” he says, “you’re okay. The horse learns that you’re not nervous, so it doesn’t need to be nervous, and then it can learn.” This applies, he says, to “any horse — and any rider.”

Take his work with Monte, a handsome six-year-old Quarter Horse/draft mix, boarded at Carrier’s Farm in Southampton, who lacked the training to behave politely at the local shows and Pony Club events his owner, Jenna Turrini of Southwick, was using him for.

“Marcus started from the ground up,” says Jenna’s mom, Sue. “He didn’t even ride Monte for the first two weeks; he ground-drove him. It was sort of like a child with training wheels, then they take off the training wheels. He takes in the horse’s natural abilities. It’s the horse that actually teaches itself where to put its hooves — it learns how to do it without the weight of a rider.”

The final part of Monte’s training was teaching 16-year-old Jenna to make the most of her horse’s education. “The lessons I took with Marcus during Monte’s training gave me the confidence that I could do it on my own,” Jenna says. Within just a few weeks, she and Monte had become a team.

“To me,” says Sue, “Marcus is more about horsemanship than about ‘breaking’ the horse. I think he’s something special. I feel like he really cares — and his approach with Jenna was to train the human how to react to the horse. What Jenna got from Marcus was that inner

confidence. Once she realized she could do it, it came naturally.”

After years of working, training, and traveling in the show-jumping circuits of Europe and America, Marcus lives with his wife, the equine sculptor Lindsey Molyneux, and their three-anda half-year-old daughter, Lillie, in an 1880s Huntington farmstead near where Lindsey grew up.

And now he keeps his work closer to home. He’s one of the trainers at DeCarli Farm, which is in Ellington, Connecticut (where he also leads an Interscholastic Equestrian Association team), and has a variety of private training, coaching, and clinic engagements.

He was recently commissioned a twoyear-old Belgian Warmblood, Nylander RGS by Cunningham, to produce for breed shows. Ultimately, he says, he’d like to build his own equestrian property so he could train horses and host clinics all the time.

“I don’t do this because it’s my hobby; I do it because it’s my passion,” says Marcus. “At the end of the day, it’s really about the horse.”

Andrea Bugbee is a freelance reporter. She lives with her husband and their children in Southwick.

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19

Lend a Hoof

Winslow Farm Animal Sanctuary

Norton

by Melissa Root

I

trust humans once again,” Debra says. As founder and president, Debra wrote the farm’s mission: to provide a “stay-for-life home where animals of all kinds can live out their lives in safety and love.” Every animal’s story is unique, but the common theme is abuse and neglect. Calls come in daily with pleas for her to provide sanctuary for animals in need. “I can’t save the world of animals,” she says, “but you do what you can. If we all do

Melissa Root

n a quaint and tidy building aptly named the Canteen, Debra White is preparing lunch. She is surrounded by fresh produce, canned goods, and a quietly humming refrigerator. The Canteen is impeccably clean and welcoming, like the home of an old friend.

Only the feed buckets lined up neatly on the floor give a hint as to whom she’ll be serving today. She looks up with her ready smile. “I have one hundred and sixty animals to feed,” she says cheerfully. A small dog scratches at the door hoping for entry; another lounges in the sun nearby. It takes only a brief glance around the property to know you’re in a special place. For Debra, Winslow Farm Animal Sanctuary is a labor of love.

There’s a faraway look in her eyes as she explains how it all began.

“This is all for my father,” she says. It takes her a moment to gather her thoughts as she remembers the impact his lengthy illness had on her long ago.

She apologizes that the experience is still so fresh in her mind that it brings tears to her eyes.

Debra was only three years old when her father had his first brain surgery, at age 28, for Parkinson’s disease. “He couldn’t communicate well verbally,” she says, so the family needed to find other ways to connect. Nature became their outlet.

Though much of the family land was lost during his illness, it became her quest to buy as much of it back as she could. Then her strong interest in nature and helping animals motivated her to share it, by helping to educate the public about abused and neglected animals.

A Place to Call Home Formally established in 1996, Winslow Farm Animal Sanctuary, in Norton, opened to the public in fall 1997 as “a sanctuary where animals can learn to 20

August/September 2015

our own little part, we can each make a difference.”

Walking this beautiful property is a sensory experience. As you make your way toward any of the barns or habitats, birds are chirping and the smell of fresh earth and greenery is cool and soothing.

On a warm summer day, horses graze among the goats, donkeys, emus, and peacocks. Geese play in water troughs while a pig stretches out lazily in the sun.

In stark contrast to a zoo or a designated viewing area, most of the animals that live at the sanctuary roam freely.

Visitors are encouraged to interact (respectfully) and connect with them in their natural environment. Artfully placed benches and stoops beckon you to stop for a while and take it all in.

Currently 14 horses and donkeys call Winslow Farm home; “I’m out of stalls,” Debra says. Those stalls: They’re like five-star hotels for equines — ceiling fans are in all wood structures, which are immaculately maintained. “I run a tight ship,” she says, smiling.

At the main barn, Belle, a 14-yearold Haflinger, walks playfully up to the

goat habitat to get a drink. Belle spent the first years of her life as a working horse in Pennsylvania farm country. Too young for such hard work, she developed tendon issues and was sent to slaughter, where she was saved by a young boy. When he outgrew her, she was brought to Winslow. As a volunteer helps Belle safely down, he says, laughing, “She’s not supposed to be able to do that.” But at the sanctuary, sometimes that’s what freedom means.

And around every corner of the property there are stories like Belle’s.

The many rescued cats and dogs are welcome companions as visitors meander through the expansive compound, on whose grounds and numerous trees provide shade from the summer sun. The miniature donkeys Scamp, Zorro, and Bianca will come over to you for a nuzzle and follow along as you tour the splendid new stone barn. Relinquished from a loving home due to the owner’s serious illness, they’ve found their forever home at Winslow Farm.

A Tremendous Endeavor Providing a protective environment for the many animals here is an immense undertaking. Small- and large-animal veterinarians, farriers, food, shelter, utilities, staff, and maintenance costs are in excess of $200,000 annually, and this figure doesn’t take into account construction or new habitats for animals such as the miniature donkeys, for which a home was recently built. Nor does it include emergency care for those that were severely abused or neglected before their arrival.

Animals that stay here for the rest of their lives create an ongoing demand to maintain, enhance, and expand the farm’s capacity and capability to care for them. With the help of a small but experienced and compassionate staff, Debra White and her many volunteers must educate the public about the animals’

plight in order to raise funds. And this is over and above the daily care and support of the more than 160 animals now at the sanctuary.

How to Help Visiting the farm is an engaging experience for the entire family. The admission donation for self-guided tours is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Families can easily spend the day interacting with the many animals, enjoying the playground, sitting by the serene Meadowbrook Pond, and having a snack in the picnic area. For an additional donation of $10, families can quietly groom, massage, and walk miniature donkeys as the animals prepare for their evening rest.

There are also many special events throughout the year, among them the fun-filled October Festival.

Donations are always appreciated: Donate through the Network for Good, at www.networkforgood.org; search for Winslow Farm Animal Sanctuary at www.goodsearch.com; shop through Amazon Smile and select Winslow Farm Animal Sanctuary; or visit www.winslowfarm.com and click on “Helping,” where you’ll find a “donate” link at the bottom of the page. You may also make a dona-

tion in person at the farm.

For other gifts, the farm has posted its wish list (at www.winslowfarm.com).

Some common items always in demand are paper towels, cat food, produce, trash bags, and gift cards.

And do consider volunteering: Adults and teens 15 and older should contact Debra. As another winter will surely come, volunteers with a snow shovel or tractor experience are always a pleasant sight.

“If we all do our own little part, we can each make a difference,” says Debra.

That’s true for the animals already rescued as well as for the many that have yet to make their way to Winslow Farm Animal Sanctuary. Every animal deserves to live out its life in a safe and secure environment, a place where it’s free from fear, hunger, and harm.

Thanks to her father, Debra has the compassion and fortitude to make that happen — one animal at a time.

Photographer Melissa Root lives in Dighton with her husband and their two horse-crazy girls.

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21

Stable Devotion

by Christina Andersen

T

Bella and Sunny A Girl and Her Horse

he sun sinks slowly behind the tree line as a cool, early-summer breeze weaves through the trees.

Down the hill, a girl and her pony trot around the ring in perfect harmony. He moves smoothly, the two-beat gait pushing through the sand as the saddle leather creaks with each post. It’s a quiet and peaceful evening in Hingham; the only sounds come when a bird chirps and the occasional mosquito buzzes by. The duo trot over, and Bella dismounts with a gentle thud. Her pony snorts and she pats his golden shoulder with a big grin as she introduces him: “This is Sunny,” she says.

Bella Iaria walks over to the spacious three-stall shed row her father built last year, Sunny close behind. As she untacks him and throws him a thick flake of hay, the other horses look on, eyes brimming with hope that hay will come their way too. She makes sure Sunny is settled and cooled off before removing her helmet and getting water for herself. She giggles as Sunny sticks his head over the wooden stall door to nuzzle her. Bella’s cheeks are flushed from her ride, her damp hair is pulled back into a quick pony tail, and her colorful breeches are comfortably tucked into her boots.

Bella is finishing up fifth grade, and like most of us did at that age, she spends all her free time riding. She began lessons at a local hunter barn a few years back and joined Pony Club in September 2013. She met Sunny at their very first club meeting. “It was switch-horses day,” she says, smiling shyly. She was drawn to him immediately, but her mother, Becky, was not impressed.

“I saw him run away with child after child,” says Becky. “Our trainer said we

22

August/September 2015

should buy him, but I wasn’t on board with that. When Bella finally got on him to ride, it was sunshine and rainbows,” and after some persuasion, Sunny came home with them, in February 2014.

Sunny Bunny is a golden Palomino with a long white stripe down his face,

Sunny had evented. He loves to jump.

“He once jumped a three-foot bank out of the water from a standstill,” Bella says. “He’ll jump anything!”

Last June, Bella and her mom traveled to Woodstock, Vermont, for the Green Mountain Horse Association’s (GMHA) Junior Horsemanship Clinic.

After that trip, they were hooked. Bella loves the challenges, diversity, and opportunities to improve that come with the eventing discipline. Most important, her pony loves it too. “Sunny has been a dream,” says Becky. “He carries Bella through and picks her up where she leaves off.”

They attended various shows last summer and noticed that True North Eventing was everywhere. They got to know head trainer Kay Slater, and “we just clicked,” says Becky.

She appreciated Kay’s approach with both the children and the horses.

Bella was impressed after watching Kay ride. “At first I was amazed,” she says. “She was calm and the pony was awesome. I thought, ‘I want that jumping position!’ She really paid attention, and I knew Sunny and I needed to work on that.” And so every other week, Becky and Bella hook up their trailer, load Sunny, and drive over the Cape Cod Bridge to Harwich for a lesson.

Kay has decades of experience in the sport, learning from world-class trainers and competing in multiple disciplines. As a coach, she helps her clients overcome fear, gain confidence, and improve their focus. She strongly encourages teamwork — and enjoyment — among all of her students.

Bella and Sunny have flourished under Kay’s guidance. Bella’s pleased Spotted Vision Photography

Hingham

which accentuates his soft amber eyes.

He’s about 17 now, standing around 14.2 hands “and a half!” Bella chimes in. As Bella gushes over her pony, he stands patiently with his ear fixed on her.

Sunny has aural plaques, a common and often painful white and flaky lesion on the inside of the ear. At the beginning, they were causing him severe sensitivity, and he hated having his ears touched. Getting his bridle on was a nightmare. After weeks of working with him, using natural horsemanship techniques to train and earn his trust, they were able to bridle gently. “He was a challenge when we got him,” says Becky.

Through their time at Pony Club, Bella befriended other girls who were into eventing. Bella and her mother knew nothing about the sport, but

with the progress she’s made but knows what needs improvement. In dressage, for example, they’ve worked on lowering Sunny’s head and Bella holding her leg in a different way. She’s learned how to stay connected to Sunny without her knee pinching the saddle, and he has softened up to this approach.

The bond between Bella and Sunny continues to strengthen. In their lessons with Kay, they develop their skills, then practice and perfect them at home. Becky says she’s noticed a huge difference, in both their form and Bella’s feeling of security.

Bella thought stadium jumping was the pair’s weakest area. She didn’t know much, and at the beginning had a wiggly approach. Kay showed her how to look ahead over the jumps and fix their strides between them. Bella laughs: “I’d have an awkward looking-down moment and would remind myself, ‘No, you can’t!’” she says. “And at the same time, Sunny would say, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll take over for you.’” Sunny never refuses any jumps with Bella; he takes care of her.

In cross-country, Bella had to learn to let him gallop while staying off his back, and Kay taught her how to raise her position and count strides before a jump to take a better approach. All the coaching and practice have paid off.

“Bella takes the lead,” Becky says, proudly. “This is her thing.”

Though Bella won’t admit it, her mother plays an important role in their success. She’s there for every lesson and show and goes above and beyond to support the team. At events, Sunny won’t drink water. To compensate, Becky brings along gallons of Gatorade for him. “He only likes blue,” says Bella.

Becky turns, with an exasperated expression, and adds that he won’t tolerate it watered down, either. At every lesson, camp, and show, she’s armed with cool blue Gatorade (and watermelon) to keep him hydrated.

“I’m fluffy about this pony,” says Becky. She looks to her daughter. “Of course, he loves you too,” she says. A grin spreads across Bella’s face as she lowers her chin and digs her toe into the dirt. Sunny knows he’s being talked about and seems to soak up all the attention. “He really takes care of her,” says Becky. “We call him the Little General because he marches right along. I never worry about them.”

AS OUR EQUINE partners teach us at a young age, horses require hard work, dedication, and a sense of responsibility, and Bella has embraced all of it.

After school, she usually goes for a ride, followed by the evening chores and feeding. (During the school week, Becky handles barn chores in the morning.) Somehow Bella manages to squeeze in homework; “she gets straight A’s,” says her proud mom. Now, they have a busy and fun-filled summer ahead of them.

They just got back from their first recognized event, in Larkin Hill, New York. Bella competed in a hybrid division with adults, and she and Sunny held their own.

Bella’s looking forward to the GMHA Junior Horsemanship Camp for ten days. This year she’s moved up to Beginner Novice and came in first at the July 5 GMHA Horse Trials. This season she and Sunny — and Becky — plan to attend events at Valinor Farm (Plymouth), Course Brook Farm (Sherborn), and Orchard Hill Equestrian Center (Berlin), and wrap up with the Groton House Fall Classic, in Hamilton, in September. Keep an eye out for these shining stars at these events and along the South Shore trails.

They’ll be spending their free time riding through Myles Standish State Forest and Wompatuck State Park and along Duxbury Beach.

Together, Bella and her mother trail-ride off their property, and often race around at nearby Turkey Hill. “I get to give my mom lessons too,” says Bella.

Bella and her older sister, Rosie, who has never been interested in horses but excels at karate, will be doing CrossFit together. “They’ve gotta be lean, she’s gotta be mean!” Becky says, laughing.

Bella, however, has a different opinion. “I don’t do CrossFit,” she says with just enough preteen attitude. “I do farm fit.”

Growing up on Nantucket, Christina Andersen explored the beaches and rode the trails with her trusty pony, Whinnie. At UMass Amherst, she studied animal behavior with a concentration in equines. After graduation, she taught draft-horse husbandry to future farmers and veterinarians.

She’s now a product specialist at SmartPak, and spends her free time riding and driving her adopted draft horses, Bill and Mark.

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

Massachusetts Horse

23

Guest Column

Eventing Safety

by Andrew Hoy

The Big Four: Forward, Stop, Turn Left, Turn Right

• A helmet. Obviously!

• Gloves. I wear them (cotton) because my hands are my lifeline. The other day

What to Wear Rider safety is a priority because I like to be able to tell my own stories rather 24

August/September 2015

but I think it’s a good idea anyway.

Remember, though, that wearing a body protector doesn’t mean you’re immortal. It’s helpful if you fall on something sharp, such as the edge of a jump, but it’s not body armor; it can’t stop you from breaking bones.

Tack Check

courtesy of Andrew Hoy

I’ve had my worst rides when horses haven’t taken notice of the four things we have to teach them — go forward, stop, turn left, and turn right. If I don’t have control of even one of these, crosscountry becomes a frightening experience.

Your horse has to listen to your aids. It’s the culmination of putting together those four things that enables us to gallop and jump with our horses.

Horses are generous, and they’re on our side. But they can become frightened, so it’s important that we don’t ask them anything beyond their capabilities. They have to believe in you, and they have to understand what you’re asking.

You can keep them on your side by being quiet with them. Andrew and Basmati.

We as riders get too aggressive when something doesn’t happen the way we want it to. Keep in mind that the experiences a horse has, especially if they’re bad, aren’t forgotten easily. It takes a long time to work through them. For example, if you develop a bogey jump — where you or your horse has had a bad experience — you need to go back to step one and patiently work up.

When you’re riding cross-country, any problems you have in show jumping will become magnified because the differences between cross-country and show jumping are the speed at which we travel, the surface on which we gallop, and the fact that the fences don’t come down.

So we definitely need control.

than have someone else tell them as I’m being driven away in an ambulance.

Rider safety starts with clothing.

a girl in my lesson ended up with blisters. The pain affected her ability to control her horse, so it ran three or four miles per hour faster than it should have. The moral of the story: Wear gloves, because reins, whether leather or rubber, can do some damage. (I’m not too keen on leather gloves because leather on leather, or leather on rubber, gets slippery when wet.)

• Spurs and whips. You don’t have to use spurs just because you have them on. Same with a whip; you don’t have to use it to assist your leg aid, but if you’ve got it, you can use it. It’s no good sitting in a bucket at the barn; you need it with you.

• A body protector. This is particularly important to me because I’m based in England. In Great Britain, it’s compulsory at competitions and if I hire facilities and school cross-country there. The requirement is for insurance purposes,

• Reins. Do you check your reins before every event? Not many people do, and they should. Reins are important because it’s scary and dangerous if you’re unable to stop.

In one situation, when a rein broke, the rider jumped off — and needed a total knee reconstruction because of the way he landed. Reins are much cheaper than surgery!

I like the type that loops through the bit because it has minimal stitching. If you can’t get this, use the buckle kind of reins, not the ones with the billet, as these have been known to pop out.

• Girth and stirrup leathers. Check the stitching on your girth and stirrup leathers regularly as well.

• Cross-country boots. If a horse goes down in front and the hind legs come through, they can sever a front leg’s tendon. And a horse can actually cut through the boot unless it’s specially designed to protect the tendon.

(Despite that, it’s better to have any kind of boot than none.) The wraparound style is good if your horse has tendon problems, but it’s not something I’d use all the time.

Tendon support should be part of your training program, not something you take care of just on competition day. It’s difficult to provide, though, and don’t let anyone tell you differently. You can, however, offer some protection to tendons and ligaments.

The major injury to a tendon

comes from a blow. Heat and swelling follow; then, when we work the horse, the tendon weakens.

Getting Out of Problems

Rider Position You must have a good angle in your knee and be able to get yourself out of the saddle. Ride with your stirrups shorter cross-country than you do show jumping. If I’m on a novice horse, I go up one hole from where I show-jump. If I’m on an advanced horse or a horse that pulls a lot, I go up two or three holes. The shorter you ride, the easier it is to control a horse that gets really strong. The closer you have your shoulder to your knee, the more leverage you have against the horse with only your body weight.

If I put your stirrups to dressage length and your horse runs off, you end up with just the strength of your arms to try and stop it. If you ride short, though, you can just sit against the horse with your body weight, which is far more consistent than pulling. With a novice horse, I like plenty of leg support there: it gives him confidence and keeps him going forward when he sees things he’s not quite sure of.

When you’re galloping cross-country and the horse makes a little mistake, you must be able to calm the situation.

You want the horse to know that if he gets into difficulties or slips, he can slow down. When you let him take his time, he learns to get himself out of trouble. Say your horse has slipped badly or hit a jump: Keep hold of the front end, keep hold of the reins, sit quietly, and try to support him. Enable the horse to find his feet.

Don’t pick up the reins and grab his head to pull it up or give him a kick to get him going. Let the horse make his way through the difficulties. Your role is to give him support. This means keeping your leg just there, maintaining your own balance, and holding him with the rein, which provides support through the mouth.

I want my horses to be on my side, so I spend a lot of time reassuring them that I’m on theirs. After all, when you come to a jump, for example, it’s the horse that has to decide to leave the ground. You can get him there, but if he says no, that’s it — no pushing, no pulling, no shoving will force an animal do what it doesn’t want to do.

Once I saw six people attempting to get a donkey into a stable. There were two pulling, two pushing, and one on either side, and they spent 15 minutes trying to force the donkey into the barn. A man came over and said, “I don’t think this is going to work.” He then took the donkey and led it in a circle — and into the stable. How many times when you went to an event as a child was everyone trying to get your pony into the trailer? It doesn’t matter how small the equine is, you can’t force it to do something, it has to want to do it. That’s why it’s so important that we don’t become too strong.

Remember the basics: horse control, rider control, safety gear, and an intelligent approach. Now, with these in place, you and your horse will increase your enjoyment of cross-country.

Cheers!

Andrew Hoy has the rare distinction of competing in seven Olympics for Australia. From the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics to the 2012 London Games, Andrew has won three gold medals and a silver medal as well as many other notable international events. Andrew won the prestigious Badminton Trials (UK), one of only five elite international four star, CCI**** events as classified by the FEI. Andrew lives and trains in the UK.

25 Forest Lane, Millis, MA ~ (508) 376-2564 Adrienne Iorio Eventing Clinics

Summer Jumper Show Series

Charles River Dressage Association

April 24-26 . May 15-17

June 17 & 27 . July 8, 15, 22 & 29 August 5, 12, 19 & 26 . September 2 & 9

Adult Camp April 25-26 Dressage Show Series: May 17 . June 21 . August 2 . October 4

JH Eventing Boot Camp

$20 per class.

Inside warm-up starts at 3:30; classes start at 4:30.

Outside warm-up starts at 4; classes start at 2' 3" at 5.

Ribbons 1st to 6th, prizes for first.

April 19-23

Dom Schramm Eventing Clinic May 2-3

Schooling Horse Trials Championships August 30

May 24 . June 28 . July 19 . August 23 For more information, visit www.nemha.org.

Poker Run June 7 Marked trail course over 300 acres with optional cross country jumps. Five stations to pick up a card, best poker hand wins! Ribbons 1st to 8th.

Prize lists and entry forms at:

New England Miniature Horse Society Shows

Norfolk Hunt Pony Club Camp August 10-14

For more information, visit www.crdressage.org.

New England Dressage Association Fall Symposium with Robert Dover October 17-18 For more information, visit www.neda.org.

Halloween Hunter Pace October 25 Marked trail course over 300 acres with optional cross country jumps. Ribbons for optimum time and best costume.

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

The facilities at Apple Knoll Farm are available for rental for horse shows, clinics, and other equine activities.

Our cross-country course is open for schooling by appointment, weather permitting.

Massachusetts Horse

25

Barn Dog Diaries

Barn Hunts Rat Wranglers and Canine Competitors

by Patricia Lalli

G

Lisa Quast

Tammy Milbrath Strebe

cage are set into the maze as well. And the petite Papillon to the hardy ot mice? Many barns do. A stafor more of a challenge, the dog must Catahoula Leopard Dog: all are welble provides food, shelter, nestpass through a hay-bale tunnel and come, as long as they can pass through ing material, and protection climb onto at least one bale with all an 18-inch space between bales. from the elements and predators. For a four feet to earn a qualifying score. As How the rats are treated is critical rodent, what’s not to love? the level of competition increases, so to the success of Barn Hunt activities.

But mice and rats cause countless does the number of rats the dog must Rat wranglers — knowledgeable indidollars’ worth of damage to wiring, viduals whose job it is to feed, horse clothing, and handle the rodents during the like. They’re also excelan event — are charged with lent vehicles for the spread their care and safety and are of disease. So along with guided by a set of rules. keeping the stable neat and Abuse of rats is not tolerclean — and avoiding the ated; any rat injury or death use of risky poisons — how at a Barn Hunt activity must can we roll up the welcome be documented and mat and send them packing? reported to the governing At this very moment, a body. Penalties, including a holistic solution to the problifetime ban from the sport, lem may well be sitting concan and have been leveled tentedly at your feet. against an event’s host Dogs are ideal for organization. rodent control, and have Good sportsmanship is assisted exterminators for also required from Barn centuries. Unlike cats, which Hunt participants. Many stalk before they pounce, owners take part in activities dogs dig and tunnel to not for awards and titles, but reach their quarry. Your dog instead because their dogs need not be a rat terrier to enjoy the sport. be an effective rodentKim Lewis, owner of hunter; many breeds and Lucky Dog Events in crosses do an excellent job.

Hopkinton, began holding Every dog is an individual, Barn Hunts regularly about however, and despite its line18 months ago. “I started age, yours may not take to competing in Barn Hunt the task. with my yellow Lab, Maggie One way to discover a Mae, when she was nine dog’s working ability is to years old,” says Kim. “We’ve explore the newest canine competed in many dog sport: Barn Hunt. Created in sports, from agility and hunt 2012, in Missouri, Barn trials to dock diving, nose Hunt provides an opportuwork, and rally, and she’s nity for responsible dog earned many titles in many owners to test proper workvenues. But now, because ing traits in their dogs. she’s getting older and had Clinics, fun days, and trials two knees rebuilt, she’s had take place in every region of the United States and Top: A puppy and pet rat getting acquainted. Bottom: The rat is safely contained. to slow down from agility.

We did a Barn Hunt practice Canada. Here’s how it works. in New Hampshire and she did really A rat is safely and comfortably confind. A seasoned canine competitor well, so we thought we’d give it a try. tained in a large aerated PVC tube, often tracks down its quarry in mere She’s now two legs away from earning which is then placed within a maze of seconds! her master title.” baled hay or straw. The dog, encourBarn Hunt is an independent dog Kim and a group of volunteers host aged by its handler, has a limited time sport, but titles are recognized by the practices and trials, primarily at Gemini (two minutes for a novice) to find the American Kennel Club and the United rat. To confuse things, empty tubes or Kennel Club. At any given competition, Dogs in Littleton. The group has never been approached by animal-rights some that contain litter from a rat’s you’ll see a wide range of canines, from

26

August/September 2015

This Olde Horse

activists; says Marjorie Otterson, a competitor and Lucky Dog volunteer, “Everyone ensures the safety of all animals while also making the event fun.

The rats, actually well-cared-for pets, are used to being handled and in close proximity to dogs,” she says. “They’re intelligent and seem to know that they’re safe.” Once, she says, she watched as a dog licked the thick PVC mesh opening of a tube. The enclosed rat was nose-to-nose with the dog and exhibited no fear whatsoever.

Barn Hunts take place year-round, indoors and out. In a way it’s a team sport — you and your canine working together to find the quarry.

Whether or not your barn has rodents, do try a Barn Hunt: dogs hone the skills necessary to find mice and rats and owners have a great time working with their canines in a congenial, enthusiastic environment.

Girdlestone Park, in Oak Bluffs, was a popular half-mile circular racetrack cut out of the scrub oak by local farmer George Smith and was located off Barnes Road. Tourism ads in off-Island newspapers of the time boasted: “Lovers of the harness horse will see some very spirited racing during the season at Girdlestone Park at Martha’s Vineyard.”

Have a photo for This Olde Horse? Email

editor@mahorse.com.

OR

D

O

N

OV

ER

Patricia Lalli, a children’s librarian, has a Paint gelding, an Appaloosa mare, four dogs, and three cats and is now enjoying adventures with Keeva, a Cardigan Welsh corgi puppy who promises to be a barn dog extraordinaire.

© 1909 Published by J. N. Chamberlain, Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts

To learn more about barn hunts, visit the Barn Hunt Association’s website, www.barnhunt.com.

Oak Bluffs

DE RS $ 35 A

N

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Massachusetts Horse

27

Chester

by Stacey Stearns

Trail Guide

Chester-Blandford State Forest

A

the heat of summer, families cool off in this section.

Parking with a horse trailer at Sanderson Brook Falls is best along the stone wall on the right side of the lot, which holds some 20 cars. Get there

Plan Your Visit Along Route 20, four locations provide access to the forest, but only three have public parking (free): Boulder Park, the Campground, and Sanderson Brook Falls. There’s no parking available at headquarters.

In the off-season (winter), the headquarters and campground gates are closed, but the parking lot at Sanderson Brook Falls — an equestrian’s best bet — is open year-round.

Boulder Park was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, during the Depression, and is for picnics and admiring the trees, shrubs, and flowers; the mountain laurel is spectacular. Here you’ll find a universal access interpretative trail, and a pavilion amid a stand of eastern hemlock.

The Campground is rustic, and in 28

August/September 2015

riders, affords spectacular views across the Westfield River Valley from the 1,200-foot-high summit. If you’d like to come back without your horse, there’s 1.5 miles of challenging trail up to Observation Hill. I know I’m looking forward to exploring the area more.

The trail is hilly — after all, you’re in the Berkshires — and your horse will get a workout.

The total elevation change for this ride is approximately 1,000 feet. The forest roads are gravel, with lots of small rocks; I recommend horseshoes or hoof boots, and consider taking a hoof pick as well. In a couple of places, you can ride up to the brook and water your horse.

Ride It!

Stacey Stearns

s you drive into ChesterBlandford State Forest on Route 20, you follow the path of the Westfield River, a nationally designated Wildlife and Scenic River. Route 20, also known as Jacob’s Ladder Trail, is a 35-mile byway wending its way through the southern Berkshires.

The first highway specifically built for cars, it opened in 1910.

Chester, in the pretty eastern Berkshires, was once a mining town. That past, when the men extracted mica, emery, and corundum, is reflected in various names throughout the forest, such as Mica Mine Road and Gold Mine Brook.

Now more than 2,300 acres comprise this state forest, which is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). To learn its history or to download a map (none is available at the park), visit www.mass.gov/eea/ agencies/dcr/.

Sanderson Brook Falls, which tumbles 60 feet to the brook below, and Gold Mine Brook Falls are the primary attractions. Sanderson Brook feeds into the Westfield River and is popular with hikers, people walking dogs, and as a picnic destination.

early to make sure you have a spot big enough to accommodate your trailer, and to begin your ride before the other trail users arrive — it gets quite busy from late morning to midafternoon.

Even though they’re prohibited, I ran into some all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes, but at least they were traveling slowly. More important, be aware that there are bears, as this is rural area: Warn them of your presence by talking to your horse or a fellow rider. Pack bug spray for horses and humans, and apply it before you leave the parking lot.

Most of the hiking trails aren’t appropriate for horses. For example, the one down to the base of Sanderson Brook Falls, which is narrow, has roots and drop-offs on the side. But the best way to see the falls is from the forest road that equestrians ride. The H. Newman Marsh Trail, for hikers and

From the parking lot, take Sanderson Brook Road to the falls (about a mile away), which are marked with a star on the trail map. As you ride, the brook will be on your right.

There are three bridges across the brook. The first is solid metal, so there’s no problem because a horse won’t see the water below it. The second and third, though, are made with open metal grates, which will make some horses nervous because they can see the water beneath them. Take notice of your horse’s shoes on the metal grates, especially that initial step from the road: be careful that a shoe doesn’t catch.

The second bridge currently has no railings. Because this is the first of the metal-grate type, dismount and lead your horse over it. The third bridge has railings, but do exercise the same caution.

The trail up to Sanderson Brook Falls is peaceful, despite a steep hill on one side and then another big hill across the brook. As I rode, chipmunks were scurrying around hiding acorns for winter, and the variety of flora created luxurious habitat for many other species of wildlife.

To expand your ride, go on past Sanderson Brook Falls and make a loop using one of the other forest roads for the return to Sanderson Brook Road.

Continue on Sanderson Brook Road until you reach a fork. There, veer left onto Beulah Land Road and take this until you come to another fork. Here, continue on Beulah Land until you reach a fork on your right; at that point, take the Dynamite Box Trail, which heads north. Dynamite Box reconnects with Sanderson Brook Road, and you’ll follow it down past the falls and to the parking lot.

This winter was tough and quite a few trees came down and blocked some paths. Although the DCR is removing them, this takes time. If you come to an area with a fallen tree, dismount and lead your horse around it; otherwise, you risk injury from attempting to step over branches and coping with low overhead clearance.

Happy trails.

Stacey Stearns is a lifelong equine enthusiast from Connecticut who enjoys competitive trail riding with her gelding and learning the ins and outs of dressage with her mare. When not in the barn, she reads and writes about horses.

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Dealer

Dealer Massachusetts Horse

29

Overherd Sadly, Paul RickenbachMoshimer, of Palmer, passed away on May 28. Paul was the codirector of Blue Star Equiculture. He and his wife, Pamela, worked side by side to provide a sanctuary for retired and homeless working horses. Paul was from Kennebunkport, Maine, where he was a fire chief and first responder for more than 35 years. He came to Blue Star in 2010 with a lifelong love of animals, soon became a licensed teamster, and was named operations manager, to oversee the day-to-day maintenance of the farm, horses, and equipment. He believed deeply in Blue Star Equiculture’s philosophy that in a new partnership with horses, we can all make a significant, sustainable impact for young people and the environment. He will be sorely missed by Pamela, his two daughters, Rose and Elsie, many friends, and the entire Blue Star Equiculture community. Contributions can be made in his memory to Blue Star Equiculture; visit www.equiculture.org to make a donation.

n Alessandra Mele

Staff Changes at SRH Veterinary Services SRH Veterinary Services, based in Rowley, announced in July that Dr. Ashley Taylor would be leaving that month for a position with Sports Medicine Associates of Chester County, in Pennsylvania. There, as an associate veterinarian, Ashley will be working with Dr. Kevin Keane, whom she considers a professional idol.

Ashley, a Massachusetts native, grew up in Topsfield and returned to the area to work with SRH after finishing veterinary school.

“Growing up in the horse 30

August/September 2015

community on the North Shore, I’ve always looked up to (and still do) the veterinarians at SRH,” says Ashley.

“They’ve been an integral part of my interest in veterinary medicine.” Ashley is a horse owner herself and competes in eventing.

In the wake of her

tion to round out the event.

Tickets — $99 per person — are available only in advance.

To purchase tickets, and to learn more, visit www.citytosaddle.org.

City to Saddle is a nonprofit organization committed to providing a diverse population of disadvantaged,

Howard Schatzberg

Paul RickenbachMoshimer Passes

News in Our Community

Kasey Saccocia, a member of the gold medal–winning team at the 2015 U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational. Here she’s riding Almost Famous.

departure, SRH is pleased to welcome Dr. A. Rachel Roemer to its team. Hailing from Bolton, Rachel has specific interests in equine sports medicine and lameness and is a certified veterinary acupuncturist. She, too, is an equestrian herself, with experience in the hunter/ jumper rings.

n Abigail Powell

City to Saddle’s Farm to Table Dinner City to Saddle will raise funds through a Farm to Table Dinner, which will start at 3 p.m. September 27 at Mesa Farm, Rutland. B.T.’s Smokehouse, with 100 percent of the ingredients sourced by Lettuce Be Local’s network of area farms, is presenting the dinner, with a beer and wine tasting accompanying each of the three courses. There’ll be farm-inspired hors d’oeuvres, an art show featuring local artists, and a silent auc-

underserved children with access to horsemanship programs.

n Karen Morang

Sleepy Hollow Farm Welcomes Friesian Filly In June, Sleepy Hollow Farm, in Dartmouth, welcomed its newest Friesian filly, Yardley SHF (Tjalbert 460 x Warn 335). “Momma Madison took her time, teasing everyone with signs that the arrival of Miss Yardley was imminent,” says owner Meghan Hamilton. “Once schedules were properly upended and she was sure she had everyone’s attention, it was a quick, easy delivery. Yardley’s bold and endlessly inquisitive, with an easygoing temperament. For two solid weeks, she operated at only walk and canter, tearing around the stall, paddock, and yard. She finally figured out that trotting thing and showed off a lovely, floaty trot that we expect will take

her far. Now, when Madison is schooled in the newly expanded arena, a little black shadow is right there by her side.”

n Laura Solod

Kasey Saccocia Wins Gold Kasey Saccocia, of Halifax, was a member of the gold medal–winning team at the 2015 U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational, held June 24–27 at Cascade Stables, New Orleans. The United States repeated its 2013 performance by sweeping the top podium positions. The team took home gold in both the Three-Gaited and FiveGaited sections and won the Individual Competition in both sections.

During the regular season, Kasey shows her Morgan mare, Almost Famous, under the direction of David and Kristen Cater, of Cater Stables in Dunbarton, New Hampshire.

n Suzy Lucine

Versatile Horse and Rider Competition The Versatile Horse and Rider Competition (VHRC) returns to Equine Affaire at the Eastern States Exposition, in West Springfield, on Thursday, November 12, and Friday, November 13. A select group of riders and horses will compete for $5,500 in cash and other prizes and the coveted championship title.

The VHRC is a timed and judged race through an obstacle course created to test communication between horse and rider as well as each competitor’s horsemanship skills and athletic prowess. The qualifying rounds takes place on Thursday morning; the top 10 horse-and-rider teams will advance to the finals on Friday afternoon.

“The Versatile Horse and

details and an entry form, visit www.equineaffaire.com, click on the Massachusetts event, and follow the link to the VHRC page. You may also contact Kristen Gump, at kgump@equineaffaire .com or by calling (740) 8450085, ext. 104. The entry fee is $350 and includes a fourday ticket to Equine Affaire and stabling Wednesday through Friday nights.

Individual riders may com-

Barry, a developer and president of the Amherst Business Improvement District, often gives wagon rides with Mags and Bruno at local events.

n Alessandra Mele

Pipestave Hill Summer Horse Trials The West Newbury Riding and Driving Club hosted its first of two horse trials of the season on July 12 at Pipestave

Howard Schatzberg

Rider Competition is a true test of horsemanship for those who are willing to put their riding skills on the line — and a whole lot of fun for horse people in the audience who mentally work through the course with each team — thinking about the best approach to an obstacle and empathizing with the contestants as their horses succeed at some obstacles and fall short at others,” says Eugenia Snyder, Equine Affaire founder. “The VHRC is not only an exciting competition to watch, but it also has a strong educational element. You get to watch great horses and talented riders tackle real riding challenges, and you inevitably learn a lot simply by observing different approaches to the same obstacles and the horsemanship skills of dozens of outstanding riders,” she says.

The VHRC course will feature a combination of some traditional as well as highly unusual obstacles and riding challenges such as jumping over or through items, backing through a pattern, pole bending and/or roll-backs, gymkhana games, working gates, flexing, working on the diagonal, lead and gait changes, and riding over or through difficult/ spooky objects. “Our production team tries to develop unique and difficult obstacles that will test a broad range of horsemanship skills,” Eugenia says. “The race is pretty amazing to watch because no two runs are alike and some of the obstacles are pretty difficult.”

The VHRC is open to all riders age 18 years and older and horses of all breeds and disciplines. All horse-andrider teams will compete against each other; there will be no divisions based on gender or age. A maximum of 30 horse/rider teams will be preselected to participate based on application materials.

Are you and your horse up to the challenge? For

Harry Sebring, of Sebring Stables in Richmond, passed away recently.

pete with more than one horse, but each requires a separate application, video, and fee. Applications and support materials will be accepted through September 11 and will be reviewed by the management of Equine Affaire, who will select the final contestants.

Notifications will go out by October 1.

Barry Roberts and Shires Cast in Upcoming Film Barry Roberts, owner of Muddy Brook Farm in Amherst, will drive a horsedrawn hearse and carriage in the film The Quiet Passion, which is about Emily Dickinson. Part of the movie was shot in Amherst, where the poet lived. Barry and his team of Shires, Mags and Bruno, will drive the hearse for the funeral of Emily’s father, Edward Dickinson.

Barry was in period costume, top hat and all, as he drove through Wildwood Cemetery.

Hill. The popular schooling event offers Grasshopper through Modified Novice three-phases and two-phases, as well as dressage-only classes. This year the event also introduced a Western Dressage division, to great success.

This WNRDC welcomes a new volunteer coordinator, Michele Doucette. July’s horse trials were Michele’s first event in her new position and, she says, the first time she immersed herself in the event preparations. As a result, she says, she has “a whole new level of respect for the folks who pull it off time after time.”

The event drew a nice attendance: 70 entries despite the scorching weather. “The biggest challenge was the heat,” says Michele, “and also keeping the volunteers smiling despite the temperature. We have a lot of multitalented folks who are willing to do just about anything that

needs doing.” She says the day went remarkably well: no falls on cross-country, no loose-horse incidents!

The second Pipestave Hill Horse Trials will take place on October 11.

n Abigail Powell

Harry M. Sebring Harry Mark Sebring, of Sebring Stables in Richmond, passed away on June 20 after a long battle with cancer.

Born in Leighton, Pennsylvania, in 1951, Harry graduated from Leighton High School and Penn State University. He established a Morgan training stable in 1980 and began training show horses with an employee named Carolyn. In 1983, Harry and Carolyn married, and they continued a successful business throughout their lives together.

A professional horseman for almost 40 years, Harry was highly respected by the Morgan community. No one can dispute that Harry defined professionalism, service, and volunteerism within the Morgan industry, and that he did everything in his own inimitable style.

Harry showed or coached countless regional, national, and world champions, among them R Bar B Lord Spence, Rapidan Georgian, Icestone Allegra, Savage Arms, Millbrook Spellcaster, CEN Can’t Touch This, Indian Creek American Girl, NDT French Impressionist, CBMF Restless, and CBMF Crown Prince.

He was a proud member of the American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA), for which he served as a board member for many years and association president for two terms. He was an AMHA director at large and served as chairman of the AMHA Judging Standards Committee and of the USEF Morgan Massachusetts Horse

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August/September 2015

Maplewood Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201.

n Suzy Lucine

Hillside Meadows Wins Big at IEA Western Finals The Interscholastic Equestrian Association’s Western Finals were held June 25 and 26 at the Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.

Representing zone 1, the Grafton’s Hillside Meadows

in the Future Beginner Horsemanship team class and Nicole Pietro, of Sutton, was fourth in the Future Novice Horsemanship team class.

Nicole Pietro also took fourth in the Horsemen’s Knowledge Test, presented by the United States Pony Clubs. This test promotes horsemanship among IEA athletes and is intended to complement the IEA’s mis-

courtesy of Hillside Meadows

Committee, and administrator for the judges schools, and was a member of the AMHA Professional Committee. He was a United Professional Horsemen’s Association chapter chairman and chair of the UPHA Morgan Committee. He was a registered Morgan judge and judged most of the major shows all across the country.

In 2008, Harry received the USEF Pegasus Award and the Bill Robinson Harness Trophy for outstanding achievement in the harness arena. In 2013, the UPHA honored him with the Richard E. Lavery Professional Horseman’s Award, in recognition of his abilities and sportsmanlike conduct, attitude, and assistance to his fellow horsemen.

In February, he was inducted into the AMHA Hall of Fame.

One of Harry’s passions was rock music. Combining the talents of other horsemen and friends in the Morgan community, he formed Harry and the Lashwhips, and the band made its debut at the 1996 Morgan Grand National.

The Lashwhips played at other shows and AMHA conventions for many years, picking up new musicians and backup singers along the way.

Harry is survived by his wife, Carolyn; three children, James, Jessica, and Sara; his sister, Laura Carr; and a loving extended family.

A celebration of his life and memorial service was held at Sebring Stables in July. A scholarship fund in Harry’s name is being established to benefit young Morgan horse enthusiasts. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the American Morgan Horse Educational Charitable Trust or the BMC Cancer Center Fund, both in care of the DevannyCondron Funeral Home, 40

The Hillside Meadows western Interscholastic Equestrian Team team won fifth place overall at the IEA Western Finals in June.

team brought home two national championships as well as many top tens, and was the overall fifth-place team.

Izzy Shakespeare, of Southborough, won the Future Beginner Horsemanship individual national championship and Madison Olvert, of North Grafton, won the Future Intermediate Horsemanship team national championship.

Individual winners from the Bay State were Jordyn Danielle Clark, of Winchendon, who placed seventh in Open Reining; Jamie Boyer, of Westborough, who came in fourth in Varsity Intermediate Horsemanship; Paige Nyren, of North Grafton, who took seventh in Future Beginner Horsemanship; and Grace Markowski, of Grafton, who was the sixthplace winner in Junior Varsity Novice Horsemanship.

Lauren Airey, of Grafton, took seventh place

sion to educate young riders in all areas of equestrian studies, with a focus on the belief that horsemanship always comes first.

The Hillside Meadows IEA team is accepting new riders for the 2015–16 season. IEA is a great opportunity for middle and high school students to ride and show inexpensively. There are weekly practices and five shows per season. Interested?

Contact Coach Amber Woodruff, at amberjwooduff@gmail.com or (774) 413-0441.

New North Quabbin Map The North Quabbin Trail Association has a new Birch Hill Dam/Lake Dennison Trail Map and Guide, which was made possible by the Department of Conservation and Recreation Trail Grant program.

The map shows you where you can park your trailer, all the numbered

gates, and mileage between trails/roads, along with a smattering of directions, history, and pictures. A map is $8; to order one, visit www.NQTA.org.

n Becky Kalagher

Bonnie Lea Farm Voted Best in the Berkshires DeMayo’s Bonnie Lea Farm, in Williamstown, was recently named to the “Best of the Berkshires” list by the Berkshire Eagle. The annual Readers’ Choice Awards recognizes favorite businesses and organizations in Berkshire County, and Bonnie Lea Farm was voted the best location for horseback riding. DeMayo’s Bonnie Lea Farm, family owned and -operated since 1991, offers lessons, training, boarding, and summer programs, as well as guided trail rides through the wooded beauty of the Berkshires.

n Alessandra Mele

Cancer Retreats at Ironstone Farm No horse experience is necessary! On September 13 Ironstone Farm, in Andover, is holding a free EquineAssisted Retreat for adults with cancer and adult cancer survivors.

Equine-Assisted Retreats focus on discovering the powerful relationship between horse and human to build a renewed sense of self, to increase confidence, as a reminder of one’s own strength, and to overcome fears and insecurities.

The retreat is primarily an unmounted program consisting of various exercises.

Even with mounted exercises, an unmounted option is always available for those not interested in horses or who are unable to sit astride a horse.

The retreats are limited to 12 participants.

Registration is required; we can mail or email you a form for an upcoming retreat.

n Holly Jacobson

Landau Veterinary Services Kevin Landau, DVM, owner of Landau Veterinary, has had a busy season. “I learned a whole new acupuncture approach to identify underlying weakness in my patients via pulse and a single-needle technique to fix the imbalance,” he says. “I’ve witnessed impressive results in all my patients, especially ones who are struggling with cancer. Even horses with lameness issues are having a great response with this technique.”

He learned this approach from Are Thoresen, a pioneer in veterinary acupuncture.

Blues Abound at Devon The 119th Annual Devon Horse Show and Country Fair took place May 21 to 31 in Devon, Pennsylvania.

Exhibitors came from all over the United States and Canada and from as far away as Sweden and Guatemala.

Some 1,300 horses and ponies took part in the 11day event.

Taunton residents Lynda and Rachel St. Andre competed under the direction of Luman Wadhams, of Luman Wadhams Stable. Rachel rode Bewitched By Charm to the Reserve Amateur FiveGaited Championship and this duo was second in its qualifying class. Rachel’s mother, Lynda, won the Country Pleasure Driving qualifying class and was reserve champion in the division driving Attaches Chocolate Thunder.

Also showing under the Luman Wadhams Stable banner was Chloe Deeb, who rode her mare, Annies

Perfect Design, to top honors in the Junior Exhibitor Show Pleasure division. They won both the qualifier and the championship.

Darla Wright and Deidre Henry, of High Tail Acres in Newbury, say there were very pleased with the success of their show string, especially because all seven horses and their riders were showing for their first time at this event.

Darla showed Full Throttle

do with the Saddlebred and Hackney breeds. Both Janet and Danny joined a handful of volunteers to give “Behind the Scenes” tours of the show grounds for the public. “The tours were fun and I’d do them again,” Danny says.

“Some of the people were surprised to see a teenager showing them around and answering their questions.”

For the fifth time, Rodney drove The

Doug Shiflet

August 31 is the deadline to register for the September 13 retreat.

To learn more, call Ironstone Farm, at (978)475-4056, or email Carolyn Burt, at carolynburt@challengeunlimited.org.

Danny Hicks, of Rodney Hicks Stable in Pittsfield, won the Road Pony Championship driving Jackie O in the Dixon Oval.

H.S. to the reserve Friesian English Pleasure Championship. Owned by Bonnie and Joe Carson, this six-year-old black gelding was also reserve in the qualifying class. Southern Tango and Isabel Soule won both the qualifier and championship in the Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited division. Tenyear-old chestnut gelding Daybreak’s Time Flies and Audrey Griffin were second in the Junior Exhibitor Show Pleasure qualifying class.

Beatrix Jordan and her chestnut mare, Tornaado’s Fiz, were second in the Junior Exhibitor Country Pleasure qualifying class.

Rodney, Janet, and Danny Hicks, of Rodney Hicks Stable in Pittsfield, brought 10 ponies and one horse. They say they had a really great show, and Janet was active with everything to

Spiderman to top honors in his qualifying class and to the win in the Hackney Pony Championship. Ed Ochsenschlager owns the ten-year-old black stallion.

Ed’s chestnut Heartland Good Bye also won his qualifier and the Hackney Horse Championship with Rodney.

Driving David and Kristen Cater’s five-year-old bay mare, Mi Mi, Rodney won the qualifying class and the Harness Pony Championship and drove Showstar’s Queen LF to the blue ribbon in the Limit Road Pony class. Carol Rodman owns this bay mare.

Danny Hicks won the qualifying class and Amateur Road Pony Championship with Jackie O. His mother, Janet Crawford Hicks, owns the nine-year-old bay mare.

“I like showing at Devon in front of the crowds,” Danny says. “The spectators

get behind the ponies. I had fun showing Jackie O in the Dixon Oval for the first time because the footing is so great. The size of the ring lets a road pony show speed.

With Jackie, I have to concentrate on keeping her head set and being aggressive. And, yes, there’s more pressure going back into the championship class after you’ve won the qualifier.”

Also showing under Rodney’s direction, Kathy Comeau drove her bay gelding, X Tremely Grand, to the qualifying and Amateur Hackney Pony Championship. Entries from Rodney Hicks Stable dominated the Hackney Pleasure Pony Driving division. Four Point O and owner Kim Swartz won the Hackney Pleasure Pony qualifying class and finished the show as the reserve Hackney Pleasure Driving Pony Championship. And CB Party Girl was reserve in the qualifying class and won the Hackney Pleasure Pony Driving Championship.

Owner Maureen Quackenbush drove the bay mare. For the second year in a row, The Perfectionist and owner/driver Marjorie Kenney were the Reserve Amateur Harness Pony Champions. They were also reserve in the qualifying class. Joe Harrod showed a horse owned by his mother, Susanne: Heartland River Dance won the qualifying class and the Open Road Pony Championship. Driving Mastercrafts Lilli LF, Donna was reserve to Joe Harrod in both classes.

n Suzy Lucine

LHOA Benefit Pleasure Ride The Build a School in Africa Project, in partnership with the Littleton Horse Owners Association, has scheduled its annual Build a School Benefit Pleasure Ride for Sunday, August 23. Based at Willow Brook Farm, in Massachusetts Horse

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Groton, the ride is offering loops of approximately 7, 14, and 20 miles through Groton’s beautiful conservation trails. Much of the course follows the scenic Nashua River. The entry fee includes a continental breakfast, a snack on the trail, and, following the ride, a fourcourse home-cooked African buffet with dishes from Morocco, Senegal, Tanzania, and Kenya.

Two-thirds of the ride proceeds will help build our 15th school, this one in the village of Tiogola, in the Sikasso region of southern Mali. Build a School in Africa is an all-volunteer, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. For more information and an entry form, please contact Judy, at (978) 433-2384 or jmlorimer@verizon.net.

manship and horse-training topics are Julie Goodnight, Dan James, Ken McNabb, Kerry Kuhn, Chris Irwin, and Warwick Schiller. Some of those whose clinics will focus on specific disciplines are Phillip Dutton (eventing), Michael Barisone and Lendon Gray (dressage), Doug Milholland (reining), Bernie Traurig (hunters/ jumpers), Sharon Camarillo (barrel racing), Anita Howe (easy-gaited horses), Susan

through I/P divisions, June 26 and 27. This popular event usually sticks to tradition and follows the threeday eventing format; things went a little differently, however, when the forecast for Sunday, stadium jumping day, warned of bad weather.

Shortly after the first horse left the start box on Saturday, the forecast was for conditions too potentially treacherous to ignore.

“The forecast was for a

Ride With the Best Would you like to receive individual instruction from a leading coach, trainer, or competitor in your discipline? Equine Affaire, November 12–15 in West Springfield, is offering just that for an affordable clinic fee that includes admission and stabling.

Through the Ride With the Best program, selected riders and horses will have the opportunity to receive individual instruction and training from nationally recognized professionals to whom access may be costprohibitive or otherwise unavailable.

The majority of clinicians featured at Equine Affaire will be participating in Ride With the Best and accepting horses and riders for their clinic sessions.

Some are looking for riders and horses with specific skills, problems, or goals; others are looking for any riders interested in improving their relationship with their horses.

Among those conducting clinics on general horse34

August/September 2015

Abigail Powell

n Judy Lorimer

Babette Lenna and Marketscan at the Groton House Farm Horse Trials in South Hamilton.

Harris (Centered Riding® and the Visible Horse), T. R. Potts (western pleasure, trail, and hunter under saddle), and Paul Maye (driving).

The fees for clinics range from $75 to $200 and cover clinic participation, event admission, and stabling. Clinicians will select the participants for their sessions from written applications and videos submitted to Equine Affaire. Clinic details and an application are available at www.equineaffaire .com.You may also request Ride With the Best information by contacting Kristen Gump at kgump@equineaffaire.com or by calling (740) 845-0085, ext. 104. The clinic application deadline is September 11.

Groton House Pulls Off Impromptu Two-day Event Groton House Farm, in South Hamilton, hosted its annual Horse Trials, Novice

hundred percent chance of heavy rain all day and twentyfive- to forty-mile-per-hour winds,” says Ann Getchell, owner of Groton House and organizer of the trials. “The track would have been dangerous, not to mention that the footing would have been destroyed. Trailers would be stuck in the stabling and parking areas. The choice was either cancel Sunday, in which case competitors wouldn’t have completions, or attempt to get it all done Saturday.”

When she first heard that the ground jury was considering trying to run stadium jumping on Saturday, Ann says, “I didn’t believe it could be done. However, everyone who’d be involved — scheduler, secretary, scoring, stadium jumping chairman, and crew — was game and wanted to give it a try, so we decided to give it a go.”

Stadium jumping would take

place concurrently with cross-country.

Word of the schedule change was quickly dispersed via the public address system, flyers in the stables, emails, phone calls, text messages, and social media.

Babette Lenna, head trainer at Gathering Farm in South Hamilton, who trucked in 15 horses, had plenty to do between coaching her students and riding her own two horses. “It was a tight timetable but we got it done,” she says. “I can’t thank the organizers at Groton House enough for what they pulled off.

Throughout the day they kept everyone up to date as much as they could, and that’s a huge thing too.”

The next day, the sponsors and patrons tent collapsed under the heavy rain and wind. “Waking up Sunday morning all I could think was ‘Thank goodness they made the decision they made,’” says Babette. “It was a split-second decision that saved the horses, the riders, the grounds, the spectators, the grooms, the sponsors, the parents, the volunteers, and everyone else. The decision was brilliant.”

“We have fantastic experienced and dedicated volunteers who are ready to take on any challenge,” says Ann. “The officials were great, and everyone pulled together to get it done. It was a good decision, and [to avoid the storm] almost everyone got on the road Saturday evening” — she laughs — “after the competitors party.”

n Abigail Powell

Horse-Power Dressage Shows and Horse Trials Canceled The balance of the HorsePower Dressage Shows and Horse-Power Horse Trials, held at Wild Aire Farm in Southbridge, have been canceled. The Horse-Power Hunter Jumper Series will continue throughout the sea-

son. Owners Jay and Nancy Digregorio have purchased a new farm in Aiken, South Carolina. “Selling Wild Aire will take some time,” says Nancy. “It hasn’t been an easy decision and Jay and I will miss everyone greatly.”

The dressage shows and horse trials are canceled, she says, because “both Jay and I underestimated how much time and energy it’s taking to prep the farm for selling. We don’t want to run shows that aren’t great, so we have to cut back somewhere.”

almost a year. When he was passed over by prospective adopters because of his age, he fell into the TLC Foster category.

“Jamaal is full of life and vigor, but he was also great letting our camp kids groom and lead him,” says Melissa Ghareeb, manager of the Equine and Farm Animal Center. “We’d still like to find him a permanent home, but fostering is a crucial short-term part of our program, as it frees up stalls and

70 to 80 horses each year.

“We got hit hard this spring with horse surrenders after the tough winter,” says Melissa. “Many retired or backyard horses belonging to older owners need homes.

We have some great horses here. I hope people will stop by to see what’s available.”

Foster families must supply references, and a home check is required. Nevins provides medical care and farrier care; foster homes are responsible for housing, hay,

One horse at a time, Nevins Farm hopes to find a good situation for equines surrendered to its care. Fostering for training young or uneducated horses, abused horses, or those with rehab/medical care is vital to help free up resources and improve future placements, but sometimes an older horse fits that scenario too.

In late July, Eileen McAllister, of Manchester, stepped up to foster Jamaal, a 27-years-young Morab gelding who will live for now at End of the Road Farm, in Ipswich. Eileen missed having an equine to dote on after saying good-bye to Larkin, a beloved Thoroughbred gentleman she half-leased from owner Lynnann Hagar, of Essex.

Eileen has been involved with racehorses but has also owned her own Arabian for 20 years. She’s enjoyed trail riding and the breed’s personality, endurance, and brains. “They’re smart, fun horses,” she says. “Even at twenty-seven, Jamaal is ready and eager to go under saddle.” His unique coloring was the bonus: chocolate palomino with flaxen mane and tail. “No secret, I love chocolate,” she says, laughing.

Jamaal, whose previous owners were an older couple who were moving across the country, was at Nevin’s for

courtesy of MSPCA Nevins Farm

Jamaal: A Nevins Farm Foster

n Becky Kalagher

Jamaal.

workers to help with incoming cases. It also gives the animals attention and exercise, and we can honestly evaluate how they behave in another setting.”

Eileen has no qualms about fostering Jamaal: she says she appreciates the chance to care for and get to know a new equine friend.

Nevins currently has 20 horses in foster care and 24 on the Methuen property. As an open-admission facility, it doesn’t turn away any horse, but staff try very hard to assist owners to keep their horses or find alternate placements. Nevins takes in

for residents and $10 for nonresidents. For all the park fees, visit www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/massparks/passesand-fees/parking-fees.html.

An increase in fees for the annual MassParks Pass brings the cost to $60 for residents and $85 for nonresidents. The charge for adding a second vehicle to an annual pass is now $25.

The revenue raised by the increased fees will be used by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to address critical staffing and infrastructure needs across the state park system. The DCR has been sensitive to the economy and has not increased its day-use fees statewide since 2004.

Some parks will charge a parking fee for your truck and trailer when you go riding. For example, at Lake Dennison, if you go in through the main gate to park on New Boston Road or in one of the other, smaller parking areas, you’ll have to pay to park. If you visit often, get an annual pass — it’ll be good at all state forests and parks. At Dennison, the other option is to park at the River Road Trail Head by Birch Hill Dam, but this puts you at the other end of the park area.

feed, shavings, and general care on a day-to-day basis. To learn more about Nevins Farm and fostering, please visit www.mspca.org/adoption/methuen-nevins.

n Holly Jacobson

DCR Park Fees In January, the state modified certain day-use parking fees, such as an increase in those at parks and beaches.

In addition, the day-use parking fee for vehicles with outof-state license plates is now slightly higher than it is for cars with Massachusetts plates. For the most part, the price on a day-use pass is $8

Overherdisms • “They didn’t think I would wear my spurs to school, but I showed them!”

• “The ring is smaller than I remember.”

• “Rule number one: Do not run over the judge.”

• “I won’t be in time for my trail class . . . I’ll be getting a tattoo.”

Massachusetts Horse

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Partners Village Dam has to offer — Becky and Karen came up with a different six-mile course for us this year.

Hodges boasts some of the best scenery you’ll see while riding in parks in this area.

With the French River running through it, there are beautiful water views with an assortment of waterfowl, wildflowers, songbirds, and

BSTRA’s 23rd National Trails Day Fund-Raiser Ride couldn’t have been better — fabulous weather, beautiful trails throughout Hodges Village Dam, and a strong equestrian turnout.

Thanks to the many sponsors and participants who supported our event, it was a tremendous success: we raised more than $13,500 to pay for the required 50 percent match ($13,404) for the grant we were awarded by the Blackstone River Valley Heritage Corridor. The grant is for our trail project on the Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT) in Uxbridge and Douglas and Ridge Trail in the Douglas State Forest. Total cost for this project is $26,800. Much appreciation goes to all who contributed. Volunteers deserving a round of applause are Becky Kalagher, Karen Parlin, Donna Johnson, Suzanne Nicholas, Rita Cardinal, Sue Quirk, Dan Salvucci, Julia Taddei, Joan Lowbridge-Sisley, Ann Sellew, Leah Kennedy, Agnita Knott, Rose Zariczny, and Lynn Paresky.

Participants who made the effort to collect sponsor donations on their riding papers brought in a total of $9,275, which made up a large part of the money raised by the event. Top participants, who each received a wonderful prize pack, were Lynn Paresky, Becky Kalagher, Donna Johnson, Kathy Sugrue-Richards, Julia Taddei, Rose Zariczny, Christopher Podles, Anna Marie Paul, Rita Cardinal, Tristen Weeks, and Sandy Wedge. Congratulations to all of you for a job well done!

Riders had a chance to see a few of the trails Hodges 36

August/September 2015

Colonial Carriage and Driving Society The Colonial Carriage and Driving Society’s 17th Annual Pleasure Driving Show took place 12–14 in Stockbridge. The show, at Orleton Farm, is indeed a special event. On the first day it’s dressage and timed obstacles; a two-day pleasuredriving show follows. This

© Shoot That Horse Photography

BSTRA National Trails Day Fund-Raiser

Jen Wood, of Hubbardston, and Back of the Moon’s Sophie won the Very Small Equine Fault and Out class at the June Colonial Carriage and Driving Society’s Pleasure Driving Show at Orleton Farm, Stockbridge.

other wildlife. Becky and Karen experienced a little excitement when the resident beavers began slapping their tails against the water; their horses didn’t know what to make of that. Deer were seen eating vegetation trailside and even a fisher cat was spotted near the river.

We hope everyone who was part of this National Trails Day had a wonderful time riding and socializing with friends old and new. It was nice to see people from other riding organizations joining us for this celebration of trails. Participating were the Granby Regional Horse Council, the Belchertown Horse Organization, the Arabian Horse Club of Massachusetts, and Cross State.

7 Lynn Paresky

year’s show attracted more than 70 turnouts to compete.

On Friday morning, three rings were set up for dressage tests. The judges, Mickie Bowen, Susan Koso, and Marsha Himler, kept everything moving along and 60 dressage tests were finished by lunchtime.

After the lunch break, it was derby obstacles in the main ring. The Super Derby was a new choice for drivers this year: after dressage and cones in the morning, you could join the afternoon group for a run at the hazards — a combination of cone sets and hazard obstacles to be maneuvered in a certain order, determined by your division. It was exciting to watch the upper levels, as they got to gallop in the hazards. The dust and rooster tails made by the carriages

had the crowd whistling and shouting encouragement.

Saturday and Sunday were for pleasure driving.

The three Junior to Drive entries did a wonderful job.

We look forward to seeing them progress.

The Anne Bliss Memorial Trophy, presented to the entry the judges felt exemplified Anne’s sense of style, went to Kelly Casella, of Agawam, driving the Waller family’s pair, Bizet and Pharaoh, to a Brewster spider phaeton.

The CCDS would like to thank all competitors, sponsors, and spectators for their support — without you, there’s no show. Make plans to attend next year’s show for a wonderful weekend in the Berkshires.

Please join us for the Lenox Tub Parade, on Saturday, September 12.

To learn more about upcoming events, visit www.colonialcarriage.org.

7 Lisa Cenis

Granby Regional Horse Council The Granby Regional Horse Council has not yet rescheduled its annual June horse show, which was canceled because of inclement weather. Please check the GRHC’s Facebook page for updates.

The club’s next event is the super-fun Poker Ride at Dufresne Park, in Granby, on September 13. Ribbons and prizes go to the best hands.

For details or to volunteer, call Diane, at (413) 527-9532, or email grhc@charter.net.

On September 19, the GRHC will participate in the Belchertown Fair Parade, and we invite all members to join in. Whether you’d like to walk or ride, we’d love to see you. Jose is looking for riders and their horses for

from the club grounds to the DAR State Forest in Goshen for a trail lunch and views from the fire tower. Guest fee is $10. For the Full Moon and DAR rides, contact Diane, at (413) 268-3372 or dianemerritt67@gmail.com.

A second weekend of camping and trail riding at the Wagon Wheel Campground, in Warwick, is scheduled for September 11– 13. Old and new members and guests, riders and non-

the evening demonstration on the common. Please contact him at (413) 323-4792.

(To participate in the parade or the demonstration, you must be a GRHC member to fulfill our insurance requirements.) Visit our website, www.granbyreionalhorse.org, to learn more about us and for up-to-date news.

7 Jennifer Moreau

Join us at HCRC club grounds, in Goshen, on Saturday, August 15, for our first Woodland Obstacle Course Challenge and Gambler’s Choice Competition. We’ve set up more than 20 obstacles on wooded trails throughout the property. There will be five divisions: Lead Line (ages 12 and under), In-Hand, Green Horse/Novice Rider, Junior (ages 17 and under), and Adult (ages 18 and over).

The Gambler’s Choice Competition — consisting of multiple obstacles for riders/handlers to choose from, with a number of points per obstacle depending on difficulty —will take place in one of the rings. To learn more, visit www.hampshirecountyridingclub.org or our Facebook page.

Three trail rides (free for club members) are scheduled during August and September. Do bring snacks to share following the rides. On August 9, Pinnie Sears will lead us through the Montague Plains. Guest fee is $10. Contact Pinnie at (413) 367-9746 or pinniesears@rocketmail.com.

For the annual Full Moon Ride, on August 29, we’ll ride through the farm fields and along the Connecticut River in the Northampton Meadows. This ride begins at 7 p.m. with a campfire cookout. The charge for guests is $15 [for the barbecue]. On September 27, we’ll ride

Lise Krieger

Hampshire County Riding Club

them with the Fairly Hunted Award. This honor was established by the Masters of Fox Hounds Association (MFHA) to “acknowledge children under age 18 who participate in foxhunts.” Each year it goes to “any young person who hunts five times that season and is so acknowledged by a master.” Recipients get a commemorative pin, a certificate, and a one-year subscription to Covertside, the mounted-foxhunting maga-

On Saturday, August 15, join the Hampshire County Riding Club for its first annual Woodland Obstacle Course Challenge and Gambler’s Choice Competition, in Goshen. With more than 20 obstacles on wooded trails throughout the property and multiple obstacles in one of the riding rings, there is something for everyone to try under saddle and in hand.

riders are invited for a great time! To reserve, contact Wagon Wheel Campground, at (978) 544-8120, and RSVP to our activities committee chair, Lise, at (203) 6852308.

Watch for information about our Scavenger Hunt and Woodland Obstacle Challenge on October 17 at the club grounds.

For news about our club, membership, and upcoming events, visit www.hampshirecountyridingclub.org and like us on Facebook.

7 Diane Merritt

zine. Says past MFHA president Ed Kelly: “This is the future of our sport and we’re excited to honor any young person who participates at least five times.”

Junior riders have long held a valued place with the Myopia Hunt Club. They will be the guardians of our open spaces; and with increasing

development pressure, instilling a love of cross-country riding and open trails for all to enjoy has never been more important.

Myopia makes a strong junior program a top priority. We host special Junior Hunts featuring the junior field (enjoyed by adult riders as well — but tagging along far behind!), such as an annual Halloween hunt, with costumes encouraged for juniors, masters, and hunt staff alike, and the Junior Opening Meet. We want to encourage all adequately prepared juniors to try the sport. Junior hunt days are slower, and often a junior rider is appointed field master for the day.

Although we appreciate correct attire, we realize that not all juniors start hunting equipped with all of the appointments required for adults. However, a neat and safe turn-out with heeled boots and a safety helmet are mandatory. To learn more, visit www.myopiahunt.org or contact Lisa, at eatonlisa@comcast.net.

We hope your junior rider will try foxhunting with the Myopia Hunt!

7 Lisa Wohlleib

New England Equestrian Center of Athol Members and friends of NEECA have been having an active summer, with the Equestrian Showcase, gymkhanas, and the annual

Myopia Hunt Club Twenty-three junior subscribers participated in last year’s Myopia Hunt Club season. This year, at our Spring Hunt Dinner, we were thrilled to present 17 of Massachusetts Horse

37

classes riding, driving, and in hand, as well as a costume class and the traditional coon jumping competition.

Coon jumping, which grew out of riders’ need to get over walls and fences while

Myopia Hunt Club junior riders at the 2014 Blessing of the Hounds.

hunting raccoons at night, asks mules and donkeys to jump an increasingly raised bar, in hand from a standstill. The winners may surprise you; some of the

Horsemanship and Riding School 71 Pleasant St., Plainfield, Mass.

Day Class Open House August 23, 2015 . Sun. 1 to 5 Public welcome!

Call (413) 634-8800 to register

Ground Driving Workshop Sept. 20, 2015 . Sun. 9 to 3 Peace Haven Horsemanship and Riding School Call (413) 634-8800 to register

2016 Adult Day Classes May - October Green Series - Saturday Blue Series - Sunday Yellow Series - Saturday

Call R.J. or Paula for more information: (413) 634-8800 or (413) 335-7151 peacehavenhorsemindship@hotmail.com www.peacehavenfarm.com August/September 2015

tially challenging obstacles such as bridges, pool noodles, and gates. In the afternoon, they may negotiate a timed obstacle course competing in divisions based on experience. It’s an excellent learning experience for horses and riders, and another great spectator event.

NEECA invites everyone to enjoy its beautiful equestrian facility in Athol as you participate in or watch one of our events. To learn more, please visit www.neeca.org.

7 Laurie Neely

Old North Bridge Hounds

R.J. Sadowski, Jr. HorseMindShip™

38

smaller donkeys put their bigger relatives to shame, clearing bars well above the height of their heads.

Versatility training and competition is a way to work with your horse on develop-

Kim Cutler

horse show — part of the Barre Riding and Driving Club’s always well-attended series. Now August and September promise to be equally busy.

The gymkhana series continues with events on August 9 and September 20, so if you haven’t been to one yet, you still have time to join in. NEECA’s gymkhanas are designed to give everyone an opportunity to experience equestrian games, with an emphasis on control and safety. There are classes for lead line, walk-trot riders, drivers, and of course the more competitive gamers as well.

The Mule and Donkey show planned for earlier in the summer fell victim to rain, wind, and thunder; it’s been rescheduled for August 15. Long-ear shows are always fun for participants and spectators alike. Mules and donkeys from mini to mammoth compete in ring

ing cooperation and control.

The annual NEECA Cowboy Challenge takes place September 20. In the morning, riders introduce their horses to a variety of poten-

The spring hunt season is over, but there have been plenty of activities with Old North Bridge Hounds. To celebrate the longest day of the year we held our annual Solstice Ride, welcoming 17 riders to the beautiful territory in Estabrook Woods, and we recently held the first of our three-part hunter

pace series, sponsored by Dover Saddlery. First place in the Jumping division went to Erica Foley and Nora Caplette. The Pick and Choose division winners were Owen Hughes and Caitlin Ensins. Sharon Arkoff won first place in the Leisure division.

We have two more hunter paces planned for the summer, and highpoint winners will receive excellent prizes from Dover Saddlery. It’s not too late to put yourself in contention. Our next hunter will be at Hazel Grove, Groton, on September 13. This is the first time we’ve ridden at this venue and it promises to be a fantastic ride. Our third hunter pace is October 4 at Red Rail Farm in Lincoln, where we’ll ride Fairhaven Woods. This event was very popular last year, as there are a wealth of inviting cross-country jumps and beautiful wooded trails.

For more information and registration information, visit www.oldnorthbridgehounds.org.

7 Elizabeth Goldsmith

West Newbury Riding and Driving Club With many thanks to the Dressage Foundation for its grant from the Sally Swift Fund, on June 13 and 14 the WNRDC hosted a second successful Centered Riding Clinic taught by Level IV centered riding instructor Lucile Bump. Riders and auditors of all disciplines benefited from the techniques Lucile explained and demonstrated, both on the ground and in mounted work.

The Annual Summer barbecue took place on June 26. One of the highlights was the announcement of Katherine Maina as the recipient of the Annual Youth Scholarship. Katie has been a longtime volunteer contributor to the Pipestave Hill Horse Trials. She started at about age four by handing out ribbons, then progressed to test runner, ring steward, and assistant scorer. The WNRDC thanks her for all she’s done over the years!

Also this summer we awarded our semiannual volunteer gift certificate, a raffle to thank all who’ve given their time, from the fence judges to the event organizers to everyone else who lends a hand. Note: Volunteers are eligible to earn a discount on entry fees for clubsponsored events.

September 13 is the date for the annual Adventure Trail, a great event

that typically draws riders from all over Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire. Riders follow miles of pretty trails and, if they’d like, can try some obstacles. Funds raised by Adventure Trail are used to maintain local trails through a donation to the Essex County Trail Association.

Mark your calendar for the second of two annual Pipestave Hill Horse Trials, this one on October 11. Run by the WNRDC at the beautiful and spacious Pipestave Hill Equestrian Center, these events have something for everyone from Grasshopper to Modified Novice three-phases, along with combined tests (dressage and stadium only)

and a dressage-only division through USEF Training Level and — new this year — western dressage.

Entry forms, an equine activities calendar, details about the Pipestave course, and information about volunteer opportunities and membership are available at www.wrndc.com. Check out the WNRDC Facebook page, too.

7 Liz Russell

Massachusetts Horse

39

events Massachusetts

August 1 MHC-, NEHC-RATED HUNTER SHOW SERIES, Medway. www.saddlerowe.com.

2 CNEER BENEFIT OPEN SHOW, Felton Field, Barre. www.barreridingdrivingclub.com.

1 OPEN SHOW, Orange. www.crimsonacres.org.

2 REHOBOTH BREED EXPO, Rehoboth. www.greenlock.org.

1 RANCH SORTING, Countryside Farm, Attleboro. www.countrysidefarmma.com.

2 WRC BLANDFORD SKI AREA RIDE. www.westfieldridingclub.org.

1 OPEN ARENA RANCH SORTING, Chipaway Stables, Acushnet. www.chipawaystables.com.

3 – 4 ADS HORSE-DRIVING TRIAL, Celtic Cross Farm, Dudley. www.celticcrossfarm.com.

6 – 9 NORTHAMPTON HUNTER/JUMPER SHOW. www.biscuithillfarm.com.

1 GFF MEDAL DAY, Buzzards Bay. www.grazingfields.com.

5 MINI SHOW, Hanover. www.briggsstable.com.

7 SCHOOLING JUMPER SHOW SERIES, Grafton. www.hillside-meadows.com.

1 DRESSAGE AND COMBINED TRAINING, Xenophon Farm, Montague. (413) 367-9828.

1 – 2 BEAR SPOT FARM DRESSAGE SHOW, Concord. www.bearspotfarm.com.

2 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, Blythewood Stables, Pittsfield. www.wnepha.com.

2 BUCKLE BLOWOUT SHOW, Middleboro. www.balmyacres.com.

2 BILL McMULLIN DRESSAGE CLINIC, Xenophon Farm, Montague. (413) 367-9828.

2 CRDA DRESSAGE SCHOOLING SHOW, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. www.crdressage.org.

5 SUMMER SCHOOLING JUMPER SHOW, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. www.appleknoll.com.

5 NIKKI RAE WOODWORTH CLINIC, KGA Morgans, Mendon. (508) 369-4233.

5 OPEN ARENA RANCH SORTING PRACTICE, Acushnet. www.chipawaystables.com.

6 DIAMOND H BARREL SERIES GAME NIGHT, Grafton. www.hillside-meadows.com.

6 HRC OPEN SHOW, Briggs Stable, Hanover. www.hansonridingclub.org.

6 MHC, NEHC HUNTER SHOW, Pembroke. www.riverwindfarm.com.

7 SCHOOLING JUMPER SHOW, Plymouth. www.valinorfarm.biz.

7 – 8 EXTREME MUSTANG MAKEOVER, Topsfield. www.extrememustangmakeover.com.

8 CAPE COD HUNTER SHOW, Raynham. www.capecodhunter.com.

8 TEAM PENNING, Chipaway Stables, Acushnet. www.chipawaystables.com.

8 COWBOY MOUNTED SHOOTING STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, Norfolk. www.masixshooters.com.

8 RIDE FOR THE PONIES, a benefit for Blessings Farm, Brimfield to North Brookfield. www.blessingsfarm.org.

8 CNEER BENEFIT PICNIC, Ludlow Elks Club. www.centralnewenglandequinerescue.com.

Western New England Professional Horsemen’s Association’s

Hunter/Equitation Shows August 2 August 13 August 16 August 23 August 29 August 30 September 5 September 13 September 20 September 27 October 4 October 11

Blythewood Stables Riverbank Farm White Horse Hill Overmeade Farm Three County Fair Harmony HIll Farm Blythewood Stables Biscuit Hill Farm White Horse Hill Riverbank Farm Harmony Hill Farm FINALS

Dressage Shows English and Western dressage classes. Tests offered for English include (USEF): Introductory Tests A, B, C; Training Level Tests 1, 2, 3; First Level Test 1. Western Tests (WDAA): Introductory Level Tests 1, 2, 3, 4; Basic Level Tests 1, 2, 3, 4.

August 23 September 13 September 27 October 18

Emerald Glen Blythewood Stables Xenophon Farm King Oak Farm

8 – 9 JANET FOY DRESSAGE CLINIC, Georgetown. www.cindirosewylie.com.

9 OPEN JUMPER SHOW, Chelmsford. www.midnightmoonstables.com.

9 HORSE-POWER HUNTER/JUMPER SHOW, Southbridge. www.wildairefarm.com.

9 WRC BLANDFORD SKI AREA RIDE, www.westfieldridingclub.org.

9 NEECA GYMKHANA, Athol. www.neeca.org.

9 HORSE TRIALS SERIES, Azrael Acres, Uxbridge. www.azraelacres.com.

9 SCHOOLING DRESSAGE SHOW, Beland Stables, Lakeville. www.belandstables.com.

9 4-H and HRC OPEN SHOW, Balmy Acres, Middleboro. www.hansonridingclub.org.

9 DRESSAGE SCHOOLING SHOW, Belchertown. www.independencestablellc.com.

9 AMERIKHANA, Chipaway Stables, Acushnet. www.chipawaystables.com.

Featuring year-end awards in many divisions.

Full 2015 schedule can be found at:

wnepha.com

An organization for horsemen, by horsemen.

40

August/September 2015

9 CCRR GYMKHANA, South Yarmouth. www.capecodroughriders.net.

9 HCRC MONTAGUE PLAINS RIDE. www.hampshirecountyridingclub.org.

9 SUNRISE PLEASURE OPEN SHOW, South Hadley. www.mhcriding.com.

Massachusetts Horse

41

9 SUMMER FUN SHOW, Countryside Farm, Attleboro. (508) 369-0707.

16 DRESSAGE ADULT SCHOOLING SHOW, New Braintree. www.whitesprucefarms.com.

18 – 22 SUMMER SHOWCASE II, Halifax. www.showfieldstone.com.

9 STONEYBROOK 4-H SADDLE CLUB SHOW, Westford. janetbersani@gmail.com.

16 CCRR OPEN SHOW, South Yarmouth. www.capecodroughriders.net.

19 MINI SHOW, Hanover. www.briggsstable.com.

12 MINI SHOW, Hanover. www.briggsstable.com.

16 OPEN HORSE SHOW SERIES, Azrael Acres, Uxbridge. www.azraelacres.com.

12 SUMMER SCHOOLING JUMPER SHOW, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. www.appleknoll.com.

12 OPEN ARENA RANCH SORTING PRACTICE, Acushnet. www.chipawaystables.com.

12 – 15 MASSACHUSETTS MORGAN SHOW, West Springfield. www.massmorgan.com.

16 TRICK TRAINING WITH PETER AND PHILLIP WHITMORE, White Spruce Farms, New Braintree. www.whitesprucefarms.com.

16 APPLE VALLEY PONY CLUB OPEN SHOW, Barre. www.barreridingdrivingclub.com.

19 SUMMER SCHOOLING JUMPER SHOW, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. www.appleknoll.com.

19 OPEN ARENA RANCH SORTING PRACTICE, Acushnet. www.chipawaystables.com.

19 MHC, NEHC HUNTER SHOW, Pembroke. www.riverwindfarm.com.

20 – 23 NEHJA DERBY FINALS, Halifax. www.showfieldstone.com.

12 – 16 SILVER OAK JUMPER TOURNAMENT, Halifax. www.showfieldstone.com.

16 GREATER BILLERICA HORSEMEN’S ASSOCIATION OPEN SHOW, Middlesex County Equestrian Park, Billerica. oldgbha@gmail.com.

13 SOUTH COAST JUMPER SHOW, Buzzards Bay. www.grazingfields.com.

16 GFF MEDAL DAY, Buzzards Bay. www.grazingfields.com.

21 GAMES NIGHT, Orange. www.crimsonacres.org.

13 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, Riverbank Farm, Dalton. www.wnepha.com.

16 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, White Horse Hill, Richmond. www.wnepha.com.

21 SCHOOLING JUMPER SHOW, Plymouth. www.valinorfarm.biz.

13 – 16 EAGALA TRAINING, South Hadley. www.mtholyoke.edu.

16 BSTRA DOMNARSKI FARM PLEASURE RIDE, Palmer. www.bstra.org.

14 MHC, NEHC HUNTER SHOW, Pembroke. www.riverwindfarm.com.

16 MHC HUNTER SHOW, Haverhill. www.ridecornerstone.com.

22 – 23 TACK SALE AND OPEN HOUSE, Central Tree Stable, Rutland. kstgermain1@yahoo.com.

15 OPEN ARENA RANCH SORTING, Chipaway Stables, Acushnet. www.chipawaystables.com.

16 MHC, NEHC-RATED JUMPER SHOW SERIES, Medway. www.saddlerowe.com.

15 CAPE COD HUNTER SHOW, Raynham. www.capecodhunter.com.

16 HDA DRESSAGE SCHOOLING SHOW, Briggs Stable, Hanover. www.heritage-dressage.org.

15 WOODLAND TRAIL OBSTACLE CHALLENGE AND GAMBLERS CHOICE COMPETITION, Goshen. www.hampshirecountyridingclub.org.

16 DRESSAGE SCHOOLING SHOW, Haverhill. leangst@comcast.net.

HORSES

17 FIELDSTONE EQUITATION SHOW, Halifax. www.showfieldstone.com.

SMALL ANIMALS

EXOTICS

ACUPUNCTURE . CHIROPRACTIC . HOMEOPATHY . PHYSICAL THERAPY

20 SCHOOLING HORSE TRIALS, Sherborn. www.coursebrookfarm.com.

23 HORSEMINDSHIP DAY CLASS OPEN HOUSE, Plainfield. www.peacehavenfarm.com.

23 MHJ EQUITATION FINALS, Halifax. www.showfieldstone.com.

23 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, Overmeade Farm, Lenox. www.wnepha.com.

23 NEMHS MINIATURE HORSE SHOW, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. www.nemhs.org.

23 SCHOOLING TWO-PHASE AND DRESSAGE SHOW, Dracut. www.cutterfarm.com.

23 BUILD A SCHOOL BENEFIT PLEASURE RIDE, Willow Brook Farm, Groton. (978) 433-2384 or jmlorimer@verizon.net.

23 ADULTS-ONLY DRESSAGE SHOW, New Braintree. www.whitesprucefarms.com.

23 SUMMER WRAP-UP AUCTION, Easthampton. www.farmheritage.com.

23 – 24 BILL WOODS DRESSAGE CLINIC, Essex. saltwaterponies@verizon.net.

24 – 26 GREG BEST CLINIC, Chelmsford. www.midnightmoonstables.com.

26 CAPE COD HUNTER SHOW, Marston Mills. www.capecodhunter.com.

26 WESTERN DRESSAGE MARKETING WITH CATHY DRUMM, South Hadley. www.cathydrumm.com.

26 MINI SHOW, Hanover. www.briggsstable.com.

HOUSE CALLS . FULL-SERVICE SMALL-ANIMAL HOSPITAL GROOMING . PET SUPPLIES

FAMILY VETERINARY CENTER BUD ALLEN,

M.S., D.V.M.,

ROBIN KARLIN ALLEN, D.V.M.

99 MAIN ST. (RTE. 9) HAYDENVILLE, MA (413) 268-VETS • FAMVETS.COM • INFO@FAMVETS.COM 42

August/September 2015

26 SUMMER SCHOOLING JUMPER SHOW, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. www.appleknoll.com.

26 OPEN ARENA RANCH SORTING PRACTICE, Acushnet. www.chipawaystables.com.

27 – 30 CRAA ARABIAN AND IFSHA REGION 1 CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW, West Springfield. www.orgsites.com/ct/connecticutriverarabian.

29 OPEN ARENA RANCH SORTING, Chipaway Stables, Acushnet. www.chipawaystables.com.

29 BLUE RIDER FUN DAY, French Park, Egremont. www.bluerider.org.

29 CAPE COD HUNTER SHOW, Saddle Rowe, Medway. www.capecodhunter.com.

29 HCRC FULL MOON RIDE, Northampton. www.hampshirecountyridingclub.org.

6 DRESSAGE COMPETITION, Beland Stables, Lakeville. www.belandstables.com.

29 – 30 CMHSS, Spencer. www.cmhss.net.

6 MHC HUNTER SHOW, Haverhill. www.ridecornerstone.com.

29 – 30 115th MYOPIA HORSE SHOW, Hamilton. www.myopiahunt.org.

30 BARREL RACING, Barre. (978) 660-7548.

30 SCHOOLING HORSE TRIALS CHAMPIONSHIPS, Millis. www.appleknoll.com.

30 SOUTH COAST HUNTER SHOW, Buzzards Bay. www.grazingfields.com.

30 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, Harmony Hill Farm, Great Barrington. www.wnepha.com.

30 TANHEATH HUNT CLUB RIDE, Oxford. www.tanheathhunt.com.

30 NHC HUNTER PACE, Groton. www.nashobavalleyhunt.org.

30 CCRR GYMKHANA, South Yarmouth. www.capecodroughriders.net.

30 OPEN SHOW, Journey’s Haven Riding School, Rehoboth. www.journeyshavenrs.com.

30 NHC FIELD HUNTER SHOW, Medfield. www.norfolkhunt.com.

30 NEW ENGLAND STOCK HORSE SHOW, Heritage Farm, Easthampton. www.farmheritage.com.

30 DRESSAGE SCHOOLING SHOW, New Braintree. www.whitesprucefarms.com.

30 AMERIKHANA, Chipaway Stables, Acushnet. www.chipawaystables.com.

September 2 SUMMER SCHOOLING JUMPER SHOW, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. www.appleknoll.com.

2 OPEN ARENA RANCH SORTING PRACTICE, Acushnet. www.chipawaystables.com.

4 – 7 BOB GOSSELIN MEMORIAL SHOWDEO, Acushnet. www.chipawaystables.com.

5 NORFOLK HUNT FOXHUNTING CLINIC, Medfield. www.norfolkhunt.com.

5 BLANDFORD FAIR HORSE SHOW, Blandford. kellimarie43@yahoo.com.

5 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, Blythewood Stables, Pittsfield. www.wnepha.com.

6 ISR/OLDENBERG NA BREED INSPECTION, Petersham. www.neda.org.

8 AMERICAN HANOVERIAN SOCIETY BREED INSPECTION, Hadley. www.neda.org.

9 SUMMER SCHOOLING JUMPER SHOW, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. www.appleknoll.com.

9 OPEN ARENA RANCH SORTING PRACTICE, Acushnet. www.chipawaystables.com.

11 SCHOOLING JUMPER SHOW SERIES, Grafton. www.hillside-meadows.com.

11 – 12 HEALING NATURE OF HORSES, Rochester. www.hnoh.org.

11 – 13 HCRC WAGONWHEEL CAMPOUT, Warwick. www.hampshirecountyridingclub.org.

6 HUNTER PACE, Camp Marshall, Spencer. www.campmarshall.net.

Judge Kathi Bruce . WNEPHA affiliated

Dressage Clinic August 2 Bill McMullin (Show Saturday, Clinic Sunday)

12 NHC FALL FOXHUNTING, Walpole. www.norfolkhunt.com.

12 NEECA WANNABE COWBOY CHALLENGE and picnic in the park, Athol. www.neeca.org.

12 TEAM PENNING, Chipaway Stables, Acushnet. www.chipawaystables.com.

12 – 13, STATE 4-H SHOW, Northampton. www.mass4H.org.

12 – 13 USEA- SANCTIONED HORSE TRIALS, Southampton. www.kingoakfarm.com.

13 DRESSAGE ADULTS-ONLY SCHOOLING SHOW, White Spruce Farms, New Braintree. www.whitesprucefarms.com.

13 BARREL RACING, Grafton. (978) 660-7548 or tinadixson@gmail.com.

13 CCRR OPEN SHOW, South Yarmouth. www.capecodroughriders.net.

13 BSTRA BREEZY HILL BENEFIT RIDE, Holliston. www.bstra.org.

13 HORSE-POWER HUNTER/JUMPER SHOW, Southbridge. www.wildairefarm.com.

6 MHC, NEHC JUMPER SHOW, Medway. www.saddlerowe.com.

September 27 ~ Dressage and CT

12 SOUTH COAST JUMPER SHOW, Buzzards Bay. www.grazingfields.com.

5 – 7 BOB GOSSELIN MEMORIAL WEEKEND, sorting, roping, barrel racing, horse games.

Acushnet. gunshotleo@gmail.com

6 DRESSAGE AND TWO-PHASE, Groveland. www.plumgroveequestrian.com.

Judge Bill McMullin (Clinic August 2)

12 LENOX TUB PARADE, Lenox. www.colonialcarriage.org.

13 SOUTH COAST HUNTER SHOW, Rehoboth. www.palmerriver.com.

6 HUNTER SHOW SERIES, Blue Ride Show Stables at Stargazer Hill Farm, Plainville. (508) 561-5829 or jjillroz@aol.com.

August 1 ~ Dressage and CT

11 – 13 EQUESTRIAN TALENT SEARCH, South Hadley. www.mtholyoke.edu.

5 – 7 BSTRA CAMPOUT, Carver. www.bstra.org.

6 HRC OPEN SHOW, Briggs Stable, Hanover. www.hansonridingclub.org.

Dressage and Combined Training Show Series

13 RRDC OPEN SHOW, Rowley. www.rowleyridinganddrivingclub.webs.com.

13 WNRDC ADVENTURE TRAIL, Pipestave Hill, West Newbury. www.wnrdc.com.

13 HORSE TRIALS SERIES, Azrael Acres, Uxbridge. www.azraelacres.com.

13 MHC THE CLASSIC OPEN SHOW, Briggs Stable, Hanover. www.mahorsecouncil.com.

13 NORFOLK HUNT POLO IN THE COUNTRY, Medfield. www.norfolkhunt.com.

13 WRC OPEN SHOW, Westfield. www.westfieldridingclub.org.

Stalls Available

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

Xenophon Farm janice

&

elaine

Kachavos

80 sunderland rd., rte. 47 montague, mass.

413.367.9828 X enophon F arm @ aol . com Massachusetts Horse

43

13 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, Biscuit Hill Farm, Shelburne. www.wnepha.com.

20 SPECIAL OLYMPICS EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL, Lanesboro. www.equustherapeutic.org.

13 GRHC POKER RIDE, Dufresne Park, Granby. www.granbyregionalhorse.org.

20 NEECA GYMKHANA, Athol. www.neeca.org.

13 WNEPHA DRESSAGE SHOW, Blythewood Stables, Pittsfield. www.wnepha.com.

13 SOUTHEAST HUNTER MEDALS, Saddle Rowe, Medway. www.southeasthunter.com.

13 – 14 TREATING ADDICTION WITH HORSES, Rochester. www.hnoh.org.

16 – 20 HUNTER/JUMPER and EQUITATION SHOW, West Springfield. www.thebige.com.

16 OPEN ARENA RANCH SORTING PRACTICE, Acushnet. www.chipawaystables.com.

18 GAMES NIGHT, Orange. www.crimsonacres.org.

19 HRC FIESTA DAY, Balmy Acres, Middleboro. www.hansonridingclub.org.

19 OPEN ARENA RANCH SORTING, Chipaway Stables, Acushnet. www.chipawaystables.com.

19 MHC-, NEHC-RATED SHOW, Medway. www.saddlerowe.com.

20 HORSEMINDSHIP GROUND-DRIVING WORKSHOP, Plainfield. www.peacehavenfarm.com.

20 BSTRA FALL HUNTER PACE, Douglas. www.bstra.org.

20 SCR OBSTACLE/TRAIL COMPETITION, South Egremont. (413) 528-2367.

20 DRESSAGE SCHOOLING SHOW, Belchertown. www.independencestablellc.com.

20 AMERIKHANA, Chipaway Stables, Acushnet. www.chipawaystables.com.

20 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, White Horse Hill Farm, Richmond. www.wnepha.com.

20 NHC HUNTER PACE, Westport. www.norfolkhunt.com.

20 HRC VERSATILITY, Balmy Acres, Middleboro. www.hansonridingclub.org.

20 SCHOOLING TWO-PHASE, Dracut. www.cutterfarm.com.

20 WRC OTIS STATE FOREST RIDE. www.westfieldridingclub.org.

20 GROTON HOUSE HORSE TRIALS, Hamilton. www.grotonhousefarm.com.

20 WESTON FALL HUNTER PACE, Weston. www.westonshows.com.

20 CUMMINGS SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE, Tufts, Grafton. www.vet.tufts.edu/open-house.

20 NEW ENGLAND STOCK HORSE SHOW, Heritage Farm, Easthampton. www.farmheritage.com.

23 OPEN ARENA RANCH SORTING PRACTICE, Acushnet. www.chipawaystables.com.

23 – 27 MHC DAYS OF CHAMPIONS, Northampton. www.mahorsecouncil.com.

JUNE 23 ~ 27 Northeast Benefit Show (508-759-9512)

JULY

413.584.2237 THREEcountyfair.com

10 ~ 12 KOF Dressage Days (kingoakfarm.com) 20 ~ 27 New England Morgan Show (nemha.com) 31 ~ 8/2 Regional 4-H Horse Show (mass4H.org)

AUGUST 5~9

APRIL 17 ~ 19 MaQHA Youth, Novice, and Open Show (massqha.com)

MAY 7 ~ 10

MaQHA Horse Show (massqha.com) 30 ~ 31 Connecticut Appaloosa Show (ctappaloosa.org)

44

August/September 2015

Northampton Hunter/Jumper Show (biscuithillfarm.com)

SEPTEMBER 4~7 12 ~ 13 23 ~ 27

Three County Fair (threecountyfair.com) Massachusetts State 4-H Show (mass4-H.org) Mass. Horsemen’s Council Days of Champions (mahorsecouncil.com)

24 – 27 SADDLEBREDS, HACKNEYS, MORGANS, FRIESIANS SHOW, West Springfield. www.thebige.com/fair/horseshow.

24 – 27 DRAFT ANIMAL POWER FIELD DAYS, Cummington. www.draftanimalpower.org.

26 TEAM PENING, Chipaway Stables, Acushnet. www.chipawaystables.com.

26 LINCOLN OPEN HORSE SHOW, Weston Road, Lincoln. vlochiatto@verizon.net.

26 TAKE CARE BE AWARE RIDE, Upton State Forest. www.takecarebeawareride.org.

26 WESTERN DRESSAGE SUMMER LESSON SERIES, South Hadley. www.cathydrumm.com.

26 – 27 CMHSS, Spencer. www.cmhss.net.

27 WNEPHA DRESSAGE AND COMBINED TRAINING SHOW, Xenophon Farm, Montague.

(413) 367-9828.

27 SOUTH COAST HUNTER SHOW, Buzzards Bay. www.grazingfields.com.

27 HORSE-POWER HUNTER/JUMPER SHOW, Southbridge. www.wildairefarm.com.

27 HRC SUPREME INVITATIONAL, Balmy Acres, Middleboro. www.hansonridingclub.org.

27 HCRC DAR STATE FOREST RIDE, Goshen. www.hampshirecountyridingclub.org.

27 PEGGY SANTANIELLO MEMORIAL TRAIL RIDE, Wilbraham. www.belchertownequineorg.com.

27 WMAA OPEN SHOW, Westfield. www.westernmaapp.com.

27 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, Riverbank Farm, Dalton. www.wnepha.com.

27 OPEN SHOW, Journey’s Haven Riding School, Rehoboth. www.journeyshavenrs.com.

30 OPEN ARENA RANCH SORTING PRACTICE, Acushnet. www.chipawaystables.com.

October 1 – 4 DRAFT HORSE SHOW, West Springfield. www.thebige.com/fair/horseshow.

3 MASSACHUSETTS HORSE BENEFIT SHOW, Goshen. www.mahorse.com.

3 MHC, NEHC, SEHA HUNTER SHOW, Medway. www.saddlerowe.com.

3 OPEN ARENA RANCH SORTING, Chipaway Stables, Acushnet. www.chipawaystables.com.

3 NHC OPENING MEET, Sherborn. www.norfolkhunt.com.

3 HRC BEACH RIDE, location TBA. www.hansonridingclub.org.

4 CCDA CASUAL DRESSAGE SHOW, West Barnstable. www.capecoddressage.org.

4 SOUTH COAST HUNTER SHOW, Rehoboth. www.palmerriver.com.

4 MYOPIA HUNTER TRIALS, Hamilton. www.myopiahunt.org.

4 CCRR COWBOY CHALLENGE, South Yarmouth. www.capecodroughriders.net.

4 BSTRA PLEASURE RIDE, Hubbardston. www.bstra.org.

Massachusetts Horse

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Katie Upton . katieupton.com

massachusetts Horse Benefit Show

october 3 Saturday 8 A.M. 140 Ball Road, Goshen, Mass.

over $10,000 in prizes!

In the past ten years, $55,000 has been raised for massachusetts nonproďŹ t horse organizations!

All proceeds go to the Bay State Equine Rescue.

Class List

(TEn DIvISIonS)

Showmanship

Equitation/Performance

Equitation Classics

Trail

English Junior Showmanship Youngster In Hand Showmanship English Adult Showmanship Color Breed Showmanship Western Showmanship Walk Trot/Jog Ages 7 to 12 Showmanship Green Horse Walk Trot/Jog Showmanship Walk Trot/Jog Ages 13 and Over Showmanship Horse In Hand Showmanship

English Junior Equitation Youngster In Hand Rail Performance English Adult Equitation Color Breed Equitation Western Equitation Walk Trot/Jog Ages 7 to 12 Equitation Green Horse Walk Trot/Jog Equitation Walk Trot/Jog Ages 13 and Over Equitation Horse In Hand Rail Performance Western Ranch Horse Horsemanship Lead Line Equitation Western Ranch Horse Handiness

$150 Walk Trot/Jog Equitation Classic $150 English Equitation Classic $150 Western Equitation Classic

English Junior Trail Youngster In Hand Obstacle English Adult Trail Color Breed Trail Western Trail Walk Trot/Jog Ages 7 to 12 Trail Green Horse Walk Trot/Jog Trail Walk Trot/Jog Ages 13 and Over Trail Horse In Hand Obstacle Western Ranch Horse Trail Lead Line Trail

Halter Suitability English Junior Halter Suitability Youngster In Hand Halter Suitability English Adult Halter Suitability Color Breed Halter Suitability Western Halter Suitability Walk Trot/Jog Ages 7 to 12 Halter Suitability Green Horse Walk Trot/Jog Halter Suitability Walk Trot/Jog Ages 13 and Over Halter Suitability Horse In Hand Halter Suitability Western Ranch Horse Halter Suitability

46

August/September 2015

Pleasure English Junior Pleasure English Adult Pleasure Color Breed Pleasure Western Pleasure Walk Trot/Jog Ages 7 to 12 Pleasure Green Horse Walk Trot/Jog Pleasure Walk Trot/Jog Ages 13 and Over Pleasure Western Ranch Horse Pleasure

Pleasure Classics $200 Walk Trot/Jog Ultimate Pleasure Classic $200 English Ultimate Pleasure Classic $200 Western Ultimate Pleasure Classic

Fun Classics $150 Walk Trot/Jog Discipline Rail Classic $150 Open Discipline Rail Classic $150 Hunter Hack Classic $150 Costume Classic

Equitation over Fences Walk Trot Ground Poles Equitation Novice Cross Rails Equitation Hunt Seat Equitation Over 2' Fences

The first 25 pre-entries receive a goodie bag valued at over $25!

Class list & enter online at

mahorse.com

the

neighborhood

ASSOCIATIONS ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• HAMPSHIRE COUNTY RIDING CLUB Goshen, MA, (413) 268-3372 hampshirecounty ridingclub.org Monthly trail rides, open show, hunter pace, clinics, educational speakers.

BARN CATS ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• PAWS WATCH Newport, RI, (401) 848-9867 www.pawswatch.org Barn cats need homes! Healthy, fixed, vaccinated barn cats provide rodent control. Delivered!

BEDDING/SHAVINGS/SAWDUST ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• PROGRESS PALLET Middleboro, MA, (508) 923-1930 www.progresspallet.com Animal bedding in trailer-load quantities.

Call/email for details.

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

Keith Angstadt, USEF dressage judge.

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

MEG HILLY – USDF “L” JUDGE, INSTRUCTOR, FEI RIDER South Deerfield, MA, (802) 595-1258 www.meghilly.weebly.com mhilly@mtholyoke.edu Clinics; judging; private, lessons.

NANCY LATER LAVOIE Ashby, MA, (561) 714-7447 www.nancylaterdressagehorses.com Training, lessons, clinics. Accepting new students of all levels. Top-class facility.

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

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

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

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

Routine preventive care, maintenance, diagnostics, extractions.

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

Your Everything Equine “white pages”

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

KIT CAT PHOTO & ANIMAL MASSAGE Central Mass., (636) 459-5478 kitcatmassage@gmail.com Certified equine and canine massage.

TOPLINE EQUINE MASSAGE Franklin, MA, (508) 254-7412 toplinemassage@yahoo.com Certified and insured.

EQUINE WELLNESS ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• BLUE RIBBON EQUINE Massachusetts (413) 325-5777 www.blueribbonequine.com Massage, laser, LED, animal communication, “Where does my horse hurt” body checkups.

HORSE WELLNESS Waltham, MA, (617) 314-5768 www.horse-wellness.com Equine physiotherapist and acupuncturist certified in Germany; equine massage.

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

HORSES FOR SALE •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• HERITAGE FARM Easthampton, MA, (413) 527-1612 www.farmheritage.com Auctions, sale horses, shows, clinics, boarding, lessons, and training.

INSURANCE •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• A & B INSURANCE GROUP Westford, MA, (978) 399-0025 www.abinsgroup.com AFIS-designated equine insurance professionals.

CORINTHIAN INSURANCE AGENCY Medway, MA, (877) 250-5103 www.corinthianequine.com Equine protection specialists.

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

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

EQUINE HOMES REAL ESTATE LLC MA and NH, (800) 859-2745, ext. 704 www.equinehomes.com sally@equinehomes.com Sally Mann, Realtor, MA and NH.

FARM FAMILY INSURANCE www.farmfamily.com Carver: (508) 866-9150 Centerville: (508) 957-2125 Easthampton: (413) 203-5180 Great Barrington: (413) 528-1710 Marlborough: (508) 485-3800 Northborough: (508) 393-9327 Norwood: (781) 255-2002 South Deerfield: (413) 665-8200 Southwick: (413) 569-2307 Topsfield: (978) 887-8304 Westford: (978) 467-1001 Williamstown: (413) 458-5584 Worcester: (508) 752-3300

BERNICE GIARD REALITY Oakham, MA, (508) 882-3900 oakham@charter.net Country properties.

JUDGES ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• LILLIAN GILPIN Plympton, MA, (781) 424-4788 rockinghorsefarm1@yahoo.com NEHC-carded judge.

ED GOLEMBESKI Gill, MA, (413) 863-2313 riker119@comcast.net 4-H, open shows, clinics, lessons.

STRAIN FAMILY HORSE FARM Granby, CT, (860) 653-3275 www.strainfamilyhorsefarm.com New England’s largest quality sales stable. Supplying NE with horses and ponies since 1967. Forty family, trail, and show horses to choose from. New loads every week. We buy horses, take tradeins and consignment horses. Great three-week-exchange guarantee. Find us on Facebook.

MINIATURE HORSES, SUPPLIES ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• STAR LAKES MINIATURE TACK Atlasburg, PA, (724) 255-8583 www.starlakefarm.com Complete line of Miniature horse tack.

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

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

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

PHOTOGRAPHY •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• C A HILL PHOTO S. Dartmouth, MA (508) 789-0541 cahill.smugmug.com cahillphoto@gmail.com Equine, family, and farm photography in New England.

GRANDVIEW FARM Dighton, MA, (774) 251-7422 www.grand-view-farm.com Indoor instruction, training, showing, boarding.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MELISSA N. Dighton, MA, (508) 863-0467 www.melissaroot.com Equine portrait photography and events.

LINDA ROBSON Hanover, MA, (352) 572-3923 lindasrobson@gmail.com NEHC A-rated judge.

KAREN MORANG PHOTOGRAPHY Find us on Facebook!

Equine photography and events.

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

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

NEW MEADOWS FARM Pepperell, MA, (978) 502-0966 www.newmeadowsfarm.com Boarding, indoor, jump field, turnout, licensed instructor.

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

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

DR. COOK BITLESS BRIDLE (866) 235-0938 www.bitlessbridle.com Safe, gentle, effective alternative to using a bit.

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

STERLING STEED ENTERPRISES Cincinnati, OH, (513) 309-7681 www.sterlingsteed.com Draft, oversize, Baroque, custom, unique.

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

Massachusetts Horse

47

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

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

VIDEO/DVD PRODUCTION ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ZZ CREATIVE VIDEO PRODUCTIONS Fitchburg, MA, (978) 345-7250 www.zzcreativevideo.com Horse show/events documentation, reasonable, professional, experienced.

Advertise for just $49 a year?

Yes!

Have your business and/or services in Massachusetts Horse and on MAHorse.com for just $49 for the year.

Plus, you receive a free one-year subscription to Massachusetts Horse.

Place your ad online at MAHorse.com or call (413) 268-3302.

advertiser index Angel View Pet Cemetery ..... 59 Apple Knoll Farm ................. 25 Bacon’s Equipment ............... 12 Betsy Merritt ....................... 29 Blue Dog Leather .................. 10 Blue Seal Feed ..................... 58 Bob Burrelli ......................... 49 Cape Cod Dressage .............. 21 The Carriage Shed ................. 2 Cathy Drumm ........................ 15 Cheshire Horse ...................... 7 Chipaway Stables ................. 19 Corinthian Insurance Agency . 39 Country Corral ..................... 23 Crimson Acres ...................... 49 DeCarli Farm ......................... 17 DK Saddlery .......................... 15 Don Ray Insurance Agency ... 15 Equine Affaire ...................... 45 Equine Homes ....................... 41 Equus Integrated Therapy ... 49 Fairview Farms JJC ............... 49 Family Veterinary Center ...... 42 Farm Credit East ................... 10 Farm Family Insurance ......... 50 Hampshire Tractor Corp. ..... 23 Hampton Veterinary Services . 38

48

August/September 2015

Is This Your Horse?

Heritage Farm ....................... 12 HorseBack and Body ........... 49 Horse Wellness ..................... 14 Independence Stable .......... 49 It’s a Pleasure Training .......... 11 Jenn’s Tack & Blanket Service . 6 Lenox Tub Parade ................ 37 Massachusetts Horse Benefit . 46 Mitrano Removal Services ... 49 Mountain Top Inn & Resort ...... 13 Mount Holyoke College ......... 11 Natural Balance Equine Dentistry . 29 North Woods Animal Treats . 27 Orion Farm ............................ 14 Peace Haven Farm ............... 38 RER Ponies .......................... 49 Saddle Rowe ......................... 21 Salty Dawg Equine Services ... 6 SmartPak Saddlery ................ 5 SRH Veterinary Services ...... 49 Three County Fair ................ 44 Triple Crown Nutrition ......... 4 WNEPHA ............................ 40 White Pickets Sutdio ............. 13 Xenophon Farm .................... 43 Yered Trailers ....................... 29

Alessander Mele

NORTHEAST EQUINE TRANSPORTATION Southbridge, MA, (774) 633-1499 www.nehorsetrans.com Serving Northeast, PA, NY, NJ, DE, MD.

Is this your horse?

This photo was taken on June 28 at the Dressage and Combined Training Show at Xenophon Farm in Montague. If this is your horse, contact us at win@mahorse.com for a month’s supply of SmartPaks and more from the Bay State’s very own SmartPak, smartpakequine.com.

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Massachusetts marketplace RER Ponies Training, Lessons & Sales

Now Accepting Boarders

by CHA certified, BHS trained, and USDF competitor

New 20,000 square-foot Facility!

Heather Reynolds Dostal

Horse Leases Available

Freelance Instruction . Lesson Horses Available U.S. Pony Club Riding Center

partial $275/mo., half $400/mo., full $525/mo.

Beginner to Advanced Instruction Hunt Seat/Equitation, Dressage, Eventing, Western

Brimfield, MA 413-245-3083 . fairviewfarmsjjc.com

Charming private facility offering: Boarding, training, pony starting, and tune ups.

Professional, well rounded, goal oriented lesson program for riders of all ages beginner through advanced.

www.RERponies.com 413.427.2026 8 Circle Dr., Hatfield, MA

Large and Small Animal Medicine & Surgery Serving the North Shore since 1951 Helen Noble, vMd . Robert Orcutt, dvM derek Cavatorta, dvM phd Kirstin Anderson, dvM . Ashley Taylor, dvM Mary Ann Montesano, dvM

295 High St, Ipswich, Mass.

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

www.srhvets.com

Independence Stable, LLC

Dressage Schooling Shows Including Western Dressage Tests!

August 9 . September 20

Recovery . Maintenance . Performance Therapeutic Massage . Bodywork . Reiki licensed massage therapist, certified equine massage therapist

Ted Moser, BS, LMT A Masterson Method Practitioner 413 . 522 . 0658 equusintegratedtherapy.com

(413) 320-7690 • jobunny@comcast.net

Serving western Mass., southern Vermont, and northwest Conn.

Jo Bunny

Lessons . Training . Boarding . Clinics

Belchertown, MA (413) 284-0371 independencestablellc.com

978-425-6181 call us first

Manure reMoval for large & sMall farMs roll-off containers 10 to 30 yards on call or scheduled service. full stock pile removals.

Barn/outbuilding demo & removal fencing demo & replacement Proud Sponsor of Bear Spot Musical Freestyle and the Oakrise Farm Show Series.

www.mitranoremoval.com Massachusetts Horse

49

50

August/September 2015

Over 34 Years of Service

Cremains available to family within 72 hours.

Massachusetts Horse

51

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID MONROE, CT PERMIT

Amherst Farmer’s Supply 320 Pleasant St., Amherst (413) 253-3436 . amherstfarmerssupply.com A.W. Brown Pet & Garden Center 144 Shaker Rd., E. Longmeadow (413) 525-2115 . awbrown.com Beaver Valley Farm 17 Main St., Pelham, NH (603) 635-2597 . beavervalleyfarm.net Bernardston Farmer’s Supply 43 River St., Bernardston (413) 648-9311 bernardstonfarmerssupply.com

Brattleboro Agway 1277 Putney Rd., Brattleboro, VT (802) 254-8757 . achilleagway.com Bridgewater Farm Supply 1000 Plymouth St., Bridgewater (508) 697-0357 bridgewaterfarm.com

Erikson’s Grain Mill 113 Main St., Acton (978) 263-4733 Essex County Co-op 146 S. Main St., Topsfield (978) 887-2309 essexcountycoop.net

Country Corral 35 Main St., Williamsburg (413) 268-0180 . countrycorralonline.com

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

Dodge Grain Company 59 N. Broadway, Salem, NH (603) 893-3739 . dodgegrain.biz

Robbins Garden Center 28 Sutton Ave., Oxford (508) 987-2700 robbinsgarden.com

#140

Sweet Meadow Feed & Grain 111 Coolidge St., Sherborn (508) 650-2926 sweetmeadowfeedandgrain.com Thibault’s Poultry 92 N. Spencer Rd. Spencer (508) 885-3959