Connecticut Horse January/February 2016

CONNEC T ICUT

HORSE

EQUINE ART OF THE HEART page 8

MAGGIE DANA THE TIMBER RIDGE RIDERS HORSE PERSON

January/February 2016 connhorse.com $4

page 14

INSURANCE CONFUSED? BEST GUIDE TO THE BASICS HORSE SENSE

page 20

HAMMONASSET BEACH STATE PARK TRAIL GUIDE page 30

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January/February 2016

Connecticut Horse

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contents

January/February 2016

columns 20 Insurance

Confused?

The Best Guide to the Basics

8

28 Tara Farm Rescue

Lisa Peterson

Whitney Kurlan

Horse Sense

16

Lend a Hoof

29 The Coggins Test The Vet Is In

14

Trail Guide

Anne Gittins Photography

courtesy of Maggie Dana

30 Hammonasset Beach State Park

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in every issue

features 8

Equine Art of the Heart

6 Your Letters

16

Artists Reflect

Strain Family Horse Farm Farm Feature

7 From the Editor 31 This Olde Horse 32 Overherd: News in Our Community 40 Nutmeg State Happenings

14 Maggie Dana The Timber Ridge Riders Horseperson Feature

18

McKayla Langmeier

42 Partners

Capturing Maclay Crown

46 Connecticut Events Calendar

Youth Spotlight

48 The Neighborhood 49 Advertisers Index 49 Is This Your Horse?

Connecticut Horse

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Your Letters

CONNEC T ICUT

I just wanted to say thank you for the two complimentary

HORSE

magazines we got in the mail. That was very nice of you. My

vol. 1, no. 4 January/February 2016

To the editor:

daughter hasn’t let go of the magazines yet, so you must have a very fine product. Looking forward to seeing the next issue.

Greg, via email

To the editor: I received the two free issues of Connecticut Horse. I love it — great articles. My big love pony has Cushing’s. I haven’t had the opportunity to read the Ask the Vet article on Cushing’s

99 Bissell Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096 phone: (860) 391-9215 • fax: (413) 268-0050 • connhorse.com Connecticut Horse magazine is an independently owned and -operated all-breed, all-discipline equestrian publication for the Nutmeg State. © 2016 Connecticut Horse All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this magazine or portions thereof in any form without prior written permission.

publisher Stephanie Sanders • steph@connhorse.com • (413) 268-3302 editor Karena Garrity • karena@connhorse.com • (860) 391-9215 copy editor Doris Troy

yet but look forward to it. There are lots of familiar names, places, and great information in each issue. Thank you!

Kathy and Tabe, via email

To the editor: Thank you for my one-year subscription. I really enjoy Connecticut Horse! It was a great surprise in the mailbox.

Donna McCarthy Dunn, Old Saybrook

To the editor: I picked up a copy of Connecticut Horse at Equine Affaire and loved the article about Major Gordon Johnson, the Second Governor’s Horse Guard, and its history. Great article!

ISSN 2378-5721

feature writers Christine Church, Stephanie Funk, Sally L. Feuerberg Dr. Ashley Kornatowski, Dr. Matt Kornatowski, Toni Leland Lisa Peterson, Stacey Stearns contributors Shawna Baumann, Joan Davis, Sally L. Feuerberg, Allison Forsyth Emilie Goddard, Jeanne Lewis, Suzy Lucine, Carolyn McEvitt Gigi Ouellette, Leslie Smith, Stacey Stearns, Ruth Strontzer Melissa Welch, Amy Williams county desk liaisons Fairfield and New Haven Counties Sally L. Feuerberg . sally@connhorse.com . (203) 339-0357 Hartford and Tolland Counties Christine Church . christine@connhorse.com . (860) 748-9757

Audrey Miller, via email

Middlesex and New London Counties Karena Garrity . karena@connhorse.com . (860) 391-9215

Send your thoughts to: karena@connhorse.com or Connecticut Horse, 99 Bissell Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096

advertising Karena Garrity . karena@connhorse.com . (860) 391-9215 Advertising deadline for the March/April issue is February 5.

Bad Hair Day, by Sara Deponte, of White Pickets Studio, whitepicketsstudio.com.

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

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

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January/February 2016

From the Editor

AUCTIONS & SALE HORSES

Two-day Cabin Fever Auction!

J

anuary is traditionally a time for setting goals for the upcoming year. What are your horse goals?

March 5 & 6 (Snow date March 12 & 13)

conquering my fears and pushing myself to try new experi-

Saturday, all tack. No limit on amount of consigned tack accepted. Get ready for spring riding by shopping her for new-to-you goods.

Sunday, limited amount of new tack followed by horses and ponies.

ences — which I hope will bring new enjoyment to both me

Stay tuned to our website and Facebook pages for updates!

I’ll be working on the usual: seat, legs, heels, and balance.

I aim to learn more about equine anatomy and how I can ride more in tune with my horse’s body. I’ll also be working on

and my horse.

See our selection of horses and ponies for sale at farmheritage.com.

Whatever your 2016 goals, Connecticut Horse can help you achieve them by supplying you with informed, interesting features about the myriad horse-friendly networks and resources

SHOWS & CLINICS

Clinics . WNEPHA Shows . NESHS To see dates and details, visit farmheritage.com.

the Nutmeg State has for us.

Happy New Year from all of us at the magazine!

Karena Editor’s Favorite Quote Every second you’re either schooling or un-schooling your horse.

There’s no in-between. – George Morris

English and Western Lessons

GNATHOLOGIST Shelley Wysocki

Open to buy, sell, or trade horses seven days a week, by appointment.

Nice Horses for Nice People.

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DENTAL NEEDS FOR HORSES, PONIES & MULES Educated . Experienced . Reliable . Serving New England

(860) 212-0114 Member of: Equine Dental Providers of America . Connecticut Farm Bureau International Equine Dental Association

The Raucher Family 30 Florence Rd., Easthampton, MA (413) 527-1612 . www.farmheritage.com Connecticut Horse

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Equine Art of the Heart Artists Reflect

Reflections, by Whitney Kurlan.

by Toni Leland

H

orses as an expression of artistic desire and skill span thousands of years, from the cave paintings of Lascaux, in southwestern France, to the hilltop Uffington White Horse, in Oxfordshire, England, to the bronze Horses of Saint Mark, in Venice, to paintings by European masters of the brush such as George Stubbs and Rosa Bonheur.

On a smaller — but no less artistic — scale are the artists whose passion and inspiration come from the animals we know and love today. Meet some of Connecticut’s finest equine artists.

Whitney Kurlan “For me,” Whitney says, “it’s all about how light plays against the shadows.

And,” she adds, “my animals, of course, are an inspiration.”

Whitney’s mediums are pastel, acrylic, and watercolor. She works from her home in Trumbull, where she spends a great deal of time trying to get her own horse to stand still long enough for her to photograph him in the perfect light.

“He’s too inquisitive and I usually end up taking a picture of his upper lip and nose,” she says, laughing.

At Central Connecticut State University, Whitney studied metal sculpture and ceramics but, she says, didn’t 8

January/February 2016

feel challenged enough. She left school after a couple of years and continued to work on her own — following in her mother’s footsteps.

“She was an incredible watercolor artist,” says Whitney. “She’s always been my inspiration, but I’d have to say I picked up most of what I know through trial and error.”

After a brief hiatus from her art, Whitney returned to it full time and is now illustrating a series of children’s books, as well as studying digital art as a means to accelerate some of her processes.

Her favorite piece? Whitney’s affinity for Africa’s landscape and animals drives her answer. “It’s a watercolor called Grace,” she says, “of a Bengal tiger, created through mistakes and fixing them, and in the end having one of those pieces you didn’t think you could ever do. The piece was my first big sale, at the New York Art Expo when I was twenty-one.”

Jenna Harrison “My goal is to portray a pet as a living, breathing member of the family through the expression in its eyes,” says Middletown pet portrait artist Jenna Harrison. “The use of soft pastels gives me the ability to capture fine details, specifically textures, that are both in

sharp focus and blurred into the background — all with the same tools.”

Even as a little girl, Jenna knew she wanted to attend art school, and after high school, she enrolled in Paier College of Art, in Hamden.

Her initial major was graphic design, but she quickly decided that illustration was a better choice; by her third year, she had changed major again, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in fine art.

“I’m inspired by textures, colors, shapes, and lines,” says Jenna. “I see a piece of art at every stop light, or looking out a window, or in every arrangement of decor.”

Similar to photography, Jenna likes her art to show depth, so she relies on the relationships between the things around her. The horses she paints are also realistic.

Jenna has always entered her work in art shows; the latest was the juried Durham Fair Art Show. She submitted six pieces and came home with six firstplace ribbons and two Best of Show.

Since then, she has participated in the show only as a judge.

Her favorite piece? “Wow, that’s a really tough question,” she says. “My answer would probably change every other week, but at the moment it’s my portrait of a black Lab named Stewart.”

Portrait by Jenna Harrison.

The dog was difficult to photograph, she says, but after many tries, she got the right shot, one that captured his excitement, energy, and loyalty. The painting that came of that photograph was “absolutely amazing,” Jenna says.

“He pops right off the paper.”

Liesl Dalpe “There’s no greater joy or anxiety in the moments when I see someone’s face as she views her painting or sculpture for the first time,” says South Windsor’s Liesl Dalpe, who has been an artist by profession since 2005.

“When I’m tasked with capturing someone’s loved one,” she says, “I’m capturing a piece of their life forever, not just as photos depict it, but as they want to remember it.”

Liesl has a degree in fine arts from the University of Connecticut, but worked on her major mostly at the University of Hartford, where the focus leans heavily toward technique and structure.

“This is crucial,” she says, “regardless of the type of art you choose. I’ll always be grateful for this foundation.”

Liesl works in both watercolor and sculpture. Although portraiture is her first love, Liesl does quite a bit of sculpture for private collectors of model horses, many of whom want to buy orig-

Sculpture by Liesl Dalpe.

inal work directly from the artist. These sculptures are cast in resin, then painted by hand. Liesl sells them in limited quantities, all signed and dated, and many also carry a certificate of authenticity.

Her sculpture has won championships and reserve championships nationwide.

Her favorite piece? Several have held emotional significance, she says, but her favorite is the portrait of her mare, Leggs, which she completed this year.

“It was a challenge because I had to explore how I want to paint her,” she says. “For a very long time I stalled out on her portrait. I found it very difficult to summarize all of her facets into a single cohesive thought that I preferred the most.”

Carol A. Watson To look at Carol A. Watson’s art, one would never know that she’s never owned a horse. At her studio, in Bozrah, she creates beautiful pieces based on what she calls “a congenital love for horses.” Collage and mixed media are Carol’s trademark, and she uses feathers and other natural items against texture and warm or neutral earth tones to fashion amazing works of art.

“An inspiring pose or seductive par-

tial view of a horse is usually the catalyst for the inception of a piece,” says Carol.

Her inspiration is “always something I feel,” she says. “It’s palpable and arresting, not merely seen. There’s an inexplicable connection that draws me to a particular horse, or the texture in a rock, or the grain or knots in a piece of wood, or colors and patterns of an autumn leaf.

“It’s something that stirs a longing in me to further explore and express the essence of what made me pause,” she says.

A self-taught artist, she began dabbling in 1997 after she attended a workshop titled “Reawakening Your Creativity Through Expressive Arts.”

That was all it took to become more serious; she began drawing the things she loved — feathers and horses.

Continuing to learn and practice and create, she experimented with watercolor, pencils, and paint, then acrylic, and now mixed media and collage.

Carol’s work has graced the walls at many art shows, shops, and galleries in Connecticut, such as the Converse Gallery at the Slater Museum, in Norwich; the Mystic Art Center; the Newport Spring Bull Gallery; and the Norwich Arts Council Gallery.

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Elaine Juska Joseph Lisbon artist Elaine Juska Joseph earned a bachelor’s degree in illustration from New York City’s Parsons School of Design. After moving to Connecticut, she furthered her studies at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts. She now works with oil and pastels from her home at Cedar Knoll Farm, a horseand-carriage service.

Love Song, by Elaine Juska Joseph.

Farther afield, her artwork is on display at horse sanctuaries in South Dakota, Wyoming, and Kentucky.

Her favorite? “I have more than a half dozen, but these two are among those,” she says. She points first to Equine Soul, her coming-out-into-the-artworld piece — a pencil drawing with great detail and depth.

The second is Dandy, a painted paper collage on canvas, inspired by an aged liver chestnut Quarter Horse who lived on a nonprofit farm for retired horses where Carol was a volunteer for almost five years.

“I visited him in a field,” she says, “an autumn wind blowing from behind him to swoosh his tail and beautiful burnt bronze mane toward his muzzle. I captured the moment on film . . . only

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January/February 2016

two days before he died. I honored his magnificence on canvas, and will always keep the original for my own.”

Equine Soul, by Carol A. Watson.

“Carriage and draft horses are far and away the most obvious choice of subject in any of my equine paintings,” she says. “My own horses are the catalysts behind most of my equine art.”

It isn’t quite that simple, though, because Elaine thinks of her paintings as stories. “I want people to become involved not only in the subject and application of materials, but also in what may be the underlying narrative of the work. Symbolism is an important element to many of my paintings,” she says.

Elaine’s art has been on display in juried shows at, for example, the National Arts Club, in New York City; the International Museum of the Horse; the Lyme Art Association; the Mystic Arts Center; and the Equis Art Gallery, in Red Hook, New York. Her art has also been featured in a number of publications, most notably the American Artist and the Pastel Journal.

Her favorite piece? “I have to say that my favorite oil painting to date is one I call Love Song,” Elaine says. It portrays Diesel, one of her Percherons, who is locally famous as a carriage horse and over the years a favorite of countless brides.

“I love him beyond words,” she says.

Sharon Lamb “The connection between horses and their people inspires me the most, as I desire to capture the love I see and feel,” says Sharon Lamb, of Enfield.

Martha, by Sharon Lamb.

“I feel the spirit of horses when I look into their eyes, and the freedom of the horse when it’s running free gives me a feeling I’ve never had with any other animal,” she says.

Self-taught, Sharon has been creating art for more than 25 years. She had a brush or pencil in her hand for most of her childhood and loved trying out different mediums. “Shadowing and shading color fascinated me,” she says.

Now Sharon works with acrylics and her artwork is available by commission. She exhibits occasionally at local arts-and-craft shows to promote orders.

Her favorite piece? “I have many all-time favorite paintings,” Sharon says, “but the portrait of Martha, a lovely bay mare, ranks among the top.”

Helen Scanlon “There’s much to observe in the brushstrokes of the masters,” says Helen Scanlon, who lives in Hampton.

After majoring in fine arts at the University of Connecticut for two years, Helen switched to art history and sociology, and earned her BA in 1994.

“I learned a great deal about technique, color, composition, and expression from studying masters such as Caravaggio, Stubbs, John Singer Sargent, and Chagall, among others,” she says.

Helen says her inspiration comes from the nobility and spirit of the equine. Her first doodle as a child was

of a horse, and horses have been a part of her entire life.

“Inspiration starts in the soul,” she says. “And horses have long lived in mine.”

Helen believes the equine form is a masterpiece — intricate, complex, expressive — and she always strives to capture that with her pencil and paintbrush.

From elementary school through high school, Helen’s art teachers taught her to explore and create without fear of judgment. “They also encouraged my youthful enthusiasm for art and pushed me to learn, study, and practice, especially drawing,” she says.

Later, she moved into acrylic and watercolor and learned about mixing color and painting techniques. She opened her Sound the Bugle Studio in 2003.

Helen’s work has been on display at Windham Arts, Art Attack Exhibits, the Lebanon Public Library (a solo exhibit), the Lily Pad (a solo exhibit), and the online Equine Art Guild. Her portrait of UC Ringmaster was unveiled at the University of Connecticut Storrs in 2007.

Moe, by Helen Scanlon.

Her favorite piece? “At the moment, I’m quite fond of my portrait of a former UConn polo pony named Moe. He was amazing to watch, a truly lion-hearted horse,” says Helen. People have told her she captured Moe’s spirit in that painting. “I painted him with a confident and strong pose,” she says, “highlighting his muscled neck and shoulder.”

for people who have lost a horse that touched their heart,” she says. “It’s a wonderful feeling to give them something to hold and keep close.”

“Hurricane, my own Sulfur Mustang, crossed the rainbow bridge in 2009, and I spent a long time searching for something to memorialize him,” Brenda says. She had saved his tail hair and one day, while she was working on her loom, she wondered if she could add that hair into the weaving.

Horsehair art by Brenda Vynalek.

Through trial and error, she became skilled at incorporating horsehair into framed pieces, tassels, bracelets, brow bands, and hat bands, for example. Now she works closely with Connecticut Horse Cremation, crafting woven blankets to cover urn boxes.

Brenda’s weaving is mostly for custom orders, but she does make small items using hair from local rescues; she donates a percentage of those sales to the rescues.

Her favorite piece? “It’s hard to pick a favorite because each piece is unique, and each one carries a piece of the horse’s spirit along with it,” says Brenda.

One that’s very special, she says, is a bridle brow band she made for a customer using hair from two mares that had passed. The band has three hearts in the center: two to represent the deceased mares and one to represent the customer’s current horse.

Kimberly Miller Brenda Vynalek “I wish I could better express how much I love what I do,” says weaver Brenda Vynalek.

Brenda is the talent behind Missing Manes in Durham, where she’s been crafting beautiful items from horsehair since 2011.

“I love making forever keepsakes

For more than 30 years, acrylic artist Kimberly Miller has been capturing that “special something” that each subject or composition offers. “Horses are the most inspirational thing in nature,” she says. “They always had my attention.”

Kimberly’s family encouraged her talent from an early age, and she attended all the art classes her schools Connecticut Horse

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offered. She went on to earn an associate’s degree in visual fine art from Tunxis Community College. Several years later, she studied illustration at Paier College of Art, in Hamden, and during that second year was hired to do murals and faux finishing. “In my thirties, I was supporting myself with art for the first time,” she says.

Jane, by Kimberly Miller.

From her home in Durham, Kimberly says she’s worked through a long growth period as she learned how to find the details that make a composition intriguing and unique. She has shown her work only locally and in a limited amount, such as at the Meriden Arts Council Exhibit.

She donates much of her work to charities, among them Hidden Acres Therapeutic Riding Center, which is in Naugatuck.

Her favorite piece? “That’s a superhard question to answer,” she says, “but my current favorite is a small painting of my mini mare, Jane, on Masonite [a type of wood hardboard]. One windy day, her mane was blowing up in the most interesting fanlike curve, and it was backlit by the afternoon sun. In the process of painting, it just came together and I achieved capturing her magical little expression.”

in her first juried art show, a benefit for the Connecticut Draft Horse Rescue (CDHR). Her paintings and photography are featured in Funky Stuff the Collective, at the Pin Shop in Oakville, and in November her first solo show opened at Boston’s Kent Newton Salon.

Sarah Grote

Painting on wood by Sarah Grote.

“Finding the beauty and magic in nature. Capturing the essence of one’s soul. Finding a way to connect my own vision with others.” Sarah Grote says these are goals for her photography and paintings.

A Cromwell resident, Sarah began painting this year as an addition to her photography, which she started full time in 2013.

Sarah’s art is primarily self-taught, although she took a watercolor course at a private studio and books and online videos helped her a lot. “I’ve discovered that my learning is best done through applied knowledge, so painting, shooting, and creating is a daily habit,” she says.

This year Sarah entered paintings

Her current passion is the horses at the CDHR; she says their photos and stories inspire her to put their images under her brush.

“I just created my favorite painting of four of the horses, based on a photo I took,” she says. “My painting captures them on reclaimed wood, galloping into the sunset, accentuating the characteristics of the wood grain.”

Lisa Helene Goetze-Keiser Killingworth artist Lisa Helene GoetzeKeiser has been painting with acrylics for just six months, and her work has already been accepted into a juried art show.

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Experienced equestrian specializing in horse properties.

At the urging of a professor of art appreciation, Lisa changed majors and earned a degree in the fine arts.

Because she didn’t see a lucrative future as a painter, she didn’t pursue a career in art.

“I’ve been volunteering at the Connecticut Draft Horse Rescue for more than two years,” says Lisa, and being with rescue horses has enabled her to discover things about herself.

One Sunday afternoon, at a time when she was struggling with the loss of a rescue with whom she’d bonded deeply, she found solace in one of the paddocks.

Nick, by Lisa Helene Goetze-Keiser.

Nick was a 19-hand Belgian who was determined to cheer her up. After taking many photographs of what she calls his “goofball” face and “floppy snoot,” Lisa knew she wanted to paint again.

In addition to the juried show, Lisa’s paintings are on exhibit at Funky Stuff the Collective, at the Pin Shop in Oakville.

Her favorite piece? Nick, of course.

Though the painting sold at Lisa’s first show, she says she’s happy that someone else will enjoy it as much as she did.

Toni Leland has written nine equestrian mysteries, a young-adult novel, two books on gardening, and a photographic history, and her articles have appeared in Grit, Over the Back Fence/Ohio, Country Living, Connecticut Lifestyles, Pathfinders, Sound and Country, Connecticut Family, and The Day (New London). She is the owner of Equine Graphics Publishing Group and SmallHorse Press.

Connecticut Horse

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Horseperson Feature

Old Saybrook

by Sally L. Feuerberg

M

Maggie Dana The Timber Ridge Riders

embers of every generation affectionately remember that special book series they devoured. No matter your age, you can recall anxiously turning the pages as the plot twisted and veered off in directions you could never have imagined. An afternoon’s reading turned into a nighttime addiction under the covers, flashlight in hand, as you promised yourself just one more chapter. When you finally finished a book, emotions turned from sighing satisfaction to impatient anticipation as you longed for the next edition’s adventure.

Back in the late ’50s and ’60s, it was the Nancy Drew series, written under the collective pseudonym Carolyn Keene.

Maybe you followed Nancy, the amateur sleuth who spent her time solving spinechilling mysteries with her best friends, Bess Marvin and George Fayne. In the ’80s, you might have indulged in the combination soap opera and romance collection called Sweet Valley High. In the late ’90s, perhaps you were mesmerized by the children’s horror-fiction novellas, Goosebumps, by R. L. Stine, who referred to them as “scary books that are also funny.”

Many of today’s young adults, especially middle-grade and tween readers, are enthralled by the exploits of Kate McGregor, her best friend, Holly Chapman, and their archrival, the evil Angela Dean, all featured in Maggie Dana’s Timber Ridge Riders series. This 13-book collection (so far), filled with action and adventure, was written for savvy girls who simply love horses. The author instills in her stories many of the components that made the classic anthologies of the past the legends they are today. Mystery, romance, a little intrigue mixed with mayhem — and horses — keep Maggie’s readers wanting more.

Maggie Dana was born in Harrow, England, and brought up in Uxbridge, about 20 miles west of London.

Uxbridge was a rural town filled with dairy farms and plenty of open spaces.

At 12 years old, following five years of persistent begging, she persuaded her father to buy her a pony. Smokey, a black New Forest who loved to drink tea and eat custard, became her constant companion. Her quaint country village offered the perfect setting of wooded 14

January/February 2016

areas, fields, and bridle paths nearby, and even a golf course. “I used to ride Smokey down the main path and look longingly at the fairways and greens, so inviting to canter over,” Maggie says.

She learned to ride in the middle of England’s largest movie complex, Pinewood Studios, famous for

Cleopatra, with Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, and more recently for Superman, the Harry Potter films, and the James Bond movies. There was a riding stable at Pinewood and she and other children would ride their ponies down to the paddock, past enormous sound stages and the studio’s main headquarters. Tom Taylor, a former military man, gave riding lessons, and the children would help care for the animals used for various scenes and storylines.

“Besides horses and ponies, the stable owned a bad-tempered cow, two evil sheep, a promiscuous pig, and a neverending flock of chickens, ducks, and turkeys,” Maggie recalls. “I remember when piglets had gotten loose from the barn during a Hollywood-type garden party. They proceeded to knock over numerous tables and chairs, and although it startled many of the afternoon’s famous attendees, we as children laughed with delight as the chaos ensued.”

When she was 20, a studio execu-

tive who needed models who fit her description to serve champagne to guests at a future event approached her.

He explained that her costume would be, she says, that of a “Roman wench.”

Thinking it would be an interesting experience, she accepted. While working her way through the crowds of Hollywood’s and London’s elite, she was asked if she would pose with a young man who seemed to be attracting quite an audience, particularly a group of photographers. The man was Kirk Douglas; the party was to promote Spartacus.

Maggie emigrated to the United States at the age of 21, leaving family and close friends behind. She had fallen in love with an American fighter pilot whose tour of duty in Germany was about to end. “We have three kids and are long divorced, but we remain on good terms,” she says. “So there I was, a single mom with a massive mortgage and a full-time job . . . and I added to my debt by taking out a loan so I could buy a Morgan mare for my then thirteen-yearold daughter because she was badgering me just as vigorously as I had badgered my father for a pony. And I’m so glad she prevailed. We owned the beautiful mare for twenty-eight memorable years.”

She became an editorial assistant at the office of the Weekly Reader (a magazine for kids) in the New Products Department. “When my boss was in the office, I was busy,” Maggie says. “When he wasn’t there, I had nothing to do.”

When he was laid up for three weeks with a slipped disc, she says, “I was bored witless.” To keep from going crazy, she asked if she could help out in other departments; her boss refused, however, fearing that information about any secret projects they were working on would leak. Concerned that her doing nothing would reflect badly on him, he told her to look busy. “Write letters, a shopping list — you can even write a book if you want,” he told her.

“So I did,” says Maggie, “on their time, their typewriter, and their paper.

And then, sweet irony, I sold it to them for fifteen hundred dollars, which was a princely sum in those far-off days.”

That first book (1980), entitled The Golden Horse of Willow Farm, was about a chestnut mare with a flaxen mane and tail and the teenage girl who loved her.

After writing another book for Weekly Reader (with no horses this time), Maggie thought the next logical step was to retain a literary agent in New York, and hers introduced her to Jane Stine (Jane’s husband wrote the Goosebumps series). Jane was searching for an author to pen a series for girls aged eight to 12. Her only request was that it be called Best Friends. Maggie asked her if she’d be okay with it being about horses and Jane agreed. Maggie set the main location in Vermont near a ski resort so she could incorporate winter sports as well as equestrian, in order to appeal to a diverse audience. A total of four books were subsequently produced — and translated into several languages, among them Swedish and Norwegian.

Soon after, she set aside the horse series and Maggie wrote women’s fiction. “An author friend suggested she release the Best Friends series as eBooks on Amazon and Barnes & Noble,” says Maggie. “Not having any electronic files, I would have to rewrite them. No problem. I’m a fast typist and this would be easy — just mindless copy, right? Word for word.”

As Maggie reviewed the first book, No Time for Secrets, she realized a complete overhaul was necessary. “Today’s young readers want snappier dialogue, less description, and more action in the books they read,” she says. “To gain this generation’s attention, authors have to compete with video games, cell phones, and Facebook, as well as film and TV. That said, I used the same characters but changed a few names and kept to the basic framework of the original stories; I also had lots of fun introducing plot twists and more characters.

“I also changed the titles,” she says, “because of Amazon’s automatic matching system. If I hadn’t, Amazon would’ve matched my old books, still circulating in the used-book market, to the new ones, and we would have wound up with two different paperbacks and one eBook for each title!”

As she reacquainted herself with the characters of the old series, Maggie discovered that she’d forgotten much

of what she had written. She had learned a great deal from editors, workshops, and other authors; she had matured as a writer. “I’ve succeeded in improving the stories and the way I’ve told them,” she says.” I’ve also been contacted by several people who read Best Friends when they were young and now read Timber Ridge Riders with their horse-loving children.”

Maggie’s most recent creation is a book called Turning on a Dime, a significant departure from the characters of the Timber Ridge Riders series. “A modern black teenager time-travels back to the Civil War in Mississippi and finds herself on the run,” she says, “outwitting slave catchers and trying to explain bras, music videos, and cell phones to a 1860s southern belle who’s just become her best friend. A shared love of horses is what draws Sam and Caroline together like a pair of magnets. It helps them work through the trauma involved with being a black girl from 2014 and a white girl from 1863.’’

It seems that writing, to Maggie, is like breathing. “Most of the time,” she says, “if I’m not actually writing, I’m thinking about writing — composing scenes, drumming up plots, and inventing characters for Timber Ridge Riders.

This, of course, can be done while I’m outside pulling weeds and waging war against the shrubbery or mucking stalls at my daughter’s barn and feeding her chickens. On rainy days, I indulge myself with fabric, making quilts and tote bags in my tiny sewing room. Oh, and I read a lot, too.”

Maggie relates one of the many wonderful experiences she has had as a writer: “I was in London for the launch of Beachcombing, my debut novel [Macmillan, 2009], she recalls, “and I popped into Hatchards [London’s oldest bookstore] to sign copies of my book. The salesperson told me to wait because she had to fetch ‘the table.’ I said I was fine standing at the counter, but she insisted. Moments later, she emerged from a back room bearing a small, beat-up pine table and set it down beside a wooden chair. “ ‘Everyone signs their books at this table,’ she said, patting it. ‘Oscar Wilde signed all his books here.’ So I did too.”

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

Connecticut Horse

15

Granby

by Lisa Peterson

Farm Feature

Strain Family Horse Farm

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Lisa Peterson

a boarding facility that offers a relaxed “We look for ones that can walk, oday Bill Strain Jr., his brother, family trail-riding atmosphere. In 1998, trot, and canter, ones that can back up David Strain, and their children and aren’t cranky, not teeth grinding, keep the family business thriving. Bill and his wife, Christina, started a boarding and lesson barn, the Strain and not ear pinning. It all sounds simThe Strain Family Horse Farm, started Family Equestrian Center, in Southwick, ple, but it’s very important,” Bill says. in Granby by the late Bill Strain Sr. and Massachusetts, which boasts two barns, The horses they offer for sale are his wife, Sandy, almost a half century ample outdoor and indoor riding rings, used for pleasure riding, local showing, ago, each year sells hundreds of quality and large grass paddocks for their 20and lessons. They even sell to the riding horses. They’ve been in the busiplus boarders.

Hartford and Bridgeport police departness of selling horses for so long that On most days you’ll see two, if not ments, among others, which adhere to they now have some three-generation three, generations of Strains at the sales the old military cavalry tradition of only customers. geldings and solid colors As you enter the sales of bays, blacks, and chestbarn, you’re in the presence nuts. of dozens and dozens of When newly acquired framed color photographs horses arrive at Strain’s of happy owners showing off farm, they’re cleaned and their horses winning silver clipped and their manes trophies, relaxing on the are pulled. They’re shod, trails, or taking small chiland dewormed and have a dren for pony rides. A Coggins test. “Then it’s photo of the actress lots of riding!” David says.

Katherine Heigl, aboard a “It’s important to make pretty Paint, stands out. sure that the horse’s story In 1968 their parents matches the horse.” With bought a five-acre dairy many hours in the saddle, barn on Sakrison Road. Bill they can make sure a senior’s father, who came horse crosses water, goes from Ireland, was a horsequietly on the trails, and man: he worked with Yale’s isn’t afraid of traffic, for polo team and managed example. Once they’re satthe Farmington Polo Club. Garrett Strain with his dad, David Strain (center), and uncle Bill Strain, Jr. isfied that a horse is suitBill senior started out in the able for purchase, they’re ready to show barn in Granby. The family pride themhorse business as a blacksmith and sold it to clients. selves on having a good supply of qualhorses on the side. With sales success, they expanded the property to 10 acres. ity horses — from 30 to 40 — to show people on any given day.

Horse Shopping Bill senior, who passed away in 2012, “Horses aren’t like cars; they’re not Bill Strain Sr. — and his ability to match a eventually transitioned from farrier Chevys or Fords. Every horse is a live rider to just the right horse — was legwork to a full-time sales barn, horse product, unique and individual, just as endary. “He was well known, had a strong transportation, and a tack shop. With personality, and always shared his opinlong hours spent in the barn and lots of every person’s situation is unique and individual,” Bill says. “A horse may be ion,” Bill says. “People didn’t always like horseback riding, Bill junior and David considered too fast for one rider, too it, didn’t want to hear it, but at the end of grew up on the farm and learned the slow for another.” the day he was almost always right.” family business.

“There’s a saddle for every seat,” His sons say they’re more laid back “It’s all we’ve ever done,” Bill says.

David says. “We just have to find the in their personalities than was their “Every day we live and breathe this. father, but their abilities to match the We’re New England’s largest quality sales right saddle for your seat. We’re like matchmakers.” perfect horse for a rider’s needs are secstable. I don’t think there’s anybody else Bill and David work with 19 agents ond to none. And they’ve continued the like us.” across the Midwest and Canada to find system, developed by their father, that When the Strain brothers moved quiet and safe horses for a variety of helps them find that horse. out of their parents’ home, each set up purposes, from hunter/jumpers and It all begins when one of the Strains his own riding and boarding facility. western pleasure to family trail riding interviews a buyer. He’ll ask about ridNow the family manage three locations and lead-line ponies. Specializing in ing experience, plans for the horse, and and operate a fleet of trailers for shipthe budget. Then it’s time to take a walk Quarter Horses, Paints, warmbloods, ping horses, both locally and long disin the sales barn. The 200-foot-long, 40and draft crosses, the brothers look for tance. In addition to daily duties at the sales barn, David and his family manage horses that are more than five years old, stall barn, with a dirt aisle wide enough to ride in during inclement weather, the Western Connection, in Granby. It’s mostly geldings and already trained.

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January/February 2016

beckons. Each stall in the original side of the barn has a charming welded image of a horse profile, head study, or breed motif on the door. And each stall has a number. Starting at stall number one, each horse is brought out, in hand, so the customer can get a closer look.

At this point, a prospective buyer decides which ones she wants to see ridden. Then, read from a list written on a clipboard, comes the call: “Bring out numbers three, eight, twenty-one, and thirty.”

Each horse is ridden first by the farm’s professional rider at the walk, trot, and canter, so the buyer can see the horse go under saddle and, if appropriate, over fences. Then the customer selects the few she wants to ride herself. In good weather, these test rides take place outdoors. Riders take a spin in the white rail–fenced ring, about the size of an enlarged round pen.

“Sometimes someone is attracted to a horse because of its beauty,” David says, “but then once she rides it, she may realize that its behavior won’t be a good fit.”

Part of what makes the experience special is that you see a big selection and ride eight to ten horses in one session. It’s important to be able to compare one horse to another right then and there.

Three-Week Horse-Exchange Guarantee Once a horse is selected and the price agreed on — the horses range in price from $3,000 to $15,000 — arrangements are made for the horse to go to its new home.

The purchase of a Strain horse comes with one outstanding benefit: the three-week horse-exchange guarantee, which states, “If within the first three weeks of ownership, you are not completely satisfied for any reason, we will gladly exchange your horse for another at no additional charge.”

“They have a fantastic purchase promise,” says Shelby McChord, of Newtown. “If you don’t like that horse for any reason — Bill once told me ‘even if you don’t like his smell’ — bring him back and trade for another.”

David says this three-week time frame serves the horse as well as the rider. “The horse never gets into a bad situation that the people are unhappy with,” he says. “The exchange prevents people from buying a horse, then after a few weeks, when they realize it’s not working out, instead of kicking it out in

the field as a mistake, the horse can come back to us so that a more suitable match can be made.”

“It’s hard to find a companion that fits. The personality, gaits, athletic abilities, and mental attitude can’t be determined in an hour. It’s wonderful to have some time to figure these things out,” says Shelby, who over the years has purchased four horses from the Strains.

Currently she has two of those horses, a western pleasure palomino named Butter (a.k.a. Skip Dee Review) she bought for her daughter almost 20 years ago, and a Percheron mare named Bea that she’s owned for the past decade. “Many of my friends have found their equine soul mate at the Strain Family Horse Farm,” she says.

“It’s always my favorite place for a horse shopping trip.”

One such friend, Tracy Van Buskirk, who also lives in Newtown, says she just loves the small bay Quarter Horse gelding she bought from the Strains two years ago.

“Little Bear appealed to me because of his kind eyes and good conformation. I was looking for a calm trail horse and that’s what he’s turned out to be. I’m very happy with my horse,” Tracy says. “The sales process was low key and unpressured. I rode several horses, and Mr. Strain was happy to change saddles between English and western so I could try the horses both ways. I was able to ride in a ring and out in a field. Mr. Strain listened carefully to what I was looking for, and didn’t try to sell me what I didn’t want.”

Lisa Peterson’s lifelong involvement with horses spans teaching equitation and horsemanship as well as riding to hounds, hunter/jumper horse shows, and hunter paces. A weekly columnist for the Newtown Bee, she also blogs about horses, hounds, and history. She lives in Newtown with her husband and three Norwegian elkhound show dogs.

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17

East Granby

by Lisa Peterson

Youth Spotlight

McKayla Langmeier Capturing Maclay Crown

I

“If you wanted her to quit crying, put her on the pony,” Linda says.

“Since I could walk, I tried to get on anything,” McKayla says.

Many years of riding ensued. There are so many people who have helped McKayla throughout the years, that the list is just too long to print. Then, after many years of training with her mother, McKayla trained with Missy Clark and John Brennan, of North Run in

Riding Before Walking McKayla says she started riding when she was two, but her mother recalls putting her in a little western saddle on a pony when she was just eight or nine months old. Her father would walk her around while Linda gave riding lessons.

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January/February 2016

opportunity.”

Once they learned the first jumping course, they went over it step by step to help McKayla prepare Skyfall.

“My mom told me, ‘You’re going to go in and ride at a pace and make it seem easy for everyone behind you,’ ” McKayla says.

Her own preparation meant lots of flat lessons and riding multiple hunters and jumpers at various horse shows.

McKayla didn’t do a lot of jumping prep at home because, she says, “I really know my horse.” Once they arrived in Kentucky, they did the warm-up class. After that, Skyfall was actually “a little fresh,” says McKayla, and didn’t have the best schooling ride. “We had to work a little harder for the Maclay,” she says.

The Competition

Liz Soroka

n late November, junior rider McKayla Langmeier sat aboard her bay Hanoverian gelding, Skyfall, at the in-gate at the National Horse Show, in Kentucky, quietly repeating her mantra: “Confidence and discipline.

Confidence and discipline.” She was about to start a two-day journey that culminated in her historic win in the 2015 ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay Equitation Championship.

“I take a deep breath and ride like it’s just another day, doing a regular course, with no environment around me, not thinking it’s the Maclay, but thinking you can nail it and conquer the course,” says McKayla.

But this wasn’t just another day. McKayla was making her fourth visit to the Maclay finals. She had never pinned in this ultimate test for junior riders, but this year felt confident that she had a chance. Her riding position was stronger, she says, she had more quality catch rides during the summer show season, and she knew her own horse really well.

Before executing a start-to-finish first-place ride, however, McKayla, a high school sophomore from East Granby, had to overcome a few challenges — like being first to ride, a broken zipper on her riding boot, and not thinking about the fact that if she won, she’d be part of the first-ever mother/ daughter team to earn this prestigious award. Her mother — and one of her trainers — Linda (Kossick) Langmeier won the Maclay in 1983, when it was still held at the iconic Madison Square Garden, in the heart of New York City.

When she accomplished that feat, the Maclay class was already in its 50th year.

Warren, Vermont, and Wellington, Florida, as well.

When she’s not going to a show — and to school — 15-year-old McKayla likes to listen to music and play with her dog, a mixed-breed rescue named Ginger. She also has a pet rabbit that goes everywhere with her, including to the World Equestrian Festival in Florida every winter. But most of her free time is dedicated to riding, two to three hours after school each day, on the family’s horse farm.

The Draw Two days before the Maclay, Missy was at the meeting during which the 153 riders’ names were drawn for the order to go, and McKayla was waiting to find out her position. When she read the text saying she’d be the first to compete, McKayla says, “I kind of dropped my phone, to tell you the truth.”

This news called for some consultation with Linda. “After talking with my mom a little bit, we thought it would be an advantage to go first,” says the teen.

“I’ve gone first before, so I wasn’t a newcomer to it. It’s actually a good

The strategy of preparation, discipline, confidence, and making the other riders perform up to her pace paid off. In his analysis during the livestream broadcast, hunt-seat equitation legend George Morris said her round was “a class act” and “she set the pace.”

Now it was up to the other riders to try and dethrone her.

After her round, McKayla says she watched about 20 more trips, mostly those of her fellow riders, students of Missy and her mother. She then waited for the callback.

That’s when she learned that she was still first in the lineup for the flat phase, which would take place the next day. (This was the first year that the finals competition would follow a twoday format.) McKayla liked this schedule, she says, as it gave her more time to prepare her horse and she didn’t feel rushed.

That is, until one of her riding boots suffered a malfunction.

“The morning didn’t start off the best because my boot broke,” McKayla says. The teeth on the zipper had popped out. McKayla figured duct tape would do the trick, but her mom, a stickler for appearance, said no.

Somehow they found a pair of men’s boots — belonging to Missy’s assistant manager Anthony DeSimone — that fit her size 11 feet.

“To put on a pair of boots that aren’t your own and to ride in the final is like changing your baseball glove. It’s a major piece of equipment,” Linda says. “That threw us on the edge for a moment, but that’s part of a winner’s brain: you roll with the punches. You don’t sweat the small stuff. McKayla is so good at that. She’s all business when she gets on a horse.”

Even in borrowed boots, McKayla (and Skyfall) executed a flawless flat phase that included counter canters and flying lead changes in front of the judges box. Again she was called back first, among the 30 riders, to execute the final jumping test.

“I found the second jump and that whole bending line, on the rail by the in-gate, to be the most challenging,” McKayla says. “That lead is harder for me and the first line asks you right away to ride the track correctly.”

The Winning Moment Once again McKayla executed a perfect round. Then came the announcement that there would be no more testing.

The judges, Chris Kappler and Ralph Caristo, had made their decision.

“I hate to assume things, but when we were outside the gate waiting, I kept thinking she’d better go out and trot a jump, just in case they test again,” Linda says. “When they said there was no further testing and her second round was just spot on, I thought they couldn’t have moved her to second now — but you don’t want to assume — but it was a strong possibility that she won.”

“I just can’t believe it actually happened. I’m still in shock,” says McKayla.

“I had hoped they would say my name.

But what if I fell down to second and they called Lucy instead? I couldn’t breathe. Up to that presentation, it was the longest moment of my life.”

Then it was official: the announcer read the results and McKayla Langmeier was the winner.

“That’s when I realized I hadn’t changed into my photo outfit,” says her mother. “I had ‘hat head’ and I was in my riding clothes, and everybody outside the gate was trying to spruce me up a little before I went into the ring. It was the most emotional moment of my entire life,” Linda says.

What’s Next?

Now McKayla is looking forward to this year’s show schedule, and she plans to focus more on jumpers but still do the equitation finals and the under-25 jumper competitions.

Linda has some advice to parents: “As a mom, the best things are to be supportive and to allow your daughters or sons to make their own choices. You have to be supportive when they win and when they lose. It’s important for teenagers to know we love them and we support them.” In the end, Linda says, “it’s every little girl’s dream to win the Maclay.” And she should know, as now mother and daughter have achieved that magic goal.

McKayla’s advice to other juniors looking to make it to the equitation finals: “Work harder, stay dedicated, have a passion for it, and remember to always have fun!”

Lisa Peterson’s lifelong involvement with horses spans teaching equitation and horsemanship as well as riding to hounds, hunter/jumper horse shows, and hunter paces. A weekly columnist for the Newtown Bee, she also blogs about horses, hounds, and history. She lives in Newtown with her husband and three Norwegian elkhound show dogs.

Training ~ Lessons ~ Showing ~ Sales 7 Thrall Road, Broad Brook, CT (860)307-6963 ~ mcph279@gmail.com www.carverperformancehorses.com

Connecticut Horse

19

Horse Sense

Insurance Confused? The Best Guide to the Basics

by Stephanie Funk

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here are certain things people simply don’t like to think about: taxes, death, and insurance, for example.

We go about our day-to-day routines with our horses, many of us wrapped in a bubble of “It won’t happen to me.” Which only makes it an even more brutal intrusion when the unthinkable does happen.

Maybe it’s human nature to cringe at thinking ahead to the worst, or maybe it’s weighing financial output against calculated risks, but whatever it is, it can interfere with you protecting yourself adequately in case of an emergency. Properly insuring your horses and your farm is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your family.

For a commercial facility, insurance is, or should have already been, an important part of being in a business that’s already set up. For the average horse owner, those of us with one, two, or three equines in our backyard, insurance may be something that gets pushed aside. Indeed, many of us aren’t aware of just how many types of coverage are available, or what all of the options are. Sure, most of us know about mortality coverage. But what about major medical? Loss of use? Personal liability? Think your homeowner’s will cover that last one? Better check that policy before you need to use it.

So are you one of the ones still thinking “It won’t happen to me”? Let’s take a look at some scenarios.

The First Scenario You aren’t a commercial farm or operation, just an enthusiast. You love to show and have been successful at it for years.

You load up your horse to take him to a local show. Prince has always been a nice, calm horse, always bomb-proof.

You arrive at the show, offload him, and tie him to the side of the trailer when suddenly a neighboring trailer’s awning is torn loose by a huge gust of wind.

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January/February 2016

Prince explodes, tears himself loose from your trailer, and takes off through the grounds. Along the way, he knocks down a show mom and cuts his leg. The show mom has to be taken to a hospital because she hit her head when she fell, and Prince requires three stitches in his

©SandyHorse

leg. You’re stunned when you receive a bill from the show mom for her hospitalization and angered that you now have a vet bill too. Who is responsible for the damages?

Well, actually, you are. Even though the wind knocked loose someone else’s awning, it was your horse that tore through the grounds. And now those bills are being presented to you.

Everyone who owns a horse should purchase a liability policy for it. It’s relatively cheap: an addendum to an existing mortality policy for a single horse can be as low as $25 a year; a standalone Personal Equine Liability policy covering up to five horses can be purchased for $150 a year. Personal liability can be purchased in coverage increments of $300,000, $500,000, or up to a million. This coverage is available in double aggregate or even triple aggregate. Double aggregate means that if you bought coverage of up to $300,000 and in June your horse damaged the neighbor’s rare Ferrari one night when you didn’t lock its gate properly, then in

September, while on a trail ride with friends, your horse spooked and caused injuries to someone, thus incurring another huge bill, your policy would cover both of those incidents up to $300,000 each. That’s a double aggregate. Triple means up to three events. (If you own a horse that could cause up to $900,000 in damage in a single year, perhaps you ought to consider putting it up for sale!)

Now, regarding the stitches Prince needed after his romp through the grounds, unless you have a major medical policy on him, and very likely even if you do have one, you are paying that bill.

Liability won’t cover damages to your horse: it covers only damages caused by your horse to someone else.

For damage to your horse, you’ll need a major medical policy in place.

This type of policy has a deductible, usually about $300. Many companies offer major medical coverage for up to $10,000 per year in protection for your horse. This covers diagnostics, and reimburses you for your vet bills . . . a very important distinction here: reimburses.

Many people are under the impression that they just submit the bills to the insurance company, but it doesn’t work that way. You have to pay your bills first and then you get reimbursed for them, minus any deductibles.

Another thing to bear in mind with this scenario is that the event you attended would most likely also carry insurance. So you think, why wouldn’t the event itself cover this accident? Well, event coverage is a tool designed to protect an event holder from lawsuits from third parties. Thus, though the event holder would be covered if the show mom sues it, you won’t be.

The Second Scenario Little Susie is taking lessons at your barn. She’s riding Ranger, a longtime

Connecticut Horse

21

school horse. Ranger’s getting a little long in the tooth, though, and lately has taken to stumbling. While walking through the parking lot to the outside ring, Ranger stumbles. Susie hasn’t been paying attention and goes off over his shoulder, causing him to step sideways away from her. Unfortunately, he bangs into the fender of her mother’s car and dents it. Susie is crying and holding her wrist, so off to the hospital she goes for x-rays.

A commercial operation should have in place General Equine Liability along with care, custody, and control policies at the very minimum.

Commercial liability insurance protects the policyholder from lawsuits from either your action or inactions causing injury or damages. Usually it will cover up to $5,000 in medical payments without lawsuits. That’s an important distinction: without lawsuits. In the case of Susie’s accident, not only is her hospital trip to x-ray her wrist covered, but the dent in the fender of her mother’s car is too. If Ranger had sustained an injury in all of this, however, he wouldn’t be covered unless he had his own medical coverage policy in place.

The Third Scenario You take good care of your horses. You make sure they’re eating properly, are dewormed regularly, have vet care, and get good hay. Therefore, it comes as a shock when one of your horses starts colicking . . . and he doesn’t respond to walking or traditional treatment. To your horror, the vet diagnoses a twisted gut, and you find yourself en route to Tufts. Your horse is only eight years old.

You gulp, hand over your credit card, and watch the charges mount.

Colic is one of the most dreaded words a horse owner can hear. A horse is built with an internal schematic that’s a recipe for disaster. Many feet of intestine loop back and forth, packing its barrel full of gut. It can’t burp or vomit.

Horses love to roll around on the ground, and will often eat things they shouldn’t. Now add humans and their artificial environments for horse keeping and it’s no wonder that colic is such a common proposition.

You can build in protection for your horse by purchasing policies specific to colic. Most companies offer some level of colic surgery within the mortality insurance. You can also purchase a policy specific to the care and

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January/February 2016

treatment of colic, often up to $7,500 worth. And as anyone who has ever experienced this can testify, in an equine hospital you can reach $7,500 in a matter of days .

The Fourth Scenario Alice and Peggy were out trail riding.

Peggy was on a young horse, one that wasn’t too good about crossing water.

They reached a small brook, and her youngster started to refuse. Peggy asked and asked him to cross, but the horse refused every time. Alice was sitting on her old-timer to Peggy’s left. She was riding western, with an eight-foot set of split reins tied in a knot so she wouldn’t lose a rein when she dropped them on her horse’s neck. She was sitting quietly, waiting, with the reins hanging in a low loop below the neck. Peggy asked her youngster again, and that’s when he lost it. Wheeling to his left, he thrust his head beneath the neck of Alice’s horse . . . right through the loop of reins.

Suddenly both horses were panicking and bolted through the woods, tied together. Peggy and Alice hit the ground and sustained injuries; the horses sustained injuries too. Fortunately, all the injuries were minor.

There are a couple of things that could happen here. Peggy’s homeowner’s insurance might cover damages to Alice and her horse. Homeowner’s is supposed to cover damages caused due to negligence by the policyholder. If they were riding on Peggy’s land, she’d have a chance at having the claim honored if her company hadn’t specifically excluded horses. Otherwise, Peggy had better hope she had a personal liability policy on her horse, because she could be held liable for the damages to Alice and to Alice’s horse.

Many of you are probably wondering why your homeowner’s wouldn’t cover accidents like this one. After all, it would cover liability from pets, if your cat scratched the neighbors’ child, say, or your dog gnawed their rare oak deck furniture. So why wouldn’t it cover equine damages?

Maureen O’Mara, an agent for Farm Family Insurance in Williamstown, explains that Farm Family was founded specifically to handle the agricultural needs of the farming community. Over the years, the focus shifted from such agrarian activities as cattle and crop farming to more equine-related activities. Part of that change is the result of the loss of dairy farms in the area.

Horses went from work animals, to backyard pets, to big business, with significant changes over the three decades that Maureen has been an agent with Farm Family. Maureen elaborates: “As part of that change, more and more homeowner’s polices are starting to exclude horses from their coverage; insurers feel that they’re too big a risk.

Farm Family Insurance has responded to this change by stepping forward and offering more coverage for equinerelated insurance needs, whether they be commercial or personal.”

Even if your homeowner’s does cover your horse, one of the conditions to consider in a policy is what happens if you take your horse someplace for a show, a trail ride, or a pleasure ride. As Maureen explains, “For competitive equine sports, some carriers [for homeowner’s] will not extend coverage to that event.” This can leave you in a tough situation if anything happens there that causes injury or damage to anyone.

Maureen makes this point: “You want to have your homeowner’s policy with the same company you have your commercial or personal equine liability policy. This keeps the insurance compa-

nies from pointing fingers at each other in the event of a claim.”

The Fifth Scenario You own a small commercial barn and you have Equine General Commercial Coverage in place. You’re trailering your own horse to an event and your neighbor, John, asks you to take his horse too. You have an empty stall, and John’s always been a good neighbor, so you say sure, and you don’t charge him for it.

Along the way, you get cut off by someone, causing you to swerve hard to the right. A trailer wheel drops into a ditch and flips the trailer. John’s horse has to be euthanized because of the injuries he sustained. John presents you

with a bill for the value of his horse, some $25,000.

This is a case in which you should have had Care, Custody, and Control insurance in place. This type of policy provides a layer of protection. Care, Custody, and Control protects the policyholder when boarding, trailering, or training, for example. The policy will cover mortality if the death was due to negligence by the policyholder or by his or her employees if at a facility. It won’t provide coverage if your horse is injured or killed in any manner that is unrelated to the boarding farm or transportation.

The Sixth Scenario Maria finally received her instructor’s license and wants to work as a freelance

Connecticut Horse

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teacher. She doesn’t have a place of her own and doesn’t want to work for just one facility. Can she legally practice her trade now?

If Maria goes to work at a farm that has in place an Equine General Commercial policy, it should cover both employees of that farm and independent contractors. For added protection, she should purchase her own General Commercial Liability policy. This coverage will follow her no matter where she teaches. “Shop around and ask questions,” says Maureen. “Ask about what the policy covers and what sort of deductibles it may have.” Premiums start at about $500 per year. “It’s a lot more affordable than most people think it is,” Maureen says.

In a Nutshell As you can see, insurance is a worthwhile investment. But what exactly should you get? Call around and talk to agents. Get advice to see what sort of coverage best suits you, get quotes, research companies. Ask people who have insurance if they like their company. If they’ve ever had a claim, how well was it handled? Were they satisfied with the results?

As a rule of thumb, commercial operations should have — at minimum — a General Equine Liability policy and a Care, Custody, and Control policy added to it. If you have a horse that’s valuable, it would be to your advantage to have at least mortality insurance, as well as major medical and possibly loss of use.

As a private owner, you need at minimum a personal liability policy covering your horse. You also want mortality if the replacement value is more than you could afford out of pocket, and major medical if it is a competition horse or valuable. The more you use your horse, especially if you travel with him, the more coverage he should have.

Both commercial and private owners: Research whether the equine insurance company can pick up your homeowner’s policy as well. Some companies offer policies for the barns and outbuildings associated with a farm, along with coverage for equipment.

Having your insurance needs met through one company could streamline things if you ever have a claim.

When it comes to horses, you can’t be too safe. Be prudent: Protect yourself and your barn from serious financial repercussions. In today’s litigious

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January/February 2016

society, it’s unwise not to take care of yourself and your family first.

Remember to shop around and ask questions, and don’t be afraid to compare companies until you find the right fit for you and your barn.

age is available for select coverage only.

Note: In some cases, the ownership of a horse is turned over to the insurance company upon payment of an LOU claim, so be sure to get full details from your agent about the restrictions and conditions of this sort of policy.

Coverage for Horses Mortality This type of policy is strictly for death.

Some companies, such as Hallmark Insurance, have a clause that says a horse is still covered up to 30 days after the expiration of the policy. Check with your agent to verify the coverage period and the conditions attached. You must have a realistic assessment of a horse’s replacement value. If a horse is valued much higher than is plausible, the company may send someone to appraise the animal.

On average, this policy is available for foals on up to age 19. There’s usually some colic surgery and theft coverage built in. Premiums are assessed on a horse’s insured value, ranging from 3 percent on horses up to 15 years old to as high as 12 percent on horses 16 and older.

Major Medical and Surgical (MMS) Some companies offer this in addition to the mortality insurance. MMS typically covers medical and surgical procedures, including diagnostics necessary as a result of accident, illness, injury, or disease. This coverage is available for horses aged 6 months up to about 15 years. Some companies offer a surgeryonly addendum to a mortality policy, meaning that coverage would be for surgical costs, not diagnostic testing. Ask your agent for details. MMS coverage usually runs from $7,500 to $10,000.

This type of policy is a must for anyone who does heavy competition with her horse, such as an eventer.

Colic Medical and Surgical Coverage A condition-exclusive policy, this covers strictly colic-related medical and surgical expenses.

Loss of Use (LOU) This coverage is for horses that are injured or otherwise compromised such that they can no longer be used in the manner they were intended for. This loss of use may be the result of an accident, illness, injury, or disease. Coverage may pay up to 50 percent of the insured value; check with your agent. This cover-

Named-perils Coverage You can insure against specific events, such as fire, theft, wind, lightning, and accident. Some agencies will allow you to pick the coverage you want; others group them in tiers of protection.

Personal Liability Coverage This policy covers an owner in case of damage or injury caused by her horse to a third party. It does not cover things like someone riding your horse with your permission. You may purchase a policy from $25,000 up to $1 million.

Coverage may be added to an existing mortality policy or be a stand-alone policy for up to five horses, with the ability to purchase coverage for more than that many. Everyone who owns a horse should invest in this coverage; many boarding stables are now making this a requirement. Premiums start at $25 a year.

Professional Coverage Equine Commercial General Liability This coverage is very important if you perform any commercial equestrian activities, such as boarding, instruction, training, breeding, and buying and selling horses. The policy can be augmented to provide on-premises coverage for independent trainers or instructors while acting within the scope of their duties at your operation. Premiums start at around $500 a year. Be sure to have your agent explain exactly what’s covered, what sort of aggregate it carries (multiple incidents in one year), and what the maximum coverage will be.

Also find out what other policies could be purchased with this one: perhaps Care, Custody, and Control (see below).

Care, Custody, and Control Consider this coverage if you board, train, or breed horses for others. If one of those horses is injured or dies while in your care and you are found negligent, this policy will provide for the medical care or replacement cost of the horse up to the coverage limits. Legal defense costs are also covered. This policy extends to trailering horses too,

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January/February 2016

although there may be a range limitation in place, such as up to 100 miles from home or within the United States only. Every barn owner who has horses that belong to someone else should carry this policy.

Equine Clubs and Associations Equine member organizations that would like to protect themselves can obtain this liability coverage. The basic policy provides coverage for several public- event days during the year, and coverage for additional days is available.

This policy helps to protect your group if you are faced with a lawsuit by a third party. Defense fees, as well as property damage and/or bodily injury, are covered. This sort of coverage is a must for anyone who wants to hold public events. Many companies offer policies for one-day events too. Some of them will even cover the setup and breakdown required for that event.

needs covered by one company can eliminate the lag time incurred when several agencies must figure out whose coverage applies to the situation. Ask your agent to explain the various packages. Most companies offer tiers of protection, for a homeowner with one or two horses, a private owner of several horses, or a commercial operation taking place at your residence. Make sure you have your equipment properly covered, as well as your buildings.

Subscribe Today! at connhorse.com

Farm Coverage You can establish almost any degree of coverage you want, from EGCL and CCC to coverage for your residence, structures, equipment, livestock, and more. Having all of your insurance

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Lend a Hoof

Coventry

by Christine Church

I

don’t think it matters how fancy the barn is,” says Megan Yoho, a longtime volunteer at Tara Farm Rescue, in Coventry. This one is a mishmash of do-it-yourself projects, patchwork barns, and paddocks separated by electric wire. But none of that means anything to the multitude of animals the farm has saved during its 33 years in business. What matters is the care and love, and there’s more than enough of both to go around.

Originally, the property, located at 670 Babcock Hill Road, consisted of nothing but a house and the 54 acres of land it sat on. “It was just a condemned house with the land,” says Megan. BonnieJeanne and her husband purchased the house and land in 1982. “She bought the place from the town and started from square one, with nothing,” says Megan. “She built everything from the ground up.”

BonnieJeanne’s first major rescue was a pony that had been painted by a little girl who wanted a pink horse; she used toxic lead-based paint. The pony was pregnant and her foal (Brooke) was born on the farm, and lives there still.

Today, the farm houses 15 rescue horses, plus a slew of other animals. It takes in horses and pigs (even wild ones) and chickens and dogs and goats and donkeys and even cats, oh my. (Tara Farm works in coordination with the Kitty Angels cat shelter, also in Coventry, to give a home to or adopt out cats that are feline immunotherapy virus–positive.)

Above or affixed to each barn is a sign with its name and an illustration of the type of animal that was its namesake. Every barn pays tribute to an animal that was on the farm, such as Buster’s Barn, in honor of a cat.

All horses have runs and none is “locked” in its stall at any time.

Tara Farm is able to do its work through the generosity of the community. “Everything is volunteer based because,” says Megan, “the finances just aren’t there.”

The farm does have a host of professionals who work with the animals.

“We thank them and our specialists, too,” says Megan. “We have our veteri-

Christine Church

“

Tara Farm Rescue

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January/February 2016

narians, our horse dentist — our massage therapist comes to us from Colorado a couple of times a year.” All the professionals provide topnotch care for the animals and give the farm discounts on the costs, which can be prohibitive for a rescue, many of whose animals arrive in poor health. “They don’t donate,” says BonnieJeanne, “but they give us a break. They’re very, very important. They really help us.”

“Rescue animals come from many locations,” says Megan. “For example, right now we have a Thoroughbred and a pony that came from a neglect case.”

Sometimes an owner can no longer care for his horse and asks the farm to

take it. Some rescues are former Tara Farm residents that come back: BonnieJeanne’s policy is that if — for whatever reason — an adopter cannot keep the animal, the animal may be returned.

One good example is a horse named Buck. “He was a beautiful champagne Fjord gelding,” says BonnieJeanne. “When I received the call about him, I was told the owners could no longer take care of him.

When I went up to get him, he looked sad and sore. I asked about his bad limp and was told, by an owner, ‘He got out on the road a few times and was hit by a car once.’ He didn't receive any medical care after the accident.

I took him home to the rescue and called the vet. Many x-rays later, it was determined that he had a fractured pastern. The next step was shockwave treatment to stimulate healing. This was especially important, as there had been a significant amount of time between the accident and the treatment. A special high-heel shoe was created by the farrier. Over a period of a couple of years, the farrier was able to bring the heel down to normal. Buck isn’t perfect,” she says, “but he’s far better than he was a few years ago. At this point, Buck spends his days as a special friend to an elderly lady and many happy children.”

TARA FARM OFFERS horse boarding (the proceeds go to the upkeep of the rescue animals), which is a rough-board situation. Boarders must clean their horses’ stalls and take care of their horses: If you own a horse (or any other animal), “we push you to be in your horse’s life as much as possible,” says Megan. “Many people go to the barn, saddle up, ride, and leave and never really get to know their horse. When I started here, I learned the importance of saddle fitting, getting their teeth done, and all of that on a regular schedule — bonding.” . . . continued on page 31

The Vet Is In

The Coggins Test

by Dr. Matt Kornatowski and Dr. Ashley Kornatowski

E

swelling of the limbs, weakness, and even unexpected death. The subacute stage is less severe, but with similar symptoms. At this stage the disease tends to progress at a slower rate than it

istockphoto.com

very year, before the start of the show season, you have to call the vet to come draw blood for a Coggins test. Not only that, but she or he will take some nice pictures (or draw them) of your horse to put onto the Coggins certificate. A few days later, you get back a paper stating that your horse tested negative for equine infectious anemia and you’re good to go.

So what exactly is equine infectious anemia and why must we test for it every year?

Equine infectious anemia is a viral disease that attacks equids. It was first discovered in Europe in the mid-1800s and was found in the United States just eight years later. It’s caused by an aptly named virus — the equine infectious anemia virus.

(Someone spent a lot of time coming up with that one!) This virus is similar in nature to human immunodeficiency virus, what we know as HIV. It can be transmitted through blood, saliva, milk, and body secretions.

In horses, it’s transmitted mainly by sucking flies, such as horseflies and deer flies. The virus survives in a fly and the disease infects other horses as the fly moves from one to the next. One fly can infect an entire herd quite quickly.

Once an animal is infected, it’s infected for life. There’s no vaccine. There’s no cure.

Most horses that test positive for EIA aren’t showing outward signs, but it’s still very important to address the situation.

Once a horse has the infection, it’s considered to be in one of three stages of disease. The first is the acute stage.

This means sudden onset with serious symptoms, among them high fever, anemia (breakdown of red blood cells),

does in the acute phase. Its symptoms may even decrease, at which point it enters the chronic phase (also known as a carrier phase). The horse may seem fine, but it still carries the virus. It may tire easily and have a recurrent fever and anemia. A relapse into the acute or subacute phase can occur years after the original attack.

If an infected horse were to travel to a show, you can imagine what could happen. And it has happened. In 1947, an epidemic at a racetrack in New Hampshire struck 77 horses that either died or had to be euthanized.

So what exactly is the Coggins test?

The test is named after Dr. Leroy Coggins, who in 1970, at Cornell University, developed the lab test to diagnosis EIA. The USDA made it the official EIA test in 1973.

The procedure doesn’t detect the

virus, but it detects antibodies to the virus. An antibody is a protein built by the immune system to attack foreign substances, known as antigens. The immune system develops antibodies only if an antigen is presented to it. In other words, if the horse has never been exposed to EIA, it won’t have antibodies against it.

While you read what comes next, don’t worry too much about the jargon. We’ll explain what goes on; you’ll understand even if you can’t remember the exact terms (or how to spell them!).

The diagnostic tool is what’s called an agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID). What happens is this: The serum (blood sample) is put in a hole in a petri dish. If an antibody (Ab) is present in the blood sample, as it diffuses out of the hole and into the agar gel, it will bind with the antigen (Ag) and form a precipitate. This is a positive test. If there is no antibody, there won’t be any precipitate and the Coggins is negative. This test takes about two days to complete.

Occasionally, the results of a test are needed right away. In that case, we perform a stat ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). This is a quick test: it takes just a few minutes to show if an antibody is present. So why isn’t this our first choice? Well, it’s not as accurate the Coggins, and the AGID is still run to confirm the results.

If a horse is found to be positive for equine infectious anemia, it poses a risk to any equids around it. Because there’s no treatment, most horses are euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease. However, not all horses have to be put down. If one of your horses has a . . . continued on page 47

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Trail Guide

by Madison xx

by Stacey Stearns

Hammonasset Beach State Park

R

drew tourists from across the continent.

The Grand Pavilion was torn down in 1967; it was originally built to last five to ten years, but survived for far longer.

World War II closed the park to the public as the federal government used it for an Army reservation and aircraft-

Stacey Stearns

iding across the beach with the wind blowing off the water and the smell of salt in the air is exhilarating. Nutmeg State equestrians can experience the thrill of such a ride at Hammonasset Beach State Park, in Madison. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) manages Hammonasset, which is Connecticut’s largest shoreline park, with more than two miles of sand, sun, and surf.

In the summer, Hammonasset is buzzing with activity, from the 550 campsites, to the Meigs Point Nature Center programs, to, of course, the beach itself.

Every year, some one million people enjoy the park.

During the winter months, the nature center still runs programs and the beach is busy — but equestrians can enjoy the park too, as horses are allowed on the beach from November 1 through March 31.

History Hammonasset Beach has a rich history, like many of the other properties owned and managed by DEEP. The area along the Hammonasset River used to be farmed by eastern woodland Native Americans, who grew corn, beans, and squash. (The name itself means “where we dig holes in the ground.”) The Hammonassets also fished and hunted.

When the first colonists arrived, in 1639, the land began to be taken over, and eventually the Hammonassets were absorbed into the Mohegan tribe.

Winchester Repeating Arms Company bought part of Hammonasset in 1898 and used the beach area as a testing site for its new rifle. The Connecticut Park and Forest Commission bought the land in 1919, as well as land owned by Clarkson Meigs and others, to create the 565-acre park.

In 1923, 339 acres were added.

When the park opened to the public, in 1920, it saw 75,000 visitors in the first season. The Grand Pavilion and boardwalk were popular attractions and 30

January/February 2016

firing range. P-47 warplanes flew over Clinton Harbor and practiced on targets on Meigs Point before continuing over Long Island Sound. Remnants of a plane that crashed on a training flight are still in the Sound. After the war ended, the public quickly returned, and visitors have been breaking attendance records ever since.

Directions and Parking Access to Hammonasset Beach is fairly simple: it’s just one mile from Interstate 95, and big brown signs lead you toward the park. In winter there’s no parking fee, but you still have to drive through the payment gates, which are narrow.

Next, you’ll come to a rotary, with three options for parking and beach areas.

There are large gravel parking lots at all three areas: West, Middle and East Beaches. A low wooden fence surrounds each of them, which makes for tight maneuvering with a horse trailer.

West, the first exit on the rotary, is the only area with a dirt parking lot. It’s under construction to rebuild after damage from Hurricane Irene, but it’s

possible to get to the parking lot. The West Beach parking area has PortaPotties; the only other place with open restrooms is the Meigs Point Nature Center.

West Beach is home to pavilions, which are available for rental, and has access to the boardwalk (foot travel only).

If you park at West Beach, ride along the dirt road over to Middle Beach and get onto the beach at access point 7.

The parking area at Middle Beach has some very big potholes, so I don’t recommend getting off the second exit with a horse trailer.

The third exit takes you to the East Beach parking lots, and then farther along the road is the Meigs Point Nature Center, also with a nice lot. Although it’s paved, it’s easy to get from here to the beach or to the trails near the estuary.

The boat-launch parking lot is the final place you can drive to from this exit.

No matter where you park, pack water for your horse, as none is available.

Hit the Beach A stone breakwater at the Meigs Point end of the beach was built in 1955, using stones from quarries in northern New England. There’s not much beach riding beyond the breakwater — this is where boats put into the water — so head toward East Beach for long stretches of sand.

“Hammonasset is a big park with plenty of options for every ride,” says Kris Pollock, of Deep River, who enjoys riding her Morgan gelding Thunder at Hammonassett during the winter months. “There are a couple of trails out to the estuary area as well as long stretches of beach to gallop on. We use the parking lot at Meigs Point, by the nature center, because it’s the largest and most open lot. There’s beach

access across the street, and the trails to the estuary are all the way in the back.”

Consider the tide schedule before planning a departure time. In the hours closer to low tide, there’s more beach to ride on — some of it compressed sand, which makes for comfortable footing.

At high tide, there’s less beach, and the deep sand can be a challenge. For a month’s worth of tide information, visit ct.usharbors.com.

This Olde Horse

Old Lyme

Take Note The ocean startles many horses the first time they encounter it, especially the waves coming into shore. If possible, go to the beach with a friend whose horse has ocean experience. Some horses think the waves are chasing them, so introduce your horse to the water slowly — give it all the time it needs to become accustomed to the sights, sounds, and movement.

If your horse enjoys exploring the surf, be aware that it may try to roll in the water, and you must prevent that from happening.

Even in winter, many people come to the shore. On a cold and windy day in November, I met people with their dogs and bicyclists, and there were even a couple of brave kite boarders. This extreme sport combines windsurfing and skateboarding. If you see kite boarders, give them plenty of room.

When they come off the water, the process of bringing a kite back down to pack it up can spook a horse.

Do come out to Hammonasset for a ride along the shore, with the expanse of ocean providing your spectacular view. What a wonderful way to spend a few winter hours!

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

Subscribe Today! at connhorse.com

In 1900, the date of the photo above, harvesting ice for home iceboxes, restaurants, and bars was big business in Connecticut. Cutting ice on lakes, ponds, and rivers was an excellent way to make money until the late 1930s, when the refrigerator replaced the icebox.

This seasonal business began in late December or early January, weather depending, and continued until the icehouses were full or temperatures began to rise, usually in February. Ice was ready for cutting when it reached a thickness of l2 inches at the ideal temperature of 32 degrees.

Horses hauled the ice blocks and cutting equipment, as well as plowing snow. In addition, a horse or a team was used to lift each block out of the wagon and into the icehouse. The horses wore shoes that had caulks, or plugs, so they could walk out onto the ice. The ice workers fitted their shoes with creepers, bottoms with iron points for traction.

Have a photo for This Olde Horse? Email . . . Lend a Hoof, continued from page 28

Tara Farm also offers riding lessons, in all disciplines, and hosts events, some in conjunction with the nearby Babcock Hill Equestrian Center.

There’s a work-to-ride program as well. “You can come here and put in a couple of hours, then go out and ride forever,” says Megan. “We hooked up with Rails-to-Trails. People can go trail riding, swim with the horses, ride in the ring — whatever they want.” The workto-ride program is an especially nice incentive to help Tara Farm if you don’t have a horse of your own: You can contribute your time and, in return, you can ride to your heart’s content.

“We actually have had horses that have been big show horses,” BonnieJeanne says, “that owners have asked us to put in our program. An owner gives us a donation and asks that we find the horse a good home.”

editor@connhorse.com.

BonnieJeanne and her staff are strong believers in outreach. “We do a lot of community-service programs,” she says. “We work with people who have to do community service and we try to help 4-H Clubs and Boy Scouts, too.”

The farm has a Facebook page and is also on Instagram and other socialmedia sites. To see what’s happening, learn about upcoming events, or donate, just visit one of them or the website, which is at tarafarmsrescue.org.

Volunteers are always welcome. If you’re interested, please call (860) 7422215.

Christine Church, of Vernon, has written four books on the care of cats, reports on horse care and animal-rights issues for an online publication, and has seen hundreds of her articles in national magazines. She’s a professional photographer and an actress, and is working on a novel.

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Overherd

News in Our Community UPHA, he has been a USEF judge for 30 years — officiating at every major show in the United States and at the Royal Winter Fair, Toronto.

Ricky Harris Inducted into ARHPA Hall of Fame

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January/February 2016

Anne Gittins Photography

n Suzy Lucine

Jay Sargent, McKayla Langmeier, Mason Phelps, Linda Langmeier, Patti Harnois, and Amy Eidson during the award ceremony for McKayla and her mom, Linda, who won the NEHC Alumni Class at the New England Equitation Championships.

courtesy of Carolyn McEvitt

Ricky Harris, of Somersdream in Somers, has been inducted into the American Road Horse and Pony Association Hall of Fame. The awards ceremony was held in Louisville on August 27 during the World’s Championship Horse Show at the Kentucky State Fair.

What made this honor particularly special for Ricky is that it included his father, Ward, and his brother, Roy, posthumously.

Ward Harris was born and raised in North Carolina. He began his career training roadsters in 1957; he trained and showed numerous world champions and coached amateur drivers as well. He was well known as a gentleman of the show ring. Ward passed away, in 1981, at the age of 59. He was posthumously inducted into the North Carolina Horsemen’s Hall of Fame.

Roy Harris was a trainer of hackney ponies, Morgans, and Saddlebreds. At age 13, he won the amateur class at Louisville; at that time, there wasn’t a juvenile division for road ponies. When he passed away, at the age of 62, he had a career record of 14 world and national championships with three different breeds of horses.

Ricky Harris won the Juvenile Road Pony Championship at the Lexington Junior League Horse Show in 1976. He worked for his father until his dad’s death, and then took over his father’s stable.

He has worked, trained, and shown more than 25 world and national champions and was a 2014 UPHA Chapter 14 Hall of Fame Inductee.

A 28-year member of the

placed ninth overall.

(Hippology is an all-encompassing study of the horse.)

The competitors had to tackle a written exam, slides, horse judging, and team

Hebron 4-H Horse Club members at the Eastern National 4-H Competition.

Hebron 4-H’ers Go to Nationals Congratulations to Hebron 4-H Horse Club seniors Bethany Powell, Megan Leclerc, Alicia Marvin, and Grace Mintor. They flew to Kentucky to represent Connecticut at the Eastern National 4-H Competition in the hippology contest and

problem solving. It was an all-day test of their horse knowledge as well as of the skills they learned in 4-H, such as working together, public speaking, and problem solving, and they spent many hours in preparation.

Many thanks to those who helped financially, educationally, and with encour-

agement and advice. We appreciate all your support! n Carolyn McEvitt

New England Equitation Championships October marked the 40th anniversary of one of the longest running and most prestigious equitation finals in the country — the five-day New England Equitation Championships, held this year in West Springfield. The esteemed judging panel comprised Chrystine Tauber (course designer), Ken Smith, Walter “Jimmy” Lee, Ellen Raidt, Daniel Robertshaw, and Linda Andrisani.

The 46-and-over Adult Medal kicked off the week as Tracy Hart, of Stamford, just edged out Maryellen Sardella for the win. Devon Poeta, of Old Lyme, won the 23–45 division. The following day, Emma Schauder, of Greenwich, was reserve in the 18–22 group.

The 40th Anniversary Alumni Class was held in honor of beloved rider Lawrence “Rooster” Yacubian, and a check was presented to the Wounded Warriors Family Foundation in Rooster’s memory. The class featured both a team and an individual competition among previous winners. Forty-two riders, in pairs, took part. Linda Langmeier (1984 Junior Champion), of East Granby, and daughter McKayla (2014 Junior Champion) teamed up to sweep both phases.

The Challenge of the States team costume class took place on Saturday.

Juniors with top scores in the Open competed on teams of six to represent their home states — no help from their trainers allowed! Connecticut

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Connecticut Horse

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Team One won the gold.

Thanks to an anonymous donor, teams competed for money to donate to a charity of their choice.

On Sunday, the Junior Medal Final featured 197 riders. Top-scoring juniors who had never competed in a 3'6" final were eligible for a separate set of ribbons. That win went to Caitlin Doocy, of Colchester.

For more results, visit newenglandequitation.com.

The Connecticut Classic has been a long-term goal for Ebony Horsewomen founder and CEO and 2014 CNN Hero Patricia Kelly.

“Our goal is to prove that Hartford is ready for worldclass events like this one and, at the same time, bring back to life the national treasure that is Keney Park,” says Patricia. “Horse shows show-

National Award Congratulations to Patricia Kelly, who was recently inducted into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, in Fort Worth, Texas.

A former U.S. marine, award-winning community leader, and equestrian trailblazer, Patricia Kelly has been at the helm of the Hartford–based nonprofit

n Melissa Welch

for more than 37 years, as well as a certified Master Urban Riding instructor and equine husbandry instructor.

She also holds a certification in Equine Assisted Growth, Learning, and Therapy as a Horse Specialist via EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association).

Patricia has been recognized multiple times, most currently as one of CNN’s Top 10 Heroes of 2014 and as one of Aetna’s Champions for Change. n Karena Garrity

Gypsy Places Third in Versatile Horse–Rider Competition

Big News for a Little State It’s official: the first annual Connecticut Classic Horse Show is coming to Hartford.

This premier AA hunter/ jumper show will take place in September at the capital city’s historic Keney Park at Lookout Mountain. The show, produced by the Westbrook Hunt Club, will be hosted by Ebony Horsewomen. The Connecticut Classic has been a very long time in the making, and is the first show scheduled to be held in Keney Park in 100 years.

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January/February 2016

Helen Peppe

Sherrye Johnson-Trafton and Dungarvan Jackpot at Equine Affaire.

Sally L. Feuerberg

Gypsy Horse Registry of America Wold Champion Dungarvan Jackpot, of Dungarvan Feather Farm in West Suffield, and trainer Sherrye Johnson-Trafton placed third in the Equine Affaire Versatile Horse and Rider Competition, which was held in November. “This was our first time competing with one hand [reins] and I had the second-fastest course time,” says Sherrye. Jackpot was the only Gypsy breed competing. In addition to versatility, he drives, rides English and western, trailrides, and loves to gallop on the beach. “Thank you, Bob and Kate Reed,” says Sherrye, “for the wonderful opportunity to train and show this special Gypsy stallion.”

Northwest Connecticut Draft Horse Association’s Field Day

At the Northwest Connecticut Draft Horse Association’s Fall Field Day.

case nontraditional career opportunities for youths from Hartford’s north end.”

It will be a familyfriendly event, featuring top equestrians, and is expected to present $125,000 in cash prizes in a variety of competitive classes.

To learn more, visit ctclassichorseshow.com. n Karena Garrity

organization Ebony Horsewomen for 30-plus years.

Started in 1984 as a cultural and social enrichment organization for female equestrians, Ebony Horsewomen serves more than 300 youths annually, creating a safe space for them to receive mentorship for personal development.

Patricia has been a trained equestrian instructor

A breezy and overcast morning didn’t hamper any of the festivities at the Northwest Connecticut Draft Horse Association’s Fall Field Day, at Wright’s Farm in Orange, on November 1. Participants from throughout Connecticut and New York provided free hay- and carriage rides for the numerous spectators and put on demonstrations about plowing techniques and equipment in an adjacent field.

Included in the day’s activities was horse pulling: Pairs of horses in harness pulled a stone boat or a weighted sled as onlookers cheered on each team. Also featured was an obstacle course set up for cart and carriage drivers of both single horses and teams to display speed and agility.

Breeds represented were Percherons, Belgians, Clydesdales, Morgans, and an American Mustang. One of the afternoon’s many highlights was Frank Castella Sr.’s Warrior Wagon. It was built to honor veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. This wagon, pulled by a pair of stunning Percherons, has a wheelchair lift to make it handicapped accessible. Its design was based on an Army wagon that was used late in the Civil War era until the First World War. Decorations

On a happier note, a longtime herd member and one of the rocks of the therapeutic-riding center, Irish Sport Horse Half Pint, was voted the 2015 Horse of the Year. He’s patient, reliable, sturdy, and kind. Half Pint was born in 1992 in Ireland and imported to the United States to work as a fox hunter.

At High Hopes, he’s known

on the sides of the vehicle consist of the seals of the various branches of the military, and it flies both the MIA and American flags in the rear. n Sally L. Feuerberg

Saying Good-bye to a Friend

High Hopes News High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center’s program director, Liz Adams, will be leaving soon. After serving as an integral part of the High Hopes program for six years, she’ll be joining a new therapeutic-riding program on Cape Cod. High Hopes’ fifth annual Holiday Market was a huge success. This year the indoor riding arena, which was transformed into a holiday bazaar, welcomed more than 2,300 guests who enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of holiday shopping, delicious food, hayrides, and activities for kids. The best part? Almost 2,850 pounds of food was collected and donated to the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries.

Also during the holiday season, High Hopes sadly had to say good-bye to a beloved member of the herd, Roxy. Her contributions will be remembered for years to come.

A Weekend of Education courtesy of High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center

n Karena Garrity

with plentiful desserts.

Awards went to the top fund-raisers; all riders received gift bags loaded with equestrian delights. For the perfect note to end the day’s event, Major Gordon Johnson read an official statement issued by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy proclaiming October 24, 2015, to be Susan G. Komen Connecticut Ride for the Cure Day. n Sally L. Feuerberg

Irish Sport Horse Half Pint was voted the 2015 High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center’s Horse of the Year.

Julia Arvan

Mitchell Farm Equine Retirement said good-bye to longtime resident Walter.

“He embodied the phrase ‘having heart,’ ” says Dee Doolittle, founder of Mitchell Farm. “He gave his all in every phase of his life, including retirement. Well into his thirties, Walter was very interested and engaged in the goings-on around the farm.

He marveled over Denver, a donkey, when he was born and kept track of everyone, especially the mares. His mind was willing, but his body just couldn’t do it anymore. You will be missed Wally, Gator, Nijinsky Sun.”

on October 24. Teams dressed in pink tutus, pink ribbons, and pink jackets rode horses adorned with pink saddle pads, pink leg wraps, and, yes, even pink hair extensions. The Wilton Pony Club’s Ponies in Pink even switched their breastplates for fashionable bras!

A hardworking crew of family and friends supported

Alexis, Lori, and Ken Kaine and Timmy (horse) at the Ride for the Cure.

as the stout, big-bodied horse with the great work ethic. n Karena Garrity

Susan G. Komen of Connecticut Fairfield Ride for the Cure The Susan G. Komen Foundation, assisted by the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard in Newtown, hosted the first-annual Fairfield Ride for the Cure

Lori Kaine, the day’s organizer, as did the troopers of the Governor’s Horse Guard and the Hubbard Foundation. Twenty-five horses and their riders, who raised significant funds to benefit the local fight against breast cancer, enjoyed wellmarked and scenic trails.

After the morning ride, participants and volunteers dined on an elegant lunch

Dressage4Kids 14th-annual Weekend Educational Program, for riders of all ages and skill levels, as well as parents and trainers, will take place January 30 and 31 at Nonnewaug High School, in Woodbury.

This year, Olympian Denny Emerson will be the keynote speaker. He’s respected not only for his successful equestrian career, but also for the number of horses he has bred and trained. The author of several books and articles, Denny is a member of the United States Eventing Association (USEA) Hall of Fame.

Weekend Educational Program will offer seminars on a variety of horse-related topics, such as how to improve your riding and training skills and best practices in horse management: that is, horse health, stable management, and correct fitting of tack. There will be discussions about marketing and insuring your business, as well as insights into the importance of fitness for horse and rider. Lessons in drawing and photography, along with demonstrations of vaulting and interactive sessions on Pilates for riders, are also planned.

Olympian Lendon Gray, who 14 years ago started the Weekend Educational Program with the goal of helping riders, parents, and instructors achieve a better Connecticut Horse

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His vision was to use the knowledge he had gained, from having trained and competed with the best riders around the world, to select and develop the best products for the horse and rider. Soon, David joined Jim with the idea of making the Dover expertise available to equestrians across the coun-

understanding of good horsemanship skills, will once again lend her expertise.

To learn more, visit dressage4kids.org. n Karena Garrity

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January/February 2016

Dover Saddlery in Ridgefield.

Amy Williams

With an official ribbon-cutting ceremony and a donation to Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Center, Dover Saddlery celebrated the grand opening of its Ridgefield store, located at 720 Branchville Road, on December 11.

Now in its 40th year of service, Pegasus Therapeutic Riding provides the benefits of equine-assisted activities and therapies to people with special needs, military veterans, and individuals at risk.

Pegasus is a PATH International Premier Accredited Center serving more than 200 participants ages four and up each year at chapters in Fairfield, Westchester, and Putnam Counties.

The first 50 attendees received a gift. There were grand-opening specials and the chance to enter to win a $500 shopping spree.

Shoppers were able to meet representatives from many brands and have their questions answered.

The beautifully merchandised store, with easy access and great curb appeal, offers the leading equestrian brands as well as many Dover exclusive items. In-store services include custom boot and coat fitting, monogramming, and a saddle-testing program.

Dover Saddlery was founded in 1975 by Jim and David Powers, former members of the USET Three-Day Event Team. After returning from the Olympic Games in Germany in 1972, Jim thought that riders in New England would appreciate a saddlery shop dedicated to providing a broad selection of the best tack available.

courtesy of Dover Saddlery

Dover Saddlery Grand Opening

riders. They know how to “turn out” riders as well as horses. They know the importance of a well-fitted saddle and the unbeatable durability of properly tanned leather.

When the right product at the right price is not to be found in the marketplace, Dover develops its own by

Daniel Stewart teaching a clinic at Silver Lining Stables, in Monroe.

try by publishing a comprehensive catalog.

Dover quickly expanded beyond its retail store location in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and moved the mail order fulfillment center and administrative offices to Littleton, Massachusetts.

As Dover grew, its founding principles became integral to the organization.

Dover has assembled a team of experienced equestrians who understand the needs of

working closely with worldclass competitive riders. In this way, Dover has developed many unique products, from superior lungeing equipment to its Riders International blankets and its elegant bridlework.

Today, many of Dover’s personnel are active riders and competitors. And they carry on the Dover tradition of using their understanding of horses and the sport to better serve the equestrian customer. Dover Saddlery

has more than 25 retail locations from coast to coast and online shopping at doversaddlery.com. n Karena Garrity

Daniel Stewart Clinic at Silver Lining Stables Silver Lining Stables, in Monroe, offered a two-day clinic with Daniel Stewart on November 7 and 8. Daniel is widely considered to be one of the leading experts on equestrian-sport psychology, biomechanics, and athletics (he holds a degree in sports science). If you have the chance to attend one of his clinics, be prepared to be challenged, both physically and mentally!

Daniel has been an international trainer and instructor for more than 25 years and has coached riders on several American equestrian teams to success at world championships, the World Equestrian Games, and the Olympics. He’s the author of Pressure Proof Your Riding and Ride Right and is working on his third book, Equestrian Fitness and Focus in 52, which will be released in the fall.

Silver Lining’s owner/trainer, Erin Gordon, along with Tara O’Grady, a trainer with An Equestrian Edge (presently operating out of Silver Lining Stables), hosted the event in which 12 horse-and-rider pairs engaged in various jumping and flatwork exercises that emphasized staying focused under pressure, multitasking, and stepping outside their comfort zones. The importance of mental and physical conditioning of the rider was central throughout the clinic, as was recognizing mistakes as life’s lessons. n Sally L. Feuerberg

Champions The 2015 Connecticut Freestyle Championships were announced at the Mystic Valley Hunt Club Fall Finale Dressage Show. The

Connecticut Horse

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CFC is a season-end award for riders who have earned the highest average scores through participation at CFC-sponsored shows.

Congratulations go to the riders who competed in at least two of the nine participating shows run by Centerline Events and the Mystic Valley Hunt Club from October 2014 through August 2015.

The 2015 winners are Jannike Gray, Sandra Cohen, Claire Murphy, and Eliza Gardner. n Karena Garrity

Connecticut Color Breed Association’s Game, Fun, and Jackpot Show The unexpected treat of autumn sunshine and 60degree temperatures greeted spectators and riders at the Connecticut Color Breed Association’s Game, Fun, and Jackpot Show on November 15 at Once Again Farm, in Meriden.

Families and friends

cheered for all the participants in classes ranging from Jackpot Freestyle Showmanship to Lead Line Arena Race and Candy Grab.

Katie Bogaert (with assists from mom and dad) hosted the event, which also featured barrel racing, pole bending, and bareback pleasure/equitation. Indoor-arena trail classes were officiated by Amber Lonergan Haglund; Erin Cecchini judged outdoor-ring events.

Nicole Souza and Melanie Mckeehan, along with the CCBA’s excellent crew, seamlessly coordinated the transitions between classes. n Sally L. Feuerberg

Equus Film Festival Win Advanced Equine Studies’ DVD entitled The Horse’s Respiratory System won Best Training and Educational Program of 2015 at the Equus Film Festival, in New York City.

This festival is the world’s premier showcase for domestic

We Build

and international equestriancontent feature films, documentaries, shorts, music videos, commercials, and training and educational materials.

The Horse’s Respiratory System is the first in a series that will explore the equine bodily systems. The next video, Saddle Fit for Horse and Rider, will be released soon.

“This is the fourth year of the Equus Film Festival and we look forward to next year,” says producer Andrea Steele, of Mouse Hole Farm in Durham. n Karena Garrity

New Home Connecticut Draft Horse Rescue is pleased to announce that Moose and Maddie, a pair of Clydesdale mares that came to the CDHR in July 2013, were adopted together. They had been accompanied by three other Clydesdale mares, all of which had physical and psychological issues that made them difficult to place.

Barns for Life

Horse Barns . Riding Arenas Garages . Restorations 25 Years Constructing Equestrian Buildings.

Serving the Northeast (717) 951-9443 eeZimmerman@frontier.com

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January/February 2016

Now Moose and Maddie will be happily living on a mountaintop in Vermont! n Karena Garrity

New Addition Lionel Ridge Stable, in Orange, added Allie Kaplan to its barn family. Allie is the new barn manager and will work with owner Vicky Williams to create lesson programs and to increase training availability for horses and riders. She’s at ease in both English and western disciplines.

“Allie has been riding since a young age,” says Vicky. “Her knowledge, dedication, and love for horses will bring an even more positive atmosphere to the facility and help to continue enforcing our rules and mottos of no drama, having fun, and staying positive as we’re all riding for our love of horses.”

Allie is currently attending Post University for an . . . continued on page 41

Anderson Farm Supply 224 Marlborough Street, Portland (860) 324-1669 Benedict’s Home & Garden 480 Purdy Hill Road, Monroe (203) 268-2537 benedictsgarden.com Fleming’s Feed 353 Route 165, Preston (860) 889-7536 flemingsfeed.net

Fleming’s Feed 786 Route 1, Stonington (860) 535-3181 flemingsfeed.net G. M. Thompson & Sons 54 Middle Turnpike Mansfield Depot (860) 429-9377 gmthompson.net H. H. Stone & Sons 168 Main Street South, Southbury (203) 264-6501 hhstoneandsons.benmoorepaints.com

Litchfield Blue Seal Store 99 Thomaston Road, Litchfield (860) 482-7116 . blueseal.com Lock, Stock & Barrel 770 Amity Road, Bethany (203) 393-0002 . lsbfarmsupply.com Meriden Feed & Supply 846 Old Colony Road, Meriden (203) 237-4414 Find us on Facebook

Norwich Agway 217 Otrobando Avenue, Norwich (860) 889-2344 norwichagway.com Shagbark Lumber & Farm Supply 21 Mount Parnassus Road East Haddam (860) 873-1946 shagbarklumber.com Valley Home & Garden Centre 16 Railroad Street, Simsbury (860) 651-5646 valleyhomeandgarden.com Connecticut Horse

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Nutmeg State Happenings Mystic Valley Hunt Club IEA Show Gales Ferry

Karena Garrity

To see more Nutmeg State Happenings, find us on Facebook.

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January/February 2016

. . . Overherd, continued from page 38

Winter Thaw Show.

To learn more, visit mysticvalleyhuntclub.com.

equine and stable management degree to further her education after going to Lyman Hall High School, in Wallingford, for large-animal production under the instruction of Claudia Marcello. She is also a part of the Post University IHSA team.

Lionel Ridge Stable specializes in the starting and finishing of horses. Lessons and training sessions with Susan Blue and Vicky Williams are available to students and boarders.

n Karena Garrity

Frazier Farm Horse Show Temperatures in the mid-20s in no way dampened the energy and enthusiasm from a generous contingent of riders, trainers, families, and friends who braved the elements on October 18 to come to Frazier Farm, in Woodbury.

bridles and prizes were presented for overall seriespoint accumulation. n Sally L. Feuerberg

CMHA Annual Youth Essay Contest The Connecticut Morgan Horse Association is holding its Annual Youth Essay Contest, open to all horseminded young people ages 18 and under. Contestants don’t have to be a member of the CMHA or own a horse.

n Karena Garrity

Movado Farms, in Durham, would like to congratulate its 2015 finals qualifiers: Nora Andrews, Taya Hurley, Kylie Katz, Hailey LaForte, Alexi Lucibello, Mikayla Oko, Tracy Brogan Perry, Harper Sanford, Remy Sasso, Kennedy Teasdale, and Catherine Gregory.

Movado Farms has provided a safe riding environment with happy horses and experienced trainers for more than 30 years.

The Movado Farms Show Team is guided by trainers Louisa Fedora, Tricia Carlton, and Bobby Blumenthal.

From Short Stirrup to Adult Medal classes, Movado riders say they have fun and enjoy the support of their teammates and trainers. n Karena Garrity

Congratulations Mystic Valley Hunt Club congratulates its Silver Horse Show champions and its 2015 Schooling Horse Show champions.

The Mystic Valley Hunt Club, in Gales Ferry, offers riding lessons, training, IEA and IHSA teams, hunter/ jumper shows, dressage competitions, the Mystic Summer Premiere Show, and, coming up on January 15 to 17, its seventh-annual Mystic

Sally L. Feuerberg

Finals Qualifiers

Frazier Farm Horse Show participants.

Young and old wore jackets, scarves, and mittens and the horses exhibited the beginnings of their soft winter coats. It seemed as though the horses were all enjoying autumn’s early coldweather tease. Blankets wrapped horses and handlers as riders eagerly awaited their turn in the ring.

Once the classes started, the numbers were called, and the competition began, riders forgot all about the cold.

Riders from farms and stables throughout the area took part in the morning’s Walk Trot and Short Stirrup divisions as well as Maiden, Novice, and Beginner Adult Equitation classes. The afternoon featured Pleasure, Low Hunter, and Open Hunter divisions. Ann Jamieson, author and USEF judge, officiated.

Award ribbons adorned

Children nine years of age and under submit an essay of no fewer than 75 words and no more than 150.

Contestants select from among these topics: the first time you rode a horse; how to stay on when your horse does one of the following: jog, trot, lope, canter; your best day ever with a horse; or an explanation of one horse term (choose from anatomy, tack and equipment, and equitation).

Contestants ages 10 to 13 submit an essay of no fewer than 200 words and no more than 700. These young people select from these topics: an adventure (true or fiction) with your horse (your real horse or the horse you dream of owning); the one horse (a real, living horse) you’d be most thrilled to own; and an explanation of two equine terms (choose from anatomy, tack and

equipment, equitation, and competition).

Contestants ages 14 through 18 should submit an essay of no fewer than 500 words and no longer than 1,500. These youths choose from these topics: the pros and cons of three horse breeds; the equine professional you most admire; and how you plan to pursue a career in the horse industry.

Entries must be postmarked no later than January 15, 2016, and mailed to Patti Brooks, 14 Upper Walnut Hill Road, East Lyme, CT 06333.

Winners will be announced at the CMHA banquet, to be held in March at the Nutmeg Restaurant, East Windsor. The winner in each age group will receive one riding lesson at a top professional stable and one ticket for the banquet.

Please note that winning essays may be published in an issue of CMHA’s online newsletter, the Nutmeg News, during 2016. Winners’ schools will be notified of their accomplishment.

For details, visit ctmorgans.org. n Suzy Lucine

Overherdisms • I wouldn’t want to be any place else today.

• He was a pilot, so he likes his horses like his planes — fast!

• They’re all delicate flowers.

• He’s beautiful and he knows it.

• Never the wrong time to do the right thing.

• Setbacks create comebacks!

• Horse before the course.

Subscribe Today! at connhorse.com

Connecticut Horse

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Partners

Morgan Horse Show (CMHS).

She orchestrated the Hall of Fame Ceremonies for UVM Promise, Miss Roberta, and others at CMHS; assisted with the Sport Horse Show; and advocated for the sporthorse disciplines. Sue lost her battle with cancer in 2010

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

Interested? Email partners@connhorse.com.

Trot a success every year.

Save the date for the Sunday before Thanksgiving and join us for the ride in 2016.

7Stacey Stearns

Connecticut Renegades The CR were invited as presenters to Equine Affaire, in

CGA’s year-end awards banquet, on November 7 at the Prospect VFW, was a great success. It was Halloween themed: guests dressed up and we had pumpkin-decorating crafts with a catered dinner and make-your-own sundaes.

Amanda Dubois was the saddle winner for earning the most CGA points.

7Shawna Baumann

Greg Gibson

Connecticut Gymkhana Association

Connecticut Gymkhana Association Awards Banquet.

The CMHA hosted its sixthannual Turkey Trot at Bluff Point State Park, in Groton, on November 22. Although it was a little drizzly in the morning, the rain held off while the riders were out on the trail, and everyone had a great day. This year we had 23 riders, representing Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. There were quite a few Morgans, as well as Arabians, Mammoth Donkeys, Missouri Fox Trotters, and Thoroughbreds, among others.

The Turkey Trot is a fund-raiser for the Sue Brander Sport Horse Scholarship, and with your help we raised more than $400.

Sue was a longtime CMHA member and a champion for the breed. She was very involved with our youth program, the Holiday Barn at UConn, the sport disciplines, and the Connecticut 42

January/February 2016

Stacey Stearns

Connecticut Morgan Horse Association

Mammoth Donkeys at the Connecticut Morgan Horse Association Turkey Trot.

and the club initiated the scholarship in her memory.

Our generous sponsors again stepped up to the plate to offer fun prizes. (A drawing determines the winner of every prize.) This year’s sponsors were Valley Vet Supply, Big Y Foods, Absorbine, Deep River Snacks, Horse Hollow Press, Sarah Brander – Equine Artist, Carolyn Stearns Storyteller, and Unbranded.

Thank you to all of the sponsors, volunteers, and riders who make our Turkey

Massachusetts. “The Big Bang — An Introduction to Mounted Shooting” took place in the coliseum. The CR put on a 45-minute demonstration showcasing abbreviated versions of all the steps we take during a new-horse and -rider clinic.

Twenty-five club members assisted to put on this show.

After a casual entrance and introduction of our riders and horses, we cleared the arena so Bruce Tolhurst, of Marlborough, on Miss Kitty, could complete a

smooth and fast run to show the sport of cowboy mounted shooting. Following his run, we showed the audience just how he got there.

Our club president, Roger Dinsmore, provided a short ground-instruction lesson to our “new” gun handler. This handler was actually one of our experienced members, Andrea Galuska, of Granby. She and Roger showed how we teach our clinic participants safe gun-handling skills and how to properly shoot the targets while on the ground first.

Next, we imitated our mounted portion of the clinic by inviting all horses and riders back into the arena and walking in a small circle in the center. Members Heather Hicks, on Arwen, and Alan Green, on Levi, pretended to be our new riders on new horses. They fired off the lightest blank loads, called “primers.” The pop of the primers serves as a good starting point before we move to half loads, then full loads. Over the year, our method of keeping the new shooting horses flanked by experienced shooting horses has been highly successful.

Following this session, Paige Forsyth, of West Granby, on her horse, Missouri, demonstrated a common drill riders can practice at home to hone their skills without using live gunfire or having a large arena.

As our final portion of the clinic, each of our riders rode a full course while we explained the different rider levels. Eleven-year-old member Kayla Davis, of Granby, on Cherokee, kicked off our series of runs as our “wrangler” of the evening.

Wranglers are 11 years old or under and shoot with cap guns. Her very fast run had the crowd going wild. No one expected this pint-sized shooter and horse to run

second-place winner, Crystal Maturo, who logged in with 113 hours. Gary Samperi took home $140 in the 50/50 raffle.

The CTRA would like to thank all of the corporate and business sponsors who generously donated to our door prizes: Tractor Supply, Nutrena Feed, Pyranha Corporation, Blue Seal

Kowboy Ken Forcier riding Red at the “Big Bang – An Introduction to Mounted Shooting” at Equine Affaire.

Ruth Strontzer

Connecticut Trail Rides Association More than 80 members, friends, and families attended the CTRA’s annual banquet and elections to celebrate 75 years as a trail-riding club. The event was held at the Litchfield Fire Department Hall and was cohosted by our president, Lynn Gogolya, and our treasurer, Ruth Strontzer, who both did an outstanding job.

The hall was transformed by member Sue Reznak for a beautiful fall-themed hoedown. Thank you to member and volunteer firefighter Ross Adkins for donating and making it possible for us to use the hall.

The food was catered by Scarpelli’s Restaurant, of Torrington. Guests danced the night away to the music of Jim Irving. Jim recently married lifetime member Holly Adkins; best wishes to them!

Congratulations to Ruth Strontzer, whose 140 hours earned her first place in Carrie Torsiello’s Hours Ridden Challenge, and to

camp director, Bud Dore.

A heartfelt thank-you goes to everyone who contributed to make this year’s banquet a successful celebration.

An executive board meeting will take place January 7 at 11 A.M. at the Harwinton Library. Lunch will be at 12:30, followed by a general membership meeting at 1:30. We encourage

Jeanne Lewis Images

such a fast, smooth course!

Heather continued her “new horse and rider” persona by showing how to ride the course in a slow and steady manner that lets new horses get accustomed to the gunfire. Other riders who demonstrated their levels and skills were Alan Green, of Bethany; Christine Boudreau, of Belmont, Vermont; Stephanie Shaw, of Granby; and Gus Carlson, of West Granby. Our last two runs were a demo of a rifle run by Bruce and a shotgun run by Kowboy Ken Forcier, of Oxford. Between each ride, we explained how spectators could learn more about the sport and how to get involved.

For more information about the CR and the sport of cowboy mounted shooting, visit ctrenegades.com.

7Allison Forsyth

Volunteers Sue Reznak, Lynn Gogolya, and Robin Marrotte at the Connecticut Trail Rides Association’s annual banquet and elections.

Feeds, Lakeside Feed Store, Liberty Bank, Shagbark Lumber & Farm Supplies, Anderson Farm Supply, Featherlite Trailers, Purina Feed, Straight Arrow Corporation, USRider, and equine dentist Shelly Wysocki.

Congratulations to the newly or reelected club officers: president, Lynn Gogolya; vice president, Kowboy Ken Forcier; treasurer, Ruth Strontzer; secretary, Patti Crowther; and

you to attend, as this is when we plan our ride schedule for the year. Please RSVP to President Lynn Gogolya, (860) 485-9092, and bring a dish to share.

To learn more, join our Facebook page or visit cttrailridesassoc.org.

Warm winter wishes!

7Gigi Ouellette

Granby Horse Council The year 2015 was an activities-packed one: First of all, every monthly meeting fea-

tured an educational or entertaining program. Then, during the annual banquet, in February, we took the opportunity to thank all the members who contributed time and energy to the GHC’s events and to socialize without horses. Members and guests enjoyed dinner, followed by dancing and fun with friends new and old.

The last Sunday in April was the day of an annual event, the Blessing of the Mounts, and a trail ride at Holcomb Farm, which kicked off the trail-riding season. May always brings parade practices, which involve desensitizing horses to many situations in preparation for the Granby Memorial Day Parade.

Eleven horse-and-rider teams and 13 other members participated in the parade, and presented professionally in their blue-and-black uniforms. The GHC parade team is available for parades from April through November.

In July, the club sponsored its Equine Obstacle Play Day at Salmon Brook Park, in Granby, and the Steep Rock Ride, in Washington Depot. August activities were the Poker Ride and the Scavenger Hunt Ride, both in Granby. In September, club members traveled to White Memorial, in Litchfield, for a trail ride.

In October, it was off to Robinson State Park, in Agawam, Massachusetts, for the St. Jude Benefit Ride; to East Beach, in Rhode Island, for the Bill Strain Memorial Ride; and to Granville, Massachusetts, for the Breakfast Ride at Maple Corners.

The Last Hurrah Ride and the Pot Luck Lunch were held in November at Evans Farm, in Granville. For the second year, the parade team made an impressive appearance in the Hartford Veterans Day Parade. To cap off the year, the council celeConnecticut Horse

43

torate, was a research biochemist and is now a practicing homeopath. A lifetime farmer, she has served on the board of directors of Fairfield County Farm Bureau for more than 25 years and as its president for six.

The MBLA would like to congratulate member Kowboy Ken Forcier and the

Granby Horse Council members at the Veterans Day Parade in Hartford.

Leslie Smith

Middlebury Bridle Land Association Candace Benyei was the guest speaker at the Middlebury Bridle Land Association’s End-of-the-Year Dinner Meeting on November 4 at the Shepardson Community Center. The topic was holistic horse care, and Candace discussed supplements, pasture maintenance, pest control, and equine diet as well as complementary and alternate forms of treatment and prevention to provide optimum health for our horses.

Candace, who holds master’s degrees and a doc-

Connecticut Renegades on their thrilling cowboy mounted shooting demonstration at the Equine Affaire on November 14.

We’d also like to thank all of our members, officers, volunteers, and especially the Larkin family for making 2015 one of the club’s most successful seasons!

7Sally L. Feuerberg

Joan Davis

brated the holidays with a potluck dinner in December.

This club offers many ways to get involved even if you don’t have a horse. Our goals involve positive public relations, sharing the roads and trails with a variety of users, and promoting and preserving all equines through townwide events, such as the Open Farm Day. Every year, a $500 scholarship is awarded to a high school senior and donations are made to Angel Horses, the Granby Ambulance Association, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, and the Granby Police Toy Drive.

To learn more about the GHC, visit granbyhorsecouncilct.com, find us on Facebook, or call President Heather Hicks, at (413) 4278505.

7Joan Davis

NBLA President Dee Davis (far right) guides a group through the Trail of Angels and explains the area’s usage.

Newtown Bridle Lands Association On November 7, members and friends of the NBLA hiked the first phase of the new Trail of Angels, with NBLA President Dee Davis as guide.

Early in 2013, the Newtown Bridle Lands Association voted to create a permanent memorial equestrian trail. Our goal was to create a trail that would be accessible for passive use as

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January/February 2016

well as for equestrians, and that would provide a place to be at peace with nature. The Trail of Angels will enable users to enjoy hours of trail riding, hiking, and other recreational pastimes for years to come.

The Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation welcomed the NBLA to create its trail on the foundation’s 34 acres at Fairfield Hills, in Newtown. We held a number of fund-raisers to pay for the major clearing required to restore existing trails on the property to make a loop trail that was suitable for horseback riding. The Trail of Angels is a 1.2-mile loop through the forest that connects to surrounding trails on land that is owned by the Town of Newtown and the State of Connecticut.

There are more enhancements to be made to the trail, and we still need markers and signage. The trail will also require regular maintenance; the NBLA is continuing fund-raising efforts to support the ongoing costs of this major project. Please visit our Trail of Angels Facebook page to learn about upcoming events.

As you can imagine, creating a trail requires a lot of labor, and much of it had to be done by a professional tree contractor. The NBLA is gratefully accepting donations, either directly to NBLA, P.O. Box 3083, Newtown, CT 06470, or via its GoFundMe page: gofundme.com/dn53kqf4.

Your support is greatly appreciated, and please know that every penny counts.

The grand opening will take place this spring, and we hope you’ll join us for a day of fun, caring, volunteerism, and making memories.

7Leslie Smith

Annual Events Issue!

The March/April issue of Connecticut Horse is the Annual Events Issue.

• It’s the largest issue of the year!

• The comprehensive calendar is the only one exclusive to Connecticut.

• Readers don’t have to wade through events from a slew of other states.

• Equestrians plan their riding and driving season with this issue.

Advertise your business and events!

We reach your target audience.

display advertising rates 1x

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y Our circulation includes paid subscribers, over 55 tack shops, feed stores, and veterinary clinics, the members more than 15 clubs and associations in the Nutmeg State, plus our proprietary list of 300-plus stable and farm owners and managers.

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y Additionally,Connecticut Horse is distributed at more than 25 events each month.

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Connecticut Horse

45

Events Connecticut

13 EQUINE COLIC LECTURE, location TBA. twinpinesequine.com.

13 BLUE RIBBON VENTURES, Valkyrie Equestrian, Granby. bhcmanagement.com.

14 VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION, Old Lyme. highhopestr.org.

13 USEF SHOW, Darien. oxridge.com.

15 – 17 MYSTIC VALLEY HUNT CLUB WINTER THAW, Gales Ferry. mysticvalleyhuntclub.com.

16 FAIRFIELD CUNTY HUNT CLUB SHOW, Westport. huntclubonline.org.

13 EQUESTRIAN TEAM SHOW, Storrs. animalscience.uconn.edu.

14 WHC REINDEER SHOW, Westbrook. westbrookhuntclub.com.

17 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, Terryville. rideiea.org.

20 CDCTA UNMOUNTED CENTERED RIDING CLINIC with Deb Moynihan. Irish Acres Farm, Bolton. cdctaonline.com.

2 VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION, Stonington. horseshealinghumans.org.

18 WHC REINDEER SHOW, Westbrook. westbrookhuntclub.com.

20 – 21 SUSAN E. HARRIS CLINIC, Old Lyme. highhopestr.org.

2 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, Coventry. rideiea.org.

21 GRTA ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DINNER, Milbrook Club, Greenwich. thegrta.org.

21 CABIN FEVER SCHOOLING SHOW, Somers. shallowbrook.com.

24 CABIN FEVER SCHOOLING SHOW, Somers. shallowbrook.com.

21 FAIRFIELD HUNT CLUB SHOW, Westport. huntclubonline.org.

24 CHSA SHOW, Oak Meadow Farm, East Windsor. rideoakmeadow.com.

27 IEA HUNT SEAT SEMIFINALS, Gales Ferry. rideiea.org.

24 CDCTA YEAR-END AWARDS BRUNCH AND ANNUAL MEETING, Holiday Inn, East Hardford. cdctaonline.com.

27 IEA HUNT SEAT SEMIFINALS, East Granby. rideiea.org.

January

3 WHC REINDEER SHOW, Westbrook. westbrookhuntclub.com.

9 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, Hebron. rideiea.org.

10 USEF SHOW, Darien. oxridge.com.

10 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, Gales Ferry. rideiea.org.

10 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, Simsbury. rideiea.org.

11 CHJA ANNUAL MEETING, J. Timothy’s Taverne, Plainville. chja.net.

Mystic Valley Hunt Club Established 1983

Boarding . Training . Sales

Upcoming Shows Details on website!

172-Acre Horse Show Facility in Gales Ferry, Connecticut Just three miles off I95, exit 88

Sally Hinkle Russell 645 Long Cove Rd., Gales Ferry, CT 860.464.7934 www.MysticValleyHuntClub.com 46

January/February 2016

30 CHJA AWARDS BANQUET DINNER AND DANCE, Aqua Turf Club, Plantsville. chja.net.

30 CHSA SHOW, Valkyrie Equestrian, Granby. bhcmanagement.com.

28 BLUE RIBBON VENTURE, Westport. huntclubonline.org.

March 2 ETHEL WALKER MEDAL SHOW, Simsbury. ethelwalker.org.

30 – 31 DRESSAGE4KIDS WEEKEND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, keynote speaker Denny Emerson. Nonnewaug High School, Woodbury. dressage4kids.org.

5 CHSA 83RD CELEBRATION OF CHAMPIONS GALA EVENT, Hartford Marriott Downtown. chsaonline.com.

31 CHSA SHOW, Folly Farm, Simsbury. follyfarm.us.

5 – 6 CONNECTICUT HORSE SYMPOSIUM, Storrs. animalscience.uconn.edu.

31 WHC REINDEER SHOW, Westbrook. westbrookhuntclub.com.

6 BLUE RIBBON VENTURES, Valkyrie Equestrian, Granby. bhcmanagement.com.

31 BLUE RIBBON VENTURES AT FAIRFIELD, Westport. huntclubonline.org.

6 WHC REINDEER SHOW, Westbrook. westbrookhuntclub.com.

February

12 BLUE RIBBON VENTURE, Westport. huntclubonline.org.

6 GHC ANNUAL BANQUET, Old Well Tavern, Simsbury. granbyhorsecouncilct.com.

6 CQHA BANQUET OF CHAMPIONS, Sheraton South, Rocky Hill. cqha.com.

7 BLUE RIBBON VENTURES SHALLOWBROOK. Somers. shallowbrook.com.

7 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, Gales Ferry. rideiea.org.

10 EQUITARIAN RECAP OF RECENT TRIP TO ASSIST THE EQUIDS OF THE THIRD WORLD, location TBA. twinpinesequine.com.

12 DRESSAGE TEAM SHOW, Storrs. animalscience.uconn.edu.

13 WHC REINDEER SHOW, Westbrook. westbrookhuntclub.com.

19 WHC SHOW, Westbrook. westbrookhuntclub.com.

19 CDCTA GOAL-SETTING WORKSHOP/ EQUESTRIAN MENTAL TOUGHNESS with Liz Placentini. Location TBA. cdctaonline.com.

20 FAIRFIELD HUNT CLUB SHOW, Westport. huntclubonline.org.

. . . The Vet Is In, continued from page 29

positive Coggins, you might be able to quarantine it on your own farm, but, depending on the state, you must keep it 200 to 500 yards away from other horses. Note: This will be a lifelong quarantine.

Does every horse need a Coggins?

Actually, no. Although it’s recommended, if you maintain a small backyard herd that doesn’t leave the property, the test isn’t required. If one of the herd is lethargic and develops a fever, it should be tested.

The good news is that we don’t see a lot of EIA anymore; the bad news is that it’s still around. Canada saw a resurgence of the disease in 2011: almost 180 horses were affected. In 2014, there were 63 positive cases across the United States. The numbers for 2105 aren’t available yet, but there have been pockets of afflicted horses in various states.

If you’re traveling with your horses, it’s important that you have an up-todate Coggins certificate. Also, make sure that any horses that are coming onto your farm have been tested (and were negative!) for EIA. It may be diffi-

cult to eradicate this disease, but we can all help to prevent its spread.

Veterinarians Matt and Ashley Kornatowski are the owners of Twin Pines Equine Veterinary Services.

They’re based in Griswold and serve eastern Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Containerized Manure Removal

Susan E. Harris Clinic Join us as International Centered Riding Clinician and Equestrian Educator Susan E. Harris presents

Farms with one horse to 100!

Anatomy in Motion Saturday, February 20 Centered Riding Sunday, February 21

Serving southwestern Connecticut

Register by January 26 and save $25 per day. Auditors welcome.

Newtown, Connecticut 203-426-8870 www.associatedrefuse.com

High Hopes Therapeutic Riding 36 Town Woods Rd., Old Lyme, CT www.highhopestr.org (860) 434-1974 clinics@highhopestr.org

Containers from 4 to 30 cubic yards

Boarding . Training . Lessons . Shows Clinics . Sale Horses & Ponies . Tack Shop

Reindeer Show Series January 3, 18 & 31 . February 14 . March 6 & 13 Jane Dow-Burt - owner, trainer, judge, and clinician 319 Pond Meadow Road, Westbrook CT (860) 399-6317 . www.westbrookhuntclub.com

Dressage4Kids Weekend Educational Program January 30 & 31 Nonnewaug High School, Woodbury

Denny Emerson keynote speaker Olympic eventing rider and author of How Good Riders Get Good: Daily Choices That Lead to Success in Any Equestrian Sport

www.dressage4kids.org

Got manure?

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

Le May, Inc. Farmers of Natural Resources Fred LeMay . Newtown, Connecticut 203-426-2497 . 203-948-1586 (cell) akenworthman@gmail.com Connecticut Horse

47

the

neighborhood

ARTISTS nnnnnnnnnnnn

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

WHITE PICKETS STUDIO (978) 724-8823 whitepicketsstudio.com Fabio and Sara Deponte art.

ASSOCIATIONS nnnnnnnnnnnn

CHESHIRE HORSE COUNCIL cheshirehorsecouncil.org Trail rides and maintenance, community service.

CONNECTICUT COLOR BREED ASSOCIATION connecticutcolorbreed.com Open to all breeds, show series, clinics, trail mileage, dressage.

CONNECTICUT DRESSAGE AND COMBINED TRAINING ASSOCIATION cdctaonline.com Instruction, education, competition.

CONNECTICUT DRESSAGE ASSOCIATION ctdressageassoc.com Competitions, education, clinics.

CONNECTICUT GYMKHANA ASSOCIATION ctgymkhana.com Family fun, games, and horses.

CONNECTICUT MORGAN HORSE ASSOCIATION ctmorgans.org Promoting Morgans; educational activities, programs, and events; annual horse show.

CONNECTICUT RENEGADES ctrenegades.com Cowboy mounted shooting.

CONNECTICUT TRAIL RIDES ASSOCIATION ct-trailrides.org Encourages and promotes trail riding and camping in the state.

FIRST GOVERNOR’S HORSE GUARD Avon, CT, (860) 463-3372 ctfirsthorseguard.org Oldest continuously active mounted cavalry unit in the United States.

GRANBY HORSE COUNCIL OF CONNECTICUT granbyhorsecouncilct.com Trail rides, parades, benefits.

GREENWICH RIDING AND TRAILS ASSOCIATION thegrta.org Preserve open space; trail rides.

MIDDLEBURY BRIDLE LAND ASSOCIATION middleburybridle.org Preservation and protection of bridle trails for horseback riding.

48

January/February 2016

Your Everything Equine “white pages”

NEWTOWN BRIDLE LANDS ASSOCIATION nblact.com Preservation and protection of equestrian recreational trails.

VAQUERO TRAINING CENTER E. Windsor, CT, (860) 623-2687 vaquerotrainingcenter.com Boarding, training, lessons, education of horse and rider.

TANHEATH HUNT CLUB tanheathhunt.com Foxhunting; small group passionate about horses and hounds.

WESTBROOK HUNT CLUB Westbrook, CT, (860) 399-6317 westbrookhuntclub.com Boarding, training, lessons, shows, clinics.

BARN CATS nnnnnnnnnnnn

TEAM MOBILE FELINE UNIT (888) FOR-TEAM everyanimalmatters.org Mobile spay, neuter, and vaccination clinic for cats. Driven to end feline overpopulation!

BOARDING AND TRAINING nnnnnnnnnnnn

BABCOCK HILL FARM DAWN BONIN HORSEMANSHIP Coventry, CT, (860) 985-7611 babcockhill.com Natural horsemanship, lessons, training, boarding, sales/leases.

DECARLI FARM Ellington, CT, (860) 878-9274 decarlifarm.com Boarding, lessons, training, shows, sale horses, and clinics.

EPIC FARM Middlefield, CT, (860) 620-3686 epicfarm.com Boarding, training, lessons, sales/leases, camp.

FOX LEDGE FARM, ANN GUPTILL E. Haddam, CT, (860) 873-8108 foxledgefarm.net Dressage lessons, training, clinics.

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

J.A. MCDERMOTT HORSEMANSHIP Guilford, CT, (203) 434-9505 willingresults.com Bridging science and holistic horsemanship.

MOVADO FARMS Durham, CT, (860) 463-5272 movadofarms.net Lessons, IEA team, leasing, shows.

MYSTIC VALLEY HUNT CLUB Gales Ferry, CT, (860) 464-7934 mvhchorse.com Boarding, training, sales, shows, hunter, jumper, equitation, ponies, children, and IEA/IHSA teams.

SILVER LINING STABLES Monroe, CT, (203) 445-6318 silverliningstablesct.com Premier horse-boarding facility.

nnnnnnnnnnnn

EQUINE GNATHOLOGIST SHELLY WYSOKI E. Haddam, CT, (860) 212-0114 equinedentalct33662@att.net Prophylaxis, equilibration, and gnathological procedures.

EQUINE MASSAGE nnnnnnnnnnnn

EQUISSAGE NE/NY Sterling, CT, (860) 564-7759 equissage-ne-ny.com Masterson Method, Equissage, equine bodywork, myofascial release, infrared photon light therapy, Reiki.

CLIPPER AND BLADE SERVICE

EQUINE RELATIONSHIPS

nnnnnnnnnnnn

nnnnnnnnnnnn

CLIPPER BARN OF CONNECTICUT Baltic, CT, (860) 822-1951 theclipperbarnofct.com Repairs, sharpening, all types.

MINDFUL CONNECTIONS mindful-connections.com What is your horse trying to tell you?

Tuning in to your companion, you’ll be shown a world nothing short of miraculous.

CONSTRUCTION nnnnnnnnnnnn

CARRIAGE GATE CONSTRUCTION Serving the Northeast, (717) 951-9443 Horse barns, garages, remodeling.

EQUIPMENT nnnnnnnnnnnn

THE CARRIAGE SHED (800) 441-6057, carriageshed.com Custom-built barns, shed rows, arenas.

STANTON EQUIPMENT John Deere, stantoneq.com Plainfield, CT, (860) 230-0130 East Windsor, CT, (860) 623-8296 Canaan, CT, (860) 824-1161

CREMATION

FEED AND PET STORE

nnnnnnnnnnnn

nnnnnnnnnnnn

CONNECTICUT HORSE CREMATION Killingworth, CT, (860) 881-7802 cthorsecremation.com Loving, dignified cremation service.

BLUE SEAL FEED (866) 647-1212 blueseal.com Concentrates, supplements, forages.

EDUCATION nnnnnnnnnnnn

HAPPY TRAILS FARM Danbury, CT, (203) 778-6218 Pleasure riding, obstacle course, trails.

EQUINE DENTISTRY

POST UNIVERSITY Waterbury, CT, (800) 345-2562 post.edu BS in equine studies.

UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT Storrs, CT, (860) 486-2413 animalscience.uconn.edu Two- and four-year ANSC degrees.

LOCK, STOCK & BARREL (203) 393-0002 lsbfarmsupply.com Large-animal feed and pet food.

Riding apparel, tack, farm supplies, and power equipment.

SWEETWATER FEED AND EQUIPMENT Clinton, CT, (860) 669-9473 sweetwaterct.com Tribute Equine Nutrition; pet foods.

ELECTRICAL

HORSES FOR SALE

nnnnnnnnnnnn

nnnnnnnnnnnn

RV PARTS AND ELECTRIC Waterbury, CT, (203) 755-0739 hedman@snet.net Electrical work; trailers, trucks, RVs.

HERITAGE FARM Easthampton, MA, (413) 527-1612 farmheritage.com Open to buy, sell, or trade horses seven days a week, by appointment.

EQUINE-ASSISTED THERAPY nnnnnnnnnnnn

HIGH HOPES THERAPEUTIC RIDING Old Lyme, CT, (860) 434-1974 highhopestr.org.

Therapeutic riding, driving, Horses for Heroes, unmounted equine learning.

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

INSURANCE nnnnnnnnnnnn

SPRING VALLEY FARM Westbrook, CT, (860) 399-5000 Hunter, jumper, boarding, lessons.

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

SWEETWATER FARM Clinton, CT, (860) 669-9473 sweetwaterct.com Lessons, training, boarding, shows, sale horses, events facility.

RAY OF LIGHT FARM E. Haddam, CT, (860) 873-1895 rayoflightfarm.org Animal-assisted therapy; rescue center.

FARM FAMILY INSURANCE To find an agent near you, visit farmfamily.com.

KATHY KANE INSURANCE Gales Ferry, CT, (860) 625-7128 kanekathyo@yahoo.com Specializing in horses and farms.

nnnnnnnnnnnn

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

ARBITRAGE TACK Oakville, CT, (860) 417-2608 arbitragetack.com Equipment you need at prices you can afford. We keep you riding.

MANURE REMOVAL, EXCAVATION, FOOTING

nnnnnnnnnnnn

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

LE MAY, INC. Newtown, CT, (203) 347-2531 We buy manure.

PENDERGAST HAULING AND BARN SERVICES New Fairfield, CT, (203) 948-9493 Manure removal (container or ground pickup), arena-footing restoration, excavation service.

PHOTOGRAPHY

nnnnnnnnnnnn

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

KATE LUSSIER PHOTOGRAPHY Wallingford, CT, (203) 213-7738

katelussierphotography.com Individualized attention, reasonable rates.

KATHRYN SCHAUER PHOTOGRAPHY Guilford, CT, (203) 710-9945

kathrynschauerphotography.com Horses, pets, families.

SARRA-ALLEN PHOTOGRAPHY S. Windsor, CT, (860) 644-7161 Fine-art equine portrait photography.

REAL ESTATE

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BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Alexis Devlin, Realtor Colchester, CT, (860) 214-9859 alexisdevlin.com Experience equestrian Realtor.

HIGGINS GROUP EQUESTRIAN PROPERTIES Crosby C. Middlemass, Equine Realtor Connecticut, (203) 558-2046 higginsgroup.com Specializing in equestrian properties.

WILLIAM PITT SOTHEBY’S REALTY Mariette Woolfson, Realtor Essex, CT, (860) 883-3667 mwoolfson@wpsir.com Equestrian properties.

RETIREMENT SANCTUARY

nnnnnnnnnnnn

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

RIDER FITNESS

nnnnnnnnnnnn

RIDE FIT (206) 713-6761, ridefitnow.com Fitness program developed for riders.

Look, feel, and ride better.

Is this your horse?

TACK

nnnnnnnnnnnn

BEVAL SADDLERY New Canaan, CT, (203) 966-7828 beval.com New Canaan, Gladstone, NJ stores.

East Coast mobile unit.

REINS Essex, CT, (860) 767-0777 reinstackshop.com Fine equestrian apparel, tack, footwear, and gifts.

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

TRACTORS/EQUIPMENT nnnnnnnnnnnn

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

Christine Church

LOANS

Is this your horse?

This photo was taken on November 29 at the Hunter Derby Clinic with Ann Bowie at Decarli Farm, in Ellington. If this is your horse, contact us at win@connhorse.com for a Smith-Worthington Saddlery leather halter.

TRAINER nnnnnnnnnnnn

CATHY DRUMM (413) 441-5278 cathydrumm.com Travels to you; English and western.

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

Crafting fine English saddlery and tack since 1794.

Available at fine tack shops throughout the U.S.

TRAILERS & TRANSPORTATION nnnnnnnnnnnn

CONNECTICUT TRAILERS Bolton, CT, (877) 480-4197 cttrailers.com Quality trailers; sales, parts, service.

JOHN McCARTHY TRUCKING (860) 377-9498 East Coast New England to Florida.

VETERINARY nnnnnnnnnnnn

BECKETT & ASSOCIATES VETERINARY SERVICES Glastonbury, CT, (860) 659-0848 beckettvet.net Horses, pets, farm animals.

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

EGGLESTON EQUINE Woodstock, CT, (860) 942-3365 egglestonequine.com Lameness, pre-purchase exams, veterinary medicine and dentistry.

SALEM VALLEY VETERINARY CLINIC Salem, CT, (860) 859-1649 salemvalleyvet.com Preventive medicine, emergency care, lameness, dentistry, surgery.

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

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

advertisers index Associated Refuse Haulers ............... 47 Berkshire Hathaway Home Services ... 12 Beval Saddlery ........................... 50–51 Blue Bridle Insurance Agency ........... 23 Blue Seal .......................................... 39 Brooklyn-Canterbury Large Animal Clinic . 17 Carriage Gate Construction .............. 38 The Carriage Shed .............................. 3 Connecticut Horse ............................ 45 Connecticut Horse Cremation ........... 33 Connecticut Trailers ........................... 2 Corinthian Insurance ......................... 25 Dawn Bonin Horsemanship ............... 17 Don Ray Insurance ............................. 22 Dover Saddlery ................................. 37 Dressage4Kids .................................. 47 Equine Gnathologist ........................... 7 Farm Credit East ................................ 27 Farm Family Insurance ...................... 26 Fox Ledge Farm ................................. 12 Heritage Farm .................................... 7 Higgins Group Equestrian Properties . 6 High Hopes Therapeutic Riding ........ 47

H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut ................. 27 J A McDermott Horsemanship .......... 22 King Barns .......................................... 4 Le May, Inc. ................................... 47 Lock, Stock & Barrel ........................... 52 Manes & Motions Therapeutic Riding . 36 Michele Carver Performance Horses . 19 Midstate Tractor & Equipment .......... 47 Mitchell Farm Equine Retirement ...... 19 Mystic Valley Hunt Club .................... 46 Pendergast Hauling & Barn Services .. 10 Pleasant View Farms .......................... 12 Post University .................................. 40 Sarah Grote Photography ................. 44 Smith-Worthington Saddlery ............. 49 Stanton Equipment ........................... 15 Strain Family Horse Farm .................. 19 Timber Ridge Riders ........................... 15 Tooher-Ferraris Insurance Group ....... 21 Twin Pines Equine .............................. 23 Westbrook Hunt Club ........................ 47 Whimsy Brook Farm ............................ 13 White Pickets Studio .......................... 13

Connecticut Horse

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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID MONROE, CT PERMIT

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