Connecticut Horse January/February 2018 by Community Horse Media

C O N N E C T IC U T

January/February 2018 connhorse.com $4

HORSE

BEYOND INSULIN RESISTANCE

GEORGE C. WALDO STATE PARK

IS YOUR HORSE AT RISK?

TRAIL GUIDE

KATIE TYLER

HUNTERS RUN STABLES

GRAND PRIX RISING STAR

PEOPLE ARE THE PERKS

January/February 2018

Bally Croy

contents

Stacey Stearns

ÂŠ Eleanor Ivins

Andrew Ryback Photography

features 8

Beyond Insulin Resistance

People Are the Perks

Katie Tyler

Farm Feature

Is Your Horse at Risk?

Hunters Run Stables

Grand Prix Rising Star

George C. Waldo State Park Trail Guide

Hay Burr Inn One Last Stop Under the Rainbow

Horseperson Feature

Lend a Hoof

in every issue 5

From the Publisher

Partners

This Olde Horse

Your Letters

Youth Awards

The Neighborhood

Overherd: News in Our Community

Nutmeg State Events Calendar

Is This Your Horse?

Connecticut Horse

January/February 2018

From the Publisher

he first snow has arrived. The

ing with Peanut, one of my Miniature

being a seeing-eye horse for his blind

stillness as it falls and blankets

horses. He’s the smartest horse I’ve ever

buddy Little Rasta Man, and learning

our world, the uniqueness

tasks that will help him be a great

of the flakes, the serenity it imparts

therapy horse for nursing home and

— all serve to remind us that winter

school visits and maybe even a

is a magical time. My favorite sounds

library reading buddy for children.

of the season are the early-morning

Want to follow along his journey?

songs of the chickadees as they flit

Like his page on Facebook at:

among the hemlock branches and

facebook.com/Adventuresof

the crunchy squeak of snow under

PeanutatPocketfulofPoniesFarm.

my boots on a very cold evening as I

I hope you’ll put up your feet

head out to feed the herd. I love the

with a cup of something hot and

frost on my horses’ eyelashes on a

delicious and enjoy this issue. We

cold early morning, the way the snow

certainly have enjoyed putting it

shines like glitter in the moonlight, and watching my horses move

Peanut bringing in the mail while learning to ground drive. #ponyexpress Haflinger mares Caszual and Cat in the background at Pocketful of Ponies Farm.

silently through the new snow in their pasture. Since July I’ve been enjoying work-

together with you in mind. May your winter be a magical one.

known! Peanut’s been ground driving, long lining, going on field trips in my van,

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CON N EC T ICU T

HORSE vol. 3, no. 4 January/February 2018

ISSN 2378-5721

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feature writers Andrea Bugbee, Krista Chandler, Juliana Chapman, Sally L. Feuerberg Sean T. Hogan, Esq., Alessandra Mele, Stacey Stearns contributors Wynatte Chu, Sarah Crisp, Patti Crowther, Kathy Diemer Allison Forsyth, Raymond Hill, Suzy Lucine, Lisette Rimer

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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.

January/February 2018

Your Letters To the Editor:

To the Editor:

Thank you Connecticut Horse and Sally Feuerberg [writer] for the beautiful article written about Bob Skrip, myself, and our facility SunGold Stables.

I enjoy following Connecticut Horse on Facebook as the events you cover and photos you post are fun to “thumb” through. It’s so nice to have coverage of competitions in Connecticut!

Luiza DaSilva, Sun Gold Stables, Bethany

Patricia Stellar, Stamford

To the Editor: Thank you for being a gift bag sponsor for the Greenwich Riding and Trails Association’s 2018 Silver Horse Ball. Sarah Reilly, Greenwich

To the Editor: When I was at the barn this morning I saw several copies of Connecticut Horse. Inside is a beautifully written article on SunGold Stables by Sally Feuerberg. I encourage all to pick up a copy and read about the history and the wonderful place that Luiza DaSilva and Bob Skrip have created out of the ruins. It’s truly a little piece of heaven! As an equine artist I must also give my compliments to Lesley Alexander for the gorgeous painting on the cover!

To the Editor: Thank you Connecticut Horse for the wonderful feature you did on Bryan [Bryan Penquite: Reining and Training, November/December 2017]. It was a pleasure working with Stephanie Sanders [publisher] and Andrea Bugbee [writer]!

Pam Blasavage, Naugatuck

Supporting Our Equestrian Community! Send your letters to editor@connhorse.com or Connecticut Horse, 99 Bissell Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096.

Jennifer Penquite, Enfield

Donating Connecticut Horse Youth Awards to competitions in the Nutmeg State.

Giving free annual subscriptions to the members of more than 20 Connecticut clubs and associations. Featuring an equine nonprofit group in every issue in the Lend a Hoof feature. Reporting and photography of Nutmeg State equestrian events on our Facebook page. In our third year of news, photos, event coverage, features, and more.

Connecticut Horse

Beyond Insulin Resistance Is Your Horse At Risk? Research findings about the relationship between insulin and laminitis may have implications for the diagnosis and management of at-risk horses. by Heather Smith Thomas and Christine Barakat

nsulin resistance has long been linked to laminitis, a potentially devastating inflammatory condition of the hoof. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, enables the body’s cells to utilize sugar (glucose), their primary source of fuel. When resistance develops, however, cells stop responding to insulin and the resulting rise in the hormone’s levels in the blood can lead to laminitis. Now, research shows that even when the horse’s body reacts normally to insulin, the hormone can nonetheless become part of a cascade of events that leads to laminitis. These findings may not only prompt a change in the terms used to discuss the relationship between insulin and laminitis but will also have implications for the diagnosis and management of at-risk horses.

precursors. As meals are digested, the stomach and small intestine absorb glucose and then release it into the bloodstream. From there, it’s used immediately by cells or stored for later use. Insulin is critical to both of those processes.

Meals and Metabolism

Beta cells in the pancreas monitor the level of glucose in the blood, and when they detect an increase, they produce insulin, which travels to cells all over the body. The more glucose there is in the blood, the more insulin is produced for utilization. “Insulin binds to receptors on cells

Nearly everything your horse eats contains starches and sugars that are converted to glucose during digestion, which in turn is used as energy for cells throughout the body. Grains have more, hay generally has less, but every time your horse eats, he’s taking in glucose 8

January/February 2018

“What we really want to do, with a diagnostic test, is discover the mildly affected horse early on, so we have a chance to change the management of that horse — and prevent laminitis and all the downstream effects of this syndrome.” Nicholas Frank, DVM, PhD

to ‘open the door,’ as it were, and allow glucose to leave the bloodstream and go into those tissues,” says Shannon PrattPhillips, PhD, of North Carolina State University. Insulin also helps transform excess glucose into larger molecules called glycogen, which are then stored in the liver or muscle. A major function of insulin is to “regulate” blood glucose concentration — to keep glucose levels from remaining elevated — so when the hormone is working efficiently, blood glucose is described as “regulated.” After a horse eats a meal, insulin is released in response to the glucose produced during digestion, blood glucose concentration drops steadily and insulin production decreases accordingly. Sometimes, however, this process goes awry. Probably the most common problem is a condition called insulin resistance, which occurs when the hormone is unable to “unlock” the door to cells. “Somewhere along that route, insulin is not functioning properly,” says Shannon, “and glucose, unable to enter cells, remains in the blood. If the blood glucose concentrations stay high, more

insulin will be released from the pancreas to try to deal with that glucose. This cycle continues and results in more and more insulin being released.” In people, insulin resistance can progress to type 2 diabetes. Horses with insulin resistance tend to develop a range of problems, collectively referred to as equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). The most devastating aspect of EMS is a susceptibility to laminitis.

More Than Resistance Horses with EMS are at higher risk of laminitis and they often are found to be insulin resistant. So you might assume those conditions are dependent on each other. But it’s not that straightforward. “When we first described EMS, about 15 years ago, the emphasis was on insulin resistance,” says Philip Johnson, BVSc, MRCVS, of the University of Missouri. “It has now shifted. Work done in Australia in 2007 showed that high blood insulin levels represent, in and of themselves, a risk factor for laminitis. Anytime a horse or pony has a higher-than-normal blood insulin there’s a risk for developing laminitis. This is like an insulin toxicity.” The problem may start earlier in the digestive process. “The new way of looking at EMS is that the horses and ponies with it have an intestinal system that absorbs a lot of glucose compared to other horses,” says Philip. “Along with that comes an increased pancreatic insulin secretion response.” In other words, the horse’s body is so efficient in absorbing glucose from meals that the pancreas simply produces too much insulin in response. Based on this information, many researchers are adopting a new vocabulary for discussing insulin. “Today the term insulin dysregulation is more appropriate for this problem in horses than just calling it insulin resistance,” says Nicholas Frank, DVM, PhD, of Tufts University. The technical term would be postprandial hyperinsulinaemia, which refers to an excessively high level of insulin in the blood after eating. Certain types of horses, particularly ponies, have a genetic predisposition to postprandial hyperinsulinaemia, which may be linked to other hormonal imbalances or the malfunction of enzymes within the pancreas or small intestine. Nicholas says that postprandial hyperinsulinaemia may be the earliest stage of insulin resistance in these genetically predisposed horses. It may

even induce resistance directly by desensitizing the receptors on cells or encouraging the development of fat accumulations, which then may further impede insulin function. “There are some studies looking at the biological activity (and inflammatory mediator production) within these regions of adiposity, and I think they make insulin dysregulation worse as they appear and enlarge,” he says. The working theory now is that certain horses are born with a genetic predisposition to hyperinsulinaemia, which — if not diagnosed and managed — can lead to insulin resistance and the clinical signs of EMS, including laminitis. “If we think about a time course with this syndrome, we realize that the animal is born with these genetics, and that’s the hand it’s dealt,” says Nicholas. “As it grows older, how that horse is managed in its feed, environment, and exercise will determine whether those genetics actually lead to a medical problem.”

Is My Horse Susceptible to Insulin Resistance? Researchers have confirmed that metabolic differences exist between breeds, even when the horse is not overweight. Insulin resistance isn’t just for ponies that are fat. Easy keepers — those that gain and keep weight easily — will metabolize insulin differently than slim horses because of their increased body fat. However, researchers have determined that metabolic differences from one breed to another are present even in horses that aren’t fat.

Testing, Testing The growing understanding of hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance has resulted in an altered approach to testing for EMS, with an increasing emphasis on identifying horses in the earliest stages, before the condition can progress. Insulin resistance alone can be identified through a simple blood test performed after at least six hours of fasting. “If the insulin concentration is above twenty micro-units per milliliter [after fasting] the horse is said to be insulin resistant,” says Shannon. “I would consider the horse mildly insulin resistant in that lower end, while others may have very high levels. I’ve seen some horses with a resting insulin level as high as ninety to one hundred every single day,” she says. The trouble with this test is the wide variations among individual horses. Shannon often recommends a second test a few days later to double-check borderline cases. An even more informative test for insulin resistance involves administering glucose intravenously to the horse, followed by soluble insulin, and then periodically taking blood samples to track the rise and then fall of both in the bloodstream. These tests tend to be more expensive, but they provide more information about a horse’s specific and dynamic response to glucose levels in the blood. In light of research into postprandial hyperinsulinaemia, Nicholas also

There are differences in insulin responses between horse types as well as between horses and ponies. Some breeds such as Andalusians, Morgans, Paso Finos, some Quarter Horses, and ponies are more prone to insulin resistance — even nonobese horses in these breeds. Ponies and certain breeds and types of horses may tend toward insulin resistance as a genetic adaptation to sparse vegetation. The problem is exacerbated by domestic lifestyles with insufficient turnout and exercise, and by feeding practices that aren’t appropriate for this lifestyle (i.e., too high in concentrates [grain], rich pasture, and too much high-quality hay). Horses didn’t evolve to eat the levels of grain that are commonly fed. They did, however, evolve to be active and moving most of the time. On average, a horse in the wild moves and forages 14 to 18 hours a day. How much time does your horse spend moving? yStephanie Sanders, Connecticut Horse

Connecticut Horse

Why Does My Horse Need Exercise?

How Do I Feed My Insulin-Prone Horse?

There are many benefits of exercise and all will help to lower insulin resistance: • During one hour of exercise, the nervous system will lower insulin output from the pancreas by more than 30 percent. • Muscles have the largest number of receptors for insulin. Increasing muscle in turn increases receptors (locks) that allow insulin to have more sites to bind to, lowering blood levels of insulin. • Exercise increases blood flow. Better circulation gets insulin to the target cell faster and in turn, glucose is delivered faster. • Exercise has the ability to lower blood glucose levels for 6 to 12 hours after exer-

• Base your horse’s diet on forage and eliminate grain and calorie-dense feeds. Feed as much of your horse’s daily energy requirement (based on its body weight) as possible in a lower-quality, low-energy forage such as late-maturity hay. • Add a ration balancer to help your horse meet its nutritional requirements.

cise, a hypoglycemic effect. When blood glucose is low, insulin levels go low. The effects of exercise last much longer than the time exercised. • Food moves through the digestive tract faster when there’s exercise, which means less will be absorbed, very beneficial for horses in need of weight loss. Walking burns four times the calories of standing and improves circulation to the hooves, helping prevent laminitis. Don’t have time to ride/longe? Turn your horse out in a field with a secure muzzle. Many people keep their overweight horse in a small dirt lot mistakenly thinking that will protect the horse. Unfortunately, in this restricted environment your horse will walk less and lay down more. This won’t help prevent insulin resistance. In a field, your horse will walk 10 percent of the time; if you turn out your horse for four hours, he’ll walk for 24 minutes. Even better, utilize even the smallest paddocks and create a Paddock Paradise. (See sidebar page 15.) yStephanie Sanders, Connecticut Horse

January/February 2018

recommends an oral sugar test to identify horses in the earlier stages of insulin dysfunction. “When we just do an IV test, we will certainly find the horses with insulin resistance, but only those that are moderately to severely affected,” he says. “What we really want to do, with a diagnostic test, is discover the mildly affected horse early on, so we have a chance to change the management of that horse — and prevent laminitis and all the downstream effects of this syndrome.”

Nicholas advocates looking for insulin issues even as part of routine physical examinations.

• As a general guide, feed 1.5 percent of your horse’s weight in forage as outlined above. If your horse is overweight, remember that at least six to eight weeks of dietary restriction is needed for noticeable weight loss to occur. • Restrict or eliminate pasture grazing using a muzzle. In the spring and early summer, after summer and fall rains, and after drought or frost, pastures’ non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) content is high and it’s best to keep your horse off the pasture during these times. (NSC is a class of carbohydrates that include starch, water-soluble sugar, and fructan.) Normal horses can tolerate NSC levels of 20 percent or higher, but horses prone to insulin resistance should be fed hays with a 10 percent or lower NSC. • Make all diet changes gradually. • Divide rations into three to four small meals and use a slow hay feeder to extend the “grazing” time for your horse. yStephanie Sanders, Connecticut Horse

Testing for EMS, then, will ideally become a two-step process. “We still recommend testing the animal’s insulin resistance using a blood test after fasting, but we add to that the oral sugar test so we have to look at two sides of this —the oral response to food with the standardized sugar test, and a test for insulin sensitivity,” Philip says. Nicholas advocates looking for insulin issues even as part of routine physical examinations. “The more we can find these problems during annual or biannual wellness evaluations, and head them off, the less laminitis we will be treating. No veterinarian wants to have to treat laminitis because it is a disastrous disease once it occurs. If we can all focus on prevention rather than treatment of laminitis, this would be a major advance in veterinary care.”

Taking Control Sorting out the complexities of insulin dysregulation could take researchers years, but that doesn’t mean it’s too soon to take management steps to protect your horse. In fact, preventive measures are pretty much the same whether a horse has insulin resistance or postprandial hyperinsulinaemia. They include: • Reduce sugars in the horse’s diet. “If we have horses who have a higher insulin concentration, we know that keeping them on a low-sugar diet does not stimulate insulin release as much,” says Nicholas. Remember that carbohydrates are converted to sugars in the body, so you’ll want to remove not just molasses-based feeds from an at-risk horse’s ration but probably all grain.

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How Do I Test My Hay? An excellent article on finding and testing lowsugar forage can be found at thehorse.com/ articles/18837/finding-and-testing-low-sugarforage. Read this article prior to testing hay.

Equi-Analytical Laboratories/Dairy One in Ithaca, New York, offers two tests that help you make informed decisions about forage: • Equi-Tech Test – complete nutritional profile for hay and pasture analysis that includes Ethanol Soluble Carbohydrates (ESC), Water Soluble Carbohydrates (WSC), starch, non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC), and much more. $28. • Carb Pack Test – provides Ethanol Soluble Carbohydrates (ESC), Water Soluble Carbohydrates (WSC), and starch analyses for owners solely concerned about carbohydrate levels and their effect on horse health. $30. (800) 496-3344 or equi-analytical.com

yStephanie Sanders, Connecticut Horse

The Facts on EMS

The Laminitis Link

Previously called peripheral Cushing’s syndrome, hypothyroidism, and even syndrome X, equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is now much better understood thanks to concentrated research efforts. Rather than describing one specific condition, the term EMS encompasses a collection of signs and clinical changes, including insulin resistance, hyperinsulinaemia, infertility, and obesity. Fat deposits are one of the most distinct physical signs of EMS; horses with the condition tend to accumulate fat along the top of the neck, over the ribs, and the top of the tailhead, giving the horse a very rounded appearance. EMS is often evident in horses between the ages of 5 and 16, and it’s seen more frequently in ponies and some breeds including Morgans, Paso Finos, Tennessee Walking Horses, and Mustangs. These horses are thought to have a thrifty gene that allows them to survive in harsh environments. However, in a domestic setting where there’s plentiful food, this increased metabolic efficiency leads to insulin dysregulation and obesity. Horses with EMS are also more likely to develop pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID; also called equine Cushing’s disease). In addition, EMS horses are most certainly at increased risk of developing laminitis.

Exactly how insulin can lead to laminitis is still unknown, but the link between the two is certain. “Regarding how insulin and laminitis are linked, there are several different potential pathologies,” says Shannon Pratt-Phillips, DVM, of North Carolina State University. “Research has shown that if you infuse insulin into a horse at high levels, this can cause laminitis.” Glucose itself may also contribute to laminitis. “In other species, particularly humans, when the glucose starts to creep upward, something called glucose toxicity occurs. Just having too much glucose in the bloodstream can damage membranes. This is when we see humans with type 2 diabetes who develop gangrene. It can be a result of glucose causing damage to the little blood vessels within the feet.” Obesity associated with EMS may also play a role. “In an obese horse, fat can actually produce hormones and inflammatory proteins that put the body into an inflammatory state,” says Shannon. “This may directly affect how that cascade happens within the cells after insulin is present. Then the obesity and inflammation can sensitize the vessels of the hoof. If the horse is already in an inflammatory state and those blood vessels are already somewhat damaged by the inflammatory proteins, then when you get a whammy of glucose or insulin or something that is further damaging, this can push the situation over the edge.”

January/February 2018

“Most of the horses that are insulin resistant don’t need any grain,” says Philip. “They may just need some vitamins/minerals or a protein supplement. Unless they’re doing a lot of work or producing milk, horses don’t need extra calories. So if you have a horse who is insulin resistant, consider providing a balancer supplement to meet his nutritional needs and eliminating grain entirely.” If a horse does need additional calories in the form of grain, be sure to select an appropriate mixture. “Horse owners can look for grains that have a low glycemic index, so that when the horse eats, his blood glucose doesn’t go up very high,” says Brian Nielsen, PhD, of Michigan State University. “For the insulin-resistant horse, this makes sense.” There are a number of low glycemic commercial feeds on the market today specifically developed to fill this need. Hay can also be high in sugar, but the only way to know is to have a sample tested. Your local agriculture extension agent, based at a land-grant university, can help you arrange for testing. “If hay has a lot of sugar, you can soak it in water to remove much of the sugar,” says Philip. Depending on the type of

Medication Management changes are the best approach to dealing with EMS and insulin issues, but those efforts can be supplemented with a few medical resources as well. “There are a few pharmaceuticals that veterinarians sometimes recommend for horses with EMS,” says Philip Johnson, BVSc, MRCVS, of the University of Missouri. “But we tend to only use these in the advanced cases where management and dietary changes alone aren’t working or to try to protect the horse while waiting for the effects of management changes to appear.” One such product is levothyroxine, a thyroid hormone supplement that helps to reduce body fat mass when prescribed at higher doses and when combined with dietary changes. Horses remain on the supplement three to six months until weight is lost, then are slowly weaned off of it. Also commonly recommended is the drug metformin, which is often prescribed for people with diabetes and inhibits the release of glucose into the blood. In horses, the drug mainly inhibits the uptake of glucose and thus prevents blood glucose and insulin levels from spiking, Johnson explains, noting that metformin can also help obese horses lose weight. yEQUUS magazine

hay, he adds, several hours of soaking may be required to satisfactorily reduce the sugar content. • Feed frequent small meals. When feeding horses, the closer you can get to mimicking natural grazing behavior, the better. Horses who eat all day long do not have the dramatic and damaging spikes in blood glucose and insulin that occur when fewer, larger meals are served. Arranging to have grain doled out more than twice a day can be difficult, but it’s fairly easy to provide continuous access to hay using a slow feeder or hay net with smaller holes. Shannon conducted a series of studies examining the effect of meal duration on blood-glucose spikes. To extend the length of grain meals, for example, she added balls to the feed tub. “Some people use large, smooth rocks,” she says. “The horse has to work around those while trying to eat grain, which slows the intake.” Shannon found that when it took horses longer to eat, blood glucose spikes were minimized. “Anything that stretches out/prolongs the feeding, along with providing smaller meals

January/February 2018

throughout the day, can be helpful to blunt those glucose concentrations,” she says. • Restrict grazing. Lush, fast-growing grass is high in soluble carbohydrates, which can raise blood glucose and insulin levels. “You often hear of horses developing laminitis when turned out on fresh pasture in the spring,” says Philip. “These are usually not the horses that are athletic and lean, but the easy keeper or pony that tends to be insulin-resistant.” Spring pasture is not the only risk. Pastures undergoing growth spurts in the fall and grasses rebounding from drought can also be high in sugars. The safest bet for a horse with EMS is no pasture at all, but if that’s not possible, restricting grazing with a well-fitting muzzle is crucial to protecting his health. Shannon also recommends keeping an eye on the clock. “Sugars rise during the day (with sunlight) so those concentrations tend to be highest in the late afternoon,” she says. “If horses are insulin resistant, you’d let them out on pasture first thing in the morning when those levels are lowest, and just for a couple of hours, using a grazing muzzle.”

• Don’t let the horse become fat. Obesity is likely a cause as well as an effect of EMS, so it’s doubly important to keep horses at a healthy weight — typically considered a body condition score (BCS) of six or below. But don’t get hung up on the number: A horse with a lower BCS score can still have a cresty neck, an indication of insulin troubles. Researchers are even working on developing a “cresty neck score” that correlates to laminitis risk, but in the meantime you’ll likely know one when you see one. Dietary changes will help take weight off a horse, but they will be even more effective when paired with increased exercise. If your fat, insulintroubled horse isn’t lame or sore from laminitis, start him on an exercise program that includes active turnout as well as regular riding. In addition to burning excess calories, exercise helps increase a horse’s sensitivity to insulin, which can counter the underlying problem. It may take weeks of daily, long rides to reduce the weight on a horse genetically predisposed to holding onto it, but the effort is well worth it.

Paddock Paradise A Paddock Paradise is an idea put forth by Jaime Jackson. His ideas are based on the natural patterns of horse behavior. In Jaime’s book, Paddock Paradise: A

Guide to Natural Horse Boarding, he promotes that the tracks of a Paddock Paradise mimic the paths that wild horses traverse day after day as they move, forage, and rest over the varied terrain of each band’s territory. It’s the motion and diversity of this life that Jaime theorizes helps wild horses to remain fit, sound, and healthy. Jaime examined a herd of 100 domestic horses allowed to roam freely over a 30-squaremile ranch. He expected these horses to mirror the health and soundness of wild horses — but, seemingly paradoxically, they didn’t. Because these horses were fed plentifully at the same feeding stations day after day, they had no reason to roam very far. Horses, fed and bedded in a single space with all their needs immediately met, are the same way. There’s no reason to keep moving around a two-acre pasture if the hay, grass, and water are

This article first appeared in the April 2016 issue of EQUUS magazine. To subscribe to EQUUS, visit equusmagazine.com.

all plentifully in one place for the taking. That’s where Jaime’s tracks come in. Paddock Paradise tracks are narrow and en route to interesting and necessary components of equine survival. Shelter is in one place, water in another, salt licks in another, and so on. To get to each place, horses must move. Because every group of horses is different and the layout of every situation is different, it follows that every Paddock Paradise will be different, too. Here are some of the basic elements Jaime says a Paddock Paradise should have: at least one acre of land, more than one horse, a track, a watering hole, dispersed forage, freewill shelter from heat and cold, salt and mineral licks, a napping area, and varied terrain. Among other track ideas are wooded pathways and planting tufts of equine-friendly homeopathic herbs make a welcome, track-side pharmacy. A heavy plastic feeder turned upside down with a bit of ration balancer dropped over the gridded bottom makes a great slow-grain challenge. Typing “Paddock Paradise” on Google will empty a silo of ideas onto your screen, but to make sure you get the principles correct, read the book first. Go directly to Jaime’s website, paddockparadise.com.

yAndrea Bugbee and Stephanie Sanders, Connecticut Horse

Connecticut Horse

Glastonbury

by Andrea Bugbee

Farm Feature

Hunters Run Stables People Are the Perks

“It’s just a love of children of all ages. The little ones — and there’s a connection with the high school students… We all share a love of horses,” Renee tries to explain. Then she smiles. “I have to say, we do have some pretty nice people.”

lastonbury’s Hunters Run Stables is all about horses, but the equestrians who ride there say it’s the people who make this farm exceptional. “Being at that barn is like being part of a family,” says 27-year-old Haley Nemeth of Berlin. Haley has been boarding and training at Hunters Run since she was a teenager. Now a Mount Holyoke graduate and a working professional, Haley still travels 25 minutes each way so that she can keep her dres-

Today, Joyce’s eldest daughter Ellie is a senior at Alfred University in Alfred, New York, where she rides on both the western and hunt seat Intercollegiate Horse Show Association teams. Lauren, 17, attends the Sports and Medical Sciences Academy in Hartford and works part-time at Hunters Run. Joyce’s girls, suddenly filling the tall boots of the generation before them, are now the “older girls.” Happy with horses, they ride, compete, and hack. But as part of the Hunters Run family they also

“Honestly, Renee is the reason we came here,” says Joyce, who had been looking for a kid-friendly barn when Ellie and Lauren were just seven and five. “She’s

sage horse, a Belgian warmblood named Tops, at the hunter barn that, she says, feels more comfortable than any other barn she knows. “It’s like living in a small town,” Haley says. “We all know each other. We all look after each other’s horses.” Joyce Woznica of East Berlin feels the same way. Joyce isn’t certain if her two horse-crazy daughters pushed her, or pulled her, back into a sport she hadn’t revisited since she was a kid growing up in Texas. Now, however, the family owns six horses, and Hunters Run is their main corral. The Woznicas have been there for 13 years. “When we got [to Hunters Run], there was a large group of girls in their teens and preteens,” says Joyce, with mother memories and a lingering Texas drawl warming her voice. “Hunters Run gave my daughters role models that are very pro-horse; pro-work. They grew up with these girls. The older girls at the barn were their babysitters. When we went to horse shows, they took my daughters under their wings. There was always that camaraderie.”

work, hang out, laugh, whisper to their whiskered friends, and step up when young riders need help. Renee Scarpantonio, Hunters Run owner, doesn’t intentionally cultivate community as part of her business plan. Instead, community at Hunters Run gels because that’s the automatic default Renee and her instructors set. Thinking about others is just how they are. A Hofstra University graduate, Renee actually spent the first five years of her professional life as an elementary school teacher in New York, and that delight in being around young people stays with her still. Like other stable owners, she offers afterschool lessons, an Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) team, and summer camps, but she also opens her family swimming pool to red-faced riders on sweltering days. She organizes pasta parties before IEA shows. She hosts schooling shows, somehow makes clean-up days fun, organizes group trail rides and hunter paces, and invites the whole Hunters Run gang to her house on New Year’s Eve.

very warm. She’s very positive, and she literally lives next to the outdoor ring.” Renee’s home overlooking the stable is a major (albeit unintended) metaphor for the steady presence with which Renee oversees the farm. In the mornings, boarders might find her raking the rings, blanketing horses, and doing, in her words, “Whatever has to be done.” In the afternoons, this proud mom focuses on her daughters Jenna, 19, and Jamie, 16, who keep her busy with sports and school events. At midnight, Renee’s back at the stable, walking the aisles, making sure the horses are quiet and safe for the night. Yet, Carolyn Auger of West Hartford notes an area where Renee really shines. “Her horse management is deeply humane. Deeply humane,” says Carolyn, whose 13-year-old daughter Brooke Birbara has been riding at Hunters Run for two years. “She’s one of the few people I know who keeps all her school horses, retires them on property, and lets them live out their natural lives with her after they’ve given years of service.”

January/February 2018

Horse Management with Heart

(Asked about this, Renee just shrugs. “They’ve been good to me, so I’m good to them,” she says.) According to Carolyn, Brooke’s horse Sunny Day once developed laminitis due to metabolic syndrome. “Renee walked him for me every day. She reported his progress to me every day. I think she liaised with the vet every day. She took such good care of him, he didn’t even have any additional rotation,” Carolyn says. “I think she and Dr. Sears saved that pony’s life.” “She’s so thorough,” says Haley, echoing Carolyn’s praise for Renee’s outstanding horse care. “She has the biggest heart and is the last one to give up when trying to save a horse. One day, there was an old horse that got cast on a wall. After two hours, the vet and the mare had both given up. Renee never stopped fighting, and finally got the horse up. If that’s not good care, I don’t know what is.” Haley also remembers a time when one of the horses needed an IV drip. Renee was out with that horse every two hours, around the clock. “You can’t pay for that kind of care,” Haley says. “At Hunters Run, if there’s something wrong with my horse, the vet’s already there before I am.” “Renee’s very caring in looking after injured horses,” says Joyce, continuing the thread. She, too, credits Renee with her horse’s good health, this time after an ehrlichia infection. “My horse is out in a field at two a.m. and Renee is hand-walking him and sending me photographs,” Joyce says. “Her care is just exceptional.” Renee’s dedication to healing horses surfaces again in her passion for rehabilitating and retraining former racehorses. She estimates that she’s taken in 25 or 30 of these industry extras during the 24 years that she and her husband Joe have owned Hunters Run. The horses come from Long Island breeder and trainer Joseph Lostritto. His daughter, Lee Berkowitz, has been Renee’s close friend since college. “Some of my best school horses are ex-racehorses,” Renee says matter-offactly, though she emphasizes that they’re all individuals. “They’re already broke to ride, but we’re asking them to do something totally different, and to do it quietly.” Helping these horses find their second careers may take anywhere from one to three years, and Renee doesn’t rush them. All get a few months

off, “Just to be horses,” Renee says. Some need rehab, and she even has a hospital stall set up near the outdoor ring so horses on stall rest can go outside. Renee keeps some of these rescues. Some she sells; others she gives away. Every single one of them, however, gives her the satisfaction of taking an animal people discarded, and making it into a pet that brings joy.

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Speaking Horse That’s Renee. But Joyce, Carolyn, and Haley all say Hunters Run instructors, too, are an essential part of the group of people that sets their stable apart. First, there’s Alicia Bessoni. Although Alicia is fairly new to the team, Renee says, “She’s fit right in like she’s been here forever. She fits in perfectly with our philosophies of safety and [keeping] the horses’ needs and well-being a top priority. Her experience and knowledge is a great addition to our barn.” It’s instructor Jeri O’Keefe, however, who has been at Hunters Run even longer than Renee. Jeri taught Carolyn when Carolyn was a young Pony Clubber, and she taught Anne Guptill, who was Haley’s first dressage coach. Connecticut Horse couldn’t even interview Jeri in time for this article because this hunt seat, IEA, and dressage coach’s schedule was too crammed with teaching and going to clinics herself. “She’s extremely talented. She’s always trying to better herself,” Carolyn says. Haley knew she had found a phenomenal trainer in Jeri within the space of one lesson. Haley was 16 years old and frustrated trying to figure out how to collect her new horse, a huge, gray Thoroughbred named Al. “Jeri actually got on her tippy toes, put her arms around [Al’s] neck, and trotted around with me to show me how to keep outside rein contact,” Haley says. “It was crazy and so cool! That’s when I knew she was a really incredible trainer.” Over the years, Haley has flourished under Jeri’s strengths. “She really seems to speak horse,” Haley says. “She’s all about having a good, quality ride and a good, quality relationship between the rider and the horse. And not only is she our trainer, she’s kind of like our aunt. She doesn’t just teach us about horses, she also supports us in

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DawnBonin.com . BabcockHill.com our daily lives. She’s able to take into account that we’re not just students; she recognizes that we’re human beings.” “She’s emotionally sensitive,” Haley says. “When you work with people and horses, that’s imperative.”

What This Barn’s About Bundled in an oversized Hunters Run jacket zipped snug to her chin, Renee sits at the viewing lounge table, slightly uncomfortable about being interviewed, and worried enough about the frigid wind outside that she decides to keep the horses in. Asked to sum up the way she runs her farm, she responds easily. “The barn is about friendships and horsemanship,” Renee says. “It’s about being with people who love the same thing.” Andrea Bugbee is a Pony Club mom, an IEA mom, and a backyard horse enthusiast. She does most of her writing while she waits for her daughter in the parking lots of numerous wonderful stables scattered throughout western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut.

Connecticut Horse

Horseperson Feature

Katie Tyler Grand Prix Rising Star

whelming, especially when you’re just starting to show at that level.” Both competitions are on grass fields, which can be challenging for both horse and rider, but according to Katie, “It’s my favorite surface to ride on. You have to be more careful and you have to balance more, especially in the turns.” It also helps to have a background in eventing and Pony Club to feel comfortable navigating the grass field, and Katie does.

horse. “I take him on trail rides to relax him and have fun,” she says. Katie credits him with winning the jump-off at Ox Ridge where the conditions in the expansive grass field were slick due to a soaking rain. “In the first line, I was planning to do eight strides, and when I landed I wanted to go steady, but he wanted to go in seven, which we did!” she says. Her fault-free, jump-off round stopped the clock at 35.896, with second place coming in at 36.172.

Juliana Chapman

Andrew Ryback Photography

une in Fairfield County is a magical time of year for equestrians who live in the Northeast as it kicks off the outdoor season with two of the most beloved and longest running horse shows in the country. The annual Ox Ridge Hunt Club Charity Horse Show this year marked its 86th running, and the Fairfield County Hunt Club Horse Show is 93 years old. Both shows feature the breadth of English riding disciplines from the leadliners to the

Andrew Ryback Photography

Old Lyme by Juliana Chapman

Katie and Shet du Thot soar over the Grand Prix Equine vertical at the 2017 Ox Ridge Hunt Club Charity Horse Show.

Katie holding Cappy with writer and fellow equestrian Juliana Chapman at the 2017 American Gold Cup in Old Salem, New York.

Katie and Shet du Thot delivered a double clear and the fastest time to clinch the 2017 $25,000 Ox Ridge Hunt Club Charity Horse Show Grand Prix.

picture-perfect pony hunters to hunt seat equitation to the breathtaking jumper classes. These horse shows not only represent a historic nod to the past awarding perpetual trophies, but they also showcase the rising stars of the sport. Many of the most well-known and decorated equestrians got their start riding at these events, including George Morris, Rodney Jenkins, and Ronnie Mutch, to today’s champions McLain Ward, Georgina Bloomberg, and Peter Leone, to name just a few. In 2017, Old Lyme rising star Katie Tyler stole our hearts and attention riding her dynamo 11-year-old Selle Français gelding, Shet du Thot (Quick Star x Ironie du Thot Rosire) to consecutive weekend Grand Prix wins. Katie first captured the blue in the $25,000 Ox Ridge Hunt Club Grand Prix, followed by the $30,000 Fairfield County Hunt Club Grand Prix. “I love competing at Ox Ridge and Fairfield,” says Katie. “They’re solid Grand Prix events and aren’t too over-

“Winning these events was not reality, it was amazing, but I’m still in shock,” Katie says, grinning.

Always Wanting to Jump Bigger

January/February 2018

A Horse of a Lifetime “I give Shet du Thot all the credit,” says Katie. “He’s a horse of a lifetime.” Shet du Thot, known as Biggie back at the barn, is small for a grand prix horse at only 15.1 hands. Size is no setback for him because, as Katie says, “He’s a powerhouse!” Katie purchased Biggie from McLain Ward two years ago, and he said to her, “You’ll do a lot of great things with him.” What makes Biggie special is that he’s a thinking horse and after every jump, he’ll try and figure out where the next jump is. “I have to be careful not to look too soon [at the next jump] when I land or he’ll immediately turn in that direction,” says Katie. “As soon as he gets in the ring, he’s all business.” So much so, that when Katie is at home, she works on teaching him how to be a

Katie began her riding career when she was three. “My dad was president of High Hopes, a therapeutic riding center in our town, and I would always beg him to bring me to go pet the horses and eventually be able to ride,” Katie says. “That’s how it all started.” Katie took every chance to be with animals, “I’m a huge animal lover,” she says. She soon got serious by becoming involved with Pony Club from nine years old until age 13, riding under the direction of Holly Ridgeway. “I learned so much from Holly because she taught me horsemanship,” says Katie. “She was a stickler for the correct position, heels down . . . but I was lucky because she made it so fun and a great experience.” Katie eventually graduated to the equitation ranks and in her final junior year worked with Shachine Belle. “Shachine helped me fine-tune my equitation and guided me to big wins,” says Katie. Those wins aboard her equitation horse Galliard in 2011 included

the Connecticut Hunter/Jumper Finals Masters Medal champion; reserve champion at the New England Horsemen’s Counsel Junior Medal Finals; 17-year-old Equitation division champion at the Capital Challenge Horse Show; fourth place at the Maclay regional finals, and fourth place at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in the Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Equitation Medal Finals. “Shachine also started me in the jumpers, from the lows and helped me move up to the highs,” Katie says. Shachine’s experienced eye for horses found Katie’s first jumper, Seattle 6. “As soon as she started me in the jumpers, I thought, Oh yeah, that’s my thing!” Katie says. “I’m not scared of anything except making a mistake that hurts my horse. I’m not scared of the height, the pressure, or anything else. I always want to jump bigger.”

YouTube as a Riding Resource Ask any athlete and they’re always looking for ways to improve in their sport. With today’s online tools available, Katie finds watching videos of top riders is a great way to supplement her riding lessons and gather new ideas to help develop her ride. Having taken lessons from McLain Ward in the past, Katie says, “I watch videos of him and I always learn something [such as] from the way he carries his hands up which I’ve found brings my upper body back that much more. He has more body control than any other rider in the world and that’s what makes it work for him.”

Gaining Consistency and Managing Nerves Katie’s goal for the past season was to be consistent. “One of the things I struggle with is not being consistent,” says Katie. “I’ll ride well and then I’ll make a mistake and it takes me a while to get back.” Along with consistency comes managing her nerves. Katie says, “I’m a very anxious person in general.” Mattias Tromp recommended she read How Champions Think. (Katie took lessons from Mattias and Candice King during the summer.) Katie mentioned that the author had worked with many well-known athletes to develop key techniques for competitive success. “One of the biggest things I’ve learned from the book is to visualize my course,” says Katie. She now incorporates visualization into her preparation a week before

a competition. “I make up a course in my head and I do that on every horse I ride,” she says. “When I’m driving to the show, I do that again and once I get to the horse show, I’ll do it again, and finally when I walk the course.” This visualization has really helped her focus and relax, in addition to incorporating breathing techniques. “At the end of the day, it’s about trusting my horses,” says Katie. “I’m very lucky to have wonderful horses to ride.”

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work Katie takes lessons from Mattias and has asked for his help at horse shows, as well. “Once I started managing my own horses I wanted to learn how to prep them properly and I wanted to learn how to do it myself,” Katie says. “When I go into the ring and I come out knowing my horse was prepped perfectly, it’s a great feeling of accomplishment and that’s very important to me.” Another key mentor this past year has been Candice King. “Candice provides another perspective and gave me advice at horse shows toward the end of the summer,” says Katie. Katie’s support team includes barn manager Barbara Kipikasha, who she describes as a horse and people whisperer. “She works so hard,” Katie says. “There’s no way I could do it without her. Along with groom Mariano, they make it all happen behind the scenes.” Katie also praises Megan Taylor, owner of Three Willows Farm where Katie keeps her horses. “Megan is such an important part of my team, from giving me encouragement and helping calm my nerves to supporting me on all my adventures,” Katie says. If you’ve been to shows where Katie is competing, you would recognize her devoted parents, ringside, cheering her on. “My family and friends are hugely supportive and I couldn’t ask for better horses or a better team behind me,” Katie says.

What the Nutmeg State Offers Equestrians “Connecticut offers so many opportunities for the sport and is an ideal environment for grooming up-and-coming riders,” Katie says. She attributes her success to riding in Pony Club and horse shows in Connecticut. “It’s a great place to grow up riding and to continue to ride,” she says. Katie cites the small shows to the established annual Ox

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(860) 803-2777 (860) 803-0675 Ridge Hunt Club and Fairfield County Hunt Club shows. “They give you exposure to all levels of competition and build up your experience to go beyond.”

Global Aspirations Katie would not describe herself as the best traveler as she loves her own bed and knowing her horses are happy in their own barn. However, there’s one thing that would get her to travel — competing in the Global Champions Tour. “I’ll go anywhere in the world as long as I have my horses by my side,” Katie says. Her short-term goal this winter is to show in a Grand Prix under the lights in Wellington, Florida, and to be consistent. “I’m a big believer that there’s always more to learn from every single person you meet and every horse you ride,” she says. “That’s what makes competitive riding so fun. It’s challenging but so rewarding and interesting.” Juliana is an events marketing professional and lifelong equestrian. Juliana has written articles for Horse & Style, The Plaid Horse, and The World Equestrian Center blog.

Connecticut Horse

Plainfield

by Krista Chandler

Lend a Hoof

Hay Burr Inn One Last Stop Under the Rainbow

added. Round pen panels were put in, creating small paddocks for those most comfortable close to the barn. The latest addition was built to accommodate a generous donation of 68 (round and large square) bales of hay. “It’s every day, no holidays, no down time,” says Cynthia. “And we work our magic; we do as much as we can with what we have. The hardest part for me is that I don’t want them to have to

covered in something from head to tail,” says Cynthia, “she even has her own storage bin of blankets.” Hay Burr Inn is not only a place for the horses, but is a place for everyone. Being a fully volunteer-run facility, Cynthia depends on a strong army of volunteers to run smoothly. Becoming a volunteer often turns into a family and friend affair. Local vocational agriculture education programs have brought

Tina Luft

Krista Chandler

estled among wide stretches of open pasture, bordered by stonewalls and spotted with livestock, is a place where horses come to live out their final days. Hay Burr Inn Equine Rescue is a place of pure magic. Its 16 acres span across the hills of Plainfield, gifting its equine residents with ample room to wander and graze in their little slice of horsey heaven. President and founder Cynthia Haberin

Volunteers at Hay Burr Inn.

first opened Hay Burr Inn’s gates four years ago. Horses came back into her life after a hiatus and have become her niche, allowing her to connect her passion for healing horses and helping humans. The Inn’s name is a play on words echoing the pronunciation of her last name, and Cynthia’s strength and compassion are a heartfelt reflection of her kind and generous nature. After receiving their 501(c)3 status in 2014, Hay Burr Inn answered to a great call of action: to become a home for horses who needed a soft place to land, rehabilitating and restoring them until the end of their lives. The ten-stall barn is the heart of the rescue, filled with the scent of fresh hay and old leather. It’s as unique as it is functional with a layout that includes two aisles and stalls handmade for individual needs. As more rescues have arrived, so has the need to expand. One side of the barn became a large walk-in stall with added sand for those who require the extra comfort. An outside shed and separate area for the Miniature horses was 20

January/February 2018

Volunteer Courtney Luft and Traveler.

be here. I want them to have a home.” Cynthia tears up over the hardships of running a rescue. Hay Burr Inn takes in those cases that seem almost hopeless — horses at the end of the line. Its 15 residents — ten horses, four minis, and one donkey — come from diverse backgrounds. Some are kill pen saves while others are owner surrenders and animal control cases. Most that arrive are a combination of old, ill, untrained, and often, abused. Cynthia and the wonderful crew of volunteers work diligently to restore their health and happiness, including good nutrition, proactive veterinary care, attentive farrier care, proper training, and safe rehabilitation. Each of Hay Burr’s residents are unique personalities. Java Joe, an aged Miniature bay gelding from the kill pen, likes to think he’s the boss of the world. A master of mischief, Katie “the clown” is a 24-yearold Paint mare who loves cookies more than life. And Freedom is a 20-year-old bay Thoroughbred who loves to embrace her inner diva. “She’s always

many children and teenagers from surrounding areas to volunteer at the Inn and there’s no experience necessary to become a volunteer. “There’s always a need, and you can do more than you think,” says Cynthia. “Every volunteer has different talents to offer and we need a bit of everything.” The volunteers praise the feeling of community and welcoming every time they step in the barn: “This is a place where you learn and create lifelong friends and family.” “I always get a thank you, no matter what I’ve done.” “I always fit in here.” Volunteers are the most essential piece to the success of Hay Burr Inn. From daily barn chores — feeding, grooming, and mucking out stalls — to public fundraisers and events, landscape management, and building additions to the barn, the gift of time is always appreciated. The volunteers are a welcoming group of people whose stories are just as varied as the horses. It’s a place where horse people and nonhorse people can create bonds. Measuring success for horses that

are suffering physically and mentally is not always a straightforward process. One hoof forward today could mean ten hooves back tomorrow. That was the case for Traveler, an eight-year-old gray Quarter Horse gelding who came to Hay Burr Inn just a year and a half ago. After a long journey from the kill pen, Traveler limped his way off the trailer, his body marred by scars and swellings, signs of a hard life. Lance Haberin, Cynthia’s shed-building, fence-fixing brother, details the excruciating extent of Traveler’s condition: “He lay down out under the pine trees for two weeks. We weren’t sure he was he was going to make it.” However, pain was only the beginning — Traveler had a fear of humans. Things as simple as a pat on the neck or getting vital signs caused severe anxiety. His journey to health and happiness became a lesson where patience and calming energy were fundamental for the volunteers. Traveler’s a daily reminder to be thankful for the little things, such as how a comforting touch can be a positive connection, and his quiet response a sign of his trust. The toughest cases are never simple. Bonnie the Clydesdale was an owner surrender that arrived three years ago. Weighing nearly 2,000 pounds and well over 17 hands, Bonnie quickly become a barn favorite known for her rich chocolate coat and flashy white markings — and only being halter started at 15 years old. Taking in a draft horse with minimal training was yet another lesson in patience, as well as learning how not to get dragged across the pasture. Since her arrival, Bonnie has blossomed into a horse with growing riding and driving potential. She’s one of the horses that created a need for Hay Burr Inn’s own shoeing stock — an integral piece of equipment for training Bonnie not to kick our beloved farriers, vets, and hoof pickers. When horses like Traveler and Bonnie come to Hay Burr Inn, their possibility for adoption is unknown at first. Needs are more focused on the daily experience than on future potential, but there’s always hope for a perfect match. This has led to the creation of Hay Burr Inn’s Life Lease Program where horses and potential owners are matched according to a strict criterion, and for Cynthia’s own peace of mind. “When [horses] come here, I expect them not to leave,” says Cynthia. “The

life lease makes sure they always have a home to come back to.” Most of Cynthia’s work happens behind the scenes, spending countless hours networking options for both horses and their potential adopters. Donations are another key component that helps Hay Burr Inn take care of every equine in its care. Cynthia stresses that every penny is always accounted for. “You never know when that dollar could’ve been someone’s last,” says Cynthia. From paddock fencing to stall boards, most of the wood has come from donations, fundraisers, or use of their own lumber from pasture clearing. There are monthly sponsorship opportunities, including Buy-A-Bale and Feed-A-Friend. Future projects need both volunteer time and additional resources, especially with the expansion of their pasture track system with run-in sheds, perimeter fencing, and future hayfields. Considering the future, Cynthia would like to see the continuation of Hay Burr Inn’s success. “I don’t want this place to disappear when I’m not here,”she says. “I see us morphing into a rescue and sanctuary.” The future of the rescue relies on the continued passion for horses, and

the human responsibility for their trust and health. But there always exists an ongoing worry for every rescuer that maybe they’re not doing enough. Cynthia urges owners to think of their long-term plans. “Do you have a plan for your animals after they win that ribbon?” says Cynthia. “All of these rescues have lived hard lives. They had former homes and careers — I ask myself, Is someone looking for them? Were they loved? And now they’re here because they have to be, and that makes me sad. We are blessed, but it’s an unfortunate circumstance.” Hay Burr Inn Equine Rescue has many things to look forward to in 2018. Be sure to look for its bi-annual open house held in the spring and the fall. Another exciting event is the Vendor Fair, scheduled for May 5. To lend a hoof, visit hayburrinn.org or follow them on Facebook. A third-generation horsewoman and recent graduate from the University of Connecticut’s English program, Krista’s always been an animal advocate. She writes from the hills of Connecticut where she resides with her faithful equine and canine companions, Holly and Penny.

Connecticut Horse

Trail Guide Southbury by xx Stearns by Stacey Stearns

George C. Waldo State Park

pared to back around, and park strategically so you don’t get blocked in. The best bet is to arrive early or on a weekday. I was there on a Sunday around noon — peak time for other trail users and parking was a bit challenging, yet doable. George C. Waldo is a favorite destination of mountain bikers. They refer to the red-orange trail as Where’s Waldo Trail, and the yellow trail as the Daffy Trail. I’m a bit curious as to how the Daffy Trail received its name. The

Lillinonah peaking through the trees long before arriving at the lookout point. As I got closer to Lake Lillinonah I could hear a loud noise that turned out to be a large flock of starlings in the trees on the banks of the water. The fire road is very rocky, and the bank of the lake is all rock. There were snails attached to the rocks along the shore of the lake, reminding me more of the ocean than a river. There’s a memorial bench over-

Stacey Sterns

drove through the picturesque historic district of Southbury, traveled on the winding Flat Hill Road, and enjoyed the spectacular view at the top of the hill before descending. When I arrived at my destination, I discovered another Connecticut state park short on mileage but big on character. The 150-acre George C. Waldo State Park includes Lake Lillinonah and the Housatonic River as its western border. The park is a popular destination for other trail users including mountain

bikers, walkers, dogs, and hunters. There are four and a half miles of trails for equestrians to explore, although most of it is single-track woods trail. The fire/access road road leading to Lake Lillinonah is approximately seven tenths of a mile. Oak trees line the trails and the leaves create a blanket on the trail, hiding rocks and roots. Huge deposits of rock are in the woods and along the trail. It’s diverse with deciduous and coniferous forest cover. Stone walls wind through the woods away from the trails, remnants of when the land was in agricultural production. A quiet calmness permeates the air around Lake Lillinonah. Looking out across the lake you can see the Upper Paugussett State Forest on the opposite shore in Newtown.

A Leg Up George C. Waldo State Park is in New Haven County. It’s easily accessed from Interstate 84. Use 457 Purchase Brook Road in Southbury for your GPS. The parking lot is small; it only fits about 10 cars. I wouldn’t bring anything larger than a two-horse trailer. Be pre22

January/February 2018

red, yellow, and purple trails are marked with blazes on the trees. The purple trail runs parallel to the fire road near the parking lot. You can see a stone wall just beyond it that is the boundary of the state park, and private property signs lining the border. There are some sections of boardwalk on the purple trail, and a few small wood footbridges that aren’t built for horses. I didn’t end up riding the purple trail at all. No bathroom facilities are available — it’s an informal state park. There is no parking fee. I saw two off-leash dogs, but both were very respectful and under the control of their owners.

Out Riding It One of the first things I saw when I started down the trail was Waldo, stuck in a tree. It was a plastic figurine — a child’s toy, presumably left by previous trail users, or the mountain bike community. Waldo made me smile, I took his picture, and hope future trail users will get a kick out of him too. Sunlight breaks through the tree canopy to light parts of the trail. You can see the Housatonic River and Lake

looking the water that was placed by the Southbury Land Trust. Despite signs prohibiting fires, there were two fire pits, a gas grill, and an old rope swing that hung over the water at the lake on an obliging oak tree. Lake Lillinonah was at a lower level when I was there; I could see the high water mark. When I went down to the edge of the water, there was a steep drop-off about a foot off shore — don’t let your horse go in very far. The sunlight shimmers off the lake, but you can tell the water is still quietly moving downstream. On the far bank the trees from Paugussett State Forest reflect off the glassy image of the lake. Anyone who knows me well won’t be surprised to learn that I got lost in George C. Waldo State Park. I had a map and decided to explore some of the inner trails. I started on an unblazed trail that turned to yellow blazes, then was following red blazes. I literally went in circles for a while as I got turned around and kept going the wrong way when I looked at my map. Then I decided to try the unblazed trails again as a quicker way out. Do you remember Winnie the

Pooh, lost in the hundred-acre wood? That was me, lost in a 150-acre wood. I saw the same large rock outcropping three times. The third time, I was pretty convinced I was close to the fire road, but had no idea how to get back to it. Slight panic was creeping in. I saw the same mountain biker for a second time, and he tried to help me again. He told me if I just bushwhacked through the woods for a little bit I would be back at the fire road, so I did it. I was glad to be back on the fire road! Before the biker set off again, he said, “You probably already figured this out, but mountain bike trails just go in circles and loops constantly through the woods.” Yes, I got that, and am very appreciative he stopped his ride twice to offer assistance. I realized that what I should have done was access the red trail immediately after going around the gate that separates the parking lot from the access road. Then I could have followed the red trail as it wound through the woods and down to Lake Lillinonah. From there, I could have taken the access road back to the parking lot, or ridden back up on the red trail until it connected to yellow. From there, you can ride yellow back to red and the parking lot. The access road can also be used for an out-and-back trail to the lake. I’m in good company when it comes to getting lost in George C. Waldo State Park. I talked to Diane Ciano of Plymouth, who did an exploratory ride of George C. Waldo State Park for Connecticut Horse Council’s Volunteer Horse Patrol quite a few years ago. This was before there were marked or maintained trails in the park; only the access road was present at that time. “We followed some old overgrown trails and explored the woods,” Diane says. “It was an enjoyable ride even though at times we were just wandering through the woods finding the best way for the horses to go.” And with that, I have a greater appreciation for the trail aptly named Where’s Waldo. Fellow equestrian Jill Hannan lives in Southbury. We discussed the park — she’s never ridden there before, but thought it would be fun to explore. I’m looking forward to getting lost in George C. Waldo State Park again in the future. Happy trails. Stacey Stearns, a lifelong equestrian from Connecticut, enjoys trail riding and endurance with her Morgan horses.

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connhorse.com Connecticut Horse

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News in Our Community An outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy has been confirmed in Connecticut. Clinical signs were seen on December 5 at SaddleView Farm in Bethany. A four-year-old Quarter Horse mare was confirmed positive on December 10. As of press time, tests on three Quarter Horse geldings are pending. “We’re absolutely devastated that SaddleView Farm has an EHV-1 outbreak and is under state quarantine until further notice,” Robin and Chip Norton posted on Facebook. “We have one confirmed case at Tufts. We’re doing everything we can to prevent further outbreaks. We’ve been in contact with everyone that we can recall

has been here within the last two weeks. If your horse has had a fever or any signs of illness please contact your vet immediately. Please keep our farm family in your prayers as we continue to fight this.”

with dribbling urine. All horses, which were vaccinated, are receiving treatment. Potentially 30 to 35 horses have been exposed and currently 20 horses are in quarantine established by

4-H Hippology Team

Carolyn McEvitt

EVH-1 Outbreak

Emma Libera, Hannah Powell, Carolyn McEvitt (coach), Sarah Stolt, and Madeline Goetschius at the Eastern National 4-H Roundup in Kentucky.

Signs include 102 to 104 degree fever, mild inappetence, and hind limb ataxia

the Connecticut Department of Agriculture.

Congratulations to the Connecticut 4-H Hippology Team on placing ninth at the Eastern National 4-H Roundup in Louisville, Kentucky! The hippology team spent many hours studying and represented the Nutmeg State well against 21 other teams. Hippology is the title of an equine veterinary and management knowledge contest that is used in 4-H. Hippology consists of four phases: horse judging, written examination and slide identification, identification stations, and team problem solving. Each individual competes on a four-person team. To learn more about Connecticut 4-H Clubs, visit 4-H.uconn.edu.

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January/February 2018

Pachaug State Forest in northeastern Connecticut, one of the largest, most beautiful public destinations for equestrians in New England, is in imminent danger of losing trail access and the closing of its horsefriendly campground. Connecticut is taking steps to build a large outdoor gun range on a small piece of private property located within the forest. The proposed site is located just a short distance from the popular Frog Hollow Horse Camp, a 100-acre private parcel of land off of Lee Road, recognizable with an old farmhouse and cornfields. The proposed gun range, intended for the training of state troopers and other police/military, will be a huge, 55,000 square-foot outdoor facility. If completed, the consequences of this range will be devastating. A one mile “kill zone” around the facility will result in the restriction of miles of trails and the permanent closure of Frog Hollow Horse Camp. Gunfire will be audible five to seven days a week, including evenings and at night. Lighting towers will illuminate the sky. Vehicle traffic in and around the forest will greatly increase. The forest will be changed forever. Pachaug State Forest is 27,000 acres of serene forestland meant for the enjoyment of everyone in Connecticut and New England. It’s a peaceful, lovely forest with miles of unpaved roads and marked trails ideal for equestrians, as well as hikers, bikers, campers and families. If you think building a massive paramilitary training facility within a public forestland is a terrible idea, please take action. Send emails and call your elected officials. Contact any of the officials listed below. The people who plan these projects, using

taxpayer dollars, need to hear from equestrians who value horse-friendly open space. You do not need to be a Connecticut resident to voice your opinion. If you have ever travelled to Connecticut and purchased gas, food or any services, you have contributed your tax dollars. Save Pachaug State Forest! Save our Connecticut

Sonnenhof Equestrian Center (SEC) in Easton: Carol Mattsson, Betsy Price, Hannah-Sophia Grant, Lyla DellaPorta, Stephanie Hull, and Adele Bhandari. To measure and reward equestrian knowledge and skill, the SEC Equestrian Achievement Badge program was created by Kirsten Gray, SEC’s owner and head trainer. “We’re looking to

Markéta Koubková

Save Pachaug State Forest!

Stephanie Hull, Isabelle Bussolotta, Adele Bhandari, Julia Syku, and Alison Hong are just five of the riders who’ve earned achievement badges at Sonnenhof Equestrian Center in Easton.

trails and horse campground. To stay informed, go to facebook.com/protectpachaugforest. Governor Dannel Malloy (860) 566-4840 governor.malloy@ct.gov Senator Richard Blumenthal (860) 258-6940 Senator Chris Murphy (860) 549-8463 Congressman Joe Courtney (860) 886-0139 ct02ima@mail.house.gov Senator Cathy Osten (860) 240-0579 Senator Len Fasano len.fasano@cga.gov Senator Heather Somers heather.somers@cga.ct.gov Commissioner of the State Police Dora Schriro dora.schriro@ct.gov Commissioner of DAS Melody Currey melody.currey@ct.gov

Sonnenhof Equestrian Achievement Badges On November 4 six riders passed the testing for their purple Equestrian Achievement Badge at

educate riders to become horsewomen and –men,” says Kirsten. “Riding is one aspect we successfully teach but knowing how to groom correctly, learning basic medical care, tacking the horses, and obtaining groundwork knowledge and skill in combination with the riding (jumping and dressage) makes us all more skilled in problem-solving situations and confident around our horses for clearer communication.” Having grown up in the German riding system, Kirsten is using the German Federation testing and teaching material to educate the center’s riders. The German Federation has used the testing and teaching systems for many years, and it’s tried and proved. “I didn’t want to reinvent the wheel, but my requirements for a program I wanted to adopt were steep,” Kirsten says. “This program is not just for kids,” says Kirsten. “You’re

never too old or too young to acquire new skills.” The riders at the farm agree with her — just three months after implementing the program, there are six brown badge holders (first testing level) and six purple badge holders. The oldest is 76 and the youngest is 10. Sonnenhof Equestrian Center is looking forward to riders going down the centerline, proudly wearing their badge on their show jacket lapel, as the program continues to grow. “We invite trainers from other barns and those who share our vision to participate in our testing program with their students,” says Kirsten. “We have four German speaking horsewomen: Corinna Scheller-Fleming, Dilara Drukker, Marina Richey, and myself, all of us USDF medalists. Three hold their German Federation bronze medal, and Corinna is a USDF judge. The high standard of our founding members makes sure this system adheres to the guidelines and principles of the German Federation bylaws.” To learn more, visit sonnenhofequestrian center.com.

Molly Codeanne Wins Saddle Seat Medal Finals Molly Codeanne of Wethersfield ended her saddle seat equitation career by capturing the 2017 USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final at the United Professional Horsemen’s Association/ American Royal National Championship Horse Show in Kansas City. The Final was held on November 11 during the American Royal. Molly rode her 16-year-old Saddlebred mare CH-EQ Chanti’s Prayer, aka Button, under the direction of David and Kristen Cater of Cater Stables. A fourth generation horsewoman, Molly was one of 21 horse-and-rider combinations in the preliminary Connecticut Horse

class that included both rail work and a pattern. She was one of 12 riders called back for the final rail work and another complex individual pattern. In addition to the title, Molly also was awarded with the prestigious Helen K. Crabtree and Adrian Van Sinderen trophies. Judging this respected event were Josh Greer (Kentucky), Suzy Shiflet (North Carolina), and John Whalen (Massachusetts). “Molly’s pattern work gave me the chills watching her,” says John Whalen. “It was a very complex pattern, but she made it very exciting. She attacked it, meaning that she rode 26

January/February 2018

strong into and out of every transition. She took chances and she made her horse perform to its highest ability. It was breathtaking.” Molly is no newcomer to the winner’s circle of saddle seat equitation competitions. She was twice reserve in the USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final, first in 2015 and again in 2016. Last year, Molly won another renowned award when she was crowned the World Champion of Champions Senior Saddle Seat Equitation Champion in Louisville, Kentucky. Twice Molly was the reserve UPHA Senior Challenge Cup Final, and

in 2013 she won the UPHA Junior Challenge Cup Final. Even though she’s back to her daily routine as a freshman at Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, Molly says, “Life is still crazy and I can’t really believe I won the medal finals. It was an amazing win, and an emotional one because it was my last equitation class and the last time I’d show my equitation horse Button.” Molly had another great experience during her equitation career when she was a member of the 2016 goldmedal winning USEF Saddle Seat World Cup three-gaited team. The competition was held in South Africa, so Molly and her teammates had to ride borrowed horses. “It was a great experience showing different horses that I’d never ridden before,” says Molly. “It taught me to get on and do my very best with what I had to do to get the horse to perform its best.” Looking back on an impressive career as an equitation rider in the Saddlebred world, Molly says that all her wins were special to her. She always felt honored to be in the ring with many other talented riders and she made lifelong friendships along the way. Molly cited her father as her good luck charm whenever he was able to attend a show to watch her compete. Molly’s younger brother was also there to show his support. In addition to showing in equitation, Molly also shows Saddlebreds in performance divisions, just like her grandmother and mother, Lynn Harvey McNamara and Kate Harvey Codeanne, respectfully. “I’m so honored to be the daughter of such an amazing woman, not only because she competed and won this special medal class among some of the most prestigious riders, but because she has taught me hard work and determination by doing something we both love,” Molly says. Kate Harvey Codeanne posted on Facebook after Molly’s win, “It’s hard to put into words the pride and gratitude I have today. Molly, you have had an incredible equitation career and what you have learned has helped to shape you into the determined, hard working, generous, understanding, funny, kind person you are. I am so proud to be your mom.” Molly has yet to choose a major at Holy Cross, so is taking required courses as most freshmen do. There’s no question Molly will continue to show Saddlebreds in the performance divi-

sions as an amateur. You can count on the three generations of her family to be railside to show their support.

n Suzy Lucine

High Hopes News Visitors to High Hopes seventh annual Holiday Market once again broke all records with their donation of more than 3,162 pounds of muchneeded food for the Shoreline Soup Kitchen and Pantries (SSKP). Entrance to the market is always free with a nonperishable donation to the Shoreline Soup Kitchen. “I love the fact that our visitors and sponsors are supporting our programs, and at the same time, we’re supporting those in need in our local community,” says Director of Development Sara Qua. “High Hopes is one of our strongest community partners,” says Ellen Rabin, executive director of SSKP. “SSKP is grateful for the food drive held at the holiday. These donations will stock the shelves in the Old Lyme Pantry and allow us to provide meals to those in need in the community. Thank you to all those who contributed through High Hopes and wishing you all a peaceful holiday season.” High Hopes programs could not run without the amazing support of volunteers, each and every day. But did you know that one of the busiest times is the summer when we open up our programs to our local community? If you’re considering a career in any of the caring or therapeutic services, are looking for community hours for your resume, graduation, or National Honor Society application, you can help us to help you. We promise you hard work, lots of fun, and an amazing experience with children with a wide range of abilities that you can talk about at college interviews.

High Hopes is a premier therapeutic riding center and international instructortraining site, accredited by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International since 1979. It has served people with physical, emotional, and developmental disabilities for more than 40 years, offering year-round programs in equine-assisted activities

pected frost accompanied by some brisk autumn winds that will have you retreating back into the house for a warmer coat. The very next day, however, the temperatures make you wonder if you’re in the midst of an Indian summer, with surprisingly balmy and pleasant conditions. These are the days equestrians truly appreciate. We get excited as we

spectators and supporters set up lawn chairs in the shade outside the ring to watch the show; others mingled with friends and families. Coaches and trainers from stables throughout the area encouraged and instructed riders with a balanced blend of suggestions and compliments. All in all, it was the ideal way to end Frazier Farm’s show schedule. Corinne and Andrew Gagnon, owners of Frazier Farm, would like to express their gratitude to Sue Conley of Fairfield County Hunt Club, who officiated as judge, and Erin Glover, who ably assisted and announced the day’s event.

n Sally L. Feuerberg

Sarah Geikie Clinic at Emily Emond Dressage

Looking for hard work, a lot of fun, and an amazing experience with children? Volunteer at High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center in Old Lyme.

including therapeutic riding, carriage driving, and an equine learning program, plus experiential learning through outreach programs, an integrated summer camp program, and a variety of volunteer opportunities. High Hopes serves more than 1,800 people with disabilities each year, underwriting more than 70 percent of all lesson costs and providing financial aid to 100 percent of our participants. To learn more about our programs, visit highhopestr.org. To learn more about volunteer opportunities and training times, visit highhopestr.org/ volunteer/volunteer-training, or call Marie at (860) 4341974, extension 118.

n Sarah Crisp

Frazier Farm Horse Show As anyone who’s involved in any equine activity knows, the weather in the month of October can be very unpredictable. One morning you might wake up to an unex-

await that last hunter pace of the season, and look forward to any opportunity to venture out on that perfect trail ride. It’s also a time when horse and rider can participate in one of the last few outdoor horse shows before late fall and early winter chases us back indoors. On Sunday, October 22, Frazier Farm Training Center had just one of those flawless days to host a horse show, the final in a series of four. The pale blue sky featured wispy cirrus clouds as the sun glistened over Frazier Farm’s spectacular acreage in Woodbury. Trees bedecked with autumn’s most vibrant colors accented the landscape and farm horses serenely grazed in grass pastures. Classes were held in the stone dust arena and the grass field with riders of all ages taking part in classes ranging from to Beginner Walk Trot to Open Jumpers. Many of the attending

Emily Emond Dressage in Southbury hosted a one-day Sarah Geikie Dressage Clinic on Saturday, November 4. Sarah Geikie is a USEF S and FEI four-star dressage judge, a USDF examiner and faculty member, and is USDF certified through fourth level. She’s successfully competed through Grand Prix and has been awarded both bronze and silver USDF medals. She’s a British Horse Society Assistant Instructor and the Lindgren Scholarship recipient through the Dressage Foundation. Sarah also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science from the University of Massachusetts. She’s trained numerous horses to the Grand Prix level and many of her students have achieved USDF medals and New England Dressage Association year-end awards. Although her credentials are extraordinary, her demeanor, teaching technique, and rapport with students, as well as the horses, is even more impressive. At this particular clinic, horses and riders of all levels, from Training through Grand Prix, were featured Connecticut Horse

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and it was here that you could truly appreciate Sarah’s remarkable teaching skills. Each participant, no matter what their degree of experience, was clearly able to benefit from Sarah’s ability to precisely communicate and clarify the fundamentals required to realize the ultimate horse-human partnership. Her effectiveness was evident by the improvement and understanding that each rider demonstrated throughout each session. By applying Sarah’s training methods, suggestions, and modifications to their own positioning and carriage, riders were able to effectively transmit these supportive adjustments to 28

January/February 2018

their horse. Throughout the entire clinic, Sarah’s positive energy and extensive knowledge of dressage was appreciated by students and auditors alike.

n Sally L. Feuerberg

Equine Affaire’s Connecticut Connections If you’re like most equine enthusiasts, you eagerly awaited the first posting of any information regarding Equine Affaire held this past November at the Eastern States Exposition Center in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Although the first glimpses of promotion and advertising didn’t show up

until mid-summer, you certainly marked your calendar when tickets would go on sale, and started imagining what type of spectacular acts would be appearing at Fantasia! Then began the wait to see who would be among the featured presenters and clinicians, as well as what type of diverse clinics and educational forums would be available. And Equine Affaire’s hundreds of vendors would be on hand for purchases that would most likely include the latest products, farm equipment, and, of course, the most current equestrian fashion trends. The weekend finally arrived, and as you walked past the entry gates you knew that your lofty expectations were not going to be disappointed. You were not only surrounded by countless fellow passionate horse aficionados, but there were vendors, participants, performers, and clinicians attending from around the globe. But, did you know that despite this vast representation of worldwide participation, there was a formidable connection from our own state? Although many Connecticut horse owners and riders took part in clinics and demonstrations throughout the four days, there were several wellknown Nutmeggers involved in the forums and presentations, and even a noteworthy contingent in Fantasia! Kristen Soto and her vaulting team from Copper Hill Equestrian Center in West Suffield, who were featured in the Connecticut Horse January/February 2017 issue, entertained large crowds with varied presentations held in the Young and the Mallory Buildings. Exhibitions involved elegant and athletically graceful demonstrations of what can only be described as gymnastics and dance on horseback. Westport’s Ron Friedson is a thirdgeneration saddle maker with 40 years of experience in the equine community. Ron’s comprehensive knowledge of proper saddle fitting was shared in two separate seminars: One covered fitting the saddle to the horse by understanding the skeletal and muscular structures in the horse’s back that support the saddle, and the other covered selecting a saddle based on the rider’s body type, riding style, and goals. The Fantasia stage spotlighted some pretty impressive home-grown talents, too! Longtime Connecticut resident John Bennett of John Bennett Stables in Putnam had the prestigious honor of driving two majestic Morgan Horses, UC Romeo and Stillwell Suma, into the coliseum for the opening cere-

n Sally L. Feuerberg

Why Purchase When You Can Adopt? The Humane Organization Representing Suffering Equines (H.O.R.S.E.) of Connecticut, now celebrating its 36th year, moved to its permanent home on Wilbur Road in Washington in 1995. Staffed by a dedicated team of volunteers, H.O.R.S.E. has saved more than 700 horses

and maintains an ongoing commitment to educating the public regarding horse care. Adoption — finding a forever home for our horses — is our primary goal, second only to providing them with the best care possible.

ing of dynamite drafts, Bronson and Baron are Belgian/Quarter Horses that love riding trails, either western or English. There are many choices of horses available for adoption at H.O.R.S.E., but we also offer sponsor and lease programs for people who want to spend time with the horses before choosing a lifetime companion. To learn more, visit horseofct.org or call (860) 868-1960.

six-year-old Thoroughbred for an experienced rider, while the elder Mikey, a Thoroughbred/Quarter Horse cross, is a quiet gentleman suited for an intermediate rider. If you’re looking to ride for miles, Star, a 13-yearold Morgan/Arabian cross, is

n Kathy Diemer

Overherdisms

Belgian/Quarter Horse Baron at H.O.R.S.E of Connecticut enjoys trail rides, either western or English, and is available for adoption.

Once a horse is rehabilitated and has been determined to be healthy and able to go to a new home, H.O.R.S.E. starts looking for the best fit. This is a time-consuming process similar to many animal rescues, where references need to be checked and properties inspected to be sure the facilities are appropriate for each animal. The reward is finding the perfect match, one where the horse and its new family will have years of happiness together. H.O.R.S.E. would not be able to take in new animals without the many wonderful adopters who have provided loving homes for their horses over the last several decades. H.O.R.S.E. has many different horses for adoption ranging from Thoroughbreds and draft crosses to Bureau of Land Management Mustangs. The horses also range in riding skill levels required, from intermediate to advanced. Sassafras is a beautiful 17-year-old Mustang mare for an experienced rider, and her 20-year-old companion Amara is a quiet trail horse for an intermediate rider. Gus is an energetic

a perfect intermediate choice for a petite rider, while handsome Scout, a draft/Paint gelding, is a solid trail partner for taller, intermediate adults. And speak-

Amy Williams

mony. (John and his daughter Katherine were included the Connecticut Horse feature “It’s a Family Affair,” in the 2016 May/June issue.) John is an alumna of the University of Connecticut, with a degree in animal science. He has held the position of Horse Unit Supervisor at the university for more than thirty years. When John wasn’t taking part in the nightly extravaganza of Fantasia, he presided over two clinics at the Mallory and Young Building arenas: From the Judge’s Perspective: Polishing Your Performance and Excelling in English Pleasure Saddle Seat Classes, and Saddle Seat versus Hunt Seat Pleasure: Defining the Similarities and Differences and How to Prepare Your Horse for Each Class. One of the highlight acts of Fantasia was Bryan Penquite. Bryan, who lives in Enfield and was featured in the most recent issue of Connecticut Horse, rode Quarter Horse Megas Sugar Daddy (owned by Denise Harvey), in a perfectly executed freestyle reining performance done to the celebrated music of Footloose! So, when you start to anticipate the excitement of the next Equine Affaire, we can be grateful and proud that Connecticut’s talented equestrians will be back to educate, entertain, and unquestionably, inspire us all!

• “My tall boots cut off circulation in my feet two hours ago. I can feel my heartbeat in my calves.” • “I thought I got really tan yesterday but then I took a shower and realized I was actually just coated in dust.” • “I’m like the falling of ninja . . . I might be a bad rider, but at least I’m an amazing faller.”

Connecticut Horse

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

Sunday, November 18, 2018. I’m sure we’ll be talking about the weather, but we’ll be riding too. CMHA’s new membership year started on November 1. Over the next few months we have our youth essay contest, scholarship applications are due, and our annual awards banquet will be Saturday, March 10. The youth essay contest is open to all those age 18

Connecticut Renegades Cowboy Mounted Shooters The Connecticut Renegades held its annual Creepin’ Toward Halloween costume match on Sunday, October 16, at the Old Bethany Airport. The Renegades hosted riders from Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and New York. Costumes were encouraged and many

Every year a hearty discussion at the fall CMHA board meeting centers on the weather of the annual Turkey Trot. We always hold the ride on the Sunday before Thanksgiving and, for our eighth annual ride, Mother Nature didn’t disappoint. Strong winds and several inches of rain raged throughout the evening and into the morning of November 19. Then it cleared, the sun came out, and the 19 riders who braved the wind and rain to get to Bluff Point State Park in Groton enjoyed the trails. The multi-use trails at Bluff Point offer woods and views of Long Island Sound. There were only a few other trail users out, and we shared the trails with cyclists, runners, and dog walkers. We arrived at high tide, and with the rain, there was a huge puddle under the railroad tracks where you enter, and the entire lower side of the parking lot was under water. It was certainly a Turkey Trot that we won’t soon forget! The ride is a benefit for the Sue Brander Sport Horse Scholarship Fund. All breeds are welcome and CMHA membership is not required. CMHA affiliates with New England Horse and Trail for a five- and ten-mile ride. Save the date for this year’s Turkey Trot to be held on 30

January/February 2018

Stacey Stearns

Connecticut Morgan Horse Association

Celeste Santos-Rivera on Willo Pond Revelation and Linda Krul on DVF Karling O'Keefe, aka Kona, at the Connecticut Morgan Horse Association annual Turkey Trot at Bluff Point State Park in Groton.

and under, and you do not need to be a member of the club or own a horse. Each age division has three essay topics to choose from. Essays are due by January 15, and the winner in each age group receives a riding lesson on a Morgan horse. For more information, email Patti Brooks at patti@pattibrooks books.com. We’re excited to announce our judges for the 2018 Connecticut Morgan Open Horse Show: Phil Price, Bert Earehart, Jessica Axelson, and Margaret Boyce. Joining us as ringmaster again this year is Jerome Parker. Save the dates of June 6 to 9 and watch for updates at ctmorgans.org and on our Facebook page. Come ride with us in 2018!

n Stacey Stearns

riders got creative. Tom Beckman of Harwinton as Dale riding Chip came in as the overall winner with a total of 71.69 seconds across four stages and no missed targets. Jared Penley of Temple, New Hampshire, took the reserve overall slot, but not far behind him was 13-year-old Kayla Davis of West Granby, also shooting clean. Kayla, dressed as a hippie, took the overall position for the cowgirls on her horse Cherokee. Sabrina Fecteau of Harwinton on her horse Jet took the reserve cowgirl win. Along with Tom and Kayla, the additional clean shooters (no missed targets) were Alan Green dressed as Dolly Parton on his horse Levi and Allison Forsyth and her horse KC, dressed as

Shrek and Donkey. Full class winners earning themselves another move-up point toward the next level were Chris Anson, dressed as a painter on her beautiful “wet” Paint Arrow in the Ladies 1 class, and Kayla Davis in the Ladies 2 class. Alan and Chris were the overall winners of the costume competition. The Halloween match was also the last official match of the 2017 competition season. Many riders attended all the 2017 matches earning points at each one. The high-point earners recognized as the Connecticut State Champions were Tom Beckman and Sabrina Fecteau. Each rider earned a custom engraved concho from the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA) and a free entry into any national CMSA event. The Renegades held its annual membership meeting in December where the 2018 season was planned. For more information about the Renegades and cowboy mounted shooting, go to ctrenegades.com. Clinics for new shooters will be scheduled in the spring.

n Allison Forsyth

Connecticut Trail Rides Association I sure hope all of you enjoyed a wonderful holiday season with family and friends. Happy New Year! Our first executive board and general membership meeting is scheduled for January 14, with a snow date of January 21, at the Harwinton Town Library, but check Facebook or our website to confirm the location. The executive board meets first, followed by a potluck lunch. After lunch, the general membership and guests will meet to plan the

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auction; and a host for the November Annual Banquet. Please share your talents and volunteer. That’s what makes our club so successful!

n Patti Crowther

amazing year-end results. There are many year-end successes from our young walktrot riders to our hunters and jumpers. FCHC’s pony riders placed first through

Contador rode to champion and reserve champion honors in the Children’s Hunter Horse year-end standings for CHJA and USHJA Zone 1. And Brenda Tananbaum rid-

Jeanne Lewis Images

calendar for 2018. If you want to host a ride, please provide two possible dates in case your dates conflict with others. Beside ride hosts, we need a Pasta Dinner host for

The October 16 Connecticut Renegades Creepin’ Toward Halloween costume match riders at the Old Bethany Airport.

Labor Day weekend; Sunday morning breakfast hosts for Memorial Day, July Fourth, and Labor Day weekends at Camp Boardman; an Annual Barbecue host before the

Fairfield County Hunt Club FCHC would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year! FCHC riders finished out a successful 2017 with

Lesson Academy Boarding . Training Leases . Clinics . Showing Adult & Kid Programs

Dressage . Jumping . Equitation Groundwork Techniques Problem Solving Kirsten Gray Owner/Head Trainer USDF Bronze Medalist

203 . 814 . 7976 sonnenhofec@gmail.com

sixth to sweep the Connecticut Hunter Jumper Association (CHJA) Children’s Pony Hunter year-end awards. Isabella Cruz riding Jolie Blanc and Juliana Beal riding

ing Quito brought home the Adult Hunter 36 & Over championship for CHJA, USHJA Zone 2, and Fairfield Westchester Professional Horsemen’s Association.

USDF Bronze & Silver Medalist Full Training Packages Training & Competing Lessons Email Jannike for availability, pricing, and more details at jannikegray@gmail.com.

Taking Pilates-Based Movement from the Studio to the Moving Horse. Pilates Sessions with Tiﬀany DeMartin 203. 258 . 3214

sonnenhofequestriancenter.com

145 Eden Hill Road, Easton, CT 06612 . 203 . 814 . 7976 32

January/February 2018

n Wynatte Chu

Pomfret Horse and Trail Association The largest ever PHTA Fall Foliage Ride drew 135 riders including seven-year-old

filled with horse trailers. Riders walked or galloped through the trails nearby while the Rolling Tomato

Tracy Cormier

Jasmine from Storrs who rode the ten-mile trail with her mother Nikole Ruddy. Short and long loops wound

Reflections Photography

Bunny Joseph riding Dickens at the Connecticut Trail Rides Association’s Hurd Park Ride.

Fairfield County Hunt Club member Juliana Beal and Contador in the Conneccticut Hunter Jumper Association (CHJA) Children's Hunter Horse Classic at CHJA Medal Finals.

Lisette Rimer

FCHC is offering a college riding membership for students under the age of 25 enrolled in college or university. All levels of riding are welcome. Lessons on our wonderful school horses can be arranged. We also welcome students who would like to board their horse. We have two connected heated indoor arenas and host monthly horse shows open to all. For the 2018 spring semester (January 1 to April 30), dues are half price! The USEF Regional II, CHJA, NEHC, and FW-PHA FCHC Shows have new divisions for 2018: USHJA 2'6" and 3' Hunter divisions. Hunter and equitation classes are offered for all levels at the January 13, February 18, and March 18 shows. To learn more, visit huntclubonline.org. For the second year in a row, FCHC’s riding program has been honored as a USHJA-recognized Riding Academy — the first in Connecticut — for promoting and emphasizing horsemanship and sportsmanship, safety, and offering introductory hunter/jumper lessons. The FCHC is a private club located in Westport. The club was established in 1923 and hosts a number of nationally- and regionally recognized horse shows. The club offers a variety of equestrian programs, tennis, paddle tennis, swimming, and year-round club house dining to a membership of 300. Riding memberships range from a four-pack introductory riding package to a 10pack riding membership, to a year-round riding membership. To learn more, visit huntclubonline.org and email heidi@huntclub online.org.

Nikole Ruddy and Jasmine Ruddy from Storrs at the Pomfret Horse and Trail Fall Foliage Ride.

around fields, woods, dirt roads, and grassy paths in northern Pomfret on a warm October day. The parking field was

food truck baked pizzas for lunch. The ride was sponsored by PHTA, which promotes open space and trail use in

northeastern Connecticut. PHTA uses proceeds from its two annual rides to support the Wyndham Land Trust, the Pomfret Historical Society, the WindhamTolland 4-H Camp, the Connecticut Audubon Society, the New England Forestry Foundation, and the Connecticut Animal Abuse Recovery. The group also donated to the Equine Disaster Relief Fund after the flooding in Houston, Texas. To learn more about PHTA’s efforts and future events, visit pomfrethorse andtrail.com.

n Lisette Rimer

Tanheath Hunt Club The past year for the club was a busy one. We had several well-attended events, welcomed 24 new members, and added several new hounds, with more hounds to come. Our last hunter pace of the season was October 29 at Natchaug State Forest, a new venue for us. This was a long course, almost 10 miles with fields, woods, lovely scenery, and lots of jumps. The weather was raw and rainy, but we were able to field 45 riders, a credible feat despite the weather. Thank you to Diane Noyes for sharing her Cedar Rock Farm in Hampton with us. The lunch after the pace was held in the indoor arena so the rain was of little consequence. Thank you to Janeen Rose, who was the steward, and Marty Schultz — they did the bulk of the planning, choosing and marking the route, and making final preparations. And, thank you to member Celynna Linton who lives nearby in Chaplin, for bringing over all her jumps, which made the course that much more enjoyable. It was a successful event and everyone had a good time. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped that day. November 12 was the annual Turkey Trot in Connecticut Horse

Lisette Rimer

January/February 2018

many years. There were qualified and open divisions. The qualified division is for hunt club members only and open divisions are for members and nonmembers.

If you’ve ever thought of trying foxhunting, we’re a very welcoming, supportive, and fun group. Sometimes there’s fear about foxhunting for those who have never

Elizabeth Stubbs

Scotland. The eight-mile ride through large fields, woods, and a leisurely road ride was a nice one. The weather was cloudy and chilly, but we fielded about 40 riders for the event, lower than in the past, but the day started with colder than normal temperatures. All six “turkey plates” were found and each lucky winner took home a nice frozen turkey. As always, a hot and cold lunch was served with lots of desserts. A big thank you to the Bass Family of Scotland for the use of their land for this event and the hunts we do there. Let’s go down near the coast now for the annual Hunter Trials held at Mystic Valley Hunt Club in Gales Ferry. This premier equestrian facility has an excellent training program, two indoor arenas, a large outdoor ring, and a wonderful cross-country course. We had the largest number of participants in

Tanheath Hunt Club riders heading home from a hunt.

We have hunted all through the fall and hunts will continue into the winter, weather permitting. Each hunt field has had 15 to 20 plus riders, due to the larger membership.

tried it. If you can handle a hunter pace, a foxhunt should be fine. We have several fields (groups of riders) led by a master. The first field goes at a faster pace and does most of the jumps.

The second field goes at a slower pace and does jumps as they wish. We even have a Tally Slow group for those who wish to walk and trot and not jump. In each group all jumps are optional. There are always members to help you, answer questions, and provide any support you need. We have new riders at almost every hunt now, and the majority join the club after they see how much fun it is and how supportive the members are. Our huntsman and the whippers-in have been doing a great job working with the hounds. The hounds are a joy to watch as they follow the scent through the countryside and respond to the huntsman’s directions. Sherri Colby is our huntsman, defined by the Master of Fox Hounds Association (MFHA) as “The person who hunts hounds and is responsible for the care, breeding, and training of the hounds.”

Youth Awards Connecticut Horse gives back to our community through its Youth Award program. The award is given to the junior exhibitor who has shown the best horsemanship and sportsmanship at a competition in the Nutmeg State. This is the junior who is not

Visit connhorse.com/youth-awards. These awards are made possible by Stephanie Sanders, Connecticut Horse publisher, and Absorbine.

Red Roan Photos

winning, but who is working hard with a great attitude. This junior is taking good care of her horse, cheering on her friends, and helping others. Want to give out a free Connecticut Horse Youth Award at your upcoming Nutmeg State competition?

Naomi Vine

Sebastian Boscarino

Stella Bauchiero

Naomi won the Connecticut Horse Youth Award at the June 25 White Birch Farm Schooling Show in Portland. “Naomi was honored with the youth award for showing just what good sportsmanship means,” says Kaitlyn Keegan.

Twelve-year-old Sebastian and his Tennessee Walking Horse River won the season-end Connecticut Horse Youth Award at Saddleview Farm in Bethany. Sebastian and River trail ride, and compete in gymkhana, sorting, and roping.

Stella was presented the year-end Connecticut Horse Youth Award at the Connecticut Trail Rides Association’s Annual Meeting on November 4. Congratulations!

Our two whippers-in are Leslie Cashel and Deborah Pollard, defined as “The staff members who assist the huntsman with discipline and behavior of hounds in the hunt field.” We’re particularly excited to have a third whipper-in in training. Kim Lussier has stepped up and is working with the staff and has been a whipper-in at the last two hunts. Thank you everyone! The day after Thanksgiving some people sleep in — not our crew! Several of our members volunteered to do trail work at one of our favorite sites in Greene, Rhode Island. The damage due to two recent storms was rather dramatic and the landscape was changed considerably. Members cleared brush, removed large trees, and made jumps of the wood that was left. This is a great way to work off some of that turkey, make the venue safer, create some jumps, and give back to the landowners. Thank you to all who participated. Our final event of the year was the Masters’ Dinner. This was a chance for the members, landowners, and guests to get together and review the past year and socialize. This year we were at

Tyrone Farm in Pomfret, thanks to the generosity of Bill McLaren and family. There were annual awards for the various events members and nonmembers have participated in and we presented the masters and staff with gifts to thank them for the hard work they do all year on behalf of the club. It’s always a nice time and a great way for us to start the holiday season. In closing, as the open land in our area and throughout the country diminishes due to ever encroaching development, the land we use to hunt and the people who own that land become increasingly important. Hunt clubs in all areas of the United States are coping with the loss of lands formerly available to them. We’re very fortunate to have landowners in our area who support us and the great tradition of foxhunting. We send them our heartfelt thanks and gratitude for the gift they give us — the ability to use their land for our foxhunts. To learn more about the Tanheath Hunt Club, visit tanheathhunt.com and facebook.com/TanheathEvents.

n Raymond Hill

Grace Neumuth Grace won the Connecticut Horse Youth award at the Hidden Brook Stables Schooling Show in Lebanon.Grace fell off her horse the night before the show and broke her arm but still got up the next morning and wanted to show! Grace came to the show and gave out the ribbons for each class with a smile and great attitude. Jalyn Collins, the champion rider of Grace’s usual class, gave Grace her hard-earned and well-deserved champion ribbon! (Grace is pictured with Holly Rebello, Hidden Brook Stables owner and head instructor.)

Connecticut Horse

Connecticut

Events January

6 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8 INSIDE THE EQUUS EFFECT WORKSHOP, Old Lyme. highhopestr.org. 6 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, ABF Equine, Coventry. rideiea.org. 7 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, Mystic Valley Hunt Club, Gales Ferry. rideiea.org. 7 OX RIDGE HUNT CLUB SHOW, Darien. oxridge.com. 11 ANATOMY OF THE RIDER LECTURE, Old Lyme. highhopestr.org. 12 GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT LECTURE, Old Lyme. highhopestr.org. 12 EQUIPMENT, POSTURE, AND ALIGNMENT LECTURE, Old Lyme. highhopestr.org.

January/February 2018

13 HUNT SEAT IEA SHOW, Windcrest Farm, Hebron. rideiea.org. 13 FAIRFIELD COUNTY HUNT CLUB SHOW, Westport. huntclubonline.org. 14 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, Oak Meadow Farm, East Windsor. rideiea.org. 14 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, TerryAllen Farms, Terryville. rideiea.org.

15 VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION, High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Old Lyme. highhopestr.org. 17 VOLUNTEER TRAINING, High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Old Lyme. highhopestr.org. 17 LAMINITIS LECTURE, Twin Pines Equine Veterinary Services, Jewett City. Free and food provided. Please RSVP (860) 376-4373. 21 REINDEER SCHOOLING SHOW, Westbrook Hunt Club, Westbrook. bhcmanagement.info.

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

21 CABIN FEVER SCHOOLING SHOW I, Shallowbrook Equestrian Center, Somers. shallowbrook.com.

14 BLUE RIBBON VENTURES HOOF PRINT JUMPER SERIES, Fair Hill Farm, Easton. bhcmanagement.info.

21 WINTER SHOW SERIES, Oak Meadow Farm, East Windsor. rideoakmeadow.com.

27 CHJA, NEHC, CHSA SHOW, Mystic Valley Hunt Club, Gales Ferry. mvhchorse.com.

18 REINDEER SCHOOLING SHOW, Westbrook Hunt Club, Westbrook. bhcmanagement.info.

31 EQUINE INSURANCE LECTURE, Twin Pines Equine Veterinary Services, Jewett City. Free and food provided. Please RSVP (860) 376-4373.

21 COMMON EQUINE MEDICATIONS AND EFFECTS LECTURE, Twin Pines Equine Veterinary Services, Jewett City. Free and food provided. Please RSVP (860) 376-4373.

February

3 VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION, High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Old Lyme. highhopestr.org. 5 – 7 PATH ADVANCED PREPARATORY WORKSHOP, High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Old Lyme. highhopestr.org. 10 AUTISM AND SENSORY PROCESSING WORKSHOP, High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Old Lyme. highhopestr.org.

24 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, Mystic Valley Hunt Club, Gales Ferry. rideiea.org. 25 CHJA CHSA NEHC SHOW, Somers. shallowbrook.com.

11 WINTER SHOW SERIES, Oak Meadow Farm, East Windsor. rideoakmeadow.com. 11 BLUE RIBBON VENTURES HOOF PRINT JUMPER SERIES, Westbrook Hunt Club, Westbrook. bhcmanagement.info. 13 VOLUNTEER TRAINING, High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Old Lyme. highhopestr.org. 14 – 15 NONPOFIT BUSINESS, DEVELOPMENT, ADMINISTRATIVE WORKSHOP, High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Old Lyme. highhopestr.org. 17 – 18 BEYOND ESMHL – NEXT STEPS, High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Old Lyme. highhopestr.org. 18 FAIRFIELD COUNTY HUNT CLUB SHOW, Westport. huntclubonline.org.

3 CONNECTICUT HORSE SYMPOSIUM, University of Connecticut Storrs Campus. horsesymposium.uconn.edu. 4 WINTER SHOW SERIES, Oak Meadow Farm, East Windsor. rideoakmeadow.com. 4 CMHA AWARD BANQUET, Baci Grill, Cromwell. ctmorgans.org. 10 VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION, High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Old Lyme. highhopestr.org. 10 CHSA CELEBRATION OF CHAMPIONS GALA, Fantasia, North Haven. chsaonline.com.

Independence Stable

11 CABIN FEVER SCHOOLING SHOW II, Shallowbrook Equestrian Center, Somers. shallowbrook.com. 11 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, TerryAllen Farm, Terryville. rideiea.org.

March

11 CABIN FEVER SCHOOLING SHOW III, Shallowbrook Equestrian Center, Somers. shallowbrook.com. 13 THERAPY HORSE WORKSHOP: EQUINE SELECTION AND TRAINING, High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Old Lyme. highhopestr.org.

Tack Sale - February 24 Rent a space in our heated indoor for just $15 with proceeds going to a local rescue.

2018 Dressage Schooling Shows Traditional & Western Dressage Tests

April 7 . May 5 August 12 . Sept. 9 Check our Facebook page for updates!

404 S. Washington St. Belchertown, Mass.

(413) 284-0371 independencestablellc.com

14 VOLUNTEER TRAINING, High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Old Lyme. highhopestr.org.

Subscribe Today!

18 BLUE RIBBON VENTURES HOOF PRINT JUMPER SERIES, ABF Equine, Coventry. bhcmanagement.info.

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Connecticut Horse

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Your Everything Equine “white pages” ARTISTS

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BARN CONSTRUCTION

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

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

ASSOCIATIONS

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

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

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BOARDING AND TRAINING

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CONNECTICUT BARREL HORSE connecticutbarrelhorse.com

Sales Leases

Owned and Operated by the Ross Family Trainer: Jennifer Braiden 1125 Essex Rd., Westbrook, CT (860) 399-5000 . (860) 304-5848

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Containerized Manure Removal Le May, Inc. Farmers of Natural Resources Fred LeMay . Newtown, Connecticut 203-426-2497 . 203-948-1586 (cell)

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CONNECTICUT COLOR BREED ASSOCIATION connecticutcolorbreed.com CONNECTICUT DRESSAGE ASSOCIATION ctdressageassoc.com CONNECTICUT GYMKHANA ASSOCIATION ctgymkhana.com CONNECTICUT HORSE SHOWS ASSOCIATION chsaonline.com CONNECTICUT MORGAN HORSE ASSOCIATION ctmorgans.org CONNECTICUT RENEGADES ctrenegades.com CONNECTICUT TRAIL RIDES ASSOCIATION ct-trailrides.org GRANBY HORSE COUNCIL OF CONNECTICUT granbyhorsecouncilct.com GREENWICH RIDING AND TRAILS ASSOCIATION thegrta.org

BABCOCK HILL FARM DAWN BONIN HORSEMANSHIP Coventry, CT, (860) 985-7611 babcockhill.com Natural horsemanship, lessons, training, boarding, sales/leases, clinics, versatility competitions, group lessons, and seminars. FOXFIRE STABLES Mansfield Center, CT, (860) 543-1399 foxfirestables.net Dressage specialty, board, lessons, training, all breeds welcome. SHALLOW BROOK FARM Bridgewater, CT, (203) 788-2122 shallow-brook.com Event, hunting, and pleasure horses; boarding, lessons, sales; 4,000 acres of trails, cross-country fences. SPRING VALLEY FARM Westbrook, CT, (860) 399-5000 Hunter, jumper, boarding, lessons. WHITE BIRCH FARM Portland, CT, (860) 581-0307 wbfllcct@gmail.com Boarding, training, trails, lessons, leasing, clinics, indoor arena. WHIMSY BROOK FARM Redding, CT, (203) 938-3760 whimsybrookfarm.com Boarding, lessons, training, equine therapies, Pony Club.

MIDDLEBURY BRIDLE LAND ASSOCIATION middleburybridle.org

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NEWTOWN BRIDLE LANDS ASSOCIATION nblact.com

BRAIDEEZ BRAIDING WIRE braideez.com Makes braiding so easy! See videos and lessons at braideez.com.

POMFRET HORSE AND TRAIL ASSOCIATION pomfrethorseandtrail.com

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

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BRAIDING

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TANHEATH HUNT CLUB tanheathhunt.com

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

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BARN CATS

EQUINE MASSAGE

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

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

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Connecticut Horse

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

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MINDFUL CONNECTIONS mindful-connections.com What is your horse trying to tell you? Tuning in to your companion. Understanding undesired behaviors from the horse’s point of view. FARRIER

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MATT LEWIS Colchester, CT, (860) 575-2455 foxglovefarm.com Professional horseshoeing for the performance horse. FEED AND PET STORES

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BENEDICT’S HOME & GARDEN Monroe, CT, (203) 268-2537 benedictsgarden.com G.M. THOMPSON & SONS Mansfield Depot, (860) 429-9377 gmthompson.net H. H. STONE & SONS Southbury, (203) 264-6501 hhstoneandsons.benmoorepaints.com LITCHFIELD BLUE SEAL STORE Litchfield, (860) 482-7116 LOCK, STOCK & BARREL (203) 393-0002 lsbfarmsupply.com Large-animal feed and pet food. Tack, farm supplies, and power equipment. Blue Seal and Purina. NORWICH AGWAY Norwich, (860) 889-2344 norwichagway.com SHAGBARK LUMBER & FARM SUPPLY East Haddam, (860) 873-1946 shagbarklumber.com VALLEY HOME & GARDEN CENTER Simsbury, (860) 651-5646 valleyhomeandgarden.com HAY AND SHAVINGS

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IMPERIAL HAY TRANSPORT Royalton, VT, (802) 234-2141 imperialhaytransport.com Quality New York and Canadian hay; shavings. Maine to Florida. PLEASANT VIEW FARMS Somers, CT, (860) 803-2777 pleasantviewfarmsinc.com Quality hay, straw, and non-GMO grain.

January/February 2018

HORSES FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE

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

WILLIAM RAVEIS EQUESTRIAN raveis.com Specializing in equestrian lifestyle real estate.

ORCHARD TRAILERS Whately, MA, (800) 998-8779 orchardtrailers.com Largest inventory of horse trailers in the Northeast! Kingston Trailers, Adam Trailers. Financing available.

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

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

RETIREMENT SANCTUARIES

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MITCHELL FARM Salem, CT, (860) 303-8705 mitchellfarm.org Permanent sanctuary for senior horses. TAYLOR FARM New Hartford, CT, (860) 482-8725 taylorlynn58@gmail.com Horse retirement is all we do! TACK

LEGAL ADVICE

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

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FARM CREDIT EAST (800) 946-0506 farmcrediteast.com Loans for equestrian facilities, farms, bare land. Equipment loans, leases. Payroll services, farm business consulting, record keeping, appraisals. MANURE REMOVAL,

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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, arena-footing restoration, excavation service. PHOTOGRAPHY

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TRAILERS

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

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

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MOUNTAIN TOP INN AND RESORT Chittenden, VT, (802) 483-2311 mountaintopinn.com Vermont’s premier equestrian resort with miles of trails through woods and meadows, cross-country course, outdoor arenas, luxurious accommodations, creative cuisine, spa, salon, private beach. A short drive from home but a world away! VETERINARY

MOHAWK DISTRIBUTION Ellington, CT, (860) 490-7509 mohawkdistributionct.com Repping Designs by Loriece, Garroutte Products, and La Victoria Performance.

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

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

GRAND PRIX EQUINE Hawleyville, CT, (203) 733-0789 grandprixequine.com Focused care for the performance horse. Johanna Kremberg, DVM, Mark R. Baus, DVM.

TRACTORS/EQUIPMENT

CARA KNESER, DVM Bozrah, CT, (860) 823-8951 kneserveterinary.com Mobile 24/7 equine veterinary service.

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

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

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

JEANNE LEWIS IMAGES Wallingford, CT, jeannelewisimages.com Western events, barn shoots, portraits. Serving New England. SARAH GROTE PHOTOGRAPHY Cromwell, CT, (860) 301-6647 sarahgrote.com Lifestyle, event, pet, and nature.

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Is this your horse? This photo was taken at the Frazier Farm Show in Woodbury during October. If this is your horse, contact us at win@connhorse.com for a Smith-Worthington Saddlery leather halter and a two-year subscription to Connecticut Horse!

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January/February 2018

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