Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

C O N N E C T IC U T

HORSE

November/December 2020 connhorse.com $4

HOARY ALYSSUM AND OTHER POISONOUS WEEDS

TARRYWILE PARK TRAIL GUIDE

STONY LANE FARM FEATURE

P.J.’S PONIES LEND A HOOF

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Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

Lara Rudowski

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16

Bob Moseder

November/December 2020

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Lucy Prybylski

contents

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features 8

Hoary Alyssum

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Patti Brooks

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Delivering Dream Ponies

and Other Poisonous Weeds

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P.J.’s Ponies

Grand Prix Guidance

Lend a Hoof

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Horsewoman and Author

Stony Lane

A Perfect Partnership

Using Sensors to Measure a Horse’s Gait

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Tarrywile Park Trail Guide

Farm Feature

Horseperson Feature

in every issue 5

From the Publisher

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Partners

37

This Olde Horse

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Your Letters

35

Nutmeg State Events Calendar

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Is This Your Horse?

Overherd: News in Our Community

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The Neighborhood

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Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

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HORSE vol. 5, no. 6 November/December2020

ISSN 2378-5721

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Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

From the Publisher

I

On a personal note, I’ve been battling endometrial cant’s been an interesting year — COVID-19 made it imposcer since February with major surgery, hospitalizations, and sible for many in the equestrian community to continue chemotherapy. A very special serving clients and custhank you to the wonderful peotomers during the early days of ple in our community who have the pandemic. And, a lot of been so amazingly supportive horse owners and riders were and kind to me. My heart is unable to visit their favorite tremendously full of love for all equine until reasonable measof you. ures were put in place by the The new year will bring state. As a result, many events changes to the magazine! We were cancelled or rescheduled; have some great ideas and welsome even became virtual comcome your input. Go to petitions. In addition, our connhorse.com/survey to take advertisers were cutting back part in shaping the future of on all spending due to the panConnecticut Horse! (And be demic. (Advertisements pay entered to win a $250 prize box the printing, postage, and of equestrian essentials.) all other expenses to publish Miniature horse Peanut and feral barn cat Belfie are never far apart. This Enjoy the late autumn days — Connecticut Horse.) autumn they both grew super woolly coats for winter warmth. the crisp air, sharp blue skies, and We made the painful decicolorful foliage. I hope you’ll take a moment, put your feet sion to not publish the May/June, July/August, and up with a fresh apple and a cup of tea, and enjoy reading this September/October issues. For our subscribers, we’ve issue. extended your subscriptions for an additional three issues.

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Hoary Alyssum and Other Poisonous Weeds

Dried Hoary Alyssum tiny white flowers oblong seed pods

tiny hairs on stems

le Me d ra n ssa Ale

grayish-green stems and foliage

by Alessandra Mele

L

ate last summer, a mug shot of branching white florals was spreading among horse owners like, well, a weed. The specimen went by the rather promiscuous name of hoary alyssum, and most of us had never even heard of it. But soon, veterinarian authorities, trusted barn managers, and local forage experts alike were telling us just how dangerous this little plant was to our equine friends.

Accounts of sickness, lameness, and even death from poisonous plant ingestion circulated across barns, breeds, and disciplines.

Scrolling through a mile-long comment section filled with horror stories, I started to sweat a little. “Hmm,” I thought, “I’ve seen a dried flower or two in my second-cut, and seedpods certainly aren’t unheard of. Maybe I should check that out.” Cut to half a day spent analyzing every bale in the loft, chucking suspicious flakes in the reject pile, and blessing clean bales with a seal of approval. Meanwhile, the horses nickered impatiently, as if to say, “Hey, play with your own food.”

So how concerned should we be about hoary alyssum? When it comes to feeding our beloved horses, we can certainly never be too careful. This 8

viral topic last summer raised awareness toward keeping an eye on what’s in our hay and pastures, and the importance of acquiring a general knowledge of dangerous plants for happy, healthy horses.

Hoary What?

The notion of a foreign weed in the proverbial haystack can seem a bit overwhelming. Consider all of the different leaves, flowers, seeds, and stems that make up the many varieties of first-, second-, and third-cut hay bales that pass through the barn — it’s vast!

Unfortunately, the majority of us horse owners aren’t expert botanists.

The fact is, there are hundreds of poisonous plants native to North America, and many of them are common, even here in Connecticut. The good news is, most of these weeds pose little threat to horses because they are unpalatable, and a healthy full-grown horse can typically metabolize the occasional bad mouthful with little effect beyond some diarrhea.

There are a handful of weeds that do pose a serious threat to equines, however, and it’s important to have their characteristics on your radar when checking out your horse’s

Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

forage. Hoary alyssum is one of them, and fortunately it is not difficult to spot as it exhibits a few easily remembered traits.

Dr. Jenifer Nadeau is an Associate Professor and Equine Extension Specialist at University of Connecticut in Storrs, and she advises horse owners to use common sense when inspecting hay for poisonous weeds.

“Basically, if it doesn’t look like the type of hay you are supposed to be getting, and it doesn’t look like dried grass, it’s probably a weed,” she says. “Healthy, nutritious hay should be green, leafy, smell like fresh-mown grass, and not have any weeds or other foreign materials in it.”

Hoary alyssum in particular will stand out in contrast against healthy, grassy hay to even the novice botanist pretty quickly. Just keep an eye out for the telltale white flowers and oval seedpods.

“A mature hoary alyssum plant has white flowers with four petals,” says Jenifer. “When it has seed pods, they will be hairy, oblong-shaped, and swollen, ending in a point. The weed has hairy, grayish green stems and is one to three feet tall with many branches near the top. Its leaves are

oblong-shaped, grayish green and covered with rough hairs.”

If you start pulling stems of this weed from your flakes, it’s also important to note how much of it is present in the bale. A high concentration will increase toxicity, but it’s not a good idea to let your horses consume any amount.

“If you suspect hoary alyssum weed is present in your hay, you should not feed it, and be sure to notify the person you got the hay from,” Jenifer says.

When it comes to ingesting poisonous weeds, the best medicine is prevention. Always keep a keen eye on your horse’s hay, know what’s normal, and if you see something out of the ordinary, it’s best not to feed it.

Jenifer also recommends soil testing and hay analysis as great measures toward strong pasture growth and knowing exactly what your horse is ingesting.

“Using soil testing so you can fertilize pastures and hayfields accordingly will ensure healthy grass has the best chance to grow,” Jenifer says. “We do soil testing right here at UConn.

Additionally, chemical hay analysis is a service that most horse feed companies provide for free in order to make recommendations for complementary feeds. This testing will provide insight into exactly what nutrition is present in your hay.”

Symptoms and Treatment Ideally, your horse never eats anything but the purest, grassiest hay crisp with nutritious content. Let’s talk worst-case scenario for a moment, though: Your horse accidentally ingests an uncomfortable amount of hoary alyssum. What happens next?

When it comes to hoary alyssum poisoning, horses react in different ways, and the severity of symptoms can range greatly. Some horses can ingest with no symptoms, some will suffer a little swelling, and others can become terribly laminitic. A horse’s response to the weed will depend greatly on their metabolism, age, and the amount of noxious weed they have ingested.

Last summer, the veterinarians at Salmon Brook Veterinary Hospital in Granby were surprised to see a rash of hoary alyssum poisonings in their region. Three barns reported characteristic symptoms and the weed was found in the hay each time.

Hoary Alyssum in the Field clusters of tiny white flowers (five petals)

oblong leaves covered in rough hairs

long, branching, hairy stems; grayish-green in color

Alessandra Mele

Marjorie Bruce, DVM, was on call for two of those cases last summer, and saw similar symptoms between the affected horses.

“The experiences I had occurred at two separate barns, both of which had about four horses being fed the same hay,” Marjorie says. “In each case, only one or two of the horses were affected. The symptoms we saw included distal limb edema (stocking up) and laminitis.”

These are symptoms typical of hoary alyssum poisoning, as per Colorado State University’s Guide to Poisonous Plants, a database started

by Tony Knight, DVM. Notes filed under hoary alyssum include a range of musculoskeletal issues. “Horses can develop lameness after eating hoary alyssum due to swelling of the legs and laminitis. Signs range from stiffness, swollen lower legs, laminitis, and severe lameness.”

If you suspect your horse has ingested hoary alyssum, the legs are the first place you should look for symptoms, running hands along the limbs to feel for swelling and heat, and checking for stiffness. Then, call your veterinarian.

“As with any medical concern with horses, we recommend you

reach out to your veterinarian immediately,” Marjorie says.

The symptoms of hoary alyssum poisoning can be treated with careful veterinary support that will depend on the horse’s individual reaction.

“In each case of hoary alyssum poisoning we saw last summer, we took the horses off of the hay containing the plant, and treated them with supportive care for laminitis,” Marjorie says. This can include dietary changes, antibiotic administration, cold therapies, and specialized farrier care. “Laminitis can vary greatly from horse to horse,” Marjorie says, “and the ability of a horse to recover and return to their previous levels of work varies dramatically.”

The horses responded to treatment well, and this is generally the case if hoary alyssum poisoning is treated promptly. Again, Marjorie stresses that poisoning is very preventable in horses when a watchful eye is kept on hay and pasture forage. “The best prevention is to feed good-quality hay and keep an eye for any signs of the weed,” she says.

Hitting Close to Home Last summer’s outbreak of hoary alyssum poisoning in Connecticut

Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

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Hemlock wasn’t the first in New England, and the issue triggered an exchange of horse owners’ experiences with the weed over the years. Michele Collins could immediately relate to worried horse owners, as she recalled having a barn full of sick horses that had ingested hoary alyssum back in 2008.

At the time, Michele was the owner of Blythewood Stables in Dalton, Massachusetts. She was surprised one June afternoon to discover one of the ponies was foundering.

“This was very unusual, nothing had really changed,” Michele says.

“The vet came right out and started treatment. Then a few days later, some of the other horses started having issues. Horses that had never stocked up before in their lives suddenly had legs the size of tree trunks.

It was startling.”

It wasn’t long before 20 horses in the barn were exhibiting a range of symptoms from swollen legs to high fevers to lethargy and lameness.

Working with veterinarians from the Equine Clinic at Oakencroft in Ravena, New York, the team at Blythewood Stables tried desperately to find the source of the problem.

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“No one had any idea what this was at first,” says Michele. “We thought it could be Potomac Fever, so blood was drawn on all the horses, but it wasn’t that. Finally, Dr. Jennifer Safford made the correlation between a weed called hoary alyssum and our horses’ symptoms, and brought us a picture.

We looked at the picture, looked at our hay, and there was no doubt: Our bales were full of the weed.”

Michele had recently had three wagon loads of hay delivered from a local supplier, and knew the only thing to do was to get rid of it all.

“We took the horses off of the hay as soon as we realized what was going on,” she says. “It was a long road to recovery, though. It took two veterinarians, myself, my husband, every boarder, all of the trainers, and our team of workers to pull these horses through. It was exhausting work, day in and day out.”

Part of the challenge was that the tainted hay seemed to affect each horse differently. Some had mild symptoms, while others suffered severe swelling and lameness, and even neurological symptoms. Only three horses seemed unaffected.

Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

“Once they were all off of the hay, most of the horses recovered within seven to ten days, and some had lingering symptoms for a few weeks,” Michele says. “It seemed to be hardest on the older horses. Two of my horses, both in their twenties, went on to exhibit neurological symptoms, which lasted for about six months after the event. That was really difficult.”

No matter the severity of symptoms, the poisoning meant aroundthe-clock care for all horses affected.

The team at Blythewood Stables worked day and night to cold hose, ice, wrap, and poultice legs, take temperatures every two hours, and administer medication.

“It was a group effort, and everyone pitched in,” Michele says. “After a lot of hard work, excellent care, and thousands of dollars in vet bills, every horse did fully recover.”

Blythewood Stables wasn’t the only barn that suffered from hoary alyssum poisoning that summer, although they were hit the hardest. A handful of other barns in Berkshire County reported sick horses and weeds in the hay, all of which had come from the same fields.

Alessandra Mele

Hairy Vetch

Water Hemlock

Alessandra Mele

Buttercup

“The event prompted us to switch hay suppliers, and we became extremely diligent about checking our hay for strange weeds,” Michele says.

“I’d never heard of hoary alyssum before that fateful summer, but you can be sure I’ll never forget it.”

Other Poisonous Weeds Hoary alyssum, of course, isn’t the only poisonous weed that threatens our horses. There are a number of plants that pose a serious threat to horse health when ingested, and it’s a good idea to know what they look like. It will keep your horse safer as he munches his hay, grazes the summer pasture, and even when he manages to grab sneaky bites out on the trail.

Going back to Colorado State University’s Guide to Poisonous Plants (csuvth.colostate.edu/poisonous_plants), here are some plants native to New England that horses should avoid at all costs:

Hairy Vetch (Vicia villosa) Introduced from Europe as a rotation crop, hairy vetch has since become an established weed especially along

Red Maple

roadsides and field edges. An annual with stems four to six feet in length with hairy stems. Leaves have 10 to 20 leaflets up to one inch in length which are narrow and lance-shaped.

Tendrils at the end of the leaves are well developed. Flowers are purple, 10 to 60 per spike, all on one side of the flower stalk. Seed pods are about one inch in length. Sudden death may be associated with cyanide in the seeds. Hairy vetch was found in hay in western Massachusetts a few years ago and several horses died from eating the seed pods.

Hemlock (Conium maculatum) Another white-flowered temptress, hemlock is a common and notorious weed that can be devastating if ingested in large quantities. The plant is about four to six feet tall with smooth branching stems adorned with little purple spots; a key identification feature. The leaves are coarsely toothed with a fernlike appearance, and the five-petal flowers are tiny and white, blooming in clusters. Hemlock is generally unpalatable to animals but is rather common and can creep into pastures. It is most

toxic during early spring growth, and can cause muscle tremors, incoordination, low heart rate, labored respiration, and possibly colic. Death can result from respiratory failure. Any signs of hemlock growing out in the pasture or hayfield should be immediately addressed with herbicides.

Water Hemlock (Cicuta douglasii) Water hemlock is extremely toxic to animals and people. In fact, it’s considered one of the most poisonous plants in the country. It’s found in wet, marshy areas, growing about four to six feet with stems rising from tuberous roots. The leaves are long and toothed, flowers are also tiny and white, blossoming in an umbrella formation. When the stem is cut, it will ooze a yellow, smelly fluid. All parts of the plant are highly toxic, and as little as two ounces of the root, if consumed, will prove fatal to livestock.

The toxins primarily affect the brain, and will cause convulsions, difficulty breathing, muscle degeneration, and usually death. Any water hemlock near grazing areas should be immediately destroyed by digging up and burning.

Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

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Bracken Fern

Red Maple (Acer rubrum) Red maples are very common in New England; their flaming red fall foliage is nothing short of iconic to our landscape. Unfortunately, those red leaves can pose a serious threat to horses.

When leaves are wilted and dried they are highly toxic, so fallen leaves in the pasture are dangerous. Signs of red maple poisoning include lethargy, lack of appetite, dark urine, increased respiration, rapid heart rate, and dehydration. Horses should not have access to pastures with large amounts of fallen red maple leaves, and it’s important to rake horse areas clear of these leaves in the autumn and thoroughly clean up any fallen branches after a storm.

Buttercup (Ranunculus repens) No doubt we’ve all seen these delightful little yellow flowers pop up in fields throughout New England.

However, buttercups are not the best snacking for our horses. The good news is these plants are only mildly poisonous and are rather unpalatable. Horses will usually graze right around the yellow blooms. Buttercups 12

Alessandra Mele

Milkweed have erect, leggy stems and toothy leaves, which give way to a bright yellow five-petal flower. A horse that has eaten too many buttercups will salivate excessively and may have diarrhea, but usually recovers quickly once removed from the buttercup patch. Buttercups aren’t as much of a concern in hay, as the dried plant is nontoxic, but your horse probably won’t like the taste.

related to the feeding of poor-quality hay that contains high levels of the fern. Signs of thiamine deficiency occur when hay containing bracken fern at 10 to 20 percent or more of the horse's dry-matter intake is fed for approximately four weeks. For the average 1,000-pound horse, 2.2 to 4.5 pounds of bracken fern would have to be consumed each day for a minimum of a month.

Milkweed

GOING INTO WINTER, it’s good to keep these species of poisonous weeds tucked carefully away in the back of your mind for reference when opening each bale of hay. The hoary alyssum scare of 2019 reminded us that we should remain mindful of what our horses are ingesting, and that we can never be too careful when it comes to their health.

So, if you see an odd cluster of seedpods mixed in your hay flakes, pull it out! Notice a rogue patch of white flowers creeping along your fence line? Remove it! The saying holds true: better safe than sorry.

At the same time, it’s important to remember the evolutionary advantages of our ancient equine friends, appreci-

(Asclepiadaceae) Milkweed contains various toxins that have cardiotoxic effects. Symptoms of ingestion include abdominal pain, colic, bloat, and diarrhea; additionally, muscle tremors, weakness, and lying down. Milkweed remains toxic when dry and can be a problem in hay.

Bracken Fern (Pteridium aquilinum) Bracken fern can grow in open woodlots, pastures, and along roadsides.

Bracken ferns cause a thiamin (vitamin B1) deficiency with symptoms of severe depression, blindness, weakness, and eventual death if untreated.

The majority of clinical cases are

Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

ate their uncanny ability to select the vegetation that is nutritious for them, and trust that given a healthy environment to graze and play, they will thrive.

Always investing in good-quality hay and maintaining a clean pasture is the very best step toward poison control and will keep your mind at rest through every season.

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

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Horseperson Feature East Lyme

by Kara Noble

Patti Brooks Horsewoman and Author

P

atti Brooks started her dual career as a horsewoman and author back in 1949, when she was a nine-yearold living with her family in Lake Placid, New York. That same year, her father, Julian Reiss, opened the North Pole, a re-creation of Santa’s village and workshop that many consider America’s first theme park.

Julian Reiss hoped to preserve the joy of Christmas for Patti, the youngest of his six children. Her favorite thing

her first story (about trail riding manners) to The Chronicle of the Horse for $4.

Patti was always close to her father, and his optimism, work ethic, and dedication to helping others inspired her.

The examples he set by introducing a profit-sharing plan for his employees, delivering toys to needy children, and serving on New York’s Commission on Anti-Discrimination taught his daughter how to stand up for her own beliefs while remaining fair and diplomatic.

seriously injured. They kept warm in the disabled plane until daybreak, then hiked nearly 10 miles through the snow to safety — with Patti wishing all the way that Immaculata’s dress code didn’t require girls to wear high heels.

In the 1960s, Patti married and moved to Connecticut, where her three children, Patricia (Tricia), James, and Jeffrey were born. She joined the Connecticut Morgan Horse Association (CMHA) and applied her writing and

Patti and Orient Princess, 1973

Patti and Chief, 1956 about the North Pole was the pony rides.

“I spent days with the ponies at the North Pole,” Patti says. “Sandy was designated to be my pony. We got ten cents a ride and when I used my own pony, I got to keep the money, so I started earning money in the horse world as a kid.”

Sandy also inspired one of Patti’s first publications, a poem titled Sandy that she penned for the monthly newsletter at her elementary school, St. Bernard’s Catholic School.

Patti didn’t come from a family of horse professionals. Her father, who ran a car dealership, accepted farm animals as trade-ins to make it easier for people to afford cars in the years after World War II. “That’s how we got our first horses,” Patti says.

She got her first Morgan, a retired Army horse named Chief, for her twelfth birthday. By the time she was 14, Patti was giving riding lessons at Old McDonald’s Farm, which her father started as an agriculture-themed park but later converted into a summer camp for underprivileged boys.

When Patti wasn’t riding, she was writing. She was only 16 when she sold 14

When Patti graduated from Lake Placid High School in 1957, her father offered her a car as a graduation gift.

She declined, saying she’d rather have a Morgan horse. She selected a yearling filly named UVM Charm from the herd at the University of Vermont.

Patti wasn’t enthusiastic about heading off to college and leaving her horses behind, so her dad told her she could take Charm and Chief with her. Immaculata College in Malvern, Pennsylvania, allowed her to keep her horses in the school’s large dairy barn, where she kept up their training around her class schedule.

Julian Reiss was a licensed pilot who used his small plane to speed Patti’s trips to and from college. On Halloween 1958, he flew to Pennsylvania to bring Patti home for a break from her studies in English literature. On the return trip, they flew into a storm over the Adirondacks.

Ice began to accumulate on the plane’s wings and propeller and their radio direction finder malfunctioned. Their plane crashed into the trees in the mountains 15 miles south of the Lake Placid airport.

Miraculously, neither of them was

Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

organizational skills to preparing its newsletter.

Competitive trail riding became her passion. In a single year, she and her mare, Orient Princess, rode five 100-mile rides, winning several and placing well in all of them.

By 1973, Patti was a well-respected horsewoman and writer. Her first marriage had ended, but her career was moving steadily forward. That year, she chose a new business and life partner, horse trainer Bob Brooks of Storybook Stables. Their match changed the history of the Morgan horse.

Bob had established his renowned training facility at Storybook Stables in East Lyme in 1955. After he and Patti married, the couple found a nearby 100acre parcel that looked perfect for a breeding facility. According to Patti’s friend Helen Herold, “When they reached the top of the big hill on the property for the first time, somebody hollered ‘Hallelujah, we made it!’ They bought the place and named it Hallelujah Hill Morgan Stud Farm.”

Patti managed the breeding operation (they used her registered Morgan

horse prefix, Trijas, for their foals) while Bob ran the training program. Patti contributed a flare for advertising, marketing, promotion, and breeding; Bob brought his skill at brokering horses and properties, at managing finances and business operations. At horse shows, Patti rode the park saddle horses (although she had success in both harness and pleasure driving), while Bob usually showed the harness horses.

Together, they operated several businesses in addition to Storybrook Stables and Hallelujah Hill, including Morgan Brokerage Service, a company specializing in buying and selling Morgans in the U.S. and Europe; Horse Country Real Estate, specializing in listing and selling equestrian properties in Connecticut; and Storybrook Management Services, which offered breeders and other equine professionals consulting in management practices, business plans, finance, and employee management.

“Patti and Bob were successful because they complemented each other perfectly,” says farrier John Crider, who joined the apprentice program at Storybook Stables in 1989.

“We accepted three or four apprentices to work with us for 18 months each,” Patti says. “They had to do everything from starting colts to going to horse shows to breeding to cleaning tack. We promised to teach them what they needed to work in the horse industry and to find them jobs when they graduated.”

For John, the experience was life changing. “I was fortunate to work with Patti and Bob when they were at the top of the Morgan world,” John says. “They were always ready to help us, even after we finished there. Patti still stays in touch with nearly everybody that went through the program.”

John was with Bob and Patti during the “Pepper years.” In the 1950s, Bob was hired to train legendary Morgan Brown

Pepper. The stallion’s daughter, Little Miss Pepper, became a foundation mare at Hallelujah Hills, producing a string of remarkable progeny including Mr. Pepperlect, Crème D Pepper, and Mr. Peppertime (seven-time winner of the Sire-and-Get Championships at the New England Morgan Horse Show).

Patti was particularly fond of Trijas Special Pepper, who she calls her “Horse for All Reasons.” During the 1990s, Special Pepper won in-hand championships and park saddle classes throughout New England. In a single year, he won champion at one 80-mile competitive trail ride and reserve at another; he won his futurity pleasuring driving class at the Morgan Horse Show in Northampton, Massachusetts, and performed in a harness pair with his sire, Mr Peppertime, at Equitana in Kentucky.

In the midst of her hectic schedule, Patti found time to write a monthly column for the Horsemen’s Yankee Pedlar in which she would describe a horse-related problem, then present a solution proposed by a noted equine expert.

Following her father’s philanthropic example, Patti also made time to volunteer. In the early 1970s, the New England Morgan Horse Association (NEMHA) asked for her help increasing their flagging membership. She developed Who’s Who in New England Morgandom, a combined directory and “picture tour book of New England Morgan farms.” Each member got a free listing including photographs of up to five horses. NEMHA Membership jumped from barely 100 to more than 700 in the directory’s first year.

Patti also created the New England Combined Prize List, a spiral-bound, fullcolor book featuring class lists, rules, entry forms, and other information about prestigious Morgan horse shows throughout the Northeast.

In 1993, Patti’s brother suggested

she write a book based on the life of his brother-in-law, a World War I soldier compelled to send his new bride to sanatorium at Saranac Lake, New York, for tuberculosis treatment. For nearly a decade, Patti researched topics ranging from tuberculosis treatment to Prohibition-era rum-running to complete her first novel, Mountain Shadows, which was published in 2003.

Bob found Mountain Shadows a little too tame, so Patti launched into writing a trilogy of murder mysteries featuring fictional horse trainer Ike Cherney. Fame & Deceit, Blood Hoax, and Ransoming Victory were published between 2013 and 2016. Sadly, Bob never saw the published versions; he passed away December 2012 at age 81.

Patti, who celebrated her 80th birthday in March, is as active as ever. She’s a NEMHA director and co-chair of the Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association as well as still chairing the New England Combined Prize List. In 2019, she published H is for Horse, a children's alphabet book illustrated by John’s daughter Kaycee.She still lives at Hallelujah Farm, now sharing the property with Tricia and Tricia’s son’s stepdaughter, veterinarian Kaitlyn Way Barbeau.

Patti rides regularly on her current trail horse. “His registered name is AAA Champagne and Ice,” she says, “but since I bought him for myself as a Christmas present, I call him Blitzen.”

That name proves that, when he built the North Pole for his young daughter years ago, Julian Reiss succeeded in his goal of instilling a deep and enduring love of Christmas in her heart.

Kara Noble and her husband, Jerry, keep an Icelandic mare, a Shetland pony, and two mini donkeys at their farm in Montgomery, MA. She's a professional writer and editor who holds an MFA in creative nonfiction.

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15

Lend a Hoof

P.J.’s Ponies Delivering Dream Ponies

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loving touch, a reassuring voice, and a quiet place to rest are often all that’s needed to offer a first beacon of hope for horses that have all but lost theirs. The ponies that step off the trailer at P.J.’s Ponies in East Haddam are lucky to have a double dose of each. Keirsten Riccio and her ten-year-old daughter, P.J., have transformed the backyard of their family home into a haven for rescue ponies.

Keirsten has called Connecticut home her whole life and grew up riding

says Keirsten, pointing out Cricket, the dark bay mare grazing with the herd.

“We got her a couple days before Christmas without the intention of keeping her.”

But Cricket had other plans. She quickly stole everyone’s heart and not long after, Keirsten gave her to P.J. as a birthday gift. P.J. and Cricket have won a wall of ribbons at dressage shows and championships.

Eager to greet any kind face that stops by is Scout, a 14.3-hand chestnut

“All for mini and mini for all!” P.J. says.

Rescuing is not an easy road to embark on, both physically and emotionally. Every pony quickly finds its way into the family’s hearts and home. For Keirsten and P.J., the bond grows from months of care and bringing out each pony’s unique personality.

“We’ve rescued eight ponies in four years,” says Keirsten. “We try to do one or two at a time and don’t take another until we get the ponies placed.”

Lara Rudowski

Melissa Tindall

by Lara Rudowski

Keirsten Riccio

East Haddam

P.J., Cricket, and Keirsten.

Ruby, Janet Martino, and P.J.

Tater Tot with P.J. and friends.

from the age of 10. She bought her first horse out of college and over the years her equine family has grown. In 2009, Keirsten, her husband, Andrew, and their son, August, moved to the threeacre Colchester farm with her three horses. In 2010, Keirsten and her family welcomed daughter P.J. Though sometimes shy, P.J. is charismatic, and it takes only her smile when playing with the ponies to see what’s in her heart. Like mother like daughter, she was born with a love for horses and was in the saddle at age three. Keirsten was thrilled to share this connection with her daughter, whose caring way with horses helped steer Keirsten toward another lifelong passion.

“I always wanted to rescue,” says Keirsten. “We rescue dogs, but it’s not that easy for horses. It’s a big undertaking and a big risk, but I just felt I wanted to do it.”

In 2015, Keirsten came upon a kill pen pony online and the wheels started turning.

“She’s the one who started it all,”

gelding, who checks your pockets for treats and playfully nudges your arm, lest you forget he’d like a neck scratch.

The five-year-old had some training with groundwork and under saddle before ending up in a North Carolina kill pen when his owners ran into difficulties.

“Scout is the youngest that I’ve worked with,” says Keirsten of the only small horse she’s rescued so far. “He’s like a big puppy dog. He really just wants to be with everyone. He’s got a great brain and a great demeanor; he just needs someone who can show him what to do. He likes to jump and has very nice movement — he really can do anything! With the right person he’ll flourish.”

The silliest of the bunch is Tater Tot, a Miniature horse aptly named for his potato-like shape and color. The whole family has a soft spot for Tater, who was rescued with another Miniature companion. While his companion found a new home, Tater never left. P.J. loves to play with him in the ring and ride him on occasion.

“We’ve become pretty attached [to the ponies], we could keep every one of them, but you can’t keep them all because then you can’t save more. It’s difficult. It’s hard for me and it’s probably really hard for P.J. Sometimes I wonder if I’m doing the right thing in that aspect, but then I think she realizes that there’s a bigger purpose.”

“We have to look at this like we get to deliver someone their dream pony and the pony gets a second chance at life and a forever home,” she says.

Janet Martino found her dream pony at P.J.’s Ponies — Ruby, a mare who struck the jackpot herself and now enjoys a pampered lifestyle.

“The biggest benefit for the ponies is the attention because [Keirsten] is right there,” says Janet. “She has a very caring, nurturing way about her when she’s with the horses and they immediately, just by her demeanor and her nature, feel safe around her. Beyond that, Keirsten gets a feel for where they are and works to prepare them successful placement in their next home.”

16

Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

Janet and Ruby share many pleasure rides and are dabbling in dressage.

“Ruby seems very happy and so am I, and it’s all thanks to Keirsten,” says Janet. “To this day we have remained friends. I made the right decision because Ruby was well cared for and I couldn’t have asked for a better person to work with.”

“There are so many unwanted horses out there and it’s so nice that someone like Keirsten takes the time to find them,” she says.

Adoptive mom of a draft or cob mix named Wilhelmina, Donna Grott was in search of a pony when she met Keirsten by chance and fell in love with Wilhelmina, the family’s newest rescue at the time. “[Wilhelmina] was furry as a rabbit, but she came over to the fence and she was friendly and I really liked her,” Donna says.

“She was quite a challenge for me at first,” she says. “She was a wild thing, very frightened and you couldn’t really touch her. Now my granddaughters can put a halter on her. We’ve gone out on many trail rides. To me she’s just perfect, and I love her to pieces! I’m so glad I found Keirsten and Wilhelmina.

It’s a win-win situation.”

“I like the way Keirsten works with the ponies and how P.J. is interested in every phase of it, and that they work together,” Donna says. “They’re a really nice team and they do so much good for these ponies. [Keirsten] gives them all that they need. I would recommend her to anyone who’s looking for a pony.

She’s very knowledgeable and keeps in touch.”

Keirsten enjoys remaining a part of every pony’s life and seeing them thrive with their new owners. If the ponies are ever unable to be cared for, they always have a home here at the farm.

P.J.’s Ponies has been embraced by both the local and equine community.

People try to help when they can with donations, by way of a simple gesture of dropping off a few bags of grain or donating a bucket full of grooming supplies.

“Every little thing helps,” says Keirsten.

Keirsten and P.J. are also blessed with caring friends and volunteers who dedicate their time to helping on the farm.

Kelly Boerenko and her 11-year-old daughter, Kylie, live in town and help Keirsten and P.J. care for and ride the ponies.

“It’s really good to get the horses acclimated to different riders and it’s a good feeling helping out,” says Kelly, as she prepares for her first ride on Scout.

“The more interaction these horses have the better off they’ll be for someone.”

“It’s really fun because I get to work with the horses and I’ve learned a lot just being with them,” says Kylie. “P.J. and Keirsten are so knowledgeable about them and I just love what they’re doing.”

Jeanne Zirolli has been volunteering at the farm for several years. She’s continuously impressed and touched by P.J.’s selflessness toward the ponies.

“P.J. is absolutely passionate about the ponies and just loves on them,” says Jeanne of the natural connection P.J. has with every pony. “She definitely makes them kid friendly! She likes to ride, groom, braid, brush, and make them beautiful.”

“It’s very difficult to take a pony in,” says Jeanne, “and P.J. has to learn how to let each pony go, which really pulls on her heartstrings, but Keirsten is able to help her work through that by making sure the pony goes to the right place with the right owner.”

Until their forever home is found, the ponies are happy to be a part of the Riccio family. They’re not fazed by the occasional softball flying by and enjoy watching P.J. play basketball with August, who likes to help pick out names for the rescues.

Keirsten takes one day at a time, but hopes to use 11 acres of recently purchased adjacent land as space for more rescues, an on-site quarantine area, and to expand trails.

“I don’t know how big or where it will go, I would just like to help as many [ponies] as we can,” says Keirsten. “It seems like we’ve got a good thing going. It’s not easy, but it’s very rewarding.”

“When you adopt from a rescue, you open up another space for the rescue to do it again,” says Keirsten.

To learn about donating and volunteering, visit facebook.com/pages/category/CharityOrganization/PJs-Ponies-727920100941815/ or search Facebook for PJ’S PONIES. Singer/songwriter Lara Rudowski enjoys performing, spending hours at her piano composing, and writing stories and spoken-word poetry. Inspired by travel and the everyday details of life, she can often be found, camera in hand, at equestrian events capturing her love of horses and riding since childhood.

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Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

17

Farm Feature Monroe

by Sally L. Feuerberg

Stony Lane A Perfect Partnership

I

f you look up the definition of the word partnership, it is simply described as the state or condition of being a partner; participation; association; joint interest. But a good partnership is a lot more complicated than that. It takes leadership, knowledge, and diversity to truly make any joint venture function cohesively. If you add friendship, trust, and compatibility, this type of alliance becomes even more formidable. With these attributes, you just may have the quintessential components needed to succeed at anything.

ity to create the infrastructure we need to be successful. The most visible piece of that is property management, whether it’s maintaining the rings and pastures or keeping up with HVAC and generator service. Equally important is the numbers component — looking at what works financially and understanding how to allocate resources.”

Lisa has degrees in animal and poultry science and biology from Virginia Tech. She’s a United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA)certified instructor and is working on

Lisa Tomaselli Beffert

It’s here that Katherine Weber and Lisa Tomaselli Beffert of Stony Lane, located at Shalimar Fields in Monroe, excel.

“I met Lisa while working for Eric Hasbrouck at the Pavilion Farm,” says Katherine. “Lisa’s business was based there as well, and I helped with her clients while she was in Florida.”

“We found common ground and joined together because we both just love horses and enjoy sharing our passion with others,” says Lisa. “We both could make a living in other ways, but have chosen this because it’s what we love.”

Lisa and Katherine’s backgrounds and expertise are quite distinctive, but each part of their personal histories and present experiences complement and strengthen each other’s talents. Katherine started riding at the age of eight. She graduated from Cornell University with a degree in applied economics and management and has nine years in finance and two years in real estate.

“In every successful stable there’s a person who makes sure the proverbial trains run on time, and that’s what I try to do for our business,” says Katherine.

“My background has given me the abil18

When discussing what makes their partnership work so well, Katherine says, “Lisa is unfailingly positive, has great empathy for others, and does an amazing job of keeping the big picture in perspective. I’m an efficiency-minded introvert, and while that’s useful in some ways, I’d be lost without Lisa’s interpersonal insights. She has a true gift for knowing how to communicate with students, particularly when they need clarity or confidence with their horses. She puts tremendous thought into her teaching, is extremely attuned

Katherine Weber

her hunter, hunter seat equitation, and jumper judging cards.

“Having a strong formal education in animal nutrition, conformation, and physiology has served me so well up to this point,” says Lisa. “It’s such an important piece of the program we run.

It's also helped me to choose veterinarians and farriers who contribute to the horses’ success, and by extension, success of the whole team.”

“Having the USHJA certification is important as it guarantees to my students that I have the knowledge to help with both the care and training of their horses and improving their riding,” says Lisa. “For sure, sitting in the judge’s box helps with understanding scoring and being able to improve scores, starting with the simplest of ways. I’ve also developed a deep appreciation for the things that are so noticeable from the box — presentation and quality. Additionally, it’s so helpful in knowing the horse market, creating a bigger network of knowledgeable professionals, both fellow trainers and fellow judges, with quality horses, and in the credibility aspect, my opinion is valued by others.”

Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

to our clients’ motivations, and has a great eye for matching horses and riders. Lisa’s substantial experience and her extensive professional network are also invaluable, especially since I came into the business with an unconventional background.”

Lisa appreciates and applauds Katherine’s assets and says, “We operate as a riding and teaching team, and work together to ensure horses and riders have consistency in pro rides and teaching, which makes the process go smoothly.

The additional aspects Katherine brings to the table are truly unique. As a busy trainer, business owner, and mom of two, I find it can be hard to look past the next day, week, or month.

“Katherine is not only a hard worker who’s willing to do any of the jobs on any given day, but she also encourages me to keep striving to reach my goals, both professionally and for the business, and provides me with the support to reach those goals,” Lisa says.

“Another valuable tool from the corporate world is doing goal-setting workshops with our riders to ensure that we truly understand what each rider wants

to achieve, and that they’re willing to contribute what it takes and have the proper horsepower to reach those specific goals.

“Katherine has a fantastic vision for property and barn management and takes that off my plate so I never have to worry about the details of the farm itself,” Lisa says. “She enjoys digital media and devotes time to promotion of our new location in order to help establish us in our current facility. She’s set up an online schedule to help make scheduling more efficient. Her strong background in finance is obviously helpful in the financial aspects of our business and ensuring no costly mistakes are made along the way. I believe that understanding the financials is vital! We work well together because we don’t have the same strengths. We listen to one another and trust each other’s areas of expertise.”

Stony Lane is located on 17 beautiful acres. The main barn houses 18 stalls that are either 12' x 12' or 12' x 14' and equipped with soft stall mats as well as automatic waterers. There are rubber paver aisles with radiant heat for winter comfort, a wash stall, and large grooming stalls. A large tack room with lockers and a bathroom with a shower are also available. The second barn is a traditional structure comprised of 12 stalls, and both are equipped with fire monitoring. The staff is housed on site.

A variety of turnout is available, including four all-weather paddocks that are built close to the barn, multiacre grass fields, and stone dust medical paddocks — all with four-board fencing. An extensive drainage system has been incorporated around the paddocks for water control.

Stony Lane has a main outdoor riding arena that measures approximately 100' x 250' and has silica sand footing and an 80' x 200' indoor riding arena.

The indoor riding arena assures yearround riding on a dust-free footing. All riding surfaces are groomed regularly and professionally laser-leveled each year. In addition, a covered treadmill is accessible to clients if general equine fitness and rehabilitation is required.

Stony Lane’s clients appreciate how well Lisa and Katherine work together.

“Lisa and Katherine have a perfect partnership,” says Jill MacInnes. “They work very well together and feed off each other’s strengths. You can tell they have a real passion for their work and love what they do. They also share their expertise and experience willingly and have taught me so much. They focus on

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Sarah Gleason and her son, Sam, have been training with Lisa since 2016.

“Two years ago, Sam decided his goal was to make the junior final both in the hunters and big eq,” says Sarah. “This year, in his last year as a junior, he did just that under Lisa’s guidance and coaching and he placed in several of the finals. Lisa takes the time to really know every rider and every horse so she can figure out how to work with them and what the right program is for each pair.”

“A little over a year ago Lisa joined up with Katherine as Stony Lane moved to Monroe,” says Sarah. “Katherine and Lisa make an outstanding team with very complementary skills. Both are great horsewomen but each has their own strengths. Coming to the partnership with a business background, Katherine has stepped in to take the lead on the management of the business and, in many cases, client communications. Lisa oversees the training and

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

Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

19

Grand Prix Guidance

Using Sensors to Measure a Horse’s Gait

by Mark R. Baus, DVM, Caitlin C. Rothacker, DVM, DABVP, and Heidi Burrows

A

ccording to Dr. Eric Topol, the author of The Creative Destruction of Medicine, we are a sensor-driven society and sensors will change how healthcare will be delivered in the future. Fitness trackers log our steps, calories burned, heart rate, and a host of other parameters. Other sensors monitor our sleep patterns; the sum total of this data collection allows us to better track our progress and well-being. For equids, there are also wearable sensors to monitor heart rate, respiratory rate, and even when a pregnant mare is about to foal.

What about sensors to monitor your horse’s gait?

This widely studied technology has been in use for more than ten years and has been used by the veterinarians at Grand Prix Equine for five years. It’s proven to be an invaluable aid in confirming the limb or limbs that are not functioning properly by measuring asymmetry with precise accuracy.

For decades, veterinarians have used a well-known five-point scale for describing the degree of lameness in a given limb. The problem with this scale is that lameness presents with a multitude of degrees and five points is woefully inadequate as a grading system.

Furthermore, the subjectivity of this scale allows for too much variability. For example, one veterinarian’s grade two lameness might be assessed by another veterinarian as a grade three or a grade one. Using sensors allows veterinarians to quantify lameness objectively and more precisely than the human eye.

The system that we use at Grand Prix Equine to measure lameness is the Equinosis Q. It uses three bodymounted inertial sensors: one is adhered to the right front leg, another to the top of the head, and the third sensor is on the pelvis. The head and pelvic sensors are accelerometers and determine the lameness of the front and hind limbs respectively. The sensor on the limb is a gyroscope and simply tells the program where all the limbs 20

are at any point in time. The system evaluates the horse with a quick jog and the results are ready in two minutes.

What advantage does this system offer? Numerous thorough research projects have determined that this program is more accurate than a veterinarian with extensive lameness experience.

This research and Grand Prix Equine veterinarians’ experience show that without this tool, we’ve been selecting

poses. This system can answer that question in most cases.

• This system is also a useful way to monitor the progress of a lameness. If we provide a treatment such as a joint injection, monitoring the response to this treatment is invaluable. If a horse is recovering from a soft-tissue injury, it’s important to know that there’s improvement in the degree of lameness before progressing with the work schedule.

• If you’re purchasing a horse, one of the most important criteria for making a purchase decision is whether a horse has lameness of one or more limbs.

The use of body-mounted inertial sensors can provide invaluable information to answer this question. It’s important to point out that most horses have some lameness, so it becomes critical to determine the nature of that lameness and how it might affect the horse’s athletic career.

We also use these inertial sensors on a routine basis to simply monitor a horse’s soundness.

Often, musculoskeletal issues are brewing and catching them early will lead to faster and more successful intervention.

Data collection with sensors isn’t a new concept in many parts of our lives.

The use of inertial sensors in lameness analysis helps eliminate subjectivity while providing greater accuracy and detail about how a horse is moving.

Taking the guesswork out of picking the correct limb and determining the degree of lameness is a true advancement for lameness diagnostics. ©2019 Kathryn Schauer

This article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered, or used as a substitute for, veterinary medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

the wrong lame limb and have been estimating the degree of lameness inaccurately in too many cases.

The Equinosis Q system also has the unique ability to determine if lameness is occurring when the hoof is striking the ground (referred to as an impact lameness) or when the hoof is about to leave the ground (referred to as a push-off lameness). This qualification helps the veterinarian differentiate between lameness coming from the bones and joints versus a lameness coming from a tendon or ligament.

What are some other advantages to using this system?

• It provides an unbiased result when performing diagnostic nerve blocks. We use diagnostic nerve blocks to isolate the source of pain causing lameness.

There’s a significant bias on the part of any veterinarian to judge whether a nerve block has worked.

• Since many horses have lameness in more than one limb, this system can accurately determine if there’s more than one limb that is lame. It can be difficult to determine which limb is the primary, or most important, limb to concentrate on for examination pur-

Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

Mark R. Baus, DVM founded Grand Prix Equine in 2009.

He’s provided care to horses in the same region and for many of the same clients for more than 30 years. Mark began the Connecticut Equine Podiatry Group to foster relationships between farriers and veterinarians.

Caitlin C. Rothacker, DVM, DABVP’s interests include lameness and diagnostic imaging, purchase exams as well as routine preventive care. In warmer months, Caitlin can be found tinkering in her garden, often with a headlamp into the evening hours. She enjoys sharing her love of all things wild with her husband, two children, and dog Robin.

Heidi Burrows, veterinary technician, attended Cazenovia College with a focus on equine business management.

After college, she worked for a large show barn in New Jersey and later worked for a small animal veterinarian.

Heidi enjoys spending time at the barn where she rides in Norwalk.

Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

21

Trail Guide Danbury

by Stacey Stearns

Tarrywile Park

T

arrywile Park and Mansion in Danbury is a renowned wedding and event location. However, the 722-acre treasure also has 21 miles of trails that are open to hikers, nature enthusiasts, and equestrians. Tarrywile Lake, Parks Pond, and Back Pond add to the beauty of the location while attracting local anglers. The city of Danbury purchased the land in 1985, and the Tarrywile Park Authority manages it as a passive recreation and education area.

Tarrywile Mansion was built in 1897 as a home for Dr. William C. Wile and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s frequently rented

Download a map at tarrywile.com/ exploring. Click on TARRYWILE HIKING TRAIL GUIDE. There are two parking lots at Tarrywile, one off Southern Boulevard, another off Brushy Hill Road. Horse

Riding here reminds you of a different era and way of life. Large estates such as Tarrywile were once commonplace, and although we’ve all seen it in the movies, riding through Tarrywile and imagining how people once lived is a unique experience.

Tarrywile is a hub of activity and connects community members across all spectrums. Other passive recreation at Tarrywile includes hiking, cross-country skiing, orienteering, scouting events, cross-country running, and primitive camping.

Happy Trails Farm is located on Mountainville Road in Danbury across from the eastern side of the Tarrywile property. Equestrians from the stable often ride in the park and enjoy the trails.

Lucy Prybylski owns and operates Happy Trails Farm with her husband, Ed, and enjoys western dressage, ranch riding, and trail riding. She serves on the board of the Friends of Tarrywile Park and the Newtown Bridle Lands Association.

“It’s important for equestrians to be active in trail organizations so we can

out as a popular wedding and event location. Visitors can take a self-guided tour when there aren’t events. Rental proceeds help sustain park operations.

The English-style garden surrounding the mansion attracts numerous visitors each year.

The grounds include a carriage house that was originally a stable before automobiles replaced horses, an apple orchard, icehouse, greenhouse, and gatehouse. An active dairy farm was on the property until the 1970s. You can still see the silo and milking parlor when you visit. Danbury High School has a garden project in the greenhouse, which helps students learn horticultural skills. Picnic tables and a gazebo in the orchard make it an inviting spot for park guests.

Tarrywile Lake was a drinking water reservoir for the city of Danbury, so the family had Parks Pond dug for their personal use. Footbridges around Parks Pond were built as Eagle Scout projects but are not suitable for horses.

Equestrians should also avoid the areas near the mansion. Hearthstone Castle,

trailers should use the larger lot off Southern Boulevard. From the parking area you can ride past the picnic area, Red Barn Environmental Education Center, milking parlor, and silo to the trails.

Parking is limited for horse trailers.

“I recommend that equestrians come on a weekday and arrive early to ensure adequate parking,” says Becky Petro, the executive director of Tarrywile Park and Mansion. Clean up around your trailer before you leave, including sweeping up any hay.

Trails are open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset. Equestrians and other trail users can experience a variety of terrain across the 722-acres.

There are large fields with spectacular views, while the terrain is rugged and rocky in other places. You’ll ride past ponds and natural blueberry and blackberry patches. Tarrywile is home to a plethora of plant and wildlife species; keep your eyes peeled for small animals, fun plants, and enjoy the chorus of birds as you ride along.

continue to have access to these places,” Lucy says. There are several equestrians who serve on the board of the Friends of Tarrywile Park. The Newtown Bridle Lands Association is dedicated to preserving equestrian and passive recreation trails.

A Leg Up

Lucy Prybylski

History Lesson

built in the 1890s, is on the eastern side of the park, but is supposed to be demolished. The castle has a long and unique history of its own. It’s currently fenced off.

22

Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

Out Riding It Brushy Hill Road cuts through Tarrywile Park, and separates the trail system.

Parking is on the western side of the park. Lucy and the boarders at her barn generally ride on the eastern side of the park, since that’s where they access the park. Fewer trail users are on the eastern side.

“A lot of equestrians use the park,” Lucy says. “They don’t want horses near the mansion, but with so many trails, it’s easy to avoid. We’re careful not to leave manure on the trails, and we only ride when the footing is good so that we don’t tear up the fields. It’s important for equestrians to take good care of the trails and land we access.”

From the silo and dairy barn the park unfolds before you as you’re standing in the hay fields. Loop around the edge of the fields, and then you have two options. Follow the edge of the field alongside Parks Pond and over to the orange trail to ride the eastern side of the park. Or, cross Brushy Hill Road to ride the orange trail loop. The location markers on the trail match your map.

You can go left or right at marker 11, although you’ll want to stay right if keeping the markers in numerical order matters to you! All of the trails are blazed.

You’ll ride along the edges of hay fields and past the old ski slope. This loop is along the base of 820-foot Town Mountain. The trails meander up and down small hills, and are filled with blooming mountain laurel in late spring, and lots of interesting rock formations. When you reach the park boundary at marker 14 the trail loops north back toward the ski area and hayfields. Starting from the parking area, riding the orange loop is approximately four miles. Trails can be technical; hoof protection is recommended.

Those looking for a longer ride can explore the trails on the western side of the park. Coming back off of the orange trail you’ll reach Parks Pond. Go left on the white trail (marked in gray on the map) until it connects to blue.

From here, follow the markers and blue trail. At the intersection with the yellow trail, go left on yellow for a longer ride, or right on blue for a shorter ride.

These sections also have rolling hills to climb and descend as you enjoy the woods, surrounded by pine trees, wildflowers, and occasional wildlife.

The blue trail will take you along Back Pond, while if you go on the yellow trail, you’ll enjoy views of Tarrywile Lake. Yellow connects back to blue at

Back Pond, and heads east and then north to the hay fields, and back to the parking lot.

An abundance of trails and wildlife is not what you expect to find in Danbury, but that’s exactly what Tarrywile Park offers. The trails and park bring people from all parts of the community together as we enjoy our recreational pursuits.

Come explore this hidden gem and enjoy the miles open to us in one of Connecticut’s largest cities.

Happy trails!

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

Subscribe Today! connhorse.com

Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

23

Overherd

News in Our Community The Humane Organization Representing Suffering Equines (H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut), now celebrating its 39th year, will hold a three-day Tack Sale on Friday, November 20 through Sunday, November 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., to benefit our many rescues and to help with feed, veterinary, and farrier costs.

Thanks to our generous donors and supporters, we have received lots of wonderful items and we’re offering some great prices! Any saddle more than $200 is $25 off, more than $300 is $50 off! We have new and lightly used saddles, both English and western, bridles, various weight blankets, saddle pads, chaps, boots, and helmets — all sold at a fraction of their original cost!

Please stop by and check out the items we have for sale.

H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut is located at 43 Wilbur Road in Washington. If you can’t attend the Tack Sale but would like to make a donation, please visit horseofct.org or call (860) 868-1960.

H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut will hold its annual Christmas Open House on Saturday, December 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a snow date of Sunday, December 13. Social distancing guidelines will be followed. This is an event you won’t want to miss!

The fun starts from the minute we open the gates with hourly tours to meet our many horses, a silent auction with many “must have” items such as toys and horse accessories. Our popular bake sale will offer tables filled with a variety of home-baked goods from cakes to cookies, many beautifully wrapped and ready to be given as gifts.

Other great gift options such as OMI Jewelry from the talented Lise, bracelets and 24

necklaces by Amy, assorted horsey stuffed animals, wreaths, handmade scarves and hats will also be available. We also have special offerings of a Prai Gift Basket filled with skin care products and Équilibre body lotions!

Remember, all your purchases go directly toward helping to care for our many horses.

Looking for a gift for the person who has everything?

donations go directly to the care of the horses.

To learn more, visit horseofct.org!

y Kathy Diemer

A Hay Burr Inn Miracle Hay Burr Inn is a place where equines come to be rehabilitated or live out their lives. Our all-volunteer staff is dedicated to saving the lives of horses that have experienced starvation, neg-

Kathy Diemer

H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut’s Events

Legend and Devon Tomas at H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut in Washington.

We also have several horses available for sponsorship, a program that includes four visits a month during which you can groom, spend time with, and hand-walk the horse for only $50.

H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization established in 1981, permanently housed on Wilbur Road, Washington since 1995. Staffed by a dedicated team of volunteers, H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut has saved more than 700 horses and maintains an ongoing commitment to educate the public regarding horse care.

H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut receives no town, state, or federal funding. Funds are raised through memberships, sponsorships, charitable contributions, and fundraising activities. All

Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

lect, or abuse. Many are bound for slaughter; others are owner surrenders. Our goal is to rehabilitate and restore the horses’ physical and emotional health, find them a loving home, or continue to give them the special care they need to live out their days in peace.

This past winter, one of our rescues, Don Quixote, contracted a deadly illness.

He is a kind, stubborn, quirky donkey whom we call Don in honor of the father of Cynthia Haberin, Hay Burr Inn’s founder. Don Quixote is a favorite of our volunteers, visitors, and our social media family, and is unique to Hay Burr Inn, as he’s the only donkey we have rescued so far.

Donkeys are very stoic animals and when they become sick or injured, may

not show any signs or symptoms. One morning Don would not eat. He was lethargic, with drooping head and ears.There was a copious amount of mucous exiting his mouth and nose, and we thought he had a cold. Our veterinarian recommended we administer an antibiotic we had on hand. Treatment was started immediately, and this was the first step of the miracle.

As the extent of Don’s illness was unknown, we cleaned everything in contact with Don, including ourselves. We did not want a communicable disease to spread to the other 12 horses.

The next day, unfortunately, it appeared the antibiotic was not doing its job. We knew something was terribly wrong as Don was getting worse, not better, and was still not eating or drinking.

He was becoming dehydrated.

We placed an emergency call to our veterinarian with a plea to come quickly; this was serious.

Our veterinarian arrived early afternoon and began to administer intravenous fluids to combat dehydration. Then, with amazing diagnostic ability, the veterinarian realized it was poisoning. Knowing we feed round bales and pasture, and with Don's symptoms of not being able to swallow to eat or drink, botulism was diagnosed. (Botulism can occur in round bales.)

Poisons kill before a test can be given and read, so the race was on to acquire the only thing that would save Don — the antitoxin. After numerous phone calls to area veterinary clinics, we finally contacted an emergency equine hospital.

People there were absolutely willing to help. Unfortunately, this institution was over an hour away and time was of the essence if Don was to have any chance of survival.

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25

you in a minute.” Oreo seemed to have understood, and a short while later was administered an intravenous fluid bag with medication suitable for colic.

It was now late afternoon and getting dark and the

Hay Burr Inn residents Oreo and Don Quixote.

temperature was dropping.

Our veterinarian had spent hours with us and needed to leave. Don was shivering, so we covered him with horse blankets but they were cum-

and trying to keep Don’s fluids and intravenous line and needle from freezing, by covering them with hand warmers and towels.

It was constant care,

waiting to see if the antitoxin was working. It wasn’t until the next afternoon, when Don started nibbling on some wet hay, that we knew the antitoxin had done its job. A video was taken and sent to our veterinarian.

Don Quixote needed days of intravenous fluids as well as numerous injections of antibiotics to combat the botulism poisoning. We knew Don was feeling better when he no longer appreciated our visits with the needles.

We were extremely cautious with medications because our veterinarian told us this was the first animal of any species she knew that had survived botulism poisoning.

After a month of administering the antibiotic, Don was hard to catch when he saw the needle coming. It took us some time to regain his trust.

Don is stubborn (or cautious as Cynthia likes to say) in so many ways. We’re truly grateful for his stubbornness because despite everything he’s been through, he is still

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bersome. We decided to purchase an electric blanket for him.

Don was nestled in a heavy heated blanket doing his best to fight through this.

All the while Cynthia was shivering, sleep-deprived,

Courtney Luft

We immediately phoned a good friend of the rescue who was just leaving to visit her mother. She and her husband were sitting in their car at the end of their driveway when she picked up the phone. Their name was given to the institution, plans to visit Mom were changed, and these two good Samaritans were on their way.

As Don’s intravenous line containing the antitoxin was being started, one of our volunteers came with news that one of our Miniature horses, Oreo, was rolling.

Oreo and Don have a strong bond; we joke that they are boyfriend and girlfriend.

Through the stress and worry of her friend’s illness, Oreo began to colic.

We attended to Oreo in the barn in the vicinity of her friend, Don. A memorable moment and testament to our veterinarian’s dedication in an emergency: As she ran

by Oreo’s stall to collect fluid bags for Don, she told Oreo, “It is not your day to die; just hang in there, I will get to

Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

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alive. Our dedicated volunteers, Cynthia, and our amazing veterinarian are to thank for Don’s survival.

Veterinarian bills can be one of our biggest costs in addition to the daily cost of grain, hay, and bedding. We take in horses that already have ailments, are often older, and some are untrained. We treat them to keep them comfortable and treat anything else that befalls them through the end of their life.

We never know how long they will be with us. We make

sure our equine friends are comfortable and we make every day count.

It’s not easy taking care of animals at the end of their lives; however, we know they deserve the best care we can provide and it’s through people like you who donate, volunteer, and support us that we can continue to do this.

So, thank you! The horses thank you and Don Quixote thanks you!

To continue to have amazing success stories like Don Quixote’s, we need your help!

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We cannot do this alone. COVID-19 has had a major impact on the fundraisers we would normally have had throughout this year, but you can make a difference. You can help our equine friends.

Please consider donating and helping to continue to care for the equines at hayburrinn.org.

resistant. She had difficulty turning and stopping, and she was also unwilling to back up, even in hand. Sometimes, she would threaten to nip when asked to perform a task.

y Cynthia Haberin, Ashley Hildebrand, and Isabella Deep

Most of us think equine sports massage therapy sessions are for the great athletes — rubdowns for the big trophy winners, the jumpers, and the dressage horses like Valegro. For sure, massage is an essential part of a top performance horse’s routine care, but what about the old gray mare who “ain’t what she used to be?”

Sports massage also has its place for the horse that has been sitting idle and for one reason or another is out of shape, but is still willing to try. Such is the case for a 17-year-old mare, trained as a young horse, who then found herself as a pet for 10 years.

Bringing her back to work first involved a saddle fitter and review of earlier training routines. but the mare was inconsistent, and in some instances,

Scott Herman

Easing Back to Work with Equine Sports Massage

Gabby Herman, 14, of Oakdale, and Scout won the Connecticut Horse Youth Award at the October 3 Connecticut Dressage and Combined Training Association Show.

Sports massage therapy came into the picture to help the mare regain her strength. Much to the surprise of this massage therapist, this little horse, who had not done much other than eat for a decade, was full of tightness and reac-

tion points, most notably in her poll and neck, but also her back, hip, rump, and stifle areas.

Her first massage released much built-up tension. Soon, the mare was yawning, with a full neck swing, tongue out, eyes rolled, sighing, and eventually that beautiful soft dozing a horse exhibits when enjoying a massage, waking up again when massaging other areas that elicited a variety of reactions.

A few massage sessions later, the mare’s attitude has improved and she is feeling much better. There is no greater joy than seeing a horse become strong and athletic when released from pain and stiffness. No longer a dense wall at the poll, this little mare, who once stood cow-hocked from a weak back and resembled the shape of a round bale, is now using herself far more athletically. She’s building topline, and most important, she’s interested in her work. She won’t become a top athlete, but she does have the potential to be an enjoyable riding partner for her owner.

y Cynthia Downs, CESMT

Double G Farm Has Moved Geoff Goodson Horsemanship has moved to a new facility — a 70-acre farm located in the rural town of Salem, about 20 minutes west of Hartford. Offering yearround training with two barns, 16 stalls,

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Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

y MaryAnn Smith

Discount for Connecticut Horse Readers Gigi Barrett Fine Art is offering a 30 percent discount to Connecticut Horse readers through December 2020. In addition, buyers will receive free shipping throughout the United States.

Works are priced starting at $100, and for every purchase a donation is sent to local equine charities. All

orders can be gift-wrapped with a personal note free of charge. Give a gift that’s special and gives back.

To learn more, visit gigibarrett.com and email

In September, Walker’s had 10 riders compete at the New England Equitation Championships in Halifax, Massachusetts, including Chloe Fares ‘24 (Suffield)

Stacey Stearns

a round pen, indoor and outdoor arenas, spacious turnouts, and miles of trails, the facility has everything needed to provide a wellrounded equine education and healthy horse care.

Geoff is an experienced trainer who specializes in natural horsemanship foundation training for young horses, colt starting, refresher and remedial issues, obstacle, and trail skills. All disciplines and breeds of horses are welcome, and horse owners are encouraged to be a part of their horse’s journey.

The Ebony Horsewomen Junior Mounted Patrol received the Connecticut Greenways Council’s (CGC) Community Connection Award at the CGC Awards Ceremony at Charter Oak Park in Manchester on October 1.

gigi@gigibarrett.com to apply discount code ConnHorse30.

Ethel Walker School’s Equestrians Excel at New England Equitation Championships The Ethel Walker School in Simsbury always has an impressive roster of student riders, and this fall is no exception.

and Grace Sappington ‘24 (Avon).

“Chloe has allowed her own horse to rest from an injury, so she has taken over the reins of our very own Blue Monday,” says trainer Linda Langmeier. “They proved to be a force to be reckoned with as they provided one amazing round after another. Chloe learned to trust the program and

how to improve her mental game, both contributing to her success!” Chloe placed 12th in the United States Hunter Jumper Association Hunt Seat Medal Final out of 154 competitors. She was also 4th out of 24 in the Open Equitation 14 & Under, and finished in the top 30 out of 208 competitors in the New England Equitation Championship.

“Grace has been building her relationship with her new horse all summer, culminating with a solid score at the New England Equitation Championships,” says Linda.

“Making mistakes is how we learn, grow, and mature, but following a plan is essential.

Grace only made a few small mistakes, but she followed the plan to a tee!” Grace improved her score each day, concluding the weekend with a score of 73 in the New England Equitation Championship.

Congratulations to Chloe and Grace!

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

Interested?

Based on the positive feedback and continued uncertainty associated with COVID-19, it was decided the entire show series would continue in the same format.

least one more clinic this year. Visit cdctaonline.com and Facebook for details.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy autumn and winter!

hoped for an extra-special 30th anniversary party, but that’s going to have to wait until everyone can be together in person. While we must observe the guidelines

n MaryAnn Smith

Connecticut Horse Council

Connecticut Dressage and Combined Training Association

30

The Connecticut Dressage and Combined Training Association held virtual dressage shows in 2020 with great results.

Diane Ciano

COVID-19 has impacted the entire world, and our horse club is no exception. Remembering back to the Equine Tack and Tag Sale in early March, news of COVID-19 was just starting to come to people’s attention. Two weeks after that event, everything changed. The May CDCTA Dressage and Combined Schooling Show was cancelled, and the board of directors was faced with the realization that the Schooling Show Series was in jeopardy. It seemed every event, from concerts to country fairs to sports and all types of horse competitions, was shut down indefinitely.

Fortunately, club president Tracey Woods knew of a virtual show option, and with the brainstorming and cooperation of the board of directors, a format for an online, remotely judged show was created. The first ever CDCTA Safe Dressage and Combined Schooling Show took place July 10–12 at Treasure Hill Farm in Salem, and it was a success. Competitors came to the show grounds and performed their tests or jump rounds while being recorded by a club-designated videographer. With careful scheduling and a skeleton crew of support volunteers, the competition went smoothly and everyone stayed in compliance with safety regulations.

Meg Sautter received the Connecticut Greenways Council’s (CGC) Volunteer Award at the CGC Awards Ceremony at Charter Oak Park in Manchester on October 1.

CDCTA extends thanks to our remote judge Ann Guptil and Treasure Hill Farm for their trust and willingness to take a leap of faith into this innovative show format.

The second Safe Schooling Show was held October 2–4, with plans for the final show scheduled October 30 to November 1.

The board of directors is working toward a solution for the January Annual Meeting and Year End Awards Luncheon.

The board of directors had

Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

established for COVID-19, we must also do everything possible to celebrate the successes and achievements of our members, and the endurance and perseverance of our club.

September featured a Ride-Critique-Ride at Fox Ledge Farm, where participants had the choice of ridecritique-ride or a private lesson. Clinician Ann Guptil provided valuable insights and instruction, helping riders hone their skills. There are plans in motion for at

The Connecticut Greenways Awards Ceremony, held at Charter Oak Park in Manchester on October 1, recognized the outstanding work of our statewide trail advocates. CHC was excited to see three equestrian award winners: Meg Sautter, CHC’s Volunteer Horse Patrol Supervisor; Penny Foisey; and the Junior Mounted Patrol from Ebony Horsewomen. A total of 10 awards were given from a very competitive pool of nominations. Congratulations to our equestrian winners on their well-deserved awards and a heartfelt thank you to all equestrians who contribute to our trails and greenways.

Special thanks goes to Stacey Stearns, our CHC representative on the Connecticut Greenways Council.

Volunteer Award recipient Meg Sautter entered into the equestrian world in 2000.

Her total immersion since has included becoming an integral part of the CHC Volunteer Horse Patrol (VHP) since its inception in 2003. Meg soon became a cosupervisor for the statewide program and continues to be a very active participant.

The VHP partners with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and provides trail updates to the DEEP as well as providing general information, directions, even first aid to fellow trail users. The VHP also does trail maintenance that includes clearing.

Meg frequently patrols several of the state parks and forests, including the Larkin State Bridle Trail, and has worked in several locations completing major trail clear-

n Diane Ciano

Connecticut Morgan Horse Association

Stacey Stearns

This has certainly been an odd year for all of us. While many of our plans for 2020 were cancelled, including our horse show and spring and summer trail rides, we

USA and SmartPak mailed to the winners. Congratulations to Willow Hill Pollyanna, our grand champion winner with Caprice Tondalo and Karen Bobbi.

We also offered a virtual stick horse championship

Join the Connecticut Morgan Horse Association for its eleventh Annual Turkey Trot on Sunday, November 22, at Bluff Point State Park in Groton. This year’s ride will be a virtual ride!

Bluff Point State Park in Groton. Visit ctmorgans.org or find us on Facebook for the latest updates on the trail ride.

Plans are underway to bring all three of our trail rides back in 2021 and add a fourth ride. As always, our trail rides are open to all breeds. The trail rides include Hot Chocolate at Hammonasset Beach in March, our June Arcadia Pleasure Ride in Rhode Island, and the Turkey Trot.

Our 60th anniversary horse show will be held June 2–5, 2021, at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

Our show committee is already planning a fantastic experience for exhibitors, including a 60th anniversary party, our annual hall of fame presentation, the youth contest, people’s choice awards, and more.

It’s been an interesting year, and not one that any of us could have predicted. We hope all our friends and fellow equine enthusiasts are safe and healthy. See you on the trail or in the show ring soon!

n Stacey Stearns

Jeanne Lewis Images

ing projects and on the revamping of the Lost Silver Mine Horse Camp in Natchaug State Forest.

She serves on the CHC board of directors and has served on the Connecticut Equine Advisory Council since its inception. Meg enjoys seeing fellow trail users out on the trail, allowing them to greet her horse and take a photo, as well as offering directions and information on the trail, and helping to educate all users on trail etiquette.

Meg is an American Red Cross CPR instructor and offers classes for fellow equestrians (and others interested) to become certified. She’s a member of several equine organizations and a valued contributor to the equine community.

Penny Foisey also received the Connecticut Greenways Council’s Volunteer Award.

She’s the founder and president of the Pomfret Horse and Trail Association and an avid volunteer and trail advocate. Penny maintains trails in Mashamoquet Brook State Park, the Air Line State Park Trail, and private land trust trails in Pomfret.

The Ebony Horsewomen Junior Mounted Patrol program received the Connecticut Greenways Council’s Community Connection Award.

The Junior Mounted Patrol was designed to help young African-American and Latino men gain useful insight and skills on how to become productive members of their communities through the image of America’s most cherished icon, the American cowboy. The young men convene every week under the guidance of adult male leaders for inspiration, education, and to provide community service as mounted park rangers for the City of Hartford’s beautiful and historic 693-acre Keney Park.

Sabrina Beckman, Connecticut Renegades vice president, competing in the Cavalry class on her horse Jet at the Connecticut State Championships at the Old Bethany Airport in September.

were able to offer some other virtual experiences for our members and other equine enthusiasts.

People’s Choice Awards have been a fun addition to our horse shows in the past and we offered a virtual version this year. We had more than 40 Morgan horses nominated and 600 individual votes for our 2020 People’s Choice Awards, with winners being announced in July, and prizes from Appointments

and a virtual dog show.

Entrants did not need to be a club member or own a Morgan to participate. The dog show had youth and adult divisions and was very popular. All participants in the stick horse championship and virtual dog show received prizes that were mailed to them.

Tentative plans are still underway to host a virtual CMHA Turkey Trot on Sunday, November 22, at

Connecticut Renegades Cowboy Mounted Shooters Along with many other sports and clubs, the Connecticut Renegades were thrilled when they could finally start their shooting season this past summer. For most, the restrictions in place at the competitions had already become routine, so rules like requiring that masks be worn at the check-in table were easy to comply with.

The first official event was a practice at the Harwinton Fairgrounds. Anxious to start the season, 17 riders came out to see how their horses and gun handling skills had fared since last fall.

The next event was our first match of the season, held in Barre, Massachusetts.

This was the annual Border

Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

31

32

Connecticut Trail Rides Association COVID-19 hit our CTRA family very hard with several families and friends suffering losses. Our deepest sympathies go out to all. In addi-

Ruth Strontzer

Plains Indian Campaigns, Southwest Campaigns, Canadian Mounties, and Spanish American War. Sabrina Beckman and her horse Jet competed in the Cavalry class and was the

Connecticut Trail Rides Association member Allison Goff and Marla crossing the Comstock Bridge at Salmon River in East Hampton.

Devine Photography

Wars event, a competition that not only challenges individual riders but is also a competition between the Connecticut Renegades and Northeast Six Shooters. The Renegades overcame the Northeast Six Shooters and won the elusive flag back!

August ended with another match at the Old Bethany Airport. The heat of our Summer Sizzler event didn’t disappoint even with the move from July to the end of August. Cathie HatrickAnderson took the overall spot and Kowboy Ken Forcier on Red finished in the reserve spot and won his class. Renegade member Bill Milroy on Bob finished third overall and won his Senior Men’s 1 class. This was the final win needed for his move to the Senior Men’s 2 class.

Jean Cassella on Paddy also took the win in her Senior Ladies’ 1 class. Members who shot clean (no missed targets) on the day were Chris Anson on Arrow and Tom Beckman on Choctaw.

Despite the shortened season, all riders were ready for the Connecticut State Championship held on Saturday, September 19, at the Old Bethany Airport.

Once again, the airport weather challenged us with a very cool and windy day that led to a lot of frisky horses and moving targets. The Renegades welcomed 46 riders from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania to compete on five different patterns and other specialty classes such as Rifle, Shotgun, and Cavalry.

The Cavalry class is a mounted revolver competition separate from the main match that combines historical re-enactments and horsemanship, while paying tribute to the mounted soldiers of the cavalry. Special focus is paid to the great diversity of colorful military uniforms from the Civil War,

The Granby Horse Club parade team.

highest overall Renegade member with a fourth place finish in the main match.

Her husband, Tom Beckman, came in right behind her in the fifth spot and had the fastest raw time for the day.

Tom and Choctaw ran five different courses in a total time of 76.048 seconds, but three missed balloons added 15 seconds to his overall time. That’s still an average of 15 seconds per run!

Stay connected with us through our Facebook page at CT Renegades - Mounted Shooters or ctrenegades.com.

Stay safe, healthy, and keep those horses ridden.

n Allison Forsyth

Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

tion, numerous rides and events through the end of May were cancelled because of the pandemic.

Camp clean-up was well attended with approximately 35 members spread out over the six acres. Fallen trees were cut up, branches hauled away, and leaves were cleared from the public areas. Later, members moved on to cleaning their own sites. Ron King brought his tractor, using it to haul brush, move stones, and spread fill. Members Shane Emigh, George Sherman, and Jason Boucher met camp director Pat Gogolya at camp the day before, and opened up the driveway leading into camp

for everyone to come in on Saturday. CTRA president Peggy Robinson brought a log splitter, and she, Pat, Jean Cassella, and Janet Samperi cleaned up several downed trees.

Memorial Day weekend was well attended with about two-thirds of the camp lots in use. Members were great about social distancing and everyone enjoyed the trails, going out in small groups.

Campfires were glowing all around camp at night with members visiting around them. Kowboy Ken brought his gaited mule, Mississippi, to camp. He’s the newest member of Kowboy’s family.

Mississippi has come a long way since Ken started working with him. We look forward to seeing them out on the trail together. While everyone is used to hearing horses nicker, Mississippi’s braying was a nice added mix to the sounds of camp.

Rides finally resumed after a long break because of COVID-19. Members rode on a Connecticut River sandbar at the Haddam Meadow State Park, the train tracks of the Valley Railroad State Park, and went for ice cream on the Cockaponset State Forest ride. They also traveled through the full bloom of the mountain laurel and wild roses found in the George Dudley State Forest. Members enjoyed riding at Steep Rock, Upper Salmon River, Salmon Brook, and a Father’s Day Ride at Machimoodus State Park. The Fourth of July Poker Ride from camp had a treasure hunt twist.

The auction and barbeque held over Labor Day weekend was a great success.

The money raised will go into the Camp Improvement Fund to help recoup the money spent on the tree work and the other improvements done this year. Ed Levin led the ride in the Mohawk State Forest.

CTRA also had three movie nights with showings

of Secretariat, Weekend at Bernie’s, and Harry & Snowman. Popcorn was served and everyone had a great time.

CTRA president Peggy Robinson and area vice president Stacey Dionne have been working hard at reopening and clearing trails from camp for all the members to enjoy. CTRA’s annual meeting, banquet, and election of officers is in November.

participate in local parades.

There’s special interest in the GHC for a future games’ competition. This is an opportunity to teach your

helps us build bigger, better relationships with our beloved friends and partners, our horses. Thanks to the organizers and officers who make it all happen. Have a great ride, everyone.

maneuvering through soft footing like mud or rough footing like rocks; dealing with wildlife such as deer, bears, turkeys, and hidden

n Holly Ely

Middlebury Bridle Land Association

n Christine Mard

Granby Horse Council’s fun, wonderful, and successful Obstacle Challenge held August 22 prompts reflection on the numerous benefits of our various mounted activities throughout the year. To be sure, these benefits apply to both rider and horse. In the Obstacle Challenge, we put ourselves and our horses to the test. But the primary focus is the effects on, and benefits to, our horses. Here are a few observations.

Our annual Obstacle Challenge is an exercise in precision. Horses are required to move precisely: forward, backward, side to side, faster, slower, between tight spaces, and stand still. All the while scary, unusual, or complicated obstacles may distract the horse. Our horses benefit from these kinds of challenges. These skills may come in handy some day when we find ourselves in a tight spot outside of the obstacle ring.

Our yearly parade practices present our horses with the challenge of commotion.

During practice sessions horses are exposed to lots of unusual items such as baby strollers, umbrellas opening and closing, pedestrian movement, popping balloons, flags, loud noises, and more.

This all serves to prepare our horses for the commotion they may experience at parades. Through these sessions, GHC offers members the opportunity to qualify to

Kelly Ryan

Granby Horse Council

Kelly Ryan and her Paint, Dozer, with her cousin Cassidie Cade and Karl at the Middlebury Bridle Trail Association Annual Hunter Pace.

The Tanheath Hunt Club Intro to Foxhunting Clinic, held in early September, had 25 participants.

horse cooperation. During mounted games, horses are required to move carefully or stand quietly while the rider negotiates a particular task.

Certain games involve working as a team with another horse and rider. Coordinating with another rider or another team is a valuable lesson in cooperation.

GHC’s emphasis on trail riding through our many scheduled rides hones a horse’s ability in navigation.

Surely, trail riding is a relaxing horse sport. But it also presents the horse with all forms of navigation challenges on the trail: crossing streams; crossing roads; climbing up steep hills; balancing down slippery slopes;

bee hives; with man-made surprises like drones and kites; those silent joggers and bicycles; loud machinery and loose dogs; sudden soccer balls and soccer players. You name it, I’m sure we all have our trail riding stories to tell!

These challenges add up to benefit our horse’s ability to navigate and to trust. Importantly, they learn to trust us.

Two of GHC’s special rides are our annual Poker Ride with its tricky tasks to complete on the trail, and an October Memorial Ride where horses “brave the waves” at a beach in Rhode Island.

These are some personal thoughts on the importance of GHC’s mounted activities.

The bottom line is this: GHC

There are times when the words “thank you” seem inadequate. This is one of those times. But I’m going to try to express my gratitude to all who made our MBLA Annual Fall Hunter Pace such an overwhelming success. We had 43 teams with more than 90 riders. This was one of the club’s highest turnouts recently recorded!

And the day couldn’t have been better with sunshine, cool breezes, and no bugs.

My favorite moment of the hunter pace was during the busiest part of the day. I saw many of our veteran volunteers reach out to help those who were new to our yearly extravaganza and assist them with tasks that have become almost a routine for many of us throughout the years. Everyone supported each other in a way that reminded me why this club is so very special.

No matter the assignment, location, or task, the teams worked together seamlessly. Whether it was answering questions, taking cell phone photos, providing snacks, giving our crossing volunteers all their necessary equipment as well as getting them to their assigned crossings, everyone was phenomenal. At the start, finish, and all the crossings, no one left their station until everyone had passed, ensuring all our riders and horses returned safely. In one particular situation, one team did get lost (one out of 43 is not too bad!), but our volunteers at the last checkpoint got them back to home base safely.

Thank you to Ruth

Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

33

Beardsley and Nancy Vaughan, our volunteer coordinators! What a delight to know that our volunteers were in such good and capable hands. They did a superb job managing numerous details, last-minute adjustments and changes.

None of this could have ever been accomplished, however, without the tireless, relentless, and exhausting efforts of Sylvia and Tom Preston, and Debbie Carlson, who were our primary and almost daily workers out on our trails. Additional recognition to those members and non-members alike who pitched in during our constant trail

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maintenance and clearing with everything from chainsaws and clippers to the hand clearing of our pace course.

To Marian Larkin and the Larkin Family, words can never adequately express our gratitude to you for sharing your trails with everyone who participated in the pace. Our current members support ongoing efforts to maintain, restore, and preserve our trail systems. We encourage new riders to join our club and help this continuous endeavor. As a member of the MBLA, riders have access to our magnificent private trails throughout the riding season.

Finally, I appreciate beyond words everyone’s time, patience, graciousness, and kindness. You all have become an integral part of the Middlebury Bridle Land Association family. For that, I’m most grateful. It’s an honor to be affiliated with such a wonderful organization. Thank you for the privilege.

n Sally L. Feuerberg

Tanheath Hunt Club As we all know, this year has been one for the books. In early spring, we were finalizing plans for training sessions, hunter paces, and intro to fox hunting when COVID-19 hit and all activities were cancelled.

We watched what was going on, talked with other equestrian groups and hunt clubs, and decided to hold our first Hunter Pace in August. We initiated several changes: no food was served but water would be available, masks were required at registration, social distancing had to be observed, participants were assigned specific ride times, and no awards were given at the pace. Ribbons were mailed to winners.

The Hunter Pace was held at Tyrone Farm in Pomfret. It was a strange experience for me, as my assigned time was 10:20 a.m. When I arrived the field was filled with trailers, and when I finished

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Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

the field was half-empty as riders had finished their pace and left. We had an excellent turnout as many other events and shows were cancelled and people were eager for something to do. The second Hunter Pace was held on September 27, good attendance with the same restrictions as the first.

The Intro to Foxhunting Clinic was held early September with COVID-19 restrictions. We had 25 participants and ended up with six new members!

We held the Blessing of the Hounds on October 11 at Tyrone Farm in Pomfret.

The blessing starts our formal hunt season. We will continue to hunt through the fall months and into the winter if weather permits.

The club will have its Hunter Trials in November. The Hunter Trials are open to anyone, with a few of the classes limited to hunt club members only. The Hunter Trials are a demonstration of horse and rider’s ability to communicate and together to complete certain tasks such as opening and closing a gate, crossing water, going to a particular jump, stopping when requested by a master, taking off at a gallop on command, and other tasks as requested by the trial judges.

Huntsman Sherri Colby and John Ryan, along with whipper-in Leslie Cashel, continue to work and train the hounds. The hounds are following their leaders — Sherri, John, and Leslie — and really enjoy their work.

We are planning our annual Masters Dinner. The dinner is usually held at the big house at Tyrone farm, and is a wonderful opportunity for all members, guests, and landowners to get together and review the last year and plan for the next year. We will have a number of awards for various activities.

Please consider joining us as a participant or an observer at any one of our events. We’re always looking for volunteers, suggestions, and help.

Find us on Facebook at Tanheath Events or tanheathhunt.com, or contact Cathy Leinert at (860) 867-7063.

n Raymond Hill

Send us your events for the Spring Events Issue

by March 1, 2021!

Email events@connhorse.com.

21 – 22 OLIVIA LAGOY-WELTZ DRESSAGE CLINIC, Coventry. ctequestriancenter.com.

Please check all dates and events for COVID-19 updates and cancellations before you attend.

November

1 HUNTER PACE, Ayer Mountain Farm, North Franklin. ayermtfarm@gmail.com.

1 SCHOOLING SHOW SERIES, Epic Farm, Middlefield. epicfarmct.com.

Connecticut

Events

1 CHJA CHSA NEHC FALL II HUNTER/JUMPER SHOW, Gales Ferry. mvhchorse.com.

1 HALLOWEEN FUN RIDE, Babcock Hill Horses Naturally, Coventry. babcockhill.com.

22 CMHA TURKEY TROT, virtual. ctmorgans.org.

22 SCHOOLING SHOW SERIES, Epic Farm, Middlefield. epicfarmct.com.

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

22 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, TerryAllen Farms, Terryville. rideiea.org.

8 CHSA SHOW, Fox Crossing Equestrian, Morris. foxcrossingequestrian.com.

22 TODD KARN CLINIC, Westbrook Hunt Club, Westbrook. bhcmanagement.info.

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

8 CJHA SHOW, Stepping Stone Farm, Ridgefield. steppingstonefarmct.com.

DEEDEE HOPPER AND DIANA KING CLINIC, Madison. legendaryracehillfarm.com.

14 CHSA CHJA NEHC SHOW, Windcrest Farm, Hebron. windcrestfarmct.com.

1 RRRC TURKEY AND POKER RIDE, Camp Glazier, Stafford. reddingtonrockridingclub.org.

14 TANHEATH HUNT HUNTER TRIALS, Ayer Mountain Farm, Franklin. tanheathhunt.com.

1 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, Full Circle Farm, Manchester. rideiea.org.

14 CHJA SHOW, Fairfield County Hunt Club, Westport. huntclubonline.org.

1 SNOWFLAKE SCHOOLING DRESSAGE SERIES, Westbrook. westbrookhuntclubct@gmail.com.

14 SCHOOLING SHOW, Chasing A Dream Barn, Newtown. chasingadream.co.

4 – 8 DAN JAMES LIBERTY CLINIC, Sun Gold Stables, Bethany. (203) 490-8750.

14 – 15 BEGINNER MOUNTED ARCHERY CLINIC, Enfield. (860) 749-7503.

5 CHRISTMAS TACK AUCTION, Middlesex Livestock Auction, Middlefield. (860) 883-5828.

7 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, ABF Equine, Coventry. rideiea.org.

15 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, Shoreline Equestrian Center, Milford. rideiea.org.

6 SCHOOLING SHOW SERIES, Epic Farm, Middlefield. epicfarmct.com.

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

15 BRV SHOW, Westbrook Hunt Club, Westbrook. bhcmanagement.info.

6 SNOWFLAKE SCHOOLING DRESSAGE SERIES, Westbrook. westbrookhuntclubct@gmail.com.

7 OPEN BARN, Sumner Brook Farm, Middletown. sumnerbrookfarm.com.

15 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, Fox Crossing Equestrian, Morris. rideiea.org.

7 CHSA CHJA SHOW, The Pines, South Glastonbury. pinesfarm.com.

12 IEA HUNT SEAT ZONE 1 REGION 9 FINALS, Mystic Valley Hunt Club, Gales Ferry. rideiea.org.

15 CHSA CHJA NEHC SHOW, Shallowbrook Equestrian Center, Somers. shallowbrook.com.

8 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, End of Hunt Equestrian, Suffield. rideiea.org.

15 – 29 VIRTUAL HOLIDAY MARKET, Old Lyme. highhopestr.org.

8 ETHEL WALKER SCHOOL USEF SHOW, Simsbury. ethelwalker.org.

20 – 22 TACK SALE, Washington. horseofct.org.

8 PRACTICE YOUR VERSATILITY CLINIC, Babcock Hill Horses Naturally, Coventry. babcockhill.com.

8 TANHEATH HUNT, Bass Farm, Scotland. tanheathhunt.com.

8 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, Quiet Rein Farm, New Milford. rideiea.org.

8 REINDEER SHOW SERIES, Westbrook Hunt Club, Westbrook. bhcmanagement.info.

20 – 23 ESMHL EQUINE SPECIALIST WORKSHOP, Old Lyme. highhopestr.org.

20 – 28 HOLIDAY GIFT CARD ONLINE AUCTION. charityauction.bid/rayoflightfarm.

21 VERSATILITY COMPETITION, Babcock Hill Horses Naturally, Coventry. babcockhill.com.

21 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, ABF Equine, Coventry. rideiea.org.

21 CHSA CHJA SHOW, Westbrook Hunt Club, Westbrook. westbrookhuntclub.com.

28 BRV CHSA SHOW, Westbrook Hunt Club, Westbrook. bhcmanagement.info.

29 TANHEATH HUNT, Bass Farm, Scotland. tanheathhunt.com.

29 CHSA CHJA SHOW, Westbrook Hunt Club, Westbrook. westbrookhuntclub.com.

December

5 OPEN BARN, Sumner Brook Farm, Middletown. sumnerbrookfarm.com.

12 H.O.R.S.E. OF CONNECTICUT CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE, Washington. horseofct.org.

12 TRAIL OF LIGHTS WALK FUNDRAISER, Plainfield. 5 to 8 p.m. hayburrinn.org.

13 REINDEER SHOW SERIES, Westbrook Hunt Club, Westbrook. bhcmanagement.info.

13 IEA HUNT SEAT ZONE 1 REGION 7 FINALS, TerryAllen Farms, Terryville. rideiea.org.

27 TRAIL OF LIGHTS WALK FUNDRAISER, Plainfield. hayburrinn.org.

January

3 SNOWFLAKE SCHOOLING DRESSAGE SERIES, Westbrook. westbrookhuntclubct@gmail.com.

8 TRAIL OF LIGHTS WALK FUNDRAISER, Plainfield. hayburrinn.org.

Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

35

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

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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.

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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.

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

LOANS AND FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS

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

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

LITCHFIELD BLUE SEAL STORE Litchfield, (860) 482-7116 LOCK, STOCK & BARREL (203) 393-0002, lsbfarmsupply.com

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

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

NORWICH AGWAY Norwich, (860) 889-2344 norwichagway.com

SARAH GROTE PHOTOGRAPHY Cromwell, CT, (860) 301-6647

VALLEY HOME & GARDEN CENTER Simsbury, (860) 651-5646 valleyhomeandgarden.com

TRACTORS/EQUIPMENT

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

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

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

36

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TRAILERS

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GRAND PRIX EQUINE Hawleyville, CT, (203) 733-0789 grandprixequine.com Focused care for the performance horse.

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

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

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Thank you to the many volunteers and participants that made the 2020 MBLA Annual Fall Hunter Pace such an overwhelming success!

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Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

Connecticut Horse November/December 2020

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