Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020 by Community Horse Media

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

February/March 2020 mahorse.com $4

HORSE

SLOW FEEDING HAY

DARYL ANNE WILGA

WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S IT ALL ABOUT

HORSEPERSON

AMES NOWELL STATE PARK

CITY TO SADDLE

TRAIL GUIDE

LEND A HOOF

2 Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

contents

February/March 2020

columns 20 City to Saddle: Giving Kids a Leg Up

orangeslowfeeder.com

Lend a Hoof

22 Honoring Your Horse’s Personal Space Horse Logic

29 Events Calendar

Stacey Stearns

Massachusetts Only

features 8 Slow Feeding Hay

in every issue 16 Daryl Anne Wilga

What’s It All About

Yucc’ It Up! Founder

Lead Feature

Horseperson Feature

5 From the Publisher 7 Your Letters 24 Partners 27 Overherd

Stonebrook Farm Generations of Riding Farm Feature

18 Ames Nowell State Park

Trail Guide

32 This Olde Horse 33 The Neighborhood 34 Is This Your Horse?

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AMERICAN NATIONAL OFFICE: Whether you keep a pony for weekend recreation or raise elite breeding stallions, it makes good sense to choose an insurance agent who understands your speciﬁc coverage needs.

PROPERTY COVERAGE: Home | Barns | Machinery Tack | Farm Supplies Hay and Grain

LIABILITY COVERAGE: Care, Custody and Control Clinics | Riding Instruction Boarding | Shows Hay and Sleigh Rides

BOXBOROUGH

NORTH ADAMS

978.467.1001 Donald.Ludwig@american-national.com

413.398.5011 Kim.Perry@american-national.com

CARVER

NORTHBOROUGH

508.866.9150 Richard.Blair@american-national.com

508.393.9327 Jeﬀ.Pichierri@american-national.com

CENTERVILLE

SOUTHWICK

508.428.0440 Mark.Sylvia@american-national.com

413.569.2307 TheMasonAgency@american-national.com

EASTHAMPTON

WILBRAHAM

413.203.5180 | 413.887.8817 Joshua.Nadeau@american-national.com Sean.Rooney@american-national.com

413.887.8817 Sean.Rooney@american-national.com WILLIAMSTOWN

GREAT BARRINGTON

413.528.1710 Dominic.Sinopoli@american-national.com

413.458.5584 MaureenOMara@american-national.com WORCESTER

MIDDLEBOROUGH

508.747.8181 | 508.998.0512 Andrew.Brodeur@american-national.com Kevin.Sullivan@american-national.com

508.752.3300 Thomas_Carroll@american-national.com

® Products and services may not be available in all states. Terms, condistions and eligibility requirements will apply. Property and casualty products and services may be underwritten by American National Insurance Company.

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

From the Publisher

he days are getting longer, promising that spring will arrive soon. I love the sound of squeaking snow under my boots on these cold February mornings as I head out to the barn for chores. The sun’s rays reach into the barn, making everything warmer and brighter. The horses quietly munch their hay while I serenely muck. If I stop for a minute and sit on a hay bale, feral barn kitty Belfie might show himself and my heart fills with warmth. On these winter mornings, I am at peace. One of the things I think about when taking care of the morning chores is how I am around my horses. I’ve always been super observant — checking for cuts, swellings, and odd or different behavior — and now I listen and see even more.

I’ve found that my horses can read my body language and intent, better

than I ever could’ve thought, with the smallest change in my hand, my voice, my eyes, my posture. The lightest touch of my fingertips on Peanut’s shoulder asks him to step over. A glance at Pequeniño’s hip leads him to make

room for the wheelbarrow. Little Rasta Man is aware of everything in an almost sonar-like way — he’s blind. He follows me with his ears and will also physically follow me as I do the chores. Sometimes he bumps into me from behind when I stop suddenly. That cracks me up, as does the look he gives me every time this happens. As part of my continuous quest for knowledge and for more skills, I look forward to all the equestrian educational opportunities we have in Massachusetts. In our April/May Annual Events issue, we’ll have the Bay State’s most comprehensive calendar of upcoming events. See you out there,

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

Ride with Us! Competitive Rates & Great Service Call for a no hassle, free quote.

M ASSAC H US ETTS

HORSE vol. 18, no. 5 February/March 2020

ISSN 1945-1393

99 Bissell Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096 phone: (413) 268-3302 • fax: (413) 268-0050 • mahorse.com

Massachusetts Horse is an independently owned and operated all-breed, all-discipline equestrian publication for the Bay State.

Mortality & Major Medical . Farm Packages Horse Associations and Clubs . Directors & Oﬃcers Horse Shows, Clinics, Events . Expo Coverage Instructor Liability . Payment Plans

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

We will provide you with competitive rates, educated service, and help substantiate values.

Terri Ray (781) 837-6550 donrayinsurance.com

editor Kathaleen Emerson feature writers Nicole Birkholzer, Stephanie Funk, Alessandra Mele Kara Noble, Andrea Reynes, Stacey Stearns

Insure your equine partner with a leading equine agent! contributors Anne Donelan, Lori Mahassel, Diane Merritt Annamaria Paul, Anne Marie Zukowski

advertising main office • (413) 268-3302 • ads@mahorse.com Advertising deadline for the April/May issue is March 10.

State-of-the-Art Equine Laundry Facility Expert Tack Repair

Gently Used Blankets and Tack for Sale Brass Name Plates Engraved

Seventeen-year-old Arabian mare MH Alada Fire owned by Jennifer Honey Wilson of Hanson. ©JBK Photography, jbkphotography.net

Established 1980

Jennifer Safron www.jennstackandblanket.com JennsTackRepair@comcast.net 114 Coburn Ave., Gardner, MA (978) 340-5576 Please call for hours 6

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

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

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

Your Letters To the editor: Thank you for such a great article [Lend a Hoof: MSPCA C.A.R.E.S., December/January 2020] helping to explain why

Custom Made Jumps, Tack Trunks, Bit Boxes, and More! View photos at saltydawgequine.com and on Facebook.

we’re shifting gears. Julie Pesek, Event & Marketing Coordinator, MSPCA at Nevins Farm, Methuen

To the editor: From all of us at Apple Knoll Farm, we would like to thank you for your support during the 2019 season! Thank you for providing the Massachusetts Horse Junior Horsemanship Award. We recognize how generous of a supporter you have been and are lucky to have such a great partnership!

Let us know your thoughts!

Adrienne Iorio, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis

We’ll enter you to win a $75 Cheshire Horse gift card! All letters received by March 5 will be entered in the drawing. Send your letters to: steph@mahorse.com or Massachusetts Horse, 99 Bissell Rd., Williamsburg, MA 01096.

Official supplier of Rhode Island Equitation Championships!

Salty Dawg Equine Services Stefhanie Connors

(508) 259-6924

SaltyDawgEquine.com

Betsy Merritt Barefoot Performance Natural Hoofcare

Orthopedic Trimming and Holistic Lameness Rehabilitation Trimming to promote the healing of coffin bone rotation (laminitis), club “feet,” navicular syndrome, thrush/white line problems, contracted heels, under run heels, cracks, poor hoof quality, and shod to barefoot transitions. Genuine options to conventional shoeing and hoofcare. High performance barefoot and maintenance trimming of all equines including donkeys, ponies, and minis.

Betsy Merritt

Natural Hoofcare Professional (413) 348-5798 . betsymerritt@hotmail.com Visit thehorseshoof.com to learn more about natural hoofcare.

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

Slow Feeding Hay

POP Photography

What’s It All About

by Stephanie Funk and Stephanie Sanders

e carve out empires from ice, bring the sunlight into the dead of night, and otherwise alter the world around us to suit our needs. We bring along our animals as we tinker with nature, and somehow occasionally we inadvertently alter their world in a way that creates problems for them. Today’s slow feeding hay is an effort to restore horses’ natural grazing needs. Horses are wandering herbivores, designed to spend hours and miles constantly taking in and using calories. Domestication limited the horse’s movement and introduced dense, calorie-rich meals dumped in front of them twice daily, creating long stretches during which the stomach is empty of food but still producing the acid that aids digestion. The results of this unnatural feeding program are many: ulcers, boredom, obesity, colic, and vices such as weaving, wood chewing, cribbing, stall kicking, and feed aggression. The problem facing most horse owners is that they don’t have the amount of land necessary to allow a horse the freedom to wander all day and take in the proper amount of nutrients at will. Many horses, too, are boarded in 8

establishments without large pastures. Even for those who have plenty of pasture space, in Massachusetts, winters bring the need to feed hay as our pastures stop growing. Researchers have found that freeranging horses have between 10 and 15 feeding bouts in a 24-hour period. Thus, the horse daily exhibits 10 to 15 hours of foraging behavior. Foraging behavior is characterized by the horse lowering its head and searching for food. A horse kept in a stall, with little or nothing to forage, may develop bad habits. Between feeding bouts, a free-ranging horse enjoys a period of rest.This usually lasts an hour or so, but rarely exceeds three hours. A horse in a stall needs something to do to help offset the stress induced in an artificial environment with no ability to forage. A wealth of information has surfaced about various ways to mimic the intake a horse would get if allowed to forage for itself. It’s called slow-feeding, which is described as a practice that extends the amount of time it takes a horse to ingest its hay. The result is that the horse has a healthier digestive system, better weight control, and an improved quality of life.

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

Slow feeding hay is good, particularly for already obese horses and those that eat rapidly and are prone to weight gain. It can also help cut down on the occurrence of colic brought on by the rapid ingestion of hay. Slow feeding can also help minimize ulcers. In horses, most ulcers are a side effect of excess acid in an empty stomach. There are a variety of methods for slow feeding. Try some, then go with the one that fits your — and your horses’ — situation.

Small-hole Hay Nets With this feeding method, hay is contained in mesh. When a horse has to work and tease out hay with its lips, the process slows down the animal, which leads to it chewing thoroughly. The horse has a small stomach as compared with those of other large animals, and its digestive system functions best when small amounts of food pass through it constantly. Small-hole hay nets work well as long as the holes are small enough that a horse can’t rip out large mouthfuls with its teeth. This is an important factor, as a horse that can grab food with its teeth usually bolts down the feed, a prime cause of colic.

POP Photography

Small-hole hay nets encourage horses to take the hay using their lips, similar to how they choose grass while grazing or hay on the ground. Some people will double-net, using traditional hay nets, to make the holes smaller. This is an economical option if you already have traditional hay nets. Small-hole hay nets need to have openings that are 1-inch square for Miniature Horses, ponies, and horses with obesity issues. For an average-size horse, 2-inch-square openings work well. There are also “between” sizes: 11⁄4, 11⁄2, and 13⁄4 inches. Initially you may think the holes are too small, but your horse will be able to get the hay through them just fine with some practice. The first time you hang a small-hole net, pull tufts of hay through the holes. Horses then quickly figure it out. One drawback of the small-hole hay net is that it must be hung high enough that a horse can’t paw at it and catch a shoe. A halter should also be removed to avoid the horse getting hung up in the net. Ideally, a horse should eat with its head down. One solution is putting the small-hole hay net in a tub and somehow anchoring it. Small-hole hay nets are also great for trailering and horse shows. Many

horses bolt through their hay (in standard-hole hay nets) while in the trailer and standing idly at a show between classes. Because horses usually consume less water when away from home, this is a recipe for impaction colic. At the very least, your horses will no longer be stuffed with hay and therefore more willing to perform. “My equines are on a slow-feeding regimen now, and I confess it came about quite by accident,” says Stephanie Funk. “Like many other folks, finding that hay was becoming scarce and costly, I turned to less-expensive, highquality round bales you put in a covered feeder. The problem was that a 500pound bale lasted just three days, and a lot ended up strewn across the ground and worked into the mud and manure. With an eye to cutting waste, I bought a big net with small holes that slips around the bale and draws closed on one end. Immediately, the same-size bale lasted twice as long — six days — with minimal waste. “Then I noticed an interesting phenomenon. My horses were content, less bored and cantankerous, and would congregate companionably while they ate, with little or no fussing at each other. At night, when they came in, you could see how relaxed they were. That’s

when I realized I’d inadvertently done something right: I’d introduced a healthier method of caretaking. It worked so well that I now have a second net, for the back paddock.” Exercise care when you switch to this way of feeding. Take off halters until they’re needed, to keep your horses from getting caught in the hay net. And unless you have a way to keep horses from pawing at the net, it’s a good idea to use the net with only barefoot horses. (A shoe hooked onto a net could be disastrous.) Despite these caveats, benefits are apparent; like the small-hole individual hay nets, the larger, round bale nets eliminate an amazing amount of waste. Horses stay busier teasing hay through the smaller holes; as a result, the amount of destruction to the paddock area is much less. Leslie Davis, of the Texas Hay Net company, says, “At first, your horse may be mad at the net for making him work for his hay, but after a day or two, most horses will stop trying to bite through the net and settle down to pulling it out with their teeth or their lips.” As the round bale gets smaller and the hay net gets loose, says Leslie, the body of the net becomes looser and looser. The horse handles this very well by moving the net around and searching for the hay.” The Nibblenet uses 22-ounce, heavy-duty vinyl on the back and is designed to be outside in all weather. It has superior tear, puncture, and abrasion resistance. The vinyl has excellent UV and weather protection, and is rated to -40 degrees. The front of the feeder is made of a heavy-duty poly with 1-inch webbing in a grid creating holes from 1½ to 2 inches square. The thread is a marine-grade polyester. This net is made to last! Nibblenets come in a variety of colors and sizes. Hang them on stall walls and paddock fences. Use the Nibblenet Nibble-N-Go in the snow. It has small holes and fits a flake of hay. When thrown onto the snow, horses paw, drag, and toss them around to get at the hay. Not only is the Nibble-N-Go a slow-feeding hay bag, but it’s also a toy that provides exercise and alleviates boredom. Hay Burners Equine offers a wide variety of net mesh sizes as small as ¾" up to 2 1⁄4". “The heavy woven netting is produced from high-strength polypropylene that is UV stabilized for

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

years of outdoor use,” says Laurie Page, owner of Hay Burners Equine. “Raw netting is made to our specifications and is knotless to eliminate irritations of sensitive muzzles and sports break strengths of roughly 400 plus pounds for the smaller meshes and 600 pounds for the larger meshes. Hay Burners offers a wide variety of bag sizes from mini horse all the way up to round bales. We take custom orders and all our hay net bags are processed in our workshop in Eastern Tennessee.” SmartPak’s small-hole hay net is durable, plus it has the advantage of an extralarge top opening for easy filling.

Hay Buckets

Briggs Tack Shop &Trailer Sales Authorized Dealer

for more than 50 years!

A full-service tack shop with everything for the horse and rider plus we’re a Stübben Custom Authorized Dealer and Fitter.

Family owned and operated for more than 80 years. Authorized Kingston Trailer dealer for more than 50 years. 623 Hanover St., Hanover Centre, MA (781) 826-3191 . briggstackshop@gmail.com

www.briggstackshop.com 10

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

The Porta-Grazer is a round, plastic 40-gallon pail. After you put in the hay, it’s covered with a plastic bowl. This bowl, designed in a way that prevents animals from removing it, has 2½- to 4-inch holes through which horses, using their lips, pull out hay. The Porta-Grazer is a well-designed slow feeder. The bucket is quite sturdy. The bowl locks in so a horse can’t take it off, and it spins, so your horse can nudge it around in the bucket to access the hay through different holes. Even if a horse tips over the feeder, the bowl stays in the bucket, yet the bowl is easy for horse owners to remove.

The Porta-Grazer is available with 3-inch holes for ponies, 3½-inch holes for horses, and 4-inch holes to greatly reduce hay waste while not restricting the rate of feeding. “The Porta-Grazer is designed to replicate, as closely as possible, a natural grazing environment for your confined equines by slowing down feed intake while simulating head-down grazing behavior,” says inventor Walt Tharp. “The result is better physical as well as mental health for the horse.” As the hay gets lower in the Porta-Grazer, a horse’s vision of other horses in the same area is limited. Keep this in mind if using the feeder(s) in an area with more than one horse and where the horses can be food dominant. With both the PortaGrazer and the Slow Down Hay Feeder, you can soak hay too. This is an ideal solution for horses whose hay must be soaked because of respiratory conditions. A drain at the bottom of the bucket allows excess water to leak out.

Hay Boxes The hay box is another way to provide hay in a more natural way. It’s made with either a grate or a piece of plywood, with 3- to 4-inch round holes, that goes on top of the hay. Horses press down on the cover and, again using their lips, pull tufts of hay through

Barefoot Hos e s Th

Big Hoss’s Regular Hoss’s Lil’ Hoss’s Donkeys & Mules

Hauling & Trucking Services Field Maintenance & Mowing

Matthew A. Caprioli | Dudley, Mass. (508) 868-8624 | nehoss24@gmail.com

the holes. Be sure you can anchor a hay box against either a building or a post: A hungry equine can and will tip the box. Also, use caution if your horse likes to step into things; broken boards can cause injury. Some horses press their teeth against the grate or plywood so keep that in mind and check your horse’s teeth for unusual wear. This may not be the best slow hay feeder for every horse. At first, pull tufts of hay through the holes to give the horses the idea; they’ll catch on quickly. Keeping hay in this feeder 24/7, the horses relax about eating their hay and slow down accordingly. The Slow Grazer hay box, made of wood, has a 2-gauge-wire grate that fits over the hay. The grate drops as the hay is consumed. Its openings are 2¾ inches square. The company now has a do-ityourself kit that includes directions and the hard-to-find top grate. This is a very economical choice. The directions are easy to follow and the materials list makes shopping easy. Some horses find this feeder easy to use, maybe even too easy, as they’re tenacious, and still manage to eat a little too quickly. However, this feeder is great for the average horse.

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

Keep this feeder under cover or clean it out after any rain or snow to avoid musty, wet hay. The Slow Grazer works for one to two horses. If you’re feeding multiple horses, look into the Healthy Horse Feeder. It holds 85 to 135 pounds of hay, enough hay for one horse for approximately six days, so three horses, say, for two days. The feeder is a powder-coated metal cage mounted on a base that keeps the hay six inches off the ground. You can build a hay box. There are many plans available online.

Feeding Tracks Another way to provide “slow” hay is with the use of a track system. It’s used mainly out West, for both cattle and horses, and is seeing some interest here. In this system, farmers load hay onto a truck and toss out hay flakes as they drive. This is fine on a large ranch of many, many acres, but not cost-effective or even necessary for a small barn. Its benefits, besides presenting hay in a way that simulates natural foraging, are fewer conflicts among horses for their hay, less congestion, and more exercise as the horses range from flake to flake.

Here in Massachusetts, this method can be used with an eye to maximizing a small acreage and encouraging horses to move about to forage. Strew hay flakes around the perimeter of the pasture, but not too close to a fence. You don’t want a horse to be stuck between the fence and the hay or, worse, be cornered by the bullying of a pasture mate. When there’s hay spaced along the outside, horses will move from area to area, eventually completing a circuit around the track. Among the benefits: exercise and relief from boredom. In addition, a moving horse has a better-functioning gut, and the movement provides pressure on the hooves, which encourages blood flow. Strategically placed flakes also mean less clustering in one area where hay is trampled and soiled. The downside: It’s a little more labor-intensive to set up every day. INTRODUCE NATURAL FEEDING patterns to your horses and see for yourself the benefits and savings that accrue.

Unparalleled in Care & Amenities

Lessons . Boarding Training . Sales Hunters . Jumpers Equitation Full Service Multidiscipline Facility

24/7 On-Site Care . Open 7 Days . Onsite Trainers 29 Stalls with All-Day Turnout

Custom Feeding Programs Showing Opportunities

Indoor Arena & Viewing Room Direct Trail Access

Stalls le Availab

to Visit us re! o learn m

GOLDEN ROSE EQUESTRIAN CENTER 411 North Street, Jefferson, Mass. (781) 828-5015 . goldenroseec.com

Knotless Slow Feed Hay Nets Custom Size Requests Welcome

(315) 871-7374 hayburnersequine@outlook.com

HayBurnersEquine.com

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

Farm Feature

Phillipston

Stonebrook Farm Generations of Riding

by Andrea Reynes

ustaining a lesson, boarding, training, and showing stable is a daunting daily discipline, yet a modest multigenerational family at Stonebrook Farm in Phillipston has had the grit to do much of the work themselves, succeed in competition, and teach students. The Gosselin family has been a model of how to collaborate, communicate, and coordinate with each other through three generations since 1981. Stonebrook Farm has been family owned and operated for more than 31

schooling shows and rated Arabian Shows in West Springfield. There was never a shortage of young riders interested in equestrian sport. Working students helped with stalls and Michael maintained the nine-acre facility, replete with round pens, post-and-rail fencing, an indoor arena, and an outdoor dressage ring. The stable evolved to specialize in dressage with Sandy’s daughter, Kim, who rode with international coach Kathy Connelly in the 1980s. The barn,

ing her riding and training. Devin understands that there’s always more to learn and rides with professional trainers and instructors, including Vincent Flores, to refine her riding. “Stonebrook Farm offers lessons to riders of all ages and disciplines with a main focus on dressage,” says Devin. “We truly believe that dressage is the basis of all disciplines, and always seeking lightness and proper training of the horse will not only make our riders better but will also make our horses hap-

years. It’s a full-service training, lesson, and boarding facility that takes pride in the top-quality care it provides to horses and humans alike. Stonebrook Farm started with a weathered red barn, built in the 1920s, that once housed chickens. In the 1970s, the barn was converted to a 16stall horse stable; Sandy and Michael Gosselin purchased the farm in 1981. The barn and 13 paddocks are situated in an area where residences have large fields between homes, a preservation of the agrarian foundation of the town. In the barn, carriages fill one section of the aisle of the dressage and combined driving stable. A United States Dressage Federation (USDF) training goals sign is posted by the crossties where students groom and tack up horses. Sandy and Michael live above the stalls. “I know every horse’s whinny and leg pawing bangs,” says Sandy. Sandy taught more than 50 students a week and brought them to

which started with mostly Arabians, gradually shifted to warmbloods, including a bay named Libby, a spirited horse with an unassuming background now training at Prix St. Georges. When Kim started managing the barn she had a Saddlebred, an unusual breed for dressage. Kim also built on her mother’s foundation of driving horses. She competed clients’ horses, showed sidesaddle, and rode different disciplines including western, hunter, and jumper. Kim’s success at shows drew clients to Stonebrook.

pier. The health of our horses, physically and mentally, always comes first as well as rider/handler safety. Each rider, no matter the age, will not only learn to ride but also become familiar with the management of the horses.” Sparky, a 17-year-old Morgan/ Arabian at the barn, placed fifth out of 13 horses at the Green Mountain Horse Association (GMHA) 2019 Combined Driving Event, an especially remarkable success as the fractious horse had previously been unsaleable since no one could ride the horse except Devin. This accomplishment is just one example of the type of training challenges Devin has successfully taken on. “Each horse is an individual and there’s no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to training,” says Devin. “I evaluate each horse brought into training and customize a training program to suit the needs of the horse and the goals of the owner.”

Granddaughter Devin Burdick Twenty-eight-year-old Devin Burdick, Sandy’s granddaughter, is the current manager of Stonebrook Farm, as well as trainer and instructor. She’s a USDF bronze medalist specializing in starting young horses both under saddle and for carriage driving. Much of Devin’s equestrian career has been spent behind the scenes learning and perfect-

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

“Horses are trained with classical methods in mind, based on clear communication to facilitate a healthy mind and proper physical development to help the horse move easily under a rider,” says Devin. Devin specializes in starting young horses to ride and drive. Each young horse is started systematically, transitioning into each step seamlessly. Before being backed, each horse is worked on the longe to help develop proper muscling and an understanding of voice aids. Next the horse is longlined to begin understanding rein aids before they’re introduced to the weight of a rider. This process may take longer in some horses than others, but to help keep the horses interested and enjoy their work, Devin emphasizes the importance of patience. In this way each horse builds confidence and trust in the rider that lasts for years to come. This approach is also carried through the levels as the horse builds muscle and strength to carry through movements. It’s important for the horse to maintain elasticity in the movements and lightness in the bridle.

Clients Devin has worked with Gladysgirl, out of Ardun’s Glady, a Morgan World Champion in Equitation, owned by Barbara Paulis, a former Pony Club district commissioner at UMass Amherst. Barbara has worked with other trainers but found more progress with Devin for Gladysgirl’s dressage work. Training included more shoulder-in during transitions to help the horse straighten. Barbara plans to show Gladysgirl this summer in driving and dressage at the rated Morgan shows. Farrier Glenn Eglington has watched his daughter, Molly, improve with Devin throughout 11 years of riding. Additionally, Molly learned combined driving with the farm’s black Miniature Horse, Roanin. At 16, Molly rides her chestnut Dutch Warmblood, ZZ Top, sired by Nimidor. “Stonebrook is one of the few places in this area that teaches dressage to kids,” Glenn says. Molly placed first riding ZZ Top in Training Level at a Xenophon Farm Schooling Show in Montague in the summer of 2019. She’s had the highspirited horse two years, a gift from her parents. For a time Molly was fearful of cantering the athletic horse, who tended to speed up.

“You have to overcome this,” Devin told Molly about her fear of cantering ZZ Top in her first year of training with him. “If you don’t, you’ll never get over it.” Devin put Molly on a longe line without reins at the trot, taking away some of the control Molly would have of her horse, and it calmed her. Molly started out riding a half circle at a canter, progressing over time. ZZ Top also scooted at times, but now Molly can ride him bareback. “My heart doesn’t race anymore when it happens,” Molly says. During a lesson, Devin was working with Molly to sit deeper, to get more of a connection with ZZ Top. She had Molly ride bareback with a halter and lead to relax and reduce the tension in her body. ZZ Top’s canter is large, powerful, but smooth, so riding bareback came easier. Molly, who’s been a working student on weekends for several years, refers to her barn relationship as “like family.” “I admire that Devin tells the truth to students,” Molly says. In a world where barns can have staff come and go the intergenerational Gosselin horse family seems to have worked continuity out. “Everyone has good communication skills,” says Devin. Kim, who managed the farm from the 1990s to 2015, says there are no big arguments. “We were taught to respect people and help each other out,” Kim says. “If there’s something we don’t agree on, we tell each other. Problems get discussed. We get along. We’re a close-knit family. Our parents took the time to be involved in what we did, supporting our interest.” AS DEVIN REEMERGES to compete after a year with her infant son (astride at one year of age) she’ll be back at schooling and recognized shows most weekends this summer with her students. She’s aiming for earning her USDF gold medal on Libby. Devin says, “I want to see how far we can go.” Andrea Reynes is an equestrian who specializes in writing about horses and the human-animal relationship. She lives in Lincoln.

HORSES SMALL ANIMALS EXOTICS ACUPUNCTURE CHIROPRACTIC HOMEOPATHY PHYSICAL THERAPY

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

FAMILY VETERINARY CENTER BUD ALLEN, M.S., D.V.M. ROBIN KARLIN ALLEN, D.V.M. 99 MAIN ST. (RTE. 9) HAYDENVILLE, MA (413) 268-VETS FAMVETS.COM

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

Horseperson Feature

Douglas

by Alessandra Mele

Daryl Anne Wilga Yucc’ It Up! Founder

n an early winter morning, Daryl Anne Wilga pauses to steal a glance out the window toward her beloved herd of horses. They’re frolicking across the frigid landscape on her Douglas farm. A mini, Toby, nips playfully at his stablemate, Wizard, and the two go bounding across the paddock. Daryl Anne smiles and returns to her work, remembering a time when neither horse would have been able to play like that. Daryl Anne is busy baking up yet another batch of her signature nuggets,

Over the next decade, Daryl Anne pursued training in classical dressage under the instruction of Leslie D. Daryl Anne benefitted from Leslie’s vast knowledge of the sport, having trained in Germany with dressage legend Dr. Reiner Klimke for more than 10 years. “It was a gift, being able to learn from someone so talented,” Daryl Anne says. “Leslie taught me so much, and instilled values in me that I still carry today.” During her time training, Daryl Anne partnered with a special gray Anglo-Arabian mare. Alice, affectionately

Cheyenne home, and then devastated when the dog fell terribly ill just a few months later. “We took him to the vet, and after $1,200 worth of testing it was concluded that he only had a week to live,” Daryl Anne remembers. “His abdomen, legs, and paws were swollen, and there was fluid building around his heart and lungs. He was suffering from severe leaky gut, couldn’t absorb nutrients, and couldn’t keep food down.” Willing to do anything to save Cheyenne, Daryl Anne remembered a coworker who had always advocated an

Daryl Anne and Jussie, Ali’s cousin and Daryl Anne’s new off-the-track Thoroughbred eventer.

Cheyenne eating one of his home-cooked dinners.

the most popular product from her Yucc’ It Up! line of natural equine supplements. Each golden nugget holds the secret to Toby and Wizard’s restored mobility: organic superfoods, wildcrafted herbs, medicinal spices, and pure essential oils. Her recipes are the product of rigorous research and the results are undeniable. Toby and Wizard aren’t the only ones kicking up their heels; hundreds of horses across the country are now experiencing the benefits of wholesome supplementing thanks to Daryl Anne’s dedication to better equine nutrition.

organic lifestyle and holistic wellness. “I called her up and admitted I really needed the name of her holistic vet,” Daryl Anne says. “We were so blessed; the vet was booked for months in advance, but an appointment happened to open up that next morning.” The new vet pointed out several things they should change, recommended a home-cooked organic diet, and prescribed healing nutritional supplements. The Wilgas went home and followed her orders precisely. Barely a day into the new regimen, Daryl Anne began to see positive changes in her dog. Three days in, Cheyenne had made a drastic turnaround. “He was bounding across our farm and even leaped over a gate in the tack room!” Daryl Anne remembers. “Cheyenne thrived for nearly six more years, during which we continued to home-cook his food and provide him with natural supplements. His comeback was truly amazing.” This success story inspired a total lifestyle change in the Wilga household. “Our journey with Cheyenne propelled

A Lifetime of Horses The scene of Daryl Anne baking horse biscuits is not unfamiliar. As a horsecrazy girl growing up in Connecticut, she loved making treats for her equine friends. “Those sweet cookies were probably horrible for them, but I didn’t know any better!” Daryl Anne says laughing. Daryl Anne started riding when she was nine years old, and quickly fell in love with horses. Baking them treats was just the beginning. 16

known as Ali, would inspire Daryl Anne for the next 26 years and beyond. “Ali was my horse of a lifetime. She and I competed in dressage through my youth, and she came with me when I went off to college on the North Shore,” Daryl Anne says. There, they transitioned to riding hunter paces. “Both Ali and I loved being out in nature. We were blessed with access to some of New England’s finest trail systems in Ipswich and Essex County.” Years later, Daryl Anne married her her husband Craig and the pair purchased a farm in Douglas that would provide a perfect spot for Ali to enjoy the retirement she deserved. They filled the farm quickly, adopting a few horses from equine rescues to keep Ali company, as well as dogs and cats. Daryl Anne settled into the farm life of her dreams, happily looking after all the animals.

The All-Natural Switch One of the lucky animals that found his way into Daryl Anne’s farm was a Border Collie named Cheyenne. Daryl Anne was so excited to welcome

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

us into holistic living,” says Daryl Anne. “We dumped out everything in our pantry and fridge and started over. The whole experience initiated my curiosity and I began researching during all my free time, truly fascinated by the ways nutrition can benefit the body.” This lifestyle adjustment applied to Daryl Anne’s horses, too, as they switched to totally organic hay and grains. Ali passed away in January of 2017 at age 32, and Daryl Anne was devastated at the loss of her partner. The Wilgas’ other horse, Wizard, was also in deep mourning, and that led to the adoption of Toby, the Miniature Horse. Toby proved a wonderful companion for Wizard, but suffered from Cushings and severe locking stifles, which required strong anti-inflammatory medications. These drugs didn’t align with the family’s natural approach, so Daryl Anne returned to her research in pursuit of a better way. “I prayed for a solution that would be safe, natural, effective, and affordable,” Daryl Anne says. “And that’s when I discovered yucca. The herb seemed too good to be true, but I decided to give it a try.” Yucca schidigera is known for its ability to reduce inflammation and pain in horses, has antioxidant properties, aids in gut health, and has many other healing uses. Daryl Anne saw the effects on Toby almost immediately. “Within half an hour of feeding Toby yucca, that little pony was running around with full range of motion,” Daryl Anne says, beaming. “We couldn’t believe it. The trouble was, it needed to be syringed into Toby’s mouth, which he absolutely hated!” Daryl Anne suddenly remembered the horse cookies she would bake as a kid. Now that she had all this new knowledge about healthy, organic ingredients, she thought she’d upgrade the old cookie recipe to find a palatable delivery system for Toby. “Toby ate my healthy nuggets happily,” she says. “We went from chasing him around the paddock to him chasing us!” Daryl Anne had struck on something big.

Yucc’ing It Up With each nugget, Toby wasn’t just getting a good dose of yucca to help with inflammation, he was also benefitting from a synergy of nutrient-rich superfoods. Daryl Anne began feeding the nuggets to Wizard to help with his arthritis and she saw huge improvement in his mobility as well. Next, a boarder asked to try them for help with her gelding’s navicular. Word spread, and soon

strangers were calling Daryl Anne, anxious to get in on the secret nuggets. “I realized it was time to start doing this legally so we officially became a business in the fall of 2017, launching our products at Equine Affaire,” Daryl Anne says. Daryl Anne has been busy baking nuggets for her business, Yucc’ It Up! Equine Supplements, ever since. While the nuggets remain most popular, she has also developed a number of products that deliver nutrition for a wide spectrum of needs. “The Advanced Formula nuggets are a favorite because they help with a range of issues from joint support to digestion,” Daryl Anne says. “From there, customers often go on to explore our Feed Toppers, which help transition horses from mainstream feeds that just aren’t serving them.” The success stories continue as Yucc’ It Up! has built a loyal customer base in the last two years. Daryl Anne’s loyal customers include high-profile riders who swear by her products. Natalia Martin is an international champion FEI dressage rider and Puerto Rican national judge with a hopeful eye toward the 2020 World Cup Finals, Pan Am Games, and the 2024 Olympics. Her experience with Yucc’ It Up! made her a true believer in natural supplementation. “My FEI mare, Diamonds, suffered a severe leg injury coming off a trailer a few years back,” says Natalia. “When the radiologist reviewed the MRI, she said Diamonds’ lower leg looked like it had been put through a blender; there was so much soft tissue and joint damage. I put Diamonds on Yucc’ It Up! and I couldn’t believe the difference it made. Diamonds feels like she did before the injury, which is nothing short of miraculous! This product is the real deal. Not only is it all natural, but it actually really works.”

Baking, Learning, and Praying With success comes growth, and Daryl Anne is learning how to best navigate the future of her business. She continues to produce the Yucc’ It Up! products from her Douglas farm and wants to keep it that way for now. “We’ve taken up every corner of space we have for creating these products, and although it can feel a little crazy, we want to keep everything within our control,” she says. “I’m very particular about our ingredients and our process, and always insist on the highest quality. We’ve talked about building a facility of our own, so there’s room for growth, but it’s very important to us that we have everything within our control even as we expand.”

Integrated Saddle Services Where the Fit Really Matters

Amy C. Barton DK Saddle Fitter . Sales Rep 978-621-2633 . DKSaddlery.com amycbarton@gmail.com

No matter how big Yucc’ It Up! gets, Daryl Anne wants the message of education to remain at the heart of their business. “The feed and supplement industry can be confusing,” Daryl Anne says. “There’s so much out there and very few boundaries when it comes to marketing. I always encourage people to do their own research, become an investigator, and ultimately be a great advocate for their horse. Unveil the financial ties of your sources, learn about each and every ingredient you are allowing into your horse’s body, and form your own opinions. We must take responsibility for our horses’ health and the only way we can properly exercise this power is by educating ourselves.” For Daryl Anne, faith is a key component in this natural wellness journey, and she shakes her head in humble gratitude when she looks back on all that brought her to this point. “It’s incredible that we’ve arrived here, but in hindsight, Yucc’ It Up! is the result of a series of answered prayers,” she says, remembering Cheyenne’s recovery and the sorrow of losing Ali. “I’ve learned that God may use your deepest pain as a launching pad for your greatest calling. He wastes nothing . . . and for everything, I am truly grateful.”

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

Trail Guide

Abington

by Stacey Stearns

Ames Nowell State Park

mes Nowell State Park is located in Abington, not far from Boston. The park is open year-round, and is home to the 88-acre Cleveland Pond, a popular fishing and non-motorized boating location. Beaver Brook feeds Cleveland Pond, entering from the north and exiting from the south. The Old Abington Mills were located here from the 1700s through 1903. There’s still a stone marker for the mill that reads CAPT. COBB MILL. Edwin Holmes, a wealthy lawyer,

field, pavilion, grills, picnic area, and restrooms. There’s a small dock on Cleveland Pond for people fishing, boating, and enjoying the water. I was just getting out of my truck and putting my jacket on when someone came up and asked to see my horse. I hadn’t opened my trailer yet, but did so and we had a nice visit. Be ready to serve as an ambassador for all equestrians and be sociable with other trail users.

purchased the property in the 1920s for bird watching and hunting and built the dam that created Cleveland Pond. The depression took its toll on Edwin, and he sold the property to Ames Nowell in the 1930s. Ames Nowell was the grandson of Oliver Ames, who served as the 35th governor of Massachusetts. Several miles of trails that border the pond and woods are open to Bay State equestrians and other trail users. Unfortunately, bridges and gates make it impossible for carriage drivers to access these trails. Woods in Ames Nowell are white pine and hardwood. You may see mountain bikes, hikers, people with dogs, and cross-country skiers out on the trails in this 700-acre park. You’ll likely see lots of dogs, as the park is a popular destination for dog owners. All dogs are supposed to be on a leash. Facilities at the park include a ball

Use Linwood Street in Abington for your GPS. The parking lot is at the end of Linwood Street, and there are two brown signs with directional arrows as you travel through the residential area. I always use Google Earth to explore the parking area before visiting a park for the first time. While it’s not the same as seeing it in person, it does help a lot. The parking lot at Ames Nowell is circular and paved. I pulled in and used several spaces for my trailer. At the end of my ride, I pulled out of the lower driveway and crossed the bridge back to headquarters. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) manages Ames Nowell State Park. You can visit mass.gov/locations/ames-nowell-statepark to download a trail map before your ride. There were no maps at the park headquarters, but you could take a photo of the large one on the bulletin board. Ames Nowell State Park is adjacent

Stacey Stearns

A Leg Up

to the Beaver Brook Conservation Land in Brockton. This 253-acre area has 2.9 miles of trails that you can access from Ames Nowell via several of the smaller trails near the power lines in the southern portion of Ames Nowell. You can download a map at bit.ly/BeaverBrook. Part of Cleveland Pond is on private property, so the trail that runs alongside the pond ends. The town is trying to acquire that property and make it accessible to trail users. A group of enthusiasts is also organizing a

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

Friends of Ames Nowell State Park group. Dog owners are supposed to carry out dog waste. Since this is a busy state park, please dismount and kick any manure your horse leaves to the side of the trail if possible. As always, clean up around your trailer before heading home.

Out Riding It DCR requests that all trail users stay on designated trails. The parking lot is circular, and there are several places to access the trail. I started off by riding back down the driveway, and around the gate at the park headquarters to get out onto the trails. It’s a wide paved road that takes you past a picnic area and down toward Cleveland Pond and the dam. Ice about an inch thick covered the pond on the day of my ride. We followed the trail around the southern tip of the

side trails aren’t. Several trails are wide cart paths or fire roads. Major intersections are marked with blue markers with either an E or W (for east or west), and a number. These are useful as you navigate the trail system. If you use side trails, you can ride as many as 10 miles in the park. Power lines run through the park, and there’s also a trail under them. Cleveland Pond has a few islands that add to its allure. It’s a large pond, so I caught frequent glimpses of it between the trees as we rode the trails. The pond is rather shallow, and is home to lilies and other plants. Most of the trails at Ames Nowell State Park are on the west side of the property, after crossing the dam. It’s an out and back ride because of the private property, but you can ride different trails. There are a few trails on the eastern side, but they dead-end at the private property the town is trying to acquire. I had the trails in the eastern part of the park to myself, but wasn’t up there long before running out of options and heading back to my trailer. I only skimmed the surface of the trails available at Ames Nowell State Park, and I’m looking forward to going back another day to continue to explore the trails. Happy trails!

Invest in Your Farm’s Safety

ff 10% o ion lat Instal ention with Mis Ad! of th

• Serving Massachusetts and the Northeast, B&B Lightning Protection has over 100 years of combined installation experience and is the East Coast’s premier lightning protection contractor. • UL and LPI certified installer. • We treat every installation as if we’re installing on our personal homes and farms. Your farm and family’s safety are our number one priority. • It’s a small price to pay for the comfort of knowing your farm is protected. • Free estimates provided • Check with your Homeowners Insurance for possible discounts

(609) 392-1929 | bblightning.com

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

Jesse Martineau

pond, by the dam. There’s a narrow but sturdy bridge across Beaver Brook. I dismounted and led my mare over the bridge, as the water rushing over the dam and into Beaver Brook was loud. There was also a spot in Beaver Brook further downstream that you could ride across instead of crossing the bridge if you wanted. Since it was December, I decided to use the bridge, but did stop at Beaver Brook on my way back and let my mare drink before crossing the bridge again. The sun glistened off the pond as we rode along its edge with the blue sky and wispy white clouds creating a beautiful backdrop. I heard birds singing in the woods and spotted a whitetail deer. Hikers use boardwalks and planks over wet, swampy areas in the park, but I found that others had created paths around them that my horse and I could use instead. As with many of our trails in the Bay State, footing is best from April through October. There’s often standing water on the trail where you can water your horse. Rocks and roots abound on the trails. Some of the rocks are massive, reminders of the glaciers that once went through the area and created the landscape we enjoy. If in doubt, opt for hoof protection. While riding through the trails on the western side of the park, we rounded a corner and spotted a small cellar hole on the right, quite close to the edge of the trail. In a couple of places the trail crosses old stone walls. The main 3.5-mile loop trail is marked, but many

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

Lend a Hoof by Kara Noble

“

City to Saddle Giving Kids a Leg Up

For three years in a row, Katie attended City to Saddle’s summer program at Mesa Farm. She longed to continue riding, but she knew her family couldn’t afford it. She was thrilled when City to Saddle gave her a scholarship to pay for weekly riding lessons at Mesa Farm. They even got her a helmet and paddock boots. Ten years later, Katie is still involved with City to Saddle’s programs,

bus and looked around in wonder,” Barbara says. There was some bravado among them. “One little boy told me, ‘I’m going to gallop a horse,’” she says. The boy’s certainty became trepidation when he saw how big a horse really was. As he stood there gazing up at the huge beast, Barbara says she could hear him thinking, “What do I do now?” As Barbara and Kim taught those first students how to touch a horse, how

Laura Cluthe The Christian Science Monitor

y first program with City to Saddle was an absolute blast!” Katie Wainwright says. Back in 2009, Katie was a shy 10year-old from Worcester. The afterschool program she attended, Girls Inc., told her about City to Saddle, a program that would let her to go to a farm and ride horses — a very exciting idea for an inner-city girl who never imagined herself being a horseback rider.

Katie Wainwright at Mesa Farm.

City to Saddle participants with Dale Perkins at Mesa Farm in Rutland and at Horse SenseAbility in Sherborn.

That summer, Katie participated in the City to Saddle program at Mesa Farm in Rutland (owned by Ann Tripp and Dale Perkins). There she encountered a world completely different from the urban neighborhood where she’d grown up, and she learned that she loved horses and farm life. “I remember running behind the sheepdog with the other kids, chasing sheep into their pasture,” Katie says. “We went on a fun hayride down the road to Jordan’s Dairy Farm. But the trail rides were my favorite. We could choose whichever horse we wanted. I thought it was the coolest thing when the farm crew took off the lead ropes and let us guide the horses by ourselves.” Katie wanted to ride Jake and Judy, the biggest horses on the farm, and she wanted to learn every vaulting move Dale would teach her. She loved making homemade ice cream under the giant tree on the farm’s front lawn. She had a ball demonstrating vaulting moves for her family in the show Dale organized at the end of the weeklong program. 20

but now as a volunteer and fundraiser. The 19-year-old sophomore is studying marketing and hospitality at Nichols College in Dudley, still rides at Mesa Farm, and finds time to help with their Farm-to-Table Dinner, the 5K run through the farm fields, and other fundraisers supporting City to Saddle. Katie is committed to helping the program that helped her. City to Saddle got its start in 2003 after Barbara Zenker began taking riding lessons with instructor Kim Summers as part of the community equestrian program at the Dana Hall School in Wellesley. Both women wanted to share their love of equines with city children who didn’t have access to farms and who couldn’t afford riding lessons. They petitioned Dana Hall’s administration and got permission to run a weeklong summer riding program for up to eight children between the ages of 6 and 13 from the Dorchester section of Boston. “That first group of kids got off their

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

to groom and ride one, worry and fear were replaced with smiles. “Working with the horses was transformative for those kids,” Barbara says. “It was amazing to watch.” The two women decided to develop a template other horse people could use to run similar programs on their farms. In 2004, City to Saddle received 501(c)(3) status and began its work as a volunteer-run nonprofit dedicated to providing equestrian opportunities for underserved children. From the outset, City to Saddle emphasized keeping things simple and flexible, on making it easy for barns to offer programs. Every City to Saddle program is specifically tailored to the farm where it takes place. Some programs focus on horsemanship and groundwork, while others offer riding or vaulting. Some concentrate on equine-assisted therapy and educational games. Participants may even have a chance to try their hand at gardening or farm chores. Each barn decides how many children it can accom-

modate and how many sessions they want to run. Programs can be adapted to any size barn or equine discipline. “We’re looking for safe, solid barns that really want to work with these kids, barns that can provide knowledge, expertise, and professionalism in an appropriate venue,” Barbara says. Barns that wish to participate can elect to become either a City to Saddle host barn or a charter member. The host barn option is ideal for small farms or those new to equine philanthropy. They should be located within a 30- to 40-minute drive of a metropolitan area — a requirement well within the scope of most barns in Massachusetts. A prospective host barn first comes up with an idea for a program, then contacts Barbara or Dale Perkins (the current City to Saddle president) to discuss it. Once the proposed program is approved by City to Saddle’s board of directors, a contract is drawn up, specifying what services the host barn will provide, when the programs will run, how many children will attend, and the amount that City to Saddle will subsidize for each participant’s tuition. In 2019, Bear Spot Farm in Acton, Windsong Farm in Brewster, and Windrush Farm in North Andover operated host barn programs. City to Saddle’s excellent reputation and nearly 20 years of experience enable it to provide host barns with the expert advice and practical resources needed to operate a successful program with minimal expenses, hassles, or missteps. Farms that are comfortable working more independently may prefer the City to Saddle charter member program, which was started about seven years ago to enable barns across the country to offer horsemanship programs for underserved children in their area. The charter member program proved ideal when Dale and his wife, Ann, decided they would like to offer programs at Mesa Farm. After spending nearly two decades managing a farm for global nonprofit Heifer International, Dale already had a lot of experience running farm-based charitable programs. “I was interested in doing therapeutic work with kids,” he says. “We discovered City to Saddle through its website and realized we have similar missions, so we decided to collaborate with them. It made more sense than starting our own nonprofit and doing everything ourselves.” Mesa Farm currently runs one of

three City to Saddle charter member programs. Wildstar Farm in Sherborn operates a second one as part of its Horse SenseAbility therapeutic equestrian programs. The Appalachian Region City to Saddle Charter Member program, based in Surgoinsville, Tennessee, serves children throughout northeastern Tennessee and southwestern Virginia. Charter members receive financial support from City to Saddle but do their own fundraising and work directly with their local child-service organizations to identify children to participate in the program. Like host barns, charter members also benefit from their affiliation with the reputation, expertise, and nonprofit status of the City to Saddle parent organization. To assist charter members in establishing their programs, City to Saddle provides a kit that includes applications, medical forms, recordkeeping instructions and advice, systems for managing financial data and program schedules, donation-request letters, suggestions for locating and retaining volunteers, and other materials to facilitate smooth operation of their programs. Whether they take place at a host barn or through a charter member, City to Saddle programs offer children lifechanging experiences. “Some of the kids who participate have never had a chance to leave their neighborhoods [in the city],” says Melissa Madera, Community Coordinator for the Wellington Community and HRI Matheson Apartments in Worcester. Those two subsidized affordable housing complexes send kids to Mesa Farm each

summer for a week-long program. Melissa drives the company van that takes them to the farm each day. “City to Saddle is an opportunity for these kids to see a different side of the world, places they probably won’t see any other way,” she says. “Experiencing farm life is a great thing for everybody to have a chance to do.” According to Melissa, children who participate in City to Saddle programs learn much more than how to ride. “The kids learn not just how to care for animals but also that animals have feelings that need to be respected. They also learn to work together, to help each other. They open up and become more confident, and they are always eager to rush home to tell their families about their experience and what they have learned on the farm.” Katie is sure City to Saddle helped her. “I found my voice and gained so much confidence through the program,” she says. “It gave me a reason to speak up and push myself out of my comfort zone. I owe a lot of my confidence to City to Saddle. “Taking kids from inner cities and getting them involved with horseback riding fuels joy and happiness. It’s something more people should be doing. City to Saddle is a fantastic program that really does what its motto says — it gives a child a leg up.” Kara Noble has worked with horses for most of her life. She and her husband, Jerry, keep an Icelandic horse, a Shetland pony, and two mini donkeys on their farm in Montgomery. She’s a professional writer and editor who holds an MFA in creative nonfiction.

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

Horse Logic

Honoring Your Horse’s Personal Space

by Nicole Birkholzer

o you know a person who steps just one step too close into your space when talking to you? You feel yourself leaning back to avoid their hot breath on your face, and when that isn’t enough, you take a step back to recover your personal space only to have the person take another step toward you. It turns out that a lot of horses feel the same way you do in these situations. During a recent phone consultation, Marnie, the owner of a seven-yearold Warmblood mare, explained that her horse had been very challenging during her last farrier visit. She’d shied away from the farrier, didn’t want to pick up her hooves, and even threatened to nip him. When I tuned in to the horse about the situation, I saw a person stepping into the mare’s space, again and again, without acknowledging the horse. The horse showed me that many times she’d been brushed, tacked, and led around

by people as if she were an inanimate object.

“Marnie,” I said, “your horse is showing me that a lot was done to her when she was young.” Marnie explained that she got the

mare as a four-year-old who had received a lot of training for such a young horse, and said, “She’s always been very protective of her space.” “The problem is that too many people have done things to your horse, not with her,” I said. “And, she’s showing me right now that your farrier also came into her space without respect; he didn’t even acknowledge her before he started to pick up her hooves.” “She’s right,” Marnie said, “that’s exactly what happened!” There are so many lessons in this story. Stepping into any horse’s space before greeting them and establishing a connection can be as uncomfortable for a horse as it is for us when someone invades our personal space. Yet, too often we do it with our own horses and even with unfamiliar horses. We are quick to reach up to pet the horse’s muzzle or neck without first giving the horse a chance to sniff us, to get a sense of us.

Tack Shop & Consignment Area

Dublin . Tuff Rider . Saxon . Noble Outfitters . Horze . Shires . Ariat Weatherbeeta . Tough 1 . Professional’s Choice . Roma . Absorbine

Barn Supplies . 1st & 2nd Cut Hay Paper-bagged Shavings . Grain Livestock . Poultry . Wild Bird Seed Dog, Cat, Small Animal, and Reptile Pickup and Delivery!

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

Our particular scent reveals a lot to a horse. It tells her if we’re calm or nervous, confident or unsure. And that type of information matters significantly to a horse, a prey animal that’s always scoping out who may be a threat and who may provide safety and comfort. Doing things to a horse rather than with her never pays off. When we do things to a horse, she becomes tense. Walking in and out of the horse’s personal space with all kinds of grooming tools, vacuums, saddles, blankets, and tack without observing the horse’s response can have negative consequences. The horse gets concerned because she doesn’t know what’s happening to her so she holds her breath and gets tense. Over time, that tension gets stuck in her body, increasing until that stuckness needs to express itself. Suddenly, the horse shows an unexpected behavior — she may shy away on the crossties, flatten her ears, snap at the person entering her space, and threaten to kick. Unfortunately, in most cases, the horse gets reprimanded for her behaviors when all she did was protect her personal space. I explained to Marnie that she had to become her horse’s advocate. The next time the farrier was coming to see the mare, Marnie would need to ask him to take his time approaching the horse. I suggested that Marnie first engage the farrier in a little chat near the mare so the horse could take him in from afar. Then, the farrier could hold out his hand for the horseman’s handshake so the mare could take a sniff. Ideally, the farrier would talk to the mare and explain what would come next. He could say something like, “Hi, I’m here to take care of your hooves. Let’s start with the left front. I’d love your help in getting the job done.” This slower, more mindful approach will not only give the mare a chance to meet the person who is stepping into her space, but it will also allow her to become part of the interaction. She will feel that things are done with her, not to her. Thankfully, Marnie was open to becoming her horse’s advocate. She decided to find a new farrier who showed compassion and the willingness to engage with her horse. I reminded Marnie to first engage the farrier in a little chat near the mare so the horse could take him in from afar. Next, he could reach his hand toward the mare so she could take a sniff.

The next time you approach your horse or your friend’s horse, stop a few feet ahead of entering the horse’s space. Take a breath, let the horse sniff you (take off your gloves; the horse wants to smell your skin to get a good read on you). Then let the horse check out what’s in your hands — the brush, hoof pick, the bridle, saddle, and pad. Explain what’s to come so she doesn’t have to get worried. When the horse isn’t worried, she’s at ease, and when she’s at ease, her body stays relaxed. When her body is relaxed, you will have a much better time together. Nicole Birkholzer is an equine behavior and communication specialist, originally from Germany, who works with horses and riders across the globe. Nicole helps people create mindful connections with their horses by attuning to and communicating with horses in meaningful and effective ways. Her focus is to understand the logic behind horses’ behaviors and the wisdom in their expression. Interested in building a meaningful, mindful relationship with your horse? Check out Nicole’s webinar series Horse Logic at mindful-connections.com/ online-learning. Nicole also offers private barn calls, phone consultations, and workshops.

Natural Balance Equine Dentistry

Optimize the health and performance of your horse with minimally invasive techniques. Wendy re-aligns the biomechanical function to fit the individual horse. Horses . Ponies . Minis . Donkeys

Wendy Bryant, EQDT (413)237-8887 . w-bryant@comcast.net wbryantnatrualbalancedentistry.com Certified practitioner in Natural Balance Dentistry®

The Northeast’s Premier Trailer Dealer

Brands we carry Abady Alpo Poulin Blue Seal Precise Canidae Pro Plan Diamond Purina Eukanuba Purina Mills Friskies Science Diet Iams Sensible Choice Kaytee Solid Gold Merrick Triple Crown Natural Balance Triumph Nature’s Recipe Wellness Neura Whiskas Nutrena Nutro Wild and caged bird Wysong and small animal feed. Old Mother Hubbard Kakadu Oilskin Coats. Pedigree Pinnacle

Country Corral 35 Main St., rear, Rte. 9, Williamsburg, MA (413) 268-0180 countrycorral@aol.com

Family owned for 42 years!

“A happy horse rides in a Yered Trailer.”

Many more brands and models online at yeredtrailers.com!

M-F 9:30AM - 5:30PM, Sat 9:30AM - 4:00PM

11 West Mill Street, Medfield, Mass.

Right behind A-1 Hilltown Pizza in Williamsburg center.

(508) 359-7300 YeredTrailers.com Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

Partners Our goal is to foster connections within the horse community throughout the Bay State, and one of the ways we do this is with our Partners Program. Massachusetts organizations that partner with us receive a free one-year subscription for each member and space in the magazine for news, photos, and event listings.

Bay State Trail Riders Association Can you believe it is 2020 already? BSTRA’s been hard at work planning this year’s activities with events scheduled though November. It’s going to be a great year! Our first ride of the year is the Nancy Maenzo Memorial Ride, sponsored by David Maenzo, on March 29 (ice date is April 19). The ride will be held at Douglas State Forest and offers a good opportunity to start getting back into condition after an icy winter. A beautiful quilt, made and donated by Kathy Rich of A Stitch’n Good Time, will be offered as the first Opportunity Drawing of 2020. The winning ticket will be drawn at the Nancy Maenzo Memorial Ride. The winner does not need to be present at the drawing. Tickets go on sale in midJanuary and will be available until the day of the drawing. Visit bstra.org/support/raffle for more information and to purchase tickets. Save the dates for the three trail work days scheduled in April — the 4th, 25th, and 26th — to help clean up West Hill Dam, Upton State Forest, and Douglas State Forest respectively. Our annual tack sale will be April 18. See bstra.org for more details on these events and to sign up. With your help, BSTRA had a very successful 2019. There were 18 rides, seven trail work days, three cam24

pouts, and a tack sale. BSTRA also hosted a clinic for first responders on how to handle an equine emergency. One of the highlights of the year was receiving the Volunteer of the Year Award from Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). There’s a lot more work to be done in 2020, and BSTRA needs your help. First, please make sure you

ing task, experienced BSTRA members will assist you every hoof print of the way. You won’t be alone! Can you mark trails or remove markers? Good marking is critical to the success of an event. We appreciate help from riders familiar with the trails, plus you log volunteer hours for your time. Do you buy from BSTRA’s sponsors? Take a

The New England Equestrian Center of Athol (NEECA) held its popular Fall Social November 2 at the Ellinwood Country Club in Athol.

renew your membership. As a member, you receive The Bugle, BSTRA’s monthly newsletter and a digital subscription to Massachusetts Horse. BSTRA members can also purchase excess liability insurance, $20 for single, $40 for family. Most important, as a member, you’re supporting trails for equestrians. Our success depends on volunteer participation. You can help BSTRA by being our eyes and ears in the trail community. Is there a trail near you that needs work? Is there an opportunity to work with your local community’s trail organization? Let BSTRA know so together we work to ensure we have safe access to trails. BSTRA loves to hold rides in new areas. Are you able to host a ride? Organizing a ride is a lot of fun. While it may seem a daunt-

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

moment to thank them for being a sponsor the next time you make a purchase. Let them know their sponsorship is important to you and the trail community. Sponsors are listed on BSTRA.org. We want to hear your ideas on how to better support our trails. Volunteers are critical to the success of our mission. We need you! To learn more, visit bstra.org. See you on the trails! 7 Annamaria Paul

Hampshire County Riding Club HCRC’s club grounds, located just off Route 9 in the town of Goshen, consists of a large mowed area with ample trailer parking and two large rings along with two miles of woodland trails. The 48-acre property is host

to numerous events every year ranging from clinics and horse shows to woodland obstacle competitions and trail rides. The activities committee is planning an exciting year of rides and events to be held at our club grounds and elsewhere. Last year we held a very popular versatility- and obstacle-training clinic with Peter and Phil Whitmore, which included instruction on skills and practice with a variety of obstacles in the ring and on our woodland obstacle course. Peter and Phil will likely return this year by popular demand. We also held our second TREC clinic with Bob Hatch and Stephanie Frend of Burnshirt Hills Equestrian Facility. TREC is a trail/ obstacle/orienteering sport developed in France, featuring specific trail riding skills. Look for a TREC clinic with Bob and Stephanie at our club this summer. To learn more about TREC, visit trec-usa.org. Barb Macon of Sterling Rewards Horsemanship offered a clinic where she provided an hour of individual instruction for participants and their horses on a topic of their choosing. The clinic format was very helpful, and it was especially interesting to watch those who were working with obstacles at liberty. All HCRC clinics are open to the public. Monthly trail rides, open to members and their guests, the Chesterfield July 4th parade, and camping weekends will round out our schedule. Our grounds are available to members and guests for ring use (including obstacles, gymkhana equipment, and jumps) and impromptu rides throughout the riding season.

Our season kicks off in April with the annual Pancake Breakfast ride. Other rides, clinics, and camping weekends will be scheduled through October. Our monthly meetings, on the third Wednesday of the month, are held at the Westhampton Library, and as part of our speaker series may include an educational presentation. They include refreshments and are always open to the public. To learn more and to see our complete calendar of events, visit hampshire countyridingclub.org and follow us on Facebook. 7 Diane Merritt

Massachusetts Quarter Horse Association Greetings from the MQHA. We look back on the past year with fond memories of goals stated and achieved, of making new friends in the community, and welcoming new horses into our lives. This past fall our newly elected board members were voted in. We welcome new and existing members and look forward to fresh voices on our committee. Some upcoming changes include the alignment of our Walk/Trot rules to coincide with the American Quarter Horse Association guidelines. We offer three age divisions in Walk/Trot —10 and Under (small fry), 11 to 18, and 19 and Over. This is a great way to introduce yourself and your registered Quarter Horse to the world of Quarter Horse showing. If you sign up to become an MQHA member by the annual banquet on March 8, your name will be entered into a raffle to win a life membership! We will be awarding our annual scholarships of $1,500 and $500. The monies will be divided equally and awarded to any members in good

standing who are enrolled in an educational program of their choosing. Our MQHA shows are April 17 to 19 and May 13 to 17. Other pointed shows as well as venues are posted at massqha.com. Be sure to check our Facebook page too. “Champions don’t show up to get everything they want; they show up to give everything they have.” (Alexander den Heijer) Happy Rides! 7 Lori Mahassel

New England Equestrian Center of Athol Here we are again, at the start of a new year! The full calendar of events for this year has been posted at neeca.org. Kicking off the year is the Social on January 25. This is a fun get-together for NEECA members (and prospective members) to meet up, catch up, and eat up! Mark your calendars as well for the NEECA General Membership meeting, which will be held on March 18 at 6:30 p.m., at 100 Main Street in Athol. More details will follow regarding the agenda and speaker for this meeting. The remainder of the NEECA calendar is quickly filling up with the spring cleanup day in April, a variety of clinics ranging from English/western dressage to centered riding to versatility and more. The NEECA gymkhana series kicks off on April 26 with seven events in the series, the Equestrian Showcase, held at the park, is in June, the NEECA horse show in Barre in July, the Fall campout in September, and the year wraps up with NEECA’s biggest fundraiser, the Fall Social on November 7. The 2019 Fall Social was a huge event. It was the best year yet for this annual fundraiser, which is extremely Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

Need your trailer serviced? Scheduling appointments for full service trailer repairs. We come to you! We service your trailer at your farm or home. We also service tractors, ATVS, gators & small engines. We can help you sell your trailer and we’ll help you buy the right trailer for your needs!

Northborough, Mass. whitehorserepairandsales@gmail.com (508) 641-9212

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

valuable for continuing to propel NEECA’s growth. There were more than 100 attendees, a fabulous buffet provided by Affordable Catering, an awards ceremony, and a very entertaining live auction as well as a silent auction table. The highly coveted Volunteer of the Year award was given to Quimby Whitney, Jr., for his consistent work for many years with the NEECA gymkhana series. The NEECA board of directors bid farewell to Laurie Neely, one of NEECA’s long-time members. Laurie served on the board for many years and has helped NEECA in many different areas. We’re very appreciative for her years of service! We think there is something for everyone in store this year at NEECA. Again, be sure to check out the calendar of events at neeca.org and start thinking ahead to spring, warmer temperatures, and riding fun! 7 Anne Marie Zukowski

West Newbury Riding and Driving Club WNRDC is celebrating the centennial of its founding in 1920. Originally founded as a social organization, today the club is also a nonprofit that focuses on education, trail maintenance, and land preservation as well as supporting other local equine charities. We’re still a social group, however, and we’re looking forward to a special celebration of our anniversary. We’ll be tapping into some of our members’ hidden talents for an educational and fun evening of art, with a horse theme, in West Newbury. More details to come. We will be hosting a mounted versatility clinic again this spring at our rings at the Pipestave Equestrian Area. Stay tuned for dates. Our riders and horses were thrilled with their experiences last year; it was truly an amazing educational experience. To learn more about this and other educational opportunities, visit wnrdc.com. The online local Equine Event Calendar for 2020 will be published soon. If you have a calendar submission, please email equineeventcalendar@ wnrdc.com. We look forward to an exciting and celebratory year with our horses, members, and surrounding community. 7 Anne Donelan

Overherd

News in Our Community Local Equestrian Running Boston Marathon for the Light Foundation Meghan Drysdale of Brimfield is running the 2020 Boston Marathon on April 20 in honor of the Light Foundation. Her goal, with teammate Matt Beland, is to raise $20,000 for the Light Foundation. One of the foundation’s founders is Matt Light, a retired New England Patriots player. The Light Foundation collaborates with other nonprofits to create programming and development opportunities for underprivileged Massachusetts youth. To learn more, visit matt light72.com/foundation. “After my teammate Matt had his tough year in 2019, we both looked for something we could do that challenged us and helped others,” Meghan says. “The Boston Marathon seemed like a difficult feat, along with running for charity. We’re both so lucky to have the opportunity to help youth in our area that were not given opportunities that we were lucky enough to have.” In 2019, Matt had ACL reconstruction surgery, suffered a broken back, and was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma before being declared cancer-free in the late fall. A tack sale is being held at Morning Light Farm in Brimfield on February 8 to help Meghan and Matt reach their fundraising goal. You can learn more about the tack sale by searching “Huge Tack Sale!” on Facebook. Tables are available at the tack sale for $25 each. You can reserve a tack sale table at bit.ly/bostonmar2020 and

enter “tack sale” in the comments. Donations to support the Light Foundation can also be made at that link. “All of the funds raised go directly to the Light Foundation and help us reach our goal of $20,000,” says Meghan, who grew up in Brimfield. She was active in

level of excellence in overall horse health, farm management, and compliance with public safety. Award winners included Undermountain Farm, Lenox; Blackhorse Farm, Swansea; Bristol County Agricultural High School, Dighton; Chipaway Stables,

Meghan Drysdale of Brimfield is running the Boston Marathon this spring with a goal to raise $20,000 for the Light Foundation. A February 8 Tack Sale at Morning Light Farm in Brimfield is one of the ways Meghan hopes to reach her fundraising goal.

4-H, the Massachusetts Morgan Horse Association, and competed in dressage. Meghan graduated from Becker College, and works in the emergency room at Harrington Hospital.

n Stacey Stearns

Horse Farm of Distinction Awards Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) announced the recipients of the organization’s 2020 Horse Farm of Distinction Award during its annual meeting in Framingham. This award was developed more than 20 years ago by MFBF’s Equine Committee to recognize Massachusetts horse farms that achieve a

Acushnet; Johnson and Wales Equestrian Center, Rehoboth; The Big Red Barn, North Attleboro; Ventura Stables, Berkley; Forget-Me-Not Farm, Harwich; Holly Hill Farm, Marstons Mills; Back Bay Farm, Ipswich; High Tail Acres, Newbury; Hunters Haven Farm, Groveland; Indian Rock Stables, Saugus; Lalobarun Ranch, Newbury; Pine Tree Equestrian Center, Beverly; Sons of the Wind, Merrimac; The Barnyard Maples, Byfield; Windrush Farm Therapeutic Equitation, North Andover; Silvercryst Farm, Southwick; Greene Acres Equestrian Center, Belchertown; Berryfield, Lincoln; Harmony Horse

Stables, Littleton; Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Program, Lincoln; Sterling Riding Stables, Pepperell; The Ponderaia, North Reading; Wildstar Farm, Sherborn; Yankee Stable, Sharon; Briggs Stable, Hanover; Creek Crossing Farm, Hingham; Lazy Stallion Friesians, West Bridgewater; Whit Acres Farm, Norwell; and Holly Hill West, Harvard. “Congratulations to all the winners of this award,” says MFBF president Mark Amato. “I hope these thirtytwo equine operations find this distinction valuable to their farms and continue to strive for excellence in the future.” The farms were judged upon the following criteria: horse health management, including appearance of the horses and the equine health program; farm management, including overall condition of the farm and facilities, condition of stalls, turnouts, pastures, riding surfaces, tack and equipment; and public standards compliance. Those that scored 85 percent or higher were considered a Horse Farm of Distinction and received the award. Applications for the 2021 Horse Farm of Distinction program will be available this spring. Only MFBF members may apply for this honor. To become a member, visit mfbf.net.

Second Chance and Bay Path High School Team Up to Shape the Future of Animal Welfare Second Chance Animal Services has announced a joint venture with Bay Path Vocational Technical High School establishing a veteri-

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

WNEPHA JOIN US! The Western New England chapter of the Professional Horsemen’s Association of America has a full schedule of shows planned for 2020! HUNTER/JUMPER EQUITATION SHOWS February 9

White Horse Hill

February 16

SJH Equestrian at BEC

March 15

SJH Equestrian at BEC

May 3

Muddy Brook Farm

May 10

White Horse Hill

May 17

SJH Equestrian at BEC

DRESSAGE SHOWS English and Western Tests

May 17

Stockade Schooling

May 31

Emerald Glen

nary program at a new Community Veterinary Hospital in Southbridge. The full-service hospital, expected to open in the summer of 2021, will serve clients year-round and serve as a teaching hospital for students interested in pursuing a career in the veterinary field. Upon the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s approval, students are expected to enter the program in the fall of 2020. They will begin with classroom training at the high school while Second Chance starts work on the new hospital building. Bay Path students enrolled in construction-related programs will help with the construction. CEO Sheryl Blancato said the new teaching hospital is a natural extension for the animal welfare organization. “We’re always looking for new ways to help pets in need,” she says. “We began as a shelter for homeless pets but realized we could help pets more through our hospitals and clinic programs, keeping them out of the shelter in the first place.” Access to medical care is one of the most often cited reason people surrender their pets. Second Chance vet hospitals provide that access to all. For qualified households, medical care is available at a subsidized rate. Clients who

don’t qualify know the cost of caring for their pets is also helping pets in need. Sheryl notes that nationwide, veterinary hospitals are seeing a shortage of qualified veterinarians to fill their staff. She hopes this new endeavor will help attract more students to the field. Second Chance and Bay Path High School have a long history of collaboration. The Bay Path print shop has been providing print services to the nonprofit for several years and just last year won a nationwide contest that secured state of the art printing machinery from Ivory Ella. Students also helped with the renovations at the North Brookfield hospital from 2010 to 2012. Second Chance is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization that began in 1999 in East Brookfield and relies solely on donations from grants to operate. The organization operates an adoption center in East Brookfield, Community Veterinary Hospitals in North Brookfield, Springfield, and Worcester. Second Chance helps more than 40,000 pets a year through adoption, spay/ neuter, veterinary care, community outreach, educational outreach programs, training, and a pet food pantry. To learn more, visit secondchanceanimals.org.

Advertise in the Annual Events Issue! The April/May issue of Massachusetts Horse is:

y8 ruar b e F

RDS AWA ET QU y BAN ctor

Fa ery n o i Stat on Dalt

y The largest issue of the year! y The issue with the most comprehensive and only events calendar exclusive to Massachusetts.

y The issue equestrians use to plan their riding and driving season — saving and referring to it often.

“cover to cover including the ads”

Our readers tell us they read Massachusetts Horse

because every article and ad is relevant to them!

We reach your target audience.

Year-end awards in many divisions. Full schedule can be found at

WNEPHA.com An organization for horsemen, by horsemen.

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

y Our print magazine reaches 8,000 equestrians. y Our online magazine receives more than 10,000 page turns per issue. y Massachusetts Horse is distributed at more than 15 events each month. y We can help with ad design and make the process simple and professional. y Advertising deadline is March 5.

Learn more at mahorse.com!

Or contact us at ads@mahorse.com and (413) 268-3302.

events Massachusetts

February 1 SOUTH COAST SERIES HORSE SHOWS AWARDS BANQUET, Rosebrook Event Center, Wareham. southcoastseries.com. 8 SBS JUMPER SHOW, Greenfield. sbschool.org/equestrian/shows-prize-lists. 8 NEHC/MHC AWARDS BANQUET, Doubletree by Hilton, Milford. nehc.info. 8 WNEPHA AWARDS BANQUET, Stationery Factory, Dalton. wnepha.com. 9 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, Evenstride, Newbury. rideiea.org. 9 BSTRA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND AWARDS BANQUET, Coachmen’s lodge, Bellingham. bstra.org. 9 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, White Horse Hill, Richmond. wnepha.com. ng ializi Spec rting in sta rses g ho youn and ding for ri g n . drivi

9 MHC SHOW, Cavallo Farms, Westford. mahorsecouncil.com. 10 INFECTIOUS DISEASES YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT, South Shore Equine Clinic Owner Education Series, Plympton. ssequineclinic.com. 15 TACK TAG SALE AND MAKERS’ MARKET, Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Holyoke. tecriders.org 15 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, Rising Star Equestrian Center, Medway. rideiea.org. 15 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, Cavallo Equestrian Center, Westford. rideiea.org. 16 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, Mount Holyoke College Equestrian Center, South Hadley. rideiea.org.

16 WHITE SPRUCE FARMS YEAR-END BANQUET, Ye Olde Tavern, West Brookfield. whitesprucefarms.com. 16 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, SJH Equestrian at Berkshire Equestrian Center, Richmond. wnepha.com. 22 IEA HUNT SEAT SHOW, Four Winds Farm, North Oxford. rideiea.org. 23 WINTER SCHOOLING SHOW SERIES, Stoney Hill Farm, Barre. stoneyhillfarm.org. 24 THE OBESITY DILEMMA, South Shore Equine Clinic Owner Education Series, Plympton. ssequineclinic.com.

Devin Burdick USDF Bronze Medalist Trainer/Manager Instructor

25 Queen Lake Rd., Phillipston, MA 01331 (978) 696-1269 . stonebrookfarm.db@gmail.com stonebrookfarmdb.com . facebook.com/stonebrookfarmdb

Subscribe today!

at mahorse.com Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

29 TACK SALE, Independence Stable, Belchertown. independencestablellc.com.

14 BSTRA VOLUNTEER LUNCHEON, location TBA. bstra.org.

29 BRDC ANNUAL MEETING AND CABIN FEVER POT LUCK DINNER, Barre Amerian Legion. barreridingdrivingclub.com.

15 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, SJH Equestrian, Richmond. wnepha.com. 21 IEA WESTERN SHOW, Crimson Acres, Orange. rideiea.org.

March Presents the 25th

Equine Expo Paraphernalia Sale

8 GFF WINTER WARM UP I, Grazing Fields Farm, Buzzards Bay. mahorsecouncil.com.

22 GFF WINTER WARM UP II, Grazing Fields Farm, Buzzards Bay. mahorsecouncil.com.

9 THE PRE-PURCHASE EXAM, South Shore Equine Clinic Owner Education Series, Plympton. ssequineclinic.com.

28 INTRO TO LIBERTY AND TRICKS CLINIC with Meg Deitner and Sam VanFleet, Westfield. vanfleetmustangs@gmail.com.

Are you and your horse having problems?

Saturday, April 25, 2020 . 9-3

Would you like your horse started under saddle and/or in harness? Peter specializes in starting young horses correctly. 100% customer satisfaction using natural horsemanship techniques. More than 20 years experience starting horses as well as fixing existing problems. References available. The cost of the one-month training is $1,200, including board.

Large vendor marketplace selling new and used items! Plus services for the horse, rider, and driver. Demonstrations All Day! $5 Admission . children under 10 free Held in the Arena Building at the Topsfield Fairgrounds, Route 1, Topsfield Vendor Spaces Available . Free Parking

Contact Kay at: 978-768-6275 or kljoreo@aol.com

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Pleasure Training with Peter Whitmore (978) 652-2231 . ItsaPleasureTraining.com

Join us for another packed year of events and educational opportunities! NEDA L Clinic with Janet Foy

April 12, neda.org

USEA-sanctioned Spring Horse Trials

Lucinda Green Succeed Cross-country Masterclass

Area I Schooling Horse Trials Championships

April 28

Pony Club Dressage Rally

North Bridge Equine Challenge Series Jumper Shows

USEA-sanctioned Fall Horse Trials

Norfolk Hunt

May 9

May 24

June 5 & 6

Every Wednesday June 10 to Sept. 9

August 16

September 19

Training with Adrienne Iorio Three-Day Eventing Competitor and Trainer . Millis, Mass. & Winter Training in Aiken, South Carolina Show Jumps For Sale . Horses and Ponies For Sale/Lease . Hiring Event Manager/Secretary

lists Prize rms at: o ntr y f . and e knoll.com e l i p ap ebs te the w vents k c e h C we as ne often e added! ar 30

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

28 – 29 IEA ZONE 1 HUNT SEAT FINALS, Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield. rideiea.org. 29 WINTER SCHOOLING SHOW SERIES, Stoney Hill Farm, Barre. stoneyhillfarm.org. 29 BSTRA NANCY MAENZO MEMORIAL RIDE, Douglas. bstra.org.

April

Send us your events

Independence Stable

for the 2020 Annual Events Issue by March 1! Email events@mahorse.com.

nnual 8 th A

Sale Tack ry 29! a Febru

2020 Dressage Schooling Shows

4 BSTRA WEST HILL DAM TRAIL WORK DAY, Uxbridge. bstra.org.

Traditional & Western Dressage Tests

5 MHC SHOW, Cavallo Farms, Westford. mahorsecouncil.com. 5 AEL SHOW, Dana Hall School, Wellesley. athleticequestrian.com. 11 MHC SHOW, Next Venture Show II, Medway. mahorsecouncil.com. 11 BRDC FELTON FIELD CLEAN UP/WORK DAY, Barre. barreridingdrivingclub.com. 12 NEDA L CLINIC WITH JANET FOY, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. neda.org. 18 BSTRA TACK SALE, location TBA. bstra.org.

Request a free Junior Award

May 3 June 7

August 2 Sept. 13

Check our Facebook page for updates!

for your event at mahorse.com/junior_awards.

404 S. Washington St. Belchertown, Mass.

(413) 284-0371 independencestablellc.com

The Youth Mustang Challenge Applications Are Open!

19 MHC SHOW, Herring Brook, Pembroke. mahorsecouncil.com.

Presented by Peter Whitmore of It’s A Pleasure Training in Orange and the Mustang Heritage Foundation.

Open to youth ages 8-17 Competitors will have 100 days to gentle and train a young wild Mustang then return to compete for cash prizes! Mustang pickup will be May 23 in Swanzey, NH • Competition will be held September 5, 2020 in Orange, MA Applications are due April 30, 2020

Applications and more information available at: itsapleasuretraining.com (978) 413-1770 . youthmustangchallenge@gmail.com

ns o i t a c i l App due are 0! April 3

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

Tack Repairs & Restoration

Ware

This Olde Horse

saddles . chaps belts . halters bridles . reins harnesses dog collars & leashes

Blue Dog Leather 64 South Shore Dr., Orange, Mass. 978.544.2681 bluedogleather.com Open by appointment, please call ahead.

Harvest time, Ware Ice Co.

DRESSAGE

Susan Rainville

MANURE REMOVAL

FOR LARGE & SMALL FARMS

USDF bronze & silver medalist

Roll-off containers 10 to 30 yards on call or scheduled service. Full stock pile removals.

Dressage Schooling Show Series

Lise Krieger

Weekly Lessons

Certified Saddle Fitter

Affordable Training

saddle assessments fitting evaluations flocking . repairs consignments . sales

& Boarding Off-farm Clinics Adult Camp Competition Camps

White Spruce Farms

newenglandsaddlefit.com newenglandsaddlefit@comcast.net 203 . 685 . 2308

Central Massachusetts (978) 257-4666 whitesprucefarms.com

Hanover Equine Dental Terry Paul

Graduate of the American School of Equine Dentistry

Performance floating for all disciplines. Serving all of southern New England.

eqdent1@verizon.net . (781) 630-0741 32

Got Manure?

Dressage Training, Groundwork & Response Training for a more confident partnership.

Lessons 5 Training Clinics 5 Drill Team Horse Shows Games Nights Summer Camps

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

978-425-6181 MitranoRemoval.com Proud sponsor of Bear Spot Musical Freestyle and Oakrise Farm Shows.

Recovery . Maintenance . Performance Therapeutic Massage . Bodywork . Reiki

(413) 320-7690 jobunny@comcast.net

the

neighborhood

Your Everything Equine “white pages”

ASSOCIATIONS ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• BAY STATE TRAIL RIDERS ASSOCIATION bstra.org Keeping trails open for equestrian use; organized trail rides; volunteer opportunities for trail clearing and maintenance.

FINANCING, LOANS, TAX PREP ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• FARM CREDIT EAST (800) 562-2235; farmcrediteast.com Financing, loans, tax preparation, business consulting, financial planning.

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY RIDING CLUB Goshen, MA, (413) 268-3372 hampshirecounty ridingclub.org Monthly trail rides, obstacle course, and clinics.

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

BARN CATS ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• PAWS WATCH P.O. Box 7005, Warwick, RI 02887 cats@pawswatch.org, pawswatch.org Barn cats need homes! Healthy, fixed, vaccinated barn cats provide rodent control. Delivered! BARN BUILDERS ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• CARRIAGE SHED Serving the Northeast, (800) 441-6057; carriageshed.com Barns, arenas, shed rows, custom buildings. DRESSAGE ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• BRADFORD EQUESTRIAN CENTER Haverhill, MA, (978) 374-0008 Dressage for all disciplines and driving. Keith Angstadt, USEF dressage judge. CATHY DRUMM Pittsfield, MA, (413) 441-5278; cathydrumm.com Clinics, lessons, training, western and English dressage, hunter/jumper, Kindful Horsemanship. FAIRFIELD FARM Rochester, MA, (508) 763-8038; dressageatfairfieldfarm.com Boarding, instruction, training, indoor. LINDA PARMENTER Hubbardston, MA, (978) 928-5492 parmenterdressage.com USDF bronze and silver medalist, USDF “L” judge; instruction, clinics, training. WHITE SPRUCE FARMS New Braintree, MA, (978) 257-4666 whitesprucefarms.com Dressage shows, instruction, all levels/ages. EQUINE DENTISTRY •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• WENDY BRYANT, EQDT Northampton, MA, (413) 237-8887 wbryantnatrualbalancedentistry.com Natural balance equine dentistry. Improved topline, maximized performance, increased flexion. Serving New England. NORTHEAST EQUINE VETERINARY DENTAL SERVICES LEAH LIMONE, DVM, DAVDC/EQ Topsfield, MA, (978) 500-9293; nevds.com Board certified in equine veterinary dentistry. Routine preventive care, maintenance, diagnostics, extractions. EQUINE ENTERTAINMENT ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• DALE PERKINS/MESA FARM Rutland, MA, (508) 886-6898; daleperkinshorseshow.com Trick riding and much more. EQUINE MASSAGE ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• HORSEBACK AND BODY Northampton, MA, (413) 320-7690; jobunny@comcast.net Massage therapy for horses, humans.

HORSES FOR SALE ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• STRAIN FAMILY HORSE FARM Granby, CT, (860) 653-3275; strainfamilyhorsefarm.com New England’s largest quality sales stable. Forty family, trail, and show horses to choose from. New loads every week. We buy horses, take trade-ins, and consignment horses. Great three-week exchange guarantee. Find us on Facebook. INSTRUCTION/TRAINING ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• BACK BAY FARM Ipswich, MA, (978) 356-0730; backbayfarm.com Lessons, boarding, training, and sales. INSURANCE ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• AMERICAN NATIONAL americannational.com Boxborough: (978) 467-1001 Carver: (508) 866-9150 Centerville: (508) 428-0440 Easthampton: (413) 203-5180 Great Barrington: (413) 528-1710 Middleborough: (508) 747-8181 North Adams: (413) 398-5011 Northborough: (508) 393-9327 Southwick: (413) 569-2307 Wilbraham: (413) 887-8817 Williamstown: (413) 458-5584 Worcester: (508) 752-3300

GLENCROFT FARM Southampton, MA, (413) 527-8026; kraymond24@hotmail.com Boarding, pastures, ring, trails, fields. STRAIN FAMILY EQUESTRIAN CENTER LLC Southwick, MA, (413) 569-5797; strainfamilyequestrian.com Boarding, lessons, training, sales, therapeutic riding. TACK ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• CHESHIRE HORSE Swanzey, NH, (877) 358-3001; cheshirehorse.com English, western, feed, supplies, trailers, fencing. SMARTPAK RETAIL STORE Natick, MA, (508) 651-0045; smartpak.com/retailstore Tack, supplements, blankets, apparel, gifts, clearance. TRANSPORTATION ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• J.R. HUDSON HORSE TRANSPORTATION W. Bridgewater, MA, (508) 427-9333; jrhudsonhorsetrans.com Serving the lower 48 states and Canada. VETERINARIANS •••••••••••••••••••••••••• FAMILY VETERINARY CENTER Haydenville, MA, (413) 268-8387; famvets.com Traditional, alternative care for dogs, cats, exotics, horses. SOUTH DEERFIELD VETERINARY CLINIC DR. ROBERT P. SCHMITT S. Deerfield, MA, (413) 665-3626; sdvc@aol.com Equine medicine, surgery since 1969.

DON RAY INSURANCE Marshfield, MA, (781) 837-6550; donrayinsurance.com Farm, mortality, major medical and surgical, clubs, shows, instructors. JUDGES ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ED GOLEMBESKI Gill, MA, (413) 863-2313; riker119@comcast.net 4-H, open shows, clinics, lessons. REAL ESTATE ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ALTHEA BRAMHALL, HOMETOWN REALTORS North Quabbin region, (617) 678-9300 althearealtor@gmail.com Real estate is more fun with horse people!

Releasing tension in key junctions of the body that most impact performance. Masterson Method Certified Practitioner

EQUINE HOMES REAL ESTATE LLC MA and NH, (800) 859-2745, ext. 704; equinehomes.com. Sally Mann, Realtor, MA and NH. STABLES, FARMS, BOARDING ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• APPLE KNOLL FARM Millis, MA, (508) 376-2564; appleknoll.com Eventing, training, lessons, schooling trials, clinics; facilities available for events. CARRIER’S FARM Southampton, MA, (413) 527-0333; rcarrier0333@gmail.com Indoor, outdoor arenas, round pens, fields.

Jennifer Verre (508) 224-6585 mrsverre@hotmail.com

jlyequinemassage.com

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

Pepperell

Is This Your Horse?

Lessons . Summer Programs Clinics . Training . Starting Heather Dostal USDF “L” Graduate & Bronze Medalist

54 Plain Rd. Hatfield, MA 413.427.2026 | RERponies.com rerponies@gmail.com

Is this your horse? This photo was taken at the Wassail Parade in Woodstock, Vermont. (The horse is a Massachusetts horse!) If this is your horse, contact us at win@mahorse.com for a $50 gift certificate from the Bay State’s very own SmartPak, smartpakequine.com, and a two-year subscription to Massachusetts Horse.

A & B INSURANCE GROUP Insurance for All Your Equine Needs

Large and Small Animal Medicine & Surgery

Farm & Equine . Equine Mortality . Horse Owners Liability

Serving the North Shore since 1951 Helen Noble, VMD Robert Orcutt, DVM Elizabeth Lordan, DVM Nicole Syngajewski, DVM 295 High St, Ipswich, Mass. 978-356-1119 (ph) . 978-356-5758 (f)

srhvets.com 34

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

Our agents have been serving the equine community for a combined 50+ years. Call Richard, Wendy, and John for a competitive quote with one of our many equine insurance carriers.

978-399-0025 | ABInsGroup.com Richard@abinsgroup.com Wendy@abinsgroup.com . John@abinsgroup.com Licensed in MA, NH, VT, ME, CT & RI

Amherst Farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Supply 320 South Pleasant St., Amherst (413) 253-3436 amherstfarmerssupply.com

Bridgewater Farm Supply 1000 Plymouth St., Bridgewater (508) 697-0357 bridgewaterfarm.com

Essex County Co-op 146 S. Main St., Topsfield (978) 887-2309 essexcountycoop.net

A.W. Brown Pet & Garden Center 144 Shaker Rd., E. Longmeadow (413) 525-2115 awbrown.com

Country Corral 35 Main St., Williamsburg (413) 268-0180 countrycorralonline.com

Greenfield Farmers Co-op Exchange 269 High St., Greenfield (413) 773-9639 greenfieldfarmerscoop.com

Brattleboro Agway 1277 Putney Rd., Brattleboro, VT (802) 254-8757 achilleagway.com

Dodge Grain Company 59 N. Broadway, Salem, NH (603) 893-3739 dodgegrain.biz

Hardwick Farmers Co-op Exchange Rte. 32, Gilbertville (413) 477-6913 hardwickfarmers.net

Sweet Meadow Feed & Grain 111 Coolidge St., Sherborn (508) 650-2926 sweetmeadowfeedandgrain.com

Massachusetts Horse February/March 2020

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BRIDGEPORT, CT PERMIT

#140