M A S S AC H U S E T T S
HORSE
EQUESTRIAN PROPERTIES
BUYING AND SELLING YOUR FARM page 8
RER PONIES
U.S. PONY CLUB CENTER
June/July 2017 mahorse.com $4
page 16
MOUNT GRACE TRAIL GUIDE
page 20
MSPCA NEVINS FARM
100 YEARS, 10,000 HORSES page 22
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June/July 2017
contents
June/July 2017
columns 18 Clash of Two Leaders
8
courtesy of RER Ponies
Horse Logic
20 Mount Grace Trail Guide
16
26 Overherd
14
40 Bay State Events Calendar
courtesy of MSPCA Nevins Farm
Karen Morang Photography
News in Our Community
22
features 8
Equestrian Properties Buying and Selling Your Farm Lead Feature
in every issue 16
RER Ponies
5 From the Publisher
U.S. Pony Club Center
7 Your Letters
Farm Feature
33 This Olde Horse 34 Partners 48 The Neighborhood
14
Vitor Silva Classical Integrity Horseperson Feature
22 MSPCA Nevins Farm 100 Years; 10,000 Horses
50 Is This Your Horse? 50 Advertiser Index
Lend a Hoof
Massachusetts Horse
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CARVER 508.866.9150 Richard.Blair@farm-family.com
NORWOOD 781.255.2002 Francis_Bingham@farm-family.com
EASTHAMPTON 413.203.5180 Josh.Nadeau@farm-family.com
SOUTHWICK 413.569.2307 themasonagency@farm-family.com
GREAT BARRINGTON 413.528.1710 Bob.Sinopoli@farm-family.com Dominic.Sinopoli@farm-family.com
TOPSFIELD 978.887.8304 Dale_Johnson@farm-family.com
MARLBOROUGH 508.485.3800 Martin_West@farm-family.com MIDDLEBOROUGH 508.747.8181 Andrew_Brodeur@farm-family.com Kevin.Sullivan@farm-family.com NORTHBOROUGH 508.393.9327 Jeff.Pichierri@farm-family.com
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WESTFORD 978.467.1001 Donald.Ludwig@farm-family.com WILLIAMSTOWN 413.458.5584 MaureenOMara@farm-family.com WORCESTER 508.752.3300 Thomas_Carroll@farm-family.com
From the Publisher
S
ummer is finally here! As I write this letter my herd
not winning. These young equestrians are the future for our
of four is peacefully grazing in the summer pasture.
horses and community so acknowledging their efforts benefits everyone.
It’s sunny and breezy but fly
Help me recognize these rid-
masks are still the order of the day. Oh, the challenges of finding a fly
ers by requesting a free
mask that fits, can be found in the
Massachusetts Horse Junior
field when “removed,” and hold
Horsemanship Award for your
up to the wear and tear of, well,
upcoming competition. To learn
horses. I have a cabinet in the barn
more, visit mahorse.com/
with at least 20 fly masks of differ-
junior-awards. A special shout out to the
ent shapes, sizes, and in various
Bay State’s very own Absorbine
states of disrepair. You? Massachusetts Horse has donated more than 2,000 Junior Horsemanship Awards to Bay State competitions in the past 15
Belchertown’s Morgan Austin (left) won the Massachusetts Horse Junior Horsemanship Award at the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) Regional Finals at Mount Holyoke College Equestrian Center in South Hadley. Hana Aksterowicz won the award at the IEA Zone 1 Finals in West Springfield. Read Hana’s letter on page 7.
for its continued support of these awards! It’s easy to love Absorbine — exceptional products and community support!
years. Why? Because I believe in rewarding the riders who are showing great horsemanship and sportsmanship when
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 www.thehorseshoof.com to learn more about Natural Hoofcare.
Dealer
Dealer Massachusetts Horse
5
Ride with Us! Competitive Rates & Great Service Call for a no hassle, free quote.
M ASSAC H US ETTS
HORSE vol. 16, no. 1 June/July 2017
ISSN 1945-1393
99 Bissell Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096 phone: (413) 268-3302 • fax: (413) 268-0050 • mahorse.com Massachusetts Horse magazine is an independently owned and -operated all-breed, all-discipline equestrian publication for the Bay State. © 2017 Massachusetts Horse All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this magazine or portions thereof in any form without prior written permission.
Mortality & Major Medical . Farm Packages Horse Associations and Clubs . Directors & Officers Horse Shows, Clinics, Events . Expo Coverage Instructor Liability . Payment Plans We will provide you with competitive rates, educated service, and help substantiate values.
Terri Ray (781) 837-6550 donrayinsurance.com Insure your equine partner with a leading equine agent!
publisher Stephanie Sanders • steph@mahorse.com • (413) 268-3302 editor Kathaleen Emerson feature writers Nicole Birkholzer, Andrea Bugbee, Nona C. Maiorano Alessandra Mele, Stacey Stearns, Susan Winslow contributors John Dougherty, Kathy Feehery, Kristine Holloran, Megan Koski Meredith Lopez, Suzy Lucine, Lori Mahassel, Diane Merritt, Karen Morang Jennifer Moreau, Laurie Neely Annamaria Paul, Lisa Wohlleib county desk liaisons Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire Counties Alessandra Mele • (413) 949-1972 • alessandra@mahorse.com Barnstable County Cora Shillinglaw • (508) 737-6810 • shillinglawc@gmail.com Bristol County Melissa Root • (508) 863-0467 • melissa@mahorse.com Essex County Holly Jacobson • (978) 356-5842 • holly@mahorse.com Middlesex, Norfolk, and Plymouth Counties Jacqueleen Kareh • (781) 467-8555 • elkarehphotography@gmail.com Worcester County Karen Morang • (508) 797-2828 • karen@mahorse.com
State-of-the-Art Equine Laundry Facility Expert Tack Repair
advertising main office • (413) 268-3302 • ads@mahorse.com Advertising deadline for the August/September issue is July 10.
Gently Used Blankets and Tack for Sale Brass Name Plates Engraved
Two-day-old Morgan colt Taking Wall Street, a.k.a. Coop, owned by Cate and Tamra Lynch at Sebring Stables in Richmond.
Established 1980
Jennifer Safron www.jennstackandblanket.com JennsTackRepair@comcast.net 114 Coburn Ave., Gardner, MA (978) 340-5576 Please call for hours 6
June/July 2017
Blue Moon Images, Stockbridge bluemoonimages.smugmug.com
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: I received the April/May issue of Massachusetts Horse yesterday and thank you so much [for the Lend a Hoof feature on Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue.] You did an awesome job! Thank you for really listening to my story. Marianne Lemelin, Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue, Granby
To the editor: I won the Massachusetts Horse Junior Horsemanship Award at the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) Zone 1 Finals in West Springfield. I’m 17 years old and will be attending Centenary University as an equine studies major in the fall. My lease horse is Sommersett and his barn name is Oliver. He’s an 18-year-old, 17-hand, off-the-track Thoroughbred. People always talk about their once-in-a-lifetime horse and that’s exactly what Oliver is to me. He’s majorly impacted my life in the past three years and means the world to me. I truly hope that everyone can find something in a horse that I have found in him — he’s my partner in crime and my everything. I ride on and am a co-captain of the Hidden Brook Stables IEA team. IEA has been a great opportunity to interact with new horses and other equestrians and really brings a team aspect to horseback riding as a sport. I’ve made some of my closest friends through IEA and I highly recommend it to any young rider as it takes you out of your comfort zone and gives a whole world of new opportunities.
Let us know your thoughts!
Hana Aksterowicz, East Lyme, Connecticut
We’ll enter you to win a $75 Cheshire Horse gift card! All letters received by July 5 will be entered in the drawing. Send your letters to: steph@mahorse.com or Massachusetts Horse, 99 Bissell Rd., Williamsburg, MA 01096.
Massachusetts Horse
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Buying and Selling Your Farm
by Susan Winslow and Stephanie Sanders
W
ho hasn’t dreamed of looking out the window to see horses grazing contently in the backyard or, better yet, your own back 40? A farm purchase is exciting, but that dream can turn into a nightmare on both the buyer’s side and the seller’s if you don’t proceed with caution, good sense, and a reliable real-estate agent. Farms are considered specialty properties, and unlike residential properties, there are many more details to consider before you sign on the dotted line. Local regulations, livestock restrictions, and conservation and wetland issues are just a few of the topics you need to know about when searching for an equestrian property. Then there’s the barn and fence configuration, turnout area, stall sizes, and the all-important neighbor situation to consider before you even look at the home. Fortunately, though, most pitfalls can be avoided by doing your homework, leaving emotion out of the purchase, and working with a reputable Realtor who understands equestrian properties. A real-estate agent well versed in horses won’t bat an eye when a prospec8
June/July 2017
tive buyer rushes out to size up the barn and pasture before even glancing at the home. A buyer’s agent who understands the distinctive needs of horse owners can save shoppers valuable time and money during the search process by eliminating unsuitable properties early on. At the same time, a selling agent familiar with horses can highlight the most positive aspects of a property and direct the marketing toward appropriate buyers. When everyone is running on a busy schedule and time is valuable, an agent who knows horses is a tremendous asset. Massachusetts Horse spoke with two real-estate veterans who shared tips on both buying and selling equestrian property.
Buying Sally Mann, a Realtor with Equine Homes, is a matchmaker. She listens, counsels, and helps buyers navigate the details, deadlines, and calms frazzled nerves that often accompany the purchase of an equestrian property. She grew up on a farm in central Massachusetts surrounded by acres of open hayfields and an array of animals, including cows, horses, chickens, and bison. Sally’s love
and appreciation for farms, open land, and animals was fostered by this upbringing. After working in the corporate world for 20 years, she moved to New Hampshire and decided to pursue real estate after personally investing in real estate over the years. Equine Homes was the perfect match. It provided the opportunity to work with buyers and sellers who had the same love for land, farms, and animals. Equine Homes is a full-service agency. Its main function is to connect buyers and sellers of country and equestrian properties. It was started in 1995 by a horsewoman who decided the time had come to make it easier for buyers to find the unique properties that comprise the equine market, and for sellers to market directly to their target audience. Agency owner Judy Fallon successfully combined her passions for real estate and horses, and the company has grown steadily from a small New Hampshire firm to one of the leading equine-property venues. Sally says, “We cover all of the New England states, and since 2003 we have had a presence in Wellington and Ocala, Florida, two areas that are
photo courtesy of the Carriage Shed, carriageshed.com
Equestrian Properties
nationally known for their active horse communities.” Sally emphasizes the value of working with a reputable real-estate agent who understands the unique challenges faced by both buyers and sellers when working with equine properties. “Buying or selling a horse property is much more complex than selling a residential property, so it’s important to work with people who speak the language,” Sally says. “By asking the right questions, a buyer’s agent [a real-estate agent who contractually represents the buyer] can also narrow down the list of available properties to meet the specific needs of a horse owner who is looking to buy. On the seller’s side, we’re able to help sellers market their farms to a large audience of horse owners.” According to Sally, 80 percent of all buyers start their farm search online, and the agents at Equine Homes have assisted buyers from as far away as Switzerland and Singapore. “Because we’ve had a strong internet presence since we launched our website back in 1995,” she says, “buyers come to us from all over the globe. If we can’t help them directly, we’re able to refer them to other equine-property specialists in the region where they want to buy.”
She stresses the importance of due diligence when it comes to buying a horse property: “Check town regulations; make sure there are no restrictions on the number of horses you can have per acre. Check for deed restrictions, wetlands, and if the land is part of any type of conservation program [including 61A and APR in Massachusetts]. Because most horse people are concerned with the property’s proximity to roads and the surroundings,” she says, “take a very close look the general area as well as the neighbors.” Sally also recommends the use of websites that offer aerial views of properties. “Financing a horse property, including the appraisal process, can be more difficult than a standard single family home,” Sally says. “Not all lenders will finance horse properties. Their unique characteristics and amenities makes finding similar sold properties to use as comparisons during the appraisal process a challenge. Most lender’s strict appraisal guidelines and standard adjustments require minimal values to be placed on outbuildings and improvements such as barns, heated tack rooms, fenced grazing pastures, and riding arenas. There may be times
that buyers and sellers renegotiate the purchase price, introduce concessions, or the buyer may be required to finance less and use more cash.” Sally offers the following advice for potential buyers: “Working with an agent that is knowledgeable and fully understands equestrian properties can provide invaluable insight and be of tremendous assistance during the purchasing process. Use their expertise to guide you and negotiate even down to specifics like whether the stall mats, fencing, and gates are included in the sale. At Equine Homes, our agents orchestrate all the essential services required to for a positive purchase that suits your budget and needs.”
A Checklist for Buyers Kathryn O’Brien has been a Realtor with RE/MAX for the past 24 years, during which time she has sold more than 1,200 equestrian properties. She offers the following checklist for horse owners considering the purchase of an equine property: • Check wetland restrictions. Any wetlands on the property can cause diminished use of a portion of the land. You need to know that up front. If the farm has never been surveyed, one might be
Massachusetts Horse
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in order if the boundaries are not very clear. • Check the water source. If it’s well water, check the flow rate. If it’s municipal water, get copies of the last two years’ bills and compare them with the number of horses the seller has housed and the number you would house. How many hydrants are installed and how long must the hose be to reach all the water buckets? • Check the electrical system. Make sure the wires are safely inside a metal conduit. Have an electrician take a look. The circuit-breaker box should be large enough to accommodate the electrical needs. • If the barn has a bath and washing facilities, ascertain whether the facility has a full and approved septic tank or just a cesspool. • Are there any trails? Access is an issue. How accessible are the trails? Before you buy, check out the condition of the trails: are they rocky, wet?
• Ask around about the mosquitoes, greenheads, deerflies, and midges. No one expects a bug-free environment, but some marshy areas can be horrible to ride through.
Will I be able to sell this property when I want to? What’s the cost for insurance? Will I need to obtain any special permits?
• Make sure you get a structural inspection of the barns and outbuildings; most building inspectors look at just a home. Check for rotted carrying beams and sills. In each stall, investigate the footing under the mats and check for rodents.
Selling
• Ask if a former horse has had strangles or any other communicable disease. Strangles virus, for example, can remain active for up to a month. • Check the pastures for weeds and plants/bushes that might be poisonous.
Other Considerations for a Buyer How am I going to finance this property? FNMA and FDMAC will not finance any property of more than 10 acres. Will the owner finance? You may need to look into private lenders, a farm bureau, or Farm Credit East in Connecticut..
Anyone who watches even an hour of HGTV knows that the key to selling a home is a strong presentation. When preparing your property for sale, cleanliness speaks volumes about the history of care and maintenance. After you’ve cleared out the clutter and fixed all those nagging little things you’ve ignored for years, it’s time to turn to a strong listing agent to market your farm. A good listing agent can make all the difference when it comes to marketing a property. To assist the agent, make a list of the positive aspects of your property: a description of the local horse community and activities, for example, and its proximity to major routes, the beach, show venues, trails, veterinary hospitals, and major cities. Armed with this information, the listing agent will be able to present your property in its
Perfect Horse Property on 38 Acres in Petersham!
2003 Colonial reproduction home, two-car garage, seven-stall stable, two double run-in sheds, fenced pastures and paddocks, huge riding/driving arena for any equestrian use, woods, trails, and paths. Near Quabbin Reservoir and other reservation lands. All set up for easy and fun horse pursuits. And . . . you’ll love Petersham Village! Asking $625,000.
Call Althea Bramhall, Realtor, at (617) 678-9300 (voice & text) xxxxxx Or email althearealtor@gmail.com
Always Call Althea! 10
June/July 2017
Congratulations to the 2017 Youth Mustang Trainers! Sponsored by It’s A Pleasure Training with Peter Whitmore and Crimson Acres Nineteen youth trainers have been gentling and training a yearling wild Mustang!
Tori-Lynn Brinton Mollie Brooks Marissa Dilla James Duffy Olivia Kornbrek
Cat Zimmerman
Gracie-Lynn Mastalerz Mia Nagle Clare Nelson Lindsey Nobes Ginger Plache
Chase Reinbold Cody Reinbold Rachel Roland Citrus Triplett Caelyn Waite
Mollie Brooks
Griffin Webb Brooklin Wheeler Sage Witham-Stevens Cat Zimmerman
Cody Reinbold
Come to the Youth Mustang Competition June 16 & 17 at the Big E in West Springfield and cheer on the 19 youth trainers and their Mustangs! To learn more, visit extrememustangmakeover.com.
Are you and your horse having problems? Would you like your horse started under saddle and/or in harness? Peter specializes in starting young horses correctly. 100% customer satisfaction using the round pen and 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 $1,000, including board.
It’s a Pleasure Training with Peter Whitmore (978) 652-2231 . ItsaPleasureTraining.com Massachusetts Horse
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Everyday low prices on new & used trailers!
Horse & Pony Sales We specialize in horse trading. We can match an owner with the perfect horse just about every time! From Western Pleasure to Trail, Driving to Cutting, we have a great selection that will please any equestrian.
“Ask around. Look for a Realtor, a member of the National Association of Realtors, who rides and has his or her own horses. It’s even better if you can find a Realtor who owns a horse facility, because that person has a more intimate knowledge of what it takes on a day-to-day basis to efficiently run a facility of any size. Choose a Realtor who lives in your area, so he or she will be available to accompany you to each showing and explain the benefits of each property thoroughly.”
Matchmaking
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Grain . Hay . Shavings Paper or plastic bag shavings. Wood pellet bedding. Quality Canadian and NY hay; first and second cut timothy to alfalfa. Large square and round bales, too!
Team Sorting & Penning . Amerikhanas . Barrel Racing
Chipaway Stables Dave Costa, owner/operator . 132 Quaker Lane, Acushnet . 8:30 A .M. to 5 P.M., 7 days
508-763-5158 . www.chipawaystables.com best light and answer a buyer’s questions with in-depth knowledge. Kathryn, an avid horsewoman, is a member of the Myopia Hunt and the Essex County Trail Association and chair of the Agricultural Commission in Newbury. She is also the owner of 26acre By The Way Farm, also in Newbury, where she balances her busy professional life with early-morning rides on any one of her four horses: three Premarin rescues and an Egyptian Arabian rescue. She shares her expertise as a listing agent with people who are ready to sell. “As a former public school principal and lifelong learner, I see my job as an educator when I’m selling any home,” Kathryn says. “Horse properties have many more elements that need to be researched and completely understood before making an investment like this.” Kathryn devotes a great deal of time to research before a property hits the market. She describes the process: “I spend about a week investigating exactly what I’m selling. I research the zoning, conservation commission, and board of health issues as well as any notices of violations that have occurred in the past. I visit town halls and check for building 12
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code compliances and septic certifications. I research the age of the buildings and if there are permits necessary for a change of use. I check with the town planner to see if there are any issues pending or will be in the near future that could negatively or positively impact the sale of the home. I go to the registry of deeds and make copies of recorded plans and see if there are any plans for subdivision in the area. I see if the parcel in question may be subdivided.” Next, she turns to the financial challenges. “I research the data a bank appraiser will use to determine the objective value of the property,” she says, “My next step is to figure out how the average consumer will be able to receive financing on the property. A commercial loan is strictly by the book and if the seller doesn’t have an up-todate profit-and-loss statement for the business, the task becomes more difficult. Most of the smaller properties are financed based on the buyer’s income, with little emphasis placed on the equestrian component of the property.” Kathryn uses the same procedure when working as a buyer’s agent. She offers the following advice on finding a reputable real-estate agent:
“Matching a potential buyer’s needs is very important,” says Joan Henderson of J Barrett & Company Real Estate. “There are so many considerations, such as the right location for the right discipline, and whether they need an indoor facility close by or the ability to hack to trails if they are mostly casual trail riders.” Joan’s been a Realtor for 30 years and horses have been her passion since she was 14. Her horses have been boarded at various facilities in Hamilton and Ipswich and now are at home on her dream farm she built in 2014. “Settling in a horse-oriented community like Hamilton, Ipswich, Essex, Newbury, and West Newbury offers countless trails, various disciplines, and professional trainers,” says Joan. “The future looks even better. Recent purchases of Sagamore Hill and Daniels Polo include plans to incorporate even more areas of trails open to riders and the community.” “Being a Realtor in this area is extremely satisfying,” Joan says. “Being able to match buyers and sellers and helping them get settled so they can live the equestrian lifestyle they long for is very rewarding. People also reach out long after the sales are completed, which has given me the opportunity to make long-lasting friendships.” In fact, friends and referrals within the equine community are the backbone of Joan’s business. In conjunction with her equine business connections, she’s able to match sellers with potential buyers. Whether you’re moving on from your property or looking for the farm of a lifetime, do the research and work with the professionals — you’ll be glad you did both.
color page
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Merrimac
by Nona C. Maiorano
“
T
Horseperson Feature
Vitor Silva Classical Integrity
hey’re beautiful aren’t they?” asked a gentle deep voice with a slight accent. I was standing tilted on my right hip, arms folded across my chest watching a video that was on a demonstration table at Equine Affaire. I responded, “Yes, they are but I don’t know much about Lusitanos.” The kind voice then said, “Well, a good horse is a good horse no matter the breed.” It was that statement that made me stop watching the video and turn to see the person who was addressing me. To my great surprise, it was Vitor Silva, the man in the video I had been watching. Vitor owns Sons of the Wind Farm in Merrimac, where he raises and trains Lusitanos. Although Vitor’s posture is extremely correct, his stance is not rigid. He presents openness, an uncanny friendliness, and a genuine persona of sincerity. It’s not enough to say that Vitor owns or operates Sons of the Wind Farm. Vitor is Sons of the Wind Farm. That all-encompassing phenomenon is experienced from the moment you drive through the ornate wrought iron gates and make your way to the impressive fountain area in front of a well-maintained barn and indoor arena with state-of-the-art footing. There’s an air of peaceful tranquility, ease, and pristine care as you take in the surroundings. Every detail has been attended to, from a special longeing arena, a comfortable viewing area in the arena with classical music playing, to lush big pastures, outdoor wash stalls for summer bathing as well as a treadmill for the horses’ warmup. No one seems rushed. All the horses are calmly in their stalls munching hay, snoozing, or outside grazing. The farm and horses reflect the pride of a life dedicated to hard work. The study of dressage is about bringing out the best of the horse as a dancer. In that pursuit is the truth of this art. Without vigilance and commitment to a process devoted to the horse’s wellbeing, the purity of that goal can be marred by the avenues taken in training.
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Classical training accommodates the training for the individual horse and brings out that beauty and elegance through patience and individual assessment. It’s the rare person who can master his craft, propel others forward along with him, and bring it full circle to be giving in return rather than taking. Vitor is that person — he’s invested in body, mind, and soul.
Vitor immigrated to the United States from Portugal at the age of 19 with the goal of starting his own business, and to one day be a gentleman farmer. Horses were not his first choice — another example of the saying ‘horses choose us.’ For Vitor it began that autumn when he met his first Lusitano horse at a farm in Burlington, Vermont, where an older woman had seen Vitor with his special cap and knew he was Portuguese. “I have the horse for you!” she said. Vitor met the horse that would shape his future. The horse was trained for the circus. Vitor hopped on and the horse immediately stood on his hind legs and was quite happy staying there. Vitor later understood the horse had been trained to do this as it was part of the horse’s act! At the end of the circus demonstration, which Vitor stayed to see, the woman, who would later become Vitor’s mentor,
put this horse on Vitor’s trailer and said, “I’ll be back April 1. If you train the horse and want him, you may buy him. If not, I’ll just take him back.” There was no contract, no phone number, just a promise. So began Vitor’s classical life. He trained this horse, grew to love him, and on April 1, bought him! Then the challenge came. Vitor knew that he would have to sell his horse to move on to another to grow as a rider and to make money for his ambition, revealing the business genius of this son of a middle class Portuguese business man. Vitor’s father taught him his vast worth as a human being and the worth of all human and animal life as it’s to be respected and treated with humanitarian guidance. Vitor understood that to create his dream — a riding school where people who love horses could to learn to ride properly in a nonjudgmental environment — he would have to anticipate the needs of others and seize every opportunity to create his vision. Today, Vitor is a master of classical riding and of studying situations, people and horses, and aligning those dynamics to create a successful outcome for all involved. Vitor never relied on anyone but himself to realize his dream. He didn’t strive to win ribbons and prizes, choosing instead to focus on mastering his craft and creating a school where riders could learn classical dressage. When pressed, Vitor will explain why not all dressage riders are trainers. Many riders may study how to train yet it takes a special trainer — one who’s willing to be humble, put his or her ego aside, hear the horse, be kind to the horse, and enjoy the horse — to find the way to train the horse according to the horse’s needs. These trainers are the true servants of the horse. Vitor has incorporated Old World classical riding into today’s dressage. He has identified a need in the dressage community and brings his special talents in classical training, long lining, and
haute école to help those who are open to his tried and true methods. He’s quick to say that there’s nothing new under the sun when it comes to training horses. For Vitor it’s very straightforward: Look at the horse before him, evaluate the needs of this horse —whether it’s a world class horse or a horse destined to be an equine partner for someone who may never go beyond training level —and train the horse for whom it came here to be. This is the same philosophy Vitor has with his students. He knows we come in all shapes and sizes, and as he says, “We are who we are.” He works with what is before him without bemoaning, belittling, or diminishing the student's experience, because for him, if a student attains just one inkling before leaving his farm, they have a piece of treasure, a treasure they can choose to grow or not to grow. Vitor is in the business to breed, train, and sell horses. Sons of the Wind Farm offers trained Lusitano horses for clients to purchase and fully supports the client’s needs. When one goes to the farm to shop for a horse, it’s much like going to a luxury dealership. Vitor’s developed his own breeding line; however, he will work with any horse. As he says, “A good horse is a good horse no
matter the breed.” People can buy a horse with confidence and have the horse presented by someone with knowledge, experience, and integrity. That integrity is the basis of Vitor’s business. Sons of the Wind Farm is a magical place. It has all the amenities one could ask for, including lodging in Vitor’s beautiful home if you have come from far away to train with him. Vitor’s nature is one that envelopes you as a member of his family, to be treated as a worthy horseman or horsewoman, to be broadened as a human being, and to leave his farm and him a better person for the encounter, however long that may be — a day, a week, a year, a lifetime. “The best is yet to come for Sons of the Wind,” says Vitor, a true gentleman and honorable soul who gives so much guidance to horse enthusiasts and equally as much kindness toward horses. Nona C. Maiorano, of Dolce Dressage in Rehoboth, has been a freelance dressage instructor, trainer, and clinician for more than 25 years. Her goal is to help horse and rider find balance in life while learning dressage.
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Farm Feature
Hatfield
RER Ponies U.S. Pony Club Center
by Alessandra Mele
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with a few stalls I built myself in an old tobacco barn and I had two horses I taught a few neighborhood kids on.” It’s difficult to believe that was ever the case, witnessing the packed lesson schedule and seven-stall barn overflowing with horses and riders on any given weeknight. Through a lot of hard work,
courtesy of RER Ponies
he scene on a rainy Wednesday evening at RER Ponies in Hatfield is a refreshing one: lesson ponies are being carefully groomed, tacked, and mounted; full wheelbarrows are in transit down the aisle way; water buckets are filled; and horses are led in from paddocks in pairs. The chores are not carried out by stable hands, though — all the helpers are young riders, pitching in on Pony Club night. At the center of this Pony Club flurry is Heather Dostal. She’s stationed in the riding ring, focused on a Pony Clubber completing a bending line. She cheers at the end of a successful course, praising her student’s quiet hands and patient eyes, then beckons all her young riders to join her in the center to conclude the lesson. “What did we do well today?” she asks. “What can we do better? What are some goals for the week?” Each rider offers thoughtful responses, eager to share what they have learned. The students leave the ring smiling, off to untack the horses and join in the effort to get the barn fed for the night, exemplifying the well-rounded horsemanship taught at RER Ponies.
Building the Dream Fifteen years earlier, Heather was a trainer freelancing at several local farms, dreaming of a barn of her own. Her background is in dressage and eventing, with a heavy focus on classical dressage training. When she found the right piece of farmland in Hatfield, the beginnings were humble, but she recognized the potential it held for her and her students. “The place was very broken down, and it was a slow process getting it to where I wanted it to be,” Heather says, remembering. “It began 16
June/July 2017
strategic goal setting, and support from her family and her husband, Todd, Heather grew RER Ponies into the facility it is today. “We have ten stalls now on two different pieces of property, and are looking forward to adding five more this fall,” Heather says. “We currently have an outdoor riding ring, a gallop track, cross country jumps, and miles of trails for our students to ride on.” Although the expansion has been significant from where RER Ponies first began, Heather is constantly feeling the pressure of her business outgrowing her facility, which is a good problem to have, she points out. “I first really started to feel that we had outgrown our farm in 2011, and that was when we decided to purchase new property, and expand to a second location,” Heather says. The second RER Ponies location is just a half mile down the road from the original barn, and students can frequently be seen riding their horses back and forth down the quiet country road. “We built a five-stall barn there, and are in the process of developing it even further.”
Even as she continues adding to the facility, Heather understands the importance of keeping the atmosphere of the barn tight-knit, allowing her to give each student personal attention. “Because we’re smaller, it’s like a family,” says Heather. “Kids grow up here. Everyone helps each other out. And, my adult amateurs find this barn a place of solitude for each of them. I’m able to make sure everyone’s needs are met, and I don’t want to lose that.” Operating in two separate locations can complicate those values, and Heather’s eager to have everyone back together again with this year’s expansion. “We want to all be in one spot,” she says. “It can be challenging being in two different locations, and I’m finding the back-and-forth harder than ever, especially with a two-year-old daughter! We’re in the process of building a new barn, an indoor arena, and new facilities, including a big classroom, that will bring everything back together at our second location, and we couldn’t be more excited.” This most recent development will be complete this fall.
Something for Everyone Heather is a USDF bronze medalist and USDF “L” graduate judge. She’s British Horse Society educated and has trained with Olympians Lendon Gray, Michael Poulin, David O’Connor, and currently Jacqueline Brooks. Heather’s an active dressage competitor and has competed to the upper levels in eventing. The number of programs available at RER Ponies certainly warrant an expanded facility. “We have something for everyone here; there just aren’t enough nights in the week,” Heather says, laughing. She jokes, but it’s true: the schedule is full to the brim and offers an impressive variety for riders of all ages interested in dressage and
eventing. “I’m excited to have more flexibility to take on a little more with our expansion. We have openings for adults and children.” Wednesday night is Pony Club night. RER Ponies is a United States Pony Club Center, and the mission, values, and curriculum set forth by Pony Club are at the core of much of what RER Ponies does. “We have Junior Pony Club for riders four to ten years old, Pony Club for kids older than that, and most recently, Adult Pony Club,” Heather says. She’s a true advocate for the well-rounded horsemanship that Pony Club instills through education. “First and foremost we are an educational facility. We’re the definition of what a USPC Riding Center is and we provide educational opportunities for all. We’re continuously learning from each other, and that process remains our main focus.” An essential part of that education is learning how to care for the horses, from nutrition to grooming to barn chores. “At Pony Club rallies the kids have to take care of the horses themselves,” Heather says. “I need to feel positive that when we go, they’re able to do everything correctly and with confidence. So here, the students are responsible for feeding the Pony Club mounts, keeping the barn clean, and all elements of making sure their horses are properly cared for.” The Pony Clubbers don’t seem to mind this one bit. They scurry from stall to stall, changing blankets, putting away tack, preparing grain, and filling buckets for the Pony Club mounts. Brooke Lacey is 14 years old and has been participating in Pony Club at RER Ponies for three years. She’s giggling with a few other girls in jodhpurs and paddock boots as they prepare dinner in the grain room. “I love helping out around the barn,” she says, smiling widely. “Pony Club is especially fun because it’s not only riding, but actually learning about and participating in everything that goes on in the barn, all with a group of friends.” Her friends agree, recalling endless happy memories made at the barn together. This camaraderie and focus on learning isn’t just reserved for the kids. Heather has recently started an adult Pony Club known as Horsemasters, which allows her adult riders to achieve their Pony Club certification, as well as other adult amateur riding programs. This initiative has been well received,
and is quickly expanding. “I have one adult rider working toward her USDF bronze medal with hopes to get her horse to FEI and another is working toward her dream of riding in a cancer benefit ride,” says Heather. Two totally different riders working toward different goals and both happy and eager with Heather’s help. Janet Laprade is an adult amateur rider as well as a boarder, and is proud to call RER Ponies home. “Over many decades, I’ve boarded at a number of facilities, all very good, but RER Ponies is the gold standard,” she says. “With Heather’s exemplary care of the horses, her thoughtful and knowledgeable instruction, the outstanding clinicians she brings to the farm, and her cheery ‘can-do’ perspective, I’ve finally found home.” Additionally, there are junior and senior youth show teams for both dressage and jumping, which allow students to be competitive, commit to riding several times a week, and often lease or own their own horses. The barn has a full event, clinic, and show schedule for the upcoming season all around New England, but it’s not only the show team kids that will be participating. “There are quite a few serious, competitive kids here setting goals and building their résumés, but there are also plenty of kids who choose not to compete, and they have goals, too,” says Heather. “We’re all about supporting each other, and I love that.” RER Ponies riders compete in the USDF Pin Program, USEF Athlete Letter Program, Lendon Grey’s Dressage4Kids, and USDF Rider Awards. “Kaleigh Simmons has recently achieved her USDF Pin Award for academic and riding achievements,” says Heather. “She’s one of only thirty-one riders in the United States!” The result of this goal-oriented approach, combined with a strong sense of community, is confident, selfsufficient riders. “My daughter Sierra has blossomed at RER Ponies, and is eager to learn all she can here,” says Margarita Kuzmeski. “She wants to spend as much time as she can here and has gained exposure to so many different elements of horsemanship as a result.” Twelve-year-old Sierra agrees: “I’ve been riding here for seven years, and I feel like I’ve progressed a lot. I love
being around the horses and learning from Heather.”
A Labor of Love The Wednesday evening Pony Clubbers close stall doors for the night, pack up their belongings, wave goodbye to Heather, and meet patient parents waiting in cars. Heather is left among horses backlit by sunset, quietly munching on hay, content after a busy day of lessons. She’s ready to go check on barn number two down the road, and end the day over dinner with her husband and daughter. This is her way of life and she wouldn’t trade it for anything. “I’m so fortunate to be doing what I love,” she says, sincerely. “I always knew I’d be standing in the middle of an arena all day, and here I am doing it; this has been my goal my whole life. It’s been incredible to see the dream develop.” As RER Ponies grows, so do Heather’s goals. Alongside the community she’s fostered here, there’s no stopping her. Alessandra Mele, who lives in Wilbraham, works in marketing at W. F. Young/Absorbine. She enjoys spending time with the horses on her family’s farm, especially riding her Quarter Horse, JoJo.
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Country Corral 35 Main St., rear, Rte. 9, Williamsburg, MA (413) 268-0180 countrycorral@aol.com M-F 9:30AM - 5:30PM, Sat 9:30AM - 4:00PM Right behind A-1 Hilltown Pizza in Williamsburg center.
Massachusetts Horse
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Horse Logic by Nicole Birkholzer
Clash of Two Leaders
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often refer to horses as “energy sponges” to describe how horses take in — and often hold — energy and stress from their environment. At a recent farm call it was once again confirmed that horses not only feel what goes on around them but that the reactions to those feelings can affect both their own and their owner’s lives.
eyes soft. I took a deep breath and took in the scene. Madi occupied the stall next to Secret on the right, a chestnut pony gelding was on his left. Across the aisle from Secret and Madi was another mare.
A Change in Behavior Secret had become aggressive seemingly out of the blue, according to his owner Emily. During a recent vet exam Secret had reared up and twisted on the cross ties. On his way down he bumped Emily, who fell to the floor, landing on her back looking up at the soles of Secret’s hooves. Fortunately, Emily was not trampled, but her bruised back reminded her of the incident for days. A few days later on a trail ride, Emily’s dog, a regular visitor at the barn, trotted out of the woods. Secret reared up again; this time so high that Emily’s face collided with his poll. Emily’s lower lip was bruised but thankfully she didn’t lose any teeth. As the days went on it became increasingly challenging for Emily to take Secret out of his stall and up the path to his pasture. The 17-hand Thoroughbred danced and reared on the lead line to the point where Emily had to put a chain over Secret’s nose to feel somewhat in control and safe. For Emily, an accomplished horsewoman, this was devastating. She’d acquired Secret 11 years earlier, retrained him, added Madi, a companion Quarter Horse mare, a few years later, and had planned to live with both happily ever after. She just couldn’t figure out what had changed Secret’s behavior so dramatically.
Anxiety and Power It was late afternoon when I arrived at Secret’s barn and the horses were in their stalls. As I entered the barn aisle, Secret immediately stuck his face over the stall door, ears pricked forward, his 18 June/July 2017
the poll area. I asked Emily if I could go into the stall. “Of course,” she said. “But, be careful. He’s unpredictable these days.” As I positioned myself next to Secret’s shoulder he grew a little more agitated. He moved away from my hand and started to attack the metal stall door with his teeth so I removed my hand and retreated. Standing quietly next to Secret I was suddenly overwhelmed by a wave of heart-pounding energy. It was a mix of anxiety and tremendous power that almost knocked me off my feet.
Leadership Struggle
Secret appeared curious, even playful. He sniffed my hand and nuzzled my jacket, but the moment I lifted my hand to place it on his neck Secret’s eye grew concerned. When I moved my hands closer to his poll his eye became leery and he moved his head away from me. Emily shared that her horses had recently moved to this new barn. During the day, Secret and Madi were turned out together in their own pasture, while the pony and the other mare were together in another field. Emily explained that Secret was the leader of his herd of two and that it was the first time since she’d had him that Secret was exposed to another gelding on a property. When I concluded my initial assessment, I explained to Emily that a lot of horses hold tension in the area between the ears, especially horses in a leading position. Horses with a lot of herd responsibility think a lot, which can cause a headache-like sensation around
I breathed deeply to stay grounded and asked Secret to share, or show me, what affected him so deeply. As I explained my experience to Emily, Secret tried to get my attention. He repeatedly looked aggressively toward the pony in the next stall and then moved his head up and down. His behavior spurred Emily on to share one more piece of information. Initially, Madi was in the stall Secret was now occupying. But Madi had attacked and chewed the wall that separated her from the pony gelding, so Emily had concluded Madi was not compatible with the pony and moved Secret into that stall. This was a vital piece of information. Still affected by Secret’s energy, I wanted more space between us and left the stall. Standing out in the aisle next to his door I brought my hand close to his head and offered some healing, but Secret turned his head away from me again. I wasn’t surprised. Horses that are strong herd leaders often refuse attention to an area that is in crisis. Revealing any vulnerability can put their leadership positions in jeopardy. In order to help Secret I needed to override his defensive behavior. Only then would he understand that help was available.
I explained to Secret that we needed to get to the bottom of this. I asked him to please put his nose into the halter, which he did, and holding his halter loosely but firmly enough to defend any nipping motions, worked my hand slowly closer to Secret’s poll. There was a fiery energy cruising along the ridge of his neck, between his ears, down toward his forehead. I held my hand steady, breathing deeply, looking for Secret to soften his gaze, lower his head, or show any other sign of relaxation. He couldn’t relax and continued to evade. I invited him again and asked him to drop his guard just a little so we could understand what was going on and how to help him. In that moment, Secret, his head still bobbing up and down, still resisting my touch, offered insight. I received a message from him that he couldn’t drop his guard because he was fighting for leadership with the pony next door. If he dropped his guard he’d surrender his leadership position. There it was. He gave me the reason for his behavior. He couldn’t focus on his relationship with Emily or his work until this dispute was settled.
Resolution As I relayed this information to Emily, Secret took several deep breaths and blew out through his nose. Then he dropped his head and yawned, once, twice, three times, releasing much of the fiery tension I had felt only moments ago around the top of his head. He shook his head a few times and continued to blow out through his nose, letting go of that pent-up tension, again and again. Because the four horses were divided into mini-herds it was impossible for the two leaders to figure out who was in charge. Considering their difference in size, and that the pony belonged to another person, I was certainly not suggesting that the two geldings duke it out in the field. Rather, Emily could explain to Secret that there were two herds in this barn — Secret was the leader of one, and the pony led the other. Every time Emily took Secret out of his stall and headed for the pasture she needed to remind him that Madi was his only responsibility. If Secret pinned his ears toward the pony or showed he was questioning his role Emily needed to remind him that the other horses were none of his business.
I recommended that Emily spend some time simply being with Secret so that they could reconnect. Their relationship had gotten far off the rails. It was time to sit and breathe together. Connecting like this would help Secret release more of the tension that had accumulated in his body. The next day Emily texted me: “I cannot thank you enough for the powerful shift in perspective you provided for me about Secret. [I] had an amazing day with him today. He’s still on the fence about things but was willing to receive some Reiki. He kept giving me his butt, his root chakra, then walked away and came back for more when he was ready. I see progress and possibility where I was feeling hopeless. Unbelievable.” Three days later another text: “Secret is almost back to normal; we’ve been practicing boundary setting toward the pony gelding. He’s responding to that in a big way. I cannot believe that I was actually contemplating parting ways with him. [I’m] so grateful.” As horse owners we may feel puzzled when our horses display a behavior that we can’t understand, and in many instances it’s not an issue for a vet or trainer. In my experience there’s always a reason for the behavior and it’s not impossible to find out why. Horses are usually willing to share information; this is where you may find it helpful to contact an equine communication expert to interpret the information correctly so that you as the owner have a plan to help, solve, or rectify what’s going on. Nicole Birkholzer is a horse advocate, animal communication expert, and the author of Pet Logic. Nicole is pioneering a new approach to horsemanship where horses are honored as soul companions and partners. To learn more about Nicole’s services go to nicolebirkholzer.com.
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Massachusetts Horse
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Trail Guide
Warwick
Mount Grace
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ocated in north central Massachusetts is the 1,458-acre Mount Grace State Forest in Warwick. It’s fairly remote, with other state property comprising a large swath of forested area. Many recreational opportunities are available in Mount Grace including hiking, horseback riding, hunting, mountain biking, picnicking, and cross-country skiing. Bay State equestrians will enjoy the challenge and peacefulness of these trails. The forest’s name comes from 1,621-foot Mount Grace, the third highest elevation east of the Connecticut River in Massachusetts. The name of the peak dates back to the Colonial area. In 1676, during King Philip’s War (King Philip was a name chosen by Metacom, leader of the Wampanoag tribe) with the colonists, a woman named Mary Rowlandson was captured by a band of King Philip’s warriors in the town of Lancaster, 40 miles east of Warwick. Mary had an infant daughter, Grace, whom she took with her, but Grace died on the march toward Canada. It is said that Grace was buried by her mother’s hands at the foot of the mountain that now bears her name. Warwick is in the northern Pioneer Valley, on the New Hampshire border and in the foothills of the Holyoke Range and Mount Tom Range. In addition, large vistas of agricultural land surround you in the towns south of Warwick. I drove past countless farms on my way to Mount Grace.
Getting a Leg Up The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) manages the property. There’s limited cell phone service at Mount Grace and in Warwick. My GPS in my phone couldn’t pick up my location at times. I had to stop and asked for directions, and will remember in the future that it is useful to have a printed copy of directions to a new location. 20
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There is a cell phone tower near the peak of Mount Grace that provides some service in various locations. Park at Ohlson Field on Route 78 in Warwick. It’s a large, paved parking lot with ample room to turn around a
Out Riding It
horse trailer. On a sunny Saturday afternoon in April, there was only one car in the lot when I arrived. You will need to print a map from mass.gov/dcr. There weren’t any available at the parking lot, and with a large remote area that has limited cell phone service, it’s imperative to have a map. There are no restroom facilities or water at Mount Grace, so you will need carry in whatever you will need. However, just up the hill at Ohlson Field, under a three-sided lean-to, there is a picnic area, including a grill and picnic tables. Bring your own charcoal and a picnic lunch for after your ride. Your horse can enjoy a hay bag at the trailer prior to the drive home. Remember to bring bug repellent for yourself and your horse. There are some wet areas with brooks in the forest, and with the warm winter we had, deer ticks and other pests will be abundant during all seasons.
ful of signage and stay on trails built for use by horses. Brown wooden signs are at major intersections on the trail. The M-M Trail, short for Metacomet-Monadnock Trail, crosses through Mount Grace State Forest. This is a 114-mile long hiking trail through the Pioneer Valley and into southern New Hampshire, and parts of it are open to horseback riding where the trail allows. The M-M Trail is blazed with painted white rectangles. Ride up the hill from the parking area. At the top of the hill is an old stone wall that may have been a foundation — but is completely built into the hill now. The top of the hill overlooks the parking area, and is also the location of the picnic area. The trails to the right of the parking lot, when facing the hill, are for foot traffic only. Once beyond the stone wall, on the trail at the top of the hill, equestrians share some hiking trails in order to reach the multi-use trails open to riders.
Some trails that are in Mount Grace Forest are for foot travel only. These are marked with signs at the trailhead, and some are blazed with blue triangles. It’s important for equestrians to be respect-
Stacey Stearns
by Stacey Stearns
The unpaved roads and snowmobile trails within Mount Grace State Forest also connect to Warwick State Forest and Northfield State Forest. These are the areas where you’ll spend the majority of your ride, as Mount Grace State Forest has a lot of hikingonly trails. The M-M trail leads you out toward Warwick and Northfield State Forests. Certain sections of the M-M trail are open to multi-use, including this one. Despite the blazes and trail intersection signs, I consulted my map frequently to check my location and be sure I wasn’t getting lost. Trails out of the parking area and deeper into the forest are steep in places, offering a good workout for your horse. In early spring trails can be wet from snow melt and rain. If this is the case, it’s best to avoid them, and find other places to ride as you can damage the trails and create erosion. Rocks are used in several steep areas of the trail to create a water bar that channels water off the side of the trail, instead of allowing it to continue running down the trail. As I started up the trail, I saw the telltale signs of horses that had been here before. The area is rocky, with roots jutting across the trails in places. Leaves from the large oak trees blanket the trails in places. There are also numerous pine trees. At one point, I looked down and noticed a tiny yellow and black garden snake slithering off the trail before I arrived at his spot. Hardwood trees such as oak outnumber the pine trees in many places in the forest, but overall there is a good mix. The trails are carpeted with pine needles and leaves, and I was appreciative of the hoof protection for my horse. Be on the lookout as you ride along for interesting flora and fauna in the forest. Aside from the snake, I heard birds singing, and encountered the occasional chipmunk. I’m sure larger wildlife is also abundant, but my horse and I didn’t mind missing them. There are some stream crossings on the trails, and a few of these provide the opportunity to water your horse. A few ponds dot the surrounding landscape, but they aren’t on state forest land. Mount Grace and the adjacent state forests offer a rugged beauty and remoteness at a relatively short distance
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from home. The opportunity to unplug from civilization and enjoy a quiet forest ride shouldn’t be missed. Whether riding alone or with friends, the area offers a glimpse into the past, and wilderness that will be available for generations to come. Traversing the trails and unpaved roads brings me a sense of peace and a deeper connection to my horse and the world around me. Happy trails!
at mahorse.com
Stacey Stearns, a lifelong equestrian from Connecticut, enjoys trail riding and endurance with her Morgan horses.
Massachusetts Horse
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Methuen
Lend a Hoof
MSPCA Nevins Farm 100 Years; 10,000 Horses by Andrea Bugbee
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isiting the MSPCA’s Nevins Farm in Methuen is like visiting a happy, hairy, feathery, furry, barking, mooing, nickering farmtopia — except that every single one of its adorable wards has no permanent home. This year, Massachusetts Horse has dedicated its September 23 Benefit Adventure Trail to raise funds for Nevins Farm. It’s the only open-door farm animal shelter in New England, which makes us certain Nevins is a cause our readers will want to ride for.
their behavior, we need to be here for every animal. It wasn’t until the late 1920s that domestic animals also began to be sheltered here at Nevins Farm; this was the first MSPCA animal shelter for cats, dogs, etc.” Now, 100 years after Harriet Nevins’s gift, Nevins Farm encompasses not one, but five compassionate pro-
Instead, we’re going to tell you all the ways that horse lovers like you can help.
courtesy of MSPCA
Foster! You know those Mustang and Thoroughbred makeover programs? Well, the Equine Center at Nevins Farm has a similar opportunity. It’s their three-month training foster program, and it’s perfect for riders who love a challenge but can’t commit to keeping a horse for life. “A lot of the horses we get have First, a Little History some training In 1868, Boston lawyer issue,” says Equine George Angell read a Center Manager horrifying newspaper Gia Barss. “They article. Two horses had would be more literally been driven to adoptable if somedeath because they one could do were forced to race, some work with pulling carriages and them and we two drivers each, over could adopt them 40 miles of rough out as more solid roads. Within a month, The first gas-powered equine ambulance in Massachusetts donated by Harriet Nevins in 1916. citizens.” On most George’s public outrage days, unfortugrams: the Noble Family Adoption had inspired enough compassionate nately, the Equine Center staff is too Center for domestic pets; the MSCPA supporters to found the Massachusetts busy even to answer the phones, let Equine Center for horses and farm aniSociety for the Prevention of Cruelty to alone dedicate training rides to multimals; the MSPCA Humane Education Animals, a nonprofit organization that ple horses. Program; the Equine Ambulance and continues to serve and protect animals Under this new training foster proSafety Program; and the Hillside Acre today. gram, approved equestrians can spend Animal Cemetery. Almost 50 years later, in 1917, three months working with a horse, As part of a well-earned birthday prominent Methuen landowner Harriet hopefully giving it the skills it needs for bravo, this is the perfect time to pause, Nevins donated a 55-acre farm to the a successful, long-term placement. The look back, and see just how magnificent foster family pays for daily upkeep such MSPCA to use as respite for cart horses. Harriet Nevins’ little rest farm has “She really wanted to have a place as hay, grain, and bedding. Nevins pays where horses from Boston could rest for become. for larger expenses, such as vet and fara month, and older police horses were rier bills. allowed to retire here at that time,” says Reader Advisory: You Are About “After three months, we re-evaluNevins Farm Director of Development to Want Another Horse ate,” Gia says. “So far, the results have Heather Robertson. The farm wasn’t Approximately 10,000 horses have been promising.” Gia says Nevins Farm truly a shelter back then. Instead, it was received direct assistance through also relies on a foster system to nurture more a space to accommodate humane Nevins Farm in the past 100 years. horses through medical lay-ups. treatment for working horses. Spread out, that’s 100 unwanted, ill, “Our entire history is really all neglected, or abused horses each year Adopt! Did you know that Nevins Farm about horses,” Heather says, adding, for 100 years. These horses’ stories are is just 15 minutes away from Dover “But as an open admissions facility, we compelling, shocking, hopeful, and Saddlery’s Plaistow, New Hampshire open our doors to every animal. No even heartwarming, but we’re not store? You and your best riding buddy matter what their health, their age, going to retell them here. can literally take a road trip to Dover, 22
June/July 2017
poke through the awesome leftovers in the bargain basement, and find one or two treasures to take home. Then you can do the same thing at Nevins Farm! Drive down the road to Methuen, poke through the farm, marvel at the awesome “leftover” (unwanted) horses, and find yourself a treasure to take home. Adoption fees run from $300 to $1,200 and, recently, Nevins held a feefree bonanza for companion horses like Socks, whose sore neck keeps him from being ridden, but who is so darn sweet he’s the fellow little kids always get to brush in Nevins Farm’s camps. No room for another horse? No worries. Nevins also has lonely pigs, goats, ducks, roosters . . . Not everyone is set up to take in farm animals, but as a horse owner, you might just have the perfect playground for one of these deserving animals.
Volunteer! If you live anywhere near Methuen and you love animals, then Nevins has countless critters that need your help. Volunteers ages 16 and older who take the time to go through the volunteer application and orientation process can become some of the humane humans who ease the way for approximately 6,000 animals served by Nevins each year. If you’re horse smart, all the better. Your specialized skills will be manna for a staff outnumbered by paw and by hoof.
Emergency! Here’s something you probably didn’t know: Massachusetts’ own Nevins Farm has the premiere equine emergency and response program in the United States. In fact, Nevins provides ambulance service for such acclaimed sporthorse events as Rolex, the World Equestrian Games, and Canada’s Pan American Games. Nevins also gives Equine Safety and Ambulance Training courses across the country to educate more emergency responders about effective procedures during equine emergencies. Equine Ambulance and Safety Manager Roger Lauze has been at Nevins since 1985. According to Roger, it was Harriet Nevins herself who donated the first equine ambulance to the farm. “It was a goose neck, so it was way ahead of its time,” he says. Photos of that ambulance show a one-ton pickup truck pulling a trailer with big
wagon wheels and lanterns hanging from its sides. Equine emergency vehicles remained at that basic level — a truck pulling a trailer — until the summer of 1994 when Roger responded to an abuse call. Witnesses mistakenly thought that someone was trying to bury a living horse. “When we got there, we found the owner was trying to pick up a downed horse with a frontend loader and a fire hose,” Roger says. The horse, which ended up dying that evening, was emaciated from neglect, and Roger knew there were other animals on the property in similar condition. He told the farmer that he’d
“Animals make people’s lives better,” Mike says. “That companionship, that love they give unconditionally is something we get comfort from. Everybody deserves that, despite money.” take care of the burial — though his true motivation was to collect the horse’s body for evidence. “Now I have a dead body and a horse trailer, and no way to get the horse in there,” Roger says. “The big thing that was missing in the horse world was a good way to move a downed horse.” The challenge was gruesome, but for Roger, an equine emergency responder, it was both real and repetitive. He and Hudson, New Hampshire, equine transporter Chip Fisher had already been trying to work out a rescue tool of some sort, but that evening, Roger stumbled onto the solution. He rolled the horse onto a stone boat (a pull-behind sled that farmers use to move rocks and other heavy items), then ratcheted him onto the trailer. “Two weeks later, Chip had designed the rescue glide,” Roger says. “Since then, our program has gone crazy.” The rescue glide is a lighter, more flexible version of a stone boat. In fact, it’s almost reminiscent of a child’s snow sled in that it has handles on the sides, it’s light and easy to maneuver, and it slides like a charm. Working with veteri-
narians (always), Roger and his team have developed a system where four people can get a downed horse onto a trailer in ten minutes. For horses with serious, curable illness, the rescue glide is key to saving lives. Now, when he’s not tending rescues, Roger, an engaging speaker, leads one- and two-day clinics helping every emergency responder who wants to learn how to safely move a frightened, 1,000-pound animal. Some institutions that now use the rescue glide include Cornell University, the New York City Mounted Patrol, and Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Eventually, Roger would like to train every fire department in Massachusetts.
Becoming “People People” Learning about the past is a fun way to help Nevins celebrate its centennial, but listening to Nevins Farm Director Mike Keiley talk about the future? Well, that’s like soaking in rays of hope for a just and kind civilization. “We look at our place now as an animal resource center instead of just an adoption center,” Mike says. “We’re on the front lines trying to address those issues that have plagued animals in our community, but what we’re really looking at is, what are the problems people are facing in the community and what can we do to help that? We discovered that we need to be people people first, in order to help animals. For instance, affordability hugely impacts animal overpopulation and neglect. “There used to be this attitude that if people can’t afford the pet, then they shouldn’t have the pet, but that’s something I wholeheartedly regret,” Mike says. “People’s means are not the measure of their hearts.” As a result, Nevins hosts affordable spay and neuter clinics. This cuts overpopulation and allows more would-be wonderful pet owners to adopt and keep animals. Furthermore, the MSPCA’s stop-gap programs help owners keep their animals during hard times caused by sickness or unemployment. “Animals make people’s lives better,” Mike says. “That companionship, that love they give unconditionally is something we get comfort from. Everybody deserves that, despite money.” Massachusetts Horse
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to not make it prohibitive for those who find it hard to think of the bodies of their animal pets consigned to a rendering plant.” Our Dumb Animals, July 1917
Nevins Farm has also increased its focus on education, hoping to cultivate a community that cares for animals. “Our education department is really laser focused on helping to build a more just and compassionate society,” Mike says. To that end, they host a weekly preschool story time. They make Monday holidays Family Service Days. They pair animals in need of a child’s love with children who need a uncritical reading partner. They host school vacation camps and, in the summers, 250 kids romp through the farm learning about animal care in one-week sessions. “It’s exciting. It’s really amazing what we have,” Mike says. “We help animals by helping people.”
orate graves with flowers, pumpkins, or holiday ornaments. Each September, the cemetery hosts a remembrance celebration. The event typically draws about 100 people who socialize, listen to a speaker, and share their stories with others. “We try to make it really personal for people,” Dave says, noting that there aren’t many options for pet burial in the Methuen area (or in New England, for that matter). “We really try to do the right thing for people. We just feel like we help them through the toughest time in their lives, and that makes us feel good,” Dave says. “We go from the start of life to the end of life, right here at Nevins Farm.”
“A lot of people who have their pets here adopted them from Nevins,” says Dave Gordon, who has cared for Hillside Acre for 13 years. “There are 18,000 pets that are buried here. That ranges from dogs, cats, parrots, parakeets . . . It’s a huge loss for people; it’s a family member.” The cremated remains of 14 humans also rest at Hillside Acre. “People want to be buried with their pets,” Dave says. “For some people, their pets are their families.” A gated, serene burial space for animals, Hillside Acre is actually four acres offering the details and care of any traditional cemetery. The staff can refer clients to grief counselors, provide a viewing before the burial, and permit families to compose their own graveside goodbyes. Most mourners choose to say a prayer, some have religious officiants, and many place the first shovel of dirt once the casket is lowered. Spring through fall, Dave sees a steady show of visitors. Some visit weekly. Others stop in seasonally to dec-
The final chapter in the Nevins Farm story is Hillside Acre Animal Cemetery, which, as the following excerpt from the farm’s newsletter shows, has existed since the farm’s earliest days:
Paula Simmons
“Now as our society has as one of its possessions one of the most beautiful farms in Massachusetts we have selected an attractive spot for an animal cemetery . . . Already, as this copy of the magazine goes to press, the first internment has taken place. The charge for a grave or lot will be as such as
To lend a hoof, visit mspca.org. Andrea Bugbee is a Pony Club mom, an IEA mom, and a backyard horse enthusiast. She does most of her writing while she waits for her daughter in the parking lots of numerous wonderful stables scattered throughout western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut.
Paula Simmons
Till Death Do Us Part
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Overherd
News in Our Community Francis Alexander Pants He’s a Premarin baby, a 15.2hand blue roan Clydesdale/ Paint. His mom stood for years on the PMU line in Swan Lake, Manitoba, Canada. Born in May of 2004, he was taken from his mom very early and faced a tragic fate. Only one in 50 colt foals born on PMU farms are spared from slaughter. They’re simply viewed as a by-product of producing the drug Premarin. Barbara Graham of Foal Haven Farm arrived on the scene in the summer of 2004 to rescue a group of foals. Frightened, none would load onto her trailer. In a move that would change his life forever, Francis walked, unprompted, onto the trailer and the others followed. Though Barbara had not intended to take this one, she told the farmers to leave him on; she’d pay for him, too. Barbara named him Francis, after Frank Sinatra, for his ice blue eyes. They headed south to salvation, opportunity, and life. Unfortunately, it would be many years before Francis found home. Francis was placed in several homes over the years but always was returned to Barbara as a chronic problem horse. In May of 2011, he crossed paths with Sarah Muntyan. Sarah, blind as to just how troubled he truly was, planned for Francis to be a short-term project. Simultaneously, life was unraveling for Sarah. Her business was failing, her relationship crumbling. The anxiety and stress became paralyzing and Sarah broke down. Forced to move back home, she was faced with selling her horses for next to 26
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nothing, a traumatic experience that will haunt her forever. Walking away from this phase of her life, Sarah had nothing — boyfriend departed, apartment gone, furniture taken, friends vanished, money depleted, spirit crushed. Francis, deemed unsaleable, remained by her side.
September 2016, after spending two years working for an equine veterinarian and several years teaching at various barns, Sarah founded Limerick Riding School in Holliston and is pursuing her lifelong dream. Francis occupies the first stall, the greeter, the unusual and unmistakable face embody-
long way. He has successfully evented through the novice level and competed through first level in dressage. Francis recently underwent emergency colic surgery. Recovering in isolation at Tufts, Fran was diagnosed with Salmonella. As a result of three weeks at Tufts, Francis and Sarah are facing a significant vet bill, which is threatening to capsize Sarah’s young business. Want to help? Visit gofundme.com/medicalfund-for-francis.
n Meredith Lopez
Equestrian Fashion Show
Francis Alexander Pants and Sarah Muntyan.
The following year was “a very, very lonely time,” says Sarah. It was a year in which her bond with Francis would become unbreakable. All pressure was off. No one was expecting anything from either of them. They went to work, every day. He was her only constant. Sarah needed Francis to hold her attention and energy, and Francis needed Sarah to give him a chance. “Fran was the only thing that felt positive, worth doing, and provided peace,” says Sarah. The tiniest of successes thrilled Sarah and elevated her from the depths of despair. As a result of her diligence and tenacity, Sarah continued to realize successes with Fran, while regaining her spirit, her identity, and fortifying her sense of purpose. In
ing endless energy and bold optimism. “I don’t know how, but Francis has given me back all of the confidence I ever had riding as a kid, and more, despite being the only horse to have ever thrown me twice in one ride, multiple times!” says Sarah. “I truly consider him my soulmate. I can read his expression like a book. He might as well speak English. I know what he’s thinking, I know his next move, and he knows mine. His genetics do not predispose him to athletic feats — his conformation leaves a lot to be desired. But he loves his job and he loves me. He’s the best horse and the best friend I’ve ever had.” From an unbroken, ungelded, fearful, and aggressive seven-year-old in May 2011, Fran has come a
Join Monomoy Horse and Dog and Cape Equestrian for the second annual Equestrian Fashion Show and Tent Sale at Brooks Park in Harwich, Saturday, June 24, from noon to 4 p.m. Enjoy a fun-filled day of equestrian and canine fashion, with more than 25 local vendors, K9 demonstrations from the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Department, food trucks, live broadcasting from Cape Country 104 radio, games, raffles, and giveaways. “There will be more than $2,000 in amazing raffle items donated by our local businesses as well as Weatherbeeta USA, Kerrits, Lettia, Noble Outfitters, Up Country Dog, Buckbone Organics, West Paw Design, and much more!” says Maureen Johnson, Cape Equestrian owner. One hundred percent of the raffle proceeds will be evenly divided between two local nonprofit organizations — Emerald Hollow Therapeutic Riding Center and the Cape and Islands Police K9 Relief Fund. Leashed dogs are wel-
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A First-Hand Look at Lendon Gray’s Program Tessa Holloran of Pepperell and her KWPN mare Usela (“Beau”) attended a three-month, full-immersion training program in Wellington, Florida. The Dressage4Kids program was created by two-time Olympian Lendon Gray to help young dressage riders improve their horsemanship skills and acquire skills that extend beyond horsemanship. The Winter Intensive Training (WIT) Program is open to any rider under the age of 22 who submits an application and video for consideration. If selected, riders winter January through March at Kimberly Van Kampen’s Hampton Green Farm. The 2017 lineup included 14 riders, ranging in age from 11 to 19, who hailed from as far as Trinidad and coast to coast across the United States. Riders must be mature, motivated, and willing to adhere to a very intense daily schedule. Likewise, horses must be in full training, sound and healthy to handle the workload. Tessa took five lessons a week with Lendon and says, “While she can be very tough at times, she’s fair and she
pushes you past your comfort level so you can grow. I’m so excited with the progress we made. We also competed at five shows and faced the judges fourteen times.” The WIT program includes lectures from top experts in their fields of nutrition, sports psychology, learning skills, fitness, veterinary care, and shoeing. It also gives unique access to top-notch facilities, Olympic riders and coaches, and some of the most renowned names in the dressage world. “Our goal is to let these young riders experience everything Wellington has to offer and inspire them to be the very best they can be, in and out of the saddle,” says Lendon. This year’s program included field trips to audit Robert Dover, Catherine Haddad, Steffen Peters, Oded Shimoni, and Lisa Wilcox. The group also sat with judges at the Global Dressage Festival for insights on how tests are scored. “We were able to watch and meet some of the biggest names in the dressage world,” says Tessa. “We met every member of the U.S. Olympic Dressage Team and even held their bronze medal from the 2016 games in Rio.” Participants must meet a rigorous daily schedule designed to advance the fitness and partnership of both horse and rider. Six days a week the routine begins at 6:30 a.m. with barn chores and personal fitness. Next up are riding lessons, followed by afternoon lectures, another round of chores at 3 p.m., and the day typically wraps up around 4:30 p.m. Additionally, teams of two are assigned to night check throughout the week. This year Lendon was joined by Stephanie Beamer, Anna Buffini, and Liz Caron, who offered lessons and optional training rides. Lectures featured Ann Romney, who has become an inspirational dressage rider
throughout her battle with multiple sclerosis, and Debbie McDonald, international competitor and Olympian. Participants were also asked to volunteer, and this can mean exceptional access to learning opportunities — as it was for this year’s group at the USDF 2017 Trainers Conference. Throughout the years, the program has received remarkable support and generosity from the dressage community. “We’re so appreciative to these very high profile, busy professionals for donating their time and insights to our future stars,” says Lendon. To see more of Tessa’s journey, go to facebook.com/ teamholloran. To learn more about Dressage4Kids, visit dressage4kids.org.
n Kristine Holloran
What Has Farm Bureau Done for You? When you hear the words “farm bureau,” you typically don’t think of the equine industry. However, in Massachusetts, where we make up 2,300 farms with our 26,000 horses, we are an important piece of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF). This organization understands our significance to the economy as reflected in a 2016 survey, available at mfbf.net, totaling our industry’s economic impact at $386.6 million. In addition, the survey found that we support more than 7,000 jobs statewide and protect about 40,000 acres of land in the Commonwealth. MFBF has advocated and supported the Bay State’s equine industry on numerous pieces of legislation. For example, many years ago, MFBF pushed to include equines in the definition of agriculture. This designation allows us to partake in some of the benefits that other livestock owners and producers enjoy, such as enrolling our stables and/or boarding
facilities in Chapter 61a, which gives us a tax break on land. This past year, we fought for critical legislation that allows us to run profitable equine businesses. For example, MFBF supported a bill that would change the Massachusetts horse riding instructor licensing program to be more in step with surrounding states’ licensing process. Currently, the licensing process includes a written test with questions focused on animal health, not on instructing riders. No other state has this test. The legislation that MFBF supported would require the licensing process be removed, with CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) checks being made a requirement for all riding instructors. We also worked to revise helmet laws to make them more workable for adults on private properties and for equine show exhibitors. Finally, we worked with members to support equine dentists’ right to use power equipment in their practice. You may be wondering what spurred MFBF to pursue these pieces of legislation — the answer is members. All policy initiatives are set by our members. The process starts when a county member brings a resolution forth at the county’s annual MFBF meeting. The resolution is then voted on at the county level and if passed, is forwarded to the resolutions committee, who prepares and forwards the resolution to MFBF’s annual meeting. During the statewide annual meeting, delegates vote on the resolutions that were passed by the counties. Any resolution adopted at the state’s annual meeting becomes one of MFBF’s policy priorities. This means you can make a difference. For this reason, I want to encourage you to join MFBF.
This organization works for you and we can’t work without you. While I’ve been told that our dues can be a financial burden for many, I should point out that the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine offers MFBF members a discount. Additionally, member discounts are offered on vehicles, tractors, hotels, prescriptions, horseloverz.com, and much more. Annual dues range from $70 to $225. To learn more and join MFBF, visit mfbf.net.
n John Dougherty, MFBF Equine Committee chair and owner of Briggs Stables in Hanover
Mount Holyoke College IDA Reserve National Champions The Mount Holyoke College Dressage Team competed at Centenary University in New Jersey at the Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) Nationals April 29 and 30. “We spent Friday morning watching the official horse parade for the following two days of competition,” says team member Emily Tarantini. “Saturday morning marked the first day of the nationals competition, with the individual qualifiers competition,” says Emily. “Mika McKinney began the day in First Level division making the best of a tough draw to finish eighth in the nation. Ellie Demmons followed in the Upper Training division, riding an absolutely stellar test to a first place finish, making her the national champion. I rode in the Intro division, also making the best of a tough draw to finish eighth in the nation.” “The second day of competition was the team competition,” says Emily. “The day began with Mika McKinney in the First Level division where she put in a nearly flawless ride to earn the national champion title. Ellie Demmons followed in the Massachusetts Horse
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Upper Training division where she finished fifth in the nation. In the Lower Training division, Shannon McCarley put in an unbelievably tactful and poised ride on a very difficult draw to finish tenth. The day ended with Sarah Etzel in the Intro division, where she rode an excellent test to earn not only the national title, but also high point of the day!” Mount Holyoke College won the Reserve National Champion IDA Team title. “We’re so proud of everyone on our team who helped get us here,” says Emily. “Not only those who rode for Mount Holyoke College at nationals, but all of our teammates cheering us on at the show, our friends and family at home, and everyone at the equestrian center who have helped our team in any way. Thank you! This was a team effort and we’re lucky enough to have a very big group of people supporting us every step of the way.”
Proposed Horse Park A proposed, $168 million horse park in Spencer would not only help boost Thoroughbred racing in the state but would also create a one-stop destination for the equine and agricultural communities, according to a panel of insiders lobbying for the project. Brad Boaz, of the Lexington, Kentucky–based architectural and engineering firm CMW, gave an overview of the Massachusetts Horse Park master plan, as well as presented some hard numbers, during a press conference May 18 in Boston. The horse park, proposed by the New England Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, would be at least 200 acres and feature a horseracing complex, an agri-tourism village, and equestrian venues complete with a retirement and retraining farm for horses. 30
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The town of Spencer is being touted as the front-runner for the project. To learn more, visit masshorsepark.org and follow it on Facebook.
n Craig S. Semon Telegram & Gazette
Blue Star Farmers Market Blue Star Equiculture Draft Horse Sanctuary has launched a weekly farmers market at their farm in Palmer, that will run every Saturday through October from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., to benefit the 32 resident horses. The market will feature a variety of local vendors and craftpersons, offering a wide selection of locally grown vegetables and other goods. Blue Star will also be offering horse-drawn wagon rides, farm tours, and meetand-greet sessions with the horses during market days. All are welcome. Interested vendors can email bseproject manager@gmail.com to learn more about getting involved. For more information, visit equiculture.org.
n Alessandra Mele
Nonprofits Participate in Valley Gives Day Valley Gives Day, an annual community fundraising effort powered by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, raises money for hundreds of nonprofit organizations in the Pioneer Valley during a single day in May. The 2017 Valley Gives Day was held on May 2, raising a total of $1,161,705 for more than 450 organizations. Two of those nonprofits were the Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Holyoke and Blue Star Equiculture Draft Horse Sanctuary in Palmer. The Therapeutic Equestrian Center (TEC) saw 34 donors for a total of $1,675. TEC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing physical, educational, and recreational
opportunities through therapeutic horseback riding lessons for special needs children and adults. The funds will go toward care and keeping of the horses, hay, bedding, and will help support the riding programs. Blue Star Equiculture raised $5,039 from 37 donors during the event. The sanctuary works to provide compassionate care for retired and disabled horses, as well as jobs and purpose for working horses. Its community programs share the horse’s role in our history, so that all people can take part in meaningful opportunities to better understand our equine partners and all we can do to sustain them. The donations will go toward hay and grain for the resident horses, vet bills, and tractor equipment and repairs. To learn more, visit valley-gives.org.
n Alessandra Mele
MRI Improves Diagnosis The South Shore Equine Clinic and Diagnostic Center (SSEC) in Plympton offers magnetic resonance imaging. SSEC is one of only 15 equine clinics in the nation that offers standing MRI services for horses. (Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in North Grafton has an MRI device for horses, but they need to be anaesthetized and lying down to be scanned.) Diagnosing the cause of lameness in a horse can be a hit-or-miss proposition, often leading vets and horse owners to guess about the best way to deal with an injury. “Leg issues are critical,” says Mark Reilly, DVM. “A small problem can alter, if not end, careers.” The facility includes a laboratory, surgery, padded walls and floors, paddocks, critical care stalls, and barns that are all remotely monitored by video 24 hours a day. Without an MRI, veterinarians use ultrasound, radi-
ography, or computed tomography scans — all are more limited in scope than an MRI. An MRI device scans soft tissue and bone simultaneously, providing a more thorough view for a better diagnosis. For example, a deep bruise in the bone can be undetectable by X-ray or ultrasound, but will show up on an MRI. “In the past, often we were giving our best guess with the diagnostic tools at our disposal, ” Dr. Reilly says. An MRI costs $1,700, but treatment can be minimal when the diagnosis is accurate. “An accurate diagnosis allows horse owners to spend less money in the long run and avoid unnecessary treatments,” says Dr. Reilly. When a veterinarian knows what they are treating, recommendations can be as simple as rest from riding and jumping to removing shoes and leaving the horse in the field for a few months of recuperation. An MRI allows owners to stop spending on the unknown. To learn more about the standing MRI at SSEC, visit ssequineclinic.com.
SmartPaks Are Recycled and Recyclable Since their early days, SmartPak has strived to provide innovative and convenient solutions for horse owners while always doing their best to be conscious of the environment. While it’s often the case that the convenience of individual, daily dose products use more wasteful packaging, the opposite is true with SmartPaks. That’s because the SmartPaks Supplement Feeding System was designed to help horse owners take the best care of their horses while also taking great care of the planet. “When it comes to producing our SmartPaks, we maintain a high standard of work to remain green in our efforts while treading lightly Massachusetts Horse
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on the earth,” says Sarah Mann, vice president of equine health and brand at SmartPak. “From every aspect of our manufacturing process, all the way through to shipping orders out the door, we look for every way we can to reduce the amount of materials we use.” What many horse owners don’t realize is that SmartPaks actually use less plastic than buckets. SmartPakers measured it, and the plastic used for a 28day supply of SmartPaks weighs 60 percent less than the plastic used for a 28-day bucket! The amount of plastic used to make SmartPaks isn’t the only way that they’re more earth-friendly than buckets. SmartPaks are made from recycled plastic (unlike buckets, which are usually made of virgin plastic), so the material is already on its second life. Finally, SmartPaks are made of #1 PET plastic (just like water bottles), which means they can be easily recycled again at most recycling centers. “As riders ourselves, we want to protect the planet so we can all continue enjoying being out in beautiful green spaces with our horses,” Sarah says. “That’s why we work hard to make SmartPaks readily recyclable, so it’s easy for our customers to opt for the recycling bin over the trash.” To learn more about all of the ways SmartPak works to help the environment, visit smartpak.com.
Sharon Wilsie Clinic If you attended Equine Affaire last year, you may have seen a demonstration by Sharon Wilsie, author of Horse Speak: The EquineHuman Translation Guide. Sharon has learned to translate the fleeting movements of horses, typically beyond our perception, into a sophisticated method of 32
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equine conversation. After her demonstration at Equine Affaire, copies of her book quickly sold out. Central New England Equine Rescue (CNEER) is sponsoring a Sharon Wilsie Clinic at Cardinal Ridge Equestrian Center in Barre on Sunday, July 23 from 1 to 5 p.m. This is an interactive clinic, with space for 12 participants and six horses. The cost is $120 per horse, which can be split between two handlers for $60 each. The option to audit is also available for $20. “I do equine massage and acupressure and have been practicing the skills I’ve learned from Sharon Wilsie’s Horse Speak,” says volunteer Doris Goodwin. “It’s wonderful to be able to communicate with the horses, and properly introduce myself to them. It allows me to soothe anxieties about my intent, and makes working with horses much safer.” “Karla Christiansen is the owner of Cardinal Ridge Equestrian Center and she’s also is a volunteer at CNEER,” says Doris. To purchase tickets for the clinic and reserve a space, please submit payment in full as a check made out to Central New England Equine Rescue at least ten days prior to the event. Please note if you will be bringing your own horse or need to lease a horse for the day from Cardinal Ridge (at no additional cost). Mail payment to CNEER, Attn: Karla Christiansen, 96 New Braintree Road, West Brookfield, MA 01585. Tickets to audit the clinic will be available the day of the event. Questions? Call Karla at (978) 355-8306.
n Alessandra Mele
Bay State Equine Rescue With winter’s chill far behind us, the Bay State Equine Rescue is excited to announce our fifth annual 5K fundraiser.
Our Run Like the Dickens 5K winds through historic Old Sturbridge Village and has been very successful in the last four years. It grows every year, and we anticipate that this will be our biggest year yet! It will be held July 9 with warm-up activities prior to the start and prizes and a raffle at the end. The first 150 pre-registered runners get a t-shirt, and we accept runner entries up through race day. We’re also looking for sponsors and prize donations. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, it’s always lots of fun, and 100 percent of the proceeds go toward keeping our rescue herd happy and healthy. Speaking of our herd, we welcomed two lovely mares to the farm in late April. Annie and Lady came to us from a situation of complete neglect, thanks to a good samaritan who knew the horses weren’t being fed or taken care of. The girls settled in beautifully once they realized they were in a safe place where they would never need to worry about missing a meal. They’re getting lots of attention and they love being groomed. For more information on volunteering, adoption, and to find out how you can Run Like the Dickens, visit baystateequinerescue.org or our Facebook page. We’re looking forward to hearing from you.
n Megan Koski
Bay State Riders Win at IEA Nationals Nearly 400 of the nation’s leading middle- and highschool equestrians competed in the Waldron Arena at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Virginia, April 21 to 23 at the Interscholastic Equestrian Association’s 2017 Hunt Seat Nationals. The finalists represented 82 teams from a total of 11,167 eligible hunt seat student riders from nine zones throughout the country.
The champion of the Upper School Hunt Seat Team Competition was Grazing Fields Farm from Buzzards Bay, coached by Jennifer Sullivan and Nicole Melanson. Each year at IEA Nationals, the United States Pony Club presents a nonriding competition in the form of a test — the Holy Innocents’ Horsemanship Test. Anna Bihuniak from Rising Star Equestrian Team in Medway was the overall winner. “The outstanding quality of the horses brought to this show by our horse providers are among the best we have ever seen at any IEA Nationals,” said Roxane Durant, IEA co-founder and executive director. “We know that our kids appreciated the opportunity to ride such quality horses in such a competitive environment.”
Scholarship Winners UPHA Chapter 14 awarded $7,500 in scholarship monies to four deserving youth who are high school seniors or college freshmen, and are UPHA Chapter 14 members or the child of an active member of the chapter. The awards were presented center ring April 22 during the UPHA Chapter 14 Spring Premiere Horse Show in West Springfield. Two of the four winners are Massachusetts residents — Danny Hicks of Pittsfield and Alexandra Ferris of Ipswich. The son of Hackney pony enthusiasts, it was a given that Danny Hicks would grow up following in their footsteps. His parents, trainer Rodney and artist and amateur exhibitor Janet, own ponies and have shown for many years, as have several extended family members. They tried to encourage him to ride as a young boy, but instead, he enjoyed hanging out at the horse shows, playing with friends, watching them show, and cheering them on.
Danny sat in a buggy behind a pony for the first time at the age of 14, and the rest is history. He’s driven ponies in most divisions, including The Perfectionist, and CB Party Girl, and will continue to show one of his favorites, Jackie O, in the roadster division during his last season as a junior exhibitor. One of the many awards Danny has received is the American Hackney Horse Society Spirit of the Youth Medallion Award. Danny is currently a senior at Taconic High School. He plans to study law enforcement at Berkshire Community College, and then hopes to transfer to Westfield State University. “Winning this scholarship really means a lot to me,” Danny says. “It will help me get started with my college education on the right foot.” Alexandra “Lexie” Ferris, an 18year-old high school senior from Ipswich, got this year off to an incredible start when she received the USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award. Lexie began her riding career under the guidance of her mother, Betsy Ackley Ferris, and grandmother, Barbara Ackley. She started showing in Lead Line classes as a young child. Over the years, Lexie has shown Morgans in hunter, western and saddle seat divisions, and worked for carriage pleasure driving, Hackney, Friesian, hunter/jumper, Morgan, and American Saddlebred facilities in attempt to expand her knowledge in any way possible. She’s competed on an IEA team for six years and has been to the zone finals once and the regional finals six times. Lexie has been a member of the Massachusetts Youth Council for four years and USEF Equestrian Athlete Lettering Program for four years. She’s won accolades such as the 2014 North Shore Horsemen’s Association New Hunter Reserve Champion title, 2014 Massachusetts Morgan Horse Association Outstanding Youth Award, and 2015 North Shore Horsemen’s Association Children’s Equitation Champion title. Lexie is active in high school clubs, sports, and advanced placement classes. She’s also very active within her community. She’ll be attending UMass at Amherst and majoring in animal sciences with a minor in equine sciences. Upon graduation, she plans to become certified in the field of equine physical therapy. Even though she does not currently
Boston
This Olde Horse
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Boston fire engine 1906.
plan on showing this season, Lexie plans to continue to work for North Gate Stables, Over the Oxer, and Taylor River Farm. “I was shocked and excited to receive a UPHA Chapter 14 Scholarship,” Lexie says. “The executive board and the members of UPHA Chapter 14 believe it is very important to support young people involved in the horse industry through our scholarship program,” says Barbara Irvine, UPHA Chapter 14 scholarship committee chairperson.
n Suzy Lucine
Jacquelyn Mooney Equestrian Moves and Expands Programs In spring, Jacquelyn Mooney Equestrian moved from a small private farm in Middleboro to Holloway Brook Farm in Lakeville in order to better serve its clients. “Holloway Brook Farm is a quiet, laid-back facility,” says Jacquelyn Mooney. “It’s a complete facility with an indoor arena and outdoor arena, a beautiful grass field, a quarter-mile track, and is located right next to Massasoit State Park, which is ideal for trail riding. The farm’s pastures and paddocks allow us to offer large group turnout and private individual turnout to accommodate every horse’s needs.” Jacquelyn began her love of horses when she was five years old and in 23
years has acquired much experience and knowledge. “I’ve successfully trained and shown in the pleasure/ Quarter Horse circuit as well as the hunter/jumper circuit,” says Jacquelyn. “I’m a very well-rounded trainer and offer services from the jumpers to western pleasure. Our show team travels to local shows as well as out-of-state shows from spring through fall. Our thriving lesson program serves all ages and experience levels and we offer personalized training programs for specific horse and rider goals.” “I’m most excited about being able to grow and offer my training and instruction services in such a beautiful, well-maintained facility,” says Jacquelyn. “I’m expanding my lesson program and am looking forward to sharing my love of horses with more riders.”
Overherdisms • “You have to ride both directions” • “A horse is like a truck — steering up front and power from behind.” • “Smile, it’s western pleasure, not pain and suffering!” • “There are two types of people in the horse world — those who fall off and those who don’t ride.” • “Yes, our son is showing in the huntergatherer division today.”
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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; space in the magazine for news, events, and photos; and a link from mahorse.com to its website.
forty trail work days,” and written eight grants for Douglas State Forest and SNETT, a 22-mile multi-use National Recreational Trail that goes from Douglas to the Franklin State Forest. In Upton State Forest, BSTRA
achievement. And, remember, this work is made possible by your membership, participation at events, and trail workdays. To learn more, visit bstra.org. See you on the trails! 7 Annamaria Paul
Since 1989, BSTRA has invested more than $500,000 in 13 Massachusetts’ state parks and other trail projects. Thirty-three Massachusetts towns have benefited from BSTRA’s tireless efforts to improve equestrian access to trails. On April 11, the Department of Conservation and Recreation recognized BSTRA for this work with the 2017 Shared Stewardship Award. The award was presented to BSTRA president Becky Kalagher and board members Lynn Paresky and Donna Johnson at the Annual Supervisors Academy held at the Devens Commons Conference Center. The Shared Stewardship Award acknowledges BSTRA’s “extraordinary contribution to furthering stewardship of our state parks system” and for more than 20 years of volunteer work to enhance access and safety of trails. BSTRA was nominated for the award by Cary Vandenakker, the supervisor of Douglas State Forest, specifically for its efforts to develop and enhance trails at Douglas State Forest. BSTRA’s work at other state parks was also called out. This includes improvements to Upton State Forest and the Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT) made through grants, donations, and volunteer workdays. Cary noted that Becky has “personally organized 34
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Nature of Light Photography
Bay State Trail Riders Association
Riders at the 2016 Myopia Hunt’s Fall Hunter Pace. This year’s Fall Hunter Pace is scheduled for November 5 at Groton House in Ipswich.
related projects and wants to continue to do so. This takes the support and participation of members and nonmembers. Unfortunately, this year’s annual GRHC Horse Show on June 25 at Dufresne Park in Granby is cancelled. There were many classes with something for everyone. We also hold wonderful trail rides, seminars, obstacle course competitions, trail pace, and poker rides each year. To learn more, visit granbyregionalhorse.org, follow us on Facebook, or call Jennifer at (413) 4270683. Thanks to all for keeping us going as one of the oldest nonprofit equestrian organizations in the area. 7 Jennifer Moreau
Hampshire County Riding Club
The New England Equestrian Center of Athol’s new sign at the redone entrance to the park.
volunteers have logged more than 1,300 hours of trail work! Although BSTRA’s mission is to ensure safe equestrian access to trails, it’s not just equestrians who benefit from its work. BSTRA is committed to keeping “communities’ trails preserved and maintained for outdoor recreation and fitness.” The improvements it makes to the Massachusetts trail network serves all users and future generations. Please congratulate BSTRA on this impressive
Granby Regional Horse Council Happy Trails from the GRHC. This year we’re celebrating 20 years as a nonprofit and 23 years since our start. We hope you’ll join us! Thanks to Mark Girard and Diane Godek for working so hard at keeping the club on track. In 1994 Mark, Diane, and about 10 other people from Granby formed a club to keep trails open for equestrians in the area. The club has worked alone and with other local clubs on many equine-
We all agree, April 9 was a perfect day for the HCRC Annual Pancake Breakfast Ride to the Red Bucket Sugar Shack in Worthington. In spite of lingering snow banks on the rural dirt roads, the temperature managed to break a sunny 60 degrees, and the horses could enjoy some lengthy trots and canters, a true inspiration for the upcoming riding season. June 10 and 11, HCRC is hosting a Cathy Drumm/ Heidi Potter Clinic for western dressage, obstacle training, and Centered Riding at the club grounds in Goshen. The clinic includes instruction sessions followed by a judged competition featuring a dressage test and completion of an obstacle course. On Saturday, June 24, HCRC presents a Partnership Through Rider Awareness Clinic with Jo Bunny and Rachel Hackett. In this full-day clinic riders of all disciplines will learn basic yoga techniques, as well as
groundwork and mounted exercises to enhance their partnership and communication with their horses. Jo Bunny is a certified yoga instructor and licensed massage therapist for both horses and humans, and Rachel Hackett is an instructor and trainer using Centered Riding, TTeam Training, and other techniques. HCRC will be leading a ride through the Chesterfield Gorge to Indian Hollow on Sunday, June 25. Members and their guests will ride to Indian Hollow for a trail lunch and return. In July, club members will decorate their horses and minis, always spectator favorites, to participate in the Chesterfield July 4 Parade. A camping weekend will be held at the Wagon Wheel Campground in Warwick, on July 21 to 23. The campground offers covered enclosures for the horses, great trails in the nearby state
forests, bathrooms with showers, and a swimming pool. The weekend is open to club members and their guests. Watch for our WeekendO-Fun, August 5 and 6, at the club grounds, featuring camping, trail riding, horseback games, a scavenger hunt, obstacle course, and more! To learn more, visit hampshirecountyriding club.org and follow us on Facebook. 7 Diane Merritt
Massachusetts Morgan Horse Association The MMHA held its annual awards banquet on March 4 in Ludlow. Ribbons were awarded in 40 different categories and Melissa Morrell, of Moreland Farm, was the emcee for the evening. Gail Camara-Marks, MMHA president, led the annual membership meeting. Cindy Mugnier officiated during the trivia
contest. Teams comprised those sitting at the various tables. There were also donated baskets for a Chinese auction as well as a 50/50 raffle. It was a Saturday full of fun activities with Morgan friends. Pam Powers of South Deerfield was presented with the Distinguished Service Award. Pam has been an amazing asset to MMHA for four years in numerous ways. She’s selflessly stepped up to volunteer for a job that is not popular — tabulating points for horse shows — and does it in a timely fashion that is much appreciated. Pam has assisted with constructing center ring in years past. She’s volunteered her time at the New England Morgan Horse Show to staff the MMHA table under the tent and promote our club and show. One year, she even dressed up as the Cat in the Hat and delivered green eggs and ham to exhibitors to help generate excitement for
the Dr. Seuss theme. Pam also volunteered her time and patience in running a kids’ activity table at the horse show. Pam balances a full-time job along with being a mom to Addison, who also has been bitten by the horse bug and enjoys riding lessons, as well as having just completed a successful year of Saddle Seat Lead Line classes. Being a horse-show mom takes a lot of patience and dedication, learning to be supportive and encouraging, while reliving a childhood rich with warm memories of Morgans. Members of MMHA appreciate Pam’s years of supporting the Morgan horse, for being an ambassador for the breed, and for her contributions to MMHA. SBS Risky Business, a bay gelding owned by Jeff Morse in Richmond, was named the MMHA Horse of the Year. Thirteen years ago, Jeff bought this gelding sight unseen in hopes that he
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would make a decent carriage driving entry to compete on the New England circuit. The horse had previously been shown in western pleasure and classic pleasure divisions. When the gelding arrived at Jeff’s farm, he came with the nickname Risky but that was quickly changed to Buzz, as Jeff said, “No way am I driving a horse named Risky!” From then on a beautiful partnership was formed and the team hit the Northeast as a force to be reckoned with in all areas of carriage driving competition. In the first year, Buzz and Jeff picked up a championship win at the New England Morgan Horse Show. They went on to win in every Morgan carriage division at all the New England Morgan shows. This duo also did the Morgan breed proud, campaigning and winning championships on the open circuit at prestigious carriage pleasure shows and combined driving events. Jeff has shown Buzz in 115 carriage classes in New England since 2004, and finished in the top three in 105 of them. The pair represented the American Driving Society, the American Morgan Horse Association, and the Morgan breed at the 2010 World Equestrian Games. Last year, Buzz was on the cover of The Whip with an amazing action shot of the horse that Jeff says is the best of any horse he’s ever driven. Buzz has been to the Equine Affaire a handful of times as an ambassador for the breed. Lately, Buzz has found his calling in a new sport of driving derbies, which is a full-out galloping obstacle race. Last fall, he participated in the Fantasia show with a derby-driving exhibition for three nights in front of an audience of 6,000 people. Jeff says it was a thrill for him, and that Buzz loved it and put on a great show. In addition to all these amazing accomplishments, this 23- year-old gelding has also been a teacher. He’s been Jeff’s main lesson horse, showing the way to various students anxious to learn elite carriage protocol. He’s been shown in competition by several amateurs and has won many championships for them. Buzz encompasses the qualities that we hold dear as the quintessential Morgan. He’s beautiful to look at, smart in many ways, agile, and excited to do his job. 7 Suzy Lucine
Myopia Hunt Club Myopia Hunt Club continues to honor its mission with a full calendar of events. Beginning June 14 casual hound 36
June/July 2017
exercises start. They will be held Wednesdays and Saturdays at 8 a.m., and provide an ideal opportunity to introduce green horses and riders to fox hunting. Hound exercises end August 29. Myopia’s Fall Hunter Pace is scheduled for November 5 at Groton House in Ipswich, home to the famed Groton House Horse Trials. Riders of all disciplines are encouraged to join us from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. to enjoy the North Shore countryside, especially riders who are curious about fox hunting! Hunter pace events are a great way to ease into fox hunting. There are divisions for all levels of riders, including jumping and non-jumping. There’s even a costume division! Hunter paces are a great way to get out and about with your horse and compete in a friendly event. What’s a hunter pace? It’s an event over fox hunting territory that has a set completion time (that is not known by the riders) called an optimum time which is based on a fox hunting pace. Instead of following a pack of hounds that follow a scent trail, riders follow a pre-set trail that is well marked and includes optional objects typically found on an actual fox hunt such as jumps and water crossings. Groups go out in intervals and a timekeeper tracks on-course time for each team. The team coming the closest to the optimum time is the winner of their division. Teams can consist of one rider or groups up to seven or more, so it’s a fun way to spend time alone with your horse or with a group of friends. Safety is key and helmets are required; neat horse and rider turnout is encouraged. Your horse should be conditioned enough to handle the distance, but riders set their own pace, so walking and stopping is certainly allowed. There’s a required rest stop, generally three minutes, about halfway thru the course at which riders are usually offered a light refreshment such as water or cider. The entire event is incredibly organized — there will be plenty of staff, signage directing parking, clearly marked registration, a roped-off warmup area, starters, and a well-marked course. For riders contemplating a foray into fox hunting, or preparing for the crosscountry portion of eventing, the hunter pace provides a friendly, low-key way to experience some of the same riding conditions of a formal hunt. To find out more, please visit myopiahunt.org.
Consider joining us in our mission to preserve the future through the traditions of the past. 7 Lisa Wohlleib
New England Equestrian Center of Athol Isn’t it wonderful to have summer weather? At NEECA, we’re all happy to be back in the saddle and cart, inviting people to come join us as we enjoy improvements to the equestrian park. In the last couple of months, we’ve welcomed Cathy Drumm to the park for the first in the series of five clinics she’ll be providing, celebrated another amazing opportunity to ride with Susan Harris at Windswept Farm, enjoyed trail riding at Lake Dennison, and held two exciting, well-attended gymkhanas. And, as they say on infomercials, “But wait, there’s more!” June is a big month for NEECA because on the 10th, beginning with a 9 a.m. drill team competition, the NEECA Equestrian Showcase is taking place at the park. At 11:30 a.m. the Celebration of the Horse will showcase the many breeds that call New England home, and at noon we’ll start the New England Equestrian Talent Search — performers in-hand, riding, driving, and comedy, presenting two-minute acts to be judged and awarded prizes. It will be followed by performances by two of the award-winning acts from the Midwest Horse Fair Star Search Competition: Philip Whitmore and Cat Zimmerman. Finally, at 3 p.m. the annual Versatility Competition will begin, with In-hand, Novice, and Open divisions, and all day there will be vendors, information booths, Mustang demonstrations, raffle tables, mini clinics, the annual round-pen raffle, a tack sale, and great food. Then, if you still want more excitement, come back the next day to compete in or just enjoy watching the June gymkhana. Cathy Drumm returns for the second of her popular clinics on June 25. If you haven’t had a chance to ride with Cathy yet, this is a perfect opportunity, and if you’ve ridden with her before, we know you’ll want to do it again. July begins with the gymkhana on the 9th in the main ring, and the second annual Camping with Your Horse demo being held by the backfield and confidence course. Come learn about the tricks and trials of horse camping with seasoned campers Margo Petracone, Larry Marshall, and
Join the Fun at Jacquelyn Mooney Equestrian! Newly Relocated to Holloway Brook Farm in Lakeville
Riding Lessons for All Ages & Experience Levels Full Care and Training Board Starting at Just $600 Quality Horses for Lease with the Option of Showing Jacquelyn & Aurora
6 Barstow St., Lakeville, Mass. jacquelyn.mooney@gmail.com (781) 264-3044 Massachusetts Horse
37
Marianne Woijcicki. Plus, get ready to join us for a campout and versatility weekend in September. On July 16, NEECA will host its annual horseshow, one of the excellent Barre Riding and Driving Club series’ shows at Felton Field in Barre. This show is a highlight of our season, offers classes for almost every discipline and age, and features an outstanding food booth run by the Dare to Dream Educational Farm Program. We hope you’ll come join us! Looking ahead, NEECA’s Youth Day is August 5, where we give children, especially those without horse experience, a chance to learn equine facts and interact hands-on with Miniature horses. It’s a fun day and a perfect photo op! To learn more, visit neeca.org and our Facebook page. 7 Laurie Neely
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West Newbury Riding and Driving Club The WNRDC competitions this year focus on its Pipestave Hill Horse Trials with the first being held Sunday, July 9. These events are qualifiers for the Area 1 Schooling Horse Trial Championships held in August at Apple Knoll Farm in Millis. Whether you’re just learning to event or want a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy your horse, these are casual and well-organized horse trials, offering levels from PreElementary through Modified Novice (two phase). Also offered are dressage only, including western dressage, with all tests in a small ring, and two-phase options. Volunteers are always welcome. You’ll be entered into our semi-annual volunteer raffle and are eligible for a volunteer card for reduced entry fee into a future event.
WNRDC’s annual Adventure Trail and second Pipestave Hill Horse Trial will be held later in the season. This spring the club hosted Dr. Alan Goldberg, a sports psychologist, for an informative clinic as well as Dr. Derek Cavatorta, of SRH Veterinary Services in Ipswich, and Jaclyn Gagnon, of Nutrena, with a talk and hands-on demonstration on equine obesity and topline balance. WNRDC coordinated with Essex County Trail Association on the renaming of one of our local trails to honor Alex Hamilton, who built and maintained many trails here in West Newbury for both equestrians and other users. For more information about WNRDC events, membership, and volunteer opportunities, visit wnrdc.com. 7 Kathy Feehery
Massachusetts Quarter Horse Association Our Novice and Open Show held in Northampton has come and gone. This is one of the country’s top novice American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) shows! It’s also an open show so we welcome and open the doors to anyone who would like to join us regardless of the breed of horse you’re riding. This is a great opportunity for people to see what we’re all about. The annual board of directors meeting has adjourned with some great additions to this year’s shows. New for 2017, we’ll be adding trail courses designed by Tim Kimura. New England has a strong following of trail competitors, and these are the patterns that help prepare riders and
horses for the AQHA Congress and World shows. The Annual Spring Show was held May 17 to 21 in West Springfield. We’ll be offering MassQHA points at the New Hampshire AQHA Show, August 18 to 20 in Deerfield, New Hampshire. This show is open to Paint exhibitors as well, so bring out those beautiful colored horses and enjoy a weekend of showing in the fresh air of New Hampshire! We look forward to welcoming returning and new exhibitors as our show season gets into full swing. Even if you don’t show horses, we invite you to come and watch the amazing versatility and talents a Quarter Horse has to offer. 7 Lori Mahassel
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events Massachusetts
June 1 – 4 TOM CURTIN CLINIC, Clover Creek Farm, Rochester. drass@hotmail.com or (781) 910-9597. 2 NER BULLS AND BARRELS, New England Rodeo Ranch, Norton. newenglandrodeo.com. 2 – 3 HENK VAN BERGEN CLINIC, Longmeadow Farm, Scituate. longmeadowdressage.com. 3 SEHA SHOW, Rozena’s Field, Raynham. southeasthunter.com. 3 POLO MATCH, Boston Polo, Georgetown. bostonpolo.org. 3 4-H AND OPEN HORSE SHOW, Crimson Acres, Orange. crimsonacres.org. 3 TEAM SORTING, Chipaway Stables, Acushnet. chipawaystables.com. 3 HORSE TRIALS, Uxbridge. azraelacres.com.
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June/July 2017
3 BACK BAY FARM MHC SHOW, Ipswich. backbayfarm.com. 3 HIPPITY HOP CIRCUS, Blue Rider Stables, North Egremont. bluerider.org.
4 FUN SHOW SERIES, Countryside Farm, Attleboro. countrysidefarmma.com.
3 – 4 TEN BROECK FARM BREED SHOW, Sons of the Wind Farm, Merrimac. (631) 338-6340.
4 CRDA SCHOOLING DRESSAGE SHOW, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. crdressage.org.
3 – 4 BRDC WEEKEND CAMP OUT, Felton Field, Barre. barreridingdrivingclub.com.
4 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, Harmony Hill Farm, Great Barrington. wnepha.com.
3 – 4 CALICO PERFORMANCE HORSES OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND, Berkley. (774) 444-7076.
4 MHC SHOW, Bolton. centurymillstables.com.
4 MYOPIA POLO MATCH, South Hamilton. myopiapolo.org. 4 AHAM VERSATILITY CHALLENGE, Uxbridge. massarabianhorse.org.
4 BALMY ACRES BUCKLE BLOWOUT SHOW, Middleboro. balmyacres.com. 4 GRAZING FIELDS FARM SHOW III, Buzzard’s Bay. grazingfields.com.
11 NEECA GYMKHANA, Athol. neeca.org.
4 NORFOLK HUNT HUNTER PACE, Dover. norfolkhunt.com.
10 MYOPIA POLO MATCH, South Hamilton. myopiapolo.org.
4 OPEN JUMPER SHOW, Chelmsford. midnightmoonstables.com.
10 WORKING EQUITATION CLINIC, Paso Fino Del Fuego Farm, Middleboro. (508) 946-5131.
4 CROWLEYS TACK AND HORSE AUCTION, Agawam. crowleyshorses.com.
10 TEAM PENNING, Chipaway Stables, Acushnet. chipawaystables.com.
4 RIDE FOR THE RIBBON, Felton Field, Barre. maridefortheribbon.dojiggy.com.
10 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, Riverbank Farm, Dalton. wnepha.com.
4 NEW ENGLAND EQUINE RESCUE NORTH OPEN HOUSE, West Newbury. neernorth.org.
10 EQUESTRIAN SHOWCASE, Athol. neeca.org.
11 CORNERSTONE FARM HUNTER SHOW, Haverhill. ridecornerstone.com.
10 HANOVER HUNT AND RIDING CLUB ANNUAL SHOW, Hanover. briggsstable.com.
11 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, Biscuit Hill Farm, Shelburne. wnepha.com.
10 HERRING BROOK FARM HUNTER SHOW, Pembroke. herringbrookfarmma.com.
11 GRAZING FIELDS FARM SHOW IV, Buzzard’s Bay. grazingfields.com.
8 – 11 CCDS ANNUAL DRIVING SHOW, Orleton Farm, Stockbridge. colonialcarriage.org.
10 – 11 HCRC WESTERN DRESSAGE/OBSTACLE CLINIC AND TWO-PHASE SHOW, Goshen. hampshirecountyridingclub.org.
11 PLYMOUTH COUNTY 4-H SHOW, Briggs Stable, Hanover. briggsstable.com.
9 NER BULLS AND BARRELS, New England Rodeo Ranch, Norton. newenglandrodeo.com.
11 SCHOOLING DRESSAGE SHOW, Beland Stables, Lakeville. belandstables.com.
9 WORKING EQUITATION CLINIC, Canter Brook Equestrian Center, South Hamilton. (781) 910-3862.
11 CREEK CROSSING FARM SHOW, Hingham. creekcrossingfarm.net.
7 JUMPER NIGHT, Black Oak Stables, Hamilton. blackoakstables.com. 7 – 8 GEORGES MALLERONI CLINIC, Barre. cardinalridgeequestriancenter.com.
9 – 11 JAMES SHAW CLINIC, Ohana Farm, North Brookfield. fdhorsemanship.com.
Schooling Horse Trials North Bridge Equine Summer Jumper Series
Season end cash and prizes! June 14 . June 21 . June 28 . July 12 July 19 . July 26 . Aug. 2 . Aug. 9 Aug. 16 . Aug. 23 . Aug. 30 . Sept 6
Prize lists and entry forms at:
11 HRC TRAIL RIDE, Myles Standish State Forest, Carver. hansonridingclub.org. 11 AUGUST FARM MEDAL DAY, Holliston. rideaugustfarm.com.
11 WRC SPRING 4-H AND OPEN SHOW, Westfield. westfieldridingclub.org. 11 USEA HORSE TRIALS, Valinor Farm, Plymouth. valinorfarm.com.
11 HUNTER SHOW, Uxbridge. azraelacres.com.
11 KATHY CONNELLY RIDE REVIEW RIDE CLINIC, Winthrop Farm, Rowley. winthropfarm.com.
11 DRESSAGE SCHOOLING SHOW SERIES,New Braintree. whitesprucefarms.com.
14 AKF JUMPER SHOW, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. appleknoll.com.
25 Forest Lane, Millis, MA ~ (508) 376-2564
April 23
11 BSTRA NATIONAL TRAIL DAYS RIDE, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. bstra.org.
Hunter Paces
Miguel Anacoreta Clinic
May 21 - Spring Hop Hunter Pace October 22 - Halloween Hunter Pace
Christine at (781) 801-0406 or spanishdq@gmail.com
July 16
May 7 . June 4 . Aug. 13 . Oct. 1
NEDA Summer Dressage Show Schooling Horse Trials Championships August 20
July 8 – 12
Charles River Dressage Shows
Horses and Ponies For Sale/Lease Training with Adrienne Iorio
Three-Day Eventing Competitor and Trainer
appleknoll.com. Check the website often as new events are added!
The facilities at Apple Knoll Farm are available for rental for horse shows, clinics, and other equine activities. Our cross-country course is open for schooling by appointment, weather permitting.
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Trailers 2017
14 JUMPER NIGHT, Black Oak Stables, Hamilton. blackoakstables.com.
17 HRC VERSATILITY CLINIC, Thankful Hearts Stable, East Bridgewater. hansonridingclub.org.
14 – August 29 MYOPIA HUNT HOUND EXERCISES on Wednesdays (8 a.m.) and Saturdays (8 a.m.), South Hamilton. myopiahunt.org.
17 – 18 BRUCE DAVISON CLINIC, Course Brook Farm, Sherborn. coursebrookfarm.com.
14 – 17 SUMMER KICKOFF OPEN SHOW, Northampton. vtspringclassic@aol.com. 15 – 17 EXTREME MUSTANG MAKEOVER, Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield. extrememustangmakeover.com. 15 – 17 ERIC SMILEY CLINIC, Black Oak Stables, Hamilton. blackoakstables.com. 16 SUMMER GYMKHANA SERIES, Hillside Meadows, Grafton. hillside-meadows.com. 17 CAPE COD HUNTER SHOW, Rozena’s Field, Raynham. capecodhunter.com. 17 TEAM SORTING, Chipaway Stables, Acushnet. chipawaystables.com.
17 – 18 SMARTPAK SUMMER SALE, Natick. See page 30 for details. smartpak.com/retailstore. 18 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, White Horse Hill Farm, Richmond. wnepha.com. 18 STOCK HORSE SHOW, Heritage Farm, Easthampton. heritagefarmeasthampton.com. 18 SSHC SHOW, Rozena’s Field, Raynham. sshconline.org. 18 SCHOOLING TWO PHASE/DRESSAGE SHOW, Dracut. cutterfarm.com. 18 MHC/NEHC HUNT SEAT SHOW, Saddle Rowe, Medway. saddlerowe.com. 18 MYOPIA POLO MATCH, South Hamilton. myopiapolo.org.
17 ALISON EASTMAN-LAWLER EVENTING CLINIC, Groton. cdctaonline.com. 17 – 18 JASON DRASS HORSEMANSHIP CAMPING WEEKEND, Wagon Wheel Campground, Warwick. (508) 454-1281.
18 SUNRISE PLEASURE SHOW/WMAA SHOW, Mount Holyoke College Equestrian Center, South Hadley. mhcriding.com. 18 CMHSS CAMP MARSHALL EQUESTRIAN TEAM SHOW, Spencer. cmhss.net.
Keith Angstadt
USEF Dressage Judge USDF Bronze & Silver Medalist ADS Driving Dressage Judge
Dressage Training & Instruction Keith Angstadt
USEF Dressage Judge USDF Bronze & Silver Medalist ADS Driving Dressage Judge
• Full Care Facility • Individualized Programs • Excellent Footing • Indoor & Outdoor Arenas • Ample Turnout
Lynda Angstadt
USDF L Graduate USDF Bronze Medalist USPC DC/JDC
• Reasonable Rates • Truck-ins Always Welcome • PVC Paddocks • Onsite Competitions & Clinics
Excellent Location – minutes from Routes 495, 95, and 93
318 Boxford Rd., Haverhill, MA (978) 374-0008 kdangst@comcast.net or leangst@comcast.net 42
June/July 2017
Merrimack Valley Dressage Shows April 23 - Ride Review Ride May 7 . July 23 . August 20
Intro to 4th and above; fabulous footing and judges.
New for 2017 - offering USEA event tests and western dressage tests! High-score awards; discount for Pony Club.
18 SCHOOLS-OUT OPEN SHOW, Pepperell. atouchofmajic.com.
24 NO BULL SORTING, Hixville Livery Stables, Dartmouth. (508) 995-8803.
23 – 25 USEA HORSE TRIALS, Groton House, Hamilton. grotonhousefarm.com.
18 NSHA EQUITATION SHOW, Evenstride, Byfield. northshorehorsemens.org.
24 HCRC PARTNERSHIP THROUGH RIDER AWARENESS CLINCI, Rachel Hackett and Jo Bunny clinicians, Goshen. hampshirecountyridingclub.org.
24 HORSEMINDSHIP GROUND DRIVING WORKSHOP, Plainfield. peacehavenfarm.com.
19 – 23 SMARTPAK SCHOOL’S OUT CELEBRATION, Natick. See page 30 for details. smartpak.com/retailstore. 21 BRIGGS STABLE MINI SHOW, Hanover. briggsstable.com. 21 AKF JUMPER SHOW, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. appleknoll.com. 21 JUMPER NIGHT, Black Oak Stables, Hamilton. blackoakstables.com. 21 WESTERN DRESSAGE LESSON SERIES, South Hadley. cathydrumm.com.
24 TEAM PENNING, Chipaway Stables, Acushnet. chipawaystables.com. 24 HEARTS FOR HOOVES, Blessings Farm Fundraiser at Klem’s, Spencer. blessingsfarm.org. 24 CRDA SUE ROBERTO BUCHANAN CLINIC, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. crdressage.org. 24 EQUESTRIAN FASHION SHOW AND TENT SALE, Harwich. (508) 432-1022. 24 – 25 NORTH STAR PRO RODEO, Marshfield. northstarprorodeo.com.
25 NEECA CATHY DRUMM WESTERN/ENGLISH DRESSAGE CLINIC, Athol. neeca.org. 25 BRDC SCHOLARSHIP OPEN SHOW, Felton Field, Barre. barreridingdrivingclub.com. 25 SOUTH COAST SERIES SHOW, Grazing Fields Farm, Buzzards Bay. southcoastseries.com. 25 NSHA HUNTER SHOW, Byfield. northshorthorsemens.org 25 MYOPIA POLO MATCH, South Hamilton. myopiapolo.org.
21 – 25 PLYMOUTH ROCK HUNTER/JUMPER SHOW, Fieldstone Show Park, Halifax. showfieldstone.com.
24 – 25 LIBERTY HERD CLASS, Ohana Farm, North Brookfield. fdhorsemanship.com.
25 SCHOOLING DRESSAGE SHOW, Xenophon Farm, Montague. xenophonfarm@aol.com or (413) 367-9828.
23 GAMES NIGHT, Crimson Acres, Orange. crimsonacres.org.
25 HDA DRESSAGE SCHOOLING SHOW, Briggs Stable, Hanover. heritage-dressage.org.
25 WRC BLANDFORD SKI AREA RIDE, Blandford. westfieldridingclub.org.
23 SUMMER KICK OFF JUMPER SHOW, Grafton. hillside-meadows.com.
25 HUNTER PACE, Spencer. campmarshallequestriancenter.net.
25 GREEN HILL STABLES SHOW SERIES, Berlin. (978) 491-0264.
23 NER BULLS AND BARRELS, New England Rodeo Ranch, Norton. newenglandrodeo.com.
25 HCRC CHESTERFIELD GORGE RIDE, Chesterfield. hampshirecountyridingclub.org.
26 LARRY POULIN CLINIC, RER Ponies, Hatfield. rerponies.com.
A Touch of Majic Equestrian Center
Riding Lessons and Training
• English and western lessons – beginner to competitive rider. • Specializing in three-day eventing, hunter/jumper, western, recreational riding, and riders with special needs. • Professional training – young horses, behavioral issues, rehab cases, show horses, and your all around “good citizens.” • Event team, IEA teams, working student positions • Home of RVT Custom Horseshoeing
Boarding & Services
• Full-service board and semi-rough board • Lay-up care • Training and sale board • 280' x 95' indoor arena with heated lounge and sound system • Outdoor riding arena • All-day turnout • Nutritional programs • State-of-the-art security system • Full-time staff; in-house farrier • Access to miles of trails
Buy a four lesson package and receive the fifth
lesson free! or a
Free half hour mini lesson!* Offer expires July 31, 2017 *new clients only
Meghan Bourque Tyler 2 Old Farm Lane, Pepperell, Mass. (781) 956-7484 ATouchofMajic.com Meghan@atouchofmajic.com
Massachusetts Horse
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27 – July 1 NORTHEAST BENEFIT SHOW, Northampton. northeastbenefithorseshow.com. 28 AKF JUMPER SHOW, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. appleknoll.com. 28 JUMPER NIGHT, Black Oak Stables, Hamilton. blackoakstables.com. 28 BRIGGS STABLE MINI SHOW, Hanover. briggsstable.com. 28 – 29 USDF/USEF SUMMER DRESSAGE SHOW, South Hadley. mhcriding.com. 30 NER BULLS AND BARRELS, New England Rodeo Ranch, Norton. newenglandrodeo.com. 30 HERRING BROOK FARM HUNTER SHOW, Pembroke. herringbrookfarmma.com.
July 1 POLO MATCH, Boston Polo, Georgetown. bostonpolo.org. 1 OPEN and 4-H HORSE SHOW, Crimson Acres, Orange. crimsonacres.org. (4 p.m. show) 1 TEAM PENNING, Chipaway Stables, Acushnet. chipawaystables.com. 2 MYOPIA POLO MATCH, South Hamilton. myopiapolo.org.
8 TEAM SORTING, Chipaway Stables, Acushnet. chipawaystables.com.
2 HORSE TRIALS, Uxbridge. azraelacres.com. 2 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, Bonnie Lea Farm, Williamstown. wnepha.com. 2 FUN SHOW SERIES, Countryside Farm, Attleboro. countrysidefarmma.com.
8 – 12 MIGUEL ANACORETA CLINIC, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. appleknoll.com. 9 MYOPIA POLO MATCH, South Hamilton. myopiapolo.org.
2 PETER WHITMORE VERSATILITY CLINIC, Brimfield.fairviewfarmsjjc.com.
9 SHOW-US-YOUR-STRIPES AMERICA OPEN SHOW, Pepperell. atouchofmajic.com.
4 MARION 4TH OF JULY SHOW, Washburn Park Road, Marion. marionhorseshow.com.
9 NEECA GYMKHANA, Athol. neeca.org.
5 JUMPER NIGHT, Black Oak Stables, Hamilton. blackoakstables.com.
9 SCHOOLING DRESSAGE SHOW, Lakeville. belandstables.com.
5 BRIGGS STABLE MINI SHOW, Hanover. briggsstable.com.
9 WNEPHA MHC HUNTER SHOW, Richmond. wnepha.com.
5 – 9 NHHJA SHOW, Halifax. showfieldstone.com.
9 WNRDC PIPESTAVE HILL HORSE TRIALS, West Newbury. wnrdc.com.
5 – 9 USHJA EAP REGIONAL TRAINING SESSION, South Hadley. mhcriding.com.
9 WRC BECKET LAND TRUST TRAIL RIDE, Becket. westfieldridingclub.org.
6 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, Harmony Hill Farm, Great Barrington. wnepha.com. 7 NER BULLS AND BARRELS, New England Rodeo Ranch, Norton. newenglandrodeo.com. 7 – 9 REGIONAL 4-H SHOW, Three County Fairgrounds, Northampton. mass4h.org.
10 CENTURY MILL MHC SHOW, Bolton. centurymillstables.com. 10 DANIEL STEWART CLINIC, RER Ponies, Hatfield. rerponies.com. 12 AKF JUMPER SHOW, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. appleknoll.com.
Briggs Stable
85 Annual th
June Show Saturday • June 10
Outside Course Warm-ups 6:30 to 8 A .M. Trailer Parking Starts at 6 A .M.
Briggs Stable • Route 139, Hanover Centre, MA
Mini Shows Wednesday evenings starting at 6 P.M. June 21 to August 30 All members of the Hanover Hunt & Riding Club eligible for year-end awards.
Lead Line . Therapeutic . Walk Trot . Games Jumping . Equitation . Pleasure Great food and drinks available at the Hanover Hunt & Riding Club food booth.
Briggs Stable • 623 Hanover St., Hanover Centre, MA (781) 826-3191 • Class lists at briggsstable.com
Affiliated with NEHC, MHC, and SSHC MHC, NEHC, and SSHC Medal Classes
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Show Manager: John Dougherty (781) 826-3191
Visit Briggs Tack Shop, a full service shop, while at the shows!
Program may be downloaded at www.briggsstable.com.
We’re an authorized Kingston Trailer dealer!
June/July 2017
12 WESTERN DRESSAGE LESSON SERIES, South Hadley. cathydrumm.com.
18 – 23 AQHA REGION 6 SUPER SIX SHOW, West Springfield. massqha.com.
12 BRIGGS STABLE MINI SHOW, Hanover. briggsstable.com.
19 AKF JUMPER SHOW, Millis. appleknoll.com.
12 JUMPER NIGHT, Black Oak Stables, Hamilton. blackoakstables.com. 12 HUNTER SHOW, Pembroke. herringbrookfarmma.com.
19 BRIGGS STABLE MINI SHOW, Hanover. briggsstable.com. 19 JUMPER NIGHT, Black Oak Stables, Hamilton. blackoakstables.com.
14 GAMES NIGHT, Orange. crimsonacres.org.
21 NER BULLS AND BARRELS, Norton. newenglandrodeo.com.
14 NER BULLS AND BARRELS, Norton. newenglandrodeo.com.
21 MID-SUMMER JUMPER NIGHT, Grafton. hillside-meadows.com.
14 SUMMER GYMKHANA SERIES, Hillside Meadows, Grafton. hillside-meadows.com.
21 – 23 HCRC CAMPING WEEKEND, Wagon Wheel Campground, Warwick. hampshirecountyridingclub.org.
15 RIDE AND DINE BENEFIT HUNTER PACE, Spencer. campmarshallequestriancenter.net. 15 TEAM PENNING, Chipaway Stables, Acushnet. chipawaystables.com. 15 NBHA DOUBLE BARREL BASH, Dartmouth. (508) 995-8803. 15 AUGUST FARM MEDAL DAY, Holliston. rideaugustfarm.com. 15 JASON DRASS HORSEMANSHIP CLINIC, Brimfield. fairviewfarmsjjc.com. 16 MYOPIA POLO MATCH, South Hamilton. myopiapolo.org. 16 SUMMER FUN SHOW, Spencer. campmarshallequestriancenter.net.
22 TEAM SORTING, Chipaway Stables, Acushnet. chipawaystables.com. 22 GRANBY SADDLE CLUB SHOW, Granby. facebook.com/thegranbysaddleclub. 22 MHC/NEHC HUNT SEAT SHOW, Medway. saddlerowe.com. 22 – 23 UMASS BREED SHOW, Hadley Farm. (908) 963-4026 or kmoff268@gmail.com. 23 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, Muddy Brook Farm, Amherst. wnepha.com.
Natural Balance Equine Dentistry
16 NO BULL SORTING, Dartmouth. (508) 995-8803. 16 JULY THREE-PHASE, Berlin. orchardhillequestriancenter.com. 16 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, Heritage Farm, Easthampton.heritagefarmeasthampton.com.
16 HRC OPEN SHOW, Briggs Stable, Hanover. hansonridingclub.org. 16 MHC SHOW, Plainville. stargazerhillfarm.com. 16 SOUTH COAST SERIES SHOW, Wolf Rock Farm, Plympton. southcoastseries.com. 16 SCHOOLING TWO PHASE/DRESSAGE SHOW, Dracut. cutterfarm.com. 16 BRDC NEECA OPEN SHOW, Felton Field, Barre. barreridingdrivingclub.com.
June 25 - “R” judge Bill McMullin July 30 - judge TBA Sept. 10 - “L” judge Kathryn Hitzig October 8 - “r” judge Keith Angstadt
Dressage Clinics
Bill McMullin Clinic on June 26 Sharon McCusker Bill Warren . Verne Batchelder Like us on Facebook to see who’s coming!
Stalls Available
Stalls available in the 16-stall barn with attached indoor arena. Nestled at the base of Mt Toby this “Massachusetts Horse Farm of Distinction” provides outstanding care for you and your horse.
16 NEDA SUMMER DRESSAGE SHOW, Millis. neda.org.
16 HUNTER SHOW, Haverhill. ridecornerstone.com.
Dressage Schooling Show Series
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
XEnOphOn FARM
30 yEARS OF OuTSTAnding CLiniCS, LECTuRES & COMpETiTiOnS! JAniCE
& ELAinE KAChAvOS
80 SundERLAnd Rd., RTE. 47 MOnTAguE, MASS. 413.367.9828 X EnOphOn FARM @ AOL . COM
Certified practitioner in Natural Balance Dentistry® Massachusetts Horse
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23 MERRIMACK VALLEY DRESSAGE SHOW, Haverhill. (978) 374-0008.
30 SCHOOLING DRESSAGE SHOW, Xenophon Farm, Montague. (413) 367-9828.
23 MYOPIA POLO MATCH, South Hamilton. myopiapolo.org.
31 – August 3 HEAD OF THE BAY CLASSIC II, Buzzard’s Bay. grazingfields.com.
23 HUNTER SHOW, Uxbridge. azraelacres.com.
August
23 GRAZING FIELDS FARM MEDAL DAY, Buzzard’s Bay. grazingfields.com.
2 AKF JUMPER SHOW, Millis. appleknoll.com.
24 – 29 NEW ENGLAND MORGAN SHOW, Northampton. nemha.com.
APRIL 21 ~ 23 MassQHA Youth, Novice, and Open Show (massqha.com)
JUNE 15 ~ 17 Summer Kickoff Open Show vtspringclassic@aol.com 27 ~ 7/1 Northeast Benefit Horse Show (northeastbenefithorseshow.com)
JULY 7~9
Regional 4-H Horse Show (mass4H.org)
24 ~ 29 New England Morgan Show (nemha.com)
AUGUST 3~6
CT Summer Classic Show (ctasb.com)
10 ~ 13 Northampton Hunter/Jumper (biscuithillfarm.com)
SEPTEMBER 1~4
Three County Fair (threecountyfair.com)
8 ~ 10
Massachusetts State 4-H Show (mass4-H.org)
28 ~ 10/1 Mass. Horsemen’s Council Days of Champions (mahorsecouncil.com)
413.584.2237 threecountyfair.com
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June/July 2017
25 – 28 HEAD OF THE BAY CLASSIC I, Grazing Fields Farm, Buzzard’s Bay. grazingfields.com. 26 BRIGGS STABLE MINI SHOW, Hanover. briggsstable.com. 26 JUMPER NIGHT, Black Oak Stables, Hamilton. blackoakstables.com.
2 JUMPER NIGHT, Black Oak Stables, Hamilton. blackoakstables.com. 2 MYOPIA POLO MATCH, South Hamilton. myopiapolo.org. 2 BRIGGS STABLE MINI SHOW, Hanover. briggsstable.com. 3 VIRGINIA LEARY CLINIC, RER Ponies, Hatfield. rerponies.com.
26 AKF JUMPER SHOW, Millis. appleknoll.com.
3 – 6 CONNECTICUT SUMMER CLASSIC SHOW, Northampton. ctasb.com.
28 NER BULLS AND BARRELS, New England Rodeo Ranch, Norton. newenglandrodeo.com.
4 NER BULLS AND BARRELS, New England Rodeo Ranch, Norton. newenglandrodeo.com.
28 – 30 SUNRISE PLEASURE SHOW/YANKEE COLOR CLASSIC AND ALL BREED SHOW, West Springfield. westernmaapp.homestead.com.
5 MHC/NEHC HUNT SEAT SHOW, Saddle Rowe, Medway. saddlerowe.com.
29 MYOPIA POLO MATCH, South Hamilton. myopiapolo.org. 29 NO BULL SORTING, Hixville Livery Stables, Dartmouth. (508) 995-8803. 29 HEAD OF THE BAY EQUITATION DAY, Buzzard’s Bay. grazingfields.com.
5 POLO MATCH,Georgetown. bostonpolo.org. 5 NO BULL SORTING, Hixville Livery Stables, Dartmouth. (508) 995-8803. 5 TEAM PENNING, Chipaway Stables, Acushnet. chipawaystables.com. 5 NEECA YOUTH FUN DAY, Athol. neeca.org.
29 – 30 USEA HORSE TRIALS, StoneleighBurnham School, Greenfield. sbschool.org.
5 HORSEMINDSHIP GROUND DRIVING WORKSHOP, Plainfield. peacehavenfarm.com.
30 SUMMER THREE PHASE, Course Brook Farm, Sherborn. coursebrookfarm.com.
5 GRAZING FIELDS FARM MEDAL DAY, Buzzard’s Bay. grazingfields.com.
30 MYOPIA POLO MATCH, South Hamilton. myopiapolo.org.
5 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, Blythewood Stable, Pittsfield. wnepha.com.
30 CCDS SUMMER FUN DAY, Orleton Farm, Stockbridge. colonialcarriage.org.
5 – 6 HCRC WEEKEND-O-FUN, Goshen. hampshirecountyridingclub.org.
8 GRAZING FIELDS FARM MEDAL DAY, Buzzard’s Bay. grazingfields.com.
6 BEACHIN’-IT SUMMER FUN OPEN SHOW, Pepperell. atouchofmajic.com.
9 AKF JUMPER SHOW, Millis. appleknoll.com.
6 AUGUST THREE-PHASE, Berlin. orchardhillequestriancenter.com. 6 FUN SHOW SERIES, Countryside Farm, Attleboro. countrysidefarmma.com. 6 4-H HOT TO TROT SHOW, Balmy Acres, Middleboro. hansonridingclub.org.
9 BRIGGS STABLE MINI SHOW, Hanover. briggsstable.com. 9 JUMPER NIGHT, Black Oak Stables, Hamilton. blackoakstables.com. 10 HERRING BROOK FARM HUNTER SHOW, Pembroke. herringbrookfarmma.com.
6 MHC SHOW, Plainville. stargazerhillfarm.com.
10 – 13 NORTHAMPTON HUNTER/JUMPER SHOW, Northampton. biscuithillfarm.com.
6 WRC GAMES DAY, Westfield. westfieldridingclub.org.
11 NER BULLS AND BARRELS, New England Rodeo Ranch, Norton. newenglandrodeo.com.
6 BRDC CNEER OPEN SHOW, Felton Field, Barre. barreridingdrivingclub.com.
12 TEAM SORTING, Chipaway Stables, Acushnet. chipawaystables.com.
Susan Rainville
DRESSAGE
6 SOUTH COAST SERIES SHOW, Wolf Rock Farm, Plympton. southcoastseries.com.
Dressage Training from the Ground Up USDF bronze & silver medalist Centerline Scores three-star rider 16 years teaching & training
White Spruce Farms
Central Massachusetts (978) 257-4666 whitesprucefarms.com
Lost in the Paperwork?
We provide stress-free accounting services! Bookkeeping . Cash Flow Management Projections/Forecasting . Insurance Audits Liaison with Tax Professionals Obtaining Financing . Accounting Migrations On site and remote options available.
Therapeutic Massage . Bodywork . Reiki
Years of experience, many satisfied customers, references available.
(413) 320-7690
South Shore CFO
Recovery . Maintenance . Performance
jobunny@comcast.net
Independence Stable, LLC
Angelina Natale, President . Halifax, MA (339) 206-3005 . natale534@comcast.net
Got Manure? MANURE REMOVAL FOR LARGE & SMALL FARMS
Dressage Schooling Shows
Roll-off containers 10 to 30 yards on call or scheduled service. Full stock pile removals.
Including Western Dressage Tests! August 13 - Rachel Markel Webber “L” September 17 - Sue Edelen “L”
Lessons . Training . Clinics
978-425-6181 MitranoRemoval.com Proud sponsor of Bear Spot Musical Freestyle and Oakrise Farm Shows.
Massachusetts Horse
47
the
neighborhood
ASSOCIATIONS •••••••••••••••••••••••••• BAY STATE TRAIL RIDERS ASSOCIATION bstra.org Keeping trails open for equestrian use; organized trail rides; volunteer opportunities for trail clearing and maintenance. HAMPSHIRE COUNTY RIDING CLUB Goshen, MA, (413) 268-3372 hampshirecounty ridingclub.org Monthly trail rides, woodland obstacle course, scavenger hunt, and clinics. BARN CATS •••••••••••••••••••••••••• PAWS WATCH Newport, RI, (401) 848-9867 pawswatch.org Barn cats need homes! Healthy, fixed, vaccinated barn cats provide rodent control. Delivered!
Your Everything Equine “white pages”
EQUINE ENTERTAINMENT •••••••••••••••••••••••••• DALE PERKINS/MESA FARM Rutland, MA, (508) 886-6898 daleperkinshorseshow.com Trick riding and much more. EQUINE MASSAGE •••••••••••••••••••••••••• EQUISSAGE NE/NY MA, CT, RI, (860) 564-7759 equisportmt@sbcglobal.net Integrated body work for performance horses: reiki, Masterson Method, sports and therapeutic massage, myofascial release, cranio-sacral therapy, infrared photon therapy. HORSEBACK AND BODY Northampton, MA, (413) 320-7690 jobunny@comcast.net Massage therapy for horses, humans.
DRESSAGE •••••••••••••••••••••••••• BRADFORD EQUESTRIAN CENTER Haverhill, MA, (978) 374-0008 Dressage for all disciplines and driving. Keith Angstadt, USEF dressage judge.
HAFLINGERS •••••••••••••••••••••••••• SOMMER HILL FARM Adams, MA, (413) 743-9301 sommerhaflingers@yahoo.com One Haflinger is never enough.
CATHY DRUMM Pittsfield, MA, (413) 441-5278 cathydrumm.com Clinics, lessons, training, western and English dressage, hunter/jumper.
HORSES FOR SALE •••••••••••••••••••••••••• HERITAGE FARM Easthampton, MA, (413) 527-1612 farmheritage.com Auctions, sale horses, shows, clinics, boarding, lessons, and training.
FAIRFIELD FARM Rochester, MA, (508) 763-8038 dressageatfairfieldfarm.com Boarding, instruction, training, indoor. MEG HILLY South Deerfield, MA, (802) 595-1258 mhilly@mtholyoke.edu USDF “L” judge; FEI rider; private, semiprivate lessons; clinics. NANCY LATER LAVOIE Ashby, MA, (561) 714-7447 nancylaterdressagehorses.com Training, lessons, clinics. Accepting new students of all levels. Top-class facility. 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 ravenhillequine.com Natural balance equine dentistry. Improved topline, maximized performance, increased flexion. Serving New England/New York. NORTHEAST EQUINE VETERINARY DENTAL SERVICES LEAH LIMONE, DVM Topsfield, MA, (978) 500-9293 nevds.com Licensed professional veterinary dentistry. Routine preventive care, maintenance, diagnostics, extractions.
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June/July 2017
STRAIN FAMILY HORSE FARM Granby, CT, (860) 653-3275 strainfamilyhorsefarm.com New England’s largest quality sales stable. Supplying NE with horses and ponies since 1967. Forty family, trail, and show horses to choose from. New loads every week. We buy horses, take trade-ins and consignment horses. Great three-weekexchange guarantee. Find us on Facebook. INSTRUCTION/TRAINING •••••••••••••••••••••••••• BACK BAY FARM Ipswich, MA, (978) 356-0730 backbayfarm.com Lessons, boarding, training, and sales. INSURANCE •••••••••••••••••••••••••• CORINTHIAN INSURANCE AGENCY Medway, MA, (877) 250-5103 corinthianequine.com Equine protection specialists. DON RAY INSURANCE Marshfield, MA, (781) 837-6550 donrayinsurance.com Farm, mortality, major medical and surgical, clubs, shows, instructors. FARM FAMILY INSURANCE farmfamily.com Carver: (508) 866-9150 Easthampton: (413) 203-5180 Great Barrington: (413) 528-1710 Marlborough: (508) 485-3800 Middleborough: (508) 747-8181 Northborough: (508) 393-9327
Norwood: (781) 255-2002 South Deerfield: (413) 665-8200 Southwick: (413) 569-2307 Topsfield: (978) 887-8304 Westford: (978) 467-1001 Williamstown: (413) 458-5584 Worcester: (508) 752-3300 JUDGES •••••••••••••••••••••••••• MARY BRAZIE Egremont, MA, (413) 528-2367 arabpinto13@yahoo.com Judging open, 4-H, carded. ED GOLEMBESKI Gill, MA, (413) 863-2313 riker119@comcast.net 4-H, open shows, clinics, lessons. NORWEGIAN FJORDS •••••••••••••••••••••••••• BLUE HERON FARM Charlemont, MA, (413) 339-4045 blueheronfarm.com Quality, purebred registered Fjords. PHOTOGRAPHY •••••••••••••••••••••••••• KAREN MORANG PHOTOGRAPHY Find us on Facebook. Equine photography and events. PHOTOGRAPHY BY MELISSA N. Dighton, MA, (508) 863-0467 melissaroot.com Equine portrait photography and events. REAL ESTATE •••••••••••••••••••••••••• ALTHEA BRAMHALL HOMETOWN REALTORS North Quabbin region, (617) 678-9300 althearealtor@gmail.com Real estate is more fun with horse people! EQUINE HOMES REAL ESTATE LLC MA and NH, (800) 859-2745, ext. 704 equinehomes.com sally@equinehomes.com Sally Mann, Realtor, MA and NH. BERNICE GIARD REALITY Oakham, MA, (508) 882-3900 oakham@charter.net Country properties. STABLES, FARMS, BOARDING •••••••••••••••••••••••••• CARRIER’S FARM Southampton, MA, (413) 527-0333 rcarrier0333@gmail.com Indoor, outdoor arenas, round pens, fields. GLENCROFT FARM Southampton, MA, (413) 527-8026 kraymond24@hotmail.com Boarding, pastures, ring, trails, fields. 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. DR. COOK BITLESS BRIDLE (866) 235-0938 bitlessbridle.com Safe, gentle, effective alternative to using a bit. SMARTPAK RETAIL STORE Natick, MA, (508) 651-0045 smartpak.com/retailstore Tack, equipment, supplements, blankets, apparel, gear, gifts, clearance outlet. TRANSPORTATION •••••••••••••••••••••••••• J.R. HUDSON HORSE TRANSPORTATION West 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 and alternative care for dogs, cats, exotics, and horses. SOUTH DEERFIELD VETERINARY CLINIC DR. ROBERT P. SCHMITT S. Deerfield, MA, (413) 665-3626 sdvc@aol.com Equine medicine, surgery since 1969.
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12 CAPE COD HUNTER SHOW, Rozena’s Field, Raynham. capecodhunter.com.
13 SCHOOLING DRESSAGE SHOW, Beland Stables, Lakeville. belandstables.com.
13 SUNRISE PLEASURE SHOW/WMAA SHOW, South Hadley. mhcriding.com.
12 COUNTRY COOKOUT HUNTER PACE, Spencer. campmarshallequestriancenter.net.
13 NEECA CATHY DRUMM WESTERN/ENGLISH DRESSAGE CLINIC, Athol. neeca.org.
13 DRESSAGE SCHOOLING SHOW, Belchertown. independencestablesllc.com.
13 CRDA SCHOOLING DRESSAGE SHOW, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. crdressage.org.
13 AUGUST FARM MEDAL DAY, Holliston. rideaugustfarm.com.
16 AKF JUMPER SHOW, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. appleknoll.com.
13 MYOPIA POLO MATCH, South Hamilton. myopiapolo.org.
13 SSHC SHOW, Rozena’s Field, Raynham. sshconline.org.
16 JUMPER NIGHT, Black Oak Stables, Hamilton. blackoakstables.com.
Western New England Professional Horsemen’s Association’s
Hunter/Equitation Shows June 4 June 10 June 11 June 18 June 25 July 2 July 6 July 9 July 16 July 23 July 28 July 30 August 5
Blue Dog Leather 64 South Shore Dr., Orange, Mass. 978.544.2681 bluedogleather.com
Harmony Hill Farm Riverbank Farm Biscuit Hill Farm White Horse Hill Farm Emerald Glen Bonnie Lea Farm Harmony Hill Farm Bellwether Stable Heritage Farm Muddy Brook Farm Emerald Glen Bonnie Lea Farm Blythewood Stables
Dressage Shows
English and western dressage classes.
June 4 July 16 July 23 August 20 September 17
Emerald Glen Emerald Glen Stockade Polo Club Emerald Glen Stockade Polo Club
Featuring year-end awards in many divisions.
wnepha.com Full schedule can be found at:
An organization for horsemen, by horsemen.
RER Ponies Training, Lessons & Sales
Now Accepting Boarders 20,000-square-foot Facility!
Horse Leases Available partial $275/mo., half $400/mo., full $525/mo.
Beginner to Advanced Instruction Hunt Seat/Equitation, Dressage, Eventing, Western
Brimfield, MA 413-245-3083 fairviewfarmsjjc.com
by BHS trained, USDF “L” Graduate & Bronze Medalist
Heather Reynolds Dostal
Large and Small Animal Medicine & Surgery
Available for Judging & Clinics
Serving the North Shore since 1951
U.S. Pony Club Riding Center offering boarding, training, pony starting, and tune-ups. Professional, well rounded, goal-oriented lesson program for riders of all ages beginner through advanced. Accepting new clients with 2017 expansion!
Helen Noble, VMD . Robert Orcutt, DVM Derek Cavatorta, DVM PhD Kirstin Anderson, DVM . Ashley Taylor, DVM Mary Ann Montesano, DVM
8 Circle Dr., Hatfield, MA 413.427.2026
295 High St, Ipswich, Mass.
RERponies.com . rerponies@gmail.com
978-356-1119 (ph) . 978-356-5758 (f)
srhvets.com Massachusetts Horse
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Is This Your Horse?
Tack Shop & Consignment Area
Barn Supplies . 1st & 2nd Cut Hay Paper-bagged Shavings . Grain Livestock . Poultry . Wild Bird Seed Dog, Cat, Small Animal, and Reptile Pickup and Delivery!
Alessandra Mele
Dublin . Tuff Rider . Saxon . Noble Outfitters . Horze . Shires . Ariat Weatherbeeta . Tough 1 . Professional’s Choice . Roma . Absorbine
Is this your horse? This photo was taken at the May Grindstone Mountain Horse Trials in Southampton. If this is your horse, contact us at win@mahorse.com for a month’s supply of SmartPaks and more from the Bay State’s very own SmartPak, smartpakequine.com.
Rehabilitation Services & Boarding
HnHPT is dedicated to providing you and your horse the most up-to-date treatment based on your horse’s needs. The combined use of manual techniques, modalities, and prescribed exercises along with owner education enhances the healing process to return your horse to functional work faster than stall rest alone.
Jennifer Brooks, PT, MEd., CERP
Equine RockTape Seminar Friday, September 22
June/July 2017
A & B Insurance Group ................... 28
Hanover Hunt and Riding Club ...... 44
A & B Lumber Barns ....................... 28
Heritage Farm ................................ 21
Althea Bramhall Realtor ................ 10
Horse ’n Hound Physical Therapy . 50
Apple Knoll Farm ........................... 41
HorseBack and Body ..................... 47
Bacon’s Equipment ....................... 46
Independence Stable .................... 47
Barnstable Farm and Pet .............. 50
It’s a Pleasure Training ................... 11
Betsy Merritt ................................... 5
Jacquelyn Mooney Equestrian ...... 37
Blue Dog Leather ........................... 49
Jenn’s Tack & Blanket Service ........ 6
Blue Seal Feed .............................. 51
Massachusetts Horse Benefit ....... 25
Bob Burrelli ................................... 47
Mitrano Removal Service .............. 47
Bradford Equestrian Center ........... 42
Mountain Top Inn & Resort ....... 40
Briggs Stable Mini Shows ............... 44
Natural Balance Equine Dentistry . 45
BugPellent ...................................... 38
Orchard Trailers ............................ 52
Camp Marshall Equestrian Center . 7
RER Ponies .............................. 24, 49
The Carriage Shed ........................... 2
Salty Dawg Equine Services ............ 7
The Cheshire Horse .......................... 7
SmartPak Retail Store ................... 30
Chipaway Stables ............................ 12
South Coast Series ........................ 35
Country Corral ............................... 17
South Shore CFO ........................... 47
Crimson Acres ............................... 47
South Shore Equine Clinic ............. 31
DK Saddlery ................................... 15
SRH Veterinary Services ................ 49
Don Ray Insurance Agency ............. 6
Three County Fair .............................. 46
Equine Homes ............................ 9, 13
A Touch of Majic Equestrian Center . 43
ERA Distinctive Properties ............ 39
Triple Crown Feed ......................... 27
(603) 465-4444
ERA Key Realty Services ............... 39
WNEPHA ........................................ 49
Fairview Farms JJC ........................ 49
White Spruce Farms ....................... 47
Family Veterinary Center ............... 19
Xenophon Farm ............................. 45
288 S. Merrimack Rd. Hollis, NH
Farm Credit East ............................. 15
Yered Trailers ................................ 42
info@hnhpt.com . hnhpt.com
50
advertiser index
Farm Family Insurance .................... 4
Amherst Farmer’s Supply 320 Pleasant St., Amherst (413) 253-3436 amherstfarmerssupply.com A.W. Brown Pet & Garden Center 144 Shaker Rd., E. Longmeadow (413) 525-2115 . awbrown.com Bernardston Farmer’s Supply 43 River St., Bernardston (413) 648-9311 bernardstonfarmerssupply.com
Brattleboro Agway 1277 Putney Rd., Brattleboro, VT (802) 254-8757 . achilleagway.com
Dodge Grain Company 59 N. Broadway, Salem, NH (603) 893-3739 . dodgegrain.biz
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
Country Corral 35 Main St., Williamsburg (413) 268-0180 . countrycorralonline.com
Hardwick Farmers Co-op Exchange Rte. 32, Gilbertville . (413) 477-6913 hardwickfarmers.net
Hoosac Valley Coal and Grain 2 Gavin Ave., Adams (413)743-0163 hoosacvalleycoalandgrain.com Sweet Meadow Feed & Grain 111 Coolidge St., Sherborn (508) 650-2926 sweetmeadowfeedandgrain.com Thibault’s Poultry 92 N. Spencer Rd. Spencer (508) 612-1907 Massachusetts Horse
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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID
Peace of Mind
MONROE, CT PERMIT
#140
When it comes to your horses, peace of mind is knowing they’re sound and happy. That includes being confident your trailer will get your precious cargo to your destination safely and comfortably. At Orchard Trailers we pride ourselves on offering some of the best, most secure trailers available anywhere. We’ve been a Kingston dealer from our start more than 25 years ago, and six years ago brought on Adam Trailers — some of the best built trailers we’ve seen in all our years of business. After all, with horses it’s all about the journey, not just the destination. Let Orchard Trailers help you make the journey safely.
Kingston Classic Elite 2H Straight Load
Adam Custom Coach 6H Head-to-Head with Dressing Room
Largest inventory of horse trailers in the Northeast!
orchardtrailers.com | info@orchardtrailers.com | (413) 665-7600 | (800) 998-8779 78 State Road, Whately, MA 01093 Financing Available!