Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019 by Community Horse Media

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HORSE

TICK DISEASES IN MASSACHUSETTS KNOWLEDGE, PREVENTION, TREATMENT

SAVOY MOUNTAIN STATE FOREST TRAIL GUIDE

A NEW HORSE IN YOUR LIFE HORSE LOGIC

2 Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

contents

August/September 2019

14 Horse SenseAbility

Jessica Windhurst Photography

ÂŠ Dusty Perin / www.dustyperin.com

columns at Wildstar Farm Lend a Hoof

20 A New Horse In Your Life Horse Logic

34 Events Calendar

Stacey Stearns

Massachusetts Only

features 8 Tick Diseases

in Massachusetts Knowledge, Prevention, Treatment

in every issue 18 Carolyn Lavin Getting It All Done Horseperson Feature

Lead Feature

Silvercryst Farm A Welcoming Atmosphere Farm Feature

5 From the Publisher 7 Your Letters 24 Partners 30 Overherd

22 Savoy Mountain State Forest

Trail Guide

39 This Olde Horse 40 The Neighborhood 42 Is This Your Horse?

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

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Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

From the Publisher great prizes! Or, not — do your thing however you want. To learn more, go to Trail Halloween Scavenger Hunt on pripage 41, mahorse.com, vate trails in Wilbraham. or facebook.com/ All proceeds will go to MassachusettsHorse Blue Rider Stables in Benefit. See you there! South Egremont. Blue Here’s to the wanRider Stables is a noning days of summer. The profit organization. Its hay is stacked in the mission is to offer a holisbarn and the light is tic educational environchanging. The birds are ment in which people and already migrating south animals can safely interand my horses are startact, and through their ing to shed their summutual therapeutic experiences, broaden the mer coats. Carrots are scope of their lives. growing sweet and deliAudrey Stamatelos won the Massachusetts Horse Junior Horsemanship Award at the There will be 12 cious in the garden, Mount Holyoke College Equestrian Center Western Dressage Show on June 30. cards hidden out on the Congratulations, Audrey! Would you like a free award to give out at your upcoming almost ready for eating, competition? Go to mahorse.com/junior-awards. miles of beautiful woodmostly by my ponies. land trails. The winner in each division Enjoy! Prizes and ribbons to sixth place will be finds all 12 in the shortest time. awarded. You and your team can go all Divisions include Team Walk Trot, out with costumes and there’ll be lots of Join us October 27 for the

Team Novice, Team Open, Solo Walk Trot, Solo Novice, and Solo Open.

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HORSE vol. 18, no. 2 August/September 2019

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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 enjoyed the article on the track system. [June/July 2019:

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Paddock Paradise: Move, Move, Move] I’ve been doing that for two years now (people think I’m crazy) to encourage healthy hoof growth and discourage the possibility of insulin resistance, Cushings, and laminitis. I changed all my feed to a forage base only, and then tested my hay, and supplement only with what’s missing and at the levels required for my ponies. Huge game changer!

Massachusetts Horse is a fantastic local magazine! Great articles with lots of detailed information. Amy C. Barton, Integrated Saddle Services

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Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

Tick Diseases in Massachusetts

Knowledge, Prevention, Treatment

by Stephanie Sanders

ou bring your mare out of her stall and notice she’s slightly favoring her right front. Instead of riding, you give her the day off. The next day, she’s stiff in her left hind. You decide on a good grooming and wait to see if another day of rest resolves the lameness. You know your mare and she loves a good curry, but today she’s pinning her ears at you and swishing her tail. What’s going on? A tiny tick could be the cause of your mare’s problems. Ticks, bloodfeeding relatives of spiders and mites, can transmit serious diseases through their bites. Horses are susceptible to two serious tick-borne diseases that are widespread in the United States — Lyme disease and equine anaplasmosis. Ticks have been around for at least 100 million years. You can’t eliminate them from your horse’s environment, but we have tips for protecting her from their bites and, if infected, what treatment is available.

Ticks Are Hitchikers Ticks can’t travel far on their own; as horses, deer, and other hosts increase in number and move into new areas, the ticks ride along. They drop off and become established wherever they find conditions to their liking — for instance, former farmland that’s reverting to brush and forest or the shrubby borders of fields and yards. 8

Ticks are blind and find their equine hosts by detecting ammonia, which is given off by a horse’s breath and body during sweating or by sensing heat, moisture, and vibrations. A tick waits for a host by resting on the tips of grasses and shrubs with its first pair of legs outstretched. When a horse brushes by, the tick quickly climbs aboard. Some ticks attach immediately while others wander around the horse’s body, looking for the areas where the skin is thinner. That’s why ticks are most often found on a horse’s chest, underbelly, mane, tail, or inside the flank. The result of a tick bite is often a local skin reaction that appears as a small, firm nodule.

Tick Bite Prevention Disease prevention requires diligence to locate ticks on your horse and remove them, application of tick-specific repellents, and environmental controls. Coumaphos spray or powder, zetacypermethrin dusting powders, and permethrin applied as a wipe, spray, or spot-on are the most common repellents, which should be applied to the horse’s mane, tail head, chest, and underbelly. You don’t really need to cover the entire horse. Read the labels on these products and use accordingly, protect the environment when using and disposing. There are also tick repellents that are safe for you, your horse,

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

and the environment. A Google search will bring up many choices. Local vets have had good results with off-label use of the Frontline Spray for dogs and cats. It’s active ingredient is fipronil and it’s available over the counter. Whichever repellent you choose to use, check the label to make sure it is effective against ticks, as many insect repellents are not. Apply repellent before trail riding or turning your horses out on pasture. Check your horses for ticks thoroughly after a ride and at least daily if they are out on pasture. Often it’s easier to feel ticks than see them. Run your fingers over the horse’s skin in areas where ticks like to attach, feeling for small bumps that may indicate smaller immature ticks. Should you find a tick on your horse, follow these guidelines and remove it immediately: • Do not crush or twist the tick, as it causes the tick to regurgitate blood back into your horse, which increases the chance of infection or disease transmission. • Do not apply baby oil or petroleum to smother the tick, or force it to detach with a lit match. Those methods do not work and can cause injury to your horse. • Wear gloves and use tweezers to gently remove the tick. • Grasp the tick firmly by the head

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A flock of chickens, allowed to free range, can significantly reduce the amount of ticks, mosquitoes, and fleas on your farm.

where it enters the horse’s skin. • Do not squeeze or yank. Instead, pull firmly and steadily straight away from the skin until the tick’s head comes free. • Drop detached ticks in a small jar of rubbing alcohol to kill them. Wash the attachment site with a mild antiseptic and then wash your hands. From a pasture management perspective, you can decrease the number of ticks your horse may pick up by making ticks unwelcome in your horse’s turnout space. Get rid of their favorite hangouts by keeping the grass mowed, clearing brush, and trimming low branches. Additionally, Guinea fowl or free-range chickens do an excellent job of finding and eating ticks around the barnyard. The best way to protect your horse from Lyme disease is to limit his exposure to the ticks that carry it. Currently there’s no approved equine Lyme disease vaccine “At Grand Prix Equine, we vaccinate horses for Lyme disease using the vaccine for dogs,” says Dr. Johanna Kremberg. “In my hands, the vaccine bestows some protection for a disease that can be debilitating once contracted.”

Deer Ticks Many kinds of ticks carry disease, but blacklegged ticks pose a serious danger to horses because they carry both Lyme

disease and equine anaplasmosis. These ticks are widespread in Massachusetts where they’re commonly known as deer ticks. Ticks go through three life stages — larva, nymph, and adult — and need a blood meal before molting from one stage to the next. They pick up diseasecausing bacteria as larvae and nymphs by feeding on infected mice, and they can pass the bacteria on to their next victim, be it horse or human, dog or deer, or some other mammal or bird. Ticks overwinter in leaf litter and emerge again in spring or whenever the temperature is above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Sunny days in the middle of winter can bring ticks out to look for a meal. Because the ticks attach tightly when they bite and then stay in place, feeding slowly for days, the bacteria have plenty of time to move into the new host’s bloodstream. Once filled with blood, ticks drop off to molt and progress to the next stage of their life or in the case of adult females, lay eggs. Ticks are expanding their range, potentially putting more horses, dogs, wildlife, and people at risk. This is based on ecological studies as well as serology (blood tests) for infection with Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Researchers have noted correlations between climate change and the ticks’ spread farther north. Warm winters are also helping them emerge ear-

lier in spring and stay active longer in fall. That translates to greater risk of infection.

Lyme Disease Lyme disease is a serious threat to horses, with long-term complications that can include chronic lameness and damage to the horse’s nervous system, heart, and vision. The disease takes its name from Lyme, Connecticut, where it was first identified in the 1970s. It’s now the most common tick-borne infection in the United States. There are no national statistics on the incidence of Lyme disease in horses, but the increase in positive blood tests shows more exposure to the Lyme organism, Borrelia burgdorferi. (Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control also show a steady increase in human cases.) Infection is the first step, when the causative agent (bacterium that causes disease) enters the body. Disease occurs when the agent replicates in the body, damaging tissues and producing symptoms. Because deer ticks are so tiny (an adult is the size of a sesame seed) and generally drop off after feeding, if your horse develops Lyme disease you may never see the guilty tick. How will you know and what should you do? Vague and variable symptoms are a calling card of Lyme disease. These

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

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symptoms generally appear weeks after the bite and may include: • Sporadic lameness, typically involving large joints, such as the fetlock, knee, hock or stifle, and often affecting multiple sites or moving from one site to another • Lack of energy • Behavioral changes, such as a sour or depressed attitude • Hypersensitivity to touch or other stimuli • Muscle soreness • Low-grade fever • Over time, chronic weight loss, leg swelling, and other problems Many of these symptoms can be caused by a number of problems — even something as simple as overwork — thus make diagnosing Lyme disease a challenge. Your veterinarian will start with a physical exam and a thorough history to assess the horse’s risk of infection. If Lyme disease seems likely, blood tests may turn up evidence of infection. The simplest test is the C6 SNAP, a quick stall-side test that detects the presence of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). It provides an instant result but doesn’t tell much about the level of antibodies or the stage of the infection.

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Laboratory ELISA tests measure antibody levels with high levels (200 to 300 units and above) suggesting infection. This test doesn’t always discriminate well between antibodies to Bb and those produced in response to certain related organisms. A Western blot test, which detects antibodies produced against certain proteins in the Lyme bacteria, is more specific. While these tests have long been used to diagnose Lyme disease, they share two limitations. First, because the horse’s immune system can take several weeks to produce antibodies to a new infection, tests run soon after exposure may yield false negative results. Second, because antibodies can continue to circulate long after the bacteria are gone, a positive test may indicate past exposure to the bacteria, not active infection. A multiplex test developed at the Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University helps overcome the second limitation. While it’s more expensive than the other tests, it gives a more accurate overall picture for correct diagnosis and treatment with three titers in one test. It measures antibody levels, like the ELISA, to three different outer surface proteins, while identifying different antibodies to specific outersurface proteins of the bacteria. Bb changes the expression of its outer-surface proteins depending on its environment, much as you might change clothes to suit the weather, so the presence of different antibodies can help determine if a Lyme infection is new or old. For example, during initial infection the bacteria express outer surface protein C (OspC). Antibodies to OspC are thought to develop about three days to three months after infection and disappear after six months. Because OspC antibodies indicate recent infection, some veterinarians suggest treatment based on positive test results even if the horse isn’t showing signs of active Lyme disease. The goal is to prevent the disease from developing, although the value of this practice hasn’t been determined in horses. The horse may not develop Lyme disease, in which case treatment would not be necessary; however, it may make sense to consider preventive treatment if the horse is in an area of proven tick activity and has been exposed. Once infection is established and after three months of infection, anti-

bodies to a different protein, OspF, appear. OspF may be present for a very long time — years in some cases — whether the horse is treated or not. A positive test for OspF, then, doesn’t necessarily indicate active disease that must be treated. Horses that have had the off-label dog Lyme disease vaccine will have the bacteria express outer surface protein A (OspA). OspA is a response to tick saliva. Most cases of Lyme disease respond to tetracycline antibiotics such as doxycycline or minocycline (both oral) and oxytetracycline (intravenous). Intravenous oxytetracycline is known to get the best results yet this often means that the horse must stay at a clinic or have the veterinarian visit daily, which can be expensive. Oral treatments can achieve the same results and many veterinarians use the oral products and see an improvement. Intravenous treatment may be recommended if the horse doesn’t respond to oral medication or relapses after treatment. Although many horses show improvement within days of starting antibiotics, the bacteria won’t be elimi-

nated that fast. Treatment continues for 30 days or more. When Lyme disease is recognized and treated early, the outlook for recovery is good. Some horses suffer recurring attacks of Lyme disease, and it’s not clear whether they’re re-infected or are harboring the bacteria between attacks. The longer the disease goes untreated, the greater the risk of lingering effects and lasting damage to joints and other areas.

Anaplasmosis The bacteria that cause equine anaplasmosis, Anaplasma phagocytophila (formerly Ehrlichia equi), take the same route as the Lyme disease bacteria — picked up from mice or other small animals by ticks in the nymph stage and passed on when the ticks seek their next blood meal. As with Lyme disease, the risk is highest in the areas and at the times when the ticks are active — and as those areas and times increase, so do reports of the disease. More cases of anaplasmosis are being seen in horses, and veterinarians are finding it in areas that have not

seen the disease before. Since ticks are often co-infected with Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophila, sometimes both Lyme disease and anaplasmosis are transmitted in the same bite. Once in the horse’s bloodstream, the bacteria attack white blood cells called granulocytes. Symptoms of anaplasmosis typically appear a week or two after a tick bite and include: • Fever, which may be high (103–104 degrees Fahrenheit) for the first one to three days • Depression and lethargy • Loss of appetite • Reluctance to move • Swelling in the lower legs • Muscle stiffness Older horses may be more severely affected. Any horse with a high fever and no appetite is at risk for serious problems, including dehydration and colic, so call your vet promptly if you see these signs. If the horse’s history and physical signs point to anaplasmosis, blood tests can confirm the infection. A PCR test detects segments of Anaplasma DNA;

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

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other tests check for levels of antibodies produced to fight the infection. The tetracycline antibiotics used to fight Lyme disease are also effective against anaplasmosis without the need for prolonged treatment. Treatment with intravenous oxytetracyline often causes a very quick resolution of clinical symptoms within 24 to 48 hours. Many veterinarians will treat anaplasmosis for two to three days intravenously and then switch to one of the oral tetracyclines, such as doxycycline or minocycline, for a longer course of seven to ten days. With treatment, horses generally recover promptly without lingering effects and they seem to develop a natural immunity that protects them from this disease for up to two years. As with Lyme disease, there’s no vaccine against this disease. Reducing exposure to ticks is the best defense. ONE OF MY Haflinger mares was infected with anaplasmosis while stabled in a nearby town. A high fever and lack of appetite (In a Haflinger!) were her symptoms that helped lead to a diagnosis confirmed with a PCR test. She was

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Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

given two days of intravenous antibiotics and then continued with a course of oral antibiotics. Within 24 hours she was eating and her fever was abating. She was checked daily for ticks — deer and dog ticks were often found — yet, there she was, infected with anaplasmosis. I’ve doubled down on tick checks for my horses and wear my reading glasses! And, brush, tall grass, and lowhanging branches are kept to a minimum in the horses’ pastures. It doesn’t

feel like it’s enough, but it will have to do. Thank you to Johanna Kremberg, DVM, of Grand Prix Equine for her assistance with this article. Stephanie is the publisher of Massachusetts Horse and Connecticut Horse. A lifelong horsewoman, she’s been a riding instructor and a breeding manager at an 80-horse Arabian farm. Stephanie currently lives in the foothills of the Berkshires on Pocketful of Ponies Farm, a 12-acre farm she envisioned and built 28 years ago.

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Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

Lend a Hoof

Sherborn

by Kara Noble

Horse SenseAbility at Wildstar Farm

olly Kornblith never expected to have a career in equine therapy. She didn’t plan to build a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) certified equestrian center in Sherborn after she retired from a decades-long career in education. Her retirement goals did not include establishing a nonprofit called Wildstar Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapy or developing a roster of equine therapy programs

decided to combine her educational experience with her love of animals. She and her Labrador retriever, Dylan, became a certified pet therapy team. One of many places they visited together was a school for troubled teenage boys affiliated with the Home for Little Wanderers in Walpole. “The boys were high-school age and most had abuse, neglect, and violence in their backgrounds,” Polly says. “They were very troubled. I’d come

Hugo, a Shetland trained to work indoors. Polly and Hugo soon became weekly visitors in local elementary school classrooms.

called Horse SenseAbility for young people with emotional scars. But now that she’s done all those things, equine therapy has become her retirement labor of love. Polly earned her master’s degree in education from Harvard in 1982. Between 1992 and 2016, she ran her own business, Kudos Concepts, developing online learning programs for clients ranging from the United Nations and the Federal Aviation Administration to Cornell University. Polly did plan to return to horses and riding when she retired. At age 49, she purchased her first horse, an offthe-track Thoroughbred mare. Her husband, Mike Newman, also got a horse, and he began riding with the Norfolk Hunt Club in Medfield. The couple became so serious about horses that they began to consider building their own equine facility. As retirement approached, Polly

into their locked classrooms with my dog and see those burly, macho, streetsmart boys lie on the floor stroking the dog, whispering in his ear, allowing themselves to be physically close and emotionally vulnerable. The impact on them was remarkable.” When the school in Walpole hired an occupational therapist certified by PATH, Polly found an opportunity to try equine therapy. She and the new occupational therapist developed and piloted a summer horsemanship program at the school. That experience made equine therapy Polly’s new passion. In 2016 and 2017, she earned two PATH certifications, one as an equine specialist in mental health and learning and a second as a therapeutic riding instructor. She contacted Personal Ponies, which loans out specially bred Shetland ponies to families of children with special needs. They introduced her to

serves on the Horse SenseAbility board of directors. “It only had a four-stall barn. Everything needed a lot of work. But Polly and Mike are doers. They look beyond problems.” Soon after they bought the property, which they now call Wildstar Farm, Polly got a crazy idea. “I realized I was getting certified,” she says. “I was building a facility. I had horses that were therapy suitable. Why not start my own PATH center?” She and Mike decided to go for it. They adapted the design of their equine facility to make it compliant with PATH and Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. Polly brought together a board of directors and an advisory council that included top PATH specialists, legal experts, educators, and business and technology professionals to help her develop programs and a business model. On September 15, 2017, she applied

14 Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

Wildstar Farm Is Born In 2016, Polly and Mike also found a farm in Sherborn with the potential to be the home of their new equine facility. “The property was in rough shape when they bought it,” says Barbara Hagan, a businesswoman who now

for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status for Wildstar Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapy and its Horse SenseAbility programs. Polly made two firm decisions at the outset. The first was that the health and happiness of the horses had to come first. “If the horses aren’t happy, we’ll stop doing this,” she says. Second, she elected to focus on services for young people who had experienced trauma, including children in state custody/foster care; youths facing mental health challenges; kids growing up in stressful economic circumstances; and individuals on the autism spectrum.

HorseSenseAbility: Putting It All Together With construction of the facility underway and a clear mission in mind, Polly designed features and programs.

The Discovery Trail The Discovery Trail, a subtly fenced outdoor learning environment with constructed activity stations, would give participants a chance to work with horses (mounted or unmounted) in nature while developing physical skills, confidence, and independence. Lowe’s Home Improvement donated the materials for the Discovery Trail, and a team of volunteers from the Lowe’s Heroes community service program built the activity stations in two days.

Stable Moments Polly chose the Stable Moments program to serve young people who have experienced foster care. Pioneered by Georgia social worker and horsewoman Rebecca Miller, Stable Moments brings a child together with a horse and a trained volunteer mentor. The three meet weekly throughout an entire school year for unmounted, horserelated activities. Consistency is critical to the success of Stable Moments. Polly insists that volunteer mentors complete comprehensive training and understand the commitment required before accepting them into the program. “These kids have had so many people come and go in their lives,” says Polly. “One participant had been in eleven different foster homes by the time she was five years old. That kind of disruption has a profound emotional impact. It can affects brain development.”

City to Saddle The City to Saddle program was founded by Massachusetts horsewomen Barbara Zenker and Kim Summers in 2003. It brings children ages six to thirteen from underserved urban communities to the farm during the summer. In each of the program’s four, weeklong sessions at Horse SenseAbility, six eligible children spend half days riding, learning horsemanship, playing games, making crafts, and enjoying rural life. Extensive fundraising and generous sponsors cover most of the operating costs. Each participant in Horse SenseAbility’s version of City to Saddle pays only $15. City to Saddle’s 2019 sessions were filled 48 hours after Polly sent the email announcing the program dates. The impact on participants makes it clear why it is so popular. “One boy who came during 2018 had never seen a real horse, only ones on television and in videos,” Polly says. “He was petrified. On his first day, it took everything we had to coax him to even sit on a horse. By Friday, with a volunteer leading his horse, the boy trotted around the arena with a big smile on his face.”

Wildstar Wranglers Wildstar Wranglers serves young people on the autism spectrum who are transitioning from school to adulthood and hopefully employment. Participants develop basic skills necessary for any kind of job by working at the farm under the supervision of staff and adult volunteers. “We teach them about navigating job interviews, arriving on time, dressing appropriately, following instructions, checking their work, receiving feedback, asking for help, and offering help,” Polly says. Horse SenseAbility will also provide references for participants who successfully complete the program. Eighteen-year-old Andie has gained valuable experience and confidence since he joined the Wranglers program this spring. He loves working with the horses, recognizing their individual personalities, and understanding the dynamics as they interact. He’s proud of his ability to calm and handle horses in his care. “A horse does not have to come to you. Every time I greet a horse, he’s being challenged by choice,” Andie says. “It’s a huge accomplishment when

a horse trusts you enough to come to you. It’s empowering to know a fifteenhundred-pound animal trusts me and enjoys being around me.”

Looking Ahead In 2019, Polly hopes to pilot Reading, Writing & Riding, a new program she’s developing in collaboration with the Framingham school system. If they can secure funding and iron out the details, fourth and fifth graders will come to Wildstar Farm each week during the school year for riding lessons and tutoring in reading and writing. And, if donations support it, Polly hopes to send each participant home with a 10–20 book mini-library. Polly and Mike have been able to accomplish so much in such a short time in part due to a cadre of volunteers not only from surrounding communities, but also from across the U.S. (via phone and internet). “Our volunteers range from lifelong horse people to mental health professionals, from educators to computer experts, and from animal trainers to parents,” Polly says. “They’re incredible.” In less than two years, the couple has built a state-of-the-art equine-learning facility with a professional staff and an impressive roster of certified instructors. They serve 75 to 100 participants on the farm and hundreds more in schools and facilities throughout the Sherborn-Framingham area. Why are Polly and Mike working so hard in their retirement? Because of children like the young boy with autism Polly met when she brought Hugo to a nearby preschool. When it was his turn, the boy and his aide approached Hugo, and he patted the pony. As they walked away, he said, “Horse.” Polly saw his teacher silently going wild across the room. “It was the first word he had ever spoken at school,” says Polly. “That single word showed them he understood what was happening and he was learning. That’s what this is all about.” Want to lend a hoof? To learn more and to purchase tickets for the October 19 fund-raising concert with Scott Helmer, visit horsesenseability.org. Kara Noble has an Icelandic mare and a pair of mini donkeys at her farm in Montgomery and has ridden for most of her life. She’s a professional writer and editor and holds an MFA in creative nonfiction.

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

Farm Feature

Southwick

Silvercryst Farm A Welcoming Atmosphere

by Kara Noble

she rented a stall for $3 a month. When the fairgrounds weren’t in use, she rode on the harness-racing track. She earned hay and oats for her mare by helping local farmers harvest those crops. Through her teenage years, Willi rode western, barrel racing, and pole bending, swimming her horses in Lake Michigan in the summer, and towing cars out of snow drifts with them in the

taken the horse as a trade-in. She bought the mare, trained her, and bred her to the Trakehner stallion owned by Ridgecrest Stables at her college in La Crosse. The offspring of that breeding was a handsome colt Willi called Silvercryst. “I named him after a restaurant on Route 21 in Wisconsin that was halfway between my hometown of Manitowoc and La Crosse,” she says. “The restau-

Kara Noble

fter riding off and on for nearly 30 years, Michele Croteau-Hall was looking for a new barn where she could make a fresh start with horses. “I wanted a good teacher and a friendly, supportive community,” she says. She was also looking for a trainer who could guide her in buying her first horse. When she discovered Silvercryst Farm on Mort Vining Road in Southwick,

Boarders Karen Mayotte, Patty Connolly, and Michele Croteau-Hall, working student Teagan Lapuk, and Ann Marie “Willi” Gregoire.

Michele knew she’d found the perfect place. “I felt like I had come home,” she says. Silvercryst’s welcoming atmosphere begins with owners Ann Marie “Willi” Gregoire and her husband, Paul. They’re native Midwesterners who believe riding horses can — and should — be fun. That idea has been a cornerstone in their operating philosophy since they opened Silvercryst as a dressage and eventing facility and boarding barn in 1973. “I was born loving horses,” Willi says. “When I was little and we’d visit my aunt and uncle’s farm, I’d sneak away and coax their old draft mare over to the fence in the back pasture. I’d climb on her back and sit there while she wandered around grazing. Eventually, someone would say, ‘Where’s Ann Marie?’ They’d coming looking for me and I’d get my britches tanned. I wasn’t supposed to ride by myself.” Willi bought her first horse for $150 when she was 13 years old, then rode her new mare back to the stables at the Manitowoc County Fairgrounds, where 16

Watching boarder Patty Connolly on OLiver from the indoor arena viewing room.

winter. She jogged harness horses and led racehorses to the starting gate. Her transition from cowgirl to dressage rider began after she enrolled at the University of Wisconsin in La Crosse as a physical education major. “One of my electives was a riding course introduced to the curriculum by Lois Heyerdahl, who was one of the most natural horsewomen I’ve ever met,” says Willi. “She instilled in me a respect for real, traditional dressage.” As part of her physical education curriculum Willi studied kinesiology, an exploration of body movements now better known as biomechanics. Working with Lois helped Willi understand how to apply principles of kinesiology to riding, and laid the foundation for her future riding, teaching, and judging philosophy. One day, a young man Willi was dating told her he’d seen a pretty gray mare running with other horses down by the Mississippi River while he was fishing there. When she investigated, she discovered that the part-Arabian gray mare belonged to a used-car salesman who had

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

rant got its name from two nearby lakes, Silver Lake and Crystal Lake. It was my favorite stopping-off place when we drove to and from college.” Willi met Paul Gregoire, a Rhode Island engineer living in Wisconsin for work, when he came to take riding lessons from her at Ridgecrest Stables. The two hit it off, and Paul soon talked her into a trip to Spain. There, a rejoneador (a mounted matador) Paul knew led them on a horseback trek across Majorca to a small wine and tapas place, where Paul proposed. The couple married in 1970. Paul’s job as an engineer initially kept them on the road a great deal, but that didn’t stop them from accumulating horses. Early in their marriage they had two young horses in Wisconsin, then added a pair of Thoroughbreds in Alabama. They decided that with several horses and plans to have a family, it was time to settle down. The Gregoires had spent time in Massachusetts and Connecticut with Paul’s job and liked the area. They found an affordable 18-acre “fixerupper” in Southwick and named it

Silvercryst Farm in honor of Willi’s beloved competition gelding. Over the years, they purchased adjacent land, expanding the farm and its trail system to more than 115 acres. When they first moved to the Bay State, Willi “barnstormed,” teaching and training horses within 50 miles of their new farm. And she also kept learning. She studied with Bruce Davidson, Pam Goodrich, Dorothy Morkis, and Major Anders Lindgren, training through FEI levels in dressage and the Preliminary level in eventing. She met Sally Swift and became certified as a Centered Riding instructor. In 1982, Willi rode her gelding Silvercryst to a United States Dressage Federation (USDF) bronze medal, and the pair were on their way to a silver medal when the horse was sidelined by a back injury. With her main competition horse out of action, Willi followed the advice of her mentor, Lois Heyerdahl, and earned her USDF judge’s card (r) in 1983. By 2003, Willi had become a sought-after instructor, trainer, judge, and clinician throughout New England, but she was ready to do less traveling. That year, Silvercryst Farm built a 21stall barn with an attached 70' x 160' indoor riding arena where Willi could teach and train and where the Gregoires could welcome boarders. The farm has won the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation’s Horse Farm of Distinction Award every year since 2005. Farm manager Sherry Brucker has been at Silvercryst for more than 25 years, and she’s dedicated to maintaining the well-being of the horses there. “I keep my own horse at Silvercryst,” she says. “I care for all the horses here the same way I care for him. If a horse has three hairs out of place, I let Willi and the horse owner know.” “The horse care at Silvercryst is wonderful,” says boarder Patty Connolly. “When I have to be away, it’s a huge relief to know my horse will be watched and fed properly while I’m gone.” Metal gridwork between stalls gives Silvercryst’s barn the open sensation of an indoor herd while keeping horses safely separated. Each 12' x 12' stall is lined with pelletized bedding and equipped with a heated automatic waterer. Sherry insists that the barn always remain tidy. Horses at Silvercryst receive hay six times a day and individual turnout for about four hours daily. Grain and supplements are organized and distributed meticulously. Blanketing is monitored

during the winter, and come spring, a blanketing service collects and cleans dirty blankets, then returns them before temperatures drop again. The indoor wash stall includes a heat lamp — much appreciated by veterinarians and others who must care for horses in cold weather. The farrier stall has strategically placed lights that illuminate hooves for trimmers when they’re working upside-down under a horse. The barn maximizes comfort for humans too. A climate-controlled tack room houses a secure, spacious wooden locker for each boarder. Silvercryst can accommodate 18 boarders; the barn currently has four or five openings for new boarders. If space permits, the farm will also accept horses for short-term “sleep-over” stays while an owner is out of town. The comfortable, heated and airconditioned viewing lounge includes a kitchenette and restroom, as well as a large flat-screen television for watching videos of lessons and practice sessions. Willi offers lessons targeted to each rider’s goals. “If you want to compete, I’ll help you, but you’ll never be pressured to compete,” she says. “I teach biomechanics so you can learn how to use your body more effectively, and so you can understand how what you do will affect your horse.” Willi’s students agree she challenges them in lessons, but they also say she knows exactly how far and how hard to push — and when to stop. Willi says one of her main goals as a teacher is to make riding better for the horse as well as the rider. “I’m an advocate for the horse,” she says. “I feel that we must treat a horse with the same respect he gives us. That’s my bottom-line philosophy in teaching, judging, and running Silvercryst Farm.” A year after she came to Silvercryst, Michele Crouteau-Hall’s barn family came together for a combined celebration of her 50th birthday and the successful vet check on Cricket, her first horse. The Gregoires bought a cake and fellow boarder Karen Mayotte brought a gift. “That shows what a caring community Silvercryst has,” Michele says. “You get help and support here. You can relax, enjoy yourself and your horse. You can learn and have fun.” Kara Noble has an Icelandic mare and a pair of mini donkeys at her farm in Montgomery and has ridden for most of her life. She’s a professional writer and editor and holds an MFA in creative nonfiction.

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Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

Horseperson Feature

Sherborn

by Alessandra Mele

Carolyn Lavin Getting It All Done

instruction of the legendary pony trainer Emerson Burr. She gained a solid foundation, and realizes now how fortunate she was to have that start. “As a kid, I knew I was at a beautiful facility, and felt lucky to be riding such nice ponies, but I didn’t fully understand the education I was getting,” Carolyn says. “Back then, I just loved

needs in her final year as a junior rider well, never blinking an eye at the open water obstacles at finals. Lucky Lou helped Carolyn achieve 17th overall out of 70 competitive riders that year. Then it came time for college, and Carolyn knew she had to focus on getting an education and a good job afterward. She packed away her saddle and

Jessica Windhurst Photography

Channing Johnson Photography

quick glance at Carolyn Lavin’s weekly schedule is overwhelming. She’s filling orders for her business, Wellesley Equestrian, attending Massachusetts Horsemen’s Council board meetings, managing a flock of interns, and has to get to the barn for a lesson in preparation for a big show that’s coming up. Not to mention, she’s

Carolyn with Lex.

working a full-time job at a major insurance company. Carolyn has a knowing smile on her face though; she’s confident it’ll all get done, and it will get done well. When Carolyn’s at the barn, however, the rest of her schedule is on hold, and it’s clear that her dedication to the equines that she loves is her number one priority. Whether she’s grooming her beloved Lex Luther, or training over fences aboard the magnificent Charleston Z, Carolyn is present, and there’s no doubt she’s doing what she loves.

Growing up in the Saddle Carolyn’s passion for horses started early, beginning with summer trips to Cape Cod to visit her grandparents. Her grandmother would take her to local fairs, where Carolyn discovered pony rides, and horse camp soon followed. “I started riding at Grazing Fields Farm, where I really became a pony brat,” Carolyn says. “Any time that I could get in the saddle, I cherished.” After a move to Connecticut, Carolyn began taking regular lessons at Fairfield County Hunt Club under the 18

Carolyn riding Charlie.

Emerson for who he was; the way he would break a stick off a tree when I forgot my crop. But looking back, I was so lucky to be where I was with that trainer, and I’m grateful.” Carolyn blossomed into her junior career at the Ethel Walker School in Simsbury, Connecticut, where she remembers spending almost all her free time in the saddle. “There was even a summer where I lived there so I could keep riding!” she says, laughing. “I loved my time there so much.” She trained with Kenny and Linda Langmeier as well as Joanna Seaver at the Ethel Walker School, refining her skills in the equitation ring. She trained and competed on her horse of a lifetime, Lex Luther, a tall, dark bay Oldenburg gelding. Carolyn and Lex excelled in the equitation ring, and the gelding carried her as far as the 2007 USET East Finals, where Carolyn knew she would need a different mount at such a level of competition. She reluctantly sold Lex, and acquired a young Grand Prix horse named Lucky Lou. He suited Carolyn’s

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

boots and went on to study marketing at Babson College. The horse bug never left Carolyn, and not long after graduating she found herself dreaming of days in the show ring with Lex. She couldn’t get the horse off her mind, and set about searching for him. After many emails and messages and dead ends, and discovering a name change, she was surprised to learn Lex had traveled down to Florida and back up to Massachusetts, not too far away from her. She tearfully reunited with Lex and soon bought him back, vowing never to let him go again.

A New Chapter Carolyn was back in the horse world with a full heart and the horse of her dreams, and began competing as an adult. She showed Lex a few times, happy memories coming back to her in a rush with every fence, but knew the 22-year-old had earned a lighter job. Carolyn found an ideal situation for him at the Dana Hall School in Wellesley, where a few lucky girls get to take walktrot lessons on him, and Carolyn is able to ride him as often as she likes.

“Lex loves his job, is healthy, and happy, and he’s in a beautiful facility close by. That’s all I can ask for,” Carolyn says. Meanwhile, Carolyn pursued her adult riding career without reservation, eager to meet new goals in the show ring. She began taking lessons with her close friend Lia Chafee at River Wind Farm in Pembroke. “It’s kind of funny being a student of your best friend, but we know our boundaries and it’s a lot of fun!” Carolyn says. “Clearly it’s working; I’ve experienced more success than ever under her guidance, winning multiple finals. She pushes me to be better.” Lia is equally appreciative of Carolyn as a student. “Carolyn is one of the most dedicated students I work with, in that she’s very conscious of the fact that she has limited time in the saddle, so she makes productive use of every single moment that she does have to train,” Lia says. “Even if she has a million things going on, she’s never in a rush to leave the barn. She makes sure the horse she’s riding always gets the attention and spa treatment he deserves.” Lia is responsible for Carolyn’s most recent partnership with a big gray horse named Charleston Z. Owned by junior rider Sarah Hyde, Lia felt he could use an extra ride from a careful adult. She thought of Carolyn right away, and the Hyde family has been happy to have her ride and show Charlie alongside Sarah. “He’s an unbelievable horse, and I’m so grateful to the Hyde family for this opportunity,” Carolyn says. “We’ve really developed a partnership. Winning Massachusetts Horsemen’s Council Days of Champions last year with Charlie was one of the best days of my life; it was thrilling to work toward that with this horse.” Winning ribbons as an adult is something Carolyn is particularly proud of because she wasn’t always sure that an adult competitive career was an option. “I can’t believe I still have the chance to do what I love and be competitive,” she says. “I feel just as good in the saddle now as I did when I was 17. There’s lots of opportunity to be successful and still have fun in the adult division.”

From Passion to Profit Alongside success in the saddle, Carolyn has shaped her passions into professional achievement as well. The founder of Wellesley Equestrian,

Carolyn got the idea for her side business while caring for Lex. “Everything that has gone well in my career with horses is because of this horse!” Carolyn says, smiling as she scratches her best friend behind the ears. While Carolyn and Lex were separated, Lex had suffered an infection that caused him to lose an eye. Once reunited, Carolyn knew it was top priority to preserve the good eye. “I bought all new brushes and wrote Lex’s name on them, but it’s no matter at a busy barn, the brushes still wandered off,” Carolyn says. “I thought, There must be a better way to take care of his things.” So, Carolyn invested in custom brushes plated with Lex’s name. No one dared take those brushes, and instead, stablemates marveled at the beautiful grooming tools and asked where they could get their own. Carolyn started an Etsy shop to sell the custom brushes, but quickly found the platform couldn’t keep up. She then put her business skills to good use and developed a website and operation system to accommodate the orders. Wellesley Equestrian was born, and Carolyn soon expanded into custom-plated crops, grooming totes, and tack trunks to match, working with woodworkers and manufacturers all over the country. “I chose [the name] Wellesley Equestrian because the town of Wellesley has been such an important place in my life — going to college there, living there after college, and now Lexy lives there,” says Carolyn. “It seemed fitting that the place where I built a strong foundation for my future would be the name of a company!” Nearly three years later, Wellesley Equestrian has gained a huge following, and business is booming. “It’s become a lot to balance, so I developed an internship program that helps with the workload while helping college students gain valuable business skills,” Carolyn says. “My first intern helped build an ambassador program that has been key for our marketing strategy. We’ve worked with a lot of the top young riders in the country, and it’s helped elevate the brand.” The biggest thrill of all for Carolyn is seeing her products pop up in real life. “I love when I’m at a horse show and see Wellesley Equestrian brushes ringside! Or seeing kids wearing our T-shirts and hats down at Wellington Equestrian Festival or Pony Finals; that’s so cool,” Carolyn says. “When I started the business, I wasn’t just looking to sell

luxury items, I wanted to build something to promote better horsemanship. That’s what I’m all about, and I’m glad it’s resonating.”

Building Community As if that wasn’t enough, Carolyn also promotes great horsemanship by working with the Massachusetts Horsemen’s Council (MHC). She became a board member in 2016, and has done significant work toward improving its marketing, boosting membership, and designing an internship program that teaches valuable business skills. Fellow MHC board members appreciate the fresh perspective Carolyn brings to the organization, and view her ability to build community as an asset. April Renzella is an MHC board member and has known Carolyn for more than 20 years. “Carolyn has not only done an amazing job developing Wellesley Equestrian, but has also developed great relationships with area trainers and riders on behalf of MHC, as a means of bringing the community together,” April says. “In particular, she’s done a great job of giving the younger generation a voice, and has made them feel included. That’s the future of our sport. Carolyn is always taking that into account as being very important to the well-being of MHC.” Carolyn is equally proud of the progress MHC has made in the last few years, and attributes that to the dedication of the board members and volunteers. “The board members have put in so much effort, and I really have just helped execute a vision many of them have had for a long time,” Carolyn says. “They’re all volunteers and are so dedicated. They’re helping build our sport and I’m just so happy to be a part of it.” No doubt, Carolyn is a big part of that. Whether navigating a course in the show ring, developing custom products, or fostering local community around the sport she loves, Carolyn is all in. “Horses and riding keep me physically, mentally, and socially well, and keeps a smile on my face,” Carolyn says, smiling, while Lex searches for treats just behind her. “It’s a whole lifestyle, and you never grow out of it. You simply don’t have to!” Alessandra Mele is a freelance writer and designer in Wilbraham. She enjoys spending time with the horses on her family’s farm, especially riding her Quarter Horse, JoJo. To see more of her work, visit thehomegrownstudio.com.

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

Horse Logic by Nicole Birkholzer

A New Horse In Your Life

hen a horse owner hires me to come out for a barn call because her horse is displaying an unwanted or undesired behavior, one of the first things I look at is what has changed for the horse. Sometimes the horse’s new behavior is a response to a change in his environment. Maybe a favorite herd mate has moved away, or a new barn manager has been hired, which has affected the horse in a particular way. Quite often, however, the unexpected behavior is due to a radical shift in the horse’s life — a change in career. Many of the horses I meet have had other jobs before they were purchased or adopted by their new owner. Most Thoroughbreds had a career at the track before someone decided to turn them into a dressage or jumping prospect, and many Quarter Horses had a life on a ranch out West before they were shipped to New England as bombproof, all-purpose horses. With the right approach and training, these horses can become successful show horses and trustworthy trail companions, yet when we transition the horse too quickly into the new career, or when we forget to see the world through our horse’s eyes as we make decisions for him, he may display unexpected behaviors.

A Case of Lost Connection A few months ago, I received an email from Linda, the owner of Troy, an 11year-old Quarter Horse. She contacted me because she felt that she and Troy had lost their connection on the ground and under saddle. Linda had acquired Troy a year earlier from an outfit that brings ranch horses from the West to the Northeast and retrains them for new careers as trail, show, or ring horses. Initially, Troy stayed with a trainer, where Linda took lessons to connect with her new horse. The lessons went well, and once Linda felt she and Troy 20

had built a relationship she brought him to a boarding facility close to her home where the two of them rode whenever time and weather allowed. Initially, there were no issues at the new boarding facility, but by the time Linda contacted me, things had changed. She explained that during

grooming and tacking, Troy seemed to retreat and tune out. When she looked at Troy to check how he felt, he turned his head and looked the other way. When she led Troy into the arena, he sighed, and seemed reluctant. And, at times, riding Troy felt like a chore rather than something they both enjoyed. When I met Troy, he came across as alert. He willingly left his herd to follow Linda into the barn. As I listened to Linda sharing Troy’s backstory as a horse from out West, Troy immediately showed me a visual of a rider on his back who needed to “get the job done.” This person was not concerned about how Troy felt. I also perceived that Troy worked hard in his previous career. He showed me visuals of rushing ahead very fast and then standing quietly for long periods. Troy’s confidence appeared to be tied to putting in a good day’s worth of work. Troy also expressed that Linda had offered him something new, a relationship, and he appreciated that connection; however, Linda was quite the opposite to the rider Troy had shown me, and so was the work Linda was asking of him. Linda paid a lot of attention

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

to how Troy felt, and in the arena, she asked him to trot a lot, but Troy was looking to work at a faster pace.

What Does Troy Need? To reconnect with Troy, Linda had to look at the situation through his eyes. She needed to change her behavior and try something new based on the information Troy had just shared with us. In other words, Linda had to look at Troy as a hard-working ranch horse that had been handled and ridden with a “get the job done” attitude. I suggested she take a few deep breaths and then groom and tack Troy like a ranch hand — kindly but swiftly. Linda was game. She picked up her grooming tools and without fuss, brushed Troy down in a steady manner. Next, she placed the pad and saddle on Troy and did up the girth. The entire time Troy had an eye and an ear on Linda, turning his head this way and that way to keep her in his view. He was not tuning out at all. Before bridling, I checked in with Linda. She was happy. Troy had paid attention to her and licked and chewed a few times, which had been rare as of late. Once Troy was tacked up, I asked Linda to take him over to the arena with her mind focused on the job ahead to have a purposeful, focused ride. Linda went along, she had exchanged the leather halter for a rope halter outfitted with reins and marched, Troy in tow, to the arena. In the arena, Linda took a short walk around in the ring to acclimate both to the setting, then she stepped onto the mounting block, took a deep breath and got into the saddle. As they warmed up at the walk, Linda shared that Troy is always eager to trot and that her current dressage instructor had told her to engage Troy a lot at the walk before moving into the trot. She also said that once they trotted it was tough to get Troy to relax again. I reminded Linda of the visual Troy had shared with me, of walking only for

a few moments before he had to trot, and also canter. He had been asked to move quickly toward a subject, a cow, a calf, or a fencepost, and upon arrival, slow to a walk and then a stop. I suggested that allowing Troy to trot earlier could help him relax because this was something he was familiar with, and that slower work might be more successful at the end of the ride.

Familiarity Supports Connection

snaffle bit. Once equipped with this bridle Troy moved less like a noodle and he carried his head lower, both signs that he was more comfortable. At the end of our lesson, Linda noted that Troy had licked and chewed much more than usual. He had also stayed fully engaged with her. And, whenever she had stopped to talk to me, Troy didn’t check out or retreat but waited calmly until she’d asked him to move into the next task. Linda’s heart had been in the right place; as a matter of fact, I believe she applied the golden rule to her interactions with Troy. In this case, however, the problem with the golden rule is that it can lead to projection. We feel love and care toward our horse and think he must want to be loved and cared for by taking our time grooming him. We believe the bit must feel harsh to the horse, and thus, we offer him a rope halter. We mean well, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we’re doing what’s best for the horse. When using a mindful approach, I don’t offer the horse what I think is best for him. Instead, I try to see the world through his eyes. If my horse still needs the security of a bit, I will offer him a bit until he has gained confidence to try other things through our interactions and our work together. It is critical to examine our beliefs and our traditional thinking. In reality, Troy is still a working horse; he’s not yet a dressage horse. And, as a former working horse, Linda needs to maintain some familiar elements from Troy’s past to help him continue to feel confident and purposeful during his transition from working horse to a more versatile horse. I checked in with Linda a couple of weeks after our session. She reported that she’d had several great rides, and also admitted that the times when she wasn’t focused her rides were less satisfying. Troy will change as Linda changes, and as she focuses on the tasks, so will Troy.

As they went about this task, I noticed that Troy was seeking a connection with Linda’s hand but couldn’t seem to find it. In his former life as a ranch horse, he was most likely outfitted in a shank bit and used to neck reining. It’s also likely that Troy understood strong hands that abruptly asked him go, turn, and stop. Switching Troy from that type of tack to a bitless rope halter was challenging for him. Taking away what was familiar affected his confidence. Luckily, Linda had a bridle with a

Nicole Birkholzer is an equine behavior and communication specialist, originally from Germany, who works with horses and riders across the globe. Nicole helps people create mindful connections with their horses by attuning to and communicating with horses in meaningful and effective ways. Her focus is to understand the logic behind horses’ behaviors and the wisdom in their expression. Interested in building a meaningful, mindful relationship with your horse, check out Nicole’s webinar series Horse Logic at mindful-connections.com/ online-learning. Nicole also offers private barn calls, phone consultations, and workshops.

Seeing It Through the Horse’s Eyes I directed Linda to bring Troy onto a circle and then ask him for the trot. They had barely made it onto the circle when Troy moved into the trot, seemingly on his own. Linda brought him back to a walk and said, “That’s another thing he does; he moves before I tell him.” “He is anticipating,” I explained. “Yes, exactly,” Linda replied. “Of course Troy is anticipating, that’s what made him such a great ranch horse,” I said. “He was so tuned in to his rider and his environment that he anticipated the cow’s move or the rider’s intent so he could be on the job immediately. Being so tuned in was one of his best features,” I explained. Linda was stunned for a moment. I told Linda that it was her challenge to manage her mind and body in such a way that she was communicating intentionally moment by moment what she was looking for from him. I also reminded Linda that the rider Troy was accustomed to would think about the task at hand, and Troy followed his intention. If she added small tasks during her ride Troy would stay connected. I asked Linda to pick a corner of the arena, a letter, or an obstacle, focus on it and ride toward it. Then, only after she’d arrived at that place, decide on the next object to move toward. This approach would slow her mind and make Troy less anticipatory.

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

Trail Guide

Savoy

by Stacey Stearns

Savoy Mountain State Forest

he Berkshires comprise thousands of acres of scenic and undisturbed land in the Bay State, offering us wilderness areas to explore close to home. Savoy Mountain State Forest is now 11,118 acres and is separated from the 6,547-acre Mohawk State Forest by Route 2. Further to the southeast is the 7,882-acre Kenneth Dubuque Memorial State Forest. Savoy Mountain State Forest is located primarily in the towns of Savoy and Florida. The natural beauty of the Berkshires, as well as the 50 miles of

Old growth trees that are between 150 and 400 years old can be found near Tannery Falls and the Cold River. Bog Pond, located south of the camping area, has floating islands and is a favorite hiking spot. Trails around Bog Pond aren’t open to horses, but you can catch a glimpse of the pond from New State Road near the town line between Savoy and Florida.

A Leg Up

trails, makes this a favorite escape. Ponds, waterfalls, hills, and mountains draw many trail users, including equestrians, to this remote area. An old apple orchard holds 45 campsites, and four log cabins overlooking South Pond are available for rental. The first 100 acres of Savoy State Forest was an abandoned farm purchased by the state in 1918. Civilian Conservation Corps workers planted Norway and Blue Spruce trees to create the forest, and rebuilt dams in the ponds. Savoy Mountain State Forest is known for interesting wildlife, beautiful waterfalls, ponds, and mountain summits. Park staff no longer maintains Lost Pond Trail in the far northwest corner of the forest. The beavers keep cutting trees and creating dams, moving the location of the pond. Forest staff tried for many years to maintain the trail and markings, and finally gave up. Birds, snakes, small animals, and deer frequent the forest. And, given its remoteness, you should be aware that larger wildlife might also be present. 22

Stacey Stearns

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) manages the forest,

falls.) I parked at the Tannery Falls parking area on the day of my visit. Many of the dirt roads in Savoy Mountain State Forest aren’t maintained and are in poor condition. While you and other trail users won’t be eager to drive them (beware of potholes and drive slowly), they’re a good choice for riding. The unpaved roads connect equestrians to multi-use trails and other parts of the forest. Savoy is within the Hoosac mountain range, an extension of Vermont’s Green Mountains. Hoosac means “place

and you can download a map and find other information at mass.gov/locations/savoy-mountain-state-forest. There’s an $8 parking fee and public facilities are located near the forest headquarters and campground at 260 Central Shaft Road in Florida. Trail users have several parking options in Savoy Mountain State Forest, although a few are better suited for equestrians. I recommend using one of the more remote parking areas with a trailer and avoiding the campsite areas. There’s a parking lot northeast of Burnett Pond on New State Road. New State Road is unpaved and accessed off of paved Adams Road to the west in Savoy, or from Central Shaft Road in Florida from the north. The other parking option that is best if traveling from Route 2 and the Greenfield area is near Tannery Falls, off unpaved Tannery Road, accessed by the paved Black Brook Road. More cars will be found at the Tannery Falls parking area, as the falls are a short hike from the lot. (Only foot traffic is allowed on the trail to the

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

of stones” in Algonquin. Shoes or hoof boots are recommended. Fly spray should be liberally applied on horses and humans. Cell phone signals are spotty in the area, and you truly can unplug and enjoy some time outside. That being said, be sure to plan your trip and trail ahead of time and let someone know where you’ll be. Hunting is permitted; wear blaze orange during hunting seasons.

Out Riding It Savoy can be broken into multiple rides given the miles of trails and vast acreage. I was interested in riding part of the historic Mahican-Mohawk Trail, an east-west, 100-mile trail that links the Connecticut River to the Hudson River over the Hoosac Mountains. European settlers also utilized the trail and built roads and railways along it. Famous literary figures, including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Henry David Thoreau, explored the trail. Students at Williams College in

Williamstown restored sections of the trail in 1992 after assessing opportunities for its revival. There are currently 40 miles completed. The trail is a mixture of rail trails, woodland paths, and old rural roads. A section of Route 2 and the Deerfield River are part of the 100 miles. Segments are hiking only. A few sections of the historic trail are open for equestrians, mountain bikers, and snowmobiles. I headed to the Mahican-Mohawk Trail first. From the Tannery Falls parking area, ride west along Tannery Road, being mindful of traffic, and up to the parking area on Burnett Road. There, I accessed the multi-use Shaker Trail and rode northeast to Sherman Road. Sherman Road is unpaved and part of the Mahican-Mohawk Trail as it travels west from Mohawk State Forest. Go right, or east, on Sherman Road, until it connects to Carpenter Trail, also part of the Mahican-Mohawk Trail. This leads you north and west through Savoy before coming back out on New State Road. To return to the parking area, take a left, or head south, on New State

Road and ride toward Burnett Road. If you want to see Bog Pond and its floating islands, go right on New State Road first, and Bog Pond will be on your left approximately a quarter mile up the road. Then, follow New State Road south until the intersection with Tannery Road, where you can go left onto the multi-use Tannery Trail and ride up along Gulf Brook, then back to the Tannery Falls parking area. The Fire Tower trail in the southern part of the park with 2,500-foot Borden Mountain offers some of the best views of the Berkshires for equestrians. For this part of the ride, I headed south out of the Tannery Falls parking area on Balanced Rock Trail. I passed the Balanced Rock (number 1) and took a left, continuing south on Balanced Rock Trail before reaching Ross Brook. (There’s also a Balanced Rock number 2 between North Pond and South Pond.) Balanced Rock Trail ends at Adams Road, where I continued south onto Bannis Road, crossing Horseford’s Brook. I rode along unpaved Bannis Road until taking Fire Tower Trail on

the right. Now heading northwest, the trail climbs slowly up Borden Mountain and past the fire tower. At the DCR gate, I went right on Adams Road for a short distance, before riding Lewis Hill Trail on the left. The trail climbs up past Lewis Hill, before descending back down to Tannery Road. Here, I went right and followed the road back to the parking area by Tannery Falls. Give yourself plenty of time to ride one or both sections, as your horse will be working hard. Savoy Mountain State Forest has something to offer equestrians year-round with four beautiful seasons and hours of riding in relative solitude. I’m already planning a fall foliage visit. Happy trails! Stacey Stearns, a lifelong equestrian from Connecticut, enjoys trail riding and endurance with her Morgan horses.

our Video T fo More In s at & Photo

parker it.ly/39 http://b

Saddle up equine enthusiasts, you’ve just found your perfect country retreat right in the heart of East Longmeadow!

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

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

summer and commented on how beautiful it was. Clues and answers were hidden along the first five miles. Each clue was a Fergus

that collected the most correct answers, with time of completion of the first five miles as the tiebreaker. The tiebreaker was needed as a

Bay State Trail Riders Association Sunday, June 23, was BSTRA’s Fergus Scavenger Hunt, sponsored by New England Drywall. The prior day’s thunderstorms cleared the humidity, making Sunday a perfect day to ride. A New England Horse and Trailaffiliated ride, participants were offered a choice of five, ten, or fifteen miles of trails through Miles Standish State Forest in Carver. The route went along cranberry bogs, through woods, and over sandy roads. Several riders remarked at how different Miles Standish looks in the

Bay State Trail Riders Association president Becky Kalagher at the 27th Annual National Trails Day Fundraiser Ride at Great Brook Farm State Park in Carlisle on June 8. More than $14,000 was raised for BSTRA’s trail projects!

cartoon strip, and teams had to figure out what object from the comic strip they needed to collect. Ribbons were awarded to the teams

Briggs Tack Shop &Trailer Sales Authorized Dealer

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

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www.briggstackshop.com 24

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

few resourceful teams got all the answers. Returning riders enjoyed a wonderful lunch that included sandwiches

and a delicious pasta and pea salad. Feedback was that the “hunt” was fun, and the course well marked. A huge thanks to Teresa McGuire and Carolyn Weeks for organizing the ride and to all the volunteers who helped. The BSTRA Polker Run, sponsored by Tourbillon Trailers, was held the following weekend, June 30, at Inman Hill in Mendon. With an eye to the weather, riders arrived early as thunderstorms were expected in the afternoon. Everyone got back before the weather “dealt a bad hand,” leaving time to enjoy lunch while winning hands were confirmed. Lunch included a delicious cool summer soup and sandwiches. Thanks to Becky Kalagher and crew for doing such an outstanding job organizing the event. The high hand went to Carolyn Weeks.

have our clinic there. Moonlit Farm is a beautiful boarding stable with great grounds and nice people. Thank you to Jay Quinlan for his time and expertise. We hope to have another clinic with Jay in the near future. On Sunday, June 23, GRHC held its 25th Anniver-

Diane Godek

BSTRA has several upcoming events in August and September. The Lake Dennison Pleasure Ride is August 4, the Fall Hunter Pace is September 15, September 22 is our Fall Fundraiser, and the 28th is the Northfield Mountain Pleasure Ride.

Alexa Wurszt on her Mustang Prison Break at the Granby Regional Horse Council June 23 Open Horse Show.

To learn more, visit bstra.org. See you on the trails. 7 Annamaria Paul

Granby Regional Horse Council The GRHC has been busy with some great events and we’re looking forward to several more in the coming months. We had some fun and educational events in June. On Sunday, June 9, GRHC presented a Basic Horsemanship Clinic with local horseman Jay Quinlan. All who signed up for the clinic enjoyed the day and learned a lot from Jay. The clinic was held at the new Moonlit Farm in Belchertown in the indoor arena. Thank you to owners Leah Greenberger, DVM, and John Presinol for giving us the opportunity to

sary Open Horse Show at Dufresne Park in Granby. We had two 4-H divisions and six special classes to celebrate our anniversary. The show was a success and everyone had a great time. We hope that next year more 4-H participants will compete. We’re trying to attract more youth to our show so we’re spreading the word that the GRHC will now have 4-H divisions. We thank Joan Dittmer and Jonelle Monaco for helping at the secretary’s desk. Thanks to Jonelle for also being our ringmaster. Thanks to Mark Girard for being our announcer and for getting so many sponsors. Thank you to all of our sponsors. We couldn’t do it without you. Results and photos are on granbyregionalhorse.org. Please send any photos you have of the horse show to Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

organization whose mission is to educate the public and equestrians about horse care and other issues related to horses, promote trail conservation, and host social and

Hampshire County Riding Club The past couple of months have been busy ones for HCRC with the popular Whitmore Obstacle Clinic fol-

Jamie Kubosiak

grhc@charter.net or post them on our Facebook page and group. Thanks to all who attended, making the show a success. So, what’s coming in the next few months? Sunday, August 18, we will be having a joint ride in Connecticut with the Reddington Rock Riding Club at their grounds and into Shenipsit State Forest in Stafford Springs, Connecticut. (It’s less than an hour’s drive from Granby so please join us.) On Sunday, September 8, we will return to Dufresne Park in Granby for GRHC’s annual Poker Ride. We have two events planned for October. The first is our annual Fall Foliage Ride and Feast on Sunday, October 6, (location to be announced), followed by the GRHC’s annual McDonald Nature Preserve Ride and Obstacle course on Sunday, October 20. GRHC is a nonprofit

Hampshire County Riding Club members Betsy Merritt and her mom Diane Merritt at the June 23 Chesterfield Gorge Ride.

competitive events for equestrians of all ages. To learn more and join, go to granbyregionalhorse.org. 7 Diane Godek

lowed by the Fun Day and Obstacle Competition, both held at our club grounds in Goshen, and a trail ride through the Chesterfield Gorge to Indian Hollow

Campground for a trail lunch and return. We marveled at Barb Macon’s demonstration at our May membership meeting where, performing at liberty, Barb’s horse Sterling navigated a series of complex obstacles, including jumps. We saw first hand the rewards of developing a working relationship with your horse — hence, the name of her business, Sterling Rewards. Many thanks to Barb for the inspiring demonstration she gave for the HCRC membership. The next presentation in our club speaker series will feature Dr. Masoud Hashemi from UMass Extension Service speaking on pasture management. We can certainly all benefit from learning how to make the most of the space we have for our horses. This meeting will take place September 18, at 7 p.m. at the Westhampton Library, 1 North Road in Westhampton. The public is invited to join us for the talk and refreshments.

119th Annual

Myopia Horse Show August 30 to September 1 Myopia Schooling Field, South Hamilton, Mass. $2,500 Myopia Hunter Derby $5,000 Myopia Jumper Classic $1,000 Child/Adult Jumper Classic MHC Medals divisions include: Short Stirrup . NEHC and MHC Medals

Jumper Divisions from 2'3" to 3'6" . Side Saddle Class Qualified Hunter classes, and more. Hunt Night ~ Friday, August 30 Qualified Hunters, Appointment, Hilltoppers, and more.

Joint Masters Wendy Wood & Nicholas White

Manager John Manning

All hunter classes held on the historic Myopia Hunt Field with some new as well as historic permanent jumps.

Technical Advisor

This show is professionally run with good courses in a beautiful setting.

Wendy Wood

Prize list at myopiahunt.org.

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

New England Equestrian Center of Athol Did you know that NEECA creates and distributes an annual Business Directory? Have you seen it yet? It’s out! This directory has been

growing in size every year. First issued in 2009 with 39 advertisers, the 2019 directory now includes 70 advertisers and is 50 pages deep. It

at the 2008 NEECA Fall Social in Athol. It was the brainchild of Marty Arsenault who suggested NEECA offer a program to

Anne Marie Zukowski

On September 15, we will host a ride in the Kenneth Dubuque Memorial State Forest in Hawley, once again picking up trails used in this year's Massachusetts Cross-State Trail Ride, held in the same location. On September 29, we will again be holding our Fall Foliage Ride at Northfield Mountain, where we will have the run of the mountain trails, followed by a barbecue at the visitor center picnic area. Both rides are open to HCRC members and their guests. To join HCRC and learn more about our clinics, events and trail rides, visit hampshirecountyridingclub.org and follow us on Facebook. 7 Diane Merritt

The New England Equestrian Center of Athol’s 2019 Business Directory.

also includes a “What is NEECA” page, membership application and benefits, an annual calendar of events, directions to the park, and more. Affectionately called the Biz Directory, it got its start

hand out at the Fall Social that would help promote the organization and provide information about the social at the same time. Marty suggested having advertisers included to help defray the cost of printing.

Marty’s wise ideas were put into action and NEECA started to turn a small profit from the directory. The board of directors voted to produce the directory on an annual basis to help promote local equestrian businesses and services, to provide members with a solid resource for horse-related products and services, and to increase cash flow for NEECA. Six of the original advertisers have returned for 10 years to advertise. These loyal advertisers are Althea Bramhall with Hometown Realtors, Blue Dog Leather, Padula Brothers, It’s A Pleasure Training, Windswept Farm, and Becker Home Inspection. We thank them for their ongoing support. This is a fantastic resource not only for local advertisers but also businesses in other areas to share their services. This free directory is

“The Classic” Horse Show and Pleasure Finals Sponsored by the Massachusetts Horsemen’s Council Double Point MHC Show Aﬃliated with NEHC, SSHC Open and Breed Classes More than 100 exhibitors compete for great prizes and awards oﬀered in a multitude of Open, Breed, Pleasure, Western, Saddle Seat, and Equitation classes in two rings to ensure a variety of classes.

Sunday, September 8, at Briggs Stable, 623 Hanover Street, Hanover, Mass. Show Begins Promptly at 8 a.m.

Pleasure Classic Finals: Hunter, Saddle Seat, Western WalkTrot Pleasure Classics: MHC Walk Trot 10 & Under, SSHC Walk Trot 11 & Older (No qualifying needed for Walk Trot Classics)

Lifetime Pleasure Horse Achievement Award

Massachusetts Horse Junior Horsemanship Award

For more information, please visit mahorsecouncil.com. Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

distributed at all NEECA events and is also available at a number of retail stores in the Athol area. Keep your eyes open for it and be sure to grab a copy! 7 Anne Marie Zukowski

cially for those who are just learning how to ride and want to be a part of horse showing. NSHA shows are rated A, B, and C with New

ner Morgan Stevens riding her Quarter Horse Indie Blue Sky and Angelica Zizza with her pinto Just a Lucky Heathen taking the reserve.

North Shore Horsemen’s Association NSHA held its first show of the season on June 2 at BobLyn Stables in Amesbury. It was a great day and we were happy to see so many people attend. The show exceeded our expectations. Even the weather held out for us. Judges for the day were Susan Casper in ring one and Kathy Keefe in ring two. Our steward was Jo Hight. Some of the many new classes we’ve added this season include a pattern class for the 10 and Under, a Walk Trot Hunter Under Saddle, and Ladies Walk Trot Pleasure for the 11 and Over riders. These classes have become very popular, espe-

Angelica Zizza with Just a Lucky Heathen at the June 2 North Shore Horsemen’s Association Show at Bob-Lyn Stables in Amesbury.

England Horsemen’s Council and Massachusetts Horsemen’s Council, so join us and earn those points! We also held the Hunter Pleasure Classic with our win-

Our next show will be on September 22. To learn more, visit northshorehorsemens.org. 7 Jo-Ann Hamson

West Newbury Riding and Driving Club The WNRDC Adventure Trail will be Sunday, September 8, in West Newbury. Adventure Trail is for riders of all disciplines looking for a fun, non-competitive team trail ride (two or more riders per team) with optional in-ring challenge activities. We try to design it for all ages and riding levels. Teams follow a marked route that winds through the trails and fields of Pipestave Hill, Mill Pond, Riverbend, and Dunn Farm riding areas. (If you don’t have a team, we will try to find you one!) The club enjoyed an excellent turnout for last year’s event and the feedback from the riders was enthusiastic and joyful — there were smiles everywhere! Attendees from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine represented a variety of equine disciplines and breed groups.

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

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

Riders reported that the trail route was beautiful but also technical enough to be challenging. The activity ring provided opportunities for both fun and training. The event is

Volunteer activities include: challenge activities set-up, jump set-up, rider check-in, ring monitoring, street crossing monitoring, and event breakdown. To volunteer,

Need your trailer serviced? Now scheduling appointments for full service trailer repairs.

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

Kelly F. Lacourse

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

Briggs Stable Kelly Lacourse and Kit Kat at the 2018 West Newbury Riding and Driving Club Adventure Trail in West Newbury.

an excellent way to promote team building. This event is our club’s annual fundraiser for the Essex County Trails Association (ECTA) and the many trails that we all enjoy using when we trail ride. ECTA funds and expertise improved the River Road Trail, built bridges and boardwalks in Riverbend and Riverbend West, and filled the ruts on Pike’s Bridge Road, just to name a few. Volunteers are needed the day before and on the day of the event — we can’t do this without you!

contact Allison Aamodt at adventuretrail@wnrdc.com. Come join us for a relaxing day, either riding or volunteering, and pass the word along. The more the merrier, as we raise funds for our beloved trail system in West Newbury. To learn more and enter, visit wnrdc.com. 7 Donna Disario Is your club based in Massachusetts and for equestrians? Join our free Partners Program to receive a free digital subscription for your membership and have space in every issue for your organization’s news!

Mini Shows Wednesday evenings starting at 6 P.M.

August 7, 14, 21 & 28 Members of the Hanover Hunt & Riding Club are 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 may be downloaded at www.briggsstable.com. Visit Briggs Tack Shop, a full service shop, while at the show! Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

Overherd

News in Our Community There have been confirmed cases of Potomac Horse Fever (PHF) in western Massachusetts. “Not commonly seen in this area, we do not normally recommend vaccinating for it,” says Hess McWilliams Veterinary Services in Amherst. “At this time, though, we are recommending vaccinating your horse(s) especially if they are kept in areas with a large standing body of water nearby. “Other preventative measures that we recommend are changing water buckets and troughs one to two times a day, shutting off as many lights as possible at night to lessen the attraction of bugs, and provide [barnsafe] fans to help keep the bug population down.” To learn more about PHF, visit equusmagazine.com/ diseases/potomac-horsefever-brief.

horsemanship from beginner to professional, there’s something for everyone to learn at Equine Affaire. All clinicians are currently seeking horses and

November 7–10. The application deadline for the Ride with a Pro program is September 9. To apply, visit equineaffaire.com and click PARTICIPATE, then RIDE

Karin Orsi

Potomac Horse Fever Cases in Bay State

Mr. Peanut and volunteers at the Bay State Equine Rescue’s annual Run Like the Dickens 5K in Old Sturbridge Village.

Have you ever wished you and your horse could spend an hour in the saddle with one of the industry’s top trainers? With Equine Affaire’s Ride with a Pro Clinic program, you can! Apply today for your opportunity to Ride with a Pro at Equine Affaire, and you could be participating in one (or more) of 150 individual sessions offered this year. Presenters include some of the world’s best professional horsemen and horsewomen, including Chris Cox, Dan James, Julie Goodnight, Steve Lantvit, and Jason Irwin, as well as many other discipline-specific experts. With clinics and seminars offered in a variety of disciplines for every level of 30

courtesy of City to Saddle

Ride at Equine Affaire

A City to Saddle participant enjoys a ride on Jacqui at Mesa Farm in Rutland.

riders to participate in sessions at Equine Affaire at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield on

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

WITH A PRO or contact Christy Brossman at cbrossman@equineaffaire.com or (740) 845-0085, ext. 102.

Fees vary from $75 to $350 depending on the clinic. Equine Affaire will also feature presentations by Charlotte Bredahl-Baker (dressage), Sinead Halpin (eventing), Candice King (hunter/jumper), Dan James (reining), Jane Melby (barrel racing), Dana Bright (driving), Kristen Whittaker (western dressage, garrocha), Rick Christy (hunter under saddle, showmanship), Gary Lane (easy gaited horses), Kelly Hulse (saddleseat), Heidi Potter (trail obstacles, centered riding), Simon Cocozza (core strengthening and yoga for horses), and Jim Masterson (Masterson Method in Motion). More presenters will be announced soon, so bookmark equineaffaire.com! Equine Affaire is North America’s premiere equine exposition and equestrian gathering. In addition to enjoying Equine Affaire’s robust educational program, attendees can shop at the nation’s largest horse-related trade show, enjoy the excitement of the Versatile Horse and Rider Competition, and network with equine professionals, vendors, and experts from every corner of the horse world. To learn more, visit equineaffaire.com for schedules, ticket information, hotel accommodations, and more.

Bay State Equine Rescue Run Like the Dickens 5K Bay State Equine Rescue held its seventh annual Run Like the Dickens 5K on Sunday, July 7. This race takes place through historic Old Sturbridge Village. Participants get to enjoy lovely scenery such as covered bridges, gristmills, waterfalls, and livestock —

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

WNEPHA JOIN US! The Western New England chapter of the Professional Horsemen’s Association of America has a full schedule of shows planned for 2019!

all while supporting the rescue. This year Mr. Peanut stopped by with samples and games. This event is the primary fundraiser for BSER, and was a huge success thanks to all the volunteers, sponsors, and runners/walkers. This annual event takes place in July on the Sunday after the 4th.

n Karin Orsi

A silent auction will provide attendees the opportunity to bid on sporting event tickets, vacations, artwork, jewelry, wine, and other items. The evening will include live music and promises to be an evening to remember. Tickets for the dinner are $99 per person and must be purchased in advance. To learn more and purchase tickets, go to citytosaddle.org.

HUNTER/JUMPER EQUITATION SHOWS Aug. 4

Grindstone Mountain Farm

Aug. 18 White Horse Hill Farm

Sept. 1

Harmony Hill Farm

Sept. 7

Riverbank Farm

Aug. 25 Berkshire Equestrian Center

Sept. 15 Bellwether Stables Sept. 22 White Horse HIll Farm Sept. 29 Heritage Farm Oct. 6

Harmony Hill Farm

Oct. 13 FINALS at Mount Holyoke Oct. 27 Muddy Brook Farm

13 ber o t c O

LS FINA DRESSAGE SHOWS English and Western Tests

Natalie Labouchere and Hughdoneit in the Training/Preliminary level group with Lucinda Green at the Masters Class Clinic July 10 and 11 at Apple Knoll Farm Equestrian Center in Millis.

City to Saddle’s Farm to Table Dinner City to Saddle will be holding its third semi-annual Farm to Table Dinner on Sunday, September 22, at Mesa Farm in Rutland. The three-course tasting menu will be prepared by Café Reyes of Worcester with ingredients sourced from area farms. Many of the items on the evening’s menu will come right from Mesa Farm.

Aug. 10 Stockade Aug. 25 Emerald Glen Sept. 7 Higher Ground Farm Sept. 15 Stockade Oct. 27 Higher Ground Farm

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

WNEPHA.com An organization for horsemen, by horsemen.

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

City to Saddle is a nonprofit organization committed to providing a diverse population of inner city and other underserved children access to horsemanship programs. This event is one of the organization’s primary fundraising activities. More than 100 children will participate in City to Saddle programs this year, many in weeklong programs at Mesa Farm.

n Dale Perkins

Subscribe today! at mahorse.com

Bay State Equine Rescue Seeking Farm Caretaker We’re seeking an experienced caretaker to care for our rescue horses, farm, and property located in Oakham. Experience with horses and horse-handling skills are preferred for this non-salaried position. In exchange for a private room and bath, the caretaker will care for the horses on a daily basis, perform various farm maintenance tasks, assist with haying fields and stacking hay in the barn, be responsible for snow removal in the winter, and organize volunteer shift schedules. For more information, contact Susan at sms@baystateequinerescue.com.

Kindful Training for Horse & Rider “Happy, relaxed horses and riders are my objective.”

Western Dressage provides a foundation through Classical Dressage principles for anything you wish to do with your horse — reining, ranch, cow work, games, trail riding, obstacles, or simple enjoyment — it teaches your horse to carry himself properly and helps you create a lasting partnership.

n Karin Orsi

Cross-Country Symposium and Masters Class Clinic On July 6, Apple Knoll Farm Equestrian Center in Millis hosted its first annual Cross-Country Symposium sponsored by North Bridge Equine. “We were privileged to watch United States Evening Association Area One professional event riders from all over New England being taught by the legendary British event rider Lucinda Green,” says Adrienne Iorio, Apple Knoll Farm owner. “The day began with young event horses that were new to the sport and went up through Intermediate level seasoned competitors. The audience was encouraged to ask questions during the training sessions. Fred Nostrant, DVM, of North Bridge Equine gave an educational presentation on topics related to the health and fitness of the sport horse during lunch. It proved to be a fantastic and educational day for horses, riders, and auditors.” Lucinda Green taught a Masters Class Clinic July 10 and 11 sponsored by Succeed. (The most improved rider of the two days was awarded a three-month supply of Succeed oral paste.) The clinic provided two days of training and teaching to horses and riders from the Intro level all the way through Preliminary. Riders were privileged to be the first to use the new water complex at Apple Knoll Farm. Dates are being organized for Lucinda to return to Apple Knoll Farm Equestrian Center next year. The USEA Area 1 Schooling Horse Trials Championships are coming up on August 18. The championships include divisions for Pre-Elementary, Elementary, Intro, and Beginner Novice

Clinician Trainer Coach Cathy teaches throughout the Northeast.

Cathy Drumm 413 441-5278 . cathy@cathydrumm.com CathyDrumm.com riders who have participated in qualifying horse trials at Frazier Farm, Azrael Acres, Hilltop Equestrian Center, Scarlet Hill farm, Green Acres, Orchard Hill Equestrian Center, Groton House, Treasure Hill Farm, Groton Pony Club, Pipestave Hill, Course Brook Farm, Valinor Farm, and Palmer River Equestrian Center. “This is an end-of-season competition which has been devised to demonstrate all of the great learning that riders and horses have done throughout the

year,” says Adrienne. “We actually have several goals with the championships including standardization of the levels, providing a way to encourage students to show more often, providing a goal for lower-level riders to aim at without feeling the need to move up, and giving a leg up to local eventing venues.” To learn more, visit appleknoll.com and schoolinghtc.com.

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

events Massachusetts

August 2 – 4 STATE 4-H SHOW, Eastern States, West Springfield. mass4h.org.

4 SCHOOLING HORSE TRIALS, Palmer River Equestrian Center, Rehoboth. (508) 252-6347.

7 SOUTH COAST SERIES JUMPER SHOW, Valinor Farm, Plymouth. southcoastseries.com.

2 – 14 SMARTPAK RETAIL STORE ANNIVERSARY, 13 days of fun ways to save. smartpak.com/retailstore.

4 SUMMER SCHOOLING EVENT II, Berlin. orchardhillequestriancenter.com.

7 JUMPER CHALLENGE SERIES, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. appleknoll.com.

4 POLO MATCH, S. Hamilton. myopiapolo.org.

7 HHRC MINI SHOW, Hanover. briggsstable.com.

4 HRC SHOW, Middleboro. hansonridingclub.org.

8 MHC SHOW, Herring Brook Farm, Pembroke. herringbrookfarm.com.

3 HUNTER SHOW, Medway. saddlerowe.com. 3 POLO MATCH, Georgetown. bostonpolo.org. 3 – 4 USDF DRESSAGE SHOWS I AND II, Bear Spot Farm, Concord. bearspotfarm.com. 4 CRDA DRESSAGE SCHOOLING SHOW, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. crdressage.org. 4 DRESSAGE SCHOOLING SHOW, Independence Stable, Belchertown.independencestablellc.com. 4 BRDC SCHOLARSHIP OPEN SHOW, Felton Field, Barre. barreridingdrivingclub.com.

4 BSTRA LAKE DENNISON PLEASURE RIDE, Royalston. bstra.org. 4 WRC TRAIL RIDE,October Mountain State Park, Washington. westfieldridingclub.org. 4 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, Grindstone Mountain Farm, Southampton. wnepha.com. 5 SYMPOSIUM WITH GARY ROCKWELL, Bear Spot Farm, Concord. bearspotfarm.com.

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

8 – 11 USEF NORTHAMPTON HUNTER JUMPER SHOW, Northampton. airshowjumping.com. 8 – 11 CCDS PLEASURE DRIVING SHOW, Orleton Farm, Stockbridge. colonialcarriage.org. 10 CCH SHOW, Raynham. capecodhunter.com. 10 NEECA YOUTH DAY, Athol. neeca.org. 10 GAMES, Westfield. westfieldridingclub.org.

10 UMASS BREED SHOW I, UMass Hadley Equine Center, Hadley. neda.org.

18 USEA AREA I SCHOOLING HORSE TRIALS CHAMPIONSHIPS, Mills. appleknoll.com.

10 NEECA LIBBY LYMAN TRAIL VERSATILITY CLINIC, Athol. neeca.org.

18 MHC SHOW, Haverhill. ridecornerstone.com.

11 CCEA JUDGED SHOW, South Yarmouth. ccequineassoc.com.

18 NEHC “C” RATED, MHC “C” RATED SHOW, Grafton. hillside-meadows.com.

11 SSHC SHOW, Raynham. sshconline.org.

18 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, White Horse Hill, Richmond. wnepha.com.

11 UMASS BREED SHOW II, UMass Hadley Equine Center, Hadley neda.org.

18 SUMMER WRAP-UP AUCTION, Easthampton. heritagefarmeasthampton.com.

11 POLO MATCH, South Hamilton. myopiapolo.org.

18 SOUTH COAST SERIES HUNTER SHOW, Buzzards Bay. southcoastseries.com.

11 CRANBERRY CIRCUIT SHOW, Cape Cod Fairgrounds, Barnstable.

21 WESTERN DRESSAGE LESSON SERIES, South Hadley. cathydrumm.com.

11 SCHOOLING DRESSAGE SHOW, Lakeville. belandstables.com.

21 JUMPER CHALLENGE SERIES, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. appleknoll.com.

11 NEMHS MINI SHOW, Millis. nemhs.org.

21 SOUTH COAST SERIES JUMPER SHOW, Valinor Farm, Plymouth. southcoastseries.com.

Pasture Board, Stalls, and Run-outs All-day Turnout

11 USEF SHOW, Holliston. rideaugustfarm.com. 21 HHRC MINI SHOW, Hanover. briggsstable.com. 11 GAMES NIGHT, Grafton. hillside-meadows.com. 13 CHRIS BARNARD SHOW JUMPING CLINIC, JH Eventing, Sutton. (978) 875-2036.

23 – 25 NEFHC MIDNIGHT SUMMER CLASSIC, West Springfield. nefhc.com.

14 – 17 MASS. MORGAN SHOW, West Springfield. massmorgan.com.

24 WESTERN DRESSAGE AND WORKING EQUITATION OBSTACLES SERIES, Windy Woods Stable, Westfield. cathydrumm.com.

14 HHRC MINI SHOW, Hanover. briggsstable.com.

24 FUN DAY, South Egremont. bluerider.org.

14 JUMPER CHALLENGE SERIES, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. appleknoll.com.

25 OPEN SHOW, Haskins Farm, Berkley. sunflowermeadowsequestrian.weebly.com.

14 – 18 SILVER OAK JUMPER TOURNAMENT, Halifax. silveroakjumpertournament.com.

25 HORSE TRIALS AND DRESSAGE SERIES, Azrael Acres, Uxbridge. azrael acres.com.

15 MHC, NEHC, DOWNEAST MEDAL SHOW, Back Bay Farm, Ipswich. backbayfarm.com.

25 BRDC 4-H OPEN SHOW, Felton Field, Barre. barreridingdrivingclub.com.

16 MHC SHOW, Pembroke. herringbrookfarm.com.

25 CMHSS CAMP MARSHALL OPEN SHOW, Camp Marshall, Spencer. cmhss.net.

16 JUMPER SHOW, Grafton. hillside-meadows.com. 25 POLO MATCH, S. Hamilton. myopiapolo.org. 16 GAMES NIGHT, Orange. crimsonacres.org. 17 NEECA GYMKHANA SERIES, Athol. neeca.org. 17 CCH SHOW, Raynham. capecodhunter.com. 17 – 18 ’SUMMA IN THE HAMPTONS PAINT SHOW, Northampton. nephc.com.

Stalls & Training Spots Available

Indoor Arena . Round Pen Heated Tack Room

Sand/Rubber Footing in Outdoor Arena

Trails Right off Property

Boarding . Horse Training Lessons . Pony Parties Two-Phase & Dressage Shows on Property Owner is eventer but open to all riding styles!

25 OPEN SHOW SERIES, Azrael Acres, Uxbridge. azrael acres.com. 25 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, Berkshire Equestrian Center, Richmond. wnepha.com. 28 JUMPER CHALLENGE SERIES, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. appleknoll.com.

18 POLO MATCH, S. Hamilton. myopiapolo.org. 28 HHRC MINI SHOW, Hanover. briggsstable.com. 18 MERRIMACK VALLEY DRESSAGE SCHOOLING SHOW, Haverhill. (978) 374-0008.

31 POLO MATCH, Georgetown. bostonpolo.org.

18 HCRC WORKING EQUITATION CLINIC, Goshen. hampshirecountyridingclub.org.

31 BLANDFORD FAIR HORSE SHOW, Blandford. blandfordfair.com.

18 DRESSAGE SCHOOLING SHOW, Hanover. heritage-dressage.org.

31 CCH FINALS, Saddle Rowe, Medway. capecodhunter.com.

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

31 – September 1 VERA KESSELS CLINIC, Stony Brook Farm, Norfolk. jodipearsonkeating.com.

8 NHC POLO IN THE COUNTRY, Medfield. norfolkhunt.com.

31 – September 1 MYOPIA HUNT HORSE SHOW, Hamilton. myopiahunt.org.

8 MHC SHOW, Haverhill. ridecornerstone.com. 8 GAMES NIGHT, Grafton. hillside-meadows.com.

31 – September 1 BLANDFORD FAIR HORSE SHOW, Blandford. theblandfordfair.com.

September 1 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, Harmony Hill Farm, Great Barrington. wnepha.com. 1 RECOGNIZED DRESSAGE SHOW, Lakeville. belandstables.com.

1 HRC OPEN SHOW, Briggs Stable, Hanover. hansonridingclub.org.

8 DRESSAGE SCHOOLING SHOW, Independence Stable, Belchertown.independencestablellc.com.

4 GRANBY SADDLE CLUB SHOW, Dufresne Park, Granby. luckyhorsefarm.com.

8 POLO MATCH, S. Hamilton. myopiapolo.org.

7 NORFOLK FIELD HUNTER SHOW, Medfield. norfolkhunt.com.

September 8 - Krystal Wilt “L” judge October 6 - Ann Gupthill “L” judge For more information, reach out to Suzanne at xenophonshows@gmail.com.

Dressage Clinics

Bill McMullin & Verne Batchelder Like us on Facebook to see who’s coming!

Stalls Available

Indoor & Outdoor Dressage Arenas . Turnout Owners on Premises . Top Notch Care

Xenophon Farm

More than 35 years of outstanding clinics, lectures, and competitions!

Janice & Elaine Kachavos

80 Sunderland Rd., Montague, Mass. 413.367.9828 XenophonFarm@aol.com 36

8 WNRDC ADVENTURE TRAIL, West Newbury. wnrdc.com. 8 DRESSAGE SCHOOLING SHOW, Xenophon Farm, Montague. xenophonshows@gmail.com.

6 – 8 NEECA CAMPOUT VERSATILITY WEEKEND, Athol. neeca.org.

Two Shows Remaining:

8 GRHC POKER RIDE, Dufresne Park, Granby. granbyregionalhorse.org.

1 POLO MATCH, S. Hamilton. myopiapolo.org.

4 JUMPER CHALLENGE SERIES, Millis. appleknoll.com.

Dressage Schooling Show Series

8 SOUTH COAST SERIES HUNTER SHOW, Buzzards Bay. southcoastseries.com.

7 USEA HORSE TRIALS, Sherborn. coursebrookfarm.com. 7 MHC HUNTER SHOW, Bolton. centurymillstables.com. 7 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, Riverbank Farm, Dalton. wnepha.com.

8 MHC PLEASURE CLASSIC FINALS, Briggs Stable, Hanover. mahorsecouncil.com. 9 WRC FALL OPEN AND 4-H SHOW, Westfield. westfieldridingclub.org. 11 JUMPER CHALLENGE SERIES FINALE, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. appleknoll.com. 11 – 15 BIG E HORSE SHOW, hunters, hunt seat equitation, USHJA Zone 1 HOTY Finals, West Springfield. thebige.com. 13 GAMES NIGHT, Orange. crimsonacres.org. 14 HRC FIESTA DAY, Balmy Acres, Middleboro. hansonridingclub.org.

7 CATHY DRUMM CLINIC, Athol. neeca.org.

14 GRANBY SADDLE CLUB SHOW, Granby. (413) 530-9003.

7 BARBARA MACON CLINIC, Goshen. hampshirecountyridingclub.org.

14 – 15 SNECDA FALL DRIVING AFFAIR, Celtic Cross Farm, Dudley. snecda.org.

7 – 8 NEDA BREED SHOW AND USDF BREEDERS CHAMPIONSHIP, Hadley. neda.org.

14 – 15 NEPHA FALL JUBILEE AND SWEEPSTAKES SHOW, Northampton. nepinto.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 natural horsemanship techniques. More than 20 years experience starting horses as well as fixing existing problems. References available. The cost of the one-month training is $1,200, including board.

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

It’s a Pleasure Training with Peter Whitmore (978) 652-2231 . ItsaPleasureTraining.com

15 BRDC OPEN SHOW, Felton Field, Barre. barreridingdrivingclub.com.

22 HRC SUPREME INVITATIONAL, Balmy Acres, Middleboro. hansonridingclub.org.

15 BSTRA SUE BRAINARD MEMORIAL FALL HUNTER PACE, Douglas. bstra.org.

26 – 29 BIG E DRAFT HORSE SHOW, West Springfield. thebige.com.

15 NEECA GYMKHANA SERIES, Athol. neeca.org. 15 POLO MATCH, S. Hamilton. myopiapolo.org.

27 – 29 MHC DAYS OF CHAMPIONS EQUITATION FINALS, Three County Fairgrounds, Northampton. mahorsecouncil.com.

15 HCRC HAWLEY STATE FOREST RIDE, Hawley. hampshirecountyridingclub.org.

28 HORSE TRIALS AND DRESSAGE SERIES, Azrael Acres, Uxbridge. azraelacres.com.

15 SOUTHEAST HUNTER FINALS, Saddle Rowe, Medway. southeasthunter.com.

28 BSTRA NORTHFIELD MOUNTAIN PLEASURE RIDE, Northfield. bstra.org.

15 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, Bellwether Stables, Richmond. wnepha.com.

29 NORFOLK HUNTER TRIALS, Norfolk Hunt Steeplechase Course, Medfield. norfolkhunt.com.

15 HRC VERSATILITY, Balmy Acres, Middleboro. hansonridingclub.org.

29 POLO MATCH, S. Hamilton. myopiapolo.org.

18 HCRC PASTURE MANAGEMENT SPEAKER, Dr. Masoud Hashemi, Westhampton Library. hampshirecountyridingclub.org.

The Northeast’s Premier Trailer Dealer Family owned for 42 years!

29 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, Heritage Farm, Easthampton. wnepha.com. 29 CCEA JUDGED SHOW, South Yarmouth. ccequineassoc.com.

19 – 22 BIG E HORSE SHOW, Saddlebreds, Hackneys, Morgans, and Friesians, West Springfield. thebige.com.

29 HCRC FALL FOLIAGE RIDE, Northfield Mountain. hampshirecountyridingclub.org.

21 SCHOOLING EVENT III, Stoneleigh-Burnham School, Greenfield. sbschool.org.

29 CRDA DRESSAGE SCHOOLING SHOW, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. crdressage.org.

Many more brands and models online at yeredtrailers.com!

21 USEA HORSE TRIALS, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. appleknoll.com. 22 OPEN SHOW, Haskins Farm, Berkley. sunflowermeadowsequestrian.weebly.com. 22 NSHA PLEASURE SHOW, Bob-Lyn Stables, Amesbury. northshorsemens.org. 22 POLO MATCH, S. Hamilton. myopiapolo.org. 22 SCHOOLING TWO-PHASE AND DRESSAGE SHOW, Cutter Farm, Dracut. cutterfarm.com. 22 FALL CLASSIC, Groton House Farm, Hamilton. grotonhousefarm.com.

22 WRC TRAIL RIDE, Knightville Dam, Huntington. westfieldridingclub.org.

Independence Stable

in South Yarmouth

June 9 - Jeryl Davis judge June 30 - Michelle Hunting judge July 21 - Paige Benson judge August 11 - Tammy Johnson judge September 29 - Betsy Kupic judge

2019 Dressage Schooling Shows Traditional & Western Dressage Tests

Divisions and Classes

Hunter Over Fences & Under Saddle . Short Stirrup Beginner Equitation . Lead Line . Walk Trot Novice . Open . Hunt Seat Equitation Junior . Senior . Open Jumper . Equitation Pleasure . Horsemanship . Discipline Rail m

ity un

Equestria nA

ccequineassoc.com Find a prizelist and details at

May 5 June 2 August 4 September 8 Check our Facebook page for updates!

iation

22 CMHSS CAMP MARSHALL OPEN SHOW, Camp Marshall, Spencer. cmhss.net.

SHOW SERIES

c sso

22 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, White Horse Hill Farm, Richmond. wnepha.com.

Cape Community Equestrian Association

eC Cap om

21 WESTERN DRESSAGE AND WORKING EQUITATION OBSTACLES SERIES, Windy Woods Stable, Westfield. cathydrumm.com.

11 West Mill Street, Medfield, Mass. (508) 359-7300 YeredTrailers.com

21 SUNRISE PLEASURE SHOW, Mount Holyoke College , South Hadley. mhcriding.com. 21 MHC HUNTER SHOW, Saddle Rowe, Medway. saddlerowe.com.

“A happy horse rides in a Yered Trailer.”

404 S. Washington St. Belchertown, Mass.

(413) 284-0371 independencestablellc.com

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

October 4 – 6 NHHJA FINALS, Three County Fairgrounds, Northampton. nhhja.com. 5 MHC HUNTER SHOW, Saddle Rowe, Medway. saddlerowe.com. 5 – 6 VERA KESSELS CLINIC, Stony Brook Farm, Norfolk. jodipearsonkeating.com. 6 SOUTH COAST SERIES HUNTER SHOW, Grazing Fields Farm, Buzzards Bay. southcoastseries.com. 6 MASSACHUSETTS RIDE FOR THE RIBBON, Felton Field, Barre. ridefortheribbonma.org. 6 FALL SCHOOLING EVENT, Berlin. orchardhillequestriancenter.com. 6 HRC BEACH RIDE, Rexhame Beach, Marshfield. hansonridingclub.org.

Linda Parmenter

6 DRESSAGE SCHOOLING SHOW, Briggs Stable, Hanover. heritage-dressage.org.

USDF Bronze & Silver Medalist USDF “L” Judge Instruction . Training . Clinics . Sales

6 GRHC FALL FOLIAGE RIDE, location TBA. granbyregionalhorse.org.

Hanover Equine Dental 91 Lombard Rd., Hubbardston (978) 928-5492 pinehaven@charter.net parmenterdressage.com

Subscribe Today! at mahorse.com

Terry Paul

Graduate of the American School of Equine Dentistry

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

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

Tack Repairs & Restoration

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

6 GAMES NIGHT, Grafton. hillside-meadows.com. 6 DRESSAGE SCHOOLING SHOW, Xenophon Farm, Montague. xenophonshows@gmail.com. 6 WNEPHA HUNTER SHOW, Harmony Hill Farm, Great Barrington. wnepha.com. 12 – 13 WNEPHA FINALS, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley. wnepha.com. 12 – 13 BRDC FALL TRAIL RIDE, Felton Field, Barre. barreridingdrivingclub.com. 13 SCHOOLING HORSE TRIALS, Valinor Farm, Plymouth. valinorfarm.com. 13 CRANBERRY CIRCUIT SHOW, Cape Cod Fairgrounds, Barnstable. 13 NEECA GYMKHANA SERIES, Athol. neeca.org. 13 SCHOOLING DRESSAGE SHOW, Beland Stables, Lakeville. belandstables.com. 13 HRC VERSATILITY, Balmy Acres, Middleboro. hansonridingclub.org.

Blue Dog Leather

13 HUNTER/EQUITATION SHOW, Evenstride Ltd. Byfield. evenstrideltd.com.

64 South Shore Dr., Orange, Mass. 978.544.2681 bluedogleather.com

13 THREE-PHASE SCHOOLING EVENT, Hazel Grove Park, Groton. grotonponyclub.org.

Open by appointment, please call ahead.

6 NEDA MARILYN HEATH “L” CLINIC, Apple Knoll Farm, Millis. neda.org.

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

Susan Rainville

DRESSAGE

Middleboro

This Olde Horse

Dressage Training, Groundwork & Response Training for a more confident partnership. USDF bronze & silver medalist Dressage Schooling Show Series Weekly Lessons Affordable Training & Boarding Off-farm Clinics Adult Camp Competition Camps

White Spruce Farms Central Massachusetts (978) 257-4666 whitesprucefarms.com

1910 Clark and Cole Mill horse teams, Middleboro. The Clark and Cole sawmill was established in 1888 and was powered by a dam of the Nemasket River. The output of lumber is said to have been a million feet a year to meet the demand for building houses and wooden boxes. Once cardboard boxes were developed, the mill was eventually sold.

Lise Krieger

Certified Saddle Fitter saddle assessments fitting evaluations flocking . repairs consignments . sales

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

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

MANURE REMOVAL FOR LARGE & SMALL FARMS

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

Recovery . Maintenance . Performance Therapeutic Massage . Bodywork . Reiki

(413) 320-7690

978-425-6181 MitranoRemoval.com

jobunny@comcast.net

Proud sponsor of Bear Spot Musical Freestyle and Oakrise Farm Shows.

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

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 P.O. Box 7005, Warwick, RI 02887 cats@pawswatch.org, pawswatch.org Barn cats need homes! Healthy, fixed, vaccinated barn cats provide rodent control. Delivered!

Your Everything Equine “white pages”

NORTHEAST EQUINE VETERINARY DENTAL SERVICES LEAH LIMONE, DVM, DAVDC/EQ Topsfield, MA, (978) 500-9293 nevds.com Board certified in equine veterinary dentistry. Routine preventive care, maintenance, diagnostics, extractions. EQUINE ENTERTAINMENT •••••••••••••••••••••••••• DALE PERKINS/MESA FARM Rutland, MA, (508) 886-6898 daleperkinshorseshow.com Trick riding and much more. EQUINE MASSAGE •••••••••••••••••••••••••• HORSEBACK AND BODY Northampton, MA, (413) 320-7690 jobunny@comcast.net Massage therapy for horses, humans.

BARN BUILDERS •••••••••••••••••••••••••• CARRIAGE SHED Serving the Northeast, (800) 441-6057 carriageshed.com Barns, arenas, shed rows, custom buildings.

EQUINE THERAPY •••••••••••••••••••••••••• HIGH HORSE HILL THERAPEUTIC HORSEMANSHIP Middlefield, MA, (413) 961-9311 highhorsehill.com Therapeutic horsemanship for all ages.

DRESSAGE •••••••••••••••••••••••••• BRADFORD EQUESTRIAN CENTER Haverhill, MA, (978) 374-0008 Dressage for all disciplines and driving. Keith Angstadt, USEF dressage judge.

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

CATHY DRUMM Pittsfield, MA, (413) 441-5278 cathydrumm.com Clinics, lessons, training, western and English dressage, hunter/jumper.

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

FAIRFIELD FARM Rochester, MA, (508) 763-8038 dressageatfairfieldfarm.com Boarding, instruction, training, indoor. LINDA PARMENTER Hubbardston, MA, (978) 928-5492 parmenterdressage.com USDF bronze and silver medalist, USDF “L” judge; instruction, clinics, training. WHITE SPRUCE FARMS New Braintree, MA, (978) 257-4666 whitesprucefarms.com Dressage shows, instruction, all levels/ages. XENOPHON FARM Montague, (413) 367-9828 xenophonfarm@aol.com Dressage schooling shows, clinics, lessons, boarding, training, trails, owners on site. EQUINE DENTISTRY •••••••••••••••••••••••••• WENDY BRYANT, EQDT Northampton, MA, (413) 237-8887 wbryantnatrualbalancedentistry.com Natural balance equine dentistry. Improved topline, maximized performance, increased flexion. Serving New England.

HORSES FOR SALE •••••••••••••••••••••••••• STRAIN FAMILY HORSE FARM Granby, CT, (860) 653-3275 strainfamilyhorsefarm.com New England’s largest quality sales stable. Forty family, trail, and show horses to choose from. New loads every week. We buy horses, take trade-ins, and consignment horses. Great three-week exchange guarantee. Find us on Facebook. INSTRUCTION/TRAINING •••••••••••••••••••••••••• BACK BAY FARM Ipswich, MA, (978) 356-0730 backbayfarm.com Lessons, boarding, training, and sales. INSURANCE •••••••••••••••••••••••••• DON RAY INSURANCE Marshfield, MA, (781) 837-6550 donrayinsurance.com Farm, mortality, major medical and surgical, clubs, shows, instructors. FARM FAMILY INSURANCE farmfamily.com Boxborough: (978) 467-1001 Carver: (508) 866-9150

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

Centerville: (508) 428-0440 Easthampton: (413) 203-5180 Great Barrington: (413) 528-1710 Marlborough: (508) 485-3800 Middleborough: (508) 747-8181 Northborough: (508) 393-9327 Southwick: (413) 569-2307 Wilbraham: (413) 887-8817 Williamstown: (413) 458-5584 Worcester: (508) 752-3300 JUDGES •••••••••••••••••••••••••• ED GOLEMBESKI Gill, MA, (413) 863-2313 riker119@comcast.net 4-H, open shows, clinics, lessons. REAL ESTATE •••••••••••••••••••••••••• ALTHEA BRAMHALL HOMETOWN REALTORS North Quabbin region, (617) 678-9300 althearealtor@gmail.com Real estate is more fun with horse people! EQUINE HOMES REAL ESTATE LLC MA and NH, (800) 859-2745, ext. 704 equinehomes.com. sally@equinehomes.com Sally Mann, Realtor, MA and NH. STABLES, FARMS, BOARDING •••••••••••••••••••••••••• APPLE KNOLL FARM Millis, MA, (508) 376-2564 appleknoll.com Eventing training, lessons, schooling trials, clinics; facilities available for events. CARRIER’S FARM Southampton, MA, (413) 527-0333 rcarrier0333@gmail.com Indoor, outdoor arenas, round pens, fields. 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. 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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Massachusetts Horse Beneﬁt Adventure Trail

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

n $5,000 s, a h t e r o M award n u f , s e z i in pr ent auction, l raﬄe, si food! and

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Team Walk Trot . Team Novice . Team Open Solo Walk Trot . Solo Novice . Solo Open Prizes and ribbons first to sixth place!

Costumes

You and your team can go all out with costumes and there’ll be lots of great prizes! Or, not — do your thing however you want.

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Alessandra Mele

All proceeds to benefit:

Alessandra Mele

Learn more at

Divisions

Karen Morang Photography

October 27, Sunday (rain date November 3) Exclusive access to private trails in Wilbraham!

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

Is This Your Horse? Plymouth

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

srhvets.com

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

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RER Ponies Training, Lessons & Sales

by BHS trained, USDF “L” Graduate & Bronze Medalist

Farm & Equine . Equine Mortality . Horse Owners Liability

Heather Reynolds Dostal Available for Judging & Clinics 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. Dressage shows and clinics.

54 Plain Rd., Hatfield, MA 413.427.2026

RERponies.com . rerponies@gmail.com 42

Massachusetts Horse August/September 2019

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Massachusetts Horse June/July 2019

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BRIDGEPORT, CT PERMIT

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