April 17 Ranch Hand Sorting Riverfare Farm Warner NH
May 16 Hitching Post Farm USEA Event
June 5 NBHA in Raynham MA (Barrel Race)
June 12 Hitching Post Farm Schooling Event
June 19 Ranch Hand Sorting Riverfare Farm Warner NH
June 26 NBHA Raynham MA
July 4 NBHA Raynham MA
July 17 Ranch Hand Sorting Riverfare Farm Warner NH
July 18 UNH Event
August 7 NBHA in Raynham MA
August 18 Hitching Post Farm Schooling Event
August 21 Ranch Hand Sorting Riverfare Farm Warner. NH
September 4 NBHA Raynham MA
September 18 Ranch Hand Sorting Riverfare Farm Warner NH
October 9, 10, 11 Sandwich Fair

Again, talk to Jennifer or Jenny if interested in attending any of these events. Remember this schedule subject to change and does not include the Steeldust based show series or 4-H shows!!

If you have, maybe you noticed some changes? Lilly was on that list… now she isn’t. Whats going on you say?

LILY HAS A NEW OWNER!!!

Delaney and her family are now the proud owners of Lily. They are more than happy, as are we!
Congrats to them!!!

Remember, that April 6th, only one month!

The first annual Abenaki Farm Winter Woolies Fun Show was a huge success! We had a great turnout of riders, spectators and volunteers. Our goal was to both have fun and raise some money for NEER (New England Equine Rescues). We accomplished both, raising $200 to help keep the rescue ponies fat and happy and we had tons of fun doing it.

Huge thank you’s to North Country Saddle 4H and Pemi-Valley 4H River Riders for providing the food & manning the food both (I hope you both made some money for your clubs as well). Additional thank yous’ to Lori Shea for letting us host the show at her beautiful facility, Caleb Sweedler for being the official carrot provider, Ron for bringing his math teaching skills to the job of timer, Stephanie Mallick for her amazing support wonderful help, and all the riders, instructors & parents for lending a hand where it was needed!

Because this was a fun show everyone was rewarded for their efforts with homemade horse treats (graciously donated and made by North Country Saddle 4H and Cheryl Somma) First Place results are as follows. For a complete listing of times in the timed events please email k.huckins@hotmail.com.

Bride Your horse: Lisa Perrault and Jersey
No Hands Contest: Emily Kresco and January
Musical Mounting A: Sam Levesque on Annie
Musical Mounting B: Lisa Perrault on Onyx
Walk Trot Simon Says: Kenzie Wrath on Jillian
W/T/C Simon Says A: Ruth Merril on Tiger
W/T/C Simon Says B: Sam Levesque on Annie
Egg And Spoon Walk Trot: Kenzie Wrath on Jillian
Egg And Spoon W/T/C A: Jess Berman on Dixie
Egg And Spoon W/T/C B: Lisa Perrault on Onyx
Walk Tortoise Race: Jess Berman on Dixie
Trot Tortoise Race: Lisa Perrault on Onyx
Walk Hare Race: Nara? on Abe The Babe
Trot Hare Race: Jenny Sweedler on Starlit Skies
Sit a Buck Walk Trot: Nara? on Abe the Babe
Sit a Buck W/T/C A: Jenny Sweedler on Starlit Skies
Sit a Buck W/T/C B: Emily Kresco on January
Catalog Race: Sam Levesque on Annie
Veggie Stew: Jennifer Elliot on Ms. B
Mint Julep Walk Trot: Ruth Merril on Tiger
Mint Julep W/T/C A: Jenny Sweedler on Starlit Skies
Mint Julep W/T/C B: Lisa Perrault on Onyx
Horse and Hound: Jess Berman on Dixie and leading Gretta

Congratulations to all the riders and their mounts (horse & hound) who did outstanding jobs!
Again, Pictures to come!!!

It was SO MUCH FUN!! It was all fun and silly classes. Surprisingly the “Bribe Your Horse” class was very difficult! My horse Starlit did not like chasing around that carrot! WHY DON’T YOU GIVE IT TO ME NOW!!! It was pretty funny!
Everyone’s horses behaved really well and we had just a great day!

Photos AND VIDEO!! will be up once I get it!

Good Luck To Them Next Week!!!

And at the other end of the spectrum, but still regal and sometimes definitely still full of it is Tiger, who will be.. 36 this year I think!

If you have a favorite memory of Tiger or another Steeldust horse, leave a comment We love hearing your stories!!!

Oh and another! A great article to read, on performance jitters!

“OLD ONE”

A brother and sister had made their usual hurried, obligatory pre-Christmas visit to the little farm where dwelt their elderly parents with their small herd of horses. The farm was where they had grown up and had been named Lone Pine Farm because of the huge pine, which topped the hill behind the farm. Through the years the tree had become a talisman to the old man and his wife, and a landmark in the countryside. The siblings had fond memories of their childhood here, but the city hustle and bustle added more excitement to their lives, and called them away to a different life.

The old folks no longer showed their horses, for the years had taken their toll, and getting out to the barn on those frosty mornings was getting harder, but it gave them a reason to get up in the mornings and a reason to live. They sold a few foals each year, and the horses were their reason for joy in the morning and contentment at day’s end.

Angry, as they prepared to leave, the young couple confronted the old folks “Why do you not at least dispose of The Old One.” She is no longer of use to you. It’s been years since you’ve had foals from her. You should cut corners and save so you can have more for yourselves. How can this old worn out horse bring you anything but expense and work? Why do you keep her anyway?”

The old man looked down at his worn boots, holes in the toes, scuffed at the barn floor and replied, “Yes, I could use a pair of new boots. His arm slid defensively about the Old One’s neck as he drew her near with gentle caressing he rubbed her softly behind her ears. He replied softly, “We keep her because of love. Nothing else, just love.” Baffled and irritated, the young folks wished the old man and his wife a Merry Christmas and headed back toward the city as darkness stole through the valley. The old couple shook their heads in sorrow that it had not been a happy visit.

A tear fell upon their cheeks. How is it that these young folks do not understand the peace of the love that filled their hearts? So it was, that because of the unhappy leave-taking, no one noticed the insulation smoldering on the frayed wires in the old barn. None saw the first spark fall. None but the “Old One”.
In a matter of minutes, the whole barn was ablaze and the hungry flames were licking at the loft full of hay. With a cry of horror and despair, the old man shouted to his wife to call for help as he raced to the barn to save their beloved horses. But the flames were roaring now, and the blazing heat drove him back. He sank sobbing to the ground, helpless before the fire’s fury. His wife back from calling for help cradled him in her arms, clinging to each other, they wept at their loss.

By the time the fire department arrived, only smoking, glowing ruins were left, and the old man and his wife, exhausted from their grief, huddled together before the barn. They were speechless as they rose from the cold snow covered ground. They nodded thanks to the firemen as there was nothing anyone could do now.

The old man turned to his wife, resting her white head upon his shoulders as his shaking old hands clumsily dried her tears with a frayed red Bandana. Brokenly he whispered, “We have lost much, but home was spared on this eve of Christmas. Let us gather strength and climb the hill to the old pine where we have sought comfort in times of despair. We will look down upon our home and give thanks that it has been spared and pray for our beloved most precious gifts that have been taken from us.

And so, he took her by the hand and slowly helped her up the snowy hill as he brushed aside his own tears with the back of his old and withered hand. The journey up the hill was hard for their old bodies in the steep snow. As they stepped over the little knoll at the crest of the hill, they paused to rest, looking up to the top of the hill the old couple gasped and fell to their knees in amazement at the incredible beauty before them.

Seemingly, every glorious, brilliant star in the heavens was caught up in the glittering, snow-frosted branches of their beloved pine, and it was aglow with heavenly candles.

And poised on its top most bough, a crystal crescent moon glistened like spun glass. Never had a mere mortal created a Christmas tree such as this. They were breathless as the old man held his wife tighter in his arms. Suddenly, the old man gave a cry of wonder and incredible joy.

Amazed and mystified, he took his wife by the hand and pulled her forward.

There, beneath the tree, in resplendent glory, a mist hovering over and glowing in the darkness was their Christmas gift. Shadows glistening in the night light. Bedded down about the “Old One” close to the trunk of the tree, was the entire herd, safe. At the first hint of smoke, she had pushed the door ajar with her muzzle and had led the horses through it. Slowly and with great dignity, never looking back, she had led them up the hill, stepping cautiously through the snow. The foals were frightened and dashed about. The skittish yearlings looked back at the crackling, hungry flames, and tucked their tails under them as they licked their lips and hopped like rabbits. The mares that were in foal with a new years crop of babies, pressed uneasily against the “Old One” as she moved calmly up the hill and to safety beneath the pine. And now, she lay among them and gazed at the faces of the old man and his wife.

Those she loved she had not disappointed. Her body was brittle with years, tired from the climb, but the golden eyes were filled with devotion as she offered her gift—Because of love.

However, because you don’t have to worry about the footing, you are able to push yourself and your horse harder than otherwise.

People need to make sure that they are riding more than just the one time a week at the indoor. Yeah one light trailride a week won’t affect your horse, but one hard core workout and then nothing all week, well you aren’t going to learn anything, and neither is your horse.

Also, if you do ride at the indoor, you need to stop by the barn and give your horse a grooming (even if you dont ride on those days). Especially where the horses are working hard and sweating, they need some attention.

I know this may be hard for some people, but you should really work on it. If you have a lesson on Saturday, and you can’t make it until Tuesday, well you can only do what you can do. But Everyone should really work on trying to do what they can.

My work schedule is evening out, so I will be at the barn more. So hopefully we can do some group trail rides so that people can have a better idea of rides to take on your own!

Leave a comment with your thoughts, or drop me an email!
Graceful Shrimp at Gmail. Com