Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Scenes from the UPHA Ch 14 Spring Premiere Horse Show








Congratulations to all of our horse and rider combinations who debuted at the Spring Premiere Horse Show. The weather cooperated, and a great time was had by all and we are proud to have taken home many top ribbons and laid down many superb performances!

Friday Night's "Pink Ribbon Night" raised more than $30,000 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and will go toward Breast Cancer research. UPHA set a national 2008 goal to raise $100,000 at Chapter horse shows across the country. Chapter 14 should be very proud to have raised ONE THIRD of that goal in one night!

Kathy and Beau are pretty in pink on Friday night! Right down to Beau's pink mane ribbon!!

Who's that short guy hiding in the pink Fennell's ballcap behind that beautiful fine harness horse???? Hmmm.....







These two top ribbon winners rode their pleasure horses with style, confidence and great skill as well as...a certain blue bicycle!

"Anyone need anything at the show office?"





Monday, April 21, 2008

Farewell to the craziest, most fun, most loving Grandma ever.
Happy Trails!



Tuesday, April 15, 2008

GUESS AND GET A PRIZE!

Can YOU guess?

What was the one solitary item left forgotten in Nicholas' suit coat pocket that I found when I took it out to press it? Come on! If you know him well enough this is EASY!

Guess correctly and you win a prize!

Saturday, April 5, 2008

ANNOUNCING THE KICK OFF OF "THE RIDING SCHOOL" AT VILLA STABLES

Yesterday we kicked off The Riding School program with great success! This new offering is a limited enrollment opportunity for horse crazy children to receive FREE RIDING & HORSEMANSHIP INSTRUCTION. Preference will be given to those with financial need with our goal being to ensure FREE open access to safe, professional horsemanship instruction for ANY child with the desire to learn. The Riding School rolls into action on Friday afternoons from 4:30-6pm.

The Riding School program has received press in nationally distributed industry publications, please refer to the following release from the Saddle Horse Report (http://www.saddlehorsereport.com/)

For more information about The Riding School at Villa Stables please call 860-599-1990. We are also looking for experienced volunteers to assist on Friday afternoons.



Free Riding Lessons at Villa Stables

The brainstorm of Sharon Ellingwood and her husband, Nicholas Villa, of Villa Stables, North Stonington, Ct., Villa Stables is offering a program which gives free riding lessons to kids whose families are unable to afford the cost.

"Our goal is to open our barn doors to horse loving kids denied access to professional riding because of the cost," said Ellingwood.

Nicholas Villa Stables is a public riding lesson facility also offering boarding and training for American Saddlebred and Morgan show horses.

We are proud to add to our roster of services this new, limited enrollment program making it possible for kids to receive riding instruction and learn horsemanship at no cost," continued Ellingwood. "Horses help children in a special way to grow in mind, body and soul as they have their real life chance to sprout their wings, get riding instruction from professionals and live a dream."

The requirement for enrolling in the program is an existing passion for horses that is unfulfilled due to financial constraints. It is necessary to fill out an application, and references are required. The four-week session will begin March 28 and will be held on Fridays from 4–6 p.m. for riders eight and older.

"Not only will this give back to kids who need the leg up, we will boost the exposure to American Saddlebreds," said Villa. "In this lagging economy, everyone is cutting back on their discretionary spending on things from horse show travel all the way down to beginner riding lessons. This pinch in the economy is going to be felt not just for a show season, but more importantly, for years to come when we aren’t getting the numbers of American Saddlebred owners at the entry level.

"To invest our time into a free program is to invest in our collective future. Kids, teachers, guidance counselors, librarians and all who refer to us will have a lasting impression of the American Saddlebred. They will be the horses that are remembered in the hearts of all this program will touch."