Wednesday 5/4-WELCOME HARTFORD GROUPON SUBSCRIBERS!

Midnight Eclipse, a favorite at Nicholas Villa Stables, Devon Horse Show Country Pleasure Driving Grand Champion

 



                                                                                  Welcome Hartford Groupon Subscribers! Today, Nicholas Villa Stables is running a special offer for a $40 one hour visit to the farm for an unplugged, off the grid, relaxing day with our beautiful American Saddlebred & Morgan horses. We are located just a few miles from Foxwoods Casino, and 20 minutes from the Mohegan Sun Casino, tucked into the North Stonington countryside on a private 150 acre farm full of stone walls and verdant pasture. You will care for the very horse that will be selected for you that day, prepare him for 30 minutes of either riding or driving (your choice) and retire him after your lesson. Appointments are subject to availibility and are available most weeknights and most weekends. You *must* make an appointment for your Groupon after purchase for your lesson. Please call 860-535-1038 or email Sharon at sharon@villastables.com


Thank you for your interest. We also offer riding lessons, summer camps, training, showing, Ladies' Night events, onsite birthday parties, sales and boarding.

A wee NVS competitor shows us how much she loves her equine partner, Laurelledge Moonbeam, aka "Blue"

Good morning, Groupon customers!

Thank you for your interest in our Groupon offer, being broadcasted today to the Providence and Boston markets. Nicholas Villa Stables is just 2 miles off of the main route (CT Rte 2) to Foxwoods Casino and we welcome you to come participate in a wonderful customized horseback riding and horse care experience brought to you via Groupon!

If you have any questions today about specific requests we will try to accomodate you in any way that we can. Give us a call at 860-535-1038 or email me at info@villastables.com ! Please remember that visitors to the farm are welcome by appointment we'd be happy to give you a tour of our American Saddlebred & Morgan horses and their living quarters at this beautiful pastoral equestrian facility just a few miles from Foxwoods.

Follow Villa Stables on Facebook!   Many thanks, Sharon

Good morning! This late March Monday is brought to you by Jack Frost today, 25 degrees with a stiff breeze. Whatever happened to 'coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb?'

Sharon's editorial paragraphs: Never before has CT looked so forward to Spring after record setting snowfalls and an unforgettable period in February where many many farms lost their roofs due to snow load. We had one part of our roof where cars are parked that has an area of lesser support beams that had to be cleared but were thankful to avoid a worse threat. Thankfully we are on high ground so flooding spared us as well when the inevitable melt came.

Other updates include Nicholas' father feeling well at home, recovering from his health scare this winter. Do you all remember my feral cat we discovered sleeping on top of one of the lesson horses 2 years ago about this time?? I will find the photo of it and update you on her progress in a future blog. If you know me, you know that I love my cats and she has a good story to tell. 

NVS Summer Camp 2011 details are up on the website!
We are in full swing here at the farm. Summer Camp weeks are planned, the dates and paperwork and deposit information is available on our website on the Camp page. http://www.villastables.com/

Nothing like a foal to make it feel like SPRING!
The riding academy is bustling and busy with our wonderful, dedicated students. Once a month our riding pupils have an unmounted lesson on various stable management and horse management themes. This past week we had a field trip to a neighbor's farm to visit his brandy new 4 day old Morgan stud colt by MEM Sambuca! Here is the handsome fella sticking close to his proud Momma.






What a pretty little head ! And a giant bold white star. Welcome to the world future Champion.....

To our delight we witnessed some wonderful foal joy & cavorting under Mom's watchful eye.

SHOW SEASON KICKS OFF!
Best wishes to our show riders at our upcoming competitions, the first of the 2011 show season. We have many new combinations to introduce and are proud of the winter's work of horse and rider. On to the fun, spirit & challenges of exhibiting with our wonderful equine partners!

Join our Facebook page for all of the NVS updates. Click here to visit us on Facebook!

 Call the farm today for more information on our lesson & show programs and for pricing. Thanks for visiting our blog & think Spring!





Wonderful coverage of the 2/27 tournament horse show = well done Elena!

Ledyard Patch: Elena photographed NVS riders at the tournament so professionally & beautifully!

Please enjoy viewing Elena's submission to the Ledyard Patch in covering the 2/27 horse show that was attended by the NVS riders. Congratulations riders!

Blogging again...........

Hi everyone! So much to blog, and so little time. I am going to back into better blogging habits, and am writing today to tell you about our farm Facebook page which you can "Like!" by traveling here:

Visit Nicholas Villa Stables on Facebook!

I'm glad you have stopped by the farm blog, we wish you all very best wishes for a wonderful 2011 show season! For more information on Villa Stables visit our updated website and Facebook page for all of the news.

Catching up!

Well, today I hope to catch you up on all of the news, time flies. It's been a while since my last entry. It feels like we are going full speed, and it's not even show season yet!

Monsoon, begone! Last night, we went to sleep listening to the wind howling like a hurricane, day 4 of that along with 4-5" of flooding rain. Good thing we're at the top of the hill, for those in the lowlying areas haven't been so lucky. We have a few horses that live outside & I worried about them, but a saving grace was that it was warm. This morning we woke to calm, birds, the sun rising and 55 degrees, a balmy day with a few in a row on tap. YES!

Horse shows are coming, entries are in, and we're already looking ahead to late Spring and early Summer entries! Such an exciting time of year. Can't wait! Our show horses and riders have been working very hard all winter, away we go!

We took a group of the show riders and academy riders to a schooling show across town last weekend. Check out the smiles on the happy faces below:

Everyone had a blue ribbon except Sam, but he hung in there til the end in Egg & Spoon! Good job, buddy & congratulations to all of our riders. Happy memories!

For many it was their first horse show. I will never forget mine, it took place in a field next to an airport with a snow fence for a riding ring and entries were $3 a class. I got a second place ribbon that I still cherish. At the time it was a huge accomplishment to get that far, to get into the ring, doing what I enjoyed so much with the reward of a prize. Still the same decades later. :--)

Ladies' Night has been swell all winter. Such a fun place to let off steam with the other gals, get a good riding lesson to help w/the basics and increase stamina. And let's face it, lovely to get out of the house in the winter. Last session was big fun with a short Zumba Class. Zumba is a type of dance aerobic exercise and it was really fun and catchy!

First riding............... then here we are: the Zumba crew! Did Nicholas chuckle at us? What do you think?!


Our light supper was delicious & catered by Sneekers Cafe in Groton, CT, check out their Facebook page and become a fan if you're not already!!!

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=feed&story_fbid=369680228924&id=1367110209#!/pages/Sneekers-Cafe/178455921641?ref=ts


This month, Ladies' Night is 3/25, please RSVP to 535-1038 we'd love to see you! Please join us.

I've been up to a ton of things from soup to nuts working on horse show committees, getting awards in line for some of those, staying informed & participating in our town locally on new re-written farm friendly agricultural regs, getting riding habits in order, making changes to our lesson program which is growing so nicely, and keeping everything here on the farm running smoothly. I am so lucky to do what I love and love what I do and if you've read this far, thank you and I wish you a fantastic day filled with the things YOU love!

Sharon

Today's Nor'Easter & my PROOF that Spring IS coming

Well, today it's a classic Nor'Easter, a significant low off of the Mid- Atlantic Coast. Here's a photo after about an hour of snow flurries taken around 7am


I'll post another one later. Predictions have thundersnow coming and accumlations of 3" an hour possible!


And at 10 am! Look at the fat flakes by the lens....



and beginning afternoon chores....the fence posts are disappearing!



This morning, I had the rare opportunity to turn out a horse who had never seen snow! I have a pretty good clue on this because he got one look at what was falling out of the sky and his eyeballs got as big as his nostrils which got pretty expanded and noisy and he didn't take those eyeballs off of me as if to say "WHAT THE ??? Well, I have no idea why the lady doesn't seem to be worried that the sky is falling I'll just be cool here & follow her lead she gave me a peppermint yesterday and is the center of my universe." His eyes & body language defied his inner dialogue. Horses, particularly Saddlebreds are smart and brave. He learned quickly by watching me that I wasn't a bit worried and that the world wasn't coming to end no matter that all evidence was to the contrary. Being the smart Saddlebred that he is, he will retain it.

Today's one of those days I wish that those who think American Saddlebred show horses stand trussed up like a turkey all day long in dark stalls could see some in action defying those old wives tales. Come see us on a Nor'Easter day with many turned out with straight unset tails, short feet in turnout blankets getting a few hours in before the blizzard force winds start. Just being horses. Same ones challenging the best to grace the winner's circle shortly at a competition near you! Show horses......

Lots to do today- every year I volunteer for the show committee to order ribbons & trophy coolers for UPHA Chapter 14's Spring Premiere Horse Show in April and today's the day the order goes in. The company we work with gives a 10% discount for orders done prior to Valentine's Day-keeping costs lower for the horse show, and ultimately passed on to the exhibitor! Right on, right?! RIGHT!

Have a super day and enjoy the snow! And enjoy the PROOF that Spring IS a'comin' I'm sure of it cuz soon, those ribbons will be here & next the show!

Villa Stables is happy to offer our February 2010 school vacation week Frosty & Fun Farm camp to kids ages 5-15 from February 15-19. Participants will complete farm chores, have a mimimum of 1 DAILY horseback riding lesson, then journal on much much more in shared experiences & themed days throughout our private & pastoral equestrian center.

Dates: Monday 2/15---Friday 2/19 9:30am - 3:00 pm*
Fee: $250/wk ($25 discount if signed up by 2/2)
Advance payment arrangements can be made/billed or accepted in 2 installments.
No specialized equipment or apparel needed: just long pants, sturdy boots/shoes & horse fever!

*Special Mon/Tue agenda/prorated fees for N. Stonington students!

Our agenda will include:

Riddle Running Day! It's a mystery! And so much FUN! Children, in groups, get a riddle- which leads them to their next activity/learning center, which in turn gets them another riddle leading them to the next activity & so on- for the entire day! With prizes for quickest, most accurately completed, and best perseverance on our day of tasks, it's a lot of learning, quick-thinking, running & fresh air.

Celebrate the Morgan Horse Day! Spend it with Laurelledge Moonbeam, VHF Tiffany & MPA Legacy Lives On............."Wait, who?"....................... You know and love these show horses- but probably only by their barn names- Blue, Tiffany & Nine! Here we will spend the day with these beautiful Morgan Horses and learn all about them: from markings, to their conformation and traits & what makes the Morgan Horse a wonderful part of our lesson program here. We will compare them with horses of other breeds and types we also have here on the farm & discuss their suitabilities based on how they've evolved & what they've been designed for over centuries.

*Horse Health Day! A visit from the vet & the blacksmith occupy much of our day with tours of their respective offices on wheels and Q & A sessions with live demonstrations. We'll see how a shoe it custom fit and find out how to take a horses vital signs and much, much more.
*Day of the week subject to change based on the unfortunate event the vet/blacksmith has an emergency elsewhere.

Games Day! Everyone's favorite! Learning is FUN! Mounted & unmounted games for all abilities and ages challenge our skills, and promote teamwork. We'll even play a horse themed board game at lunch! Our American Saddlebred horses want in on the action so what better a day than games day to learn about horse shows & competitions?


Please call today to reserve your spot as enrollment is limited. We are happy to answer any questions or accomodate special requests. Make horses part of your day today, & make it a great one!

Nicholas Villa Stables
75D Reutemann Rd
N. Stonington, CT 06359
860-535-1038
www.villastables.com
Check out our farm blog! www.villastables.com/blog

From 55 to 13 degrees with a 30 mph wind! What a difference a week makes!

On Monday we had sideways rain and mild temps. Today the only thing going sideways was an empty cardboard box that blew off my deck and away like a flash sideways into the wind! What a difference a few days makes.

Our yellow kitten is missing as of last night. We tucked him into the barn late yesterday afternoon & he did not show up for breakfast. He's 7 months old, if you're reading this & know about cats could he possibly have hit the road looking for a girlfriend? I'll wait for him to come home before I make that phone call about neutering, if he gets wind he'll surely be hasta la vista. I hope he's OK. I've looked everywhere including tack trunks, rafters and every bin we have. Don't ask me how I know to look there...........Anyone fellow alum Wilson Women remember when Zorro kitty spent the weekend in Jeannine's tack trunk? When she got home from the Burgh for the weekend and opened the trunk to get a treat for Rocky out leaped a very aggravated Zorro! YOWL!~

We are again hosting a February Vacation day camp the week of 2/15 and I'll post the details here. North Stonington schools do NOT have a winter week off this year. North Stonington students that wish to attend are welcome on just Monday & Tuesday and we will prorate fees accordingly.

Stay warm and think good thoughts for our kitty, I'm going back down to look around.

All the best, Sharon

THIS JUST IN! *********UPDATE************* KITTY FOUND
Nicholas found yellow kitty outside, he must have been shut out this morning when we turned horses out! But here's the kicker. Nicholas found him in the stone wall in the hollowed out nest where he was born! Smart little guy....... Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home. He was loud, alert and HUNGRY! All's well that ends well.

"Winning is only half of it, having fun is the other half!" E.O. "Bum" Phillips

Low pressure coming through New England during the midday today- looking out the window to blustery wind and sideways rain. The horses are all tucked in & some who have a choice are standing outside in it! It's one of those mysteries of life with horses on why some of them choose to stand in the weather no matter how awful it is than what we perceive to be the haven of shelter. After thousands and thousands of years of evolution it's just one of those things you don't mess with with horses. They as a rule have such a strong self preservation intinct that you just gotta leave it alone...


Right now we're looking forward to Ladies' Night on Thursday Feb. 11th with a fun Zumba session of Latin Dance & aerobics! Ladies' Night is educational and always fun! By popular demand we are calling for the Ladies' Night Men's Invitational as well, so the boys are welcome this time too! Please contact me for a ride or drive time on the 11th.

February is Frosty but FUN with a day camp during school vacation week 2/15-20. Cost is $250 for the week with a discount of $25 to those who sign up prior to 2/1! Please call for more information.

Nicholas and I greatly enjoyed an afternoon (into the evening!) of football for the AFC & NFC Conference titles last night- up to the wee hours for the nailbiter between the Vikings & Saints. I am so happy for the City of New Orleans- to see such elation and joy in the Superdome was so ironic to imagine it was also where people lay dying when it was underwater just after Hurricane Katrina. I was just like the spectators last night rooted to the spot that couldn't leave their seats after the game. There was some magic to it, for sure. 16 seconds or so from the Vikings attempting a close range field goal and then to winning a coin toss & a making a lengthy field goal attempt. As competitors ourselves, with a love for all sports, we were riveted.

I was up late reflecting on it last night and remember so well we were shipping horses home so happy from the World's Championship Horse Show in Louisville that year as Katrina was hitting to the South. We had stopped in a rest area off of the NY State Thruway & stood soberly surrounded many other travelers watching the radar on a television as the storm literally descended upon the city of New Orleans.

It seems so funny now that our phones all can get the radar for any city in the world basically yet back in 2005 we had to rely on a Rest Area tv tuned into the Weather Channel to get the latest. I'd also like to point out that I'd love to be a fly on the wall if Jay Leno & Brett Favre had a chat this week about retiring while still on top. But I digress.........

Back to the drive home from Louisville 2005.......I thought about the Jazz band that peformed a couple of nights earlier at the horse show during the retirement of the beautiful American Saddlebred, Americana's Jazz Man. The band was from New Orleans & talk about charisma! Next to the beautiful Saddlebred showing off in his final performance they both brought Freedom Hall to its' feet all the way to the rafters! I wondered what the band went home to after that retirement ceremony- and I thought about them again last night.
"Laissez les bon temps rouler!" And on we go.....

Also thought about legendary (#8 on the NFL's list of all time characters in the league!) NFL coach E.O. "Bum" Phillips who resigned from the New Orleans Saints the day after winning a game (ironically) against the Vikings who said:

"Winning is only half of it.

Having fun is the other half. "

Have a super day! I wish you blue ribbons, and most importantly the having fun, as well!

Sharon

A very busy week!

Busy & Happy days around the farm!



Thursday we had a super Ladies' Night with a large attendance. If you haven't come to one of these fetes yet, you are missing a super good time. We had a large group of very enthusiastic riders. Ladies' Night rides (and drives!) work on the basics, and strength & balancing exercises on mostly lesson horses. Here and there we do a show horse demonstration under saddle, or driving. After riding, we convene to our cozy lounge by the fire for a light supper, desserts and a guest speaker of my choosing. We have had equine nutritionists, massage therapists, a horse communicator, and for this month: a comfort food theme: complete with Stacey Hewes, our Pampered Chef Consultant, Saddlebred Rescue Cookbooks for sale, and a light supper of Golden Mushroom soup, Warm Moscatelli pasta salad with feta and roasted vegetables done by Sneekers Cafe in Groton, CT followed by Polynesian Pineapple Surprise & Raspberry Fudge Trifle for dessert by Denis & Stacey respectively.

Jane & Stacey strategize on their baking tips!

A man dropped in! Anything goes at Ladies' Night!
A "standing" ovation............. Upon exiting the restroom our January token man cleared his throat and proudly proclaimed to the room......... "I'd like to make an announcement please! The seat? Is DOWN. I am 76 years old and I can be trained." He brought down not just the seat, but the house to roars of laughter! We are considering a Ladies' Night Male Invitational for Feb. 11th! Write your thoughts in the comments section!

Our next Ladies' Night is Thursday, February 11th. We will ride, enjoy a light supper & have a short demonstration by Raeleen on "Zumba!" It's a fitness program using resistance training, latin music and dance, where the motto is "Ditch the workout, join the party!" Sounds good so far!? We're looking forward to giving it a try. The one second from the left (below) is excited to pack another outfit!

On Sunday I traveled to Massachusetts to judge one of the UPHA Chapter 14 Winter Tournaments @ High Tail Acres Equestrian Center, and had a lovely time. The Deltorichio family and their customers graciously hosted the tournament & opened the barn, sparing no detail on comfort to horse and human, to 60+ riders and 8 participating stables. It was very rewarding to see so many young people & adults so enthusiastic about their riding & deliver a showing of their best skills. Each rider really tried their best from tall to small. Some had butterflies, some didn't- all worked through the nipping cold with smiles & their best efforts and most importantly sportsmanship & a love for their horses.

Highlights for me were the singing of our National Anthem- a wonderful way to start the program & sung in an outstanding fashion by a pre-teen High Tail Acres tournament rider, the leadliner who answered (correctly) what her stirrup was called who afterward looked truly puzzled on why the lady judging didn't know what a stirrup was :-) and of course, the FABULOUS food. Hey these are MY highlights, after all.

Monday was a day off of school in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and we had day camp here at the farm! Up & at 'em for another long day. So worth it though, two days with horsey-kids is a learning experience & inspiring! One long talk we had on Monday was how is that we can put so much energy into hours of work at the barn with no complaint but find it difficult to summon a speck of enthusiasm for even five minutes cleaning our rooms?! The answer was unanimous .........."Because it's the BARN!"

A totem pole of kids peeking in on us.. Pablo too! MEOW

Oh how I remember how time flew at the barn when I was a kid & what a haven it was. How I loved everything about it. The sight, the smells, the sounds, and most importantly time with the horses. It was a dream as a child to spend the day at the barn.

Things you don't find playing X Box: The kids found this perfectly symmetrical birds nest sewn with horsehair from each horse in the lower barn: beautiful

We made many discoveries at camp & worked on vocabulary, safety skills, bareback riding, did balancing games and winter grooming strategies. Big fun at the barn!!


Our next camp will be over February Winter School Vacation. Call if you are interested!

Signing off, Sharon

January Ladies' Night Thursday 1/14

Our first Ladies' Night of 2010 is scheduled for Thursday January 14, 2010 beginning around 6pm- please join us for a riding or driving lesson, followed by a light supper and a short lecture geared to equestriennes of all ages.

Please join us for this very popular, fun and educational series!

Cost: $40 for riders

$20 for non-riders

RSVP to villastables@gmail.com or the barn at 860-535-1038 & for your riding/driving time

Happy New Year! Bring on 2010!

Happy New Year, bloggers!

Our farm blog went on hiatus for show season when we got busy with things, and that's sad! We had so much fun and everyone worked so hard to incredible deserved rewards- it was a blue ribbon year! Here's the blog back for 2010 and one resolution on my list is to blog more- we at Nicholas Villa Stables wish you a blue ribbon year & a happy and healthy 2010.

Happy Holidays from all of us!

April Ladies Night: matah ball soup & massage = FUN

Get down here for the next one- TBA on a Thursday Night in May!

I was happy to sit down and enjoy a steaming bowl of Annie's matzah ball soup! The soupmaker sits down with Jessie for a well deserved and wonderful hand massage. We all enjoyed Jessie's array of professional treatments.
Susan did such a GREAT job in her lesson that we won't scold her about sitting up for the picture. LOL
Gretchen is always a lot of fun and Ladies Night is par for the course.
These lovely and enthusiastic participants relax after their ride.
Wende wins the door prize with these answers, we laughed so hard!
Jessie our massage therapist gets her turn from Sam...

Please Vote! Please RSVP!

2 quick items for this morning...

1) The Saddle Horse Report has a poll up measuring interest in the National UPHA Convention being held in Boston! If you would attend, PLEASE go to www.saddlehorsereport.com and on the upper right hand corner, VOTE YES!

2) Ladies Night is tomorrow night, and today is the last day to RSVP. I have a massage therapist lined up, as well as some fun riding exercises and informational topics for Spring. Ladies Night is FUN! And EDUCATIONAL!

Stray Cat Rides on the jog cart with Nicholas today at NVS!

Well, now that I have your attention, Happy April Fool's Day!

I do have big stray cat news, though! The update on my feline friend is that when I call her as I put out her feed she comes running to me eagerly and lets me pet her while she eats. She is definately a tortie in color and therefore female, and has a swing to her belly which I am certain is not the rations I've been putting out. It's probably kittens..... And she's "my" cat, she runs away from everyone else who ventures out that way. I'll try to take some more pictures on a nice day.

Oh and she has a name: Perry. The real Perry, is a friend of a friend and wrote the movie Mystic Pizza (filmed just down the road!).

Speaking of kittens, June will be busting out all over, because *both* of our minis are in foal! Nicholas and I took the winter blanket off one of them for a driving lesson and WHAMO she was weeble shaped- we both were like "Uhhh oooh". Bobette, and Patti and I all bought minis in October and at the time we knew the 2 mares had been with a stallion for 30 days but had no idea if they were in foal. Well. It looks like they are.

Bobette's mini, Pumpkin an adorable adolescent colt that's pinto in color is in therapy training! While we work the show horses we often see Bobette teaching Pumpkin tricks and working on the clicker training- and hear the pitter patter of little teeny hooves in the lounge as he learns about furniture, and carpet. Nicholas gives the eye roll and shakes his head but we all know he secretly thinks it is a hoot! Nicholas, ya softie!


Congratulations are in order to Patti Shanafelt on her acquisition of Amber One Up for the American Saddlebred Hunter Country Pleasure Division. Cater Stables assisted as the agent. Amber is a huge gorgeous chestnut mare with a white face, and she's a joy to have around.

Kimberly Martin of Warwick, RI is joining our show string and leasing the gorgeous campaigner Hero's Legend of the Knight. Kim is fun to have with us and a joy to watch spending time with this great gelding.


CAMP CAMP CAMP CAMP

Summer Camp dates are up on the website- I can't wait for all of the fun we are going to have with the mini foals, the kittens, horse shows, riding, going on the trails and enjoying the farm- please inquire with Sharon for details at 860-535-1038.

April Vacation Day Camp is available this year by the DAY or the full week. Dates are April 13-17. Enrollment is limited so sign up today!

The UPHA Chapter 14 Spring Premiere Horse Show is coming fast! We are bringing 10 horses and have heard that turnout and entries are up and very promising. Can't wait to be back in show season again. Good times, great rides, great friends! It's been an especially long winter!

Ladies Night this month is April 9th, next Thursday. The last one was a complete success- we sent out two trail rides of ladies over to the vineyard. The farm borders the Jonathan Edwards Winery, (www.jedwardswinery.com) whose property used to be part of this farm, so we have an easement and permission to ride there. It is so beautiful and more than once after the ride we have packed up and driven over (with a designated driver!) by auto for a glass of their finest chardonnay, such fun! They make Napa Valley wines here in CT. We always meet the most interesting people there and they love the horses.

If you're reading this, please come to Ladies Night! We would love to see you- new faces and old friends are welcomed. The cost is $40 and includes a riding lesson as well as a light supper and beverages. If you choose not to ride, we ask for a $10 donation of which a portion goes to Saddlebred Rescue, Inc. Give so they Live!!!!

Those are the updates, thank you for reading and see you soon!

And it goes out like a lamb...

Remember March 1? A snow storm? Well March did come in like a Lion and it went out like a Lamb. It was beautiful today, 60 degrees in bright warm sunshine. I have a lot to catch up on with the blog from March 12th! I will bring you up to speed on the updates tomorrow.

I *DO* have an update on our wild kitty for you! How's that for the teaser?

NVS Summer Day Camp Dates

Horsin' Around- Summer Fun!

SUMMER DAY CAMP DATES

Monday-Friday FULL DAY Cost: $350 HALF DAY $200
the weeks of:
July 6
July 13
August 3
August 10

Tiny Tots Mini Camp 6/29, 30, 7/1 ages 7 & Under HALF DAY $100

For more information, to register call 860-535-1038

Kitty Cam?

I have had requests for Kitty Cam! Well, wow, that would be hi-tech for the fields and rock walls of North Stonington, so I'm blogging an update.

A friend thinks that due to the color, possibly a tri-color, we have a she-kitty on our hands, first of all. Secondly, I was out there over the weekend and our wild kitty went FLYING out of the highest level of the hay feeder. She was sleeping in the hay there while the horses ate, so that must be her house!

I'll keep you posted...

Visitor

For the past week or so we've had a visitor- a tiny and wild adolescent grey striped tiger kitty. Nicholas keeps tabs on his whereabouts and said he thought he was living out by the lesson horses somewhere. Well, as evidenced by photos (albeit far away!) I took this morning, he's turned one of the lesson horses into a cat condo!

Beautiful coverage of the February UPHA Winter Tournament by Mary Beth Alosa Photography

I had a wonderful time last Sunday officiating at the UPHA Winter Tournament horse show held at Cater Stables. Kristen, David and Mary are great hosts. There was a great turnout and Mother Nature blessed us with mild temperatures. I had great fun working from the center of the ring with ringmaster Gary Saccocia, Jr. who many of your know is half of our amazing dental team of Dad and son. Gary Sr. and Jr. are the finest professionals and wonderful friends.

Mary Beth Alosa photographed the event and proofs can be seen at http://www.alosaphotography.com/

"MB" worked so hard all day to get it all right: the timing, the light, the emotion, the moment that we all love to see captured (especially Moms and Dads- I can say this as a horse show Mom!). You can lose yourself in all of MB's beautiful images, take some time to check out her portfolios.

Check out the future of equitation! All of these tots were able to tell me where their heels are supposed to go, what those funny silver things their feet go into are called, and what color their horses were. More than a couple looked at me like they were surprised a grown up didn't know what color their horse was, which was unexpected and made me laugh!

Maggie has everything in place perfectly! Mom & Instructor Kim Timmons of Afterthought Farm brought several riders out who showed equal form and poise.

Johnny Lettre showed us all how hard he has been working on his posting this winter. Mom Sarah looks on- in a rare moment of holding still! Sarah does a phenomenal job organizing and coordinating the Chapter 14's Winter Tournamnent Series.

All business!

All photos are courtesy of Mary Beth Alosa and Alosa Photography. http://www.alosaphotography.com/

Oh except for this one below of "Baby Girl" Cater! I took it. Hence the tail only half in the photo. Horse show fans, do you remember the tiny days old abandoned kitten found abandoned out behind one of the back barns during Big E 2008? Kristen adopted her and literally brought her back to life. As Mrs. Spann explained to me that she's become "half dog and half human". She is a member of the family, is thriving and adorable!!!!!

Fun with the NVS Ladies

If you haven't made it to Ladies Night here's what you missed! Please join us at the next one, taking place on March 19th. We've been having a great time, improving our riding in a supportive fun environment, working on strength and balance exercises to launch us ahead for show season and trail riding days ahead.

Jaclyn from Nutrena speaks to an enthusiastic crowd.

Ladies Night featured a seminar with Jaclyn Gallant, our Equine Nutrition Specialist at Nutrena. She explained the choices we make for our horses and the superiority of it over other programs based on predispositions and needs of performance show horses. Jaclyn offers us wonderful support. One of the services she offers is testing the quality and composition of our hay, which we appreciate. Kit took home information shared by Jaclyn. A majority of our Ladies Night participants are horse (and donkey!) owners, who not only keep them here but set up horsekeeping at home.

Every one very much enjoyed the information she shared with us on Thursday and left with all of our questions answered.

Gretchen is all smiles after her ride!

Shanafelt. Caity Shanafelt 007.

Jane had a blast & did not complain even one time about the english saddle.

Patti & her 4 legged friend both have their ears up!

Jaclyn and Tiffany were pretty as a picture.

Annie not only found time to laugh, ride and have fun but cater the party with her delicious Cajun sweet potato and crab bisque.

Kit and I discuss if there is life without donkeys...

Trust me, you don't wanna know.
There was a red wine spill here moments earlier. In yet another educational moment brought to you by NVS Ladies Night we learned to assist in cleanup pour a little (eek!) white wine (trust me it was a sacrifice) on top of the red wine to dilute it and you're on the road to NO stain!
See you on March 19th! Advance reservations are required, email Sharon @ villastables@gmail.com or call: 860-535-1038.

And we close with the smoooooth sounds of Mr. Zac Casey who popped in to serenade us. It takes a brave man to drop in on Ladies Night, ground where even Nicholas fears to tread. Enjoy!

www.wagonteamster.com

This is about the saddest thing I've heard in a long time.

A man named Bob Skelding, from Deerfield, NH where we travel frequently to horse shows, went off last fall in a custom made wagon and 4 Percherons to travel across the country. He was struck by a tractor trailer in Mississippi yesterday, two of his beautiful horses were killed & the other two trapped in the wreckage for some time. Bob is in critical condition and family members are lucky to be not severely injured.

Here's a link to some of the news footage: http://www.mahalo.com/Bob_Skelding

and a link to his blog, which is entertaining as well as inspiring. Chillingly it ends abruptly on 2/9.

http://www.wagonteamster.com/index.html

Get well, Bob and our prayers are with you.

This weather! Don't leave home without this!

Girls, don't head to the barn without this. As a former Burt's Beeswax lip balm fan, I'm onto something far superior- it's like a pamper and a spa treatment each and every time you use it! We're all miserable in this humdinger of a winter but do we need chapped lips on top of it? I don't think so!

Smith's Rosebud Salve

Congratulations, Caity!

Congratulations to the Shanafelt family on their acquisition of Charm's Choice!

This expressive youngster is no stranger to the winner's circle in the Pleasure divisions up and down the East Coast. We are pleased to have him in our program and welcome "Junior!" Thank you to former owner Erika Faulkner and former trainer Rob Turner and L.M. Turner Stable for their assistance in the sale.

New owner: Caity Shanafelt

Proud Family: Mr & Mrs Tab Shanafelt and Mr & Mrs William Fraad, Greenwich, CT

A New Way to Long Line (hardy har har)

Forget bicycles, I'm getting Nicholas a Unicycle!

The Deep Freeze!

It's been a couple days of preparation, unhooking hoses, checking windows for seals and drafts, giving extra hay and making sure everyone has fresh running open water and so far so good! Our barn has not dipped inside below 35 degrees which is wonderful and the horses' exercise and work can continue business as usual. A routine is important with horses and keeping a regular turnout, feeding and work schedule is your best friend during crazy weather fluctuations.

The worst business has been outside. We got a couple hours of rain on Tuesday night that flash froze later in the evening and left a glaze on everything out doors. Everyone is watching their step & it looks like that won't melt anytime soon.

I learned that I fumble unloading grain sacks with winter gloves on- is it just me? Am I the only one who can't get the usual grip and positioning to get the job done? Is this a phenomenon? Probably just me and a habit. In the end I ditched the gloves and had it unloaded in half the time. Think of those August days where we hear "Ugh it's so humid! It's too hot to ride!" haha

Have a great day. Stay warm.

It's Ladies Night!

"If you hear any noise, it ain't the boys
It's a Ladies Night!"



Happy Instructors grateful for their hot chocolate! !?!

"Oh yes it's ladies night, and the feeling's right" Go Wendell!

"Oh what a night!" Erika and Bobette compare notes on wonderful Willy
"You can fulfill all your dreams" I think this thumbs up is for no stirrups!
"Steppin out on Ladies Night"
"Come on you Disco Laaaady" Best of Friends Kim, Erika and Willy