News Around the Barn (2007)
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Merry Christmas!!!
We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, in particular Dr. Randy Hayward, Robb Connors, Linda Clark and Gerald Melanson. As we enter into our 10th year at Ashton Ridge, we reflect on our true blessings in life; health and happiness.
We would like to thank our children, Rob and Nicole and their families for all they do here for us. We love having them all around - especially our two grandsons; Landon and Dane.
Best wishes and thanks goes out to all my boarders (a great bunch!) some who have been with us all of our 10 years.
A very Merry Christmas goes out to all involved in the Cavalier Riding Club; rider, volunteers and coaches. They really are a true inspiration.
As most everyone have places to go and people to see on Christmas Eve, the boarders elected to have their traditional "Christmas Eve" ride on Sunday December 16. Everyone met around noon to tack up and head on up to the arena. With Christmas music playing in the background (making some horses think they were doing a drill team ride!) everyone warmed up in the indoor before braving the deep snow in the outdoor ring! Once everyone was done playing in the snow, they all headed up to the viewing room for cider and sweets.
A big Thank You goes out to Whispering Winds for their donation to the Cavalier Riding Club-Therapeutic Riding for the Disabled.
Preparations are on their way for the GMEC Annual Christmas Party and Award Banquet that will take place on November 10 at the Irishtown Rec Centre. The doors open at 6 pm. This year is a bit different than the years past, in the fact that it's a pot luck supper. There will still be the ever popular Yankee Swap for those who wish to participate. There will also be a silent auction, so make sure you bring some money as there are some very nice items up for bid! The fee is $5 per person or $10 per family, OR you can donate an item (3 items for a family) for the silent auction and get in for FREE! For more details, feel free to contact either chantalle at chantalle@ashton-ridge.com, or Patti Steeves at pattist@nbnet.nb.ca.
Roberta, Debbie Wilson, Cassy Wood and Chantalle all had a road trip this past Friday to visit the Haltr Therapeutic Riding Club, who operates out of the Bengal Lancers in Halifax. Although a few wrong turns were taken, they eventually showed up at the stables with time to spare! Both Debbie and Cassy are working towards their CTRII and we're happy to announce that the Cavalier Riding Club will be running with 2 coaches this year. A big Thank You goes out to Sally Murphy and Lisa Burd for having us over to help out and watch their lessons.
Despite having some nasty weather on Saturday, there was a great turnout for the GMEC Annual Christmas Party and Award Banquet. Many people brought yummy dishes and even yummier desserts! Being typical horse people, there wasn't much left over at the end! Getting into the spirit of things, the Silent Auction was also a smashing success and a good amount was raised for the Club. From feedback made by Club members, everyone had a great time and it was a smashing success. A big Thank You goes out to the Horse Show Committee for all their hard work on setting up this event.
A big Thank You to Linda Hooper on another great performance as the MC for the banquet. She kept the crowd entertained with her witty humour and fun personality. A thanks also goes out to Lyndsay for helping hand out the prizes and certificates to the riders.
Congratulations to Lyndsay Greenwood on getting the GMEC Memorial Scholarship in honor of Ron Stall.
Congratulations to Chantalle Twohig in her winnings at the GMEC Annual Christmas Party and Award Banquet! Chantalle received the following placings with Bennett: English Equitation Senior Reserve, English Pleasure Senior Champion and English Road Hack Senior Reserve!
Although it's sad to see Patti Steeves step down as President, she is staying on as Past President and we're sure that the new President Brian Kent is up to the challenge and the Club will continue to grow.
There's a new face in the barn in the form of a little grey pony. Congratulations to Roberta and Ashton Ridge on the purchase of "Cowboy" from Kim Belzile out of Cambridge Narrows. If the name Cowboy sounds familiar, he was previously owned by Robb Connors. Since Robb was aware that Kim was looking for a new home for Cowboy, and he knew Roberta has a soft spot for grey horses, he casually mentioned the pony and the rest is history. A big Thank You goes out to Robb for bringing Cowboy to Roberta's attention, and we're happy to say that he's settling in nicely. Cowboy will primarily be Landon's pony, but there are plans on also using him as a Cavalier mount next Spring.
Happy Fall everyone! The days are shorter, the nights a bit colder and everywhere you see there's a splash of color as the leaves start to turn. That can only mean one thing, winter's on its way!
The Landry (and extended family) has survived and recently returned from their first trip in 9 years! Roberta, Jim, Robert, Chantalle, Mark, Niki and the two kids Landon and Dane, all packed up and headed down to North Conway, New Hampshire for a week-long getaway. It was a fun getaway, but everyone's happy to be back home. We would like to extend our thanks to Jodi for looking after the house and the horses (and lets not forget Cheerio and Karma!).
Things are winding down at the farm as everyone's getting ready for winter. The horses are all starting to fluff up their coats in preparation for the cold season to come. There are a few clinics possibly in the works here for the boarders. Further details to follow once things are set in place.
There's a new face around the barn in the form of a big, black gelding named Fancy French Kiss. Hunter is an Appendix Quarter Horse brought in by Robb Connors for Susanne Breau to ride. He's a bit bigger than the horses she's been riding lately, being at least 16.1 and looking like he has more room to grow, but Susanne's had her eye on him for quite some time now. A big Thank You goes out to Robb Connors for bringing Hunter out to the farm for Susanne.
The boarders at the farm all gathered on Sunday for a their annual trail ride. The day dawned bright and gusty, but that didn't put a damper on anyone's excitement for hitting the trails. There were a few new faces in the trail ride this year. Shani and Austin, Chantalle and Bennett and Susanne with Hunter all went out for their first trail ride. Even Linda Clark came down from Norton to join in the fun. First on the agenda was the blessing of the farm's apple tree (don't ask!). Once the ail was toasted and poured, and the bread crumbs scattered, everyone saddled up and headed out. After being out for a little more than an hour, the riders all came back happy with their little expedition, and went up to the house where a scrumptious pot luck waited. Until next year!
The next GMEC show on the circuit is the Paint show on the first weekend of September. We hope to see a lot of you there!
The final show on the GMEC circuit will be held at Spruce Hollow Corral. The Spruce Hollow Show Committee has graciously included a couple of Charity Stake Classes where the prize winnings for 1st place will be divided. Half of the winning amount will be awarded to the winning rider, while the other half will be donated to the Cavalier Riding Club in the rider's name. We thank the show committee for their thoughtful gesture in including these charity classes in their show. Come out and support the show and send off the 2007 show season.
*Update* A big Thank You goes out to Shandi Mitton and to all the Spruce Hollow Corral show committee on their show. A special thank you goes out to the show committee, Shandi Mitton and Gail Dryden in regards to the Charity Stake Classes where half the winnings were awarded to the Cavalier Riding Club. In total, $200 was raised and donated to the Club.
The cattle penning finals will be held next weekend down at Broadleaf Guest Ranch. Kara and Diane will be heading down for the final showdown in the hopes of getting those last runs in. Come on out to cheer them on and watch this fun event!
For the second time, the "Ashton Ridge Riders" will once again take part in the annual CIBC run for the cure. Some will run, some will walk but they'll all be there for the same reason; to commemorate the memory of Doreen Barnett as well as to all family and friends who've had a loved one afflicted with cancer. Watch for us in our cowboy hats!
*Update* Great job to all the walkers and runners who made it out to the CIBC Run for the Cure. The "Ashton Ridge Riders" all made it out with their cowboy hats and they all had a great time walking and/or running to support this great cause.
The Cavalier Riding Club has once again completed a successful season. The banquet was held at the end of September and there was a good turnout at the Lodge. We would like to extend a big Thank You to all the volunteers that have given us their time on those Tuesdays and Thursdays over the course of Spring and Summer to help keep the Club going. We wouldn't be anywhere without our faithful and committed volunteers.
Congratulations to Chantalle and Bennett for surviving yet another show! They made it out to Spring Brook Stables horse show where they placed 4th in their Road Hack class. A big Thank You goes out to Michelle Cox for putting on yet another very successful show!
This past week has been fairly quiet around the barn with three horses gone. Kara with Lexus, Diane with Cassy and Anne with Fancy all headed out for their annual "Ladies Camp" up at Linda Clark's place in Norton. As usual, everyone had a great time, even playing makeshift "polo" with a beach ball and plastic hockey sticks! Diane had so much fun doing it that she's since brought out a beach ball to the farm! We're happy to say that things are back to normal.
We wish the "Rockin' Riders" the best of luck this weekend with their drill team demonstration up at the St-John Exhibition. This is the third or so demonstration they've done so far this year. I guess you can say they're moving up in the world!
Our condolences goes out to Kara Greenwood and family on the passing of "Cimmaron Dude". Hooker was laid to rest at the veterinary hospital on Prince Edward Island. In his 31 years, Hooker had multiple owners and did a multitude of events from cattle penning to jumping, before finding his "forever" home with Kara Greenwood and her daughter Lyndsay. Hooker gave riding lessons for regular and disabled riders alike, while continuing to bring success in the show ring for both Kara and Lyndsay. Hooker was retired from the show season three years ago but continued to thrill regular and disabled riders in weekly lessons. Hooker fully retired from both regular riding lessons and therapeutic riding in 2006 and enjoyed simply frolicking in the pasture with his long standing buddy, Skip. We would like to extend our thanks to the staff of the veterinary hospital for their kind and professional conduct. He will be sadly missed by all.
Come out, come all to the annual Drill Team Competition to be held at the Princess Louise Park Show Centre on Sunday, July 1st. The competition will be held after the reining show. If you like music, glitter and fireworks (courtesy of the town of Sussex for Canada Day), then this is the show for you! Don't miss the action! The show starts at 7 p.m.
The next show on the GMEC circuit is Carmaz Stable Horse Show on July 8th.
Congratualtions to Kara Greenwood, Diane Thompson, Linda Hooper and Linda Clark and all the other members of the Rockin' Riders on winning the Drill Team Competition! It was a close match between them and "The Team To Beat" as both pulled off great performances. If you didn't get a chance to watch it up in Sussex, there'll be a rematch at Springbrook Stables horse show!
Congratulations to Chantalle and Bennett on another successful show! On July 8, they hauled out to attend the Carmaz Stable Horse Show. Despite being caught in the rain and everyone having to take shelter in the indoor during a brief thunderstorm, the show went off without a hitch and Chantalle couldn't be happier with Bennett's performance. They placed consistently right behind 2 really good riders. A big Thank You goes out to Shawna Rinzler-Johnson on putting on a great show!
The next show on the GMEC circuit is Springbrook Stables held in August.
We wish Shani and her horse L'Austin My Step all the luck as they prepare to head out to their first show together in Port Elgin tomorrow! *Update* Congratulations to Shani and Austin on surviving their first show! Shani and Austin hauled out on Saturday morning to attend the Marshwinds Show, hosted by Holly Murley, up in Port Elgin. If the name sounds familiar it's because that's where Austin originally came from! Shani, Chantalle and Paul (Shani's father) piled in the farm's truck and set off down the road, despite a slight rough start with loading (and testing out the farm truck's reserve tank!) they arrived at the show without a hitch. Chantalle took Austin in the Senior Equitation and placed 2nd. Shani got 6th in her Junior Equitation out of a class of 20. Not bad for her first time out! The Road Hack class for Chantalle was a buck . . . err, bust, but overall Austin behaved pretty good for his first time off the property!
We'd like to wish a big Thank You to all the volunteers who help make the Cavalier Riding Club - Therapeutic Riding for the Disabled possible! For more in-depth details, please visit the "Cavalier" link on the left hand side of the screen.
Once again we'd like to extend a big Thank You to all who helped chuck hay bales! The "fun" started Saturday evening and continued on to Sunday. We're happy to announce that all the hay's in for yet another year!
Congratulations to Chantalle and Fringe Benefit on their first show of the season! This past Saturday was the Spring Fun Show hosted by the Maritime Paint Horse Club (MPHC) and was held at Carmaz Stables. The day dawned bright and sunny and there was no rain in site! There was a fair decent amount of horses and riders who made it out to the show, including Chantalle!. Despite having some pre-show jitters, Chantalle and Bennett placed in every one of their classes; including a 1st place in English Equitation Senior! A big Thank You goes out to the MPHC for putting on such a great show!
Kara and Diane packed up and headed down to Sussex for their first penning event of the season on Sunday. It was a beautiful day to run an event. We hope they had some good cows and great run times!
The next show on the GMEC circuit is the Havelock Horse Show held on June 15 - 16.
It's another boy!!!
*Photo courtesy of Kathy Thompson*
Congratulations to Mark and Niki on the birth of their second son! Dane Bradley Stevens came into the world at 8:45am on Thursday, June 14 weighing in at 8lbs, 9 1/2 oz (same as big brother Landon!). Both mamma and baby are doing great and are already back home at the farm. Landon's already trying to get Dane to play with his toys!
Happy 31st Birthday Hooker! Cimmaron Dude, or Hooker, is a well known horse around these parts. He's owned by Kara Greenwood and her daughter Lyndsay and both have won numerous awards and recognition together. Hooker's been there, done that from cattle penning to jumping. After his retirement from shows, he went on to continue to thrill riders alike in both regular riding lessons, as well as Cavalier Riding Club-Therapeutic Riding for the Disabled. Although he's now fully retired from riding, Hooker still enjoys having visitors come out (especially if they bring out his favorite treat- BANANAS!) so feel free to come out anytime (with BANANAS!) and wish this great old soul a happy birthday!
Thank you to Linda Clark for bringing out her horse Max for Susanne Breau to ride. Max is a big, black gelding (those are getting scarce here at the farm, who's being overrun by mares!) that Susanne plans on popping over some fences.
The first show of the 2007 GMEC show circuit is set to go this weekend. The Albert Spring Show on May 19-20 is held down in Riverside Albert. Chantalle plans on taking her mare Bennett down for her first show of the season. We wish them the best and hope the weather clears up for all riders!
There will be a penning fun day held at Whispering Winds Saturday May 26.
Congratulations to Linda Hooper on the purchase of her new horse! "Josie" is 6 year old dun Quarter Horse mare brought in on trial by Aaron Steeves. Linda and Josie seemed to click and that was enough for Linda! A big Thank You goes out to Aaron for delivering Josie to the farm and letting her stay for her trial period.
A big Thank You goes out to Robb Connors for coming out on the last Saturday of the month to help out some of the boarders with their horses. Linda Clark even brought out her horse Stormy for the day. Robb first watched everyone ride a pattern and then he even hopped on each horse to get a better idea of what to work on. A couple of horses were also brought up for some groundwork. Everyone came away with a ton of homework to do but they all had a great time! Thanks a bunch Robb!!
Congratulations to Kara on the purchase of a 5 year old dun Quarter Horse mare named Holmes Jamie PDJ! "Lexus" has settled in nicely and Kara can't wait to get back in the saddle! A big Thank You goes out to her previous owners for delivering Lexus on that gorgeous Saturday morning.
Our condolences goes out to Kara Greenwood and family on the passing of Starpiens Chief. Kara and Kola were partners in multiple events, from Western Pleasure to cattle penning, drill team and even in Hunter Under saddle classes with both her and daughter Lyndsay. Kola was a fun personality and will be sadly missed by all.
Congratulations to Elizabeth Baird from Truro on the purchase of "Blazing With Pride" (Edward) from Ashton Ridge! They picked Edward up last Thursday and we hear he's settling in nicely. Elizabeth plans on showing him in some hunter classes and aims to bring him to his first show in April! We wish the both of them all the best in this new partnership!
The GMEC has confirmed that its Derek Hanscombe clinic is almost full and they are going ahead with the two days. We would like to send out a big thank you to Brian Kent, Chantalle Twohig and Donna Blacklock for all their hard work on promoting this clinic. There are still a few ride times available. To book yours now, please contact Chantalle at chantalle@ashton-ridge.com or at 734-2054.
Congratulations to Shelby Wilson on receiving "Collectible Item" or Lady, from the Laffoley's! Shelby plans on possibly taking some jumping lessons and you may even see them in the show ring!
Congratulations to Linda Hooper's daughter Jessica and her husband on the birth of their second daughter! They named their new little bundle of joy Erin. Hopefully Devlin's all ready to be a big sister!
Things have been fairly quiet at the barn as everyone's just trying to stay warm with the cold weather we've been having. The horses don't seem to mind it too much as they still run around and take time off from eating to play.
The GMEC meeting in January saw the approval for two new clinics this Spring to be held at Whispering Winds Equestrian Farm. The first will be a Derek Hanscombe clinic held on the weekend of April 14, 15 for primarily western riders. The next clinic is with Erin MacQuarrie to be held on the weekend of April 28, 29 primarily for English riders but both clinics are open to all types of riders. More details can be found under the GMEC website.