SPRING HAS SPRUNG
One way or the other, with a detour through heat, another through frost, spring has definitely made it to Cricket Hill.
Thousands of daffodils, hundreds of tulips - a few with deer-provided flat-top haircuts! - and all the other bulbs join the Forsythia. This one has golden variegated leaves…so once it starts blooming, it looks like it’s blooming all season! Aptly named “Golden Times”.
Filed Under Garden News
ERIC HORGAN at Cricket Hill
The weather was with us for the first clinic with Eric this year! The riders were great, the learning excellent, the opportunity to watch even better, and the lunch outstanding! Two more opportunities in July and August. See Upcoming Events.
Filed Under Horse News
H/J SCHOOLING SHOW - on the road again!
6 horses, 6 riders off for a day of fun! Trainer/Instructor Stephanie Kleinbauer used the prior few Saddle Club meetings - these riders are all members - to study the difference in what is wanted in the Hunter/Jumper ring compared to Dressage. This worked well judging from all the ribbons!
Above Left to Right: Lining up outside before a class were L to R Giulia, Tess, Ruby and Allie on Robin, Sunshine, Simon, and Bandit. Lilac warmed up Simon over cross-rails before going into her class. Ruby and Mickey wait their turn. Congratulations to all but especially Eleni and Robin, Reserve Champions in the Hunter Pleasure Division!
Filed Under Horse News
SADDLE CLUB - Original Dressage Tests debut at Mock Show
Nothing quite like starring in your own production! Members rode their own designed dressage test in a Mock Show they put on! Framed pictures of each person’s favorite horse were awarded as prizes: Caitlin riding Simon - most Level-Appropriate test, Ruby D riding Andy - Best Rhythm, Tess riding Sunny - Best Use of Arena, Lilac riding Bandit - Best Transitions, Tasha riding Simon - Best Job Keeping Horse Forward, Giulia riding Robin - Most Improved Test, Eleni riding Ricky - Most Creative Test, Ruby L riding Mickey - Best Test Overall. Thanks to Stephanie, for putting it all together with Krys’ help, and to Jane and Lindsay for the fine judging!
Filed Under Horse News
ICE BEAUTY at Cricket Hill
Winter provides many unexpected delights for the Garden-Watcher! A unique combination of precipitation, temperature change and light gave us some breathtaking glimpses of fairyland.
Filed Under Garden News
SADDLE CLUB - Write Your Own Dressage Test
Members wrote their own dressage test, minimum of 10 movements, maximum 20. Leader Stephanie reviewed each to be sure it was a challenge for each rider/horse pair so the competition would be fair at the Members’ own organized horse show later this month. Great way to think about riding a test!
Filed Under Horse News
LENDON GRAY CLINIC at Cricket Hill
A great treat to have Lendon Gray return to clinics at Cricket Hill. We had a broad range of participants - young to older, both horses and riders!
Lise Gottwold and her 4-year-old Bastille just starting out, Paddy Rossback and 18-year-old Sienna working on 3rd/4th level! Wendy Luscombe and Lindsay had a workout on Koriakin and Quest. Jane rode Jose, Wendy’s Andalusian stallion that Jane showed at 3rd level last year. Two junior riders on Academy Schoolmasters enjoyed Lendon’s tips: Eleni Econopouly with Ricky and Beth Anne Vought-Jause riding Shakespeare. Beth Anne has competed at Lendon’s Youth Dressage Festival several times, and Eleni is planning her first trip to that prestigious show this summer!
Everybody went in and out of the viewing lounge for refreshments and to keep warm. Lendon taught straight through bundled up with her warmers in the indoor arena! Thanks for a great day!
Filed Under Horse News
SADDLE CLUB - Own-a-Horse Project
A fun 6-week project going over the holidays! Members get a good idea of what it’s like to own a horse…with extra horse care activities like clipping, checking blanket fit, health check, and picking out the stall. Riding and handling goals are specific to each pair and help SC Members to improve their confidence and safety with any horse they handle. Assignments are Giulia-Robin, Tess-Sunny, Ruby-Mickey, Tasha-Beau, Lilac-Bandit, Allegra-Ray, Mia-Sweet Pea, Darian-Bridget, America-Ricky,Caitlin-Simon,Samantha-Topper, Allie-Patrick, Eleni-Paddy O’.
Filed Under Horse News
CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA - Party and Show
We’ll all remember this year’s celebration of Winter Solstice, a dance presentation, with 3 humans and 1 equine, pictured above left! The whole day was filled with one excitement after the other. We started with our Equitation classes - something for everyone, from leadline to jumping. Then onto jumping and games, some of the winners shown here. The food was delicious, mulled wine as always, festively arrranged in the lounge.
Lunchtime entertainment included a hilarious rendition of “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”, Jane, Wendy and Lindsay all dressed in their bedtime splendor!
The Dressage Challenge was head-to-head Musical Freestyles all to holiday music. Paddy O’ Cognac took the first, with Stephanie up!
Ever-popular block elimination came next, with Giulia and Ray winning the Kids’ and Lilly and Molly-B taking the Adult Division. Everybody got ribbons and lots of goodies…and to all a good night!
For quality prints of these, and any other of our photos, contact suebassin@aol.com
Click here for dates of other shows at Cricket Hill.
Filed Under Horse News
H/J SCHOOLING SHOW - 6 Riders, 4 Horses on the Road
Stephanie took the Cricket Hill contingent - Giulia Cohen, Mia & Allegra Colman, Ruby Lang, Tasha Mitchell & Lilac Watt - with their trusty Academy Schoolmaster mounts - Bandit, Beau, Mickey & Simon - on the road in the big trailer! Everybody did fantastically, all getting ribbons showing against some stiff competition, both adults and children! Highlights: Mia took a 3rd & 4th on Bandit in Pre-Short Stirrup, her first away show! In the School Horse Equitation Division, Allegra garnered 2 4ths and a 5th with Bandit and Simon, and Lilac won Reserve Champion on the strength of her 1st in equitation and 2nd in crossrails! Tasha won two 3rds: 18″ crossrails with Simon and W/T/C in the Pleasure Horse Division with Beau. Ruby got a 4th in the same class riding Simon. Giulia took a 3rd on Beau in the second W/T/C class and impressively held her own in the Schooling Hunter Division (mostly adults on big horses) with a 2nd on Mickey! Congratulations to all. Thanks to Krys for all the help keeping the crew organized at the end! Everybody’s working hard to be ready for the next away show in March!
Filed Under Horse News
NEW OWNER for Dauntless CH
Congratulations to Cindi Dickerman of Sharon MA on her purchase of 6-year-old Dauntless CH! Danny was bred and born at Cricket Hill, by Dresdenn out of the Hanoverian mare Graphike, now one of our super Schoolmasters.
Cindi and Danny are a great match, and will continue their Dressage studies as a pair. Danny travelled like a champ to his new home at Tower Hill Farm, Mendon MA. Danny’s already wowing them there as the perfect warmblood for tiny 4′10″ Cindi! Good luck to you both! We’re looking forward to your future successes!
Filed Under Horse News
PRESS REPORT - Mike Citrin featured in the Independent
“Not just for gentry - the ancient ritual of hunting on horseback is alive and well” was the feature story in the “Country Life” section of the Independent this week. This colored 2-page spread was liberally sprinkled with comments by Mike Citrin, Ancramdale. Mike has been a member of the Rombout Hunt for over 25 years. Mike keeps his hunt horse Oscar at Cricket Hill which sits in Rombout’s north country.
“It’s fox chasing, not fox hunting. The whole reason you’re out there is to experience nature and watch the sun come up” says Mike. Interested in more? Talk to Mike!
Filed Under Horse News
SHOW - Crosswinds Jumper Schooling Show
Five Cricket Hill horses and riders journeyed to Crosswinds Equestrian Center for a Jumper Schooling Show. Giulia Cohen, Tess Wagman, Allie Wise, Allegra Colman and Lilac Watt took Academy Schoolmasters Ray, Mickey, Beau, Bandit, and Simon under the watchful eyes of Lindsay and Stephanie. Simon won the Power and Speed Class with over 20 entries with Lindsay up! We were very proud of all the horses and riders. Congratulations!
Filed Under Horse News
AWARD - Koriakin wins All-Breed Championship
Wendy Luscombe’s Fjord Koriakin was named Champion in both Amateur and Open competition at Training Level by the United States Equestrian Federation.
Wendy was also 1st place in the Vintage Cup for riders over 50 years. “I couldn’t have done it without him,” quipped Wendy. Congratulations to both!
Filed Under Horse News
SHOOTINGSTAR - Academy Program for Jumping
ShootingStar I has arrived! ShootingStar is Cricket Hill Academy’s program for jumping, a companion to GoldStar for riding and related horse care. Sign up with any Instructor. Completion of GoldStar III is a prerequisite for ShootingStar I. Click here for more information.
Filed Under Horse News
FROST - Fall’s First
The gardens were still going strong until the first frost hit October 29. This is about 6 weeks later than “the way it used to be”, and a tangible sign we deserve the upgrade from 5 to 6 of our Hardiness Zone, i.e. it’s warmer. Taking advantage of this, we are adding to the late season display in the Gardens at Cricket Hill Farm… might as well enjoy it! Visitors to the farm next year will see the results of this year’s transplants and addition to stock of fall bloomers.
Filed Under Garden News
NEDA YEAR-END AWARD to Wendy Luscombe
Congratulations to Wendy and her trusty Fjord Koriakin! The pair placed 6th in the Adult Amateur Training Level Division with a rousing average score of 67.2%!
The New England Dressage Association has an annual competition for riders at all levels, ribbons awarded on the basis of performance throughout the year. Great job, Wendy!
Filed Under Horse News
SADDLE CLUB - Mapping the Trails at Cricket Hill
This week, Saddle Club began their project to map the 200 acres of riding trails at Cricket Hill. Leader Stephanie took the group with pencils and papers to note all the landmarks such as the lake, cross-country jumps, woods, extra rocky paths, fields, etc. After the big map is made, members will name the trails. Hunting season and bad weather will put the project on hold, to be continued in the spring. Activity open to all members of Saddle Club.
Filed Under Horse News