News

Through the snow, to the 2013 HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA we go!

December 15, 2013 by Admin

Roads were plowed, and we were ready, with cleared drives and plenty of parking. Parents and riders arrived bearing costumes and goodies for the pot-luck luncheon. Sue and Art provided liquid refreshments and the traditional warm mulled wine to aid the Holiday cheer.
On the Academy side of the barn, newly renovated and paved with rubber tiles, riders groomed and tacked up, ready for the Versatility Class. The course was a challenge: cones to weave through, poles to trot over, a 360* turn inside a square, an “L” to trot through, a small jump, dismounting, leading and remounting. Lula Langdon on Maddie took the blue ribbon for a flawless performance, Erin Feiner was 2nd on Sunshine and Karlee Bishop took a 3rd on Beau, shown below.

Erin and Karlee were one-two in the poles class. Games were next. First, everyone had to weave through the cones and blocks; up one side and down the other. Second was a team competition with a dash to pass off the “noodle”. Last but not least was the Christmas Present Race. Gaily wrapped gift bags were placed around the arena and the “Grinch Anna” on Bailey tried but failed to prevent anyone from getting their gift bag!

Musical Freestyles were next. Riders designed their pattern and chose their seasonal music. Weekly practice sessions were part of Saturday Saddle Club. Tasha Mitchell stepped in to ride with Erin Feiner; Erin’s partner and Paris Levy and her sister Lulu were stuck at home when the snowplow failed to clear her driveway. Lovely freestyle presentations were presented by Lula Langdon & her Maddie, Karlee Bishop, in costume, on Beau, Lyla Andrick riding Ricochez, Lila Fremont-Smith on the glittery “snowflake” POA Rascal, and Tasha Mitchell as a Christmas tree on Greta Garbo. Judge Laurie Inglis, Colebrook CT, was very impressed and awarded special Extravaganza rosettes to all.

The day was topped off with the Costume parade. Young Amelie Bore the Grinch rode Bridget, who was Max the Dog. Karlee Bishop was a Grinch too in a Santa suite with Beau in a lovely red drape with a snowy collar. Lila Fremont-Smith came as a snowflake and Rascal glittered with his snowflakes. Erin Feiner was a Hawaiian Santa with grass skirt and leis and Lula Langdon came as an Angel (with lit halo) on top of Maddie-the-Christmas tree complete with lights and presents. (Electrical work courtesy of Father John!)

Parents, friends and relatives watched from the boardwalk and occasionally went inside to partake of the wonderful food everyone brought. After all the horses had been untacked, groomed and fed, the riders all trooped in and had their lunch too.Thanks to Cricket Hill’s Jami Wallace for organizing a wonderful day!

Shelly invites Kira, Delilah and Rio to a second clinic!

November 24, 2013 by Admin

Flash! Shelly Francis invited Kira to bring Delilah and Rio to another clinic she was giving at the barn of Jane Hannigan in Littleton, MA. The trip was very worthwhile. Kira was able to review her work with Delilah on the pirouette canter and establishing “baby piaffe-passage”. Shelly was especially complementary of the progress Rio showed in just two weeks since the last clinic! Shelly mentioned that she is working on her show schedule and qualifiers for the U.S. Team and might do some shows in the Northeast this year. We’re hoping she’ll be back in the spring!

Shelly Francis Buffet Features Garden Delectibles!

November 11, 2013 by Admin

Cricket Hill hosted a two-day clinic with international dressage rider and trainer Shelly Francis. Saturday night dinner at Sue and Art’s home featured 19 different dishes, from appetizers to desserts, developed from the produce of the gardens at Cricket Hill.

The Cricket Hill preparations included fruits, vegetables, herbs of all types grown organically on the farm. There were pickles, chutneys, and sauces of all types. Art contributed the pheasant for pheasant sausage! Decorations were made with flowers from the cutting garden dried in the Summer Kitchen. The food was prepared by Melanie Melius, Flowering Gardens, who also helps Sue with the plantings.

International FEI Trainer Shelly Francis at Cricket Hill!

November 10, 2013 by Admin

Cricket Hill was proud to host a two-day clinic with Shelly Francis November 9 & 10, seen on the right with 10-year-old Doktor, her mount on the silver and bronze medal U.S. Team showing at the Nation’s Cup this past summer!

Riders at all levels benefitted from Shelly’s training approach – straight forward, correct, and sympathetic to both horse and rider. For the last 20 years, Shelly has been among the top 12 U.S. riders, always training the horses herself from start to finish for owner Pat Stempel. Cricket Hill’s trainer, Kira Steines, who arranged the clinic, was Shelly’s assistant a few years ago and was one of only two who actually have ridden Shelly’s competition horses.

While the weather was very acceptable, half of the riders chose to ride inside the newly refurbished barn with Travelite footing! Others rode in the outside arena, like Kira on Delilah CH, Sue’s PSG/I-1 mare. This pair worked with Shelly on key collecting exercises to build strength and control, shown left doing pirouette canter on a 2-meter circle right around Shelly. All riders worked on issues important to them and their horses, learning new training techniques to improve their performance. Kira also rode Rio, at Kristin’s request, to get Shelly’s input on his new training program at Cricket Hill; he did very well both days. At the end, everybody was talking about the next clinic!

Clinic participants took turns keeping Shelly’s tiny travelling companion, Louie the Chihuahua warm, Tasha and Lula working up this wonderful blanket wrap. Riders and their families were treated to a special “farm to table” buffet at Sue & Art’s house, featuring many delectibles grown and prepared right at Cricket Hill.

Welcome Jami Wallace – Senior Instructor & Director of Academy Programs

October 25, 2013 by Admin

We are thrilled to add Jami’s wealth of experience to our Cricket Hill Team. Over the past 30 years, Jami has been the Head Trainer and Barn Manager in three different facilities, developing lesson programs for both adults and children in each and managing horse shows. She has worked with a wide range of breeds and disciplines, including Dressage, Eventing, Hunters, some Western.

Instructor and Educator. A Senior Instructor at Cricket Hill, Jami has been teaching riding lessons, giving clinics and instructing college undergraduates for years. As faculty at Post University, Jami teaches in the Equine Business Management program; specifically, Riding Instruction, Equine Event Planning, and Equine Business Ethics, the first course of this type in the country.

Centered Riding Instructor. Jami is certified as a Level III Instructor and Clinician, one of only 33 of the 1200 instructors worldwide. Centered Riding is an organized way of teaching riding, based on body awareness, human and equine anatomy, and horsemanship. Jami’s teaching will provide a firm basis for Cricket Hill”™s advanced dressage-based riding and training program under Kira”™s guidance, as it uses balance, body awareness, centering and imagery to achieve classical principles, while helping to improve the communications between horse, rider, and instructor. Recently, Jami was President of Centered Riding, Inc. and a Trustee. She has given clinics in many states, including Lendon’s Weekend Education Program for Dressage4Kids, which she will repeat in February 2014.

A Lifetime with Horses. Early in her career, Jami was a mounted Urban Park Ranger in New York City, and taught riding at Claremont Riding Academy in Manhattan. She has been a 4-H leader, trail association board member, and local Extension Council board member for 27 years. Recently, she worked with the USEF on the training of the U.S. Endurance Team.

We are fortunate to have someone join us whose career epitomizes what we believe at Cricket Hill: riding is a lifetime sport, we are always improving, and we learn from our great horses and instructors! In Jami”™s own words, “Learning to ride takes a long time. I’ve been doing it for nearly 50 years and am still learning how to be better. My teachers have been my horses and folks like Lockie Richards, Eric Horgan, Robert Dover, Kim Walnes, Dominique Barbier, all of whom have been patient and inspiring.” Jami arrived with her dog Manfred and her retired horse, Shoeless Joe Jackson. And you might see Jami in the garden, too, her favorite spare time activity!

Maddie Arrives: Lula’s Birthday Wish Come True!

October 19, 2013 by Admin

Lula had been wishing for her own horse for a long time… she started riding at Cricket Hill at age 6, and now she was about to be 10. So after Lula’s hard work and success at this year’s Youth Dressage Festival, parents Nell & John Langdon decided it was time …. but still a secret! Kira and Sue went on a hunt, and to avoid the natural disappointments of looking for a horse, kept everything secret from Lula until the last, final trip to PA for Lula to try this beautiful, talented Oldenburg-Sport Horse, Das Feiner Maedchen. “A Fine Little Girl”, a.k.a. Maddie is the product of a special dressage breeding program and is trained through 2nd level by an FEI trainer. She was competed successfully by a youth at 1st Level with scores 65%+, and although just 6 years old, has shown herself to be a reliable partner. Maddie arrived on Lula’s birthday to an eager crowd, was led down the ramp by Kira, and taken up to the main barn by Lula to settle in. “It’s my wish come true!” said Lula. “Better than Christmas!” said Nell. John beamed.