News

Ann Sanders’ big handsome Westphalian gelding Rumeur came for his spring tune-up. Ann has her own indoor arena at home where she keeps him, so Rumeur stays in work over the winter, but Ann has caught the ‘show bug’ and is getting a jump start on her lessons for the season. Great to see them both again!

The Country Life section of the Independent reported on the recent outbreak of equine herpes,  “Will a deadly virus cast a shadow over the horse world?” This virus, EHV-1, is especially worrisome because as a neurologic strain, it can be deadly and highly contagious. Sue reported that in response to this threat, Cricket Hill had switched their regular rhinopneumonitis vaccinations to a type that is reported to give better protection against this strain and is requiring horses coming into the farm to be similarly protected. Horses leaving the farm for shows or clinics will have a booster shot this spring. Cricket Hill has never had any cases of this disease and wants to keep it that way!

Stella Goulet sent her wonderful thoroughbred mare to Cricket Hill for a Spring Tune-up. Giselle usually trail rides in the winter, but as Stella and Giselle are eventers, a serious reintroduction to spring training was in order. Stella is aiming at the first dressage show of the season next month.

Thirteen Equine Studies majors and two instructors traveled from Milford, CT for Jane Rodd’s all-day clinic “Dressage for the Jumping Horse”, held at Cricket Hill. The students rode our Academy Schoolmasters, all performing well together. In addition to riding, each assessed other riders, to help develop their “eye”. Lindsay Aspden led the seminar on setting a jumping course for a lesson. The last session, requested by Pace, was a lesson on how to give a lessson! Jane demonstrated a group lesson for flat and jumping with 3 Cricket Hill staff as the “students”, all unrehearsed of course. As Jane gave the lesson, she commented on the reasons for each step and gave tips on what to anticipate and how to handle problems. Participants enjoyed their lunch in the lounge with video entertainment. We received a wonderful pack of students’ essays on what they had learned.

Our annual holiday party and fun fest: games for kids in the morning, a sumptuous spread at lunch, adult classes in the afternoon. Six adults entered the Dressage Challenge, all with original routines set to holiday music, all executed brilliantly – Krys Schrom was the winner riding her horse Phoebe bareback! Highlights of the ever-popular costume class shown below. The big finish to the jam-packed day was the Jumping Spectacular, a jump-off competition won by Lindsay and Cachez. Cachez, who cleared 4′ to win, thought she deserved the prize peppermints!

Congratulations to Tasha, the sixth rider to pass GoldStar I!

A new rider at Cricket Hill this year, Tasha is looking forward to GoldStar II in the new year! Her primary instructor is Lindsay.

Learn more about the GoldStar Program.