News

GoldStar certificates awarded to Lulu and Paris!

March 6, 2016 by Admin

Saddle Club was an exciting day today for Lulu and Paris – first the Nutrition Seminar, then riding, capped off with the award of GoldStar certificates! Lulu achieved GoldStar IV, and Paris GoldStar III, commemorated with mom Susan’s snapshot below! The two photos under saddle appear on the girls’ certificates. Each has a copy for home, and we have one on display in the lounge. Congratulations to both! Now, it’s on to the next modules! Both have signed up for ShootingStar, too, Cricket Hill’s jumping program!

Nutrition Seminar & Body Scoring Workshop is a hit!

March 5, 2016 by Admin

As part of our on-going effort to remain at the forefront of equine nutrition, Cricket Hill recently conducted an examination of our grain and supplement feeding practices. Joe Monroe, Nutrena nutrition expert from Indiana, who worked with us during the analysis, gave two seminars on Saturday, March 5, one for adults and one for youth. Joe is an engaging presenter and answered a range of questions. His talk was followed by a hands-on assessment of select Cricket Hill horses to learn the skills of Body Conditioning Scoring (BCS) and Topline Evaluation Scoring (TES). Eight adults attended the first session, shown below.

The second session was packed! Eight of our Saddle Clubbers, including one of our new Pine Plains riders, were joined by a group from the Lakeville Pony Club, 10 youth and 4 adults! Discussion was very lively, and refreshments were provided for all.

Witch Hazels Show Off

March 1, 2016 by Admin

The genus Hamamelis, multi-stemmed native shrub Witch Hazel, grows in a range of soils at the wood’s edge and flowers in full and partial sun. Four species – japonica, mollis, vernalis, and virginiana – are available in the trade along with a raft of japonica x mollis hybrids. Cricket Hill has two H. vernalis specimens and a half dozen of these ‘intermedia’ hybrids, which are considered to be the best all-around performers in the garden. Four are shown below.

Witch Hazel is very adaptable to soil pH, has a sweet if gentle fragrance, and can have dramatic fall foliage ranging from bright yellow through orange to dark red. This was a particularly good bloom year, flowering over a 6 week period February through April. If you keep alert, you may see this very hardy shrub growing naturally around the Farm, a few at the roadside near Kira’s drive!

Our one and only snowstorm…. or so we thought!

February 9, 2016 by Admin

Saddle Club trip to Weekend Education Program well attended!

January 30, 2016 by Admin

A dozen Saddle Clubbers travelled with Kira, Jami, Becca and Cecelia to the annual Weekend Education Program given by Dressage4Kids. It’s almost like a fair, with workshops, presentations and talks by noted equestrians, this year Laura Graves of the U.S. Olympic Dressage Team. Jami runs a centered riding workshop there, which was heavily subscribed this year and required three helpers, all Centered Riding certified instructors.

Lendon Gray, the event’s coordinator, singled out our own Lyla Andrick, asking her to come up before the group of several hundred participants. Lyla’s original artwork was selected for the cover of this year’s program, shown below!

Saddle Club joined by 4-H at Rhinebeck Equine Clinic

January 9, 2016 by Admin

Our own Becca Stack, Barn Manager/Instructor, an equine vet tech herself, arranged a fabulous guided tour at the Rhinebeck Equine Clinic. A contingent of six Saddle Clubbers was joined by a dozen 4-Hers, invited by Jami as part of the Academy’s Agricultural Education Program.

Dr. Nina Deibel was our host and tour guide, showing our large group the surgical and laboratory areas as well as recuperation stalls. A fun, instructional afternoon with surprises for many!