Cricket Hill Farm
Academy and Gardens
Congratulations to Ava on the completion of GoldStar I! Ava is the first of the Ambers – a new Saddle Club group for beginners under the guidance of Instructor Cecelia Edwards – to finish the first module. The other five Ambers are well on their way, so watch this spot for their awards coming up! Ava received her award at this week’s Saddle Club meeting, and was congratulated later by Amber chums! Thanks to the keen eye of Joe Bore.
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!
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.
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!
We had a great opportunity to recognize these accomplishments at our annual Holiday Party and Show! Left to right below: Erin & Tate ““ GoldStar III, Lyla & Sunny ““ GoldStar II, Lulu & Madison ““ GoldStar III. These three girls worked through the summer and finished up the final bits this fall. They are the first to complete these modules in the newly revised GoldStar program!
Over the past 18 months, Kira and Jami have been revising both GoldStar for dressage and ShootingStar for jumping. In addition to adding a module to each program, making 7 in GoldStar and 3 in ShootingStar, the revisions improve these programs in important ways: added sections on contact, coming round, and “on the bit”; new discussion of straightness; whole new sections on horse behavior and veterinary topics; careful development of lateral work over the last three modules of GoldStar. Click here to learn more about this unique Cricket Hill program!
Cricket Hill sent seven competitors off to this premier show, the 17th time we have participated and our largest contingent! Five rode Academy Schoolmasters, two their own horses. L to R: Lyla & Sunny, Erin & Tate, Lulu & Madison, Lula & Maddie, Paris & Ricky, Mia & Bandit, Sophia & Rascal.
Cricket Hill competed two teams of three, both winning team medals! This is very difficult to do as most teams have four members and may drop the lowest score. Hats off to our very young group, ages 9 to 13, shown in the parade cemetery! The Levy sisters, Lulu & Paris, were our secret weapons – both were Champions in their divisions, Lulu at Training Level and Paris at Intro C! Each spearheaded her team to victory, but each score by everyone contributed! Congratulations!
Very special thanks to Head Trainer Kira Steines and Senior Instructor Jami Wallace, shown below, who along with help from Krys Schrom, coached Cricket Hill’s riders to success. All seven riders are enrolled in Cricket Hill’s unique GoldStar Program for Dressage & Related Horse Care.
