Braiding Rights

Verrill Farm Stable’s Newsletter

May, 2009 Vol. 1

News Around the Barn

Concord Equestrian Team at Nationals- Congrats to the Concord Equestrian Team! After a great
season the team ended the year hosting the IEA Regionals and Zones (and the party) at Volo Farm and
winning Reserve Champion for Zone 1. Several CET members competed at the Dartmouth Classic with Kate
Candela coaching to prepare for Nationals (see center photo below). Kaitie Doherty, Morgan Manchester,
Sophie Offner, Kate Trieschman, Tessa James and Maria DeLazzaro all went on to Ohio to the National
Championships with Coach Alyce (see right photo below). After a long weekend of riding, Sophie won 2nd in
the Team Intermediate class and Morgan won 7th in the Team Open class. Congrats Sophie and Morgan!!

This year, the classes were run in a new format which included adding the individual tests within the
jumping round or the flat classes. Alyce noted that the CET riders all “...performed at a high skill level, rode
very well and proudly represented themselves and the CET.”
Thank you to the CET, Alyce, Kate and all the parents who supported the team and their daughters
this season! Congrats again!!
In Memoriam - It is with great sadness that we announce that in the early morning hours of Wednesday,
May 6, 2009, Dream passed away peacefully in her stall. She was a special mare and will be missed by
everyone. Also, sadly, the week prior, Mouse was euthanized due to cancer. Another special horse.

Great News! - As we say goodbye to PJ Davis for the summer as she heads off to her job as Riding Director
at Camp Nashoba North in Maine, we are hopeful that PJ will be returning to Verrill Farm at the end of the
summer! We know everyone will be happy to see PJ again!
Spring Cleanup - A big thanks to Denilson, Marcio and Barbara for all their work every day keeping the
barn functioning, the stable clean and the horses (and riders) happy! They have been hard at work cleaning
inside and out.
Southern Pines - Susan Boquist, Amy Walker, PJ Davis (along with Classy, Chandler and Watching) all
headed south in mid-April with Alyce where they spent a week boarding and training at eight-time Olym-
pian Mike Plumb’s farm (see photos of Amy and Chandler on left, Sue and Amy working with Mike center
and Watching in his paddock looking for his friend the Zebra right).

The week ended with Susan on Classy and PJ on Watching competing at Longleaf Horse Trials (see
Competition Corner for the write up).
Summer Lesson Program— Buy a package of three lessons. No need to commit to the entire summer.
Monday—Thursday afternoons. Group Lessons—$50, Private lesson (1 hour) - $70, Beginner half-hour pri-
vates—$50. Please contact Pam Pierson, Program Director at piersonph@msn.com.
Summer Camp The Verrill Farm Stable Boot Camp sessions still have a few slots open. Please email Pam
Pierson if you are interested. The sessions run all summer, Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 12:30 with an
extended day option to 3:30 pm. Fliers are in the warm room.
Alumni Return for the Summer — Morgan Kelly and Julia Graham will be working this summer as Jun-
ior Instructors. Their primary responsibilities will be to teach the Summer Boot Camp which starts in June.
Morgan can be reached at amk9k@virginia.edu and Julia can be reached at graha20j@mtholyoke.edu.
Emily Haartz is also home for the summer and working at the barn.
Website - Has everyone checked out the new Website? WWW.VerrillFarmStable.com
New Instructor - Welcome Andrea Ardito-Winson, our newest instructor at Verrill. Andrea has 30 years
of experience and currently teaches in Tewksbury. Andrea will be teaching weekly lessons beginning May
19th. Please say hello to Andrea if you see her at the Barn.
College Graduate! - Congratulations to Zehra Gundogan who is graduating from Boston University this
weekend!

Competition Corner

Eventing News
Longleaf Horse Trials— Southern Pines, NC— April 18-19, 2009— Congrats to Susan Boquist on
Class Act and PJ Davis on Watching who both competed in the USEA recognized LongLeaf Horse Trials in
Southern Pines. Amy Walker was there to cheer them on and be their groom. This after their week training
at with Mike Plumb and other trainers in Southern Pines, Sue and PJ were ready for the event. Sue and
Classy placed 5th in the Novice Division and PJ and Watching (see below) placed 5th in the Beginner Novice
Division. Congrats!!!
Groton Pony Club 2 Phase—Groton, MA—Aril 19, 2009— Dave Edell on JustN’Time, Mary Lee on
Shao Lin Finn, Polly Gilbert on Miss Manners, Chloe Howes on Sweet Sable and Emily Gilbert on Blackjack
all went to GPC with Kate Candela coaching.

Congrats to Dave and Justin who came in 3rd in the Beginner Novice B. Mary and Finn placed 2nd
in their Beginner Novice C. Polly and Maggie placed 1st in the Advanced Elementary B. Chloe and Sable
placed 1st in the Green A. And Emily and BJ placed 3rd in the Starter B. And thanks to Dan McInerney for
trucking and helping out all day!

Fair Hill International Horse Trials—Maryland—April 17—19, 2009— Congrats to Zehra Gun-
dogan and Oliver who went to Maryland to compete in the Preliminary Division where they finished 16th
out of 22 starters.

UNH Horse Trials— Durham, NH—May 2—3, 2009— Susan Boquist on Classy, Dave Edell on Just N’
Time and Mary Lee on Finn all attended the UNH event. Sue and Classy came in 5th in the Novice Division.
Mary and Finn placed 3rd and Dave and Justin placed 4th in the Beginner Novice Division.

Foss Farm—Carlisle, MA—May 3, 2009— Chloe Howes and Sweet Sable came in 1st in the Elementary
Division at Foss Farm! Meg, Chloe’s mom, was there to coach…..
King Oak Horse Trials— Priscilla is happy to report that “Masters Choice”/Mack took second place in
BNH at King Oak Farm on May 9th with Alison Eastman aboard. He finished on his dressage score and is
moving up to Novice at Groton House. As some of you may know, Mack is for sale. Anyone interested,
please contact Priscilla Clark—Prisclark@comcast.net. Asking $25,000.

Horse Show News

Mount Holyoke Hunter/Jumper Horse Show—S. Hadley, MA—March 29, 2009 — Sophie Offner, Kate
Trieschman, Danielle Kozelian, Susan Boquist with Classy, Polly Gilbert and Emily Gilbert with Maggie all
competed at Mt. Holyoke in March. Sophie, Kate and Danielle all leased Mt. Holyoke Horses in preparation
for the IEA Zones. Congrats to Kate for winning Champion in the Green Bean Division. Polly and Maggie
won Champion in the Schooling Hunter Division. Everyone else cleaned up with many ribbons and it was a
great day for VFS riders!

Upcoming Dates

Rolex Kentucky on NBC TV NBC Sports 3:30 to 4:30 May 16

Groton Pony Club 3 Phase www.groton.ponyclub.org May 17th

Norfolk Hunt Horse Show www.norfolkhunt.com May 23 -24

Norfolk Hunt Field Hunter Show www.norfolkhunt.com May 26

Mystic Valley Hunt Horse Trials www.mysticvalleyhuntclub.com May 30

Groton House Farm 2 Phase www.grotonhousefarm.com May 30

Valinor Farm Horse Trials www.valinorfarm.com June 13-14

Groton House Farm “Summer-

Classic”3 Phase (E and BN only) www. grotonhousefarm.com June 21

Groton House Horse Trials www.grotonhousefarm.com June 26-28

 CLASSIFIEDS

Riding Helmets Wanted - We are looking for riding helmets to add to the ones in the tack room.
It’s great to have them on hand in case the kids forget their own, or for the first lesson before beginners
buy their own. If you have any helmets at home that you’d like to donate, please contact Pam
(Piersonph@msn.com). Please, no cracked or non-approved helmets.

Ariat Boots - Pull-on field boots for sale. Ladies size 7, medium width, medium height. Worn 4 times.
Boot tree included. Asking $225. Retail for $500. 617-755-1493 or see Susan Boquist (Classy’s mom).

Misc Items for Sale - Priscilla has a large number of miscellaneous horse items for sale including
saddle pads (some new), girths, wraps, etc. Also, and extra-large “hoodie”(braid protector) and blankets,
coolers, etc. If you are looking for something “cheap”, please contact her. PrisClark@comcast.net

HELPFUL WEBSITES

www.area1usea.org
www.useventing.com
www.VerrillFarmStable.com
www.Equinesite.com
www.HorseHero.com

If you have anything to contribute to the next newsletter (stories, PHOTOS, results from shows, sale
items), please email Meg or Polly at MegHowes@comcast.net or PollyGilbert@comcast.net