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December 1, 2009

Congratulations to Isabel Levy on winning the Equine Inquiry for November! We are pleased that everyone who participated submitted correct answers. Great job! We look forward to you all keeping up the good work! The December questions are posted on the bulletin board. Have fun and good luck!

November 9, 2009

As mentioned previously, our annual un-mounted winter horsemanship classes will be starting a little earlier than usual this year. Our first two have now been scheduled. Several others will follow throughout the winter. Please check out the link on our home page for the class details and registration information. Unless otherwise indicated, classes are open to all ages and all levels. As always, everyone is welcome, you do not need to be a current Woodsong Farm customer in order to participate.

November 8, 2009

In case you did not already know, Woodsong Farm now has a page on Facebook. Complete information regarding our news and activities will always be posted here on our website. However, you can find occasional tidbits posted to our Facebook page as well. If you would like to check it out, visit www.facebook.com.

November 7, 2009

Congratulations to Brenna McLoughlin and Valentino on their year-end Championship in the Children's Hunter division for the Yankee Clipper Classics horse show series! We all had a good time attending the banquet tonight. This year is the seventh consecutive year that Brenna has been a year-end Champion at this show series! Wow! It all began back in her Walk-Trot days with Snooze Button, continued with Avonlea, and now Valentino.

The Tack Shop at Woodsong continues to sponsor the Sportsmanship Award at the Yankee Clipper shows. This year we congratulate Danielle Barretto on earning the award! You can view all the recipients of this award on the Sponsorship page of The Tack Shop at Woodsong's website, www.woodsongtack.com.

November 2, 2009

Our monthly Equine Inquiry is back! Learn the correct answers to the questions and you could win your choice of a gift certificate to The Tack Shop or iTunes! The questions are posted on the bulletin board in the barn along with all the details. A great way to learn more about the animals we love and have a little fun too!

November 1, 2009

Welcome to Mary Beth Guiliano and her horse UVM Hemingway! We look forward to getting to know you and "Ernie".

October 5, 2009

Greta is starting to put together our annual offering of un-mounted horsemanship classes. Traditionally, we have done these classes during the winter months from January-March. This year we expect to be starting a bit earlier. As always, classes are open to everyone. You do not need to be a current Woodsong Farm customer in order to participate. Unless stated otherwise, classes are open to all levels. If you have a particular class that you would like to have held, please let us know! Class information will be posted on the bulletin board at the farm, as well as here on our website as soon as it is available.

October 4, 2009

Despite a mediocre weather forecast, it turned out to be a great day for our last show of the season! We want to extend our thanks to everyone who turned out not only today but throughout the year. We hope to see everyone at the banquet in January! Horse show points are posted on our website. They will not be mailed this year. Banquet information regarding date and location will be posted on our website shortly. Invitations will follow in the mail as we get closer to the date.

Today was the final day for entering our horse show drawing sponsored by The Tack Shop at Woodsong (www.woodsongtack.com). The winner receives their choice of a Large Wooden Play Barn, a pair of Tailored Sportsman TS breeches (recipient's choice of color), or a $100 Gift Certificate to The Tack Shop at Woodsong. At the conclusion of our pleasure classes, the judge drew Brittany Wallace's name as our winning entry! Congratulations Brittany!

Congratulations to William and Jackie Harrington on their first horse show! Both boys worked really hard and did a super job! Younger brother JP (who is working on riding skills of his own) was very excited to cheer them on!

A big round of thanks to everyone who helps us out with the shows - Pat, Brenna, Taylor, Christina, Jess, Judy, Hilary, and Dan - we really appreciate your help!

We wish Emma Karlson a speedy recovery from her field hockey injury of a few weeks ago. Thankfully, Emma has been able to attend the shows (crutches and all!) to visit and cheer for her friends. Get well soon Emma!

October 3, 2009

Anyone wanting to order a WSF coat before the cold weather sets in might want to do so in the near future. Depending upon how busy they are, orders can take 2-4 weeks. Coats wanted for the holidays should be ordered no later than November 15th. Coats can be ordered online at www.woodsongtack.com. If you need assistance with sizing recommendations, please let us know.

September 25, 2009

We congratulate Brenna McLoughlin on a great ride at the MHC Junior Medal Finals! As expected, the judges set a challenging course. Many riders had difficulty, and several were unable to complete the course. Out of the 153 riders in the class, we are pleased to report that Brenna got around with no major faults, and finished almost literally in the middle of the pack. A great job for her first year as a Junior Medal Finalist!

September 24, 2009

Congratulations to our former Pony Kids counselor, Caroline Hughes on WINNING the MHC Adult Medal Finals! Undeterred by her flight in from Scotland, where she is currently studying, Caroline laid down two excellent trips and prevailed in the final flat test. It was a very long show day with the final testing not concluding until just after 8:30pm. Great job!

September 20, 2009

Once again Mother Nature blessed us with a beautiful day for our horse show! We want to thank everyone for a wonderful turnout. Particularly those of you who had to battle the bridge construction traffic to get here - we really appreciate you making the extra effort!

Again, we owe a special "thank you" to Jessica Brown for stepping up and filing in as secretary/announcer while our regular secretary, Judy, is away. We know it can be a stressful job, and you did great!

Whoops! Greta realized at the end of the day that the entry tickets for the tack shop drawing got forgotten to be set out. Never fear - you will be glad to know that she took the time to write up an entry for everyone who showed today. Remember, the winning entry will be drawn at our October 4th show so that will be your last chance to enter! Good luck to everyone!

September 13, 2009

Brenna, despite being sick (to the point that she probably really should have been home in bed), put in two good rides today in the Junior Medal at the South East Hunter Finals. Job well done!

September 1, 2009

August 23, 2009

Congratulations to Brenna McLoughlin on her fourth place finish at the Massachusetts Hunter Jumper Finals! Great Job!

August 15, 2009

As our regular show season starts to wind down and we head into the fall finals, we congratulate Brenna McLoughlin on qualifying to compete at the MHJ, SEHA, and MHC Finals. We wish her lots of luck and fun! We also congratulate her and Reggie on the various Championships and Reserve Championships that they have earned at Fieldstone, Head of the Bay, and others throughout the season.

August 9, 2009

A huge thank you to Jessica Brown for helping out in the entry booth at our horse show while Judy was away!

June 26, 2009

Welcome to Elizabeth Noyes and her horse Moses! We are looking forward to having you join us for the summer!

June 25, 2009

Happy 65th Birthday Bette!

June 23, 2009

Austin Nydam (1931 - 2009)
Longtime friend Austin Nydam passed away at his home today at the age of 78. Owner of Mid-Cape Pet & Seed, Austin has been a fixture on the scene for horse owners on Cape Cod, The Islands, and Southeastern Massachusetts for many decades. We will miss him!

June 22, 2009

Our Summer Horsemanship Camp is underway! We are pleased to see several familiar faces joining us again. We are also happy to get to know several new students this year as well. We are looking forward to a great summer!

June 21, 2009

Congratulations to all of the exhibitors at our horse show today! Despite a dismal forecast, the weather turned out great. Everyone was thankful that the rain and wind held off until our day was complete and everyone was packed up and home! We were excited to see several new faces in the show ring today. Additionally, we want to thank the many Dads who shared their Father's Day with the horse show today!

June 17, 2009

Walter Gervais (1921 - 2009)
Longtime friend Walter Gervais passed away today at his home at the age of 87. We began our friendship with Walther several decades ago when his daughter Robin was a student of ours. Later in life, after serving 20yrs in the U.S. Navy and 30yrs with Old Colony Bank, Walter decided to take up riding for himself. An avid fan of the sport of eventing, Walter rode with and worked for Denny Emerson of Tamarak Hill Farm for many years. In 1990, at the age of 69, Walter won his first Novice level event. At the age of 75 he completed his first long-format CCI* at the Bromont Three-Day Event in Quebec, Canada. Walter continued to event until 2001 when he retired from competition.

Walter competing Simcoe at Preliminary in 2000.

June 15, 2009

Congratulations to Jenny Ricci on her partial lease of Honor Roll ("Harvey")! We wish them lots of great rides, lessons, and horse shows together!

June 12, 2009

Welcome Just Peachy ("Peachy") to our lesson program for the summer! We are looking forward to her help in teaching our riders.

June 10, 2009

Welcome Honor Roll ("Harvey") to our lesson program! We are looking forward to his help in teaching our riders.

June 6, 2009

Congratulations to our former star Avonlea and her new owner Laura McCallion. The pair has been having much success in the Hunter Pleasure and the Long Stirrup Divisions so far this year!

June 1, 2009

Congratulations to Madison Dasti on her partial lease of Zorro! We wish you lots of fun together!

May 10, 2009

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our first Woodsong Farm Horse Show of the year! Special thanks go to the many Moms who shared their Mother's Day with the horse show! We could not have asked for better weather and would be happy to have it replicated in the future! We hope that everyone enjoyed themselves! See our Competitions Page for a complete list of all of our 2009 horse show.

April 11, 2009

We wish our former star Snooze Button, now known as Pumpernickel ("Nicky"), all the best as she relocates to her new home in Laurel Bloomery, Tennessee. We hope that she continues to rehab well and enjoys a long and happy retirement there. We want to thank the Glassman Family for taking great care of her the past couple years and for keeping her current and future well-being a priority.

March 26, 2009

We want to congratulate one of our former stars, Snooze Button (now showing as Pumpernickel), and her owner Sarah Glassman on all of their accomplishments in 2008! In addition to garnering ribbons in the Short Stirrup Divisions at several horse shows during the year, including The Hampton Classic, the pair earned Long Island High Score Awards Association 2008 Year-End awards as well. Sarah finished 5th in the Short Stirrup Equitation and Pumpernickel was 8th in the Short Stirrup Hunter! Great job in this very competitive region!

Sadly, we have learned that due to an injury sustained during turnout, Snooze/Nicky will no longer be able to be a riding partner for Sarah. We wish Sarah, her family, and Snooze/Nicky all the best for the future.

March 1, 2009

We had no entries for the February Equine Inquiry! We have decided to suspend the drawing for the month of March and will start up again with the April Equine Inquiry. Here is your chance to earn a $10 Gift Certificate to The Tack Shop and learn a little something about the horses we love along the way!

February 28, 2009

Congratulations to Brenna McLoughlin on the purchase of Regent C! We wish Brenna and "Reggie" many great rides, lessons, and horse shows together! Have fun!

February 15, 2009

Just a reminder that if you have not visited The Tack Shop's online store (www.woodsongtack.com) you might be missing out! There are often sales listed that are not posted in the store at the farm. Due to limited space, there are items available that are posted on the website, but are not in the store. Additionally, if you have not joined The Tack Shop's email list, done through the website, you might want to re-consider! There are specials that are offered to email subscribers only! Don't be left out!

February 1, 2009

Congratulations to Pat Hammatt for entering correct responses to our January Equine Inquiry! Pat was the only person to provide correct responses to the questions! We are disappointed that more of you did not give Pat a little more competition! For her effort, Pat won the drawing for a $10 Gift Certificate to The Tack Shop.

Please remember that the monthly Equine Inquiry is open to all Woodsong customers! Everyone who submits the correct answers has an equal chance of winning - You could receive next months gift certificate! Check the bulletin board at the farm for the February 2009 Equine Inquiry questions.

For anyone looking for the correct answers to the January questions, here they are:

1. Signs/symptoms of a horse likely suffering from colic include: lying down more than usual, getting up and lying down repeatedly, standing stretched out, standing frequently as if to urinate, turning the head towards the flank, repeatedly curling the upper lip, pawing the ground, kicking at the abdomen, rolling. (You were only asked to give four).
2. A Coggins Test is done to provide proof the animal does not carry Equine Infectious Anemia. A blood sample is drawn from your horse by your veterinarian and sent to a licensed laboratory for examination. Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) is a viral disease for which there is no vaccine and no cure. Though most horses succumb rapidly to EIA a percentage of infected horses appear to recover. However they still harbor the virus and during times of stress may become ill again. It is because of these healthy appearing carriers that we test horses. It insures that we do not put their stable mates at risk. This test is required annually by state law.
3. Parts of the saddle include: pommel, waist/twist, seat, cantle, skirt, flap, panel, billets, gullet, stirrup bar, stirrup leather, stirrup iron, sweat flap, buckle guard. (You were asked to give five).

January 26, 2009

Congratulations to all the Woodsong Farm Horse Show Year-End Award winners! You all work so hard for your accomplishments - it was wonderful to see everyone celebrating at the banquet! Our "Special Award Winners" included: Overall High Point Award - Jenny Ricci and Another Grey, High Point Trainer - Sarah Hogan, and Sportsmanship Award - Cindy Celeste. You can see a complete list of award winners on the Competitions Page of our site.

We want to thank all the exhibitors, parents, trainers, staff, and volunteers who support our shows. We couldn't do it without all of you! Additional thanks to Chatham Pottery, Crocker Nurseries, and The Tack Shop at Woodsong for their continued support of our horse shows.

January 15, 2009

Congratulations to Brenna McLoughlin and Avonlea on earning the 2008 Reserve Championship in the Children's Special Hunters for Massachusetts (MHC)! As they won the Massachusetts Championship last year, they nearly repeated the accomplishment again this year, but not quite! This year the pair finished only 23 points behind the winner (and over 150 points ahead of the third place finisher). An excellent achievement considering they had a limited show season due to Avonlea moving on to a new owner!

January 2, 2009

Greta is currently putting together the schedule for our annual un-mounted winter classes. If anyone has any particular classes they would like to see held, please let us know! These classes are always a great way to improve horsemanship skills and broaden horizons. Unless specified otherwise, they are open to everyone - you do not need to be a current Woodsong Farm customer to participate!

December 31, 2008

Congratulations to the following for entering correct responses to our December Equine Inquiry: Katie Hoffman, Pat Hammatt, and Brenna McLoughlin. Great job ladies!

All those who gave correct answers were entered in the drawing for a $10 Gift Certificate to The Tack Shop. The lucky winner of December's drawing was Brenna McLoughlin!

Please remember that the monthly Equine Inquiry is open to all Woodsong customers! Everyone who submits the correct answers has an equal chance of winning - You could receive next months gift certificate! Check the bulletin board at the farm for the January 2009 Equine Inquiry questions.

For anyone looking for the correct answers to the December questions, here they are:

1. In order, the color of ribbons for 1st-10th place are: blue-red-yellow-white-pink-green-purple-brown-grey-light blue.
2. Seven parts of the bridle are: crownpiece, cheekpieces, browband, noseband (caveson), throatlatch, reins, bit.
3. A horse with a brown body with a mane and tail of the same color is called a chestnut.

December 25, 2008

We know one little girl who had a fantastic Christmas surprise this year! Congratulations to Gina Vicente on her purchase of Firefly! What a wonderful Christmas gift! We wish you and Firefly many great rides, lessons, and horse shows together! We are also delighted that this wonderful pony gets to stay with us at Woodsong!

December 15, 2008

Final year-end points for our horse shows have been mailed out to all who signed up for points this year. Additionally, invitations to our annual Awards Banquet, to be held on January 25, 2009, have been mailed to all who are signed up for points. Please be reminded that everyone is welcome and encouraged to join us in honoring the year-end award winners! Banquet attendance is by RSVP only - reservations are due not later than January 15, 2009. If you would like further information on our banquet, please let us know! We hope to see you there!

November 9, 2008

Once again The Tack Shop at Woodsong donated a gift basket full of horse related goodies to the Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School Fundraiser Auction. This year we were thrilled to learn that one of our own clients won the basket! However, the winner tells us that the basket is likely to be used as a Christmas gift, so we can't spoil the surprise and share who it was!

November 8, 2008

Congratulations to our Yankee Clipper Classic Year-End Award winners! With limited showing, Taylor Mindrebo and Have Faith brought home the Reserve Championship in the Pre-Children's Hunter Division, Third in the Children's Equitation Division, and Third in the Hunter Pleasure Division. Also without completing the entire show season, Brenna McLoughlin and Avonlea earned year-end awards as well. The pair was Champion in the Children's Special Hunter Division and Champion in the Children's Equitation Division. Great job ladies!

The Tack Shop at Woodsong continues to sponsor the Sportsmanship Award presented at the Yankee Clipper banquet. Our congratulations to this years winner, Holland Neivergelt! You can view photos of Holland and past recipients on the tack shop website, www.woodsongtack.com - click the word "sponsorship" at the bottom of the homepage.

November 1, 2008

Bruce Springsteen's comments on his daughter Jessica's outstanding ride and well deserved win of the 2008 National ASPCA Maclay Finals . . .

“Jess has worked so hard ever since she was young. It is amazing to see young girls and boys her age with the kind of adult discipline it takes to achieve something like that,” said Springsteen. “It is tremendous; it takes a very mature work ethic and a good degree of character. She has done wonderfully and has really developed. It has been so exciting to watch her ride and exciting to watch her develop into who she is through the activities with the horses. That has been exciting for us. After you have been to so many shows year after year, you realize how difficult it is and what an achievement it is. You also realize how good the others riders are and how much work has gone into it,” said Springsteen. “You see a culmination of thirteen years of riding come down to one minute and thirty seconds. That is a tough lesson in life. Musicians always get to sing it again; riders get one shot.”

So true!

October 22, 2008

Welcome Justine Kirkwood and Oreo! We are looking forward to working with you both!

October 5, 2008

Congratulations to Caroline Hughes on her success thus far at the fall finals! After spending the summer assisting in our Pony Kids program, Caroline entered her Freshman year at Brandeis University. As do so many juniors in their last year, Caroline juggled her new collegiate schedule with her fall finals schedule. She has been off to a great start so far! We congratulate her on her 12th place finish in the Junior Medal at MHJ Finals (out of 86 competitors) and her 5th place finish (out of 175 competitors) in the Junior Medal at Massachusetts Finals! Great Job! We wish her all the best as she finishes out the year with the New England Finals in Springfield, MA, and the USEF National Finals in Harrisburg, PA.

October 4, 2008

Benedire - "Buddy"
1980 - 2008

Buddy was a fabulous teacher and much loved lesson horse here at Woodsong for over ten years. After a successful career excelling in both the hunter and equitation rings at many of the top shows throughout the region, his owner, Jenn, wanted an easier life for him in a situation where she knew he would receive excellent care. As Jenn had boarded with us and worked for us, she knew Woodsong was the perfect fit for what she was seeking.

Without a doubt, Buddy loved downgrading to the lower levels and teaching beginners! We all had a smile on our faces when we watched this 16.2h gentleman trotting around with a tiny 8yr. old kid so happy in his new job! He was so thrilled when, for two seasons, he got the opportunity to get all braided up and pack two kids around the Short Stirrup divisions at the rated shows!

Over the last several years we gradually decreased Buddy's workload. While he consistently did walk-trot lessons that kept him fit, we no longer asked him to jump anything, and very rarely asked him to canter in the later years. In early 2006 we decided that it was in Buddy's best interest to completely retire from being ridden. Jenn, now living off-cape, gladly agreed to take Buddy back and retire him with her other gelding and her mother's mare. Sadly, Buddy left us that Spring, but we knew it was the best for him and that he was headed to a very loving home.

Buddy has enjoyed his retirement with Jenn, her now 4yr. old son Nick, and his buddies Cooby and Diamond. Knowing that he was having an increasingly difficult time getting up from rolling or laying down, and even more so if the ground was muddy, it was fairest to Buddy not to put him in a situation where he was unable to get himself up - which, it appeared, was approaching sooner rather than later. Knowing that Fall often brings muddy footing for days on end, followed by a potentially icy winter, it was with a very heavy heart, and total concern for his well being, that Jenn decided to euthanize Buddy. We know that he will be missed by not only Jenn and her family, but also by everyone here at Woodsong and the many riders whose lives he touched. Today, October 2, 2008, Buddy received a warm bath, got his mane pulled, his face clipped up, and put on his former leather show halter. It was a beautiful, warm, and sunny day. He stood like a champ with his friend Diamond at his head. No one could ask for more. Rest in peace Buddy! And please say "Hello" to Perry, Sweeny, and Gypsy for us!

August 25, 2008

Congratulations to Cheryl McCallion and her daughter Laura on the purchase of Avonlea! We adore this horse and we will all miss her. There is no doubt that Brenna loves this mare very much. They were a great pair! For the past few years the pair has worked very hard and garnered wins from the hunter ring to repeated placings at medal finals. We are proud of all they have accomplished and so happy for Brenna and Avonlea that they were able to "go out on top" with their absolutely outstanding successes at their last few shows! We wish Laura and Cheryl, and their trainers, Cyndy and Frake van der Meer, all the best with this wonderful mare!

July 22, 2008

Congratulations to Brenna McLoughlin and Avonlea on outstanding repeat performances! Just like last year, they were again division Champion and Classic winner at Sea Coast. They immediately followed that great showing by repeating the accomplishment the following week with a division Champion at Head of the Bay (they were division champion last year there as well!) and they were the Classic winner there too! At both shows they nearly swept the division and the classic! They won every class but one at each show! The pair worked hard to best the field of thirty riders in their division - great job! In the Classic at both shows the pair came back on top and confidently laid down another great trip in the second round to secure their win! Great job!

July 17, 2008

Wow - time flies! It seems like not that long ago Kyra Berzinis was a seven year old just learning to ride here at Woodsong. Now she is off to college in another month! After sorting through several very enticing academic and financial offers, Kyra has chosen to attend the Honors Program at Bentley College in Waltham, MA. Kyra is privileged to be included in this program. Bentley only extends the invitation for participation in the honors program to those students in the top ten percent of the entering Bentley College freshman class. Congratulations Kyra! We wish you the best!

On the traveling show scene, Brenna McLoughlin and Avonlea continue to be Champion or Reserve every time out this year in the Children’s/Adult Special Hunters. Brenna is also looking forward to the Mass Hunter/Jumper Children’s Medal Finals in August. Enjoy the rest of the season Brenna! Taylor Mindrebo and Chloe have moved on from Long Stirrup this year and have been successful in Pre-Children’s Hunters as well as the equitation ring. Taylor won herself out of Maiden eligibility at her first show and only has one more win to go before she is no longer eligible for the Novice! Taylor and Chloe have also had great success, nearly always winning the class, in the very large Hunter Pleasure division of 15 to 20 horses. Great job Taylor!

Here at home, we are pleased to have several new faces showing! Jenny Ricci, Sadie Giroux, Bailey Soderburg, and Georgia Klein have all ventured into the show ring for the first time this year. They are all off to a great start and we wish them lots of fun! Mid season points for the Woodsong Farm Horse Shows will be posted here on the website by the end of July so check back!

Congratulations to Ben and Hanna Slater on the purchase of their new pony, Bobo! Hanna, now posting, continues to show in the Leadline. Ben successfully moved into the Walk-Trot at our last show. The pair had a great time and even won the walk-trot pleasure class!

If anyone is looking for a full or partial lease (here at the farm), please let us know. Some of our horses and ponies will be available come September. We do have a couple horses and ponies available now as well. If you are interested, please see Bette or Greta for more detailed information. Leasing is a great opportunity to share some quiet time of your own with a horse or pony, as well as a fantastic chance for more riding practice - all without the expense of buying your own!

If you haven’t already done so, we would encourage you to check out the tack shop’s online site at www.woodsongtack.com. There are often items available online which are not in the store here at the farm. Also, you might want to remember to join the mailing list! You will receive special offers and discounts that are only available to those on the mailing list.

Many of you will remember our former lesson pony Bonnie (Just Right). She and her new owner Lexi Selldorff, a former student of ours now living in CT, have qualified to compete at the National Hunter Pony Finals held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington KY later this August. Bonnie will be competing in the section for mediums in the Green Pony Hunter Finals. We wish Lexi and Bonnie (as well as all of Lexi’s other ponies too) all the best for a great time in Kentucky

January 18, 2007

We begin this latest update with a huge CONGRATULATIONS to Brenna McLoughlin and Katie Hoffman-Young. Both riders finished out the show season FIRST IN THE STATE in their division! Katie showed Foxy (Perfect Timing) and Firefly to her Walk-Trot Equitation MHC year-end Championship. Brenna showed her lovely mare Avonlea to the win in MHC's Children's Special Hunter Division. Both girls were able to accomplish this feat with limited showing as each was nearly undefeated in their division this year. Wow! They are looking forward to the MHC banquet later in February.

In addition to being sixth at the SEHA finals, Brenna and Avonlea pulled off finishing in the top twenty percent or better at ALL of the state and regional mini medal finals this year! With eighty to one hundred twenty competitors in each of the finals classes they certainly rose to the occasion! Excellent job!

This year marked the first year that both Katie as well as Taylor Mindrebo competed in a final. Katie won the SEHA Walk-Trot Final aboard Firefly. Taylor was fifth in the YCC Long Stirrup Medal Final with Chloe (Have Faith).

Due to complications with the Thanksgiving holiday schedule, we did not attend the SEHA banquet in November. Brenna and Avonlea won the Children's Special Hunter Division and they get to keep an additional perpetual trophy for being the high scoring Children's or Adult Special Hunter. Katie was second in the Walk-Trot Equitation and was second with Firefly and sixth with Foxy in the Beginner's Pleasure.

As usual, we attended the YCC banquet in November and Taylor and Brenna were pleased to bring home their Championship ribbons and trophies. Taylor and Chloe won the Hunter Pleasure Division and were second in the Long Stirrup Equitation. Brenna and Avonlea earned the Championship in the Children's/Adult Special Hunter and were second in the Children's Equitation.

Our very own Woodsong Farm Horse Shows awards banquet was held this past weekend at the Yarmouth House. There was a wonderful turnout and it is always fun to see everyone not in their usual riding attire. In addition to Brenna, Taylor, and Katie, other Woodsong riders earning year-end awards at our banquet include: Jessica Brown, Cailey Kilpatrick, Ben Slater, Gina Vicente, Alena Hunt, Emma Karlson, Isabel Levy, Carrie Fyfe, Julia Murphy, Maura Eldridge, Morgan Mindrebo, Sarah Leonard, Kate Leonard, Ian Johnson, and Ian Gordon. Stephanie Sykes, knowing that she would void her eligibility for an award by doing so, elected to move up a division during the season. Kudos to her! We would like to extend a special "Thank You" to all the exhibitors, trainers, parents, staff, and volunteers at our shows - we couldn't do them without all of you!

If anyone has any comments, ideas, or suggestions for our shows for 2008, please let us know soon! If you are looking for any particular classes that we are not currently offering, please let us know! The 2008 Woodsong Farm Horse Show Calendar is posted here on the website under the competitions page and our home page. Be sure to mark your calendars!

As has become a tradition here, our 2008 Winter Class schedule has been established. The classes available and their scheduled dates are posted. Sign up early as space is limited for many of the classes! Please remember that, unless otherwise indicated, all of the classes are open to everyone and no prior experience is required. These classes are a great way to build your horsemanship skills and expand your knowledge - please join us!

And just a reminder for anyone who might not yet know . . . The Tack Shop is now online! It has it's own website, www.woodsongtack.com , or can be found through a link to your left under the menu. Items are continuously being added to the site so check back often! Also, just so that you are aware, there are a few items available on the site that are not in the store, and vice versa.

September 4, 2007

Perry, ???? - September 4, 2007

Today is a sad day for the farm as it was Perrys last. Perry has been with Woodsong Farm for over 15 years as a school pony. For the past few years he has had medical problems that limited his quality of life.

August 17, 2007

We have some excited new horse owners in the barn! Stephanie Sykes is thrilled to have Hunter to help teach her about riding and showing! Stephanie has recently begun to show here at home in the Walk-Trot division and the Beginner’s Over Fences. The pair will be ready to move on soon, and we cannot wait to take the pair on the road with us!

Back in the saddle again after a several year hiatus, (having two young children seems to do that to people!), Kay Slater is looking forward to getting back in the groove. Piper and she have been enjoying the journey! Keeping things in the family, Kay’s husband, Scott, has even started riding lessons!

Our congratulations to Brenna McLoughlin and Avonlea on their outstanding show season thus far! With limited showing, the pair has qualified again this year for all of the mini-medal finals (MHJ, MHC, SEHA, and YCC). They are also currently leading the state in the Children’s/Adult Special Hunters as well! Brenna had a fantastic July – she and Avonlea were CHAMPION at BOTH Seacoast shows AND Head of the Bay! These ‘A’ shows all had tough competition and the pair rose to the occasion. At the first Seacoast show they won ALL of the division classes AND won the Classic! It simply doesn’t get any better than that! At Head of the Bay, they were second in all of the division classes and fourth in the Classic out of a very large division of forty entries! Excellent job!!!! We wish them lots of fun and the best of luck as they finish out the season together!

Katie Hoffman is following Brenna’s excellent example and is also leading the state in her division! Katie has had a great time showing Foxy and Greta’s new pony Firefly in the Walk-Trot division. Despite not riding at all for several years, Katie started up again late last fall. Aside from the holdups associated with the winter weather, she has been working hard ever since. Katie has also been busy at home helping us school Scotty for Ben. She has even been showing him a bit here at home to help teach Scotty the ropes.

Joining us on the road at some of the shows this year, Taylor Mindrebo has been having a good time and making some excellent progress! Each show, Chloe has been a trooper and Taylor has continued to learn more and ride better! Her last show, July’s Yankee Clipper, she won several of her Long Stirrup Equitation classes and qualified for YCC’s Long Stirrup Medal Final! With her bit of mileage this year, Taylor has discovered that horse showing is fun!

Of course with all this talk about our adventures away horse showing, we have to say a HUGE “Thank You” to Pat Hammatt for all of her assistance! Despite her willingness to pitch in and do anything we need, Snickers and Meadow are most thankful for her attention and care during the busy day!

Additionally, here on the home front, Ben Slater, Ian Gordon, Carrie Fyfe, Cailey Kilpatrick, Morgan Mindrebo, and Jessica Brown have all been showing their horses and ponies. We hope that they are all having lots of fun and learning a bit along the way!

Sadly, we say “Good Bye” to Pat Rabin’s lovely mare Daisy. Always a lady, and very pleasant and easy to deal with, Daisy has moved to a new home in Colorado. We will miss her, and wish her the best in her new home.

March 19, 2007

Nina , 1992 - March 19, 2007
We mourn the loss of our devoted canine friend, Nina. Nina has been with the Woodsong Farm since 1994 and was more than happy to meet everyone.  Nina was quite the socialite and known to her close friends as Rocket due to her incredible speed in her younger years.  These last few years Nina has slowed down in speed but not in spirit and began to spend more and more time inside but still loved to meet and greet people and enjoy a good quality of life.  Nina's condition began to quickly deteriorate and she finally succumbed to old age on March 19, 2007.  Nina will be terribly missed.  She was a Good Dog... Rest in Peace Nina, We love you!