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!