VERDA News

New Meeting location

2012-01-08T08:09:00.002-05:00

Polly Smith has opened her home up for the rest of the winter meetings.
January, March and Aprils meeting will be held at her home on Hammond Hill Rd
in West Windsor VT.
Directions:
From RT 44 in Brownsville turn north on to the Hartland Brownsville RD
drive a couple of miles to the third road on the right. Polly's is the first house on
the right. Note don't take the second road on the right that is the wrong end of Hammond hill!

VERDA MEETINGS 2011-12

2011-10-17T08:49:00.003-04:00

Its time for our winter meetings to start.
Meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of the month from November to April. The meetings will be at the GMHA members room with food being served at 6:30 and the meeting starting at 7:00. The November meeting we will supply Pizza and the other meetings will be pot luck. The Febuary meeting will be replaced by the awards banquet. If you around we would love to see you there!

First meeting Tuesday November 8th 2011

Leland passes on

2011-10-17T08:38:00.002-04:00

Anne Marie Savino had to put Leland down after the GMHA 50. She assisted in the AERC mandatory necropsy and they found he suffered from a partial twist in his small intestine. It shows you can do everything right and still suffer a loss. If you would like to send Anne Marie a donation to help with these expenses please make out a check to VERDA and send them to 374 Coon Club Rd W. Windsor Vt 05089. You can also bring a donation to the Eatathon .

Our hearts also go out the Boyers who had to put Sparker down just before the weekend.

Eatathon in on the 29th

2011-10-17T08:34:00.002-04:00

The eatathon will be in Cornish NH and will be on Saturday the 29th with a rain date of the 30th.
Contact Ruth Ferland ruthfrlnd@aol.com or Joy Axten ( Secretary ) axten@yahoo.com

recommendations from Agency of Ag

2011-09-14T20:13:00.000-04:00

The Agency of Agriculture has received inquiries from veterinarians and livestock owners regarding feeding livestock feed that has been contaminated by flood waters. Please see below the Agency of Agriculture's current recommendation regarding feeding livestock flooded feed or allowing them to graze on flooded pasture. Hopefully, this information will be helpful to you when communicating with your clients.

At this time, the Agency of Agriculture is recommending that people not feed livestock (horses included) feed stuffs that have been inundated by flood waters. Additionally, allowing livestock to graze on pastures that have been flooded is not recommended. The Agency of Agriculture has received inquiries from livestock owners who have historically allowed their animals to graze on pastures that flood seasonally. People should remember that this flooding is different than seasonal flooding that has happened in the past because Irene flood waters are potentially contaminated with pesticides, hydrocarbons, pathogens (E. Coli, salmonella, etc), heavy metals, etc due to the involvement of waste water treatment plants and other facilities that may contain these substances under normal circumstances. Certainly, consumption of these materials by horses does not represent a potential (although as of yet, poorly defined) human health concern the way that consumption by food producing livestock does, but it certainly represents a potential threat to the health of that individual animal. We have heard recommendations like letting the pastures sit through several rain events to help "wash off" contaminants and mowing pastures and removing the cut grass to help minimize contamination. Unfortunately, we know from experiences in midwestern states that even after allowing soybean crops to undergo several rain washings, the obvious and micro-contamination is not fully removed. So, based on all of this info, the Agency of Agriculture is advising against feeding any flood-affected forage and feedstuffs. The Agency of Agriculture has submitted to FDA a proposal for mitigation of contaminants in feedstuffs including mycotoxins (aflatoxin, vomitoxin,zearalonone, ochratoxin), heavy metals (cadmium, mercury, lead), pathogenic bacteria and associated toxins (Salmonella, E. coli 0157:H7, Clostridium perfringens, botulinum), pesticides (organophosphates, chlorinated hydrocarbons), and PCBs. Once we receive feedback from FDA, additional recommendations from the Agency of Agriculture pertaining to the management of feed materials such as haylage, corn silage and pasture will be forthcoming. Please contact the Agency animal health office at (802)828-2421 if you have any questions on this update.

Please see the following recommendations for livestock owners that have been generated by the Livestock Care Standards Advisory Council (veterinary members on that Council include Dr. Kent Henderson, Dr. Ruth Blauwiekel, and Dr. Haas). Please feel free to forward this information as you see fit.

* All farmers, regardless of size or classification, are advised to contact their Farm Service Agency county office ASAP in order to gain time sensitive information on financial loan and grant programs, as well as information on USDA’s Livestock Indemnity Program.

* All livestock owners should be reviewing their herd health and vaccination protocols in consultation with their herd health or large animal veterinarian as these recommendations may have changed in light of the significant flooding seen with Hurricane Irene.

*All livestock farmers should be reviewing their business plans and identifying potential risks. If feed shortage is identified as a risk, then consider culling marginally productive animals or other outliers while beef prices are strong.

*All livestock owners should assess feed inventory and plan now for alternative feed supplies for the upcoming fall and winter.

* All farmers should communicate with their feed representatives regarding proper harvest and storage protocols to minimize losses between harvest and storage and to maximize feed productivity.

* All farmers should communicate with their financial lenders in order to investigate potential financial opportunities that may exist.

* Please visit the Vermont Agency of Agriculture’s website at www.vermontagriculture.com> to review other resources that would be helpful during the Irene-recovery period.

After Irene

2011-09-08T06:40:00.003-04:00

Windsor County took a bad hit from Irene. Many roads and bridges in the area were washed out. GMHA's C & D barn were undermined and the cross country is covered in mud. They hope to open back up mid September. I haven't heard of any members with any great losses so I hope you are all OK. Ed Renolds did loose his well and told me he saw someones barn float by his kitchen window. Shirley Ouelette's pasture had a lot of mud added to it. Ruth Ferland's horse's made it in to the paper with an aerial shot of them stuck on an island in the middle of her pasture.

Most important is that the VERDA 30 trails are in good shape and will be held on the scheduled date of Sept. 17th. It is easy to get there from I-91. You may need to check on road closing if you are taking back roads to get there.

The Ride Along

2011-07-19T08:24:00.002-04:00

We have a change in mileage at the 100 / 60 / 25 and the ride along.
The second day that has been 35 miles will now go back to the old format
of 40 miles for the drivers. The ride along will be 30 miles.
If you dont see an entry for the ride along download the entry from
the drive.

March Madness

2011-05-25T08:02:00.002-04:00

We held the March Madness ride and drive to make up for the canceled January Thaw. It still looked like a January thaw with 4 foot snow banks, 2 feet of snow in the fields, but boy did we have mud! Many sections of road were almost impassible. Doug and Allen came close to sinking the water while Judges Dr Lisa Hanelt and Linda Glock looked for solid ground to observe the horses. Greenalls found us a great almost dry spot for the halfway hold. We had 10 horses start and 9 finish. 4 from Wendy Bejarano's barn plus Jeff Gardner stayed at Wendy's too!
Results

G.C. Wendy Bejarano on Biekin
Res. Connie Walker on VSC Otis
1 Gene Limlaw on Toby Bartlet's Windrush First Call
2 Ruth Ferland on Wendy's Zambisy's Red Comet
3 Jenny Kimberly on Dixie Dee
4 Joy Axten on Wendy's Jake
5 Yarrow Farnsworth on Wendy's Mecca Bey
6 Jeff Gardner on Gazelle

Thank You Thank You Thank You

2011-05-10T19:50:00.002-04:00

At the last members meeting we presented the VERDA wish list and 3 members stepped right up and filled the list. So at the Brown Bag and Bare Bones rides VERDA will be using these great new toys.
A Big Thanks goes out to :
Lee Alexander who donated 4 new walky talkies
Linda Glock who donated a new ez up shelter
Jenny Kimberly who donated her 250 Gal. sap tank and a 300 gal water trough.
What a great bunch of members we have!

Tack Sale Date Change

2011-03-03T10:02:00.002-05:00

The new date for the VERDA tack sale is APRIL 9th
We knew you just could wait and GMHA will be too busy on the 16th
So we have done out best to accommodate your needs!

Remember consignments accepted late afternoon, early evening Friday the 8th
and pick up your money or leftovers after 1:00 pm on the 9th
See you at the South Woodstock Fire House

January Thaw becomes March Madness 3/19

2011-02-27T16:28:00.000-05:00

As you know the "Too cold to ride date was also Too cold to ride!
So to make up for that ride we have created the March Madness ride and drive March 19th
The 25 mile ride and drive will be held out of the GMHA parking lot.
with every thing the same as the thaw.
Contact Jenny Kimberly 802 674 5384 jennykimberly@comcast.net

Too cold for Thaw!

2011-01-20T07:23:00.001-05:00

The Thaw ride looks to be postponed due to
predicted cold weather. It must be 10 deg. by 10:00 am
the forecast also calls for below zero temps the night before
and after. That makes that indoor very cold to work in.
Must be payback for the great temperatures we had last year!

Lyme Disease in Horses Clinic 1/29/11

2011-01-20T07:15:00.003-05:00

Diagnosis Prevention and Treatment Strategies for Lyme in Horses Clinic
To be held January 29 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm at the
Evergreen Equine of Vermont
5000 Rt 44 Brownsville VT

Learn about how your horse can get Lyme disease, the
available diagnostic tests, prevention strategies, and treatment options.

Presented by your Upper Valley Equine Veterinarians
Evergreen Equine of Vermont
Lyme Veterinary Hospital
Riverbend Veterinary Clinic
River Road Veterinary Clinic
Vermont Equine Medical

Contact Dr Heather Hoyns at 802 484 9100
or go to www.EvergreenEquinevt.com

2010-2011 Winter Meetings

2010-11-07T10:38:00.004-05:00

The winter meetings for VERDA

Date Location Food
October 5th GMHA Pizza

November 9th GMHA Pot Luck

December 14th GMHA Pot luck Christmas Party

January 11th GMHA Pot Luck

AWARDS Banquet
Febuary TBA West Windsor Historical Soc. Catered by Yates

March 8th GMHA Pot Luck

April 12th GMHA Pizza (last meeting )

Great times at the Eatathon

2010-10-29T07:26:00.003-04:00

The 2010 Eatathon was a hit with 33 entries, lots of VERDA members and some new faces. Deb Fisk took us down her trails on her mountain and over to the Icelandic Farm and then back the lush field we parked in. Our Horses had there own Eatathon there! The views were some of the best I have ever seen. At the top of the mountain, with the foilage just past peak, the colors just made you want to sit back, light a fire in the camp site and stair out at southern Vermont . Can't wait to see it in the spring for the Brown Bag and Bare Bones Rides.

Photos available at http://denlorephoto.ifp3.com/

Contributors & Volunteers
Martha Fisk stop 1 & 4 (Pastries/donuts,popcorn balls and baking for Deb as well as volunteering at two stops, and then some.
Mary - volunteer in handing goods out with Martha

Ed Reynold - volunteer (stop 2 and lunch stop 3)
Jim Axten - volunteer (stop 2 and lunch stop 3)
and other tasks.

Dinah Rojek - volunteer (stop 2 and lunch stop 3)

Suzette Fegan - volunteer (setup, lunch stop and final stop along with helping everywhere and in between

Everett Briggs - volunteer (trail, setup, lunch, cooking, prepping, clearing up, unmarking, shopping and more)
Award announcer.

Roland Potter- Town Constable, Traffic Control

Laura & Dennis Tatro - 5th stop (Morgan Farm)
Donated food for that stop as well as holding at their farm.
Professional Photographer with access to photos on their site. Laura provided and made two Caution Horse signs for us which I returned to her for future use.

Susan Peters - donated lunch stop field

Mary Lee - volunteer to help at stop #5

Kevin Blakeman - field owner for base camp

Joy Axten as Secretary

Barbara Gerstner as Treasurer

Deb - contributed coffee & compliments supplies, some paper goods, soup, desserts...trail, and host which involves a number of things as well as taking time off from work...it is work to do this ride...whew. But I was left with a lot of smiles so it made it so worthwhile.

I've thanked most and will finish up with a few last minute ones and I think this successfully left everone happy.

Good weather made it all possible.

2010 eatathon new date!!!

2010-09-30T07:35:00.002-04:00

Deb Fisk is hosting the 2010 Eatathon ride in Sharon Vermont on October 23
Joy Axten is the secretary Axten@yahoo.com Come ride some of the new trails
we will be using next year at the Brwon Bag and Bare Bones rides!
E- mail Joy or Doug for and entry Doug@Sethwarren.com

Richard Sweet Memorial

2010-08-24T18:09:00.001-04:00

Join us Aug. 27th for the dedication of a tree and memorial stone for Dick Sweet
at 4:30 pm at the GMHA Youth Center

Two Great Members

2010-07-19T07:12:00.002-04:00

It is sad for me to say that we lost two great members this month. Paul Kendall and Betty Sweet.
They both have been involved with VERDA from the beginning including helping shape what VERDA has become. They both loved riding, driving, participating in events and putting on events
We will miss them both and only hope we get to enjoy our horses and live life as much as they did.

The NEATO Camp out 2010

2010-07-19T06:55:00.002-04:00

Jeff Gardner will be hosting a camp our ride once at his Farm in Corinth Vermont on the weekend of August 6-8 2010. Last year we had lots of fun camping in Jeff's pasture, Riding 2 loops he marked and a bon fire cook out with Beef from Jeff's farm. Yes Doug Bejarano and Jeff Blittersdorf were spotted riding horses!

Get you entry in ASAP! People can arrive early Friday to help set things up. Ride Saturday and / or Sunday Check in by 9:30 and ride out around 10:00 order Beef from Jeff for Saturday's Dinner and enjoy a light breakfast on Sunday.

Go to www.orgsites.com/ct/neato/ for the entry and more info

Brown Bag Results

2010-05-10T22:03:00.002-04:00

Well it was another cold and wet Brown Bag Ride. We did have 35 riders signed up but 11 of them were scared off by the weather. Some did switch to the Bare Bones LD on the next day. But Sunday proved to be colder in the morning than the 2010 Thaw Ride. Judges Dr Elizabeth Polson and Linda Glock kept warm with lots of corn chowder provided by Maggie in the cook shack. There were plenty of breaks in the rain to judge the ride and we only lost one ez up tent. See you next year in Tunbridge.

Grand Champion Jenny Kimberly on Old Vermont Rebel

Reserve Champion Courtney Walker on Peakabo Street

1^st Peg Dockham on becky

1^st Melody Blittersdorf on emperic

1^st Kristina Phillips on Sir Douglas

2^nd Gene Limlaw on Con la Gracia

2^nd Rhonda Batchelder on Ashara Billy Alan

2 Ann Marie Sevino on Charlestown Raphael

3 Ray Johnson on WB Chanceful

3 Kathy Demick on Texas Sonet

3 Vicki Smith on Sundance Tatez

4 Esther Fiddes on LBF Hickory Smock

4 Marlen Botessi on Omars Montanna

4 Liz Gesler on Canequin Reach for the stars

5 Abby Bennett on Junesun’s Image

5 Wilson Ring on Cragy Lea Jazzy Lady

5 Melisa Abbot on Kalis

6 Leslie Brooks on Silver Britches

6 Bonnie Hinz on River

6 Cindy Ross on Marie

Jr Grand Champion Casey Thompson on Lutka

Jr Res. Champion Logan Abbot on Calamity Jane

Top Rookie rider Logan Abbot

Top Rookie horse Calamity Jane

High Point Arab Empiric , Melody Blittersdorf

High Point Morgan Old Vermont Rebel, Liz Gesler

Celebration for Dick Sweet DELAYED

2010-04-28T12:38:00.003-04:00

Join us at GMHA for the placing of a memorial stone at the tree that was planted for Dick Sweet. Unfortunaty Betty is having a little health set back so we will be post poning the memorial till the VERDA 60/25 drive in August. Check back for up dates.
We will have refreshments, cheese and crackers and some story telling at GMHA

Tack Sale April 10 2010

2010-03-24T21:48:00.000-04:00

VERDA is having their 13th Annual Tack Sale on Saturday, April 10th, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. until noon at the South Woodstock Volunteer Fire Department, So. Woodstock, VT. There will also be discount coupons available at the sale for the Vermont Horse Country Store for the 10th only.

Consignments will be accepted at the So. Woodstock Fire Department on Friday, April 9th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. For early consignments or further information, call Linda Glock at 802-457-3353 evenings.

2009 YEAR END AWARDS First Place

2010-03-24T20:12:00.003-04:00

VERDA First Place Finishers in Vermont Rides for 2009

January Thaw 25 Drive Dlt 01/25/2013 25 1 Thor’s Toy Truck (TJ) 99 Drive Robin Groves
January Thaw 25 CTR Lt 01/25/2013 25 1 Synthetic 100 Ride Melody Blittersdorf
VERDA Brown Bag 25 CTR Lt 05/10/2013 25 1 Nick Of Tyme 100 Ride Debra J Fisk
Bare Bones 50 END en 05/11/2013 50 1 Picaboo Street (Pica) 04:39:00 Ride Courtney Walker
GMHA Mud Sat. 04/27/2013 15 1 Jedidiah Blackguard 100 Ride Ruth Ferland
GMHA Mud Sat. 04/27/2013 15 1 Dixie Dee 100 Ride Jenny Kimberly
GMHA Mud Sat. 04/27/2013 15 1 WBA Chanceful 100 Ride Ray Johnson
GMHA Mud Sat. 04/27/2013 15 1 Rockin Rudy 100 Ride Kathy Hall
GMHA Mud Sun 15 1 WBA Chanceful 99.5 Ride Ray Johnson
GMHA 25 June Drive Dlt 06/15/2013 25 1 Mecca Bey 99.5 Drive Douglas Bejarano
GMHA 25 June Ride CTR Lt 06/15/2013 25 1 Amara's Khadiana 100 Ride Lindsay S Robbins
GMHA 25 June Ride CTR Lt 06/15/2013 25 1 Braeden 100 Ride Allen Welles
GMHA 25 June Ride CTR Lt 06/15/2013 25 1 Furio 100 Ride Carrie Tenney
GMHA 25 June Ride CTR Lt 06/15/2013 25 1 Little Acre Prince John 100 Ride Lee R Alexander
GMHA 25 June Ride CTR Lt 06/15/2013 25 1 Nick Of Tyme 100 Ride Debra J Fisk
GMHA 25 July Drive Dlt 07/12/2013 25 1 Justice 97.5 Drive Wilson Groves
GMHA 25 July Ride CTR #1 Lt 07/12/2013 25 1 Kayce 99.5 Ride Christina Philips
GMHA 25 July Ride CTR #2 Lt 07/13/2013 25 1 Ashmoro Billy Alan 100 Ride Rhonda Batchelder
GMHA 50 Drive dmd 07/12/2013 50 1 Dyberry Bethany 99.5 Drive John Baldwin
GMHA 50 Ride CTR md 07/12/2013 50 1 WBA Chanceful 99.75 Ride Ray Johnson
VERDA 25 Drive Dlt 08/17/2013 25 1 Mecca Bey 98.875 Drive Douglas Bejarano
VERDA 100 Drive dex 08/15/2013 100 1 Spring Thyme 93.167 Drive Paul Kendall
VERDA Ride A-Long 35 CTR Lt 08/16/2013 35 1 Advocate NTF 97 Ride Ann Raynor
GMHA 60 CTR md 09/06/2013 60 1 Paula's Major 100 Ride John Greenall
GMHA 100 CTR ex 09/05/2013 100 1 Picaboo Street (Pica) 98.5 Ride Courtney Walker
GMHA 100 CTR ex 09/05/2013 100 1 Shyrocco Lyric 98.5 Ride Jenny Kimberly
VERDA 30 Drive Dlt 09/13/2013 30 1 Mecca Bey 99.5 Drive Douglas Bejarano
VERDA 30 CTR Lt 09/13/2013 30 1 DB Prophet 99.5 Ride Debra J Fisk
Warren Tessier HRC 30 CTR Lt 09/27/2013 30 1 Bask Taiyin 100 Ride Lori Allen
Warren Tessier HRC 30 CTR Lt 09/27/2013 30 1 Hermione Granger 100 Ride Carrie Tenney
Warren Tessier HRC 30 CTR Lt 09/27/2013 30 1 VSF Otis +/ 100 Ride Connie Walker

2009 Year End Awards

Drivers
Total Miles
John Baldwin 150
Douglas Bejarano 130
Total Points
Douglas Bejarano 136.4375
Jenny Kimberly 97.925
John Baldwin 83.125
Robin Groves 64.6625
Wilson Groves 64.55
Paul Kendall 47.3167
Dan Boyer 46.275

Horses Drives
High Point Driving Horse Mecca Bey ( Douglas Bejarano )
Reserve Dixie Dee ( Jenny Kimberly)
High Mileage Driving Horse Dyberry Bethany ( John Baldwin )
Reserve Mecca Bey ( Douglas Bejarano )
Versitility Mecca Bey ( Douglas Bejarano )

Riders
Total Miles
Deb Fisk 420
Steven Rojek 395

Total Points
Deb Fisk 262.1
Courtney Walker 196.6
Jenny Kimberly 185.25
Ray Johnson 178.35
Lindsey Robbins 173.375
Wilson Ring 170.225
Steven Rojek 164.07
Gene Limlaw 152.275
Allen Welles 132.6375

High Poin Riding Horse Amara's Khadiana ( Lindsay Robins )
Reserve Picaboo Street ( courtney Walker )
High Mileage Horse Picaboo Street ( courtney Walker )
Reserve Craggy Lea JAzzy Lady (wilson Ring )

High Point Combined Ride and Drive Horse

Arabian Nick of Tyme ( Debra Fisk )
1/2 Arab Amara's Khadiana ( Lindsay Robins )
Morgan LBF Hickory Smoke ( Esther Fiddes )
Pinto Daystar Charisma ( Sue Boyer )
Grade Picaboo Street ( courtney Walker )
Appaloosa ?
Morab Mecca Bey ( Douglas Bejarano )

Minutes of the January 2010 Meeting

2010-01-28T21:39:00.001-05:00

January 2010 meeting

Notes provided by Wendy Bejarano

Thaw ride discussion: We need more PR people with more than 20 entries expected.

GMHA needs to be asked for parking permission and directions due to the new parking lot at GMHA. Also there is concern that the Budweiser team will be arriving soon.

2) Banquet Discussion : Krista Alderdice will be doing awards and has been in touch with Jo Steel for results.

Only 16 people have signed up and we need more entries. Doug will post more info this week on the web site followed by an e-mail alert.

We had no Juniors in 2009. We hope to see some in 2010!

3) Clinic : Horse shoeing and alternative health care put together by Melody Blittersdorf and the Vermont Farriers Association has run into a date conflict with the NEATO 50 mile endurance and a driving event at GMHA on May 22 and 23. We will ask if there is a possibility to reschedule but there are very few date the speakers have available.

More information will be available at the February awards banquet

4)Budget discussion: Looks like we made over $2000.00 this year but that is before the 2009 donations that have a not yet been sent. Barbara has the go ahead to send checks to

GMHA, NEF, Stelephane (sp) park

5) 3 day 100/60/25 drive : Managers Ellen Tully and Gaynor Coassin asked to drop the 3^rd day of the drive due to low attendance and no improvement in site for this year. Request was granted and the event will be a 2 day drive of 35 mile the first day with a 35 mile crt ride along and 25 miles more for the drivers on the next day. It was also noted that GMHA was trying to drop the drives from their CTRS . We need more driver to keep this fun sport going.

6)Kathy Hall showed us the VERDA Caps that will be available in 2 colors this year. She also presented insulated totes that every body like very much. They should be ready for the Awards Banquet

7) Betty Welles invited participants and volunteer to a pot luck March 21^st meeting for the 75th running of the 3 day 100 CTR at GMHA

8) VERDA winter meeting will change the menu to a pot luck after great success at the December meeting. This will save VERDA $100.00 per meeting. The first meeting in October or November will still be Pizza. All others will be pot luck

2010 Thaw Ride Results

2010-01-27T21:16:00.001-05:00

RIDERS	HORSES' NAME	RIDE	SCORE

Walker, Courtney	Picaboo Street	January Thaw 2010	100
Kimberly, Jenny	Shyrocco Lyric	January Thaw 2010	99 1/2
Limlaw, Gene	Seegret II Success	January Thaw 2010	99
Bottesi, Marlene	Dixie Dee	January Thaw 2010	98 1/2
Hutchinson, Tom	Theatric	January Thaw 2010	98 1/2
Bean, Lindsey	Tektonic	January Thaw 2010	98
Winslow, Roxanne	Nikazem	January Thaw 2010	98
Walker, Connie	Hermiene Granger	January Thaw 2010	98
Townsend, Louise	Maine Lee Lydia	January Thaw 2010	98
Bejarano, Wendy	Ziggy	January Thaw 2010	97 1/4
Blittersdorf, Melody	Synthetic	January Thaw 2010	97
Thompson, Casey	Pride	January Thaw 2010	97
Phillips, Christina	Sir Douglas	January Thaw 2010	96 1/2
Bennett, Abby	Bie-Kin	January Thaw 2010	96 1/2
Ferland, Ruth	Jake	January Thaw 2010	96 1/2
Alexander, Lee	Bedrocks Handsome Fella	January Thaw 2010	96
Turcotte, Cathy	Mecca	January Thaw 2010	96
Jack, Sarah	Lazaar "Luke"	January Thaw 2010	96
Kobylenski, Ann	Lutka	January Thaw 2010	94
Brown, Celeste	DJJJ Star's Ace	January Thaw 2010	93
Gardner, Jeff	Gazelle	January Thaw 2010	91 1/2
Welles, Allen	Hawks Nest Trade Wind	January Thaw 2010	rider pulled

DRIVERS

Groves, Robin	Thors Toy Truck	January Thaw 2010	98
Wilson, Ginny	Danville Dudley	January Thaw 2010	96

Thaw Ride 2010

2010-01-25T08:47:00.001-05:00

JANUARY THAW RIDE & DRIVE

2010

Perhaps it was a sign of better luck in 2010 or perhaps it was simply fate---there actually was a January thaw on the weekend that the ride took place!

The combination of excellent weather all fall and moderate weather into the early winter seemed to be just what folks needed to enter the Thaw Ride and Drive this year. We had the largest number of entries in recent memory and perhaps one of the largest Thaw events ever. There were 24 entries—2 drivers and 22 riders! WOW!!

With that number of horses we moved the ride back to the Kedron Stables this year. Many thanks to Paul, Chip and staff for hosting us overnight and throughout the day on Saturday. Trail Masters Robin and Wilson Groves created a terrific route that kept the ride on the sunny side of the neighborhood all day with the chili stop again at Sue and John Greenall’s farm.

Our vetting team of Jeff Oney and Linda Glock kept things moving along so we had everyone on the road before 10:30 a.m. With moderate temperatures (for January) all day there was no problem hanging out in the arena visiting either before or after the ride/drive.

This year brought another “first”. We decided to forgo the awards dinner at the Reading Town Hall. Instead, we set up the pot luck food in the Kedron arena so that everyone could eat while the vet-out process was happening. What an incredible selection of food!!! Paul Kendall again provided a fabulous ham and, as I stated last year, VERDA members are terrific cooks!! No one went hungry on Thaw Ride/Drive day. Of course, the fact that it wasn’t terribly cold made this experiment a success.

Awards were presented in the arena as soon as the results were available so people were able to get on the road before it got too late. Congratulations everyone! (and thank you, Sue).

I would like to thank all of the volunteers who make this event a success year after year. You all have made managing the Thaw Ride/Drive a pleasure. Opening your barns, cooking, shopping and giving up an afternoon or a whole day to help is truly wonderful and is appreciated by everyone.

Thanks too to all of the riders/drivers who came out this year. It was a great day and wonderful to have so many people and horses enjoying the Thaw!!

Happy Winter to all. See you in the Spring!

Janet Mayberry

100/60/25 Drive and The Ride Along results

2009-10-04T18:59:00.002-04:00

Managers Ellen Tully and Gaynor Coassin did a great job on this HOT ride and drive
We saw more drivers this year then in the past with 4 in the 100 and 3 in the 25.
The 35 mile ride along was also popular with 18 riders. Unfortunately we had some trail marker issues and a bunch of riders got lost. All in all it was a great weekend and a wonderful spread of
food by Polly Smith. Maybe next year we can double the drivers and keep everyone on the trail.

Hundred Mile Drive:
GC Paul Kendall Spring Thyme
RC Dan Boyer SLF Painted EZ
1 John Baldwin Dyeberry Bethany
DNF Jenny Kimberly Dixie Dee

Twenty-five Mile Drive:
GC Doug Bejarano Mecca Bay
RC Robin Groves
1 Jeff Gardener

35 Mile Ride-Along
GC Ann Raynor Advocate NTF
RC Heather Vecchio Sheba's Knight Dancer
1 Lindsay Robbins Amata's Khadiana
2 Marlene Bottesi Omar's Montana
3 Steve Rojek Francesca .
4 Sue Greenall XerXes
5 Leslie Brooks Silver Britches "Keeper"
6 Wilson Ring Craggy Lea Jazzy Lady
7 Lee Alexander Bedrock's Handsome Fella
8 Deb Fisk Quinszy
9 Ray Johnson WBA Chanceful
10 Allen Welles Braeden
11 Leanne Soule Paul's Major
DNF Jean Audet Walour
DNF Peg Dockham Attala
DNF Lori Allen Bask Tai Yin
DNF Bonnie Hurton Kodak Moment
DNF Carol Barnacle Zephyr
DNF Joyce Dolan Laila
DNF Michael Germane Fireman

Brown Bag Photos 2009

2009-06-02T08:01:00.004-04:00

The start of the 2009 Bronw Bag

Timers and Judges

Pictures from Dan Boyer while judging

Brown Bag 2009

2009-06-02T07:56:00.001-04:00

The Brown Bag / Bare Bones weekend is becoming the Jewel in VERDA’s crown! The rides just keep getting better! This year we added a Limited Distance endurance of 30 miles to the Bare Bone Sunday endurance ride. That may have taken some riders away from the Bare Bones. However we did have 23 entries and 19 starters. Hopefully next year people will come do both rides. The Cornish Fair Grounds provides us with unlimited dry parking, camper plug ins, stalls and a judging ring. The Granthum Rough Riders let us use the cook shack and Maggie the famous 4-H chef volunteered to cook for us. Another great change was great weather. Can you believe it only rained for a few minutes, OK it poured for a little while over night! But no one rode in the rain and no one got hit by the flying pop up tents! (Yes they did fly!) It was perfect Morgan weather!
Dr Ferris Gorra and Dan Boyer Judged the 19 riders in the Brown Bag CTR. 12 horses were vetted in Friday night. So with only 7 to judge in the morning we got an early start. Ruth Ferland’s horse Red wanted to stay home that weekend so we put Ruth on Doug’s horse Mecca and she led the ride with extra trail markers in her saddle! Good thing she carried a cell phone. Ruth ran out of new markers at the 5 to go and called Wendy with the news that the trail markers had been torn down including the mileage markers. Wendy and John Ferland quickly drove up the trail to get everyone in! Mrs. Bulkeley greeted riders with cookies while riders let their horses enjoy her pond. The Halfway hold was on an open hill side with incredible views and knee deep in grass. It was so nice to see some rookies out there along with old friends .Sue Greenall and Deb Fisk both got perfect scores of 100. Maybe they will share the toilet seat! If you don’t know what that means you got to enter the ride next year!

Grand Champion Sue Greenall
Reserve Champion Deb Fisk

Light Weight
1st Heather Hoyns
2nd JoAnne Lasher
3rd Lorraine Thurber
4th Sherilyn McKay
5th Ruth Ferland

Medium Weight
1st Elaine Larson
2nd Peg Dockham
3rd Ray Johnson
4th Vickie Smith
5th Stina Kutzer

Heavy Weight
1st Gene Limlaw
2nd Wilson Ring
3rd Bill Lasher
4th Celeste Brown
5th Irvondra Boyce-el
6th Jessica Deer
7th Lynn Dunn

Best Arab Nick of Tyme ridden by Deb Fisk
Best Morgan DJJJ star’s Ace ridden by Celeste Brown
Top Rookie Sherilyn McKay ridding Joker

Welcome to VERDA

2009-04-27T17:21:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the on line newsletter for VERDA, the Vermont Equine Riding and Driving Association.

In an effort to go green, we will keep you abreast of event news, special information, present articles of interest and more here, as an extension of our new web site, http://verda.org

Check back frequently for news, event photos, sponsor information and whatever else you may find of interest.

VERDA is open to all interested in being a part of the wonderful world of horses and we invite you to browse our web site, download our membership application and join us for a ride or drive.

Welcome to VERDA, we hope to see you again soon.