2010-2011 Winter Meetings

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

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.

Brown Bag Results

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

2009 YEAR END AWARDS First Place

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

January 2010 meeting

Notes provided by Wendy Bejarano

1)

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

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

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