Darenth Farm

Thank you all for a wonderful summer filled with fun,friends, swimming, lots of riding in the arena and out in the fields and having time to spend with our wonderful horses and ponies. It was a very hot summer but everyone coped admirably! I would like to thank the mothers who kept us well supplied with cold drinks, water melon and ice pops. It was much appreciated!

Riding and jumping in the fields was great fun for the more experienced riders but riders of all ages and abilities enjoyed dressing themselves and their equine partners up for our Friday afternoon demonstration. The horses and ponies are so tolerant of the decorating and extra accessories they are asked to wear and the children so creative with their costumes. I actually think the horses enjoy all the attention!

I would also like to thank our new instructor Julie Gullace for her positive, caring attitude with the beginner riders and Mary Macklin for running a very successful Eventing camp for the more advanced riders. The camps would not run so smoothly without my ‘helpers’ particularly Alison and Megan. Also Hannah, Patrick and Samantha. Thank you so much.

With school starting we will continue with our evening lessons. Please call Sharon if you have not already scheduled your lesson. The autumn is a wonderful time to ride with the cooler temperatures and our lighted arena means we don’t have to worry about the evenings closing in and losing day light.

Guided trail rides on a Saturday can be arranged as well as fox hunting with the Carrollton Hounds on Wednesdays and Sundays. Interested in eventing, hunter paces, dressage or jumper shows just let us know and we will be happy to take you.

I would like to congratulate Amirah on her new pony Bandit and to welcome Hunter and his mare Fancee . I wish you both many hours of happy riding!

Summer Reign, our lovely two year old Holsteiner filly, had her second outing recently. She was beautifully behaved and ably shown by Mary Macklin and placed 4th in her class. The whole experience of trailering and showing in a strange place is so good for the young horses. By the time Summer is competing under saddle as a four year old she will be quite used to the show atmosphere.

Here are some comments and photos from the Darenth Farm Horse Show on May 22, 2010

I wanted to thank you for an amazing first time horse show experience for my daughter.

Never, during my years of showing, did I ever experience such a happy, relaxed, filled-with-good-cheer-for-all horse show.
It was also an great opportunity to teach McKenna good sportsmanship and humility – not easy for some 7 year olds.

Well done!

It was truly lovely, Sharon, thank you.

-Jodie

Thank you to everyone who attended the Darenth Farm Show and helped to make it such a fun day. Thank you to Val Birdsall, our judge for keeping a professional, expert eye on the classes. That is a tough job, particularly with the younger riders on the small ponies. They all look so adorable!

Thank you to Paula for taking the entries and to Richie for bringing his grill and being chief chef. No gathering is complete without the food and we certainly had lots of tasty offerings. Thank you to everyone who contributed.

Paula donated earrings for the high point rider and these were  won by Hannah. Hannah rode her old favorite CJ and also Buckshot. Before the show Hannah had only ridden Buckshot once but put in a great performance.

Samantha showed some great riding skills and quick thinking when a rein snapped during a barrel race. The pony, Annie loves the barrels and didn’t think much of being asked to stop but Samantha using  one rein brought her under control.

Alison took a tumble off of Satin when he took a misstep before a practice jump. Fortunately she was not hurt and remounted and went on to win her jumping class.

I was too busy to take pictures. If any one has any they would like to email me, I would be happy to post them.

Thank you,

Sharon

I  am hoping a lot of you will be able to join us on Saturday May 22nd for our farm show. There will be classes for all ages and abilities, ribbons to 6th place and you don’t need formal show clothes, clean, neat lesson attire is just perfect!

There will be a pot luck picnic at lunch time and last time the food was wonderful, thank you very much to everyone who contributed.

If you would like to use a Darenth Farm horse or pony please let me know as soon as possible. If you are riding your own horse you may enter on the day, although advanced registration is always helpful. Thank you.

Classes are$14 on a Darenth Farm horse (this is all you have to pay, no lease fee or coaching fee!) and $7 if riding your own horse.

Mary and Sharon will be available to coach and answer questions as needed.

Show to start at a very civilized 10.30am.

Judge Ms Valerie Birdsall

Class List

1  Beginner Walk                    Beginner classes for riders who are not yet cantering

2 Beginner Walk/Trot         May enter classes 1,2,8 and 10 and may be led

3 Pleasure Walk/trot

4 Pleasure Walk/Trot/Individual Canter

5 Pleasure Walk/Trot/Canter

6 Equitation Walk/Trot

7 Equitation Walk/Trot/Canter

8 Barrels at Trot, may be led

9 Barrels Open

Lunch Break

10 Horse or pony over trot poles- may be led

11 Over fences  12 inches

12 Over fences 18 inches

13 Over fences 2 feet

14 Over Fences 2′6″

15 Bareback Dollar – just for fun- no entry fee- no ribbons but winner takes all the dollars! Everyone rides bareback with a dollar tucked under their knee. If you loose your dollar you are out and stand in the center of the ring. Last rider with their dollar in place is the winner!

Any questions please contact me and I’ll be happy to help.

Please let me know what you are able to bring for the pot luck picnic.

Thank you,

Sharon

Hi everyone,

I wanted to let you know the dates of the summer camps this year. The camps will run Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 4.00pm. The weeks are divided by riding ability. Please ask if you are not sure where you should place your child. Each session offers riding twice a day and a swim in our above ground pool between rides. The campers are encouraged to learn how to take care of their horses with an emphasis on safety and fun. Each session ends with a demonstration for parents and friends to allow the campers to show off their newly acquired skills.

Mary Macklin will run an eventing camp this year. Eventing is comprised of three disciplines, dressage, stadium jumping and cross country. This is an exciting challenge for horse and rider. Any intermediate rider who would like to push themselves a little and learn some new skills will enjoy this week. We hope to incorporate a field trip and end with a ‘mini event’ competition. Please call with any questions.
Cost  $300 per week

$75 payable on booking, remainder due 2 weeks before camp starts
A discount of $25 per week if multiple weeks booked and for siblings.

June 21st  -  Beginner
June 28th – Intermediate
July 12th –  Beginner
July 19th –  Intermediate
July  26th – Eventing camp with Mary Macklin
August 9th – Beginner
August 16th – Intermediate

I am looking forward to a fun packed summer.

Sharon
Darenth Farm

Happy Snow Days! After several feet of snow Darenth Farm is again open to visitors. All vehicles are recommended to have four wheel drive, and please be able to back your vehicle long distances if need be. Cantee Lane is plowed, but there is only one lane available. At this time, the entrance to Pommel Drive from Route 27 is not accessible.

The horses are happy to be out in the fields after being penned up for most of the week. The snow was so high last week Riley was able to walk over the fence and out of his pen during one of his daily ‘outside’ privileges.

Right now there are no lessons, but we are waiting for the spring weather to melt the snow and resume lessons.

After all the very cold weather the humans and horses at Darenth Farm are enjoying the milder temperatures of the last few days. The horses have been able to go out in their fields without their heavy rugs on and they have been spied snoozing in the sun! It has also been fun to visit with the riders who have taken the opportunity to get a lesson in. During the winter months please feel free to call about a lesson when ever the weather cooperates, even if it is not your regularly scheduled day.

Summer camp dates will be out shortly but if you have any requests for a particular week or type of camp, now would be a good time to let us know! Thank you.

Darenth Farm students and instructors will be competing at shows and events this coming season and we plan to have lots of fun.

Some results from the end of last season. I apologize for being tardy getting these posted.

Eventing- Mary Macklin and her mare Mahogany Beast had two good competitions. At Waredaca a dressage score of 35.8, one rail down in stadium and one (green) runout cross country put them 11th out of 18. At Rubicon a dressage score of 40, one rail down in stadium and a clean, clear cross country round put them 8th out of 20. Well done Mary, those jumps looked massive!

Lexi Cindric had a busy day at the Lochmoy short course riding both her own Sesame Street(Ernie) and Darenth Farm’s Millipede. Both horses finished on their dressage scores with Ernie earning a 4th place and Millie a 1st. Lexi deserves a lot of credit for riding two inexperienced horses and doing so well.

Darenth Farm was also well represented at a jumper show in December at Serra Valley Farm.  Riders included Gena and Lexi Cindric, Mary Macklin, Elizabeth Martin, Kari Archambault and horses included Brighten, Sesame Street,Wrangler, Autumn’s Harmony , Millipede and Knickerbocker. Everybody had a good time, the horses were great and the ribbons too numerous to mention!!

Check out the new section, it includes a great picture of Buck!