Tour of Springfield Vermont on Horseback

As usual lately, I am behind on my posting. Here's a trip Zoe and I took downtown on Valentine's Day, astride the dynamic duo - Keri and Teasel of course. I am dedicating this post to my Dad .. not because he particularly likes horses or going downtown -- but because he always liked this song.... which I will admit, even though I agreed with him it was a nice song - at my age back then.. it was typically a Dad embarrassing a teen daughter with nerdy song choices. :) And hopefully, the song player to the right will spew out Petula's hit song.. Downtown. :)

Sunday is not our usual day to ride this year - but Zoe came over early on Valentine's Day.. helped me finish up chores so we could get in the saddle for a journey downtown -- a just for fun do something different expedition. I am not sure why all these truck drivers are not home on a Lover's Sunday.. but we saw quite a few of these Price Chopper trucks on the road.





In order to trot through the town proper, we turned up Hospital Hill -








Springfield Vermont is a kind of depressed and forgotten little gone by mill town curiously bi-sected and di-sected by many rivers and streams - the biggest of which is the Black River. Sometimes the water runs under the many old buildings and storefronts. There are lots of steep hills within town, lots of bridges, a small main street where a few years back - we had the honor of hosting the Simpson's, a big block party and the movie premiere. During 18 seasons of The Simpsons TV series, the fictional Springfield's location had never been identified. Several of the Springfields across the nation made videos to defend their case for being considered Homer's "real" hometown. Now we know-- it IS here.. Springfield Vermont. So that little tidbit might just give you a clue of the town I live in :)

The many dividing rivers and brooks and the hills and valleys have created sections of neighborhoods, each with its own community market with all the necessities and a butcher shop.

Completely off topic - have you ever seen an automobile so small ? I had to snap a photo.. a true sardine can on wheels.

Down a steep and narrow Park Street - over the bank is the elementary school.. used to be the high school. My children attended here - from 4th grade until they were old enough for 'middle' school.

Keri stops for a moment to take a look at the Elks club.

We enter more of the 'business' section of the town - with all its old buildings.. many of them abandoned. In a way it's too bad as they are examples inside of some fine architecture.

We can look across the river at the back side of Main Street - the river is between. The Miller Art Center is up on the hill with the big pillars

Cross the Park Street bridge, which was re-modeled to allow for a better touristy view of the river. You can see how the main part of town is divided with a noisy series of waterfalls - now frozen. They are called Comtu Falls - Great Noise.

The main intersection of downtown Springfield. I have seen photo's of this area from the past with the old hotel (since burned down) -- the stabling area for horses with hitchrails along the front. No evidence of that era now. The movie theater which featured the Simpson's premiere burned down. I guess there is talk of restoring it.

Along the storefronts of town. Usually, when we trot downtown - we travel on the other side, but I want to stay on the side of the river today. Just ahead - it is not so noticeable unless on horseback or walking, but another river crosses under main street to meet the Black River. In our town, the store fronts continually change.. businesses struggle here perhaps with the New Hampshire no sales tax law-- everyone shops there.

Here's a newcomer -- 802 Music.. with bands, pizza, and coffee all organized by young locals. Is this a modern rendition of the 'coffee house' of the 60's ? I think so. More metal than Buffy Ste. Marie though.

There was once an ancient old tall building here- quite a raggedy building where Tony the Barber was located along with the requisite barber pole-- is that a cliche or what ?? I have known so many Tony the Barber's in my day !

One year Springfield took on a large "pretty up the town" project.. re-located the building's residents - one of whom was an elderly woman who daily walked a large herd of motley dogs through town. ... and razed the building, built this 'park'. Trading in one town legend for a new one.

It does give a nice view of the river here - look how frozen it is. I am always amazed by how all those buildings back directly up to the river. Humans just don't let much get in the way of their plans sometimes, and build over, under - where-ever.

Pedestrian bridge to gain access to the Fellows Gear Shaper building. This old building once employed almost half of Springfield's then population. You can see more falls --

Just about done with our Tour of Springfield by horseback... up ahead is North Springfield - where over the years has gone through some big developments. We will turn left, past McDonald's and the Plaza -- cross yet another bridge and head home on the highway.

it's clear sailing now -- an interesting trek for something different.

Enjoy ~

OYY Little "Z" gorgeous young mare offered for sale !

OYY Little "Z" - she loves to pose and it seems this is her favorite stance.

Whichever way she chooses to stand and look..

"Z" is beautiful !

"Z" has had a lot of ground work done, ground driving, line driving, obstacle work... then for one reason or another- she was 'put out to pasture' in a sense, due to weather, other commitments with shows, etc. Recently, we have been bringing her out again to see what she remembers and she is pretty pleased about it. She is so anxious to please and have a job. She is 15 hands or a tad more at coming 4 years old.




Recently, "Z" experienced two major graduations of sorts -- Little "Z" moved in with the 'big' girls on the farm - these are a tough group; well bonded, grown ups, lesson horses and forever mares. They accepted her into the fold -- so her status went up a few notches immediately, along with her self esteem.

Her next big initiation ceremony was her foray down the road. "Z" has had lots of experience up around the farm and surely plenty in the indoor, all kinds of obstacles in the course we have set up.. but traveling down the road, off the farm into the BIG world, wow - is the reaction we usually get. It's as though they are saying - 'I have been so waiting to see what all those other horses have a chance to experience when I see them trot off.'

She got a chance to see and hear traffic, mailboxes, road signs

"Z" was interested, enthusiastic and still always listening to her handler's cues and communications.

Now, she is most curious and wanting to see more !

"Z" has accepted weight on her back with no major complaints... Mounted both sides, slid off her back - had her move off with weight..

Once the saddle was on - she was - once again- fine with the stirrups slapped.. licking and mouthing. She's ready to be ridden. She's had enough for today so next time !

OYY Little "Z" is maternal sister to OYY Elektra. They do not resemble one another much physically, but the same temperament and dependability is there. "Z" is a bit more reserved and discriminating than her sister - who is immediate best friends with whomever.

This is Ahmet, dam to "Z" and Elektra. She is a nice stout sporty 15.1 hand mare. Ahmet has some nice curly bloodlines - and for Top O' The Hill Farm - she is 3rd generation, making "Z" 4th generation.

Mead's Chocolate Chip is sire to "Z" and grand-sire to Elektra.

Chip has quite an impressive list of offspring - both children and grand-children ! Plus he's a super horse in his own right.. multi-purpose, can-do fellow with an absolutely outstanding disposition.

Two short video's made recently of Little "Z"

She's such a willing sweetheart !

More video's of our queen of the big screen...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVYA0Ff3Jjk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VGQ1aSIBj0

"Z" is registered in three registries - ABC, ICHO, and CSI. I will be pleased to nominate her for awards with the Curly Sporthorse International Registry, if her new owner wishes to show.

She is going to make someone very happy !! She has the bloodlines and the beauty to turn heads in the show ring - and the calm disposition to make a super trail horse -- the loving nature to make a dependable friend for life !! What more could you want in a horse ?

Enjoy ~

Birthday day for Zoe

Day after Ground Hog day.. back in 1979, Zoe was born.

This morning, I woke up early to feed - finding a light sparkly snowfall and a rainbow !! First time I have ever seen a rainbow created from snowflakes. It was faint and difficult to photograph .. but special.

I guess because I have operated a farm for so long.. my life and the life of others is marked by animals - recalling milestones by who we were riding at that time. :) Zoe has ridden a lot of horses - and plenty of mares.. but most of her favorites were geldings.




Zoe has accomplished a lot in these years... this past year, she set quite a few goals for herself as a rider and worked diligently with Elektra in the show ring. She attained pretty much what she set out to do -- and won the Horse of the Year in both the Curly Sporthorse International and the ICHO. She improved her riding skills dramatically. And I believe she had a lot of fun doing it. I reaped some of the benefit of her desires and aims.. as I got some great work done with my horses ! :)

Zoe's first horse was Sunshine Alec-Xander, who arrived at Top O' The Hill Farm as a nursling alongside his Mom, Sunshine Tiarra. Tiarra stayed with us until her sale to a family at age 21 years. She was one of my personal favorite mounts - and Keri's mom !! I trained Alex, rode him a bit and handed him off to Zoe. - and Zoe as a 12-13 year old rode him everywhere. She did many 3 and 4 day camping trips and many 15 and 25 mile competitive rides. He was a super horse but did dump Zoe quite a few times.. he had a tricky little spin that we still refer to as the Alex spin. That was a few years ago and here I am riding his sister :)

Alex was sold .. and Zoe began riding Mel's Bathtub Gin - who was our herd sire, but became a gelding at age 12. I rode Tuff 'Nuff then for the most part and the two of us left most everyone in the dust with those two. We had a blast and still reminisce about those rides... a great duo. We logged many fast miles of rough country and really found a lot of the trails we ride today with those two extra-ordinary mounts.

Her next favorite gelding was Ollie - out of Col's Pasqualie Kid and a Suffolk Punch mare. This was also around the time that I started to ride Keri more. In addition to continuing our expeditions.. we did some showing, started to drive quite a bit, and every other weekend we rode in Judged Pleasure rides together, usually of 25 miles or more.


Here's the two of us together with Keri and Ollie. We each have boxes of ribbons to show but it was the time in the saddle that is most memorable.

Zoe drove with me often - but I am not so sure she really loved it. Although she was young, I had some high expectations and perhaps burdened her with a tad too much responsiblity at times. We still laugh about the time we were out with this mare, who was usually "spook-free"... until she saw a very glimmering shiny bunch of balloons tied to a mail box on the curve down the back road. She balked, so I exited the cart to lead her. The milisecond she knew I was out of the cart - she spun around for home at a good extended road trot.. and I am yelling instructions to Zoe on bringing her under control. It turned out, thankfully, to be a good laugh we'll share for a lifetime. One of many we have had on horseback or in the cart.

I think the only mare Zoe truly was fond of was OYY Yemaya.. and I am not sure she has totally forgiven me for selling this one out from under her.

But now we have Keri and Teasel... what a great pair for tootling about town.

And Zoe has her sights set on training a Chip son - OYY Buster Brown - this guy is going to be awesome.

He's already a superb driving horse (with his background it's a natural for him). It's not going to take much to get him out and about.

This past year Zoe has taken a greater interest in driving too.. even after all the wrecks she has witnessed, she still wants to learn.

She might even do some driven dressage this summer with OYY Nimue.

So Happy Birthday Zoe -- a great year for you with many goals met. Hopefully this rainbow is a sign of more greatness!!

Enjoy ~

Blue Skies, Smilin' at me :)

Saturday was one of our most beautiful days yet .. clear, crisp -- not warm enough for melting. We decided to trot down to the snowmobile trails and follow those - and the snow cover was firm and perfect, wide as a highway for some fast travelin' :) The horses were happy and we actually found new trail for the coming summer expeditions and formulated a new loop for the next ride out. And the SKIES --- as my best friend would say -- "firkin' awesome" :)


Blue days... All of them gone.. Nothing but blue skies ~From now on .. as I trot along .. Willie Nelson is the man crooning the tune - but you can choose your own ..

I added a gadget to the right where you can actually click to play... I uploaded a choice of Willie and Ella if you want musical accompaniment. Hopefully it works and you enjoy :)

Right at the beginning - we cross a snowmobile bridge that is part of some neighborhood controversy.. and poorly built at that. The horses don't love this one.

Photo's tell the whole story :)

Out of the woods onto the ridge.

Back into the woods again with sun and shadows.

We rode this trail a few times during the summer but at some point since then, the snowmobile clubbers have altered the route... we exited NOT where we though we would. No problem though - as we spotted some great off shoots for some future summertime expeditions.

Here, through the trees, we get our first clue for where we are.

We cross the road, through a gate and onwards we go. During the summer these gates are closed -- cows in the fields. For winter-time, this is superb riding and we get to travel to new places and see new sights.

a snowy highway ..One of the best features about the snowmobiles trails is ~ if we keep going, we can trot to Canada !! However, we always have to remember-- we still have to save time to get home again. Today was one of those days where we don't want to get out of the saddle

Through out the day - we met a few other riders of the motorized persuasion. Horses are not truly allowed on the trails - but everyone is friendly and waves.

saw a few snow shoers. Usually all we see of these quiet forest walkers is their prints.

More bridges - and another road crossing ahead.

I think I just said something funny to Zoe. We trotted and cantered to the crossing over Route 106 just to see it and formulate the plan for our next ride -- which will most likely lead to Hawk's Mountain again- but all snowmobile trail this time. Then we returned home on the back roads.

it's getting later in the afternoon now-- plenty of sunrays - but they are not emitting so much warmth as before. The dirt roads are still slick- so it's slow going on the return trip.

Teasel and Keri love to stay close. We don't allow for this often.. but we can trot and canter like this for miles ! They are so silly.

The further we get on the back roads- the more close the tree cover.. creating a dark tunnel. After our blazing trots and canters in the sun - we were delightfully warmed. Here, with the slow cautious walking, we became quite chilled.

Next time we follow this route we are going to do it in reverse... the cold slow part first -- and end up with the fast and furious. Also - in reverse, the trip will be almost all up hill.

Perhaps all of you are already bored with my canter video's but I had to add another -- because it was so much fun.. At one point you'll hear me politely mention to my mount she is too close to the tree...

A section I left out - due to some of camera fumbling and a lot of hushed conversation.. was when Zoe politely poked me and whispered 'deer' .... I am whispering back 'where? ' ... 'I don't see them' which of course I can't see anything with the camera up to my eye -- as we are cantering and filming... afterwards I am wondering -- why were we whispering--- I guess because our horses did not see the herd and we wanted to keep it that way :)


This was probably the best ride of 2010 :)

Enjoy ~