By Cara Leigh Wilson

Horses, sleighs and carriages complete with jingle bells abounded at the Fairfield Hills grounds for the annual sleigh rally co-sponsored by the Newtown Bridle Lands Association and the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard this past Sunday. Spectators enjoyed the action from the top of a hill overlooking the course while participants tested their driving skills.

The sleighs competed on an obstacle course of cones located in a sloping filed near the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard headquarters. The horses completed a compulsory course of circles and serpentines as quickly as possible while trying not to knock over the cones. The fastest clear round was the winner.

Cara Leigh Wilson of Newtown and her Hanovarian horse Spock took first place closely followed by second-place winner Betsy Medinger and her Welsh pony Tumbleweed of Corgi Hollow Farm in Newtown. Third place was awarded to Sten Wilson of Newtown, driving Spock. Fourth place went to Chick Trayford and fifth place went to Toby Tamblyn, both of Newtown, driving their draft horse Pappy.

The oldest sleigh and most bells awards were both won by Gale Epstein of Garrison, New York, with her pair of Morgan horses Glory and Parader, who were hitched to an antique four-person sleigh in original condition.

The smallest and woolliest awards were won by Carol Martinili of South Bethlehem and her 31” tall miniature horse Plumber Velvet. Toby Tamblyn’s black draft horse Pappy won biggest horse. Betsy Medinger and her pony Tumbleweed took home the best turn out award. Cindy Fogliano and her Appaloosa horse Jessie won the point-to-point rally for carriages.

The Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard was busy taking care of business. They prepared the fields, escorted visitors, helped contestants, and fed everyone. Special thanks go to Hakim Shakoor for preparing his special chili that warmed everyone from the inside, to Major Charles Zarbo for his super chowder, to Dan Messner for spending hours grooming the snow so it would be suitable for sleighs, and to Karen DeFriesse for coordinating the troops’ efforts.

Parkers and crossing guards were George Marks, Jackie Sundblade, Melanie Messner and Jennifer Taylor. Bob Dahn and Greg Weaver took photographs.

The Newtown Bridle Lands Association members were also busy making sure everyone got a helping hand and had a good time. Special thanks go to Chick Trayford, Toby Tamblyn and Cara Wilson for course design, set-up and clean up, to Marcye Britt and Cindy Miller for registration, to Dee Davis and Annette Sullivan for managing and scoring the obstacle course, and to Cindy Fogliano and her family for marking the point-to-point course.

The 4H Draft Horse Club, sponsored by the Northwest Connecticut Draft Horse Association, provided hay rides with a pair of full-size draft horses pulling a farm wagon. The horses, a blond Belgian named Barney and a black Percheron named Pete are owned by John and Lisa Jacquier of Elm Knoll Farm in East Canaan. Their restored and varnished farm wagon easily carried 10 people at a time for a leisurely drive around the scenic Fairfield Hills grounds.

The 4H members included Sarah Black, Jenna Johnson, Libby Lucas, Rachel Warburton and Sara Fogliano. Their leaders during the day were George Lefcheck and Diane Black.