Foxhunt And Cross-Country Riding Clinic

Bridgewater — The Fairfield County Hounds will hold its annual Hunt Clinic Saturday, July 14, at Shallow Brook Farm from 9 am to 1 pm.

The clinic will be led by Sue Del Buono, a longtime member of the Fairfield County Hounds and a seasoned cross-country rider and trainer, and Heather Carlson, an experienced foxhunter and eventer, as well as the head trainer and owner of Starlight Farm. “The clinic is designed to introduce cross-country riding and jumping skills to beginning or aspiring foxhunters and to help ‘tune-up’ experienced foxhunters in anticipation of the 2012 hunt season this fall,” said Ms Del Buono. “Eventers will enjoy the opportunity to learn and practice their skills in the rolling hills of the FCH hunt country.”

“Clinic participants must be able to walk, trot, and canter in an open field,” said Ms Carlson. “The clinic will be divided into jumping and nonjumping groups. Helpful drills and personalized advice will immediately benefit the clinic participants.”

The clinic will include an hour of ring work, focused on riding in teams and in a group, as well as on controlling your horse and “better brakes.” Clinic participants will then move out into the field for additional work in actual cross-country conditions, such as riding on uneven terrain and similar foxhunting and hunter pace situations.

Shallow Brook Farm is at 110 Christian Street. The $75 clinic fee includes lunch and additional lectures and Q&A from the masters of the Fairfield County Hounds, on foxhunting and cross-country riding. Ample parking is available for horse trailers. A limited number of school horses are also available, at an additional charge, for clinic participants who don’t own a horse. Call the farm at 860-355-1879 to reserve a school horse for the clinic.

For more information and registration for the clinic, contact info@fairfieldcountyhounds.org or call 860-354-1109.