Newtown Bridle Lands Dinner Meeting

The Newtown Bridle Lands Association will hold its annual dinner meeting (open to all members and their guests) on Tuesday, April 19, at 7 pm, on the basement level of the Meeting House.

Bill Newman, an accomplished saddle maker recently relocating from Missouri to join Beval Saddlery in New Canaan, will provide an interesting and informative lecture.

Mr Newman has his own saddle shop at home, where he designs custom Western and English saddles to fit horse and rider. He has been active in the horse industry since he was 13 and since then has been a professional jockey, instructor of drill teams, and been involved in horseback square dancing. He was also the vice president of training for WHINY, an agency in charge of breaking and training wild mustangs for adoption.

Mr Newman has also been in several movies as a horseback stuntman.

Mr Newman studied saddle making in France for eight years and was an alternate on the French Olympic Equestrian team. He will bring a few of his saddles to the meeting to show and discuss the various parts of a saddle, how to measure for fitting, and will answer questions.

Call Christina Kennedy at 426-3612 by April 17 if you plan on attending.

Senior Horse Care Lecture

WATERBURY – The Equine Resources Committee at Post University in Waterbury will host the next session of Quiz The Experts lecture series on Friday, April 22, at 7:15 pm.

The lecture will be presented by Mike Scott on correct saddle fitting. To reserve seats, make checks payable to Post U-ERC and send to Carole Baker at Post University, P.O. Box 2540, Waterbury, CT 06723-2540.

Proceeds benefit equine scholarships and the equine program at Post. For further information, call 203-596-4631 or email CBaker@post.edu.

4-H Spring Benefit Horse Show

BETHEL – The annual 4-H Spring Benefit Horse Show will be held Sunday, May 15, at the Cooperative Extension System grounds on Stony Hill Road in Bethel.

The popular Open School show will feature divisions in English Equitation, Hunt Seat, Western and Trail. Most classes will be pinned through sixth place, with the first-place winner also receiving a trophy. Divisions will be awarded champion and reserve ribbons.

Interstate + Lakeland Lumber, Fairfield Equine, and Benedict Home and Garden will sponsor the 2005 show.

“The support of these companies greatly expands our fundraising efforts,” said show manager Jamie Wallace.

The high-point horse and rider combination from both the Spring Benefit and Fall Nutmeg shows will receive year-end awards in the following divisions: Open Beginner Hunter and Walk/Trot (Sunny Brook Farm of Newtown); Low Hunters (Clearview Farm of Sandy Hook); The Kentucky Hunter Classic (All The King’s Horses of Ridgefield); and Western Adult Walk/Job (Happy Trails Farm of Danbury).

Proof of a current rabies vaccination (within one year) will be checked at the gate for each animal.

Refreshments will be available on the grounds. 4-Hers will be offering “horse-side” service for food and drink and Bit O’ Tack will be offering horse products for sale. For a prize list, stop by the CES building on Stony Hill Road or call 1-203-207-8440.

‘For The Horse’ Workshop

OLD LYME – High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc., will present a two-day workshop entitled “For The Horse” on Saturday and Sunday, April 23 and 24, at High Hopes in Old Lyme.

Topics will be presented by veterinarians, farriers, and other specialists and will include Natural Horsemanship-Monty Roberts Method; Horse Behavior-Parelli Method; driving; vaulting; chiropractic and acupuncture; reproduction; hoof care; saddle fitting; animal communication; massage and trigger point myotherapy; and desensitizing the horse.

Call Kristin Pernal at High Hopes at 1-860-434-1974, ext. 18 for further information.

Horse Council Directory Available

DURHAM – The American Horse Council’s 2005 Horse Industry Directory is now available for purchase.

The publication includes listings, both national and international, covering every segment of the equine industry. Updated yearly, it is the definitive source that puts the equine industry at your fingertips.

American Live Stock Insurance Company sponsors the directory, which includes listings for breed registries; racing, rodeo, show, sport and trail organizations; equine and welfare organizations; publications; state extension specialists; state departments of agriculture; state trails coordinators; to name a few. And, an index of all of the listings and telephone numbers are provided for easy access.

The cost of the 2005 Horse Industry Directory is $20 and may be ordered by visiting the AHC web site at www.horsecouncil.org, by phone at 202-296-4031 or by sending a $20 check or money order to 1616 H Street, NW, 7th Floor, Washington, DC, 20006.

The directory is also a benefit at certain levels of membership in the American Horse Council. The Connecticut Horse Council, based in Durham, is an affiliate of the AHC.

Dominique Barbier Clinic

WINCHESTER – Meenahga Ridges Farm in Winchester will sponsor Dominique Barbier clinics July 22-24 and October 29-31.

Dominique Barbier is considered a master of French classical training and is an advocate of lightness, balance and rider awareness. Dominique will do in hand work with every horse in the morning and then ride them. The afternoon sessions are for participants to do the own in hand work and ride under his direction.

The clinic is open to as many as 10 riders and space fills up fast. Preference is given to those who elect for all three days.

Cost is $275 for one day, $525 for two days and $775 for all three days. To audit the clinic, cost is $30 for one day, $50 for two days and $65 for three days.

Board is $30 per day, but Meenahga Ridges staff will do the stalls daily. Participants will need to bring their own hay and grain, although hay will be available for purchase at the farm.

Box lunches will be arranged for and menu selection will be available for riders and pre registered auditors. A recent negative Coggins and Rabies certificate is required for board during the clinic.

sports@thebee.com