OCTOBER

 

7 – Newtown Kennel Club AKC-sanctioned match and AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day celebration. Fairfield County Extension Center horse show grounds, Route 6 (Stony Hill Road), Bethel, CT. Come see a variety of AKC-registered breeds - from puppies to adults - battling each other for Best of Breed and ultimately competing for Best-In-Match. Watch children and teenagers polish their dog handling skills as these junior showmen vie for the Best Junior Handler title. Match entries will be taken from 10 am until time of judging. Entries are $8. Classes offered include - Breed Classes: 3-6, 6-9, 9-12 months for puppies and Novice and Open for adults all divided by sex; Junior Showmanship classes: Novice Junior (8-12- years-old) Novice Senior (13-16 years-old); Open Junior (8-12- years-old); Open Senior (13-16 years-old). Junior Showmanship judging starts at 12:15 pm. Breed class judging starts at 12:30 pm. As part of the Newtown Kennel Club’s AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day exhibit AKC Director of Club Communications and Bee columnist Lisa Peterson will be on hand to answer questions, hand out free give-aways for kids, including balloons, stickers and coloring books as well as encourage every dog lover to sign the Pet Promise! For more information e-mail Match Chairman Pat Benincasa at pathusky@aol.com.

7 – The Greenwich Riding & Trails Association Hunter Pace will be held Sunday, October 7, from 8 am to 12 noon, at June Hill Farm in Greenwich. Lunch will be served at 12:30 pm and ribbons will be awarded when all riders are in. The pace is part of the Associated Bridle Trails Fall Pace series, and ribbons will be awarded in four divisions: Hunt, Pleasure, Junior, and Western. Entry forms can be found at www.thegrta.org. To register, call or email Claire Reed at 203-324-0434 and clrreed@yahoo.com.

13 – Canine Advocates will present Putting On The Dog II wine tasting and silent auction on Saturday, October 13, from 4 to 8 pm, at Taunton Press on South Main Street. Cost is $50 per person.Enjoy an evening of superb wines, bountiful, savory hors d’oeuvres and scrumptious desserts. All proceeds benefit the Canine Advocate Building Fund for a new pound for Newtown. Please mail your check to Canine Advocates of Newtown, PO Box 236, Newtown, CT 06470. Tickets will also be available at the door.

14 – The Schooling Show series at Lion Hill Farm on Sport Hill Road in Easton will continue on Sunday, October 14. There will be divisions from beginner jumpers and micro equitation to Low Hunter Under Saddle and High Hunter Fences. Call 203-268-0089 for further information. Fax entries to 203-459-8122. The show will begin at 8 am.

14 – The Middlebury Bridle Land Association will be holding its annual Fall Hunter Pace on Sunday,  October 14, at Larkin’s Farm, South Street, Middlebury. The ride is open to all riders, and helmets and negative coggins are required. All jumps have go-arounds. The pace is part of the Associated Bridle Trails Fall Pace series, and ribbons will be awarded in four divisions: Hunt, Pleasure, Junior, and Western. Lunch for riders is included, and non-riders are welcome to purchase lunch. For more info, call ShawnaLee Kwashnak at (203) 598-0065.

28 – The Newtown Bridle Lands Association will hold its Frost On The Pumpkin pace on Sunday, October 28, from 8 am to 12 noon, on Mount Nebo Road. Entries will close October 24 or when full. Early registration is encouraged. All riders are encouraged to ride in costume as prizes will be award for best costumed team, the oldest horse & rider combination, and the youngest rider (for the “Peanut” award). Fees are $70 for NBLA members and $75 for non-members; $5 for NBLA junior members and $50 for junior non-members. Payment is required in advance. Any payments still outstanding on pace day will have a $10 charge added per rider. For registration forms or for more information, call the NBLA contact line at 203-791-4853 or visit www.nblact.com. This pace is the final pace in the Associated Bridle Trails series.

NOVEMBER

 

11 – The Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard will hold the annual Benefit Trail Ride for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on Sunday, November 11, from 9 am to 12 pm, on the grounds of its Fair-field Hills headquarters. Riders will complete an 8-mile trail at their leisure and are asked to use the St. Jude pledge sheet to raise funds from many sources. T-Shirts, sweat shirts and other prizes will be awarded depending on the amount of money raised by each participant. All proceeds go directly to St. Jude Hospital. This event is open to all horse owners. Riders under the age of 18 must have a release form signed by parent/guardian. All riders are asked to wear safety helmets and show proof of current Coggins and rabies vaccinations. Registration forms for the ride can be downloaded at www.thehorseguard.com.  For start times, inquiries and questions please call Sergeant Jackie Sundblade at (203) 729-5646 or email publicaffairs@thehorseguard.com.

8 to 11 – The 10th annual Equine Affaire in the Northeast will be held Thursday, November 8, through Sunday, November 11, at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts. There will be something to offer to horse enthusiasts of all ages, all breed persuasions, all levels of expertise, and all equine disciplines. There will be training clinics, seminars and demonstrations, a trade show, the popular breed pavilion, the Arabian Horse Association youth pavilion, the ARIA Test Center, the World Championship Blacksmiths qualifier, and the famous “The Pfizer Fantasia – A Musical Celebration of the Horse” which will take place Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings in the Equine.com Arena located in the coliseum. For further information, visit www.equineaffaire.com and click the link for the Massachusetts show.

11 – The Schooling Show series at Lion Hill Farm on Sport Hill Road in Easton will continue on Sunday, November 11. There will be many divisions from beginner jumpers and micro equitation to Low Hunter Under Saddle and High Hunter Fences. Call 203-268-0089 for further information. Fax entries to 203-459-8122. The show will begin at 8 am.