Sunny Brook Farm Events

Sunny Brook Farm has kicked off its series to support the equine community. Dr Ned Schankman and Joseph Santos, longtime residents of Newtown, volunteered their time on Friday, March 25, to speak to a group of horse owners and riders at Sunny Brook Farm, 165 Brushy Hill Road.

Dr Schankman, of Connecticut Equine Practice, spoke on “Emergency Care” and what owners should know and do prior to calling a veterinarian when an emergency arises, things that should be done while waiting the veterinarian’s arrival, as well as general information regarding the care of a horse.

Mr Santos, owner of Santos Horseshoeing, covered what riders should know about proper balance and alignment of their horse’s hooves, different types of shoeing, what to do in various situations when a horse has sprung or lost a shoe, and more.

Sunny Brook Farm is hosting this information series and providing refreshments. In return, it asks attendees to bring one can of soup, stew, or any type of meal in a can, and a monetary donation for the Newtown Social Services Gift Fund in check form. (If Sunny Brook has to pay for a clinician, it asks for a separate nominal fee to help defray costs.)

Newtown Social Services not only collects food for its local food pantry and helping seniors fill out paper work for insurance benefits, but the gift fund aids with electric, heating, and rent bills, getting rides to and from doctors appointments, and much more. “One hundred percent of the proceeds received by for the gift fund goes to people in need,” says Ann Piccini, director of Social Services. All donations are tax deductible.

 Other programs being offered at Sunny Brook Farm include:

*Friday, April 1, “Learning proper Braiding techniques” from professional braider Lisa DeStephano.

Learn to trim, pull manes, and braid for the show ring.

*Saturday, April 16, Animal Behavior & Training Part 1, “Why does he do that?” with Amy Lakatos

*Saturday, April 23, “Proper grooming and tack cleaning for horse shows” by Jen Fox (Gauged toward junior riders)

*Saturday, May 7, Animal Behavior & Training Part 2, “Training Basics” with Amy Lakatos

*Saturday, May 21, “Desensitizing your horse and getting ready for trail riding before leaving the Farm” by MaryAnn Rudolph

*Date TBD, Ten-minute stretch to get you ready for riding. “We spend time on getting our horses soft and supple and forget the riders! Simple yoga stretches will improve your flexibility and balance while riding,” says instructor Marianne Crew. June Ringelheim will share a quick meditation that can be done anywhere to put riders in the right frame of mind.

*Date TBD, “Introduction to Horses” (For parents of those “horse crazy kids” and future riders) by Mary Ann Rudolph

Other upcoming activities at Sunny Brook include, April 9 and 10, a weekend with Pat McDowell working on basic dressage skills and perfecting a dressage test.

For more information or to sign up for any of these activities contact MaryAnn at 203-364-0884 or visit the website sunnybrookfarmct.com.