Newsletters in Barn, Sign up Sheets

The information that is on the website on important fall info is also now in the barn in the form of a newsletter.  Also, Karrie is weaning Chuck off total dependence on white boards and moving him to a little use of cork board (still, under protest).  The cork board over the grain bins has replaced the unsightly posting of flyers and sign up sheets (usually with duct tape .... yeah, you know what I mean) on the school tack room window.

There are several events and sign up sheets that you should look at when you are in the barn. 

While on vacation I downloaded a bunch of my mom's pictures and here is a particularly beautiful one of the property from the night before Linda's wedding.  Also, speaking of Linda -- on that aforementioned cork board you will find her new mailing address.  I am sure she would love to hear from you!  Tomorrow, she will be transporting Blue to her new stable near David's.  I know a lot of our riders miss Linda and we will miss Blue as well.

Cobble Hill Farm -- I am pretty sure that is Blaze.... but could be Reno!  And maybe a turkey?  The tent is up in the front of the house for Linda's wedding. 

Lotsa News

Check out the "What's New" section of the website for information on:  Fall Lesson packages, New Weekend Programming (including instructor-led trail lessons and the ability to do a weekly lease with a trail lesson -- newly named "lease plus"), Shows, and more.

The Hunt Family -- the Farmer's Wife, The Farmer, Lauren, Lizzy and Sarah.

The Farmer's Wife and Daughter Roller Skating -- 80s flashback.

I was on a roll last month with posts but everything slows down in August!  Therefore the pictures today will be of our family enjoying vacation in Lake George last week.  Lizzy and Lauren begged to go to the stable and pay for a trail ride!  I adamantly refused -- all they rode were rides at the Washington County Fair, a boat and virtual rides at the Arcade!  Lauren did drive the race cars at the Fun Spot while Lizzy and Sarah played Laser Tag.  And all three girls as well as the Farmer's Wife roller skated.  I have the skinned knee to prove it!

Lastly, we know word spreads quickly in a barn so we wanted to let everyone know that Chuck is scheduled for surgery in Worcester in mid-September to fix a hernia.  We will have complete coverage at the barn for chores, horse care and lessons but wanted everyone to be aware.  I won't post pictures of that.  :)

FALL LESSON SCHEDULE!

Karrie has been working for the past two weeks with Jeannie to figure out a lesson schedule for our riders this fall.  Thank you to everyone who filled out a form -- it was very helpful.  The proposed schedule that Karrie put up (it is next to the white board as you enter the barn) is a starting point.  We tried really hard to honor requests for specific instructors and lesson groups while balancing the availability of appropriate horses and instructor time. 

Please consult the schedule and discuss any concerns or conflicts with Karrie.  We are now beginning to add in lessons for new riders who are calling the barn or were here this summer.  As you all know, those afterschool hours get pretty packed pretty quickly.  However, the good news is that we will continue to schedule lessons on weekends as well.

Also, let us know if you are planning to lease for the fall so that we are not double booking or overworking any horses.

And lastly, hope you all saw the notice of the Cobble Hill "only" show and potluck.  As Oak Hollow isn't doing a fall show and most riders look forward to that, we wanted to do something.

Watch, too, for new programming options.  We have been looking into Pony Club and hope to have a program up and running for the fall.

We will offer the opportunity to pay for a group of lessons at a discount.  Ask Karrie or me about that if you are interested.

On to the Fall!

We ended our summer programming with a perfect summer farm treat -- s'mores!  Lots of great riding accomplishments, too.  Several riders who jumped or cantered for the first time.  A visitor from NYC who deemed this the best week of her life (okay, she is only 9, but we still take the compliment!).

If you haven't filled out a form yet with preferences for dates and times for fall lessons please do.  We are planning to kick the fall riding season off on September 13th with a 12 week session.  In the meantime, we have lots of riders taking advantage of the opportunity to schedule extra lessons during the day with the lack of summer riders and before school starts.

Karrie is also bringing several riders to another show in Richmond and there are lots of preparatory lessons going on this week.

Love how new friendships are formed at the barn.


Off to view the meteor shower.

WEDDING PICS FINALLY!

Linda on Blue.

Many, many dancing pics.  This one was later in the night ... can tell by Lauren's outfit!

The decorations were beautiful.

Guests arriving.

Glad we spruced the barn up!

You may kiss the bride.

Buddy crashed the ceremony ....

Could be the 2010 Christmas Card Photo????

Okay, a bunch of others on Facebook!

Schedule Fall lessons and Name the future fish

If you have not filled out a form indicating your desired time for a fall lesson, please reach out to Karrie in the next few weeks.  We are hoping to have the fall riding season start in September. 

Also, Krissy is getting a beta fish for the barn.  Her two choices of a name are:

1)  Alfalfa
2) Poseidon

Leave your votes as a comment on the blog or send an email to info@cobblehillfarm.com

Last week of summer youth riding

This is our last week of structured summer riding programs -- can't believe how fast the summer vacation flies by!  It is also our biggest week so far -- 9 riders in the Life on a Farm program!

Here are a few pics in the barn.

Max still likes to visit!

Buck heading down to the track after earning his keep.

Jeannie working with a rider to build confidence.

Patty has injured a leg.  She has to be hosed down and legs wrapped twice a day and also walked.  Some of the older riders are able to help with this necessary but time consuming task.

Get well soon Lucy!!!

We'll be heading out to Shelburne Falls early tomorrow.  Biscuit Hill horse show:

http://www.biscuithillfarm.com/show_schedule.html

Chuck alerted me that Lucy fell off Dixie yesterday and is recovering at home ... hope she is okay and feeling 100 percent soon.  We have lots of committed riders who like to come and help at the barn, but Lucy is the most committed of them all. 

Here is Lucy helping with Mr. Tee this winter.  Get well soon Lucy!!!!

Next week will be busy with landscaping and sprucing up in anticipation of Linda & David's wedding on the weekend.

Fun picture from one of the early summer programs.

A quieter week

We only have the full access lease program running this week so the barn should be a quieter place.  We do have several summer residents/tourists booked which is always welcome.

Just got the new fliers in and must say I am really satisfied with the quality.  Will have Jenna and the girls bring a few down to the Chamber office.

Hopefully, the rain will hold off so Chuck can finish the fence in the blue paddock.  If you haven't walked over there, go take a look.  The fencing is going up about 8 feet off the stone wall -- making a nice 'trail' that will be perfect for riders to cool down their horses or for beginner trail lessons. 

We are also getting the siding stained on the barn ... it matches the original building quite well.  And maybe the fences will even get stained in August .... never a shortage of stuff to do around here.

Here is a nice picture of Dixie.  You can also see the area I am referring to for the trail/fence in the background where the stone wall is.  Dixie continues to be a great beginner horse.  I wonder how many riders have cantered for the first time on her?

Dixie and Patty have been hanging out a lot in the black paddock.  It is hard to tell here, but Patty is almost as big as Dixie these days.  She is going to be a very BIG girl.  And hopefully a good one.

Yes, we have horses

I have been posting lots of pictures of the activities at the barn but thought I'd put up a few of actual horseback riding!

We have had quite a few summer visitors this year which is great.  There are many people who relocate weekends or weeks at a time to our beautiful region and this year quite a few of them have found us and are enjoying our lesson program as well as our wonderful views.

This week will be Linda's last week doing lessons at the barn.  We are happy for her and David and wish them lots of happiness in their new life together.  I think Chuck and I will be spending all our 'free' time landscaping and weeding in the next two weeks till the wedding!

As many of you know, the barn bought Bradley from Linda and he will be a significant part of our lesson program -- especially for the more advanced riders and those who want to jump.  We are also going to be keeping Blue on a free lease until Linda gets settled -- at least through the summer. 

Karrie has agreed to take over some of the administrative responsibilities for scheduling lessons, etc... but we both agree that will be a collaborative process over the month of August.