Clean Up Day

Spring clean up day is this Friday May 2nd starting at 1pm.  Miki has taken the reins on the clean up day and will tackle the painting of jumps and general tidying up of the grounds.  Snacks will be provided for those who come to help.  Thanks in advance for any volunteers!

What Color is Chexy?

Many have asked "what color is Chexy?" Well, the answer is grulla (or sometimes spelled grullo). Grulla, which is pronounced "grew-ya", has the following characteristics.  The body is slate colored (bluish gray as the blue heron) from light blue gray to  brown-ish shade.  Points and dun factor markings are black. A dorsal stripe is required.  The word grulla is Spanish and I am told translates in English to "crane."  Indeed, when Chexy gets a bath, his blue coloring shines through.  Some have stated that the grulla coloring is the rarest of all horse body coat colors.  Chexy seems to know this by the way he proudly prances around the show ring like he is "somethin' else." What a ham.   

    

Do You Have Your Mack Hill SWAG? (Stuff We All Get)

Do you have your Mack Hill logo wear? Embroidered hats are only $5. Long and short sleeve shirts are $10. Sweatshirts and sweat pant are $25 each. Talk to your instructor if you would like to buy any of these items.

HURRY...Camp Weeks Are Filling Up Quickly!!!!

Our camp weeks are filling up too quickly! July is now sold out and has a waiting list! Sign up for our June or August camp now before you miss the opportunity! Head Coach Mercy will be our camp director and she promises lots of fun and riding!  For details about the summer camp, click here.

Congratulations to Allie Martin of Merrimack!

Who has just joined our competitive riding team. Welcome aboard!!

Details about the Souhegan Riders Equestrian Team can be found here.

Look Whose Coming Home!

This week we heard from Theresa Connolly who is finishing up her first year of college in Colorado.  She will be back at Mack Hill teaching lessons for the summer.  Maybe she will compete in a show or two as well.  We have missed her smiling face, infectious laugh and wicked sarcasm.  She will be back just in time to put us all back in our place.   (Theresa riding Tucker in the Barn Fund Series in New Boston last summer)

Is Western Your Pleasure?

With the new Souhegan Riders english/hunter team officially launched, some have asked if a western team will follow. Instructor Jess Ellia is willing to coach a western team if there is sufficient interest. The team would be open to middle and high school students from around the Souhegan Valley. In addition to training session with coach Jess, the team would compete in at least one show over the summer. Please let us know by email (info@mackhill.net) whether you would like to participate in a western team if one is organized. Alternatively, please let us know if you would like to participate in any of the upcoming western shows that Mack Hill will be attending. (Coach Jess on Chip at the Barn Fund Series in New Boston)

Look at that Cowgirl Ride.....

This is none other than barn manager and western instructor Gabe Senter taking Dawson through his paces up the front pasture at Mack Hill. Those two were moving!  For more pictures of these two flying around the property, click here.

"Cash" Check or Charge...

"Cash" is a 7 year old 15.3 hand bay quarter horse.  We brought him here to be an all around show horse for daughter Katie.  She had different plans and has fallen back in love with Chexy. So Cash has become one of the stars for the Souhegan Riders team.  Here, one of our working students, Liz from Massachusetts, is showing off Cash's long legs.  He is another gem from Townsends Training Farm. 

He Wants to "Blaze" a New Trail

Blazing into 2000, or "Blaze", is an 8 year old 16 hand red dun quarter horse.  He has been part of the lesson program at Mack Hill since we opened.  He is a forward mover with a real hunter style.  As much as we would like him to be a slow-moving head down western pleasure horse, he much prefers being an english boy.   Here, Mack Hill Student Meghan Farley of Amherst, shows us why.  

"Elvis" is in the building....

Elvis is 4 1/2 year old Welsh pony cross.  He stands at 14.1 but wants to jump to the sky.  Given his young age, we are slowly building his jumping capabilities.  Here, Cassie Farley of Amherst (top) and Alex Torcia of Bedford (bottom) is taking him through some jumps.  He is a super cute mover and his colors make him a standout in the ring.  We have high hopes for his prospects in the show ring.

Riders Ready...

Here are some pictures from the first team practice.  Click here to see Scott's pictures. Click here to see Mercy's pictures.

He's Back.....

Mack Hill welcomes back our Clydesdale, Tommy.  He is a 16.2 hand 11 year old behemoth of a horse.  For the past several months he has been in Amish Country Pennsylvania learning how to be a road safe driving horse.  His work down there is clear because he has returned a muscle bound buff stud (well, he is still a gelding)!   One question: What happened to his tail?  Those Amish are tough.  Our thanks to our friends Kelly and Craig MacCorquodale who brought him safely to and from Pa for his training.  Reports to follow as we see his driving skill first hand. (Instructors Lauren Smith riding Tommy and Mercy Zaveri)

I am pumped!

Today will be the first practice for the Souhegan Riders Competetive Riding Team. I have been very busy getting things ready. Mollie and I have a game plan in place and we can't wait to give it a go. Thanks to Jess for having had this vision while we were at Fox Brook. With Scott and Sue's support and encouragement, we are making it happen! I will return to the blog to let everyone know how it went. Fingers crossed!

He is Really a Maverick

Maverick is a fantastic western pleasure horse and this is why we bought him.  But not long after arriving, we learned that he likes to jump.  Here, one of our working students Shanna from Milford is showing what he likes to do.  He needs some work because he likes to jump pretty early but we are eyeing him as an All Around prospect.  He is from Townsends Training Farm (like QT, Tucker, Cash, Caz, Champagne and Jasmine).  He has all of the buttons necessary to win a lot of blue ribbons on the AQHA circuit this season. And on top of that, he is super cute and as sweet as they come. He will be a superstar before long.

"Stuff" Happens

This picture is the universal sign on a horse farm for "stuff" happens.... often. And when it does, we appreciate help from everyone to get it picked up and into a muck bucket. Thanks for your help. It takes a village.

Pardon our appearance but ....

This week, the very leaky roof on the indoor arena will be fixed. We know that the riders will miss being rained on indoors but all good things must come to an end. Workmen will be on site from 7 am to about 2:30. No lessons will be impacted but things will be a bit more untidy until this project is done.

Joseph was amazing!

I just went to see the show, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, and it was great! Congrats to our Mack Hillers who where in the show and to Rita who produced it. I was jealous! Joseph is one of my favorite shows. I am still humming, "Go Go Go Joseph..."

"I hate to be in your face, but....."

The three weeks of summer camp at Mack Hill are filling up quickly. More than half of the slots are gone. Make your reservations now before you are closed out.

Camp details and pictures from last year can be found here.

Congratulations to the New Souhegan Riders

Mack Hill is pleased to announce that the following riders have made the Souhegan Riders equestrian team for the Spring 2008 term:

Anna Foster, Amherst; Anna Garrison, Bedford; Mae Johnson, Amherst; Katie O'Connell, Amherst; Kelli Perryman, Merrimack; Emily Stone, Hollis; Jessica Sullivan, Milford; Alicia Weisman, Bedford; Becky Weldon, Amherst; Allie Withee, Bedford;Erin Johnson, Hollis; Julia Kenney, Amherst; Allie Martin, Merrimack; Coach Mercy Zaveri

We look forward to your first competition! Good luck.

Details about the team can be found here

Look What Else Our Riders are Doing....

Riders Janey and Matt Campbell, Rachel Fairfield, Shauna Sousa, and Katie O'Connell are cast members in the Amherst PTA production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat which is running April 10 through 13, 2008 at Souhegan High School. Terrific job, you stars! Maybe you will sing some tunes for us on horseback. Congratulations to show producer Rita Piotrowski who has been with the Riding Academy from the day we opened.

You can see more pictures here

Got Fiber?

Ike and Kobe have done one heck of a job eating everything they can get access to. From shingles to house siding, they have had at it. But don't worry, so far they have not tasted any people. They love visitors so make sure you stop by their little corner of the farm.

Bye Bye Bailey

Mack Hill says goodbye to our favorite Hafflinger, Bailey. He is off to his new home in New Boston where he is retiring from giving lessons and will be spoiled by one rider. Thanks for the memories, old friend.

New Outdoor Riding Ring

Mack Hill has expanded the outdoor ring. Now enjoy riding in a ring that is more than 80x160. The three rails ensure safety for both horse and rider. Wanna ride? Of course you do.

Thanks Edd

Every once in a while I am reminded how lucky I am to have really terrific friends. Today, my pal Edd Schillay, tech guru extraordinaire, set this blog up for our farm. He is one hell of a talented guy, but more than that, he one of those people who makes your life better just for knowing him. I am a lucky guy. Thanks my friend.

News from the Hill Newsletter-- March 2008

In case you missed it the first time around, here is a link to our News from the Hill Newsletter. Thanks to Coach Mercy for her work on this.