Welcome to our beautiful 24-stall equestrian facility in Milton, Vermont. We offer horses and riders wonderful amenities including:
- 44-acre property
- Two outdoor rings (255 X 150 and 170 X 100), an indoor ring (120 X 60) and “AA” circuit jumps
- Full service board in a beautiful country setting just 15 minutes outside Burlington
- Ample turn out
- On site trainer Tara Valade; one of Vermont’s most highly regarded hunter/jumper & equitation trainers
- Winner two years in a row of VHJA’s “Horse Show of the Year” award
- Honored by the Vermont Farm Bureau with the “Horse Farm of Distinction” designation in 2011
New students and horses are always welcome!
Only five more months until spring.
Winter has arrived at Missy Ann Stables! We are all doing our best to stay warm while we make the transition from outside riding to inside riding. While there has not been much snow, the colder temperatures are certainly being felt. Many of our younger riders are hoping to visit Ocala later this winter! What are your tricks for making it through the long Vermont winter with your horse? Please visit our Facebook page to share!
Best wishes,
Pam & Jeff
On September 28, The Vermont Farm Bureau honored Missy Ann Stables with the Horse Farm of Distinction award which recognizes equine operations that set high standards and achieve a level of excellence in all aspects of equine activity as well as contribute to Vermont’s agricultural industry and beautiful rural landscape. Jeff Goldfield received the award at the Bureau’s Chittenden County annual meeting.
The Chittenden County Farm Bureau created the Horse Farm of Distinction program to recognize horse farms which have been judged by equine professionals on a number of criteria within the categories of horse health, farm management and public standards.
Farms are evaluated for safe and secure housing and fencing for equines, pasture and farm management, animal care and maintenance, and curb appeal. The farm must demonstrate a relationship with the community by hosting events such as clinics, horse shows, open houses, or by providing opportunities to welcome visitors to the property.
The Vermont Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization with policies and priorities set at the County level by individual farmer members. Farm Bureau began as an arm of the Chamber of Commerce in Broome County, New York in 1911.
Here is an entry update for Sunday, June 19, along with time estimates. Thank you for coming to our horse show!
Unjudged ticketed warm-ups will begin at 6:30 a.m. and run until 7:45 a.m. The show will begin promptlu at 8:00 a.m.
Class # # of entries (as of Saturday eve.)
351 Children’s 2″ – 2’3″ Equitation O/F 5
351 Children’s 2″ – 2’3″ Equitation O/F 5
350 Children’s 2′”-2’3″ Flat 5
480 Pony Jumpers 2’3″ 1
471 VHJA Pony Medal 5
472 M&S Pony Medal 0
We are estimating that the 11 and under division will begin at approximately 9:00 a.m.
457 11& under Equitation O/F 4
458 11 &under Equitation O/F 4
456 11 & under equitation flat 4
485 Elementary Jumper 2’6″ 3
486 Elementary Jumper 2’6″ 3
470-2 VHJA Novice Medal 8
551 Children’s 2’6″-2’9″ Equitation O/F 6
552 Children’s 2’6″-2’9″ Equitation O/F 6
550 Children’s 2’6″-2’9″ Equitation Flat 6
We estimate a start time of 10:30 a.m. for the Hi/Med/Lo Modified Adult Eq division.
451 Hi/Lo Mod Adult Equitation O/F 1
452 Hi/Lo Mod Adult Equitation O/F 1
450 Hi/Lo Mod Adult Equitation Flat 1
473 VHJA Hi/Lo Mod Adult Medal 1
680 Schooling Jumper 2’9″ 1
681 Schooling Jumper 2’9″ 1
660 Adult Equitation O/F 3″ 1
661 Adult Equitation O/F 3″ 1
659 Adult Equation Flat 1
673 VHJA Adult Medal 1
676 NEHC Adult Medal 2
We estimate a 12:00 p.m. start time for the 12-14 division.
658 12-14 O/F 4
656 12-14 Flat 4
671 VHJA Junior Medal 7
672 M&S Children’s Medal Horse 5
752 Children’s 3″-3’3″ Equitation O/F 4
750 Children’s 3″-3’3″ Equitation Flat 3
773 VHJA Green Mountain Talent Search Medal 3’3″ 1
772 NEHC Junior Medal 9
784 Childrens/Adult Amateur Jumper 3’3″ 1
Classes 858,856,880,870,871,872,873,970 currently have no entries.
As of 7:00 p.m. Friday night, here’s how our entries look for Saturday’s classes:
311 Pre Childrens Hunter O/F 4
312 Pre Childrens Hunter O/F 4
310 Pre Childrens Hunter U/S 4
122 Hunter Please Pony 4
400 Hunter Hack Pony 4
407 Children’s Hunter Pony O/F 3
408 Children’s Hunter Pony O/F 3
922 M & S Children’s Pony Hunter Classic 0
406 Children’s Hunter Pony U/S 3
123 Hunter Pleasure Horse 5
401 Hunter Hack Horse 3
124 NEHC Pleasure 0
426 Young Working Hunter Model 4
415 Special Working Hunter Horse O/F 9
416 Special Working Hunter Horse O/F 8
414 Special Working Hunter Horse U/S 6
470-1 VHJA Novice Medal 4
423 Young Hunter O/F 3
424 Young Hunter O/F 3
422 Young Hunter U/S 6
126 Young Hunter Futurity 5
901, 902, 900 Hi/Lo Modified Adult Division 1
505, 506, 504 Low Working Hunter Division 0
613, 614, 612 Adult Amateur Hunter Division 0
920 M & S Adult Hunter Classic 0
674 M & S Adult Medal 0
675 NEHC Adult Medal 0 (This class may fill on Sunday)
605 Children’s Hunter Horse O/F 3
606 Children’s Hunter Horse O/F 4
921 M & S Children’s Hunter Horse Classic 2
604 Children’s Hunter Horse U/S 1
657 12-14 Equitation Fences 6
751 Children’s 3′ – 3’3″ Equitation /Fences 4
770 John Corley Medal 6
771 NEHC Junior Medal 9
857 15-17 Equitation O/F 0
Our horse show is just a few weeks away! We are looking forward to welcoming visitors from around the area. From short stirrup and beginners to adults, juniors and jumpers our horse show has something for every competitor. Please send in your entry form as soon as possible to our show secretary Elizabeth Howell, 438 Lake Road, Milton, VT, 05468.
Entry forms can be accessed on the web site: MISSY ANN Entry Form June 2011.
We will have 20 tent stalls available. Please call (802)893-6051 or email Elizabeth Howell (elizabeth@sheridesIpay.com) to make a stall reservation.
Three days, one ring. Check out the prize list for more information:
Friday prize list: Friday Prize List
Saturday & Sunday prize list: Saturday & Sunday Prize List
Ethan supervises the first course design of the season.
We’ve all been waiting, perhaps not so patiently, and finally, finally, there are a few signs of spring here at Missy Ann Stables. Today we brought the jumps out from winter storage into the outdoor arena-a sure sign that spring has arrived. Our paddocks may be muddy, but the windy breeze that frequents our hilltop farm will soon dry them out.
Another sure sign of spring is the arrival of the 2011 VHJA Omnibus. We are happy to announce that we will be hosting a three-day show on June 17, 18 and 19, 2011. Prize lists, entry forms and general show information is posted on the horse show page of the website.
Our riders celebrate a successful 2010 show season: (from left) Samantha Howell, Rachel Buckley, Morgan Bessette, StoneHaven trainer Tara Valade, Melissa Woolpert and Karen Clark. Photo by John Oren.
VHJA members gave us all a reason to celebrate last month at the annual banquet, hosted at the Hilton Hotel in Burlington on Feb. 5. It was a lovely evening, and many of our riders won awards. Many of our horses, too, including Mondavi, who received The Hanover Street Equitation Horse of the Year award. Mondavi is owned by Michelle and Sven Osgood and ridden by Samantha Howell. London, who recently passed away after a long and wonderful life, received The Jurisprudence Horse of the Year award which honors a horse that goes above and beyond to support his rider, a horse that give his heart to his job. London was owned and loved by Karen Clark who enjoyed many years with London.
We were surprised and thrilled to be honored with The Best VHJA Show of the Year award, presented to the horse show manager whose show has been voted the year’s best by the membership. We received a beautiful perpetual plaque which is proudly hanging in the barn and a lovely tote bag. Many thanks to each and every VHJA member who voted for Missy Ann Stables!
Horse show season is right around the corner. Our horse show dates for 2011 are June 17, 18 and 19, 2011.
What do barn girls do when it's eight below and they can't ride? Take pictures of themselves in the indoor arena's mirrors, of course.
Well the holidays are behind us and we’re getting ready to experience the coldest weather that’s visited this area for the past several years. This weekend’s temperatures are expected to travel well below zero and we’re formulating our battle plan to survive the cold stretch. Since there will be no emergency trip to Ocala, we’ll be layering additional blankets on our horses, keeping an eye out for any horses that aren’t drinking enough and taking advantage of any low wind moments with some limited turn out. Hand walking is a good alternative to turn out when the weather is this nasty, as it gets the horse out of his stall to stretch his legs-a real necessity in this cold weather. Layering is just as important for humans, so be sure to dress appropriately if you’ll be out at the barn too. If you need a lesson, come see Amy, our barn manager. Outfitted in coveralls, sweatshirts, Under Armour, heavy duty work boots and ski goggles, she’s the resident expert on what to wear to make it through a day at the barn.
Winter is here again
It’s hard to believe it’s already December! This month our very own Pam Goldfield is competing in Oklahoma City in the NRHA Futurity National Championships. Pam and her trainer, Scott Loomis of Loomis Quarter Horses, are there with Pam’s 2001 Dun AQHA stallion Whiz (Whizs Hollywood Star). We wish them the best of luck and can’t wait for them to come home and tell us all about it!
In other news, we’re looking at a forecast that calls for six or seven days of snow in a row. Hmmmm. For those of you who haven’t yet pulled out all of your winter blankets and brought them to the barn, there’s no more time to procrastonate.
It’s often a daily struggle to decide what your horse should wear–sometimes it can feel more difficult to choose an outfit for your horse than it is for yourself! What are the guidelines for determining what your horse should wear? Here are some factors to consider:
- Is your horse body clipped?
- If not, how furry is he?
- How much heat does the barn retain? (Our barn is usually 10-20 degrees warmer than the outside temperature.)
- Your horse’s preference. Some horses are more warm-blooded than others.
Generally, when the temperature hits 50 degrees, we pull out the cotton sheets and turnout sheets. Turnout sheets for during the day when the horses are outside (obviously!) and the cotton sheets at night.
When the temperature hits 40 degrees, the mid-weight turnout stays on at night, with the cotton sheet too if the horse is body clipped.
When it’s 30 degrees and below, the heavy turnout comes out, with additional layers underneath. Generally, our barn doesn’t get much colder than 20 degrees, but 20 degrees is COLD.
So how do you tell if your horse is warm enough? Feel his ears. If his ears are cold, he needs more clothes. Watch for shivering and check to see if his tail is clamped down. Stick your hand underneath the blankets from the shoulder all the way down to his rib cage. If you feel sweat or think you could roast a hot dog in there, he may be too warm.
For more details on this topic, check out this article from Practical Horseman. Another helpful resource is the Schneider Saddlery website. Select a horse blanket and then look at the warmth guide, which provides blanketing recommendations for horses based on coat length.
Happy holidays!
