Conference noted::equitation

1929.0. "Vermont Riding!" by PCBUOA::LPIERCE (Time to Ride) Wed Oct 05 1994 09:20

I didn't see a note in the topic listing for Vermont Riding.  I just
got back from 4 days in Woodstock Vermont.  I had the most ultimate
time of my life.  I have never been on so many beautiful and well
groomed trails in my life.  If you love trail riding and unbelievable
vista's - a Vermont ride is for you.

I am a member of the GMHA and I attended there fall foliage ride.
The GMHA puts on a great time.  You go out on long 15mi loops, and
the trails are very well marked.  In the morning before you leave you
gather up some thing for the lunch stop (brushes,halters etc) and a
truck brings them for you to the lunch stop so your horse can relax
and cool down - then they bring them back for you.  You are treated
to a good lunch on top of a mountin over looking from great views.

After the ride, everyone hangs around for some apra' riding.  Up and
down the shed rows you see folks with wine and cheese and there best
crystal.  Everyone is nice and wants to talk horse.

On one night they provided a wonderful banquet with a live country band.
And they even had dance instructers to teach the 2-step.  For 4 days
you do nothing but talk horse!  :-)

My horse was in his element.  He usually likes to hang out in back and when 
he gets infrount he's very spooky about stuff.  

But in Vermont - he had to be infrount and he wanted to go and he was
not spooky about ANYTHING!  He's barn buddy had stopped (his rider was
fixing his saddle) and my horse didn't want to wait for him...he just 
wanted to go-go-go!  He had the best time of his life.

I do caution anyone going, please make sure you horse is fit!  If you
are a casual rider, your horse will have a very hard time with all the
hills and long loops.  The loops were only 15mi - but it's the hardest
15mi I've ever been on - and I do 10-20mi hunter pace events twice
a month.

I ride everyday for 2-3hrs and I ride 4-5hrs on weekends, so we were
very fit, and 2 months before I went, I did ALOT of hills.  But I 
screwed up on 1 thing .. I did hills UP - and I did not think of doing
hills DOWN.  Well, let me tell you - when your riding a hard 15mi
loop up and down and you come to a few hills just about a 90 degree angle
drop - you may want to get off you buddy and walk him down so he does not
pound on his front/shoulders.

I think getting off my horse for the big/long hills, helped save him.  Alot
of other folks did not get off and they ended up w/ horses w/ sour shoulders
or lame from all the down hill pounding

All in all what a time.  I can't wait for next fall!

Louisa & Sultan

    Linda, how did you do Hills up, but not down?  I always thought what
    goes up must come down!

    
    Where I ride, we have very few loops we can do.. the loops we do
    are better going up...more fun to ride.  We can trott and canter
    a few spots.  If we do the loop going down, we can only walk.  When
    we get to the end of our loop, there is a hill (on the street) to
    go down, it's only about 1/2mi long - that is not enough of a work
    out to condition your horse for lots of down hill work.  
    
    next year, we will do our loops the other way, and walk down hill
    the whole way to help build up there sholder area
    
    I'm allready planning our next Vermont Trip. It will be in June.  If
    anyone wants to meet in Vermont in June, just let me know.
    
    Louisa

    Our annual Vermont trip was a success too!  We've been going for many
    years now (no I really don't want to count them either).  Foliage
    was peak, weather was wonderful, and as usuall the townsfolk prepared
    superb meals!
    
    M
    
    
    

    There was a small blip on Chronicle last night that showed winter
    riding in Vermont on ponies/horses from Iceland.  Looked like a great
    weekend adventure.....does anyone have any first hand knowledge or any
    other details, such as location or phone number?
    
    Roberta

    
    Roberta,
    
    I don't know about the Icelandic horses in Vermont, but you can go to
    the Kendren Vally Inn in S. Woodstock VT - you can stay at the Inn and
    rent their wonderful horses.  802-457-1473 for the Inn 802-457-1480 for
    the barn.  
    
    I just planned a trip for May 31st - June 3rd.  I am brining my own
    horse but a friend of mine is renting one from the Inn.
    
    Louisa

    
    We are off to Vermont again for another senice adventure.  We are not
    going with the GMHA this time.  It will just be me and 4 other horsie
    friends.  The horses will stay at the GMHA, and we all rented a cabin
    in the woods from Kendren inn.
    
    See you in a week.
    
    Louis  

    
    It's that time of year again - Vermont time!  We are off to Vermont for
    our yearly trip.  If you live in the New England area and you have
    not ridden Vermont, you must make it a point some day, it is a amazing
    and fullfilling time!
    
    Louisa