Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Want to give everyone a heads up Angie's birthday is Thursday July 3rd. If you see her around the farm wish her a happy birthday!

All is settling in well for the summer. We have our regular lessons, our Trainers training program, Instructor Program, Junior riding club and will start our in barn drill team up again in the next few weeks. A lot of students have also been attending the dressage 101 that Angie has organized. 

Our trainers training program is working really well. Our students are working horses at the farm and have their own clients in the area. It has been an extremely good program and I am very impressed at how the students in the program are learning and how good their "equine eye” is developing. They can see when a horse is through, can explain the process, can demonstrate it and teach a horse the basics of thoroughness that is very impressive. Thoroughness, the connection of the back of the horse to the front, is a hard feeling to learn and these students are doing great. The dressage scores they come out with really show the knowledge.  The way they train is also correct and the horses respond very well. We have a lot of knowledgeable judges impressed with our horses' way of going. The students do a great job riding and understanding what they are doing under saddle.     

They learn to label gaits and understand balance differences that occur as a horse builds muscle and learns at the different levels. For example, the balance of a training level horse and how it starts to change thru some 1st and how balance changes to 2nd and to 3rd and so on. We will be starting a new session of this with in the next few weeks.

 I encourage anyone who has questions about how we train and what our theories are to please contact us. I will be happy to talk with any one about what it involves and how we help horses and riders.

 Our Instructor program and Junior riding club has been a lot of fun! We have a few Instructor program sessions with about 4-7 attendants, they in turn teach the junior riders Saturday mornings. We have about 8 junior riders right now. It has been working out well. Any one who wants more information is welcome to e-mail myself.       

YMCA had an enrichment day this last Monday. The YMCA camp will be running for the week in August. We will have more info on that. Our regular camp for June went well. There were 8 campers and we did lots of riding. The kids learned a lot and we will see some of them at our later camps this summer.

For EMDA I facilitated a clinic with Carol Poulin-Taylor at Whispering Pines Farm in Dixmont. That was fun and I brought Jr along. He was a little spooky but was a good boy. I am looking forward to getting him out more and more. Jr. is a super good boy.

 Our MeCTA 2-phase at the fair grounds was awesome! We had about 45 riders and it went smoothly. Sandy Porter-Bean T.A.ed (thanks Sandy!) and it was great to see Robin Corey, Kris Nikola, Jill from Coldbrook Equestrian as well as many other riders from all over. Thanks you guys for coming! We are trying to get to East Ridge stable to go to some of their events, soon I hope we can get a time in!  Tues July 8th we will at Pendragon farm , Sandy PBs place. It seems every weekend there is a show (or two)!

Rajas new owner Dakota Lovejoy will be taking home Raja sometime this week. They are learning a lot together and Dakota is stepping up to the plate how to ride Raja and learning the theory and developing an eye  and learning to ride through, in order to get Raj to relax and settle into contact. Her sister Wendy just received a new horse, Eclipse; I am looking forward to working with them both. Sarah Harmon's horse, Heidi, has been here for a few days. She looks great.

This weekend we have some short term borders comings in. For either trail riding or riding over to the USEF dressage show at Isaac Royale.

Flash finished his training here and has gone home Down East.

Abby Oropazas horses Peeper has been in for training, as is Sandy, Abby Ogan's horse. Marissa Robinson was just here today. Although she had moved also Down East she came home to see her folks and Dayfdd, her Fjord.

Judy Westlake will be here July 11th. We have 3 slots left for lessons please let me know if you would like a lesson with her.

Our next show the farm puts on is July 27th, a Sunday. It is a dressage show, at the fair grounds, with Carol Poulin-Taylor judging. It should be lot of fun; we encourage all to stop by!  

Congrats to our riders how preformed at East Ridge, Carmel horse trials and Puckerbrush, this last month or so. It's great to see our students going out and about and having fun!  

Happy Riding! Gail 

Tuesday, June 10, 2008
2008 is already half way over! It seems like the year is just getting started! This year we have so much happening and going to lots of shows supporting other farms that the summer will fly by.  

 Let's see, we've decided to drive to New York watch the dressage festival this year and bring horses next year. The costs are expensive and want to take a year to have the students able to raise money for the trip. It was a tough decision but I think a good one so that the students can see what the festival is like, before they decide.

 We have a full show plate, going to shows most every weekend. Its hard when there are two shows the same day, we had made a calendar in Feb of which shows we are going to, so the later added ones usually become 2nd option.

 We have our 2-phase June 15th at the Dover Fairgrounds. Kath Hartley is our judge and is looking forward to seeing all our show friends we see each year.  Angie had been working on the show and we are ready to go!

 Had quite a few horses come in for training and some that clients have bought in.

 Debi Gould had gotten a tres cute Hafflinger cross mare, Abigail, for her daughter Sami-Jo Brawn.

 Katie Bragdon brought in her paint mare Moxee May. Flash and a mini horse 1/2 pint had come in. 1/2 pint is SOOO cute even when he is naughty, its hard not to laugh! The Shaffer's had Nikki in for a few months. I had bought a pony April that Becca Bourgoine has been working. Also Kazoo that Chellie Oldfield has been lunging and will back soon. Candy, Debbie from Abbott sent in for training with Katie left the other day, as did Zizi the Hanoverian mare that Carol Schur from Lamoine had in for some training.

All were really happy with their horses and are happy with their partners. Raja who had also been in for training is on a trial with Dakota Lovejoy. His previous owner, Kathllen Shaffer-Keith is riding on of Carols horses Honey in Lamoine. I am going to traveling down that way to teach lessons and they will find time to come up here too!  

 Eva Peach's horse Abby (as well as one of our ponies, Belle)  is with Dy Gillespie right now on a free lease. Dy is having a blast with her! Breanne Clawson is back from school. She was on her intercollegiate team as their point rider.  Tuppence had been with Mary Beth Devers, who had Tuppence here for the last month, just went home. I will be teaching Bre this summer at Marybeth's neighbors, the Ruksznis using their ring.   

 Maddy Kelly has been riding lately with Angie taking lessons with Hank. Maddy and Hank are going to have fun this year eventing, they are a great team! 

Robbie Desmarias is going to be 1/2 leasing Shiloh. Kylie Sands will be 1/2 leasing Honey.

Val Philpot and Jack have been showing almost every weekend! They are a force to be reckoned with!    

Gabby Fevens and Ranger are getting their feet (and hooves) wet trying out some of the local shows.  

Jen Hastings is so dedicated with working her horse Kya. She is out most nights and really puts the time in.

Courtney Edgerly and Kiwi have really made great "strides". Hey are coming right along!

Heidi Hamilton has been coming out to ride her mare Goldie.

The Anderson girls, Amber and Becca are also out regularly working Moe and Koda.

Ashley Shaffer took Nikki to her first show. Yay "Ashley!"

Joan is having a ball working Million for Dottie Hadler. Joan really enjoys him!

Lena Morin had her surgery on her foot done and is on her way back and has some shows lines up with Lee.

The Ogans pony, Sandy, will be coming the middle of the month for the summer. 

Spirit and Magic, the Dows horses have gone home for the summer. Lucky horses… sound like their home is awesome!

We have Gizmo, our latest pup to add to the pack. He was a stray and since he has been at the farm he fit in like he was born here!

Biff, Chantelle and Scotts (who live in the apartment) goat has been cruising around under Chantelle's supervision. He really is fun to watch!

 Ohhhhhh by the way Junior has arrived!! He came in last week and has been a lot of FUN to work with. He is still getting to know where his legs are. Right now they look like Gumby legs all over the place. His attitude is AWESOME and I am just thrilled! (He is handsome too!) I will get some pics and put them on the site.

I will write more about our other students thru out the summer as well as keeping up with the student of the month. We have a back log!

  I know there are lots more news and more students to write about.  I will really try and write more frequently, until then happy riding!

Ciao! Gail

Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Hello!
You know the saying: You only have one chance to live life the way you want? Well the day to start to live life the way you want (if you don't already do that) is TODAY! If you LOVE horses and want them in your life, why wait? If you see yourself riding and having your own horse, again, why wait? Mostly it is finances that keep people back. But if there is a will, there is a way and if you REALLY want to have and enjoy horses there will be a way.

When we have students that ride here, we want to interweave the love of horses and desire to ride into their daily life. We want them to pursue what ever dream they may have in respect with horses into reality. Many of the students have gone farther then they felt they would and are enjoying what horses bring into their lives. AS in every day life there are ups and downs but remember the saying: "If you believe you will receive" and with perseverance and persistence so many goals are attainable.

At our farm it is amazing to see clients learning, taking care and nurturing their horses. We see them struggle with learning a new concept or movement and through hard work get "light bulb moments". From the students looking to advance as far as they can go, to the students who want their riding to be their "Zen" time, it is great to see the interaction between humans and horses.

From a trainers perspective, horses are herd animals and there is always some kind of hierarchy. The way that horses decide the hierarchy can seem very physical to humans. Biting, kicking, chasing and herding are ways that horses communicate. They don't have the opposite thumbs (or any thumbs) to dial the horse physic. Many times humans want the horse to think like a human. We as humans need to think more like a horse, in order to communicate. Physical, with lack of compassion, some humans may think barbaric when it comes to establishing hierarchy. Necessity for survival, for equines. Now, not that horses lack compassion, I don't think of a horse compassion in the way humans think of compassion because horses display acts differently then us. If it was just like us, then it wouldn't be horses as herbivores, they would be more like us...human omnivores. (Now humans are thought to be carnivorous but we put just about any food that we don't know what is in it in our bodies, so Omnivores! However, once the hierarchy between human and horse has been set, there are MANY stories of horses and humans looking out for one another.

With that said, go enjoy your horse. If you want to learn, go for it, head on! If you need the personal time to spend with your horse that is great too. Horses don't mind if they are never ridden again. To brush a horse is so relaxing, I LOVE to pamper my horses! Although, to keep their health up they need work. Just like us, we would like to sit on the couch and do nothing but for our bodies it is really detrimental.

We are entering year five with the farm. It is a learning experience to see that students learn what they need to know with out getting stuck at one level of jumping height and pushing out of their comfort zone with in the abilities of the horse they own/ride.

We are going to New York this year and need to raise money. All are welcome to go and/or help in New York. I am setting up a meeting time by the 18th of May to get how we can spend the money for all to attend.

We had our spring fling and want to thank everyone that helped! SO happy that you all could come.
Gail

Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Hi!  Hope all are well.

We have some changes with our schedule and want to get the word out. Our Junior Riding Club, a riding program for 3-9 yr olds will be postponed until May due to scheduling conflicts with clinics and our 2-phase.  The club itself has been successful we are full with 14 students. In the summer when school lets out we will have another program set up. The students involved are Gabby Fevens , Ashley Shaffer, Chellie Oldfield, Sam Perry, Tajia Arno and Harley Wellman.  Anyone that would like more information should call me at 564-7046.

Vacation week Angie is having a ride all day session. Please call or e-mail Angie FMI.  

I will be hosting a Junior rider half day camp on the Wednesday, April 23rd of vacation.  Please call or e-mail myself FMI.  

Carol Poulin-Taylor is coming for a clinic day April 25th. She will be having group rides in the Am with test rides in the PM. Call Angie or me for more information.

Judy Westlake is coming May 3-4th. Call Angie or me for more information.

The next weekend on Saturday, May 10th is the Foxcroft PC jumper show and our Infinity Farm 2-phase is the next day Sunday, May 11th.  

Memorial weekend some of the adults will be going to Judy Lenihans for a weekend clinic with Mary and Judy W. that should be fun! Call me if any one wants to go. I will get the info.  

This month I have had 3 horses in for training and 3 or 4 more will be coming in soon. Angie will be getting some of them under saddle as well as Katie and I.  

 So the barn is busy and it is getting more and more organized, so all is working smoothly.
Gail

Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Hi everyone!

Just a quick note to let everyone know that there will NOT be any drill team or dressage 101 this weekend due to Easter. Drill and 101 will resume on April 13th at their regular times. We also wanted to let everyone know that Mary Guenzel is coming for the last time this spring on April 6th. I still have a few openings so if anyone is interested please contact Angie. Jumping group with Mary on the 6th from 9-10:30 has availability, too.

On another note, we are changing the date for our Infinity Farm Student Two-Phase to Sunday May 11th. This is due to a scheduling conflict. Entries for the May 11th two-phase are now open. The closing date for this show is MAY 5th. All entries must be received by Angie by May 5th. You can also find copies of the dressage tests on the forms page. Any questions e-mail Angie and she'll help you. Dressage times will be available on the website or at the barn Friday May 9th.

We are having an article in "The Horses Maine" in the April Edition. Pick one up next time you are at the tack shop! There is also an article in that issue about NCRC and all the year end results were posted.

See everybody Soon!

Gail & Angie

Friday, March 07, 2008
Hi All!
Hey, the Show Rave was a blast! The night flew and we are going to gear it up more this time!  Next one is March 22nd at 6:00 its open to ALL Infinity Farm Students, its FREE!, call for more Info....  

Well, it's great to see everyone working their horses with the new lunging technique! It is so great having the students lunge their horses through, what to look for, and breaking it all down. This technique is what I learned from Judy and it makes everything so CLEAR and straightforward!

Horses coming in for training has started for spring. Although this spring is full, I have an opening (and will try for another) this summer. If you would like your horse to come in please let me know soon as I have to limit booking and am filling up through the summer.

Also; for boarding this fall/winter PLEASE, PLEASE let me or Angie know as soon as you decide about your boarding situation. We already have reservations for horses that go home for the summer and come back, that have contacted us again for next year. We do book up early so even if you are THINKING about boarding please contact me so I can know that you are interested. We want to make sure we take care of our clients and have happy horses!    

We have been talking with our students and getting them set for the 2008 show year. Everyone is chomping at the bit and Angie, Katie and I have been getting in touch with students and family on what shows we will go to and such. Again any IF student is interested, please contact myself or your instructor and we will get you into any programs here that we talked about at our barn meeting that you may be interested in. If you missed the meeting, no sweat, we will  let you know all the new changes that are occurring. Remember, you can always e-mail us.   

Ok student notes...
Cassie Curtis is doing awesome with Jack!!!. She is such a nice kid and really clicks with big Jack...
Gabby Fevens is learning lots and teaching lots to Ranger, she and Ranger are coming along great . This match is perfect, she is starting some lateral work. Ranger was a real find and Gabby has a really nice horse to work with.
Konner Wilson LOVES Fever and on her own has been doing some jumping with Fever  while I teach others in the ring).

Sam Perry and Timber should be ready to BRING IT ON, after the year of getting Timbers muscles fit.    

Katie's student, Talia has been coming all winter and loves riding Suzie. We hope to see her this summer out and about!   

Jess Curtain is back from a Basket ball hiatus Hi you guys!   

Angie has 4 new students from the Carmel area. They ride on Tuesdays if you are out stop and say Hi to them!   

I am traveling down to Newport still Thursdays AM and am barn hopping and teaching at a few barns down there.   

Our Dressage 101, Training in Training programs have been very successful and fun! (Our Instructor program won't start for another week).

Angie is teaching our Dressage 101 and has researched and gathered a lot of accurate information and the classes are really big! The training Program is going great, the students are learning to develop their eye and want to learn MORE MORE MORE !    

The response on the changes from our barn meeting has been over whelming positive and I really feel a connection with us the barn staff and the boarders and students. The "Karma" has been really good and every one focusing on horses and keeping to their goals. 

 So Remember... It's ALL about the HORSES and everything else is a “purple pony”!!!!     Ciao! Gail 

Monday, March 03, 2008
Hey!

Thanks again for the people who went to the barn meeting. The workers worked really hard this winter making sure the horses were properly cared for. Water can be such a tough issue in the winter. The crew though did a great job making sure day and night the horses had access to water in the tanks that weren't heated. We hired Marie Stupacawicz to brush and put thrush application (whether they needed it or not) on all the horses 2-3 times a week. Sarah did a great job taking over the Saturday lessons; Angie did great keeping the barn going. Chris and the kids did a great job and know they had to take on a lot that usually I would have taken on.

Most people know I bought a DWB gelding 4 1/2 yr old for myself. His dad is Zeolit and grand dad is Gramiro Z line. He doesn't know much but has nice gaits and is really sweet. He is at Judy Westlake's until the weather gets warm enough to truck him home.

I learned so much more at Judy's again this year. For those who may not know Judy, she is a USDF Silver and Gold Medalist and is a certified USDF Instructor. She is really amazing. I attended the USDF trainers conference as Judy's guest. Jans Brinks was teaching and when I asked Judy a question she would answer it then Jans would mention the same thing!

I learned more about the importance of being thourough and how misunderstood it is. I learned how in training and 1st you do need to make sure the horse can come through and be on your aids. Although I knew this and used training and 1st to make sure the horse was on the aids and through to the hand, it was good to get validity and have the knowledge that in WORKING GAITS (training and first) you will feel the horse more in your hand until you start your collection work. Your horse should easily stretch down and through as well as being able to come up and work toward collection. A lot of people don't have a clear understanding of this. They feel the horse is on the fore hand, where in a training level frame, yes it will be more on the fore hand then if it was in a collected frame. This foundation cannot be ignored. Until the horse develops the muscles and comes through to be truly on the aids within all the gaits, this is a natural progression. If you are working your horse in a working gait and feel nothing in the hand then the horse hasn't come through in front of the leg and the horse is too advanced in the bridle for the gait. This is bad bad bad. Remember the training pyramid and what you need to get before collection. We got more and more in depth about the training scale and how you really can't have the next step until you horse shows that he has the previous steps. You can't have suppleness before rhythm. You can't have collection before CONTACT. "Straightness" has a different meaning on a bend and riding the horse in shoulder-fore. With all horses, even the upper level ones we rode in Florida, we had to go through the pyramid and label what we were in and get the feel. This is where a PROPERLY trained school master comes in. It is a luxury to have a good horse to ride to figure out what is to be learned.

I have some in barn lease horses to lease this year and will get the word out when they are ready. If anyone is interested in leasing a horse then please let me know.

We have a lot of really great programs geared to the students that really want to learn more than what their weekly lesson gives them. Some people were happy with the 1 or 2 times they rode in a lesson and others were enthusiastic about picking and choosing what they wanted to focus on and deciding which program they could take. Don't worry though folks, we will be offering some of the same programs, maybe part two of something more towards the summertime.

The Friday during April vacation Carol-Poulin-Taylor is coming.

We are starting our in barn drill team. We are keeping it on site but will be putting on a half time show during our 2 phase.

I wanted to send a note that Becca Anderson is trotting her horse Koda over ground poles! Yay Becca! If you see her at the farm let her know how cool that is!

Keep the Faith and remember ~ with the bad stuff, its only a purple pony!

Talk soon! Gail

Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Hi folks!
It was good to see such a big turnout at our barn meeting last sunday, thanks for coming. Hope everyone got home in time to catch the second half of the Daytona 500!!! Below I am posting some of the new programs we highlighted at the meeting so those who couldn't attend can see and those who did can look at agian. See you all soon,
Angie

Change in lesson rate for Private lesson with Gail:
Paying per lesson $40.00
Paying for lessons per month: $ 140.00 (Savings of $5.00 per lesson)
Half lease when lessons are with Gail: $ 290.00
Group and semi-private rates will stay the same.
Board rates are NOT changing and will remain the same at this time. :o)

Here is the program overview:

Dressage 101 - "Exploring Dressage"
This is an unmounted class that serves as a supplement to your regular weekly lesson with Gail or Angie. While this is more of a classroom type setting it will be very interactive using lots of multi-media and taught using a hands on approach. All the things you learn here will make it easier for you to communicate with your instructor during your mounted lessons and allow you time to ask questions and get explanation without drawing from your riding time. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to better your knowledge as well as your ability. Students will find the skills they learn here a valuable tool as their riding progresses thru the levels.

Some of the skills the student will attain are:

• understand the scoring system and learn how to score tests.
• learn how to scribe for a judge and understand how to read the scorers symbols (this will provide useful when reading the students own tests at the shows)
• explore the USDF/USEA dressage tests in depth with the help of an amazing new DVD we have. Learn the test from the judge's point of view and understand exactly what the judges look for.
• understand the dressage training pyramid
• familiarize the student with the USEA and USDF rulebooks, i.e. equipment rules, the whip rule, etc.
• understand dressage/training terminology
• learn how to correctly set up the large and small dressage arenas (we'll actually set up the rings during one of our spring classes)
• periodically we will have guest speakers such as Judy Westlake and Carol Poulin-Taylor
• achieve greater understanding of the movements as they apply to the different levels, as well as the requirements of the levels and expectations of the training.
• gain understanding of why certain movements are introduced in the different levels and tests and also why movements and transitions are place in certain places throughout the tests.
• occasionally there will be special mounted classes to explore some of the things we are learning and have in-depth discussion without taking up lesson time.

Cost: $40.00 for first session of four classes to be paid at the first class. This class is designed for the dressage rider of any level and the youth group is suggested for but not limited to students ages 12 and over.

Dressage 101 youth group meets the second and fourth Sunday of the month from 3:00-5:00 beginning February 24th . This will change to a weekday after school is out or the class may decide to meet different days during school vacations or when showing starts. Dressage 101 Adult group meeting time will be determined by the group. We are only taking 10 participants for each group. Participants should come prepared with a 1" 3-ring binder and pencils. To sign-up please contact angie@infinityfarm.us or download the Dressage 101 infor page and sign-up sheet from the forms page of our website.

Horse In-Hand: More info contact angie@infinityfarm.us
Sarah Hanscome will be starting a new unmouted group for people wishing to better their understanding of handling the horse in-hand and working on ground manners. Anyone interested in this contact Angie to get more info about in hand horse.

Training Trainers: more info contact gail@infinityfarm.us
This program will meet on Tuesdays from 10-2. We will offer a summer session as well. In this class we will go over basic manners, longing, long lining, starting horses over fences, Trailering, working in the round pen, join up, equipment, etc. The fee for this program will be $15.00 per day. Please see Gail for more info or to sign up for this class. There will also be a day long clinic March 30th . Fee for the day is 55.00 including lunch. This program is strongly recommended for anybody who is bring along their own horse or wants to get into developing a training project.

We will be offering a two day training trainer’s clinic February 21 & 22. Cost for the two day program will be $110.00 and includes lunch.

Instructor Program: more info contact gail@infinityfarm.us
This program is designed to help the students learn the A B C's of instruction. We will cover safety, equipment, communicating with the students in various ways, how different individuals learn, developing goals, lesson programs, etc. This program will meet the third Sunday of the month at noon. Cost is 20.00 per day. We will also offer summer sessions for this program.

Drill Team: more info contact gail@infinityfarm.us
There will be a drill team open house on Sunday February 24th from 1-3. We will be discussing what is involved, music, goals, etc. Drill team will regularly meet on the second and fourth Sunday of the month from 1-3. If we become a large group we may split the sessions and will discuss that at the meeting. Cost is $10.00 on your own horse of $15.00 on a school horse. This will be an on farm Drill team only. We will not be traveling like we have in years past. We will hold a Drill Team open house at some point so kids can show off their moves!

Clinics:
Interest seems to have dwindled as far as the camps are concerned. We are going to re-develop the programs we offer to be more of a clinic style to suit our riders. Look for these programs during school vacations and summer break. We will be offering eventing clinics, two-phases clinics and dressage clinics in the future.

* * * For other enteries in Gails Journal: 2006 || 2007 || Current

Call 207.564.7046 for more information or email gail@InfinityFarm.US