ANNE and DEIRDRE VAULTING Too Good to Miss!

As we are in the midst of planning our upcoming Vaulting Symposium and "Fun at the Farm" night (April 29 - May 1), what should show up in our email but a wonderful video of Anne Phinney's vaulting experience from last year's Symposium! We want to share it here.

Anne Phinney, writer, teacher, and horsewoman, published an article in "Practical Horseman" last month on how vaulting helped her face some later-life fears concerning horses.

Anne will be a guest speaker at this year's Vaulting Symposium, and we look forward to hearing more from her. Please check out the video, put together by Michele Decamp, a photographer, friend, and Root Farm supporter.

ANNE and DEIRDRE VAULTING

A Job for Deirdre

Root Farm's director finished her first children's book, and it's a true story about one of our devoted equine staff members: the mule, Deirdre. Click here to get a free download or purchase the book.

Yeah Winter! Yeah Central New York!

From the desk at the Mud Creek Mother Ship, there are an awful lot of good things to say about a day like this . . .










And just look at the smile on Jared's face at Root Farm -- We're all about making the best of this great season!

2010 -- The Year the Farm Goes Fit

Back in November, Joe Hafele from Purina Mills came to the farm to do a weight and fitness check on all of the horses.

Wow, did we get a wake up call!

As it turned out, most of our (14) horses were in pretty good shape -- EXCEPT -- two most valued members of our equine therapy staff weighed in at "borderline obese." These pictures don't lie . . .

Stella weighed in at at 1370 and Nestle at 138o, and Joe set a goal weight at 1150 for both of them. Diet and exercise from that day on for both was in order -- 225 pounds is a lot to have to lose before spring training!

Moving into the new year, Joe returned the 4th of January to check on our progress.

Stella is now 70 pounds lighter at 1300 and Nestle is also down 70 pounds to 1310.

And nothing motivates like success! Now some of our staff and volunteers -- even a client or two -- are lining up to get on the "Purina Diet."

We have christened 2010 THE YEAR of FARM FITNESS

So, we're not giving away any secrets here, but if anyone wants to jump in on the game, just come visit Root Farm to see the pounds dropping away.

. . . with a little help from our friends, of course, notably some great Purina weight control grain, a little hay analysis, a mechanical free walker for the horses in the works for spring, and lots of attention to record keeping by dedicated students, staff, and volunteers.

Two weeks ago, Root Farm's most recent program, "Youth Power," completed the last practice of an eight-week trial period. In collaboration with "Kids Oneida," 8 teens and preteens came to the Farm 1 day a week for a two hour session.

The vision behind the new program is to help at-risk youth develop self confidence, trust, teamwork and appropriate social interaction through activities centered around the horse and the development of a vaulting team. These young people are receiving opportunity to excel both as a team and individually in a unique sport they can call their own, and, at the end of the 12-week sessions, they will have the chance to display their new skills in a performance before family and friends and, eventually, the community at large.

Everyone is pleased with the progress the kids have made, and we look forward to starting up again in January. After all, when snow and ice and freezing temperatures don't slow these guys down any, imagine what they will accomplish when good weather arrives!

Engage the Christmas Spirit!

The day after Thanksgiving, a couple of Root Farm's vaulters, Amber and Shannon, participated with our donkey, Millie, in the town of Clinton's Christmas Parade.

Millie has been a member of the Farm's equine staff for years, and although she is not currently "in residence," she faithfully makes her appearance in the Christmas parade and the live nativity in Sherill ever holiday season!

Millie is AWESOME -- and so is what she does!

Bottoms Up to Bud Lite!

Well, Bud Lite's month of probation is officially over, and he passed every test Root Farm threw at him with flying colors!

His owner, Dr. Lyda Denny, is ready to sign the papers that will make him a bona fide member of the Root Farm Equine Staff.

Here's to Bud from all of us, and a great big welcome to a horse with a great big heart!