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!

Root Farm board welcomes Dr. Lyda Denney

Root Farm is delighted to announce the addition of Dr.Lyda Denney to its board of directors. Lyda has been a veterinarian for over 30 years and has been employed since 1983 by the NYS Department of Agriculture and Market's Division of Animal Industry as a field veterinarian. She developed and acts as Coordinator for the NYS Horse Health Assurance Program (NYSHHAP). In addition, Lyda serves as a Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostician for both federal and state Agricultural Departments. She and her husband, Dr. Pat Sievers, also an equine practitioner, maintain a stable of hunters and jumpers in Vernon at High Goal Farm, where Dr. Sievers also holds his equine practice.

Lyda's energy and enthusiasm for varying aspects of the equine industry is phenomenal, and we know she will prove an enormous asset to Root Farm!

Bud Lite comes to Root Farm -- more than a good brew !

Root Farm is delighted to announce the arrival of "Bud Lite," a Belgian/paint cross gelding belonging to Dr. Lyda Denney. Bud has had a successful career as a field hunter, and now, in his latter years, he is trying out for a new career as part of the equine staff at Root Farm.

So far, Bud has been an unqualified success, carrying both kids and adults in their adaptive vaulting lessons. Everyone loves him, and the farm hopes that they will be able to officially adopt Bud by Christmas.

Vaulting in Vegas

November 7 and 8, Kim and Pete went to Las Vegas to help with "Vaulting in Vegas" (Region I Championships). Thinking they were going to have a quiet vacation, Pete and Kim were instantly enlisted to the ranks of organizational volunteers (a great learning experience in which they were more then happy to participate).

True to form, our vaulting couch, Pete, had to represent the Root Farm by strutting his own stuff. Pete competed in "one-star trot compulsories/freestyle" on a horse borrowed from Rick Hawthorne. He made us proud by finishing second in his class!

Of course, there was a little bit of sightseeing, and thanks to our vaulting mentors, the Hawthornes from California, Kim & Pete had a trip to the Vegas strip.

View photos of the parade of breeds

check out Stella and Malkier at The Parade of Breeds at http://picasaweb.google.com/aliceroot/ParadeOfBreedsAtSyracuseInvitational09?feat=directlink

Parade of Breeds at Syracuse Invitational

Root Farm was given a fabulous opportunity when asked, a few weeks ago, if it could provide a couple of horses for the “Parade of Breeds” at the Syracuse Invitational horse show Oct 27 – Nov 1. The show is held at the Oncenter and War Memorial in Syracuse, with the horses – the best jumpers in the nation -- plus some from other countries – competing in an end-of-the–year finale. Olympic gold medal winner, Beezee Madden and her husband, John, were there to MC the event.

Stella (everyone knows Stella!) went along with Root Farm’s PR equine, the majestic Malkier, to represent their two breeds, the Norwegian Fjord and the Friesian. They were on display on and off for five days in the Oncenter, helping to educate scores of elementary children from Syracuse schools and being available for conversation and pictures to all who came through the Oncenter before and after the show in the Was Memorial.

Stella and Malkier paraded out before a big crowd in the auditorium four days in a row, at the start of each evening and the final Sun afternoon jumping competition. They were joined by five other representatives of horse breeds: the Haflinger, the Morgan, the Nakota, the Quarter Horse, and the American Miniature Horse. Amber Schillicci, a member of the Root Farm Vaulters team, performed some vaulting moves on Stella as she paraded around the arena, and Alice Root, the Farm’s founding director, rode her Friesian, Malkier, as another representative of The Root Farm. Both Stella and Malkier were magnificent, and many people heard about the benefit of equine-assisted therapy. We hope to be invited back next year!

First Annual Hunter Pace, 2009

Root Farm held its first annual benefit hunter pace on October 20th, and everything went according to plan, with mother nature cooperating with a rainless day. Jack Buschmann of MKJ Farm in Deansboro generously offered his 300 acre farm in Deansboro for the event. The Root Farm folks spent the summer clearing a lovely five-mile trail across fields and through woods, up and down hills with spectacular views of the Mohawk Valley. When the horses came back from the trail ride, they were treated to the sounds of a local band, "Draft Horse," and a body and soul-warming barbecue. Awards were given for the best time as well as other fun categories such as oldest, youngest, best and worst matched, and even "worst helmet hair!" 45 riders, some from as far away as Albany, came for the hunter pace, and everyone was enthusiastic about both the trail and the entertainment. The farm expects that next year will bring out even greater numbers.

All proceeds from the event went for the Farm's benefit, and we are grateful to all who participated. Go to and www.rootfarm.org, click on "hunter pace pictures," and you can view some great photos of the hunter pace and the horses and riders -- not to mentions views of our beautiful valley!

Serious Certification Seminars

Well, when the Root Farm staff goes out for Certification, we do it up right!

Over the weekend of October 24 Kim and Pete Senn traveled to Ohio to test for their CHA (Certified Horseman's Association) certification as Barn Managers.

Not that they weren't already doing the job . . . but we all know how much a piece of paper with a professional signature can mean when it comes down to the nitty gritty.

Kim and Pete spent a good three days reviewing all the tasks and responsibilities of farm managers at Pegasus Farm in Hartville, Ohio. Kim tested out at level ll Equine Facility Management (Stable manager), while Pete was confirmed at level lll (Herd Manager).

Three cheers for Root Farm's barn managers!

The same weekend, our fearless leader, Alice, found herself at a posh driving establishment in Kentucky, Galyla Driving Center, that is host to United States Driving for the Disabled. she attended three days of NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association) sponsored driving workshop and then another three days testing for her driving instructor certification.

Yeah for Root Farm's certified therapeutic driving instructor!

So, all in all, it was a big week, with another five intense days to follow at the Syracuse Invitational.

Never a dull moment!

First Annual Hunter Pace Benefit

First Annual Hunter Pace Benefit

Root Farm held its first annual benefit hunter pace on October 20th, and everything went according to plan, with mother nature cooperating with a rainless day. Jack Buschmann of MKJ Farm in Deansboro generously offered his 300 acre farm for the event. The Root Farm folks spent the summer clearing a lovely five-mile trail across fields and through woods, up and down hills with spectacular views of the Mohawk Valley. When the horses came back from the trail ride, they were treated to the sounds of a local band, "Draft Horse," and a body and soul-warming barbecue. Awards were given for the best time as well as other fun categories such as oldest, youngest, best and worst matched, and even "worst helmet hair!" 45 riders, some from as far away as Albany, came for the hunter pace, and everyone was enthusiastic about both the trail and the entertainment. The farm expects that next year will bring out even greater numbers.

All proceeds from the event went for the benefit of the Farm, and we are very grateful to all who participated. To view some great photos of the hunter pace and the horses and riders -- not to mentions views of our beautiful valley! -- go to www.rootfarm.org and click on "hunter pace pictures."

August Activities

August activites:

Chance and Stella performed with JD Winslow at Chenango County Fair for two days.

They also participated with the team at Rootin Tootin Horseplay days at Erie Canal Village.

$10,000 grant from Dave Townsend!

Root Farm is delighted to receive a grant from Dave Townsend that will assist us in serving the autistic population. The funds will go mainly towards scholarships and equipment. For more details, please read the following article: http://www.oneidacountycourier.com/vernon-new-york-news/root-farm-thanks-townsend-for-program-fund/

In September:

We took Chance to Virginia and competed at Great Falls/Topaz Fall Vaulting Fest -- Our first recognized vaulting competition!

The team came away with 4 firsts, 4 seconds, 3 thirds, 2 Grand Champion and 2 Reserve Champion ribbons!

Back home, we did a demo and had a Root Farm table set up at VVS Community Days held at VVS High School.

Settling in for the fall and winter . . .

Hippotherapy Video

...is now online:

Root Farm Vaulters at the Chenango County Fair

Root Farm Vaulters opened at the Chenango County Fair in Norwich for JD Winslow on Thursday and Friday of this week. They also offered independent demonstrations of freestyle and compulsories on both the barrel and the horse. Stella and Chance were both in attendance -- this summer Chance is really proving his ability to take some of the burden off Stella's ample shoulders!

Following the fair performances, Stella and Chance both put in an appearance with their vaulters at Erie Canal Village's "Rootin Tootin Horse Play" weekend. We are going to have to invent some "carrot Popsicles" if this heat continues!

Photos of both events will be posted shortly.

"of counsel" addition to Root Farm equine staff

Following some negotiation at the Walnut Hill Carriage Show in Rochester this past week, Mud Creek Farm's prized Friesian horse, Malkier, has agreed to do some PR for Root Farm when he returns to his home stable next week. He will be available for demonstrations, parades, fairs and other community events, where he hopes to inspire, by his presence, belief in the profoundly therapeutic influence of the equine character. For more pictures of Malkier, click here.

Horsemanship Clinic in Long Island

Root Farm offered adaptive vaulting in Long Island at the Thomas School of Horsemanship this week - check out the photo slideshow below!


Photos can be downloaded from the album here.

Root Farm goes to the Fair

On Thursday, August 13 and Friday, August 14, Root Farm Vaulters have been invited to participate, along with Roman Rider JD Winslow, in an equine extravaganza at the Chenango County Fair in Norwich, NY (click here for info and directions). Come on out and see us at the fair and stay tuned for photos coming soon!

Vaulting Lessons this Week

Here are a few photos from this week's vaulting lessons with Bela. For the full gallery of photos, check out Bob Gates' gallery here.

July -- a time to show off!

In July, Root Farm took Stella and its vaulting team to:

Long Island to do a vaulting clinic with Horseability and Equus Pony Club

and hosted a visit from St. Joseph’s Nursing Home in Utica

They also did a demo at the Oneida County Fair!

Root Farm Vaulters: June appearances

In June, Root Farm Vaulters

Competed in Region IX vaulting championships in New Jersey

Participated in Verona Firemen’s Field Days parade

Driving Video is Up

Hi all, we've just posted this driving video to our YouTube page. Enjoy!

Join Us at the Farm!

World class entertainment is right at the farm! Head out to Verona and bring some friends for a casual night out, JD Winslow, a pig roast... and meet the staff and stars (human AND equine!) of the Root Farm.

Sponsor a Child

One child can attend an entire 10 week series of Spring vaulting lessons for a total of $300. Half of that, $150, will carry him or her through 5 weeks of lessons, and a mere $30 will put that child on a horse, a profound experience that may stay with him or her forever.

For an entire session of classic hippotherapy, supervised by a licensed Physical, Occupational or Speech Therapist, a handicapped child can experience 10 weeks of treatment for $450. A single session for $45 will allow the therapist to evaluate his or her case and determine how the movement of the horse can best benefit specific points of weakness or damage.

To learn how to donate just click here

Meet Stella!

Stella continues to be the firm equine foundation of the farm. Twice a week she goes out with the vaulting club and trudges around in bitter cold conditions so that the kids can keep in shape for the coming season. Sometimes when Kim calls to tell kids that their lessons are cancelled due to cold, Stella says - no! -and the kids say - no! - and lessons go on. WE ARE TOUGH!

Meet April and Cindy

We first met April in 2004, shortly after a devastating surgery-gone-wrong deprived her of the active life and mobility to which she, a college student and avid soccer player, had been accustomed. Over the years, April has come faithfully to lessons and has been a willing participant in the Root Farm's annual Vaulting Symposium, allowing Rick Hawthorne to use her as his 'guinea pig." April maintains a sense of humor that keeps us all on our toes, and she is an inspiration to everyone at the farm.

Cindy is the mother of our star student, April, and she is not only a great parent but a firm supporter of what the Root Farm has done for her daughter. A therapist herself, Cindy recognizes the unique benefits that work on and with the horse can provide.

April and Cindy were stars in the farm's new overview video last summer, which can be viewed here.