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!