New England Equestrian Center of Athol

A few years ago local horse enthusiasts in the north-central region of Massachusetts had a dream of developing an equestrian park in that area. The main purpose of this park would be to provide equestrians in the area a place where they could come with their horse(s) to participate in the activity of their choice, whether it be trail riding, showing, or participating in clinics, etc.

When a large parcel of land suitable for this purpose became available for sale, this determined group of people approached the town of Athol for assistance and, with the support of the town, purchased the property. This was the beginning of the New England Equestrian Land Management Conservation Corporation, a nonprofit organization to assist in the development and operations of lands set aside for the specific purpose of equestrian use for future generations.

Under the guidance of the NEELMCC, the New England Equestrian Park of Athol (NEECA) was developed. This association consists of local-educated talent willing to donate both their time and labor to ensure that this equestrian park becomes a reality.

The basic plan is to develop for the town of Athol, Mass., a park dedicated to the long-term use of the equestrian owner/user. This park will be oriented to the general public as well and will also meet other local recreational needs such as hiking, cross-country bike trails, etc. With proper planning, this park is expected to become a self-sustaining operation once it is open for operation.

This park, in time, will include: a primary trail system for equestrian use, separate designated trails for walkers and runners, office and first aid station, a large public arena, and equestrian training and holding equipment. In time it is hoped that this Park will become an asset not only to the town of Athol but to local horse enthusiasts of every interest and discipline as well.

Click here to go to the NEECA website for more information.

Granby Regional Horse Council

The Granby Regional Horse Council was initially formed in 1994 at the old Circle Double G Farm (originally located on Route 202, in Granby) by a group of local horse owners who rode the trails of Granby, Belchertown, and the surrounding communities. After realizing that there was a large population of horses, horse-related businesses, and recreational riders in the area, and seeing a need to bring these groups of horse people together, the Granby Regional Horse Council was formed. In 1996, the Granby Regional Horse Council was officially established and incorporated as a non-profit 501C equestrian organization.

The goals and purposes then and now, are to provide equine educational venues, host recreational and competitive events, and save and maintain trails and open space for equestrian use. To these purposes, we have been hosting educational lectures, organizing trail rides, working with other groups to save trails and open space, and presenting horse shows, gymkhanas, a sleigh rally, and more for nearly 10 years now!

GRHC welcomes new members of all ages and encourages all to attend its monthly meetings held every second Wednesday evening of the month.

Click here to email the Granby Regional Horse Council.

Barre Riding and Driving Club

The Barre Riding and Driving Club is one of the oldest clubs in existence, established the same year — 1938 — as the big September hurricane known as the Long Island Express. (The Blue Hill Observatory in Massachusetts measured sustained winds of 121 miles per hour with gusts to 183 miles per hour. Heavy rains before and during the hurricane produced river flooding, most notably along the Connecticut River. This hurricane struck with little warning and was responsible for 600 deaths and $308 million in damage in the United States.) The club started as part of the Old Home Day Entertainment, holding its first horse frolics only a few days prior to the damaging hurricane. The competition consisted of six events for horses and ponies, all owned by local citizens. The proceeds from the event were donated to the American Red Cross in order to help out following the storm.
 
From 1942 through 1945, mounted patrols were organized under the leadership of Hebert Rice, Jennie Blaisdell, and Captain E. B. Stone. The patrol cut and maintained trails in addition to assisting police and fire patrols in search-and-rescue efforts. Today, our club still has members involved in search and rescue.
 
Over the sixty-plus years the club has been in existence, it has been involved in a multitude of activities. Examples include the Galloping Hooves 4-H Horse Club, started in 1955 and formed by Jennie Blaisdell. Another was the competitive 35-mile trail ride, which began ten years later, in 1965. Today the club is involved, along with the Barre Fair Committee, in offering a horse show series. The BRDC also offers a spring and fall trail ride and recently a gymkhana series. All of the proceeds are put toward scholarship funds that are available to anyone continuing their education. Members have also represented the club in various parades around the area.

If you are interested in joining the Barre Riding and Driving Club, please contact Margo Petracone at (978) 355-4247 or email her by clicking here.

Click here to go to the BRDC website.
  

Hampshire County Riding Club

Nobody can dispute how long the Hampshire County Riding Club has been in existence, because Bob Bean, a current director, was there. He is the sole surviving charter member of the club. The year was 1936 when he was invited to join a group of local men who rode together informally. It was called the Pioneer Valley Riding Club in those days.

As a teenager fresh out of school, Bean, a Northampton native, borrowed $75 from his father and bought his first horse. The club originally was all male, and included Earle Parsons, Henry Labbe, Rob McQueston, Sid Carl, and others like Whitey Streeter, who came from as far away as Bernardston. Bean donated to the club a photograph of members on horseback at the October 12, 1939, dedication of the Coolidge Bridge, which spans the Connecticut River between Northampton and Hadley and was in This Olde Horse in the December/ January 2006 issue of Massachusetts Horse.

In the 1930s and 1940s, when the Connecticut River was more prone to flooding, club member Rob McQueston, who owned Tennessee Walking horses, put his horses on the porch of his Hadley home. Since the water kept rising, he moved them inside to the first floor, then to the second floor. They went upstairs a lot easier than they came down, Bean says.

The club existed long before its incorporation in 1946, the date listed in some club records. It started with 36 members. Members participated in many equestrian activities at the Northampton fairgrounds, and Bean remembers that gymkhanas were particularly popular. Incorporation came about because as business owners, many members wanted legal protection from being sued as individuals in case of an accident.

The club’s first home was a building at the Northampton fairgrounds, which officials let the group use after they agreed to add a chimney so it could be heated. Several years later, the club acquired land on Cooke Avenue from one of its members, local Realtor John Skibisky, and built a clubhouse there. Because it was during World War II, building supplies were hard to come by. Resourceful club members found ways to come up with the necessary materials like cement blocks and copper piping.
“You’d go up there to work and the stuff would be lying on the ground. A big bird dropped it off in the night or something,” Bean said, laughing. Nobody asked where it came from. Bean remembers helping dig by hand a ditch for the new clubhouse’s connection to the town water supply. He and other club members also built a show ring there.

“It wasn’t very big, but we had some big horse shows there,” Bean says. “Cars and trucks parked way down the roadway, and after a while, it got so big that we needed another place.”

Skibisky found the club a new location on Ball Road, in Goshen, its present site. He engineered the deal to buy the 48-acre property with a house and outbuildings and to sell the Cooke Avenue building to the Moose Club. The late Claude Hill told club members that his ancestors had owned the Ball Road house, which was built in 1770, and that it was the second oldest house in Goshen — now the oldest one still standing.

The barn was too dilapi-dated to save. It was torn down and two riding rings replaced it. Horse shows were held in the spring and the fall for many years. Women started joining in 1944, after the club began holding cookouts and other social events, according to a newspaper report. Claude Hill’s wife, Priscilla, served as club secretary for many years.

The club’s early records were destroyed when an inmate escaped from the former Northampton State Hospital — both the Hills worked there — entered their nearby house and it caught fire.

For many years club members worked at the New England Morgan Horse Show in Northampton, staffing the admission gates, providing security, and earning on average $4,000 a year. The club also hosted the annual Massachusetts Cross State Trail Ride in 1979 and again in 1985.

Nowadays the club holds one horse show in the fall and members meet monthly, usually for a talk, presentation, or other educational event, as well as for social activities. During the warm months, the club sponsors trail rides at a variety of locales in the area and at least one gymkhana each season.

Click here to go to the HCRC website for more information.

Westfield Riding Club

The Westfield Riding Club was founded in 1939 by a group of people whose intent was on fostering interest in the use, care, breeding, and protection of horses. Particular emphasis was placed on developing an understanding of horses and horsemanship.

Today the club coordinates shows, group rides, monthly meetings with speakers of various horse expertise, and much more.

WRC owns a five-acre parcel in Westfield. The grounds feature a rustic meeting house with a full kitchen and cozy fireplace, plus a riding arena, judge’s booth, and cook shack. The 100' by 230' riding arena is open at all times for use by active WRC members.

Each year, the club presents two open shows for Western, English, and driving. Several trail rides take place in beautiful locations such as the Knightsville basin, state forests, and beaches, plus a weekend campout at Indian Hollow Campground. Members may also join the fun at the annual Christmas party and Gymkhana Fun Day.

This past year WRC hosted an Open Gymkhana that had a great turnout and was lots of fun. We had a great group of people come down from Vermont just for this day. This event is a good time to cut loose and enjoy your horse.

Member benefits include a ten percent discount at Sackett Ridge Saddlery, a bimonthly newsletter, trail rides, parties, use of the clubhouse and arena, and the camaraderie of other horse lovers.

So, for a fun club with members who share a common interest, join the Westfield Riding Club today.

For membership information you can contact the club secretary, Kristina Mitchell, by email or by phone: (413) 354-6377.

Bay State Trail Riders Association

BSTRAhas served New England horseowners since its formation in 1972. Incorporated in Massachusetts in 1973 expressly for the purpose of trail advocacy, BSTRA continues to work for the development of a statewide system of multi-use trails, the creation of new and interconnecting trails, trail maintenance, and trail systems going into other states.

Promoting good horsemanship, BSTRA educates its members on trail etiquette and safety for all trail users.

Affiliations with organizations like Rails to Trails Conservancy, American Horse Council, American Trails keep BSTRA informed of what is going on within the region and on a national level. BSTRA takes an active stand on legislation affecting equestrians who keep horses and ride the trails. BSTRA works to educate subdivisions of government and governmental agencies on all levels.

For more information go to www.bstra.org.

South County Riders

South County Riders started in the early 1970s when the town of Egremont allowed local horse people to build a riding ring in French Park. The club has had a few different names over the years but has always kept its focus on holding well-run open horse shows that cater to the backyard horse person as well as being used as a stepping stone for training young horses or preparing for larger shows. Membership is $30 for a team of horse and rider. At the close of the year a banquet is held at which about 13 different division awards are given — some years they have been cash awards and other years very nicely embroidered items. The club sponsors four open shows each year at French Park in North Egremont, and has endeavored to offer prizes for all first place ribbons while still keeping its class fee affordable. Club members do all the upkeep on the riding ring fence. For additional information please contact chairperson Mary Brazie at (413) 528-2367 or email.