Current News and Carousel 4H Activities

November 2009

Gale Wolfe Named as one of American's TOP 50 Riding Instructors for 2009

by the American Riding Instructor's Association

Gale attended the 2009 convention of the

American Riding Instructors Association

at which she was awarded, once again, the

recognition of being one of the

Top 50 Riding Instructors.

Pictured here is Gale with Mr. George Morris

who is Chef d'Equipe of the USET's Olympic Jumping Team.

Mr. Morris is a prominent name in the Hunter and Show Jumping World.

September 2009

New Rubber Footing in the indoor

August 19, 2009

Last April, I registered to ride in a clinic with Mr. Walter Zettl, one of the dressage greats.

Click HERE to watch a video of portions of the lesson.

August 9, 2009

Chemung County Fair occurred during the first week of August. Several of us attended the fair. Pam Schneider and I

performed our Pas De Deux at the Dressage Show.

Click HERE to see a video on You Tube of our performance.

And I did a musical ride to Madonna Music. Click HERE to see that video on You Tube.

It was extremely muddy and the footing was terrible at the Fairgrounds. Seems to be our fate when I go

to a horseshow. It's either blazing hot, or I'm riding in muck. :)

Day Camp 2009

2009 Day Camp at Gale's for the week of July 6th through the 10th. We enjoyed 10 lovely young ladies, ages 4 through 14. The average age was 9 years old. The theme of the camp was "Dressage as the Basis for All Riding", and we worked on perfecting dressage tests for the Friday Ridecital, a performance given to the family and friends of our campers. We included instructional classroom activities about dressage and other horse events. We also learned about the parts of the saddle and bridle and the basic exterior anatomy of the horse. The girls became more familiar with grooming and tacking up horses for riding, several being able to do so completely on their own by the end of camp week.

The craft project was to use jewels and fabric paints to decorate halters for their horses. Each halter was as individual as the young lady that decorated it.

The Ridecital was a lovely success with the group performing a very nice drill team demonstration and then each girl riding a USDF Introductory Dressage Test. I performed a higher level dressage demonstration with Beike and the group concluded with presenting their halters to the audience and stating a short explanation of what they learned during camp week.

I'd say that the week was a great success and we look forward to next year's camp week. Perhaps we'll have enough interest to host more than one week next year!

Many thanks to all the helpers that made Day Camp 2009 a great success.

More photos of Day Camp 2009 can be seen at my Smug Mug Gallery by clicking HERE.
~Gale

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October 2008

Kelly Sigler Parelli Clinic

We had a great clinic on October 25th and 26th with Kelly Sigler. Two of us (Susan Cunningham and Gale Wolfe) completed their Level One assessment with Kelly and we look forward to receiving our "red" Savvy String, which acknowledges our level and success. Parelli techniques are great for building a better relationship for your horse. Even with my fourth level dressage horse, Beike, the Parelli games have made a significant improvement in her "interest in me" and wanting to be my partner..... and more than just "my horse".

Click HERE to see photos of our Clinic.

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August 2008

August offered a couple of nice horse shows, to which Gale's clients attended. We were well represented at the Chemung County Fair with Laurie Baker, Cassandra Bartsch, Jill and Kennedy Van Brunt and Kristen Schehr showing their own and other's horses. Kristen also had her personal clients, Alecia Orcutt, Stephanie Oggeri, and Kaylee Paruski showing and doing well in the ribbons. GOOD JOB LADIES!

On August 9th, Pam, Lynnelle and Gale took their horses to the CDCT Dressage Schooling Show in Ithaca, NY. This was an excellent show to get us "back into showing".

On the left, is Lynnelle on Oso. On the right is Pam on Amos.

Below are photos/videos of Gale on Beike.

If you click on the below photo of Beike, it will take you to a video of one of Beike's tests... but CAUTION...

These videos are a LARGE FILES and will require a long download time.

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July 2008

We constructed nearly two miles of all new fencing!

Celebrating our twenty years of operation, in 2008, we were able to replace all of our pastures fencing (over two miles of fencing!) and redesign our paddocks and pastures. Using "Flex Rail", and "Hot Cote" wiring we have an assortment of 18 pasture/paddocks and two six-acre pastures.....all electrified. Each turnout has a tube gate with those real nice latches. Below is a photo looking out towards the majority of the pastures that move down the west side of the property and out behind the old wooden outdoor riding ring. One of our round pens is in view, as well as a couple of fun "jump logs". We are very happy with our new "state of the art" turn-outs. We have enough pastures to allow for rotation to maximum grass growth and proper grounds maintenance

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A view from the roof of the barn....looking north towards the hills.

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May 2008

Congrats to Emily Jay and Samantha Baker

Winners of the NYS Team Presentation Competition.

That's Samantha Baker on the left and Emily Jay on the right.

Their presentation was titled "She Said Western. She Said English" and was about the two

forms of horseback riding, complete with clothing and gear explanation. GOOD JOB GIRLS!

YOUR HARD WORK PAID OFF!

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Riders from Gale's bring home the ribbons from the first show for this season!

Look at the ribbons in these photos!!!!!!

Congrats to Kristen, Cassandra and Laurie

on their many successful classes at the

Best of Both Worlds Horse Show

May 3rd and 4th.

September 2007

Pam & Gale perform

Pas de Deux with

Karolien and Beike.

Click HERE to see video.

June 2007

Beike gives us another wonderful

Friesian Foal..

Whisper fan Gale's

Click HERE to see more.

Whisper fan Gale's

at ONE day old.

APRIL 2007

Lil surprises us with her new

foal.... three weeks early.

Read about SMOKEY

HERE.

Lil with her new foal "Smokey Midnight Surprise"

Our Anatomy In Motion,

Gaits, Balance and Movement Clinic

was a HUGE LEARNING SUCCESS!

WOW.

Look HERE to see photos of our clinic.

Read about Susan Harris and Peggy Brown

and their clinics at the website: http://www.anatomyinmotion.com/

February 2007

We finally got some snow!

John modified an old truck plow blade to work on the Bobcat...worked very well!

As you can see...there was lots of snow to move off of the driveway.

Timothy (8month old Friesian stallion) & AJ (23 year old AQHA/PHBA stallion) play in the snow that came to our area on Valentine's Day.

Click on the photo to see more Timmy Action!

Sylvester has a good roll in the snow......

and gets snow in his nose.

Morgan mare "May" digs in the snow.

Click on her photo to see more snow action.

DECEMBER 2006 Events:
Carousel 4H went to Hands On Glass in Corning, N.Y. on December 9th to make Christmas ornaments. We participated in blowing the glass ourselves. GREAT FUN.
Photos here: Hands On Glass Photos
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Horsemanship/Equitation Clinic on December 17th

On December 17th, the Chemung County 4H horse program was treated to a free three hour long instructional clinic by Ms. Maggie Johnston of Arkansas, and hosted by Gale's Equine Facility. The class was EXTREMELY informative on skills to improve your performance in rail classes with your horse, and how to prepare for and ride a smooth pattern - whether the pattern is for Hunt Seat or Stock Seat style of riding.

Ms. Maggie stressed the important of learning how to control your horse's shoulders, as this is fundamental to obtaining higher levels of skills from your equine partner. She had us practice turns-on-the-haunches and sidepasses. When asking our horses to back, she described how judges want to see the horses drop their noses and "give" to the bit when asked to step backwards.

Of particular interest were the tips on "what to wear" in our classes, such as when are gloves appropriate, and when they are not. She discussed the required traditional "dress" for the Hunt Seat Classes, as well as the way for girls to wear their hair and jewelry.

Arena etiquette was reviewed. Remembering from the past, what she had observed of our Chemung County riders, Ms. Maggie discussed how to correctly maneuver our horses in a class relative to what the judge needs to see, and how to stay safe from other horses that may be having problems. She emphasized the importance of being ready and on-time to enter the ring when our class is called, including having our horse, boots and equipment wiped off to make the best presentation possible. The judge DOES notice these things, and they DO count towards the judge's overall opinion of a competitor's performance.

Much of the clinic was spent on how to ride a simple equitation/horsemanship pattern. Ms. Maggie reviewed how to use the judges markers, such as the cones, to ride your pattern. She told us when to line the cone up with the horse's shoulder, or when to line the horse's hip up with the cone. She also discussed how to line up to prepare for our turn to ride a pattern.

Maggie concluded the clinic by offering comments to the parents and supporters of the competitors, reminding them how hard it is to ride a pattern, and to compete under pressure. It IS difficult to maneuver a big horse through a tight pattern, and she reminded everyone that competitors need more support and acknowledgement of successes, rather than negative remarks and criticism.

This was a very good event, and we couldn't have asked for better weather. Seemed like a nice spring day rather that a week before the Christmas Holiday Season.

Thanks again to Ms. Maggie Johnston, for sharing your years of knowledge of what is expected by judges on the "breed circuits". Even though many of us are still at the 4H and Open show levels, it is our goal to aspire to the same high standards. If we feel important, and look important, then we will ride importantly well.

Read more about Maggie Johnston's horses at her website:
http://www.maggiejohnston-showhorses.com/index.html
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OCTOBER 2006 EVENTS:
Students of Gale's Equine Facility participate (and do well in the ribbons) at Foxmoor Farm's Horse Show on October 15th!
Click HERE for Foxmoor Show Photos!

October 29th - our
FOURTH ANNUAL
HALLOWEEN HORSE TRIALS
Great fun had by all at this event of Cross Country, Stadium, Choreographed Riding and Gymkhana Events.
Photos of this event can be seen by clicking HERE.

SEPTEMBER 2006 EVENTS:

Miek & Jan Reitsma visit from the Netherlands.
Timothy goes to his first FHANA inspection.
Miek performs at Cazenovia College Equestrian Facility on Beike.
Jan & Miek present a Friesian Demonstration of
Carriage Driving and Dressage at Gale's
Click HERE to read about these events.
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June 20, 2006 - Gale receives the NYS Senate's 2006 Woman of Dintinction Award. Read more about the award by clicking on the photo below:

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JUNE 10, 2006

TIMOTHY FAN GALE'S is born.

Visit TIM'S WEBPAGE for photos!

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CAROUSEL 4H CLUB

did very well at June 24, 2006

Horse Show!

Click HERE to see more photos of the show!

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CONGRATULATIONS TO GALE

for obtaining her new

ARIA Instructor Certifications in

Western, Dressage, Carriage Driving and Eventing Specialties.

Click on the ARIA logo to learn more about the certification program.

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WOW!

CONGRATS to

JENNIFER TREACY

CAROL SPARKS

JESSICA ALLEN

FOR ACHIEVING THEIR

PARELLI LEVEL ONE CERTIFICATION

CLICK on the Parelli Logo Below to Learn more about the Parelli Partnership Program

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2005 NEWS UPDATES:

Visit http://www.pbase.com/tackshopper for recent photos!

There are LOTS of photos at pbase of the County Fair Horse Shows, and of photos that I have taken at Stuart Horse Trials and Walnut Hill Carriage Driving, The Lipizzaner Stallions and other activities.

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The BIG news is Gale's new addition to her barn:

"I have imported a Ster Friesian mare from Holland,

with the help of Jan & Ron Goldman of Black Sterling Friesians,

I was able to purchase Beike from Jan and Miek Reistma

Jan and Miek raised and trained Beike from birth and I'm so lucky to have new Friesian friends in the Netherlands and in California.

Many thanks to the Goldmans and the Reistmas!"

^^^^Meet Beike fan 't Zand^^^^

The above photo is of Gale's first ride on her new

13 year old Level ZZ Dressage mare

rides, drives, does trails and jumps.

Click on the Friesian to see more photos of Beike:

The above photo taken of Gale & Beike

at the 2005 Cornell Equine Research park Hunter Pace.

Photo by Lisa Novitsky (also a Friesian owner at Gale's!)

Click HERE to see more Beike photos by Lisa.

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And it gets better!..... Beike is so cool to have and ride, that we went looking and found A Friesian for Pam Schneider. Miek and Jan from Holland helped us to find "Karolien" who is Beike's half sister. The two mares were THRILLED to be together again.

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Beike sails over the large picket jump at Gale's and then is her mount for our annual Halloween Horse Trials event, held in October.

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Click on each of the images below

to see more of each subject:

The Lipizzaner Stallions Came to Elmira on September 29th. Great Fun To Watch.

Gale's 50th Birthday Party

The Chemung County Fair 4H Horse Shows

The Carousel 4H Club Saddle Stands

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News about Carousel 4H was published in the February 2005 issue of Horse Bits!

Click on the photo below to go to the Adobe File to read a copy of the article:

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NEWS FROM 2004

We had a WONDERFUL Clinic for Chemung County 4H Program at

our barn on December 4, 2004, taught by

Ms. Maggie Johnston of

Maggie Johnston Show Horses.

View photos of the clinic by clicking on the photo below:

The clinic reviewed skills needed for Trail Classes, Lateral Aids and Showmanship.

We look forward to having Maggie back again to see how well we have done our "homework".

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In November, "Sylvester" came to our barn. He's Gale's "Western" buddy... but we're using him for English lessons as well. He's a 1998 AQHA PHBA gelding. We thank Celeste Shearer for working things out so Sly can join us at Gale's. He's a joy!

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Click on the above photo to go to the link of images

from our October 31, 2004 Halloween Horse Trials!!!!!!!

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With the help of my parents, we were able to paint the barn this year. Gone is the old faded blue, and now we are a beautiful green. We are truly blessed:

Steve Brinthraupt did the painting project for us.

<<<<<Before & After the Painting Project

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Sad news: after surviving colic surgery in January of 2004, my beloved Skippy succumbed to colic on April 12th, the day after Easter. It turned out that in response to the first go around with surgery in January, Skippy's intestines developed adhesions, painful ones. There was no real choice for us.

We all miss him.

He'll never be replaced.... but we do have a new horse in the barn who is going to give us his best at doing so.

Maguire was purchased from Mallory Box in August by the Barn Goddesses.

He is a 1990 Thoroughbred Gelding, and we just LOVE him! He is in the photo below being ridden by one of the goddesses: Lisa Bartlett.

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In September, we added another member to our lesson horse squad.

His name is "Teddy Two Step" and we bought him from Celeste Shearer. Riding him is 6 year old Halie Stuart. He's been a GREAT addition to our string of quiet safe lesson mounts.

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Photos from 2003

Lindsey Canfield on Star (left) and Gale Wolfe on Skippy won the first prize by riding the Cornell Hunter Pace at the optimum time. There were 137 rides that day, September 13, 2003 at the Equine Research Park. Lindsey and Gale also won the first place prize for Best Matched Pair. They are seen going over jump #33, the last jump on the 5 mile course.

The 2003 Barn Sleepover.....

2003 Fall Rideathon

The Lippizzan Stallions came to Elmira,

and we housed the beautiful white horses at our barn during their three days stay in our area.

The Annual Halloween Party at the Barn - GREAT COSTUMES THIS YEAR!

The 2003 Syracuse Sporthorse Tournament Invitational - GREAT FUN to cheer for our favorite jumpers.

What a wonderful time we had at Equine Affaire. We saw great celebrities and their horses. It was great to have our training methods confirmed by famous trainers such as David and Karen O'Connor (who also play "tag" on horseback!). Shopping was spectacular and we had great seats for the Fantasia. Heather will be writing up a report which we will post here in the future! For now, enjoy some of the photos.

Comic Stunt Riders at Fantasia: