By Kim J. Harmon

Whether it be on the grounds of the Second Company Horse Guard at Fairfield Hills, down at the University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System in Bethel, or way over at Madison Square Garden in New York City, the horse community in Newtown and outlying areas had a busy year in 2000.

Here are just some of the highlights in this Year in Review:

Y2K EMERGENCY?

It was announced that the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard was put on call from December 29, 1999, right through January 3, 2000, for the State of Connecticut Y2K Operations. The Guard was called up in the advent of state-wide problems because of the widely-publicized Y2K computer virus. Few problems were reported.

TEIKYO POST

The Teikyo Post Equestrian team, coached by Carolyn Reed of Newtown, finished fourth out of 15 teams at the Hebron Fall Show hosted by Wesleyan University in January.

NBLA

The joint sleigh ride put on by the Newtown Bridle Lands Association and the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard went off without a hitch in January – despite barely an inch of snow on the ground. Most participants went to wheeled carriages

ANIMAL LIFESTYLES

Two new columnists – Adria Henderson and Lisa Peterson – were introduced in February to the readers of The Newtown Bee horse and dog page. Henderson and Peterson own and operate Safe at Home LLC, a Newtown-based pet-sitting service. In their columns, Henderson and Peterson bring up a number of issues dealing with largely with dogs, cats and horses – but also might pop up with something about parrots.

WESTMINSTER DOG SHOW

A Springer Spaniel beat out 2,500 other dogs to be named the Best in Show at the 124th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Ch. Madison Silver Belle, owned by Audra and Greg Oliger of Newtown and bred by Pam Kochuba of Newtown, won a Best of Opposite Sex to Best of Breed Award. Silver Belle was handled by Kent McFarlane.

LESLIE HUDSON-TOLLES

Local artist Leslie Hudson-Tolles exhibited her work at a March show at the Westchester Center for the Arts entitled Horses Around the World. The show began on March 24 and ran through April 18. Later, in June, a lithograph by Judson-Tolles featuring world-renowned trainer John Lyons, was the prized object in a raffle run by the Oxford 4-H Club.

HORSES ON PARADE

The popular Horses on Parade show returned to the Bethany Airport Grounds in Bethany on May 21. The show, sponsored by Teikyo Post University in Waterbury, featured a mix of stallions, horses of different breeds (such as Icelandic, Peruvian, Dartmoor ponies, and Paints) together with demonstrations of equestrian expertise in a number of disciplines.

SECOND COMPANY SHOW

The second annual open horse show of the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard at Fairfield Hills was a tremendous success in June. Winners in 15 different classes – from Rookie all the way up to the Governor’s Horse Guard Classic – were named.

JESSICA ULRICH

Jessica Ulrich of Monroe was selected to represent the Connecticut Quarter Horse Youth Association at the Youth World Show in Forth Worth, Texas, from August 3 to August 13. The 18-year-old horsewoman road her horse Expertello in the show.

OPEN HOUSE

The Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard opened its doors in August for its annual Open House and featured, this year, a performance by the University of Connecticut vaulting team. There were also pony rides and tours of the barns.

BETHEL 4-H

More than 140 riders took the courses at the annual Bethel 4-H Benefit Horse Show at the University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System in Bethel. Jeppe Christianson (Kentucky Hunter Classic), Kacy Foehrenbach (Open Beginner Hunter) and Amy Marasco (Junior Western) were the big winners.

TURKEY TROT

The Newtown Bridle Lands Association and the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard held their annual Turkey Trot benefit Trail Ride at Fairfield Hills on November 18 to benefit the Faith Food Pantry of Sandy Hook. Riders contributed 14 bags of non perishable food and household consumables and then set out on a two-hour ride.

PUMPKIN PACE

Despite the wind and snow, more than 115 teams were dauntless in their pursuit of a good time and ribbons at the October Frost on the Pumpkin Pace of the Newtown Bridle Lands Association. Winners in the Hunt Division (Dolly Ledingham and Joan Felice), Pleasure Division (Kim Nosek and Kim Bouza), Western Division (Lawrence Mignone and Anthony Zumpano), and Junior Division (Jennifer Camac and Krista Koch) were honored. It was also learned that Howard Kahn and Jeanne Ruh won the overall Associated Bridle Trails series.