News from the Southlands January 2022
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S NOTE!
Happy Year of the Tiger!
We hope 2022 has started off well for our Southlands family - even if really cold! According to Accuweather, in January, we hit single digit frigid temperatures almost a dozen times, going all the way to -3 the other day! Brrr....
With that said, we want to thank you all for your patience and understanding regarding the canceling or moving of lessons when the weather is bitterly cold or too windy. We do not make these decisions lightly. We have done a great deal of research and have found that damage can occur to the horses lungs in colder weather. You can read more here and here.
When we do make the decision to ride in the colder temps there are some steps we and you should plan to take. Working horses in cold weather takes some extra time and planning, especially if you are taking a jumping lesson. Since it takes longer for your horse's soft tissues to warm up in cold weather, you need to do a great deal of walking to warm and stretch your horse (you will be cold, so dress warmly!). You should keep a cooler over your horse’s body after removing blankets. You can do this (and cover your own legs) while doing your warm up and cool down walks as well. Make sure your horse does not get too sweaty - dry your horse thoroughly with a towel before putting blankets back on. You do not want your horse to get chilled. Doing a good toweling will help keep you warm too!
We also taking into account the comfort and health of our staff. They are out for hours in this weather and we want to keep them healthy, comfortable and safe. The heaters in the indoor ring take some of the chill off, but certainly not all of it when they are out there for hours on end.
We will make it to the warmer months. Til then do stop by to give the horses warm hugs and catch our spectacular Southlands sunsets!
FROM THE TRAINERS
We all know that winter riding in the Northeast can be a challenge and this January provided us with exactly that! Cold temperatures, freezing rain and random snowstorms have been a recurring theme this past month and we’ve tried to prevail as best as we can with the weather conditions. Despite all of the travails, our show schedule had us out on Jan. 23rd and our kids were determined to attend. We made it to Old Salem Farm for the jumper divisions! Emmy Nelson Madore and Stanley, Emily Gerstle and Lieve, Tully Walther and TSF Kyra and Rio Derman and TSF CeCe made the very best of a chilly Sunday afternoon. The kids and the horses had a great time! Jonathan and Maddy (show organizer extraordinaire!) did a wonderful job prepping and getting the kids set up for a wonderful show experience, with ribbons earned and valuable show experience gained. We couldn’t be more Southlands proud of the camaraderie and support. Many thanks to the parents who support their children in embracing the spirit of good competition and growth as thoughtful, caring horse people.
We will be setting up a rough schedule of competition options for the upcoming months that will be made available to all riders interested in participating in “away” shows. Watch this space! We’ve been exploring some new options, such as joining the DCPHA (Dutchess County Professional Horsemen Association) for 2022, which will add some new dates/venues for all levels of riders from beginner’s to advanced. We will be sharing more information in the coming weeks.
A hearty thank you to all of TSF staff and volunteers who keep the place running even when single digit temperatures befall us. No one likes dealing with frozen water buckets and changing a million blankets, but the chores don’t stop at a stable wether it’s 95* or 9* and we’ve been managing to keep the stable in tip top shape, with happy, well fed horses and ponies. Let’s hope that February has some “kinder” winter weather in store for us this year!
Lastly, a big welcome to Katie Higgin’s new mare, Dani! Katie has been riding with Jonathan and Michele for a couple of years on our lovely school horses and she recently decided to purchase a horse of her own. Dani is a 7 year old, chestnut TB mare and she’s been a delightful addition to our crew of horses. We’re looking forward to watching this new team grow together!
Stay toasty friends!!!
FROM THE BOARD
Hunkering in on miserable January days makes us so grateful for our our staff and trainers who shoulder our riding program, and for a wonderful corps of volunteers who inject enthusiastic humor into completing the daily chores. These hardy souls keep our horses warm, clean and well-fed. Thank you, thank you!
The days are getting longer with promise of warmer weather. It is hard to believe that Groundhog Day is just a few days away! Come springtime, we will be looking for volunteers to help with Spring clean-up projects and gardening. We will also need volunteers for the pop-up Sundays-at-Southlands program funded by a grant from Dutchess County, horse shows and other events. The gala committee always welcomes new recruits. Please let the office know if you want to lend a helping hand, and if you have particular interest and talents in event planning.
Thanks for being part of this wonderful place that is Southlands!
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY
Working Student Applications are OPEN.
The Nicole Marie Wiley Working Student Scholarship Fund continues to accept donations for the Southlands working student program, an essential component of our school of horsemanship and educational mission. To donate, please go to this link https://southlands.org/donate.
Save the Date! 2022 Sunset at Southlands will be Saturday, September 10. We look to seeing everyone there! (If you haven't gotten your 2021 pics yet --- Beautiful gala photographs from the 2021 Gala were taken by Mary Elliott-O’Haire. You can order your prints with this link: https://mohaire.smugmug.com/Southlands-Gala-2021/)
Acclaimed New Yorker cartoonist and Southlands hero Liza Donnelly has made a special SIGNED print in honor of Southlands. She is selling them on her site with 50% of the proceeds to benefit Southlands. See link here.
Read our December 2021 newsletter