About SUGARBUSH FARM
The original Sugarbush Farm was located in Washington, Connecticut. We had a mixture of horses and ponies, cats and dogs, chipmunks, and even a couple of goats. My first pony was a 12 hand pinto Saddlebred/Shetland accident named Pogo.
Pogo and I learned all about riding together. She was the master teacher of many children and did everything from dressage to pony hunter to driving. English, Western, or swimming, she did whatever she was asked. She even was the means of transportation on a botanical survey pulling a 4-wheel buggy from Amherst, MA to North Bennington, VT. That was way back in the 1960's.
At a show, I was totally impressed by a large pony. I found out he was a Connemara. After learning more about Connemaras, I wanted to breed my little pony to one. Pogo had her first foal in 1972 by Springledge Bantry Bay. I went to college across the country, so the colt went off to relatives in Kentucky who had originally given us Pogo.
After waiting many (many) years to get back into the Connemara Pony world, dreams became reality with the help of Gerry and Deloris Bogaard. First, Tower Hill's Megan came from Springhill Farm. After a life of a broodmare and then a granny mare, Megan went back to the beginning and became a riding pony and treasured friend. She was so comical as she was introduced to terribly frightening things such as mailboxes and pavement that changes color, not to mention the horror of the line down the middle of the road. (I actually had to back her over it the first time.) She was never flustered by cars, motorcycles, dogs, etc. but sometimes she still has to think twice about that tricky pavement color change thing. She adjusted very quickly to being ridden and puts up with all the odd places through the woods I decide to explore when there aren't trails. Her grandest moments are each summer when she hosts a group of young girls (ages 8-12) who want to "learn about horses". Megan stands like a statue while three or four girls are on each side of her brushing her and giggling. She gives each a ride and the adults go home saying "They've never seen such a patient horse." All I can just say is: "She's a Connemara."
Next to arrive was JEF Ariana. We needed another horse that was large enough for others to ride and who could also be a broodmare. Ana came home after being bred to Bantry Bay's Kilcullen. Our first foal of the re-established Sugarbush Farm arrived 7/28/2004, Sugarbush Ballyteige Bay. Ana decided she didn't want company and delivered him by herself in between the night watches. The vet thought he was so cute and tiny (we have quite a few warm bloods and draft horses around here). I thought he was rather big after my last experience with a foal being out of a 12 hand mare. However small or large he was, he started growing so quickly. It seemed like each week he'd be another inch taller. Teige was born light brown but has turned black. Teige has been fun to watch with all the antics and exhuberance of a youngster. Sometimes he would just run in big circles around and around the two mares. Grown ups can be so boring. He's been jumping the stream that flows through the middle of the pasture since the first week following mom's lead. He also jumped a three tier cement block wall when he got going the wrong way to the barn. Mom loves to jump and it looks like he will too.
Two weeks after the colt arrived, we welcomed
a long awaited litter of beagle pups from Sugarbush Katie. This litter of 5
pups were four years in the making. I must say that there is nothing as special
as newborns of any type. There is something about beagle puppies giving their
interpretations of being very tough dogs that brings a smile after a long day.
All the puppies from this litter have been sold.
Our next addition
was Wellspring Wakerobin. Robin is a beautiful grey mare who is loads of fun to
ride. When she arrived the whole pecking order changed immediately. Now all
three mares are dominant. Teige is low man on the totem pole. Robin gave birth
to Sugarbush Blue Mist by Landgate Bluebeard in 2006. This match previously
produced Blueberry Hill. Ana gave birth to Sugarbush Blue Shannon the same
summer. Shannon is also by Landgate Bluebeard.
Well, this is how the new Sugarbush Farm is growing.
Take a look at our ponies and puppies.