Winter Suffolk Gathering in Canaan, NH Feb 6th

[Julie Clemons]

Come on over!

Winter Gathering Potluck,
Sat Feb 6th, Canaan, NH
9:30Am till when ever

Hello, friends;
Good New Year to you.
We are all well and busy with good snow for sleigh rides, so the horses are at least not standing around all the time. We have rebuilt the box on our box sleigh and the rear runners are next in line to be done. Then I’ll start in on some mowers to have ready for the warm season. I’m looking to have at least 2 #9s ready to go by haying time, and maybe a #7 as well.
Being early Jan, it’s time to be thinking about the winter gathering. The winter gathering is a chance for us to reconnect with some of the draft horse friends we have gotten to know over the years. It usually is based around a potluck lunch and takes place at someone else’s farm (not at Fair Winds) usually having the focus of a question to address or a project to work on. This year we will be gathering on Sat Feb. 6th at the home of Julie Clemons and Jonathan Garthwaite in Canaan, NH. They have a mare they work in the woods and around the place, so we will look at some of the finer points of hitching single, loose and in shafts, and also move a bit of wood with one of Mark Cowdrey’s Piggyback Firewood Arches and a scoot. Mark has acquiesced to bringing his team along and a scoot as well, so there will be plenty to see and do. We will be out side doing as much as we can/want to with the horses and of course visiting with each other, so please plan/dress accordingly. If you have questions: Julie’s home number 603- 523-7007, Julie’s cell 603-304-5227.
Please call and let Julie or me (at 802-254-9067), know if you are planning to come – it helps us to have some sense of numbers. Thanks.
Looking forward to seeing many of you there.
Best, Jay and Bekah Bailey
Directions to Julie and Jonathan’s place are below. They are in central New Hampshire about 20 minutes from I89.:
(For whatever reason, we show up on Mapquest but not on Google Maps.)
From Rte 89 take Exit 17, marked Enfield, Canaan, Route 4.
Follow Route 4 East about 13-14 miles to the center of Canaan, where you will find an Evans Express Mart, a town library, a Chinese restaurant and a blinking yellow light. At the blinking yellow light turn left (north) onto Canaan Street. Canaan Street doesn’t have a regular street sign but has one of those historical markers instead.

Follow Canaan Street about 1.5 miles, heading uphill. Near the crest of the hill there will be a big graveyard on your left. Turn right onto Fernwood Farms Road and follow it for another 1.5 miles.

Pass Back Bay Road on your left and take the immediate next left, Raven Hill Road. That’s our driveway. Go all the way to the end and you’re there!

[Mark Cowdrey]

Hoping to see some of you folks Saturday.

Mark

[Gabe Ayers]

Mark,

I hope you Suffolk Folks have a great meeting and decent safe weather to travel around in.

Please give my regards to all there from the old guy in the Mountains of Virginia that logs with red hosses for a living, when I can.

Here is some gossip to take to the meeting.

I heard a rumor that the annual Suffolk meeting is going to be at the Southern Draft Animal Days event – 17-18th of September at the Blue Ridge Institute at Ferrum College in Ferrum, Virginia. Maybe some NE Suffolk folks will get to make the ride south, we’d love to have them with us.

Anyone interested can contact me for more information about local accommodations.

Y’all have fun.

~

[mitchmaine]

hey julie, how did your suffolk day go? any news?

[jac]

Good old British stupidity has been at it again !!!!!:mad:.. Anglo/American Suffolk horse owners had their placings at the Royal Show withdrawn ??? because the relvent horses wernt registered in the Suffolk stud book and thus not deemed to be pedigreed !! Talk about pedantic..This stupid attitude is helping push the breed to near extintion over here. Genetic pool is too small already.. I know “rules is rules” but I think a bit of common sense needs to be used here.. not just for the showing side of it but for the good of the breed.. Thats me had my grumble for the day..
John

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