Ten Broeck Farm

Record Turnout for Pepperell 2010 Trail Ride

Kristine Holloran
Judy Lorimer

The 7th Annual PHOA Pleasure Trail Ride was held on Sunday, October 31 and delighted all with a record turnout. As the sun gradually melted away the glistening frost and the New England autumn air rustled leaves, trailer after trailer rolled into Ten Broeck Farm in Pepperell, MA. Everyone welcomed a fresh cup of hot coffee to help jumpstart their day.

By most standards, a trail ride is deemed successful with 40-50 riders. By all accounts, the Pepperell Horse Owner’s Association (PHOA) hosted a record breaking ride, which is open to all. This year, a total of 78 horse and rider pairs assembled for the picturesque journey.

Costumes were not required, but a few brave souls chose to dress for the day: A knight in shining armor and his lady made an elegant picture as they rode through the woods, while a trio of clowns got their fair share of laughs.

The riders were treated to many of Pepperell's prettiest trails (made up of private and conservation land), as well as areas of New Hampshire utilizing loops that combined wooded areas, dirt roads, hills and fields.

The PHOA’s goal is to provide a ride to suit every preference and ability level. PHOA volunteers, headed up by Committee Chair Kathy Mercurio, spent several weeks in early October clearing the trails and then marking them for the actual ride.

The six-mile loop wove in and out of the woods along the crystal-clear Nissitissit River with a snack stop at the Murphy’s Mine Brook Farm, where hot spiced cider and other snacks, including carrots, were waiting. After the brief break, riders returned through the Nissitissit Woods and Nissitissit Meadows Conservation properties.

A medium-length twelve mile ride followed the same river eastward and then made a loop through Kimball’s Farm and Orchard featuring breathtaking mountain views. After a stop at the Murphy’s for a snack, the slightly longer version of the ride headed back to Ten Broeck Farm.

Folks who enjoy even more miles in the saddle, could opt for an additional four-mile loop up into New Hampshire along dirt roads and along some of the trails in the Beaverbrook Reservation in Hollis.

Back at Ten Broeck Farm, riders feasted on hearty sub sandwiches, home made chili, pumpkin soup, and corn chowder, followed by an array of desserts. Riders enjoyed what they called “a perfect fall day” and there was still quite a lot of colorful foliage to spice up the scenery.

The ride received wonderful reviews from participants about the beautiful trails, and even saying “It’s the best ride I’ve done this year!” The PHOA ride is not only recognized for its stunning scenery but many rave about the outstanding footing, wooded trails, field perimeters and minimum amount of road work.

"Every year, we get more participants, as riders become aware of this beautiful area" said PHOA President, Stephen Ferreira. According to Steve, the PHOA truly enjoys sponsoring this event because it showcases Pepperell’s beautiful and well maintained trails that skirt the Nissitissit River and the surrounding conservation areas.

The PHOA hopes that continued awareness is brought to the equestrian sport of trail riding. This organization, and others, are sometimes forced to deal with trail marker mischief or “clean-up” by unknowing individuals. Marker sabotage can be very dangerous and troublesome to riders. Often, participating riders come from out of town or even out of state, and do not know the area. Markers give unfamiliar riders peace of mind and help ensure safety. A wrong turn to a busy road means serious risk of accident or injury. The PHOA strives to be environmentally conscious and removes all markers, ribbons and paper plates within two days of the ride.

The PHOA is extremely grateful for the hard work and commitment that goes into this event every year. Especially the club’s volunteers, our hosts at Ten Broeck Farm and Mine Brook Farm, photographer Bette Eldridge and the surrounding neighbors who generously allow pass through as needed to optimize the routes.

The PHOA invites anyone committed to strengthening the equine community... an effort that inevitably grows and benefits beyond town lines…to learn more about the organization. Visit www.phoa.info for more information.

 

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