READY FOR A TOUR
Event at horse farms set for Aug. 19
SARATOGA COUNTY, N.Y. » The Saratoga County Horse Farm Tour, a free self-driven event open to the public, will take place Saturday, Aug. 19, at five horse farms within Saratoga County.
Open house hours are from noon to 4 p.m. This year’s featured farms are:
• Birsh Family Farm, 2404 Route 67, Galway: The Birsh family bought this farm in 2005 from a retiring dairy farmer. The 90-acre property was the home of the Arnold Family’s dairy herd for more than 125 years. The Birsh family, with the assistance of veteran horseman Michael Tobin, rebuilt the farm to focus upon the breeding and racing of thoroughbred horses. The 190-year-old house and 100-yearold barn were rebuilt and expanded to accommodate more family and a medium band of thoroughbred bloodstock. With Tobin’s help the family focused on breeding and racing the farm’s offspring. Over the past 12 years on the farm, the family has bred a number of successful race horses. The most successful was Tencendur, a contender in the 2015 Kentucky Derby.
• Stormy View Stables, 423 Schauber Road, Ballston Lake: Located on the corner of Hubbs and Schauber roads in Ballston Lake, Stormy View Stables’ seven-acre farm is home to Bon Accord Lusitanos. Stormy View Stables features a 15-stall barn, a stallion barn, indoor arena, and outdoor schooling area. The farm has chickens to reduce ticks and three Great Pyrenees watchdogs from the Northeast Pyrenees Rescue. Visitors will discover many innovations designed to save time and money, such as the special devices that make filling hay nets quick and easy. Lusitanos, frequently referred to as “sons of the wind” are revered for their bravery, intelligence, athleticism and kindness. The farm’s senior stallion is Quilate VO and their foundation mare is Isolda de Rierette. Stormy View is affiliated with The Association for the Promotion of the Art of Horsemanship in America. More information can be found online at www.BonAccordLusitanos.com.
• Sand Hill Farm, 5286 Bliss Road, Ballston Spa,: Sand Hill Farm is owned and managed by Merilyn and Philip Baker. Located on 34 acres, the farm boasts manicured lawns and scenic ponds, and is nestled in the countryside in the town of Galway. The barn is home to an assortment of equines, including thoroughbreds, Morgan horses, miniature mules and donkeys as well as a few ponies and a variety of other animals. Sand Hill Farm offers year round horse boarding, leasing and lessons in both English and Western riding. For more information about the farm, log on to sandhillfarms. webs.com.
• Old Friends at Cabin Creek, 483 Sand Hill Road, Greenfield Center: Old Friends at Cabin Creek Farm: The Bobby Frankel Division is a thoroughbred retirement farm, owned and operated by JoAnn and Mark Pepper in Greenfield Center. The farm received its first retiree Nov. 30, 2009, and currently has 15 retired thoroughbreds. Old Friends at Cabin Creek provides the public the opportunity to meet the horses. The farm’s mission is also to raise public awareness to the needs of equines, specifically retired or at-risk Thoroughbreds. Old Friends is a non-profit organization established by Michael Blowen, based out of Georgetown, Ky. For more information, log on to www.oldfriendsatcabincreek.com.
• Avanti Stables, 454 Locust Grove Road, Greenfield Center: Avanti Stables in Greenfield Center has been owned and operated by Dawn and Mario Martinez since 2010. With a start in racing through claiming horses, Avanti has opted to breed and raise their own home-bred offspring. Concentrating on the New York Racing Programs, all offspring are born and raised in the state. Broodmares are sent to Kentucky and bred to champion stallions like Kitten’s Joy, Uncle Mo, Scat Daddy and Union Rags, and then return and give birth here. The farm also houses personal riding horses including an Arabian, a Morgan, a Paint and a Quarter Horse. For more information, log on to www.avantistable.com.
More information about the tour, including a map of the farms, can be found online at ccesaratoga.org.