Running Brook

11/19/2024

We were blessed to have Donna, Twister, and Tom as part of our Running Brook Family for a long time. Donna was one of the most hard working people I have ever met, and her passion and love for the horses showed even in every day tasks. She was a bragging mother and grandmother, and her family, including the furry members, were the loves of her life.
Kessa and I ran into Donna at the feed store on Sunday, and even though it had been a couple of years since we had seen each other, we chatted as if not even a day had passed between us. She was a HUGE supporter of Kessa, me, and everyone in my barn…including the 4-legged characters! I will never forget her smiling face and big heart. She will be greatly missed.
*Please consider donating, whether you knew Donna personally or not, in order to help the family through this difficult time. Thank you!*

**In Loving Memory of Donna Giambertone** On November 11, 2024, o… Tom Calandra needs your support for Help Donna Giambertone's Family Through Tragedy

12/23/2023

LOOKING TO WORK IN A BEAUTIFUL SETTING AND WITH HORSES?
HELP WANTED at a Hunter/Jumper Show Horse Farm in Bloomfield! Part time, 6 mornings per week (Sunday-Friday) starting at 7:00 am, with possible increase in hours if wanted. Experience working with horses is a MUST! Need to have reliable transportation and a working cell phone! General duties will include: feeding, turning out, stall cleaning, and basic horse care. Knowledge of tractor driving is a plus, or MUST be willing to learn. 21 years and older preferred. Can either pay cash, barter for riding lessons, or can exchange for board for your horse! Looking to fill this position IMMEDIATELY! Please text or call Debbie at
585-721-2309

09/17/2023

Today we said goodbye to our Barn Kitty Matriarch, Boz. She passed away peacefully this evening in my arms. Boz was the best mouser in her earlier years, and then later on, was the perfect “Mom” and teacher of “how to be a barn cat”, to the many “baby sisters” that I brought home. She commandeered every box that came into the tack room, “held down” too many blankets, saddle pads, and leg wraps to count, and no matter how many times she tried to sleep alone, kept her sisters warm at night, even if she didn’t really want to! 🤣 She “helped” with arts and crafts during day camp (and especially liked getting covered in paint), she “held down” my papers as I wrote on them, and she “kept track” of anything I set down on the table. 😂 She was always “in charge”, and the supervisor of EVERYTHING on the farm.
Boz was the best cuddler and loved to sit on any lap and be stroked while she purred and napped. She loved kids and adults alike, and even tolerated our dogs when they were busy not minding their own business!
I will miss our late night barn walks, chats, “midnight snacks” at night check, and the way she always meowed “Hello” to me every time I walked in to the tack room.
May there be too many mice to count in heaven, sunbeams to sleep in, grass to play in, toys with catnip in them, and boxes galore! We love you Boz! Until we meet again…❤️

09/02/2023

PSA…
I keep seeing posts offering boarding at many local barns. However, when I see things listed for amenities such as, “blanketing provided”, and things said like they will put boots on or fly masks, etc, it makes me wonder a little…
Do people fall for these statements saying “provided” or “offered” and not realize until they get their first bill at the end of their first month at their new barn that details yes these services are PROVIDED, but not for FREE?
What most people don’t know (and many don’t think to ask about ahead of time) is that provided/offered is NOT the same thing as INCLUDED! So many farms try to play on words and get people in the door, and THEN tell them (or not) what is and is not included in their board price. To me this is like a “bait and switch” issue, and I wish farm owners/managers would just be more transparent and honest up front! If you charge for extra things like blanketing, booting, fly spraying, feeding supplements, etc, then that’s your choice, but at least let people know about that when you are touring or talking to someone about boarding!
At Running Brook, we do NOT charge extra for these things, as I have always believed they should be included in the board services. I personally feel as though a properly blanketed horse will allow me to not only sleep with a good conscience at night that the horses are all cared for properly, but will also help me sleep, as it could avoid an all night colic situation too! Not to mention all of the bookwork that would have to go along with that…(ie. Rosie got her blanket changed today because the owners have no problem paying for it, but Sparkles didn’t because their owner said they were coming out to do it themselves). What a nightmare!
The only thing we ever charge extra for is holding a horse for a vet or blacksmith appointment. We also only charge a minimal amount that includes bringing the horse in from the pasture, brushing them, or hosing off and drying dirty legs for the blacksmith, doing the appointment, and then turning the horse back out.
Basically, if I were a boarder, and I expected to pay $600 (or whatever you charge) a month for my horse’s care, I would be quite surprised when at the end of the month my bill was $800 because it was October and my horse’s blanket had to be changed every other day due to Rochester’s crazy weather patterns!
Since many places won’t be honest about these extra charges up front, my advice to all horse owners out there possibly researching barns for a move of your horse this fall, FULLY research each barn. Ask ALL of the questions you can as to what is INCLUDED in your board fee and what EXACTLY is charged extra for! Not only is the care of your 4-legged friend the most important thing when looking for a new barn, but cost is also an important factor, so you need to know what to expect that you will get for your hard earned money!
Rant over! Thanks for listening and good luck in your search! 😁

08/13/2023

Congratulations to Jill Frazo on the purchase of On The Rocks! I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this beautiful pair! Welcome to our barn family big guy! We love you already!

07/31/2023

LOOKING TO WORK IN A BEAUTIFUL SETTING AND WITH HORSES?
HELP WANTED at a Hunter/Jumper Show Horse Farm in Bloomfield! Part time, 6 mornings per week (Sunday-Friday) starting at 7:00 am, with possible increase in hours if wanted. Experience working with horses is a must! Need to have reliable transportation and a working cell phone! General duties will include: feeding, turning out, stall cleaning, and basic horse care. Knowledge of tractor driving is a plus, or MUST be willing to learn. 21 years and older preferred. Can either pay cash, barter for riding lessons, or can exchange for board for your horse! Looking to fill this position IMMEDIATELY! Please text or call Debbie at 585-721-2309.

06/09/2023

I love to see this! We may not be able to get to dusting every day, but we are sure to cobweb at least once a week year round, and next week is “barn washing” week, where the stall fronts, etc will be washed and polished. It truly helps keep the dust down, the horses breathing cared for, and helps to keep the horses (and the people) from getting upper respiratory infections and diseases! It’s too bad that many barns in the area don’t think of these things on a regular basis, but at Running Brook, this is just one of many of our health related practices that we do to help care for our horses! I am truly thankful for my staff that helps to take care of these duties regularly! 😁

05/30/2023

Amen!

02/02/2023

Recipe for raising a “horse girl”…….

You bring them home from the hospital and instead of keeping them home you let them breathe in the smell of horses every chance you get….

Then at a few months old you prop them up in the saddle and hold them there to just sit in the saddle….

When they are 3 they say they can’t pick up the horse’s hoof …you help them but then tell them they need to finish themselves…..

You let them lead the 23 yr old faithful gelding because leading the big horse makes them feel so proud….

At 4 yrs old you teach them that the horse depends on them for water, hay, grain….Dinner might be almost ready in the house, but ponies eat first …..

At 5 years old, when she falls off for the first time, you check to make sure nothings broken, wipe her tears, then you give her a leg up and tell her to get it done, because you KNOW she’s a great rider…..

At 10 years old when she doesn’t place in her class at the horse show and she’s falling apart, you ask her if her horse worked hard for her, and then you tell her that to her horse she is #1, and to keep riding, because her horse depends on her……

At 12 years old she comes home from school and tells you another kid said something mean at school to someone she knows. She then tells you she told that kid to shut their mouth and keep it to themselves…. Then she walked off with the kid that was being made fun of……

At 13 years old her friends at the barn are as close as siblings……they support her in her wins and her falls…..the barn has created relationships that are thicker than blood….

At 15 years old her first “boyfriend” breaks up with her ….. you can tell she is upset so you both head to the barn. She wraps her arms around her horse’s neck, breathes him in, and the tears flow. But you can see that resolve emerge when she’s cantering around the ring…. She tells you her horse is better than that boy any day.

You heard others say over the years…..

“Horses are too expensive!”
“She’s going to get sick from all the germs.”
“She’s going to fall off and get hurt.”
“She spends too much time at the barn.”

When she is a young woman and leaves your home, off on her next adventure, you head out to the barn. You thank her horses, you breathe them in, you wrap your arms around them because ….

Horses helped you to create a confident, self-assured, responsible, kind, nurturing, outdoors-loving, tough as nails, throws her shoulders back and stands tall, strong woman.

To all the parents raising “horse girls” keep going, you are giving them more than just riding lessons…..

By Kara LaBrie Fitch

06/30/2022

Is there possibly a college kid or someone out there looking for quick cash this summer? 🤑
I’m in need of a groom for the week of 7/18-23 for the Elmira Show for 4 horses. Easy horses, competitive wages, easy days. Anyone interested please contact me directly via text at 585-721-2309.