Area Events

Post your equine event here! If you know of any upcoming shows, rides, clinics, etc. we would be happy to post them. Email the information at least two months in advance (if possible - if not we'll do our best to post) to info@phoa.info

Larry Poulin Clinics
Dressage and Driving

Location:      Bantry Bay Farm
                      26 Wheeler Road
                      Pepperell, MA   01463

Dates:     Friday and Saturday -
                     June 22-23                       September 7-8
                     July 13-14                         October 19-20
                     August 17-18                    November 9-10
Friday sessions are late afternoon to evening.   Saturday sessions are morning to early afternoon.

Contact Candy Verelst (info@bantrybayfarm.com) at Bantry Bay Farm (www.bantrybayfarm.com) for more information on the sessions. Auditors welcome.

Upcoming NEHT Trail Rides: For the full schedule, go to their web site for the full list. www.nehorseandtrail.com

PHOA Annual Fall Frolic Trail Ride, Pepperell, MA - Judy Lorimer, jmlorimer@juno.com, 978-433-2384. 5/10/16 mile loops. See PHOA Annual Trail Ride page for more information.

Old North Bridge Hounds Hunt and Hunter Pace Series: Check out their web site, https://oldnorthbridgehounds.org/, for the schedule.

WENTWORTH HUNTER PACE SERIES: Check out their web site. www.wentworthhunt.org

Important Pepperell Town Meetings

All PHOA Members are urged to attend the following meetings as issues pertaining to open land and future development that could impact horseowners and equine activities in Pepperell.

Pepperell Master Planning Commission

Date: 2nd Thursday of each Month
Time: 6:30
Location: Check with the Town clerk - generally the Lawrence Library or the Pepperell Senior Center.

PHOA urges all members to attend as we did for the Board Of Health meetings when suggested updates to BOH regluations would have severely impacted horse ownership in Pepperell (it was the reason the club was formed). The master plan update will impact future equine-related activities in Pepperell as it relates to retention of open space and development.

The following two Candle articles highlight our concern over the lack of diversity in Master Planning Commission. It is heavily weighted in favor of commercial and residential development and the reduction of open space in the town.

Town of pepperell administrator submits retirement papers: http://thecandlepublishing.com/pepperell-town-administrator-submits-retirement-papers-sale-of-peter-fitz-school-sidelined/

Pepperell Selectman’s response to lack of diversity on planning committee:
http://thecandlepublishing.com/well-were-not-going-to-change-the-make-up-of-the-committee-selectman-repsonds-to-lack-of-diversity-challenge/

Pepperell Horse Owners Association

PHOA Mission

“Working to preserve and encourage equine activities in the Town of Pepperell”

The Pepperell Horseowners Association (PHOA) invites horseback riders of all
disciplines to become part of an organization that was formed to preserve and
encourage equine activities in the town of Pepperell. Formed in 2003 in response
to the town's proposal to regulate horsekeeping, PHOA has been active in
protecting the rural character of the town. The "Right To Farm" bylaw was written
and sponsored by PHOA. This legislation provides protection for all agricultural
endeavors, from bees to trees, truck gardens, dairy farms, horse stables and
operations, etc, now and for future generations.

Recently, PHOA donated money to Nashoba Conservation for the installment of
video cameras on several Nashoba Conservation trails that were being damaged by
excessive ATV use. We have donated horse rescue and assistance equipment to the
Pepperell Fire Department; and it also covers the expense of animal rescue
training for the P.F.D. Examples are the "Equine Rescue Sled" for getting horses
that can't get up into a trailer and the "Equine Rescue Net" for rescuing horses from
deep mud or marshes. This training and equipment has helped horses in trouble
not only in Pepperell, but in other towns, where our fire department personnel have
lent their expertise to help horses in nearby communities.
The organization has donated equine educational and competition DVD's and videos to the town's Lawrence Library. We also have a scholarship fund that can be used by area riders, youth and adult, to attend equine educational activities, clinics, and so forth.

Our annual major fund raiser is the popular Fall Frolic" trail ride, held in late
October or early November. The ride is affiliated with
New England Horse and Trail and offers loops of 5, 10 and 16 miles over Pepperell
conservation land, private property and Beaver Brook conservation land in Hollis,
NH. Check the Annual Trail Ride page for more information.

PHOA is a voice for all horseowners, whether you have a backyard horse, a
boarding and/or training stable, a breeding operation, or a horse-related business, or simply love horses. Whether you do dressage, eventing, showing, or trail riding, our common interest is to encourage equine activities of all kinds, create good will, work with town officials and conservation groups, promote public awareness of horse safety, and publicize the Town of Pepperell as a great place to own horses.