Page 6 - North Haven Magazine Issue 14 Summer 2020

Tamarack

Farm:

A Look At The Past

By Sally (Stephens) Brockett, and co-author Peggy (Stephens) Rosenberg.
Artwork by Mark Rosenberg
Many town residents are aware of the dairy and vegetable farms that once were an important part
of the town history. However, there were also a number of horse farms in town, most no longer in
operation.
amarack Farm has an interesting history, having evolved from Participation at horse shows became part of the activities, and the
Tan old farmhouse with a small barn on Mt. Carmel Avenue in riders learned how to prepare their horses and equipment for shows.
the late 1940s, to a renowned equestrian center through the 1970s. The shows took the horses and riders to many states throughout
Jim and Barbara (Bobbie) Stephens purchased the old farmhouse New England. Some of the riders participated in horsemanship
when the property consisted of overgrown fields and woodland. classes, where the focus was on how well the rider maintained the
They renovated and added to the farmhouse over the years and en- proper posture and controlled the horse through a variety of tasks.
larged the barn numerous times as their activities expanded. Two Other riders entered classes where the horse was judged on how
daughters, Peggy and Sally, grew up on the farmland and actively well it performed various gaits, or sequences of movements such as
participated in the development of the property. walk, trot, canter, etc., properly.

In the early years, the Stephens family developed the farm to raise a
couple of beef cattle, and vegetables for the family. The girls vividly
recall a scary moment while helping install fencing through the
woods for the cattle. Sally nearly stepped on a large snake, which
appeared to be a copperhead. The frightened girls raced through
the woods to their parents to alert them. Retracing their steps, they
found the snake, which turned out to be a harmless milk snake.

Peggy and Sally became active 4-H Club members. Peggy raised
2 lambs each year, giving them names such as Bonnie and Clyde,
Romulus and Remus, Romeo and Juliet, while Sally raised New
Zealand white rabbits.

When the girls were 7
and 8 ½ years old, tele- Sally rides Sparkling Flight, her 5-gaited champion.
visions were becoming
available. They were
asked if they wanted a Sally especially enjoyed her 5-gaited horses, Colonel and Sparkling
TV or a horse. “A horse” Flight (Sparkie). As Sally’s skills developed, she and Sparkie began
was their eager reply! winning more and more classes. Eventually Sparkie became a New
This began a new way England Champion in the 5-gaited division.
of life for the Stephens
family, and the birth Peggy enjoyed showing Out of the Knight (Squeakie) in horseman-
of what was to become ship classes and won many championships, including Connecticut
Tamarack Farm. Ac- State Champion and the New England Championship at Eastern
tually, the very first States Exposition. She also showed Candyman in pony driving
Luke, Peggy and Sally's first equine. equine was a donkey, classes.
named Luke. The girls
learned the responsibilities of
horse care, including feeding, cleaning stalls, care of the animal,
and of course, riding.

Dusty was the next equine to come to the farm. She was a large,
but calm, draft horse. The girls could get up on her back and enjoy
some relaxing time while she grazed in the pasture. Dusty was the
first horse the girls took to a horse show. Soon the girls were ready
for a more challenging horse, and Danny came to the farm. More
horses were added, including Gypsy, a feisty mare Bobbie rode.

Before long, friends and others interested in horses, requested rid-
ing lessons and boarding of horses. The barn expanded to accom-
modate the growth, and an indoor riding ring was added to enable
riders to practice through the winter. Candyman, driven by Peggy in the pony driving classes.
6 North Haven Magazine - Summer Issue 2020