Activities during the day include a Natural Horsemanship Clinic demo, jumping demo, eventing demo and the River Valley Pony Club will perform a quadrille. In addition, lunch and holiday activities will be available at FENCE.

Proceeds from the FENCE Holiday Barn tour are for the benefit of FENCE&squo;s nature education and outdoor recreation programs. Tickets may be ordered by calling 828-859-9021 or by visiting www.fence.org. Tickets are available in Tryon directly from FENCE, as well as at The Book Shelf, The Horse Resource and Down To Earth Garden Center; in Landrum at Cottage Books, The Farm House, The Hay Rack, and in Saluda at the Purple Onion.

Bright&39;s Creek Equestrian Center

The Bright&squo;s Creek Equestrian Center Barn in Mill Spring with its school horses was a popular barn on the 2006 barn tour, so FENCE brought them back this year.

According to Bright&squo;s Creek, the Bright&39;s Creek Equestrian Center is dedicated to providing exceptional horse care and outstanding equestrian services in a safe and professional environment. Bright&squo;s Creek offers a variety of services including full board, lessons, training

and outstanding personal service.

The post and beam barn at Bright&squo;s Creek Equestrian Center features: 12&squo;x12&squo; matted box stalls, ceiling fans, automatic heated waterers, fire detectors in each stall, automatic fly spray system, two indoor hot and cold wash racks, temperature controlled tack room, large lounge and covered porch overlooking riding arenas, washer, dryer, refrigerator,

microwave, fire and security system.

The facility offers 20 acres of pastures with run-in sheds and beautiful mountain views; private or group paddocks available, Also available are a 20 x 60 meter dressage arena, groomed daily; a 120&squo;x 250&squo; large arena with all-weather footing, groomed daily; miles of groomed riding trails; experienced and professional staff; custom feed and hay program; daily turnout, exercise, grooming services available; farrier and veterinary services coordinated for owners and 24-hour security. All riding disciplines are welcome.

Fox Meadow Farm

Situated on 45 acres in Campobello, Fox Meadow Farm has a rare breed ‐ Icelandic Horses. The Icelandic Horse has a thousand year history. Purebred since the 10th century, the Icelandic Horse is renowned for being hardy, athletic, independent, spirited, friendly, adaptable, and sure-footed, with five natural gaits. These are the Walk, Trot, Canter, Tolt, and Pace.

Averaging 13 to 14 hands tall, the Icelandic Horse is a versatile family riding horse, bred to carry adults at a fast pleasing gait over long distances. It is distinctive for its thick and often double-sided mane and long tail, and remarkable for its wide range of colors. In addition to formal horse shows and competitions, Icelandic Horses are widely used for cross-county rides and long-distance trekking. They have also competed in dressage, jumping and endurance races.

A demo of these Icelandic horses will be given at 4 p.m., in which four of the River Valley Pony club members will perform a quadrille.

Fox Meadow Farm&squo;s barn and covered arena are brand new, just completed in 2008. The barn offers eight stalls with outside doors to private paddocks, oversized wash stall, storage stall, utility stall and, one of the best features, the kitchen and fun room. The covered arena is 81&squo;x200&squo; and looks out over the pastures on both sides. In the pastures along with the Icelandic horses you will find a miniature donkey, and a miniature horse.

Clear View Farm

Clear View Farm, located in Gowensville, is situated on 25 acres with panoramic views of the mountains. This new barn, just completed in June of 2008, offers 16 stalls, two groom/wash stalls with hot water, a spacious tack room with laundry facilities and restroom, a workable office, and the nicest feature is drop down sides for those cold winter nights. The facility also has a second barn with five stalls with one additional wash stall. &bsp;

A jumping demo will be given at 2 p.m., which will give viewers a good look at the new arenas. Arenas are irrigated; one is 150&squo;x300&squo; and the second is 125&squo;x275&squo;. Also added is an outside course in between several private paddocks. Clear View Farm&39;s owners invite everyone to come see the horses that make this farm one of the best barns to take care of the amateur riders.

Suncatcher Farms

Suncatcher Farms specializes in the breeding of Arabians, Thoroughbreds and Anglos. For more than 30 years the Shihatas have successfully bred champions. The horse SC Gunslinger that you will see on the property has placed in the ribbons for every open dressage competition that he was entered under Brooke Doss including a 2007 Reserve Champion BLM, 2nd level.

Suncatcher Farms is the perfect location for clinics, offering Jeremy Beale and Ed Dabney clinics yearly. With two barns and a 70&squo;x200&squo; covered arena the space is generous. The main barn features tongue and groove board walls throughout, 16 stalls, three RV hookups, tack room with laundry facilities, hay and shavings rooms, two wash racks with hot water, and a newly constructed upstairs apartment that is currently used as an office. The second barn offers nine stalls, shavings room, half bath, feed room, wash stall with hot water, and another spacious tack room. Surrounding the barns you will find beautiful views and private pastures and paddocks. Inside the paddocks you will find portable run in sheds.

A Natural Horsemanship Clinic will be given at 10:30 a.m., featuring Dale Patterson. The techniques you will see during this demo are based on the principles of Buck Brannaman&squo;s basic foundations for horses. Buck&squo;s philosophy is; &dquo;I started to realize that things would come much easier for me once I learned why a horse does what he does. This method works well for me because of the kinship that develops between horse and rider.&dquo;

Found Feather Farm

Originally from Florida, Larry and Terry Cook moved to the Tryon area two years ago, bringing with them to Found Feather Farm their Gypsy Vanner Horses.

The Gypsy Vanner Horse is a beautiful and rare new breed of horse envisioned by the European Gypsies. These horses have been selectively bred over the past 50 years to create a kind of small Shire that was colorful enough to match their caravans. These horses are easily recognizable by their long, flowing manes and tails, and the profusion of feathers on their legs, which make them look as if they fly when they run.

The Cooks&39; pride and joy is their stallion &dquo;Powerful Paul&dquo; who just appeared on the cover of the October issue of &uot;Equine Journal.&uot; They describe him as a gentle giant, standing at 18.2 hands, and he is 15 years old.

Found Feather Farm is home not only to horses but also to all sorts of farm animals including chickens, goats, sheep, donkeys, cows and peacocks. The farm features a two and half ponds, three barns and two beautifully decorated rustic rental cabins. The main barn is large enough to hold 22 stalls, wash rack, office and tack room, and of course, this is the favorite location to find Powerful Paul.

Harmony Training Farm

Situated on 100 acres in Gowensville, S.C., Harmony Training Farm is located on an old dairy farm. Harmony Training Farm is owned and operated by Keith and Erin Gambrell. The barns date back to 1963. The two unique barns are full of character and characters.

Two of the many horses that you will see at this farm are Acorn and Topaz. These two horses are school horses perfect for little kids just starting out in the horse world. Acorn is a mustang with blood lines from Utah, is used primary for eventing.&bsp; Harmony Training Farm specializes in event training.

Eventing, otherwise known as Horse Trials, is a three-phase competition consisting of Dressage, Stadium Jumping and Cross Country. You will find all three elements at Harmony Training Farm. At 3 p.m., a demo of eventing will be given; all three phases will be shown.

Harmony Training Farm is located close to an extensive trail system. The main barn offers 28 stalls that are 12&squo;x15&squo;; the second barn offers 10 stalls.

Adjacent to the barns is a large storage shed for shavings and hay. The farm also offers three large pastures, a hay pasture and the old milking barn, which is now used as an office with mini kitchen, full bath and wash stall with hot and cold water. You will also find beagles on the farm. The Gambrells are active in the local foot beagle club.

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