DeLovely Farm’s Missy Hughes Wows New England
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
On Feb. 2 and 3, people traveled from the northern end of Maine, and all over New England to get a chance to ride under Missy Hughes’s direction during the two-day clinic hosted by the American Saddlebred Association of Maine.
In 2007 ASAM and Hughes teamed up to offer a one-day clinic. That clinic sold out and people asked ASAM clinic organizers Rick Drew and Theresa Guillemette to bring her back. They obliged the overwhelming number of requests. Hughes also spoke to over 120 people at the ASAM banquet about ‘living the dream.’ She encouraged the younger riders that anything is possible and recalled the days of mucking stalls to be able to afford to exhibit.
Melissa “Missy” Hughes grew up in Scarborough, Maine and started riding as a youngster with Paulette Brim before moving on to Annalisa Hall’s Mariways Stable. She worked part time in the summers for John Biggins Stables while attending William Woods University. When she graduated, she had planned to work for Hall at Mariways, but instead Biggins offered her a full time position.
After nearly a decade at Biggins, Hughes had the opportunity to go from one of the nation’s leading stables to the nation’s premiere stable, DeLovely Farm. Hughes now works with Lillian Shively in the heart of horse country.
Hughes entered the High Stepping Equestrian Center Saturday morning with a smile on her face and a coffee cup in her hand. She left with fresh coffee and that same smile late Sunday afternoon. The difference between the two days, her smile had put smiles on many others all throughout the weekend.
Villa Stables traveled from Connecticut on Sunday with some riders even taking double sessions on different horses to take advantage of the opportunity. No one left unhappy. People attending the clinic as auditors on Saturday became exhibitors on Sunday. The opportunity was obvious to all who watched. Riders also took advantage of the fact that Peter King was on hand to record their sessions from Blue Ribbon Video. Hughes taught about hair and suits, saddle position, stirrups, bridling, equitation, young horse training, performance and how to enjoy it all.
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