Gaskins and fetlocks. Chestnuts and frogs. Equines have their own language. At the Equine Affaire's Youth Pavilion young horse enthusiasts can learn about horse-related youth organizations, enjoy presentations specifically geared to the interests and needs of young riders, and participate in activities. Interested in learning more about horses?
Make plans to visit the Equine Affaire at the ESE fairgrounds, West Springfield, Mass., Thursday, Nov. 13 to Sunday, Nov. 16. More than 30 breeds on display with breed representatives on hand to answer questions. Spend the day watching horses, picking up information about educational pathways – or shop for the holidays. Saddles and saddle pads to custom-fitted or off-the-rack boots (English and Western) – feed reps, toys for the small fry, hoof picks to headstalls to look over. Visit the barns, check out the vendors that line the walkways and be sure to wear comfortable shoes for walking – there's plenty to see. Visit http://www.equineaffaire.com (Massachusetts event) for details, admission, schedule of events.

With the leaves about gone, the panoramic vistas can be incredible in November. Walk, hike, ride. Find a trail near you. Here's the link to Connecticut Forest & Park's listing of events for ideas.

Glaciers, kettles, potholes, grooved marks left on exposed stone seen on mountaintops – the forces of nature are terrific in the northeast. Learn more about “The Geology of Connecticut” at a presentation by Teresa Gagnon, DEEP CT State Parks Division Geosciences Resource Associate, on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Kellogg Environmental Center, Derby. Admission $5; 12 and under, free. To save a spot call Donna Kingston at (203) 734-2513. In the spotlight is the geology of 605-acre Kettletown State Park, which was originally inhabited by the Pootatuck Indians, members of the Algonquin group.

Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden is the focus for experienced hikers who will take on the rugged terrain for a Nov. 16, 11 a.m. exploration. Here is a link to the Sleeping Giant Park Association page for additional information and maps for a walk of your own anytime.

Make a wreath and take it home at the Goodwin Forest Conservation Education Center on Saturday, Nov. 22, 1 to 3 p.m. Participants will first gather materials such as boughs and berries, and then warm up indoors while making wreaths, swags, home decorations. Materials will be provided (and collected in the field) but feel free to bring along any ornaments or other items from home. Recommended for ages 6 and older. A free event is jointly sponsored by the Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CFPA), Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) Division of Parks, and Friends of Goodwin Forest. Pre-registration is requested. For more information and to register, contact Naturalist Emma Lorusso at (860) 455-9534 or emma.lorusso@ct.gov.

Greg Sharrow in conjunction with the Vermont Folklife Center is working on a new ethnographic documentary project, “The Changing Face of Farming in Vermont,” that will explore the cultures and practices of emergent, locally-focused, “grass-roots” agricultural enterprises in the state. Sharrow is a folklorist and co-executive director of the center.

Holiday displays of lights are now easier to find – check out Christmaslightfinder.com and enter your ZIP code to locate places to ooh and ah. In Hartford, the annual Holiday Light Fantasia at Goodwin Park is Nov. 27 to Jan. 1 and features miles of driving at $15 per car admission. Hubbard Park in Meriden is beautiful and no admission is required. (One of our favorites at the park is the horse family display.)

Agribusiness Economic Outlook Conference on Dec. 9, Warren Hall, Cornell University. Learn about the short-and long-term outlook for agriculture and agricultural products. Breakout sessions concentrate on dairy, grains and feed, and horticultural products. Presentations by experts followed by questions. Commodity breakout sessions in the afternoon. For information call Gretchen Gilbert at (607) 254-1281 or gcg4@cornell.edu.

The Book Barn in Niantic “Store Four” can be found at 55 West Main Street – in a small plaza next to the Thames Import Company. Books topics at this location (one of four in town) include farming and rural living, biology, ecology and the environment, travel and exploration, law.

The Samuel Smith House in East Lyme, Connecticut, was built in 1700 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. “The house was built on land that had been granted to Thomas Bull, one of the founders of Hartford, for his service in the Pequot War of 1637.” The goal of The Friends of the Samuel Smith House is to “preserve and restore the property as a living museum of 17th century Connecticut farm life.” The property is owned by the Town of East Lyme.

This winter, Farm Commons offers 14 webinars on farm law. Those new to legal education can tap into the basics edition, while those who are already familiar with how the law affects their farm operation can learn more with the “Advanced Farm Law” series. For details and to register, visit www.farmcommons.org/webinars.

For a tour of barns at Storrs plus why you should detour to visit an old mill (story), see this link to our archive.

The Cornell Small Farms Program is a trustee for Kiva Zip, which offers farmers zero interest loans up to $10,000 that are crowdfunded by a community of more than 1 million lenders. (Farmers currently have a 100% repayment rate on Kiva Zip.) Loans from a bank require credit scores, collateral, financial records, but Kiva Zip skips all that and relies on endorsement from a trustee who will vouch for your character and farm plans. For online courses and additional information about a network of information, see this link.

“Be faithful to that which exists within yourself.”

― André Gide
Good dog. Now let's go for a walk.