Bay Country Riding

It is with great sadness that we are sharing the passing of our beloved Perfect Gentleman.

Gent, born Shuffle Shot in Canada in 1997, raced until he was six but had a relatively uneventful career on the track before finding his way to Becca at age nine. Since then, the pair have spent an incredible 20 years together.

Twenty years is such an amazing amount of time to share with a horse, and they accomplished so many of Becca’s dreams together. From competing in eventing, jumping record heights for Becca, helping her become an instructor and teaching students himself, to being the founding horse of Bay Country Riding (even named after him!) and finally being the first horse on her own property where she is building her dream barn and program.

For anyone who met him, you know what a gentle soul he was. He was the most polite horse, even when begging for treats with his tiny little toe taps to get your attention. He knew English words and often when Becca would tell a rider to do something like walk or trot, Gent would do so without waiting for the rider to cue him. He had a playful side and loved letting loose and rearing in the paddock, but always took care of his rider under saddle.

Without Gent, starting BCR would have been nearly impossible. He is truly such a special horse, as so many of you already know. His ability to be incredibly talented while also being so kind, patient, generous, and willing to teach has made him the horse he is. He has taken care of Becca, taught countless riders, and helped make so many of her dreams possible. Rest easy big guy. We love you.

If anyone has any memories and photos with Gent, we would love to see them in the comments.

Perfect Gentleman
February 7, 1997-September 26th, 2026

*TRAIL ALERTS*
Appleton Farms has a number of upcoming events. Lots of info here, take note when planning your hacks! 🐴

ECTA Run for the Trails (for runners)
Saturday 9/19, 9 am - 11 am
Runners will be following the blue route (see map insert in image).

Appleton Farm Days
Saturday 9/19 & Sunday 9/20, 12 pm - 5 pm
**HORSES NOT ADVISED on Farm Stand side **
The main driveway into Appleton Farms will be busy with cars and people. Everything happening is on farmstead side of property.
If interested in attending: https://thetrustees.org/event/449200/

ECGA Trail Ride (for bikers)
Saturday 9/26, 9:30 am
Bikes will be coming through Appleton Farms on the Bay Circuit trail at a controlled pace (see map insert in image).

Run for Amy Memorial Trail Race (for runners)
Sunday 9/27, 1 pm
**HORSES NOT ADVISED**
Races start at 2pm. The main driveway into Appleton Farms will be busy with cars and people.
If interested in attending as a runner, visit: https://runforamy.com/

Oktoberfest at Appleton Farms
Saturday 10/3, 12 pm - 5 pm
**HORSES NOT ADVISED of Farm Stand side**
The main driveway into Appleton Farms will be busy with cars and people. Everything happening is on farmstead side of property.
If interested in attending: https://thetrustees.org/event/449287/

Another busy week at BCR… per usual! 😂🐴💚

We packed in plenty of riding, adventures, and general horse-related chaos, including two first-time foxhunters joining us on Tuesday! 🦊 They had a fantastic first day out, and we couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to the sport.

Lots of horses, lots of miles, and plenty of good memories made along the way. Basically, just another “normal” week around here! 😂

Here’s a little photo dump of what we’ve been up to lately… 💚🐴🦊

As we start Roading and head into Formal Hunt Season, a few notes/reminders:

🦊BCR is an early-arrival barn, not an “on-time” barn. 😂 Please be punctual and follow the schedule provided to all participants prior to each hunt.

🦊BCR riders are responsible for checking in with the Myopia secretary before mounting. Please do NOT make them come find you.

🦊Please make sure your horse, tack, and, to the best of your ability, yourself are clean and presentable.

🦊Please stay behind Becca and remain in communication with her and the other BCR riders. We take care of each other out there.

🦊Be polite, but also be clear about your boundaries… especially when it comes to your horse’s comfort around other riders in the field. BCR horses are very tolerant, but please do your best not to let others test their patience.

🦊When in doubt, communicate with Becca. I’ll do my best to keep an eye on everyone, but there is a LOT going on during a hunt. If you need help or guidance, don’t be afraid to reach out.

Thank you!!! Being on top of these little things is what helps make hunting fun instead of stressful!

🤎🦊🐴💚

I really want to get involved with the Myopia Hunt, how do I start?

There are a variety of mounted and unmounted ways to get involved with the Myopia Hunt Community!

Riders- join us! Reach out to our Hunt Secretary- Mary Milgrom, she can connect you with a professional to es**rt you and your horse, or connect you with a professional to supply you with a mount! This is also a great way to get general questions answered that you just might not be sure of!

You don’t ride? No problem!- our group of volunteers are what helps to make each day of hunting go smoothly, from road crossing, water stops, stirrup cups and teas there are many ways to be involved in hunt day activities! If you prefer a less social way to volunteer- we are constantly clearing in the countryside, building jumps and creating new trails!

Reach out to us via Facebook or the Myopia website to get involved!