The fences for the riding rings at Holcomb Farm and Salmon Brook Park were replaced this winter, funded by a grant and accomplished through the efforts of many in the community.
In the spring of 2017, the Granby Horse Council was notified by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving that it was eligible to apply for funding from the Pomeroy-Brace Fund for a community project in Granby. After doing some homework and presenting a plan to the Horse Council, the club decided to pursue funding for the reconstruction of riding rings previously constructed by the Horse Council at Holcomb Farm and Salmon Brook Park. Both were nearing the end of their useful lives and needed replacing.
Sally King headed up the effort to gather the necessary information. Mainline Fence, of Brewster, N.Y. responded quickly to a request for a quote for slipboard fencing, made of 3” x 6” pressure-treated posts and 1” x 6” x 10’ rough-sawn oak rails and tubular gates. Town Manager Bill Smith wrote a letter giving the Horse Council permission to erect the fences on town-owned property. King was authorized to file the grant application, and Holcomb Farm, Inc. agreed to serve as a fiscal agent for the Horse Council, to receive and disburse the funds should they be granted. The application was submitted on July 17.
In September, the council received the news that the grant was approved. Mainline Fence was notified and started work on the fencing in late February, with construction completed in early March. The Horse Council reported that the projects were completed for $510 less than the initial estimate of $14,364 and the surplus funds will be turned back to the Hartford Foundation.
The Granby Horse Council thanks everyone involved in this effort to replace the ring fencing in both locations. The new fencing is handsome and strong and will benefit council members and other riders in Granby, and provide a more visually attractive alternative to the fencing it replaces.
For more information about the Granby Horse Council, visit www.granbyhorsecouncilct.com or its Facebook page, Granby (CT) Horse Council.