Well-known equestrian facility in Morris County that once hosted dozens of shows prior to falling on hard times is being rejuvenated and refurbished by an energetic new owner.
Clik here to view.
Jean Haggas, president of the Long Valley Trail Association with Cybella, Marissa, Michelle and Bob Migliaccio in the indoor ring that is being refurbished at GG Farms on Schooley's Mountain. A dusty banner proclaiming Snowbird Acres as the N.J. Horse Shows Association's 1993 Show of the Year encapsulates the tale of an enterprise that once ran dozens of shows drawing hundreds of riders to Schooley's Mountain in Washington Township.
After formerly energetic Snowbird owner Vicki Siegel aged and then left the 70-acre property to go into a long-term care facility, it was rented out and went downhill. But the well-known Morris County facility finally has a new owner and is being revived as GG Farms, where the NJHSA banner still hangs in the large indoor arena that already has 25 tons of new footing.
Real estate entrepreneur Bob Migliaccio, a native of neighboring Chester, bought the farm after a fierce bidding war that was the inspiration for the GG name, which stands for how he eventually got the place "by the grace of God." Two years after he set out to acquire the property, it has been cleaned up (a Herculean task--remember the Augean stables?) and is in the process of being refurbished.
Although Migliaccio, a Long Valley resident, rode only casually in his youth, his wife, the former Michelle Guglielmi, was involved in showing and still has two horses at her parents' house in Chester.
Clik here to view.
A reminder of Snowbird's glory days is this dusty banner hanging in the indoor arena. "She was the catalyst," said Migliaccio of the impetus for the project, which is a work in progress. The indoor ring's roof is serviceable but awaits resealing; stalls are put into shape on a continuing basis and there are plans to re-do three of the four outdoor rings by spring. There are 30 stalls in the structure that houses the indoor, and 21 in another barn.
"It's been a great family experience," said his wife, noting she and their twins, 9-year-old Cybella and Marissa, are "really all in it and working on it. It's exciting. The kids love it."
In its glory days, Snowbird not only had 23 shows recognized by the U.S. Equestrian Federation and its predecessors, but also ran many unrecognized competitions and offered high-score awards of its own, as well as classes to earn points for the various New Jersey organizations.
"It fell on hard times. We're trying to bring it back to its old luster. It's a slow process," said Migliaccio, who calls himself "the nuts and bolts guy."
He has no plans to be in the hands-on horse business, however. His approach is to offer the facilities and what are known as "dry stalls," which trainers in turn will come in and rent out while providing hay, bedding, feed, instruction and other amenities to boarders.
Jean Haggas, president of the Long Valley Trail Association, brought her horses to GG Farms for the winter and is urging others to do the same.
"This place has a fantastic history. I'd like to see it resume its role in this community," she said.
"It's been the venue for some wonderful shows."
Eventually, shows will be held at the farm, starting with unrecognized fixtures, but Migliaccio said it would be up to an experienced manager to run them.
Haggas thinks the revival could be a boon for the trail association, noting it should be possible to make connections to various trail systems in the area from the farm. Those interested in the trails may contact Haggas at Flickerwood@comcast.net
Migliaccio has turned to several expert equestrian advisors, including Bastian Schroeder, based at Redfields Farm in Tewksbury, and Ricci Desiderio of Tranquillity Farm in Chester.
Clik here to view.
It took 25 tons of footing to create a new surface for the spacious indoor arena. A member of the Morris County Agricultural Development Board, Desiderio notes it is difficult for many trainers to have their own farms these days because of the expense. Facilities such as GG Farms, where they can rent a group of stalls, are a good answer to help "keep the (horse) industry viable," said Desiderio, who also emphasized that horse farms are a way to save open space in the most densely populated state in the country.
He explained that under the scenario he described, Migliaccio "doesn't need any horse background; he's a landlord."
Before its incarnation as Snowbird several decades ago, the farm was known as the New Jersey Training Center, where Olympian Leslie Burr Howard was located for awhile. It succeeded Highfields Farm, famous for its nationally known show ponies, such as the homebred Highfields Tulip, ridden by Susie Blaisdell; Highfields Town and Country, ridden by Barbara Ulrichsen and Highfields Snapshot, the mount of Jackie Saunders.
Sharyn Hardy Cole, whose mother, Dora Hardy Hamilton, owned Highfields, recalled idyllic days of riding ponies, swimming in the lake and sometimes swimming ponies in the lake. Contacted by phone in Florida, she was glad to learn of attempts to revive the facility her family bought in the 1940s.
"That's exciting," said Cole. "I'm happy to hear it."
ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE
Today: Garden State Appaloosa Show, Gloucester County Dream Park, 400 Route 130 South, Logan Township; Lord Stirling StableWinter Holiday Festival, 256 S. Maple Ave., Basking Ridge; Duncraven Winter Circuit Show, 1300 Trenton Harbourton Road, Titusville; Palermo Winter Series, 1555A Burnt Mills Road, Bedminster; Barrel Racing, Horse Park of New Jersey, Route 524, Allentown.
Friday: Tewksbury Farms Show, Hidden River Farm, 745 Amwell Road, Neshanic Station (through Dec. 13).
Saturday: Black River Farm Show, 20 Boss Road, Ringoes (through Dec. 13); Woodedge Show, Gloucester County Dream Park, 400 Route 130 South, Logan Township (through Dec. 13).
Dec. 13: Changewater Stables English/Western Winter Show Series, 483 Route 519, Stewartsville.
Nancy Jaffer: nancyjaffer@comcast.net.