Combine a focus on acquiring socio-economic skills with working with rescue animals, and you get the gist of what the StoneLedge Stables summer programs are all about. The founder and educator of the program is Sandy Bailey. “I have been educating preschoolers in the Upper Valley for over 20 years and rescuing animals my entire life,” she said. “After noticing the increase in challenging behaviors in my students, I knew there was more that needed to be done to facilitate social emotional development. I found out that combining my two passions was the answer.”
What exactly is social-emotional development? Bailey describes it as “social emotional skills in young children includes; the ability to collaborate with others, manage their own emotions, focus their attention, have a strong sense about their own identity, self-discipline and connection. Social emotional learning is the foundation from which all learning builds.”
“Animals are natural teachers and give students the ability to learn these skills in an outdoor natural setting,” she said. “For students, this can be the breakthrough needed in their own unique learning.”
StoneLedge Stables began in 2015, with the first summer of programs held in 2016. This summer, StoneLedge offers three different summer programs:

Children at Stoneledge Stables
Photo by Kimberly Chu

The Way of the Horse

Students will explore the farm using their five senses just like a horse does. The program consists of animal husbandry activities, riding, gardening, mud kitchen play, woodworking, and nature-based crafts.

The Way of the Sheep

Students will actively explore numerous areas of the farm, including the garden and the vernal pool. Animal husbandry and sewing activities will be a large part of the curriculum. Coats will be explored once shorn by washing, dying, carding, and spinning fiber.

The Way of the Pig

Students will explore the farm in an intelligent, muddy, and social way. They will work in the garden and participate in animal husbandry activities. Pigs have one of the highest IQs of all domestic animals, and students will sharpen their minds as they study native New England plants and animals.

Sandy Bailey with Bella Photo by Kimberly Chu

StoneLedge is situated on Union Village Road, just before the steep hill before the road joins Route 132. When I visited the program on a Monday morning, there were maybe 10 young children busy with various activities. One or two were engaged in a project involving a microscope that was donated to the program. One or two children were busy grinding feed for chickens, while others were playing with and picking up the chickens. One girl sat by herself busy making a bracelet. There were three or four Counselors-in-Training (CIT) to help the children with their various endeavors. The highlight of the morning was Bailey shearing a rescue sheep. The children watched as she struggled to hold the sheep while it was being sheared, and a few of the children wanted to play with the wool after it had been sheared. In addition to the sheep and chickens, the stars at Stone Ledge are the two rescue horses and Cooper, a rescue dog.

The program relies on the community for funding. “Without community grants, there would be no program,” Bailey said. “We have been blessed by grants from the Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation, Norwich Lions Club, Norwich Women’s Club, Dan & Whit’s, Mascoma Bank Community Grants, the Co-Op Food Stores, Hypertherm Hope Foundation, and the Susan D. Kaufman Foundation.” StoneLedge also has a close relationship with the local Sweetland Farm, which hosted a fundraising event last September — Hoofin’ it for Hay, a 5k and Fun Run.

Kindness Rock Garden Sign Kimberly Chu Photography

Bailey said this type of education model is the way of the future for young children. “I am currently working with the Early Childhood Education Association (ECEA) of the Upper Valley by mentoring the next generation of Early Educators,” she added. “Outdoor farm-based programs are a unique model that facilitate the teacher’s ability to meet students where they are at in their unique learning journeys. In response to community needs we offer both a Junior Counselor in Training program (for 4-8 graders) and a CIT program, which then becomes a paid position if the student wants to continue their learning on the farm.”
Learn more about StoneLedge Stables by visiting stoneledgestables.org.

Sometimes it feels like things don’t change, until they do. Generations of children have grown up in Union Village, and many have enjoyed the routine of a walk to see the horses at the Gregory and Toni Prince’s farm. But this year – both at the age of 84 – the Princes decided to sell their farmhouse and land.

“In hindsight, we probably should have done this two or three years ago,” Gregory said. “All the chores and upkeep of the farm were proving too much for us.” Many times, in the middle of winter, in the snow, you would see Gregory out mending fences or moving manure with his tractor. He would always be so welcoming and friendly, though you could tell he must have been freezing. “Our grown children have been pushing us for a while to downsize,” he added.

The Princes’ homestead is an idyllic landmark that shouts “rural Vermont” and welcomes you to Union Village in Norwich. Since 1970, when Gregory and Toni Prince bought their horse farm, Toni has been teaching generations of local young people to ride.

Horses have always been a huge part of Toni’s life. She started teaching horseback riding at ten years old in her home state of Virginia. Toni ended up not finishing college; instead, she focused on building a very successful business as a riding instructor for youth. Many of her students over the years have gone on to win championships and compete at high levels in various competitions.

When the Princes recently sold their farmhouse and the land and paddocks to the family of a builder, he built them a very cute little house right next to their old one. It has panoramic views of the horse pastures and the cows up over the Connecticut river on Campbell Flats. It has a screened-in porch and will soon have an outdoor patio. The house is filled with Toni’s antiques and is like a mini version of the main house they just sold. The one missing element is a Golden Labrador. Over the years, Gregory and Toni have had several Labradors; they would wander out to the road as visitors walked by. The pair aren’t sure if they will get another dog, though it is hard to imagine the Princes without one.

I went to visit the Princes in their new home. I have known them for over forty years. Both of my daughters learned how to ride with Toni. My youngest daughter, Katie, said, “I have always thought she is such a kind woman and have been amazed by her dedication to her horses and to teaching children to love horses as she does. Her love for her horses is infectious and she grew a love for horses in me. She is someone I will always remember.”

When I arrived, they were sitting by a lovely fire in their new home. They appeared very comfortable in their new surroundings. There is a wonderful chemistry between the two – a real affection for each other. They are childhood sweethearts, after all.

When the Princes came to Norwich together in their early 20s, they had opened a new chapter in their lives on the farm. They’ve now been together for over 60 years, and as one chapter closes, another one opens. I asked them what led them to sell their farm but stay nearby. Toni was adamant that she was not going to go into senior housing; she wanted to “age in place”. They had sold two of the horses to the new owners of the farm, but were keeping two.

Gregory, on the other hand, felt that he would have been quite content to move into a senior living community. He is perhaps the more outgoing and social one of the couple, and he may have found the social opportunities of a senior home stimulating. Over the years, Gregory has been a facilitator, helping Toni with the farm and the horses. He’s not as passionate about horses as Toni, but as Toni’s riding business helped fund Gregory’s intellectual pursuits at Stanford and Yale, he shows his appreciation by being a real trooper – helping with a lot of the chores and standing by Toni’s side.

Gregory mentions a recent article he read about the problem of older Americans aging in large houses that they could no longer keep up. For the Princes, it was not so much the upkeep of the house, but all of the upkeep needed to keep the horse farm operational. 

One of Toni’s favorite hobbies is collecting antiques. She manages two booths, one in Quechee and one in Chester, Vermont. The old house was always full of beautiful antiques and many of them adorn the new house. “The [antique] business has really changed. So much of it is now online and some of the prices are outrageous,” Toni said. The basement of the new house is where Toni keeps her antique acquisitions.

Gregory has had a life in academia. He directed summer programs at Dartmouth College, was the president of Hampshire College, and published a book on education. He is still active as a Board member of a Charter School in Washington, D.C., and he holds some strong opinions on the profession of education and the lack of support for front line workers (worthy of another article).

I talked with the Princes about how Union Village has changed in the 54 years since they moved here. They told me about the old store in Union Village and the dance hall. There have been very few new buildings in the Village since– Bernie Benn’s house being the only one we could think of. “There have been decades when there were hardly any children in the Village. Now, this Halloween, as the Princes handed out goodies to the neighborhood children, they witnessed just how many youngsters live in the village – 11 and counting, said Toni.

Toni has touched the hearts and minds of hundreds of young children during her time teaching. Ella Swett, a Norwich resident and a freshman at Kimball Union Academy, has been a riding student of Toni’s since she was seven. Ella has been riding Adonis, who came to the Princes’ stables after a difficult life. I put Ella on the spot and asked her what she liked about Toni’s teaching style.

“Well, I think Mrs. Prince teaches in a way that you suddenly realize what you have learned. It’s not really a trick but it’s not always immediately apparent what you are learning,” she said. “I think she commands respect and in turn gives it. She provides a safe environment in which to learn and grow – a home away from home. She definitely inspires us and she is one of the people I most admire in the world. She has high expectations of us that push us to learn and grow.”

Ella thinks that horses will probably be in her future life in some capacity. She doesn’t think she will compete, but she has a love of working with rescue horses and gaining their trust and confidence.

Coco Yehle is the 12-year-old daughter of the family moving into the Princes’ house and farm. Her father built the Princes’ new home and plans to remodel the old farmhouse.

“I’ll wake up every morning and be able to look out and see the horses,” Coco said with excitement. Coco’s mother, Crystal Piffath, will be co-teaching with Toni. Coco has no concerns about the transition; she loves taking care of the horses working with Toni who gives her great advice. Coco loves jumping and has a goal to compete in the Olympics, and she would also love to own a breeding and lesson farm someday.

There is no doubt that Toni Prince has had a profound impact on these two young ladies and all of her riding students over the years.

As a new chapter unfolds for the Princes, Gregory acknowledges that it’s a little scary. Touch wood, they are both relatively healthy. Gregory was acutely ill a few years ago and had the good fortune to be able to use the services of the local emergency squad and the community nurse. Toni has had some joint replacements and broke her foot. As more elderly Vermonters decide to “age in place”, vital services like a community nurse, community transportation, and care services are important resources to lean on. Toni and Gregory are still able to drive, and they have the love and support of friends and their two grown children. And, when they look out the windows of their new home, the Princes will still see their four legged friends in the paddocks just over yonder.

Rosamond Orford, a Brit by birth, has been living in Norwich for quite some time. First, living down by where the Ompompanoosuc runs into the Connecticut River, and then moving to a quaint farmhouse on Union Village Road. At her farmhouse, Rosamond has a lovely studio where she has many of her framed photographs on display. People occasionally come by to browse and buy a print.

Rosamond grew up in the southern part of England. “I started taking photographs at the age of 11 when my parents gave me a Kodak Bellows camera,” she said. “I floundered a little in finding a suitable post-secondary path.” But luck prevailed, and she had the opportunity to travel to the United States with a friend. She went to Wyoming and then to Aspen, Colorado, where her interest in photography took off.

“I became a more serious photographer after taking a course with David and Cheri Hiser in Aspen, which opened my eyes to the fact that abstract ideas and emotions could be communicated by a photograph,” Rosamond said. “There is an old Eastern saying: ‘When the pupil is ready, the teacher will come’.” Rosamond decided to stay in the United States. She got married and moved to the Upper Valley where her husband got a job as an English teacher at Hanover High School. Rosamond loves the Upper Valley, but she would have liked to have spent more time in the West where she enjoyed the vast landscapes.

Rosamond has a particular love of taking pictures of water and capturing the variety of patterns the light makes on the water. She has had the good fortune to travel – Cuba, India, Morocco, Kenya, Nepal are some of the places she’s visited over the years. She has wonderful photos of these places in her studio.

Rosamond started a publishing company called Upcountry Publishing. She published calendars and then postcards and note cards. Then she published her first book: Water Colours – Photographs by Rosamond Orford. It is a collection of her photographs (you can buy the book directly from her or online).

Rosamond made the transition from dark rooms to digital fairly painlessly. She is somewhat of a purist. She doesn’t like to use filters and enhancers to digitally modify photographs. For her, “the seeing is the important piece,” she said. “Creativity is in the perception.” Along her creative journey, Rosamond started to paint in watercolor. Some of her water colors adorn her living room.

Rosamond’s family owns a house in the Lake District in North West England, so it is easy for her to return to her homeland when she wants to. It is a mountainous region with many lakes and beautiful vistas – an ideal place for a photographer that loves water and landscapes.    

In addition to being an artist, Rosamond also has a history of being a community activist. She and some community members were strongly opposed to a water development on the Ompompanoosuc River that would have reduced the flow in the river and diminish the beauty of its several waterfalls. The group fought hard, involving legislators, and finally won a settlement that allows the river to flow naturally. Her commitment “to fight for the river” illustrates how Rosamond loves the flow of the river with its patterns and reflections.

Rosamond’s character has not been affected at all by her success. She is someone you would meet in the pub or on a ramble. She is down to earth and quintessentially British. Sadly, some of her work was destroyed in a house fire several years ago. But her living room and studio are adorned with beautiful framed photographic prints and watercolors. Occasionally, someone will show up to look at the artwork and maybe buy a piece. 

At 84, Rosamond is slowing down a bit. Unfortunately, she inherited her father’s arthritis. But her passion for seeing beautiful scenes and capturing them is still strong. The essence of her work is “seeing” and then capturing it on film or in a painting. She doesn’t need all the “bells and whistles” of modern photography. Rosamond has a message for all of us: we need to open our eyes to the beauty around us. It can become a way of life.

Rosamond is very proud of her work. I think if you call ahead, she would be very happy to invite you into her studio.

All the photographs shown in this article are copyrighted by Rosamond Orford and may not be used without permission.