Northern Belle Stables

11/16/2025

Words cannot express how proud we are of Brylee and StarWatcher. When Brylee selected “Apollo” at Louisville last year, she was 13 and he was a lanky 3 year old with tremendous potential hidden beneath baby steps and loose parts. But, the moment she took her first trial ride, there was no doubt, this was her horse.

The journey that followed was not about shortcuts, instant gratification, or chasing ribbons. It was about commitment, patience, horsemanship, and belief. Brylee stepped into a trainer level role, teaching Apollo what it means to be a show horse, and she did it with grace, grit, and a willingness to sacrifice immediate success for long term excellence.

Trusting the timeline isn’t always easy, but both she and Apollo have surpassed every expectation, reminding us that growth done correctly is worth waiting for. Their story is only beginning, and with a disciplined winter of work ahead, we can’t wait to see what 2026 holds. 🌟🌟🌟

11/12/2025

These two are ready for tomorrow!

11/09/2025

11/07/2025

🥹

11/06/2025

𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭

Next in our recap is our Equitation riders. From Walk & Trot to Adults, Saddle Seat to Hunt Seat - NBS represented!

Our Walk & Trot riders previously mentioned took the Equitation classes head on. Sam, Caroline, Livi and Nimar all had strong performances and brought home great ribbons throughout their respective divisions.

Gracelyn Shepard and Maia Leavitt first took on the Saddle Seat Equitation class finishing 3rd and 4th respectively.

From there, both riders returned for the NEHC Saddle Seat Medal. Gracelyn put in a beautiful ride on Stonegate Natalee Kate, while Maia piloted her Humphry Slocombe. In the largest Medal class we’ve seen at Octoberfest in recent years, Maia earned a strong 9th place finish as one of the youngest riders in the class.

Maia returned again and finished 4th in a deep Saddle Seat Equitation Championship out of 11 riders.

Maddie Judson showed Mike Wazowski not only for their first time cantering in the ring; but they also completed their first pattern together in the Hunt Seat Pleasure Equitation division. A few finishing touches this winter and this team a force to be reckoned with in 2026.

Lilly Duvholok brought Monnington Salted Caramel back to the ring for the NEHC Adult Hunt Seat Equitation Medal earning a solid 5th in a very large and competitive field. After a serious illness kept “Rico” sidelined for nearly two months this season, he returned to the show ring with incredible heart, and we are excited for the future of this fun pair.

11/05/2025

The Pulitzer Prize with his two littles for 2026

Sam Hopp will debut with “Val” in Country Pleasure 13 & Under

Regan Temple will once again take on the Walk & Trot Saddle Seat Equitation division, this time in the 10 year old age group!

11/05/2025

𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤 & 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭

We had a variety of riders showing in the Walk & Trot Divisions and they did not disappoint.

Livi enjoyed showing the beautiful Tango’s Gypsy Rose and Stonegate Natalee Kate in the 8 & Under Walk & Trot Pleasure and Equitation divisions, riding to Reserve finishes across the board. We especially loved that every rider in the Pleasure division was dressed in pink!

Caroline showed at a big show for the first time. She rode her best girl, Sheikra (the Barbie Dream Horse) to ribbons in the competitive Hunt Seat Walk and Trot Pleasure and Equitation divisions

The Green Rider Walk & Trot division was absolutely stacked this year. Gia, Jake and Jordan all turned in outstanding rides and each brought home ribbons in what was truly the deepest Green Rider class we have ever seen. Gia is looking forward to working toward cantering in the ring next season!

Eva made the most of her final show with Tango’s Gypsy Rose earning Reserve and Grand Champion honors in the Walk & Trot Pleasure 9 & 10 year old division. She will debut her new partner Lookin Slick next season and we’re excited for big things ahead for them.

Our adult Walk & Trot riders (previously highlighted) Beth, Lisa R. and Reba all rode to strong ribbons in a very competitive Adult division.

Nimar (also previously highlighted) realized she had her work cut out for her with Expect The Best and she put in the work super early every single morning. Her dedication paid off as she then catch rode Kyros to Reserve Grand Champion honors in the 11–17 Walk & Trot Equitation.

The Walk & Trot classes were truly some of the most competitive we’ve seen here in New England and we are incredibly proud of every rider who showed up, rode hard, and rose to the challenge this past week.

11/04/2025

𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭

Our Morgans shined across a variety of divisions and proved once again why they are such a special part of our barn family.

• Colbie drove her beloved Brazada to a Top 3 and Reserve Grand Champion finish in Morgan Pleasure Driving. The fun didn’t stop there, she also took home top honors in the Exceptional Rider Walk & Trot division. Colbie and “Brad” are already looking ahead to the 11–17 Walk & Trot division next season!

• In a stacked class of 10, Hilary drove the always impressive SSL Ultimate Design to two victories in the Morgan Classic Pleasure Driving division. This pair is elegance defined and always a crowd favorite!

• John showed Pondview Phoenix (Debbie Kenny’s tall, dark and handsome boy) to a Reserve in Morgan Western Pleasure, Champion in NEHC Western Pleasure, and Grand Champion in the Morgan Western Pleasure Championship.

• Shea rode her fun and sporty Dragonsmeade Alchemy “Josh” to win the Morgan Park Saddle class and was named Reserve Grand Champion in the Championship.

“Josh” is now available for your consideration.

• Our other Morgans also made an impression outside of the Morgan divisions and in the Walk & Trot divisions. UVM Kyros took home top honors for owner Jake in the Green Rider Walk & Trot, and Queen’s Applause “Murphy” earned nice ribbons in a very deep Adult Walk & Trot division with owner Beth

11/03/2025

“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐈 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐞𝐝.”
— Michael Jordan

For some riders, Octoberfest felt like the perfect bow on the end of a season. For others, it was about trying something new, stepping forward, choosing courage over comfort.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡.

Deidre made her debut with her new horse A Shining Successor. Changes from class to Championship resulted in a beautiful victory pass!

Gabby & Maddie cantered in the ring on Mike Wazowski “Sully” for the first time, and their brother Vince showed Sully in Walk Only for the first time — with instructor Amanda representing a rider of her own in the ring for the first time!

Nimar took her big moving horse Expect The Best “Mr. Big” into the ring for the first time. We learned we had homework but she got up early every single morning to practice, catch rode Kyros to a Reserve Grand Championship, and has a plan in motion for 2026 with Mr. Big.

Jake showed Kyros at his first big show. They made big changes from Class to Championship and were rewarded with the Tricolor.

Vivien catch rode Lookin’ Slick (Eva & Livi’s young horse) for his first show ever, earning a great ribbon in a 16 horse Novice Horse Class. Eva got a great practice ride and is ready to put the work in this winter toward UPHA.

Vivien also has a long term goal to show Hardly Innocent in every division possible. He doesn’t love a crupper (so this was a PROJECT) but she committed, learned, worked, and debuted him in the 3 Gaited Division winning both Class and Championship.

Livi showed Tango’s Gypsy Rose for the first time in the 8 & Under Walk & Trot Equitation division to be named Reserve Champion

The Adult Walk & Trot division was stacked and Reba, Beth and Lisa R. all put their toes into deeper water than ever before and came home with ribbons in deep competition.

Jordan showed in his first “Big Horse Show.” His goal was “a really long ribbon.” My goal was “please make it around safely.” Both goals achieved! And he walked out with a big pink ribbon.

Ayla catch rode the beautiful Tango’s Gypsy Rose for top honors in Junior Exhibitor Hack. Always game. Always brave. Always ready to swing a leg over anything.

Brylee is another who will ride absolutely anything you hand her. She took Kyros to Reserve in his first WTC class, piloted Expect The Best in a huge Novice Pleasure class, and showed her own Star Watcher to top honors in Jr Novice Park.

Tyler piloted Lisa Cote’s beautiful Truly Innocent to top honors in the Jr/ Novice Park Pleasure division. Harriet wore her curb well and is ready for her mom to step into the irons in 2026

We had two riders brave the NEHC Walk & Trot Medal Finals for the first time. Sam rode Katie May in
the Saddle Seat division while Caroline rode Sheikra in the Hunt Seat division. Both rode well and looked the part in deep classes. They are both excited to step up next year.

Finley rode her horse Proud Memory in the NEHC Saddle Seat Medal class for the first time. It was their first time doing a pattern together and they came out with a well earned 4th out of 8!

𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐬.𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞. 𝐓𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭
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11/03/2025

Rollie Pollie took both mom and daughter duo, Reba & Finley to top ribbons in DEEP classes this week at Octoberfest. So proud of these three 🥹

11/03/2025