Auction to Benefit Operation Horse Power at Touchstone Farm

Nov. 8 FINAL Update: Holy smoke, you folks are fantastic! Because of you, this auction raised over $4,000 for Operation Horse Power. Thank you all - both bidders and donors - so much for participating!

Scroll down to see the winners of the individual items and the amount of the winning bids - look for blue text.

If you are a winner, please:

1. Email kmcdonald@touchstone-farm.org with your name and contact information so that we can arrange to get your prize to you.
2.  Complete the payment for your item either by 

• sending a check to Touchstone Farm, 13 Pony Farm Lane, Temple, NH 03084, or 
• paying online via our donations page on our website (choose Operation Horse Power for the "Apply My Gift" option). 

Welcome to our auction of items donated by friends, supporters, staff, board members, and family members of Touchstone Farm!

These wonderful folks have donated something for everyone -- from the loaner of a pickup truck with a full tank of gas to a personal photo shoot with an award-winning photographer.

Proceeds from this auction will fund Touchstone Farm's new programs for veterans and their families, which we call Operation Horse Power.

Rules of the Game

Follow the updated directions below to enter a bid.

• The auction will run online from Monday, November 3, 9 AM, to Friday, November 7, 12:00 midnight EST. 
• By 9 PM daily, except on Friday Nov. 7, we'll update this post with the high bids for the day.
• Any items that don't achieve at least their minimum bid will be auctioned live at our special Gala Benefit on Saturday, November 8, at the Elkus Manfredi Architects offices in Boston, MA.
• The winning bids will be posted by noon on Saturday November 8, except for items that didn't achieve their minimum bid and that will be auctioned live that evening.
• We'll notify winners by email regarding how to pay for and obtain your item.

How to Bid

• Bid on an item by entering a comment on this post. 
• Include the item you're bidding on and the amount of your bid. 
• You'll need to select a profile to enter a comment:
• If you have a Google login, you can provide your Google email address to enter a comment. (Don't worry, the email won't be displayed for others to see.) 
• If you do NOT have a Google login, you can chose Name/URL and enter a name for yourself (don't enter your email address). 
• Please DO NOT choose "Anonymous" as we'll have no way to associate your bid with you.
• You'll be prompted to enter a word verification before your comment can be posted. Type the displayed letters or numbers to continue with posting.
• You can include bids for multiple items in one comment. Just be clear about which amount goes with which item.
• If you're outbid by another bid, you can enter a new comment with a higher bid.

The Items

Tip: You can click on a photo to see a larger image.

1.	4 Red Sox Tickets The Sox will be pennant contenders next year!! And you and your friends can be there at a home game during regular season. We are offering 4 Red Sox tickets to the highest bidder. Date to be arranged with the donor. Value $200. Winning Bid $150 Liz Groff Colgan
2.	4 Boston Bruins Tickets Like to watch brawny guys push each other around? Bid on 4 Bruins tickets for a home game during regular season. Date to be arranged with the donor. Value $250. Winning Bid $250 Cool Joe
3.	Photo Session with John Mottern John Mottern is the photographer who takes such wonderful pictures of Pony Farm campers and their ponies! He is also the photographer of the stunning images we are using for Operation Horse Power. John will meet you at any location within reason and photograph your horses, kids, family, fashion, etc. Session includes DVD and two prints. Bid high on this one! Value $250.  Winning Bid $160 Linnea
4.	Lake Umbagog, NH, Getaway Weekend (with Boo!) Eagles, moose, deer, and a beautiful lake – and possibly even the Northern Lights! Spend an idyllic 3 days and 2 nights at Boo’s camp on Lake Umbagog. Maybe you'll even see the Northern Lights! Boo will escort you in on her float boat and help with the cooking and clean up. Swim, relax, and enjoy great conversation around the campfire. Canoes and kayaks are available for you use as well. (You bring your food and drink.) Maximum of 6 people. A “priceless” opportunity. Winning Bid $300 Regina Kelleher
5.	One Special Night for Two at the Equinox Resort, Manchester Village, VT Your stay at this luxury resort and spa includes a deluxe room, use of the resort amenities, free valet parking, and free wireless internet (although we recommend the hot tub instead). The “catch” – this night needs to be used before 12/20/14! Do some Christmas shopping or go for a complete “chill” weekend before the hectic holiday season. Value $500. Winning Bid $160 Hope Rupley
6.	Inflatable Kayaks for a Week Relax and enjoy the lake or the ocean in a kayak. Bid on the use of two inflatable kayaks (which means you can take them with you in the trunk of your car) for a week. These kayaks have been used on lakes, in the ocean, in rough waters and in calm ones. If you have ever rented a kayak for a day, you know how great this item is! Value $450. No bidders - auctioned live at the benefit.
7.	A Pickup Truck to Go Please Note: This is not the real truck! The actual pickup is big and modern and runs just fine. Dog not included. Ready to clean out your basement, attic, or barn? Bid on the use of a pick-up truck for a weekend to be determined by the owner and get all that stuff to the dump or Goodwill (or to your favorite relative). Full tank of gas included! Value $250.  Winning Bid $75 Frades Frades
8.	Professional Tax Return Preparation Tax season is coming (it’s always coming!). Get your taxes done by a professional and highly experienced registered tax return preparer. From PHC Tax Service,  - one free tax return preparation, limited to an individual, family, or small business Sole Proprietorship or Single-Person LLC (no S or C corporations). The three highest bidders will each receive preparation of one tax return. Est. Value $250 (each). 1 Winning Bid $60 Shilo Porter
9.	Peterborough, NH, Getaway at the Jack Daniels Inn Experience Peterborough, New Hampshire – the original “Our Town” – and enjoy an overnight stay at our local country motel. The Jack Daniels Inn is located right on the Contoocook River and within easy walking distance of the beautiful and bustling downtown. Great shopping and restaurants are there for you to enjoy. Can be used any time of the year. Value $110. Winning Bid $50 Lori Ratchelous
10.	One Week at Pony Farm Summer Camp Want your horse-crazy daughter to love you forever? Bid on a week of Pony Farm Summer Camp (sessions 1, 5A, or 5B only) and then sit back on enjoy the expression on her face when you tell her the news. Value $1700.  Winning Bid $800 Hope Rupley
11.	SoWine, Case of Wine, and Reidel Wine Glasses Wine lovers take notice!! We are offering an SoWine machine which chills and preserves two bottles of wine at proper temperature for up to ten days. This wonderful machine has the ability to keep your reds and whites at their own proper temperatures. Included is a case of mixed wine and six Reidel wine glasses. Value $800.  Winning Bid $300 Erin
12.	Signed “Gossip Girls” Series Books If you know a teenager or young adult, you have probably heard of Cecily von Ziegesar’s Gossip Girls series, which revolves around the lives and romances of the privileged teenagers at the Constance Billiard School for Girls. A new paperback set retails for around $140 but bid high on this set, which is autographed by the author. Value = priceless! No bidders - auctioned live at the benefit event.
13.	A Week of Carriage Driving “Immersion” Seasoned or beginner carriage drivers - bid high on this five-day driving immersion week at Touchstone Farm in Spring 2015. The package includes food, lodging, and two lessons a day culminating in a final lesson with world renowned driver Muffy Seaton. Learn and/or perfect your harnessing, hitching, and driving skills in an intensive and fun week at the farm. Value $1,200.  Winning Bid $510 Sue English
14.	Birthday Party with Ponies and 10 of Your Child's BFFs What kid wouldn't want a birthday party on a horse farm? Bid on this special package for your child's next birthday. We provide the farm, the pony rides, hayride, and a special cake and ice cream from Connolly's Dairy for up to 10 children. (You bring other food and decorations.) Value $200. Winning Bid $50 Cindi Connolly
15.	Mother-Daughter Weekend at the Farm Mothers and daughters, this is your time to bid for two spots at annual Mother-Daughter Weekend on Dec. 5-7, 2014. Join the fun and the special bonding that happens when mothers and daughters get together with a bunch of horses - it's magic! Can’t make it this year? No problem – come to one of our December 2015 weekends instead. Value $700.  Winning Bid $375 Catherine Lyle
16.	Signed Annie Leibovitz Photo World renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz has generously donated an autographed photograph for our auction. This is the opportunity of a lifetime to own a special piece of art by a very special artist. Value – Priceless. We had to pull this item from the online auction due to unforeseen circumstances. We will have two archive prints from Ms. Leibovitz to auction in 2015!
17.	Fly-Fishing Lesson from a Pro Does standing in wading boots and casting a rod appeal to you? Robert Silva - a fly fisherman with 42 years of experience - will provide the equipment and a lesson for this popular fishing experience. These lessons will go to the two highest bidders at the river or stream of your choice (or Robert's expert pick). Value $200. Winning Bid $175 Bandusian
18.	Authentic Amish Quilt For beauty and utility, nothing beats a quilt, and this one is really special. This handmade Amish quilt from Lancaster County, PA, was crafted by T. Witwer in 2013 and comes with authentication papers. Own a true original! Value $500. Winning Bid $100 Shilo Porter
19.	Unique Glass Sculpture Up and coming borosilicate glass artist Scotty Mickle, originally from Boston, and now working in Boulder, CO, donated one of his beautiful ocean pieces. This wonderful piece is six inches high and one of a kind. Please visit his website at www.liquidglassarts.com to see more of his work. Value $250  No bidder - auctioned live at benefit event.
20.	“Gruffy’s Herd” Handmade Quilt This large and cozy lap quilt was created especially for this auction. The quilt front is intricately pieced in warm, rich fall colors. The backing fabric features an equine print … the herd Gruffy leads in his dreams. Value $300.  Winning Bid $225 Shilo Porter

Pony Farm Session 1 - Friday Already??

Dear Camp Families (Especially Session One Families!),

Thank you for entrusting your children to us! We have a had a wonderful session! Thank you for doing your job as parents, because you have terrific kids (for real, not for fake), and thank you for letting us as a camp do our job.

Terrific kids such as these three! (P.S. They clean up well.)

I am sad to see this group depart, but I am thankful  they are the way we started our summer.

I think your girls have learned a lot in this one week, and I hope you notice the changes as well.  Here are a few things that I think they will take away from camp this week.

Perseverance - when your counselors hid really well during counselor quest.  The group that stays together as a team, works as a team, and looks for the counselors until the horn blows will win.  The group whose members give up quickly because it is hard won't find the counselors.

Winning isn't everything. You won't always win every game and that's ok.  The important part is you tried your best.

Great things can come from putting down the cell phones, TVs,  iPods, laptops, iPads and everything in between.  Those great things are called nature, horses, sunshine, friends, and so much more!   

Driving lessons with Boo & George, AKA "learning how to fly with Peaches"

From my perspective, these girls have a lot more confidence in themselves.  I hope you notice these changes and more in your children when you take them home tomorrow.   For these reasons and more, camp is so important. 

Newest members of the Gruffy fan club!

All of us are looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. Your girls have worked hard at their riding lessons and their “specialty,” and they are so excited – WE are so excited – for you to see what they’ve accomplished.

Best,

Becky

Happy New Year from Boo

Happy New Year to you!!!

Come dash through the snow at Touchstone Farm this winter!

I genuinely hope that 2013 brings you much good health, happiness and joy. As I say my goodbyes to the Holidays, filled with so much wonderful family and so many terrific friends, I welcome in the coming year with great excitement.

I sincerely hope to see YOU soon and often! Whether you come to our Pony Farm Open House, sign up for riding lessons, or come to our Sleigh Rally, our clinics or workshops, the camp gatherings in your area, Family weekends or our horse shows, I am eager to greet you with gusto. Better yet, come on a carriage drive or sleigh ride with me.

I would love to share my love for the farm with you. I look forward to being together and celebrating life. Stay well and be in touch.

Happy New Year’s Day,

Boo

Carriage rides are a Touchstone Farm specialty.

Packing a Little Punch

This week I’m giving you a break from my chatter about Roxy, my lesson horse at Touchstone Farm. Instead, I’m introducing you to another of my favorites at the farm, Punch, the smallest of the farm’s mini-horses.

Dare ya not to smile.

Punch’s height tops out around 30 inches (I’m being generous here). That makes him approximately the size of a modestly built sheep. I know this because he was standing next to one of the farm’s sheep in their paddock when I visited them on Sunday afternoon.

Boo guesses that Punch is about 21 years old, and he definitely has some years of seniority at the farm. Like most Touchstone Farm horses, he fills multiple roles.

Punch is your go-to guy if you are a quite small person who wants to ride. He’s also the horse to meet if you are small – or large – and are drawn to the magic of horses but are a little fearful of them, too. No one could be afraid of Punch.

I mean, just look at him. Are you not smiling at his round shaggy self?

I’ve seen a lot of Punch this summer because he is on the equine staff of Barnyard Buddies summer day camp. His camp responsibilities strike me as the job he was born for. He pulls Barnyard Buddies campers in a light carriage. He's available for meet-and-greets. He also makes an excellent live model for learning equine anatomy.

He's small but he's got all the essential parts.

Punch parties like it's 1999.

My point in talking about Punch is more than showing you cute pictures of a cute horse. I'm coming to understand the Touchstone Farm herd and realize it is much more than a collection of nice horses. These are working animals, and they have very specific abilities. The farm staff carefully selects and trains the right horses for roles only they can fill. That takes time and a lot of experience with horses.

Punch is aged and chubby and very small, but he is very valuable to the farm. He also has a fan club to rival Roxy's. After all, Roxy may be a wonderful lesson and therapeutic riding horse, but I can tell you right now that she wouldn't be caught dead in that tie.

See you around the farm.

Kathy McDonald
Rider and Volunteer at Touchstone Farm