Stephanie Jacques

I've been in the region since 1994, with a brief leave from 1998-2000, though I've come back to stay with my growing family...and my horses!

Our region has become more and more diverse and I believe that is partially due to the wonderful Cheshire Horse Tack Shop in Keene, NH. They sell everything you need for your pets, not just for horses. Their staff is very knowlegable, and can help you with most all of your equine questions related to feeding, care, and riding.

Miracles in Motion is a therapeutic horseback riding facility, also located in Keene. Though they don't have a website, they provide horseback riding lessons for individuals with disabilities. They need volunteers to help with horse handling, leading and sidewalking.

This photo was taken at Southmowing. Southmowing Stables, though not in Cheshire County but over the border, is a great facility for boarding, lessons and training. They have wonderful trails in the woods with jumps for every level rider. They also hold horse shows for all levels of riders competing in 2 and 3 phase eventing.

Swanzey Stables is located off Homestead Hwy in Swanzey (Rte. 32). Emily and Marty Goodell operate this large facility where there is ample turnout, great stall sizes and a nice, newer indoor riding arena.

One of the best trainers for the aspiring eventer that I know around the region is Jess Systo. She is at a barn in Hinsdale with a brand new 100x200 indoor arena and also has great turnout, some new stalls, and excellent horse care.

If you're a beginner rider (english or western) or a western rider looking for a place near Richmond, Lisa Leclaire owns a boarding, lessons and training business approximately 20 minutes from Keene. She is excellent for beginner riders and takes them to horse shows at the Cheshire Fairgrounds every year. Her stables are a casual place, and she lives on the premises. It's a very comfortable place to ride and there are trails all around her property.

Reiners, a great place is to go to Tory Hill on Glebe Road in Westmoreland. Cheryl Fletcher lives on the property and offers training, lessons and boarding with beautiful pastures or individual turn out, as well as an indoor or outdoor arena.

If you would like to add to this list or if you would like to contact any of these people, please email me at stephaniejacques@masiello.com or cal 603-283-1948 and I will connect you with other horse people in the region, including farriers, vets, a natural hoof trimmer, or other local facilities.

New stats I just came across from our office meeting. A RealtyTrends newsletter provided us with some insights on where people first saw the house they now own. Here are some interesting findings:

2007:

From their agent-34%

Internet 29%

Yard Sign 14%

Home builder 8%

Friend/Relative 8%

Newspaper Ad 3%

Directly from Sellers 3%

Book or Magazine 1%

Other -

How many of your offices have greatly reduced paper print ads? Has this reduced your business?! It goes to show that satisfying a seller's request to advertise in all local papers is a great waste of resources. These statistics come from homeowners who are actually giving the locations of WHERE they found the home they actually ended up BUYING.

I see this as an important trend to follow, and wonder, now, if there is an increase in the number of homes sold through social networking? Any stories to share about this?

Cell phone numbers went public last Friday, unless you were on the Do Not Call list. Here's how to get off this list, it must be done once every 5 years:

Call 888-382-1222 and follow simple instructions

You MUST be calling from the number you wish to remove from the registry.

This morning I awoke to frost. I went out to feed the horses, let out the chickens, and take a breath of that quiet, fall morning air. It's back...I thought. It felt great.

I feel this is a time of year when we, in New England, are reminded by Mother Nature to take a moment to relax, take a breath, look at what's changing around us. So much is changing, though oftentimes it's easier to observe the visual changes than to feel changes elsewhere.

Last weekend I attended a neighborhood cider making gathering. Friend and neighbors brought their own apples from their trees. As imperfect and bruised as they all were, some with black circles and little worm holes in them, the apples produced the most wonderful, sweet tasting apple cider. I brought several jars and filled them up to freeze them so that I could be reminded of the time we all gathered together to make apple cider. I'll remember watching my four year old daughter was spinning around the apple press, making for the very first time, her own cup of cider. Donuts, a small bonfire, good music and great people. Surrounded by fall foliage, the smell of a damp forest with only a slight opening for the 200 + year old colonial home behind us. No neighbors, a dirt road winds around the property leading us from Sullivan, NH to the small village center of Nelson, NH. A road where so many people have stopped by the house to ask, where are we? We're looking for Nelson village, but this can't possibly be the main road that leads us there? "Keep going" we urge with confidence that they will eventually get there, after taking the most beautiful drive of their life- Apple Hill Road, Sullivan, NH.

On another day, I take the drive from Keene, NH to Jaffrey, down Rte. 124 where I stop, every year, to look at Mount Monadnock in the fall. We have pictures from year to year from this very same spot. Each year the colors are vibrant and I feel at peace.

This is the time I take a moment to slow down. Working with my clients is more relaxed, more comfortable than ever. They feel it too.

Take the time to enjoy! Happy Fall.

My husband just sent me this article about the winning bidder on a home in Siganaw, Michigan! What a way to sell the home, what a way to take a loss! I bet we'll see more and more of this. It leaves me to believe that some homes you'd even have to PAY people to buy! I have many buyers who leave a fixer upper and make that very comment!

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