Food and Farm Showcase: Maine Mavericks

WHITNEY POINT, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – Today’s Food and Farm Showcase profiles a horse club that’s still going strong after 59 years.

Maine Mavericks operates out of a horse show arena located at the Broome County Fairgrounds in Whitney Point.

The club was established by five families in the Town of Maine in 1965. Today, roughly 40 families are members, participating in a number of horse shows held throughout the year.

Four of those shows are for points each season to determine end of year awards.

Maine Mavericks produces two types of horse shows. The Gymkhana Shows are timed competitions in which the horse and rider run around barrels in a clover leaf or weaving through poles set up in a line. The Performance Shows involve riding technique, English or Western, and are evaluated by an outside, independent judge.

First Foreman Alexis Ayers says the club is like a big family.

“I’ve always called this my horse family and it just keeps growing every year. As the board ebbs and flows and changes with different members, they bring in different dynamics and the last couple of years, we’ve just exploded with amazing energy and great ideas,” said Ayres.

Not long ago, lights were added to the arena so that Maine Mavericks can host some fun Friday night shows.And it received a $36,000 grant from the Broome County Small Communities Fund to rebuild its show office.

Show Secretary Teresa Shattuck says her horse can’t wait to go out and compete.

“It’s a team. It’s not just him out there running, it’s not just me riding. It’s teamwork. To me, it’s amazing. My granddaughters and grandsons love to do it now too. It’s just fun,” said Shattuck.

Ayers says many local stables will come with teams to compete.

Maine Mavericks is participating in the Open Farm Days being organized by Cornell Cooperative Extension tomorrow from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

While there won’t be horse show demonstrations in the arena, there will be a giant tack sale, horse-drawn carriage rides, mini horses, goats, face painting, an ice cream truck and a barbecue fundraiser over at Gregg’s Big M.

You can find a list of all 12 participating locations at growninbroome.com .

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