Ann Fisher Memorial Pony Sportsmanship Trophy

In Memory of Ann P. Fisher, Tashua Farm

Having grown up in Easton, Connecticut to a second-generation horse mom, one could predict with ease that Ann's path would be in horses. In her teenage years she showed in the Equitation Horsemanship Classes (equal to todays' 3'6" equitation classes) and Handy Hunter Classes aboard her favorite horse "Shaboom". During the 1950's, Ann garnered wins at such shows as the Ox Ridge and Fairfield County Hunt Clubs, Sunnyfield, and Rosemount. She gained confidence from riding the many sale horses (mostly thoroughbreds--- imports were rare back then) that her grandmother acquired.

As a young professional, Ann freelanced riding lessons throughout Fairfield County and was an official judge at horse shows throughout the region. Having married at a young age, she incorporated her lesson schedule around raising a son, Robert. She did live a time period in California and Maine where she continued to teach young equestrians. In the late 1960's, she moved back to Connecticut and began to think she needed to start her own facility to reduce traveling to her customer base. The search for a stable of her own was put on hold, as her family grew with an additional child, daughter Suzanne.

Ann acquired Tashua Farm in 1976 and it is here where her passion for training and showing ponies developed. She continued to teach young children and adults, to be horseman (not just riders) with her kind and confident ways. Riders and equines under her care, adored her simply stated ways. She always wanted the riders to exit the show ring with a smile, regardless of their performance. Training up to 95 young horses and ponies throughout her Tashua Farm years, she justifiably would state: "The pony/horse only goes as well as it is ridden!"
(See past champs page)

Passion, strength and fortitude are three core adjectives to describe Ann P. Fisher. It was a huge loss to all in August of 2002 as Ann passed. Her legacy lives on today at Tashua Farm as her love of ponies and bringing along confident riders is what her daughter Suzanne strives to maintain.

This perpetual trophy recognizes those horsewoman who most closely exemplify the traits which Ann Fisher viewed as so important to the sport:
2003 — Sarah Pankosky of New Canaan, CT
2004 — Kimberly Ward of Greenwich, CT
2005 — [Ox Ridge Charity Show cancelled in 2005]
2006 — Emma Schauder of Greenwich, CT
2007 — Ashleigh Bancel of Ridgefield, CT
2008 — Kristin Lutz of Bedford, NY