“Anytime you can introduce the public to a horse, it is a positive for the industry,” said Bruce Wood, owner-operator of Woodmere Farms, which was a participant in the 2018 edition of PEI’s Open Farm Day, hosted on Sunday, September 16.

Open Farm Day is an annual event that sees over 20 farms open their doors to the public, providing fun and interactive ways to learn about life on a farm.

Standardbreds pictured mingling with some children during Woodmere Farms’ open house on Sunday, September 16, 2018 (Photo courtesy Woodmere Farms)

One of the goals for this event, co-ordinated by PEI’s Agriculture Awareness Committee is “to raise awareness of the significant contribution that the agriculture sector makes to the provincial economy and to rural communities.”

Bruce Wood, his partner and team of volunteers provided the public a glimpse into a working broodmare operation at Woodmere Farms, which is located in the community of Marshfield. The farm has 11 mares with foals, 10 yearlings that will be sold at the Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale, and one stallion.

Pacing mare Collective Wisdom, who had won the night prior at Red Shores for Wood, was also brought to the farm to meet and greet the public.

Woodmere’s team of volunteers pose for a group photo (Image courtesy Woodmere Farms)

An estimated 500 people visited the farm. “It was a great success,” said Wood, who also owns and operates a dairy farm. “We saw lots of families and seniors. I would estimate that about 90 per cent of the people were ‘non-horsey’ people. Getting people up close to the horses and making this interactive was the most important part of our event.”

Wood explained that they posted signs with the horses’ names and their stats on the stalls and the paddocks so people knew what horse they were looking at and could learn a bit about them.

St Lads Morgan meets some new friends during Woodmere Farms’ open house on Sunday, September 16, 2018 (Photo courtesy Woodmere Farms)

Visitors were invited to stroll the farm at their leisure, visit the horses in the paddocks and in the barn, ask questions about Standardbred breeding and racing, and kids were encouraged to pick or submit their choices for names for the foals.

An ‘Ask the Vet’ station was also featured with Dr. Kelli Beavers from the Atlantic Vet College on hand to answer questions and let visitors view slides of frozen semen under the microscope.

A complimentary BBQ and ice cream were also provided for their guests.

“The most rewarding part was that people enjoyed themselves,” said Wood. “We made sure to let our guests know that our doors are always open and they can drop in anytime. Anytime you can introduce the public to a horse is a positive.”

To view more photos from the open house, click here.