Executive Director Lori Pestana discusses operations with trail boss Johnny Snyder at HomeFarm at Undermountain.
world-class polo matches in America and Europe.” Yeah, I’ ve been around,” he says with a smile. He has indeed. Snyder has been a wilderness guide in Chile, Zambia, Australia, Nepal, Latin America, and Europe. When he returned home to the Berkshires, he needed a place to board his polo horses and discovered Undermountain Farm. He still boards his horses there, and he even boards there himself, living on the property in a house the farm provides for employees and volunteers.
“ Johnny’ s an artist and adventurer,” says Knigin. And a hell of a rider.“ We’ re extremely lucky to have him,” adds Pestana.“ He has an amazing relationship with the horses.” She recognized it the moment she saw him interact with them.“ Any horse he’ s on can pick up the subtlest hints of Johnny’ s intentions. He’ s really brought a championship ethos to riding in general and equine therapy in particular.
There’ s No Place Like HomeFarm
In addition to being a unique resource for therapeutic and pleasure riding in the Berkshires, HomeFarm, with its acres and acres of lush, wooded trails, and breathtaking mountain scenery, has an aura that simply seems to calm the soul.“ There’ s a vibe here that’ s very special,” says Snyder, alluding to Elrodt’ s notion of farm therapy.“ It feels good just being here.”
Nicole March felt it immediately.“ Something happened to me when I pulled into the driveway,” she recalls.“ A feeling of calm came over me. Within minutes, Lori had me picking a horse. More accurately, the horse picked me. The first stall I went into, the horse just turned its back to me, which I took as a sign that this one wouldn’ t be a match. As we were walking to the next stall, the horse picked up his head and looked right at me. I don’ t know what happened, but tears welled up in my eyes. I knew she was the one. The horse’ s name is Casca, and she’ s basically saved my life.” March doesn’ t ride.“ I just visit with her, bring her snacks, walk her around the paddock, and give her affection which she always gives back,” she says. March spends time with Casca once or twice a week.“ Lori’ s been gracious enough to offer me a sliding scale so I can afford it.” March is sure that just being around Casca has helped her self-esteem.“ I’ ve been amazed at the way everyone at the farm respects the dignity of each horse, despite their individual personality quirks,” she says.“ It makes me feel I can accept some of my own personality quirks, which is a very valuable lesson for me.” Gaining the trust of Casca has been transformative for March.“ I feel so grateful to have this opportunity, that I still well up every time I pull into the driveway there. I never understood the meaning of the farm’ s name, Home. Now it makes perfect sense to me.”“ We’ d love people to come and see the magic here for themselves,” says Pestana,
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MAGAZINE August Fall 2025 2025