1. NEW PRODUCTS
Early Spring 2011 • www.MyWorkSaver.com
Rura ifestyle
IS WELL-SUITED FOR
CONNECTICUT HORSE ENTHUSIASTS
Choosing the
Success Stories
right implement
for soil preparation
6 8 16 18
8 easy steps David
Howard
CT225 owner
Bob
Moio
T300 and
Richard
Shire
3400 owner
Susan
Gumpher
ToolcatTM 5600
to get your compact tractor CT445 owner owner
ready for spring EARLY SPRING 2011 | WorkSaver Homeowner with Acreage 1
INSIDE: PRODUCT SPECS

2. Sweet usi cou
COVER STORY
fills the Connecticut
12 WorkSaver Homeowner with Acreage | EARLY SPRING 2011

3. COVER STORY
A trio of horses
helps make rural living
untryside delightful for musician
S
Schoolteacher and musician
Mary Ellen Briga has to carefully
manage her obligations in order to
spend time with her horses.
“I try to make it a priority for my
free time,” she says. “They are
living creatures that thrive on our
attention. Let’s put it this way: It’s
easier to play with my horses than
clean my house.”
Briga and her husband, Janis, own a 9-acre farm near
Marlborough, Conn., a town of about 6,000 located just
southeast of Hartford. She teaches elementary string
music full-time in the Windsor Public School system; he
is a psychologist for the state of Connecticut.
They both grew up in Toledo, Ohio. She earned an
education degree from Bowling Green State University,
and then a master’s degree in violin performance from
the University of Cincinnati. In addition to teaching in
elementary school, she is a violinist with the widely
acclaimed Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Connecticut’s
premier musical organization.
“Although we were raised in the city and now work in
the city, we really like the rural lifestyle,” Briga says.
Continued on next page
EARLY SPRING 2011 | WorkSaver Homeowner with Acreage 13

4. COVER STORY
{ “Using the tractor for all these jobs is way better than
what we did previously — either using a wheelbarrow
or not getting the work done.” – Mary Ellen Briga {
“Working around the farm is a partnership. with Acreage edition of WorkSaver® arrived
Owning horses has been my dream since I was in the mail and my husband said I should take
a little kid. We finally made it happen in the last a look at Bobcat® tractors. We drove by the
10 years.” Bobcat of Connecticut location in East Hartford
With land prices higher than they were used on a Sunday and liked what we saw. I contacted
to in the Midwest, it took the Brigas a while the dealership and soon thereafter purchased
to find this property. Originally it was part of a CT225. To get all the same features on other
a 50-acre parcel of Arbor Acres, a farm that brands, I would have had to spend $3,000 to
was disbanded. $4,000 more. The Bobcat tractor was the best
value by far.”
“We visited just after the driveway was cut
through the property, walked around and knew The 27-horsepower compact tractor, when
this was the place right away,” Briga says. “We equipped with a front-end loader, is the perfect
made a deposit and have been developing the replacement for manual labor. With 19.5 PTO
property ever since.” horsepower it delivers top-rated performance
from 3-point hitch implements.
They named the farm “Brigadoon.” It is home
to three horses, three collies (Rocky, Ruby and The arrival of the CT225 made routine chores
their offspring Remy), a flock of chickens, a around the farm much easier. It is used to move
couple of beehives and a cat. Two of the horses manure, drag the 80-foot-by-180-foot riding
are retired thoroughbreds (Woody and Lily); arena and the 5 acres of pasture, clean up rocks
the other is a three-year-old Cleveland Bay around the property and move materials, such
(Chillson Royalton), an English breed that is as a truckload of stone that was delivered to be
rare in the United States. added to the driveway and to build up a footing
under the porch. They purchased a manure
“I think there are only about 200 purebreds in spreader recently to spread compost over the
this country,” Briga says. “They are the horse pasture land.
of choice to pull the carriage for the Queen of
England. The breed is suited for many activities. “Using the tractor for all these jobs is way better
I expect Chillson to be trained in dressage, than what we did previously — either using
Full line of a wheelbarrow or not getting the work done,”
hopefully for competition.”
compact equipment Briga says.
Eighteen-year-old Lily has reached second level
Bobcat Company has She notes that the work-saving benefits of the
in dressage and will be retired for all but trail
the largest selection of compact tractor are matched by the ease of
riding. “She is the best trail horse ever,” Briga
compact equipment. operation. “I need to feel comfortable when I
says. Woody had a successful racing career and
That means there’s likely am operating a machine. The CT225 has all
is husband Janis’ trail horse.
a product suited for you the controls in a logical place, which makes it
and your needs, with the “I like to ride all my horses on trails,” she says. both easy to operate and comfortable. Some of
right size, horsepower, “It is both mentally and physically healthy for the other tractors I looked at came up short in
lifting ability and them to regularly ride over the many beautiful those areas.”
attachment options to trails we have in Connecticut.”
Briga, who uses the compact tractor most days
help you do just about
after school and frequently during her time off
anything. Bobcat has 24 Time for a compact tractor in the summer, says, “It is wonderful for general
unique compact loaders;
After doing farm chores by hand for a couple of maintenance around the farm. I will be keeping
11 excavators; four
years, the Brigas decided they needed a compact it busy later this year clearing another acre or so
telehandlers; four utility
tractor, especially when the manure began piling for additional turnout pasture.”
vehicles; two Toolcat
utility work machines; up and was not being composted regularly. As they continue to make improvements around
eight compact tractors; “As a teacher who knows the value of the property, the Brigas look forward to many
and more than 80 homework, I tested all the brand name tractors,” healthy and happy years at Brigadoon.
unique attachments and Briga says. “About this time the Homeowner “It’s our paradise here,” she says, “work and all.”
implements with hundreds
of models. Visit the If you’re ready to buy your first compact tractor, visit www.MyWorkSaver.com/tractor to learn more about
Bobcat website today to the eight models available from Bobcat Company. Try the online buying tools, including the Build & Quote tool,
learn more. to customize your own compact tractor and get a quote from your local Bobcat dealer, whose name is on the
back cover.
14 WorkSaver Homeowner with Acreage | EARLY SPRING 2011