Janet C. Briggs

Janet Clark Briggs, a beloved wife, mother, and friend, passed away peacefully on November 20th, 2024, after a brief but brave battle with cancer.

Janet was born in Middleborough, Massachusetts, in 1940 to her father, Winthrop Clark, and mother, Edith (Graham) Clark. With her father a member of the United States Air Force, Janet and her family moved frequently. One of the most memorable locations was when they were stationed on a base in the outer Aleutian Islands in Alaska. Janet and the family settled back in Middleboro, where she graduated high school in 1958. Janet attended the University of Massachusetts, graduating with a degree in animal science in 1963. It was at UMASS where Janet met Douglas Briggs, her loving husband and partner of 60 years. 

Following her graduation, she was hired by the University of New Hampshire, her dream job. In 1976, Janet and Doug purchased a 1770’s farm located on Jenness Pond Rd. in Northwood, NH. The home had been vacant for at least 40 years, no heat and no electricity, everyone thought they were crazy for buying it. With their hard work, Janet’s dedication to traditional colonial design elements and the help of local craftsmen, they created a home that would be an idyllic place for friends and family to gather. 

Janet and Doug opened the home to even more people when they welcomed their first guests to Meadow Farm Bed & Breakfast in 1981. An intimate experience for guests who would stroll the grounds, in the beauty of Janet’s gardens, take a walk down the dirt road to the lake and undoubtably end up sitting and talking to Doug about anything and everything for hours. In the morning Janet would be up early to seemingly effortlessly prepare her 3 course breakfasts, highlights being her Bizmark’s and her blueberry pancakes, all made with eggs she gathered, fruit she picked and of course REAL New Hampshire maple syrup. She said goodbye to her last guests only a few months ago.

Like many young girls, Janet had a love for horses, but for her, this love was not fleeting; it was truly her lifelong passion. From the moment her father bought her first horse, she tirelessly dedicated herself to all aspects of horsemanship. She never sought the spotlight but, in her own quiet way she became one of the most influential people in the horse community in New England and beyond. Janet was the Director of the equine program at the University of New Hampshire from 1963 to 2004. From humble beginnings, she built it into one of the first 4-year accredited equine programs in the United States. Olympians, trainers, breeders, veterinarians, and generations of hobby riders came through the UNH program and credit “Mrs. Briggs” for their own commitment to horsemanship. Janet was also one of the driving forces behind the development of the Olympic sports of Eventing and Dressage in New England. With the help of her students, she started the UNH Horse Trials in 1970, one of the longest-running events in the country. She judged and officiated shows across the country, and as a fearless and classically trained rider, instructor, and mentor, her contributions to the horse community will live on for years to come.

Janet was predeceased by her husband, Doug (2023). She is survived by her daughter, Deanna, of Jackson, WY; her son, Darrell, of Wayne, PA; her sisters, Millicent (Savage), Dawn “Pinky” (Michael), Deborah (Newhall); and her brother, Noah Clark; and her grandchildren, Maya, Coco, Morgan, and Gavin along with a large extended family. 

The family will host a celebration of Janet’s life at her farm in Northwood, NH, in May of 2025. Her children and friends are working on ways to honor her significant contributions to the horse community.