Boarding Recommendations in Cleveland, Ohio

[cbg]

Posting for a friend who is moving to Cleveland for a job at the children’s hospital. She’d love recommendations for boarding barns with H/J programs that fit the bill (as well as any info about places to avoid).

She’s looking for:

• Stall board with excellent horse care and barn management
• Plentiful turnout
• Indoor
• Reputable training and lesson program including a pro who will do regular training rides on her young hunter
• An A/AA show schedule (one or two a month - not a barn that's on the road constantly)
• Access to trails or fields for hacking would be a big plus
• Let's assume that $ is no object

She hasn’t yet decided where she’ll live - she wants to choose a barn first and will let that drive her housing choice. She likes the Chagrin area but is open to pretty much anywhere within about an hour of the hospital.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

[MzCarol]

Try looking at Chagrin Valley Farm. Its a dedicated boarding/lesson/show barn. I live right down the street and show there often. They have a solid and highly competitive schooling show series/A shows and Dressage. They also hold mini trials in better weather. The people are very nice and it would get her into this area affording her the ability to look around once she is here. My horses are at home now but when we were boarding turnout was a luxury “as weather permits”.

[SillyHorse]

What do you consider “plentiful turnout?” If three to six hours a day meets that requirement, Fair Weather Farm might be a good option. Lewis & Lewis (Cody and Brittany, Howard Lewis’s granddaughters) are resident hunter trainers.

Huge indoor with great footing, and two huge outdoor arenas.

[findeight]

Turnout situation can be complicated by heavy snow totals and underlying ice, friend needs to be sure indoor alternatives are discussed if/when turnouts are unwise, unsafe or simply not an option.

[cbg]

Thanks for the feedback about turnout. She’s coming from an area (Maryland) where turnout is generally all day in winter and overnight in summer. But the snow/ice situation there is usually minimal, if anything, so neither of us would have even thought of asking about the availability of indoor turnout. Thanks for mentioning that!

[SillyHorse]

I forgot to mention overnight turnout at Fair Weather if you want it. No indoor turnout, but staff will hand walk for you if the weather is too bad for turnout.

[jumpsnake]

I haven’t lived in Cleveland in about 20 years but there are a LOT of barns and options available. I do agree that chagrin valley farms is a great place to start and you can always move if you find a place that better suits your needs. I taught there way back and the facility and care was excellent.

[gradytb]

Wow—great to hear that the Lewises are still doing H/J! I rode with Howard as a junior from 1973-78/79 ish and would love to be able to go back to an area with such good riding options.