Boulder/Denver CO area H/J places that "get it"

[AAHunterGal]

Hi All!

Just moved to Boulder, CO. I’m East Coast H/J trained, used to ride professionally for some top names on the circuit so I’m used to a certain level of horsemanship, and I’m having a hard time finding a correct, classic H/J place out here. Any recommendations? All the threads I’ve seen thus far are pretty old.

Not looking for anything fancy. Just a neat and tidy place that teaches solid horsecare basics (i.e. always clean your tack after a lesson, horse is spotless for a lesson, wash legs post ride, etc) and riding basics (hands together and steady, horse forward and straight, etc).

Thanks!

[osgoka01]

Are you me? I moved to Denver about 6 months ago and it has taken a while for me to find what I’m looking for. Parker has some good trainers, but it is just wayyy too long a drive (I’m on the West side of Denver).

I bought a youngster in January and board at a smaller facility in Golden and have taken some lessons with Dan Schiefen. He is a very good rider and has a nice, small program out of Arvada. Legacy Valley Farm. He shows some, but is busiest teaching amateurs and giving young horses a good start. Great guy.

You should also check out https://www.meridianridingclub.com/ which is in Golden. I took a lesson with Tracye when I moved here and she was great. That said, I don’t really think she has lesson horses… I got lucky and got to ride one of the junior’s horses. She keeps a busier show schedule and the farm looked very neat/tidy/horses very well cared for.

I will keep an eye on this thread as I’m curious as well.

[IPEsq]

Do you have a horse? Or are you looking for lesson horses?

I’m in Boulder County and teach part time (also grew up on the east coast and did the working student thing for a couple BNTs), but I do not have lesson horses. Most of the other trainers of the type you are looking for on the north side of the area also don’t have lesson horses, but you may be able to do a lease or half lease. Same for Dan in Golden. I can’t recall if Tracye has lesson horses currently. Millbrook Equestrian has some and is good (mostly jumper focused), but they are way south in Elizabeth. Feel free to PM me if you have questions about Boulder / Longmont areas specifically.

[Training_Cupid]

@"A"HunterGal

wash legs post ride, etc

Wait, what? Sure I might occasionally hose my horse off if the situation warrants it, but is this a thing? And among your primary criteria for a good program? (maybe it’s just different here because of the prevalence of drought years)

Sorry I have no suggestions, just curious now. Yet another way I abuse my poor horse

[AAHunterGal]

@Training Cupid - at a lot of the shows the footing would cause irritation if not washed off afterwards. Same thing when you showed in Florida. So as soon as we were done riding we would throw on some rubber boots and head to the washracks for a little foot bath. Maybe it’s not an issue here in CO but it became a habit and I do it when I can now.

[blondewithchrome]

@Training Cupid

Wait, what? Sure I might occasionally hose my horse off if the situation warrants it, but is this a thing? And among your primary criteria for a good program? (maybe it’s just different here because of the prevalence of drought years)

Sorry I have no suggestions, just curious now. Yet another way I abuse my poor horse

OMG, always for me here on the East Coast! We just use dish soap, but yes - always rinse off legs and scrub with soap Could just be a barn preference, but I’ve always done it.

[IPEsq]

@"A"HunterGal

@Training Cupid - at a lot of the shows the footing would cause irritation if not washed off afterwards. Same thing when you showed in Florida. So as soon as we were done riding we would throw on some rubber boots and head to the washracks for a little foot bath. Maybe it’s not an issue here in CO but it became a habit and I do it when I can now.

FWIW, depending on the footing at your particular barn, this is not quite as much of a thing here. Some scratches prone horses, yes. Footing that turns to cement, yes. A good brushing works a lot of the time, especially in winter! But I know exactly your usual routine And it’s not really much of a “thing” here at all, even when it should be done IMO.

[RAyers]

@"A"HunterGal

Hi All!

Just moved to Boulder, CO. I’m East Coast H/J trained, used to ride professionally for some top names on the circuit so I’m used to a certain level of horsemanship, and I’m having a hard time finding a correct, classic H/J place out here. Any recommendations? All the threads I’ve seen thus far are pretty old.

Not looking for anything fancy. Just a neat and tidy place that teaches solid horsecare basics (i.e. always clean your tack after a lesson, horse is spotless for a lesson, wash legs post ride, etc) and riding basics (hands together and steady, horse forward and straight, etc).

Thanks!

Thank you for insulting those of us who grew up here as still managed to compete on the national and international stages and probably even kicked your ass a few times too. You definitely seem to have a bit of an arrogant attitude when it comes to perceived horsemanship. So, I will suggest you done’t ride with a member of my family as he will be busy doing Thermal, Las Vegas World Cup, etc.

[AAHunterGal]

@RAyers

Thank you for insulting those of us who grew up here as still managed to compete on the national and international stages and probably even kicked your ass a few times too. You definitely seem to have a bit of an arrogant attitude when it comes to perceived horsemanship. So, I will suggest you done’t ride with a member of my family as he will be busy doing Thermal, Las Vegas World Cup, etc.

Hi there! Nope, not insulting anyone. I didn’t say that top level places around here didn’t exist, just that I was having trouble finding one. It’s tough coming from way out of state and having no contacts and relying on google searches, which is why I reached out here. Especially when you’ve been out of the game for a while!

I’m definitely used to my ass getting kicked on a regular basis. I’m not even looking to compete right now, just get legged up. I’d be happy to take any suggestions you might have!

[kenyarider]

You might try contacting the Colorado Horse Park for local trainers rather than google.

[RAyers]

@"A"HunterGal

Hi there! Nope, not insulting anyone. I didn’t say that top level places around here didn’t exist, just that I was having trouble finding one. It’s tough coming from way out of state and having no contacts and relying on google searches, which is why I reached out here. Especially when you’ve been out of the game for a while!

I’m definitely used to my ass getting kicked on a regular basis. I’m not even looking to compete right now, just get legged up. I’d be happy to take any suggestions you might have!

I grew up with these folks that will be your best bet to match your preferences:

Kay Beard (rode for Bernie Traurig) at Capall Glen in Arvada.
Tracye Ferguson at Capricorn, just down the street from Capall Glen, regularly goes back east to compete and is a “R” judge.
Dan Schiefen (rode for Peter Pletcher) is a Legacy Valley in Arvada, also near Capricorn and Capall Glen.

[AAHunterGal]

@RAyers Thank you! I will reach out to them.

[IPEsq]

I thought Kay moved?

[ladyj79]

Yeah the British FEI riders/grooms are super into leg washing. Me and the Belgiums make fun of them and our farriers thank us. To each their own, but no, not a defining feature of good horsemanship and definitely something I don’t recommend.

It is the very last thing I would do for a scratches prone horse. Or horse with scratches. Which chronic leg washing aggravates.

[December]

@ladyj79

Yeah the British FEI riders/grooms are super into leg washing. Me and the Belgiums make fun of them and our farriers thank us. To each their own, but no, not a defining feature of good horsemanship and definitely something I don’t recommend.

It is the very last thing I would do for a scratches prone horse. Or horse with scratches. Which chronic leg washing aggravates.

[December]

My thoughts exactly!

[Denali6298]

@"A"HunterGal

Hi All!

Just moved to Boulder, CO. I’m East Coast H/J trained, used to ride professionally for some top names on the circuit so I’m used to a certain level of horsemanship, and I’m having a hard time finding a correct, classic H/J place out here. Any recommendations? All the threads I’ve seen thus far are pretty old.

Not looking for anything fancy. Just a neat and tidy place that teaches solid horsecare basics (i.e. always clean your tack after a lesson, horse is spotless for a lesson, wash legs post ride, etc) and riding basics (hands together and steady, horse forward and straight, etc).

Thanks!

Op, no advice on who to ride with, as I left the H/J world eons ago, however, tone the East Coast rhetoric down a notch. I moved out west and the biggest difference is many people are unassuming about BNTs if they are worth their salt. You can find good quality, classic instruction from the most unassuming places. You will see some less than stellar places but that’s everywhere. Really though, when looking and asking around, give your riding experience without the putting the East Coast on a pedestal.

[mmeqcenter]

I’m from Ohio and now in Florida for 1.5 years, I’ve never heard of it being a “thing” to wash your horse’s legs after every ride. Mine usually get sprayed off after almost every ride because they’re typically sweaty, but I’ve never actually soaped down their legs just because we rode.
I have a boarder that seems to give her horse a full-body bath with soap and everything after every ride. But other than her, I’ve not witnessed this leg thing.

[EmilyM]

I always soap legs and let them dry before I wrap. which is basically after jumping. I know someone whose horse got a staph infection because they didn’t clean before wrapping.

I know my footing at home is “safe” for me to only brush their legs (if not filthy), but I too was brought up on the heavy wash their legs culture. I use effol BEFORE I bathe on their feet to keep the moisture out. I have started to wash legs only a few times a week now that I can control my own footing. Also if I ride in the field, and they don’t get messy. Washing helps with scurf, and if you are going to clip their legs regularly (another controversial topic), then the skin is in better shape so as not to be irritated by the clipping. I won’t use dishsoap anymore as my everyday leg wash. I use something gentler.

Everyone who has horses has strong opinions on care and not all care is the same. To each his own. That’s why we horsemen are such a funny bunch.

[chestnutmarebeware]

@RAyers

Thank you for insulting those of us who grew up here as still managed to compete on the national and international stages and probably even kicked your ass a few times too. You definitely seem to have a bit of an arrogant attitude when it comes to perceived horsemanship. So, I will suggest you done’t ride with a member of my family as he will be busy doing Thermal, Las Vegas World Cup, etc.

As someone who lived for decades in Denver and boarded my late OTTB at High Prairie (dating myself here!) and a couple of high-end Boulder barns over the years, I was also a little insulted by the tone.

Please understand, East Coasters have been moving here (by choice) forever and then continually disparaging the area and its residents for not being East-Coast-like. Best case, it amuses the residents. More often, it understandably pisses them off. This is a very “horsey” (and wealthy) area, and standards are plenty high.

Back in the 1990s, there was an influx of Texans to the Denver are, and I have to say, they were much more fun to mix with.

If you want a real horse-culture shock, try moving to eastern Tennessee!