I just moved to Boston, I live in Brookline. I’m having a hard time finding a good barn to ride in. I’m looking to lease a horse and take lessons. I used to ride in Philly and knew the barns in the area but now I’m completely at a loss here since we moved. Thank you!
I took the L program at Apple Knoll Farm, which seemed like a big enough place to potentially have lease horses. I’m sure others that are local will have many more suggestions.
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Welcome to Boston! Your choice of barn probably will be dictated by the timing of your commute to the barn. I live in Charlestown and go up to Ipswich early in the morning, returning at the very end of the morning commute. It is easy for me to get on Route 1 going north (or I-93 toward NH). Brookline - I might look west, down the Pike. Or up Route 2 Concord and west. What is your timing, and what is your tolerance for traffic? And more specifically, for crazy Boston traffic?
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I might have some suggestions. What level are you looking for? There aren’t a ton of places around here with lesson horses, but there are a few, and a few more options if you are looking to half lease. They would be mostly for training level, maybe first level. Have you looked at the NEDA forum classifieds? Sometimes you will see horses for lease there. The USEA Area 1 FB Group is a pretty good resource for lower level dressage too.
And as the others have pointed out, much depends on what time of day you plan to ride and your tolerance for a commute. When I lived in Brookline, it was an hour and a half to where I boarded in Millis after work vs “only” 45 min home. That was 10 years ago and traffic is much worse now, and peak travel periods are much longer.
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(303) 803-8015
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Welcome to Boston!
As others have said…it’s going to be a haul. And timing on weekdays will make a huge difference.
I ride at Bradford Equestrian Center in Haverhill, north of Boston, and live in Cambridge. It’s a little under an hour by car at low-traffic hours, twice that if you hit the commute. I finally figured out that for me, it makes sense to take the MBTA commuter rail, but that won’t work for too many barns!
Bradford is a great low-key barn with instruction by a well-respected dressage judge, and they have a couple of horses used for lessons. Depending on the level you’re interested in, might be worth a look.
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Iron Horse Dressage LLC
32 Nixon Road
Framingham, Massachusetts 01701
Get Directions
[IMG]https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/v3/yS/r/bAdbW4hAAxe.png)
(303) 803-8015
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It’s going to be spectacular, but it won’t open until spring and I haven’t heard anything about lesson horses.
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If you don’t mind driving a bit…Divinity Dressage in Western MA - Monson, to be precise. Lots of pictures on her page here: https://www.facebook.com/DivinityDressage/
Exactly 1 hour, on the dot, from the SmartPak store in Natick, if that helps. Trainer: Suzanne Markham (gone through Grand Prix; significant eventing background, too). She is incredible…has a true gift for motivation/pushing you/instilling nothing but positivity. Explains her thoughts like none other. Her barn is state of the art. Newly-built with a stunning indoor, many luscious paddocks, and amenities to die for. I can PM you some photos, if you’d like.
Here’s a video of Suzanne’s demonstration at the Equine Affaire – mind you, she practiced a total of 3 times before the event – it is a testament to her horsemanship that in turn builds great trust and confidence in her partners. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbc_sxv0hTE
She has superb schoolmaster lesson horses…and is extremely reasonably-priced. I know it will be a bit of a drive, but it’s worth it. I know she has several dedicated long-distance commuters.
Her contact info. is listed on the Divinity Dressage FB page!
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Call them. Their trainers have several horses boarded for the time being nearby. Do not know if they have lesson horses. But call and find out.
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I’m not up on who has lease/lesson horses, but some metro-west options:
Bear Spot in Acton
Lythrum Farm in Acton
Larkspur Farm in Littleton
There Be Dragons in Littleton
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Longmeadow Farm, in Scituate Mass. My friend Rita Brown is also a “R” judge . Not sure re: lease… ask her. She is in Wellington right now. https://www.ritabrowndressage.com/facilities
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There is Winthrop Farm in Rowley that has lessons horses depending on what you are looking for. http://www.winthropfarm.com
