Hubby might be accepting a transfer there. What’s the dressage scene like in Denver, Colorado? I’m currently horseless so I might be shopping for a horse also. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance!
Hi Escada! I live in Denver and I’d call it active, but a bit spread out. You’ll find the most activity in Parker (south of Denver) which is where Colorado Horse Park is (and most of the big shows), but there are some great trainers and facilities in Arvada/Golden (west of Denver) and the Boulder Valley. Pm me if you’d like for more specifics on trainers. Welcome to Colorado!
@Escada , welcome to Colorado! @warriorpony has given you the same info that I would, describing the dressage scene here in a nutshell.
I am south of Denver, closer to the Tech Center. I board in Elizabeth, which is an easy 25 minute drive south and east. There are many options for boarding and training, and where you will be living may dictate your drive times to where your horse will live. That is assuming you will be boarding your horse, is that the case?
I have been with my trainers, Westmanton Stables at Iron Horse Farm for over 17 years. I am also a part time working student with them, and completely enjoy being part of the Westmanton team. I bought my first horse with guidance from Westmanton, and would not hesitate to recommend them to help you find a suitable horse. They are very willing to work with a client’s needs, goals, budget and particulars in finding a horse. They also have contacts all over the US and Europe.
Westmanton Stables has a web page and a FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/WestmantonStables/?fref=ts
The webpage is in need of updating, but will give you an idea of the depth of experience that the team has to offer: http://www.westmantonstables.com/
The facility, Iron Horse Farms, also has a FB page: https://www.facebook.com/Iron-Horse-Farms-LLC-428052490553188/
and a webpage: http://www.ironhorsefarmsco.com/
Feel free to PM if you have questions. There are also several active COTH members who are here in Colorado, in different parts of the state.
Thanks everybody. Hubby will be going out for an interview this month and I’ll go with him. He may be able to work for the company from our state but there is a good chance we would have to move.
Not in Denver, but Janet Foy is in CO for half the year, and is an awesome clinician as well as an international judge!
Hi Escada, I am very interested in responses since I will be moving to the Stapleton area of Denver when my farm sells here in Florida. I posted in August about boarding near Denver and one place that was recommended by 3 people was Mile High Horse Ranch in Parker. It is primarily eventing, but there are dressage people there and instruction available. Westmanton Stables at Iron Horse sounds really great and I plan to check it out although it is further away from where I will be living (55 minutes according to google maps) than I am hoping for. I will be visiting my family in Denver for a few days later this month and plan to visit some horse places including these two. Other places I would like to visit are A Rising Star in Arvada, ColoradoEquestrian in Littleton, Biber Creek Stables in Golden, and Volte Farms in Brighton. Many places have waiting lists. I know I probably will have to drive further than I want to and pay more than I want to in order to have quality of care, availability, and being around others on the dressage path. Denver area is expensive. The word is out that it is a great place to live.
I moved here about 5 months ago and love it here! I am too far South for help but also looked around Denver before we bought our house. Boarding is very expensive here and turn out is limited in most places. The RMDS (GMO) is rather good and you check for ads; the Horse Park in Parker does great shows and clinics. You might want to check into “Pferdehof” in Berthoud, Blue Roof, and Rabbit Mountain. Lookout and Paragon are also very nice facilities. The drive south from Denver on I25 can be brutal because of the traffic. My horses (from MD) adjusted great and love the low humidity!! You can also join two FB groups and post a ISO - great communities: Colorado Horse Forum and Colorado Sporthorses. Parker has many barns, but again, distance will make a difference - and not just miles but which roads you might need to drive.
I am usually going opposite of commuter traffic when I head to Elizabeth: south in the AM and north in the PM. (I also do not use I-25 for my travel.)
@Escada and @capricorn , send a PM if you like with dates you might be visiting.
Thank you very much. Our trip has slipped due to the bad weather.