Eventing trainer near Findlay OH

[PrimoAmor]

Hello everyone,

I have a friend near Findlay that is looking to start taking eventing lessons. Knows horses, grew up riding western and owned a horse for awhile. Has been out of the saddle for a while and looking to get into eventing. She says she can’t find a barn within reasonable distance. Looking to all my COTH peeps to help her find a good place. Also, would love to know if there are places to stay away from. Looking to stay in Upper Sandusky/Lima/Fostoria/Findlay area.

Thanks in advance!

PS. I live in WA State so know NOTHING about the area. Just trying to help out a friend

[SLR]

www.flatlandersdressage.com This group might be a stsrt. Other than that she may have to take a look at the Detroit or Ann Arbor area. There is a Michigan eventing group, but don’t know where their geographic area is.

[emaren]

When I went to school there, and back then that area has nothing. I went to Rhapsody Stables with Liz Morgan near Toledo. It has been over 10 years since I was there so not sure if they are still there.

[PrimoAmor]

Thanks you two. Toledo is a bit far for her and Michigan is even further. It seems like there isn’t much around her

[titan]

Otterbein University has an eventing team so there must be someone coaching around there. I thought the trainers at Findlay University could also take outside clients. Not sure about their eventing.

[findeight]

May be wrong but I thought Otterbein was near Columbus? Other side of the state.

Findlay is a small town surrounded by farmland so there is not much. There are some H/J barns but don’t know how close to town. Toledo is bigger but IIRC the closest major barns would be Ann Arbor.

[jn4jenny]

[QUOTE=findeight;7420497]
May be wrong but I thought Otterbein was near Columbus? Other side of the state.[/QUOTE]

Yes, Otterbein is right outside of Columbus in one of the suburbs (Westerville). It’s not quite the other side of the state from Findlay, but Findlay is about 1.5 hours away. When you drive between Columbus and Ann Arbor, Findlay is right at the halfway point. And honestly, Columbus isn’t a big town for eventing. Otterbein has its eventing team, but they don’t offer lessons to the general public anymore. There’s a few other eventing farms but if your choices are to drive 1.5 hours to Columbus or 1.5 hours to Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor is going to have much better options for eventing trainers and lesson horses. (Trust me, I’ve lived in both cities!)

Unfortunately, I’m not aware of any event trainers near Findlay, either. The eventing hotspots in this region are Ann Arbor, Cleveland, and Dayton, and those are all just as far from Findlay (or further) than Columbus. Toledo is more oriented toward H/J.

[SLR]

[QUOTE=jn4jenny;7420664]

Unfortunately, I’m not aware of any event trainers near Findlay, either. The eventing hotspots in this region are Ann Arbor, Cleveland, and Dayton, and those are all just as far from Findlay (or further) than Columbus.[/QUOTE]
No disrespect Jn4Jenny but, I have to chuckle at Dayton being a hotspot for eventing.:lol: Years ago I had to drive DS the 1.5 hrs to Lima for an event trainer several times a week. Said trainer is no longer there.

[jn4jenny]

[QUOTE=SLR;7421023]
No disrespect Jn4Jenny but, I have to chuckle at Dayton being a hotspot for eventing.:lol: Years ago I had to drive DS the 1.5 hrs to Lima for an event trainer several times a week. Said trainer is no longer there.[/QUOTE]

No disrespect SLR, but this thread is not about upper-level riders like your DS. It’s about someone who is just starting to event, and at that level, I would call Dayton a hotspot compared to most parts of Ohio. At least Dayton has an XC course that’s home to a USEA recognized event (an inviting/move-up course, by most people’s standards) + several lower-level eventing trainers. If this were a thread about upper-level riders, then I’d agree that Dayton is a non-starter.

[SLR]

But do you think a beginning (event) rider would travel 1.5 plus hrs for instruction from lower level instructors? After all that’s what the OP said she was looking for. We’ll have to disagree on our definition of hotbed.

[PrimoAmor]

Ok. If there isn’t much geared towards eventing is there a could jumping trainer she could start with?

[Binabee89]

I am an east coast event rider and instructor that relocated to MI about a year ago, I am located just 20 minutes north west of Toledo. If interested send me a message and I can get you my info

[secretariat]

FYI, just ran across this contact you might find useful:

Sue King

Three Day Eventing Instructor

The University of Findlay

Findlay ,Ohio 45840

The University of Findlay equine program is excellent, but I wasn’t aware they had an eventing coach before this.

If you go to the USEA Area VIII site, there’s a flyer for a Carol Kozlowski clinic at Findlay in March.