H/J barns and trainers on Long Island?

[CAJumper]

Hi,

I might be moving to Long Island this summer, so I’m researching possible barns and trainers. I searched the forums and read through some old threads on this topic, but it looks like most of the information is a couple of years old. Soooo…

Looking for a place with great care, indoor ring, and top-notch instruction (but I’m not hung up on “big names”). Nassau/Western Suffolk, preferably north shore.

Ideally looking for a trainer who is competitive at all the big shows, and is good at helping riders bring their horses along (i.e., not a “let me do it for you” kind of trainer). I do a few shows a year, but I’m not on the road all the time (I work, and have a family…and a budget!) so want to avoid any barns where there is high pressure to show constantly. I also ride 5-6 days a week, so I’m not willing to travel far.

I’d really appreciate any input! I’m also trying to put together a budget, so if you have any pricing info that would be fantastic. I am not finding anything online.

If anyone wants to PM me with details beyond what you feel comfortable sharing publicly, please do. Thanks in advance, everyone.

[BAC]

Old Westbury is in the area you are looking for, it is a gorgeous property with a very nice indoor and excellent care. Trainers are Lisa Rex and Holliday Ryals (I am sure I spelled that wrong). Some people love them and others don’t like them at all so I will leave that up to you. I have a few friends who are very happy riding with them (one does not show at all and the other shows quite a bit). It is a full service program and I forget the cost, but I think somewhere between $2,000 and $3,000 monthly give or take a few dollars.

Red Barn is in the same general area with a number of trainers including Jill Aureliano, the indoor is on the small side. Now that Jimmy Rice is gone I don’t know about the quality of the care.

If an indoor is a necessity I would eliminate Hunters Moon which is gorgeous. And North Shore Equestrian Center is on the CW Post campus and offers most of what you want. A friend who rode boarded there says there is a lot of pressure to be on full service but they offer both. Brooke Chasin is one of the trainers but I highly recommend Brian Quinn, no pressure but an excellent horseman who will take you to shows or let you stay home, whatever you want. There are other trainers at all the facilities I have named but I have not been riding for a few years and am somewhat out of the loop.

[CAJumper]

Thank you for the info, I really appreciate it! I have a couple of questions if you don’t mind:

1. Do people ride outdoors all year long? I guess “need an indoor” isn’t as much of a requirement as “need to ride through the winter because I don’t spend two months in Florida”. If riding outside is doable, then that is a trade off I might consider for great care/training.

2. When people say “full service” on LI, is training usually included in that or separate? I know that terminology differs by region, and I’m used to “full service” means feed/blanketing/turnout/grooming/tacking - but training/lessons/rides would be separate.

Thanks again.

[findeight]

OP, are you riding thru the winter in Ma without an indoor? Weather on Long Island is similar, maybe less snow but cold, wet and windy. Never rode there but lived there on and off for about 6 years alternating with Boston where I did ride- and needed an indoor for anything serious on a regular schedule.

Do know a couple of trainers who have worked on LI as assistants and, least where they worked, full service was either required or very strongly encouraged and did not include training/lessons. Costs ran between 2-3k++ monthly’ plus shows. Which is why I started riding and leased a horse in Ipswich Ma. instead of just moving to LI.

[french_fry]

You definitely need an indoor.

[M_O_Connor]

Prices for boarding on LI are as others have mentioned here on this thread, 2000-3000K. Lessons are correspondingly very expensive no matter the level of the trainer/rider.

Full service pretty much means you show up to ride. Then leave. You’ll discuss your horse’s care with a trainer, and receive a bill. And if that’s all the involvement you want, that’s all you’ll need to do (other than write the check to pay for it).

North Shore has a big enough indoor and several outdoor rings that many people can ride and/or take lessons at a time and there are multiple trainers available there.

Probably best to visit before you commit to a place anyway, so check out the other places recommended here too.

Showing on LI is pretty much at the Suffolk County Farm in Yaphank, with a just a few other places every now and then (Island Hills, Old Field Farm). Schooling shows now at Old Field Farm, and Wolffer Estate Stables out east (might be out of range for you).

Brining along a young horse is something that some do, but not so much; due to the high cost of board/training, leases of ready-made horses are more cost efficient. Not to say it isn’t possible or that it’s not done, just that it’s not all that common.

Indoor is absolutely necessary–you will lose a lot of riding time if you don’t have one on LI.

[CAJumper]

[QUOTE=findeight;7598791]
OP, are you riding thru the winter in Ma without an indoor? Weather on Long Island is similar, maybe less snow but cold, wet and windy. Never rode there but lived there on and off for about 6 years alternating with Boston where I did ride- and needed an indoor for anything serious on a regular schedule.[/QUOTE]

No, riding in an indoor. With a heated grooming area…ahhhh. I would have a tough time riding outdoors in the winter.

[CAJumper]

[QUOTE=M. O’Connor;7598827]
Brining along a young horse is something that some do, but not so much; due to the high cost of board/training, leases of ready-made horses are more cost efficient. Not to say it isn’t possible or that it’s not done, just that it’s not all that common.[/QUOTE]

Where’s the fun in that?

Missing California big time right now… sigh

[RW06]

I rode with Lisa Rex and Holliday Ryals for many years and would not hesitate to recommend them. They spend most of their time training out of Old Westbury, which is beautiful, but they also travel to Westchester to teach clients, which is where I rode. Lisa is tough and very direct, but is a fantastic teacher. Holliday is warm and lovely. Both are great riders and excellent horsewomen. If your horse needs a tuneup, they can work wonders; otherwise, they’re happy to let you do most of the work on your own. I’ve done full care with them, but also had the flexibility to do self-care at shows if I wanted.

Feel free to PM me for more details.

[findeight]

OP, are you bringing a personal horse or do you need a barn to provide something to ride? Makes a big difference-school horses in general and per ride pricing are disappearing just about everywhere for a variety of reasons, mostly cost related. Month to month leases and part leases are the norm in show oriented barns. That will substantially increase your cost.

I found that even about 15+ years ago when researching a place to start riding again in that area- they really didn’t want me unless I committed to at least a lease. Was not in a position to do that until I rode Hunt seat enough to decide between that and going back to Western or into SS. Didn’t matter, they did not have anything available. Period.

[lindsay.anne]

Depends how much you’re looking to spend. On the North Shore you have North Shore Equestrian Center on the CW Post campus. At that barn you have an array of trainers who show all year long. Nice facility, grass turnout, large indoor, nice rings.

[QUOTE=RW06;7599147]
I rode with Lisa Rex and Holliday Ryals for many years and would not hesitate to recommend them. They spend most of their time training out of Old Westbury, which is beautiful, but they also travel to Westchester to teach clients, which is where I rode. Lisa is tough and very direct, but is a fantastic teacher. Holliday is warm and lovely. Both are great riders and excellent horsewomen. If your horse needs a tuneup, they can work wonders; otherwise, they’re happy to let you do most of the work on your own. I’ve done full care with them, but also had the flexibility to do self-care at shows if I wanted.

Feel free to PM me for more details.[/QUOTE]

I spent a summer in high school working for Somerset, Lisa Rex & Holliday Ryals barn. I can second everything that is written above. I worked for them when they were at a different facility, so I cant vouch for the place from personal experience (but Old Westbury is beautiful).

I’m not sure your budget, but if youre looking for a more budget friendly place (ie >$1000/horse/month), Stanhope Stables would be my choice. Lots of trainers, and outside trainers welcome. Has an indoor, has grass paddocks for part of the year. The grooms are wonderful. Indoor ring, dressage ring, jump ring, pony ring and grass hill you may ride on.

Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions!

[CAJumper]

Thanks everyone, I guess I should have been a bit more specific. I have two horses - one is older and semi-retired (I still ride him a bit, he does lessons at the barn, my husband and kids ride him…), the other is my younger show horse (recently purchased) who needs some finishing. I am in a full-service (grooming/tacking up) situation now for $1000/month per horse, and it works well with my life - I work full time, have four kids, but still ride 6 days a week. I’ve done self-care for most of my life though, and not opposed to going back to that if I can find a situation that works.

I’m trying to get a sense of pricing and quality. I’ll need to make a decision between bringing both horses to the same barn (and probably taking on more myself), or letting the old guy retire further out on the Island and keeping the mare at one of the full services places that have been mentioned. It’s a really tough decision, so really trying to find all the choices.

[findeight]

You know, I always thought my mare would be happier working then retired. Then she got hurt after she turned 20 or 21, can’t remember, and the decision was obvious.

Not only did she not fret, she absolutely loves it…so does my wallet. And I could ride at the retirement place in good weather if I wanted (which I don’t).

Just something to think about.

[CAJumper]

Yeah, I’m sure he would be more than happy to retire. It’s purely selfish reasons - he’s become our family pet and we would all miss seeing him daily. First choice would be to make him my lawn ornament if I could!

[BAC]

Although I grew up on LI and spent my junior years without an indoor, I consider one a necessity now. The winters seem much more severe, or maybe I am just getting old, but it would be hard to ride with any regularity through the winter without one and spring can be very rainy besides. The last few years there has been so much snow and ice and freezing temps it’s hard, if not impossible to find safe footing outdoors. As others have already said, full service usually does not include training LI is very expensive as you will soon discover.

[ako]

Definitely splurge for the indoor!!! Last year we couldn’t ride outside for almost ALL of Dec through Mar. Yes, I mean 4 months!!! It was the winter of snow storms and ice storms. We’ve never had it so bad that I can remember, but it was really, really, really frustrating.