A new co-worker who recently moved to the Northeast Ohio area will be bringing his family, including his kids and their horses, here in the next month or so. They’re looking for a low- to mid-key hunter barn to board the horses where the girls (ages 9 and 12) can get good instruction, maybe show a little (nothing big-time), and have fun. Living in dressage land as I do, I can’t really come up with any detailed information for him. Any help would be appreciated.
NE Ohio is kind of vague but I’m going to answer based on the Cleveland/Akron area.
There are plenty of trainers on the East side of Cleveland. Many are more pricey than if you come out to the Akron/Medina area. I currently ride with Adam Gray. He runs the lesson program at Scenic Run Equestrian Center. For whatever reason SREC’s website doesn’t work right now but Adam’s personal website is www.graystonehj.com The farm is big because there are multiple trainers there but I don’t board there, I trailer in, so that’s always an option. He goes to the local shows, everything from schooling to local As. He’s a wonderful trainer and great with kids. (He has the cutest son! lol) That’s located in Novelty.
Rose of Sharon Stables is located in the Medina area and is run by one of the local vet’s assistant. Her name is Chris Fazekas and she is absolutely wonderful with kids. They have a mildly heated barn in the winter (enough to take the edge off) which is a definite plus lol. They go to a lot of the local shows in the area and tend to compete in the Up and Over Association and do very well.
Most of the trainers I know do more of the As and have more of a show barn but if they have any questions about any trainers feel free to pm me. I’ve gone through a few trainers in the area searching for the right one for my horse and I lol.
Yeah it would be more helpful if a more general location was known.
I know when I lived in the Chagrin area one could almost trip over hunter barns. IIRC with in a 15 mile radius of where I lived there were about 20 farms. But that was a while ago.
I dont know the Akron area at all other then what is it called Hudson equestrian center or something like that.
There are a few dressage barns up there though i heard that one has moved to Burton ( used to be next to twin pines) and if still around mrs channing was into dressage to some point…
Is dorchester still around. I heard once upon a time that it had a fire in the late 80’s early 90’s also heard the same about ‘wise margin’ which I heard changed it name back to blue lake(s) or something like that.
Thanks for the replies. The general area is east and/or southeast of Cleveland.
I am in Chardon which is 30 miles east of Cleveland. There are many hunter barns in the general area - some are pricier than others of course. Ellrick Farm in Chardon has a good program for kids as does Red Hawk in Newbury. There are a few others in the Chagrin area and of course, there are shows on a regular basis in the surrounding area. As a pony breeder, I have some knowledge of good kids programs in the area. If you want more information, please feel free to pm me.
I remember seeing that Dorchester Farms (Kirtland-30 miles east of Cleveland) was up for sale a year or 2 ago. Not sure what the outcome was.
I highly recommend Ridgewood Stables near Sharon Center, in Medina. Great instruction, shows from Gulf Coast to schooling local, lots of fun people, a great environment and the horses are treated well.
Nancy
I live in Chardon OH, which is about 60 minutes east of Cleveland. I have been riding with Susan Lloyd at Ellrick Farm for the last 12 years. Very laid back program- show if you want- mostly the local A shows and schooling shows, with one “away” show in August in Erie PA.
There are lots of kids who come for a lesson once a week, and others that go to all the local A shows. There are also dressage people and older adults who board horses there. Overall, the atmosphere is very low key, the people are friendly, and the kids are respectful.
If you would like Susan’s cell number or more information, pm me.
Edited to add: Because of the low-key nature of the barn, Ellrick is very reasonable priced for the area. We don’t have grooms, and everyone is expected to pitch in at shows in order to keep the costs down. And while everyone at the barn doesn’t have the fanciest horses, we still hold our own in the local A circuit and everyone gets along and has a great time.
I moved away about 10 years ago, but learned to ride, and rode for years , at Hudson Equestrian Center. It is in Hudson, which is pretty much right between Cleveland and Akron. I didn’t really show, but they went to lots of C shows as well as A’s. They were good at teaching solid basics as well as helping riders advance. They also were strong on teaching horsemanship. I never felt pressured to show, buy a horse, or otherwise spend more money, but always knew the option was there if I decided to pursue it. Anyway, I really enjoyed riding there for many many years, and I am still grateful for everything I learned there.
I dont really know lesson stuff. but andrews has great quality school horses. bernie teeches school kids i think. I could PM you with ones to avoid if you want.
If they end up wanting to show on the AA circuit. Flagship is the best by far.
Chagrin hunter barn
We’ve boarded, trained and showed out of Winwood Farm in Chagrin, and I love this part — NO DRAMA!!! – both my hubby and I have ridden w/ Jeff Channing and he is terrific. They really go the extra mile for the horses under their care, live on premises, etc etc. Backs up to Chagrin Valley Farm, we usually ride through the woods to the shows and then ride home. Ellerick Farms is his sister’s farm and it’s also good, but too far north for us.
Andrews
While Andrews has excellent school horses- think really nice donations that used to do the A circuit, and then donated for a tax write off- there is also a lot of drama. I went to school there from 6th-12th grade and did the IEA team. Even though I went to school there, I didn’t keep my horse there (board is WAY to pricey), and I was treated like dirt by the other girls and the coaches.
I thought Hugh sold ridgewood a few yrs ago.
Well in the Chagrin area you have/ or maybe had I dont know how many are still around.
Jeff Channing ( already mentioned)
The Lewis’ not sure where they are except close to Jeff’s place.
Pat Swann is he still out at chagrin valley farms?
Who ever is at Red Raider now last i was there Charoltte Bayley whateverherhypohnatednameisnow was there.
South farm but that is more of a ‘eventing’ barn
Is Patchwork farm still around?
If it is still around I would stay far far away from twin pines it was a not so wonderful place when I was a jr imagine it hasent changed much. But the place next to it was ok cant recall the name however.
There is/was a place on caves road in novelty used to be called novelty farms dont know if it is still around. small ring though and last I was there hard as rock arena.
Those are all I can think of off the top of my head.
I boarded at Ridgewood for a couple months and Scott Meyers the vet owned it at that point and as far as I know still does. Tammy Cogno (I know I didn’t spell that right…) was doing all the teaching.
Pat Swann is not still out at Chagrin, I’m not sure where he went.
Not sure who is at Red Raider but I know Blue Moon Stables was there in one of the barns.
Was Twin Pines in Newbury? Because if so Foster-Jimenez Stables is the one that’s next to it. My trainer used to be there and from what I’ve seen I like Cindy a lot but Sergio can be tough though I never saw him work with young kids so my guess is that was Cindy’s thing. They seemed to do more of the rated stuff and less local shows (I know they were down in Florida for a bit last year don’t know about this year).
Pat Swann is at Red Hawk Stables on Pekin Road in Newbury. Heidi DeAngelo is there as well and has some nice pony kids riding with her. She helps train my ponies and does a great job.
I board at Rose of Sharon and if you have any questions about the place, please let me know. I can’t add anything because everyone’s already covered the other barns I know anything about. Good luck in your search!
[QUOTE=dghunter;3935959]
Rose of Sharon Stables is located in the Medina area and is run by one of the local vet’s assistant. Her name is Chris Fazekas and she is absolutely wonderful with kids. [/QUOTE]
I don’t have any to add, but I had to comment. Chris Fazekas! What a blast from the past. I rode with her back in the early 80’s!! She was awesome then! Not a BNT, but the sweetest person and good at teaching young people.
Good Luck in your search.
[QUOTE=Liscar;3955272]
I don’t have any to add, but I had to comment. Chris Fazekas! What a blast from the past. I rode with her back in the early 80’s!! She was awesome then! Not a BNT, but the sweetest person and good at teaching young people.
Good Luck in your search.[/QUOTE]
Okay sorry to slightly hijack but how cool to see someone who knew Chris way back when! Her youngest daughter and I are very close and we met through riding, specifically through Chris lol.
I am a rider there and I will never go any where else because Chris is awesome.She really knows how to teach and makes it really fun.
I have trained with quite a few hunter/jumper trainers in the area. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. From your description of what you’re looking for I would recommend Frog Spring Farms in Chagrin Falls. The trainer there, Candice Murton-Bradbury does an excellent job with kids and adults. The board is affordable, the facility is brand new, and all of the riders and boarders there are exceptional horseman. There are also a number of riders around the daughter’s ages that I am sure would love a new riding buddy. Everyone is polite and helpful, and it’s a really stress free, low pressure atmosphere to learn in. FSF also does a variety of different types of horse shows, depending of what you prefer to do, from the “A” circuit, to the smaller and less expensive schooling shows.
I highly reccomend FSF, but I also recommend that if possible, you make a trip here to visit some of the farms mentioned in these posts, meet the trainers, maybe watch some lessons and get a feel for what goes on at these places before you make a decision to move your horses anywhere. Different things matter to different people. Luckily, the NE Ohio area has many barns and trainers to choose from. Good luck!
