Hunter/Jumper Barn in Portland area

[CantFindDistance]

I will be moving from LA to Portland in the coming year and would like to start barn hunting. I’m interested in leasing down the road, not planning to own. Been doing the puddle jumpers occasionally will pop over 2’9-3" fences in lesson.

Looking for a barn with no drama (haha, does it exist?), with good school horses (great if they have in barn leases), or boarders who half leases their horses within their trainer. I am not planning to do a ton of shows (definitely not the rated ones), but a schooling show here and there would be nice. LA is super expensive, and while i’m use to the price, i’m hoping to not have to pay an arm and a leg to ride (that’s why i’m moving!), but if thats what is needed to get good education, I can swing it.

In SoCal, a horse that can take me to the meters (I mean a packer-esq horse), will cost $$ to lease. I dont’ expect a school horse to be jumping that height, but I would love for the school horse or maybe a lease horse to get me solid around the 80s-90s jumper ring.

I don’t know where I would live yet, but i can be flexible depending on where the barn will be (I will be working from home), and willing to drive up to 45 min one way if needed. (yeah, also very use to LA traffic). I’m also open to eventing barns as I’ve dappled into eventing a few years ago and LOVED it!

[Calvincrowe]

Where you live and how far/long you are willing to drive to a barn will determine which barn fits best. There are distinct areas of “Portland” that are home to barns. On the East side you have the Oregon City/Canby barns. One barn that fits your requirements well would be Quiet Rein Riding School. They have quality lesson horses, many lease options, a fine set of trainers who produce riders with excellent equitation and show both locally (the barn has its own “schooling show” series) and NW A circuit. The clients are a nice group of no drama women and teens. (I’ve been with them for 3 years, riding in the PDX area for 30 years, so I’ve watched lots of programs grow, thrive or die). Creekside with Kelly Smith is in OC, which might suit as well. United Equine with Kelly Bowman is out in this area as well. Both are smaller programs than QR. You can step up to OZ in Canby, but they are strictly A show/travel, with a top program (and top dollar).

To the South, in Wilsonville/Sherwood/Newburg you have Brawley’s North, Stone’s Throw (eventing barn with Sarah Lorenz), Charlton Ridge, Imagination Lane (like OZ, A show all the way), Meg Dunne, Echelon with Kathy Kerron (more a boutique barn/program). To the West of Portland, Cornerstone, with Wade and Linda Worley may suit you, as well.

If you want to buck traffic and cross the river to Clark County WA/Vancouver, there are two barns that might suit you very well: Brindle Ridge with Amy Ruge and Colleen Peterson or Zoe Conlee with Winning Time Training. Both excellent programs with lease/lesson horses.

The Flying Changes magazine website has a directory of barns that could be useful.Hope this helps. Feel free to PM if you want specifics about a barn-- happy to do some digging for you. And welcome (a bit early!) to the PNW!

[largo]

I think the above covers most of the options! I would add Savin Hill out in Newburg and FlipSide in Newburg.

Welcome to the Northwest!

[CantFindDistance]

Wow!! Thank you so much both!! Seems like there are quite a few options (and very friendly people in PNW) already!!

[anon510129]

The Bourgeois sisters are lovely people & Kelly Marriner-Smith (not sure if it’s still hyphenated) has a more lease-friendly program, I believe.

Welcome to the PNW (I’m in the greater Seattle area!).

[CantFindDistance]

Thank you all!!

So i am now finally able to look at the map to understand the geographic location. It looks like Oregon city will be quite far. I’m thinking about living between Cedar mills (north) to South Beaverton (southest), and definitely left of the river.

Seems like most of the recommendations are down in Wilsonville, are there more options north?

Quiet Reins sounds SO LOVELY, but depending on where i end up living, it might take me an hour to get there. Compared to LA, its nothing but i’m not leaving for long travel

[largo]

I believe Cornerstone is close to that area!

[DoubleDown]

Also check out Allynbrooke H/J. Hadley is fantastic!

[Always_WIP]

There really aren’t many options near Beaverton. Only Cornerstone, and there used to be an h/j place up on Skyline. Not sure if it’s still there or active. Everything else is Wilsonville/Newberg/Sherwood as that’s where the farmland is. The commute isn’t too bad from Beaverton.

Quiet Rein has a lovely program but I found the commute from the west side suburbs to be way too long. I highly recommend Debbie Brawley - I didn’t end up riding with her but I watched a few lessons and loved her program. Great focus on proper flatwork and everyone was incredibly nice. I haven’t ridden with Sarah Savin but when I was barn (and lease) hunting she actually recommended the trainer whom I currently ride with - I come from the eventing side of things.

Feel free to PM me if you want more details about the area!

[CantFindDistance]

@Always_WIP. PMed you!