Hi everyone!
i am moving to the Boston area and I am looking for a barn that goes to the Local shows. I don’t have a horse right now but will be in the market soon so I need a place that has school horses to ride in the interim . Would be nice to be somewhere that has a decent adult group but beggars can’t be choosers. I can travel an hour from Boston in any direction.
There’s quite a few barns that might work. Exactly where are you measuring that hour drive in any direction from?An hour from Scituate doesn’t get you to tne same place as an hour from Back Bay, Wellesley or Everett. And ballpark budget really helps narrow the choices.
Kerp in mind you probably need a place with a lighted indoor. You can ride outside in winter but taking lessons and jumping courses outside is just about impossible. That translates to higher costs then many other locations.
I don’t really want to discount any barn based on drive time so just assume I don’t have a drive time limit. Budget isn’t really an issue either. I just want to know the options in the area and who are the best trainers. My only actual requirement is an indoor lighted arena. I can’t imagine any competitive barn in Mass not having an indoor. I live in Chicago and have not been to a single hunter/jumper barn that doesn’t have an indoor.
Check out Grazing Fields, there is a satellite barn as well in Plainville, MA. Navaeh Farm in Plainville, MA. Endeavor Farm in Dover, MA. There really are a ton of options, I suggest going to watch a lesson or take a few lessons on schoolies at a bunch of different barns when you move here and see what you like
Check out Mor Lin in Walpole. Smaller place. A contingent goes to WEF but also do the Local scene.
Thank you everyone for your help!!
I haven’t lived in MA in a decade so am not fully in the loop, and these may be too far, but if I moved back Red Acre Farm in Stow, Harmony Horse in Littleton, Arrowhead and Stoneymeade in Concord, Grazing Fields in Plymouth, Holly Hill in Harvard, Victory Stables in Stoughton, and Century Mill in Bolton, would be on my list of folks to call.
Might be too far depending on where you live, but Woodgate Farm in West Boylston with Frank Perla is fantastic!
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There are a number up on the North Shore as well. There is a local organization, is It North Shore Horsemens Assoc. or something? Been a few years. Try searching for a website or FB. Barns around Hamilton, Ipswich, Rowely and Haverhill (pronounced Averhill). Many around Lexington, Nashoba and into southern New Hampshire still accessible from the Boston metro area if drive time is not a big issue.
Grazing Fields has had a good reputation for many years. Fieldstone is another but no idea who is in there now. Both down south.
This is a more target rich environment then many places people ask about.
River Wind Farm in Pembroke, Maplewood Farm in Berlin, Saddle Rowe in Medway, Holly Hill (already mentioned). I believe all still have lesson programs as well as strong local and A-show programs. All have nice, lighted indoor rings for winter riding.
Willie Tynan is just south of Boston. Kristin Bumpus somewhere near Concord. David Olyink West. There are more hunter places than jumper (I’m a jumper).
Kristen Bumpus https://www.arrowheadfarminc.com
http://www.newburyfarm.org - I know nothing about the people. I used to ride at the facility under different ownership, and the facility is really good.
http://www.steppingoutfarm.com/About-Us.html
I wouldn’t particularly recommend ______, _______, or ______, but that’s just me.
Edited to remove names of places because my experiences are quite stale, and things could be a lot different. I didn’t remove my post as a reminder to myself not to offer current opinions based on old information.
