Hi! I am looking for a top hunter/jumper barn in the Dallas/Ft worth area. Ideally a barn that competes on the AA circuit. Thanks in advance!
I’ve heard great things about Bay Yard!
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Not sure what their waitlist or current availability is but Woodhill in Argyle is always my #1 choice and suggestion. Matt & Audrey are wonderful trainers and the horses get superb care. They show at major shows both in state and out, and they have a great group of AA show amateurs and juniors that ride with them.
Bay Yard is also a great spot with a fun amateur mix. They show a lot in TX but hit FL & KY pretty often as well.
Brawley Farms & South Haven in the area as well as Lauren & Brandon at Homeward Farms.
It all depends on your goals, budget, and how far you’re willing to commute!
Dallas is a big area with plenty of good barns to fit every flavor, budget, and type of rider. Some more details about who you are and what you’re looking for would be helpful.
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YUP! This -
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October Hill Farm in Hudson Oaks is just west of Fort Worth, it is a top tier operation
I live 23 miles NW of downtown FW and I lesson/show with Bay Yard (I keep my horses at home). It is an hour drive (one way). DFW is ginormous, so knowing where you are based would help provide recs. Also hunter or jumper more? I live much closer to October Hill (and bought my horse from them), but they mostly do jumpers and they travel way more than I have the bandwidth to travel. Most of the well-known hunter/jumper barns are in the Argyle/Flower Mound area, which is pretty central to Dallas and Fort Worth. If you are further east you might want to explore options more in that area.
Some more on me:
I attend TCU but am looking for more saddle time outside of school. I am looking for a competitive hunter or jumper barn, just something different from my eq roots. As a junior I was 12th medal finals, champion at capital challenge, 7th in the wef equitation cup, etc. I am hoping to get a young import again and keep it at said barn for me to ride.
Reach out to Woodhill! A lot of TCU girls and team girls both ride there. It might be a great fit for you!
And while they do travel a ton, they do have a great home trainer!
Go Frogs! We live in Fort Worth and are huge Frog fans.
Michelle Houpt will be closest to campus. Around ~20 minutes depending on traffic. Excellent training and care, and a more low key environment. Up 35 there are many options in and around Bartonville. Courtney Lenkhart/South Haven Farm. Natalee Haggan took over the Flower Mound operations of MTM Farm (lots of nice young imports if that is the route you want to take). Others have mentioned Woodhill or Bay Yard, which are also great options. Summer Hill/Jordan Gilchrist used to have lots of TCU girls - they do hunter/jumpers too but they will be very focused on equitation.
I would suggest, ask to attend/watch/take a lesson from a couple of different trainers, and see which one(s) you prefer. Also, what will your school/team schedule allow show wise - some trainers will be gone every weekend, many do a mix of Texas/Florida for winter, some just do Florida, some just do Texas. You have lots of options, which sometimes makes it harder to make a decision!
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^^^ All of these are great suggestions.
