Hunter/Jumper Scene near Portland,OR

[hunterrider33]

So there is the possibility that my fiancé may get relocated to Portland OR! I currently live in the northeast and show on the AA Circuit in the high adult jumpers (we do Ocala in the winter, and show at most of the bigger shows up here in the summer Lake Placid, HITS, ect)… anyways, I am looking into finding the closest equivalent to my barn here out there as possible! Its a scary thought having to move, send my horse all the way there, change barns, and show on a circuit I have no idea about… so Im hoping to make this as smooth as possible!

Heres what I am looking for:
Great care!!, good turn out, 45 min from portland (no idea what area we are going to be in yet, but know his job is in Portland) a trainer with a good reputation who does the shows on the A circuit, preferably someone who has both hunters and jumpers as my current horse is a jumper. I show 1-2 weekends a month, Id love to find a barn who either has someone at home that teaches while head trainers are on the road or someone who isn’t away at shows every single weekend.

Other questions:
What are winters like there?
Where do most trainers shows in the winter? Are there any other options other than doing Thermal? If most do go to Thermal, do the rent barns with turn outs ect? This is all new to me coming from doing the winter circuits in Florida where we rent a barn each year.

[khailee]

Oregon has a great show scene and lots of opportunities to travel to Cali, WA, and Thunderbird (Canada) as well.

Oz (the Campfs) is probably the biggest show barn in the area. Side-by-side (Philippa and Jim) is also very large. Venture Farm (Megan Jordan) is excellent; she would be my personal recommendation for what it sounds like you want. I have heard/seen good things about Imagination Lane (the Bourgeoises), as well. Those are the first few that come to mind off the top of my head.

As far as winters go, they’re pretty mild. Only a handful of snow days per year (if any). Mostly just rain and cold. But nothing too terrible.

During the winter, pretty much all the big barns go to Thermal. I believe occasionally some will make the trek all the way to FL, but that’s not the norm. And as far as I’ve seen, they just operate out of the show grounds at Thermal, not renting a separate barn. If I remember correctly, the Thermal show facility has the option of renting paddock space as well (but I may be totally misremembering).

If you have any more specific questions, feel free to DM me

[Calvincrowe]

I agree that Venture or Oz meet your needs, or Imagination Lane–they all do the full 6 weeks in Thermal, with the odd trip to Sacramento and other Ca venues. Some barns also head north to Thunderbird (in BC) or up to Calgary, too. There is also the local 6 weeks of A/AA shows in Portland as well as those up in Seattle.

All are full service barns with lovely indoor rings, outdoor rings and great barns. All include turnout to be sure. Our winters are rainy, gray and mild by east coast standards (hence the lovely indoor rings!) You’d have to inquire about the barn’s habits at Thermal in regard to the use of paddocks. Thermal isn’t FL that’s for sure.

[541hunter]

Very rare to rent out barns in Thermal – the surrounding area is NOT like Wellington and most of the barns I see for rent are less than desirable, let’s say. I’m sure some people have done it but most just stable on the grounds.

Oz has lots of beautiful individual paddocks, and I always see horses out when I’m there. They show a LOT but have a big staff (Jeff, Shelley, Dustin, and Darci, plus a WS or two and I think a woman who does the kids’ lessons) so there’s always someone home to keep the horses going. They are certainly a winning program and I admire all their teaching skills, particularly Dustin, who I would lesson with in a heartbeat if I had the chance (he’s just too fun!)

Side-by-Side is beautiful and Jim is great (don’t know Phillipa as well). He comes down to teach clinics at my barn sometimes and he gives a great lesson. They tend to focus more on hunters I think.

One trainer who is maybe a little less well-known but who is doing a great job is Johanna Seifert of Lionheart Training. She’s based out of Foxridge Farm, which is in the NW hills, and she’s been turning out some nice young hunters for the barn owner Kathleen Waldorf (as in Waldorf-Astoria ;)), and she’s got some pretty great jumpers as well. It’s a small program but they show all over the West Coast, about once a month and more in the summer if the Facebook updates are accurate.

There are a lot of nice programs around Portland – I know most of the show barns from running the back gate at the A/AA shows in Wilsonville (about 20 minutes down I-5, and a very horsey-rich area). Feel free to PM if you have specific questions.

[refresh]

If I could choose from anyone listed, I’d go with Jim and Phillipa (Side by Side). Megan Jordan is also a very nice hunter rider. I showed a lot in the PNW as a junior about 10 years ago alongside almost everyone whose been named here except the newer Lionheart Training.
Portland is a great place to live and show if you are able to be at these nice barns. It will definitely be an adjustment from the Northeast, but the shows are SO nice up there! Thunderbird is fantastic up in Langley, BC and the shows in Wilsonville are great too. Showing on the grass is so fun. Thermal is pretty much the only option for the winter though.

[rennyben]

Check out Kelly Marriner-Smith. Loved her. She stayed at our barn when she rode in the GM Gladstone program.

[Calvincrowe]

I forgot about Johanna! If you intend to stick with jumpers, then I’d go with Johanna or Megan. Oz is good, too, Jeff knows how to produce and ride a jumper. Megan has tremendous success in the jumper ring through Grand Prix and her students are fabulous as well. She also has great success in the hunter ring–derby wins, too. Johanna is young, but golly she can ride! Super nice, too. A smaller barn and program, but showing all over the west coast.

[BITSA]

I live in Portland and board and train in Wilsonville. I echo what 541 said. Side by Side is lovely and they have a very good reputation for hunters in particular. I wide at Swan Training, which is out of the same barn as Rich Fellers (if you are jumping BIG jumps). We have pretty much no drama, very good instruction and get the benefit of great clinicians due to Richs presence (and we get to see Flexoble and watch Rich ride!). We have hunter jumper and eq.

We go to Thermal, usually a Del Mar or two, TBird and maybe Sonoma next year. We also usually do two weeks in Bend, which draws some bigger names from CA, and the local circuit 541 mentioned. It’s a smaller program-but one I am happy with. Feel free to PM me. Lionheart has a good smaller program, and Imagination Lane has had a lot of success this year, I don’t know what their turnout situation is like.

There really isn’t an indoor circuit (although some Oz riders do indoors as they usually have people at a big eq final). The winters are cold and grey, but pretty manageable. You learn to ride a frsh horse! I am from San Diego but love portland. There are a lot of good options for you here riding wise. I think how competitive you want to be and how often you want to show, along with barn atmosphere will play a lot into where you choose. Good luck and seriously, don’t hesitate to PM me!

[TresGauche]

Akiko Hamada of Stellar Farms is by far my favorite for that area- She defines excellence.

http://www.frenchhillfarm.com/boarding-training

I also adore Swan Training (they share a facility with Rich Fellers, he’s a good guy)

http://swantraining.net/

Both do weeks 5&6 at Thermal (maybe more depending), Bend, and August Thunderbird which are the bigger shows.

Most people throw out Oz and venture because they are a bigger barn and the name is known, I’m not knocking them as they have good programs but I am at pretty much every show and highly recommend the two I mentioned above :yes:

[TresGauche]

HAH Bitsa!!! LOL!! I just saw your post!

Will you say hi to gorgeous red Anni for me??

[BITSA]

[QUOTE=TresGauche;8349876]
HAH Bitsa!!! LOL!! I just saw your post!

Will you say hi to gorgeous red Anni for me??[/QUOTE]

I will! She and Sophie make such a wonderful pair!

[studentforlife]

Hi everyone in this thread! I am moving to Portland in a few weeks and was about to start a post and thought I could just ad onto this one. My needs are a bit different but in line anyway.

I’m getting my first ever grown up job (after many, many, many years in school) where I am actually going to make enough money to ride the way I want for the first time in my life (yea for me!!!). It’s in SW Portland.

I did a lot of schooling/local shows back in the day in all of the rings. I’d like to just spend a couple of months taking lessons and getting acclimated. So I’m looking for a barn that has a nice string of school horses where I can do some 3’+ which I know is super rare in lesson horses but it exists. I’d like to buy a prospect when the time is right (maybe a year or two) but I’d like to find a barn that has some good connections where I could find a nice lease if I find myself wanting to do that.

I want a barn that does some bigger rated shows because I’m very excited to have that in my future, but that does some smaller/local shows as well so I can get involved right away whether I own or not. I’d like to be somewhere that has a nice group of competitive adults, I’m 30 now, I don’t need to only compare myself to teenagers :). I’m not sure how transportation is there, so I guess I’m not sure how far I would travel. Probably not more than a 45 minute drive, but I’m not sure how many options that leaves.

I had a thought that maybe I will just start taking lessons once a week at a couple barns and try and find the place that feels right. Thanks for any help possible, I’m really excited about this next life phase!

[TresGauche]

Call Akiko or Swan.

But be quick, I think they leave for Vegas soon.

[541hunter]

I think you will probably have trouble jumping 3’ without your own horse right away, no matter who you ride with. But if you stick it out for a bit (prove your mettle and your “worth” for lack of a better word as a client) many of the Portland trainers will help you find some rides.

Linda Worley at Cornerstone might be a good choice for you. She has a big lesson string and her gorgeous facility is not too far off 26, about 20-40 minutes from most parts of Beaverton and the SW side of PDX proper, depending on the traffic. She definitely has some 3’ lease horses and I think some 3’ lesson horses too. She’s helped school me at shows when my trainer had too many and I find her VERY helpful.

Akiko Hamada (Stellar Sport Horses) and Beka Swan (Swan Training) are both good options as well, though I don’t know a ton about their school horses. I know Akiko is based out of the same barn as the biggest riding school in the area.

[studentforlife]

Yeah I know it’s kind of a tall order, I get to ride some of the sale horses at a barn around here so I get to do a little more height. I am kind of hoping I can weasel my way into a similar scenario out there until I’m settle enough to figure out something else. I may just jump into a 6 month lease if the right situation presents itself. I’m just for the first time in my life in a position where I can carefully choose where I want to ride and who I want to ride with so I’d like to proceede slowly, but be able to learn and have some fun on the way too. Thanks for the suggestions so far, I’m coming from a really rural area and I’m blown away at how many barns there are!

[flofleming]

I’d like to throw Robbie Perkins and Joe Regan into the hat, Arbor Grove Farms. They are a bit further south in Woodburn, but not far from Wilsonville and the other barns mentioned. Their facility is lovely, and they don’t insist that you show every week. Also, compared to some of the other barns mentioned, I believe their philosophy is more drug free and organic. Robbie rides great, too - used to ride with/for Mousie Williams. I’ve been told that Oz had the horse killer Paul Valliere out to give a clinic, so if you have much sense of decency, you may want to avoid them as a matter of principle.

[541hunter]

[QUOTE=studentforlife;8369739]
Yeah I know it’s kind of a tall order, I get to ride some of the sale horses at a barn around here so I get to do a little more height. I am kind of hoping I can weasel my way into a similar scenario out there until I’m settle enough to figure out something else. I may just jump into a 6 month lease if the right situation presents itself. I’m just for the first time in my life in a position where I can carefully choose where I want to ride and who I want to ride with so I’d like to proceede slowly, but be able to learn and have some fun on the way too. Thanks for the suggestions so far, I’m coming from a really rural area and I’m blown away at how many barns there are![/QUOTE]

What you’re describing happens all the time, so it’s very possible you’ll stumble upon a situation like that. But like anywhere, most trainers around PDX will want to get to know you before they throw you on the nicer horses.

Oregon doesn’t really pop up in people’s minds when they think of h/j country, but the industry is really picking back up after the recession. We might not have many nationally recognized trainers, but I think we have some great barns available. If I were you I would call around to some places and go visit when you get here, maybe schedule a few evaluation lessons. Many great trainers but it all depends on who you click with. Try to leave the door open with everyone – Oregon h/j world might be growing but like any horse community things travel fast, especially amongst the show barns. Always better to have at least a polite relationship with everyone!

[TresGauche]

[QUOTE=flofleming;8369785]
that Oz had the horse killer Paul Valliere out to give a clinic, so if you have much sense of decency, you may want to avoid them as a matter of principle.[/QUOTE]

Probably the least of the list of concerns from there…

[Calvincrowe]

Rather than start rumors (flofleming, you very clearly have an agenda regarding PV), why don’t you contact Oz directly to determine the truth?

Studentforlife-- Agree with others that Cornerstone will be a great place to start. Great school horses, lease horses and a super program. They host their own local shows and attend A shows, too. Driving from SW PDX to Woodburn or even Oregon City would be a trek on weekdays due to traffic. Lionheart Training (Johanna Siefert) might be a good fit, too.

[hb]

We should all have an agenda regarding PV…