Looking for a H/J trainer in So Cal - Ventura Area

[SoCalRider]

Looking for a knowledgable, experienced trainer in reasonable commute from ventura county, so cal. We will be relocating soon. I have a pretty made adult jumper and a more green but easy and willing hunter that is currently doing the pre-greens that will hopefully eventually be my A/O hunter.

Looking for someone who shows regularly. Would like to have the hunter in full training, the jumper needs only an occasional tune up, but would send both along in whatever show program for showing. Currently have this kind of set up (hunter in full training, jumper full board, but not training, ride him mostly on my own but both go to shows in trainer’s program).

Coming from the east coast, so know that turn out will be quite different, but expecting pricing to be similar.

Thanks!

[findeight]

You might want to search the topic of LA area trainers, comes up every few months.

From Ventura you are probably looking around Calabasses (sp?) and the west end of the San Fernando Valley. There are quite a few good ones out that way.

You might want to edit your title (hit the edit icon and go advanced to change the title) to reflect that end of the Valley and Ventura and weed out the San Diego and Orange County recommendations that would be a ridiculous commute.

[Peggy]

Ventura county as in Camarillo? Thousand Oaks? Near the Santa Barbara/Ventura county line?

Here’s a link to the PCHA directory: http://www.pchorseshows.org/documents/directory.pdf

[SoCalRider]

[QUOTE=findeight;7594726]
You might want to search the topic of LA area trainers, comes up every few months.

From Ventura you are probably looking around Calabasses (sp?) and the west end of the San Fernando Valley. There are quite a few good ones out that way.

You might want to edit your title (hit the edit icon and go advanced to change the title) to reflect that end of the Valley and Ventura and weed out the San Diego and Orange County recommendations that would be a ridiculous commute.[/QUOTE]

Thanks! I will change the title. I did do a search but I must not be doing it right, I am not getting results that seem relevant. We are going to be living and working in the actual town (city?) of Ventura. I will be working full time regular office hours so something within a manageable commute. Is there anyone in or close to Ventura itsself? I would like to spend more time riding and less time driving, from what I have been told drive time is going to be one of the biggest adjustments. From my research so far I am looking in the following areas, but open to others that would be within a 40 minute or less commute:
Ventura, Ojai, Camarillo, Somis, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks (north/west parts), Santa Paula, Santa Barbara (south, maybe).

I think Calabassas(sp?) and San Fernando Valley are both farther than I want to drive, although I’m not exactly sure how much San Fernando Valley technically covers? Thanks!

[Peggy]

In that area I’d try Jim Hagman/Elvenstar, Karen Healey (Somis), or Peter Lombardo (Moorpark) if you’re looking for a A-show barn. All will do both hunters and jumpers.

Shauna Pennell’s name came up on another thread recently (maybe try a search using her name and see what other names were suggested there), but I’m not sure if she’s close enough, though she is in that general area. Georgy Maskrey I think is more jumper than hunter oriented. She and Karen are both at Whitethorne, and there may be other trainers there as well.

Not sure who’s at El Sueno, which is also in Somis.

Calabasas and the SF Valley are going to be too far.

[ZIL]

There are a trainers meeting your qualifications in Thousand Oaks, Moorpark and Agoura Hills. It may be kind of far (30 to 40 minutes) for you to drive every day unless you live south of Ventura. Another option would be to board your jumper closer since that is the one you ride most often and send the hunter to a trainer further away, where you would have more options.

One option is Karen Healy. I don’t know much about the details of her operation but her barn shows extensively. Here is her price sheet. They board at what seems like a beautiful facility with a grass jumping field.

Far West Farms is in Calabasas, about 45 minutes from Ventura. They are prominent on the show circuit.

Here is the price sheet for Fairview Farms, in Agoura Hills.

Rusty and Kandi Stewart are in Camarillo, which would be close for you. Here is their website.

The Simpsons are in Thousand Oaks.

Peter Lombardo is in Moorpark.

[pass]

Shauna Panell is amazing and one of the most straight forward, honest trainers on the H/J scene. No drama, does a wonderful job with the horses, and treats her clients really well! Highly recommend her, just incase I wasn’t clear

[Bristol_Bay]

Also try Jeni Brown.

http://www.shadowbrookstable.com/

Her horses get loads of turnout.

[ammy-ville]

Haven’t lived there in 25 years… but Moorpark has an abundant number of barns, Hagman is good. If you are in Ventura, south or Oxnard, Moorpark is a 30 minute or so drive. There isn’t a whole lot in Camarillo, getting built up. There are some barns tucked away up in Santa Paula mountains. I used to show and board up there, but still about 25 minutes. There were at least three barns on Wheeler Canyon Road up until just a few years ago at least. If you are inland/North Ventura, Ojai has quite a few barns and is about same, 30 + minutes. I don’t know that there is a lot in Ventura itself, other than a few boarding barns, but that may have changed. You could contact Calabassas Saddlery and ask for references maybe… or The Wharf in Ventura, if its still there, again was as of a few years ago.

[Justice]

I rode with Mark Watring in Hidden Valley when I lived in Southern California and can not say enough good things about him as a rider, teacher and person. They do have turnout. There are a lot of good people in Southern California, IMO, he is the best. I have packed up and traveled all the way to Thermal from Michigan to have him show a young hunter for me because I knew it would be a great experience for the horse, and that I’d be able to show up for the last couple weeks and get on and go. His students’ goals are as important to him as his own, and he knows how to put together realistic, affordable plans to make things happen. He runs a fun barn, both at home and at the shows, and there are always lots of blue ribbons hanging on the banner. He is well known for the jumpers, but he’s a fantastic hunter rider as well and has started a lot of well-known hunters. I am very jealous that you are moving to Southern California… can you tell? Whoever you choose, go meet the actual trainers and watch a lesson before you decide.

[RugBug]

I grew up in Ventura (it’s a city. :D) and rode at the edge of Santa Paula in Wheeler Canyon. It’s been about 25 years and I’m no longer familiar with who is training there.

If you are living in Ventura, you may also want to consider going north. There are some trainers there that might meet your needs. Corinne Bevis of San Marcos Training in Carpinteria (closer than Santa Barbara), Alanna Bloomberg of Gracelynd Hill, Rebecca Bruce of Sunnybrook and a few others. SB will be about a 30 minute drive depending on where you are in Ventura. You will also be going the opposite way of traffic…but there is a lot of construction in that area right now that could put a damper on a commute. I would try any drives out before committing on a place, either north or south.

(and if you decide to go South to TO, Moorpark, Somis, what have you, you can always take the back way which is usually significantly faster than the 101)

Oh, and I sent you a PM with a trainer to avoid.

[QUOTE=ammy-ville;7596641]
Haven’t lived there in 25 years… There were at least three barns on Wheeler Canyon Road up until just a few years ago at least. [/QUOTE]

I’m now wondering if I “know” you. I rode with Jill Simpson about 25 years ago. I’ve got newspaper pictures of my horse in the front pasture of the farm we where at with the flames from the huge Wheeler Cyn fire right up over the hill in whatever year that was. Seems like a lifetime ago.

You could contact Calabassas Saddlery and ask for references maybe… or The Wharf in Ventura, if its still there, again was as of a few years ago.

The Wharf is still there. It’s still great for stable supplies and the few odd basic pieces of english tack but is, as always, mostly western. I stop by about once a year when I’m visiting my mom in Ventura.

[SoCalRider]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Does anyone know anything about Krystal Clemente/Black Mountain Sport horses?

Thanks