Ocala Area Trainers for HITS - updated

[Raine]

See post #18 for an update!

I’d like to do 2-3 weeks at HITS in Feb. Adult Jumpers. Planning to stay nearby at my parents home and try to work 4 days and show Fri-Sun. So need full day care…and I would really love it if I could hook up with someone local and let my mare have some turnout time. I’m an older adult - mostly just having fun but always trying to be as competitive as I can without being scary. There is at least one pretty BNT that my trainer would approve of, but he’s very expensive and not local to Ocala, so no turnout option for Mon-Wed.

Any recommendations?

[bamboopole]

Terrapin Hill. Very nice. Do ask around and get many reviews for trainers.

[dmacaramel]

Megan Weller is great and local.

[dmacaramel]

Wexler…I hate autocorrect and it won’t let me edit.

[Laylee]

Dana Noga - Lone Palm Stables!

[harmonyhillfarm]

David Wilbur- Wilbur Show Stables

[Punkie]

Zoë Christopher ~ Bradenstoke Hunters and Jumpers

She trains for two private farms (full disclosure: one of them is mine) and also has an outside client base. Both farms are lovely and carefully maintained facilities with a ton of individual grass pastures. Both farms are very close to the horse show. Her clients are all amateur adults, ranging in age from 20-70, and all of us have at least one jumper, so we spend a lot of time at the Ch/AA ring! If you’d like further information or Zoë’s contact, please feel free to PM me

[Raine]

Thanks, all! This is really helpful and I now have what look like several good options to explore. Anyone with contact info, please feel free to send in a pm.
Happy holidays!

[Lrs2015]

Megan Wexler

[EmilyM]

Shachine Belle. She has paddocks and a permanent barn at the show.

[Single_Oxer]

I second Shachine Belle and would also suggest Don Stewart.

[MintHillFarm]

Mark Jungherr…fantastic in the jumper ring and other rings as well!

[GoodTimes]

There are lots of Canadians that go down to Ocala who have farms and ship in to HITS. Try contacting Ardie at Blueberry Hill Tack shop. She’s set up at HITS and always has the scoop. She’ll have an idea who has farms with turnout, who has good coaching, and when they’ll be around.

[Sing_Mia_Song]

Mark Jungherr is incredibly knowledgeable. Shachine is great too–I’ve known her forever and she’s got a great sense of humor. Tricia O’Connor and Michael Kirby are there, too, but I don’t know that they really take clients–I think they focus on their own sale horses.

[Punkie]

Tricia does take clients; I’ve ridden with her on and off since I was 3 She’s fantastic and also has a farm nearby. Can’t speak to her client on-property/TO availability, but she’s spectacular. One of my very, very favorite people and SO easy to ride with; she’s so down to earth and is very straightforward in her training methods. Mark is also wonderful!

[horsechick]

Linda Radigan

[Raine]

Thanks, all! I think I have found a great option that will work for me, my check book and my mare! And it was due to posting here, so thanks to COTH it looks like I will have fun Feb to look forward to.

[Raine]

Just returned from 2 fun weeks in Ocala. I ended up going with Linda Radigan and River Bend Jumpers and it worked out even better than I had hoped. The whole crew was incredibly friendly and Linda’s coaching was super. My mare got to stay in a huge stall at a lovely farm with paddocks less than 5 minutes from the show. Linda was responsive, kind, funny and very professional during every interaction - from the initial emails right through to the last day. Hoping to show with her again later this year! If anyone is looking for a catch coach/trainer on the east coast, I’d recommend checking her out.

[findeight]

That’s for the update and closure, we usually never know what happens.

[Raine]

@findeight

That’s for the update and closure, we usually never know what happens.

I know, right! In this case I had such a positive experience that I genuinely wanted to post about it. We read a lot of stories about bad experiences and sketchy H/J trainers…it’s nice to be able to give props to the good ones!