Looking for a show barn with trainer(s) that specialize in hunters (Jr. Hunters, green hunters) in North Carolina. Preferably near a major airport, but not exclusive.
The major airports are going to be Charlotte and Raleigh. Do you have a preference of where the trainers show? Charlotte is very close to Tryon and Raleigh has a lot of their own A/AA shows.
Either city would work
So you want a trainer that can show your horse in the Greens and then train your child for the Jr Hunters? How often do you want to show? What else do you need in the barn situation? How far from the airport do you need to be? There are quite a few trainers in Charlotte and Raleigh area that show green hunters and train Juniors.
We need a professional who can help with a 6yr. old green hunter horse. He has already shown in the jr. hunters 3’3” 15 and under and was champion, schooled only by my daughter with the help of her trainer. We have had the horse for 6m, and our trainer is now 8m pregnant, so she has not been unable to school the horse herself. The horse definitely needs to be schooled by a professional so my daughter can better help bring him along. We would like to show as needed to eventually move up. I am looking for barn/trainer options, so I can find a great place to live with a good school district. My husband just needs to be somewhat close to an airport, no more than an hour away.
Don’t overlook the Tryon area. We are very near the Greenville, SC airport, many good trainers to choose from, and lots of showing to be had.
If you need to be close to a major airport, then SCI is right: your only choices are Charlotte and Raleigh/Durham. If you can make do with a smaller airport, from which you can catch commuters to a major airport, then, like lesson junkie suggested, look at Tryon, which is less than an hour from both the Greenville, SC and Asheville, NC airports. In fact, I’m pretty sure you can get to either one from Tryon faster than you could get to the Raleigh/Durham airport from most of the places you would want to live in Raleigh.
I’ve used both Greenville and Asheville airports. Flight offerings are much more limited than out of a major hub and are generally more expensive, but within what I consider acceptable.
Marilee Ventura is awesome http://www.bywayfarms.com/
She is probably about 40 min from Raleigh airport
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I live in Fuquay Varina and easily make it to the Raleigh airport in 35/40 minutes, for some reason no one uses the toll road and it’s actually faster for me to make it to the airport than to work (NCSU CVM).
I don’t have direct experience as I don’t ride hunters anymore, but Melissa Blades at Blades International Sporthorses has lots of really nice hunters (and jumpers) of every experience range, from greenies to 3’6"+. Paramount Show Stables might be another option, again both hunters and jumpers but they do a lot of A shows and have junior/AO riders.
No one uses the toll road because no one can figure out the Quik Pass website! 😉😂
So true! I just wait for them to bill me by mail, ha!
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Robert Stucky https://www.hedgeandturfcharlotte.com/ I’ve met him at shows, he seems like he’s really got it together. Speaks kindly to his student, horses look great, riders seem to do well. Would definitely check him out.
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Sent you a pm.
I second Robert Stuckey. He is a very nice young man and his facilities are great. Has been working with horses who whole life. I tried a lease horse from him and was very impressed. Have also seen him around shows. I live too far away from him or I would probably ride with him.
I second Merilee Ventura at Byway. She’s extremely experienced and a gifted trainer. She’s extremely qualified and has some great horses and riders. She also teaches at McNairs. Byway is probably about an hour from RDU, McNairs significantly less.
I’ve never ridden with Bob Savage, but he seems to have a good program. Quiet Meadow Farm
If you really want BNT, Tommy Serio has a farm in Aberdeen (slightly longer than an hour from RDU) and is certainly known for producing great hunters. He spends a lot of the year in FL though.
Harold Chopping in Southern Pines also has a lot of name recognition in H/J circles.
Of course those last two are on the road a lot of the time showing. So you’d need to be willing, and budgeted for, a lot of horse shows, or you’d be staying home while the A team was gone.
Daniel Geitner is opening a barn in the south Charlotte area in the fall. That may be a good option for you: an excellent pro rider and a program with other juniors for your daughter to befriend.
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Laurel Tinney and Mission Hill is near Raleigh. She is the best: Really lovely hunter rider, and an extraordinary teacher.
https://www.facebook.com/Mission.Hill.Farm1/
Jenn Tirrell is at Apex Equestrian Center in Apex NC!! check out their Facebook page (the website hasn’t updated yet). I’ve trained with Jenn for years in New Jersey and Virginia. She is fabulous and all the horses love her!
She has trained with and ridden for the top barns. She would love help your daughter make up a great Jr Hunter. If you have any questions let me know. I wish I lived in NC. My next horse I’m definitely sending to her!!
