Does anyone know CEO Stables in Bedford or Bayaert Farms in North Salem?
I moved to Westchester from Hunterdon County in New Jersey and am having a rough time finding the right barn. I came from the eventing/foxhunting side and decided some time ago that I wanted to get down the technical fundamentals that twenty years of “seat of the pants/git 'er done” type riding hadn’t focused on. I’ve always been a full time professional with a demanding career, I’ve never been able to ride more than two days a week, and until now I haven t had the resources to even part lease. I don’t have any interest in showing, although I probably would have done some low-level eventing eventually. But there were lots of barns in NJ that felt right!
Fast forward to the present–I live with SO in Westchester and after much looking found a barn that didn’t require owning/leasing/showing but still offered the level of teaching i was looking for. But I’m coming back from a bad wreck last year and my current barn is a little rough around the edges --there doesn’t seem to be the kind of saintly schoolmaster/seeing eye dog that I want to ride now, and what I’ve been offered for lease are school horses, all with various school horse -type issues.
By way of reference, I’m looking for something like Redfield Farm, Ithilien Stables, or Hay Fever Farm in New Jersey–mostly adults, quality horses and teaching, showing available but not mandatory, trainer ( not necessarily head trainer) stays North in the winter. I can do a part-lease at this point but have too many other commitments to do a full lease.
CEO Stables, Bayeart Farm, and Old Salem are now offering private lessons on their horses, presumably as a prelude to a part-lease, which would be fine.Wondering if anyone here can tell me anything about them, or if there’s something else in Northern Westchester/Connecticut/Dutchess County that I may have overlooked.
Thanks for reading, and feel free to PM!