Jacksonville, FL Dressage Scene???

[xQHDQ]

It is looking very likely that my husband will be transferred from NJ to Jacksonville. So, I'm panicking because I now need to find a new dressage home. My life goals are tied to riding (career goals - what's that?) so finding the right trainer/barn fit is very important. Can anyone here please recommend a barn/trainer?

Below is a little about me and my horse and what we are looking for.

I'm an adult amateur who works full time but I work from home so I have a fairly flexible schedule (can do lessons in the middle of the day). I don't really know what level I am. I used to ride a GP semi-schoolmaster and was working on canter pirouettes, sequence flying changes, half-pass. I now own a great 6 yo appendix QH. We are working on training/first level. I have done basically all of the riding on him since I brought him home as a 4 yo, but I have great instruction - lessons 2-3 times a week. A BN-young horse-T said I have "good, creative, patient hands." My goal is to go up the levels as high as this horse can go, which I think is all the way to GP. I understand that the road is going to take longer because I'm the one riding him and that's fine.

I am looking for classical and correct instruction, first and foremost. I am not looking for someone to ride my horse all the time and just throw me the reins before entering at A - I want to learn to do this, mistakes and all. I would prefer that the trainer be based at the barn where my horse is living. I am not looking for anything fancy, just good care for my guy, and someplace where I could trust that he's okay when I have to travel for work. I have no problems sweeping out the barn aisle or feeding if I'm the first person there in the mornings, but my work schedule is such that I can't commit to regular chores, so self-care won't work. I currently consider the barn where I'm at my second home, and my trainer has become a good friend. I would like that again. I like to show but prefer progression to showing.

I am planning a trip down there in the fall to visit barns - the horse needs his new home squared away before we humans choose where to live. I can provide references. Any information (with contact information) would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[veezee]

Hi,
I sent you a private message. Good luck with your move. I hope you enjoy it there as much as I did.:cool:

[KrazyTBMare]

You can check out our local GMO website:

www.nfladressage.org

We have lots of great barns and trainers here. Where exactly are you moving to? Jacksonville is a HUGE city land wise, and you do not want to live, say, on the southside, and have your horse be at a barn in Fernandina.

[dressagedevon]

Hey there sent you a PM. Good luck with the move.

[STF]

I lived there for a while in 1999-2000, but went down there for the hunter scene, not dressage back then. I lived South of JAX in Mandrin, but overall the horse industy was nice. People were nice, etc. Seems to be a lot of private barns back then, a few public show barns, but mostly a lot of private.

[luckles]

I know a lot of people in the Jax dressage scene (even though I don't live there). The people are very nice and supportive of each other. My friend trains with Suzanne Graham and she is wonderful...very knowledgable and kind. I don't know contact info, but check the local GMO for info. Good luck!

[Tamara in TN]

Can anyone here please recommend a barn/trainer?

I am planning a trip down there in the fall to visit barns - the horse needs his new home squared away before we humans choose where to live. I can provide references. Any information (with contact information) would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!


try getting hold of Celia Evans at Dragonslair Ponies in Newberry FL
...she could give you a good set of references for that area! :)

[xQHDQ]

Thank you everyone for your responses. I really appreciate the help and I'm starting to feel a little better about the move.

For those who have asked where in Jacksonville...

My husband's office is on Deer Lake Drive in east Jacksonville. I would prefer that he have no more than a 45 minute commute to work and me a 30 minute commute to barn (If possible). We plan on finding a house for us humans after the horse's home is determined.

Are there barns/trainers on that side of town?

[STF]

Most of the barns are S or SW of town. Not much on the North other than industry type. Now, I have been gone for 8 yrs now. Down towards Green Cover Springs and towrads St. Augustine there was a lot of private barns.
I was at Dogwood for a while and that was a nice barn, but HJ type. They were about 15 min from Deer Lake area.
Where are you going to be moving to house wise? Have you started looking?

[KrazyTBMare]

There is Whitelock Farms which is where Suzanne Graham lives. It is an equestrian community and you can either keep your horses at home, or board if someone in there have an open stall.

That is literally 3 mins away from me and I trailer over all the time to ride with my friend who lives there and I take my lessons over there.

Would you be interested in keeping your horse at home and having a community where there are other dressage riders and trainers?

There is Mane Event Equestrian Center that is owned by Babette. Last I knew, Stacy Parvey-Larson was coming up from Ocala and was training boarders there but any outside trainers are welcome. Its a great facility.

Personally I LOVE living in St Johns County (just south of Jacksonville) and there are lots and lots of private barns down here and lots of trainers who travel.

Seriously look in the NFDA members directory and they also have a list of trainers who are members on the website. You can google them or just email them or call and see what you like.

Luckily, your husbands office is off of JTB, which is right off of 95. 90% of the time, if you live on the south side of town or even down towards St Augustine or World Golf Village (between Jax and St Aug), you are going to travel on 95. Then of course, there is 295 and 9A which basically makes a big circle around Jax with 95 going down the center. There are SO many ways to get to where you are going. A lot just depends on WHAT time of day you are traveling.

I know Suzanne is a wonderful trainer and her house/barn is lovely but I dont know if she has any open stalls. HOWEVER, if you are interested in the whole keep the horse at home thing, Whitelock Farms is a GREAT community and we have SO many equine communities with arenas and trails and what not, that there are a lot of options out there for you.

And yes, our GMO is wonderful. Everyone roots for each other and are very supportive. I just went to my first meeting/awards deal last Saturday and man it was a lot of fun. I have shown with the GMO for about 4 years but this is my first year being an actual member. Its been a blast and I love getting to meet others who share in my passion for horses and dressage. And it doesnt hurt that I won Reserve Champ for AA Training Level Spring Series.. lol ;)

[capricorn]

The local dressage association's website is: www.nfladressage.org .You might find helpful information there. Lupe Guarderas I think is located in Southeast Jacksonville. I was judged by her at a schooling show recently and found her comments to be very helpful. Her website is at http://horsesinthesouth.com/sundancefarm/ .

[dressagedevon]

I have a second vote for Lupe and Suzanne and Babette (got my horse two years ago from her place, very nice!) Anyone of these three nice ladies are the ones to go with, well like everyone has said, basically everyone is super nice there! Oh and Dogwood is gone now, like so many of the barns in Jacksonville, Sherry moved to GA., it is now a housing development, I rode there for many years and was the assistant manger to Kristen in the back, my mom called me one day when I was at college and told me it was gone, basically every thing moved to county road 210 area.

[Rusty Stirrup]

Lupe Guaderas
Susan Graham
Babette Grzyboski
Shea Walsh
Kathy Davis (moved to Tallahassee but still clinics here)
Sue Burdan
Christine Cramer
Double Bridges (Lynne Wadsworth) holds great clinics all the time from Brian McMahon to Jane Savoie.

There's been so many farms popping up in the last 7 years, I'm sure I've forgotten someone. I know St Augustine and that area seems to becoming the new Wellington and has several top shelf boarding farms for both dressage and hunter/jumpers.

[KWPN MOM]

Welcome to our neck of the woods. We do have a very active GMO and our Fall Series starts in September. Look forward to meeting you.