Barns Near Duke or Princeton?

[Mary in Area 1]

A lovely girl at our barn has received numerous acceptances for college and has narrowed her decision down to Duke or Princeton. Part of her dilemma is the option of bringing her event horse to school with her.

Do any of you know of barns and/or trainers near these schools? I assume that the Duke area would be less expensive for board because you wouldn't need an indoor, but is that true?

I seem to remember some COTH BB's in these areas. Would you help her out? Her family is NOT horsey, so I am trying to facilitate as best I can.

Thank you!

[Thames Pirate]

I LOVED LOVED LOVED my time at Duke. Best 4 years ever, and I only rode a loaner horse a few days a week.

Well, I don't know if the barn where I rode is still around, and I can't for the life of me remember what it was called, but I do remember it was run by John and CeCe Daly. They had a lower level XC course, big turnouts, an outdoor jump and dressage arena. They ran some schooling trials.

Duke isn't far from Southern Pines either.

GO DEVILS!

[Glenbaer]

Hi Mary--
There are numerous barns around Duke, which can fit any and all wants and needs in terms of a boarding situation. You may have already come across this site, but check out the North Carolina Dressage and Combined Training Association (NCDCTA) Trainer Directory, which lists stables in the region-- www.ncdcta.org . If the girl isn't picky about discipline, she may have more luck locating a hunter/jumper barn in the immediate area-- www.nchja.com . If she's interested, I'm willing to talk with her about options/choices in the area and such. Good luck!

ThamesPirate, what year were you at Duke? I did some summer work there when we first moved to NC, absolutely loved it, and will applying the law school this fall. Wheee? :lol:

[flyingchange]

Equiventure at Quail Roost Farm in Rougemont, which is about a 25 minute drive from Duke. Sometimes around 40 minutes at rush hour. I believe Holly Hepp is there now. I boarded there when I lived in Durham and it was awesome. There is a website if you google it.

[JanWeber]

Probably the closest eventer barn to Princeton is Carol Blackman's Toy Box Farm in Ringoes - about 20 minutes or so from downtown. Feel free to have her PM me if she wants more recommendations.

[Eventer13]

From my college search a few years back, I can tell your EVERYWHERE in the North East was more expensive, horse-wise, than the South. One of the reasons I ended up staying down here. That, and the weather ;) Plus, a lot had very limited turn-out in the winter.

Really too bad, because New England is, IMO, much prettier and I really liked the schools there. I just didn't know if I could deal with the cold, wet weather.

Duke has plenty of places to board around it. I would second Quail Roost (beautiful!), but I'm not sure how much it costs. As someone said, Holly Hepp is now based there. There are 2 or 3 riding rings, a mini XC course, and some very nice trails that you could spend hours on. Plus, the Red Mountain Hounds are right across the street, if she wants to do some hunting. I also know of a few less-fancy places on the Chapel Hill side, but that may be too far of a drive.

[Speedy]

They are very different schools with very different cultures. She probably can't go wrong in terms of general education, but she may find that she'll fit in and be much happier personally at one rather than the other. I honestly think she'd be much better off deciding on the school not the barn. That said, I have heard good things recently about Quail Roost near Duke.

[raave05]

I second the vote for Equiventure/Quail Roost. I did some hunting out of Quail Roost, which is actually on the same property, when I went to UNC (I wanted to go to a school with an good basketball team cough cough Final Four) and really enjoyed the location and the folks there. Can't comment on Holly, but as far as facilities goes, that's a pretty good one.

There are also quite a few barns in the Chapel Hill/Hillsborough area. If she goes to Duke she will quickly realize there is nothing to do in Durham so will be fleeing to Chapel Hill as often as she can. I rode at Terrel's Creek Farm (http://terrellscreekfarm.com/) when I was at UNC, and we had a few Dukies there. It's not the fanciest place, but affordable and flexible...things that are quite nice for a college student.

[WakeRider]

I third Equiventure Farm... I go to Wake Forest, and trailer in there for lessons with Holly about 2x month. If she needs more insight about Holly or the farm, PM me. Otherwise, there's not too much top-notch eventing trainers/barns in the area (trust me it was a long, tedious search)... there are a TON of hunter/jumpers and low level event barns though.

Holly told me they are completely upgrading the XC course, fyi

[UNCeventer]

I went to UNC and kept my horses down the road from Terrells Creek Farm. I trailered occasionally to Quail Roost for hunter paces, etc, but that was before Holly was there. I definitely went to Southern Pines to get lessons and go to shows. I chose to go to a smaller scale family run farm because of the costs (I had to pay for the horses with my money) and then was able to trailer to lessons. There are a few barns that have opened up since I left. Check out www.nchorsenews.com for more info. There is also a message board there where you can post a question. There is also a boarding section in the classified ads.

Good luck.

[fordtraktor]

Princeton isn't exactly New England, though it is probably still somewhat pricey. That said, you cannot go wrong with the academics at Princeton. Duke is a great school, but Princeton is in another league. I married a Princetonian and having been many times for reunions would highly recommend going there. It is a great place and a lot of fun. I was expecting it to be stuffy like Harvard. ;)

There is someone on COTH who is or was a grad student at Princeton -- JAGold I think? -- she may know about the eventing scene.

[finneventer]

Equiventure at Quail Roost Farm in Rougemont, which is about a 25 minute drive from Duke. Sometimes around 40 minutes at rush hour. I believe Holly Hepp is there now. I boarded there when I lived in Durham and it was awesome. There is a website if you google it.

I second that! http://equiventurefarm.com/holly.php

[bornfreenowexpensive]

she needs to pick the school that fits her best.....there are good barns and good riding near both those schools....but you don't go to those schools for riding. You go for an education.....and should plan to work hard to get the best grades possible. Riding will still be there in 4 years.

[Eventer13]

There are also quite a few barns in the Chapel Hill/Hillsborough area. If she goes to Duke she will quickly realize there is nothing to do in Durham so will be fleeing to Chapel Hill as often as she can. I rode at Terrel's Creek Farm (http://terrellscreekfarm.com/) when I was at UNC, and we had a few Dukies there. It's not the fanciest place, but affordable and flexible...things that are quite nice for a college student.

Chapel Hill has stuff to do? What??

Then again, I avoid downtown like the plague. Especially during basketball and football games... and Halloween. I can NOT deal with the traffic ;)

- A Chapel Hill native

[breakthru]

Too bad, no good barns for Duke students.

TONS of GREAT barns for UNC students though :)

GO TARHEELS!!!!

[breakthru]

Haha, Raave05, I know who you are now!

Terrell's Creek Farm (where I am now) is fantastic. Feel free to PM me if you want to know more about it. Great crew there of great people. Really fun place to be. But we do love our Tar Heels. :)

[raave05]

Haha, Raave05, I know who you are now!

Terrell's Creek Farm (where I am now) is fantastic. Feel free to PM me if you want to know more about it. Great crew there of great people. Really fun place to be. But we do love our Tar Heels. :)

I know a woman by the name of Annie that rides and trains out there. You will have to say hello to her for me, and to Gloria. Hope Annie has stopped falling off horses trying to ride backwards :)

[Penthilisea]

Ok I have to chime and remind people that princeton is MINUTES from the USET grounds. SO we have trainers aplenty! Specifically eventers I dont know, but Anne Kursinski, Scott Stewart, Nona Garson and more are all within driving distance. Nj has more horses per square mile than any other state in the US and Hunterdon county is very very horse. Mostly expensive, but then land here is expensive.
Heck, Hunter Farms (http://www.hunterfarms.websiteanimal.com/) is minutes from Princeton!
George Morris' Hunterdon was named for the county is was in!
What other farms can I think of?
Jamie Pantel's Whiskey Lane,
Upper Creek Farm (mostly dressage I think)
Sara Schmitt (http://www.newhorse.com/profile/b.510.r.4024.u.806cc8.html),
Snowbird,
DVHA (showgrounds only)
Duncraven (http://www.duncraven.com/)
Englewood
Sue Van Blarcom's Summerfield
Black River

I am sure I am forgetting a ton.

[Hannahsmom]

I lived in Durham for years between Duke and Chapel Hill and there are many places she could board and lots of good trainers. Southern Pines is pretty far for a student to commute every day although I know of at least one person going to Duke who did that who was competing at the upper levels. Where I boarded was a small place near Duke Forest that I really enjoyed. It did have a small indoor which I needed as I was often out there after dark.

ThamesPirate, wasn't John Daly's place called Lochhill? I used to haul there to condition. Really nice people.

[piaffequeen]

[QUOTE=Penthilisea;3996672]Ok I have to chime and remind people that princeton is MINUTES from the USET grounds. SO we have trainers aplenty! Specifically eventers I dont know, but Anne Kursinski, Scott Stewart, Nona Garson and more are all within driving distance. Nj has more horses per square mile than any other state in the US and Hunterdon county is very very horse. Mostly expensive, but then land here is expensive.

Sara Schmitt is a dressage instructor but awesome-she used to event in her younger years. She is based at Hawk Hollow Ranch.

[JanWeber]

Well, if she's going to drive all the way up to Sara's - she may as well go all the way (5 minutes more) to Doug, Holly, or Marilyn Payne's.

[HillaryH]

Sounds like an accomplished young woman! Good for her! I know Central Jersey pretty well as I work & ride in that area. I have two suggestions that are approx. 30 minutes from Princeton. Wendy Lewis is located out of Golden Gait Farm in Millstone, NJ. Her website is lewisevent.com
She's my trainer so I can personally recommend her - - she's kind, talented & highly professional. I also know that Wendy trains with Buck Davidson on a regular basis. He is located in the Ringoes, NJ area. I don't have his contact info but someone else might.

[CookiePony]

I was a grad student at Princeton-- feel free to PM for details. Heather Gillette is in Pottersville (near Gladstone) and a fantastic teacher. The drive can be tedious at rush hour but it's worth it.

HOWEVER I must echo bornfree's comment-- if she is at Princeton (or Duke) she will need to be devoting a lot of time/energy to school.

[west5]

Princeton isn't exactly New England, though it is probably still somewhat pricey. That said, you cannot go wrong with the academics at Princeton. Duke is a great school, but Princeton is in another league. I married a Princetonian and having been many times for reunions would highly recommend going there. It is a great place and a lot of fun. I was expecting it to be stuffy like Harvard. ;)

There is someone on COTH who is or was a grad student at Princeton -- JAGold I think? -- she may know about the eventing scene.

I don't agree with your statement about the academic level of the two schools.

[Thames Pirate]

Uhhh . . . Duke regularly ranks with and often above Princeton. BOTH are in another league academically. They are in different leagues in basketball--Ivy League vs. ACC.

[breakthru]

Quote:
Originally Posted by breakthru
Haha, Raave05, I know who you are now!

Terrell's Creek Farm (where I am now) is fantastic. Feel free to PM me if you want to know more about it. Great crew there of great people. Really fun place to be. But we do love our Tar Heels.

I know a woman by the name of Annie that rides and trains out there. You will have to say hello to her for me, and to Gloria. Hope Annie has stopped falling off horses trying to ride backwards

I'll have you know that the riding backwards and falling off part was ALL YOUR FAULT!

in any case:

http://www.terrellscreekfarm.com/description

[RiverBendPol]

MSP, Ask Jules where she had ADAM when she was at Duke. I *think* it was Quail Run. Or I may just remember the place bc it is beautiful and we scoped it out for in case Em had gone to State!

[LarryBird]

Chris and Vicki Hitchcock are about the same distance as Equiventure and Holly Hepp. They run a very professional and friendly eventing facility with a resident equine veterinarian, excellent facilities, and a particularly nice barn. The facility is very active socially and Chris is there all the time when he isn't competing. Vicki is a physical therapist at Duke.

Ben Tursam is in Apex which is about the same distance. But it is true that Chapel Hill is the place to be.

[ponyjumper4]

Chris and Vicki Hitchcock are about the same distance as Equiventure and Holly Hepp.

I believe they are actually on the same property--I think there are 3 separate businesses there.

ThamesPirate, wasn't John Daly's place called Lochhill? I used to haul there to condition. Really nice people.

Yes. I don't believe there is a trainer there unless one does come in, I believe they do still take boarders.

There are a ton of farms in the Durham/Chapel Hill/Hillsborough area, although not many event barns--the majority of those are towards Apex, Raleigh, and Southern Pines.

[snoopy]

I believe they are actually on the same property--I think there are 3 separate businesses there.



They are at Roughmont Sport Horse...it is a different property altogether. They are no longer part of Quail Roast/Equiventure. Holly Hepp is the trainer.