Area I folks- eventing in ME?! urgent!

[TexasTB]

Hey guys, I was wondering if you could give me any (and all) information about the eventing scene/ barns/ trainers in the Midcoast Maine area?

I was offered a spot today at college in brunswick and have until monday to decide. Its between this and Tufts in boston, which I know has plentiful resources for eventing, but was wondering how the quality/ availability of training in Maine compares? Any advice on who's really good, who to avoid, etc? (Obviously, feel free to PM me!)

Thanks!

[frugalannie]

I'm in MA, so no specific info, but you could check out the Area 1 website.

http://www.area1usea.org/

[kcooper]

Look at the clinic listings on the Area I website as well as the barn listings. There are a lto of eventing farms that are not listing on the farm page. Also, check out http://www.maine-eventing.org/

You can get involved in eventing at either Bowdoin or Tufts.

I would not base your decision on proximity to eventing. Those are pretty different schools and there are a lot of other more important factors to consider. You are lucky to have such good choices!

[CookiePony]

Which college better fits your needs? I see Bowdoin as providing an amazing education-- Tufts also but in less of a personalized atmosphere. It is also a bit of a PITA to get out to barns from Tufts-- count on at least a 40 minute drive to most barns. Remember also that you will be at school during the winter. I don't know as specific barn around Bruswick, but if you can get get to a place with an indoor nearby so you can school all winter, you can ship your horse home for the summer for some shows.

The horses will be there for many years to come-- your college education is a special time/ opportunity.

[thatmoody]

I love Bowdoin and wanted to teach there, but DH refuses to move back up to the cold country! I agree about seeing which program meets your needs best - after college you can always move, but you have to have a valid and interesting degree to move with!

Or were you contemplating going there to teach? If so, it's a lovely college, and from what I've heard from people I've conferenced with from there, quite friendly.

[wishnwell]

You need to pick the college that best fits you honestly.

[ThirdCharm]

I grew up and went to college in Maine and the resources were thin. Check maine-eventing.org for more info, maybe you will find someone near Bowdoin. When I was there there was one ULR in Gorham, near Portland, and then there was a barn called Snowfields which I believe hosts a USEA event in Pownal, Maine (not sure how far that is from Bowdoin, or if there is a trainer there--they do not seem to have a website!)

After I left Maine I lived in Boston for three years, and if it was me I would pick Tufts for academics, culture, riding opportunities. I hate the city but the Boston 'area' has EVERYTHING. Bowdoin would probably win on fall scenery....

Jennifer

[RiverBendPol]

send a pm to maryinarea1, her dear daughter went to bates

[TexasTB]

Thanks everyone for the advice!
I really am in a deadlock between these two schools- bowdoin wins for me in academics, but tufts wins in resources and culture. So i'm having to consider some outside factors, and the horse situation may be a tipping point.

Thanks for the recommendation on MeCTA- the website doesn't show too many barns in the nearby area, I may also try contacting the MeCTA directly and the people at snowfields to see what they recommend.

Keep the opinions coming- they're much appreciated!

[ss3777]

I don’t know how serious you are about your winter schooling but the temperature difference between Boston and Brunswick can be on average 10 degrees. I ride in the winter in Upstate NY and 10 degrees can mean riding or not riding when we are talking 10 degrees or 20 degrees. No matter how fancy the barn is, 10 degrees is just to cold for me. You might be hardier than me, but consider the weather!!!! Unless of course you would rather be skiing ;)


Good luck, very nice schools!!

[IFG]

Choose the academics. IMHO Bowdoin is better academically. Tufts seems larger and less personalized. All the upper level eventing folk from MA will be FL anyway, so I wouldn't rely on folks being around.

[Elliot]

I grew up in Maine and evented there until I was 18. I think the horse scene there depends on a lot of things.

If your riding is as important to you as your college education, then get the heck out of New England. Go to Univ. of Delaware and train with Phillip or Bruce or go to UVA or UNC. The eventing scene in New England is dead in the winter, period!

I assume that this isn't the case, and that you want to enjoy your riding but focus on school. If that is the case, I think it won't make much difference whether you go to Tufts or Bowdoin. You'll end up doing most of your competing during the summer months anyway.

There are certainly excellent trainers in Maine, although no promises they'll stay there over the winter. I wouldn't narrow my choices to eventers though. I'd look at some of the excellent dressage (Sue Jaccoma) and hunter/jumper trainers in the area. Afterall, you won't be practicing your cross-country in the snow anyhow!

Bowdoin is a better school, but it's a lot more isolated than Tufts. It's a great scene, but definitely that small school in the middle of nowhere New England scene. As an aside, Allison Springer went to Bowdoin, and it certainly didn't hold her eventing career back!

[Lisa Cook]

You'll be in school during the off season for eventing, and if you want to ride, you'll need an indoor. An indoor up near Bowdoin is going to be waaaaay cheaper (100's of dollars per month) than an indoor within commuting distance of Tufts. Do a search on threads for barns in the Boston area and take a gander at the board prices mentioned for Boston area barns with indoors. It is ridiculously expensive. Mid-state Maine, on the other hand, will be way more affordable.

[mg]

I'm from the Freeport area (~10-15 minutes south of Brunswick), though I currently live in Bangor. I would suggest looking in the Pownal/Gray area. There are plenty of barns with indoors where you can get dressage instruction (Pineland in Gray, Noble Dreams in Pownal, Esprit in Durham, just to name a few), some with jumping instruction (Venture Farm in Yarmouth, Chez Chevaux in Durham), and some offer both (I know Noble Dreams has several different trainers, one of whom is an eventing trainer, and has the equipment available for jumping). Snowfields will be your best bet for xc schooling. Otherwise, I'd suggest making the hike up to the central maine area where you can go to places like Puckerbrush and Peppergrass. I came from the hunter/jumper scene, but started doing more dressage in college and am starting eventing this summer, so I'm still trying to develop more contacts in that area.

I don't know if you're interested in riding with your college's riding team, but I rode at the barn Bowdoin rides at and can give you more information about that place if you'd like. PM me if you have any questions :)