SE PA area/Area II -- looking for places to school water?

[alliemare]

Does anyone have reccomendations for places to school water complex? Perferably someplace that is open frequently (like a "call-before-you-come" deal -- vs FHI that is only open the tuesday after an event) and has some banks in&out/multiple questions.

I heard there was a semi-new complex somewhere in the Unionville area? And what about BCHP -- I heard they have a new water complex, too? Is that open for schooling?

[retreadeventer]

The Area II website has a schooling listing I believe.
In SE PA there are quite a few.
Journeys End Farm, Fox Crossing, Fair Hill, Unicorn/St. Augustine, the new place in East Coventry, Around the Bend I think? not sure if they have water, Bucks County doesn't have a water jump, NJHP has a schooling day coming up, Flora Lea has a water jump and allows schooling, Carousel Farm in Wilmington - and there are private farms that might have a water complex and if you take a lesson you can do it - those are just what I can think of quickly. I am sure I have left someone out.

[Ajierene]

Fair Hill is open a lot and you can call for a reservation as well. The water complex is nice to practice a run through, but most of the step down options are a bit high for any skittish horse/rider.

Fox Crossing is really nice. They are call beforehand - Wednesdays are cheaper than any other day. I just schooled there last Wednesday and their water has a run through option and some step down options that vary from really low to fairly decent, though I do not think they are as high as Fair Hill. Fox Crossing also has a tiny log into the water.

Carousel Park is reservation only and they have a new water complex with a run through option and some step down options as well.

Olde Hope is getting a bit south, but they have a nice little water complex also and are generally reservation only.

It has been a while since I have been to Flora Lea, but last time I was there, their water jump was just a run through. Could have changed since then.

Personally, for a first time out, I would go with Fox Crossing. Their water has a lot of options and is friendly for horse or rider needing to get used to stuff without having a heart attack, it is also probably the easiest to get a reservation to ride at. Fair Hill or Carousel Park would be my second choice - but I am not familiar with St. Augustine or the other places.

[Highflyer]

There's also Laurel Hill in Unionville, which is lovely and brand new. If you really only need to school water, I'd try somewhere like there or Fox Crossing rather than Fair Hill. Often there are large groups at the Fair Hill schools, and there can be quite a wait for the water--not a good place to have a real battle with a green or naughty horse, if there are 30 people watching and waiting!

[EiRide]

Does anyone have reccomendations for places to school water complex? Perferably someplace that is open frequently (like a "call-before-you-come" deal -- vs FHI that is only open the tuesday after an event) and has some banks in&out/multiple questions.

I heard there was a semi-new complex somewhere in the Unionville area? And what about BCHP -- I heard they have a new water complex, too? Is that open for schooling?


Bucks does not have a new complex yet, it is in the planning stages. Given where they want to locate it, I doubt it will always have water in it. That said, the pond has been repaired (it had a leak!) and the old water crossing/pass through now has water in it, so you can do pass through schooling. If you brought Blox and some rails you could jump in and out, too. My understanding is that they are also planning to revamp the old water crossing, maybe have a bank on one side and a pass through on the other.

Burgundy Hollow has a water complex which is a big square with a ramped in entrance on each side, no banks. She has XC fences on one side as an exit jump, some strides out. However, both times I schooled there this summer she had three stadium fences set up around the water so you could jump in and out, bending line through, jump out and go on to the rails, etc. She has to have the water filled, so you would want to call ahead and make sure it has water in it (with all this rain it has been good in spite of not being topped up by the water truck since the July event).

I was just down at Olde Hope and the water there was mostly empty, so you might specifically let Jane know you wished to school it before making your appointment to come down to her. She has a great course, lots of things for the green horse and rider. That water is banked on maybe three sides and there is a log in/out option as well.

Flora Lea has pass through and bank options (three sizes) for the water; I don't recall if it always has water in it as it is a dammed part of a stream, so again you might ask when you made your appointment.

Hope that helps.

[alliemare]

Thanks guys!

Did Fox Crossing re-do their water jump? The last time I was there was probably over 5 years ago, and the water jump was in disrepair with really deep water and the banks were falling down/in a bit.

Laurel Hill is the new one I was thinking of in Unionville -- Does anyone have contact info or know more about possibly schooling there?

Also -- does anyone know if Radnor Hunt pony club allows schooling? Thats another place I havent been to in over 5 years, but they used to have a nice water complex back behind the lower rings (not the 2** water)

[Ajierene]

I was at Fox Crossing a week and a half ago and the water complex was fine for myself and my trainer. I did not see any falling banks or deep water. The water was maybe 6 inches?

[Sulta]

Carousel Park has a nice water complex, with both walk in/out and a couple of banks into the water - about 12"-24" high.

Carousel does not require an appointment - just show up and stop up at the office. I always call ahead just to make sure the grounds are in decent shape (if there's been rain).

[Jleegriffith]

Ditto on Carousel- a super water complex for schooling babies with good footing, a big open space in the middle and lots of different heights to drop off. I am up there all the time!

Another suggestion would be to scope out some private farms that may have complex and schedule a lesson if they don't allow schoolings. For example, Phillip's farm has a water complex and there are several trainers there well worth paying a lesson fee and offering some help. I did that when working with my horse who had a ditch issue.

[scubed]

I schooled for the first time at Laurel Hill last week. Quite a nice facility, with lots of great jumps for the green horse, including inviting water. It is $30.

You can school at Radnor on the pony club side, not the same as the event side (any more). You need to subscribe to do so:

http://www.radnorhuntpc.org/subscriber_policy.pdf

Round the bend farm in coventry
http://www.celticmalts.com/page.asp?page=10