|
|
|
From the moment you enter our facility we are confident that you will
enjoy the Hidden Acres ambiance.
Hidden Acres Farm offers 20 manicured acres, a large 150 x 300 arena,
round pen, and several paddocks for turn-out. Our center is surrounded
by a half mile track in a luscious park like setting, and we also have
miles of scenic trails that can be enjoyed.
The natural setting is designed to enhance the well being of horse and
rider. We offer riding lessons and boarding in a pristine natural
environment.
Riding lessons can be taken on your own horse or on one of our
schoolmasters. We have programs tailored to young riders and adult
amateur's. We emphasize learning in a relaxed and fun environment.
We offer full boarding as well as self-care boarding. Our 23 stall barn
is airy and inviting and we are fully committed to each individual
horse's well being.
Our commitment is to make your equestrian experience the most
pleasurable part of your day.
Our friendly staff and family-like natural setting contribute to our
ability to offer you an unparalleled equestrian adventure.
So come ride, train and enjoy...
The Tale of Hidden Acres Equestrian
Center
1950-1986
As a young girl my sister and I always dreamed of having our own horse.
Our mother and father had both loved horses and had two horses that gave
them much enjoyment. My Mom and Dad belonged to a local riding club and
their weekends and free time were spent enjoying the sport. After my
older sister was born, my Mom decided to sell her two horses, since she
didn't have the time anymore like she had in the past. She kept her
saddle and bridle and of course all of the wonderful memories. As young
girls my sister and I would pretend we had a horse by sitting on the
saddle. We would ride our bikes to farms where the horses were in the
pasture and stare and dream that someday we would have our own. We would
visit the county fair every year and be in awe of the kids who had their
own and sit and wait, hoping someone would offer us a leg up and a
chance to actually ride. We would beg our parents to please buy us our
own, but the answer always came back "When you can afford your own, and
are willing to make the sacrifice in time to properly care for one, then
you can have your own horse." So as time went on and my sister and I
both settled in Rochester, NY after attending college there, my sister
called one day. She had just gotten a great job at IBM, I was still in
college and she asked if I wanted to take lessons with her. She said it
would be her treat. I was thrilled and of course jumped at the
opportunity. We started taking lessons at a local stable once a week.
The first day we arrived our horses were tacked up, we hopped on, went
into a class with six other students. We had NO clue what we were doing,
and by the end of the class the instructor had us trotting over small
jumps. I was petrified! I had my share of falls, some quite scary when I
think back on it, but never was I taught any of the basics. We switched
barns and went to another stable in the area after a while and finally
we found an instructor who could sense our apprehension and was willing
to work with us on some of the most basic aspects of riding. Starting
right in the barn by taking and grooming your own horse. We learned so
much from Susan and as time went on our fear began to rescind. Then one
day I said to my sister, "why don't we buy our own horse, maybe even a
baby. This way we can develop even more skills and really develop a
bond. I'm still a little afraid and I think this will make all of the
difference in the world." My sister thought I was crazy, because you
can't ride a horse until they are three. So she bought a 4 year old
quarter horse named Dee and I bought a 7 month old Arabian named
Shalimar. We needed a place to board and that is where we found the
farm. It was called Landview Stable. They allowed self-care which was a
must for us, but unfortunately the primary boarders were race horse
trainers. We didn't have too many people to learn from. My sister
announces to me shortly after she bought Dee that she was expecting
twins. So now it was up to me to take care of both horses, along with
training Dee. I read all sorts of books, attended clinics, joined horse
clubs and became friends with other horse enthusiasts. I then bought our
third horse an Arabian Stallion and here is where my show career began.
The farm became my second home not only for me but also my sister and
our mom and dad. In 1986 my sister purchased the farm and it was then
that Hidden Acre's was established and converted from a race horse
facility to a family equestrian center.
Our children (5 between the two of us) have grown up knowing the farm as
their second home. They spent much of their childhood around the horse
show world both locally and nationally. They have enjoyed evening
picnics, countless trail rides, haunted hay rides, and evenings around
the campfires. Some of our boarders have been with us so long they have
seen our children grow up to become the fine young women and men that
they are.
Tribute To Helen and Jerry Harrington
1986-1999
I guess I can blame and thank my Mom for what I have gotten myself into,
since it was her love of horses that passed on to my sister and I. The
great thing about this is that we all got to share the enjoyment
together. My sister and I were working full-time, but everyday we would
get out of work and head over to the farm. There waiting for us would be
our Mom and Dad, 5 kids in tow, dinner on the grill, and the picnic
table ready for our evening feast after Georgia and I finished our
ride.
Both her and our Dad would occasionally go on a trail ride with us. Mom
always accompanied us to our horse shows, providing whatever we needed,
grooming, tacking, mucking stalls, or baby sitting. For the shows we ran
at the farm, she ran the concession stand and served up her famous hot
sauce.
All of our show attire was sewn by our mother including elaborate
Arabian Costumes for the Costume Class that we showed in. Our show
curtains, embroidered farm attire, anything that could be made she could
do it. Dad had his own garden planted there and we always had plenty of
fresh vegetables that we would can for the rest of the year.
Our parents saw our dream come true but they also taught us a life long
lesson by not giving in to us at a young age when we so desperately
wanted our own horse. They were so right that this is something that
comes with a tremendous amount of responsibility and expense. They were
there with us from the very beginning, seeing us learn on our own, from
our very first horses to our national champion horses that we now have.
Yes, I almost forgot to mention that our show career started at some
local non rated shows to competing at the U.S. Nationals. We are very
fortunate to have several top ten titles, and a reserve national
champion title. Fortunately our parents were around to see those
achievements. Our Mom passed away in March of 1999 and our Dad died in
November of 2003. There is not a day that goes by that we don't think of
them and when we are riding and the sun shines on our face or the wind
whisks through our hair we know it's them saying "there's our girls,
living their dream".
1986-2004
After my sister purchased the farm in 1986 we got very active with the
farm. First it needed a major overhaul. All of the stalls were rebuilt,
old rickety fencing was replaced with beautiful white vinyl fences, the
grounds were groomed and maintained, and additional paddocks for turn
out were built. We put on many shows for several years and became one of
the favorite places for local horse show enthusiasts. Our children got
active into 4H and we had our own club established. Our show careers
took the next level when we started showing at the A rated Arabian shows
and in 1994 our four horses were expanded to six with the addition of
two new Arabian mares. We then began competing at the regional and
national levels both in the US and Canada. In 1998 we added another
Arabian Gelding to our family and that year we took home some more
National Top Ten Championships. One of our Mares was bread to a three
time National Champion Stallion and we now had a new filly. While we did
add four new horses to our family during this time we also lost our two
first horses. It was a very sad time for all of us. After our Mom passed
away we took a breather from showing. While it was exciting to have made
it to those levels, my sister and I still got the majority of our
pleasure out of pure recreational riding. Whether it was hooking up the
trailer and heading out to one of the parks, riding in the arena with
other boarders, or just hanging out cleaning tack or mucking stalls, it
was back to the basics, the beginning, the fond memories of our home
away from home. We could have the worst day at work, or other stressful
things going on, but if we retreated to our little haven all troubles
seem to disappear.
2004-Present
In 2004 my husband and I purchased the farm. My sister purchased a home
in Florida so she was spending more time in Florida in the winter and
her summer cottage in the Islands. We wanted the farm to remain in the
family and Jeff and I were always thinking of what our someday
retirement plan might be. So we expanded our focus and began to apply
our expertise to establishing a lesson program for recreational riding.
We hope soon include a therapeutic riding for the handicapped in
conjunction with Special Olympics as well as start a breeding program
with our Arabian mares. I also will be working closely with the girl
scouts to develop a program for the riding badge and I'm considering
starting up some shows and clinics again. So, 2007 brought this family
full circle, back to being a family farm with a few extras.
We invite you to stop by to tour our facility and to further discuss our
lesson program. For an appointment please call 585-352-8444 or use our
Contact Form.
| Top |
|
|
