Welcome to FCRA!

We are glad you have found our site. We hope you find everything you are looking for and we welcome you to contact us with further questions. On this site, we hope you not only find the information about our farm, horses, and lessons, but that you start to get a feel for this very special place.

This farm is the culmination of almost 20 years of hopes and dreams. We have a farm where not only people like to be, but horses like to be as well! Be it our summer camp, or our lesson program, or even our competition horses and riders, we try to instill good horsemanship. The love of the horse is the uniting link for all of us here at the farm.

Please enjoy our site, and again, please contact us if you have any more questions.

What About Summer? A Note About Plans and Goals for the Kids This Year

Here it is January, cold and snowy but very pretty outside. What do we think about? Summer. I wanted to let you all know about the thoughts and plans for the upcoming summer here at First Choice.

LEASES: We will, as always, offer our lease program which will include time for the leasing kids to be at the farm to enjoy the privileges that leases provide. Leases are a commitment to one horse and the rider can come twice a week and practice what they are working in for their lessons. This is especially helpful if the rider is planning to show, or hopes to be a horse owner at some point. The leases will be $275 per month, and can actually start at any time year round. Many riders start in June and continue until Sept. Leases provide priority use for the horse, though not exclusive, at shows and clinics, or for trail rides or the like. They also provide small discounts for horse use at these activities.

CAMPS: We will be offering a weekly camp program that will top any we have had so far. Joyce Kramer will be our director with help from Alex Mathis and Sarah Smith. Camps will be very inclusive covering a wide range of horse material and will be suitable to students who want to do it for a week or a month, regardless we will be able to accommodate. Camp will go from 9-4 daily and will cost $400 per week. The general schedule for the camp will be coming forth in days to come. We will also have a one week dressage camp for those who are preparing for the Dressage 4 Kids Youth Festival in NY. This camp will be a much different type of camp and in order to participate in this camp the rider needs to qualify for the festival. The cost of this camp will be much less and will be strictly to take care of those last minute details, and tips.

SHOWS: We will again be hosting a few shows here at our farm, including a dressage show!! These home shows are the best way for riders to either begin their show experience or try to ride that next level up. It is a safe environment for learning for both horse and rider. Of course we always open our show to outside riders, but it is mostly home based and a lot of fun. These shows at home can cost between $80 and $150 per rider, depending on ability and number of classes. Many riders find this to be enough showing for their summer. We also go to Schooling shows, shows that are away from home, that count toward the Youth Festival, that have great judges and that don’t attract professional riders. These shows require more dress, more preparation, and more fees. They typically can run between $300 and $500 per show. We also take qualified riders to Recognized Region 8 shows. These shows are the highest of level of showing, many professional riders participate and top Juniors come as well. Often from our farm right here!!! These shows are fun to participate in, they are required to qualify for the Region 8 Championships, and have so many top riders that you are thrown into the depth of dressage for a weekend. These shows typically go over 3-4 days and cost about $1000 per show. Included in showing is eventing. We will be going to Hitching Post Farm, and Vershire Riding School for schooling events. We will also consider going to other events in the area if there is a desire to do so. Shows and events will have an adjustable scale this year so the more that go the more affordable to show.

TRAIL RIDES AND EXTRAS: We will again this year be going to Shaker Hill to school horses. We will make regular trips there on days that are pre assigned for this outing. It is a fun way to start learning to ride off the property of the farm. We will also be offering some of our school horses to go out on the local trails (limited unfortunately) for those riders who are regular students. We will be trucking out to go train at other farms over cross country courses with specialized trainers. We also would like to have suggestions of other places to ride and extra horse activities to do.

LESSONS: Of course our regular lesson schedule will continue to operate on similar schedule as it does year round. We will be offering more instructional jumping time than ever and this year we will start working toward a cross country course.

Soon a schedule of shows and events will come out on the calendar with a fee list as well. I will also be passing around questions of what people are hoping to participate in. I will try to schedule with the results of this questionnaire in mind.

Any questions? Email me!

Horses for Sale

Heidi has fantastic horses for sale. The Sales page is always changing, so check it often.