Our Farm
We are a 30 horse farm located in Enfield, NH featuring schoolmasters in
dressage and eventing, and beginner-friendly
school horses for all levels of riding. We are known for our junior
riders, who continue to gain respect throughout New England and the
East Coast. We compete and work with all breeds of horses, and for all ages
of riders. We provide a full range
of opportunities for our clients to learn and progress including clinics
and shows, both home and away, along with some trail rides just for fun!
We have many amenities at our facility for your convenience and we have lots of other barn animals for your entertainment.
This page may take a little longer to load - we have a lot of school horses!
Our History
First Choice Riding Academy has been owned and operated by Heidi Hauri-Gill since 1990, and has operated in its current location of Enfield, NH since 1998.
In 1990, after years of working at other barns and schools, Heidi felt it was time to set out on her own and start First Choice Riding Academy. Heidi began by leasing horses from a camp. She found a farm in Massachusetts that had a wing of stalls available, Longview Equestrian Center, which had just been built by Bob and his uncle. Then, she sent out letters about her new business and thirty people from the Boston and North Shore area started the ball rolling. She befriended long time horse trader, Charlie Lane, who provided horses to use, and when Heidi sold them, they both benefited from this arrangement. It was the beginning of something really great.
The school continued to flourish, and 30 students became 100, and 5 horses became 20. There were minor location changes until the big move to New Hampshire. Heidi had grown up in the Upper Valley area of NH and decided with Bob to move back shortly after they got married. At first, Heidi free lanced back to MA, since they had decided to have a little quieter life. But that did not last too long. A life with free time and predictable schedules did not seem to satisfy them, so they went looking and found the current location in Enfield at the former Countryside Stables.
The building was a large shell covered in dust and cobwebs. There were only about eight stalls finished and there was no grain room, no hay storage, no tack room and no office. The farm didn't even have its own well - it shared one with the house next door. After making arrangements to lease the property for one year before purchasing it, Bob hit it for three days with a power washer. Students from MA came up to paint and build and then ride horses. Heidi was still traveling back and forth to MA to teach for the next few months. Word spread fast that there was work going on since people would drift through to "check things out". Many of them signed up for lessons. Heidi, Bob, and 8 month old Conner welcomed their first students in the fall of 1998.
There was plenty of work to do outside too. The land was simply fields and
there was a colossal need for drainage. The outdoor arena was
unsatisfactory and there were no paddocks or sheds. In comes Bob! A
ditch system was excavated and a well was dug creating independence from
the house. To develop the outdoor arena, dirt was removed from a nearby
area which created a twenty foot deep run off pond. This pond is home to
lots of plants and animals, including Speckle
Head in the summer. Fences were built and then changed from time to
time. Finally, we feel that the fencing will be in its permanent pattern
by the end of 2007.
Changes continue to happen at the farm. The grain room is in its fourth and final place. Bob has built many stalls and cubbies for the each horse's tack and supplies. During the winter of 2006-2007, we enjoyed our first winter in luxury with our heated viewing room. Thanks Bob!
This farm has grown not only in human and horse numbers, but in quality of horse as well. First Choice Riding Academy is now known for having dressage horses that are qualified to teach riders through third and into fourth level. Many of them have won titles in New England and with the USDF. They not only bring their knowledge and confidence to the lesson arena to teach riders what movements really feel like, but they bring their talents to the show arena as well, giving riders the ultimate confidence as they enter the show ring.
The riders are far more educated too. Students and their horses have a tendency to come and stay. This has allowed for development of training skills, as well as show skills. There are riders who know what the dressage movements should feel like and can refresh a horse, so the horse can then go on and show another rider what the movement feels like. We also have riders who work on maintaining the muscle development of horses which keeps them fit, so that they can withstand the rigors of balance and movements. Every spring, the excitement for show season is tangible within the farm with everyone anticipating what changes their efforts during the fall and winter training program will bring!
Our Facility
Indoor and Outdoor Arenas
Our indoor arena is 80 x 120. This offers the width needed for the
younger or greener riders, while giving sufficient length to school the
more advanced movements. It is footed with ASTMC-33 sand over a hard
pack base which provides excellent concussion absorbency, as well as grip,
so you won't see horses slipping and sliding in the arena. We water the
arena to keep the dust down and maintain the surface with
machinery frequently.
Our outdoor arena is 90 x 200 and has the same
footing. It drains exceptionally well so we can be out there early in
the spring and late in the fall.
Viewing room
Our viewing room is a comfortable place to watch lessons, clinics and practice rides. Three large windows to the indoor arena provide a great view. There is a changing room, heat in the winter and air-conditioning in the summer. A microwave and refrigerator are there for your use. Coffee, hot cocoa and snacks are available for a fee. Complimentary wireless internet access was added in November 2007.
Our School Horses
"Silver Cowboy" is a Registered Appendix QH he stands 16 hands, and was born in 1992. He came to us with a western background. We soon found out that he has training in dressage and really loves to jump. He is a horse that really enjoys eventing, as well as trail riding and even going to the beach. He is the type of horse that other horses really like, as well as people. He is not a beginner horse because he needs help in his balance, but has so much to offer the serious rider. He is always competitive at shows, and loves to go places with the farm. If he thinks you are coming to the paddock with treats, he will meet you at the gate with ears pricked forward. He has been with FCRA since 2005.
"Scenic Fannie Mae" is a registered American Paint Horse mare. She was born in 1993. She is a wonderfully versatile mare and is not only a great beginners horse but she is the star of the vaulting program. She is a super mellow girl and except for the fact that she likes to announce her arrival in the indoor she will let just about anyone do just about anything! She came to the farm in 2008.
"Fortuna" is a 16.2 hand Hanoverian mare. She was born in 1990 and is a superior addition to the farm. She has "been there, done that" and brings that experience to us. Her most recent life was spent as a hunter in the show ring, but she has been a fox hunter, event horse and dressage horse. She is by the TB sire Forrest, and gets her elegance from him yet retains the bulk of the Hanoverian. She is so curious about the goings on at the farm and gets along with every horse on the property. She is a horse that brings a lot to the lesson, she has fantastic training and can jump the moon, although we don't usually ask her to do that! She has been with FCRA since 2007.
"Melody" is a Welsh cross pony and was born in 1997 in Idaho. She is probably the best pony in the world. She has been known to jump courses of 3 feet, even though she is only 12.3 hands. She teaches beginners through intermediate students and is a very popular pony to lease for the summer. She is almost always champion at shows and people always ask if she is for sale. Sorry, but we don't sell our ponies if we can help it! Although she is small in size she gets turned out with the largest of mares. Her best friends are 16.3 hands to 17.1 hands. Did any one tell her she is a pony? She has been with FCRA since 2003.
"Inselmir" a.k.a. MeMe's grandfather is Donauwind, a famous jumper. She is a registered Trakehner mare who stands 16.1 hands. She was born in 1987 in Northern CA and she moved east in 1993. She later went to Wadsworth Farm in Danvers, MA to study dressage under Roel Thunnison, before coming here. She is an always popular mount and is just wonderful at her job. She loves to jump! She not only does the equitation shows with us but she has been seen at dressage shows and events. She has been with FCRA since 2000.
"MJ" got his name from the brand on his hip which looks like anything from an anchor to a crown, depending on who you ask. He is an older QH gelding from the "M bar J" ranch or so says his brand. He came here pretty grumpy about life but with a lot of TLC from the kids and a few special people he is finding that to be grumpy is not so easy here! He is often seen relaxing in his paddock completely stretched out in the sun. He is a super beginner horse and has already brought home some ribbons from his first dressage show! He is taking on a great role as one of our star beginner boys. In his previous life, the taught riding lessons at camps and trail strings. He came to the farm in 2008.
"RC Silk Super Smooth" is her registered name and, oh brother, too bad you can't reuse names in the American Quarter Horse Association! We call her Silky, and what a great mare. She was born in Iowa in 1998, and just came to the east coast one week before we got her. She is a great beginner horse, yet she is willing to jump a course and give the feel of balance as well as safety. She loves to go on trail rides and just hang out with the kids. Silky has had some very extensive training and starting in 2009 will be showing at first level! She will be able to be seen at schooling AND recognized shows. See what we can do with a lease and a school horse! She came to FCRA in 2007.
"Willow" is a super cute grade bay mare. She was born in 2000 and has been a working horse ever since. Her most common job has been going from camp to camp. Now she has found a home here at the farm working at, yes, our camp, but then finding the pleasure in staying around year after year. Willow is a kids size large pony who has a heart of gold. She loves to jump, and is teaching all sorts of people to enjoy that as well.
Gone, But Not Forgotten
Like every farm, we have lost our share of special horses. We will always remember them, even though they are no longer with us. Click here for our In Memory page.
Our Other Barn Animals
Princess is our 6 year old female "domestic medium hair" barn cat. She has been at the farm since she was 7 weeks old, and came with her brother Tux, and a third sibling that we adopted out to a student's family a day later. Tux decided that he wanted to live with Renee and left when he was two. Princess is an integral part of the farm. She is our primary mouser. She can often be seen prowling the farm, climbing through the rafters or just leisurely laying about. She loves to be held, although she will promptly start to drool!
Speckle Head is an Indian Runner Duck and he was hatched in 2003. He came here with two siblings: Solid Head and Special Duck. Special Duck was "special" because she had a broken leg as a duckling. She only lived about a year due to her uneven gait and disappeared one night. Solid Head was with us for two years and then he too disappeared one night.
Speckle Head is
unique in his ability to live as a wild duck all summer. He integrates
well with the Mallards that visit us and is even recruited by mother
Mallards to watch over the ducklings as he is taller and can see a farther away than the flightless mothers. In 2005, Speckle Head
fathered a brood of ducklings of which he was very proud. They all
bore the badge of his white feathering through their coats, although the
rest of his traits are recessive so they were not passed down. When the
Mallards fly south for the winter, Speckle Head walks to the barn and then integrates
just as well with the two and four legged friends. He actually prefers
to sleep in with the goats than to sleep alone! His favorite pastime
during the winter is to swim in heated water in Bob's office. He
was so surprised in the winter of 2006 when he arrived in the barn to
find more feathered friends - the chickens! We do ask that people let
him come to them, and that they don't chase him. We also ask that people don't pick
him up as his wings are fragile, and he can spook easily. If you want to
pat him ask Heidi or Bob and they will bring him to you.
Meet Kiwi (on the left) and Sapphire - the farm's Nigerian Goats. Sapphire was born in 2004 and was given to Christopher at Christmas time along with her sister Ruby who was given to Conner by their grandmother. (Did she ever ask if it was a good idea to do this at Christmas time? You would have to ask her!). The boys raised them from 10 day old kids in the kitchen of our house! They were bottle fed 5 times a day and were sheer fun as they would race from one end of the house to the other. Of course, when we were not watching them they were in a pen. During the afternoon, they would be at the farm where they made themselves quite at home in the jackets of on looking moms. Eventually, they moved to the farm for good.
Unfortunately, Ruby passed away in the fall of 2005. In 2006, we decided that Sapphire was too lonely without her sister, so Conner found Kiwi. She was also a bottle baby, but she grew up in the barn. She is the vocal part of the duo. The goats are fun to watch, but also good friends to the horses. It is a commonly known fact that horses and goats get along well and is demonstrated when they are in the same paddocks at the farm. The goats are known to be loose all morning, and then in their pen in the afternoon. Kiwi practices her songs when she feels a little bored.
The chickens were added to the farm in 2006. They are the chief fly catchers and bug reducers. The big buff colored hen is Mrs. Banks (center), she is a Buff Orpington. Then, there is Mary (right) who is a Gold Laced Wyandotte. She loves to be petted, but do let her come to you. The comic relief of the flock is Little Red (left). She is a Rhode Island Red cross breed. She is the direct result of Heidi's Animal Control job. One night, Heidi received an animal complaint call about a chicken being on the top of someone's car. Even more unbelievable was that the chicken on the car was on the corner of Main Street and Route 4 - not quite the usual place to find a chicken. Sure enough, there was a small and sad-looking chicken and a man who was just petting her. She looked as though she had fallen off of a poultry tuck due to her huge patches of road rash and missing feathers. When she first came to the farm she hid for many weeks. As she started to feel better, she came out and started to show her personality. Now, she can often be seen jumping up to get muffin bits out of Bob's hands! She is the big egg producer, maybe it is because she is much happier in her new life as an equine farm chicken.