Rockland Farm

06/18/2024

‼️ Lesson Program Students: Please be advised with the expected heat this week your lesson may very well be unmounted! We have plenty of things we can still learn while keeping everyone safe and cool 😊

Training horses will be ridden very early in the morning, at night, or may end up with a few days off. ‼️

06/06/2024

Reminder to all students next week will be the horses’ very well deserved Q2 week off! You are still welcome to come hang out at the barn and groom them but no riding ☺️

06/01/2024

Lots of fun opportunities at the farm!

💎Training/consignment/or basic board available
💎Lesson openings
💎Variety of sale and lease options available from beginner safe trail horse to FEI schoolmasters
💎Opportunities to show
💎Upcoming clinics scheduled with Kristen Whittaker (Western Dressage) and Dave Thind (biomechanics expert and Feldenkreis practitioner)

Please send us a PM for more information :)

05/01/2024

Beginner lessons available Monday and Friday evenings with Mary Jo Zanolli of Carabelle Equine!

She has been an excellent addition to the team at Blueberry Ridge Dressage and the kids all love her.

Advanced lessons are FULL but we are happy to place you on a wait list 😊

04/18/2024

Full board stalls available in Colchester, CT

Full Board Includes: ($1000)
-Daily stall cleaning
-Water buckets cleaned daily
-All day turnout (weather permitting)
-ProElite grain fed 2x/day
-Hay fed 3-4x/day
-Indoor & outdoor arenas
-Blanket changes
-Access to hundreds of miles of trails and state forests

We accept horses and riders of all ages, backgrounds, and levels and strive to create a supportive atmosphere to get you and your horse to your goals.

For more information about boarding and our training program please reach out to Heather at 860-398-1917.

03/29/2024

The kid is growing into himself 😍

02/29/2024

Welcome Marty! We love him already😍

Welcome Marty! This adorable little guy just made the trek all the way from Arizona 🌵

02/10/2024

We have a few positions opening up:

•Monday AM+PM barn help at Rockland Farm in Colchester. Up to 12 horses, competitive pay. Possibility of extra days if it’s a good fit.

AM duties (7:30am start, approx. 5-6 hours)
-feeding
-turnout/blanket changes as needed
-stalls
-water buckets
-filling hay nets
-sweeping aisle
-feeding lunch hay

PM duties (3:00pm start, approx 2 hours)
-turn horses in
-feed grain/check haynets
-check waters
-change blankets as needed
-make grain for AM

Candidate must have reliable transportation and confidently be able to lead horses in and out independently.

•Beginner Lesson Instructor - Friday evening/Saturdays (may be flexible for right candidate). Opportunity for more days as program grows.
-must be reliable
-at least 18 years old
-comfortable working with both kids and adults
-h/j as well as dressage experience a plus
-possibility of riding opportunities for the right person

Resumes and references can be emailed to [email protected]. Please PM with any questions 😊

02/09/2024

We have our first Blueberry Ridge Dressage stall bag prototype! I don’t know about anyone else but I’m tired of looking at messy blankets in the aisle.

02/06/2024

It is with much excitement we are able to announce that Blueberry Ridge Dressage is on track to take over Rockland Farm April 1, 2024. We are excited to continue to build out our training and lesson program and have many improvements planned overall for the rest of the year.

We are now taking inquiries for a limited number of stalls for April 1st. If you’ve been on our waitlist for forever, this may be your chance 😁 Due to demand we have to require a minimum of one lesson or training session/week in addition to full board.

Future Plans (to name a few):
-Quarterly Social Events
-More Clinics
-Showing Opportunities (if desired)
-Horsemanship Classes (announcements to come as curriculum is finalized)
-Additional staff
-Easier online payment options
-Select sales/lease horses
-Additional instructor/s that can offer instruction in disciplines other than just dressage
-Monthly Newsletter/Updates emailed to boarders and students

Full Board Includes: ($1000)
-Daily stall cleaning
-Water buckets cleaned daily
-All day turnout (weather permitting)
-ProElite grain fed 2x/day
-Hay fed 3-4x/day
-Indoor & outdoor arenas
-Blanket changes
-Access to hundreds of miles of trails and state forests

We accept horses and riders of all ages, backgrounds, and levels and strive to create a supportive atmosphere to get you and your horse to your goals.

For more information about boarding and our training program please reach out to Heather at 860-398-1917.

01/12/2024

This is a perfect example of why I start all of my students on the lunge line with no reins- so it can look like this when I do give them their reins for the first time. My riders develop a centered foundation first so as to not create the habit of using the horse’s mouth for balance.

Pictured is one of my youngest students riding schoolmaster Sandro. She has just “earned her reins” and now we can start the process of developing a feel for an elastic contact before the next step of taking away the side reins. Happy horses happy riders 😊

I am a firm believer in starting riders slowly and correctly so in the long run they can progress faster without having to go back and undo bad habits.

Also have to thank my sponsor CWD - Caroline Dakin: Connecticut, RI, Cape Cod & Springfield/Pittsfield for keeping the horses’ backs happy and healthy and our riders spoiled 😉

12/08/2023

We have a 3:30 lesson opening on Fridays with Blueberry Ridge Dressage!

Ages 4+ and all levels welcome whether it is your first time on a horse or looking to get on a schoolmaster😊

Please text Heather at 860-398-1917

12/01/2023

We are sad to say our beloved Sam crossed the rainbow bridge last night 🪽🤍 They let you know when it’s their time, and we are fortunate he went peacefully. Today we celebrate his life and the countless people he taught to ride in his years with us. You will be dearly missed beautiful boy🌈

10/24/2023

Affectionately known in the barn as “Big Mare” ☺️

10/23/2023

We love a freshly mopped aisle 😍

09/18/2023

Dilly says he is ready for tiny tot lessons! We are excited to now have an option for the little ones wanting to get into horses ❤️ We take riders as young as 4.

These aren’t just boring lead line lessons. We start with age appropriate fundamentals of riding and horse safety to start their foundation early☺️

We are currently full for training and lessons on our schoolmasters, but we are happy to get you on the waitlist.

Please message us or text Heather at 860-398-1917 for more information and availability

09/07/2023

All lessons will be canceled today with the heat. Stay cool!

09/06/2023

Our lesson horses will be having a very well deserved week off October 1-7! Resuming as normal the following week 😊

08/07/2023

We will have a couple lesson openings in the early afternoon in September with Blueberry Ridge Dressage!

We will also have a mare available for an on farm half lease starting September 1st. Shown through PSG, super safe, not mareish. Due to level of training, not suitable for a dead beginner.

Please PM for details or text Heather directly at 860-398-1917

07/28/2023

Afternoon lessons will be canceled today. Too hot!

07/07/2023

When you let the lesson kids decorate their pony… Sorry Dasher😂

06/22/2023

Our outdoor has been releveled after the washout. Thank you John!

06/21/2023

Little update on Teddy!

06/07/2023

In an effort to keep the horses safe with the air quality, we are currently only going to be doing very light riding and groundwork today. We will continue to monitor and will try to make the best decisions accordingly ❤️

05/30/2023

Welcome to the barn Teddy! Very productive first session 😁

05/29/2023

We have a beginner lesson opening with Blueberry Ridge Dressage on Mondays at 4:00 or Thursdays at 3:45. Both kids and adults interested in learning to ride are welcome to send us a message!

Pictured is Dasher taking care of a 6 year old student ❤️

05/15/2023

We have a very proud momma at the farm! Just born about 15 minutes ago🥰

04/26/2023

🐴We will have 1-2 stalls available June 1st🐴 We have not had a stall open in over a year and most of our waitlist waited so long they had to make other accommodations.

Full board is $800 and we will be requiring at least one lesson per week. Our on-site trainer and manager is focused on dressage and laying a correct foundation for both horse and rider. We welcome all backgrounds. We can advance you forward with your own unique goals in mind no matter your discipline.

We are a beautiful, quiet, 12 stall barn with attentive care for your horse’s needs and a supportive group of boarders. We offer all-day turnout, New York hay fed 3x a day, ProElite grain 2x daily, 2 outdoor riding rings, newly built indoor, miles and miles of trails, wash stall with hot water, grooming stall, lounge with a full heated bath, gorgeous tack room, and Arlo cameras in every stall. If you are interested we are happy to set up a tour!

Our manager/trainer Heather Sweeney can be reached via Facebook Messenger or by phone at 860-398-1917.

04/25/2023

Reminder to all students:

Our lesson horses’ first (well deserved) week off of the year will be April 28-May 4th. We will resume as normal May 5th! You are still welcome to come groom and love on them, but no riding😊