Thorncroft Equestrian Center

01/15/2025

Welcome, Claire Oestreich, CTRI, ATRI, ESMHL, Mentor, PATH International Pennsylvania State Ambassador, to Team Thorncroft!

Claire’s passion for horses started at a young age, and only grew with time. Her journey truly began with the Delaware County 4-H Horse club and was deepened with her attendance to Lake Erie College for Equine studies. Her first introduction to Thorncroft was in the summer of 2009, when she applied for an internship to learn more about the therapeutic riding industry. And, as they say, the rest is history!

Claire earned her PATH Instructor certification in 2012, and went on to teach at both Special Equestrians and Green Chimneys. She earned her Advanced level certification with PATH in 2021 and continues to seek knowledge and learning from any person and place she can. Returning to Thorncroft has brought her full circle, and Claire is excited to be a part of the Thorncroft community once more.

We are thrilled to welcome Claire to the Farm!

01/14/2025

A resource guide provided by the The Chronicle Of The Horse to help equestrians impacted by the Los Angeles area wildfires.

For more information on ways to help, click on the article shared below.

Equestrians interested in helping California horse owners, riders and animals affected by the wildfires are encouraged to donate money through established organizations and registered nonprofits. Local residents are asked not to show up at animal shelters unannounced and instead should contact the o...

01/08/2025

Thorncroft's Winter 2025 Intro to Horsemanship Class for Veterans and First Responders is now enrolling with three spots available for our class starting next week.

Teaching with a strong emphasis on foundational principles of horsemanship, this programming includes lessons on equine behavior, herd dynamics, round penning, lunging, and riding.

Interested participants may reach out to our Admissions Manager at [email protected]

Thanks in great part to the Rubin family and other donors, all Intro to Horsemanship programming remains scholarshipped to all participants.

01/06/2025

Happy Snow Day!

Lessons are on as usual and our herd is enjoying kicking up their heels in the wintry weather.

A special thank you to our barn manager Amber, assistant barn manager Sophie, farm crew, volunteers, and instructors for making it possible for operations to continue as usual!

Pictured: Thorncroft herd member, Lena V

12/16/2024

Thank you to all who joined for merriment and cheer at our Holiday Party!

This time of year we are grateful for the opportunity to gather with Farm friends and family members to celebrate the season and one another.

Thank you to volunteers, vendors, and staff for your time and talents!

Vendors
Face Painting-Birl Girl Designs
Music-Lenape Brass Ensemble
Special Guests: Argus, Blackberry, Bernie, and Rex

12/12/2024

How spectacular is our evergreen tree decorated by participants in our Adult Horsemanship program?!

Take a closer peek and see their incredible ornaments, available for sale at our holiday party tomorrow evening (5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.) or at the Farm Monday-Friday.

Thank you, friends, for your time and talents!

12/04/2024

Yesterday, 40 friends joined in to support GivingTuesday and our commitment to serve all who qualify, regardless of financial ability.

In only 12 hours you raised over $9,800 to support three additional participants receiving a full year of inclusive horsemanship education.

You went above and beyond to help us hit our $8,000 goal—thank you!

Because of generous people like you, Thorncroft is on its way to serving over 400 individuals of all abilities this year.

Together, we are making an impact, and your support is at the heart of making it happen.

Thank you for your continued commitment to our work.

12/03/2024

15 friends have joined in to support GivingTuesday and our commitment to serve all who qualify, regardless of financial ability.

In just four short hours since our initial request, we are already OVER the halfway mark!

Because of generous people like you, Thorncroft is on its way to serving over 400 individuals of all abilities this year.

Will you join together with us this GivingTuesday?

Together, we are making an impact, and your support is at the heart of making it possible.

12/03/2024

Today is GivingTuesday!

On this global day of giving, we invite you to contribute to our commitment to serve all who qualify, regardless of financial ability, with a gift to our scholarship fund.

Thanks to a generous community of supporters like you, Thorncroft provided over $30,000 of scholarship funding to participants in 2023.

In 2024, your commitment to Thorncroft has made it possible for nearly 40 riders to participate in our inclusive programming.

Students who might not have otherwise been able to, are benefitting from greater social/emotional learning, improved self-confidence, increased strength, and a sense of community in our riding lessons and unmounted horsemanship-focused lessons.

This GivingTuesday, with your help, our goal is to raise $8,000 to support three additional participants receiving a full year of inclusive horsemanship.

Support online at thorncroft.org

11/28/2024

From our Farm to yours, wishing all a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of our Farm friends and family members for your continued support of our mission and commitment to our work.

11/26/2024

In one week, Transform your Tuesday for Thorncroft!

On GivingTuesday we invite you to contribute to our commitment to serve all who qualify, regardless of financial ability, with a gift to our scholarship fund.

With your help, our goal is to raise $8,000 to support three additional participants receiving a full year of inclusive horsemanship.

When you join Thorncroft on December 3, you will support participants of all ages and abilities benefitting from increased social/emotional learning, self-confidence, strength, and a sense of community mobilized by our equine-assisted services.

Will you join us in one week to reach our GivingTuesday goal?

11/22/2024

Wishing so many congratulations to Thorncroft instructor Carolyn Dunkel, CTRI on her new business, Copper Pony PA!

We were delighted to have Copper Pony PA at our August 5K Fundraiser where their gorgeous mobile bar provided the most exceptional of experiences for guests at our Beer Garden!

We cannot recommend their services more!

Horses and cocktails? Yes, please. That’s the concept behind Copper Pony, a new mobile bar launched by two Chester County women.

11/19/2024

Your Path.

We celebrate the uniqueness of each participant's path at Thorncroft.

We honor the idea that each person comes to their journey with horses on a path that may differ greatly from the another. We celebrate and encourage our riders and participants to lay the bricks of their road themselves, to take a left turn, or a right turn, or even turn around and start at the beginning.

There is no timeline, no awards. Build for you as you please. Pause, rest, try something different, start again.

The beauty of the Farm and our horses is that we are here to guide you, to teach, to celebrate that next brick being laid, or to help you build it.

Your path is uniquely your own and what a privilege it is to be on it with you.

11/12/2024

In Our Community: Join Maire Guggenheim at Concord Pet (Frazer) on November 16!

Maire will represent Thorncroft at Concord Pet Frazer's Christmas Village this Saturday.

A portion of proceeds from the sale of tickets for Concord Pet Frazer's Christmas Village raffle baskets will benefit local organizations including Thorncroft.

This event is held at Concord Pet Frazer located at 642 Lancaster Avenue in Frazer, Pennsylvania. FMI, please contact Concord Pet directly at 610-644-6767.

11/08/2024

Para-Dressage Spotlight!

Carole Laulis, CTRI and Para-Dressage Silver Medal Coach, attended US Equestrian's October Para Dressage Rider Symposium with U.S. Para Dressage Chef d’Equipe & Technical Advisor Michel Assouline at Wheatland Farm in Virginia, with Para-Dresage rider Riley Garrett and current Thorncroft Para-Dressage riders Vicqui Yu and Priya Russell.

Did you know Thorncroft is one of only nine USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage Centers of Excellence (COE) in the US?

The USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage COE are designed to grow the sport of para-dressage throughout the United States, playing a critical role in pipeline development to the elite levels of athlete and coach education and support. COE initiative provides athletes with disabilities the opportunity to discover competitive para-dressage at both the national and CPEDI level.

11/04/2024

News from the Farm this November!

https://conta.cc/48RdA0V

11/01/2024

Thank you to participants of our fall 2024 Intro to Horsemanship for Veterans and First Responders and their friends and family members for joining us at our Family Night!

We had a wonderful bonus occasion celebrating the upcoming nuptials of participant Keith and his fiancée Andrea!

Family Nights serve as a gathering to introduce the concepts participants have learned to their friends and/or family members and is a time to join to speak, reflect, and most importantly, have a ton of fun!

Are you or someone you know interested in joining our winter 2024 Intro to Horsemanship class? Send us a message at [email protected]

10/31/2024

Happy Halloween!

Enjoy a look back at the Costume Class at the 2024 Therapeutic Riders Division of the Devon Horse Show featuring incredible creative costumes for both horse and rider!

What is your costume for today?!

Images by Ryan Samson