Rivendell Dressage

Rivendell Dressage Gorgeous farm in Millbrook, New York featuring training for horses and riders. Young horses, rehabs, and restarts welcome!
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Rivendell Dressage offers exceptional care and training in a gorgeous location. Full-size indoor with great footing, double-Dutch doors, grass turnouts, and an experienced FEI dressage trainer ready to help you strengthen your position and relationship with your horse make this a client-friendly, horse-oriented facility. Allison Kavey has extensive experience working with riders from the dressage,

h/j, and eventing worlds and bringing along young horses for all three disciplines. Please contact her to find out how she can help you achieve your equestrian goals.

I don't know who wrote this, but it is so true.  Riding is not the reason we spend our lives like this--being horsemen i...
12/11/2024

I don't know who wrote this, but it is so true. Riding is not the reason we spend our lives like this--being horsemen is.

Make Them Carry Their Saddle

A father of a darling girl and I were talking last week and he said that he wanted his daughter to ride more and not have to do the work part of the catching, grooming, and saddling. I smiled as I explained.

Riding horses is a combination of strength, timing, and balance. Kids in this country are physically weak (unless they are actively involved with weight training and physical conditioning 4+ times a week.)

When you walk out to the field, you are clearing your stress from being under fluorescent lights all day; feeling the sun soak into your bones. As your body moves on uneven surfaces, it strengthens your legs and core.

When you groom your horse (especially currying), you are toning your arms and stabilizing your core.

When you carry your saddle, your arms, chest, and back are doing isolated strengthening work.

Being near horses, calms and makes you tune into the splendor of these empathetic animals.

When you ride at a posting trot, it’s equivalent to a slow jog calorie burn wise.

After a lesson, the riders are physically tired and mentally quiet and balanced.

Horses feel your heart beat and mirror your emotions back.

Riding large and somewhat unpredictable animals makes you resilient and pushes your expectations.

Working with horses is so much more than learning how to ride.

So parents, make your children carry their saddles. Don’t do the hard parts for them, as long term it actually hurts them. To advance with their riding, they must get stronger. You can help by doing the high parts.

I love having you all at the farm, and am so grateful to get to share these fascinating animals with you.

Happy frigid winter in December!
12/04/2024

Happy frigid winter in December!

11/27/2024

Orange is learning some cool things! Thank you Broadfields 121! And thank you to Andrea Woodner for taping on a day that really wasn't that warm.

Groom needed for Florida season--January-March.  Small number of mostly well-mannered and kind horses, private barn, qui...
11/25/2024

Groom needed for Florida season--January-March. Small number of mostly well-mannered and kind horses, private barn, quiet and self-sufficient rider who needs support staff. You must be responsible, capable of following directions, experienced, and self-entertaining. Regular hours, regular day/s off (happy to offer 2 if that is preferred), relatively normal human being to work for--current groom has been with me 12 years and stays home in NY while I go to FL. Please contact me by message or email at [email protected].

The power this horse has and his ability to come through is incredible.  He also has an impressive work ethic.  Thank yo...
11/09/2024

The power this horse has and his ability to come through is incredible. He also has an impressive work ethic. Thank you to Broadfields 121, for the opportunity to be his rider! Biostar US The Horse of Course Grand Meadows American Equus Poulin Grain

Marseillaise--happily retired after being a fabulous hunter for Highgarden Farm and Andrea Woodner, after having indicat...
11/01/2024

Marseillaise--happily retired after being a fabulous hunter for Highgarden Farm and Andrea Woodner, after having indicated me and my ideas about the dressage arena were "uninteresting".

Andy with her two favorites: Harry and Tory (average age--well over 25)!
10/30/2024

Andy with her two favorites: Harry and Tory (average age--well over 25)!

We are so proud to be the final home for so many retired horses.  Que Ba HM is thriving in retirement, as are Amidala an...
10/26/2024

We are so proud to be the final home for so many retired horses. Que Ba HM is thriving in retirement, as are Amidala and Utopia--all three took me to places and allowed me to do work I had only imagined. And we have some incredible troopers here, too--they carried their riders at shows or taught lessons, built confidence, and brought joy. EVERY horse deserves a soft landing, and we are glad to give it.

I see you out there, and I love you for every sacrifice you have made.
I've mentioned it before--I adore shooting elderly horses. Not so much for the actual horse--i love the grumpy dudes and dudettes who are stingey with their ears, of course--but my absolute adoration comes from the people behind every single grey hair. Every single dropped back. Every single ridge in a carefully managed foot.
I see you, old horse owners. I see the promise you made your old friend--that he'd never leave your side again, that he'd never have to worry about a next owner. That he'd never load on a trailer bound for the unknown.
I see the expense it takes in dollars and worry. The careful diet you obsess over, the careful turnout buddies and just the right pasture with the perfectly not-too-big rolling pit.
I see you beaming at your old horse--proud and happy they are still proud and happy, despite not having sat on their backs for sometimes decades.
I see you-sometimes barely scraping by with two horses, sometimes barely scraping by with one. I see what you've done--the bills you've paid month after month because your old friend is still happy to live.
I see the joy your old friend brings you when he tilts his head just this way, and the way he stands just inches from your hair-both of you breathing one another in.
I see your impending heartbreak for the day you may have to make that final decision. I see your internal struggle--is he happy? Is he ok? Am I keeping him around for him or me?
I see your tears thinking about that day, and the tears of joy reliving his youth.
To everyone with an old horse, I see you, and I respect and love you. 💕

The gorgeous fall day begged for Andy to stop taking out the recycling and take photos of us instead!   Biostar US The H...
10/20/2024

The gorgeous fall day begged for Andy to stop taking out the recycling and take photos of us instead! Biostar US The Horse of Course American Equus

Marty was a truly amazing human being.  He was kind, exceptionally funny, and so interested in the world.  He also made ...
10/18/2024

Marty was a truly amazing human being. He was kind, exceptionally funny, and so interested in the world. He also made saddle fitting an art--as he made woodworking, leather repair, and home repairs. To say I will miss him is not sufficient to describe the loss of this good man.

Martin Eugene Haist, a saddle master prominent in the United States dressage community, has died at age of 72

Devon with the big O in two photos.  Day 1: "Jim, I am not kidding, we will all die if you let go of that lead rope."  D...
10/14/2024

Devon with the big O in two photos. Day 1: "Jim, I am not kidding, we will all die if you let go of that lead rope." Day 3: "look at us! We can stand here like a normal animal!" Thank you Broadfields 121 for the chance to work with this horse. He keeps me on my toes, and he really is such a good boy. Thank you to Bob Conkllin photography for the photos.

Going forwards...and sideways...into the pre-Florida technique improving and strength building period. Sights on the I1 ...
10/03/2024

Going forwards...and sideways...into the pre-Florida technique improving and strength building period. Sights on the I1 for 2025! Thanks to Biostar US Circuvate, all of our extra efforts will be supported with whole food to boost nitric oxide production. And thanks to Broadfields 121, Orange and his little sister Tulip will be ready to rock in the new year.

Dressage, Orange style--you may have civilized with a side of sauce, or less civilized with a chuckle! Broadfields 121 C...
10/01/2024

Dressage, Orange style--you may have civilized with a side of sauce, or less civilized with a chuckle! Broadfields 121 Cara Kettenbach

We had a long and tough week at the Region 8 championships, but we ended on a high note!  Many thanks to Biostar US and ...
09/22/2024

We had a long and tough week at the Region 8 championships, but we ended on a high note! Many thanks to Biostar US and The Horse of Course for having their stomachs covered after the boys succumbed to the atmosphere and needed TriGard as well as the pharmaceuticals. Not every week is a great one, and some make you wonder why you bothered at all. But I learned a lot this week. I have good, kind, talented horses. And I have great people. Thank you to Andrea Woodner Cara Kettenbach Justine Powers Jarvis James Koford Diane Carlson Teresa Rochelle for a lot of support.

09/03/2024

Hi, My name is Connie Stevens and I am pleading for everyone’s help to raise funds, s… Connie Stevens needs your support for Frank Waters Horse Show Announcer

Please consider donating and sharing.
09/03/2024

Please consider donating and sharing.

Hi, My name is Connie Stevens and I am pleading for everyone’s help to raise funds, s… Connie Stevens needs your support for Frank Waters Horse Show Announcer

08/31/2024

De Pavie showing that she is already VERY GOOD at wearing a bridle! Katrin Herr

Bheatrix (Benedetto x Welcome S, bred by Mo Swanson) and her egg with legs, Leonard (2023 Louisville HTF x Bheatrix)
08/31/2024

Bheatrix (Benedetto x Welcome S, bred by Mo Swanson) and her egg with legs, Leonard (2023 Louisville HTF x Bheatrix)

Address

56 N Mabbettsville Road
Millbrook, NY
12545

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