Refugio Farm Equestrian Center LLC

08/29/2024

Good afternoon everyone!
We will unfortunately not be able to ride for lessons this afternoon and will be doing barn lessons and a "SPA "day for the horses in place of todays lesson . The heat index is expected to be 105 today with a Heat Advisory for Southernpines 🔥🥵.
Thank You for your cooperation and understanding in keeping our pony's cool ,happy ,and healthy .
We look forward to seeing everyone this afternoon for a fun filled Horsey SPA day !!
Thank You RFEC Team

08/29/2024

08/08/2024

We are closed untill Mrs . Debbie cakes and her tornado friends make their way out.. Hurricane prep done .. all horses have flys masks , marked ,tagged, and our phone number on every single horse . Stalls prepped , horses rearranged and moved . I do not think anyone has any idea how much work goes into making sure 13 horses are safe , a barn , and all of the equipment are secured .. please make sure to appreciate and thank your barn managers , the staff at your barn , trainers, instructors, or anyone taking care of your horses , ... and pray for us during this extremely scary time ..

08/07/2024

These kids had a blast at camp this week ! They didn't let a little Debbie ruin their fun! We managed to ride every day ! August horse camp for the win

08/07/2024

Horse camp for the win!! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/LioQToNeA53YiZMz/?mibextid=WC7FNe

08/05/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/TeCAbXCFTWN6eFjk/?mibextid=WC7FNe

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.

Hannah Campbell Zapletal

07/30/2024

Last camp of the summer !! Sign up !!

07/29/2024

❤️Refugio Farm has an opening for August Camp !! And several top quality pony's Available for LEASE !!! ❤️

07/27/2024

A small stab in the heart is what you feel when you put up the day's riding list and you see riders sinking heavily in their shoulders when reading which horse they are assigned for the lesson. A small stab in the heart for that horse that for an hour will carry around a rider who has already decided that he does not like his horse. A small stab in the heart for the horse that did not choose the rider himself but still does his best, lesson after lesson.

Riding is a privilege and something you have chosen to do. If you chose to ride at a riding school, your instructor assumes that you actually want to learn how to ride. The instructor's highest wish is that you get good at it.

Often there is a plan and a thought as to why you are assigned to that exact horse. Before you mount up next time, ask yourself "what can this horse teach me today?" All horses have something to give, a feeling or a new tool in the box.

The art is actually in being able to get a lazy horse to move forward, to get an uncertain horse to gain confidence, a naughty horse to focus or a tense horse to be released. It takes work. If you think a horse is boring, it's more likely that you don't ride the horse as well as you think! It's not easy to be confronted with your own shortcomings, but it is in that very situation that you get the chance to truly grow as a rider.

The excuse that "it's not my kind of horse" is actually a really bad excuse. A good rider can ride any kind of horse. A good rider has trained many hours on different types of horses to become a good rider. A good rider can find and manage the gold nuggets in every horse.

If we absolutely want to ride, it is our duty to strive to do it as best as possible, even if it's only for fun. We owe it to every horse that carries us upon it's back.

Copied and shared with love for all of our horses, ponies and riders 🐎❤🐎

07/16/2024

❌FYI !!! RFEC Team has made the Decision to move camp to an earlier time .. it is unsafe for the kids and more importantly the Horses to ride in this heat .. We are very sorry for any inconvenience this causes, but our dedication and priority is to these horses and our students !!!❌

07/10/2024

❌🐴Camp info for July 15 camp next week will be going out tonight please look for updates and an email from us. 🐴❌

07/04/2024

❌❌❌Good morning Happy 4th everyone ! Just a quick reminder as we have a lot of unpaid tuitions .. get those payments in today before late fees are charged $30 per student ..❌❌❌

07/02/2024

❌REMINDER STUDENTS We Are Closed This Week For the 4th Of July Holiday as many of our students are out of town and the 🐴 and our Staff need some R&R ❌ please check your emails , our FB page, and our Website for important details and information.

06/26/2024

❌BARN LESSONS TODAY ❌ Please Remember the horses are 3-4 times hotter then we are . Stay cool everyone!!! We will also be closed for our annual 4th of July week as most of our students are out of town . If you would like to make this lesson up students are encouraged to reach out to their trainer for rescheduling and makeup lesson. Thank You

06/13/2024

Late on the posts but our summer camps are off to a great start! June pony camp was a blast!! What a great week these awesome kids had from ba****ck riding, daily lessons and ending the week of camp with relaxing trail rides ❤️❤️

06/09/2024

🚨only a few spots left they are filling up quickly!🚨

🐴⛺️SUMMER ⛺️ 🐴

Sign your kid up for 4 days worth of horse filled fun!!

Ages 4-16

$395 per student/per session
$150 non refundable deposit upon registration to reserve your spot

SPOTS ARE LIMITED!

Contact us today!
910-986-6018
[email protected]
www.refugiofarmequestriancenter.com

06/07/2024

Last minute RARE opening for Camp next week! Message me to sign up and details!!!! 🐴

03/28/2024

❌Barn lessons today !!! The rings are ponds !!!!❌

03/17/2024

When you pay for a lesson or training, you aren’t buying an hour of my time. You’re paying for thousands of hours of sweat, struggle, success and tears. You’re buying injuries, mistakes, and revelations. You’re buying nights awake thinking about a horse or student I need to help more. You’re buying hours of hauling hay, mucking stalls and grooming, of carefully checking your horse over like It was my own. You’re paying for my further education, because i still take lessons as frequently as possible. You’re paying for my care, concern, over dinner conversation, and you inevitably become a central part of my life.
You can’t put a price on education, or personal development, or the bliss of finally being “with” a horse. Thank you for sharing with me, teaching me, and letting me teach you, while I put food on my table and hay in my barn with the most fulfilling job ever. ❤️

Original poster unknown

03/14/2024

We have one lesson slot open message us for details !

03/08/2024

Get ready all STUDENTS!! 😳🥰🤣https://www.facebook.com/share/v/8pjGgHS3KhZc3Lxr/?mibextid=WC7FNe

03/06/2024

Only a couple of spots left in each camp get your orders and deposits in!!! ❤️🐴🐎🏇❤️

02/28/2024

Only a few spots left !!!

02/16/2024

CAMP DATES are posted and we are filling up fast !!! ❤️🐴🐴

Refugio farm is a laid back fun based privately owned family owned horse farm!

02/12/2024

Barn Lessons today 💧 💧🐴!!!

02/06/2024

We have an opening for our spring semester !! Message us for details!!