Oakwood Farm

28/01/2025

It’s that time of year again…
✨ SUMMER CAMP 2025 ✨
With an early bird 🦜 discount of 25% off if booked by or before February 28, 2025

Click the link below to learn more and sign up ⬇️
https://www.oakwoodfarmsnc.com/summer-camp

Hosted at our Apex farm location
All ages & experience levels welcome!

24/01/2025

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Snowman The $80 Champion

Snowman, “The greatest ‘nags-to-riches’ story since Black Beauty”. But what makes Snowman’s story even more extraordinary is that it is true. It is one of the rare true stories of horses that has been able to captivate the imagination of millions of people.

Snowman was a plow horse in Pennsylvania’s Amish country. In 1920, most of the 25 million horses and mules in America were used for farm work. By 1945, tractor power overtook horse power on American farms. By the 1950s, farm equipment manufacturers stopped building horse-drawn equipment, leaving horse farmers no choice but to eventually replace their equipment.

It was a cold snowy day in February 1956 when Snowman headed for the slaughterhouse at only eight years of age. On that same day, luck came into play when the 28-year old Harry de Leyer headed off from his riding stable in Long Island, New York, to the same horse auction in New Holland, Pennsylvania, looking for inexpensive lesson horses.

Arriving late, the auction had ended, and the only horses left were the ones that nobody wanted. Already loaded on a trailer en route to the “meat dealer”, De Leyer spotted the dirty, gray horse that he would later name Snowman and called out to bring the horse back down. On instinct alone, he bought him for $80.

Snowman was a lesson horse for a short time when Harry sold him to a neighbor for double the money. But, an unhappy Snowman kept coming home to Harry " jumping the neighbor’s five-foot fences time and time again. As luck would have it again for Snowman, the neighbor was only too happy to let Harry take him back, and Harry, now recognizing Snowman’s extraordinary talent, set Snowman on his path to become one of the most beloved show jumpers of all time.

Just two years later in 1958, Snowman was named the United States Equestrian Federation Horse of the Year (formerly called AHSA Horse of the Year), Professional Horseman’s Association champion and the champion of Madison Square Garden’s Diamond Jubilee. The following year, Snowman achieved the unimaginable returning to Madison Square Garden to be the first horse to win the Open Jumper Championship two years in a row.

The pair became media favorites " even appearing on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,” where Johnny climbed on Snowman’s back. Snowman retired from the show ring in 1962 and in 1974, passed away at home with Harry sitting close by his side. Snowman was inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame in 1992.

Snowman’s story raised the consciousness of a nation on the plight of working animals that led to an outpouring of concern for animal welfare. He rekindled our intrinsic sense of fairness in his achieving success by overcoming adversity. The inspiring story of this unlikely duo is a testament to the powerful and magical bond between horses and people.

20/01/2025

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ATTENTION !! We have GOOD News ! Equestrian Exchange Tack Sale will be hosting BOTH our Soring and Fall 2025 tack sales in Raleigh at same place ! Holshouser Building NCState Fairgrounds !
If I had several million dollars - I’d have a huge building for these events - but I don’t !
Finding a building for a venue is very difficult. I’m not exactly sure what the plans are with the NCState Fair Holshouser property dates for renovation - But, we are planning / confirming to host both spring and fall 2025 at this same place ….
Please share
Join us for Spring March 20-23,2025
Always something you might want or need !
Www.equestrianexchange.com

16/01/2025

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How tie a rope

05/01/2025

We are still looking to add 1-2 instructors ASAP - Full wait list ready to get your schedule busy. Ideally need someone to focus on beginners - intermediate riders, but also looking for someone ready to build a show team. Flexible opportunities!!

Exciting news! We are expanding *again*

Currently have an immediate position for a part time instructor Thursday-Friday-Saturday (flexible hours) at our Apex location

Will be seeking a PT or FT instructor at our Chapel Hill location beginning February 2025, with a desire to find someone who would enjoy running a Tiny Tot / Horsemanship centered program for both beginner children and adults.

Please email [email protected] with resume to be considered.

Hours and days may be flexible post-holiday as our team will work to service both locations. Our biggest priority is finding the right person to join our team. We currently have a growing wait list and want to be able to continue bringing horses to the community. Join !

05/01/2025

Interested in Leasing for the 2025 show season, or to have a quality mount to clinic with this year? Get in touch and ask us about our lesson, lease and show program. Quality school horses and access to affordable show opportunities. We had much success in 2024 and are excited to expend our team!

All ages and experience levels welcome to join our team.

Two locations as of February 2025 - Apex & Chapel Hill
https://www.oakwoodfarmsnc.com/lesson-information-and-pricing

02/01/2025

There are probably quite a few riders who consistently have great posture every ride, every time, but if so, I have never been one of them.

I have to actively think about staying upright, chin up, shoulders back and down. Now, for sure, I could drag out a litany of excuses, that I spend long hours hacking, that I’ve had various injuries, lots of wear and tear over many decades, you know the drill.

But nobody cares about the Excuse Train, because that’s a train to Nowhere Land.

If you/I/we/they want good posture, the Sit-Up-Tall fairy doesn’t generally come floating down from the sky with her magic wand, one tap on our slouched shoulders and we are transformed.

Being tall and open and looking up is a habit, just as having rounded shoulders and looking down is a habit. So maybe try to make THIS effort---When you are actually schooling, and where your balance counts more, make a special effort that for those minutes you’ll temporarily hop off the Excuse Train.

It can’t do any harm to try----.

24/12/2024

Look at Libby Go 😍 Future hunter queen, she’s coming along so great. Great riding by Sutton this Christmas Eve morning.

22/12/2024

Feeding BlueBonnet feeds has made a big difference in our horses, along with Mule City Feeds. Worth trying if you’re struggling with other commercial feeds! Thank you to our supplier Equi-Stock Feeds llc

anyone?

20/12/2024

It’s been a fun year! I’ll be updating social media with all of our successes earlier this show season. Ready to work even harder in 2025!

19/12/2024

Working on big goals for 2025 for

Rhianne riding Turbulent Sky “Griffin”
Gabby riding Lonna Tetti ZW “Lonna”

The development of these two young horses over the last year has been incredible 🤩

19/12/2024

“Siddy Boy” known as Sid showed us his pretty strut today. So fun watching him develop. Talented boy!

18/12/2024

Cute new addition “Libby” to our show string. She is a rising 6 year old Oldenburg mare (sired by Don De Marco). She is showing promise for the hunter ring and possibly some eventing / CT’s. Excited to see how she develops over the winter.

17/12/2024

Available for (affordable) Lease to show home or Sale

6yo, 16.2hh grade appendix gelding. Schooling 2’6” courses with a lead change, not 100% auto but close to it and will be very easy to finish. A good riding adult/junior will not have a problem. Total packer type; will absolutely tote around your adult amateur/junior rider. Brave, no spook, stop etc. Packed a junior around the 2’6” at his first show like a champ. Placed 8th out of 27 riders in a derby with another junior rider who had schooled him 1x at the show the night before. Very sweet puppy dog, in your pocket personality on the ground. Great manners, ties, bathes, clips, etc.; no vices in or out.

Email [email protected] to inquire

12/12/2024

Stall decorating underway… hope this inspires some competition! 😆

08/12/2024

Wrapping up our over fences with Blair taking the win in her EQ 2’9 move-up from the 2’6 this year, followed by another winning hunter round 🤩 What a successful finish to the day and great start to Blair’s 2’9 goals in 2025.

Close to wrapping up our final show weekend of 2024 with a great group of riders. Can’t wait for 2025 show season for