Mad River Stables LLC

16/07/2024

Oleni and I ventured up to Canada to show at Dressage Bécancour over the weekend. We were welcomed by a well-organized and well-run show with fabulous footing and friendly Canadians. The judges provided super feedback and Oleni was of course a star!

Thanks to Julia Davis for braving the trip with us and her ponies and Deborah Ryan for coming as our groom, carrier of all things, ice fetcher extraordinaire, etc. And to both of you for indulging my need to eat poutine at least once for every day we were in Canada. Thanks also to Bill McMullin for once again warming us up via WhatsApp video and providing valuable feedback. Also, thank you to Joey Wagner (but mostly Amy 😇) and Sugar Run Equine Veterinary Services for setting us up with all the required paperwork to enter and exit Canada without issue. I'm also always grateful for my village at home for keeping things up and running while I'm off dancing with my pretty horse and eating poutine.

Photo Credit: Sandra Lachèvre Photographe - thank you for your beautiful photos and for your kindness and attentiveness to the horses.

01/05/2024

I have had one rider drop out for the Christophe Theallet clinic at Mad River Stables on May 21 and 22nd. There is room for one rider on Tuesday the 21st. Please reach out ASAP if you're interested in filling the spot. I can be pretty flexible with timing.

If you didn't see my post before, the following is the info!

Mad River Stables/Mollie Bachner Dressage is excited to announce our first clinic of the year. Christophe Theallet will be coming for a two-day clinic May 21st and 22nd. Christophe is a true French master, having trained at the famous Cadre Noir under Patrick LeRolland and others. He has competed internationally for France and has trained big-name riders including Kasey Perry and others. With a strong emphasis on correct basics and a good position, Christophe brings out the best of each horse-rider pair. He has an eye for detail and helps riders get more by doing less. This is a unique and phenomenal opportunity to see a true master at work!
There is one riding slot available on Tuesday available. If you would like that spot, or to be added to the waitlist, please PM me. Auditors are welcome and encouraged! Please reach out for more information. We hope you’ll take advantage of this opportunity!

14/04/2024

Please read the entire description before inquiring.

Available for onsite lease only. Dora is a 14 year old, 15.3 hand, lusitano/holsteiner upper-level dressage mare. She schools most of the grand prix and if she were to show, would be ready for the PSG with a bit more fitness. She had most of the winter off because I just didn’t have the time to keep everyone going but does fit up easily. She also enjoys trail riding. Dora loves being groomed and getting attention (and snacks) and really connects with people. She has super comfortable and easy to sit yet expressive gaits and has a lot to teach someone. Her training is correct and is ridden with very small, light aids.

Now, here’s the other side of the coin… can you take a joke? Because despite her liking to make them, she cannot take one. She will tolerate imperfect riding but she may also scare you if you’re not calm, kind, fair, and assured. She has a good spook that is not unseating. She is absolutely not for timid rider. She is happy to teach someone the work and will demand you show up at your best each and every day which will make you ride better quickly. You must ride her with kindness and empathy. Also, she does not want to go to horse shows. She can do the tests and the work but the atmosphere is not up her alley.

So, if you’re an empathetic and courageous rider who wants to improve your dressage skills and ride a well-trained, upper-level schoolmistress and take lessons from an upper-level trainer who knows the horse like the back of her hand, Dora may be the horse for you. Dora has been my personal horse since she was a coming 3-year-old and has been meticulously maintained physically and emotionally. I am flexible on lease terms (partial, full, length, etc) but she must stay in my care at my farm and her new rider will be required to lesson with me. There are also clinic opportunities at my farm that you’d be invited to take part in. Located in Moretown, Vermont. Please PM me for more information.

01/04/2024

Mad River Stables/Mollie Bachner Dressage is excited to announce our first clinic of the year. Christophe Theallet will be coming for a two-day clinic May 21st and 22nd. Christophe is a true French master, having trained at the famous Cadre Noir under Patrick LeRolland and others. He has competed internationally for France and has trained big-name riders including Kasey Perry and others. With a strong emphasis on correct basics and a good position, Christophe brings out the best of each horse-rider pair. He has an eye for detail and helps riders get more by doing less. This is a unique and phenomenal opportunity to see a true master at work!

There is one riding slot available on Tuesday available. If you would like that spot, or to be added to the waitlist, please PM me. Auditors are welcome and encouraged! Please reach out for more information. We hope you’ll take advantage of this opportunity!

30/07/2023

Rare opportunity available to the right fit! Mad River Stables has an opening for one horse. Mad River Stables is a small, boutique dressage farm nestled right on the river in the Mad River Valley in Moretown, Vermont. Small group of supportive, caring, and like-minded horse owners. All horses are in a training program with Mollie Bachner, a USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medalist. Different training packages are available. Sales horses are also welcome. Training programs are flexible to fit the needs of horse and rider and can include lessons and/or training. Absolutely highest quality care available. Owner/trainer lives onsite. Lots of turn-out options, brand new, high-quality fencing. New fiber footing in the indoor and a new, full-size outdoor. Mowed trails for riding out and located on a quiet dirt road. The indoor is insulated and rarely gets below freezing. Horses have free choice hay (or grass in the summers), high quality, research-backed feed program, access to some of the best farriers, vets, and bodyworkers in the state. We also host regular clinics with internationally acclaimed clinicians. Please reach out for more information. References available.

28/07/2023

This stuff is all so important! Horses won’t learn to speak human and since it’s our agenda we’re pushing, we need to learn to speak as much horse as possible!

“The question we asked was: can we determine, by looking at facial expressions and other behaviors, whether the horse has musculoskeletal pain?”– Dr. Sue Dyson What’s New? Go to Blog The Latest Q & A with Dr. Dyson Check out our blog with Dr. Dyson’s answers to your questions about the Rid...

24/04/2023

I’m excited to welcome Mary Wanless back to Mad River Stables LLC on May 23, 24, 25th. If you don’t know her, Mary is a total wiz at all things rider biomechanics. She has an incredible eye and way of explaining things that create real lasting change. Her clinics are especially geared well toward auditing. Please consider joining us for any or all days of the clinic! Space is somewhat limited so please reach out soon to ensure an auditing spot.
The rider spots are full but do let me know if you’d like to be added to the waitlist.

25/12/2022

Merry Christmas from all of us at Mad River Stables!

12/08/2022

The ladies are excited about the new Centaur: The Horse Friendly Fence in their pasture!

PC: Jenny Hulbert

19/03/2022

The Mary Wanless clinic at Mad River Stables LLC is full for rider spots but there are a few auditing spots left. I will send an email to all the people who expressed interest in auditing in the next few days. If you're interested, please PM me your email and I'll send you the info!