Rockwood Glen Horse Farm Acknowledgements And Testimonials

"Hi BJ,
We really enjoyed ourselves this past Friday! You are a phenomenal teacher and Smokey is a wonderful horse to learn to ride on. Most of all, I am truly grateful for the opportunity to see my little boy, whose balance only a month ago caused him to fall daily, now balancing on the back of a moving horse. It was a real testimony to how far God had brought him only 3 weeks post surgery.

I hope to get out to the stable again soon to ride or even to help out with the horses. I think Noah would also enjoy that.

Many thanks,
Brandie"

What rockwood has been and created for you
"Rockwood Glen is more than an ordinary riding stable. It’s where my horse and I call home. I began riding at Rockwood Glen nearly 15 years ago with my young, energetic thoroughbred. He and I were both facing challenges in learning how to work together. Through lessons in riding and horsemanship I began to feel encouraged and empowered as a rider. With the skills and support we received, my horse and I were able to go on to compete and become a winning team. I developed friendships with both people and horses that have proven to be lasting and meaningful to this day. Rockwood Glen provided a loving, caring and safe family environment where my horse and I were able to thrive together."

College
"Training at Rockwood Glen provided me with a solid foundation in riding skills and horsemanship. Expanding on that foundation and furthering my skills, I had the opportunity to ride training horses. The experience and confidence I gained at Rockwood Glen enabled me to obtain a position on the 2003-2004 California State University, Fresno Intercollegiate Equestrian team, where I went on to compete and win in my division."

Overall experience
Although I had some beginner experience with horses when I began riding at Rockwood Glen, I was afforded the opportunity to watch and assist new riders start from the ground up, learning to respect their fellow riders, their families and their large counterparts. I realized this level of respect is ultimately necessary for the safety of everyone. Some of my fondest memories have taken place at Rockwood and I recommend the facility to everyone, every chance I get.

What rockwood has been and created for you
Rockwood has and will always be the place that I say I learned how to ride. I’ve ridden at many barns in an effort to gain new experiences and skills, but nothing I have learned would ever make sense without the basics taught at Rockwood. I started riding at Rockwood when I was 8 years old, and I learned how to control a horse at all gaits before I earned a saddle. This way of teaching gave me the skills I needed to be a great rider—I didn’t rely on stirrups or a horn, I relied on my own balance and strength. I also had the opportunity to ride many different horses as my skill level increased. These simple, yet important, skills are the basics to horseback riding, and without them, I wouldn’t have the talent that I posses now. Rockwood created a strong foundation for me to learn from, and every time I ride for pleasure or competition, I use every skill I learned at that place.

College
I was fortunate enough to be recruited by Fresno State University for their equestrian team, and they are the only NCAA equestrian team on the west coast. Fresno State has been invited to the national Varsity Equestrian Championships in Waco, TX every year they have participated in NCAA. NCAA equestrian has created a unique format for their competitions. One rider from each team rides the same horse, and whoever rides the horse better wins a point for her team. At home competitions, the hosting team is fortunate enough to ride horses they know. However, at away competitions, the team must ride horses they know nothing about. Riders are given four minutes to practice on their horse before competition. This format requires strength and the skill of being able to ride any horse well. A talented rider is able to get on a new horse for those four minutes and be able to ride it better than someone who rides it all year long.

Overall experience
I started riding just so that I could go trail riding with my cousin, who had been riding long before I could. After two years of working hard, I participated in my first competition, without any intention of continuing competition. Four years later, I had two state titles, two reserve state titles, $1000 in earned scholarship money, and my own horse that I had schooled every day for two years in order to win multiple regional titles. Although my show career slowed down since then, I continued my learning by riding various horses at various shows. Right before college, I had the opportunity to ride at the Pinto World Championship and added world titles to my resume. In an effort to expand my skills at riding new horses throughout college, I began riding at a horse sales barn, which is where my life lies today. After 14 years, I have ridden countless horses and my riding potential seems to get higher every day. The possibilities that lie in front of me constantly multiply and I can absolutely say that horses will always be in my future.