In 7th grade I talked my parents into letting me take riding lessons. They agreed, in part because one of my church friends (Wilene are you reading this?) also took lessons and boarded a horse there. Board was $140 a month I think? Could that be right? The farm was on a dirt road between numerous very small towns. A lovely, but very midwestern, farm. Here is a picture. I don't believe the farm is for sale any more.
The owners, Bob and Dacia Funkhouser, were good folks, and Bob was also the Master of Hounds of the Romwell Foxhunt. Because of Bob I learned that it's okay when other adults yell at you. I remember being a whiny kid, and not the hardest worker. I learned a lot of lessons of adulthood there, and it was one of the few places where I functioned without the protection and oversight of my parents. What are your kid memories of riding and horses?
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Funny, I've had trainers tell me as an adult rider, I must like to be yelled at. BUT, I've never had a trainer horse-person not set a good example (sometimes flaws were a good what-not-to-do example) and through it all there are the horses--regal champions of athletic adaptive spirit!
ReplyDeleteSmall world. Nope, the farm is under new ownership, and thriving. What do you mean by "very Midwestern" farm?
ReplyDeleteThank you for that compliment about the farm. ;)
DeleteMy parents would have died if they knew what went on!
ReplyDeleteMy first trainer sat in a chair and shot us with a bb gun if we made a mistake. He never missed, either.
My next trainer treated us all the same regardless of finances or fancy tack or horses. She treated us like responsible people and expected us to behave as such, and it worked.
A trainer I worked for showing and selling horses taught me about running a horse business, budgeting, organizing, and how to deal with clients and high pressure situations.
A great education!
I'm a long time reader, but I usually don't comment. It's awesome to me that you learned to ride at Foxton!
ReplyDeleteI was an intercollegiate equestrian team member who competed at Foxton often. When were you there?
Small world!
By very midwestern, I guess I'm referring to the flat landscape, and in this case, not a lot of trees. Here in PA it's more of a rolling, tree-filled kind of farm. It's pretty but in a different way.
ReplyDeleteI was at Foxton in the mid seventies to around 1982. I competed on the Purdue intercollegiate team, but only a few times. I have fond memories of the people and the farm, and I'm so glad to hear it is thriving! I think the new owners have promoted it as a show venue, which is really smart.
ReplyDeleteI remember when I first started taking riding lessons, my instructor told my mother that parents were to be seen and not heard. If I had something to say, I had to speak up on my own accord. It was extremely valuable lesson to learn, and to this day, I believe I am more assertive as a result.
ReplyDeleteYou and I had a very similar experience what with riding at the same stable! I'd have to ask my dad if the board figure was right. I think it was a bit higher when I had Pepper.
ReplyDeleteI love how Eldest's trainer is with her. She doesn't yell, she's firm, focused and wonderfully gifted in her explanations of how to improve. Bob was a great guy and I do miss the great times we had at the stable, but it's good to be where we're at now, all the same.
Did you teach? My mom and I took lessons there in '78, '79 and she bought our firt hunter, Herbie, from Bob. I had a very good foundation from a Janice who taught us.
DeleteValerie
We may have crossed paths! I was there till 1980. Herbie sounds familiar and janice would have been janice simek...
DeleteWe may have crossed paths! I was there till 1980. Herbie sounds familiar and janice would have been janice simek...
DeleteGrowing up in TX and going out to a freind's small weekend ranch to ride, we were just thrown up on the back of a horse, western saddle, and never given one word of instruction. Not one. But we did cool things like ride 5 miles bareback into town, round up cattle, ride double going full tilt on a retired racing Qt. horse.
ReplyDeleteWhile learning to canter on the old school horses at age 9, I remember leaning so far back in the saddle and holding onto the pommel that my back would flick as the horse cantered along the long side - I'm surprised I never got whiplash! I was scared and felt safer that way, but it must have looked so funny.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think the new owners are running it as a show facility. They are also re-training racehorses there, from what I understand.
ReplyDeleteI was in Pony Club, and looking back I can't believe that a group of 10 year olds managed to run those rallies all by ourselves! We had to make sure we all got to our rides on time, in the correct turn out, stalls were cleaned all the time, we did all the feeding and setting up of our horses, stalls, and tack rooms. It was great!
ReplyDeleteThen my real trainer taught me to "Buck Up"... She one time yelled at me, "You're Not a little doll, you can't just sit up there!"
It is a small world - we live about a 40 min drive from Foxton Farms!
ReplyDeleteGrowing up, I just got to ride once a summer at a pay by the hour trail riding stable. Loved those rides :)
I have ridden at Foxton myself...with the Taylor Univ. Equestrian Team (which I helped start), and the Ball State Univ. team (the year we were 2nd in the nation!) Seems like a lifetime ago...
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