The people who ride at Waredaca are truly wonderful!
What makes Waredaca's approach to the rider and the horse special is that the focus and instruction are continuously positive and conducted at the highest level. Waredaca has the facilities that make learning possible. Whether it is access to turnout, stabling, rings (outdoor and indoor), cross country, or fields for trail rides, Waredaca has what you need to get the most out of each ride. (This is especially true if you happen to see an eagle, red wing blackbird, heron or hawk in the field.)
More importantly, the instruction is always excellent. Whether being in a training program with a professional and high level competitor like Steph Kohr or taking a lesson from an Olympian like Stephen Bradley, Olympic coach like Eric Smiley, or USDF Gold Medalist Carolyn del Grosso, Waredaca always offers access to the best right at home. All of the instructors who come to teach stress the importance of a positive experience for both horse and rider. They have the credentials for me to take every ride seriously.
When you leave the farm for clinics or to compete, you know that you have done the proper homework to succeed. You also have the chance to learn at Waredaca when you volunteer at the events. I both learn and am inspired when I am a jump judge and someone like Boyd Martin or Phillip Dutton rides by making a prelim jump look like a cross rail.
I realized that the lesson program was working with two jumps remaining at the Loch Moy starter a few months ago. When I reached the top of the hill and headed for home, I had the confidence that the last few jumps were going to be easy. I knew that many hours of effort and lessons were actually going to produce a clear trip around cross country.
When we found and bought Brando a little over two years ago, I could not trot a circle. I was terrified. Gretchen, Steph, and the many experts who have taught me at Waredaca never cared that I wasn't going to the Kentucky Three Day without a ticket. They only wanted to teach someone who cared about their horse and tried to get better.
I made a mistake by not mentioning one of the other keys to Waredaca earlier. It's the other riders. I've discussed this with my friends in both barns. We all agree that everyone wants everyone else to succeed. We all help each other and we all want the every other horse and rider to be the best. You can see this from the effort and spirit of Liz and the volunteers that she organizes to the genuine concern people have if one person's horse isn't feeling well.
Ron D. Abrams, Vice-President Abrams Travel, Inc