Services
Boarding
Rough Terrain Farm offers boarding for up to nineteen horses in our immaculate special care equine facility located off a quiet country road, just 5 miles from Interstate 89 . Enjoy a friendly, fun and supportive barn environment with access to expert training and miles of dirt roads and wooded trails.
- 10'x12' rubber matted box stalls.
- Individual daily turnout.
- Access to 85'x140' indoor riding arena and large outdoor ring.
- Feeding program specifically designed for each horse's dietary needs.
- Heated tack/viewing room
- On-site supervision at all times.
Boarding Rate: $475 per month.
Training
Owner Leslie Haynes, a British Horse Society Certified Instructor, and her assistant, Natalie Jarvis, specialize in training quality riding and driving horses and ponies for pleasure and competition. Leslie trains miniature horses to drive and utilizes Natural Horsemanship (NH) and round pen training methods to ready all horses for schooling.
EQUINE HERPES ALERT
In an effort to help control the spread of Equine Herpes and to keep everyone's horses as safe as possible, Rough Terrain Farm requires (in addition to a Coggins test within 6 months of departure), that all horses brought onto the farm be vaccinated with modified live Rhinomune (Pfizer) within 2 months of arrival at RTF. Note: The first vaccine must be boostered within 3-4 weeks so please plan ahead. Written proof of the Rhino booster will be required before unloading one's horse. Please click here for more information on Equine Herpes.
Natural Horsemanship
Natural Horsemanship involves understanding the horse's natural behavior, what motivates them, and how they communicate. This technique enables Leslie to read the horse, and to effectively communicate with them in a way that they understand, while developing a willing partnership and cooperative working relationship.
Round Penning
This systematic process brings the horse to a respectful, trusting, and willing frame of mind. The horse goes through a five step process that starts with subordinance, and progresses through focus, respect, communication, and trust that ultimately results in the horse "joining-up" in a leader-follower relationship with the trainer. At this stage the horse accepts the trainer as his herd leader and the one in charge. The horse takes on an attitude of willingness and respect resulting in a training process that is based on obedience, trust, and leadership. While in the round pen, horses are bomb proofed through a "sacking out" process that introduces them a wide variety sights and sounds that might otherwise elicit a natural fight and flight response, causing them to shy or "blow up". This technique results in a horse that is more responsive, obedient, relaxed and safe to work with.
Training Rate: Starting at $1000 per month includes board.
Private Lessons
Leslie's engaging personality, articulate nature, and sense of humor combined with her extensive knowledge of Natural Horsemanship, dressage, and driving make her a dynamic and highly effective instructor. She is a pleasure to work with, generous with her time and knowledge, and passionate about good horsemanship.
Students use our well-trained school horses or bring your own.
Safety and correctness are emphasized in all disciplines.
- English disciplines, including Classical Dressage, Huntseat, and Combined Training.
- Western events, including Western Horsemanship, Western Pleasure, Trail, and Showmanship.
- Driving, including pleasure and competition: Dressage, Cones, and Marathon/Hazards.
- Summer day camps for youth riders.
Lesson Rates: Full hour: $45 Half hour: $30
Showing
Students of Rough Terrain Farm attend a number of shows and driving competitions throughout the season. Full service coaching, including transportation, equipment selection and acquisition, correct show apparel purchasing, preparation of horse and rider, horse care on show grounds, and assistance with scheduling and registration.
"Leslie helped me to get as good riding outside as inside. She was very patient. She let me take my time and she acted like we had all the time in the world- that helped because I didn't feel like I had to rush. Once she thought I was ready she put me in shows- only walk and trot. Riding in shows in hard and easy. It's hard because shows are outside and it's easy because everything that she teaches you really flows together and makes sense. Leslie is my special person because she teaches me soooo much about riding."
~ Quinn Waddell, 9 years old (pictured)
Sales
Leslie maintains a vast network of contacts that make selling or finding the perfect horse, pony, or equipment a simpler process. Just call or e-mail to discuss sales arrangements or to begin your search.
Please have a look at our For Sale page...
Carriage Repairs
Driving enthusiast and craftsman, Joe Bliven, is available for carriage and trailer repairs for riders and drivers with horses in training and clinic participants.
Clinics
Rough Terrain Farm hosts a number of expert clinicians throughout the year. Past clinicians include:
- Western: Gretchen Mathes, Robert Johnson, and T.R. Potts.
- Ridden Dressage: Sherry Ackerman and Jec Ballou.
- Driving: Craig Kellogg, Robin Groves, and Sterling Graburn.