1987-2024 – Rebuild, Refocus, Rebrand
Click HERE Goal Survey Please Submit! Reasons below.
Cedarhill is constantly evolving. I recently received an email from an old student of mine, from the early days… and I mean early days. Just out of college I set out to start a business offering boarding, lessons, and going to some horse shows when the time was ready. I was lucky that I came across Cedarhill Farm, then owned by Nora Cooke who was in the process of retiring and wanted to sell. She had sold the land on Providence Road (it is now a development of the same name) that Cedarhill had started on and had moved the business to a leased property in Waxhaw.
The farm came with the lease, a tractor, half a dozen school horses with their tack, some enrolled students, and boarders that were trained by outside trainers. Here is a link sent to me from Haines Pruden Barksdale. CLICK HERE Cedarhill Farm Circa 1987
Outside trainers; Liz Hutson, Gail Johnston and Hanson Keene taught the boarders in the front ring with footing. I taught the beginners in the lesson program behind the barn in the “back ring” which in actuality was just a dirt paddock with no additional footing. We’ve come a long way since then!
As the farm approaches its 30th anniversary at the current location, I’m sure many of you have noticed the upgrades and improvements. We have added the treadmill, new stall fronts, and new soft stall mats. The trailers have been upgraded to better facilitate travel and a new well and storage tank in the silo has been installed for our new sprinkler system which will be done before spring. We have redone the landscaping on the side of the barn, and landscaping bricks for edging is next. Elliot is in the process of installing hay mangers in all the stalls, an idea I picked up from reading that book “With Purpose” by Carleton Brooks that I gave out to all my students for Christmas (pick up your copy in the office if I missed you)
Once the sprinkler system is completed we will be refurbishing all the rings with additional footing as well.
Cedarhill has always been unique in the equestrian community because in addition to being competitive on the show scene (AA, A, and C), we offer a lesson program. The lesson barn/show barn combo is very rare in our industry. The foundation our lesson program and lesson horses build is what has made us a successful show barn at the local and national level. We will continue our CFI Show series as an introductory step into showing and a stepping stone to the more competitive rated shows.
Cedarhill is a farm for those equestrians that see riding as a sport. We expect a lot out of our riders in and out of the ring and we teach the skills to be successful in a competitive environment. We view our horses as athletes as well. The quality of care with the walker, treadmill, laser, pulse, beamer, farriers, vets, etc set them up to be their best when stepping into the show ring. We don’t want to discourage anyone from being part of the Cedarhill family but also want to be upfront that our focus is competition.
We want Cedarhill to be known as a show barn that offers lessons not a lesson barn that goes to shows. We try to offer 2 AA/A shows and 1 C show per month. With each level comes goals. Qualifying for Indoors and Devon – you should have a minimum of 15 A/AA, Gov Cup FInals, Taylor Harris, Maclay, etc all need points to earn your spot. Zone FInals takes the top 20 in each rated division. The C shows offer finals from 2′ – 3′ in both the hunter and equitation ring as well as 2′ and 2’6″ Derby finals. As your trainers we want to know your goals and help make a plan to meet them.
To implement this we have put together a Click HERE Goal Survey which we would like ALL of our students, whether a newbie just beginning or a seasoned veteran to fill out and submit.
Yes, from 1987 to 2024, Cedarhill Farm has changed. What hasn’t changed is the reason why we are here. Cedarhill is where riders of all ages work, learn, value and appreciate the horse together, where lifelong friendships are made, and where dedication to horses becomes a way of life.
Cori Tarleton Braxton, a rider with us during the terrible barn fire all those years ago put it best “ Cedarhill Farm is not a place, it is a family.
We’re happy you’re a part of our family!