Contact:

Alexa Perlstein Flowers PR Tel: 973-202-1020 Email: aperlst1@ithaca.edu

NO TIME IS WASTED THAT IS SPENT IN A SADDLE Horseback riding in the Ithaca area Ithaca and its surrounding towns were once primarily agriculture areas. Over time much of that land has developed into towns, schools and still include farm properties. In Ithaca, the Cornell stable offers riding lessons for students as well as the community at large. However, within a 25-mile radius of Ithaca there are the If Only Farm and the Painted Bar Stables that offer boarding for horse and lessons for guests. The Oxley Equestrian Center The Cornell riding facilities have existed since the 1930s. The current area was built in 1988 and consists of two barns for boarding their horses, an indoor arena and two outdoor sand arenas. The indoor arena, which measures 250 feet by 90 feet, is heated for winter use and features mirrored walls, locker rooms for guests, restrooms with showers and laundry facilities. Also, the arena features AHSA regulation jumps and a polo practice cage. Guests can watch riders from the bleachers that sit up to 350 viewers. The stable offers both group and private lessons for students, the Ithaca community and visitors. Private lessons are limited and take place in the winter and summer seasons. The winter session is primarily taught on the weekends, whereas the summer lessons are taught on both weekdays and weekends. Group lessons for Cornell students can receive credit for physical education. This course meets once a week over a 12-week period. Lessons range from beginners to advance and students can take more than one lesson per week. Non-students can take group lessons as well and are expected to wear long pants, breeches or chaps. The Oxley Center provides helmets for their guests. The boarding barn at the Oxley Center houses up to19 horses and is available for the students, staff, and faculty of Cornell University. The stall is 10 feet by 10 feet, bedded with shavings and rubber matted. Horses are feed grain and hay twice a day, watering up to three times a day and stall cleaning once a day. Boarders can store two saddles, two bridles, a trunk, brush and hoofpick tote. For more information on the Oxley Equestrian Center visit http://www.cornellbigred.com/sports/2007/7/30/OxleyEquestrianCenter.aspx. -more-

Horseback riding in Ithaca Page 2 of 2 If Only Farm Bill and Susan Lowe, who have owned the property since 1979, run the If Only Farm. After adding the indoor arena the farm has become one of the most popular stables in the surrounding Ithaca area. In addition, they are also the home of the Ithaca College Equestrian Team. The farm offers programs and lessons for riders at all skill levels. The lesson program consists of an introductory package, which includes five lessons, or onehour private lessons or half hour private/ one-hour group lessons. Riders can show at local and national levels and participate in on-site and off-site shows, clinics and hunts. In addition, the If Only Farm offers a summer riding camp for children 6-14 years old and the camp sessions are each two weeks long. The stable has offered both boarding and selling of horses for over 30 years. The horses and ponies for sale are continually trained and conditioned by the staff and riders to keep them in the best possible shape. Boarding for the horses depends on the size of the horse and on a monthly basis. The farm offers training and grooming services for the boarding horses. Grooming services include clipping ears, face and body, mane pulling, braiding mane/tail and bathing. For more information visit http://www.ifonlyfarm.com/. Painted Bar Stables Established in 2003, the Painted Bar Stables produces the highest quality APHA painted and colored horses. In addition to lessons the stable offers guided tours on their trails all year round. The trial rides range from one to three hours, all day rides and overnight rides. There are also a variety of specialty trails for boarders and guests. Standing at the stud of their breeding horses is Sierras All The Gold, a 2002 Perlino crme tobiano stallion. He is guaranteed to produce crme dilute offspring in Buckskin, Palomino, Perlino and Cremello. He will never produce Sorrel, Chestnut or Bay. This makes him ideal for breeders who have a specific coloring in mind. Fees for breeding include booking, mare stud fee, visiting, veterinarian and farrier fees. For more information about breeding and guided riding tours visit http://paintedbarstables.com/index.html. ### March 2013