One local farm is asking you how well do you know you neigh-bors? This year, Corner House Farm is inviting residents from far and wide to stop by and meet a horse.
The farm is competing nationally in a 100 Day Horse Challenge run by The American Horse Council for a chance for Corner House to win $10,000.
Owned by Scotland-native Louise Jordan-Beam, Corner House Farm makes up 25 acres of land located at 95 Morlatton Rd., Douglassville. Corner House Farm offers a bucolic setting tucked between Rt. 422 and Rt. 662.
‘The Open Barn days are really about letting people come and meet the horses,’ Jordan-Beam said. The challenge offers a first-hand experience of farm life. The horse enthusiast would love to bring in local residents as well as those from near and far to the farm and animals. The farm is home to six horses who are all available to provide riders on a scale of skill levels with a positive experience. Each horse on the farm has their own quirks and personalities. Corner House is a sanctuary for the horses who call the farm home.
‘Many people have never seen a farm animals,’ Jordan-Beam said. ‘Housing developments surround the farm, but there are no students from any of these developments.’
Now a British Horse Society registered Assistant Instructor, Jordan-Beam was introduced to horses at a young age, riding since she was just four-years-old. Jordan-Beam has worked with students ages three to 67 and ‘welcome anyone in between.’ The stabled horses provide opportunities for people of all ages and skill levels to feel comfortable riding horse. Students with disabilities are encouraged to participate and often feel embolden after riding tall stature on horseback.
‘If you’re doing something wrong, the horse will tell you by his or her actions,’ the owner said. Learning to work with animals in a symbiotic fashion can be an important skill to acquire.
The farm owner said she noticed when the economy took a downfall and the recession hit, many people got rid of their horses as a way to cut costs and save expenses. Interacting with horses, animals and the outdoor environment shows to induce many positive health effects.
The challenge encourages the public to get back to horses and invites anyone to visit the farm and meet the animals for a minimum of three minutes. ‘For many people, [riding a horse] is an item to check off their bucket list.’ Over a course of four scheduled Open Barn days, Jordan-Beam hopes to have the minimum of 100 people come through the farm. The farm visit bestows an experience to reconnect with nature, animals and the world that surrounds us.
Corner House Farm is quite familiar with competitive drive, as they have won in an online, worldwide Interdressage competition the last five years in a row, and once again took the title for Riding School of the Year for the 2013 – 14 year. The farm competes in dressage and jumping against schools from South Africa, Japan, Canada and all over Europe.
Angel Gordon, 12, Stowe, followed her cousin’s path in riding horses and has been coming to Corner House for the past seven years. ‘I fell in love with riding Blackie,’ she said. ‘After you get to know them, [you find] they all have their own personality.’ When Gordon is not riding, she spends time as a volunteer on the farm. The young rider appreciates the hands-on experience working with the animals. ‘I take them to show, and they either do wonderful or fight against you,’ she said. But for Gordon, that is what riding is all about and learning to communicate with the animals is a valued skill.
Since her time at Corner House, she has won the Junior Points League Interdressage and Points competition out of more than 160 riders worldwide.
For Gordon, spending time with the horses ‘connects with part of you’ with the interactions leading to making you a ‘kind, gentle’ person.
‘It helps them growing up and makes them responsible,’ Gordon said about what children can learn from riding lessons. Stop by Corner House Farm during an of their Open House sessions for a chance to meet the six horses and chickens who reside on the farm. As of their last count, the farm has 63 people to introduce to their horses.
Corner House Farm invites you to their Open Barn days held 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 19, Aug. 9 and Sept. 6.
Visit them online at cornerhousefarm.info for additional information on the Open Barn days or riding lessons .
