If you want the peace of mind I have been enjoying for almost a year now, Maven Sport Horses is for…read moreyou. I came to Maven one year ago, having just moved down from Long Island. While it was under different management at the time, which was still great, my mare Vada instantly calmed and settled. This says a great deal as she is a severely abused OTTB who came into my care three years ago. I looked at her for the first time and made a seemingly impossible promise that she would never, ever have to feel that way again. When a horse isn't in your direct care you can't guarantee this, right? Well, with excellent trainer Hannah Rickles and amazing owner, Corrie Tabb, you can more than bank on it, you can guarantee it.
Vada is not easy to handle and will react out of fear. She quickly gets higher strung the less daily touch and care she has, and it will immediately show in the form of intense anxiety, dangerous behavioral problems, pacing, mild colics, whole nine yards. She was truly happy at Maven because these things rarely happened. She was at her best version of peace. I had many problems over the summer and fall and could barely make it out to the barn. Throughout that time, (then assistant) trainer worked with Vada every day, putting hands on her, even pulling her mane and keeping her completely groomed for me. She held her for the farrier as Vada tried to put more than one farrier's assistant through the wall. Not easy tasks. No questions asked.
In December, Hannah took over as trainer/manager full time for Maven. I could have moved like half of the barn did to follow the previous trainer, but I chose to stay on because Hannah had proven to me that she cared with a fierce heart for the equines in her program, including my little poor confirmation and slightly insane OTTB amongst a sea of gorgeous (and not crazy) warmbloods. She was no less important than any other Grand Prix horse in that barn. I had then acquired a second horse, Logan and was living the life. Then, the government shut down and as a contracted defense contract writer, it ruined me financially. Corrie not only worked with me but showed compassion and cared through the months-long ordeal of me scraping together the board money. Most barn owners would put a lien on your horses and make a bad situation worse. Never did that occur, and never did my horses care decline because I wasn't able to pay.
Bottom line is if you are a helicopter horse mom or dad, or if you are an owner that can't make it out very often, or have changing life circumstances and need a safe spot you can trust, THIS IS THE BARN FOR YOU. We all know how crazy the people of the horse world are, you have to be I guess, right? Well, being at a barn with zero drama and nothing but kind and compassionate people who are simply there to be with the animals that make our lives go round is a breath of fresh air. Did I mention Hannah is a kick-ass trainer and incredibly knowledgeable horse person? So, yeah, if you don't have a 7-year-old high stress and formerly abused chestnut OTTB mare, you may even enjoy her training! If you've been on the fence about going to see Maven, go. I urge you. And be sure to say "Hi" to Vada. Please bring butterscotches for her full attention.
