VIDEO: Training Summer 2011 "We Got the Beat"
Lovely Mia and I at Hopkins Creek thinking about the big water crossing.
Thank you for visiting the website for the 3rd Branch Farm in Otsego, Michigan, about 20 minutes north of Kalamazoo, Michigan and 20 miles south of Grand Rapids. We are extremely close to the riding trails of Silver Creek Campground (Allegan Game Park) and Yankee Springs Recreational Area.
I give riding lessons and sell and train gaited horses as trail riding experts. We do not rent out the horses per hour, nor do we do boarding. Each lesson horse at the farm has ridden across the state of Michigan on the Shore-To-Shore Trail, a 250+ mile trail that stretches from the shores of Lake Huron to the shores of Lake Michigan (for some of the pictures of previous rides, look to the left of your screen). This ride typically takes 12 days (including rest days). Each horse is expected to cross creeks, wade into lakes, traverse highways, walk through a tunnel underneath I-75, cross bridges (steel, wooden and paved) and a 1/4 mile wooden boardwalk (in Luzerne, Michigan), stand on an overhead line overnight, deal with wildlife, boats, cars, motorcycles, ATVs, dogs and gun shots, be staked out for grazing and drink water out of plastic bags.
The
newest rescue horse to the farm, Abe (2 years old TWH), taking a
very brave Scott Galloway on a cart tour through the trails of Otsego.
These horses are used the following summer as lesson or trail guiding horses because of the wide range of experiences they've had. Because these horses have such extensive training, it takes over two years before they are ready for sale. The next horse will be ready for sale by the summer of 2011.
If there's something better than touring the lovely wilds of Michigan with a good friend, like Miss Becca, and a couple of great horses, I don't know what that is. Photography by Daniel Flanagan Photography (http://danielflanaganphotography.com/)
I specialize in gaited horses but also train non-gaited horses on the farm for two week or one month periods of time. We have access to a race track, an obstacle course/bridle path, miles of hilly trails, an arena and several stream crossings on the trails. Please click on the link to the left on Training your Horse for additional information on training your pony.
On occasion I can help train your horse by taking him/her across the Shore-To-Shore Trail, as well. Your horse must have reached some basic training thresholds before we proceed, and a space for him/her must be reserved well in advance of rides.
Finally, if you would like to traverse the state of Michigan on horseback, that can be arranged.
Thanks for visiting the website and please feel free to contact me for additional information.
Ashlyn Kuersten
Photography by Daniel Flanagan Photography (http://danielflanaganphotography.com/)