For 75 years, Kelsey Farm on upper Lake Avenue has been teaching riding, horsemanship, and much more to the young people of Greenwich. Easy Kelsey, who owns and operates the 10-acre property, has continued to provide a unique educational experience and family riding community started by her parents in 1949. She grew up on this farm when Round Hill was less populated and consisted of open fields and trails at a time when other stables flourished. Kelsey Farm, which has indoor and outdoor rings, 18 horses and ponies, and three riding instructors, is now the only legal commercial horse farm still operating in Greenwich.
Kelsey Farm has maintained a longstanding history and culture based on a tradition of complete horsemanship and skill with a commitment that riders be safe, ride well, and importantly, have fun with a hands on responsibility. Participants groom, tack up, and take care of their assigned animal.
Students can start as young as seven years old, and usually continue to seventeen or eighteen. Riding is also available to a limited number of adults. Group lessons are typically with two to four students of comparable ability. Most of the horses and ponies are of show caliber and benefit student learners. Riders are matched by size and skills to an appropriate animal.
Many students are part of a lease/share board program that gives the rider the feel of ownership without the full-time commitment of time and cost. Share-boarders have two lessons and a three-hour supervised “open ride” on the weekend. They also have the option to compete at horse shows, go on cross-country rides, and attend off-campus clinics.
Above all, Kelsey Farm over many decades has embraced a caring community in a supervised atmosphere that teaches the art of riding, horse care, and respect for each other.
To find out more about Kelsey Farm go to the website kelseyfarm.com or email kelseyfarm@gmail.com. The farm is located at 1016 Lake Avenue, Greenwich, CT, 06831.
