Matlock Farm
Making Dreams Become a Reality
About the Lesson Program
Matlock Farm is geared towards giving students the results they aspire to, whether trail riding, riding for fun, or competitive showing. No matter what your goal is we can help you achieve it in a fun, friendly and relaxed environment. Riders start out by learning the basics of balance and coordination by doing numerous exercises and fun games. We then move you on to more challenging workouts to really challenge the mind and body to get the confidence you need. All disciplines of riding are based on balance-seat riding.
Pairing horse with rider is a huge part of growing as a team. We make sure the horses you ride are suitable for your needs and hope you develop an everlasting relationship. The horses available for lessons range from predictable school horses to challenging project horses for more experienced riders. We also have seasoned show horses who have shown at all the levels from open fun shows to the National level.
*Please fill out the appropriate forms at the bottom of the page before your first riding lesson*
About the Instructor
Sarah Flint is a licensed horseback riding instructor who has just recently started her dream of operating a lesson, training and show barn. She grew up on her family farm and started riding at age seven. Over the years she has shown at local 4-H shows up through the National level. She has been associated with Arabians and National Show Horses since 1990 and has been showing on the circuits ever since.
She has had the privilege of working with such trainers as Paula Paglia, Frake Van der Meer, Adam Lastowka, Richard Thell, Marie Louise Barrett and Olympians Shannon Dueck and Greg Best, all of whom are well known in their respective disciplines. With the help and knowledge of these individuals Sarah has been taught and shown in such disciplines as Dressage, Hunter Pleasure, Jumping, Saddleseat, Western, Driving, Halter and Equitation. She would like to pass her experience and knowledge onto her students and help them pursue their dreams.
Katie Speer is a student at The University of Connecticut. She has known Sarah since their days with Paula Paglia. She joined the Matlock Farm show team in 2008 and will continue for years to come! Look for her in the Sport Horse and Dressage rings on some of the Matlock horses. Her Arabian gelding, Mister Do Da, has been retired after an impressive show career in the following divisions: Sport Horse, Dressage, Show Hack, Country Pleasure and Halter.
Bobbi Tornheim has joined the Matlock Team as a volunteer "barn hand" and loves riding all the horses, especially Nate and Calvin. She also used to ride with Paula Paglia and has Sarah's same love for the Arabian horse breed. Bobbi has given the barn a makeover by adding fresh paint and bringing along a cheerful atmosphere! In her free time, Bobbi sells properties in the neighboring towns, enjoys wood-turning and trains her beautiful dog, Breezy. Although she stated from the beginning that shows did not really interest her, after spending the day at the New Hampshire Arabian Summer Jubilee Horse Show, she may have just caught the bug...
Dan Phipps can be seen on occasion doing the job of "handyman" at Matlock Farm. Without Dan, the jumps would never have been fixed up! His master packing skills also come in handy when we are headed out to a horse show. And what is working on a horse farm without getting to ride yourself? Dan has been able to have his first and second rides EVER on a horse, here at Matlock!