Boarding | Stalls, Feed and Turnout | Rules and Regulations
Built in 1987, the Mount Holyoke Equestrian Center is considered to be one of the finest facilities for educational and competitive riding available to students anywhere.
Stable
Our stable provides 65 spacious, airy, rubber-matted stalls, a large outdoor all-weather footing show arena, a permanent dressage arena, two indoor arenas and a cross-country course. Well-equipped tack rooms are heated for winter and well ventilated in warm weather. Two heated wash stalls with hot and cold running water make grooming in inclement weather easier. There is also a comfortable lounge, elegant viewing room, locker room and shower for our riders. A laundry room is provided for laundering horse blankets and equipment. The stables are alarmed and patrolled by the Public Safety Department after hours, providing protection for your horse and your belongings.
Arenas and Trails
The Equestrian Center has many areas for boarders to ride and enjoy their horses. Attached to the stable are two indoor arenas. The large indoor measures 230 x 100 feet and supports all of our Team practices and PE lessons. The small indoor measures 70 x 110 feet and is used for dressage, western, and lower-level hunt seat instruction. Both of these rings are dragged and watered daily. Boarders are more than welcome to use both of these rings to school their horses, but priority is given to riders in a lesson. Riders may jump in these areas outside of instruction.
In addition to two indoor riding rings, the Equestrian Center also boasts two outdoor sand rings and a full regulation-sized dressage ring. This ring is 20 x 60 meters and contains sand and Euro-felt footing. In pleasant weather, dressage shows are held at Mount Holyoke, and this ring is a favorite of both riders and horses. All of the outdoor riding rings have well-equipped judges’ booths and outdoor watering systems.
The Mount Holyoke campus is also home to two areas for cross-country jumps containing a wide range of elements spanning from the beginner-novice level up through training level. Both lesson groups and boarders enjoy these areas. For safety’s sake, no riders are permitted to go cross-country alone.
Boarders are encouraged to enjoy the miles of scenic trails that wind in and around the cross-country fields. The trails follow around two lakes and through several streams. Don’t worry if your horse does not care for water; most of the trails will keep you on dry land. Lesson groups also take breaks to go on trail rides from time to time. Boarders are permitted to trail ride alone, but they must inform a member of the Equestrian Center before they leave and are encouraged to carry a cell phone.