About the Farm

As you might guess, horses teach much more than ‘just’ riding. Research confirms that horseback riding carries many benefits, some of which include:

Shady Hill Farm is a life-long dream for a horse-crazy girl who never outgrew it! Rebecca Hathaway loves children, horses and helping others get the most out of their relationships with horses.  Rebecca has taught riding for over 20 years. She specializes in English riding and has taught, coached and competed in dressage (akin to ballet or gymnastics on a horse), eventing (which includes both dressage and jumping) as well as hunter/equitation horse shows. She has trained with many notable instructors including, among others, Robert Dover (who has represented the U.S. in 6 Olympics, more than any other Dressage rider in the country). She has also ridden with Mary Wanless, an internationally famous author and trainer who is revolutionizing the way riding is taught, using “bio-mechanics”. Rebecca is a graduate “H-A” member of the U.S. Pony Club, and an instructor and rater for many of the clubs in the Metropolitan Region. She trains horses using “Natural Horsemanship” techniques. She also teaches at several other barns in Greenwich and Wilton, Ct.

Shady Hill Farm is lucky to have 3 wonderful school horses and ponies. The children’s program is aimed at having fun while gaining both the riding skills and life lessons that horses so naturally teach us.

Are you interested in how groundwork and body work (Natural Horsemanship, TTouch techniques and “horse yoga”) can improve your relationship with your horse and carry over to your ridden work?

Are you interested in how both traditional “Classical Dressage” and “Natural Horsemanship” techniques overlap and inform each other?

Do you wish you could improve your riding through “biomechanics”, knowing specifically which muscles needed to work harder and which needed to release tense holding patterns? (Pioneers in this field include Sally Swift and Mary Wanless.)