About Us

Willow Oak Farm is celebrating our tenth anniversary

About Us

“To practice equestrian art is to establish a conversation on a higher level with the horse; a dialogue of courtesy and finesse…

…Only a rider who has a good position may obtain valid results from his horse.”

Nuno Oliveira (Legendary Portuguese Dressage Master) Excerpts from Reflections on Equestrian Art.

Patty Moreland has over 25 years of experience training horses and riders. She has trained with the late Major Bella Butaky, has been a student of Jessica and Missy Ransehousen, Denny Emerson, Cindy Sydnor, Lynn Leath, Buck Brannaman and Greg Eliel. Since 1980, she competed in hunter, dressage and eventing. She will address any rider’s imbalances, crookedness, and fitness, so the rider can confidently ride his/her horse on the trails or in the show ring.

Vanessa Moreland is a dressage rider who has worked with several professionals including horsemanship trainer Gred Eliel, as well as studying as a working student under Jessica Ransehousen. She has earned many awards with various horses from training through third level. Vanessa teaches children and adults and specializes in the beginner rider. In addition to training the rider from the start, she trains horses of all ages for the show ring. Vanessa combines dressage and horsemanship to teach softness and inspire confidence in both the horse and the rider.

Robert Moreland has worked with many types of horses for different disciplines. As a long term student of Buck Brannaman and Greg Eliel, he has developed the skills in starting and re-starting horses from the ground up. Robert's goals in working with both horse and rider result in softness, responsiveness, relaxation and trust. Starting out as a ranch roper Robert has also shown dressage and enjoys working with all levels of riding.

Here at Willow Oak Farm Riding School we teach all ages and all levels of riding. We enjoy every breed of horses. We focus on each rider and each horse individually and we offer various classes to suit your needs. You can work with Patty on your seat on her school horses in the ring while Robert is starting your young horse under saddle in the round pen or fine tuning your older horse. You can put all you confidence into Vanessa showing your horse for the first time or re schooling an older horse for the show ring. We will also take you out on our hills for your first gallop and help you in finding the best possible conditioning program for you and your horse.

Whether you stay one month or several years with us, together, our team will help you ride your horse safely, confidently and with ease and fun.

Our Philosophy

“Understanding a horse is something of an art…….What a person has in mind to present to the horse needs to be something that’s possible for a horse to actually do. Then the person has to be able to understand it themselves, through feel, and apply it in a way that the horse can understand.”

Bill Dorrance (Legendary Equestrian Master) Excerpts from True Horsemanship through Feel

TOP

Willow Oak Farm Riding School · 3231 Mays Chapel Road · Sanford, NC 27330 · info@willowoakfarmridingschool.com