Equine-imity reigns at Blue Oxer Farm and Riding Academy

By F. Josephine Arrowood
Sun contributor

In its bucolic setting about two miles west of Maple City, the Blue Oxer Farm and Riding Academy offers a variety of horse training, rider instruction for both children and adults, boarding and sales. Set on the 120-acre Cold Spring Farm, owned by Alton and Kathy Smith of Raleigh, NC, Blue Oxer was established in 2008 — the dream come true for horse lover, competitor, trainer, instructor and owner Emily King Brinkman.

Meeting in a small sitting room adjacent to the stalls after a day of lessons, it’s clear that Brinkman is still intently focused on all things equine. Her dream is built on a lot of hard work. Days begin early, arriving at the farm from her home in Lake Ann. Horses (she currently owns seven, with eight additional boarders) are fed high-quality hay and grains several times a day. Their stalls are “mucked” or “picked out” daily, and they are turned out each day as well for exercise. The farm features large pastures, roomy stalls, and a heated indoor riding area and tack room. The high level of professional care includes a comfortable ambience and camaraderie that comes from Brinkman’s deep belief in a solid foundation for both horses and students.

The 36-year-old equestrian, a Mississippi native, came to the sport somewhat late, at age 13. “I loved the feeling of being in the saddle and riding. I’ve always wanted to know more, and just to be around it. I moved to Syracuse, NY, and did equitation [a form of show that focuses on the rider’s form and skills, rather than the horse itself] as a junior — then hunters, then jumpers. I got burned out in college, and didn’t ride for four straight years.” She attended Indiana University at South Bend, earning a degree in special education. Then she was offered the chance to ride a friend’s horse in Elkhart, Ind.

“As soon as I put my foot in the stirrup and sat down, I thought, ‘What have I been doing during the past four years?’” Since then, she hasn’t wavered in her devotion to her chosen pursuit. After moving to northern Michigan in 2001, she worked as an assistant trainer at Northern Pines Farm near Maple City, eventually winning the trainer position, teaching beginner and intermediate students, and taking both children and adult clients to a variety of regional horse shows. She also worked with high school students at the Leelanau School near Glen Arbor, and recently revived the program last fall.

Brinkman works hard to polish her own skills as well, as an educator of both people and horses. She is a certified United States Hunter/Jumper Association trainer, and a member of both the U.S. Equestrian Federation and American Riding Instructor Association; she recently certified as a Level II A.R.I.A. Hunter/Jumper instructor as well.

“Certification gets everyone on the same page [of standards],” she says, “You test your skills, how you teach,” as well as knowledge of horse health and fitness. “Vital signs, feeding, farrier or blacksmith — to be a good horse trainer, you have to know how to handle them on the ground,” as well as in the show ring.

“What I try to do here at my place — number one is taking care of the horse: check his legs, pick out his hooves — what does he need?”

Along with equitation, Brinkman trains and shows horses and riders in hunter and jumper shows. Although the two disciplines share many elements, there are important differences, based on the history of equine sport. Both jump over obstacles on a course, but show hunters are judged by their turnout (gear and grooming) and their “manners,” that is, how they withstand being around different people, and how willing they are to do what their riders ask of them.

“A good hunter is very, very valuable; they may not be the prettiest, but you’re looking for temperament. I’ll get on them and ride them, see how they settle in to being brushed,” Brinkman instructs.

An efficient, long and low form is very important as well, as they stride between jumps, and leap straight (not angled) over various types of standards: poles set across uprights at varying heights and distances from each other. A vertical is a single standard, while an oxer, for which the farm was named (and in honor of its owner’s favorite color), has “width” — or more accurately, depth — to the jump: often two standards set in front of each other at different heights. A typical course might consist of 8-12 jumps.

A show jumper horse typically is larger and more powerful — “more scopey,” as Brinkman puts it — and is judged using a numerical score as it attempts an obstacle, clears it, and finishes the course in an allotted time. But the variety of jumps is greater, including angled oxers, gates, water features and solid-seeming barriers, such as “bricks” or shrubs, mimicking the obstacles that would typically be found in a field situation, say, fox hunting. Courses may also be designed with angles, rather than a straight line of jumps, and at more advanced shows, can include changes in the distance between individual jumps. All of this, emphasizes Brinkman, can take years of devotion to training, both of the horse and the rider.

She quickly credits her supportive husband Aaron, a registered nurse at Munson Hospital, who shares child-rearing (the couple has two young sons), and frequently pitches in at the barn as well, with helping her to maintain a balance between family life and business. Balance also plays an important role in her educational style.

“I don’t do well with a lot of stress before riding,” she explains, “so I teach people in an environment where you’re not under pressure. I want people to enjoy it — it’s such a rewarding experience! I love teaching — it’s such a thrill to see your students learning and doing well. The right people find us. It’s a gradual thing, once you expose them. You teach people to take a little more responsibility — step back and allow them to apply [their skills].”

She continues, “It’s very rewarding, but I also need to ride — honestly, there’s no better feeling than getting them [the horses] to do what you’ve asked them to do … reward them and they reward you. We talk horses all day long here. I’m thinking about it all the time.”

She gestures to Zeke, a powerful quarter horse gelding that she trains. “Like how do you get a horse to go into the trailer? Or how to get a horse ready for a show?” The horse lays his ears back and nods his head, as if in agreement with the challenges he presents.

As she gets ready for her daily ride with him, Brinkman shares some final thoughts. “We’re not a showy barn, but many of our people say it’s just a relaxing, professional place. It’s just the right group of people. Even after so many years, I find myself so totally involved with it. I’m happy where we are right now! Maybe someday in our own place … right now we have to do the best we can, keep improving. I feel good about the steps that we’ve taken: careful, done well.”

And with a decisive swish of his tail, Zeke and his companion are off on their daily adventure, rediscovering the familiar, yet always new, thrill of riding.

For more information about the Blue Oxer Farm and Riding Academy, visit BlueOxer.com.