Photo: Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) Clinic Director Heidi Potter and CHA Clinician Polly Barger in the covered arena of the newly accredited Oaks of Lake City Equestrian Center. (Photo credit: Courtesy of The Oaks of LakeCity)
Lake City
, FL – The Oaks of Lake City Equestrian Center has added a new honor to its name by being named a Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) site accredited facility in the state of Florida. The Oaks of Lake City Equestrian Center is the only accredited facility currently operating in the state of Florida. The prestigious honor was awarded during a highly successful CHA weekend clinic at the beautiful state-of-the-art Oaks of Lake City Equestrian Center.
Equestrians from all disciplines gathered at The Oaks’ LakeCity location to take part in the Standard Instructor Certification clinic provided by the CHA. “In addition to holding the clinic, our equestrian center became an accredited facility and all of our instructors became CHA certified,” said Rhonda Gailey, Resident Equestrian Facility Manager at The Oaks of Lake City Equestrian Center.
The clinic and the facility won rave reviews from all who attended with participants going as far as to say, “My horse felt like he was at a Spa and the personal catering was way above and beyond.”
In order for The Oaks to become an accredited facility they first had to pass safety standards in areas such as the facility, program operations and program management. “"It is an exceptionally well maintained facility that would be a wonderful host site for a CHA national conference. It is a really wonderful site in every way!" said Polly Barger, CHA Program Director from Lexington, Kentucky.
Gailey was thrilled with the clinic’s turnout and the fact that the equestrian center is now the only CHA site accredited facility in Florida. The Oaks will now hold other CHA certification programs throughout the year. “We received ‘glowing’ comments from all the participants,” Gailey said, adding that the participants were treated to a great cookout and it “was a huge hit.”
The CHA is the largest and oldest certification program in North America and offers hands-on certification clinics for instructors and trail guides. The Standard Instructor Certification is open to equestrians of all disciplines and clinic participants must successfully complete the 40-hour certification course. During the clinic, the participants are evaluated on safety, horsemanship, teaching techniques, group control and professionalism.
The Oaks of Lake City, a residential community in Northern Florida designed to enhance the equestrian lifestyle of riders of all disciplines, was pleased to host the CHA clinic. The community, home to The Oaks Equestrian Center and the inaugural O’Connor Signature equestrian facility, is committed to supporting the equestrian community through sponsorships and clinics.
Olympians Karen and David O’Connor, in conjunction with Equestrian Services, LLC, have designed and put their stamp on the community, whose standards reflect their commitment to an equestrian facility designed to offer residents the finest in equestrian lifestyles. Professionally managed by Equestrian Management, LLC, the facility offers a 33-stall barn, a 122’ x 225’ covered riding arena, a 60 foot covered round pen with world-class footing, 15 miles of looped trails and the O’Connor designed 11 acre cross-country jumping course.
The community and its Equestrian Center cater to a variety of equestrian disciplines, from jumpers and eventers to ropers and trail riders. For more information on The Oaks of Lake City, visit their website at www.theoakslakecity.com. For more information about CHA, visit their website at www.cha-ahse.org.
For more information contact:
Jon C. Jackson, Director of Sales
The Oaks of LakeCity
800.545.3501
jon@dicksrealtors.com
Newsroom Associate
Staff Writer
support@horsesinthesouth.com