Greetings from Pennsylvania!

Greetings from PA!!

Hello everyone! My name is Riana Barrington and I own and manage my own small farm ( Barrington Stables) in Lancaster, Pa, along with my supportive husband, Joshua.  I spend my days taking care of all the animals on the farm including my beloved curly horses! I run a natural care horse boarding program and incorporate more natural behavioral methods, based on my father’s techniques, into personal training sessions and lessons  .

I’ve traveled the world and have had the opportunity to see and ride many different horses but the curlies are by far my favorites! I first encountered curly horses while attending the Equine Affaire in MA when I was much younger. I thought they were so cool and unique! I finally got to work with my first curly horse years later when my father purchased a stallion, Warrior Lynx( aka “Trouble”), bred by Donna Vickery.  He was so impressed with the disposition of this horse after using him for a photo shoot for a book he was writing at the time. I loved working with Trouble and hoped someday I would be able to have a “barn-ful” of curly horses like him.

                                                             Warrior Lynx, myself, and Dad

Now I own three curly horses. Someday I’d like to have a few more but my farm is at its limit for horses right now L.  We have a Warrior Lynx nephew, Stag Creek Aren Daego, aka Remi who is over four years old now. I purchased him at yearling age and he has a wonderful personality. I’ve done a lot of ground work with him and he is a pro. We’ve done a lot of bonding over the last few years. I’m hoping to put more time in the saddle with Remi this year.

                                                       Stag Creek Aren Daego, aka “Remi”

My favorite curly horse on the farm is our stallion, KC Prince Charles, aka “Chuck”. He came to join our family last spring from Cozy Nook Curlys in WA. He was a bit chunky and had a nice couch potato belly when he came but I’ve done a lot of work with him over the last year and he’s turned out nicely. He has a wonderful disposition and is super people friendly. He has sired many foals like himself and I’m hoping to have some of our own foals from him in the future. This year I think we are ready to attend some local shows and maybe some expos later in the year. I really want to use this handsome fellow and my other horses to promote this wonderful breed.

                                                            KC Prince Charles, aka “Chuck”

My curly mare is Stella (Krinkles Stormy Star) and I used her for trail riding and some lessons. She is more forward moving than my other curly horses but still has that good curly horse disposition. I give some lessons to young children on a lunge line with her, some of whom are higher functioning autistic.
She is very patient with them and I am grateful to have a horse who is capable of behaving well with them. My husband is also a behavioral psychologist and is impressed with Stella’s therapeutic abilities.

                                                  Stella and myself on a trail ride in Fair Hill, MD

Over the last few years I’ve put more time and energy into the farm and teaching others than anything else. Other people ride at my place more than I do, even though I live here! This year I would like to spend more time on me and spend more time with my own horses.  I plan to change my business plan a bit to allow a little more freedom time-wise and financially to spend more time on my own goals and dreams. I am thankful that Denise Conroy has started up RAC again this year so that I have some motivation to keep going and get even more time in the saddle. I am also looking forward to meeting other curly horse owners and hearing about the journeys with their horses this year!