Don & Earlen Haven, welcome you to Country Haven!
290 East Lake Road
Woodstown NJ 08098
856-769-1916
Country Haven, a 23 acre equestrian training facility in Pilesgrove (near Woodstown), NJ is owned and operated by Don and Earlen Haven.
It is a low key private barn offering lessons in dressage, eventing, hunter, hunter equitation, jumping and balanced seat riding . Her goal is to teach riders how to communicate better with their horse even if it is just for a relaxed hack.
We also offer the use of our property for schooling cross country, with measured galloping lanes and a ring with filter fabric base, granite stone dust (95% + compaction) and special washed sand, which has a large & small dressage arena and hunter/stadium jumps and a Liverpool if desired.
Earlen was a USEF licensed judge in dressage and eventing as well as in hunter, hunter equitation and jumper for 50+ years. She has always successfully crossed those disciplines herself and with many students and horses.
She teaches all of the disciplines with dressage basics which she feels are important in learning to communicate effectively with your horse. Her goal is to make riding enjoyable for both horse and rider allowing the horse “self carriage” so he can balance himself and get himself out of trouble if necessary. We encourage very light rein aids and utilization of more leg and weight aids to communicate with your horse. You actually can teach horses to ride without reins.
Earlen has had the opportunity to ride with many top instructors in the various disciplines and felt that they all taught the same principles. Bert deNemethy, the Olympic Jumper Team Coach asked Earlen to try out for the US Jumping Team, even though at the time, he had only worked with Earlen on the flat. Correct flat work is the basis for correct jumping. See her resume for details.
Although she does allow students to ride one of her schooled horses for lessons, many bring their own horses.
You can call Earlen for information about possible lease or ½ leasing one of her horses. Another program that we offer is if you take 3 lessons per week, you can ride any other time at no cost to practice. This actually works out to cost about the same or less as leasing a horse without, unexpected vet bills, etc. The 3 horses that are currently available can be seen in the Video section. A 17 hd. bay TB, the ceil brown, 16.1 hd. TB (flat work only) and the15.2 hd. chesnut Quarter horse (flat work only).Call Earlen @ 856-769-1916 for more information.
Country Haven’s facilities include approximately 16 acres of Kentucky Blue Grass pastures with a stream and heated Nelson waterers, an 8 stall barn, a 16’ x 44’ pasture shed, a cross country course & hacking area through woods and fields, a measured galloping path and a 150’ x 250’ sand ring (with filter fabric and a compacted stone dust base) which has great footing for the hunter/stadium jumps and the dressage arena.
The cross country course is available for schooling with your own ground person, your own instructor or with Earlen. Cross country lessons with Earlen are not charged the schooling fee for cross country.
Click on “Cross Country” for more details.
Feel free to call for more information or to be put on our email list. Earlen is always happy to meet with prospective students to discuss their goals and customize a program to meet the needs of both horse & rider. You are welcome to visit the farm.