|
|
|
|
|
Jasmine Farm began
in March of 2000 when I finally realized my lifelong
dream of owning my own facility. No more boarding my own horses, no
more traveling to someone else’s farm to teach lessons on
borrowed
lesson ponies. The farm has grown from five acres to its current 30
acre facility with a full top of the line stadium course,
a regulation-sized deluxe dressage arena with sound system, a
36 x 48
barn with heated wash stall and extra large tack room, a round pen,
five paddock/pastures, and a swimming pool for after those summer
rides! Behind the farm are hundreds of acres of wooded trails and dirt
roads for hacking out.
Jasmine Farm is
both a learning
facility for children and adults and a training center for my
own
competition horses and horses taken in for training or resale. The
neighborhood is quiet and low-key, in keeping with my philosophy of
gently training horses and people alike.
I specialize in teaching dressage. My B.A. in English with a minor in Education help me present riding theory in a logical, easy-to-understand way. I advocate the United States Pony Club-recommended methods. ABOUT THE OWNER/TRAINER, VALERIE SWYGERT: I am a 1970
model (if I were a car I’d be considered an antique now!). I
have been
involved in horses since 1978. I learned to ride on gaited (racking)
horses, Saddlebreds, and Tennessee Walkers, which I showed on a
state-wide level. I then did some Western pleasure and barrel
and arena
racing. I also spent a lot of time just trail-riding, going bareback,
swimming the horses across large ponds, and just being silly! It is
these times that I remember most fondly and I try to replicate that joy
in my lesson program. Most people do not want to learn to
ride to
spend obscene amounts of money on the fanciest horse or win ribbons;
they want to enjoy the human/equine bond, appreciate nature, and have
fun. I strive to maintain that in a safe, structured environment.
I
showed huntseat with the College of Charleston equestrian team for four
years (1988-1992). During those years, we qualified for Nationals every
year (earning the Reserve National Championship once) and I earned a
4th place individual national ranking in my division as well. I then
pursued 3 day eventing where I won several horse trials throughout the
southeast. I worked with fellow Aikenite Lellie Ward; as a working
student at FareWell Farm in Blythewood, SC (then the host of the
Eastern Preliminary DeBroke championships); at OneWood Farm in
Blythewood, SC (host to the '96 Olympic gold medal-winning Dutch
team). It was here that I became hooked on
dressage. My first job
teaching riding was at Hickory Top Farm in Eastover, SC- through this
connection I also ran the summer riding program at Camp
Rockbrook in
Brevard, NC. When my husband's job transferred us to Georgia, I worked
for Michelle Deel at Coldstream Farm-an extremely talented rider who
imports top quality horses(www.dressageimports.com)
and then taught riding lessons at Greg and Cindy Thaxton's High Point
Farm in Athens, Georgia (host to the U.S. Olympic team during
'96). That was a wonderful wokring situation for me,
but the
unexpected death of my father prompted us to move
back to Aiken to be
closer to my mom. I taught riding at Black Forest Equestrian
Center,
where I taught the Aiken Prep School riding program. I
believe this is
the most beautiful stable in Aiken - www.blackforestfarm.com.
Yet
another unexpected death, this time of my first husband
Fletcher, prompted the move of my lesson program to
my small home
farm the last several years.
I have won several South Carolina and Georgia championship and reserve championship titles and placed in the Regional championships with different horses. Most recently I campaigned Norman Swygert of New York City’s mare California through second level- qualified and placed in the USDF championships. Currently I am working with my 6 year old Westphalian mare Simpatia on whom I need just one more third level score to earn my USDF Bronze medal. I also enjoy playing with my young quarter horse Debit, who is just about undefeated in her baby combined training classes. We have a couple very nice youngsters, as well as taking in clients' horses for training and resale. My main focus is matching appropriate temperaments and abilities of horses and riders, and I guarantee brutally honest representation- you will hear the good AND the bad about any sales horse and whether or not he or she is a good match for YOU. BOARDING: $375 per month,
includes blanketing in the winter and diligent fly masking in
the
summer. Deworming and farrier care billed as incurred. We feed Banks
Mill’s “Elite”, a 10% fat, 10% protein,
extruded grain with probiotics
and garlic, along with alfalfa pellets, Sand Trap psyllium supplement 7
days per month, electrolytes in summer, and Solitude IGR, a fly control
supplement. All horses have 24 hour access to coastal hay and/or grass.
Alfalfa, orchard grass and timothy hays available if needed. Salt and
mineral licks and turn out sheds (with fans) in each pasture. Maximum
of five horses per pasture. Water troughs are scrubbed minimum
of 3
times per week. Feed tubs and troughs are disinfected at
least once
per month. All horses here live outside 24 hours,
unless an allergy
or medical condition necessitates a stall, except in the case
of a
valuable competition horse who needs to be kept in to prevent sun
bleaching or possible turnout injury. We bed on straw. I
take
great pride in how happy and comfortable my horses are and I will not
compromise that for any reason. ALL HORSES MUST HAVE A
WATERPROOF
BLANKET AND FLY MASK.
THE TRAINING PROGRAM: Lessons available on or off the farm on your horse. In some instances, Jasmine Farm may have a horse for a student to use. We regret to announce that we will no longer be providing a lesson horse program for beginners. Carpe Diem, "L.V"
., 1984 AQHA mare, the most perfect horse to ever live and the heart
and soul of Jasmine Farm.
Deficit Spending, 6-1/2 yr old FANCY large pony, fabulous hunter prospect, currently showing dressage. Won her very first walk trot test! Always jumps & LOVES it. Safe & predictable to ride, never spooky or hot, handles new/strange situations with great aplomb. Will trail ride anywhere with anybody. Has foxhunted with children on her. She is out of my best horse ever (retired superstar L.V. & is her only foal, so she, like California, is only for sale to the "right" situation.
![]() Trouble, 4 year old Welsh cross gelding- shown here as a 3 year old with 12 year old Brooke Preston
Fiesta the
miniature donkey...!
![]() |
|
|
![]()
© 2002-2004
All images/materials on these pages are copyright protected and can not
be used
without written permission from Jasmine Farm or the various
photographers.
Web Design by
Robyn Reagan
Last Updated:
02/26/2008