GreenApple Stables is a 70 acre Training Facility and Sales Barn in Frenchtown, New Jersey. Owners and Trainers, Kendra Gruber-Richardson and Ben Richardson, created the business around a vision to provide an equestrian facility that had the care and training program of a large show barn but at an affordable price with a relaxed, no-drama atmosphere of a casual family friendly barn. |
Owners/Trainers - Ben Richardson and Kendra Gruber-Richardson
The husband and wife team have over 40 years of horse experience including
showing at the national level, breaking babies, running large boarding and
lesson facilities to retraining off-the track Thoroughbreds. From beginners
looking to be introduced into the world of horses, to the more experienced
rider looking to travel to shows, we are happy to help you achieve whatever
goal you are striving towards in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Having 2
trainers, with different ideas but similar goals working together as a team,
gives students the chance to be at one barn yet train with 2 people, without
any issues. It keeps lessons fun with new ideas, and always exciting.
The husband and wife team have over 40 years of horse experience including
showing at the national level, breaking babies, running large boarding and
lesson facilities to retraining off-the track Thoroughbreds. From beginners
looking to be introduced into the world of horses, to the more experienced
rider looking to travel to shows, we are happy to help you achieve whatever
goal you are striving towards in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Having 2
trainers, with different ideas but similar goals working together as a team,
gives students the chance to be at one barn yet train with 2 people, without
any issues. It keeps lessons fun with new ideas, and always exciting.
Please browse through our site and look through our Facilities, Services, and Sale/Lease Horses. Even better, feel free to stop
by and see us in person, or schedule some time with Kendra or Ben to tour the facility and talk about our boarding and lesson
programs.
by and see us in person, or schedule some time with Kendra or Ben to tour the facility and talk about our boarding and lesson
programs.
Pat Gruber, another vital part of GreenApple Stables, along with her help,
Hans, can also always be found working around the farm. From being our
"horse show mom", to always keeping the kitchen stocked with goodies, to
making sure the water buckets are always scrubbed spotless, planning
parties, and keeping the kitties well fed, Pat makes sure all of the details are
taken care of.
Hans, can also always be found working around the farm. From being our
"horse show mom", to always keeping the kitchen stocked with goodies, to
making sure the water buckets are always scrubbed spotless, planning
parties, and keeping the kitties well fed, Pat makes sure all of the details are
taken care of.
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Kendra Gruber-Richardson
Speacializing in the disciplines of Hunters & Jumpers, but also dabbling in horse
trials, Kendra offers over 20 years of horse experience. Growing up at large show
barns, she has been riding, competing, and caring for horses from a very young age.
Not being able to afford a horse of her own as a child, she worked at the barn to
help pay for lessons and catch rode any horse she could. By her early teen years,
Kendra was riding and training any horse in the barn that no one else could ride, or
would want to get on. This taught her the skills needed to train green and problem
horses and helped her find her true passion.
She has competed all over the east coast at the top "A" shows and has qualified and
competed at the Washington International Horse Show and the National Horse
Show. Kendra has also competed in numerous horse trials.
After showing for many years in the bigger jumper divisions, when her horse
needed to retire, she returned back to what she really loves - training green horses.
The satisfaction of retraining an OTTB from scratch, finding its nitch in the
show/pleasure horse world, and finding it a great home is now what drives Kendra.
So many OTTB's are thrown away after their time racing is done because they are
not given a chance. Kendra's goal is to help these horses switch over into a new
world, and prove to people how wonderful an OTTB can be. Watching a young
horse progress both physically and mentally, and excel in the H/J, Dressage, or
Eventing is extremely rewarding.
Speacializing in the disciplines of Hunters & Jumpers, but also dabbling in horse
trials, Kendra offers over 20 years of horse experience. Growing up at large show
barns, she has been riding, competing, and caring for horses from a very young age.
Not being able to afford a horse of her own as a child, she worked at the barn to
help pay for lessons and catch rode any horse she could. By her early teen years,
Kendra was riding and training any horse in the barn that no one else could ride, or
would want to get on. This taught her the skills needed to train green and problem
horses and helped her find her true passion.
She has competed all over the east coast at the top "A" shows and has qualified and
competed at the Washington International Horse Show and the National Horse
Show. Kendra has also competed in numerous horse trials.
After showing for many years in the bigger jumper divisions, when her horse
needed to retire, she returned back to what she really loves - training green horses.
The satisfaction of retraining an OTTB from scratch, finding its nitch in the
show/pleasure horse world, and finding it a great home is now what drives Kendra.
So many OTTB's are thrown away after their time racing is done because they are
not given a chance. Kendra's goal is to help these horses switch over into a new
world, and prove to people how wonderful an OTTB can be. Watching a young
horse progress both physically and mentally, and excel in the H/J, Dressage, or
Eventing is extremely rewarding.
Ben Richardson
Ben Richardson's love of horses also started at a very young age. He rode with the
Junior Essex Troop (Troop A in West Orange, NJ) where not only riding, but true
horsemanship was taught. The horses were all donated or from auction – so no
made horses here – mostly crazy but definitely taught him how to ride. With so
many types of horses, he learned when to be tough and demanding and when to be
patient and kind. While riding with Troop, Ben began riding with Ann Sullivan at
Suburban Essex Stables in West Orange, NJ, taking lessons and riding sale horses.
After graduating high school, he started purchasing his own horses and ponies for
resale, broke horses and schooled other peoples problem horses while continuing
his riding education by participating in numerous George Morris Clinics. He later
started working for good friend, Nona Garson - riding, training horses, teaching, and
coaching at shows while still purchasing and selling his own horses.
Ben then took some years off to concentrate on growing his construction business
and to coach other youth sports that were not as demanding of my time. He still
continued to ride and be a part of the horse world, but was not as intense about it.
Then, Ben met Kendra and got suckered into getting back involved in teaching,
training, and riding- so here he is stuck teaching again (but he loves it!) - so in
Ben's words..." put your goddamn heels down, stop hanging on the horses mouth
and stop lolly-gagging!" LOL! Everyone loves Ben!!
Ben Richardson's love of horses also started at a very young age. He rode with the
Junior Essex Troop (Troop A in West Orange, NJ) where not only riding, but true
horsemanship was taught. The horses were all donated or from auction – so no
made horses here – mostly crazy but definitely taught him how to ride. With so
many types of horses, he learned when to be tough and demanding and when to be
patient and kind. While riding with Troop, Ben began riding with Ann Sullivan at
Suburban Essex Stables in West Orange, NJ, taking lessons and riding sale horses.
After graduating high school, he started purchasing his own horses and ponies for
resale, broke horses and schooled other peoples problem horses while continuing
his riding education by participating in numerous George Morris Clinics. He later
started working for good friend, Nona Garson - riding, training horses, teaching, and
coaching at shows while still purchasing and selling his own horses.
Ben then took some years off to concentrate on growing his construction business
and to coach other youth sports that were not as demanding of my time. He still
continued to ride and be a part of the horse world, but was not as intense about it.
Then, Ben met Kendra and got suckered into getting back involved in teaching,
training, and riding- so here he is stuck teaching again (but he loves it!) - so in
Ben's words..." put your goddamn heels down, stop hanging on the horses mouth
and stop lolly-gagging!" LOL! Everyone loves Ben!!
