Where Tradition Meets Topography
Nestled in the gently rolling hills of Metamora’s storied Fox Hunting Country, Hunters Run Farm sits at 3320 Casey Road, a location that has long attracted riders who appreciate the balance between untouched countryside and purpose-built equestrian infrastructure. The area’s sandy loam and natural elevation changes create ideal footing for cross-country schooling, while the surrounding woodlots offer wind protection that extends the riding season well into Michigan’s brisk shoulder months.
Facilities Engineered for Performance and Safety
Eventers travel hundreds of miles to school on the farm’s cross-country course, which stretches from Starter through Preliminary level and is re-imagined annually to incorporate fresh questions. Portable tables, bank complexes, and a water jump are positioned over varied terrain so horses learn to adjust balance on both climbs and descents. The design work is ongoing; each winter, the crew reviews USEA feedback and installs new frangible pins or adjusts approaches to keep pace with evolving safety research.
Just uphill from the course sit two sand arenas: a full-sized dressage ring with a judge’s stand and a dedicated stadium-jumping ring that is dragged daily during the busy season. Stadium fences are stored under cover, so rails stay straight and paint bright, a small detail that speaks to the operation’s meticulous upkeep.
The Boarding Program: Twelve Stalls, Unlimited Attention
Unlike many commercial barns, Hunters Run Farm caps boarding at only twelve horses. The $560 monthly board includes:
- A 12 × 12 matted stall bedded in kiln-dried shavings
- Twice-daily grain and free-choice hay tailored to each horse’s caloric needs
- Group or individual turnout on lush, rotated pastures (weather permitting)
- Daily use of the dressage and jumper rings as well as full access to the cross-country course
- A secure tack room, on-site trailer parking, and a clubhouse that doubles as a viewing lounge during clinics
Keeping the headcount low translates into longer turnout times, hand-walking on ice days when footing is suspect, and quick identification of health changes—ranging from a mild pulse in a hoof to a loss of topline. Boarders often note that the “family feel” makes it easy to coordinate ride times, share shipping to shows, and swap resources such as an extra fly spray when someone forgets theirs at home.
See the Farm for Yourself
The short video tour above (shot during a summer schooling day) captures the facility’s flowing gallop lanes, the bank complex under a canopy of oak trees, and the sand arenas that sit adjacent to the main barn. While the footage was taken on a sunny July afternoon, riders who visit in late autumn still find well-drained footing thanks to years of purposeful land management and aggressive aeration schedules.
A Calendar That Builds Better Event Horses
Hunters Run Farm’s 2025 event lineup is more than a series of dates; it is a developmental pathway. Early-summer Eventing Derbies over mixed show-jump and cross-country tracks help young horses see fences with flower boxes one round and a roll-top the next. Mid-July and early-September Horse Trials offer Starter through Training levels under USEA rules, providing local riders a recognized show without a six-hour haul. The Sharon White Eventing Clinic returns in August, filling within hours every year because riders value her no-nonsense approach to confidence building.
Dressage riders are equally served. Four Michigan Dressage Association (MDA) shows occupy the calmer weeks between Horse Trials, and low-key schooling days are penciled in whenever ring maintenance ends ahead of schedule. The result is a farm that feels alive but never congested; turnout schedules can be adjusted around show warm-ups, and resident horses stay relaxed whether or not an event is underway.
Management That Puts the Rulebook First
Farm manager David Emmons is a United States Equestrian Federation licensed “r” Technical Delegate, a role that requires extensive rule-book familiarity and on-course problem solving. Having a TD in charge means everything from jump flags to medical armbands is checked and double-checked before the first competitor leaves the start box. Riders new to the sport often cite the pre-show briefing—where Emmons reviews optimum time calculations and frangible technology—as an education in and of itself.
Community Culture: More Than Just a Boarding Barn
The farm’s small scale fosters collaboration. When the cross-country water complex needed fresh stone dust last spring, boarders organized a Saturday work crew and the footing was upgraded before lunch. During winter, the clubhouse’s wood-burning stove becomes a hub for goal-setting sessions; some riders create kitchen-table conditioning charts, while others swap outgrown breeches. This cooperative energy trickles down to the horses, whose predictable schedules and familiar surroundings minimize stress during Michigan’s dramatic temperature swings.
Planning Your First Visit
Prospective boarders should call or email ahead—drop-ins are discouraged so the team can maintain security for resident horses. GPS systems occasionally route visitors down seasonal roads, so confirm directions via the farm’s official page at huntersrunfarm.com. Upon arrival, park in the gravel lot beside the clubhouse unless otherwise instructed; the main aisle is reserved for vet and farrier vehicles. Helmet use is mandatory the moment you swing a leg over, and the farm recommends bringing a current Coggins copy even for a casual schooling session, as impromptu schooling partners often ask to share paperwork for their own records.
Essential Gear Checklist for a Productive Schooling Day
- A properly fitted eventing helmet that meets the latest ASTM/SEI standards
- A body-protecting safety vest for cross-country efforts
- Open-front jumping boots or lightweight brushing boots to guard against knocks
- An adjustable five-point breastplate for steep terrain
- Spare studs, wrench, and a tap for horses that require extra traction
- A thermos of water in colder months; a small cooler of electrolyte mix in summer
Boarders who forget an item can sometimes borrow gear, but seasonal demand means popular sizes disappear fast. Keeping truck boxes stocked avoids scrambling the morning of a clinic.
Stewardship and Sustainability
Operating on thirty-five acres means every acre must pull double duty: grazing space in May becomes warm-up space in June, and the same patch may host a Starter log pile in September. To prevent overuse, staff rotates turnout daily and rests portions of the cross-country course after heavy rainfall. Runoff culverts installed in 2022 now funnel stormwater away from the main gallop lane, preserving grass cover even during wet springs. Compost from mucked stalls fertilizes hayfields across the road, closing the nutrient loop and lessening the farm’s environmental footprint.
Why Hunters Run Farm Continues to Stand Out
In a region dotted with capable equestrian centers, Hunters Run Farm distinguishes itself through deliberate scale, continuous facility investment, and a show calendar designed to educate rather than merely entertain. Riders leave the property having trotted a ditch, executed a crisp dressage halt, and shared a barn-aisle laugh—often on the same afternoon. That combination of serious sport and genuine camaraderie explains why haul-ins from Ohio, Indiana, and Ontario appear on every sign-in sheet.
Whether you are a seasoned eventer looking to fine-tune your Preliminary ride or a newcomer eager to canter your first Starter course, Hunters Run Farm offers the terrain, expertise, and support system to move you—and your horse—confidently to the next level.