Cricket Hill Farm

Academy and Gardens

horse board & training

Welcome Back Rio!

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Rio returns 9-20-13The day was bright and shiny – reflected in the bright and shiny van – -as Kristin McLallen’s talented 9-year Oldenburg gelding, Rendition, returned to Cricket Hill today! He was led off the truck by Leah, looked around, took a nibble of grass, and looked quite satisfied with himself. After some R&R, Rio will be in training with Kira.

QH Evita Comes to Cricket Hill!

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Linda, Evita & KiraOn a sunny day last year, Linda Goldstein lost her heart to QH Evita, one of Rae & Marshall Schwarz’ Quarry Hill bred Arabians. Linda has owned Warmbloods and Morgans, all for dressage. But she always wanted an Arab.

We welcomed 4-year-old Evita to Cricket Hill in April, green broke and ready to start her training with Kira. Kira has had experience with all breeds, including Arabs, in both dressage and jumping. This picture was taken in the summer after a few months in training: Linda standing, Kira up.

Cricket Hill welcomes Garbo, a.k.a. Greta!

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Greta & Darrah“Cricket Hill is where I want to be!” said Greta’s owner Darrah Cloud, Pine Plains. Already successful in amateur hunters, the pair was ready for a new chapter in their riding partnership. So after arriving, Kira schooled Greta a few weeks to introduce the 9-year-old mare to dressage basics. Then Darrah had a lesson. After warming up, Kira asked “what would you like toKira, Darrah & Greta take a break work on?” Darrah answered, “Whatever makes Greta feel as nice as this!” So now they are on a dressage path. Darrah’s work as a playwright and professor takes her away for weeks at a time; so in exchange for our keeping Greta fit, some Cricket Hill riders may take lessons from Kira on Greta! This summer, one very lucky working student jumped 4′ for the first time!

Paddy’s new horse Didi joins Sienna at Cricket Hill

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Didi arrivesCongratulations! Exciting to report! Paddy Rossbach’s new mare, a fabulous 13-year-old bay Thoroughbred-Welsh cross pony, just arrived! “Princess Di is too long a name for her,” says Paddy. So Didi (Die-Dee) it is! Didi will be going into training with Kira to develop more throughness, softness and length of stride, and Paddy will ride both Didi and Sienna. Bravo Paddy! Stay tuned for progress reports.

Cricket Hill welcomes Kira Steines, Head Trainer and Instructor

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Kira comes to us with a wide range of experience teaching, training and managing both dressage and eventing horses and facilities. She is exceptionally well-suited to provide leadership to all our Cricket Hill activities.

Kira Steines, Head Trainer/InstructorKira developed her skills in FEI level dressage in NJ, NY, FL, Germany. For two years, she trained regularly with U.S. Olympian Robert Dover in both NJ and FL, responsible for the daily care and maintenance of international dressage horses. She moved the entire entity to FL and back to NJ. During this time, she spent a summer in Germany with Todd Flettrich and Hubertus Schmidt.Following that, Kira was Assistant Trainer/Barn Manager for U.S. International FEI trainer Shelly Francis, at her operations in FL and Germany. Shelly has been competing internationally for over 20 years and most recently was on the Silver Medal U.S. team competing at the Nation”™s Cup. Kira schooled horses and taught students through FEI while working with Shelly. Shelly enjoys telling us that Kira was “one of only two assistants I let ride my FEI competition horses.”

Kira brings us a firm foundation in jumping as well as dressage. She started her career in Wisconsin, as Instructor/Stable Manager of the family boarding facility. There she trained and taught about 20 horse-rider pairs for six years. She was asked to take over the local chapter of Pony Club, teaching 9-18 year olds and training horses for Eventing (to Training level) and helping them hone their Dressage education through 2nd Level. Kira has competed in eventing through Preliminary Level and teaches jumping at Cricket Hill from beginning to 4′.

Kira is an inspired instructor. She brings both her enthusiasm and caring for horses and riders to every session, adults and children. Informed by her experience with high level dressage horses, she knows what it takes to make a happy, sound, successful partnership. Her vivid analogies help riders to connect their bodies and minds to their equine partners.

Kira’s 6-year-old gray Percheron/TB mare Phoenix resides at Cricket Hill. Kira lives at 245 Snyder Road with her two dogs, Flick and Demi.