For many years Brock and Laura Rutledge, owners of BAR Stables, have been involved with training and showing horses. As members of the equestrian community, they enjoy sharing their knowledge with others of all ages and skill levels. The couple’s six good-tempered horses are ready for beginning students as well as advanced riders.
Brock started competing when he was 10 and turned pro at age 18. As a teenager he worked in barns. He showed Morgan horses, one of the oldest breeds in the United States, and later elegant American Saddlebreds, which he continues to train.
“I got into it because there was a barn down the road where I took lessons as a kid,” Brock Rutledge says. “I fell in love with the community of it. It’s how I met my wife.”
Laura is from southern Indiana and participated in a 4-H horse program. While pursuing an equestrian science degree from William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri, she did an internship in Westfield. Brock was employed by stables as well.
Today the couple has three children, aged 18 months to 12 years. The older siblings are involved in 4-H Horse and Pony. Additionally, the whole family looks forward to going trail riding whenever possible.
“All of the horses have different personalities and traits, and I know their tendencies well,” Rutledge says. “Rosie is our beginner horse, and she is just a sweetheart. Everyone seems to love her. Even when students advance past her, she is still their favorite. There’s just something about her that people connect with. She is gentle and patient.”
“We have students that are beginners all the way up to advanced,” he continues. “Our youngest student is 6 and our oldest one is 72 years old. It is a fun experience to see someone touch a horse for the first time. When people are starting riding lessons for the first time, they learn to realize that the rider must do all the thinking for a 1,000-pound animal. The rider must make all the decisions for them.”
BAR Stables is situated halfway between Kokomo and the Westfield-Carmel area. Students come from the surrounding area, as well as the north side of Indianapolis including Broad Ripple. Private lessons are $50 and group lessons are $40. The sessions are usually held during the evening hours of 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The business has been open since March of this year, and primarily focuses on riding lessons. BAR Stables uses its own horses for English and Western riding lessons. Along with lessons, BAR Stables also offers professional horse training. This winter and next spring, Rutledge is planning on taking students to some competitions in nearby places such as Cloverdale and Edinburgh.
“The BAR comes from the initials of my name – Brock Andrew Rutledge,” he says. “It is wonderful to see the joy on someone’s face when they learn to ride. It is wonderful when they get an understanding. You can see their sense of accomplishment.”
BAR Stables is located at 6500 West 600 South in Atlanta, Indiana. For more information, email barstablesllc@gmail.com or call 317-752-1446.
