Welcome to Buckingham Equestrian Center. We have been providing services to individuals in Dillwyn and surrounding areas for nine years now. BEC is a family run business. Mary and Carl Svalstedt own and run the Equestrian Center.
Count on Buckingham Equestrian Center when quality really counts. Remember, exceptional service is our standard.
ABOUT MARY SVALSTEDT:
Mary teaches her students by the methods she has learned in her 40 years of riding and experiences. Her previous trainers were Janie Weber (six years Professional Horseman Association Award winner), Sue Beverly-Vasilef (Mary's junior trainer), George Morris (Olympic United States Equestrian Teams trainer), and Anne Kursinski (Olympic Gold medal rider). Some of Mary's other trainers were Janie Weber's daughters, Juliana Starbuck (Grand Prix rider), and Amanda Starbuck (winner of 2002 Adult Amateur 18-35 years Grand Champion on Rio Bronco, Janie's stallion). Mary has also studied Dressage under German instructors. She worked at two sales barns as a junior and an adult for a total of eight years. She has lots of experience riding different horses and teaching. Wouldn't you want someone with experience teaching your child or yourself. Buckingham Equestrian Center stresses safety at the highest level.
Some of Mary's recent students accomplishments are:
Brittany Crafton and BEC's Iron Slippers: 2009 VHSA Associate Short Stirrup year end champion
2009 VHSA Associate Short Stirrup Hunter Champion (championship show
Maria Finan and Ticket To Fame: 2009 VHSA Associate Short Stirrup Hunter Reserve Champion (championship show)
2009 VHSA Associate Short Stirrup Hunter 3rd place year end
Reba Layman and Dream Come True 2009 VHSA Associate Green Hunter 10th place year end
2009 VHSA Associate Green Hunter 2 9th places (championship show)
2008 VHSA Associate Short Stirrup Hunter 4th place year end
Reba Layman and Stepp-In-Out 2008 VHSA Associate Short Stirrup Hunter Champion year end
Mary has ridden many of her own horses to top honors as well. Three of her most recent horses have won such awards:
Mary Svalstedt and Rio Prospector: 2009 Four Oaks Low Hunter year end Champion
2009 Speakeasy Hopeful Hunter year end Champion
Mary Svalstedt and What A Doll: 2008 VHSA Associate Program Green Hunter 7th place year end
2008 VHSA Associate Program Green Hunter 6th and 7th place (championship show)
2008 Rivanna Run Green Hunter year end Champion
2008 Speakeasy Green Hunter year end Champion
2008 GLC Horse Haven Green Hunter year end Reserve Champion
Mary Svalstedt and Found My Spot: 2009 VHSA Associate Program Green Hunter 11th place year end
2009 VHSA Associate Program Green Hunter 9th place (championship show)
2009 Rivanna Run Green Hunter year end Reserve Champion
2009 Speakeasy Green Hunter year end Reserve Champion
2009 Speakeasy Low Hunter year end Reserve Champion
2008 Speakeasy Low Hunter year end Reserve Champion
2008 GLC Horse Haven Green Hunter year end Champion
2008 Rivanna Run Low Hunter year end Champion
Some facts about Mary's horses:
Rio Prospector: He was born and raised at BEC and is just starting his career as a six year old. He will show in the VHSA Associate Green Hunter division and also on the USEF circuit in 2010. He is Rio Bronco son and out of a top A-rated show Hunter Mary showed in her adult career in Wellington, FL. Mary showed his dam in the Low Hunter and the Adult Amateur divisions as well as Adult Amateur Equitation.
What A Doll: One of Mary's favorites to ride. "Dolly" was purchased by Mary from her friend Cathy Chambers as a three year old. She is now 8 years old. Mary has brought this wonderful horse from race track level (she still had racing plates on when purchased) to the top show levels. "Dolly" loves her job and does it well. She is truly a hunter. Mary spent many years doing gymnastic work and flat work with "Dolly" to make her into the horse she is today. Mary still occasionally rides this mare in the Low Hunters for fun, but Dolly mostly teaches other riders how to do it right now.
Found My Spot: This Belgian cross mare was purchased three years ago from D and L Livestock and was on the trail hack line. "Polly" won almost every jumping class Mary competed her in. She was the best jumping mare Mary has ever owned. Mary taught this mare from scratch. Mary recently sold this mare to Ellie Whitenack and hopes Ellie has as much fun on her as she did. "I sometimes miss Polly around here but know I made the right choice selling her to Ellie. She loves her as much as I did and that is important to me".
About Carl Svalstedt: Carl rode horses in his younger years and is now happy to maintain Buckingham Equestrian Center.
He replaced almost all the barbed wire fencing on the farm with four board wood fencing. Carl also renovated the old barn on the farm into a very usable work place. The farms outdoor ring was all done by Carl as he graded it and put in the stonedust. He maintains both the outdoor and indoor rings on a regular basis and is currently working on the new viewing room for both rings. He made jumps for both the rings and continues to supply the farm with new and interesting jumps on a yearly basis. He has a talent for making unique jumps. It isn't rare to see Carl with a hammer in his hand or up on his John Deere tractor doing something for the horses (like feeding hay) or maintaining something. He was a professional carpenter by trade and worked for such people as Paula Zahn (CNN's newscaster), Richard Gere (needs no introduction) and Tommy Hilfigere. His work is well known in Greenwich, CT and other parts of CT area as he belonged to Connecticut Carpenters Union.
Carl says, "I work harder now that I am retired then I did when I worked a full time 9-5 job". No doubt. There is never an end to the renovations at Buckingham Equestrian Center and it will look different from year to year. This elite facility will continue to grow and match no other in the Dillwyn area for excellence.
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| CARL MAINTAINING INDOOR RING |
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| ALL DONE WITH JUMPS, VIEWING ROOM ON RIGHT, JUDGES STAND ON LEFT |
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At Buckingham Equestrian Center, we specialize in training both the horse and rider. We are known for matching a good horse/rider team. Buckingham Equestrian Center prides itself on its safety record and always require ASTM/SEI approved headgear with attached harnesses.
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