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Fulfilling a need for equestrian training
GREENCASTLE -- It is perhaps the simplest of business models: See a need and fill it.
Candice Pelfrey sees a need in Putnam County. The local native grew up working with and showing horses, but often had to leave the county or even the state to train or compete.
With 20 years of experience showing and a BS in equine studies, she has served as a coach and instructor at various facilities around the state.
Now she wants to fill that need with the opening of Together Educated Equestrians Master (T.E.E.M.) outside of Greencastle. Pelfrey is the owner, instructor and trainer at the facility.
"There's a need for Greencastle to have something like this," Pelfrey said. "There's a lot of people who have horses, but hey, aren't educated correctly. I want to educate them further, to where they can be better horsemen."
The T.E.E.M. facility, located south of Big Walnut Sports Park at 2371 South CR 250E, Greencastle, will host a grand opening event Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m.
The event will feature tours, refreshments, games for kids and signups for T.E.E.M.'s various services. Pelfrey will also be on hand to answer any questions.
The services offered will include boarding, training, lessons and an after school program.
The latter is perhaps the program about which Pelfrey is most excited. It is for elementary aged children and will meet on Monday and Wednesday afternoons.
According to the company's brochure, "The program is designed to educate youths properly in equine activities so they can excel as equestrians and have well-rounded horses."
Through a ground-up approach, Pelfrey will start with the basics in this program, educating the students on stable management, anatomy, veterinarian science, tack and equipment, equine nutrition, groundwork and lunging, boots and wraps, farrier science and vaulting.
"People get injured because they're not educated correctly," Pelfrey said.
T.E.E.M. will also offer training for young horses and to correct problems in other horses, as well as lessons for riders. With training in various disciplines, Pelfrey said any program can and should be tailored to the individual horse and rider. It's not about forcing any particular methods on individuals for whom they will not work.
"It's about the horse's capabilities and body build and the owner's capabilities and body build," Pelfrey said.
Other services will include both stall and pasture boarding, riding camps and perhaps a future possibility of shows.
Pelfrey also said she is open to hosting other events at the facility for those interested.
"I'm very family-oriented here," she said. "I'm willing to do family events, schools events. I'm very open to what customers might want."
The facility itself features nine stalls, tack room, laundry room, an apartment, indoor and outdoor arenas, four pastures and a four-bay garage.
There is also a courtyard she plans to convert into a play area for children, a lounge and office area and an upstairs play room. She wants it to be a place a family can feel welcome during a child's or a parent's lesson.
For more information, contact Pelfrey at 720-3310 or hjequitation@hotmail.com or simply attend the T.E.E.M. open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday.