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Date: 6/13/2022
BELCHERTOWN – As the story goes, farmers are famously known for feeding their animals well before the crack of dawn. But that’s not so at Black Oak Farm & Stable in Belchertown.
“I don’t start as early as I should. I usually shoot for about 8 a.m.,” said Terry Pomietlarz who owns the farm with her husband.
The seven horses are eager to have their breakfast. So are more than 40 other animals including donkeys, goats, chickens, cats and dogs.
“Everyone’s looking for me in the morning. I enjoy being around the animals. Along the way I’m talking to them all,” she said.
With such an array of animals, Black Oak quickly becomes a petting zoo when guests arrive. But the main attraction are the horses – riding them along breathtaking trails on Black Oak’s 18 acres of land.
“Half of our land is fields, and the other half is nice pine forest with a few hardwoods mixed in. You don’t need any riding experience – the horses bring the experience to the ride. They know the place and they’ve done this for a long time,” said Pomietlarz.
No one rides off with a horse until workers make sure there’s a perfect match between rider and animal. Before trotting away, riders get a quick lesson on mounting, steering and stopping the horse. Making sure the rider is not too big or small for the horse is critical.
“It’s important that we make the right match. We make sure horse and rider are comfortable. It’s all about their safety and comfort,” said Pomietlarz.
Black Oak takes small groups of riders on quiet, peaceful rides through fields and woods. The guided tours are by appointment only. The groups are small, limited mostly to between four and five people. A trail boss is always with the group.
Horseback riding isn’t the only attraction here. Black Oak also trains and boards the horses while offering riding lessons to their customers. Introducing new riders to horses creates a special bond between human and equine.
“Love and companionship are what draws many people to horses. When you’re riding there’s a sense of accomplishment and control. You’re willing a thousand-pound animal to do your bidding,” said Pomietlarz.
A relationship with a horse is founded on mutual trust and respect. That’s lesson one when people learn how to build a partnership with the horse they’re riding.
“You need to establish respect and you’ll only get that by being firm because that’s how they learn in the wild. But you also need to be gentle because they do love you,” said Pomietlarz.
For more information about Black Oak Farm & Stable, horseback riding or lessons call 896-6151 or visit Facebook and search for Black Oak Farm & Stable Belchertown.