True Heart Stables Comes to Long Valley

Torri Siegel Dragos, whose family use to manage Long Valley's Snowbird Acres Farm, is now bringing her own True Heart Stables to town.

The following information is a press release from True Heart Stables.

Torri Siegel Dragos of Long Valley began her love affair with horses as a seven-year-old growing up in Essex County. Sullivan Davis, a well-known horseman at the time, became her riding instructor and mentor.  By the age of eight, the young equestrian was sneaking behind the barn at the Suburban Essex Riding Club in West Orange, offering to give lessons for a quarter to anyone who would listen.

In 1978, Dragos’ parents moved the family to a 70-acre property in Long Valley and opened Snowbird Acres Farm. Sitting high atop Schooley’s Mountain, Snowbird, named after Dragos’ first pony, was a very successful family-run horseback riding school. The stable had several barns, a large indoor arena and five outdoor rings. “Between lessons, summer camp and the show series, it’s fair to say countless people were exposed to and shared in the fun times at Snowbird,” Dragos recalls fondly.   

A competitor herself, Dragos’ talents and hard work were rewarded with multiple state awards on various ponies and horses in Hunters, Jumpers and Equitation. She remembers the highlight of those times being her name in lights at Madison Square Garden five years in a row.  And, while competing on the National level, out of a field of hundreds of riders, she achieved Top Ten status twice.   

In 2000, the now experienced riding instructor began her own True Heart Stables in Whitehouse Station where she remained for almost 11 years. “It was time to come back home,” she said.  With two young sons active in the town’s sports programs, Dragos decided to return to her roots and moved her full-service equestrian operation to Autumn View Farm on Bartley Road in Long Valley.

True Heart offers riding lessons, a boarding program which includes complete animal management, an equine buying and selling consultation service both in and out of state, intercollegiate coaching, and student coaching from Schooling through AA-Rated shows. Thorough horse care skills are emphasized for both boarders and lesson students alike.

Of all the services Dragos provides at her stable, she most enjoys giving Beginner to Advanced riding lessons in Equitation, Hunters, and Jumpers. She’s especially good with beginners and those returning to the saddle.

“I began riding again in my forties, after a twenty-year absence,” recalls Loren Spiotta-DiMare of Tewksbury. “I was quite nervous–long gone was the confidence of my youth. Torri was so patient. She walked alongside my lesson horses and engaged me in conversation to help me relax. It worked. We jokingly referred to my lessons as walk/talk therapy. When I was ready to start trotting she even ran alongside to bolster my confidence!”

“I have my own horse now and ride regularly. I like to say, ‘I’m reliving my youth but having a better time’ and I owe much of my passion for horses to Torri.”

“I try to create a family atmosphere at True Heart,” Dragos responds. “I want all of my students to feel welcome, to enjoy themselves while improving their skills and their confidence.”

It’s not unusual for both child and parent to take lessons from Dragos.  Christy Blackburne of Budd Lake, rode Ike, a flea-bitten grey ex-racer turned lesson horse, for several years and eventually competed in the Zone 2 Championships in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. When Blackburne left for college, her mother, Joan began taking beginner lessons on Ike.  Today she is a competent jumper and a sight to behold astride her very own Palomino, Summer.

Six-year-old Katie and her Dad, Russ Watkins of Hampton currently take lessons with Dragos. “Torri has a calm, professional and warm manner that my daughter responds to,” Watkins says. “Katie absolutely loves all the horses and looks forward to her lessons each week. I’ve always had an affection for horses and thought riding would be a fun thing to share with my daughter. My personal goal is to go on trail rides with Katie.”

Dragos takes her position as role model for equestrians of all ages very seriously.  She is proud of her work ethic and honesty and tries feverishly to instill these values in all of her students. “I am absolutely blessed to have a wonderful group of riders with me now and would love to grow my True Heart family,” Dragos says. She welcomes riders of any age and ability to join her.

True Heart Stables offers a superb facility: large, airy stalls for those interested in boarding, complete with grooming and wash stalls, an 80 X 200 indoor arena with dustless footing, a large 200 X 280 outdoor ring and 100 plus acres for trail riding.

Families can sit on a spectators’ platform outside and watch lessons while enjoying the panoramic view of Schooley’s Mountain. There’s also a viewing room to observe indoor riding.

For more information about lessons, boarding and other services at True Heart visit www.trueheartstables.com and/or locate them on Facebook at True Heart Stables.