Rivervale Farm Happy Hills Ranch warmblood sport horses

12850 Rivervale Farm Lane, Nisland, South Dakota

605-257-2620 * 605-430-5680 (mobile) * 605-430-0669 (mobile)

Successful breeders who ride what we breed!

Approved, FEI, Warmblood Stallions producing phenomenal offspring that are RIDEABLE and AFFORDABLE for all levels of riders. Young horses for sale, all in training with Craig Heckert. Craig is one of a small group of people to have earned their US Dressage Federation Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals on a horse they have trained. Lessons and clinics available as well.

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Donauwind x Magissa x Mahagoni

March, 1986 - June 2011, gone but never forgotten.

Retired sound at 20 years of age after a successful dressage career, through Grand Prix. Many championships including American Trakehner Association Horse of the Year at Prix St. George and Intermediare-1. Successful sire of over 50% GOLD MEDAL PREMIUM foals.

E.H. Latimer x St. Pr. Harmonie x E.H. Hohenstein

Lion King is the superlative example of the modern Warmblood. Pedigree, conformation, disposition and most importantly, RIDEABILITY! Multiple US Dressage Federation, Dressage Sport Horse In Hand Championships AND numerous High Score awards (under saddle) at US Dressage Federation Shows.

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Introducing RF Meistertanz

2009 Zweibrucken Colt by Meisterwind, out of Wrobanna (Hann)by Waldgott. This fantastic young stallion was the Young Horse Champion the only time shown in the USDF/DSHB Series. He is from a proven family of sucessful competition and breeding horses. With his beautiful black color, incredible disposition and talent to burn, we are confident of this youngster's potential as a competition horse and as a sire.

Photos at left taken at 24 months. The rest taken at 27 months of age.

George Williams presenting Craig Heckert with the UNITED STATES DRESSAGE FEDERATION GOLD MEDAL!

Welcome to Rivervale Farm,194 irrigated acres in the beautiful and productive Belle Fourche River Valley of Western South Dakota. It is an almost magical place with an abundance of wildlife and spectacular views of the Black Hills and Bear Butte. A perfect place to raise horses. We chose Rivervale Farm for it's lush pastures and productive crop land.

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY

Our program is based on superb quality European Warmblood Horses. We are a small family run breeding operation, concentrating on quality rather than quantity. Our young horses are growing up galloping to their hearts content, splashing through the river and developing into strong, sound and sane athletes! They eat superb quality hay and grain grown and harvested on Rivervale and nearby farms .

Honesty and Integrity...

..are words we live by. We find it offensive that the horse industry has such a reputation for dishonesty. We don't believe that "buyer beware" has any place in our dealings. We tell the truth about our horses. We present our credentials and the accomplishments of our horses up front and truthfully. The horses we offer for sale were bred and raised here on the farm. We are not dealers. Rivervale Farm has an "open door" policy and visitors are always welcome.

The Program

The training team at Rivervale Farm include a "Young Horse Specialist" who is also a successful FEI competitor and a former Intermediate Level Eventer. The young horses are not "bucked out" by a colt breaker or started by working students and assistants. They are carefully trained in a way that sets the horse up for success. This results in a horse that enjoys interacting with people and that love their jobs. Along with their "dressage" training, all of the young horses learn to trail ride, jump stadium and cross country jumps, cross water and ditches and are exposed to a variety of wildlife and traffic. Of course we work with proven and performance tested bloodlines that are known for producing horses with rideability, which makes our job much easier and insures a wonderful partner for you.

Rivervale Farm is a full service facility, including indoor and outdoor arenas, cross country course, galloping tracks and miles of trails. We offer lesson programs and training programs. Our instructors have impressive credentials and our programs are very positive allowing you and your horse to develop to your full potential.

Call or email for current rates.

Why not choose your next champion here? We offer mare lease programs, raise your foal programs and programs to train you and your new horse together.

We are located near Sturgis, famous for it's annual Motorcycle Rally. Deadwood, a historic town with gambling and home of Tatanka - Story of the Bison, where resides the world's 2nd largest monumental bronze of all original figures ever created by a single sculptor - Peggy Anne Detmers.

Mount Rushmore is a short commute as well as Crazy Horse Mountain and many other "tourist" attractions.

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