Member Reviews
Angela Spencely
I joined Blue Rock about 4 years ago. i was a bit apprehensive at first, but that feeling went away as soon as i got here. I was greeted by warm smiles all around and everyone i talked to had nothing but praise for Blue Rock. They combine high level training with top quality horsemanship. I think it's safe to say that joining Blue Rock has changed my life. Being apart of this amazing family of wonderful people has shaped me as a person. The constant support from everyone has really helped me be the best person and rider that i can be. Blue Rock really is the place to be.
SOUTH AFRICAJake Miller
Blue Rock Stud Farm is more than just a stable yard, it is a family! In all my years of riding horses I have never experienced a yard as warm and welcoming as Blue Rock. No matter what challenges you face in your riding carrier the whole family is there to support and congratulate you, whether you are competing in the top grades or just getting over your fears of going over a 60cm jump. Not on
SOUTH AFRICAJanine Cooper
I moved to Blue Rock 2 years, 1 month and 2 days ago. When i arrived at the pin drop and got out my car, I looked around up at the trees and looked around me, i knew i was home. In these 2 years I've started riding again( after 30 years) and let me tell you, you wont find a better yard! You're not a "number" here, you are family and part of the Blue Rock Community. The riding instructors, Bryce and Kyla, are so patient and hands on, and between them, they have so much valuable advice. As far as I'm concerned, if you chose to ride elsewhere, you're seriously missing out.
SOUTH AFRICAKyla Griffin
Blue Rock has been my home for many years. What makes Blue Rock so different from other yards is that we are a family. We help each other and lift each other up, when one has a bad day everyone helps to lift that person up and give encouragement to carry on and fight through the hard times. Blue Rock is my extended family, my happy place. I love being apart of this rock star family.
SOUTH AFRICANicole Jamieson
Blue Rock Stud is a very special place. It's a sanctuary not only for your horse but for yourself as you are welcomed into the family! Expert and individualised attention for every horse and rider catering from beginners to advanced. As a novice rider I felt supported and encouraged every step of the way under the patient guidance of Kyla and Bryce! I have watched many horses and riders flourish at Blue Rock and I am eternally grateful for their knowledge and for finding me the horse of my dreams!
SOUTH AFRICAAshleigh Williams
Blue Rock is the best place for you and your horse. Blue Rock is not just a stable yard but a family suitable for everyone, no matter the skill level. Bryce and Kyla are caring instructors who always want the best for you and your horse. Sue is like my second mother. Blue Rock is the best place whether you are looking for good stabling or wanting expert lessons. Blue Rock has nice green paddocks and spacious stables. There is 24/7 care for your horse with early morning and late night checks with a handful of carrots.
SOUTH AFRICAChe-Vonne Mare
What an Incredible yard. My horse has never been happier and healthier. Since joining Blue Rock in January 2018 I've learned so much from Bryce and Kyla and the rest of the family at Blue Rock. The Patience that Bryce has is incredible and the way he encourages and gives confidence is like no other. The special and individual attention that the horses get is exceptional. The smallest changes that Bryce and Kyla suggest make the biggest difference and its genuine knowledge and understanding of horses that sets Blue Rock apart. Joining the Blue Rock family is something I will never regret, I only wish I had done it sooner. The Care, training, experience, love and attention that Blue Rock gives to their horses and riders all as individuals is what makes me proud to be part of Blue Rock.
SOUTH AFRICALorriane Van Der Merwe
Thank you to my Blue Rock family, for taking us in 5 years ago and from then we have changed for the better. Thank you for always being there for both of us during hard times, whether for my boy or me. For teaching us just how magical our sport can truly be. My boy is my whole life and i would not have him anywhere else. Your care is truly professional, kind, personal all at the same time and you employ the best grooms who build a relationship with their horses. We are not the biggest showers, we love to take life easy and in our stride and Blue Rock caters for all, big or small, the loafers and the highly competitive. We have been through tough times where my boy was sick, and i know his care is first priority doing nightly checks in the middle of winter giving him medicine, and putting up with my OCD. Thank you to my Blue Rock Family.
SOUTH AFRICALandi Van Heerden
I have had the privilege of being apart of the Blue Rock Family for the past 7 years and I honestly say there is no other yard that offers the caring, professionalism, empathetic tuition and balance. The mark of a good yard is a fat happy relaxed horses and happy caring grooms who have long tenure of service. Blue Rock has exceptional facilities. Evening checks, excellent fly-control and an in house farrier service make for peace of mind. The instruction and shared knowledge is world class and tailored according to each clients needs. Show support is beyond par. Everyone supports each other in this yard through thick and thin. No exceptions regardless of whether you are entry level or Derby contender. The yard is beautiful with wonderful energy and the Blue Rock family is well known and respected. This is a yard you ask to join.
SOUTH AFRICANadia Jacobs
I joined Blue Rock family in 2009 and have simply fallen in love with the farm and the people. Always putting all the animals first. Blue Rock has become family to me and my kids.
SOUTH AFRICAMaygan Jennings
Having worked as an equine veterinarian in Gauteng for a couple of years, I have a very good idea of the standard of care offered by most stable yards. I have seen what a difference good, attentive care can make; literally it can mean the difference between life and death when it comes to acute colics and other serious injuries. When I finally could afford to get my own horse, the choice of stable yard was a no brainer for me. The McCall family takes care of their client’s horses not just like their own, but rather as a part of their family. They genuinely care about all the horses and riders alike and welcome them in to the family with open arms. Bryce and his family live on the property and they themselves check on the horses every night. Not only is the water, hay and stable checked, but the horses are also examined and offered a carrot every single night, 365 days a year. If the horses are too hot or too cold, their blankets are changed, if the McCalls are at all concerned, the owner and the vet are phoned immediately. I didn’t originally choose Blue Rock for the family atmosphere, but rather because the incredibly high standard of care, but having stabled there for three years, I could never change. Not only do the McCalls go above and beyond, but their grooms do too. For example, my groom notifies me when any of the stitching on my tack looks like it is beginning to wear, he tells me if my hoof cream is running low at least a week before it runs out and he shows me every tiny scratch that my horse gets (my horse is fairly clumsy). My groom does not just clean my horse and feed him, he has a relationship with him and is truly proud when we excel at shows and I also get updated as to how he behaved in the paddock that day and whether someone else’s horse was mean to him (my horse can do no wrong in his eyes). I don’t just ride at Blue Rock, I have a family there and even my husband feels at home when he comes to visit.
SOUTH AFRICAAlison Scarr
Perhaps I speak from a different perspective as when I arrived at Blue Rock some 7 years ago, I was concerned that, given that this is a a very competitive yard, included amongst the members is Bryce McCall, Nicola and Kyla Griffin and I arrived with an elderly thoroughbred who I wanted to be cared for, nurtured into his old age and observed closely lest anything hasten a descent into premature aging, illness. My fears were groundless. I was introduced to dressage which Jeri took to with aplomb, winning and being placed in dressage competitions for which I must thank Blue Rock instructors as I was clueless. He is now 26 and I have not ridden him for 3 years as old racing injuries became problematic. He is fat, he is frolicsome, he lives in an acre paddock with brood mares and another geriatric mare and is in the peak of health certainly for a horse of this great age. For me, the calibre of the grooms at Blue Rock is key to the success of the yard. I give a recent example. I arrived at 8.30 in the morning and Isaac was putting a young horse out into the paddock. Instead of taking off the halter and leaving to return to his stable duties, Isaac stood and watched the youngster. I asked why and he said "he was lying down when I went to give him his breakfast and although he ate, I am worried about him and will watch him". I was going to the arena for a lesson with Kyla and he asked me to tell her which I did. Kyla left the lesson, called Bryce and they attended to the horse. He was in fact fine but the attention and concern for me reflects what makes the difference at Blue Rock. Another thing. After supper every night, the McCalls do a check of all the horses. They take carrots, check the water levels, that the horses have sufficient hay and replenish it if necessary and check that the droppings are normal. The level of instruction is of a very high level. The level of concern and expertise is as high but, above all my horses are cared for not as if they belong to a client but as if they belong to the McCalls. They are considered family.
SOUTH AFRICA