Our Story
When Angela Martinez moved to rural New Jersey in 2005, she had no idea that she’d soon be putting in an offer on a local horse farm. It all started when she met Matthew, the love of her life, and the pair started looking for houses in the South Jersey area just north of Cape May. They settled on a gorgeous old home with a sprawling back yard and moved in just before the holidays.
As an accomplished young equestrian, Angela had always loved showing horses and helping her parents manage their modest horse farm in Missouri. When the neighboring farm went up for sale less than a year later, it was fate. Matthew and Angela couldn’t say no, and they quickly became the newest owners of Shady Acres.
Our Facilities
With just 31 acres of wooded land and pasture, this cozy farm is home to three of Angela’s spoiled horses, two long-term boarders, and a foster pony. With an eight-stall barn, an indoor arena, and even a hilltop hammock, there’s plenty of room for both two-legged and four-legged visitors to Shady Acres.
What We Do
Angela offers riding lessons in English introductory, Western introductory, hunter/jumper, and dressage on the weekends and several days during the week. Birthday parties and trail rides are available upon request for children over the age of 8.
Boarding space is limited and reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. At the owner’s discretion, Angela accepts temporary foster requests from time to time for nonprofits and charity groups.
Due to circumstances going on in the world now we’ve had to severely limit the availability of any classes/tours. Stay safe!
The Shady Acres Blog
Angela has always had a passion for helping others learn more about horses and the sport of riding. Too often, people are overwhelmed or confused about how to get started. That’s why Angela decided to start a blog to answer some common questions she encounters from first-time students and seasoned riders alike.
From how to choose a saddle to the basics of caring for a horse, Angela hopes that the Shady Acres blog will educate riders about the best practices within the field.