Twenty minutes east of Dallas on I-30 sits a horse oasis. Black Star Sport Horses has 255 acres of woods, ponds, and ponies. Okay, the horses at Black Star are anything but ponies; they’re some of the top European dressage horses in Texas, but you don’t have to own a horse to enjoy the farm. Black Star hosts events throughout the year that are free for spectators to attend, including eight annual dressage schooling shows and a carriage event or two.

A couple of weeks ago, I took my horse enthusiast friend Katherine with me to the Tejas Carriage Association event at Black Star where the owner and head trainer, Lisa Blackmon, took us over the river and through the woods for a front-row seat at the competition.

We followed the Haflinger pair throughout the course. The carriage horses must go through the woods and through a water obstacle. When I saw them splash through water, I turned to my trainer, Jessica, and said, “Wow, I would love to have a horse as brave as these horses!”

After watching the competition for a bit, Katherine and I wandered over to the pastures to give some love to one of the foals bred at Black Star. Then of course we had to walk out and visit my Friesian, Wendy, who was hell-bent on stealing my peppermint mocha.

The funniest part was that all of Wendy’s pasture mates walked over to watch the carriages as they came by! Even the horses that live at Black Star enjoy watching the events that take place on the farm.

Before heading out for a late brunch (Rockwall has amazing restaurants – be sure to try Bin 303, The Fatted Calf, Zanata, or Gloria’s if you’re ever in the area) we popped into the barn to say hello to my Saddlebred, Prince, who also was very interested in our Starbucks cups.

Tomorrow is Black Star’s last public event of the year and Santa Claus himself is coming so you should too! If you’re in the Dallas area, come out to the farm (5565 FM 549, Rockwall, TX) from 9 am – 4 pm to see dressage up close and personal. The event is free for spectators and so is taking a photo with Santa, who will be there from 11 am – 1 pm. See you there!

Happy holidays,

The Rose Table
@therosetable
FB.com/therosetable

P.S. Special thank you to the ever wonderful Jessica Blackmon, who surprised me by training Wendy to bravely go through the same water obstacle that the carriage horses go through! Merry Christmas to me. 🙂 Watch here: