From Lessons to Horse Training, Boarding, Breeding and Selling them ...

We have what you are looking for in the horse world.

Joe and Laura also raise and sell Argentine thoroughbreds and quarter horse crosses. They consider it the highest honor that you all bring your children and yourselves to learn horses with them.

We travel to Stafford, Ellington, Enfield, Suffield, Granby, North Windsor, South Windsor, Tolland and Vernon Connecticut (CT). We also put on informative clinics open to the public who would like to understand what a farrier does to benefit the First Way Life Center.

We operate indoors and outdoors.

About Joe Vita
Joe Vita started out riding as a young boy on a pony that took him swimming in the Connecticut River many time (yikes!). His family moved here in Somers as a young boy and built this farm. His riding and training progressed rapidly including jumping, Fox hunting, and Polo. As he became a man he headed out into the horse world to learn more from other areas in the country. In Boston he trained Thoroughbreds and Warm Bloods in disciplines of Stadium Jumping, Polo, and Three-Day Eventing. He trained on the, at that time, Olympic Three Day Eventing training course. Sold a horse to the designer of that course (Mr. Neil Ayer the president of the U.S. Combined Training Association). While in Boston he also rode with 5-time Olympic Dressage gold medallist Miss Springer who gave him many pointers on Dressage riding. He started the Myopia’s Ladies Polo Club, and Centennial Farm’s mentally and physically challenged riders program; he saddle broke horses for the racetrack; and began his horse shoeing business. He also became licensed by the State of Massachusetts to teach simply by them offering it to him.

From Boston he headed to Vermont where he continued in training horses for previous said disciplines. He trained horses here for clients such as the Tishmen’s (previous owners of the Empire State Building).

From Vermont Joe headed west and stopped in Kentucky. Here he was manager of 1500 brood mares at Lasma Arabians Breeding Farm. He handled and trained the mares and babies they were having. He worked side by side with Veterinarians learning about artificial breeding and genetic technology. He also managed Southington Farm, a major breeding farm for Trekainer horses (jumpers). While in Kentucky he trained and sold horses to individuals such as Kenny Rogers, and Luciano Pavarotti (the famous Italian Opera Singer).

Next stop: Ohio (thus our romance begins). Here Joe leased a 200-acre farm where he raised and trained all his own stock. He trained and sold horses to the Cincinnati Polo Club, Columbus Polo Club, and local riding schools. He became the manager of the County Park District horse stable, where he took a dilapidated old livery stable and made it a profitable riding center. After a few years he developed the facility to levels of: a 35 horses, 400 students/ week, and 15-25 employees. At the riding center he offered Western, English, Polo, Jumping, Cross Country. He started a mentally and physically challenged riders program that quickly became the tri-states largest. He did horse shoeing for the Cincinnati Mounted Patrol, and Park Rangers, as well as “crowd control” training for them.
But Joe’s life was boring until he met his wife Laura, now he can say he has accomplished something meaning full). Joe gives glory to God and says he’d have made it nowhere with out the love of Christ!

About Laura VIta

Laura Vita originally came from Cincinnati , Ohio . She always new she wanted to be around horses but living in the city she new that would be a stretch to achieve this. Yet at the age of 9 her parents started her down that path. Her riding began at the County Park District. Taking one day a week lessons turned into 2 days a week. Simple lessons turned into the Jumper teams that included studies in the hunter and jumper arenas with some dressage. As she was doing all this she also began working and teaching at the Stable. Her work consisted of teaching beginner jumping students and mentally and physically handicapped adults and children (you’ll have to ask her about the blind adult barrel racing classes that Joe started up). At the same time she was learning Cross Country Jumping, which grew to be her love in the horse world. Laura also had begun her one on one training to be an instructor and trainer with her now husband Joe Vita. During her riding time at the Park, Joe became manager of the facility and had begun looking for an assistant manager, as well as someone to teach all he had learned in the horses to. Along with others, Laura tried out and she received the job. And as you all know now they didn’t stop at the horses but decided to continue thru life together.

During their training time (which her husband never lets her be done being his apprentice J ) Joe taught Laura about training horses to be quiet for anyone to ride them, handling problem horses such as buckers; saddle breaking horses, and carriage driving. He also taught her of round penning (this is the lessons on communicating with horses thru body language). Outside of training and riding Joe also taught Laura how to shoe horses. This consisted of steel work, welding, hot shoeing, shoeing for a horse in motion, and shoeing for a horse in poor physical condition. Once Joe and Laura got married the training didn’t stop. They perfected their teamwork with difficult horses making it easier to train. They also developed their system of team round penning.

In coming to New England , Laura took the Massachusetts ’s state licensing test to teach, which she passed with flying colors. Then they developed Angel on Horseback, which is your all around horse program of shoeing, training, and lessons.

The most important aspect of it all is giving the community a place to learn about horses in an environment that is safe, healthy, and Christian . The doors are open free of charge to inner-city programs, boy/girl-scouts, and schools; to teach them of the horses they know and love. They have traveled to local schools to give demonstrations in shoeing horses.