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Cierra, Jim and Darlyn Daratony stand with a pair of horses that were saved from being put down.
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Webster Township is hiding one of the best-kept secrets of Michigan.
On the south side of Gregory Road, just north of Dexter, lies Cobblestone Farms - a 50-acre horse boarding and training center.
"It's the best facility in Michigan outside of Lansing," says owner Jim Daratony, as he rides a golf cart across the emerald fields and hills of his property.
His operation is a world-class venue for equestrian training at all competitive levels, with cross-country courses, water and banks, outdoor jumping and dressage arenas and a large indoor arena.
The property has a two-mile wooded trail, multiple turnout paddocks, temperature-controlled observation and tack rooms and top-notch accommodations for storing and caring for horses.
The Daratony family is serious about their love for horses. Jim moved to Dexter in March 2003 with his wife, Darlyn and five children: Jenny, J.J., Katie, Shantal, and Cierra.
"I grew up in Plymouth," said Daratony. "My wife and I had a home medical care company that we sold in 1997. My wife and all my daughters really got into horses and riding so we bought the land out here."
Darlyn has had a passion for horses since she was 14, according to Daratony.
The Daratonys outgrew their 10 acres in Plymouth and, despite the fact that their business wasn't much of a hassle they decided to build their dream in Webster.
"We had a nice offer, and it kind of worked out well with where our family was at that time," he said. "
The property was originally a 132-acre tract of undeveloped land, and the Daratonys did nature a favor by building 22 beautiful homes and their horse farm in such a way as to preserve the area's inherent natural beauty so those who move there or simply come out with their horses can enjoy it.
Daratony originally thought most of the 20 people who moved into the homes he built would be horse lovers, but that didn't happen.
"None of them board with us, but they say they are enjoying the scenery at the horse farm," Daratony said.
The stables are still well-attended, with more than 40 horses calling Cobblestone Farms home, he added.
Now the Daratonys are ready to ramp up Cobblestone Farms' prevalence in the world of the United States Eventing Association.
The big leagues
The USEA helps organize myriad events in several regions across the country.
Representatives also help promote them and ultimately act as judges and overseers of standards, enforcing health and safety guidelines.
The association has more than 14,000 members in all 50 states and organizes 280 competitions annually.
Michigan is part of Region VIII, along with Ohio and portions of Indiana and Kentucky.
On July 12 and 13 Cobblestone Farms hosted official USEA horse trials that lead to the 2008 Rolex Kentucky competition. Another round of trials is scheduled for Sept. 14.
The beginner-novice, novice and training class "horse triathlon," as it's referred to in a way that is more accessible to eventing newcomers, are stepping stones to the Rolex event.
"The horses compete(d) in three different aspects," said Daratony. "One is dressage, the other is stadium jumping and there will be a grueling cross-country course."
It was quite a sight, according to Daratony, because such events are planned with public involvement and spectators in mind.
"This is the only USEA-sanctioned event of its kind in the state of Michigan," he said.
"Usually we would have to go down to Kentucky for this and folks wouldn't be able to just come out and casually enjoy the beauty of these horses and the fun of the trials."
Daratony equates the Rolex Kentucky to the Superbowl. It is a three-day eventing competition held in Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, and the only four-star show in the country.
"Four stars is the highest level of competition ... it's the same level of competition that you can see at the Olympics," Daratony said.
The event is so big that $190,000 in prize money is at stake, with the winning horse and rider taking home $65,000 and a Rolex watch courtesy of the show's namesake and sponsor.
"This is a big deal for the area," said Daratony, who would like to expand to hosting the preliminary division for the USEA, which is the level at which horse and rider qualify to advance one step closer to the Rolex.
Majestic spectacle
Eventing is the combination of three separate sections or, as some might refer to them, disciplines that rely on the skill, endurance and relationship of horse and rider.
"Eventing originated from cavalry," explained Jennifer Brooks, a trainer and organizer at Cobblestone Farms, who works all over Michigan.
"Horsemen in the cavalry needed to have enough precise movements, for obvious reasons."
Dressage is the first phase of the competition. It is an exact sequence of movements executed in an enclosed arena.
Brooks likened it to figure skating, since it requires balance and rhythm similar to what someone would need on the ice.
It's also a test of obedience for the horse and a reflection on the rider.
Each participant starts with 10 points and deductions are made based on errors, including horse refusals to take an action, walking out of the ring or bucking a rider.
The second and third phases of the competition are cross-country and show jumping.
On the cross-country portion competitors have to jump 12 to 20 fences. At higher levels a rider must jump 30 to 40 fences set up across a very long circuit.
For comparison, unconditioned horses can become very fatigued after fewer than a dozen moderate jumps.
"Jumping really is a test of the bond between a rider and horse," Brooks said.
Some jumps involve a small, shallow pool of water either at the end of the jump, or the rider must take the horse through the water.
"It takes a lot of trust to get a horse to jump into the water, because all they see is their reflection," Brooks said.
A horse has to be trained to overcome that fear of the unknown and trust that the rider isn't leading them into danger, according to Brooks.
Some capable competitors are coming out this weekend, she added.
"We're really hoping to raise awareness of this as a spectator event," said Brooks.
"I'd like to see some more advanced-level competitions brought here each year."
As a trainer who travels all over the state, she highly praised Cobblestone Farms and said it's important to have a facility that can not only accommodate the competitions, but also one that accommodates the well-being of horse and rider.
"The USEA has many standards for safety and rules ... they come out and inspect everything and say that they don't like a jump," Brooks said.
She encourages people to visit their Web site, www.cobblestonefarmsllc.com, and mark events on their calendars, so plans can be made to spend at evening watching the horses compete.
"Even if you don't like horses up close, it's spectacular to see - dressage in particular."
To clarify how entertaining eventing can be, the folks at Cobblestone Farms liken it to "extreme sports" or a rodeo.
For more information, e-mail jimdaretony@aol.com, call 1-734-424-3099 or visit www.cobblestonefarmsllc.com.
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