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Grandview Ranch Riding Academy is a Christmas gift waiting to happen for children and adults who love horses and want to learn to ride.

Since 2008, Grandview has been rescuing horses that are emaciated or just discarded. Now a riding program and breeding program has started. Currently, the ranch has two babies due in the spring and a 6-month-old colt from a former stallion (now gelding) MDT Berts Duncan.

Owners Maddy Finley and her husband Jerry were raised around horses, and they have passed that love of everything equestrian on to family and friends.

“I come from a military family and was born and raised in Groton, Conn. I have four children, 10 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. I won several world championships on my horses as a youth in Columbus, Ohio,” Finley said. 

Maddy Finley is a former law enforcement officer who retired and purchased the ranch between Highways 61 and 17-A in Colleton County. As the ranch expanded, so did the number of horses they had and housed. “We have registered American Quarter Horses, and registered American Paint Horses. We have each of them on special diets. They all receive certain supplements to meet their performance and nutritional level,” said Finley. “Grooming, teeth and hoof care is extremely vital. We have horses with registered names: Smoken A Little, Copper Tradition, Epic Mona Lisa Smile, SMR Summertime Doll, and a double-registered horse named Peppys Rose Gold,” she added.

Currently, the Finleys have 23 students and at times some special needs kids. “We have an unusual program where we allow children to come and ride all day on Saturdays. We do everything from barrels, English, jumping, Western, and showmanship at halter. We make it fun and the kids learn faster. I have some senior girls that mentor the younger kids,” said Finley. 

For Grandview Ranch Riding Academy students who want to be competitive, they can enter horse shows. The ranch does shows at Serenity Acres, the Colleton Saddle Club and Mullet Hall. The riding school is planning to attend some new shows next year. “We have had several of the kids win many first, second, third, fourth, fifth place awards as well as champion and reserve championships. I am very proud of these kids. They work hard. And to compete better, I let them all come ride during the week as well,” Finley said. 

Grandview, 4888 Peirce Rd., Ridgeville, has grand plans for the future.

“We are purchasing more land and would like to put a covered arena in. We plan on incorporating our APHA stud colt Jumpin Jax San Badger into our breeding program. I have also been asked to do an at-risk program using HIPPA therapy for low risk and dually diagnosed kids,” said Finley. Interested individuals can contact Grandview Ranch Riding Academy on Facebook.

If learning to ride a horse is on someone’s Christmas list in your family, Grandview Ranch Riding Academy might be a great gift from Santa.

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