reins for the past twenty-six years .
They actually met as kids on the Stepping Stone grounds . A thirteen-year-old Heidi saw her now-husband Darrell working as a stable boy and outrider . He worked for the Davises back when they owned the property . Heidi ’ s mother boarded her horse there for a week , unknowingly giving her daughter the opportunity to meet her future husband .
“ When the ranch was going up for auction , the Davises called and encouraged us to take over and purchase it ,” says Heidi . “ We own the facility where we met at thirteen years old — we came full circle . It was the ranch that brought us together .”
That was fifty years ago , and now the couple has been married for forty years .
The ranch holds adult programs and children ’ s camps , as well as a non-riding mindfulness program where participants connect with the horses and practice stress-management techniques . Horse owners can board their animals on the property and ride at the park whenever they please , and the ranch also offers country weddings on its grounds .
During children ’ s camps , students get to ride horses twice a day , including trail riding and lessons within the ring , and swim at the built-in swimming pool next door .
“ The kids learn horsemanship and husbandry . They learn about first-aid and feeding ,” Heidi says . “ Riding certainly is everybody ’ s dream , but there ’ s so much more than just riding . We ’ re big on education as a whole .”
That also includes teaching aspiring instructors .
“ Sometimes I see holes in the education of kids and adults who visit , so that ’ s why I ’ m big on teaching how to teach ,” says Heidi . “ There are instructors who need some freshening-up . It ’ s like a triangle , you need a strong base before you get to the top .” 201 Escoheag Hill Rd ., West Greenwich , 397-3725 , steppingstoneranch . com
Ocean Crest Farm Saunderstown
While launching a business during COV- ID-19 might seem like a risky venture , it worked out perfectly for the owners of Ocean Crest Farm , Samantha Bonsignore and Jessica Stoukides .
“ It was something safe that people could do [ during COVID ] so we never
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