Harford Legacy Farm Commemorative Book

23

Olney Farm est. 1855 - Joppa, MD Current Owners: Amabel Howard Original Purchaser: Shriver-Howard Family Current Acreage: 250 Current Agricultural Products or Services: equine Preserved and Historical Designation

The name of the farm was originally "Prospect", and was changed to "Olney" by a family member (an admirer of Cowper, the writer, born in Olney England). The original stone 3-story house built in the 1700s was built over a spring and is still occupied. The bricks were made on the farm by "Redemptionists". The 3-story main house was finished in 1805. Olney Farm and the Shriver-Howard family joined together in 1855. Since then, the farm has remained in the same family. In 1920, a pony breeding business was started by the youngest, a daughter, in the family. Boarding, lessons, breeding, and training have gone on continuously since then. The fourth, fifth, and sixth generations of the family live on the farm. The farm has always been managed by a member of the family. The farm is basically a family farm, sharing the love of kids, ponies, dogs, cats, and farm animals, welcoming adult and junior riders and their families to share the pleasure of our almost 200 acres of fields and woods. Our instructors have grown up on the farm, taking their first lessons on an Olney poney, leaving only temporarily to raise their own families or to gain experience in the "outside" horse world. We are an eventing-oriented facility; running a recognized and an unrecognized event on the farm and clinics during the year with top event and dressage riders and coaches. We have an indoor lighted ring, an outdoor lighted dressage ring, and a large jumping ring. There are four complete cross country courses, elementary, beginner novice, novice, and training; with many preliminary levels jumps for schooling. There are trails through the woods and on an adjoining farm whose owner kindly lets us ride on his property - places for conditioning as well as pleasure rides. (www.olneyfarm.com)