Sunflower Equestrian Center

06/07/2026

✨ Ben’s first USDF-recognized show was one for the books! ✨

This special horse brought home a 🥇 1st place and 🥈 2nd place finish from Mystic Valley Hunt Club’s USDF show today, but the ribbons are only a small part of what made this weekend so meaningful.

This month marks two years since we regained ownership of Ben. At that time, he was lame, emotionally stressed, and we weren’t sure what the future would hold for him. Our hope was simply that he could enjoy life as a happy pasture horse.

Instead, Ben has exceeded every expectation we could have imagined.

To watch him confidently travel down his very first USDF centerline as a sound, happy horse was an incredibly emotional and rewarding moment. His story is one of resilience, patience, and second chances, and he continues to inspire us every day.

Thank you to everyone who has supported Ben throughout his journey and cheered him on every step of the way. And a massive thank you to my father, John, whose dedication, hard work, and belief in this horse have played such a huge role in getting him to this point.

We’re so proud of you, Ben. ❤️

06/02/2026

✨A little classical elegance in the modern dressage ring. ✨

Kelly Clark and Bonnie making it look easy while showcasing the timeless principles of balance, harmony, and partnership. We’re so proud of this wonderful team and always love watching them shine. 💙🐴 Well done ladies!

05/30/2026

✨Raptora d’Noble, “Tora,” owned by Laurie Nilsen, made her dressage show debut today at the Treasure Hill Farms Dressage Show! This young mare handled not only a completely new environment with confidence, but also braved 30+ mph winds and heavy rain like an absolute champion.

💙Tora came home with two blue ribbons, earning scores of 70.00% and 68.75%. As a freshly turned 5-year-old, she far exceeded our expectations and showed all the qualities of a horse with a very bright future ahead of her. You would never have guessed this was her first off-property outing and first-ever show.

🤩This milestone is especially rewarding as Tora was started under saddle and brought along entirely within our program. Thoughtfully bred by Michelle Clarke of Casa do Noble Lusitanos, we are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to develop and work with such a lovely mare.

🙌🏻A huge shoutout to my father, John, who took the time to diligently start this beautiful mare and instill in her the confidence, trust, and love for work that she carries with her today. His foundation has played a tremendous role in her success.

💛Thank you as well to everyone who came out to support us despite the less-than-ideal weather. Your encouragement and enthusiasm made the day even more special.

What a fun—albeit very wet—morning celebrating Miss Tora! We couldn’t be prouder of this special young mare.

If you’re interested in learning more about our available Lusitanos and our program please contact Brooke at 860-819-4838.

05/23/2026

My baby is not so much of a baby anymore! 🧡

T’Stark “Stark” had his first official ride this week, and moments like this are exactly why I love what we do. The beginning of a horse’s journey under saddle should be a positive experience — a true “non-event.”

When people talk about backing a young horse being stressful, full of bucking, fear, wet saddle pads, and anxious riders, it always reminds me how important the preparation beforehand truly is. Our program focuses heavily on taking the time to build the proper groundwork and confidence before ever swinging a leg over.

This right here is the result. Stark was happy, relaxed, yawning, and completely comfortable as I mounted, dismounted, and walked around with him. Such a special and rewarding milestone in our journey together.

A massive thank you to all of the work my father, John, has put into my little stallion over the past few months to prepare him for this next step. The countless hours he has spent building Stark’s confidence, consistency, and understanding have made such a difference. Watching the quiet partnership and trust they’ve developed together has been incredibly special, and I’m so grateful to have him alongside me in this journey.

Good boy, my baby Starky! ✨

05/21/2026

Last night some of the SEC gals attended our group lesson on the basics of braiding for dressage. This will be a multi-part series, and our first session focused on learning basic button braids and how to properly sew them in.

At Sunflower, we strongly believe in creating well-rounded horse people — not only through riding and training, but through all aspects of horsemanship. Our goal is to help develop independent individuals who can confidently care for and present their horses at every level. Learning how to properly prepare your horse for a show and create a polished, professional turnout is an important part of that process.

Stephanie P., Shannon, and Laurie all used their young Lusitanos to practice — and anyone familiar with the traditional long Lusitano mane knows that can be a whole different ball game! We worked on a small section in the middle of each horse’s mane to practice proper sectioning, creating neat and tight braids, and sewing them cleanly into rosettes.

In our upcoming braiding sessions, we’ll be covering running braids, forelock braiding, and other styles that create a beautiful and polished look in the dressage arena.

The ladies now have some homework for the week that doesn’t just involve riding and groundwork!😉 Great job everyone!

05/20/2026

Raptora d’Noble, “Tora,” putting in some great work during her training ride today. Tora is coming along nicely as she prepares for her first show and first off-property outing at the end of May! She continues to make steady progress in our program and is really starting to develop into a beautifully put together young horse. Excited for the future with this special mare and looking forward to watching her continue to grow!
Interested in our program and our available lusitanos? Call Brooke at 860-819-4838.

05/16/2026

It’s an all Lusitano kind of workout this morning! 💪
Make sure to follow our new page Sunflower Lusitanos for all lusitano content!
Interested in our available lusitanos and/or our program? Contact Brooke at 860-819-4838

05/15/2026

We invite you all to join our newest page strictly dedicated to our training and sales of our Lusitano in our program. ☺️
We will still be posting our other content here as well, while Sunflower Lusitanos will be solely Lusitanos 🐴
If you’re interested in our available horses please contact Brooke at 860-819-4838.

🌻Welcome to Sunflower Lusitanos, based in Granby, Connecticut. Our passion for the Lusitano breed began with the purchase of our first Lusitano stallion, imported from Brazil. From that moment on, we knew there was something truly special about these horses.

✨We believe the Lusitano embodies the ideal all-around versatile horse — combining elegance with dynamic strength, expressive movement, and naturally comfortable, balanced gaits. Their athleticism is matched by their intelligence, work ethic, loyalty, and kind disposition, making them exceptional partners both in and out of the arena.

🐴At Sunflower Lusitanos, we are passionate about developing and showcasing these incredible horses while sharing our journey with the breed we’ve come to love. We take pride in thoughtfully matching the right horse with the right person, creating partnerships built for long-term success. Our horses are started from the ground up with an emphasis on correct handling, strong foundational training, and confidence-building every step of the way.

📲If you’re interested in learning more about our program and the APSL lusitanos we currently have available for sale please contact Brooke at 860-819-4838.

05/14/2026

Savido d’Noble’s first show and first time off property — and this young horse handled it all like a seasoned pro. 🌟

Owned by Kelly Clark and proudly bred by Casa do Noble Lusitanos, Savido stepped into the ring with confidence, maturity, and so much promise for the future. We couldn’t be happier with how this special boy handled such a big milestone weekend. Excited for what’s ahead for this partnership! 💛🐴

If you’re interested in our lusitano program and our current horses we have available for sale please contact Brooke at 860-819-4838. Follow at Sunflower Lusitanos for more lusitano content.

Photo credit Q2 Photography
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05/13/2026

Dental day for some of our equine friends here at Sunflower! Thank you Dr. Walsh from walshvetservices for the great care you provide for the Sunflower Crew to keep all of them feeling their best! 🌻 Each one of our horses got a gold star for their behavior!⭐️