About Us

Darla Opava training / Chocolate Horse Farms is a teaching facility for both horse and rider, encompassing everything from allowing a client to simply enjoy their passion for horses to becoming an accomplished and successful competitor in a variety of disciplines.

About Chocolate Horse Farms

Chocolate Horse Farms was created based on a need Darla Opava and her clients had for a personal, friendly, first class training program at moderate prices. Since she works primarily one on one, in an intimate setting, she is able to give specialized, detailed instruction tailored to each riders' and/or horses' needs - without pressure.

A native of southern California, Darla Opava began riding as a child. Starting in western pleasure, equitation, and gymkhana, she switched to hunters while still a junior - retraining her horse herself - and went on to be an active and successful competitor in both disciplines throughout her youth. She also spent hours trail riding.

After graduating from college, Darla continued riding and was recruited by friends and colleagues to teach and train themselves, their children and their horses. Always intrigued by eventing, she garnered a slot in Pennsylvania working, teaching and training at a well established eventing barn. While there she enjoyed many east coast opportunities including riding at Radnor and Devon.

When Darla returned to California, her clientele steadily grew. In addition to having spent time as a trainer at several southern California facilities, she was also an instructor at a therapeutic riding program for disabled children. Eventually, high demand led her to establish Chocolate Horse Farms. While eventing is now her competitive choice, she also enjoys dressage and jumpers. She has trained with grand Prix and international level instructors in all three disciplines, continuing her education whenever she can. Darla has won numerous award and competitive placings on her own and client horses, plus year end and American Eventing Championship qualifications.

In addition, Darla is also an eventing technical delegate and a local hunter/jumper judge.

With over 35 years of riding and show experience, Darla brings to her teaching a wide knowledge base in hunter, jumpers, eventing, western and gymkhana. Her philosophy is to teach and train with confidence in a relaxed manner where progression is not measured by a competitive scale but instead by her clients' own needs, comfort and ability level. Her method is function over form - if you ride correctly your form will naturally be correct.

About Our Relationship With You

Chocolate Horse Farms clientele is an even mix of pleasure riders and competitive riders and Darla works with them all with equal attention and enthusiasm. She is as happy for a client who's had a break through on the trail as she is for a client winning a class or division.

Darla had established a strong reputation for being honest, fair and technically attuned to each student. She is sought after for her compassion and humor, and is well known for restoring a persons' - and a horses' - lost or shaken confidence and guiding them back to their best - and beyond.