Some of Craig Heckert and his horses career highlights.

2007 - Ranked #11, Dressage Breeding, Breeder of the Year, US Equestrian Federation. Multiple USDF/DSHB Show Champions. Lion King - USDF/DSHB West Central Stallion Champion, ranked #5 Nationally, Mature Stallions and the DDE 3rd Level Champion, 69%+.

2006 - Earned USDF Gold Medal. Meisterwind - Wins at Grand Prix. Lion King - Undefeated in FEI Young Horse Competitions USDF/Dressage Sport Horse Breeding West Central Stallion Champion and DDE Second Level Champion. 

2004 American Trakehner Association Horse of the Year - Intermediare 1 and USDF Performance Certificate - Meisterwind USDF/DSHB West Central Colt/Gelding Champion - Lion King

2001 Midwest Regional Intermediare 1 Champion - Meisterwind

1999 American Trakehner Association Horse of the Year -  Prix St. George and USDF Performance Certificate - Meisterwind

               1998 - Earned the United States Dressage Federation Bronze and Silver Medals.                      Midwest Regional 4th Level Champion - Meisterwind

1996 - Midwest Regional 2nd Level Champion - Meisterwind

1994 - Mountain States Eventing Assn.  Novice Level Reserve Champion - Joe Cool

1984 - Heckert Farm - AQHA Leading Producer of Performance Horses. Craig’s horses also earned 13 AQHA Western Pleasure ROMs, 5 AQHA Western Pleasure Superiors and qualified and competed at the AQHA World Show 4 times.

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Welcome to Rivervale Farm,190 irrigated acres in the beautiful and productive Belle Fourche River Valley of Western South Dakota. It is an almost magical place with an abundance of wildlife and spectacular views of the Black Hills and Bear Butte. A perfect place to raise horses. We chose Rivervale Farm for it's lush pastures and productive crop land.

We are Breeders who ride what we produce.

Our program is based on superb quality European Warmbloods.  The European Warmblood Sport Horse is a distinct ""type"" of riding horse that has been developed over hundreds of years to excel in the Olympic disciplines. We work with proven and performance tested bloodlines that are known for producing horses with ""rideability"" . Our stallions have impressive show records. But even more important than records are the fact that the Rivervale Farm stallions are out in the public eye, year after year, show after show and they are always some of the best behaved horses at the shows!!  Meisterwind  has been retired, 100% sound after a successful career showing through Grand Prix.  Lion King  is turning heads where ever he goes!  He is a consistent high scorer and class winner.

Our young horses are growing up galloping to their hearts content, splashing through the river and developing into strong, sound and sane athletes! They eat superb quality hay and grain grown and harvested on Rivervale and nearby farms . They are properly handled and started under saddle by United States Dressage Federation BRONZE, SILVER and GOLD Medalist, CRAIG HECKERT!  Along with their ""dressage"" training, all of the young horses learn to trail ride, cross water and ditches and are exposed to a variety of wildlife and traffic. And they jump!

Why not choose your next champion here?  We offer mare lease programs, raise your foal programs and programs to train you and your new horse together.

We are located near Sturgis, famous for it's annual Motorcycle Rally. Deadwood, a historic town with gambling and  home of Tatanka - Story of the Bison, where resides the world's 2nd largest monumental bronze of all original figures ever created by a single sculptor -

Peggy Anne Detmers.

Spearfish, famous for the Black Hills Passion Play. Mount Rushmore is a short commute as well as Crazy Horse Mountain and many other '"tourist"" attractions.

We are adjacent to the Belle Fourche River Game Lodge & Reserve, 1200 acres of rustic outdoors where hunters are treated to pampering and fun times. Do you have a ""significant other"" who likes to hunt or fish, while you horse shop?

To see some of Meisterwind's beautiful offspring, click here!

Rivervale Farm

18926 Vale Cutoff Road, Nisland SD 57762

605-257-2620 *cell: 605-430-5680

E Mail: information@RivervaleFarm.com

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