About Us

 

We are a mother/daughter horse training and riding instructor team with over sixty years of combined horse experience.  We love every aspect of horses, and feel that this is not a hobby, it’s a lifestyle!

Our Philosophy:

We believe in the “win – win” philosophy.  We want our riders to win, our horses to win, and our staff to win.  This attitude is the most effective way to improve your riding skills and train your horse to his ultimate potential.
 

Here at Mischief Farm we believe that, above all else, this should be fun, for both riders and horses.  We want our horses to have a well-rounded education, and to do everything expected of a well-trained horse.  Every horse should be capable of going on trail, jumping (soundness permitting), doing flat work, going cross-country, and attending shows.  We feel very strongly that all of our horses should have a solid base in dressage, regardless of the career they end up with.  This sets them up for success, and makes them far more willing and able to do what is asked of them.  The horse's physical comfort is also extremely important, as no horse can perform well if he is uncomfortable in his body or his tack.  We inspect all our horses every day for health and soundness issues, and have an excellent veterinarian, farrier, and equine massage therapist available to address any problems.  We also check tack fit for every ride, to ensure that the horse’s equipment will not restrict or interfere with his ability to do his job. We consider ourselves to be "conservative minimalists," and use only the basic tack necessary to ride or work our horses.  We use this mentality throughout all of our training:  “ask little, ask often, reward the try.” 

Our riders also benefit from this approach.  Whether you want to just improve your knowledge and ride the trails, or have aspirations to go the “A” show circuit route, we can help you become a more effective rider, and increase your horse/human communi­cation skills, both on the ground and in the saddle.  We start all riders with the sensible basics of dressage:  a proper seat, correct body position, quiet hands, and an under­standing of how to move and interact with your horse.  As riding instructors, we see ourselves as your coach and cheerleader, and feel that encouragement and positive reinforcement are far more effective teaching tools than fear and intimidation.  Once you are confident at the walk/trot/canter, your future riding career is entirely up to you.  Our students ride dressage, trail, cross-country, and jumpers, and many do local and rated shows.  Tell us where you want to go with your horse, and we can help you get there.

 

 

Head Trainer:  Susan Evans, ARIA Certified Instructor

I have the horse “gene”.  Since the first time I cantered on a horse when I was seven years old (bay mare, Duchess, in the main arena at Tamarack Stables outside Washington, DC, almost (gasp!) forty-five years ago), I knew there would always be horses in my life.  My first horse was a palomino Quarter Horse mare that our family bought when I was nine, and she was my pride and joy.  We spent count­less days riding the acres of pasture where she was boarded, and I was never happier than when I was in the saddle.  We soon added a Tennessee Walking horse to the mix, and our entire family was able to take turns riding.  It was wonderful, and I spent my childhood at the barn.

 

 Even after leaving for college, my passion for riding never faded, and I rode whenever I had the chance, on borrowed or leased horses—any mount I could find.  I also took lessons when I could afford to, and showed here and there when I got the chance.  I’ve always had a great rapport with animals, and horses in particular, so it always seemed that people new to horses would soon come to me with questions.  It’s easy to see when someone looks a little lost—you can quiet­ly give him a hint or two about how to fix his problem, and you soon become known as a good source of accurate information.  All these different facets of horse knowledge and experi­ence naturally led me into instructing others how to ride.

 

Due to the time and energy it takes to be a single mom, I’ve never had a very big practice, but every student I have ever taught has told me that they really understand whatever point I am trying to get across.  If you don’t “get it” one way, I have one (or two or ten) other ways to help you understand the point of what I’m trying to teach.  I LOVE horses and riding, so I feel very passionate about getting my students excited about learning how to ride and care for their horses.  I realize that not everyone wants to have an in-depth down-to-the-chemical-level discussion about protein, saddle soap, wormers, or supplements (like I do), but that doesn’t mean I can’t help students understand the importance of good nutrition, tack care, and preven­tive mainte­nance.  Enthusiasm and knowledge are a powerful team, and students will learn just about anything if you present it in a fun and informative way.  That is how I like to teach.

  

·    Certified Instructor with the American Riding Instructors Association (ARIA)
·    Mischief Farm Website Design Advisor
·    TVHSA Board Member, Publicity Director, Website Design Advisor, and Points and Membership Head

 

 

 Assistant Trainer:  Elizabeth Evans

I’m a twenty year-old high-school graduate, and I’ve ridden hunter/jumper and dressage since I was six years old, and got my first very own horse, The Little Brown Pony (the best pony in the whole world), when I was ten.  I have been active as the Assistant Trainer at Mischief Farm since I was twelve, and soon afterwards jumped my first 4 foot fence—that’s when I discovered that jumping was my true calling in the saddle.

 

I ride all the horses in training at Mischief Farm every day, and show in jumpers, equitation, eventing, and dressage on four or five of our horses.  I regularly attend local clinics, and have ridden with Will Simpson, Linda Allen, Liz Denny, Jeff Cook, and Peter DeCosomo.  I was also chosen to participate in the inaugural USHJA Emerging Athletes Clinic in May 2009 and rode with clinician Melanie Smith Taylor, the 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist, in what has proven to be one of the best clinics I have ever attended.  I attended the EAP again in 2012, I rode with Anne Kursinski and practiced stable management with Anne Thornbury. The same year I also participated in the inaugural USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge.  I had to take the Level 1 quiz as part of the application process for the EAP, I scored a 97%.  I then took the Level 2 quiz and scored a 98% which enabled me to go to the HQC National Finals as part of the Zone 10 Team.  I attended the finals and after two days of lectures and a hands on practicum the Zone 10 Team got a silver medal.  In 2012 I started designing and painting jumps for our own use.  Everyone who saw the jumps said that I should go into business.  At the start of 2013 I will be offering my services to the general public, I'm excited to see how this venture goes.

 

My show partner for the last five years has been Crystal Method (barn name:  The Big Horse), a 17 hand chestnut registered French Thoroughbred gelding, and we have shown jumpers, eventing and dressage.  Since he is now more comfortable jumping smaller fences, I am currently working with my newest horse Clarkus Maximus (barn name:  Clark), a 11 year old, 17.1 hand bay Dutch Gelderlander warmblood gelding.  He has all the abilities and personality that lead me to believe that he will be the horse that can take me to the next level on my road to being a Grand Prix jumper rider.  Since my goal is to ride jumpers at the international level (The Olympics and the World Equestrian Games), I feel that I now have a horse that can help me get there.

 

·    Mischief Farm Webmaster and Site Designer
·    TVHSA Board Member, Webmaster, and Site Designer
·    Sierra Canyon School Interscholastic Equestrian League Team Representative
·    Inaugural USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Finals Participant, Zone 10 Team member and Silver Medal Winner
·    Head designer and painter of Mischief Farm Jump Design