Our Team
Kristine, Owner
A former dressage trainer with over thirty years’ worth of experience, Kristine has always believed that the relationship between a rider and horse is the most important component of riding. From her early days, and prior to its popularity, Kristine incorporated the techniques of liberty training into her work with horses. Kristine has worked with notable trainers including German National Bronze Medalist Mary Phillips, of the U.S. Dressage Federation. After many years of teaching adults and children alike, and successfully rehabilitating abused and unrideable horses throughout her career with gentle methods, Kristine pursued her second great passion: raising two beautiful children (her children argue it should be her first), and devoting more personal time to her love of dressage. In 2022, Kristine took the opportunity to start a horse farm that would uphold dressage in its classical form, as a beautiful and disciplined art; and support riders who wanted to nourish the bond between rider and horse, and who put the health of their partner first. Kristine has worked closely with veterinarians throughout her career in order to gain an integral understanding of equine health, and regularly attends medical seminars. The second most important thing she says is crucial to riding, to the groans of her former students: groundwork.
Ariana, Farmer-Florist/Partner
As a third of the mother-daughter trio, Ariana always believed that a field of grass was much more beautiful than a field of flowers (this may have had something to do with growing up in an equestrian family). Upon experimenting with the benefits of small-scale flower production, Ariana discovered the beauty of farm-grown flowers, the peace that they can bring, and the emotional significance behind the simple act of giving something beautiful as a gift. Now she spends her time negotiating more space for the flowers, planning events, and dreaming of Cinderella-level pumpkin patches. She still turns her nose up at store-bought flowers and considers golf courses a waste of pasture space, in line with her upbringing. Like most Northern Virginians, Ariana works as an economist during the day and enjoys hiding from the DC grind whenever possible.
Danyella, Partner
Having grown up on a horse farm under the strict training of her mother, Danyella can always be found in the barn giving special attention to the horses and, as the engineering head of the family, fixing most of the problems around the farm. In her spare time, she works as a video game artist and designer creating monsters. She dreams of trying her hand at Roman riding and mounted archery.