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SARA HAYNES

Head Trainer

Sara Haynes is a lifelong equestrian and professional member of the United States Equestrian Federation. She has over 30 years of experience in hunters, jumpers, and equitation with numerous accomplishments at the local, regional, and national levels as a rider, trainer, and coach of people and horses of all ages.

Sara grew up on a horse and enjoyed a successful career in the junior divisions in the southeast, showing to much success in the children's, junior hunter, and jumper divisions as well as the equitation on horses such as Shameless, Count On Me, and Finally under the guidance of top area professionals.

Sara attended college at Clemson University in South Carolina where she majored in Political Science and Economics and rode on the school's IHSA team. It was during this time that Sara truly built a foundation as a rider for a professional equestrian career. Competing under the tutelage of Pam Baker at Hillcrest Farms, Sara rode the venerable Rumours Follow to many top hunter finishes on the national stage, including championships at Ocala, Upperville, Loudon, and Keswick Hunt Club. She was recognized six times as Best Amateur Rider at HITS Culpeper, also qualifying for indoors.

Later, with guidance from to North Carolina professional Lee Cone and Windbrook Farm, Sara would develop amateur horses Follow Me and High Flight, going on to win many championships in the amateur hunters and equitation. During this time she would also break and train 15.2hh Country Grammar, with whom she would achieve many wins in the children's/adult jumpers. After many top finishes over the years in the GHJA, BRHJA, and PSJ medal finals, Sara culminated her amateur career in 2005 by taking the win in the PSJ and BRHJA Adult Medal Finals and became a professional equestrian the following year.

In 2005, Sara and her family relocated to Northwest Indiana. It was there that Sara built her training and show business, Teneriffe Enterprises, from the ground up. Under Sara's guidance her students won at all levels, claiming wins and top finishes in the IHJA medal finals as well as top year end ribbons in divisions from short stirrup through the children's jumpers. They were also successful nationally, qualifying and ribboning at national indoor finals, USEF Pony Finals, and by being selected for the USEF Emerging Athletes Program. Many of these riders were mounted on horses and ponies who were purchased as green prospects and carefully brought along in a consistent program with greatest consideration always given to affordability and appropriateness of match between horse and rider. Many of Sara's students from the midwest are now industry professionals themselves, and Sara considers this one of her greatest achievements.

As Durham Equestrian Club's head trainer, Sara strives to us her passion for teaching and developing horse and rider to elevate the club's success to a new level. Her dedication to finding the best possible horse and rider match and working together to foster a relationship of trust and understanding set up each pair to tackle any obstacle they encounter. Starting with a proper foundation of flatwork and building on that an understanding of the importance of not only the ride given over the jumps but also the between them. Sara gives the riders the tools to achieve their dreams.

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Assistant Trainer

Carly Parent

Carly is an assistant trainer at DEC with a solid background in both hunt seat and dressage. She is equally passionate about training the horses in her care, developing her students at DEC, and taking the team to compete in horse shows.

She is a 2021 graduate of Saint Andrews University with a BA in Business Administration with a specialization in Equine Business. While at college she was a member of the IHSA Hunt Seat team for 4 years, the IHSA Western team for 2 years, the IDA Dressage for 2 years, the ANRC team, and the Show Team. As a premiere equine facility in the region, with over 120 horses, the IHSA and IDA teams hosted many regular season, regional, and zone competitions. Though COVID-19 did disrupt team competitions junior and senior year, she was able to compete at ANRC nationals her sophomore year and won the Novice Horsemanship Test, and was ale to compete at IHSA regionals and zones her sophomore year. She was also able to travel and show her mare, Alpine's Ruby, at C and A rated shows in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Carly discovered her love of working with youth as an instructor in YMCA Camp Seafarers Horseback Riding Program in 2019 and as the Director of the Horseback Riding Program in 2021 and 2022.

In the 2021 and 2022 camp off-season, she sharpened her dressage skills working as the assistant trainer to USDF Gold Medalist Susie Wiedman at Encore Sporthorse in Sanford, NC. Carly and her mare Alpine's Ruby are working towards earning their USDF Bronze Medal.

Carly joined DEC in March of 2023. She and her dog Gronk are enjoying supporting the horses and students of DEC in achieving their riding goals and showing off their skills in competition!

Assistant Trainer

Jessica Colbeth

DEC assistant trainer Jessica Colbeth moved to North Carolina from Vermont in fall of 2022, to continue her career in the equestrian industry. Her love for the industry developed at a young age. Although she didn't grow up around horses, she worked very hard to make her way in this industry. She has developed a strong foundation in the hunter/jumper world, as well as endurance riding.

In 2020 Jessica continued her academics at Lake Erie College, where she continued her education with a double major in Equine Science and Facility Management. Unfortunately, with COVID-19 and hip surgery Jessica's IHSA riding career came to a short halt. She later finished her education at Post University. This led her to be able to start her career much sooner.

Jessica was fortunate to travel to other states to work at various facilities, where she expanded her diversity in training by working with young horses, broodmares, and stallions. She became a strong professional groom and exercise rider. She worked at facilities such as the Farmington Polo Club in Connecticut and Bent Tree Farm in Virginia. This helped develop her knowledge in caretaking and riding.

Back in Summer of 2022, Jessica set out and received her certification as an Equine Sports Massage Therapist. Not only did this further develop her knowledge of caretaking but also her understanding of the movement of the horse and anatomy. Later on using this knowledge to aid in the development of advanced riders.

Jessica enjoys teaching all ages and developing a confident independent rider. Her love for teaching and being a mentor has developed from a young age by being a preschool teacher and a mentor to the youth. While being a trainer at DEC Jessica intends on bringing her knowledge and dedication into not only developing horses but her riders. She has the ability to help you get where you want not only as a rider but as an individual in the equine industry.

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SARA HAYNES