Photo by Grace Kellogg Photography
Carol Straus
OWNER, BARN MANAGER
Carol began riding again as an adult with her daughter Jessica. Starting back in the hunters with Kip, she evolved into dressage, first with her most wonderful school master Kensington and most recently, Reliant K aka Eli. A self-admitted lesson addict, Carol knows that riding, like any sport evolves and your education never stops.
When not at the farm, Carol has a small group of retirees at her home under her watchful eye. Now retired from Dental Hygiene, as a mother of four, she can devote full time to doting on both her human and animal "children".
Jessica Straus Boppe
USHJA CERTIFIED TRAINER, Show Coach, Sales and scheduling
Jessica began riding at eight years old and got her first horse when she was fourteen. She graduated from CNU in May 2008 with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. While attending CNU, Jessica was the Equestrian Team President for two years, vice president for two years, and competed on the IHSA circuit and at ANRC.
Jessica began her coaching career in the fall of 2013 with Randolph-Macon College’s Equestrian Team. In R-MCET’s second year, and Jessica’s first year of coaching, the team rose from 11th out of 16 teams to 5th out of 17 teams. While coaching for University of Richmond, the team rose to Reserve High Point Team and had the Reserve High Point Rider for the 2015-2016 season. Jessica has also coached a URET rider to Nationals the last three years (2013-2016.) In 2016, Jessica’s first time as a coach at VHSA finals, one of her riders was 2nd in the equitation class out of 50+ entries and was champion in the children’s hunters.
Jessica is available for lessons for students that are showing and for training rides. She teaches rider effectiveness and equitation skills for both riding and training, and believes exposure to every discipline helps riding students. While her focus has always been the hunters, she has ridden with an eventing, dressage, jumper, and even a western trainer. Jessica’s extensive and diverse training allows her to bring many different techniques to training horse and rider.
Natalie Shinnamon
ARIA Certified TRAINER
Natalie's riding career began at a very young age and she has ridden with numerous trainers over the years and shown extensively in the state of Virginia. Natalie has been with Haverhill Farm since 2006 as both a boarder and trainer. In her time here she has worked with countless students and coached both the University of Richmond Equestrian Team and the Haverhill IEA team. Natalie recently took some time off from training to focus on motherhood and is now back to teaching lessons on Sundays!
Tracey Harmon
Barn Manager and Jumper Trainer
Tracey started riding at the age of 8 and was competing by the age of 12. First on her large pony on the local circuit then moved onto the A circuit with her horses. She competed up through the Junior Jumpers as well as the equation divisions. After graduating high school she took on barn management duties at Swift Creek in Manakin Sabot, which is where she first began teaching riding lessons at the age of 18. In addition to being the barn manager and instructor, she was also a show groom and traveled the circuit from Florida to Canada showing her horses as well. She joined Haverhill in May of 2018 as a barn manager and enjoys caring for all the horses and ponies making sure they are happy and healthy. We are so grateful to have Tracey on our team as the health and happiness of our horses is of the utmost importance! In addition to being our barn manager, Tracey coaches the University of Richmond Equestrian Team and does the jumper training at the farm.
Liz Briggs
USHJA Credential Instructor
Liz competed as a junior with Joan O'Keefe on the CHSA circuit. She graduated from JMU in 2015 with a Bachelor's of Social Work and spent her summers working for Nardeen Henderson, learning how to teach riding lessons and run a riding school. Upon graduation, Liz moved to Ocala, Florida to take a grooming position for FEI eventer, Buck Davidson. Liz returned to Richmond to lead and develop a local riding program, where she developed her passion for teaching beginner to intermediate level riders. Liz joined the Haverhill team after pivoting from full time barn life to one of those regular 9-5 jobs! She is able to use her diverse background to develop well rounded and confident riders. She emphasizes correct basics and flatwork so her students can be successful, effective and safe in all of their riding endeavors.
Liz loves teaching riders of all ages; from the first lesson, all the way through horse showing at 2'. She specializes in helping riders find their confidence and developing their riding goals.