Trainers
With over 35 years of combined experience on the A/AA show circuit, Laurel and Chelsae bring a wealth of knowledge and professionalism to their program. Their vision is to bring out the best in each horse and rider through good communication, hard work, and attention to detail in the everyday care and training.
Laurel Tinney - Head Trainer
Laurel has been riding and training on the A circuit for over 25 years. She grew up riding in the Northeast region in the hunters, jumpers, and equitation under notable trainers such as Bill Cooney, Frank Madden, Michael Henegan, and Jim Toon. Focusing primarily on the hunters and equitation that were most popular at that time for junior riders, she won top ribbons at shows including Devon, Harrisburg, Washington, and the National Horse Show, which was held at Madison Square Garden at that time.
While attending Amherst College in the early 1990s, Laurel began to help out at the Stoneleigh Burnham School and discovered how much she enjoyed teaching and training. After graduating, she decided to turn her focus completely to the horses and took a position on Long Island at Stony Hill Stables. From there, she went on to work for Kathy Fletcher at Grazing Fields Farm in Massachusetts for the next 14 years. Alongside Kathy, she took clients and horses to ribbons up and down the East Coast, and she competed in everything from the baby greens to working hunters and preliminary jumpers. Most notably, students were blue ribbon winners at Capital Challenge in what is now the THIS Medal Final, at the Maclay regionals, at the Washington International horse show in both the hunters and jumpers, and the USEF pony finals.
In 2014, Laurel came to North Carolina to work for a family-owned boarding barn. In a very short time, she created a well-respected A show program and had a successful group of clients competing and winning both in North Carolina and the surrounding states. She has now been able to carefully and thoughtfully create a business of her own.
Laurel has been riding and training on the A circuit for over 25 years. She grew up riding in the Northeast region in the hunters, jumpers, and equitation under notable trainers such as Bill Cooney, Frank Madden, Michael Henegan, and Jim Toon. Focusing primarily on the hunters and equitation that were most popular at that time for junior riders, she won top ribbons at shows including Devon, Harrisburg, Washington, and the National Horse Show, which was held at Madison Square Garden at that time.
While attending Amherst College in the early 1990s, Laurel began to help out at the Stoneleigh Burnham School and discovered how much she enjoyed teaching and training. After graduating, she decided to turn her focus completely to the horses and took a position on Long Island at Stony Hill Stables. From there, she went on to work for Kathy Fletcher at Grazing Fields Farm in Massachusetts for the next 14 years. Alongside Kathy, she took clients and horses to ribbons up and down the East Coast, and she competed in everything from the baby greens to working hunters and preliminary jumpers. Most notably, students were blue ribbon winners at Capital Challenge in what is now the THIS Medal Final, at the Maclay regionals, at the Washington International horse show in both the hunters and jumpers, and the USEF pony finals.
In 2014, Laurel came to North Carolina to work for a family-owned boarding barn. In a very short time, she created a well-respected A show program and had a successful group of clients competing and winning both in North Carolina and the surrounding states. She has now been able to carefully and thoughtfully create a business of her own.
Chelsae Keyes - Assistant Trainer
Chelsae’s lifelong passion for horses began at age 5 when she started taking lessons with a local trainer. Shortly thereafter, she began training with Kathy Fletcher at Grazing Fields Farm. During her junior years, she had the privilege of working with many influential trainers, including Geoff Teal, Jeff Cook, and Charlie Moorcroft. Her time in the saddle over these years helped shape her into the horsewoman she is today.
As a junior, Chelsae earned top ribbons at several local finals, including wins at the MHC and MHJ Junior Medal Finals. She also competed nationally at USET Finals, Maclay Regionals, USEF Medal Finals, THIS Medal Final, and the ARIAT Medal Final. She then rode on New Mexico State University’s NCAA riding team, where she was ranked nationally in the top 10, and in 2011 she was named an All-American. Chelsae turned professional in 2014, and after earning her Masters in Social Work in 2015, she moved to North Carolina to work with Laurel Tinney. She has been able to expand her knowledge by working for Grazing Fields Farm during the indoor season and DFG Stables during the winter show season.
Chelsae takes pride in her love for managing the whole horse (from feeding and grooming, veterinary and farrier care, to training and conditioning) and believes it is important to pass this philosophy down to young equestrians. She also has a special interest and love for rehabilitating previously injured horses and helping them make their way back to the show ring.
Chelsae’s lifelong passion for horses began at age 5 when she started taking lessons with a local trainer. Shortly thereafter, she began training with Kathy Fletcher at Grazing Fields Farm. During her junior years, she had the privilege of working with many influential trainers, including Geoff Teal, Jeff Cook, and Charlie Moorcroft. Her time in the saddle over these years helped shape her into the horsewoman she is today.
As a junior, Chelsae earned top ribbons at several local finals, including wins at the MHC and MHJ Junior Medal Finals. She also competed nationally at USET Finals, Maclay Regionals, USEF Medal Finals, THIS Medal Final, and the ARIAT Medal Final. She then rode on New Mexico State University’s NCAA riding team, where she was ranked nationally in the top 10, and in 2011 she was named an All-American. Chelsae turned professional in 2014, and after earning her Masters in Social Work in 2015, she moved to North Carolina to work with Laurel Tinney. She has been able to expand her knowledge by working for Grazing Fields Farm during the indoor season and DFG Stables during the winter show season.
Chelsae takes pride in her love for managing the whole horse (from feeding and grooming, veterinary and farrier care, to training and conditioning) and believes it is important to pass this philosophy down to young equestrians. She also has a special interest and love for rehabilitating previously injured horses and helping them make their way back to the show ring.