Meet Stephanie.
Stephanie’s passion for horses was born in her blood. At age 3, her parents brought a rocking horse home all the way from England, and that was all it took—she was hooked! At age 7, her parents finally enrolled her in the riding lessons she’d been begging for since that rocking horse made its way across the ocean.
Stephanie began her riding career in saddle seat at Richlon Farm. Very quickly, she became immersed in the horse world, spending every spare moment at the barn, absorbing everything she could about training and caring for horses, and competing successfully at a nationally recognized level. From a young age, Stephanie was teaching beginner lessons, helping run camps, and taking part in the daily care of the horses at the farm. Her experiences at Richlon Farm created the vision for what would later become High Standards Stables—a program designed to recreate the safe, educational, and horse-compassionate environment she cherished.
In her teens, Stephanie began taking hunter/jumper lessons and found her home in the H/J world in college. At Ohio University, she quickly demonstrated her adaptability as a rider on OU’s IHSA team. She rose to the top in her classes, was elected president in her senior year, assisted other riders with extra lessons and advice, and discovered her aptitude for developing young horses.
After college, she began working at Hinckley Equestrian Center, teaching lessons part-time. From there, her role in the lesson program progressed. Through HEC, Stephanie continued advancing her riding and training education. Before founding High Standards Stables, she was the head trainer of HEC’s riding program for over two years. This role encompassed teaching lessons, coaching young riders at horse shows, and bringing along young horses.
Stephanie opened High Standards Stables in 2015. With over a decade of professional experience and a lifetime of horse experience, her greatest passions and talents lie in developing riders and horses from the beginning of their journey to their fullest potential. She treats every horse and rider as an individual and has a knack for adapting to each accordingly. Her enthusiasm, patience, and ability to communicate with riders of all ages are attributes that set her apart.
High Standards Stables covers everything from beginner lessons to attending A and AA-rated shows and producing young horses and ponies. Stephanie and her students have found success at both local and rated levels, including accomplishments such as qualifying for and earning ribbons at prestigious competitions like The Pennsylvania National Horse Show, WIHS, Pony Finals, and The Retired Racehorse Project. She has also established a strong reputation among her peers. Believing that a rider’s education is never complete, Stephanie continues to take regular riding lessons and participate in clinics as often as possible.
“Woodland Acres is a dream come true. I often feel like I'm in a fairy tale when I pull into the drive. It is truly breathtaking. Horse care is ALWAYS top priority, and my horses have never been happier. I may be biased, but Woodland Acres has the best staff and most supportive group of people around”
— Stephanie, Woodland Acres Trainer