SIERRA HOWELL EQUESTRIAN
Quality and Integrity
Welcome to Sierra Howell Equestrian. Our primary goal is to create quality, quiet, and confident equine partners. Whether it's handling young foals, or competing on mature equine athletes, we want to provide positive experiences for your beloved four legged friends. Our mission is to help set your horse on the right path for success! Explore our website and social media pages to learn more.
MORE ABOUT SIERRA HOWELL EQUESTRIAN
Here at Sierra Howell Equestrian, we believe that quality foundation work is key to a successful horse and athlete. Learning and reviewing the basics to under saddle and ground work is the glue that makes a team work. Without it, all the bits and pieces of training simply will not mesh correctly. Whether you prefer english or western, the basics are all the same and that is what we strive to perfect so you can move forward and reach your goals as an equestrian.
ABOUT THE TRAINER
Sierra Howell
Sierra Howell is the owner and head trainer of Sierra Howell Equestrian. She is an Animal and Poultry Science major at Virginia Tech, and she is completing her bachelors in Business and Production with an Equine emphasis. She is scheduled to graduate in December 2020. She has been riding for 10 years, and also occasionally competing in the hunter ring, as well as western pleasure and ranch riding. She rode alongside the Virginia Tech Western Riding team in 2014-2016. Sierra is currently a riding instructor out of Brookhaven Stables in Salem, Va (owned by Jessica Goodspeed) as well as head trainer. She also manages Edgehill Farm in Shawsville, Va (Owned by Charlotte Sandy) where she is the head trainer. Lastly Sierra manages, runs, and holds the head trainer position at The Haven Farm in Hardy, Va (also owned by Jessica Goodspeed) where she does the majority of her training board. She has been training horses for four years, and is still learning and growing more and more every day. She has previously ridden for trainers such as Jessica Milhoan and Sara Baker.
OUR SERVICES
English, Western, Ground Work, You Name It, We Have You Covered
GROUND WORK
Having issues on the ground such as manners, laziness, anxiousness, distraction? Sierra will work with your horse to create a better connection, and help your horse become more responsive and attentive while being handled,
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FOUNDATION WORK
Sierra specializes in starting horses under saddle. Not only has she raised her own horse from a foal and saddle broke it, she has even started several other horses and ponies under saddle that are now currently used as lesson mounts for her riding lesson program at Brookhaven Stables in Salem, Va. She also occasionally shows and competes her 4 year old quarter horse/appaloosa mare in hunters and hopefully ranch riding soon. Sierra starts this process with ground work, lunge line work, long lining, ground driving, and then under saddle work.
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UNDER SADDLE WORK
Sierra Howell also can help you further the education of your young horses under saddle. Like wise she also offers tune-ups for older and/or mature horses. She prefers to start horses western and then cross train into english further along in their training. Regardless of the discipline, she places heavy emphasis on dressage and flat work for both english and western horses. This is THE most important part of a horse's education, and it can help the horse physically as well as mentally. Sierra believes that dressage work and/or flat work will strengthen your horse and create better balance, rhythm, carefulness, and precision in every aspect of its job. Moving on from the flat work, Sierra has experience starting horses over fences as well as fine tuning more experienced hunter jumpers. She also has some basic reining, ranch riding, and western pleasure knowledge for horses within the western discipline.
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OUR FACILITY AND PRICING
Head Trainer Sierra Howell primarily runs her training board program out of The Haven Farm in Hardy, Va (Owned by Jessica Goodspeed). The property has 16+ acers, a large barn with tack room, hay loft, 3 stalls, 2 paddocks, 3 fields are individually fenced with each field having access to stream and custom built run-in sheds, a riding ring with grass footing, short trail along the top of the property, and fencing around the entire property perimeter. The facility is private and has room for 3 horses in training. Sierra and staff will be the only people allowed on the property at all times unless otherwise cleared or stated. Owners/clients of horses in training must meet and speak with Sierra ahead of time before visiting the farm. This will ensure the property and everything on it is secure and safe.
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Training board is on a month to month basis for 30, 60, or 90 days (Only in the spring, summer, and fall months). For one month of training board, the board price is $350 per horse and the price of training is $400 per horse. Total will be $750 for board and training combined per horse. We require that all fees be paid up front upon arrival and fees are non-refundable. Training will include a mixture of ground work and under saddle ridden work. For more information in regards to boarding terms and conditions, please reach out to Sierra Howell by email at stirrups1996@gmail.com, or visit our facebook page under Sierra Howell Equestrian to get in touch with us!
A FEW OF THE HORSES SIERRA HOWELL HAS TRAINED AND/OR BROUGHT ALONG
**Sierra does not claim to own the majority of the horses shown in the photos**
This jet black 4 year old quarter horse/appaloosa mare belongs to Sierra. She's owned her since she was a foal, and she has successfully raised and trained this mare from scratch. Sierra has also shown this mare several times in the hunter ring, and she will soon begin learning over fences work. Sierra eventually would like to show Echo in western pleasure and ranch riding.
Echos Smoked Version
Charming is a 4 year old quarter horse owned by Jessica Goodspeed. He is another youngster that Sierra started completely from scratch as a 2 year old. He is now currently used as a lesson horse for beginner and intermediate riders in Sierra's riding lesson program at Brookhaven Stables. He was saddle broke western, but now primarily goes hunter during lessons. He's currently starting over fences work 2' and below.
Mischief Managed aka Prince Charming
Savannah is a younger pony that Sierra started bringing along as a green broke pony, owned by Jessica Goodspeed. This pony is incredibly athletic and loves her job. She would most definitely excel in the jumper ring some day. Sierra has taught this pony in flat work as well as over fences. Savannah is furthering her jumping skills and dressage currently. She is being used as a lesson pony in Sierra's lesson program and is schooling 2'6 and below.
Savannah
Luna is another small pony that Sierra trained and started under saddle. She is now used as a lesson pony!
Luna
Claire is a Saddlebred approaching her teenage years owned by Charlotte Sandy. Claire was born with cataracts, however she doesn't let it slow her down! Sierra has worked very hard at turning this frantic and nervous little mare into a focused and confident mount. She has even started her under saddle with great success!
Claire
Sedona was rescued from a wild pony herd by Jessica Goodspeed and has spent much of her life fairly unhandled. (Side note: She is Savannah's mother!) She was extremely timid and and fearful which made gaining her trust quite difficult. However once you gain it, she is very loyal and willing to do just about anything you ask of her. She has breezed through lunge line work, long lining, and she's currently mastering ground driving. Pretty soon it'll be time to get on for the first time!
Sedona aka Soda
Levi is a mixed breed pony also owned by Jessica Goodspeed. He was previously started under saddle by someone else, however Sierra has furthered his training and started using him as a lesson pony. She has also started him over fences and he schools 2' and below.
Levi
Like Levi, Spade is also a mixed breed horse owned by Jessica Goodspeed. He also was started by someone else, and Sierra has taken him on to further his education on the flat, and she has started him over fences. He is used as a lesson horse and schools 2'9 and below.
Spade
Lilly is a 5 year old off the track thoroughbred owned by Bill Edwards. Bill is a long term client of Sierra's and Lilly is currently in for 60-90 day training. She had been lightly restarted off the track when Mr. Edwards purchased her, and Sierra has taken her on ever since. She's currently schooling western and furthering her flat work.
Lilly
