Heathman Farm, where a horse can be a horse.
Pennsylvania is the new location for Heathman Farm in the bucolic setting of rural Bucks county in New Hope. Chris and Thea began their riding careers, after a youth filled with horses, riding with Jeff Cook, where they met. After a few years under his tutelage they moved back to Thea's home town of Portland, Oregon where they built and operated their first Heathman Farm for almost 10 years. During that time they traveled with and learned from Canadian 10 time Olympian, Ian Millar, while also running their business.
The main focus was always the top of the sport in showjumping. Along the way students began to emerge. The focus was to manage the best full service farm Portland could offer. Both Thea and Chris have a number of Grand Prix wins in National competition, as well as wins and top placings in international competition. One of their specialties was developing young horses. They always had a string of quality horses coming up through the "farm team." Each young horse competed along the west coast from San Diego to full summers at Spruce Meadows, in Calgary, Alberta. Developing young horses remains the sole focus of Chris today.
In 2000 they had their first and only child, Stella. It wasn't long after, that the gypsy life of showjumping was not the ideal situation to raise a child. Chris, and the family decided to move just outside of Philadelphia to New Hope, PA in late 2001, and carry on the torch of his family's Thrift Store and Charitable Donations companies.
Most horses were sold, but they kept the top 5 horses and put them in the care of Chris Kappler and George Morris at Hunterdon. Chris Stinnett rode for the next year and a half, as time offered on his best horse, E-Ticket. Although he didn't ride often he was still having a great year with 5 top 5 Grand Prix finishes, and top five finishes in the South Hampton young horse championships in both the 5 year old championship, with the approved stallion Calvino Z, and 6 year old championship with Oscar. It wasn't long before Chris stopped riding to work at building and growing his retail business full time.
Thea continued to ride, winning most every Amateur classic, and 1.40 class, to be won, on her great horse Sea Nymph. She took on some of Chris's rides winning numerous classes including the 1.40m class at Syracuse indoors on the flamboyant jumping horse Oscar, (she was second the year before on a different horse, Bart). She continued to ride for the next few years until all the horses were sold or retired.
They focused now on their daughter Stella and lived quite a "normal" non-equine life. In 2012, thanks to the hard work and success Chris was having in his business, they were able to buy the beautiful farm, Willow Springs, (later known as Clare Bronfman's Slate River Farm). It has the charm and craftsmanship of a beautiful French country farm, immersed in beautiful stone, with beautifully architected buildings dating back to 1788, along with a Grand Prix field designed by Dutchman Henk Nooran. It was then they realized they were back in the sport they had poured so much blood, sweat, and tears into.
It started as a way to ride, and get their daughter Stella into the sport. She rides today, and has great aspirations of competing at high levels in the sport. She is riding in the Equitation divisions and jumpers. Soon after their competitive nature and strong desire to give back to the sport through teaching students and developing horses took over. Today, Thea has gone back to being a professional after a long hiatus, and is the trainer at Heathman Farm. Her teaching is out of George Morris's mold, along with the styles of Bert DeNemethy, and Chris Kappler, along with her education from all the other great riders and teachers along the way. She teaches classic riding in the American style of forward riding with a strong emphasis on correct supporting leg and a receiving hand that horses respond to in a positive way. She simplifies teaching, getting back to the basics of riding while also caring for the horses in the most sophisticated way.
With the Stinnett team assembled they look forward to many great horses and great riders coming out of their program. Thea is the rider, and trainer at Heathman Farm. Chris is the breeding and young horse guru, while Stella is just now forging her identity as an Equestrian. She helps in every capacity, learning the inside of a top operation. She also cares for the animals on the farm including their mascot, George the goat. Her short career has already yielded multiple championships, as well as a great victory in a .90m class that included over 90 of the regions best professionals and amateurs.
They are joined by great staff including German Rodriguez who worked for the Stinnett's since 1995 in Portland Oregon and made the trek east before finding a great job in NY state after they closed up shop. When Heathman Farm re-opened German came "home" to once again help define Heathman Farm. The entire team is lucky to have this affectionately dubbed, horse whisperer to care for the horses. German also aids Chris in the development of the young horses with expert ground work, and assistance in the development process. Micheala Godshall, and Antonio are our other full time grooms, and farm hands. With them we truly feel blessed!
The main focus was always the top of the sport in showjumping. Along the way students began to emerge. The focus was to manage the best full service farm Portland could offer. Both Thea and Chris have a number of Grand Prix wins in National competition, as well as wins and top placings in international competition. One of their specialties was developing young horses. They always had a string of quality horses coming up through the "farm team." Each young horse competed along the west coast from San Diego to full summers at Spruce Meadows, in Calgary, Alberta. Developing young horses remains the sole focus of Chris today.
In 2000 they had their first and only child, Stella. It wasn't long after, that the gypsy life of showjumping was not the ideal situation to raise a child. Chris, and the family decided to move just outside of Philadelphia to New Hope, PA in late 2001, and carry on the torch of his family's Thrift Store and Charitable Donations companies.
Most horses were sold, but they kept the top 5 horses and put them in the care of Chris Kappler and George Morris at Hunterdon. Chris Stinnett rode for the next year and a half, as time offered on his best horse, E-Ticket. Although he didn't ride often he was still having a great year with 5 top 5 Grand Prix finishes, and top five finishes in the South Hampton young horse championships in both the 5 year old championship, with the approved stallion Calvino Z, and 6 year old championship with Oscar. It wasn't long before Chris stopped riding to work at building and growing his retail business full time.
Thea continued to ride, winning most every Amateur classic, and 1.40 class, to be won, on her great horse Sea Nymph. She took on some of Chris's rides winning numerous classes including the 1.40m class at Syracuse indoors on the flamboyant jumping horse Oscar, (she was second the year before on a different horse, Bart). She continued to ride for the next few years until all the horses were sold or retired.
They focused now on their daughter Stella and lived quite a "normal" non-equine life. In 2012, thanks to the hard work and success Chris was having in his business, they were able to buy the beautiful farm, Willow Springs, (later known as Clare Bronfman's Slate River Farm). It has the charm and craftsmanship of a beautiful French country farm, immersed in beautiful stone, with beautifully architected buildings dating back to 1788, along with a Grand Prix field designed by Dutchman Henk Nooran. It was then they realized they were back in the sport they had poured so much blood, sweat, and tears into.
It started as a way to ride, and get their daughter Stella into the sport. She rides today, and has great aspirations of competing at high levels in the sport. She is riding in the Equitation divisions and jumpers. Soon after their competitive nature and strong desire to give back to the sport through teaching students and developing horses took over. Today, Thea has gone back to being a professional after a long hiatus, and is the trainer at Heathman Farm. Her teaching is out of George Morris's mold, along with the styles of Bert DeNemethy, and Chris Kappler, along with her education from all the other great riders and teachers along the way. She teaches classic riding in the American style of forward riding with a strong emphasis on correct supporting leg and a receiving hand that horses respond to in a positive way. She simplifies teaching, getting back to the basics of riding while also caring for the horses in the most sophisticated way.
With the Stinnett team assembled they look forward to many great horses and great riders coming out of their program. Thea is the rider, and trainer at Heathman Farm. Chris is the breeding and young horse guru, while Stella is just now forging her identity as an Equestrian. She helps in every capacity, learning the inside of a top operation. She also cares for the animals on the farm including their mascot, George the goat. Her short career has already yielded multiple championships, as well as a great victory in a .90m class that included over 90 of the regions best professionals and amateurs.
They are joined by great staff including German Rodriguez who worked for the Stinnett's since 1995 in Portland Oregon and made the trek east before finding a great job in NY state after they closed up shop. When Heathman Farm re-opened German came "home" to once again help define Heathman Farm. The entire team is lucky to have this affectionately dubbed, horse whisperer to care for the horses. German also aids Chris in the development of the young horses with expert ground work, and assistance in the development process. Micheala Godshall, and Antonio are our other full time grooms, and farm hands. With them we truly feel blessed!