Staff
Meet the team.
Isaiah Pace inherited the stables from his godfather after the latter had decided that he could use some time, money and friends in his life after giving so many years to horses. Secretly Isaiah agrees, but being an equestrian through and through -and having staff to help him around- he's enjoyed his role as the owner of the estate with the assistance of Maura Broughton. Along with Maura and Devon, Isaiah focuses on competing with the horses, the bay Warmblood Atlas being the apple of his eye.
Maura Broughton is the wife of Byron Broughton, mother of Jillian, and the co-owner and trainer. Maura specialises in dressage and, after Bobby, is the first person the team turns to when a horse needs some extra training. The Andalusians are closer to her heart than any other breed -or any other horse for that matter, her favourite being our golden boy Dorado.
Devon Bacerra had to look "Fear" up in a dictionary. She's our eventer and usually the one to compete with the horses. She's not all bravery though, she's also very skilled and can handle both the stallions and the broodmares alike, her current favourite being the Oldenburg stallion Attila.
Tuisku "Tara" Holt is from a Finnish/English family and moved to live with her cousin Millie after deciding that she wants to ride professionally. Those who actually have been doing this for profession for few years think she's mad, but even at the age of 16 she's a good rider and experience has taught that there can never be too many helping hands around. At first her interest was leaning heavily towards show jumping and show hunting, but after becoming friends with Devon her new dream is to compete in CCI* level - a dream she's already achieved with her trusted Skyfarer.
Toni Foster is our tinkerer, blacksmith and stablemaster. If something's broken, she can fix it -and if she can't, no one else should even try. She can sometimes come across as a snob and she does have quite a temper, but she's by no means mean-spirited -only quick to anger yet just as quick to calm down and apologise. Riding is something Toni does for fun only and not very often, however she has taken into carriage driving.
Jillian Broughton has shown both interest and talent for a future equestrian career. She now owns the Welsh B mare TLM Sky's The Limit, and competes with her and the grade pony stallion Dumbo Flies GHA.
Millie Grey is Tuisku's cousin and shares a flat with her. During her student exchange period in the United States she lost her heart to Western and while helping around as a stablehand she's chasing a dream of competing more or less professionally. Quick to anger yet quick to forgive, she can sometimes seem mean to those who don't know her, but after getting past her spiky shell she's a passionate, kind dynamite barrel with a short fuse. Nowadays she's taken into eventing. She's also in a relationship with Toni Foster.
Balthazar Roche There's not much to say about Balthazar that grin of his doesn't tell. He's a good dressage and show jumping rider, has some experience of training young horses and is willing to work long days as Toni's right hand, but his inner Don Juan is already the talk of the town and he's earned some reputation as a cheater -mostly because of the love triangle between him, Emma and Holli. As an employee he's trustworthy, though, and fun to be with, but his charm together with his non-stop flirting tend to make an incendiary combination. Then again, while we did ask for a rider and stablehand and not reality-tv drama in the flesh, his pansexual presence has made everyday life a bit more interesting.
Adam Piper was among the first to join our nuclear team, but even now he doesn't participate quite as much as others. He's isolated and sarcastic, and has been referred to as Hawkeye behind his back due to his hair and personality, and has mostly been taking care of his horse Oceanborn but he's earned his position as a team member by riding and training our show jumpers, horses and riders alike. It's thanks to his guidance that Tuisku and Skyfarer as well as Jillian and her ponies have been making such good progress.
Holli Cross née Shepherd trained in Australia to be a jockey after her modelling career fell short. She's easygoing and friendly, although she's suffered through her fair share of drama as well in a game of hearts nobody had signed up for.
Emma Christenson is the newest addition to our family and works as a groom. Like Tara, she has Finnish origins, too. She has a good sense of humour and she laughs a lot, and she's also great with kids and Jillian's friend.
Byron Broughton
About us
Robert "Bobby" Carlton has trained horses for over thirty years now and has written several books about it. He's the one in charge of training the young or problematic horses, but riding has never interested him that much. Instead, he's into harness racing and carriage driving and owns every driving horse in the centre. He's also known as somewhat of an eccentric; he's rarely seen driving a car, but he can definitely be seen driving a horse whether it's for fun or because he needs to buy something in the local store. As he likes to say, "if you can't take a horse there, it's not worth going at all." That's why he's rarely seen at the cinema.
Our staff consists of people of various nationalities and impeccable equestrian skills. Some faces are new, others have been with us for bit longer and have taken over new tasks. The change hasn't been completely without drama, either...
Kyra Campbell (FIN) and Emma Christenson (FIN-SWE) have both been working as full-time stablehands and are the reason our three stables are still standing. With the increasing number of horses we have, Kyra has given us a hand with the young horses in low-level competitions. Same had been planned by Emma who at the time was another new face Balthazar Roche's sweetheart, but the plan was postponed after their sudden break-up the drama of which provided more entertainment than several reality tv-shows combined, Balthazar leaving her for Holli Shepherd who'd just finished her jockey training in New Zealand and arrived to help us with our new Teke racers. A shame as it was, at least for Emma, this didn't come as a surprise -I myself have some first-hand experience on Balthazar's commitment issues. Losing your boyfriend to a total stranger and ex-model is the oldest twist in the book, but fortunately Holli's lovable character ensured there isn't too much bad water under the bridge.
Toni Foster has been busy with her job as the stablemaster as well as our farrier and repair(wo)man, and riding has never been quite her forte. She has, however, been tempted by carriage driving for quite some time now, and finally was made MBS Gjestar's driver -and recently surprised us all by coming out as Millie's girlfriend! So busy we've been with horses that their romance had escaped us all, even Millie's cousin Tuisku who shares a flat with them. Unexpected as it was, they do make a great couple. Millie on the other hand has given up her dreams of Western riding (or at least of competing in Western disciplines -nothing keeps her from practising Western Pleasure at home) to become an Eventer, and as mentioned in earlier updates MBS Carmina is nowadays owned by her. She's also started riding MBS Anatoile and Oh, Lady Dahl T after giving Ricasso over to Tuisku. Phew! The horses keep changing! At least Tuisku & Skyfarer and Millie & Carmina remain as if glued together.
Some more schism has arisen not that Toni and Millie's relationship has started to get on Tuisku's nerves. Even professional can find it difficult to control their feelings in a stressful environment, and the constant arguing between Tuisku and Toni is getting close to an open warfare. Devon has offered to share her flat with Tuisku, but it's certain that sooner or later the two need to talk it out like adults - or risk the team breaking up.
