Meet Our Owner/Instructor!
My name is Sam Starkey. My love for horses started when I was very young while working to ride at a local barn. Here I was introduced to many aspects of the equine world from the race track to horse shows. This opportunity started my passion and drive for anything horses. After showing locally for a few years I found a thirst for the hunter/jumper atmosphere leading me to continue my riding career at another barn. Through my middle and high school years I instructed/participated on an IEA Team, while also showing at USEF affiliated horse shows. My college years allowed me to attend many equine related classes while also allowing me to ride on the college IHSA team. Finally I graduated from Becker College in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science with a Pre-Veterinary Concentration with minors in both Equine Studies and Business, as well as an Associates in Veterinary Technology. After growing my family to a point where all my children are in school full time I am eager to begin instructing once again!
Meet Our Ranch Manager!
My name is Liz Koonz. When I was just two years old, my parents and brother took riding lessons. At the end of each lesson, my Dad would put me on the saddle with him and ride around the arena. So began my lifelong love of horses and riding. As a child, I rode at a barn in England. I rode English and learned basic jumping. As a young adult, I took lessons at Herman Park Stables in Houston. While there, I assisted with their Summer Camp program and beginner classes.Professionally, I taught and directed at several prestigious pre-school programs in Houston. I then pursued a life goal and joined the Peace Corps working in Morocco. Upon returning, I worked with Americorps running a youth center on a Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. I earned an emergency Teaching Certificate in Special Education and worked in the public school system. I also volunteered at a horse sanctuary gaining invaluable experience caring for rescue horses. I adopted two of these horses, a small grade mare and a Walking Horse gelding. They were patient and forgiving and allowed me to build confidence as a rider and horse owner.
Meet Our Horse Trainer!
My name is Janessa Kabela. When I was 10 years old I started working to ride at Blazing Saddles Equestrian Center. The same barn that I met Sam at when we were young. That is where the horse bug began and never ended. At the barn all day every day when I wasn't in school, riding anything and everything and also showing at local shows. In High School I started working for Sky Band Farm which was a thoroughbred racing barn where I helped with the daily care, breeding, training, breaking and exercising of the thoroughbreds at the farm and on the racetrack. After high school I became a barn manager at a local show barn for a couple years and then went on to join the Army. For the last 5 years in the Army I served in a mounted ceremonial unit; 1st Cavalry Divisions, Horse Cavalry Detachment. In that unit I learned how to ride and train Cavalry mounts which I still uses to this day with my daily training of horses.
