Honoring Those Who Have Sacrificed This Memorial Day

We express our gratitude and salute our fallen heroes today and every day. 

From all of us at Rolling Acres, Happy Memorial Day!

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Rolling Acres Show Stables Spotlight Series: Ashley

We are continuing our weekly spotlight series of our staff so everyone can get to know Team RASS! Today we are talking about the newest member of the team who has actually been here her entire life...Ashley Foster!

Ashley and Mizzentop

Ashley has ridden since she could walk but her earliest riding memory was competing her small pony Spongebob. She recalls making the decision to leave a stride out in a line and falling and breaking her collar bone. Ouch! That was obviously not a deterrent since she went on to win numerous championships in the pony, junior hunter, equitation, and jumper divisions throughout her junior years.  When asked what she felt her greatest accomplishment was as a junior rider she named two: winning her first Grand Prix on Indy and being Champion Junior Hunter at Capital Challenge, Washington, and the National show on Charade (both when she was only 16-years-old!). Although Ashley rode several horses and ponies throughout her junior career she has a soft spot for Charade. As a junior rider, Ashley was nervous just as most riders are. She explained that the best way for her to combat the nerves was to listen to music and carry that with her as she rode. (No particular song or genre of music, just whatever struck her that day).

Ashley and Nikita

After finishing her college career at Auburn University, Ashley graduated with a major in horticulture. While there, Ashley competed on the equestrian team for Auburn. A few of her NCEA accolades are: winning one National Title, one SEC title, and being All-American, MOP, and NCEA rider of the month several times! Ashley credits her team experience at Auburn with many life lessons learned.  As a junior rider, she explains that you are really just riding for yourself, but as a team rider you not only ride for your point but you help others on the team win their points too by maintaining motivation, support and friendship throughout.
After finishing college the most logical next step in life was to become an equestrian professional, but Ashley decided to compete as an amateur for a year so she could learn more about the business before making that decision.

Ashley and Sam Adams

As an adult rider, Daliante M has been her most trusted mount--Ashley says that she felt like she could jump anything on her! We asked Ashley what she thought she might do if she weren't a professional equestrian. She told us that she would probably work for a feed company or some sort of company that directly deals with horses...she can't imagine her life without horses!

Ashley and Daliante M

For her future plans Ashley strives to continue as a professional equestrian while learning all that she can. She has amazing mentors in her mom (Patty Foster) and Aunt (Mary Lisa Leffler). She told us that she wants to learn the best of both of them as a trainer, hunter, and jumper rider.

A couple of quick facts about Ashley you might not know:

• Her favorite color is sky blue
• Her favorite food is Mac & Cheese
• She loves any music by Luke Combs
• Her pet peeve is riders not working to their full potential and utilizing opportunities they have with the great animals they are riding.
• Another cool fact...Ashley has jumped out of a plane before!!

We are so happy to have Ashley on team RASS as she continues her career and follows in her mom and aunt's footsteps!

Ashley and Gerona 92

Rolling Acres Show Stables Spotlight Series: Addie

Addie and Calypso Joe (Joe)

Good morning! We are continuing our weekly spotlight series of our staff so everyone can get to know Team RASS! Up next, the wonderful Addie!

Although Addie is one of the newest members of the RASS management team she has many years of experience with horses. Addie began riding at age four when her grandfather was out motorcycle riding and saw a sign at a local farm advertising pony lessons and the rest is history. Addie comes from a boating family and she actually had her own boat and boating license as a child, but she promptly told her dad that she would rather spend her time with ponies.

Addie and Sketch

Her favorite memories of riding as a kid are when she and her friends would take ponies out on a "walk" and end up galloping through the fields bareback. Addie went to Goucher College and graduated with a degree in Psychology (helpful in the horse world!). She also rode on their IHSA team and went to the IHSA Finals three out of her four years riding there.  Addie feels that riding on the IHSA team was a wonderful experience that gave her many great opportunities to watch and ride different horses.

Addie and Nikita (Scooter)

Addie started working at Rolling Acres in 2014 and has been a huge asset in dealing with the day-to-day management of the horses on the farm. Being at Rolling Acres also gave her the opportunity to attend a different level of competition and she was able to qualify and compete at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show and the Washington International Horse Show...two major goals on any show riders bucket list!


A couple of quick facts about Addie you might not know:

• Her favorite color is pink
• She loves the chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A
• Her biggest pet peeve is when riders don't groom their horses 

Addie and Axtrex (Paul)

Thanks Addie for all you do for us!

Addie and Skittles

Rolling Acres Show Stables Spotlight Series: Pam Saul

Since we won't have horse show results to share for a while, we are continuing our weekly spotlight series of our staff so everyone can get to know Team RASS! Today is about Pam Saul!

Pam on her pony Moon

Pam is the behind-the-scenes lady that takes care of all of the necessary evils we like to call bookkeeping!  Pam is the oldest Nicholson daughter by just nine months. She led the way growing up riding, competing and taking care of chores on the farm. In 1998 Pam had to retire early from her riding career for medical reasons, but she still loves coming to the barn daily and giving her "ponies" treats and scratches each night.

Pam will tell you that she started doing the bookkeeping work because no one else really wanted to do it.  She also learned that she excelled at it and ended up making it her career!  Pam is a Quick Books Pro Advisor as well as an AIPB certified bookkeeper and owns her own business, Farm & Equine Business Services, LLC.  F.&E.B.S. specializes in bookkeeping, payroll management, business plans, and anything else that has to do with running a business and she is our go-to lady for all RASS administration!  

Pam and Corner Whim

Pam's favorite part of farm life is the peace of being around and caring for all of the animals. When asked what her biggest accomplishment in life is thus far, she quickly exclaims her children Kristina and Kimmy! 

A couple of quick facts about Pam you might not know:

• Her favorite color is blue.
• Her favorite food is chocolate (is that really a food!?)
• Her biggest pet peeve is insincere people.

Pam riding Corner Whim

Thank you Pam for all of your work from behind the scenes keeping RASS thriving! 

Pam and one of her favorite "Ponies" Paul