Recreate
Equestrian Life
A Passionate Group of People
There is a special lifestyle associated with horses, from the elegance of thoroughbred racing and polo to the simplicity of trail riding.
The resonating question behind this way of life is, “Why horses?” With so much expense and hands-on work involved with these sensitive and powerful creatures, what motivates equestrians and their families? Sacrifice and reward seem to be a theme among the “horsey set.”
The Mother-Daughter Bond
“We sold our townhome in 1985 and bought these 13 acres with a double-wide,” says Lynn Mayers in reference to her family’s Flying Colours Farm in Ashland. “We built the barn first.”
“I’m not a city girl,” she continues, although she met her husband, Bob Mayers, while they were both working in Chicago. “Bob is an outdoorsman—hunting and fishing plus an occasional trail ride are his escapes. We always wanted to live in the country and coming from Amarillo, Texas, I loved horses as a young girl.”
The equestrian gene must run in the family, because when the Mayers’ oldest daughter, Lindsey, was six, she convinced her father that she could earn a pony by saving her “chores money.”
“And she did—I still have her handwritten pledge to her Dad,” says Lynn. “She was the spark for all this.”
Horses followed ponies and, now, five “mostly retired” horses live at Flying Colours Farm. Lindsey, who earned a degree in equine science from Colorado State University, married a horseman, has two small children and still rides at her home near Omaha, Neb. As for Lynn, her competition jumping horse, Patron, commutes between the Mayers’ farm and training at Royal Crest Ranch in Medford.
“We sometimes refer to our farm as ‘No Bad Days Farm’,” says Lynn, who’s grateful she caught horse fever. “Although our kids, Lindsey, Whitney and Robb, have grown up and moved away, we are far from empty nesters.”
The horses, five dogs, one cat and a pond full of koi keep the couple company.
The Dream Made Real
“If you could train with anyone in the world, who would that be?” This is the ultimate question, as posed to Lara Schleining by her father, John Schleining, five years ago.
While growing up on the East Coast, Lara’s dad took her to riding lessons once a week.
“I always wanted a horse,” says Lara. At age 10, Lara’s dream came true when her parents bought her Dundee, an “off the track” thoroughbred. The Schleining family commuted between New Jersey and Oregon until moving to the Rogue Valley permanently in 1996 when Lara was l2. Now 25, she has shared her equine legacy and path to excellence with many.
“It started at Eden Farm with Linda Jones Davis here in Ashland with my horse, Annie, who is now retired at our farm,” explains Lara. “I then joined my mentor and friend, Kathy Everman, at Hidden Meadows in the Applegate, where I decided to focus on dressage. My mother, Kathy, hitched our rig to the Suburban and hauled me all over Oregon while my brother, Evan, was travelling to compete in tennis. We were a family on the go. A pinnacle moment for me came while competing regionally in Seattle. My goal became very clear and focused. I wanted to test myself and my horses at the national and international levels. Now I had to find a way.”
Driven to excel, Lara won two team gold medals in the Junior Olympics in 2001 and 2002 with her horse, Karoe, a Dutch Warmblood gelding. In 2004 and 2005, she qualified and competed successfully in the prestigious North American Young Riders Competition on her Dutch mare, Luzelma. Meanwhile, she was bringing along Odyssey, a new young horse with great potential. Odyssey, Luzelma and Lara set off for Europe to train near Amsterdam with the best in the world: dressage champion and legend Anky van Grunsven. For three years, Lara commuted between the Netherlands and the Rogue Valley.
At home in Ashland with her four-month-old son, Caswell, and partner, Josh, Lara continues to pursue her dream. Hard work and solid support from family and mentors has led to Silver Spring Farm, an exquisite 60-acre equestrian center that began in 2003 as bare land with a small ring, a four-stall barn and pastures. “Dad got excited and it picked up steam,” says Lara of the farm, which gained a main arena, new barn and restored 1920s farmhouse in 2005.
“Everything here is for the horses,” states Lara unequivocally. “It consolidates all the good thinking and planning gathered over the years from colleagues in the sport. Of course, besides the seven horses, we have four dogs, five cats, three goats, 25 chickens, five ducks and one guinea hen.”
What’s next for Lara, her family and Silver Spring Farm? As always, the answer is clear and concise: To teach dressage enthusiasts at all levels and ages, beginner to grand prix; to sell imported warmblood ponies and small horses for cross country, hunter/jumper and dressage disciplines; to ride and compete; and to board horses for riders with similar goals.
With a family of respected advisors and supporters, this determined young equestrian is certainly one to watch in the coming years.
The Professional
What do Roy Rogers, Zorro and the Lone Ranger have in common? All were great heroes with great horses. Trigger, Silver, Diablo… physician Rhet Chang grew up with toys and stories of such heroes and their horses, not to mention “thousands of horse books.” But she lived in Manhattan, where it was hard to ride. It only happened once in a while—in Central Park, at Claremont Riding Academy or with friends at Bridgehampton on Long Island. “I would confabulate any opportunity to be around horses,” she remembers.
Now a retired physician living on 13 beautiful acres in Ashland, Rhet can finally have her horses at home. An immaculate small barn and nearby living quarters make up her private dynasty. Rhet is inspired by “the Tao and Zen aspects of life with horses”—their sensitivity, grace, strength and the freedom they represent. For her, they symbolize the ultimate escape.
Rhet landed in Southern Oregon in 1990 following a decade spent practicing medicine and riding horses outside Minneapolis, Minn. Before that, her academic career included studies at Barnard College, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and hospitals affiliated with Columbia Medical Center. Rhet’s equestrian education with legendary trainers matches her academic pedigree. Currently, she hauls her two horses, Hot Shot and Babu, over to Cygnet Farm in Talent for advanced training sessions and clinics.
Rhet relishes working on her farm. “I am my own labor,” she says. “It is a physically demanding, hands-on sport and lifestyle to have horses at home. It takes muscle and sweat.”
But it’s all worth it when she rides—an experience she likens to dancing a pas de deux. “What continues to fascinate me is the deep bond and true union with the horse, along with the awayness of living on the farm with them,” says Rhet. “In the end, it’s been worth it. I hope to maintain and keep these life choices as long as I am able.” Most everyone who shares Rhet Chang’s equestrian lifestyle feels the same way.
words by Mary Arnstad
photography by Jared Cruce