Pratense Farms was started in 1964 with the marriage of Sarah Lockwood to Paul Briney.  Pratense means Greek for the green meadows. As "Sarah" we all know her as Sally was an English Lit  major and had always like the word and it's meaning.  Paul & Sally bought the 40 acre farm near Chatham then a hay field. Surrounded by 2 other horse farms. Windridge the Chapin family and Foxtail Farm, the Denby family.  The barns arrived before the house. A weekend getaway in the early years where Paul & Sally raised some American Saddlebred  and their children Paula & Robert. Pratense Farms started out as a small place to have some horses for riding and raise colts for showing. Under Pratense Farms banner 1964 saw Sally win the Amateur 5-Gaited World Championship with Sensational Princess the youngest mare to win the stake as a 4yr old. In 1965 Paula was born and in 1967 Robert was born. A new generation was to begin.

    The Pratense Farm banner continued on produce many champions such as Pratense Mr. J.G. Cinnabar PF, Mistress Mary, Jim-N-Win and many more. In 1987 Sally showed the winning Bubbling Brown Sugar to another Amateur 5 Gaited World Championship.  The only horse to remain undefeated the whole year of competition with Sally Briney.  Robert  now married with 2 children Lauren & Gage. Showed a great deal up until college.  He showed Mr J. G. and was undefeated in Rob's 13 yr & under age group of Show Pleasure.  But his greatest horse was New's Release a 5-Gaited horse.  Huey and Rob won all over the Midwest under the leadership of Linda Freseth. Rob and his wife Betsy now watch their children Lauren & Gage ride in the walk & trot division. A third generation of Briney's have now entered the show ring.

    Paula began riding at the ripe old age of 4.  It's not surprising that she should take up riding at a young age, considering her parents are Paul and Sally Jo Briney, owners of Pratensé Farm.  Both avid equestrians, their love and knowledge of horses quickly rubbed off on Paula. 

    She began riding saddle seat on Pal then Cricket.  After years of show ring successes and U.S. Pony Club participation, she completed Pony Club as a HA graduate.  She then attended Stephens College in Columbia Missouri.  She graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree, majoring in Equine Management and minoring in Business Management, Marketing and Teaching.

    After completion of college Paula returned home to Pratensé Farm.  There she worked as the assistant manager, training both beginner and seasoned show horses.  Her work included transportation and preparation of show horses for Regional and National Competitions.

    In 1989 Paula became the manager and Assistant Trainer for StarWest Farm in New Berlin, Illinois.  While there she managed 30 Arabians and increased the beginner lesson program to more than 20 riders.  It was during this time that her interest in dressage blossomed.

    In 1994 she trained with Sarah Micheal at Victory Pass, Inc in Lambertville Ohio for nearly 6 months.  She trained on horses from Fourth level to Pix St. Georges.  In 2000 Paula trained with Betsy Steiner in Wellington Flordia for six weeks, training at Prix St. Georges through Intermediare II. 

    In addition to extended training periods with Betsy Steiner and Sarah Micheal, Paula has also ridden regularly with Lee Tubman and Gerhard Politz.  In 1993, Paula purchased Rejent, a 4 year old Holsteiner stallion.  Rejent is trained to Grand Prix.  Since that time Paula has ridden and trained Rejent to Grand Prix level.  In addition to her success with Rejent, she has trained two of his offspring.  Regal Heir, a 7 year old gelding, is currently doing 4th level.  Rejoice, a 5 year old mare, is currently doing training and first level. 

    Paula has stated that it is her objective to develop the next generation of equine professional by combing her experience in horses with her interest in education and mentoring.  In her efforts to accomplish this goal, she regularly gives lectures and riding demonstrations to area pony clubs, as well as giving numerous youth lessons and bringing along her working students.  In 2004 Paula trained students and their horses to the Region 4 Regional Championship.  her students won the Prix St. Georges Jr/YR Division.  She was also honored to take an exceptional rider to the UPHA/ American Royal for the UPHA Exceptional Rider Championships.

    Paula's abilities are reflected in her own accomplishments as well as those of her students.  She has shown American Saddlebreds in the Five-Gaited and Park Pleasure Division to win several Regional end-of-year awards.  She is a United States Dressage Federation Bronze and Silver Medalist.  In 2004 Rejent received the USDF Horse of the Year, and the All Breeds Program end of the year award.

    Paula has been a member of the American Saddlebred Horse Association since 1988.  Since 1997, she served on their Sport Horse Committee to develop the current annual awards program for Purebred and part-bred sport horse Saddlebreds.

    Paula currently manages and trains at Pratensé Farm, her childhood home.  She offers specialized training in both dressage and saddleseat for riders from beginning to advanced, including development for show careers.  She trains client horses as well as the farm owned American Saddlebreds and German Holsteiners.

2009

New Addition Photos

Our Staff

Barn Staff:
Susan King, Matt Crossland, Teri King, Sally Atterberry, Kim Jones, Tiffany Whinhold

Horse Shoers:
Rick Rushing, Derek Rushing, Chris Jess

Veterinary Skills:
Dr. Rachel Boyce (Heartland Equine), Dr John O' Keefe (Heartland Equine), Dr. Linda Harmon - Dodge,

Discipline Associations

American Saddlebred Horse Association
United States Dressage Federation
United Stated Equestrian Federation
CenterLine Dressage
Youth Charity Horse Show