Wellington, FL – February 1, 2013 – Linda Smith-Faver has been a resident of Wellington for over 16 years, guiding her clients to top placings across the nation at some of the most prestigious horse shows. Originally from Ronkonkoma, NY, Smith-Faver has been teaching well-known clients in Wellington, building a reputation that precedes her in the equestrian community with Happy Endings Farm.
Growing up in New York, Smith-Faver competed throughout her junior years. Her equestrian background was due to her grandfather’s jumper barn in Brookville, NY, and a hardworking mother who had two jobs to support Smith-Faver’s dream. She then moved to Florida to work for Norman Dello Joio in Wellington at the old show barn on the corner of Pierson Drive and South Shore Boulevard. After two years of teaching lessons for him, she broke off and started her own training outlet, Happy Endings Farm.
“I train a lot of little kids. I like helping them with their first ride,” said Smith-Faver. “Most of them stay with me through their teen years. I find it very rewarding to start the young kids, and be a part of their equestrian growth into adulthood.”
Smith-Faver has an extensive clientele, most of who are competing at this season’s Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). The clients range in age from five- and six-year-olds to older adults.
“Linda knows when to push you and when to back off,” said Karen Walcott, one of Smith-Faver’s adult riders. “She’s really good at doing that with both the kids and with me. I was with someone else for about 13 years, and I switched to train with Linda and I have never looked back.”
While most of her clients ride competitively, there are also many that ride strictly for pleasure and they use her for her guidance and knowledge of the human-horse connection.
“Some of my adults fox hunt, some pleasure ride. I help a lot of the mothers improve their skills. I even help some of the dads,” laughed Smith-Faver.
Over the last few years, Smith-Faver has become more personalized in her training, encouraging her riders to focus on having fun, more so than winning the blue ribbon. In addition to the horse shows, her clients take rides in the river, participate in polo lessons, have pony parties and more. “Horses are a way of life that should be cherished and enjoyed. Horses are our partners, not our servants,” Smith-Faver concluded.
Some of her clients competing this season include: Natalia Torano showing in the Walk division; Avery Kelley, Sean, Corinne and Helen Sweeney, James and Mark Leone and Nikko Ramirez, all showing in the Cross Rails and Short Stirrups division; Charlie Jacobs, Jr. and Katie Jacobs will compete in the Children’s Jumpers, the Taylor Harris Medal, and the Children’s Hunters. Maggie Robinson will show in the Children’s Pony Hunters, while Karen Walcott will pilot her trusted mounts in the Adult Amateur Hunters.
Happy Endings Farm will show at the Winter Equestrian Festival throughout the 12-week series, and then will travel north for the summer shows. To stay up-to-date with Linda Smith-Faver and Happy Endings Farm, visit their Web site at http://www.happyendingsfarm.com/.
Kendall Bierer for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
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